TITLE:  Through the Looking Glass

AUTHOR: Rari Coss

E-MAIL ADDRESS: rac_fic@yahoo.com.

RATING: NC-17 

PAIRING: K/S

DISCLAIMER: It all belongs to Paramount, and many other people who make much more money than I ever will.  So, please, look the other way.  Says in a low voice with a small hand gesture:  These aren't the droids you're looking for, move along.

SUMMARY:  On another run to Halka, in the middle of yet another coincidental ion storm, the two Spocks switch universes.  Happy ending, with our universe Spock and Kirk together.

NOTES:  Set about a year after Mirror, Mirror.  And this story is not intended to be knocking BDSM.  It's just how the story turned out.  <G>

FEEDBACK: Absolutely.

THANKS: To everyone who helped out on this one: Gileswench, Deb, Morwen, and Dword

Through the Looking Glass: Part 1

"I hate coincidences."

"Captain, I would hardly call this a coincidence."

"Spock, you're missing the point."

"I would not…miss the point…if you chose your words more carefully."

Kirk sighed.  "Well, coincidence or not, I don't like it."

"That much is clear."

Kirk sent Spock a narrow-eyed look coupled with a small frown.  "Fine, then what I don't like is the feeling of déjà vu."

"Déjà vu?"

"Not clear enough for you, Mr. Spock?"

"No, I understand the phrase perfectly well, Captain.  However the circumstances we now find ourselves in are quite different than a year ago."

"How different?  We're talking dilithium crystals, the Halkans, and the Enterprise.  Those sound like the right ingredients for a déjà vu experience to me."  Kirk wasn't anticipating this one ending any better.  Diplomatic relations with the Halkans had not resulted with them joining the Federation, which was why he was back, once again, to beg for Dilithium.  He wasn't looking forward to it. 

Spock gave his Captain a good long look and realized that this was one of those arguments that Kirk was determined to win.  Hating to simply retreat, Spock lifted an eyebrow and chose not to comment.

Kirk resisted the urge to smile and frowned again.  He loved arguing semantics with Spock.   

"Captain?"

Kirk turned toward Uhura.  "Yes, Lieutenant?"

"We are within hailing frequency of the Halkans, but there's been no response to my calls."

Kirk's brow furrowed.  "Nothing?"

"No, sir."

Kirk glanced over at Spock, who had returned to his station.  "Spock?"

"I concur with the Lieutenant."  He met his Captain's eyes.  "I believe the Halkans have been attacked.  There are signs of massive explosions with a signature reading indicating the attack occurred approximately one standard year ago."  He checked one more time, and Kirk watched him swallow.  "There do not appear to be any life signs." 

Kirk stood up and walked over to Spock's station.  "That's not possible.  There were millions of inhabitants on this planet one standard year ago.  We were here one standard year ago."

"Affirmative.  This must have happened shortly after we left.  And at this time, there appear to be no inhabitants at all."  He swallowed again, clear evidence of his distress.  "It would suggest that this was a purposeful attack with the intention of eliminating all life."  He made a few adjustments to the board. 

Kirk watched the small change in expression that intimated a frown.  "What is it?"

"There appears to be some intermittent interference to the sensors.  It is currently making it difficult to confirm my readings."

Kirk grasped at hope.  "So maybe there are people alive. Or maybe they've gone underground, or into shelters."

"It is unlikely they have underground shelters of sufficient depth to avoid our sensors, but it is possible." 

Kirk thought for a moment and reached a decision.  "We have to be sure."  He hit his intercom.  "Dr. McCoy, meet me in the transporter room."  Then he stopped and turned to his first officer, the memory of their last visit vivid in his mind.  "Is it safe to use the transporters, Mr. Spock?"

Spock weighed the facts, the safety of his Captain of paramount importance.  His fingers flew across the board again, collecting additional data.  As the information flowed in he calculated the odds and determined that the risk was acceptable.  "Yes, Captain.  There does not seem to be any ionic atmospheric fluctuations similar to what we experienced during our last visit to this planet.  While I cannot immediately ascertain what is causing the intermittent sensor malfunction, all other systems on the ship seem to be functioning within fully acceptable ranges."

Kirk accepted the pronouncement and turned to Chekov.  "Mr. Chekov, you're with me, and assemble a security team."  Kirk started heading for the turbolift.  "Mr. Spock, the ship is yours."

"Yes, Captain."  Spock watched the door slide shut, concealing the Captain and Chekov from his view.  Pushing aside the discomfort he always felt whenever Kirk took part in a reconnaissance mission without him at his side, he turned back to his station and continued to sweep for life signs. 

*****

Kirk looked around him with disbelief.  He glanced at McCoy's stricken face and knew his looked the same.  It looked as if the planet had been ripped apart.  Where the capital should have been, nothing recognizable remained.  The buildings were shattered; only small pieces of brick and plasticene remained to even indicate that a city had once been here.  Huge furrows in the earth eliminated any hope that someone might have survived an attack of this ferocity even if they had been underground. 

The doctor snapped off his tricorder, swallowing bile.  "Spock was right.  I'm not reading any life signs at all.  None."  He looked around at the devastation.  "Who did this?  Who could possibly do something like this?"  The doctor's legs were feeling shaky and he lowered himself down on to a large rock.

Kirk shook his head.  There were too many unanswered questions.  They had found some remains, year old, largely decomposed, remains.  But Kirk suspected that most of the people had been caught in the blast and had simply disintegrated.  As if the blasts had been aimed right at them.  Purposeful, hateful.  The timing of the attack bothered him as well.  It must have happened right after they left.  Maybe if they had stayed just a few more days, they might have prevented it.  These people had had nothing with which to defend themselves.

All those people.  Peace loving people.  Kirk's expression hardened with pain.  No way to undo it.  Too late to protect anyone.  These people had been dead for a long time.  He sat down next to McCoy, needing to feel the warmth of a live body.  He wished he were a million miles away from here.  After a few minutes he remembered that there was a reason why they had returned to this planet.  Kirk was glad for something pragmatic to focus on.  He pulled out his communicator.  "Spock?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Are you still getting readings on dilithium crystal?"

"Affirmative.  While there were explosions around the mines as well, the result is that the crystal appears closer to the surface."

Kirk hesitated.  "I don't understand.  That's the only resource the Halkans had.  Why attack and leave the dilithium behind?"

"Unknown.  Perhaps I should join you on the planet and do further study."

Kirk nodded.  No one could wrangle information out of a tricorder like Spock could.  "That's a good idea.  And bring the coordinates of the closest dilithium while you're at it.  We might as well get what we came here for." 

"Understood.  I will join you as soon as possible."  Which couldn't be soon enough for Spock.  He called the Chief Engineer.  "Mr. Scott?"

"Scott here."

"I will be joining the Captain on the planet.  I require your presence up on the bridge."

Spock listened to the engineer heave a heavy sigh.  "Aye, sir.  I'll be right up."

Spock knew that Mr. Scott hated to be on the bridge.  He hated to be away from his engines.  Spock could understand.  He hated to be away from his Captain.  He had worked with Humans enough to have a rudimentary knowledge about the art of appeasement.  "Mr. Scott, while you have the conn you will need to arrange the mining and delivery of the replacement dilithium crystals."

He could almost see the engineer's smile.  "Aye, Mr. Spock.  Now that I'll do with pleasure."

"I thought you might.  Spock out."  The Vulcan's peripheral vision was too sharp for him to miss the grin that passed between Sulu and Uhura, but he ignored it.  Trying not to provide any more amusement for the bridge crew then he already had, he resisted the urge to tap his fingers while he waited for his replacement to arrive.

*****

Kirk felt uneasy.  He glanced around trying to pinpoint the exact reason why.  He let out a bitter laugh and muttered to himself, "Besides millions dead and a planet in ruin?"

McCoy looked up from where he was sitting.  "What's that, Jim?"

"I don't know.  Something's not right."

"You mean other than the obvious?"

Kirk nodded.  He ran a hand over his face.  The uneasiness persisted.  Then he noted the color of the sky, and he saw a flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder.  It was suddenly, crushingly familiar.  Letting out a curse he flipped open his communicator.  "Spock."

"Scott here, Cap'n.  Mr. Spock's on his way down to the planet."

"Stop him.  There's some sort of storm brewing, just like the last time we were here."

Scotty remembered that incident all too well.  He hit the intercom to call the transporter room.  "Mr. Kyle, put Mr. Spock on."

"I can't, sir.  He just beamed down."

The Scotsman shut off the intercom.  "Did ye here that, Cap'n?"

"I did."

"Do ye see him?" 

Kirk saw the energy pattern and he nodded.  "Yes, he's coming through now."  Another bolt of lightning flashed overhead.  Kirk held his breath as the energy pattern fluctuated.  "Come on, come on."  It was taking too long.  Much too long.

McCoy moved to stand next to Kirk.  "Is that Spock?"

Kirk nodded.  His guts were churning as a seemingly endless number of seconds passed.  Then he let out his breath as Spock's form began to materialize.  Hazel eyes waited anxiously to greet his friend and he walked a few steps closer.  Then he stopped in disbelief as his eyes swept over the figure standing before him.  A familiar figure in a blue uniform, but one with a gold sash wrapped around his waist, an odd insignia on his tunic, a dagger at his side, and a beard.  Kirk's lips tightened in dismay.  "Yes, it's Spock.  It's just the wrong one."

An eyebrow went up on the saturnine face as he took in the people surrounding him.  "Fascinating."  His eyes turned to Kirk.  "It appears we meet again."  His body went into a cautious stance as the security crew surrounded him, phasers drawn.

Kirk waved them off.  "That's not necessary."  He gave this Spock a rueful smile.  "If it was anyone else from your universe I'd have them shoot first and ask questions later."

"A wise precaution, Captain." 

McCoy sidled up next to Kirk.  "Are you sure it's not necessary?" 

"Bones, it's Spock."

McCoy remembered the way this Spock had forced himself into his mind and he shivered.  "Not our Spock."

"But, as we discovered on our last visit, a man of integrity, nonetheless."

Kirk glanced up to find the Vulcan looking around him with curiosity.  The dark eyes met his again.  "I see you destroyed your Halkans as well."

Kirk's eyes widened.  "As well?  You destroyed them after all?"  Disappointment seared through him.

McCoy muttered, "Man of integrity, hmm?"

"I considered your words and found them of worth.  However, I did not wish to kill my Captain, as I believed him to be of use.  Once having chosen to keep him alive, it was improbable that I would have been able to garner his trust so quickly.  Even if I had, we both would have simply been assassinated.  Therefore, it was logical to follow our original orders."

The doctor snorted.  "He's a cold blooded logic machine, no matter…"

The Vulcan moved so fast he was almost a blur and his hand wrapped around McCoy's throat.  He spoke in a low and dangerous voice.  "I do not know what your Spock considers acceptable behavior from the Humans with whom he works, but your words are unacceptable to me."

McCoy tried to push the hand away, but he had seldom had to deal with immutable Vulcan strength aimed directly at him.  He croaked out a word.  "Jim."

Kirk grabbed at Spock's arm, and was equally unsuccessful in dislodging it.  He barked out an order.  "Mr. Spock, release him.  Now."

Instead of obeying as Kirk expected, the Vulcan tightened his grip and turned dark eyes to the Captain.  "Or what?  You do not command me here."  He saw the phasers rise again.  "You may, of course, shoot me, but I do not believe you will get your Spock back without my assistance."

Kirk watched McCoy struggle for breath and tried another method.  "I need him.  Let him go, please."

Spock turned back to the doctor.  "Speak disrespectfully to me again and I will make you wish you had not."  He slowly released McCoy's throat and stepped away.  Dismissing the doctor from his mind he turned to the Captain, an insolent look in his eyes.

Kirk turned to McCoy.  "Are you all right?"

McCoy glared at the Vulcan but then took a step back at the answering glare.  His voice was a bit rough.  "Yeah, fine."  He tried to clear his throat.

Kirk watched him for a moment, needing a bit more reassurance.  At another nod from McCoy he turned back to Spock.  "You intentionally hurt anyone in my crew again I'll throw you in the brig."

Spock's expression was almost a dare.  "And my research?"

"I'll have Mr. Scott rig a computer up for you to keep you company."  Kirk had no intention of backing down if his crew was at risk.

A look of admiration flashed across Spock's face so quickly that Kirk wasn't sure if he'd seen it.  The Vulcan's words made him think that perhaps he had.  "I might choose to stay.  You intrigue me."

"Don’t even think about it.  This isn't your universe.  I need my Mr. Spock back, as I imagine your Captain needs you back."

The Vulcan considered the Captain.  He dropped the subject for the time being.  "I am surprised that you elected to destroy these people.  You had convinced me that you were a man of peace."

"I didn't.  We left them alive.  We came back to barter for some dilithium crystals and we found this.  It happened months ago."  He gestured to the ruin around him.  "We don't know what happened.  With them not being a member of the Federation of Planets, there hasn't been any routine monitoring of the planet."  His communicator chirped and he remembered that he had been speaking to Scotty.  "Scottie?"

"Aye, sir.  Is it…is it the other Mr. Spock?"

"Yes."  Kirk eyed the other Spock warily.  "Yes, it is."  He paused.  "Can you beam us up?"

"Not yet.  That ion storm is still wreaking havoc w' the transporter system."

"Well, let me know as soon as it's working again.  Oh, and Scotty?"

"Aye, sir."

"Spock was bringing down the coordinates to the closest dilithium.  Can you transmit that data to my tricorder?  We might as well make ourselves useful while we wait."

There was a brief pause.  "Sending now."

Kirk watched the data flow to his tricorder.  "Got it, thank you, Mr. Scott.  Kirk out."  He flipped his communicator shut and looked around.  "Gentlemen, we have work to do."  He glanced at Spock, uneasy with this Vulcan, missing his friend and his unfailing loyalty and support.  Not sure what course to take he simply gestured as if to invite him along.

With a small nod, Spock accepted the invitation.  McCoy made very sure to keep the Captain in between the two of them.

His eyes on the tricorder to determine his path, Kirk spoke to the Vulcan.  "Why…?" Shaking his head he thought better of the question.

"Why what?"

Kirk looked up and only saw curiosity in Spock's eyes.  "Why didn't you want to kill him?"  He had heard reports of his counterpart from his own Spock and the man had sounded brutal.

"I find him…amusing."

Kirk's eyebrows rose high on his forehead.  As he saw the looks of his crew he was sorry he'd opened his mouth.  "Amusing?"

Spock nodded.  "He also has a certain creativity in his thinking processes that I lack.  I find we work well together."  Kirk let out a small breath, grateful for the added caveat that wasn't quite so ego deflating.  Before he could speak, the Vulcan continued.  "And since then I have found other reasons to keep him alive." 

The voice was so laden with sexual innuendo that Kirk short-circuited and stopped walking, only to find the Vulcan raking his eyes over the Human's body with an unmistakable glint in them.  The behavior was wholly out of character for what Kirk knew of Vulcans.  And to have that expression on Spock's face and those words said with Spock's voice, made it even more shocking.  He stammered out a response.  "Me and…you?  I mean, you and him?" 

"You find this so surprising?"

Kirk glanced at McCoy only to find his jaw was open too.  He tried not to notice the wide-eyed disbelieving look on Chekov's face.  "Yes, I find it quite surprising."

"You are not bond-mates?"

Kirk wanted to sit down.  "You two are?"

Spock frowned.  "You spoke to me as if you owned his allegiance."

"I do."

"But you are not his bond-mate?"

"No, I am his Captain.  He obeys me as his commanding officer." 

Spock gave him a small derisive smile.  "No Human ever truly commands a Vulcan."

Kirk stood tall.  "I command my Spock."

"You are a fool if you believe that to be true.  He merely accepts your leadership for the time being.  Vulcans are far superior to Humans in too many ways to ever give their full allegiance to one who is not a bondmate."

"He has given me his."

"Only until it no longer suits him, or until the time of his mating is upon him.  Then you will see how little you command him.  He will kill you if you try to come between him and his mate."

Kirk's eyes clouded at the memory.  He met the Vulcan's gaze, a frown on his face.

Spock nodded.  "I see you understand me.  Only a bond-mate truly controls a Vulcan.  Whatever control you believe you have over your Mr. Spock is only what he chooses to give you."

McCoy, keeping his distance, intervened.  "Jim, you know that Spock is loyal to you, and he obeys…" There was a brief hesitation.  "Well, most of the time he…"

The Captain looked up at the doctor, interrupting him.  "You're not helping."  He looked back at the Vulcan.  "Is that why he bonded with you?  To control you?"

"No.  I chose him.  No one can bond with a Vulcan against his will."

"Yet you gave him that power over you."

"It was necessary.  We now control each other.  I found your ideas intriguing, but I knew I could not achieve such sweeping change on my own.  I needed a partner, one who would trust me."

"So, just like that, you bonded with him?  Against his will?"

"Not entirely against his will.  He wanted access to this body, and he allowed me access to his mind in exchange."

Kirk ran a hand over his face.  "Access to your…" He blushed as the words became clear.

Spock's eyes were mocking as he once again raked the Captain's body.  "Surely the thought has occurred to you."

Kirk shook his head.  "No, no it hasn't.  My Spock and I are friends, the best of friends, but…no." 

The Vulcan lifted a hand and touched Kirk's cheek.  The Captain took a step backwards.  "I can see my touch frightens you.  Perhaps the thought of him touching you frightens you as well."

Kirk's eyes darkened at the implied challenge.  "It doesn't frighten me.  You don't frighten me.  It's just not the way we are.  We're friends.  We don't need to be bondmates to trust each other.  We trust each other implicitly.  He'd do anything for me, and I'd do the same for him."

The dark eyes gave no quarter.  He lifted his hand again to touch the Captain's cheek.  This time Kirk stood his ground.  "I wonder if your Spock has thought of it."  The hand slowly made its way down Kirk's face to his jaw.  "I wonder if he finds you aesthetically pleasing.  I find my Captain to be exceedingly so.  Especially when he begs."  The fingers continued to explore.

Kirk's arm moved quickly to stop any more movement, his eyes flashing.  "Take your hand off of me."

Spock's eyes were taunting.  "You are soft in this universe, Captain.  I do not believe you would survive the games he likes to play."  Only then did he drop his hand.

The Captain struggled with the urge to backhand the Vulcan for the game he was playing.  Counting silently to ten he pushed the anger aside.  Spock, in any universe, was no one to physically antagonize.  He'd learned that the hard way.  He turned sharply away from the arrogant eyes.  "This way."  With a steady stride, and one eye on the tricorder, he began walking.

*****

Several hours later, a respectable pile of phaser-cut dilithium crystals at their feet, Kirk, McCoy, Chekov, and the security team were taking a rest.  The Vulcan had wandered away at some point and no one had been anxious to call him back.  McCoy double-checked to make sure he was nowhere to be found.  "A man of integrity?"

Kirk gave a small shrug.  He didn't mention his own growing doubts.  This Vulcan was not meeting any of his expectations.  It seemed a betrayal, though, to not trust him when he wore his best friend's face.  "He got us home last time, Bones.  He could have killed us."

"He didn't give a hoot about us, he just wanted his own Captain back so he could get his rocks off."  He took in Kirk's angry glare and waved him off.  "Come off it, Jim.  You heard him.  It doesn't mean anything about you and our Spock."

Kirk shook his head in frustration.  "I know.  I just…" He just wanted his Spock back.  He wanted to not have had that conversation that filled his mind with unsettling thoughts.  Thoughts of Spock on the sands of Vulcan, thoughts of when Spock would leave him again to mate.  The visitor's words made him question his command over his friend.  The foundation of his relationship with Spock suddenly felt as if it were built on shifting sands.

Despite his best efforts to ignore this particular train of thought he found himself wondering what games this Vulcan and his Captain liked to play.  And he found himself wondering if his Spock had ever thought of him that way.  Hearing footsteps he looked up to see the Vulcan had returned.  An unpleasant thought occurred to him.  "What's your Captain going to do to my Spock?" 

Spock eased himself down across from Kirk and considered the question.  "I cannot be sure.  Hopefully, for both their sakes, he is utilizing your Spock's expertise to work out a solution to our problem."

"What do you mean, 'hopefully for both their sakes'?"

"Ever since he met him, it has been a desire of James' to kill your Vulcan.  He has not forgiven him for his incarceration.  It is possible he will simply put him to death." 

Kirk swallowed the sense of panic those words engendered in him.  "You said both their sakes."

"Yes, despite his efforts to hide it from me, I also know that James harbored other desires regarding your Mr. Spock.  He finds it quite stimulating to be dominated." 

Kirk's eyes widened.  "Do you mean…?"

"Yes, Captain, that is exactly what I mean."

The more Kirk heard about his double, the less he liked him.  He especially didn't like the idea of his Spock having to be anywhere near him.  "My Spock would never agree to such an arrangement."

"Are you sure?  If he was faced with a willing James Kirk, are you so sure he would refuse?"

Kirk refused to believe otherwise.  Anything else was unacceptable in his mind.  Plus the thought of the two of them together was making his gut hurt.  Clenching his jaw he glanced up only to see the Vulcan's eyes lit with a sardonic amusement.  He decided he sure as hell wasn't going to lose this argument.  "It's only logical, Mr. Spock.  If my Spock wanted me, he wouldn't accept a replacement.  Any more than you would."

The dark eyes were still glittering with amusement and a bit of something else.  "Indeed.  Although I find the idea intriguing."  He let his eyes linger over Kirk again, the look on his face imperious and condescending.  "Let us hope you are correct.  If I find that my bond-mate has been unfaithful I would, of course, have to kill them both."

Kirk counted to ten again, sent McCoy a look and reached for his communicator.  "Scotty, please tell me the transporters are working."

"Give me another twenty minutes, and we'll have you back aboard."

Kirk let out a sigh.  "Keep me informed."

"Aye, Cap'n."

Kirk tapped his chin with the communicator.  He asked another question he had often wondered about.  "What ever happened to Marlena?"  He had thought of her during the past year, hoping she'd found what she had been searching for.  

"Lieutenant Monroe is dead."

"How?"

"I killed her."

Kirk was tired of feeling adrift at sea.  It occurred to him just how much he counted on his friend to be the way he always was.  Every time this Vulcan double said or did something out of character for the man he considered his best friend, he felt as if the rug had been completely pulled out from under him.  "What?  Why?"

"She was foolish enough to believe that she could still touch the Captain after he became my bond-mate.  I decided her death would set an example to the rest of the crew."  He took in the shocked look on Kirk's face.  "What is mine, is mine."  With that he rose and walked away again.

McCoy couldn't help rubbing it in.  He inched closer to the Captain.  "You still think he's a man of integrity?  I think you need to look that word up."

Kirk didn't feel like sparring.  His lips tightened.  "We get back to the ship, we figure out how to send him home and we get our Spock back." 

Chekov moved closer.  "Why is he like that?  Are all Vulcans like that in his world?  He's so different from our Mr. Spock."

"Yes, he is."  Kirk shook his head, trying to envision the world those others lived in.  "It must be an unbelievably harsh place."   He tried to imagine any circumstance that would result in his Spock becoming as harsh as his double was.  He couldn't.  Instead he felt a moment's gratitude that he lived in a universe that had created the Vulcan who had become such a wondrous part of his life.  Not someone who killed millions as a logical step to make someone trust him, and who killed to set an example, and who liked violent games instead of the gentle touching of two soul-mates.  

Kirk frowned at the direction his thoughts were going in.  Pushing them aside he spent the next few minutes just hoping that his Spock was safe and busy working on getting home.  He ignored the small thought that was also angrily insisting that his Spock better keep his hands to himself.

Part 2

Once back on the ship, Spock followed Kirk up to the bridge.  When the security team neglected to follow the Captain, the Vulcan placed himself in between Kirk and Chekov.  The Russian felt the dark eyes watching him and found the turbolift much too small.  He let go a small sigh of relief when the doors opened.

After the turbolift doors closed on Scotty, happily on his way back to his engines and the new dilithium crystals, Spock swept the bridge for security.  When he saw none, he turned to Kirk.  "Where are your security guards?"

Kirk lifted his eyebrows in confusion.  "Excuse me?"

"Your guards.  I assumed when they left on arrival that you had alternate guards on the bridge awaiting you."

"I don't need personal guards on the Enterprise."

Spock glanced at Chekov, Sulu, and Uhura.  They all cringed at his disapproving gaze.  "You trust your lives to the likes of these?"

Kirk's eyes darkened at the implied criticism of his trusted crew.  "Yes.  Yes, I do." 

"How do you know they will not betray you?  How can you be sure they will not try to sabotage a mission to further themselves?"  A deeply insulted look crossed Sulu's face and he began to rise.  Chekov yanked him back down and hissed at him to stay put.  

Kirk kept his attention focused on the imposter on his bridge.  "Spock.  This is not your universe.  We don't live that way here.  I trust them.  We work together as a team.  I've put my life in their hands more times than I can count."  The bridge crew smiled at that and sat a little taller in their seats.

"It is an unnecessary risk."

"It is a risk I am willing to take."

Spock frowned at Kirk.  "I am sure that your Spock oversees their work and ensures that you are protected.  I will do the same while I am here." 

"Spock, that won't be necessary.  They do their jobs without the need for supervision."

"They are Humans.  They are prone to mistakes.  It is only natural that a Vulcan First Officer would limit the bridge crew's responsibilities and monitor them closely."

Kirk let out a long breath.  "Spock."  He found himself counting again and then smiled his best negotiating smile.  "If it comes to that, I'm Human too.  Does your Captain allow you to monitor the work he does?"

"I do not need to monitor the Captain's work."  Kirk nodded, thinking he'd gotten his point across.  Then Spock continued.  "I can read his mind; his thoughts are my thoughts.  I can immediately perceive when he is making an error and communicate such to him along our bond."  Spock's eyes were lit with a dark, mocking amusement.  "It is a frequent occurrence."

Kirk was tired of this Spock's sense of humor.  "I do not imagine he enjoys such a process."  The Captain knew that he would not.

"No, you are correct, he does not.  However, over time, he has learned not to argue, as he knows I am usually right."

"Only usually, Mr. Spock?"  Kirk's voice was mocking in return.

"I speak generally, Captain.  I am correct 97.36 per cent of the time.  That is sufficient for him to heed my advice."  His eyebrows rose.  "Am I to infer from this that you do not heed your Spock's advice?"

"No, I generally do heed his advice because he is usually correct.  However, he also listens to mine and values it as highly."  Spock lifted an eyebrow, letting Kirk know what he thought of that idea.  Kirk was getting heartily sick of this particular Vulcan.  Everything about him rubbed him the wrong way.  He was all business when he spoke again.  "We're wasting time.  We've got a problem to solve."

They gazed at each other, one implacable will against the other.  Spock conceded that perhaps, this time, this Captain was correct.  "I concur." 

"We can use the computers in Spock's lab."  He looked at Sulu and spoke clearly.  "Mr. Sulu, keep an eye on things."

Sulu grinned.  "Aye, aye, sir."

Kirk acknowledged the grin, sent a defiant look at the Vulcan and gestured towards the turbolift. 

Spock lifted an eyebrow but he headed for the turbolift.  He waited for Kirk to join him, and took the time to spear the crew with a look that spoke volumes as to the repercussions were they to engage in any nefarious activities. 

When the door shut, they all breathed a sigh of relief.  Sulu shot his friends a look.  "Holy crap."

Chekov nodded.  "You should have seen him on the planet.  I think he would have killed Dr. McCoy if the Captain hadn’t stopped him…" He leaned forward and both Sulu and Uhura leaned towards him in anticipation.  "He and his Captain are bond-mates."

Uhura's eyes widened.  "Bond-mates?"  Chekov nodded.  When he started to blush, Uhura's eyes grew wider.  She couldn't ever remember seeing her outspoken friend embarrassed to speak.  "What?"

Chekov took a deep breath and then proceeded to relate all the overheard conversations to Sulu and Uhura.

*****

Kirk stayed until it became apparent that Spock did not require his assistance, and that, in fact, his questions were clearly disturbing the Vulcan's concentration.  Seeing that this Spock seemed to share his own Spock's love of a good scientific mystery he decided to give them both a break.  The tension was getting a bit thick.  

Kirk was willing to admit that the tension might all be his own.  He didn't trust this Spock, for many reasons, and one in particular.  There'd been a few too many looks thrown his way.  If the Vulcan decided he wanted to satisfy his own prurient curiosity and get sexually aggressive, Kirk didn't think he'd be able to stop him.  He recalled the fight on that other ship.  There had been four of them against this Spock, and he hadn't even been out of breath while they had become too familiar with all the vertical and horizontal surfaces of sickbay.  Only crashing that skull with all his strength on the back of Spock's head had stopped him. 

It disturbed the Captain to realize that he rarely had to give the Vulcan's disproportionate strength any thought, except as to how it might benefit him or the ship.  As he made his way back up to the bridge, he felt a pang of longing for his friend.

Three heads snapped up as Kirk stepped off the lift and then dropped as all three found something to keep themselves busy at their station.  He glanced at Chekov, and a quickly averted guilty gaze confirmed his fears.  Chekov had clearly filled in Sulu and Uhura, and between the three of them, and the security team that had been on the planet, it would be all over the ship soon.

Kirk sighed as he lowered himself into his chair.  Everyone would be talking about the other James Kirk, and how he had taken Spock as a lover, had become his bond-mate, and enjoyed being sexually dominated by him.  Images of bondage sex scenes flitted through his mind, and he knew they'd be flitting across all his crews' minds as well.  And it wouldn't be such a long step from that to speculation about this James Kirk and his own Vulcan First Officer.

Just for a moment Kirk tried to imagine his Spock pushing him around, tying him up, hurting him.  He couldn't do it.  He couldn't imagine Spock hurting anyone.  Kirk didn't think he'd ever met a gentler soul.  If Spock were to touch him, it would be with love and tenderness, his welfare and pleasure the Vulcan's first priority. 

Kirk suddenly realized what he was thinking about, and that he was getting hard.  Trying to keep the shocked expression off his face he gingerly crossed his legs, and hoped that Sulu, Chekov and Uhura were too busy trying to look busy to have noticed his preoccupation and physical reaction.  He risked a quick glance at them and saw that they didn't seem to be paying any attention to him at all. 

Forcing his mind away from this disturbing train of thought he picked up the reports waiting for his signature.  As he worked his way through them he found himself turning his chair several times to speak to Spock, only to remember mid-turn that he wasn't there.  That he wasn't on the ship at all.  That he might be in significant danger, might already be dead or … 

He wondered if the Spock currently residing on his ship was as distracted with thoughts of his Captain.  He recalled the Vulcan's words that he would kill his Captain if he slept with Spock.  Kirk thought he might want to kill him too.

He was grateful when the intercom buzzed.  "Kirk here."

It was McCoy.  "Jim, get down to rec room 3.  Spock's gone insane."

Kirk was out of his seat before McCoy had finished speaking.  "Mr. Sulu, mind the ship."  Then he was gone.

Sulu glanced at his crewmates.  "I, for one, cannot wait until we have our own Mr. Spock back."

Chekov and Uhura agreed wholeheartedly.

******

Kirk barreled into the rec room, only to find that Spock had ceased doing whatever it was he had been doing.  The Vulcan was now glancing disparagingly at six crewmen, currently lying on the ground in various stages of distress.  He looked up as Kirk entered the room.  "Your crew is weak."

Kirk lost him temper.  "What the hell did you do?"  He snapped at a still standing crewmember.  "Call security."  McCoy was running his tricorder over one man who wasn't moving at all.  Kirk scowled, furious.  "Bones?"

McCoy scowled.  "He'll be okay.  He's just been knocked unconscious."

His fists clenched by his side, Kirk advanced on the Vulcan.  "I told you I'd throw you in the brig if you hurt any of my crew.  Explain yourself."

Spock lifted an eyebrow at the Captain's tone.  He hesitated for a moment, just long enough for Kirk to understand that if he answered, it would be by choice alone. 

Kirk was in no mood for the challenge or the hesitation.  He glanced up as several burly security men showed up.  He gestured at the Vulcan.  "Shoot him if you need to, but I want him locked up."

Spock's eyes gleamed.  "Now I see a Captain worthy of obedience."

"I don't give a shit what you see.  I don't want or need your respect.  I want you out of here, and I want my Spock back.  You've got five seconds, Mister, before I confirm the order to have you hauled off.

"I required a distraction.  I find physical exercise to be useful toward that end.  Once here I simply inquired if anyone was interested in a mutually beneficial workout."  He gestured around him.  "They all were willing.  I assumed they had been exposed to Vulcan strength, especially as they seemed to find nothing amiss in my offer to fight with them all at once."   He gazed arrogantly at the humans surrounding him.  "Apparently I was mistaken, or else your Spock has been holding back his power.  I see no purpose in that behavior.  It is a mistake to allow people to see one as weak."

Kirk spit out his response.  "His purpose is respect.  Everyone on this ship respects each other, and understands the need to exercise and blow off a little steam without taking unnecessary risks that might result in any of the crew being incapacitated."  He gestured towards the injured men.  "Where is the logic in an incapacitated crew, Mr. Spock?"

"They will recover."

"Not good enough.  For the rest of the time you're on this ship you will be accompanied by a security crew with orders to shoot to stun if you come within inches of one of my crew.  Is that clear?" 

Spock considered the order.  "Quite clear."  He took in the Captain's stance, and build.  "Do you fight with your Spock?"

"Yes.  We work out together several days a week."

"Perhaps you might provide me an adequate distraction."

Kirk didn't care for the challenge in the Vulcan's tone.  "I might, but I won't."  He wasn't a fool and had no intention of letting this stranger with his friend's face touch him in any way.  He angrily gestured Spock toward the door.  Kirk couldn't get rid of this imposter fast enough.  "What have you found out?"  He strode down the hall, security falling in behind them.

"In terms of the parallel universe displacement, I have determined that your Spock will need to generate the transport process to return us to our respective places.  I can do nothing until I receive some sort of communication from him."

"Why?  Why can't you do that from here?"

"I have read your Spock's logs regarding the last multiphasic space-time inversion.  He had determined that the cause for the dysfunction rests with this ship.  I believe he is correct.  It is this transporter system that interacted with the ion storm during last year's event and this current one.  He was, as am I, unable to ascertain a solution from this end."

"Yet he was standing there waiting for us when we transported back."

"Yes, because once I determined what you were planning, I was able to send a message, that he interpreted correctly, before I intercepted you in the transporter room."

Kirk had a hazy memory of reading something to that effect in Spock's report of the event.  "So, my Spock will need to do the same thing?"

"Yes.  I do not understand why he is taking so long.  From his logs he had as clear an understanding of the problem as I.  He should have been able to access our computer files and use the original solution to aid him in his computations."

Kirk scowled as possible reasons for Spock's delay raced through his mind.  He glanced up at the Vulcan and saw a similar expression on his face.  "He'll contact us."

It was clear the Vulcan didn't agree with him.  They continued walking down the hall.  "I do believe I have discovered what happened to the Halkans in your universe."

"Tell me."

"I believe the I.S.S Enterprise is responsible.  After researching the data from the surface below, I have determined that the markings on this planet are identical to the markings on the planet in my universe.  The odds of this being a coincidence make it an impossibility.  I surmise that a continuation or a return of the ion storm that caused the initial continuum flux resulted in our weapons affecting both universes."

Kirk leaned against the wall, lost in a moment of grief.  "All those people.  Innocent people."  He turned hostile eyes on the Vulcan.  "Where is the logic in all that death, Spock?"

"The logic is that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

"The few?  Millions of people?"

"Relative to the population of the Empire, those millions were indeed, the few.  They were a necessary loss to gain the Captain's trust so as to work toward peace."

"And these Halkans?  Were they a necessary loss as well?"

"Their loss was not premeditated.  However, what has happened cannot be undone."   

Kirk was livid at the coolness in the Vulcan's eyes.  "That's it?"

"What would you have me to say?"

"That you're sorry.  That the loss of all those lives affects you."  Kirk knew it was useless to try and make this Spock into the one he cared so much for, but it seemed the worse type of insult to have this creature with his friend's face speak of so many millions of deaths with such cold precision.  His Spock might speak of logic, and speak of what cannot be undone, but inside, his heart would be breaking for all those destroyed lives, and it would show in his eyes.  It always did.  

The intercom sounded.  "Bridge to Captain Kirk."

Kirk hit the intercom panel.  "Kirk, here."

"Captain, I'm getting an unusual signal.  I’m not sure what it's saying but I think it's from Mr. Spock." 

Kirk could hear the excitement in Uhura's voice.  He exchanged a quick glance with the Vulcan.  "We're on our way." 

As they entered the bridge, Spock moved to the science station and reviewed the communication.  Kirk hovered behind him, impatiently.  "Well?  Is it from him?"

The bearded Spock nodded.  "Yes, but...curious."  He frowned and his fingers flew over the console, trying to wrest further information from the brief message.

"But, what?"  Kirk found himself darkly imagining what else his Spock might be trying to communicate.  Perhaps he was not coming back.  Perhaps he and that other Captain had reached a mutually beneficial arrangement.  Kirk's unhappy thoughts were derailed as Spock spoke again.

"I believe he is on his way."

"Then we should go to the transporter room.  We need to send you back."  Kirk took several strides in that direction.  Yes, he was thinking, please let me send you back.  As soon as possible. 

"That will not be necessary."

Kirk spun around.  "Not necessary? Why not necessary?"

A gasp from Chekov had him spinning around again.  The shimmer of a transporter beam was sparkling on the bridge.  As Kirk watched a shape slowly materialize he found that his heart was pounding.  When the familiar visage of Spock appeared, sans beard, he broke out into a smile.  "Spock."  The word was full of his pleasure and affection.

Spock followed the sound until he saw his Captain.  While he didn't smile, the twinkle in his eyes let Kirk know he was just as glad to see him.  Kirk's smile grew brighter.

Neither of them was paying attention to the other Spock.  He was across the room before they knew it, pushing the newly arrived Vulcan up against the wall, his fingers aggressively pressed against his face, forcing a mind meld. 

All the security men drew their phasers but Kirk stopped them from shooting.  He had no idea how a phaser blast, even on stun, would affect Spock during a meld.  He had seen how vulnerable a meld could make him.  Kirk watched the two Vulcans, wanting to help his Spock, but not sure how to safely intervene.  He moved next to Uhura, speaking softly.  "Get McCoy up here with a sedative."  Uhura nodded and she quietly placed t