Chapter Two.
All three Starfleet officers froze, eying the man carefully. He was tall – possibly even taller than Spock – and much bulkier than any of them. He certainly didn't need the phaser that he had aimed at them, that was for sure.
"I'm Jim Kirk. Who the hell are you?"
"You ain't supposed to be here," the man grumbled. "Get inside."
"Now hold on just a minute," McCoy complained.
"You're Winona Kirk's son?" the burly man asked, completely ignoring the doctor.
"I am," Jim answered, straightening a little. He had no idea who these men were, but he had a bad feeling about it. They were ushered into the house without another word and the captain was disturbed, to say the least, by the way they were entering the house he had known so long. There was no happy knock on the door, a wide grin, and an announcement of a prodigal son's return to ask forgiveness of his mother. No, they were entering at phaser point. Not only had he gotten himself in a mess, but Bones and Spock as well. What a fine leader he was…
"Jimmy?" Winona's familiar voice echoed in his ears and Jim's eyes widened. She was sat back as far as she could in the old fashioned chair – that had certainly seen better days with its missing buttons and only sometimes working reclining effect – that his stepfather Frank had frequented in his youth. "Of all the times for you to come home, hun…."
"Shut it, lady," the monstrosity that had led the three officers in growled.
"Now, Ms. Kirk, I didn't know your boy was going to show," a new voice said. A man rose from a chair and all eyes turned to him as he had not been worth the attention spent before he spoke and stood. He was scrawny, with a look of someone who had scraped by only by his mind in one of the hard labor penitentiaries off planet. His eyes were sunken, his flesh drawn, and his hair thinning on top, even if it had no grey yet. He turned an inquisitive look at the new comers. "James Kirk, hmm? The son of the late George Kirk. You never knew your father, did you, boy?"
"Who the hell are you?" Jim growled, feeling himself move forward without any real thought. The giant grabbed his arm and held him in place. "What are you doing in my mother's house?"
"We just came for a visit, Jim. You see, your mother and I have a common friend."
"Jimmy has nothing to do with what you want, Mr. Ferguson," Winona called out, her voice rising with fear. She moved forward in her seat slightly, but one look from the toothpick of a man sent her – a woman Jim remembered for her bravery in the face of nothing but hard times – squirming to the back of her chair once more.
"Quiet," Ferguson, as he seemed to be named, commanded. He turned his attention back to the blond man standing before him. "I met your father, briefly, while we were in the Academy together. He was a good man. I hear you haven't followed in his footsteps, Jimmy. Now why's that?" He paused, his demeanor calm against Kirk's temper that could almost be seen radiating from him. "People around town said you up and disappeared, left your own mother to herself. What, three or four years ago?" He reached out and cupped the captain's chin between his thumb and index finger. "You see, where I've been the last twenty years, you don't get much news. I do remember them talking about your birth though. Quite spectacular, how your father died to save you and your mother, not to mention everyone else on the Kelvin, but you… You couldn't live up his legend? Where've you been, Jimmy boy?"
"That's enough," McCoy growled from Kirk's side.
"I must agree," Spock piped in.
"I have men been crawling across this farm, boys. Don't think that you outnumber us," Ferguson said calmly. He glanced between McCoy and Spock, and then back to Winona. A smile that might have been considered friendly if shown under other circumstances cross the man's thin lips."You see, Ms. Kirk, they showed up at just the right time. I think you might have held out if it were just you, but this is your son, no matter how long he's been gone." He pulled back and his balled fist connected with Jim's ribs before anyone in the room realized what was happening.
Winona screamed, but it was Spock that reached out and took a firm hold on the lanky man's arm. He was sure that he knew his face from some old report, but he could not force his mind to pull the information together at that moment. He knew that this man was dangerous, a mastermind of some sort, and he knew that he had done something against Starfleet. It was best that he did not know that was where they were from. He also knew that he had laid a hand on his captain. "I believe you heard McCoy say that that is enough, sir."
Ferguson's eyes flashed and even his hired thug let go of Jim and took a step back. The captain dropped to the floor. He certainly didn't look like he could pack quite a punch.
"You are an outsider to all of this," Ferguson growled and ripped his hand free of the Vulcan's vice-like grip. Spock stared momentarily, surprised by the Human's strength. He back handed the science officer, nearly knocking him off his balance, but Spock held his place. A small amount of green blood leaked from his broken lip and two eyes focused on his carefully. "Reichs, hold him."
The mountain-man moved and took hold of Spock's arms, pulling them uncomfortably behind him so that he could not move. If nothing else he had gained Ferguson's attention, giving Jim time to regain his breathe before the beatings continued. A bony hand reached up and touched the green liquid, then moved quicker than should have been possible to remove the hat that had kept the half-Vulcan's head warm outside, revealing tell-tale signs of pointed ears and arched eyebrows to go with the emerald blood. "A Vulcan?" The word was spat out, as if it were a curse. "Why?"
"Clarify."
"Why would a Vulcan – a high standing member of societies wherever they go – be with a lowlife?"
Spock raised his chin a little higher so that he was looking the madman straight into the eyes. "I am not obligated to answer any of your questions, nor do I choose to."
"Uh-huh," Ferguson grunted and motioned to Reichs. "I want to know who he is and what they are doing here." He raised one scrawny hand up to his face, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Ms. Kirk," he said at last. "I do not wish to repeat myself."
"What the hell do you want from her?" Kirk growled out from the floor. "What could my mother possibly have that would be of use to you?"
Ferguson shot him an angry look, but spoke his mother. "I want your unique connections to Starfleet, Winona," he said slowly, as if testing each word to make sure that it came out just as he wished it to. He licked his lips and turned his intense stare to the woman he was speaking to. "Especially Christopher Pike."
"My mom doesn't have any connections to Pike!" Jim yelled. What was this man talking about and what did he know of Admiral Pike? He had said that he knew nothing of what had happened, that he had been someplace that did not get news for the last twenty years. Was it possible that he did not even know of the Narada's attack and destruction of Vulcan, or the near destruction of Earth?
"But she does," Ferguson promised. "Your father is a hero, Jimmy. His widow has the ability to get a hold of anyone she wants out of Starfleet. I know how the system works."
Reichs began to tug Spock out of the room and something clicked in his memory. "I am Starfleet," he said, the words out of his mouth before he knew they were coming. He really needed to watch himself closer, he chastised himself, because he had become much more impulsive since choosing James T. Kirk as a companion.
The words caught Ferguson's attention and he motioned for his thug to stop. "Are you now? When did Vulcans begin to fly amongst the stars in Starfleet ships?"
"I am the first, and only as of yet. If you do not believe me, I have my credentials in my bag that was dropped outside."
The elder man stepped forward, the Kirks and McCoy seemingly forgotten. His focus was completely on the Vulcan. "I believe you. Your people have a tendency towards the truth. Are your companions Starfleet?"
"No," Spock answered without missing a beat.
"Then why are you with them?"
"I was sent. The Federation is aware of your escape, David Ferguson, and has issued an order to Starfleet to recapture you at all costs." He watched paranoia grasp the man before him and he continued. "I was ordered to track you down."
"And them?" Ferguson motioned towards Jim and Bones, who were looking at Spock with shocked expressions.
"They were convenient," the half-Vulcan responded.
"What else?"
"I am not at liberty to reveal any other information."
Ferguson twitched slightly. "Take him upstairs. I want everything he knows." A tight smile spread across his lips. "We have just hit gold. I may not need the bitch after all, but she won't hurt." He turned to another one of his men and motioned towards the remaining three. "Take them upstairs as well and lock them up. I want guards posted as instructed. They will not be getting out."
"Yessir," the man answered and several more joined him to usher Winona, Jim, and McCoy up the rickety stairs.
"What the hell is Spock doing?" McCoy mumbled under his breath.
"I have no idea," Jim answered, and truly meant it.
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A/N: So, after writing the last chapter I thought "I want steak… steak would be good." And I went downstairs for dinner, and guess what my dad had cooked. You must be clairvoyant. Yes, it was steak. Sorry Mr. Cow, you were tasty. Anyway, I am obviously not a vegetarian and I would make a horrible Vulcan. Sadly. But I can still love Spock dearly. And Jim. And Bones. Yay!
A/N2: So, I kept trying to write 'Wynola' instead of 'Winona' for this story because the former was my grandmother's name. It's strange.
Latin-freak: Augh, I'm so freakin' jealous. I know. Beam down to Texas, and we'll go see it - grins - I think that works best. Damn, that'd be cool.
Silver-Shadow Spark: thank you very much.
Lost Schizophrenic: It's bad guys! Already! –gasp! –
Cai-ann: Me too. I just hope I can continue on this one and not go off on some other tangent…
Shinigami061: It was just too good to resist. And seriously, I think Bones wrote that chapter, not me. I'll just say that and move on with life. Lol
Nkundra: Nope, not slash, but I write really, really close male friendships (if you've ever seen Starsky and Hutch, that kind of close and not that horrible excuse for a movie either!!) but I've heard people say that they read a lot of my stuff as slash because of that. Feel free if you wish.
McRaider: Wow! What high praise, thank you so much!! It's always encouraging to have such nice things said. I hope you enjoy this story as much as the last one. I will endeavor to make it worth everyone's time
AllieMcD: Yay, more Uhura/Scotty fans!! That's so exciting!! I like Jim, even if he's not my favourite (I have to love Spock, sorry) but he's always one of my main characters in my Star Trek fics 1. Because he works so well with Spock and 2. Because he's James T Kirk and he doesn't seem to take a backseat to anyone lol
Dragonwhitch250: Good to see you back!
Sootgremlin11: Hehe… yes. I loved them in TOS and the fact that they didn't seem to know if they hated each other or were friends. Even though he would NEVER admit it, I think Spock enjoyed riling Bones up, and Bones might admit to having a good time riling Spock up
Cleopatra's Snake: I've never lived on a farm in my life. I am 100% a city girl, but I could picture this. I don't know… it would just be funny.
aXforamnesty: Thanks very much!!
FireShifter: Not his fault, but would it be McCoy to leave it alone? Nah. I think everyone liked the cow comment. I even liked it lol. And as to Sam and Frank…. Wait and see!!