Hehehe, I knew that last cliff hanger would get some fun reactions :D Glad to see you all care. Hope you enjoy this one as well. It begins what I consider the second half of the story, and someone else important will be arriving.

Jim felt a bullet-a bullet for God's sake!-tear through his shoulder. He'd been hit by Phasers before and they hurt like concentrated hellfire going through his skin but they rarely broke the skin unless super concentrated. Even then, they cauterized the wound going in and out so bleed out wasn't much of a problem. Bullets...bullets hurt like a piece of metal traveling at the speed of sound punching a hole in your skin and your muscle your bone and slicing through veins so your blood began pumping out. He could already feel his shirt absorbing the redness, warm and slick on his skin. Bones' voice was ringing in his head about barbarians and the possible damage a wound like that could leave.

But pain was pain and Jim was able breath through it as he hugged the small body of a seven year old Spock close. The kid was trembling in his arms, looking up at him with wide eyes. "J-Jay?" he asked quietly.

Jim breathed more trying to crack a smile but it was a stretch. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

"I wouldn't call a bullet wound okay, human. Admittedly though I had been aiming for the back of your neck, not your shoulder. Still, I have more ammunition."

Gritting his teeth, Jim turned his head enough. "You..."

T'Fua regarded him coolly, still holding the gun out. "Indeed."

"Somehow I think I should've guessed..." T'Fua arched her eyebrows. "Not like you didn't conceal your dislike for Amanda and me. Naughty Vulcan, such bad control."

Her gaze flattened. "Do not speak as if you know me, human."

"But you suggested Amanda to the kidnappers." Spock tensed but Jim held him tightly though it made pain shoot through him. "That was you, wasn't it? I'm guessing you probably found the kidnappers after they botched that Argellian kidnapping attempt..."

"Conjecture, but not incorrect."

"Why? What logic is there in that?"

"You seek to stall for time in hopes of a rescue I believe, so I think instead I will shoot you again. And then Spock."

Jim laughed a bit, but made sure his body covered Spock. "Oh, I'm sorry, all I hear is 'I don't have a logical reason, I let my own emotions take over and did something stupid so I have to erase the evidence to spare my poor Vulcan feelings of inadequacy.' That's the only logical reason I see to do this."

Spock managed to look up though Jim's good arm was trying to crush him against him, eyes wide and incredulous. He just hoped his gambit worked and did buy them a bit of time and distracted him.

"You seek to insult me," she said less than amusedly.

"No shit, Sherlock. Do all Vulcans state the obvious or are you stalling for time to try and find a "logical" reason to offer your boss's wife up to a bunch of kidnappers. Or did you suggest Spock?"

T'Fua let her hand drop, regarding him coolly. "If you so desire to know before I dispose of you, I did it in hopes to show Sarek that bringing his wife and child along is a flawed idea. You even more so, though I knew he intended to leave you behind. They present far too many risks—"

"Bullshit," Jim said. "You made this risk, and now you're going to shoot us? I'm willing to bet you were just jealous or something. You had a thing for Sarek? Or is this just out of principal because marrying Amanda pissed you off." He did his best to shift his hand subtly between him and Spock, keeping his eyes on Spock and trying to convey to keep calm.

"Jealousy and doing something like this out of sheer principal is illogical," she said.

"And so is putting your boss's wife and son in danger to prove a damn point! And you wouldn't be here otherwise unless you were afraid that these guys would betray you. You probably thought to get rid of them first...but now you shot me and you threatened to kill us rather than retreat and let people think it was an inside disagreement. So you planned this too. And you brought a gun when these guys all had Phasers. What, did you think they were all cavemen or something? That says to me you were planning this before hand. Were you intending to kill Amanda?"

"...You are more intelligent than I gave you credit for. However, as you are still nameless, no one will miss you. And I doubt Spock's loss will be of consequence-"

That did it. Jim got his hand around the Phaser he had taken from one of the men and whipped it around despite his protesting shoulder. Still, his aim held true and he shot the gun out of her hand before she could fully react he shot three more times. It was only on stun but it sent her reeling back into the wall. He let go of Spock and rolled, pushing himself up. "We need to get out of here!"

Spock quickly stood as well, staring at the blood running down Jim's arm and staining his shirt and jacket. "J-Jay, your hurt—"

"That's not important now! We gotta go before she recovers!" He grabbed Spock around the middle with his good arm, kicking the gun across the room as he ducked out the door. Spock wrapped his arms around him, and Jim was grateful for the adrenaline pumping through him because he was heavier than a normal seven year old. Not that he carried seven year olds fleeing through a hallway often.

Jim quickly pressed Spock's head close to him as he tip-toed over the bodies of the guys he'd beaten up, noting that indeed there were plumes of red on them as well. A silencer also lay nearby, showing that perhaps she thought there was no one else to worry about hearing her coming. Hopefully we can get an ambulance here if they're still alive...

"Jay, I think she's gone to retrieve the firearm!" Spock said in his ear.

"We're almost to the elevator, just hold on," he panted. Getting to the elevator door, he pressed button quickly and cursed as it was apparently a few floors down.

Another shot rang out and Jim ducked on instinct, holding Spock close. He fired the phaser at her, getting her to duck into another room. "Shit that woman is insane!"

"I agree," Spock said quietly, timidly.

Jim squeezed him with his one good arm, his voice low and serious with a rasp as he tried to breathe comfort out. "Don't worry, like hell I'm letting her get you. I'll keep you safe."

Spock nodded against him, but Jim felt him lift his head after a moment. "I will watch your back. She will not hurt you again."

He smiled at the determination in his voice. "Thanks." The elevator dinged and he quickly ducked in before the doors were even fully open, pressing the ground floor and then the door close button as fast as possible several times. "C'mon, c'amon!" He could hear T'Pau's footsteps just as the door closed and they headed down. Sighing, he set Spock down on his feet and tried to ease himself against the wall on his good shoulder.

"Jay, you've lost a lot of blood..." Spock said quietly.

"It's not that much...but I'd prefer not to loose more..."

Spock stared before quickly grabbing the end of his Vulcan robe and gripping it in his teeth. Pulling, he ripped a long strip of it around the hemline and pulled more. "There is no exit wound, which is not good. A tourniquet will help stem the blood flow. Please kneel down and hold still." Jim was surprised but didn't say anything as he did as he was told. The boy wrapped the long strip around near where the wound was. "This will hurt." He tightened the loop of cloth and Jim hissed through his teeth. The strip of cloth was very close to his wound, but since it was more towards his joint Spock could still tie off the blood flow from his heart he hoped. Mini-Vulcan strength helped to get it tight enough to hopefully keep Jim from loosing too much more of the red liquid but could still move. "I am unsatisfied...but that will have to do for now."

Jim smiled at him, still breathing deep through pain. "Thanks Spock. Hopefully we can get out of here soon, call for help...Crap, that's right!" He reached into his pocket for the portable communicator. "Good, not damaged. Your father gave me this, I can hopefully contact him...actually, you talk to him just in case something comes out at the bottom floor." He quickly dialed the number for Amanda's phone, handing it to him.

Spock took it and held it to his ear, sticking close to Jay. "Mother? Yes, it's me... No, I am alright, but Jay is hurt! ...I do not know where we are." He looked up to Jim hopefully.

He leaned down enough he could talk into the phone. "I'm pretty sure we're on Sandarez. I didn't see a number or a name, but it's a big office building with its own garage...I'm gonna try to get us somewhere safer though."

"Jay, don't do anything foolish!"

"I'm gonna do what I have to get Spock somewhere safe! Oh, and just to let you know, T'Fua is the one that suggested you to be kidnapped. It was the guy's choice to take Spock instead. And I don't think she was satisfied with that because she showed up with a gun and shot me."

"You can't be serious," Sarrin's voice came on.

"Jay is telling the truth!" Spock said. "He is bleeding badly. She threatened to kill me as well."

"Oh my god!" Amanda screamed. "Oh god..."

"Jay, Spock," Sarek's voice came on. "I believe you. If T'Fua has gone this far, I have no doubt she will continue on a destructive path. If you can get to safety, do so quickly and I will have them trace the phone."

"Alright..."

"Please hurry, father. Jay is looking pale..."

Jim smirked a bit, chuckling at the comment on his complexion. He knew he probably was looking pretty bad though.

"We will be as fast as possible. Stay on the line. And stay safe."

Spock seemed surprised before relaxing a tiny bit. "We will, Father."

Jim smiled a bit before looking up. "We're almost to the bottom. Hold on to the phone Spock, I've got a ride nearby."

Spock nodded, reaching up to grasp his jacket as he rose. Then the elevator suddenly stopped on the third floor and Jim cursed. The door opened and a man in a suit jumped back in surprise. "You know sully?" Jim asked.

"Wh-who?"

"Nevermind. Oh, and you might suggest moving buildings." Jim quickly grabbed Spock and rushed to the stairs. "Loosing too much damn time, we're heading down the last two floors."

"Agreed," Spock said, quickly following as they rushed down the stair well. Jim cursed though when a shot rain out and pressed them both against the wall.

"Goddamit, T'Fua, stop this! It's not logical and it's fucking dangerous!"

"I am sorry we do not see eye to eye," her voice came down, echoing in the stairwell but still to close for Jim's liking. "But this is the only viable option."

"Now I know you're crazy..." Jim quickly moved to the center and shot up, seeing a flash of black move away. "Go!" Spock hesitated but then went down the rest of the stair way. Jim followed, keeping his back to the wall and watching for signs of the Vulcan woman.

He wasn't prepared when she suddenly swung down from a stoop above and kicked Jay in the chest, sending him stumbling back. Before he could raise the phaser, she grasped him around the throat and pushed him against the wall. "I give you credit, human. You are annoyingly skilled."

"Jay!"

"Stay there, Spock!"

"You are most obstinate," T'Fua said. She brought the gun up to his head. "You cannot always protect him."

"Doesn't mean I won't try," he spat. Before she could fire though, something slammed into her from the side. Jim was pulled along though her grip loosened in shock and he yelled as he landed on his bad shoulder.

Cracking his eyes open through the pain, he gaped when he saw Spock had tackled the woman in a fit of rage. Winding back, he struck her hard across the face. "You will not kill him!" Jim had to admit, being on the observer side of Spock, even mini-Spock, hulking out was different. But T'Fua was still a full grown Vulcan woman and she struck him off and across the floor.

"You have been an annoyance to me for far too long..." She grasped the gun she had dropped and stood, aiming down at a prone Spock.

Jim grabbed the phazer at the same time and fired again. T'Fua dodged but turned her attention back to him. Tensing his legs, he rushed and slammed into her, pushing her against the stair railing. He slammed her hand against the railing until she dropped the gun down to the bottom. T'Fua glared out right striking him across the face and pushing him back to push into the wall with her hands around his neck. Bringing knees up to his chest, Jim pushed out and struck her in the chest while bringing the phaser up to shoot her in the face. T'Fua released him in shock, stumbling back with hands over her face. Jim then punched her hard in the chest enough he felt his hand crack against her Vulcan bones. She stumbled further until she hit the rail once more, dazed and reeling. Jim shot the edge of the rail in a constant stream until it snapped from it's end and she fell back its bend it with a scream. Jim looked over the end and saw she was finally unconscious, falling from three flights up. He doubted she was dead since Vulcans were quite sturdy.

Spock rushed over as well, looking down but not looking sympathetic to their attacker. He sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"

The boy looked up at him and frowned. "You do not need to ask that, you are the one hurt."

He smiled, guiding him quickly down the stairs. "I'll live, don't worry. Thanks to you.'" Spock blushed but seemed pleased. "C'mon, before she wakes up like a Terminator or something." Spock didn't get the reference, but he paused long enough to snap a picture with the phone. "I set it on speaker, I believe my parents and the others heard everything. But photographic evidence shall ensure she is unable to escape prosecution."

Jim smiled and patted his head. "Good idea. Points for staying cool under pressure."

Spock blushed but didn't look displeased. Jim quickly pushed him towards the door though and rushed to open it.

When the door opened he headed out first, keeping his eyes peeled for danger. No sooner had he passed the wall separating the stairwell door from the rest of the garage, a Phaser blast went dangerously close to his face and he quickly ducked back behind the wall, a hand on Spock's chest to keep him against the wall as well. "Goddammit!"

"I had a feeling I'd see you here, kid." Jim peaked around the wall and saw a flamboyant Hawaiian shirt he'd seen earlier in the day. "I heard through the grapevine a stranger showed up asking about the kid...who I see is in your company."

"Yeah, and he's leaving in my company!"

"Don't suppose I could convince you to stay? Cut you in for some of the ransom? You look pretty hurt though, I don't think we have time for a lot of negotioating."

"No, you can't convince me of that." He felt a tug and looked to Spock, who was pointing towards the other cars nearby. He followed the gesture and saw another man trying to hide behind the cars. Aiming, he fired a warning round to the wall. "Keep your men away, Sully!"

"Hey now, no need to get violent!"

"I disagree. I got a crazy bitch on our tail with a gun, and she already shot a lot of your guys!"

"Excuse me?" he yelled.

"The guys that took Spock have been shot by the woman that convinced them to go after his mother. And she's ready to kill us and more." He looked at Spock, who kept his mouth shut. No reason to tell Sully she was unconscious just through that door. "How do you think I got hurt? I got Spock out pretty easy, she's the major threat. Did you think that group of your men hurt me?"

"...Delgato, upstairs now! Get anyone else on the way and keep the other floors from getting suspicious." Jim sighed in some relief. "Oh, don't get comfortable sir. I still don't intend to let you or the boy go. Come out slowly, because I have men all over this street and they'll be ready to get rid of you. I would rather not hurt a child though."

"How chivalrous..."

"Thank you. Now, come out or I will come over there and—"

There was a yell and Jim jumped as it sounded like a body hit the floor. "Jay!" a familiar voice called.

Looking around, he gaped to see Chris standing over Sully with a pipe in his hand. He looked out of breath, but not worse for wear. "Chris? How did you...?"

He gave a cocky grin that turned into a grimace as Jim stepped further out with Spock close behind. The young Vulcan kept his senses up for danger but looked warily curious at the new arrival. Jim kept his hand on his injured shoulder, feeling the blood still staining his shirt and his arm going a bit numb. "Jesus, you look like shit..."

"Nice language in front of a kid," Jim sneered.

"I heard you using a few expletives..." He smiled at Spock. "Hey. I'm Christopher Pike, I helped Jay track you down. I would have helped him get you out too if he hadn't stolen my bike and left me behind!"

"Hey, considering I got shot, I stand behind my decision. And I was gonna bring it back!"

Chris just narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't have gotten shot if you had someone here to help!"

"Stop arguing!" Spock suddenly yelled. "Jay is hurt, and we have people after us. There are more constructive things we could be doing."

Chris blinked but then nodded. "Okay, you got a point kid."

"I am not a kid!"

"You look like one. But c'mon, lets go!" He quickly gut under Jim's arm, pulling it over his shoulder.

"I can walk," the blonde protested.

"Not for long. We gotta get you help," he said, pulling him forward.

"My father is working to track us," Spock said, holding up the phone.

"Great, but hide the phone here so they can track it and raid these guys. I got mine, we'll call from a hospital."

Spock blinked before looking to Jim. Jim smiled. "I trust him."

Spock nodded slowly. "That is...a logical strategy." He held the phone up to his ear. "Father, mother, did you hear? It is alright, Jay trusts him and I trust Jay. We will call you from a medical facility, I do not believe Jay can wait any longer. Please send authorities here for the men that kidnapped me and T'Fua before she comes to her senses." He listened to something on the other end before nodding, quickly walking around. He finally settled on hiding the phone behind a stone wall that had a gap between it and the building wall proper. "I believe they would have difficulty finding it there. Let us hurry."

Chris nodded and half carried Jim back out and towards his bike. Jim admitted he was starting to feel light headed. Probably from blood loss and his adrenaline starting to wind down. "Hey, how'd you find us anyway?" Jim managed to ask.

"I have a tracker on my bike, genius. I followed it with my phone, and I called in a few of my friends from security in the fleet. They're already sweeping the streets and scared off a bunch of goons, but I focused on finding you."

"Ah, how sweet...My hero."

He didn't notice Spock's slight frown but Chris just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we better hurry. I think you're going loopy from anemia." He got him to his bike but paused. "Where are my keys?"

"In my pants." Chris eyed him before sighing and reaching into his pants pocket. "Other one...but thanks."

"Very funny, now who needs to remember there's a kid here?" He quickly reached into the other and pulled them out. "You're lucky I like you, ya know that?"

Jim nodded a bit. "Yeah...Can three people fit on this?"

"The kid is small, he'll be fine," he looked at Spock, who was frowning at him. "You get in front. I'll be in the middle so I can drive...crap, Jay, can you hold on to anything?"

"Mmmm...I can try...Definitely don't think I should drive."

Spock frowned worriedly but the other human nodded. "Okay, I'll try to drive carefully. Let's hurry." He opened up the compartment. "Did you lose one of my helmets?"

"Yeah...sorry..."

He sighed but gave the remaining helmet to Spock. "You wear this."

"But-"

"Jay risked his life to save you, so you have to take care of it." He blinked as if surprised before looking thoughtful.

"Chris?" Jim asked.

"Sorry, just...nevermind. Put the helmet on kid and climb on." Spock did so and managed to climb on. Chris propped Jim against the wall and climbed on so Spock was up against his front and he could reach the handle bars. "Okay, climb on behind me."

"Right." Jay did so, grunting as he leaned against Chris. "Don't think I can...sit up very well..."

"Okay. Just hold on." He started up the bike and quickly got out of the alley and down the street.

Jim tried to relax a bit and gauge how much blood he had loss, but his head really was getting too muzzy. Every now and then he thought he saw a flash of a red shirt and wondered if they were some of Chris's friends he was talking about. He hoped maybe things wouldn't go south again.

"Stop them!" Sully could apparently recover from a hit from a steel pipe and still yell damn loud down the street.

Chris cursed impressively under his breath as the sound of phaser fire followed them. "Hold on!" Their stomach's lurched as he made an impressive drift turn down another alley.

"I hope you know where you're going!" Jim managed to yell back, a bit more adrenaline coming back.

"More or less, now quiet!" He maneuvered through the alleyways until he made it to another street. "Okay, that should buy us time! The hospital's kind of far this way though, so hold on!" He revved it up more and they moved quickly through the streets and alleys. However, as they passed a few blocks away from the Crow Bar, a large black car pulled out in front of them so fast they would've crashed if Chris hadn't slammed on the breaks and drift to the side. "Shit!" He quickly headed in the direction his bike was pointing, going over the sidewalks to avoid a crowd of cars.

"Head for the hotel," Jim said. "The one near where we met, we can get help there..."

"That's not near the hospital! You need a doctor!" He yelped as another phaser shot past them and began to weave to try and through their attackers off.

"There's a lot of security there, I think they can get me to the hospital with less fear of being shot..."

Chris growled but nodded. "Okay, fine. Hold on tight!" He moved even faster, skidding out on another street and Jim grunted as he did hold on tightly.

"You are being reckless!" Spock said through the small mike in the helmet. Jim had to smile a bit, reminded already of his first officer.

"I'm trying to keep us from having more holes than a Klingon Peace Treaty, thanks!" Chris yelled, moving down several side streets and alleys before coming out on another street proper. He zipped through traffic and Jim winced when he heard the familiar sound of police sirens. "Damn, guess they can't ignore this...Hopefully they can wait till we get to that hotel."

Jim could hear a mechanical voice from the police car. "Citezan, pull over!" was a mantra the computer belted out.

"This brings back memories," he muttered low enough the others couldn't hear him over the wind whipping by.

Jim finally saw the hotel in the distance down the street, but he also saw several more police cars. Before they could stop them though, two more black cars barreled down the street to block the police from them. Jim cursed but Chris just kept heading towards them.

"Hold on!" Pulling to the side, he popped a wheely and jumped the thrusters of the hover bike to shoot like lightening into a nearby store window. There were screams as several people got out of the way of the apparent rogue bikers, some shouting to call the police.

Jim was laughing. "You are insane!"

"I prefer to think of it as strategy!" He made it to the back room despite a lot of people trying to block him with various displays of handbags, scarves and mannequins wearing charming ensembles. Jim managed to shoot the back door off its hinges before they hit it. "Thanks!'

"No prob...but the phaser's out of juice." He tossed it aside to prove his point.

"Let's hope we don't need it, we're almost there." He took the back route through the alleys to the back of the hotel, surprising several cops and security there. "We rescued the kidnapped kid, but the kidnappers are after us!"

The men looked at each other before regarding them suspiciously and reached for their weapons. "Alright, climb off the bike and put your hands up!"

"Oh for the love of—"

"If you harm or arrest either of them, I will ensure my father, Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan has you all demoted to the worst possible jobs you can think of," Spock said calmly. "Now let us through or I will tell the Embassy you put us in harms way by delaying us illogically when my parents would very much like to see me, I'm certain."

Chris looked surprised by the calm threats Spock made, but Jim just grinned at the fact a bunch of security men were cowed by a seven year old. While they stood around uncertainly though, Chris revved his bike and once more barreled past them into the hotel.

"H-Hey, stop!"

"Don't fire you idiot, if that's the Amabassador's kid we'll be in deep shit!"

Jim grinned and held on as they made it through the kitchen and into the lobby. An elevator just so happened to be open and Chris gunned it, sliding inside. As several people rushed to get out of the floor. "What floor do we want?"

Spock reached over and pressed the button. "...I rather like this hovercycle. I was told my father had one at one time."

"Really? Huh, wouldn't expect that of a Vulcan Ambassador...Nice job back there too, Kid. You're good under pressure."

"...Thank you."

"Think about Joining the fleet. We could use more guys like you."

Jim couldn't help it, he began laughing. He was light headed by now and a little giddy, but he managed to choke out an agreement between laughs. There were some dark patches encroaching on his vision as well and a cold sweat down his back and neck.

"Jay, you do not look good..." Spock said.

"Don't feel good either...too much blood, I think...I don't think I can..."

The moment the doors opened on the penthouse level, several men stood with phasers ready. Sarek and Amanda were at the front and Spock took off the helmet and climbed off to rush over to them. Jim could dully hear words being spoken as Amanda knelt to hug him in utter relief, Sarek also kneeling to look him over. He could hear Chris a little better, yelling for someone to help Jim. Spock was agreeing he thought, and he saw Sarek looking actually worried as he glanced over before the blackness finally took over and Jim felt his body tip over into nothingness.

Jim slowly felt consciousness coming back to him, like his mind was breaking the surface. It reminded him of when he woke in the hospital on Vulcan after that trek through the desert. When he opened his eyes however, he was surprised to see a stone ceiling. Moving his eyes around, he realized that he was in his room back at Spock's family home. He was confused but knew his rescue mission on earth wasn't a dream. It had hurt too damn much, and he still felt a slight twinge in his shoulder.

"Jay?"

He turned his head and saw Spock sitting in a chair next to him. He was obviously better since the last time he saw him, but there was still a faint bruise on his cheek. Wide black eyes were staring over him in a combination of shock and worry. Jim smiled a bit. "Hey..."

Spock relaxed back. "You are awake...that is good."

Jim agreed with a nod. "How long was I out? What happened?"

"You have been out for only a few days. You had lost a lot of blood..." He breathed deeply. "After we arrived on the correct floor and I was able to reunite with my parents, you passed out in the elevator. Mr. Pike tried to help but you were badly anemic. Father finally insisted they get you to a hospital and even escorted you with my mother and I. You were very...very cold..." He took another breath. "We took an express ship back home after your initial treatment. The doctors insisted you remain asleep until the wound was mostly healed, we stopped drugging you today."

Jim reached out and ruffled his hair. "I'm sorry..."

Spock looked confused. "For what? It is illogical for you to apologize."

"I'm sorry I worried you." He was silent, not denying it, and Jim smiled. "What happened to Chris?"

"Mr. Pike explained what happened and I corroborated enough they were convinced. He was chastized by Starfleet for acting on his own and putting his fellow cadets in danger, but commended and rewarded for aiding my rescue. He is an...interesting individual."

Jim smiled a bit. "What happened to T'Fua and those guys?"

Spock eased back, returning to a more logical reiteration. "The remaining kidnappers were tracked down thanks to the phone and a raid was issued on the building. They found other illegal activities on the floors Adrian Sullivan, or "Sully", owned including smuggled goods and illegal betting slips on various legal and illegal events. However...some did not survive." Jim frowned and kept stroking through his hair. "I did not like them in the least, but death seems...unfair in punishment. Though I do not know the extent of their illegal activities."

Jim smiled. "You have a good heart, Spock." Spock blushed again. "And T'Fua?" he prompted after a moment of silence.

The boy breathed deeply. "She was injured by the fall. She survived, but has been placed in custody while in treatment for her injuries. Father and the others overheard her chasing us through the building over the phone, several witnesses saw her enter the shipping area after I was taken, and the gun had only her prints on it, so little other proof was needed to charge her. She killed several men on Earth...Father has agreed to allow them to punish her."

Jim sighed. "Well...can't say I'm broken up about it..."

"It is believed that she experienced some sort of break down. The reason is yet unknown..."

He shrugged, wincing at the stiffness. "She's crazy. It happens." He ruffled the boy's hair again. "I'm just glad you're okay. And hey, you saved me a couple of times there, especially with T'Fua."

A green tinge came to his face and Spock ducked his head. "I am more relieved you are recovering. And I did what was logical to...protect a member of my family."

Jim was surprised but felt a large warmth spread through out his chest at that. He almost felt like crying, but refused to do so in front of Spock at any age. Still, he brought him closer in one armed hug. "Thanks, Spock. That means...more than I can say." Spock hugged him back, gripping his shirt a moment before they pulled away and Jim smiled down at the flushed young Vulcan.

Before more could be said, Amanda opened the door and smiled in relief. She rushed over and hugged Jim. "You're awake! Thank goodness!"

Jim smiled and patted her back as he sat up. "Glad to see you too...Kind of glad I'm here too."

She smiled and sat back. "It was the least we could do to take care of you as you recovered again. Sarek insisted, even said we should just take you back to Vulcan. I'm sure he feels indebted to you as much as I do."

He smiled, though he knew Sarek had other reasons to bring him back. Not reasons either of them wanted to tell her though, not yet. "Totally worth it to make sure my adoptive family was safe."

She smiled warmly then brightened. "Ah, speaking of family, we have a visitor. Just a second, let me go get him." She rose and left the room. Jim moved to pile his pillows up a bit more to support his back, and Spock helped him. He smiled at the young boy and relaxed back. He could feel tight new skin over his wound, likely grown with the help of a dermal generator. They weren't quite as advanced as those from the future though so he had a feeling he'd have a scar. Reaching into his over shirt he felt around till he found a slightly raised area of skin in a circular pattern just to the side of his shoulder blade. It was odd feeling. Most scars could be erased in the future with dermal generators after all, so he didn't have many. He decided he'd rather keep it than get rid of it, as a reminder of everything that happened in the past so to speak.

"Jay, I'd like you to meet Cousin Selek."

Jim looked up from examining his scar by touch and froze, feeling as though all the blood in his body was gone again. A very familiar Vulcan man in his twenties stood primly before him, his hands behind his back and dark eyes focused on him. He was dressed in traditional Vulcan clothes of greens and blues with a satchel over his side. The last time Jim had seen him though he had been in formal Starfleet attire. The un-amused glare was still in place though.

"It's good to meet you...Jay." He said the name as if it was unfamiliar, and his eyes pinned him to the bed in a way that said he knew the truth.

Spock...