Questions and Concerns

Cora looked over, pulling her attention away from her thoughts when McCoy spoke beside her, "Come on Red," he gestured her into the shuttle before him, ever the 'southern gentleman,' and she stepped in to see Kirk taking a seat, Spock already there in the last seat, Kirk leaving a space between him and Spock which she knew was for her. She had to smile when she saw that, Spock could have easily taken a seat elsewhere or made it so Kirk sat right beside him, but he hadn't.

"Status report, Mr. Spock," Kirk sat, leaning back so Cora could move past him to sit in the middle seat.

"The Enterprise should be ready for launch by the time we arrive," Spock stated.

Kirk frowned, glancing at the man as he…stared right ahead, not even glancing at Cora as she sat beside him, not even moving an inch save to stiffen more than he already was. He looked down at Spock's hands, resting on the man's knees, curling into fists, as Spock swallowed hard. That was…not quite like him. Whenever Cora was around the man would seem to relax more than when Cora wasn't there. He seemed just an inch more human with Cora there, but now she WAS there and Spock was acting like he was trying his damnedest to ignore her.

"Good…" he said slowly, eyeing Spock with worry, "Good…"

Oh this was not even remotely good!

Well, it was good that the Enterprise would be ready, but it was FAR from good how Spock was acting right then.

He really, REALLY hoped they weren't in a fight or something, not just because that would complicate things, their ability to work together, but…Cora was terrifying when she was upset. Not terrifying in a bad way, well…that sounded impossible and confusing. But…when she was deeply hurt by something, or felt something powerfully enough, often if she was just too exhausted to hold it in, she would end up projecting what she was feeling to everyone on the ship. It had only happened once that he knew of and he was infinitely thankful that the attack on Vulcan had happened when Cora was in fighting spirits and not when she'd been tired…otherwise he feared for the crew, all of them experiencing what she had.

He supposed she could be rather frightening when she was angry as well. He…hadn't really seen her angry though, but…it didn't mean she wasn't a force to be reckoned with when she was confident. He, Uhura, and McCoy had taken to helping Spock with his quest to show Cora just how strong she was. He had really taken Spock's words to heart before they'd gone to face Nero, how he'd told Cora she was stronger than the Mas'heirs, that she just needed to see it. They tried to build her up a bit, get her to talk back to them, to argue, to embrace the wonders of sarcasm. She was hesitant about it, of course, but there HAD been times where they'd touch on a subject that they KNEW would get to her or that she felt passionately about and she wouldn't back down in debating…sometimes even arguing…her point. Half the time it ended up being when he'd make one too many jabs at Spock that she'd defend his Vulcan heritage when the man wasn't there.

He wouldn't tell anyone, as he was sure Uhura and McCoy hadn't felt the same given they were less forceful and pushy than he was in their methods of helping her, but…he swore that when Cora stared to get a little worked up about a topic, when he pushed one button too many…that he could feel a sort of power radiating off her. Not really an emotion per say, but…the ability in general starting to rise, like her own emotions were fueling it. He always felt a sense that he should back down and stop whenever it happened and he often did. He knew it wasn't Cora influencing him, she always refrained from doing so unless it was a direct order from him or Spock or if the situation was reaching a dangerous level and needed calm. It was…an interesting experience to see her get worked up and he was honestly afraid for whoever ticked her off to the point of anger in the future. Despite Empathics being forbidden to harm, everyone had their limits.

But the point still stood that, if all this kept up and Cora grew upset, there was a chance the crew would feel it and it would be a detriment to their focus in getting Harrison. And it also…bothered him.

He couldn't imagine anything Cora could have done to Spock that would make the man act that way towards her. True, he couldn't tell when Spock was acting 'sweet' to her as she would say or compliment her, all he really heard when the man talked was 'meh, meh, meh' and something about rules. But even he could tell Spock wasn't acting normally, that he was even more closed off and more stoic than normal. And he knew, for an Empathic who thrived on emotion, that was going to hurt Cora. Yeah, he'd sort of hit on her when he'd first met her, but now…she was like a little sister to him, one he felt more inclined to protect after discovering that brief bout of pain she'd hit him with when they'd gone to stop Nero had been a fraction of what she had endured throughout her life. To suffer that much and still be kind…he felt like he had to protect her.

Even if he had to do so against Spock as well.

"Captain Kirk," Cora glanced at Kirk after a long moment of Spock remaining rigid and focused forward and silent, "Many thanks, for requesting Spock be reinstated."

Kirk smiled at her for saying what he was sure Spock was thinking, "You're welcome…" he trailed off, glancing back as McCoy tried to scan him with a portable medical scanner.

"As I am again your First Officer," Spock spoke, "It is now my duty to strongly object our mission perimeters."

"Of course it is," Kirk rolled his eyes.

"There is no Starfleet regulation that condemns a man to die without a trial, something you and Admiral Marcus are forgetting," Spock finally looked over at him, though he seemed to be avoiding Cora's gaze, "Also, preventively firing torpedoes at the Klingon Homeworld…"

"You yourself said that the area is uninhabited," Kirk cut in, "There is going to be only one casualty. And, in case you weren't listening, our orders have nothing do with Starfleet regulations."

"Wait a minute, we're firing torpedoes at the Klingons?!" McCoy stared at them.

"As per orders given by Admiral Marcus," Cora nodded, solemn.

"Regulations aside, this action is morally wrong," Spock argued.

"Regulations aside, pulling your ass out of a volcano was morally right," Kirk reminded him, "And I didn't win any points for that."

"Jim, calm down," McCoy glanced at the scanner as it spiked.

"I'm not going to take ethics lessons from a robot!" Kirk remarked…McCoy only put the scanner on Kirk's face as a result.

"A little help here Red?" McCoy glanced at Cora.

Cora reached out and gently placed a hand on Kirk's arm, knowing that her usual method of simply sending him calm would need a boost that came with physical touch. McCoy grinned as the readings started to fall back to normal range, "Thanks," he smirked, "Any chance of getting him to agree to be examined?" he asked.

"Don't," Kirk pointed at her and Cora held up her hands in surrender.

"Resorting to name calling suggests that you are defensive and, therefore, find my opinion valid," Spock cut in, feeling an…irrational need to have the men STOP staring at his mate.

It was the captain and McCoy, they were two men he had come to know quite well, two men he knew had no intentions with Cora but…she'd touched him. Cora had touched Kirk. She'd touched his arm and all he had been able to see was her hand on another man. It was small, it was brief, and he knew it was only to direct her abilities more, but…it wasn't helping. He tried to rationalize it, tried to push THAT to the front of his mind, but it just kept getting pushed back.

The Pon Farr was starting to grow stronger despite his efforts at meditation. Being half human had meant he hadn't been able to focus as much on pushing past the instincts and urges and now…he was running out of options. What could he do if meditation failed? Kill someone? No. Metaphorically back Cora into a corner? Never. So what was there that he could possibly do?! He was starting to get angry, frustrated with his lack of ability to focus, with the entire situation in general. His body could not have come up with a worse time to subject him to the Pon Farr than right now.

Especially right at that moment to spike in him. He was sitting in a small shuttle, a small space, with Cora right beside him, so close he could feel her warmth radiating off her, he could smell her scent, he could see her clearer than anything. He was trying his hardest to not look at her because he knew if he did he wouldn't be able to easily look away. Even now his gaze had drifted to her, to her hand when she'd touched Kirk. He'd felt his blood boil even though he knew the touch was completely platonic and professional in nature.

His mate was touching another man.

HE should be the only one she touched!

He closed his eyes tightly, trying to shake that thought away from him. It was angry and possessive and all it made him want to do was grab Cora's hands and hold them so she couldn't touch anyone else. It made him want to force the other men out of the room or take Cora with him into a back space and that would be worse. No…as much as he loathed it, he NEEDED the men there. He needed them there, their eyes on him, their attention directed at him, to keep him focused on not doing anything with Cora. The more they watched him, the more self-conscious he would be, the more aware that no matter how badly he wanted to be closer to Cora, he had to maintain his typical and normal spacing. He needed them to watch him so that he wouldn't touch her so they wouldn't see.

Anything out of the norm for him would clue the men off and…he HAD to be on the Enterprise, he had to be allowed to keep his position as First Officer, to keep Kirk from making mistakes. If it came about that he was clearly starting to be emotionally compromised…he might not be taken seriously, and he NEEDED Kirk to listen to him, to heed his warnings. He had to appear normal…even if that was the furthest thing he felt. He felt warm, like he was on fire, his mind starting to cloud , leaving him feeling like he was trying to make his way through a fog, his thoughts distracted, and his skin…it felt like it was tingling…no, electrified whenever Cora touched him. And it was just getting worse. He had to make sure that the crew and Kirk were safe before he made them aware of something wrong with him.

And right now…it meant trying his hardest to act normally around them, as normally as he could around Cora.

"I wasn't asking for your opinion," Kirk countered, "Bones, get that thing off my face!" he shoved the scanner away that was pressed to his cheek.

"Captain Kirk," Cora began delicately, "I must agree with Spock," she continued, not looking back at the Vulcan, not seeing him turn his gaze on her for the first time in quite a while, "This…mission. It could, and will, start a war with the Klingons. War is...not something to be entered into lightly. Empathics are forbidden to war," unless the Mas'heirs forced them into an army once more, "I…am not sure how much of an asset I can be in such a situation."

"Perhaps," Spock added, "You should take the requisite time to arrive at this conclusion for yourself."

Before Kirk could even speak a woman with short blonde hair in a blue Starfleet uniform stepped up to them, "Captain Kirk. Science officer Wallace. I've been assigned to Enterprise by Admiral Marcus. These are my transfer orders," she handed him the papers in her hand.

Spock stiffened even more, looking at Kirk with a bit of…what Cora would say was anger in his eyes, "You requested an additional science officer, Captain?"

Cora frowned, hearing the anger in his voice, something he seemed to hear as well as he swallowed hard, his jaw tensing like she knew he did when he was trying to keep his emotions under control. But why would he be angry with Wallace, the woman had just stepped over. She was starting to move past concern that he was regretting mating with her and more into concern for him in general. She could see it now, he wasn't acting oddly to JUST her…like she'd feared…but to everyone in general. He couldn't be regretting their bonds if he was acting the same with her as with everyone else.

So what was wrong?

She sighed, she wanted to bring it up, but she knew that, to do so in such a place, with the Captain and medical officer right there would NOT be something Spock would appreciate. Whatever it was that was bothering him, he was trying hard to cover it up. She kept getting flashes of emotion from him before he'd bury it and rein it in, replacing it with his usual calm…but even that felt strained. If she brought it up now, it would concern Kirk and McCoy and they'd want tests and Spock would be not very happy that it was happening. No, this was a private matter that she really needed to speak with him about in private she knew.

But at least she could take comfort in the fact that it wasn't HER he was upset with, it was everyone for some reason.

Now she just had to think of a way to help him. Without knowing exactly what he was feeling or why…trying to influence his emotions could make it worse and, if he was THAT aware of his own feelings that he could bury them and restrain them so quickly, he would certainly notice if she tried anything, and she didn't want to risk upsetting him till she could talk to him.

"I wish I had," Kirk sent a charming smile at Wallace before glancing at her file, "Lieutenant Carol Wallace, doctor in Applied Physics, specializing in advanced weaponry…"

"Impressive credentials," Spock remarked.

"Thank you," Wallace smiled.

"But redundant now that I am back onboard the Enterprise."

"And yet, the more than merrier," Kirk smirked at him before gesturing to the seats, "Have a seat, doctor."

"Thank you," Wallace smiled, before moving to sit in the row behind him, beside McCoy.

"Shuttle crew standby for lift off," the pilot called as the shuttle took off, ready to take them back to the Enterprise.

~8~

Cora winced as she stepped out of the shuttle into the Engineering Room of the Enterprise, "You ok Red?" McCoy asked, noticing it.

"I am fine," she nodded, "But…um…Montgomery Scott is rather angry," she warned them.

Kirk sighed, taking the lead out of the shuttle and over to Scotty as Cora, McCoy, and Spock stood there, looking around. Spock stiffened though when he spotted Uhura making her way to the turbolift and headed in that direction, Cora glancing over and watching him…essentially stalk away.

"Everything alright with you two?" McCoy asked her as Kirk angrily began to speak with Scotty.

"I…do not know," she admitted, watching him step into the lift with Uhura, the doors shutting. She sighed, before heading over to Kirk, seeing the two men starting to have words, able to feel each of their frustrations from where she was and wanting to try and avoid a conflict…only to stop short.

She frowned, stiffening and looked over at one of the torpedoes that had been brought in, one of 72 in total, something she felt was a bit much to fire at 1 person, but…there was something…not quite right. She turned to one, moving to stand before it as it sat there, reaching out a hand to gently place it on the casing, frowning as she let out a breath, looking at the torpedo in confusion. It…didn't feel like a torpedo…not that she really knew what a torpedo felt like, but this…this was NOT normal, she could tell.

There was something…

"Everything alright?" Wallace asked, moving beside her as she stared at the torpedoes.

Cora just took a step back, looking over her shoulder, slowly turning in a circle as she eyed the room full of the torpedoes, there was something wrong with ALL of t hem. But what?

"I…am well," Cora supplied as an answer, before spotting Kirk seeming to e finished speaking with Scotty, "Please excuse me," she offered to Wallace, before heading over to Kirk…

~8~

"Spock," Uhura greeted when she saw the Vulcan entire the turbolift with her, she frowned though seeing his tense expression, "Is everything alright?"

She was…torn between asking that and keeping her self-imposed vow of silence that she had made on Cora's behalf to express the anger she felt at what Spock had done. She and Cora had become…friends over the last few months, she…hoped that Cora could sense her genuine regret for how she'd treated her in the Academy and how much she was trying to prove herself as a good friend. But…she saw how upset Cora was when they'd been in the Bridge, when Spock had refused to leave the volcano, she'd seen the genuine fear in Cora's eyes, how upset she'd been and…she was angry at Spock for it.

She was angry that the man was so unaware of how Cora felt. She knew Vulcans were stoic for the most part, it made her wonder how she would ever have been able to endure a relationship with him like she'd wanted for so long. She understood why Cora could be with him, she got it. She did. How the girl could feel Spock's emotions without actually needing him to express them. He was…comfortable around her and she saw it, she'd spent so much time watching him she smacked herself in not realizing what she had been seeing. All the little gestures and moves that Spock made around Cora…she could see that he'd loved her, he wouldn't have taken her as mate if he hadn't.

And for him to stand in that volcano and be so ready to die, even if it was for a good cause…he KNEW what the consequences could be for Cora if he died. He could have been condemning her to die through the empathetic bond she had with him. He would have cost her a friend, the crew a family member, and the Fleet an inordinately valued tool (as much as she hated to think of Cora that way). He should have logically considered that and how much value HE was to them all as well. Yet he hadn't.

So she was angry, yes, but...she could see something in him, that something was wrong and…she could see Cora's expression before she entered the lift, easier to read than Spock. The girl was worried too, and it was her duty as a friend to do what she could to help.

"What were you speaking to Cora about?" he half-demanded of her, not answering her question.

"When?" she shook her head, "We talk a lot."

"I am aware," he muttered, sounding…displeased about it, "Before we met with Captain Pike, you took Cora to the side, you spoke to her, what did you say?!"

Uhura blinked at how he'd almost sounded like he was…yelling at her just then, "I wanted to make sure she was alright, given what you were planning to do."

His jaw tensed as he turned to her, Uhura stepping back when she saw him…glaring, actually glaring at her, "Did you not also question the strength of our connection?" he took a step towards her, "Question my concern for her?"

"Yes," she admitted, knowing that Cora had to have told him about what she'd said for him to be asking that, that he already knew and lying would get her nowhere, "I did but you can't blame me. You…"

"In the future," he cut in, "You will refrain from making comments on my relationship with Cora."

"Oh will I?" she glared back, "Cora's my friend and…"

"And she is my MATE," he snapped, Uhura falling quiet at the shout, the true shout he had given just then, she had never heard him raise his voice before, "She is MY mate, Lieutenant, and you will stay away from her."

"…are you alright Commander?" she asked, seeing him starting to breathe heavily, seeing a sort of…storm gathering in his eyes, something…was wrong, she didn't need to be Cora to know that something was wrong with him. He wasn't acting like himself.

"My wellbeing is of no concern to you," he nearly sneered the last word, "It will garner you no favor with me. And if you still retain the hopes of some sort of relationship developing…"

"I don't," this time it was her turn to cut in, "I'm just worried about you as a friend."

"Refrain," he ordered her, "I do not care for your concern."

Uhura's lips pursed, "Fine," she spat, shoving past him as the turbolift started to slow, nearing the floor…or at least she was trying to.

He reached out and grabbed her arm tightly in his hand, "You will stay away from Cora," he told her, his voice low, Uhura able to hear a dangerous note in it, a threatening one, "You will cease whispering in her ear. Is that understood Lieutenant?"

"You're hurting me," she told him, trying to pull her arm back, but he refused.

"Do you understand?!" he nearly shouted again.

"Yes, fine," she gave in, Spock letting go of her arm as she yanked it away.

He didn't even bother to apologize, or even comment on it in a slightly apologetic way as he strode past her and into the Bridge.

Uhura stood there a while longer, rubbing her arm, staring into the Bridge at Spock. That was…not like him at all. Vulcans didn't touch often, he wouldn't have grabbed her like that. She took a breath though and stepped out, knowing that something was wrong with the man for sure now, knowing she needed to bring it up to the Captain. If Spock reacted that way to her just talking to Cora…how would he react to others, to men, to Chekov when he hugged her or Kirk when he teased her?

She moved to her post, sitting down but keeping her eye on Spock as he sat at his own post, rigid, his eyes closed as though focusing on something.

He knew that he had been…wrong…to do that to her, to grab her and essentially threaten her. But…she was threatening his relationship with Cora! She was whispering in his mate's ear, telling her he did not care for her, telling her he was selfish, and he could only imagine what else. And he would NOT have that, he would not let anyone come between him and Cora. She was HIS mate. His!

He winced at those thoughts, shaking his head fiercely to shake them out of his head. It was that line of thinking that would lead to him attempting to settle the Pon Farr in a method he was desperately trying to avoid. He didn't want to do that to Cora, to force her into that situation. But it was getting harder to keep away from her. Every little gesture others made to her made him tense and stiffen and made his heart stop for a moment, his blood run cold before he felt an anger set in. Small things…a touch, a joke, a tease, a look, from anyone else at HIS mate was nearly…setting him off. He did not want it to reach the point where he would grab her hand and pull her way from all the other eyes that were taking her in.

He closed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath, trying to focus once more before Kirk arrived on meditating as deeply and as quickly as he could, trying to push the effects of the Pon Farr away for the moment.

And he knew he was failing.

~8~

"How are you Cor?" Kirk asked as he and Cora got in the turbolift, heading up to the Bridge. It was…odd for the two of them to be there alone, without Spock. The Vulcan rarely ever left his mate's side and Cora didn't seem to like being without him either, especially not if her reaction to Spock's short reassignment was anything to go by.

"I am well," she nodded, "How are you James T. Kirk?" she asked, trying to be 'less formal' as he often insisted she be when it was just them with a few select members of the crew.

Kirk rolled his eyes, "Cora I've told you a thousand times, it's Jim or…"

"Captain Kirk," she amended.

He sighed, shaking his head fondly at her, it was…oddly nice to have someone respect him as much as Cora did, and even though he knew it was slightly to do with how she'd been raised by the Mas'heirs to believe all others were superior to her, he knew it was a larger part her natural respect for him and all he'd done as Captain.

"One day Cor," he muttered, "One day I'll get you to call me Jim."

She gave him a small smile, "We shall see Captain Kirk."

He let out a little laugh, before glancing at her again, "But really…are you alright? Are…you and Spock?"

"We are well," she agreed, "Better now for not being separated."

Though she wasn't sure how much that was true any longer. Spock had been…distant recently, ever since Pike had died, she knew he'd mind-melded the man to experience him dying but she'd interfered…ever since that night he'd been different. She was hoping it wasn't what she'd done, comforting Pike as he as dying that had set him off against her and everyone else. She didn't think it was, he'd seemed…almost relieved when he'd felt Pike's emotions changing from hurt and fear and loneliness to calm and peace and comfort. She just…didn't know why he was pulling away from her.

"Are you well Captain Kirk?" she repeated.

"Fine," he answered shortly…till he noticed her look and sighed, "Right, genius move Kirk, lie to the human lie detector."

"I can determine the falsehoods of a number of other species…" she began.

"It's a figure of speech," he cut in, "Alright," he rubbed his head, knowing that there was no one better to discuss his frustrations and emotions with than an Empathic, "Actually, Scotty just quit and your boyfriend's second guessing me every chance he gets," he sighed, "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate. It's just…sometimes I want to rip those pointy things off his head. Hell maybe it's me…"

"It is just you," Cora nodded.

He let out a laugh, "Because you don't hurt people."

She blinked, "Because his ears are, I believe the human term is, cute."

Kirk really laughed at that, at hearing 'cute' and a reference to Spock in the same sentence, "Whatever you say Cor," he shook his head, frowning when he saw her look back at the doors as they opened, revealing Spock at his post, and Cora's expression saddened only slightly, more to concern than actual sadness, "Cor…are you really ok or were you lying to me?"

"Empathics cannot lie," she reminded him.

He shook his head at how much she and Spock were alike, before clarifying, "Then did you just…let me assume?" he eyed her as she was silent, "Cora…are you guys fighting?"

"I do not wish to speak of such a private matter Captain Kirk," she began, "But I do not believe so."

"How do you not 'believe so?' Wouldn't you know?"

"We are not fighting as you humans would describe it, with yelling and arguing and physicality. We are…" she shook her head, "I am not certain there is a word for it."

He nodded, knowing that neither she nor Spock really understood emotions and relationships and how they tended to work what with Spock being Vulcan and Cora having been raised in a world where her 'partner' was chosen for her and her life would have been nothing but childbirth for years on end. All he could think of, logically as Spock would want him to think, was that something had to have happened about the volcano that was upsetting both sides and keeping them from actively speaking about it, despite them being on good terms with each other, he knew that if they didn't talk soon that it would just build up and get to them later.

"If you need anything," he told her, "You can come to me."

"Nyota Uhura has been helping me," she reassured him.

"Still," he looked her in the eye, "Anything you need Cor, I'll try to help you."

She nodded, smiling, "Thank you James T. Kirk," before she walked off to take her seat beside the doors.

"It's JIM!" he called after her.

"Captain on ze Bridge!" Chekov announced, just noticing he was there from his shout to Cora.

"Captain," Sulu greeted.

"Mr. Chekov," he walked over to the boy, "You've been shadowing Mr. Scott, you are familiar with Engineering systems of this ship?"

"Affirmative, sir," Chekov nodded.

"Good. You're my new chief, go put on the red shirt."

Chekov froze at that, he knew what the red shirt meant, there was a sort of 'curse' to it that the red shirted members were always the first to find themselves in danger or…dead. He swallowed hard, "Aye, Captain."

"Retract all moorings, Mr. Sulu," Kirk ordered a few minutes after Chekov left.

"Yes, sir," Sulu nodded, doing just that.

"Lieutenant Uhura, open the ship wide channel."

"Yes, sir," she nodded at him, opening the channel.

"Mr. Chekov, how are we looking down there?" he called into the comm., sitting down in the captain's chair, knowing Chekov had gotten down there by then.

"All systems nominal, Captain," the boy replied.

"Copy that."

"Warp available at your command."

"Thank you, Mr. Chekov. Alright, let's ride," he nodded at Sulu.

"Yes, sir," Sulu punched it, sending them into warp.

Kirk leaned over, glancing at Cora and Spock, when Uhura spoke and pulled his attention back, "Channel open, sir."

He nodded his thanks, and began to broadcast over the ship, "Attention, crew of the Enterprise. As most of you know, Christopher Pike, former captain of this ship and our friend, is dead. The man who killed him has fled our system and is hiding in the Klingon homeworld. Somewhere he believes we are unwilling to go. We are on our way there now. Per Admiral Marcus it is essential that our presence go undetected. Tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been high, any provocation could lead to all out war," he paused, letting it sink in as he turned to look at Spock on his one side, before glancing at Cora on his other side, seeing both their expressions, Spock stoic as ever, Cora's…concerned and…he just couldn't do it, "I will personally lead a landing party to an abandoned city on the surface of Kronos. There we will capture the fugitive, John Harrison, and return him to Earth so he can face judgment for his actions," he decided, "Alright, let's go get this son of a bitch. Kirk out."

"Thank you Captain Kirk," he heard Cora call as he turned to look at her, smiling and nodding at her.

"Captain," Spock stood suddenly, "I believe you have made the right decision. If I can be of assistance, I would be happy to accompany you on the away team."

Cora frowned and looked at him, he…hadn't made any mention of her, unlike when they'd gone to face Nero, he had requested she come and…she felt like this would be something they would need her for, yet he was refusing to say anything.

"You? Happy?" Kirk scoffed.

"It is an expression," Cora shot back at Kirk, making the man laugh at hearing his worn words reflected back at him.

Spock nodded, "Cora is correct. I was simply attempting to use your vernacular to convey an idea."

"Thank you, Mr. Spock," Kirk nodded, "Cora, you're coming too," he pointed at her.

"Is that necessary Captain?" Spock frowned, Cora seeing his hands tightening into fists beside him.

"Very," Kirk told him, the tone of his voice leaving no argument.

Spock's jaw clenched as he stared Kirk down a moment, before he glanced at Cora, seeing her watching him, her teal eyes boring into his own. He blinked and turned abruptly, making his way out of the Bridge.

"Spock," Cora reached out to touch his arm as he passed her, feeling him stiffen under her touch, "Are you alright?"

He gave her a short nod, "I am perfectly fine," he said, his voice tense as he stepped out of the room.

"Cora?" Kirk frowned, seeing her watching the Vulcan go with concern etched on her face.

But Cora was silent, unsure of whether she should tell Kirk that Spock wasn't speaking the entire truth…or feel even more alarmed that Spock had not told HER the entire truth.

~8~

Spock strode through Engineering, having had to get out of the Bridge, he just…couldn't be there any longer, not with Cora right there, not while knowing she was concerned for him and would try to comfort him. He violently pushed down the illogical thoughts of how he'd left her on the Bridge surrounded by other men, NOT wanting to think that or think of that, because logically he knew that Kirk and McCoy and the others were never going to do something like that to him or Cora and trying with all his might to focus on that and to remain logical.

He needed a distraction though, he'd needed to work out something, anything, to keep his mind off Cora. Her touch had nearly sent him over the edge, it had actually made his mind go blank for a second or two, made him lose his breath at the touch of his mate…he swallowed hard. The Pon Farr was setting in more quickly than he anticipated. He was trying though, to focus, to meditate any chance he got…but there was too little time for it.

At the moment he still possessed enough rational thought to know he did not want to harm any member of the crew, he did not want the Pon Farr to lead to combat to the death, to work out that aggression building in him. Equally he still retained the sense of mind to know he did not want to lead Cora into feeling an obligation to be with him, that what should be, for her people, a sacred melding of two people had to be rushed or forced.

She had respected him, she had opened herself up to allow him into her mind, something he and his culture required of a mate. He would NOT take this from her. He would not force her into something like that to take out his…passions in another way beside combat. He knew she was not ready, the breeding programs, experiencing and remembering the sense of her mother dying when she'd just been born because of the programs, had left a scar on her. He did not want to rush her, he did not want to force her, he respected and cherished her too much to do that to her…

But it was hard, the Vulcan instinct in him was leading him and pushing him to complete their mating in a physical sense. Vulcans could 'be with' their mate whenever they wanted, it wasn't that ever seven years they would be with their mate, it was just that every seven years the HAD to be with them. He wanted to complete and solidify the mating with Cora on his own, of his own free will and not because some illogical and disturbing biological instinct was forcing him to. So he refrained, he pushed against it, he fought…

But in so doing it just built the feelings up even more. He tried not to look at her, he tried not to touch her, he tried (vainly) not to think of her…because it just made him want her more. And the more he pushed the feelings away, the more they built up and the more he fought…the less his logical mind could focus on other things. He was putting so much effort into not forcing Cora's hand or allowing himself to build up more with her that he wasn't able to keep his mind or body from doing the same with others. He was growing angry, angrier and angrier at everyone. At the men for looking at Cora, at the Captain for not listening to him and getting Cora into dangerous situations, at the women even…he was just angry.

And it was affecting him.

Intense meditation could be used to overcome the Pon Farr, but he had neither the time nor the space nor the…focus to do so. No matter how Vulcan he was, his human half was still present, it made it harder for him to truly focus that deeply on meditation. So he was doing all he could to work out some way around it, some way that would allow him to not harm a crew member nor harm Cora…

It was hard though because Cora was just…everything to him. She had become the focal point in his life, the one being in all the Universe who understood him without question, who knew his soul so intimately she could tell from a single glance, not even needing to feel his emotions, when something as bothering him. Her heart, her concern, her empathy, her spirit were the most beautiful things he'd ever seen and…she was beautiful as well. Her red hair, her teal eyes, her pale skin, her lips that were so soft they made even his Vulcan half accept that to kiss her was an enjoyable experience…

He closed his eye slightly, shaking his head as though to push the thoughts away.

This was NOT helping him at all.

He opened his eyes and spotted Wallace standing before one of the torpedoes that Marcus had had shipped to the Enterprise, one he was unaware that Cora had been focused on earlier, and saw it, a distraction. He stalked over to her as she scanned one of the weapons, just standing there waiting for her to notice him…

A/N: Oh Spock, try all you want, you won't escape Pon Farr }:) But yay, Cora's realizing that it's everyone getting to him and not just her, and it's definitely not just her noticing ;)

I hope Spock doesn't seem too OOC considering Pon Farr. I figure if, in the original series, he could throw a plate at a woman and scare her into fleeing his room as he shouted at her and threaten to snap McCoy's neck for trying to give him an examination, that threatening Uhura isn't too far off :)

Some notes on reviews...

Yup, Loki/OC :) And a separate Thor/OC planned, but Loki will be up on the 22nd ;) I've got a tentative set of covers and a sneak peek introducing the OC on my tumblr (link on my profile) on my 'Upcoming Stories' page if you're interested :)

That was definitely a little intentional to end the last chapter with a hint of Angel, because I wanted to show that Cora, through knowing Spock, is more rational in this chapter where she works it out that it's NOT her and it's not him regretting anything since he's acting out of sorts with everyone ;)

Lol, you're welcome :) I'll admit I attempted to write something once, a lemon-esque thing, and it just came out really weird and awkward and made me realize as I was writing that it was like that because I just didn't want to write a moment that should be so private for everyone to read :) So no smut from me :) We might get lead ups to moments or suggestive scenes but nothing graphic and nothing of them actually doing the deeds. I think the most I've come was someone taking a shirt off or two people starting to kiss on the beach and then...cut to the next scene lol :)

I'm glad you liked WWTW :) I think I'd do a crossover for Cora and Kirk's OC just to see Spock's reaction to the other Spock with Uhura :) Yup, Loki's next and it'll follow Thor, then the Avengers, then Thor 2 ;) I saw Thor 2 online, bit bad quality, but I thought it was great :) I won't say anything about the assumptions though, I can say that there'll be something in chapter ... that might answer it ;)

Circular thinking for Spock lol, quite illogical ;) That's definitely going to be a big thing that, the more Pon Farr sets in the less rational he becomes to the point where he'll be missing a lot :)

Awww thanks! I'm glad the stories are able to brighten up your day a little :)

Oh I LOVE Firefly/Serenity :) I was River Tam once for Halloween in High School a la the Safe episode :) And I've got a Mal/OC story outlined too ;) And thanks :) Lol, I've probably just lost my mind and have started to see the OCs as real people so I can't really bring myself to write M-rated things for them. It's like they live in my head and I've got about...15 OCs in there at the moment so that would be a bit awkward for them too lol :)