Title: After the Rescue

Part: NEW 12/73

Author: Karmen Ghia, karmen_ghia@yahoo.com

Series: TOS

Romance Code: S/Mc and then some.

Rating: NC-17

Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html

See part one for disclaimers, etc.

Gozine found this highly amusing. So did the Hierophant and he occasionally commented on Gozine's saintliness and other virtues - in bed. Gozine had grown rather fond of Kroldt, he wasn't a bad lot compared to other Klingons. Having such a powerful lover also afforded Master Ghet the luxury of only sleeping with those who interested him.

The best part of these new conditions was that Gozine could relay the information he gathered to his brothers, especially Hobie, and in certain cases influence the Klingons to act in ways beneficial to the Talljets and their interests. This, combined with Ling's whores, Jir's monarchs and Hobie's pirates, made the Talljets rich, secure and happy. It was wonderful except for one small problem.

The Federation was continually vying for influence in the same sectors as the Klingons, often with greater success due to their lack of history with the planets in question. Since Ling's cat was out of the bag and the Federation banned his house, the Talljets had lost what little influence they had there. Once a planet joined the Federation it was time to move house for the Talljets and the Klingons. The Federation had inherited some rather amazing art and architecture from the Klingon communes in this process and for once they fully appreciated it. Klingon Masters became famous in the Federation art world, among them one Master Ghet who was known only by his rune on his work.

One of the most famous of his works was the Tossarian Gates on Zatichket enclosing the tomb of Captain Tossar, the pirate, who had liberated them from the Roms and died in the successful defense of the planet. The Haats had commissioned them because Tossar had done them a big favor by kicking the Roms back into their old boundaries. Hobie had been Tossar's lover and had been grateful to Master Ghet. He had loved Tossar enough to regret his death. Losing Zatichket to the Federation was yet another disappointment and resentment for Hobie. But, hochofedra, shrug, what can you do?

Otherwise, the Talljets lived happily as best they could and Master Ghet, as he was now famous, was very content in his work and in the commune. It was a full and busy life.

And they were busy working on the Rovirin cathedral. It was an ambitious project. The Klingons and the Hierophant planned to use it as his main argument, along with the garrison and fleet, to keep Rovirin out of the Federation. Gozine wished them Godspeed. He, like his brothers, had a little second sight and had an uneasy feeling that they would lose Rovirin eventually but he did not know how. Or perhaps, only he would lose what was important to him but, again, he did not know how or when. Only that when it happened, all would be well, somehow.

'Hochofedra,' he shrugged savagely and glared at the little apprentice waiting for his attention. The child took a step back and Gozine softened his gaze.

"Captain Talljet would like a word with you, Master," He squeaked.

Gozine had his shields up and was not taking calls from anyone: "I am still not available," he said in Patois.

"Which is why I had to drag myself all the way down here to have a five minute conversation with you, o' saint Gozine." Hobie strolled in and circled the sculpture in progress.

"Hraja, bring us some tea, please." Gozine waved both apprentice and journeyman out of the room. "What brings you here, brother?"

"You, MajaYaja," Hobie said, using his brother's pet name. "We miss you when you keep your shields up." Maja Talljet dropped his shields. "You see, that's better." He smiled at Hobie. "And even better when you smile."

"I've been working, Hobie."

"And the Hierophant was here. I saw his flotilla leaving. Man travels in style, I'll say that." Hobie was impressed by the quality of ship the Haats provided their priest.

"Hochofedera, Nolo" Maja shrugged.

"Any news, Maja?"

"All good. The Klingons are delighted with the new isolationism on Terra. As goes Terra, so goes the Federation."

"They are stupid to forget the Vulcans."

"They would like to forget the Vulcans but, as you and they know, the Vulcans are not interested in forging alliances in non-aligned space for the Federation in opposition to their allies the Terrans. Except possibly Sarek the Vulcan, he likes being in opposition to the Terrans." 'Especially Star Fleet,' he added to himself.

"Yes," Hobie mused, "but I understand he is quite ill these days and is staying home on Vulcan indefinitely."

"I'm sorry he's ill but glad he is staying on Vulcan and out of our hair."

They nodded at each other. All the Talljets were wary of Sarek and walked lightly where he was concerned. It was something useful they'd learned in their youths on Vulcan. Hraja brought in the tea, Tien and Farro at his heels.

Tien flung himself into his uncle's arms: "How wonderful to see you, Uncle! And are Polmira, Lyra and Bot really going to live here?" Polmira, Lyra and Bot were Hobie's children and dearly loved by their Commune cousins.

"Can't they?" Farro snarled at Maja with his usual directness. Maja sneered playfully at Farro's enthusiasm for his cousins. He usually took no notice of others but he adored Polmira, Lyra and Bot. He and Polmira were almost the same age and had played in various sandboxes together. It was, on the whole, a happy history.

"If your Master says yes, then, yes." Hobie gave his brother a charming look.

Maja Talljet laughed: "Well, why not? Polmira, Lyra and Bot are always welcome here. I'm sure they missed me, too, Nolo."

Hobie smiled wryly, knowing at least half of his motives for the visit were discredited.

Maja's children rampaged out of the room to go settle their cousins.

"Your JetCheqs (half Talljets) get prettier everyday, Noli."

"I look forward to seeing yours, Hobie," Maja poured them Relan tea. "Why have you brought them here?"

"I want them where I know they're safe for a while. I'll be in space for some time, settling the rebellion on Certeg, in the Ertig system."

"Again? Don't those fools know what's good for them?"

"Something about self determination, Maja. I see their point but don't like it and won't tolerate it. I'm tired of losing planets to the Federation so no more Mr. Nice Guy."

"Umm."

"I'm also concerned about their education."

"Whose?" Maja was startled.

"Polmira, Lyra and Bot. Who else?"

"Oh." He raised his eyebrows sympathetically, "Your children are always welcome here, Hobie, we have some new tutors that I am very impressed with so rest assured..."

"Bot's Standard needs work."

"We'll see to it."

"And Polmira doesn't draw very well."

"Hobie..."

"And Lyra is having trouble with math."

"Hobie, don't worry, we'll get Tien to tutor Lyra and Polmira and I'll work with Bot myself. Let this be the first joy in your heart but last trouble in your mind." He quoted an old Rom proverb they had learned as children on Magidrian.

Hobie let Maja's peace wash over him and drank his tea. They sat in companionable silence for a few moments and then moved out into and among the Commune where Hobie's children looked as if they had been living forever.

Hobie spent the evening and night and was very much at peace when he left orbit in his ship, the Dancer, the next morning.

* * *

"Why have you been avoiding me since we got back from Vulcan?" McCoy was standing in Spock's quarters, late one evening, several days after those traumatic events.

"I have not been avoiding you, Doctor. We have both been extremely busy these past few days." Spock was using his bridge voice and was unreadable. He was wearing a heavy black robe.

"But it's not the same with us, is it?" He hated this void between them. Spock's costume reminded him of trying to talk to Carmelites.

Spock was silent, half hoping McCoy would say more.

"No, it is not the same with us," he said at last.

McCoy wondered should he stay or should he go and decided to ask: "May I sit down, Spock? I have a theory I'd like to share with you."

Spock was wary but gestured him to a chair. McCoy was using his best bedside manner and that made the Vulcan wonder what he was on to.

McCoy sat, composing himself, wondering how much he'd miss going to bed with Spock when this conversation was over. He cleared his throat: "Based upon what you told me about Pon Farr, there is no obvious explanation for your recovery. Being half Terran does not completely explain it, although that is the explanation I put in my report to Star Fleet. I have, however, another idea based on your behavior toward me lately."

"I have explained ..."

"Steady, Spock, I don't believe that any more than you do. I can feel the difference in you. I can't measure it or test it but I can feel it."

Spock lowered his eyes. McCoy continued, trying for scientific detachment: "You were bonded young and your system had adjusted to it. Since I did not know about the Bonding, I assumed your bioreadings were normal for a Vulcan male of your age. When they changed with the onset of Pon Farr I was able to compare them to each other. My theory is that an unbonded Vulcan male of your age, having undergone the trauma of unbonding through the challenge would have a different set of bioreadings."

Spock raised his eyes. McCoy lowered his: "Unless he was bonded to another."

Spock was silent.

"It is my opinion that you bonded to Jim under the stress of combat and that accounts for your bioreading being what they were before Pon Farr." He raised his eyes, "And that also accounts for the change between us."

Spock exhaled. Relieved that he would not have to explain it and impressed that Leonard had drawn such accurate conclusions on such skimpy data. He nodded.

"I did not know this would happen."

"But it has and what do you intend to do about it?" Concern but not anger in the doctor's voice.

"Nothing."

"NOTHING."

"Leonard, please, control yourself." McCoy took a deep breath and Spock continued: "I had hoped to adjust to my new condition without your notice. Having failed, however, I do not feel that it impacts our relationship in any way. I was bonded to T'Pring and involved with you to no ill effect."

"Just for your information, Spock, I would have known you were married."

"It did not seem necessary..." Spock raised a finger to successfully silence McCoy's outburst. "As I thought I would never experience Pon Farr. It usually occurs at a much younger age. Therefore, since I planned to remain in Star Fleet I saw no reason to tell you about it since it did not affect us."

"And now?"

"It still does not affect us. It is my hope that we can continue our relationship unimpeded, as before."

"Are you going to tell Jim?"

"No, I do not plan to tell him. He should be unaware and therefore unaffected by the bond. I will seek out a healer and have the bond removed next time I am on Vulcan."

"And never tell him? Spock, he risked his life for you there and elsewhere as you have for him."

"And you for us, Leonard."

"Yes, well, but this is different. You and he have always been close, is this not just an extension of that?"

"No, it is not." Spock let some amusement show, wondering where McCoy was heading.

"He would want to know, Spock."

"It would be awkward. He is human, he did not choose this, he is not culturally attuned to it, it is of no use to him, or to me for the foregoing reasons. The merit in this situation is that he is unaware of it. Therefore, he will not notice its lack when the bond is dissolved."

"So you're sayin' he doesn't know what he's missin'." Spock nodded, McCoy continued, "I think it's a bad idea. I think if I figured it out that he'll figure it out and then there'll be hell to pay."

"The difference being that you have more intimate knowledge of me that he does."

McCoy gave his lover a long hard look: "Jim's knowledge of you might be more intimate than you give him credit for, Spock."

Spock raised his eyebrows to indicate that he dismissed McCoy's last statement and had completely lost interest in this conversation.

McCoy was too tired to wrestle the point anymore. He rose: "Well, I'm sure you know best." He smiled, "I am glad you lived through it, however you did, however it works out." Spock rose and moved toward him. "It's late so I'll leave you. Will I see you tomorrow?" Tomorrow being their usual afternoon and evening.

"Yes. You could also 'see' me now." Spock's voice was low and inviting.

McCoy hesitated, wanting to be convinced. Spock moved closer and leaned in to nuzzle McCoy's left ear, knowing full well this drove the doctor wild.

On the contrary, McCoy tensed and Spock stepped back to look at him. McCoy was a mixture of fear, relief, love, anger, and other emotions he could not classify from his limited experience. Strangest of all, McCoy suddenly flung himself into the Vulcan's arms and buried his face in his neck. He was shaking and Spock held him in a comforting embrace.

"Leonard?"

McCoy exhaled: "I have never been so frightened in my life, Spock, watching you trying to kill Jim and being so helpless." It all came out in a rush.

"It was rather distressing for me as well, Leonard, to think that I had killed my CO." He patted McCoy comfortingly and was pleased to feel the doctor laughing.

"I shall never forget the look on your face when Jim came out of my office," He laughed, smiling at Spock, all his emotional turmoil dispersed, relaxing into the Vulcan arms that held him.

"I am pleased to have afforded you some amusement, Doctor." Spock's tone was so serious he could only be joking.

McCoy tilted his head back a little more, as if in challenge. Spock leaned forward and kissed him, holding him tight, thrusting his tongue into the doctor's mouth.

McCoy was surprised by Spock's forcefulness and resisted a little. This seemed only to enflame the Vulcan more. McCoy found himself slung over Spock's shoulder and being carted to the Vulcan's bed.

"Hey, Spock, honey," he drawled nervously, "slow down, we have all night."

He was dumped in a heap on the bed and Spock stood over him, looking down at him. McCoy was taken aback by what he saw in his lover's eyes: the same madness he'd seen on Vulcan. He started to inch away.

"Undress." Spock's voice was like steel.

McCoy hesitated, thinking, if he can speak, maybe I can reason with him. Spock's response was to reach down and rip the doctor's tunic off him. McCoy struggled briefly but gave up when he found himself pinned to the bed with one Vulcan hand while the other ripped off his pants and boots.

Spock leaned back to fling off his robe. He was naked and completely aroused.

"Spock..." McCoy began.

"Shh." Spock rolled McCoy over on his belly like a doll and held him there as he reached into the beside table to the lubricant. He seemed oblivious to McCoy's trepidation and lack of arousal. He pulled himself together: "Leonard, there is a sexual release in Pon Farr that I was unable to experience on Vulcan. I was hoping that the urgency of it would pass in a few days but that seems not to be the case." He was panting.

'Obviously,' McCoy thought as slippery fingers probed his anus, stretching and preparing him for intercourse. McCoy tried to relax and dearly hoped this wasn't going to be too rough. He could tell that Spock was not his usual controlled, pleasure seeking self. This was the most desperate he'd ever seen the Vulcan.

Spock spread McCoy's cheeks and positioned his cock at the tight ring, gathering himself so as not to plunge all the way in. McCoy was still, waiting, trying to be calm. Spock inhaled, summoning all his control, and pushed past the tight opening and stopped. McCoy exhaled, knowing he was not going to be torn apart, just fucked really hard.

Which is exactly what happened. Spock threw his head back with a groan and slid all the way in, resting his entire weight on McCoy. He then slammed into the doctor half a dozen times before cuming with a strangled cry and collapsing on McCoy, who lay, more annoyed than hurt, beneath him.

McCoy, in spite of everything, was half hard from Spock's rough tumble. 'Wham Grr, thank you, sir,' he thought wryly.

Spock grunted ('unusual,' McCoy thought) and rolled them onto their sides. He stroked down McCoy's chest to his flank and to his half erect penis. He closed his warm hand over the head gently and stroked up and down the hardening shaft until he could feel his lover squirming with pleasure against him. He increased his pace and brought the doctor to an efficient climax, one that left McCoy gasping and trembling.

Spock relaxed, at last, against his lover and let his penis slip out. He was half asleep; McCoy was not.

"Spock! What the hell was that about?" McCoy rolled over to face him.

"Ummm," Spock cuddled up on McCoy's shoulder and went to sleep. McCoy realized it would be futile to try to wake him in this condition. There would be time enough to discuss it later.

'Maybe I like it a little rough,' he thought, catching sight of the rags that had been his uniform. 'Well, maybe not that rough.' He'd be a little sore tomorrow but he'd let Spock make it up to him, somehow.

'Is it always going to be like this from now on?' he suddenly wondered.

Spock opened his eyes and held McCoy a little tighter. He looked up into troubled blue eyes: "I apologize. Are you damaged?"

"No, I'm all right."

"Shall I examine..."

"No, thanks," he kissed the concerned Vulcan. "I'm sore but no serious damage. You were very controlled in your out of controlledness."

Spock looked puzzled. McCoy asked: "Will it always be this rough? Now that you've been in Pon Farr?"

"That was the last of Pon Farr, Leonard. I did not find sexual release until just now, with you."

"You might have warned me."

"Again, I apologize, I did not realize how deep my need was until I was consumed by it."

He looked contrite; it was irresistible to McCoy.

"I guess I'll live," he pulled the Vulcan close and stroked his silky onyx hair. "Go to sleep, Spock, it's late."

They drifted off. The next morning Spock lent McCoy a uniform and that evening they were back to normal.

McCoy was still troubled that Spock would not tell Jim of the bond but could not think up any convincing arguments to change his mind. Eventually he gave up trying and ignored the whole situation until it began to directly affect him.

* * *

end of part 12

This story also lives at http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia

Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html