Ch 21: Invasion of Privacy

The bridge was silent for the most part as Kirk and Spock walked out of the elevator. The only sounds they heard were their own footsteps and the familiar beeps and whirrs of the ship's machinery working. Kirk was still clutching his wounded neck, but Spock, as usual, looked as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Having just switched out the night shift officers, Sulu and Chekov sat in their normal respective seats.

The two young men heard the footsteps behind them and simultaneously spun their chairs around to see who had entered the bridge. They acknowledged the Science Officer and their captain with a nod. "Good morning Mr. Spock, Captain. You two sure are up…" Sulu said, his eyes growing large as he noticed the large red mark on Kirk's neck. Chekov's eyes grew large as well when he looked at the captain and saw the same thing that Sulu did. Mouth open in shock, he exclaimed, "Ceepten! Your neck! What happened to your neck?!?"

Kirk's hand slapped back over the wound on his neck. He had a hunch that it looked bad from the pain that pulsated from it, but the horrified looks on Chekhov and Sulu's faces confirmed the worse. Before he could make up an excuse, Spock spoke up, "I bit the captain's neck while we were in the elevator."

Sulu and Chekhov looked at each other then back as Spock and Kirk, their eyes shifting quickly between the two. Even though they had heard the rumors, there had been nothing to confirm or deny what was said. Nothing, that is, until now. What was strange was that Spock, the more conservative of the two, was the one to willingly volunteer the information. Even more unusual was that he smiled as he said it.

Spock continued, "You see, I have suspicions that other people aboard the ship have their eyes on the captain and wish to pursue him romantically. However, I have already laid claim to him. Until now, that had not been openly established, but the mark on his neck will now make that abundantly clear to any and all who see him." He smiled and stared at the two helmsmen, whose attention was on Kirk, whose attention was on Spock. Spock seemed to be the only one of the four of them that saw nothing wrong with what he had done.

Kirk broke the uncomfortable silence and confronted the Vulcan. "Spock, didn't you tell me we were going to keep our relationship on a professional level when we're on duty?"

Spock looked at the blue-eyed captain, the smile still clinging to his lips. "I remember that conversation perfectly Jim," Spock said, feigning innocence. "If I am correct, we are currently not on duty, Mr. Sulu and Mr. Chekhov are. Until we assume our posts aboard the bridge, we are technically still off duty, so any divulgence of information by me does not go against this agreement."

"Yeah, but I thought part of that agreement meant keeping our relationship between the two of us," Kirk said, clearly irritated at Spock's sudden irrational behavior. "What good does it do us if we just blab the fact that we're involved to whoever we want, simply because we're not on duty?"

An eyebrow rose on Spock's forehead. Still feigning innocence, Spock retorted, "An interesting question Jim. Perhaps I should ask you the same question, as you informed Doctor McCoy of our relationship as well." Kirk's eyes widened. How did Spock find out about that? Spock smirked at Kirk's surprise and continued, "In addition, due to the fact that you shared this information with Doctor McCoy, consequentially, Lieutenant Uhura also found out. How she came to know is beyond me, but rest assured, it created a very awkward position for the both of us. So, if you are not willing to keep our relationship secret, why should I?"

Kirk's eyes burned into Spock's, but Spock didn't betray any anger towards the captain. Instead, he continued to smile innocently at Kirk, ignoring the rage he saw. Sulu and Chekhov now felt very uncomfortable being in the same room as their fellow commanding officers. It was clear that this had turned into a full blown lover's quarrel that they had absolutely no part in. As Kirk and Spock locked eyes, Sulu and Chekhov politely and quickly tried to excuse themselves from the bridge.

"Gentlemen, where do you think you are going?" Spock said in an icy tone of voice which froze the retreating men in their tracks. When they turned to look at Spock, the genial look on his face was gone without a trace, as if it had never been there to begin with. The science officer took several steps toward the terrified men. "If my knowledge of the shift schedules is accurate your shifts begun seven minutes and forty-two seconds ago. You both should still be at your posts."

Gulping, the two nodded and quickly returned to their seats. In a much gentler tone than his companion, Kirk asked, "How long before we arrive at our destination?" Sulu checked the readings on his console, glad to avoid Spock's gaze. "Approximately four hours Captain."

Nodding, he said softly, "Thank you Mr. Sulu. Spock and I will leave you two to your posts. Carry on."

"Aye sir," the two men said in unison. Kirk began walking to the elevator, Spock following directly behind him. Again the elevator door closed behind them. Spock pressed the button for the floor that led to his quarters while Kirk selected the floor for sick bay. Spock noticed Kirk's selection and looked at him however Kirk turned his head away. He didn't want to make eye contact with Spock at that moment.

"Jim," Spock said, craning his neck to see Kirk's face. "Are you going to see Doctor McCoy?"

Kirk's jaw clenched in anger. "Yes, Spock, I'm going to see Bones." Spock's eye twitched at the sound of Kirk calling the doctor by the nickname only he used. Kirk ignored it. "I've got to get this bite mark on my neck bandaged up before anyone else can see it. It's not exactly good for crew morale to go around with something like this in plain sight."

The elevator door swooshed open as they arrived on the sick bay floor. Kirk began walking out of the elevator, but stopped in its doorway. He turned and said, "Oh, and by the way Spock? Just as an FYI for future reference? You're not a dog, and I'm not a tree. The next time you decide you need to 'mark your territory', you'll be spending the rest of the five year mission in the brig." He turned on his heel and walked down the corridor, letting the elevator door close behind him.

Chapel yawned loudly in the empty sick bay as she leaned over the medical table. She wasn't sure why she had to come in so late at night for her shift when most of her potential patients were dead asleep, but she was certain it had something to do with the discussion she had with Doctor McCoy in the mess hall. Since then, she had been assigned to the graveyard shift. Perhaps it was the doctor's way of keeping her away from him. After all, she had dragged a part of him out that he obviously didn't want anyone else to know about. What better way to keep it a secret than to make her work in the dead of night? It wasn't all bad though. Her job was easy since everyone aboard was in tip top shape, so as long as she could keep herself entertained, her shift would end and leave her to do whatever she wanted, which at the moment was to sleep.

To be honest, she really wanted to see the doctor. He made it a point not to talk to her unless absolutely necessary since their discussion and it bothered her. She really did want to get to know him, especially since she was his intern. But how was she supposed to get to know him, let alone learn how to be a doctor, when she wasn't even allowed to work beside him?

Her thoughts were cut off by the door opening. In walked Captain Kirk with a foul look on his face. She stood up straight, not wanting him to see that she was slacking so soon on the job when he looked like he was already in a bad mood. Spotting the horrible looking wound on his neck, she rushed to his side. "Oh my… Captain! What on Earth happened to you?"

"I'd rather not talk about it Nurse," Kirk responded curtly. "I just need it cleaned and bandaged immediately." Chapel nodded and rushed to get an antiseptic, some gauze, and a bandage. She returned to Kirk's side and gently tilted his head upward and away from the wound. "This is going to sting," she said as she sprayed the wound. Kirk groaned through gritted teeth as the antiseptic cleaned the wound and Chapel wiped it clean. Carefully, she placed the bandage over the large red spot and secured it.

Kirk looked down at the nurse and saw the worry in her face. His face softened into a smile. "Thank you Nurse," he said. "I appreciate it. Do you know when Doctor McCoy will be in? I need to speak with him." Something in her eyes told him she knew more about him and McCoy than he preferred. She gave him a knowing smile and replied, "It's still quite early Captain, so it's likely that the doctor is in his quarters asleep right now."

"Actually I'm far from it," came a raspy voice at the door. Both Chapel and Kirk turned to see who the newcomer was and were surprised to see Doctor McCoy. He clung to the doorway, breathing hard. They both ran to his side and carried him into the sick bay, unsure of why he was in the condition he was in.

The doctor was carried to one of the empty beds and carefully laid upon it. "Bones!" Kirk exclaimed, holding his friend's shoulders. "What in the hell happened to you? You look like you've been hit by a truck!"

McCoy's head lolled on the pillow, his head splitting. "Jesus Jim, could you try not to talk so loud? I've got a killer headache." Spotting the intense look of concern on both Kirk and Chapel's faces, he asked politely, "Nurse Chapel, could you please give me and Jim some time alone? I need to talk to him about something personal."

Chapel looked at McCoy, then looked at Kirk, and then looked at McCoy again. She nodded silently and left the room to allow the two men to speak to each other alone. After they were certain that she was gone, Kirk took a good look at McCoy. His eyes were drawn to some strange marks on the doctor's neck. He knitted his brow and looked closer. They looked like…finger marks?

"Jim," McCoy rasped, drawing Kirk's attention from his neck to his face. "He came for me. He came into my room…and choked me."

"Who?" Kirk asked, his voice barely over a whisper.

McCoy licked his dry lips, his chest heaving as he strained to breath despite his badly bruised neck. He answered, "Spock. He attacked me in my room. He…pinned me against a wall and choked me…said something about knowing about what happened between you and me, and snapped. He told me…that you belong to him…and that he'd kill me…if I ever tried to make you fall in love with me again." He grabbed Kirk's shirt and pulled him down closer to his face. Terror pulled his eyes open wide. "That madman threw me across my own room, Jim. He threw me…like I was a goddamn football. And he did it…because of you."

Kirk couldn't help but stare at his best friend incredulously. This didn't sound like Spock at all. Sure, he seemed a little possessive, but to go so far as to deliberately attack the ship's chief doctor? It didn't make sense! To quote him, it was illogical! Kirk shook his head. "How…how does he know about what happened? I never told him anything about you and me…hell, up until last night, I hadn't even seen him, and when I saw him, he was in a bad way!"

"You…you mean to tell me…that you didn't say anything to him…at all?" McCoy asked. "But that's impossible! If you didn't tell him…how did he…"

They stared at each other with wide eyes as it dawned on them. In any other case, an outside party would be the culprit for the information leak. McCoy would blame Chapel, except that he knew that she wouldn't have even known who Spock was as she hadn't officially met him yet. Even if she did know Spock, she had absolutely nothing to gain by telling him what she knew. The only possible way that Spock could have ever found out about something that no one told him about was to have performed a mind meld on either Kirk or McCoy. And considering Kirk had been the last person to see Spock before McCoy was attacked…

Kirk's blood boiled. He didn't appreciate the fact that Spock had mind melded with him without his permission. After his last experience with mind melds, he was extremely leery about participating in another one as it was. Even though he had never expressed this directly to Spock, he had been under the impression that a Vulcan never initiates a mind meld unless there is consent on both sides. Circumstances called for Spock Prime to do it without warning, but it didn't change the moral implications of what he did. To have Spock willingly do that to him for purely selfish reasons…

"Jim," McCoy said, his breath beginning to steady. "I don't know what's going on with Spock, but he's not himself. When I looked into his eyes, I didn't see Spock looking back at me. I saw someone else; someone corrupt, someone evil. There aren't many things that I'm afraid of, but when I looked into those eyes, I damned near pissed my pants. It's possible that he's not even aware of what he's doing. Don't ask me why I feel that way cuz I couldn't tell you if I tried, but it's just something I can sense."

The bewildered captain stared at his friend, unsure if he hadn't rattled his brain when Spock chunked him across his room. "Why are you defending him Bones?" he asked. "I thought you hated him?"

McCoy cut an eye at his friend. "I hate that he stole you away from me. I don't hate him. Yet. But if he ever lays a finger on you, that'll change quickly." His eyes finally met with the square bandage on Kirk's throat. His voice took on a dangerous tone. "Jim? What's that on your neck?"

After what he had just heard Bones say about hating Spock, he decided against telling him that Spock had suddenly taken a liking to his blood and bit his neck. Dodging his eyes, he said, "Uh, Spock and I got a little too friendly last night and he left me a really big hickey. I didn't think it was appropriate to walk around with a suck mark on my neck, so I had Chapel bandage me up to hide it."

He quickly stood up, ignoring the skeptical look on McCoy's face. Taking a deep breath, he said, "You need to get some rest. We'll be arriving at the planet in a few hours and we're going to need our chief doctor in case we run into something unexpected. I'm going to find Spock and ask him what's going on with him."

The doctor grimaced, not liking the fact that his reckless best friend was the one telling him to rest. It couldn't be helped though. Inevitably, Kirk was the captain, and unless it pertained to his health, he had the last word. He let his head fall back on the pillow and closed his eyes, following his captain's orders.

Kirk turned and left the sick bay. When he entered the hall, he saw Chapel standing across from him, worry clear on her face. He smiled at her, aware of the fact that the worry was directed at McCoy. He walked up to her and said, "I'm sure he'll be fine, but he's definitely going to need you keep an eye on him. We're gonna arrive at the planet in a few hours, so make sure he rests until it's time for us to leave."

Chapel nodded and said, "Aye Captain." She tried to walk past him, but he caught her arm, preventing her from entering the room. She looked at him in confusion and then surprise as he leaned in close. To her relief, he brought his lips within a few centimeters of her ear instead of directly on her lips or cheek. It was odd that she found this a relief; in any other situation, she'd hope and pray to have those soft lips touch her. He whispered, "If he asks, the mark on my neck is a hickey, nothing more, nothing less."

The moment he mentioned 'hickey', she figured out what really happened to his neck. She opened her mouth to say something, but he had already let go of her arm and begun walking down the hall. He walked a considerable distance before he turned back to her and winked. She blinked in surprise before giving him a warm smile. As he walked away, she rushed into sick bay to tend to the doctor.

Spock sat silently in his room, not meditating, but simply sitting and thinking. He sat in his desk chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped. The looks on Sulu and Chekhov's faces had expectedly shown surprise, but to a much lesser degree than he had anticipated. Somehow, it seemed they had discovered that he and Kirk were together before he had said anything. But who could have possibly leaked the information? He was certain that Uhura would never have spoken so easily about it with them, but it was possible that she had told one of her friends in confidentiality, who then told one of her friends, and so on until word got to Sulu and Chekhov. By that logic, the entire ship could already know about them. But that didn't seem like that was the case. McCoy wouldn't have shared the information with anyone either, as he was a very private man. Any and all personal information was held behind those tightly pressed lips of his. Kirk was only really close enough to McCoy to share the secret, so who did that leave?

Driven by his desire to seek out the man or woman who had learned about Kirk and Spock, he flew up from his chair and walked out of his room. It was still quite early in the day, but slowly the hallways were being more populated with crew members. He stalked down the hall, gaining strange looks from the few crew members that passed by him. He could care less how they looked at him. Only one thing mattered at that moment; find out who knew about him and Kirk.

As he strode down the hallway, he overheard a couple of female crew members gossiping.

"I'm serious, it's true!"
"Yeah, sure, Uhura and Spock broke up. Why should I believe you?"
"What, do you live under a rock? Azrael Andrews from security saw it during his night shift a few nights ago! Everyone's been talking about it!"

Spock stopped mid-stride and gaped at the two women. They saw him and immediately gasped in fright. Panicked that he had overheard them, they fled down the hall. He watched them run as he mulled over the name in his mind. Azrael Andrews from security? Perhaps I should pay this Azrael a visit… He gave a wicked smile and changed his destination to the security room.