Chapter Text
"This will be one bizarre arrest report." McCoy stated as he carefully strolled out of the transporter room with the bent, bloody fork in his hand. "The Federation will never invite us to a dinner again if they knew we risked shish-kabobing an innocent Vulcan for this."
"Yes you're right," Jim said thinking, "maybe some of the finer details can be omitted."
Spock and Jim walked on either side of McCoy as they journeyed to sick bay. They didn't want to take any chances something would contaminate their presumed evidence and took it upon them to gently shove officers out of the way as they walked by.
Besides a few curious stares and the look of silent indigence from those who were handled, McCoy arrived to the sick bay analyzer without incident.
"Alright," McCoy drawled. He placed the fork on his desk and donned a pair of sterilized gloves. "It's time to see if I'm a racist that stabbed a Vulcan for looking too Romulan."
The blood had long dried on the fork and McCoy deftly used a scalpel to scrape off the residue onto a clean slide. He was about to slip it into the computer for analysis when he felt breathing on the back of his neck. Both Spock and Jim were leaning over him, their eyes trained on the computer's monitor.
"Okay, gentlemen," McCoy said stiffening. "I know I'm your doctor, but that doesn't mean I invite knowing every little thing about your bodies, including the temperature of your breath. Spock I can feel you getting ready to answer the exact degree- let me just cut you off right here."
Spock pursed his lips together and straightened.
"Sorry." Jim apologized.
McCoy slipped the slide in the computer and told it to analyze. Lights flickered on the machine to indicate it's processing, and he took a moment to lean back in his chair to observe the look of intense concentration on his comrades. Whatever the result they were in this together.
The computer beeped and McCoy bent over the screen. His stomach tightened as he read the results.
"Jim….my God- it's them." McCoy proclaimed. "Look for yourself."
McCoy jumped out of his seat and clumsily bumped into Spock, who gripped his shoulders to keep him from stumbling. Jim took his place quickly and whispered the technical information on the screen.
"Are you positive it's not Vulcan?" Jim asked. "We don't want to look like fools in front of Starfleet."
"I'm quite sure," McCoy said with a grin. "We've got those Romulan bastards nailed and they don't even know it!"
"Excellent work, Bones." Jim congratulated him. "Bag the evidence; I'll tell our ensigns to stand by to make a formal arrest. The Federation may never allow our involvement to be known, but justice will be served."
"Figures I crack a case this big and no one can know about it." McCoy sighed.
"No one but us, Doctor." Spock clarified. "But I would not be so quick to dismiss our appreciation for your efforts."
Spock's thumbs ran over his shoulders; McCoy had been so enrapt in finding the assassins he hadn't realized Spock was still holding him in place from his previous stumble. He let out a dry chuckle as Jim smirked at the pair of them.
A whistle cut through their celebration and McCoy reluctantly stepped out of Spock's embrace. He reached out his hand and clicked on button below the intercom.
"Sickbay, McCoy!" He greeted joyously.
"Doctor, is the Captain there?" Uhura asked.
Jim nearly danced out of his seat before leaning against the wall and punching the com button.
"Kirk here." Jim said.
"Sir, I have Ambassador Sarek on a private frequency, he says it's important you take his call." Uhura informed him.
"Oh?" Jim said curiously. "Put him through in conference room 4B and tell him we'll be receiving him shortly."
"Yes Captain." Uhura replied.
When they reached the conference room Sarek was already on screen. If he hadn't blinked Jim would have mistaken him for a photograph. He had his hands folded in front of him and the stern expression he dawned didn't waiver as they stepped into the room.
Ambassador, hello again." Jim said with a friendly smile.
"Captain Kirk." Ambassador Sarek said the name with heavy meaning rather than a greeting.
Though very proper, the Ambassador's tone was unnaturally sharp for an emotionless Vulcan. Jim frowned and turned to Spock only to find his first officer recoiling slightly- Spock would undoubtedly be familiar with the Ambassador's mannerisms, and as Spock attempted to mask his concerned expression it confirmed it was not in Jim's imagination Sarek's tone was very unhappy.
"My wife and I have just had a very long and fascinating conversation with the security team at the festival." Sarek proclaimed.
"Oh no..." McCoy groaned quietly under his breath.
"Apparently the three gentlemen I vouched for this evening's entertainment had disappeared from the premises, but not without leaving an unconscious server underneath their table next to an overturned bowl of blood-jil soup." Sarek continued.
The large, disapproving, subtle (yet potent) frown on the screen was boring into Jim and he looked to Spock to relieve some of the tension. Spock was pressing his lips together tightly, his hands folded behind his back and eyes unfocused. Jim glanced next to him to meet McCoy's worried eyes as he sucked in a breath through his teeth with a grimace.
"It was determined, by me, the woman had been incapacitated by the Vulcan neck-pinch." Sarek said, his stony gaze snapping over to his son. Spock looked like he was pouring all his effort into not looking at the screen. "She's quite upset. She said your medical officer attacked her to remain in possession of a fork... I wasn't able to explain the logic of the situation to the security team as to why men of my acquaintance would support such a thing."
The bloody fork was in a sealed bag in McCoy's hands. He slowly moved the fork behind his back while his ears burning bright red. Sarek's eyebrow rose at the action causing the back of McCoy's neck to turn red as well.
"Ambassador-" Jim fumbled.
"-Forgive me for interrupting you, Captain, but I find myself in an uncomfortable situation. The Alcor VII security team has kept us here but has agreed to release us if we can convince you to come in for questioning." Sarek said overriding Jim in a loud, clear voice. There was a note of extreme annoyance in it that could not be denied. "You have plans to arrive immediately and clear up this misunderstanding, correct?"
"Absolutely." Jim promised him. "We're so sorry for inconveniencing you and your wife, and we beg your forgiveness."
"Yes." Sarek replied dryly, "I suspect you will be hearing back from me soon regarding that favor you owe me."
Sarek didn't bid them goodbye, he only disconnected from the call. When the transmission ended the room was as quiet as the vacuum of space. Spock crept up behind McCoy.
"Now I am 'in trouble at home'." Spock said to him softly.
"Yeah…Jim, that part wasn't thought out so well." McCoy said.
"No, can't say it was, but what's done is done." Jim replied. "Spock, we still have our ensigns tailing the Romulans?"
"Yes sir, and awaiting further instruction." Spock noted.
"Good, we'll beam down and make a formal arrest with them as soon as the transporter is ready for us." Jim replied. "We can't risk the assassins slipping away, we'd never find them again."
"If we beam down that nutty Alcor security team will scoop us right up!" McCoy said. "Plus they've taken Spock's parents hostage. I kinda want to be on their good sides, you know...for reasons."
Spock lifted an eyebrow at McCoy that was intentionally ignored by the Doctor.
"Hm," Jim reflected, scratching the side of his face. "I'll call Truitt and have him explain our actions were necessary to the security team. And we should fill-in Spock's parents as to why they're being punished for our transgressions."
"Captain," Spock started, "Our orders were to operate in secrecy and involve crewmembers on a need-to-know basis. Sharing information with civilians on this mission is prohibited."
"They're not civilians, they're your parents." McCoy said. Spock frowned at him. "You know what I mean." he snapped.
"I think we could get away with telling your parents why they were taken-in for questioning and held accountable for our confusing behavior." Jim said. "But if it makes you uncomfortable bending the rules, Spock, we'll respect your decision to task yourself with avoiding giving them an explanation…even if they were to bring it up repeatedly...for the rest of their lives."
"Do Vulcans consider 'awkward' an emotion?" McCoy asked aloud. He folded his arms in front of him thoughtfully. "Or is that more of a situational occurrence?"
Spock took a heavy breath in and lifted his eyebrows as he reflected on their words.
"Perhaps an explanation is owed to them…" Spock said avoiding their eyes. "We know they can be trusted with sensitive information... they are my parents, after all."
Jim smirked. "That settles it then, I'll talk to Truitt. Be ready to beam down in twenty minutes."
"That took you a while." McCoy said as Jim sped walked onto the transporter platform.
The Doctor and Spock had been standing in the transporter room for almost an hour. Every second was another reason for Spock's parents to hate them, and McCoy had been getting increasingly nervous as the time dragged on.
"I had to wait until Truitt cleared us." Jim explained. "We really shook things up down there, they're not excited to have us back, nor are they thrilled to hold four of their chefs with our ensigns." He explained as he stepped on the transporter platform. He nodded at Spock. "Spock and I will arrest the Romulans. Bones, you can explain this mess to the Ambassador and his wife."
"Why me?" McCoy asked as they joined their Captain on the platform.
"You wanted a chance to get on their good sides, didn't you?" Jim replied. "Energize." he ordered.
When they beamed into the provided coordinates they materialized in a the same room they had 'dined' in, though the festivities had ended. Only staff remained and they were moving about, busy packing up tables, breaking down cooking stations, and glaring at their new arrivals.
The Alcor security team had shown up to meet them. They had their weapons at the ready when the three of them arrived, the catwoman was the only exception to this, though McCoy figured she probably didn't need one due to her vitriolic nature. Jim wasn't pleased by the show of aggression.
"Is this how you treat all your guests? With drawn weapons?" Jim asked her.
"Guests? No. We have the right to protect ourselves against rabble rousers." She groused. "You have a bad history here, Captain. Furthermore, your pardon for attacking a young woman is not an invitation to unsupervised reign. We are acting in our best interests."
"Where are my ensigns?" Jim asked.
"They're guarding the four well-mannered, Vulcan chefs." She told them.
"I've come to free the Vulcan Ambassador and his wife." McCoy announced.
The catwoman twisted behind her and waved to someone in the security team. A thin woman stepped forward, her eyes unfocused.
"Ara will take you to him." The cat purred. She turned to the woman. "Make sure he does not deviate from his task. This one is especially treacherous."
"Does this lady ever turn it off?" McCoy mumbled to Jim.
"Come with me." Ara said stepping in front of him.
"...See ya in a few." McCoy told Jim and Spock.
Ara had led McCoy down a stairwell into the building's basement. It was clean but cold, and he passed by staff that was eager to have him out of their way as they shuffled about.
"He is here." Ara announced suddenly.
She opened a locked door by pressing her fingers in a pattern on a pad hanging on the wall. The door popped open and she held it for him.
"Hello?" McCoy said entering the room.
Sarek was sitting on a metal chair in the middle of a barren room. He remained composed despite the bleakness of the atmosphere; he was sitting in excellent posture when McCoy stood in front of him.
"Where's the misses?" McCoy asked. "Don't tell me they split you two apart for questioning?"
"I've managed to negotiate my wife's return to our quarters," Sarek stated. "The Alcorians are most inflexible. They believed you would cause them much trouble, especially the lady Caitian."
"Well that fuzz-face can get stuck up a tree for all I care." McCoy huffed. Sarek's eyebrow didn't even wobble at the insult. Bones cleared his throat; he was embarrassed to have tried to inject anything remotely jovial in their conversation. "Don't worry, you'll be out of here soon, Ambassador." he said in a more serious tone.
"You were dancing with my son." Sarek stated the non-sequitur.
The conversation certainly took a U-turn away from what McCoy had in mind.
"Yeah, he's a, uh, pretty good dance partner." McCoy remarked. He wasn't sure if that was a compliment or something for a Vulcan to be ashamed about.
"Ah… a 'dance partner'." Sarek reflected. "You held each other as if you were partners in more than dancing. Would it be in error to ascertain the relationship between you two is a romantic one?" Sarek asked.
"Oh, ha ha…" McCoy said running a hand through his hair.
He desperately wished to be interrupted- he hadn't discussed with Spock how public they should make their relationship or what the official terms of it was. Christ, he'd even welcome that damn cat lady bursting in to bust his balls. Sarek looked unimpressed with his lame, vague response.
"Remember that unconscious woman under the table?" McCoy changed the subject. "I bet you're really confused about that."
"...There is much I am confused about, McCoy." Sarek admitted. "But it doesn't sound like you are equipped to give me answers." He said tonelessly. "At least, not satisfactory ones."
Strike two. Trust Spock's father to give him a splitting headache while trying to free him from the bounds of a power-tripping, food festival security team.
"While we're waiting for your release, I guess we should discuss why it was important for us to be at tonight's event." McCoy said. He was going to get this conversation back on the proper rails.
Sarek sighed. "I suppose."
McCoy launched into a detailed account of their mission. Slowly the Ambassador's expression went mild irritation, to blank, to one of fascination. After he had delivered his explanation Sarek pressed his steepled fingers against his chin. McCoy had seen that calculating look many times on Spock before.
"You say you found the Romulan spy dead on a ship named the Ulysses?" Sarek repeated.
"Yes sir." McCoy replied.
"Fascinating." Sarek spoke. "An acquaintance of mine was just informed of his son's death aboard that ship. He was attending the festival tonight and was distraught by the news."
Voices in the hallway interrupted their conversation, and McCoy saw Ara rush away from the door.
"What the hell?" McCoy swore as the yelling got louder.
Two Romulan chefs were launched into the room. McCoy caught a glimpse of Spock grappling with a third in the hallway; the security team was barking orders and must have been engaging with the fourth Romulan. Jim was taking heaving breaths as he jumped inside the room with them and blood was smeared across his face.
"Get behind me, Ambassador!" McCoy shouted. For once in his life he made a demand of a Vulcan and there wasn't a sassy remark or argument. Sarek listened to the advice and backed into the corner of the room as McCoy drew his phaser and pointed it at one of the Romulans.
The Romulan was an assassin, so of course his hand-to-hand combat skills were much more developed than an old country doctor's. In a blur the phaser went flying and McCoy knew in that moment he was woefully unprepared to take on a trained killer.
McCoy grabbed the metal chair behind him and put it up to his face just in time. The Romulan's fist collided with it causing a massive dent in the chair where his head was a few short seconds ago. Unfortunately his shield was slapped out of his hands just like the phaser was.
The Romulan's fist came hammering down. McCoy tried ducking and jumping backwards out of the way so as not to be caught in the most powerful part of the arc, but he miscalculated and the blow landed below his right collarbone. He dropped to his knees in agony.
Jim had gotten rid of his Romulan somehow and came up behind the one that had attacked McCoy. He delivered a swift, open-handed chop right between the assassin's shoulder blades which caused their attacker to round on the Captain.
"A hand-chop to the back? Is the human serious?" He snarled. Jim grimaced as strong Romulan hands grasped his wrist and twisted it. "What was that weak strike supposed to do- make me topple over!?" he laughed mockingly.
McCoy heard Jim scream in pain. Any moment now the Romulan would crush Jim and then turn on him. He was familiar with Spock's superhuman strength- their ending would be a painful and bloody one if luck didn't sway in their favor soon.
The vicious laughing halted in mid-breath, and Jim's scream wound down as the Romulan grunted in frustration. Ambassador Sarek had grabbed their attacker by the throat and used his other hand to strangle the nerve between his shoulder and neck. Slowly Sarek led the Romulan to the ground, he didn't go down as smoothly as McCoy had seen Spock lay people down before, but McCoy supposed it had something to do with Romulan hardiness.
"Are you injured, McCoy? Kirk?" Sarek asked them in a calm voice as they panted on the ground, nursing their wounds.
Jim turned to Bones and shook his head with a laugh.
"Vulcans." McCoy sighed with grimace.
"Captain, Ambassador Sarek would like a word with us." Spock informed him. "Privately." he added, his eyes flickering the Alcor VII security team.
The Caitian no longer was hassling them, instead she had turned her sights upon the four Romulans and focused all her desires to torment on them. Jim saw her place four bowls of wiggling blood-noodles before the prisoners and was glad to have an excuse to get away from the nauseating scene.
"I think I have uncovered all the parts to this mystery of yours." Sarek announced once they gathered around. He was seated on the dented chair. "I recommend you focus your report to Starfleet on Ryder Boswell."
"The young Earth man who was found with the Romulan spy." Spock recalled.
"Not precisely, Spock. The man you are speaking of was his son, Ryder Boswell Jr." Sarek said.
Spock's eyebrows raised. Apparently the Vulcans were getting something out of this that neither Jim nor McCoy could figure out.
"Ryder Boswell Senior is a politician of Terra." Sarek clarified, taking pity on the human's confusion. "Your people elected him to represent your interests to the Federation Council. His positions are often detrimental to the well-being of Romulan." Sarek informed them. "Most recently he spoke of placing heavy sanctions against their government to force negotiations in the Federation's favor."
Jim let out a long sigh. "Now it makes sense. The reason our assassins didn't leave for Romulan is because they weren't done killing, the job wasn't finished." Jim said. "But why kill his son?"
"The manifest did not reveal if the boy was a Boswell Junior or Senior." Spock said.
"We all had it wrong," McCoy said. "T'Pri wasn't the target."
"Although not their target, she may have had some idea of the assassin's peril." Spock spoke.
"She was trained to recognize a threat." McCoy said. "She died trying to protect him, that's why she was there."
"It would seem logical." Sarek agreed.
"That's awfully sad." McCoy said. "But I guess it shows there are good Romulans out there… kinda makes you question if all of your enemies are truly your enemies, or if that's just how you've accepted things."
"How very perceptive of you, McCoy." Sarek said. Jim gave Bones a pleased smile at the compliment. "If you excuse me, gentlemen, it has been a fascinating evening but not an entirely pleasant one."
He stood from his chair and turned to Spock.
"Before we part ways, I must make known a request of you." Sarek said. "Your mother wishes you visit us on Vulcan." He hesitated and lowered his voice slightly. "The Doctor is invited to join you in your visit as well. We would like to know him better if he is an important part of your life."
Spock lifted an eyebrow. The Vulcan salute came quickly from Sarek, which Spock eagerly returned. Clearly both men did not feel comfortable exploring the conversation further with one another.
"Live long and prosper, father." Spock spoke.
"Live long and prosper, my son." Sarek said back.
All Jim wanted to do was go to bed after the Romulans were thrown into the brig, but McCoy had wrangled the Captain and Spock into a check-up before sending them off. Thankfully the damage was minimal. Jim had a set of bruised ribs, McCoy just had an ugly contusion on his chest, and Spock got away with a few little scrapes and bruises.
"You're in tip-top shape." McCoy informed Spock. "Banged around a bit like me and Jim but you got the least pummeling out of all of us."
It was well past midnight Earth-time and they were the only ones in the sickbay diagnostic room. The rest of sickbay was being run by a skeleton crew.
"I was more physically matched to our assailants." Spock stated as he shuffled himself off the biobed.
"So you were." McCoy muttered. "And you could thank your dad for that, I know I do. He sure is handy in a fight. Jim and I would be a scrape under that Romulan's shoe if your father hadn't come to our rescue. I owe him an Alcor steak- right after I dine on my own of course."
"He would appreciate a steak just as much as I would, Doctor." Spock stated. "Which is to say, not very much. He also adheres to a vegetarian diet."
"You mean that insanity is hereditary?" McCoy joked shaking his head. "Speaking of your dad, he asked me if we were romantically involved with one another... I'm afraid I went into red alert. I didn't know what to tell him."
"You should have told him what is logical." Spock replied. "It is a fact we are romantically involved."
"Yes, but I didn't know if we're just dating or if we're in an official relationship…" McCoy said with a half shrug on his good side. "Or if we were just kissing and running away from each other." he joked.
"And what would you like our official status to be?" Spock asked.
"No, no, don't even try to pull that on me." McCoy said folding his hands behind his back. "I asked first, you tell me whatever this is between us."
Spock lifted his eyebrows and took a deep breath. McCoy could see the gears spinning in his mind.
"I would not be opposed to giving you the official label of…my boyfriend?" Spock offered.
McCoy grinned.
"Okay, I would like that." McCoy said. He couldn't resist rocking himself up briefly on his toes and down again in excitement. "Huh...perhaps we should christen our status with a kiss?"
Spock wordlessly held out his hand palm faced-up toward his new boyfriend. There was a ghost of a smile on his lips as McCoy joined their hands and was pulled into an embrace.
"I won't make any excuses after kissing you this time, Mr. Spock," McCoy said softly. "I really want this."
"As do I, Leonard." Spock assured him. McCoy felt his heart flutter from Spock calling him by his first name.
"I had my doubts..." McCoy said. "I mean, you drive me crazy with all that logic-talk and Vulcan pig-headedness, but you really know how to make me feel weak in the knees when it counts."
"Doctor, please do not sabotage the moment by talking too much." Spock replied playfully.
McCoy captured Spock's lips with his own and felt a surge of desperate passion between them. He thought for a species that claimed to have conquered emotion, Spock was pouring an awful lot of it into their kiss.