By the time they reached the conference room, Jim was a seething mess and was pointedly glaring at the brand Spock was burning into his bicep with his hand, not even looking where they were going. After weeks of ignoring Jim, not giving his the time of day and blatantly telling him off, Jim tries the same game and now Spock wants to talk to him. The whole situation was confusing and too human for the both of them, but here they were, nearly running to an empty conference room because neither of them could handle these vulnerable emotions. And Jim wasn't happy or used to not being in the know or this helpless. He was supposed to be the seducer, not the seduced with only his captor to look to.

When they reached the door, Spock not-so-gently threw Jim inside and locked the door, "Computer, lock room code 47-2.8"

As the door chimed at the command, captain and commander stared at each other, Jim's breathing labored from Spock's pace. Realizing that he was going to be the first to speak despite Spock's excuse of needing to speak with him, Jim composed himself as much as he could and asked,

"What was it you wanted to talk with me about Mr. Spock?" That's right, upmost professionalism.

For a moment, the Vulcan just stood there, seemingly thinking, yet Jim noticed a twitch in his jaw, Spock was holding something back. "Captain?"

"You pulled me from an important conversation with Bones," The muscle in Spock's jaw clenched at the mention of the Chief Medical Officer. "So what was it you needed?"

What felt like hours passed where Spock didn't speak, much less move. The Vulcan was trying Jim's patience. Even though Jim prided himself with an iron-clad resolve, Spock was one of the few that could break it simply by not doing anything. The captain took a step toward his commander, he wasn't about to let his pull the stubborn and silent gig after dragging him so abruptly from the comfort of his friend. He continued stepping closer until he was toe-to-toe with the Vulcan. He was going to prove his point, damnit!

At the movement, he seemed to jerk back into reality, looking at Jim as though he didn't realize he was standing mere inches from his face. Not that Jim would admit it out loud, but he loved surprising Spock. It gave him a rush when he made the Vulcan shown emotion, even if it was no more than an involuntary twitch or slight widening of his expressive eyes. He want ed everything from someone who consistently gave him nothing.

"Captain, I fail to see your reasoning behind standing so close to my person. Do you wish for me to comfort you as the doctor did?"

Now it was Jim's turn to be caught off guard. His mind screamed 'Yes!' and a part of him hoped Spock would hear it and embrace him like those old 20th century films he's secretly stashed away, but the hurt side, the angry side, bitter in his years alone, won over when the Vulcan didn't move or change his expression from one of exasperated annoyance.

For Spock, he could feel Jim's excitement and joy, evident by his increase in heart-rate, breathing, and the dilating of his pupils, but his verbal response was completely different.

"No, I only need Bones for that, thank you."

Spock's back went rigid, looking at though he was about to snap in half and his expression became even more guarded, if that were possible. Through clenched teeth he responded, "I see. Then perhaps you should ask the good doctor to join you for chess instead of constantly disturbing me after every shift."

He knew it was unfair and hurtful but the thought of Jim with the brash CMO who could emotionally satisfy Jim the way Spock couldn't made his blood boil.

The captain flinched at Spock's words, the realization that his fears were true cutting through right through him. It would have had the same effect if Spock slapped him across the face. His chest was tight and his eyes burned with unshed tears. He quickly turned away to hide his reaction from his commander. 'Keep your head up, you knew this would happen.' He had to be strong, if not for himself, then for his crew. This couldn't compromise the mission or his beloved Enterprise.

Jim squared his shoulders and turned back to his first officer, the one he depended on the most as a captain, and as his friend. He had to be careful despite the pain in his heart, what he said now would dictate what their relationship would be like from then on.

"I will endeavor to do so from this point forward, Mr. Spock. I thought that as a captain and first officer, good rapport was needed both on and off the bridge, I see now that I was wrong. I will no longer disturb you with my attempts at friendship. Thank you for bringing my deficiencies to my attention."

As Jim's speech went on, Spock could feel Jim's wavering emotions, hope, anger, sadness, and at its peak, resignation. But why? Resignation was not something Spock thought Jim felt. His policy was 'I don't believe in no-win scenarios.' not to give up without a fight. He became overwhelmed with the strength of the emotion that his captain seemed drenched in, but just as it washed over him, it was gone just as fast. Jim's mind slowly faded from his, a cold wall in its place. It felt as though a part of his being was being sucked out, leaving a hollow, cold space in the absence of Jim's ever present, warm emotions. Spock began to feel something strange grow in its place, panic.

As Jim finished, he finally looked at Spock, searching for something, anything, but his First remained unmoving. Brushing past the Vulcan, he punched in his code to unlock the door and left the conference room without another word.

When the door shut, Spock doubled over, his eyes wide and his hands shaking. On the outside, it looked like Spock was bent at the waist with an almost unnoticeable tumor in his hand but on the inside, he was experiencing a full blown panic attack. He came to a sickening realization as he combed through his mind, looking for the source of his panic. As if opening a door, Spock looked at his bonds, the frail bond with T'Pring, his sturdy parental bond with his father, and the broken bond with his mother. However, when he looked, there were two broken bonds, one he had never seen before. As he mentally touched it, pain coursed through his mind and body as if being shot. There was an unmistakable mark upon the broken bond, Jim. He and Jim were weakly bonded and he had no idea.

One of the most sacred aspects of his culture, shared between Jim and his captain, and now, he was alone.