Chapter Text
The first sense to return to Kirk was his hearing.
There was shuffling all around him, hurried footsteps running all about. He felt himself being lifted, followed by being laid atop something hard. The padding felt scratchy… a gurney then? The squeak fo wheels as he was propelled forward confirmed his suspicions.
There was talking, the voices familiar but unidentifiable at the moment. A firm hand was clutching his shoulder, thumb tracing lightly across his skin. That touch… he knew exactly whose touch it was.
"Bones…" He croaked out
"Shh." The hand moved and fingers trailed through his hair "Just hang on Jim, you're gonna be alright."
A familiar prick shot into his arm, and Kirk's mind fogged. Bones was talking, giving orders to someone nearby, but his voice was fading. Gentle yet firm fingers trailed across his temple, and Kirk took it in as darkness claimed him once more.
When he awoke once more, Kirk found himself laying in a biobed. He slowly cracked his eyes open, and found the familiar surroundings of the Enterprise's sickbay. He made an attempt to sit up, only for a hand to pus him back.
"Easy there Jim." A familiar Souther drawl spoke.
"Bones?" Indeed standing right by his side was the doctor.
"Yeah Jim, it's me." He spoke gently, shifting his hand to Jim's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a shuttle got dropped on me." He rubbed his hand over his face, feeling sore and tired still. "What happened? I remember an explosion, but after that…"
"That's no surprise given how much blood you lost" McCoy said half-heartedly, but his tone quickly grew serious "The building had been rigged Jim. Someone had planted explosives all throughout the place. Chekov's investigating it all now."
Well… that made sense, he supposed.
"Any casualties?"
McCoy was quiet for a moment. "Ambassador Casperia and a few of her security personel are safe, but as far as anyone else who was there…"
He didn't finish, he didn't need to. Kirk bit his lip before deciding to change the subject.
"How long have I been out?"
"Almost twenty-four hours." Bones' grip tightened when the other jumped up in surprise. "Fortunately we have buckets of your blood type in stock, with how often you end up losing it I'm lucky to have so much laying around."
"I'm not complaining. Besides even if you hadn't, you'd have saved me somehow, you always do."
Bones rolled his eyes, though Kirk didn't miss the little grin that spread over his face. "Sweet talk me all you want darlin', you're not leaving here anytime soon."
Kirk groaned over-dramatically "Why must you torment me so?" Still, he knew there was no arguing with the doctor, at least for now. "Anyways, how about Spock? I assume that he's the one who called you?"
McCoy didn't respond, turning so that his back was facing the younger man. That wasn't a good sign, something that only happened when he didn't want to talk. The lightness was replaced with the cold feeling of foreboding.
"Bones." No response, so Kirk switched to a more commanding tone. "Doctor McCoy, where is my First Officer?"
"I…" He gulped. "Jim… we don't know."
Kirk sat up, ignoring the sharp pain the action brought. "What do you mean you don't know?"
"I mean we don't know!" McCoy turned around in a fury. "Security looked but couldn't find him! His communicator was there, that was it!"
He wasn't there? But that couldn't be right! He had been at his side the entire time! He wouldn't have just left, he wouldn't!
"What about the mental link? Maybe we can-?"
"Don't you think I tried that?" McCoy interrupted, looking defeated. "I tried for hours, nothing. Security's searched nearly everywhere, and nothing! Damn it Jim, I… I don't know, okay?"
Bones sat by the bed, burying his face in his hands. Kirk didn't press further, it was clear that he'd pushed the doctor before he had been ready to talk. Still, he should have been told the second that he'd opened his eyes back up. Spock was missing, likely in danger and there was no way to reach him.
He tried to think, what had happened before he had blacked out? He needed to remember…
Poseidon III, a little known planet known for it's frigid temperatures and rich mineral sources. They had also been rather closed off, save for a well-known conflict centuries ago with another planet before they had moved to their current location. They had rarely allowed outsiders until recently, when they suddenly requested a meeting to discuss admission into the Federation.
Kirk and Spock had just been beamed into the main building where they were quickly met by the ambassador of the planet, a blue-skinned woman dressed in silky silver robes with matching rings adorning her fingers.
"We welcome you to Poseidon III," She spoke softly, bowing her head to them. "I am Ambassador Casperia, the one who requested this meeting. I am graced by your presence."
"As we are graced by yours ambassador," he replied in his standard sensual manner. "I am Admiral Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise."
"Admiral?" The ambassador sounded surprised, which Kirk couldn't blame her. It wasn't exactly standard for an admiral to captain a starship, but of course, he was an exception.
"Quite a long story regarding that arrangement," he smiled at her. "Perhaps it's one that I could share once our meeting is complete."
"It sounds quite interesting, I look forward to hearing it." Casperia returned the smile, her gray irises sparkling with curiosity, then she froze. "And… your companion?"
"Ah of course, how rude of me." He motioned to the figure beside him. "This is my First Officer, Mister Spock."
"… a-a Vulcan?" she stuttered, averting her gaze slightly.
Kirk felt his professional facade start to slip. "He is my most trusted officer, ambassador and the finest First Officer in all of Starfleet. I assure you that whatever you may be thinking, there is no-."
"Admiral." Spock spoke, his form as steady as ever. "Ambassador, I apologize for your discomfort. if you would rather my presence be removed, I will of course have myself recused."
Casperia stared at him for a moment, then her shoulders sagged, and she turned back to him. "Forgive me Mister Spock, I… I don't mind your presence. It's just… a shock, given our worlds history."
"Indeed," Spock replied. "However, we have agreed to move past our previous conflicts and set our sights to a more passive direction."
"…yes, yes, you are correct." the ambassador nodded. "If you could give us a moment gentlemen, I need to discuss some quick security detail with my team, then we can commence with the meeting."
"Of course." Kirk replied curtly.
The ambassador nodded, then made her way out the nearby door. Kirk looked over at Spock, who took a few steps forward as he glanced over the hall curiously. He seemed unfazed by the interaction, as was usually the case. Yet Kirk couldn't help but feel infuriate towards the interaction, it had been downright uncalled-for.
"There is no need to feel offended on my behalf, admiral." Spock spoke suddenly. "It is only logical for the Posidians to have apprehension towards the presence of a Vulcan."
Perhaps that was true to some extent. Kirk had read up on a great deal of Poseidon III's history in preparation for the meeting, and their relationship with Vulcan had been icy at best. A conflict had erupted , the cause appearing lost to time. It was only now, all these centuries later that the two species were meeting again for the first time. It was a fresh start, so to speak.
"They may have the right to feel a little shaky. However," Kirk moved beside Spock, placing a hand on his shoulder, "they have no right to be afraid of you."
Spock stood as he was, his body relaxing slightly "The Posidians have only known the brutality of my people's barbaric roots, to expect them to have no misgivings would be illogical. It is also irrelevant, this meeting is to decide their place in the Federation. Whatever ill will that they feel towards myself or any other Vulcan, it matters not."
Kirk wanted to say that it did matter, but instead he inhaled and lightly tightened his grip. "You truly are a man of great integrity, my dear Mister Spock."
The Vulcan gave no reply, but he placed a steady palm over the hand resting atop his shoulder. A sense of gratitude filled Kirk's senses, and a smile pulled at his lips as it settled into his chest.
It was then that everything went wrong.
It began with the a sound far in the distance, which they were only aware of due to Spock turning around suddenly. Then came another, and more and more echoed through the halls and the ground trembled along with it. Before Jim knew it, he felt himself being pushed across the room as an explosion erupted.
Clouds of smoke and debris quickly filled the air as Kirk got up to his knees, his arm going over his face. He couldn't see anything, nor could he talk without inhaling the dust clouds surrounding him. But he didn't need to speak, not with their bond in place.
Spock?
I am here Jim.
Are you alright?
I am uninjured.
Good. Kirk got to his feet, squinting as he tried to see ahead. Can you see where I am?
Affirmative. Fortunately such conditions have little effect on me compared to your human vision, Admiral.
Kirk almost laughed, if he hadn't been grateful for Spock's second set of eyelids before he sure was now.
Alright, try to make your way to me. Once we're together we can find our way through and then call for- ugh!
He froze.
He felt a sharp, sudden pain from behind, followed by something being pulled back from him. His hand went to his front, and he quickly found it covered in red. His vision blurred before he fell to his knees and collapsed. He tried to move, but a painful jolt brought him right back down.
Someone crouched next to him, and he felt a hand between his shoulders. There was talking, but it was all sounded muffled to him. He could make out a couple of masked figures standing nearby, weapons in hand. They were talking to… Spock? That's who was beside him now, right? The warm, steady hand holding him felt like him.
S-Spock? He reached out. Spock are you-?
Do not move, Jim. Spock answered. You have been injured, we must get you medical attention.
I'm not…
There is no point in arguing, I can sense that you are in pain. Remain as you are until I can reach Leonard.
But those figures… what are you telling them?
Silence.
…Spock?
You will be alright, Jim.
Spock? What are you going to do?
Spock's steady hand lifted form where it rested, then there were footsteps. Kirk tried to force his eyes to focus, and he could make out Spock before the attackers, communicator in hand. He was speaking into it, but everything still sounded muffled and unclear.
What was clear, however, was the Vulcan dropping the device to the ground. Then he held his arms out, and the attackers suddenly had some kind of binds around his wrist. One took hold of his arm, while another pulled out… some kind of item. A hypo perhaps? He couldn't make it out, but whatever it was, they stuck it into Spock's arm.
What was happening? What was Spock doing? He had to move… get back up… something!
Spock! He tried to yell through their link. Damn it Spock, whatever you're doing I order you to stop! Do you hear me?! Spock!
He tried to move, to bite back the pain enough to get back to his feet. But his body wasn't listening, he couldn't do anything. The last thing that he saw was Spock being pulled away by some masked figures, followed by darkness.
"They took him…"
"Jim?" McCoy looked up, confused.
"There were these masked figures… the ones who stabbed me." Jim whispered.
McCoy processed the words, a feeling of cold dread settling into his chest. "Are you saying-?"
"He gave himself over to them…" Jim's fists curled at his side. "He did it to save me…"
McCoy stared at him with widening eyes. "Are you sure?"
Kirk only stared back, but t was all the answer that McCoy needed. Oh… oh Hell. It had already concluded that Spock had been taken hostage, but no one had considered that he had allowed it.
McCoy felt infuriated yet he wasn't surprised either. Of course the damned fool would do that! Of course! He swore that the second they found him, he was going to yank those pointy ears of his right back to the ship!
Then there was the fact that their mental link still wasn't working. Was it being blocked? Had Spock cut it off? No, they'd have felt it if it were that. Which meant it was either being blocked or…
A pained grunt drew McCoy away from his thoughts. He looked just in time to see Jim having forced himself to sit up, and the idiot was now trying to turn to get up on his feet.
"Jim!" McCoy was already back on his feet. "What he Hell do you think you're doing?!"
Kirk ignored him, forcing himself to stand up. He made it as far as three steps before McCoy had moved in front of him. "You aren't going anywhere but right back to that bad, that's an order."
"You're overruled." Jim glared at him. "I'm not going to just sit here while he's missing. If we don't find him and find him now-!"
"You think I don't know that?! That the crew of this ship don't know that?!" McCoy yelled right back at him. "Do you want to know how Chekov hasn't slept longer than an hour while down on the surface? How Scotty and Uhura have been fighting with command so we can keep searching? How every available officer we have is turning the whole damn planet upside down to get answers?"
Kirk stared at him, his expressions softening but still hardened by single-minded determination. He tried to step past the doctor, only for the gesture to cause a shockwave of pain. He likely would have doubled over had McCoy not been there to catch him.
As frustrating as he was being, McCoy couldn't blame Jim at all. When Spock had called him, his first instinct had been to try and run right to the transporter. He'd only stopped because he was in the middle of performing a surgery, the whole reason that he hadn't gone along with them to begin with. Had he been there, then maybe…
"It's my fault." Jim finally wheezed out. "It's my fault that this happened Bones. I should have known better… now Spock's paying for it. If anything happens to him…"
McCoy didn't let him finish, instead wrapping his arms around him and holding him. No words were going to ease Jim's guilt right now, so he wouldn't say them. But he was still a doctor, and he wasn't going to slack off on that job now.
"Let's get you back to bed Jim." He said softly.
"Bones-"
"Don't even think about it!" He added firmly. "Right now there's nothing that you can do except recover. Which you sure as Hell won't be able to do if you don't get back to bed right this second!"
Kirk stared back at him, and McCoy felt himself deflate a little. It was no longer Admiral Kirk that he was facing, but Jim. Not his superior, but one of his partners.
"Jim, you won't be able to help him if you're in too much pain to even stand out of bed properly. He wouldn't want you making yourself worse, especially if he gave himself up to save you." He pulled him forward until their foreheads were touching. "You need to rest darlin', please? For him?"
Jim was quiet, then leaned his head enough that it could rest on McCoy's shoulder. "You'll get me if we get any updates?"
McCoy nodded, adjusting so that he could wrap an arm around his lover's shoulders. He led him back to the biobed, laying him carefully down and tucking him in. He fell asleep the second that his head had hit the pillow. McCoy brushed a kiss atop his temple, then sat at the edge of the bed.
They had to find Spock, the question now was would they be able to?