A/N Not. Dead.

-gets tackled- donde esta donde esta Yolandaaa

All that was heard then was the staggered breathing of the reviving soldier.

Each desperate gasp and each painful cough that racked the sleeping form sent jagged spikes of ice along Khan's skin, urging the stunned mad man to forget his anger and come to his aid. To rush by his side.

It was him. It was finally him.

It was John.

Khan was certain of it. Despite the tragedy of feigned loss that had occurred between them, Khan could never forget that face. No, not after it has been the image of his desire and the reason for all that he had done. To save John,

To avenge John,

and now he needed him back.

On the screen, he watched the struggle of awakening take it's place on the sleeping form and it had caused the greatest of emotion to suddenly spark in the sealed and cold heart of a man who had killed to survive. For almost 300 years going back to the that wretched day of disaster and goodbyes, Khan hasn't seen the movements of life play out in John. Ever since he had placed his doctor in the frozen chambers of the cryopod to save him, everything became like a still life picture. Time stood still for them while he ticked on.

Not a breath - not a sound, for 300 years.

The isolation crippled him.

All he could do was stare at the stoic portraits of his people, framed by the frosted glass that barred them from the ever changing world.

But not this time. This time, it was like shattering the frame and freeing the image.

John's lips moving with every cough, the way his chest pumped for life, and his skin regaining it's color - it was a miraculous sight for Khan, one that he had lost hope in ever seeing again.

With much desperation, the Augment had unknowingly dragged his foot forward as if it would lessen the gap that separated them.

"J-jo-"

But the words in his throat had quivered and died when his view was suddenly disrupted by the broad back of Doctor McCoy hunching over and inspecting the seemingly dire situation.

Khan's keen eyes had focused on the tiny space that was open for his viewing and watched as the doctor pressed his hands against John's chest and pushed him down, restraining him from hurting himself.

But Khan's rage had once again been fueled by his sentiment. He saw Bone's actions as a threat - a form of mockery to make it clear to the Augment that they had won.

That they had finally taken hold of his heart.

And then, it was gone. The screen blinking out to be replaced by another image - another face.

"Well Mr. Khan," Kirk huffed out between panicked breaths. His bloodied and tired face from their previous encounter was still very much evident and projected for his tormentor to see.

"If you would like me to keep your crew safe, I suggest we keep situations in order, yeah? I will not hesitate to threaten you for the sake of my own crew."

Khan doubted those word's and he was certain it was nothing but bluff, but he couldn't risk it.

Especially not with John.

"Now, stand down and-"

But before Kirk could finish his stern order, he was suddenly taken back by the swiftness of Khan's decision.

Without a single word, the Vengeance had powered down almost immediately, like a plug being pulled from a running machine. Every glaring gun that had claimed the hopes of all of the Enterprise's passengers and crew were finally pulled back. A weapon deemed harmless for now.

In a way however, Captain Kirk was angered just as much as Khan was. He feared for his ship during those short and dire seconds after he had been beamed back. For those few moments of desperate running with a protesting body, he was afraid.

Khan had control over his ship - the very ship he had designed.

Marcus was dead.

All seemed lost under the wrath of a vengeful Augment, but only if he hadn't made it in time.

Kirk knew that the only way to gain his opponent's attention was to find his trigger. Although faint, he knew it was there. Everyone had one - something that exposed the humanity harbored in the living body.

Marcus had his pride

Jim had his loyalty

And Khan had the only thing he had sought for ever since his wake. The only reasons for his part in this battle.

His devotion.

It wasn't clear before, for Kirk had thought that the only reason for the mad man to want his crew back was to awaken them and breed destruction once more to the world that had shunned them, but looking at the grief stricken face of Khan that harbored so much just from seeing the sleeping face of one man, it was then that he knew.

There was a past behind the mystery of Khan - of John Harrison.

"Bring him to me, Captain," a great voice echoed through the air. The dark and lowly sound sounded all too real reverberating throughout the Enterprise despite being just a mere whisper on the intercom. "Or I will pry him off the corpse of your own doctor and retrieve him myself."

Kirk saw on screen the rigid Augment take another steadied step forward, this time, with movements strong with the aura of animosity that had almost made Kirk take a step back himself as if Khan would have the ability to reach through and grab him by the neck.

He cleared his throat and shook his painful head to rid himself of the fear that had taken hold of him.

Even when it was clear that they had their criminal finally in their grasp, the menace they had caused had greatly heightened his intimidation. Who were the real superiors in this game?

"I'll let you see him. No restraints - I'll let you see him. Only if you give me your word to stand down."

In an instant, the jumbled noises of whispers and angry questions flooded Kirk's ears. Protests invaded his head and desperation leaked out of their voices.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing boy?" Scotty spoke through gritted teeth as he entered behind his Captain. "We just got out of his blasted ship and now you want to invite him over?"

"I know what I'm doing-"

"I sure really hope you know what you're doing Jim because-"

"Scotty please!-"

"I stand down."

The two bickering men had choked back on their words as another grave rumble vibrated through their bones.

"I'll stand down. Just give him to me," Khan warned, but now in the form of an unintentional plea.

But it only lasted for moment before the silence vexed him once more.

"GIVE HIM BACK!"

The explosion of his voice cracked against the transmission, enough to make clear of his stern intent.

His outburst had caused Scotty to bite back his words and had brought a wave of shaken fear for the entire crew.

But Jim Kirk had heard another voice.

A different man.

What he heard was not of the threatening growl of a supreme being. It was not the harsh demand of a criminal wanting to force their own way.

Jim knew. He knew from the way Khan's usually deep and controlled voice broke as he screamed. It was from his eyes pooling with frustration and irritation - it was from his humanity.

It was not a threat - it was a plea.

Not a demand, but a desperation.

And it was only Captain Jim Kirk, who could finally shed the light on the darkness that was Khan.

"Alright," he spoke with a shaken breath, eyes still thrusting him into the center of attention.

"But I will need you to surrender the Vengeance before I can allow you to do anything else. Let my men take over and you can see him."

To Kirk's surprise, the shortest moment of hesitation had engulfed Khan's response.

"And what of the others? What have you done to them? Where are they?"

Despite being the embodiment of enormity, Khan feared betrayal. He had suffered far too much to accept trust once again.

This was why he manipulated.

He used it against the world that had tricked and lied to him which brought him into this extreme situation.

He should've died a ripe old age a long time ago.

He could've grown old and live a mundane life with John Watson…

"I promise you, they are safe. He's the only one we woke."

"Then I surrender. "

Without a final word, Khan had resigned the treacherous battle. All he yearned now was for a familiar face to acknowledge the man he once was.

To finally return to the past in which he had belonged to.

With a stiff nod, Kirk had blinked out of the great screen, ending transmission and resuming his duties as captain. After staggering from the light-headedness that immediately invaded his much abused head, Kirk had hastily arranged a group of crewmen and operatives for the Vengeance acquisition and another party that had included himself for the escort of the madman back into their own company.

Others thought of the Captain as foolish, but to those who knew him, trusted him.

Along his side were the two people who had joined him when they had first encountered the ruthless murderer John Harrison in Klingon territory. Now Uhura and Spock were ready to reunite with the enemy who has surrendered himself to them without hesitance once more.

"Alright," Jim breathed as he clapped his beaten hands together with feigned enthusiasm. "Let's go get ourselves a criminal."

Their meeting was silent and brief.

Upon finally stepping foot inside the vast and gigantic Dreadnought-class starship, what they had feared yet expected had not come to pass in any way. Not a hint of a planned attack nor a suspicion of a cleverly hidden trap occurred as the three ventured into the darkness of the long corridors. Dark, cold, and definitely very much unused by the looks of the still gleaming metal of the walls, they observed.

They took in the grandiose sight of it all - this truly was a ship like no other and it captured their fascination no matter their preference in interest.

What they did ignore however, were the bodies that littered the floor in result of Khan's vengeance.

They kept very much silent as they made their way onto the bridge. The first company of crewmen awaited them until they arrived and they welcomed their captain and superiors with a stiff and uncomfortable nod. One even had sweat daring to trickle down the back of his neck from the tension-heavy gaze that was held behind him.

It was then that Kirk's eyes swiveled to meet the cause of such dread. In front him, still planted on the same position, never moving, never speaking, just communicating by sight alone was Khan once more. His eyes still glazed with frightful fury, but tight with inner anguish and anticipation.

Kirk cleared his throat as he stepped forward slowly as if without caution.

"Ahem- so, Khan-" but his words were yet again left unfinished.

"Don't waste my time, Captain. Take me to him and take me now. " The lowly demand left Kirk blinking out his sudden trepidation and his jaw twitching with chagrin. But before he could breathe in another word, Spock had finally step forward out of Jim's shadow and into the cold and hard stare of intimidating eyes.

"And what of your actions once we meet your demands? What then will we expect from you now that you have been paired up by another intellect? How do we know you won't cause double the destruction - or worse, 72 times the danger? Tell me, Mr. Khan. How do you expect to gain our trust once more?"

Upon hearing his first officer's sudden intrepidity, Jim attempted to intercede with words overflowing out of his mouth. The only disruption that had halted him however, was the abrupt swiftness of Khan's movement, his face now overshadowing Spock's stoicness.

The two looked at each other, as if the argument that might have taken place if they didn't harbor such unique mind sets, have all been played throughout their thoughts.

"I tell you now, Vulcan, that there is no need for me to go through feigning kindness once again. I already have it." Dawning eyes then gestured towards Kirk's form where Spock dutifully followed with his brows knitting together in response.

"Don't make me repeat myself Kirk."

Without another question, Jim gave him a quick nod of assurance and turned his back towards him, grabbing Spock by the arm as he did so, lengthening their distance from the awaiting Khan.

"Of course. Let's go."

But as they walked back out of the entryway, something red and very traumatic had caught the corner of Kirk's vision that had stayed stiff and unmoving from it's place on the cold floor. Taking another curious peek, he had also matched the dark color with the stains that had tinted the Augment's bare forearms, knowing with complete certainty that it had been nothing other than the remnants of the tragedy that had occurred to their formal admiral, his body still evident and pooling in his own blood.

Jim controlled himself through his breathing. The image that had began replating in his head, the crushing cracks of bone and flesh, Carol's blood-curdling scream, and the face of madness ravaging Khan's demeanor - it was all a constant reminder that even though he had located the Augment's humanity and may have the ability to gain the upper hand against him, he must not and never should underestimate the advanced strength and intellect Khan was most feared for.

Hesitance was no longer an option.

Refusing him would sentence the Enterprise and it's people to death and destruction.

'Was I right to make this move?' Jim thought to himself as Khan lingered behind him.

Unfortunately, he no longer had the luxury to take back his word.

Despite the intimidation he had instilled in everyone simply through his aura, there was a growing fear that began to fester within himself as well.

He, for the first time in his life as Khan, was afraid.

Afraid of John Watson.

Ever since his awakening, Khan used his intellect to grasp the upper hand - to always be one step ahead of those who dare to place obstacles in his path and during the rarest times in which they had succeeded, his incredible control over his own mind had proven an advantage for him as he calculated his next move with precise precision.

But not this time.

No, when it came to John, sentiment would always overshadow the logic of the mind.

This time, he didn't know what to do yet he is going into battle without a plan nor armor.

Khan was at his most vulnerable.

He followed in deep silence behind the captain of the Enterprise and his most faithful companions guarding his side. Cautious glares were felt with every step he took and with every breath he had exhaled. Because of his deception, no longer can he manipulate their trust. They know much better now.

Their journey didn't take much long as Kirk had guided them back into his precious ship, snaking their way into corridors like labyrinths that grew colder and colder as they ventured further down the into the darkness.

"I never knew the Enterprise had such hidden corners." Uhura whispered. Jim responded with his own quiet breath and another glance at Khan. "Every ship does."

Khan then remembered how he was found and Jim must have heard of the ghost tales that had accompanied his existence.

A hidden room carrying coffins in which they were laid to rest in.

But unlike the small crampedness of Botany Bay's design, what they were headed for seemed grander, another evident sign of the centuries that the Augments have passed.

Centuries that they could no longer regain.

After delving deeper with the hallways growing narrower, the escort group had finally reached their destination.

Khan's fists clenched,

Uhura looked to Spock, and Spock to Jim as he tapped a single knuckle against the door. Without waiting for a response, he turned the handle and let the blinding medical lights swallow them whole.

Situated in the middle of the room was none other than Bones McCoy hunched over a steel examining table with a torn apart pod littered at his feet.

"Bones. I've brought him." There was no need for explanation nor introduction as Khan pushed past the blockade of people that had obscured his view and stepped closer to the body underneath McCoy's care.

As he inched nearer with every careful step, Khan could feel his chest tighten in agony from the frantic beating of his heart.

John was there, right in front of him.

It was John.

John

John John John.

But the hesitant Starfleet doctor took on a great bravado as he put himself between the two Augments and stretched a stiff hand in front of Khan. A courageous move with the threat of his arms getting easily ripped off his shoulders evident in the desperate stare that were locked into his eyes.

"Move. Please."

But to Bones, although he knew nothing of the man sleeping behind him, John was still a patient, worthy of his utmost care and protection against the seemingly dangerous threat that was present. "I can't. Not yet, not until-"

All of a sudden, a gasping breath had soon caught the attention of the whole room. Violent coughs began to force air out of weary lungs and a body began to shiver restlessly underneath the pathetic restraints that had held him down.

The once worried Khan now panicked under the sudden happening taking place right before him and it only took one swift motion of his hand against the doctor's shoulder and with a quick push, he had threw McCoy into the ground, taking his place beside the struggling man.

"John! John!" Sherlock screamed in desperation, hands cupping the pale face that has haunted him ever since he was certain he would never see that image ever again.

No other words escaped his lips except for that name repeated over and over again like a sacred mantra to keep him alive.

As the body convulsed, Sherlock pressed down on him hard but with the utmost carefulness, hands never leaving the familiarity of human contact as they still lingered against John's face.

He didn't know what to do. Was this the beginning of life or the downfall of death? His thoughts went rampant with no clear logic or reasoning behind his hysteric assumptions.

"John please!"

'Is this the end for John?' he thought in the absence of his own mind. 'If so, might it well be the end of me?'

The answer had came to him in the form of blue eyes blinking open and staring into his.

A/N Aha heeeeyyy...

Yeah I know, a month hiatus but c'mon. At least I hadn't pulled a Sherlock and left you guys with a cliffhanger - oh wait.

Well, I certainly won't do that to you guys again - oh wait.

Okay in defense, finals week made it absolutely impossible for me to update or even think about OTH. After that, Sherlock mini-episode, after that, Christmas break where I used up my available time plotting part 3's story line. And then after that Sherlock S3. So those are my excuses ehehe. I promise though that I won't keep you lot waiting for the next update this time. Well, I'll try to ;)Oh but don't worry, I'm going to be with you again very soon. -winks- Reviews are helpful and welcomed! :3