Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.

Author's Note: I'm going to be nice to ya'll this chapter. No cliffies. ;). Please pardon any medical discrepancies. Please pardon any Jim/Carol interaction in this chapter. Ha! I know I know... It's about time.

Chapter 21

Sloan disappeared into his ship as Spock forced his heavy and burning legs to take the last few steps to the peak of the hill. The agent's ship sprang to life, leaving the current crisis behind and another to untangle in the future. The fact the agent had taken a sample of Jim's blood signaled Spock that Jim's life had been toyed with, tampered with over and over again for the sake of science.

The crisis at hand would be a challenge. First to find Jim. Unlike the smoother surface of the ice Spock had finished climbing, this side was rough with sharp ice cracks and protrusions, places with obstruction of vision and more shadows. After 20.3 seconds, Spock located him. The captain was no longer speeding down the icy terrain. An elevated chunk of snow or ice had stopped him. Blood trailed a few feet from Jim's body but that was all Spock could see. It could be from his already sustained injuries or new ones, from the looks of the difficult terrain.

Whether or not the captain was alive after his journey down the ice was to be determined, but Spock did not care to contemplate that matter with the full force of his logic.

There was only one way to go down and reach Jim quickly and it would be almost as dangerous for Spock. The coat Spock wore would increase the friction, cause a lag in the velocity, and get caught among any cracked pieces of ice. He shrugged it off and tossed it aside as he ran from the plateau to gain momentum. He dwelled not on the cold but that Jim's survival depended upon Spock reaching Jim- before his body was propelled again towards the edge.

However, getting Jim to the Enterprise was his best chance to survive his injuries. Spock opened his comm and gripped it tightly

"Spock to Enterprise. Captain Kirk's condition is critical. Are transporters operational? Request immediate transport to ship. Alert medical."

"Commander...no longer...fields...we...attacked..." The static prevented further communication but Spock kept the comm close as he went down on the ice.

Sliding head first, Spock gained speed after 4.3 seconds. His body felt numerous twinges of pain along his chest when he crossed over a mound of packed snow. His face barely touched the ice- but the ice felt like a million microscopic blades. Spock used all the strength he had to avoid pressing his facial skin on the ground. He surmised the blood trail was not from previously sustained wounds after all, but a result of Jim's trip down the incline.

He was certain he would be able to reach the captain, until the captain's body moved slightly, breaking its stillness, and began the cycle towards a sharp drop-off.

No no no.

Spock's new and illogical connection to Jim gave him an emotion he could not ignore. His hopes were crashing as he envisioned Jim falling over the edge into a fathomless space within the very core of Revlair.

I will not let you die.

It was a thought Spock had which haunted him briefly. The familiarity cut him to the quick. It was what Jim said to him, he thought angrily to himself. What a fool I have been. And now, before Spock could deepen the friendship he actually desired with Jim, the captain was to be taken from his life...again.

Spock's body was forced sideways after ten seconds but he turned his head to see Jim drift closer than ever to the edge. Hope surged in Spock as Jim's body slowed.

Spock reached out a hand as he began to stop his own body from sliding down further. Feet and hands digging into the snow and ice, Spock ignored what his body was telling him. In order to grab Jim's hand he let go of his comm. In the process of trying to pull Jim to safety, the comm bounced off the cliff.

Jim's body teetered over the edge, his weight pulling Spock directly over as well.

Jim dangled from Spock's hand while Spock desperately held onto some piece of Revlair's terrain with his other hand. His fingers tore into the snow and numbness began to course through his fingers, to his wrist.

Enterprise, beam us up. If only he had his comm.

He was cold and Jim's body was blue. Blue and red, Spock thought, and so blue and red Spock did not recognize his own captain. Spock turned his gaze towards the sky. Not only was Jim unrecognizable, but dangling in the air some thousand feet above any ground. Spock shivered uncontrollably but not before he realized Jim's shivering had begun before his own. He looked down at Jim again then realized it was 100% illogical to do so.

Spock blanked out for a split second as vertigo hit him, and a single finger of Spock's slipped from Jim's hand. He groaned. He could not do this much longer. Revlair's climate was damaging his body.

Another finger slipped from his grip.

He was going to lose his captain.

"Noooo." His yell echoed.

He would not lose his captain.

Apparently, Sulu was in the same frame of mind.

The shuttlecraft hovered with Sulu's expert precision. It remained directly below where the captain hung from Spock's feeble grasp. Within seconds, a hatch opened and Uhura climbed out, two blankets in hand. Her eyes set on the two men fighting for their lives. She walked carefully over to them, speaking into her comm. The ship rose to enable her to reach Jim.

"Let go, Spock. I got him."

With a physical prowess Spock had not seen from her before, Uhura took Jim from Spock's lax fingers. She knelt, and with great care laid Jim's head and shoulders her lap. The captain's body had ceased its shivering as it lay on the ship's exterior, a sign of more severe hypothermia. Uhura's expression was horrific as she took in Jim's injuries. Her hands went to his face, where Spock know saw the journey down the hill had damaged part of Jim's skin. She gently surveyed Jim's arms and hands in dismay then she set them on his lap. Uhura tightly wrapped the blanket around Jim's torso and adjusted her arms to enfold him into a closer and warmer embrace.

Spock's body immobilized as his exertion in the frigid climate came to an end. He watched as Memphis climbed out of the hatch, now free from the cuffs. Spock blinked when he came nearer to Uhura, his presence still an unknown in Spock's logical mind, and gathered Jim in his own arms. Memphis went through the hatch, taking Jim back into the ship. Uhura walked steadily to Spock.

"Memphis is coming back. I can't get you in the ship myself, Spock, okay?" Uhura reassured him, and she placed a blanket on his body, as far as she could reach. Her gaze was worried. Spock did not want her to worry about him, but about their captain.

Spock wanted to say so much to Nyota. Mainly, that Jim was alive. That Jim had been tortured more with emotional pain than anything else. That Jim was safe now and Kodos finally dead.

He tried to speak. "Sloan...took...Jim's...blood.." The words came out as a mix of syllables instead and Nyota brushed her fingers along his forehead. Spock attempted again. "Tell...McCoy."

"Shhh," she said, a tear falling down her cheek. "Get yourself in that trance, okay? We'll take care of Jim. We'll take care of you, now. You saved him, Spock. You saved Jim."

They were trying to take him. Jim strained against the hands, hearing their sirens and yells. He yelled back the worst thing he could think of, as they laid into him again. The struggle against the people keeping him hostage did nothing.

They pulled his hands down, and something like soft cuffs kept them from doing what he wanted to do- punching every damn person who was touching him.

Except for Bones. For a minute, Jim thought Bones was there with him, giving him hypos in his neck, but Jim was certain Bones had not gone with him to Revlair.

Kodos had just wanted Jim.

Kodos had chained him.

That must be where he was still, although he was so cold, dammit.

He needed to get to his quarters. To his bed. He liked his bed. Jim sighed and tried to move his legs but something was wrong with them, like they were being held down too, like his arms. He winced when more hands touched him right where it hurt- his feet.

"Jim, stop fighting me!" That was Bones. And he was mad.

"Doctor, his temperature has raised to 33.9 degrees Celsius."

"Keep working on it. I can't operate or repair the broken bones in his feet until his hypothermia is treated."

The hypo struck again and Jim growled. He wanted out of here.

"We have to sedate him, but I need information from Jim about Sloan first." Bones was yelling, not at him again, thank goodness. "Jim, calm down, buddy."

Bones said the word 'calm' and it switched Jim's frenzied mind.

He wasn't with Kodos. He really was with Bones. And he felt...odd. Floaty.

"Open your eyes, kid," Bones pleaded. "I need you with me."

He shook his head, or at least tried. It felt like a block of ice. He did not want to listen. Floating...felt nice.

"Get Dr. Marcus in here. I don't care if she's on the bridge, I need some sense knocked into him to find out what happened."

Oh no.

Bones was going to bring her in here? When Jim felt floaty?

That was so not cool.

"No Carol. No."

"Jim, I'll bring her in here unless you calm down and let me talk to ya." Bones touched Jim's arm.

Jim's reaction was to jerk his arm away. No touching. He'd been touched enough. He felt that whip again, just the whisper of it was enough. Those chains which curled painfully along his wrists. He hadn't been able to get away from their touch.

And then, Sloan, taking him outside. He vaguely remembered that, after the stun hardly put him down after all. He opened his eyes, thinking he was still on Revlair as the white light of sickbay surrounded him. He glared at Bones.

"'ontouch me."

"I'm not Kodos, Jim."

Maybe not, but Jim was so tired, Bones could talk his ear off and ask him whatever.

Anyways, Jim was going to sleep.

"Jim, stay with me." Bones gently slapped his face. Jim frowned.

"Dyhmwnt." What do you want... Jim's inflection to make it a question was missing. His mouth wouldn't cooperate. The letters he tried to say came out incredibly opposite of what he thought he said.

"Just listen, okay?" Bones smoothed Jim's hair, and Jim closed his eyes again. "Hey, kiddo, don't fall asleep."

Bones struck him with a hypo. "I need you awake and coherent for a few minutes. I know you're in pain and I have a ton of work to do on you. Spock is not able to tell us anything. His health depends upon his meditation right now. You are running out of time yourself. The drug is increasing again in your system, which explains the fight you're giving me. And your eyes, Jim. Still partly black. I need a few minutes, Jim, of cooperation. Can you handle that? You're like a monkey drunk on bananas."

Jim felt yet another hypo in his neck after Bones' long-windedness. He yelped and thought of the most unpleasant things to do to Bones when he was well. First up, banning metaphors for the duration of the five-year mission. Secondly, making him sit with Spock every day for dinner for an entire week. Just the two of them. Maybe he'd glue them to their seats. Thirdly, he would-

"To give you coherency of thought, buddy."

Bones interrupted his scheming and Jim glared at him.

"Stop it." He hated being forced to do anything, and staying awake when he was obviously so fatigued was the worst.

"Dr. Marcus will be here any minute. Stay awake, Jim, I'm warning you." Bones waved another hypo in front of Jim.

"Ask Memphis," Jim mumbled and stubbornly closed his eyes. He'd fake sleep just to get Bones mad.

"I don't trust him, even if Uhura said he helped save both you and Spock."

"Dr. McCoy, how can I be of assistance?"

Jim was at a lost of what to do. He looked awful. It didn't take a non-drugged, non-tortured genius to figure that out. His life was- messy. Because of his injuries, he could not help himself, he couldn't move, and was only able to stay awake and talk because of Bones the Magician. And now, the most beautiful woman was in the same room.

He went for it and opened his eyes. Immediately, Carol's own gaze connected with his.

"Make this maniac listen to me for a few minutes." Bones said, a bit too loudly. The nurses in sickbay snickered. Jim rolled his eyes. "One minute he thinks I'm his enemy, the next, well...whatever."

"As you wish," Carol said simply. She brought a chair over to Jim's bedside.

"Jim, tell me what Sloan did to you, on Revlair." Bones spoke each word with care, slowly and nicely. How ever Bones could speak those words in such a nice manner, Jim had no clue. But he listened.

And now, Jim had to cooperate. That meant...he had to think of what just happened to him this very day.

Oh, God.

His heart raced and he couldn't focus on Bone's solemn face or Carol's hand on his arm.

He couldn't do this. Whatever Sloan gave him or took from him, he couldn't explain to Bones. It would be best if he let panic win. He had been in a stupor anyways. Hell, he still was.

"Before I administer the antidote, I need to know. Jim, calm down," Bones leaned over him, and pressed another hypo into his neck.

Jim turned away and shook his head.

Leave me alone.

"Jim, what did Sloan give you? I know it was something because your blood sample shows evidence that the drug taking to an all new height in your mind. We'll lose you if you don't tell me now."

"No." He didn't want to think of any of it. If this would make him forget, he would. "Wanna forget."

Carol's hand drifted on his cheek when he mumbled his protests. "You can't forget, Jim. It's what makes you the dynamic human being you are. Please, tell us what he gave you. I want to pursue this relationship with you, but I can't...not unless you fight this."

Jim gazed up at her. "I'm scared." The flashes of what Kodos had said began to filter through his mind again. Carol's plea was bringing him back through the monster's chaos, but if she was there with him, maybe he could do it. Maybe he could fight it.

"I know, Jim," Carol whispered as she leaned in. She kissed his cheek and stroked his hair. "I'm here, Bones is here. You can do this. And, hey, we bluffed our way out of an attack of Kodos' ships."

"Not only that, but your girlfriend knows people in high- or rather, low- places. Arms dealer that wants Sloan dead or alive? Dr. Marcus, that was one ingenious move, bargaining with one devil to get rid of the other." Bones explained. "Sloan hightailed it out of here, his other ships, too, because Dr. Marcus got a hold of that mad-ass arms dealer."

"Knew you'd figure that out," Jim smirked. "And knew you'd know... because you followed your father's...and your uncle's...weaponry intel."

"You know who Sloan really is?" Carol gasped. Jim tried to fight a grimace as pain seared through his chest. Whatever Bones had given him wasn't lasting.

"I've always known... he was... your uncle." It hurt to breathe, but Jim wanted to explain. "But I've... never cared."

"Thank you, Jim," Carol said softly and she kissed him again.

It wasn't a brotherly, chaste kiss on the cheek this time. And damn, he couldn't even wrap his arms around her, strapped down as they were.

Anyways, she took her time. So Jim took his time, even though it did nothing to help his breathing. To hell with hypothermia and broken bones.

Jim never wanted her to move away from this kiss but Bones had to rudely interrupt.

"Oh, for the love of..." Bones grumbled.

Carol broke the kiss, her blush wanting him to kiss her even more. He noted her breathlessness and a satisfaction warmed his stomach. She liked that as much as he had.

Jim took several ragged breaths.

But why did Bones have be in the middle of every private moment he had with Carol?

Oh, right. It's because of Jim's unique inability to stay far away from sickbay. Jim wanted a vacation...one that did not involve visiting Bones.

"Jim, tell me what happened." Bones wasn't as nice this time. That meant- hurry.

"He gave... me some type of... truth serum. He took two... vials of my... blood." Jim gasped, and tried to get air. Air...where was it? His chest didn't feel right. Carol's hand touched his shoulder and he saw her fear.

He was blacking out. He wanted to tell Bones about Lenore. "Lenore...rescued her..."

An oxygen masked was fitted to his face. Dammit, Bones.

"Yes, she's safe."

Jim violently shook his head.

"I'm not taking that off of you, Jimmy."

Jim rolled his eyes, happy to be breathing. He strained his arms, as much as they pained him.

"Can he write it down?" Carol noted his desperation to explain something else, Jim thought with relief. Bones sighed.

"I guess so. He'll need help."

A nurse unstrapped his right arm and between Carol and the nurse, they held up his arm and put a PADD where his fingers could attempt to write.

Jim's exhaustion had caused his eyes to close but he wrote the message the best he could.

Lenore on Tarsus. I rescued her. She forgot. Kodos made her to be his daughter.

"Oh, Jim." Carol grasped his hand as it lay dormant on the PADD.

Bones did not say a word, but gripped Jim's shoulder and bowed his head. Bones was a brother to him as no one else was. The compassion from both Carol and Bone threatened to unleash the tears Jim had forced in hiding. If Spock were here, Jim was certain he'd have no tears. But this concern of Carol, it was his undoing.

He did not want Carol to see him break down so he limited his tears to four escaped droplets. What happened to Lenore tore at his soul but he was Jim Kirk, who did not do this. He would not cry. Carol's fingers wiped at his tears. Jim put his focus on the medical expertise of Bones.

The activity surrounding his biobed began again, and Jim could not stay awake any longer. Bones said something to him, about putting Jim out for awhile and that he will be safe. That Lenore will be taken care of.

Bones would take care of Lenore now. Jim would not have to see her. Right? He put her out of his mind, now that the girl would be in the right hands.

Thinking this way, escaping his past, Jim knew it was selfish. To the very core, it was selfish, but he did not want to feel the agony.

Bones was good at fixing him. Jim was good at pushing what Bones couldn't fix to that blind spot and moving on.

Jim would do no differently this time.