I stood up and looked down at the corpse beneath me. I had killed the man who had turned me into a murderer. I turned to face the remaining crew that stood on the bridge, my eyes landing on Spock. His eyes filled with horror as he looked from the body to me. I had become exactly what Khan had wanted me to, a merciless killer. I felt no remorse for what I had done to him. But I did begin to feel remorse for all the innocent lives of the men and women on the star fleet ships I had killed. I looked away from Spock not being able to see that look on his face anymore and turned to the captain.

"Kirk I know that in the past Khan's blood was used to save your own life. We can use it to save the crew on the ship," I stated flatly. I was surprise no one had engaged me, or tried to arrest me.

"The only flaw with that plan is that you just killed the man. The blood has to be fresh," Kirk stated.

"You can use mine. Khan has been infusing his blood into me for the past six months. I will do everything I can to fix what I have done here today. Your medical crew should be untouched. When we beamed aboard we were not far from here so for the most part the crew should be safe. You may take me to Dr. McCoy so he can begin working on the antidote or I will report there myself," I held out my hands waiting for him to cuff me but he simply looked over to Spock and said,

"Escort Miss Amell down to sick bay. While I know she wants to help I also want to ensure she gets there with no problems. After Bones is done with her lock her up," the Captain regained his seat in his chair. As Spock walked over to me and took me by the arm to lead me out I heard Kirk reporting to Star fleet. He informed them that the man known as Khan was dead. He mentioned nothing of me or that I was even aboard the ship.

Spock and I walked in silence down the halls to sickbay. I was too lost in my own head to say anything and I thing Spock was the same. The only time he spoke was to the doctor giving him his instructions. Spock stayed by my side while Bones got to work. It was almost an hour later that he was done extracting blood from me. I felt so weak due to the lack of blood. He must have taken at least three pints. Where that many people dead? Bones told Spock I was free to go but when I stood up I collapsed. I heard McCoy say something about fatigue but I was not really paying attention because Spock was sweeping me up into his arms. I rest my head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. How could I have been such a fool to forget this perfect man?

Once we reached the holding area Spock laid me down gently on the bed inside my cell. He pushed my hair back from my face. I could feel a bit of my strength returning.

"Spock I'm so sorry. I know I do not deserve forgiveness so I am not even going to ask for it but I want you to know I'm deeply sorry for what I did. Not only to you but all those other people whose lives were lost because of me." Spock laid a kiss on my forehead.

"I know love. I'm sure there is a logical reason for why you did it and I'm sure we will find out soon but right now you need to sleep." He was right my eyes began to droop and sleep engulfed me.

When I awoke Kirk and Spock were on the other side of the glass I rose to walk over to them. My strength was back and I felt human again, as if all the blood McCoy had taken had cleansed me.

"Cadet you have a lot of explaining to do," Kirk said flatly. "I could lose my job by covering for you the way I did. But I believe I know you better than that you would not have acted this way unless you were under the influence of something. Clearly you are in a sound mind now. That is why I want you to explain to me everything that happened am I understood?" Kirk's voice was rising in his frustration.

"Yes Captain," I replied flatly. I began to tell the duo everything that had happened the last six months. When I was finished they looked at me in disbelief. The two turned their back to me to talk privately but I could still hear their every word.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Kirk asked Spock.

"Given her need to help the crew it would be illogical for her to lie to us now. But there is a way we can know for certain."

"You sure you want to do that Spock?"

"It is the only way Captain," the pair turned back to face me a determined look on their face. Spock approached the glass and reached his arm through. "Andie I will need to perform a mind meld to validate your story. I need you to clear your mind and focus only on the events you just told us. Can you do that for me?" I nodded and took a deep breath while Spock placed his fingers over my psi points. Before I knew it I could feel him inside my mind looking around and recalling the events. When he pulled away tears formed in his eyes.

"Spock are you okay?" Kirk held on to the Commander trying to steady him.

"I am fine Captain it is the emotional transference. The Cadets regret and emotions were flooding through me all at once, it was a bit overwhelming. Everything she said is true. Andie really had no idea who she was and Khan used it to his advantage. She was a prisoner of war forced to do his bidding." Spock quickly regained his composure. Spock looked at his Captain waiting for his answer.

"I need time to think about everything. If the crew recovers I will consider it an act of mercy and let the Cadet go if not she will be turned into Star Fleet and they can decide her fate," Kirk turned to leave the room leaving me and Spock alone.

Spock walked over to the glass and placed his hand on it. I moved mine up so it was like we were touching, only a thick layer of glass separating us. "Computer open cell," Spock said. Once the door was open he walked into my cell and made sure it shut behind him. Before I knew it I was in his arms again. This time I flung my arms around his neck never wanting to let him go.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered.

"I promised you I would come back." When I had written those words I was not sure if they were true but I did not know for how long I would be able to stay by his side. Even if the crew recovered I knew they would not simply just welcome me back aboard the ship simply because the Captain gave the orders.

"I know but when they told us that there were no signs of you and no body found everyone assumed the worst," Spock clung to me like a little child would to their parent, like if he let me go I would disappear again.

"I'm sorry Spock. I'm so sorry," I moved my hand up to stroke his hair in a comforting attempt.

"After everything I've lost I couldn't afford to lose you to. I knew I would see you again. Everyone said I was crazy and just prolonging the truth but I didn't care I knew you were alive. I could feel it. We were made for each other," Spock pulled away and looked into my eyes. I could see everything he was feeling just by looking into those dark brown globes. He kissed me hard. It was nothing like the previous kisses we had shared. This one was rough, filled with all the emotions Spock was trying to convey in words. When he pulled away both of us were breathing hard. Our foreheads touched as I took his hand in mine.

"Spock you mean everything to me. Had it not been for my love of you I would still be a monster. Your thoughts and feeling awoke me from my prison but I am not the same person who left six months ago. That person was full of life and happiness but now I am just an empty shell. I feel remorse for all the people who died because of me, of all the children who will never see their parents again because I was such a fool. I deserve to be turned over to star fleet who will most likely order my death Spock," at this he pulled away from me. "I do not want to die. I want to stay here with you for the rest of time, but it is only fair that my life should be given for theirs." His free hand moved up to cup my cheek.

"Andie you were not yourself. Your actions to face Khan and protect the crew were incredibly brave. Anything that happened after that was not your fault. You were not yourself; you were what he had turned you into. And you are not empty. We are bonded now, I feel what you feel and you feel love, hopefulness, honor, respect, and a duty to serve your crew. You are the same person no matter what tricks your mind is playing on you," his hands slipped into my hair. "I find that I do not like your hair at this length. Would you object to growing it back out?" I smiled at my lovely logical Vulcan and nodded.

"It would be my pleasure."

When Spock left that night I paced my cell wondering what all was going on outside these walls. As much as I could feel Spock's need to stay with me I told him he had to return to the bridge. He still was on duty and the Captain would need him by his side. I had not expected Kirk to be so leant with this matter but I guess his heart won over logic. Based on what I'd seen that was normally where Spock came in but seeing as how the Commander's heart belonged to me I knew he would not advised the Captain to rethink his decision.

It took three days for news to come back that the crew were recovering well from the antidote McCoy had concocted. And the Enterprise was heading back to Earth to deliver Khan's body to Star Fleet. The Captain had still not come down to speak with me and I think he advised Spock not to either. I had not seen him since that night and my heart ached for him. Every once in a while I would begin feeling him inside my head. His emotions would flood through me and I knew that he wanted to come to my side but his since of duty kept him at his Captain's.

On day five of my confinement Kirk came down to speak with me. "Cadet as I am a man of my word I will not report to Star Fleet the part you played in Khan's attack. However that being said I want you to undergo a complete medical evaluation with McCoy to make sure you are perfectly capable of returning to your post aboard this ship," his eyes danced and a small smile seeped across his face. If there wasn't glass separating us right now I would hug my amazing Captain. While I was surprised he offered me to stay aboard the ship relief washed over me like a monsoon. The Captain lowered the door and helped me out of my cell. "Are my orders clear Cadet?" I flung my arms around him and hugged him tight.

"Perfectly clear Captain!" I exclaimed.

It had taken Bones four hours to completely analyze me. He said that it appeared Khan's blood had completely vacated my system and that my head wound would not cause any more lose in memory and that I had a clean bill of health and was fit for duty. I slowly walked back to my quarters to change back into my uniform. When I opened the door Spock was standing there pacing back and forth. When I entered he looked up at me.

"What did McCoy say?" he asked franticly. He was incredibly wound up for a Vulcan but I simply smiled and said,

"The doctor has cleared me of any past injuries and says I am perfectly capable to return to my post." I saw Spock's eyes light up as he rushed over to me and pick me up and spun me around the room until we landed gently on the bed. "Spock I promise I will never leave you again. There is no where I want to be than right here with you aboard our ship."

"I feel the same way," Spock kissed me and everything was right in the world again. I was home back aboard the Enterprise with the man whom I loved so much and who saved me from myself. ~fin

Thank you to everyone who has read, Favorited and commented. you guys are my inspiration and i hope i didn't disappoint to much with this final chapter. i decided this story needed a happy ending instead of the ending i had originally planned. I look forward to seeing you all in my next Star Trek story because i find i can not simply stop writing them! until next time fans Cadet Andie out! :D