Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Star Trek or Harry Potter. They belong to J.J Abrams, Gene Roddenberry and J.K Rowling.

Warnings: Slash (male/male pairings), threesome, AU, violence, language, angst, character deaths, psychological/anxiety disorders, sexual situations, etc.

Pairings: Spock/Harry/Kirk, hints of Sulu/Chekov and Scotty/Uhura

82. Explanation

Jim stared blankly as the body of Tom Leighton was carried out of his house in a body bag, his thoughts running in swift circles. Harry, Spock and McCoy stood behind him in silence waiting for their captain to speak, giving him a moment to gather himself. Taking a deep, weary breath Jim spoke quietly, "Lets go talk somewhere private. This isn't the safest place to have this discussion."

"Whatever you want Jim," McCoy agreed. After taking the time to relay and confirm their story with the authorities they beamed back up to the Enterprise and headed to one of the nearest conference rooms. Securing the room with a captain's override code was easy, it was actually sitting down to talk that was difficult. Jim rested his hands neatly on the table in front of him, his face set in a serious frown.

"What do you know about Tarsus IV?"

The trio stilled as those words were spoken, the implication clear in Jim's voice. Swallowing, Harry croaked, "Jim… were you…?"

"Yeah," he smirked bitterly, "I was there. I'm part of the infamous nine that could identify Kodos… Tom was one too."

"But Kodos is dead! They found his burnt body," McCoy protested. Spock tilted his head slightly, "But it was never confirmed. There was not enough DNA evidence left to indentify a positive match, not even dental records."

"So you're saying…," Harry trailed off.

"Kodos is alive and I saw him tonight. That's why I disappeared, that's why we're here."

"Dr. Leighton contacted you over the matter," Spock concluded. Jim nodded, "He goes by the name Anton Karidian and is part of a Shakespearean acting troupe that's currently performing here. That's how Tom ran into him."

"But now Dr. Leighton is dead leaving you the sole witness to positively identify Governor Kodos. Did he make any eye contact with you or hint that he knew you perhaps?" Spock questioned maintaining an outward calmness. Jim thought for a moment before shaking his head, "No, we never made eye contact and I kept out of his sight. I wasn't going to risk it."

"But he must have known, must have seen you perhaps when you were leaving. How else do you bloody explain your friend suddenly ending up dead?" Harry protested his prior fear trickling through. The blond captain clenched his hands, "I don't know!"

"Jim, what are you going to do about this? If this guy is really Kodos, then you need to act quickly," McCoy stated fearing for his friend's life, "You need to get a hold of Star Fleet and let them know what's going on." Jim sighed, he knew this and it had been his plan. But now Tom was dead and the more violent part of his personality, the part that had been dormant for years now, wanted revenge for his fallen friend. He wanted to go after Kodos and inflict as much pain as he could upon him. Yet he couldn't risk it, he had duties not only as a captain, but as a friend and a lover. McCoy, Harry, Spock, Teddy and his crew were his top priority, he needed to keep them all safe. And if that meant having to go through the proper channels and procedures to do it, then so be it.

"I need to get a hold of Star Fleet Command, let them know what's going on. I don't care if they bitch me out over it later as long as that bastard is behind bars soon," Jim muttered sagging in his chair. Reaching over Harry took his hand and squeezed it offering what comfort he could. To bear the burden of such horrific memories and carry the weight of the dead you couldn't save was a difficult task. Harry knew and he never once wished for any other person to endure it.

"It'll be okay Jim… I promise it will," Harry whispered. Blue eyes gazed up at the wizard before his lover nodded, "I hope so Harry, I really do."

Sorry for the long hiatus, real life has been kicking my ass and Theo has disappeared off into parts unknown. But I'm starting to get back into the swing of things so that's always good. Please review and let me know what you think!

~Seth