Hey guys – thanks for your patience while I was studying. My exam is finally done, hurray!

Some replies:

Hikaru: Ok, ok, I'll think about it! I agree about Spock, times are tough on a Vulcan. Glad you are liking it. ;0)

Underneaththesheets: that it does, that it does. Hopefully it's worth it? ;0)

wmonica: rant I know, but I was being simplistic for the non-Voyager fans. I have to admit that I'm a Voyager girl myself, though TOS is my next fav. I didn't get the idea from the episode per se, but it reassured me that my idea wasn't totally crazy, haha. If you read carefully, you'll probably see a bunch of Voyager stuff in here (I keep having to go research if something existed in TOS or not – I seriously wish they had holodecks!). /end rant

: I generally write stuff as I see it happening in my head. So this might sound crazy, but I imagine reading my fics (providing I write them well enough) is a lot like watching the movie going on in my head. It's been terrible studying, because suddenly the next "scene" will jump into my head and then I have to go write it out before I lose it. Sorry about the waits! :0)

Shout outs to mildetryth, Chimcha, Jord-El, Tie-dyed Trickster, mou, yumi2482, matakishi (I know, you guys are all awesome!), Kirihana (well I'm really glad I didn't ruin the section for you, haha!), steph88NYC, MoonRose91, Dreaming-Of-A-Nightmare, hpets, signofthetimes and lovefan81 for reviewing. This chapter is for you guys. :)

Life in the Neutral Zone

Stardate 2258.120. At the request of the Federation, the Enterprise is dispatched to Earth Station 8, located at the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone. It is suspected that recent distress calls in the area are due to Romulan attacks, and the Enterprise is tasked with defending the colonies and space stations in the area. An encounter with Reman rebels leaves Jim and Spock the only ones on board, until they pick up some Andorian refugees.

***********************

Andorians, it soon became clear to Jim, did not get along with Vulcans very well. He was reminded of this multiple times throughout the next few days. Their new Andorian crew members were nothing but cordial and kind towards Jim and he found them quite engaging conversationalists, but his First Officer was having a much different experience.

"It is a matter of culture," Spock had explained to him three days into the Andorians' stay. The Vulcan was sitting on the couch in his quarters with an electric three-tiered chessboard in front of him. Jim was at Spock's desk flipping half heartedly through a long report from Starfleet on how best to repair communicators, as Spock's broken one lay forlornly beside the Vulcan on the couch. In reality Jim was spending more time watching Spock. The Vulcan would sit motionless for several minutes each turn. Once he had decided the most logical move, he would reach out one long-fingered hand and move the piece carefully. The computer would take a few seconds to decide on its own move, Spock would move the desired piece and then the process would repeat itself. Jim found it quite fascinating, in stark contrast with his own intuitive style of play.

"Andorians and Vulcans have a history of conflict, regardless of our current peaceful interactions," the First Officer had explained as he slid a rook across the board. "As you have certainly gathered, Vulcans prefer logic and discussion over all other types of negotiation. In contrast, Andorians are a highly emotional and conflict ridden species, even more so than Humans. A central element to their culture, which I would request that you make every effort to avoid Jim, is the Ushaan. It is essentially a right to fight to the death against someone who has wronged you – a situation Vulcans would find both unnecessary and crude."

Jim looked at him over the top of the report. "What, Vulcans never fight to the death? For anything?"

Spock flushed inexplicably, his eyes fixed on a pawn in front of him. "There is a time in a Vulcan's life when they abandon logic for a brief period in order to procreate, termed the Pon farr," he said uncomfortably.

Jim grinned. Sex talk with Spock was always fun. He abandonned all pretenses and put the paper down. "Yeah, I've heard of that."

"Have you?" Spock said, looking up, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah," Jim laughed. "I went for a Vulcan girl at the academy once. She explained to me in hilarious detail why she was refusing me."

Jim leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms behind his head. "So you go all sex-crazy and fight each other?"

"Not as a matter of course, no," Spock said, looking slightly offended at Jim's description of his species mating ritual. "Combat is only necessary if one of the partners wishes to select another mate. Then the ritual of kal-if-fee is performed, where the new champion challenges the original bondmate to a fight to the death for the right to mate."

"So somebody comes and steals your wife, so you fight them to the death?" Jim replied skeptically, reaching for his coffee. "Sounds a lot like a fight to the death because somebody has wrong you Spock."

"It is not," Spock said calmly, moving the computer's piece for it. "Considering that once a Vulcan enters Pon farr they must mate or die, a fight to the death is a purely logical course of action. If the Vulcan is unable to win his mate, he would die regardless of whether he is killed by the plak tow or his opponent. The latter is a more merciful death."

Jim spat out his coffee all over his report. "Sorry, if you don't mate you die?" he said gleefully. "So you are literally dying for sex?"

Spock was not amused. "That is the way my species chooses to ensure procreation, yes. I must admit I find it far more logical than the Human method of simply desiring to mate irrespective of one's situation or biological stage in life."

"So, do Vulcans not have sex for pleasure?" Jim said, as a concerning thought occurred to him.

Spock's mouth twitched as if he knew what Jim was thinking. "Being only half Vulcan, I can not tell you what is the nature of sensation derived by Vulcans when they mate. I believe that, outside of Pon farr, my own reproductive physiology is more Human in character."

Which was Spock's way of reassuring Jim that he liked it when they got it on. Jim relaxed, a grin spreading over his face. "So, you likely to go through this Pon farr thing anytime soon?"

"It is unlikely Jim," Spock said seriously. "I am not yet old enough to experience it, even if, as my father expects it may, my Human biology were to shorten my lifespan and thus accelerate my maturation. It may be that I will never experience it."

Jim sighed, "Bummer."

Spock raised his eyebrows, but simply said, "I believe we were discussing our Andorian guests?"

At that moment, the door chimed. Jim raised his eyebrows at Spock before saying "Come in."

The Andorian Captain Valik entered, followed by two others. Jim recognized one of them as Sahran, a young Andorian that had been heading up the team repairing the engineering bay, though he did not know the other. Jim and Spock stood up to greet them.

"Captain, Commander" Valik nodded at each of them in turn, his counterparts following suit. "We looked for you in your own quarters, but were unable you locate you there. I must confess I am surprised to find you here. I hope we are not interrupting something?" he leered at them.

"You are not," Jim said calmly.

"Good," the Andorian replied. "We are here to report that Sahran and his team have completed the first stage of repairs, increasing the Enterprise's warp capability to 5."

Jim sat down again, "Good work, Mr. Sahran. Please pas my gratitude on to your men."

Sahran nodded, "I am pleased that I could help repay you and your First Officer for accommodating us."

"It has been to our gain as much as to yours, Mr. Sahran," Spock said congenially. Valik sent him a deeply skeptical look, but Sahran smiled.

"At our current speed we will be able to exit the Reman-occupied space by the afternoon tomorrow," Valik reported. Jim smiled, but the Andorian continued. "However, we were hoping that a sight change of course could be made."

"Oh?" Jim said, surprised.

"Yes Captain," Valik said, excessively respectfully. "We wish to return to our vessel to recover the remains of our crew members. As per our customs, they must be returned to Andoria to be buried, but we were unable to accommodate them on the escape pods."

"Captain, I believe I have already made my opinion on this matter clear?" Spock said quickly.

Valik turned to him frowning. "Just because your race does not hold the same level of loyalty to its own –"

Jim felt a burst of anger as he interrupted the Andorian. Spock's cheeks had flushed a deeper green. "Actually, Captain Valik," Jim said blithely, "Commander Spock has been trying to convince me that it is necessary to return to the Grignard to search for survivors, both Vulcan and Andorian. It would seem your loyalties lie in the same place, at least for now."

It was the Andorian Captain's turn to flush, his face going very vividly blue. Jim had an odd moment of feeling very pink in comparison to his cool-coloured shipmates before he broke the tense silence that had ballooned in the center of the room. "Mr. Spock, do you feel capable of piloting the Enterprise?"

Spock nodded, his face quickly resuming its normal colour. Jim ran his hand through his hair. Damn but it was odd having Spock act like this. The Andorians' presence and constant provocation probably were not helping.

"Captain Valik," Jim said, taking a steadying breath. The Andorian nodded again, looking slightly embarrassed. "Could I ask you to assign your men to operational stations as you see most appropriate so we can get the Enterprise on its way? I am assuming the majority of the repairs are nearing completion. We will need at least a skeletal bridge crew, including a communicator proficient in Reman and Vulcan if you can find one. I would like Mr. Sahran to head up a crew in engineering."

"Captain, may I suggest something?" Spock asked. Jim nodded. "I think it would be prudent to prepare for a possible attack at the ship. It is my conclusion that the Remans intended to eradicate the crew and then take over the Grignard. If they had wished to simply eliminate the ship they could have done so using weapons. We would therefore be wise to anticipate meeting them there."

"That makes sense," the Andorian that Jim did not know finally spoke. "If they are recently separated from the Romulans as you say they are, they would have a need for new vessels."

Jim swallowed as he realized the implications of that. He nodded at his First Officer before addressing Valik again, "I would suggest some of your crew be assigned to the weapons array then. If you have a doctor then please have them familiarize themselves with the medical facilities."

"Unfortunately our doctor was killed by the Vulcans he was attempting to treat," Valik said, putting a little more emphasis on the words killed by the Vulcans than Jim thought was really necessary. Spock's jaw clenched but he did not say anything.

Sahran alone of the Andorians seemed to have noticed this. Glancing at the Vulcan quickly, he spoke to Jim, "I know a few tactical officers with advanced first aid training that can be spared from engineering."

Jim looked at him gratefully. "Thank you Mr. Sahran. Might I suggest that you begin preparations immediately? Mr. Spock and I will meet you and your selected bridge crew on the bridge tomorrow morning before we arrive to agree on a method of approach."

All three Andorians bowed and left. As the doors slid closed, Spock turned to Jim. "Captain, I apologize if I was less than genial with our guest –"

Jim smiled easily, relaxing back in the chair, "Well, considering that if I were you I'd have tackled him to the ground about ten minutes ago, I don't think you need to Spock."

There was a silence as Spock nodded and then walked over to the desk. He leant easily over the lounging Captain to activate the computer interface on the wall in front of them. His fingers began to tap away rapidly, searching for something.

"What's up?" Jim said, interested.

"I am looking for the schematics of the navigation systems of this ship. While I am confident I will be able to pilot it, I have not yet flown a Galaxy class ship outside of simulation. It would be logical for me to refresh my knowledge of the system before I should attempt to do so."

Jim grinned coyly. "That sounds like a job that might take some time Spock."

"It is likely that the material will be lengthy, yes," Spock replied simply. Jim continued to grin up at him.

"So, you're going to need your chair then?" he asked as Spock located the file he wanted and brought it up on screen. The Vulcan turned to look down at him.

"That would likely be the most comfortable arrangement," he agreed. "You would be welcome to make us of the couch I have vacated if you wish to remain in my presence."

Jim threw his feet up on the desk, not making any attempt to get up. He noted with satisfaction that the Vulcan could not help but look over his stretched out body. "Would you like that?" Jim asked, his mouth twitching.

Spock stared down at him and said seriously, "I would."

Jim heart skipped a beat just then. "Say I don't want to give up the chair though?" Jim said, cocking his eyebrow slightly.

Spock looked puzzled. "That would be an illogical desire, seeing that you can accomplish your work –"

"But just say I told you I'd rather stay here. You'd have to convince me otherwise, would you not?"

Comprehension blossomed in those brown eyes and Spock's mouth twisted into an amused half-smile. "You are attempting to initiate intimate contact."

Jim sighed, rolling his eyes. He reached out and hooked his fingers into two of Spock's belt loops. "Sometimes, Spock, I don't know why I try."

"You are proving to me that the mating habits of Humans are indeed illogical," Spock said conversationally. "This is hardly an appropriate time."

"See, that's what the Vulcan Spock says," Jim said patiently. Then, catching the Vulcan off guard, he spun the man on the spot and pulled him onto his lap. Holding him there by his belt loops again, Jim brought his lips up right beside those pointed ears and whispered, "But what about Human Spock, huh? What does he think when I do this?"

Jim came closer to suck on the soft skin behind Spock's ear. The dark black hair tickled his cheek as he was pleased to feel the Vulcan give the slightest shudder. "Starting to seem like a good time now?" he nipped the other man's earlobe.

The Vulcan spun in his embrace, turning until his knees rested on either side of Jim's hips. Jim leant back to give him more room to balance, the chair back tilting. He placed one hand behind his head lazily and grinning playfully at his First Officer. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"I must maintain that the timing of this interaction is illo –" Spock began, but he was unable to finish as Jim threaded his free hand through the Vulcan's hair and pulled him into a kiss. Spock gave a small shrug, the Vulcan equivalent of a resigned sigh, and kissed him back gamely. His hands traveled to Jim's hips, pushing him into the chair with delicious pressure. Finally, Jim had to break the kiss to breathe.

He rested his forehead against Spock's and panted a bit. He was pleased to see the Vulcan looked silently out of breath himself as their eyes met. Spock quirked his eyebrow and Jim felt his skin move against his own forehead, making him smile. "Have you satisfied your hormonal requirements for the afternoon?' Spock asked, totally unromantically, somewhat ruining the moment.

Jim gave him a cocky grin anyway, saying, "Spock, I'm never satisfied."

"Indeed, I have observed as much," Spock said amusedly. Jim laughed and Spock's eyes glinted. "However –"

Jim sighed as Spock's weight shift above him.

"I really must review the navigation systems," Spock said, and then with the speed of a Vulcan he was on his feet again. Jim wasn't prepared for it and so the chair quickly lost balance, tipping over. Jim's head whacked unpleasantly on the floor as the chair slid underneath the desk.

"Oh thanks," Jim said, rubbing his head. Spock looked momentarily shocked, but then he was at Jim's side.

"Jim, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," Jim said, sliding off the toppled chair and shuffling on his butt to lean against the couch. "No thanks to you."

"I apologize," Spock said, sounding very sorry indeed. "I did not expect to upset the equilibrium of the chair's balance to such an extent."

"Uh huh, fine," Jim rubbed his neck as his head pounded. "Just give me a second to recover?"

"Captain," Spock said, looking very flustered for a Vulcan. "I would normally suggest that you report to the medical bay, but seeing as there are no doctors on board I must insist you allow me to examine you."

"Don't call me Captain," Jim said, watching Spock take a tricorder out of his desk. He went to roll his eyes - of course the Vulcan would just have something like that on hand - but it made him dizzy and so he closed them instead. A moment later, warm fingers were pulling his hair apart at the back of his head gently. Even in while pain, that felt good. Jim smiled.

"You do not appear to have any dermal abrasions Jim," Spock informed him. "I am going to scan your head for internal injuries."

Jim nodded gingerly. Moments later there was an extremely loud burst of static just inches from his ear. "Argh!" he said, opening his eyes. "Jesus Spock, I'm already in pain!"

"I apologize," Spock said with his brows furrowed. "The tricorder does not appear to be functioning. Perhaps we should call Mr. Sahran and as him to send one up one of his men who has medical training?"

"Hmm, that's going to be fun to explain," Jim said irritably. Already the pain in his head was lessening and he considered trying to convince Spock he was fine. One look at the concerned Vulcan and he knew it was no good, however. He handed over his communicator.

Spock flipped it open. Immediately there was another burst of static. Both men stared at the device, startled. "Well, that's strange," Jim pointed out unnecessarily.

"Indeed," Spock was scrutinizing the communicator carefully. Then he picked up the tricorder and examined it too. "Something appears to be jamming their frequency."

The Vulcan stood, apparently deciding Jim was not likely to die from his injuries any time soon. Spock cast his eyes around the room for a likely culprit. Eventually, his eyes found his own broken communicator, still lying on the couch. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Taking a few quick steps to the couch, the Vulcan placed the tricorder on the table and seized the offending object. As soon as he brought his communicator near to Jim's the latter began to static incriminatingly. Spock sat on the couch, now fully enraptured by the mystery. Jim stared at him, still absentmindedly rubbing his neck.

Spock turned the communicators over slowly, one in each hand, scrutinizing them carefully. Eventually he obviously decided that there was nothing outwardly wrong with either of them, because he reached into a drawer in the coffee table and pulled out a small screwdriver. Deftly, he removed the face of both communicators.

"Hey, don't break that!" Jim said, getting to knees and turning to face the Vulcan. He was drowned out by Spock's own hiss of surprise and anger. Jim turned to look. His communicator looked normal, from what he could remember from mechanics class, but sitting right over the speaker of Spock's was a little red metal box with its own speaker imbedded in the center. Spock stared at it incredulously before reaching out and pinching it between his thumb and forefinger gingerly.

"You know what that is?" Jim asked, and was not surprised when Spock nodded.

"I have never seen one in person, though I have read about them. They are illegal, not to be manufactured for any reason," Spock said, only half focused on him. He face was inches from the little red box, his mouth slightly open.

"Uh…huh," Jim said cajolingly. "And that's because it's a…what?"

"If I am correct, I believe it is a Romulan device originally devised for the purpose of communicating with and calming infants from a distance," Spock said seriously.

"It's a…baby monitor?" Jim asked incredulously.

"The concept is similar," Spock elaborated. "However Romulans, being the aggressive race they are, tend to have particularly irritable infants. Several decades ago a technology was developed with the intent to solve this problem. However, the Romulan authorities forbade the production of these devices because they function by emitting energy waves that have the effect of increasing the suggestively of any Romulan listening. While effective in convincing infants to rest, the technology also had the same effect on adults. In essence, by talking through this device you could likely convince a Romulan to do anything. Apparently it is also effective on Vulcans, which is unsurprising."

Jim gaped for a moment before exclaiming, "The Remans must have switched your communicator! That's how they managed to convince you to go try out the trellium."

"I have come to the same conclusion, Jim," Spock said gravely. Jim whistled, leaning back on his heels. For a moment both men stared starred at the device.

"You know Spock," Jim said slowly, remembering what he had thought of while talking to the Andorians. "I reckon that the Remans were trying to get this ship too. They managed to take most of the crew, but taking everyone off would have been too suspicious. If you'd killed me and then gone nuts they would have been able to just dock and stroll on board."

"I agree," Spock said quietly. "It was fortunate that it did not occur that way."

Jim reached out to lay his hand over Spock's as the Vulcan put the Romulan device down. Spock flipped his hand over and entwined their fingers. "I am glad it did not occur that way," Spock corrected. Jim smiled.

They both looked back at the table as Jim's communicator gave another distressed squeal of static. Jim grabbed it and put it in his pocket. "So what should we do with that?" he asked Spock, gesturing at the red box.

"I think it would be prudent to keep it, for Mr. Scott to examine on his return. Such a piece of technology could be very helpful in case of conflict with the Romulans in the future," Spock said slowly. "Though it must obviously be kept far from me. It is very fortuitous that I have been spending most of my idle time in your quarters and not my own."

Jim couldn't help a grin at that, but it was brief. "What about the crew?" he said worriedly.

"Yes," Spock said. "It now seems very unlikely that they are safe with the Remans. After we have fulfilled our promise to the Andorians I would suggest that we pursue the Remans with the greatest haste possible."

Jim bit his lip, the faces of his friends and crewmates running through his head. He wondered, a pit in his stomach, where they were – if they were alright, or even alive.

"It seems unlikely to me that they would kill the crew," Spock said, seeing his face. "I believe they intended to make both the incidents with the Grignard and the Enterprise appear to be accidents, to avoid directly provoking the Federation. Once they realize we have discovered their deception, however, it is unlikely they will react peacefully."

"So the crew might actually be at the Space Station?" Jim mused.

Spock looked at him solemnly. "If that is the case, it would bode poorly for all involved. I doubt very much that they are safe if they have been successfully installed there. Have you forgotten our original assignment? We were sent to defend the station," Spock began.

"From Romulan ships," Jim groaned, realization hitting him. He rubbed his free hand over his face.

"Indeed," Spock agreed. "I am very doubtful those ships were in fact piloted by Romulans. If our interactions with this new Reman Empire thus far are any indication, those attacks would seem characteristic of them."

"Damn."

"Indeed."

Jim sighed, looking habitually at the clock. It was late. He stood, holding Spock's hand still. "We should get to bed, tomorrow is going to be big," he said wearily, worry sapping all his energy away.

Spock stood too. "Am I right in thinking you would not object to me joining you in your quarters for the night? I do not feel comfortable remaining alone with this device present. I can review the navigation schematics from your own consol."

Jim grinned, pulling the Vulcan toward the door.