The BLTS Archive- Under The Sun: The Burning Sands
by T'Thrill (TThrill1216@aol.com)

---

Warning:  This story contains very explicit m/m sex.  If
you are not interested in and/or offended by such things,
you will find reading this a complete waste of your time so
please move on.  If you are under 18 years of age, please
move on.

Warning:  It's a story with a lot of sex!  It's pon farr and it's
not pretty.

My heartfelt thanks to Scarlet, who spent hours pouring over this
work. Her assistance with spelling, punctuation and clarification of
certain aspects of this work were invaluable.

If you have not read "Under The Sun" (1) and (2) you may want to do
so.

Disclaimer: Copyright 2000 by T'Thrill. This is an
original work of amateur fiction based on Star Trek. This
work makes "fair use" of Star Trek copyrighted material; it
is not intended to infringe on the intellectual property
rights of Paramount, Viacom or other owners of copyright
in Star Trek or any of their assignees or licensees. The
author's copyright extends only to the original material in
this work.

Archive:  Okay to archive provided that headers,
disclaimers, my name, and email are attached.  Please
archive complete text only and drop me a note at
TThrill1216@aol.com to let me know where it is.

Feedback:  Yes, Please!  Thank you in advance.

---

Spock drank the coffee, but never touched the other food on
the table.  Jim realized he had not seen him eating for the
last few days.  He had purchased a variety of different
fruits, vegetables and breads hoping to find foods that Spock
could enjoy.  At the reception last night, honoring Admiral
Yetis, he had noticed Spock had merely pushed the food around
and ate only enough not to appear rude. "Spock, are you
feeling alright? You know, if Bones catches on that you are
not eating, he'll be on your case."

"I am well." Spock replied, but seeing the doubt in Jim's
expression he added, "I do not have an appetite at this time. 
I am certain it is an effect of the quite dramatic recent
changes.  And, until just recently, I had consumed nothing
but Vulcan dishes.  I am certain that my desire, "raising an
eyebrow, "for food, will increase in a few days."

Well, his desire, otherwise, was just fine.  Since the three
of them had been together these three months, the intensity
of the relationship had certainly not diminished.  Even with
the long hours that each put in at their respective
positions, and the number of functions that they had been
attending, they found time to be together, time to renew each
other.  He understood that it would take time for the
Vulcan's system to adjust to the current situation.  Watching
him over the rim of his cup, Jim noticed every slight
movement.  He relished any given opportunity to observe this
gorgeous being.  The shape of the ear, the line of the jaw,
the delicate sweep of the brow, all features that he loved
running his lips over.  As much as he loved being with Spock
and Bones, together and separately, he had to admit to
himself that the time he had alone with this being, the
epitome of elegance and desire, was very enjoyable.  They
move together as if their actions were choreographed.  Time
had no value when they were making love.  He had thought to
himself that photon torpedoes could explode beside them and
they would not notice when they are lost in each other.  Were
this taking place under a command situation, it would be
cause for great concern.  He felt his body come alive and
knew he must alter his thought patterns or he was going to
end up throwing Spock to the floor and ravishing him.  "So,
Spock, we have no engagements for the next three days.  What
would you like to do?"

"I have not considered any options, have you discussed any
plans with Leonard?"

"I was going to talk to you both last night, but since he had
to stay at the Med Unit, there has not been an opportunity to
discuss it.  If we stay around here, one of us will end up
working.  I think we should get away from the city.  Have you
ever been to a rodeo?  I hear they are having a good one in
Dallas this week.  Maybe we could go?"

"Jim, I will accompany you anywhere you and Leonard choose,
but I have never seen the logic in attempting to ride an
animal that is equally determined that it will not be
ridden."

"Never mind, Spock." Jim was smiling at him, "I think we'll
come up with another idea."

The COM unit signaled and Jim went to the unit and pressed
receive.  "Bones, how's everything going?"  He could see the
fatigue in the face on the screen.  The circles under the
eyes were noticeable, as they tended to be when this man was
tired.

"Not good, Jim.  A Rigiarian transport docked last night that
had a fire onboard four days ago, but no medic qualified to
attend to the burns.  It's been a long session.  I think
everything's under control here now.  I outta be leaving here
shortly."

"Are you going to be needed at the hospital the next few
days?"

"I shouldn't have to stay here as long as they can reach me
in case of any complications.  What do you have in mind?"

"I thought we might be able to get away for a couple of days. 
It's been so hectic around here lately."

"Sounds fine to me.  Where?"

"I had thought about the rodeo in Dallas, but I don't believe
Spock would be able to fully appreciate it."

"Spock, at a rodeo?  That, I'd like to see!"  Leonard
chuckled and shook his head.

Noting how tired Bones appeared, Jim decided they definitely
needed a location where they could relax.  "Bones, do you
still have the mountain cabin?"

"Yeah, sure I do, but it's kinda primitive.  I'd love to take
you all there, though.  It's got a lake for swimming and some
great hiking trails. Real quiet."

Jim looked at Spock. "How does a few days of cabin living
sound to you?"

"It sounds pleasing."

"Great, Bones!  It looks like we are headed to your cabin."

"Good.  I should be home in an hour or two.  We can leave
then if you wish.  Just one question, are you going to insist
we beam over?"

"No, I'll book a flitter for us.  It shouldn't take more than
an hour to shuttle over."

"Thanks, Jim.  If you can throw some clothes in a bag for me,
we can leave as soon as I get there."

"I don't know, Bones. I don't think we will need too much in
the way of clothes," Jim stated wickedly into the COM.

"You know you're gonna kill me!" McCoy grinned into the COM. 
"I'll be there as soon as I can get away."

The next hour was spent with Jim ordering the flitter and
picking it up at the transportation center.  Spock packed the
clothes for each of them, making sure there was a couple of
tubes of lubricant.  It seemed that in the weeks they had
been lovers, they had gone through quite a bit of the gel. 

He went to the kitchen and pulled some supplies from the
cupboard. He lifted the bag containing the supplies and threw
it over his shoulder.  Although it wasn't heavy, he collapsed
under the weight of the pack.  His knees buckled and he went
toward the floor.  A wave of hot nausea hit him and he
grabbed for the edge of the counter.  He struggled to stand,
keeping an iron grip on the counter for support.  He shook
his head trying to clear his thoughts.  This was the third
time this had happened to him in the last twenty-one hours. 
The first was in his office yesterday.  The second was in the
shower last evening.  Neither of the previous attacks had
this severity.  This attack brought with it intense sexual
desire. 

'This can not be occurring, it is not time,' he thought to
himself.  He could feel his controls slipping from him.  The
embers of the inevitable fire began growing in the pit of his
abdomen.  His mind screamed for the sands of Vulcan.  His
groin became engorged.  He lost his grip on the counter and
went to his knees on the floor of the galley. His palms
rubbed up and down his thighs as he resisted the urge to
touch himself.  His body rocked back and forth as he searched
his mind for the anchor of logic.  His breathing slowed and
the rocking stopped as he found his center. 

In a few minutes he was once again in control and his legs
able to support him.  Standing in the galley, he shook his
head and was able to shake off the effects of the attack.  He
picked up the bag and took it to the door to put beside the
bag that held their clothes.

Jim returned from the transport center, and together they
packed the bags into the shuttle.  When Bones arrived they
headed out for the cabin.

---

"Damn, it's been a while since I've been here.  It's gonna
take a little time to get this cleaned up.  Why don't you and
Spock get the kitchen straightened out and I'll take care of
the rest."  McCoy looked around at the cabin.  It was just
one very large room with a kitchen in one corner and a large
area in the middle with a stone fireplace.  There was a
sleeping alcove in another corner.  He began taking the
throws off of the furniture and when he reached the area with
the beds he realized there would have to be some rearranging. 
He had two beds that were each somewhat larger than a single
bed, but would certainly not accommodate three men.  He
pushed them together and decided that this would work fine. 
The only room not exposed to the entrance was the large
bathroom. 

This cabin had once been his refuge.  He came here for
contemplation when isolation was required.  He bought this
cabin when his father was alive.  They had spent some good
weekends here.  He had come here to seek solitude after his
father had died, and again after his marriage contract had
been dissolved.  He had only been here on a few occasions
since.  The last time being two years ago when he had
returned from Vulcan, where he had been unable to reach Spock
at Gol. 

Leonard leaned against a large support beam and remembered
the last night that he had stayed here.  The night that he
had contemplated his options.  He, a man that had always put
life above anything else, had seriously considered taking his
own.  He had lost everything.  He had decided that life would
never again hold any meaning for him.  The memories of that
night rushed over him.

He had been sitting on the floor, staring into the fire.  The
two men that he had loved so dearly for years were gone from
him.  He despised himself for admitting the truth to Spock
the night he had come to him in the med lab.  That had been
just days before the end of the original mission.  He knew
that had he denied the feelings he had for Spock, and Jim,
nothing would have happened that night in Spock's cabin. 
They would have still been together.  Fantasy of what he
desired had certainly beaten the reality of the outcome.
Physically, nothing could ever compare to the one evening
that they had experienced together, but it had not been worth
losing the relationship they had spent years building.

So he sat on the floor, staring into the flames of the fire,
holding the air syringe with a lethal dose of neuro-paralyzer
ready to pump it into his body. 

He had decided never to look back, but there seemed no reason
to look forward, either.  Emptiness, there had been so much
emptiness in his life.  He could not stand to have such a
void in his life again. 

When his marriage had dissolved he had lost his daughter, and
although he had several sisters, they had their own lives and
held no deep-seated connection for him.  His assignment to
the Enterprise had made a place for him.  For five years he
had a family.  Now all of that was ripped away. 

'Could I actually have gone through with it?'  He couldn't
say.  He had taken all of the steps of preparation, including
a time delay message to his daughter.  They had not been
particularly close, her mother had seen to that. 
Contemplating his options, sitting on the floor, a message
had come through on the COM.  He had considered ignoring it,
but the thought occurred to him that it might be Jim.  It
wasn't. 

It was an old colleague telling him about the dig in the New
Consolidated Middle Alliance. He stated they were at a
standstill with the DNA analysis and wondered if he would
consent to give them some time on the project.  He hesitated,
wondering if he had the stamina left to continue.  He looked
down at the syringe in his hand.  Deciding that he could
complete this act at a later time if he found surviving too
painful, he accepted the offer, cancelled the message to
Joanna, and threw the air syringe into the fire.  He left the
cabin the next morning. He became so involved in the project
he never thought of the incident again. 

Now, over two years later, they were all three here.  They
were his lovers.  They were his friends.  The awareness
flooded him that he could have missed this.  He realized that
call had saved his life, and he made a mental note to forward
a bottle of Kentucky's "finest" to a certain colleague still
working in the desert region.

---

He stuffed the furniture covers into a trunk, flipped the
filter switch to remove any remaining dust from the cabin and
went to the kitchen where Jim and Spock had just finished
storing the provisions.  He didn't say anything, he just
walked up and put his arms around the both of them, needing
to feel the reassurance of their presence with a physical
connection.  He could tell from the look in Spock's eyes,
that although he did not understand the reason, the man
certainly understood his need.

They agreed that a swim in the lake sounded like a good way
to begin the vacation.  Because underground hot springs fed
the lake, the temperature of the water, and even the
surrounding rocks, stayed warm.  The mountain air was
comfortable for the humans, but Leonard was sure it felt
quite cool to Spock.  Upon arriving at the edge they all
stripped down and entered the water.  The lake had a natural
effervescence that, along with the heat, tingled against the
skin.

Spock plunged right in where the humans had to ease in to get
adjusted to the warmth.  They floated in the water, letting
it ease the tension from their bodies.   Jim swam several
laps across the width of the lake then climbed onto a rock
that the water lapped against.  He enjoyed the feel of the
sun against his bare skin.  The water splashed against him
from the currents that had been stirred up.
 
Leonard started to head for the shore when he felt two strong
arms wrap around him.  He was pulled roughly against the warm
body and felt lips and teeth on the back of his neck.  He
could hear soft guttural noises escaping from the mouth that
was sucking the lobe of his ear.  There was an unusual
urgency to the man that held him.

Standing in the waist deep water, he felt the hardness
rubbing against him.  The hands moved down his chest, taking
time to pinch each nipple, caressing him, and playing across
his stomach and moving lower.  He felt the hands reach his
lower abdomen and he waited breathlessly for the fingers to
find his erection. Spock's penis continued its exploration
against him, pumping the length of the crevice and then
centering within it. He felt it nudge the tight opening.  A
hand was stroking the area between his thighs, cupping the
sac and gently massaging the orbs inside.  He ached for the
feel of the hand on his cock.  He reached down and found the
fingers and joined them with his own, guiding them to what he
longed to feel.  Wrapping them around the shaft, he moaned at
the sensation of his own hand directing the other hand up and
down his organ. 

Feeling the head press harder against his opening he panted.
He pushed his hips against the hardness until he felt the
invasion.  A fire filled him.  The arm wrapped around his
waist pulled him tighter.  The strokes from the entwined
hands increased on his own erection as the hard shaft pumped
deep into him.  The heat was building in his abdomen and
thighs. He felt the throbbing inside and heard the groans of
the one holding him as he came.  Feeling the spasms and the
hot liquid being released inside him was all it took to cause
his own hardness to pulsate and release his seed into the
warm water. The hand released his cock and moved to his
waist, holding him steady, as the invading organ was pulled
from the opening. 

The lips caressed his neck just under his ear.  He turned in
the arms to find the dilated, passion filled, eyes staring at
him. He captured the slightly swollen mouth with his own. 
The strong arms held him steady.  "If mountain air does this
to you, then I'm gonna have to bring you here more often," he
crooned into the hot neck.

"I believe it is less of an effect from the air, but from the
company, that arouses me," was whispered into his ear in a
deep rasp.

They made their way to the edge and lay down beside Jim
across the smooth rounded forms of the rocks and let the heat
of the sun radiate against their bodies.  Leonard dozed off
to the sounds of Jim and Spock engaging in some, rather
active, oral gratification. 

The shadows deepened and the air became noticeably cooler. 
They gathered up the clothes and made their way back to the
cabin.  Leonard turned on the logs and soon warmth was
radiating from the fireplace. 

Dinner was prepared and after the dishes were put away, Jim
and Spock proceeded to play a game of chess.  Spock had
barely touched his salad.  Leonard decided that before this
weekend was up he was going to take the opportunity to use
the med-scanner on Spock.  He received a call from the
hospital regarding one of the burn cases and while the chess
game proceeded, he relayed orders to the medical staff. 

It was not far into the game when Jim noticed the beginnings
of Spock's arousal.  He had his hands steepled in front of
him and his legs stretched out.  The movement underneath the
loose fitting silk trousers was quite apparent.

Spock's libido even astonished Jim who was always ready for
sexual stimulation.  It had become intense enough that it was
not unusual for the Vulcan to have two or three orgasms
during their lovemaking sessions.  There seemed to be a need
that was almost insatiable. Never had he been with anyone as
sensual as Spock.

Jim lost the chess match.  Leonard, who had finished at the
COM and returned to the two men, made some comment about it
being a ploy by Spock to distract Jim.  Normally there would
have been a direct retort to the remark, but this man was not
interested in colorful repartee this evening.

Spock knelt down between Jim's legs and ran his hands along
the inside of his thighs.  The heat that radiated from that
touch could always set Jim on fire.  Spock pulled Jim from
the chair and onto the rug in front of the fireplace. 
Somehow, in the process, managing to divest the clothes from
them both. He lay on top of Jim, caressing the lines of his
face.  His fingers brushed the meld points and Jim could feel
the emotional charge that jumped from the long slim fingers
to the sensitive points.  Spock removed his hand and ran his
tongue along the side of the face down to the neck beneath
the rounded ear.  Jim turned his head to explore the points
of the magnificent ear with his tongue.  Their erections
moved together in unison.  Their abdomens were becoming slick
from fluid being emitted by each.  Spock's fingers again slid
to the face of the man beneath him.  "Spock," Jim breathed
roughly, "meld us."

As if he had been phaser stunned, Spock released his grip
and, with effort, brought himself to a kneeling position
beside Jim.  His breathing was short and heavy.  He looked
deeply into his eyes and shook his head.  A sorrowful look
appeared on his face.  "I can not," was all he said.  He
stood up and reached for his pants and walked toward the door
of the cabin.

"Spock?" Jim called after him.

He stopped and turned to Jim, "Please, give me a few minutes. 
I will be...fine," Spock begged, and exited the cabin.

---

The door closed and Jim sat up and looked at Bones.  He got
up, grabbed his shorts and shirt, and started after him.

"Wait Jim," Bones called.

Jim turned and looked at him.  "What?  I have to talk to
him," he stated, the irritation of being stopped apparent in
his voice.

"Give him a few minutes.  If my suspicions are correct, he
needs time."

"Time?  Time for what?"  Jim stopped his charge for the door,
but stood poised ready to walk out at any moment.

"Jim, there is something I wish to discuss, but I'm not sure
of my facts here."

"What is it?"  Jim could feel the hair on his neck begin to
prickle.  Bones was serious.

"It's Spock.  Recently I have begun to pick up on something,
well, I can only describe it as compelling."

"How so?"  He had stopped his rush for the door and moved
toward Bones.

"Well, yesterday morning I woke up with him, umm, bringing me
to arousal. This was just hours after we, well, you know. 
And then, just this afternoon, there was a feeling that he
was driven.  He is just more forceful lately that I have seen
him in the past."

"Bones, I think we have all become more forceful." Jim gave
him a nervous, lopsided, smile but he valued this mans
opinion. "What is it that you suspect?"

"I know very little about the Vulcan cycle, other than what
we found out several years ago, but he is showing all of the
same symptoms that he was showing then.  He has a decreased
appetite and is subject to emotional outbursts, although I
must admit, I am enjoying it much more this time.  I haven't
done an examination on him since he recovered from the meld
with that machine, but his bio-readings were slightly off
then.  I believe upon examination they would still be out of
sync."

"Bones, are you saying you believe that Spock in entering
into pon farr?"

"Honestly, I don't know, but I certainly think it's something
worth finding out.  I don't want to turn around one day and
find he's taken off for Vulcan.  I've already been through
that, thank you."

Jim considered the possibility.  He looked toward the door,
considering what Bones said.  He had noticed his lack of
appetite.  And the brief, but intense, feeling that came
through when Spock had touched his meld points. And sexually,
he had become very intense. He sat down on the bench beside
the doctor.  Maybe Bones was onto something.

"If that is true, do you think he will need to go back to
Vulcan and create a bond with someone?"

"Jeez. I have no idea, but that is what I presume will have
to happen."

"Do you think," Jim looked at the man beside him, "he would
be able to bond with us?"

"Well, Sarek is bonded to Amanda, but I have no idea if
Vulcans even allow same sex bonding, or not.  And Jim,"
Leonard dropped his gaze, searching for the best way to say
this without sounding like an asshole, "I am not certain,
that is, I have never had a successful long term
relationship.  I love the both of you.  I love making love to
both of you.  God, I hope we never stop.  I just don't know
if I could commit to anyone in that way.  It scares the hell
out of me.  Selfish, huh?"

"No, Bones," Jim laying his hand on the leg beside him, "you
shouldn't feel forced into anything you're not comfortable
with."

Leonard looked up at Jim. "What about you?  We're not talking
about a meld here, we are talking about a life long
commitment to have someone else's thoughts inside your head."

Jim looked to the door and then back to Leonard. "If, and
only if," gently squeezing the thigh beneath his hand, "it
meant that I would be able to keep you as my lover, I would
consent to bond with him.  But, I won't do anything to
jeopardize what we have."  He placed one hand to the head of
the man beside him, caressing down the side of his face with
his fingers.  Jim leaned over and brushed his lips against
Leonard's.  He whispered, "I gave you up once, I will not
risk that happening again."

The blue eyes sparkled, how did he rate the love of such a
man?  "Well, I may be getting worked up over nothing.  I may
be reading something that is not there."

"Maybe, but if not now, the time will come.  Obviously, there
is something wrong, something we need to discuss."

Jim stood up, reached for the blanket on the bench and walked
out the door.  "Spock?" Jim whispered into the silence.

Spock was standing on the porch, gripping the rail, looking
into the blackness of the night.  His thoughts were racing. 
This could not be happening.  'Not now!'  The three of them
had just found each other.  He had convinced himself that the
recent increase in his passions related to the newness of
this relationship.  However, for the last day he had felt the
burning.  He was entering his cycle and it was not his time. 
An unfamiliar feeling gnawed at the base of his brain.  It
could only be described as panic.  Was this a fear of what
was to come or for the effect that this would have on his
current relationship?  

He fought against the heat radiating from his groin.  'Not
now!' He silently screamed into the blackness.  He should
have had another three years before this came upon him.  To
expose the two men in the cabin to this was unthinkable. 
There were few options open to unbonded Vulcan males.  He
would have to choose the best of these, however unpleasant it
would be.
 
To bond himself to a Vulcan female with which there was no
emotional link was something he would no longer consider. 
Death was something he would rather avoid.  The only other
solution would be to arrange for a Kalogi.   He was aware
that the pain would be intense, however, given the fact that
it will keep him alive, 'it will have to suffice,' he thought
to himself. 

Jim stepped over to his friend and laid the blanket around
his shoulders. He felt the skin beneath the material quiver
when he wrapped it around him.
 
"Spock, I am here.  We are here." he whispered.

Spock turned and looked at Jim.  From the light of the cabin
Jim could see a glistening in his eyes.

"Spock, did I upset you?  I know we have melded many times
before, but maybe you are not ready for that now."

"No.  No, you have done nothing.  There is something I must
do.  Something I must tell you both."  A chill ran through
his body, but he was unsure if it was from the chill in the
mountain air or from the fever that was beginning to affect
his body.

Jim saw the visible shiver, "Come inside.  It's cool out
here."

Spock nodded and walked back inside with Jim.

Leonard had opened the bourbon and retrieved three glasses. 
"Drink?" Leonard asked.

Spock nodded and Leonard poured a drink and handed it to him. 
He laid his hand on the shoulder and could feel the unusual
heat, even for Spock, radiate through the fabric.  He was
very tempted to get the med-scanner, but he decided to wait
to see what Spock wanted to tell them.  He handed Jim a glass
and the three settled into the chairs around the fire.

---

Spock looked at Jim, "Jim, you have done nothing.  It is my
biological cycle.  I am uncertain if it is a result of
recently leaving Gol, or perhaps a response involved in the
V'ger meld.  It may have been exacerbated by the emotions I
have felt here with the two of you these last weeks, but," he
took a sip of the bourbon, and looked at the men, "the time
to return to Vulcan is approaching."

"Spock," Leonard paused, "you mean you are entering into pon
farr?" he leaned forward and asked gently.

"The preliminary stages, yes."

Jim nodded at Spock, "Bones has suspected that you may be."

Spock looked at Leonard, "Very astute, Doctor.  I have only
been sure of it myself for the last 12 hours."

"So what happens now?  You say you will have to return to
Vulcan," Jim asked.

"Yes, I will need to return soon."

"When?"

"I have begun the first stage of plak tow and I believe I
have six days before the second stage, the point where I must
be on Vulcan, begins."

"Spock, what about a bonding mate?" Jim asked, but he did not
want to hear the answer.  The thought of Spock bonded to
someone else was more than he could stand.

"There are arrangements that can be made."

"Are you talking about a prearranged affair like you had
before?" Bones' words were spoken with true fear.  He
remembered how close he came to losing both of these men on
that damned red planet.

"No, there are individuals that can assist me through this
without a bond.  It is not an optimal solution, but it is the
option I choose."

"Spock, what are the other options?"

"To find a bondmate.  To die."  Spock listed his only other
options without any hint of emotion.
 
"How long will you need to be on Vulcan?"  The questions were
coming to Jim's mind so quickly, he felt dizzy.

"With travel included, I should be gone no more than two
weeks."

"Who are these individuals that you say you can make an
arrangement with?"  Leonard was going to be certain that he
had all of the facts this time.

Spock looked at the glass in his hands, took a breath and
said, "These individuals are Vulcans that have had a failed
bonding.  For various reasons they are unable to mentally
bond with a mate.  Some choose to live a life of solitude,
some go to Gol, and some participate as Kalogi servants, that
is someone that will service a male in pon farr without
benefit of a bond."

"Gol, I was under the assumption that only males were allowed
to undergo the rituals at Gol," McCoy stated.

"Yes, that is correct. There are male and female Kalogi
servants."  He noted the surprised look on Leonard's face. 
"Vulcans have recognized same sex relationships far longer
than they have been acceptable to Terrans."

"Spock," Jim wanted to put this as carefully and as clearly
as he could, "could you bond with me?"

"No, that would not be wise." Spock shook his head.

"Why?"

"The achievement of the bond is permanent.  If anything were
to happen to either of us, without preparation, there could
be permanent damage." He took a sip of the potent liquid and
continued, "Jim, that is why I have not been able to meld
with either of you.  A meld during intense passion could
start a bonding process.  I am not certain to what extent
such a bond could form, but I do not wish to risk involving
either of you in this."

"Spock, your mother is human.  I do believe I am as capable
of handling the risk as well as she.  There is something
else. I can see it in your eyes.  Tell me. Why should we not
be bonded?"

"Jim, there are activities that are associated with the blood
fever that would be quite distasteful."

"In what way?  Is there another chance of a fight to the
death?" Remembering the last time they were involved with
Spock's pon farr, he certainly did not wish to repeat those
events.

"No, there would not be a challenge," he looked at Jim and
raised an eyebrow, "unless you would request it."

Good, his humor is returning, and he is beginning to accept
this idea.  "Not a chance of that Spock  Why do you think I
would find it distasteful?  I have seen you stricken by the
fever before, I did not find it distasteful." Jim thought,
'painful, but not distasteful.'

"You saw me possessed by the fever, you did not see what the
fever will do to me during the mating."

"Then tell me, tell me what you do not wish me to see."

"The mating is all consuming.  Jim, there is no love
involved.  It is a ritual of denied passions.  It is an
exploring of all of the senses.  I do not believe you would
find it a particularly pleasing experience."

"So, what we are discussing is, um, rough sex?  Spock, there
are humans that have gone through this before, I am certain
that I would be able to handle whatever happens."  He
referred to Amanda, but he did not wish to bring her into a
discussion regarding hot sex.

"Jim," to speak of these things was difficult.  He was
breaking ancient Vulcan discipline to discuss these acts with
these men. But, these were the men that had chosen to stand
at his side the last time this came upon him.  And, these are
the men that had chosen to lay beside him now.  "There are
few outworlders that have participated in the rituals of pon
farr.  I am unaware of any humans that have been involved
with the full mating."

"Spock, your own mother--," Jim began.

"Jim, my mother has never participated in the full ritual. 
My mother is my father's bondmate, however, my father has had
consorts that he has gone to during this time since long
before my parents' marriage."

Jim was taken back for a moment.  It never occurred to him
that Sarek would have lovers other than Amanda.  "So, what is
involved?  What practices are we discussing?"

"What we are discussing is passion without controls.  I would
find it hard, impossible, to consider your needs, your
desires.  I would be self-consumed on pleasuring only
myself."

"Now wait just a damn minute," McCoy interrupted.  "Spock,
would there be danger of physical injury?"

Spock looked at the Doctor.  To keep the humans he loved from
committing to this, he would like to tell him that there was
great danger, mortal danger.  However, this was inaccurate. 
The effects on the human body were unknown.  The men before
him were strong and the detriment to their bodies,
physically, would probably be minimal.  However, the effects
mentally could be profound.  "I can not say there would be no
physical damage, but it would not be life threatening."

McCoy relaxed somewhat, but still cautious about what Jim was
offering.

Jim leaned forward and placed his hand on the arm of his
friend.  "Spock, I love you.  I managed to lose both of you
once.  I certainly do not wish for that to occur again."

"Jim, you will not lose me.  I will return to you after this
is over.  This is something I have to do.  I have caused hurt
to the both of you in the past.  I wish to assure you that
this is something I choose for the benefit of us all."

"You said that a, what was it, a Kalogi servant?  That was
not an optimal solution.  Why?"  Leonard asked.

This was difficult to explain in standard language.  Many of
the terms had no translation.  Spock attempted an
explanation, "There can be no bond, no sharing of minds, with
a Kalogi.  The sharing of emotions is an intricate part of
the burning.  Without this, there is no escape from the
intense thoughts that are consuming the mind.  Without the
mental release there is pain.  It is very similar to no
physical release when there is great arousal.  The sexual
release will keep me alive, however, there will be no outlet
for the mental release."

"Spock," Jim stood up and walked to the hearth.  He moved
back in front of Spock and knelt down so he could meet his
eyes. "I want to know one thing, if we were to bond, just you
and I, would we still be able to keep the same arrangement
that we have now, with the three of us?"

Spock looked up at Bones. "I'm sorry, Spock, I do love the
both of you, it's just the idea of a perpetual bond disturbs
me."

Jim whispered, "And I do wish to bond with you, if you will
allow it."

The unending love that shone from the eyes of the man
kneeling before him was amazing.  "Jim, you do not know what
you are asking."

"Spock, I need you.  I need you both.  Answer my question,
would it affect the relationship between the three of us?"

"No, Jim, it would not."

"Then will you allow me to be your bondmate?"

Spock stood up and walked toward the fire, silently staring
into the flames.  After a few moments he turned and walked
back to Jim.  He reached down and pulled Jim up to him.  "Are
you certain you know what you are committing to? This will be
a life bond."

"I only know that one lifetime is not long enough." He tasted
the lips of the man he would have as his partner for the
remainder of his life.  "Will you have me?"

Spock stared into the hazel eyes.  The flecks of gold were
reflecting the flames of the fire.  He had never dreamed that
this much love could be directed toward him.  Both of these
humans loved him, as much as he loved them.  "Yes, I will be
very honored for you to be my bondmate."  He captured the
mouth with his own.

---

"Leonard, I understand the source of your reluctance. It is
not an easy decision to be bondmate to someone.  However,
there is a way of joining you to this union."

"There is? How?"  McCoy asked.

"There are allowances for individuals to be included into a
family unit through a much lighter bond.  There are
situations where a Vulcan male has chosen two, or more,
individuals to share his life and one partner either
declines, or is not offered, a full bond."

"With a full bonding my partner will be recognized as an
extension of myself.  Therefore, Jim will have the rights to
my property and my family name.  My heritage is bestowed upon
him.  He will be recognized as skan, a family member. 
Through this type of union, my bond to you will be weaker
than my bond to Jim.  Although our thoughts will not be
omnipresent, they are accessible through physical contact. I
would have to physically meld with you for us to have the
ability to exchange thoughts.  However, it would still be a
life bond.  You would be recognized as my principal consort. 
You would be highly respected and very important to my
family. You would, also, be welcomed to participate in the
mating, if that is something you wish."

"Consort?"

"Leonard," Spock knelt down in front of him and placed his
hands on top of his own, "I would never ask you to do
anything that would devalue you.  The best translation for
this position is consort, however, the position is actually
called sko'tan.  It is a position of honor.  The individual
that has been declared as sko'tan is seen as a life partner
through choice.  The closest point of Terran reference that I
can give you is that of spouse, where two individuals choose
to declare their allegiance to each other. If you choose not
to become a co-bondmate, would you be interested is an
arrangement such as this?"  He held his hand out to Leonard.

He reached for the outstretched hand. "Thank you, Spock, yes,
I would be honored to become your consort," he ran a hand
through the less than perfectly placed black hair and leaned
in to join his lips to the much warmer ones.

"So, Spock, when do we need to make these arrangements?" Jim
asked.

"I will need to contact my parents.  I owe them the respect
of advising them of the recent occurrences.  And, I will
contact the Vulcan ministry to arrange a ceremony.  We will
need to arrive on Vulcan in five, earth standard, days."

"I will send my notification of leave status through
tomorrow. How about you, Bones?"

"I work at my own pace.  Except for taking my name off of the
on-call list, I can leave anytime."

"Since Starfleet has now instituted provisions for its Vulcan
crew, I will be able to depart on the next available
transport."

"Well I'll be Goddamn!" Bones laughed.  He looked at the men
who were now standing at the fireplace.

"What?" Jim asked, smiling at McCoy.
 
"Did we just agree here, that we are getting married?"

"Leonard," Spock pulled Leonard to him and in a deep
resonating voice said, "if you insist on redefining this into
archaic Earth terms, then, yes, we are getting married."
There was a definite sparkle in those black eyes.

"Well, call it what you will, I'm damn excited!"  He wrapped
his arms around both of the men.

Spock held these two men. These men that had just agreed to
share the most intimate of times with him and remain bonded
to him for the rest of their lives.  This was a commitment he
was never prepared to ask of them.  Certainly something he
was unprepared for this early in their relationship. 

He caressed the face before him.  The normally icy blue eyes
were becoming very dark.  He loved running his fingers along
the meld points of this man.  Whereas with Jim he found
brightness, strength and light, there was a fire that
radiated from this man.  Passions that boiled just beneath
the surface and often went unchecked.  How he looked forward
to falling into this mind.  It would be a challenge to meet
this flurry of emotions without boundaries.

"I love your smile," Bones purred to him.

He was unaware that he had been smiling.  This man, these
men, could tear down his shields as nothing else in his life
had ever done before.  He felt the next wave of heat threaten
to consume him and the shiver ran through his body.  Both
humans felt the ripple pass through the body and noticed the
heat of the skin rise once more.  This time, however, the
feeling of panic was abated. 

Leonard's breath caught at the feel of the erection pressing
into his thigh.  His hand found its way to the bulge beneath
the silk trousers, knowing there was another treasure of
silken steel underneath.  He traced the hardness until
moisture began to seep through the fabric.

Leonard looked to Jim and saw that his eyes were transfixed
upon the ministrations his hand was giving to the protrusion. 
He reached for Jim's hand and formed it around the silk
covered shaft.  He then maneuvered Jim between them and began
an assault on the strong back. 

Spock turned to Jim, "I believe I interrupted something that
we were starting, earlier.  I believe it is time to resume
our earlier activities."

"Spock, could you meld us now?  I mean since we are going to
be bonded, anyway."  Jim flashed 'the look' at Spock, the one
that had conquered half of the galaxy.

"It would not be wise until the ceremony."  His voice was
like sandpaper brushing stone, and the sensation of that
rough, passion filled sound touched every nerve fiber in the
humans.  He ran his fingers down the ribs and grasped the
bottom of the shirt.
 
"If a spontaneous bond were to begin, you would feel the
effects of the blood fever."  He pulled the shirt over Jim's
head and tossed it aside, giving Leonard full access to the
golden torso.  "With us still days away from the full bonding
it would be better to wait." 
 
Leonard noticed that a day in the sun had turned his own skin
to a slight pink, however, Jim had begun to take on the hue
of burnished gold.  His hair had lightened some in the last
weeks since they had been meeting for lunch, usually outside
when weather permitted.  Bones pushed the shorts down and
off.  He admired the well-defined muscles of the back as he
ran his hands down the length of the spine, and cupped the
mounds with his hands, massaging and kneading them with his
fingers.  He turned his hands so that his fingers were
separating and caressing within the sensitive crevice. This
body was so very responsive.

"But if," Jim purred into the base of the long neck, "we are
going to share our minds," he thrust his pelvis against the
material and the hard mass underneath, "wouldn't it be
logical for me," he nibbled at the lobe of the delicate ear,
"to share this with you?"

"No," Spock freed his ear from the erogenous actions of his
lovers mouth. "It would be more logical," his teeth gently
catching the bottom lip of the man pressed against him, "for
you," his breath caught as his trousers were pushed to his
thighs, "to wait until," breathing deeply as the cooler hand
increased the exploration of his erection, "we can be bonded
properly."

"I have a question," Leonard moaned into the back of the neck
that he was taking pure delight in running his tongue and
lips across.

Jim, pulling his lips from the man in front of him, but never
taking his eyes from the dark ones, asked, "What, Bones?"

"How in the HELL, can the two of you carry on these life
altering conversations during the heat of passion?"

"Umm," was the only answer he received, as the lips of the
men were, once again, inseparable.

He went to his knees and began to apply nibbling caresses to
the mounds.  His tongue formed a wet trail around the tight
ass.  His hands massaged between the thighs to the hot pouch. 
He ran his hand between the thighs and under the pouch and
found an even hotter sac pressed against this one.

Hard shafts rubbing against each other.  His fingers caressed
and explored each sac tenderly and heard the moans being
emitted from each man.

Jim could feel the intense need from the man in his arms.  He
wanted to release the pressure he could feel building to an
unbearable level.  He went to his knees and took the hot cock
deeply into his mouth.  He moaned around the cockhead as
Bones' finger pressed gently into the tight opening to his
body.  He continued licking and sucking on the hot cock,
paying special attention to the ultra sensitive spot just
below the second ridge.  One of Spock's hands was in his
hair, guiding his head up and down the shaft.  The other hand
was holding the base of the shaft guiding it into his mouth.

The taste of Spock, and the feel of Bones' mouth on the back
of his neck, and the feel of the fingers massaging him
internally, nearly undid him.  His body ached for the fingers
to be replaced by something more substantial. His hands were
gripping Spock's thighs and he used this grip to pull Spock
deeply in and out of his mouth.  He felt the body under his
hands begin to quake.  Spock moaned loudly as he came.  Jim
sucked down the ejaculate, massaging the head with his
tongue, until the last of the fluid was expelled. 

Jim released the cock and went to the floor with his hands,
allowing Bones full access to his backside.  "Oh God, Bones,
fuck me," he panted, his body screaming to be filled.

"Spock, I need some gel, oil, anything," Bones rasped,
unfastening his pants and pushing them out of the way.

Spock shakily got to his feet and retrieved one of the bags
and pulled out a tube of lubricant.  He walked back to the
men and knelt down beside them.  He squeezed some of the gel
onto his fingers and began to rub it into Jim.  He penetrated
the opening and stretched it with his fingers.  He then took
more of the gel and reached down between Leonard's thighs and
spread the lubricant on the head and shaft of the, very
ready, cock.  They had discovered that preparing one for the
other was very pleasing experience. 

Bones centered his cock at the opening and pressed inside. 
He loved feeling the tightness surrounding him.  He moved
slowly until he knew Jim was comfortable and then began to
pump into the body.  It did not take long before he could no
longer hold back the orgasm.  "Oh God, Jim, I can't wait!" He
thrust deep into the body and released himself.  When the
last spasm had passed he pulled out of the body. 

Jim rolled onto the floor, his cock very erect.  Spock, who
was still in a state of arousal, straddled the golden
shoulders and took the cock in his mouth.

Jim wrapped his hand around Spock's hot erection and massaged
it in time to the mouth moving up and down on him. 

Jim nipped at the head of the beautiful shaft displayed above
him and nuzzled the thick sac.  The hot musky aroma was
intoxicating.  He felt the shivers of the fever in the man
above him.  Glancing down at the sight of Spock's mouth
encircling him and the dark head moving up and down on his
cock undid him.  Jim arched his back and exploded into the
hot mouth.  Spock sucked the fluid from the shaft as his own
semen spewed onto the soft golden fur of his bright lover's
chest.

---

Jim woke to the smell of coffee.  He looked at the chrono and
saw it was reading 0702.  He had not slept this late in
years.  He rolled over to the man spooned against him.  "Good
morning," he whispered to the black eyes staring at him.

"Good morning," Spock replied.  "Are you well, this morning?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"  He ran his fingers down the face.

"You made some serious decisions last night.  Are you still
certain that this is what you wish?"

"Yes, Spock.  I have no doubts about bonding with you.  Are
you having any second thoughts?" 

"No.  You are the ones with whom I wish to spend my future." 
Spock brushed his mouth against the rounded ear.

Jim had his usual morning erection, and was tempted to press
it against his lover.  However, he could feel that Spock was
at ease, cooler this morning.  He knew that there would be
times today that the fever would overtake him and this man
would need him to satisfy his desires. 

"Hey, you all gonna stay in bed all day?"  Bones approached
the bed with two cups of coffee.

They sat up and each took a cup.  "You've had worse ideas,"
Jim quipped. Jim smiled at the man in bed beside him, then
winked at the man standing before him holding the steaming
mug.  The coffee was wonderful. 

Sipping the hot fragrant liquid he thought about their
decision, "Spock, when do you wish to contact your parents? 
Do you believe that they will accept this arrangement?"  He
was aware of differences between Spock and his parents,
particularly Sarek, in the past.  He was concerned that they
would not embrace this choice.  He knew in Spock's heightened
emotional state that rejection would hit him hard.  They had
been lucky with the acceptance of their relationship here in
Starfleet, but Spock's family was a different matter.

"I should contact them immediately.  As for their acceptance,
it is unsure, it is, however, unnecessary."  He swung his
legs off of the bed and walked toward the COM unit. 

"Spock, do you wish privacy?" Leonard asked.

"No, whatever decision is made, it concerns us all.  It would
be my desire that you are present when I make this
announcement."

Spock requested an open link to Vulcan.  The connection would
take a few minutes to establish.  He proceeded to brush his
hair and dress.  His companions made sure they both looked
presentable, as well.  The COM signaled that a vid link to
Vulcan had been established.  He requested to be put through
to his father in the native Vulcan language.  Sarek's image
appeared on screen.

They greeted each other with the formal Vulcan greeting and
then Spock reverted to standard.

"Father, is Mother present?"

"Yes, Spock, I am here," Amanda appeared beside Sarek.

"Mother, Father, I have contacted you to advise you I will be
contacting the Vulcan ministry to arrange a bonding
ceremony."

"Spock!" Amanda exclaimed, "You are to be bonded?"  Her face
broke into a smile.

"Yes, Mother, I believe that is what I just said."

"May I ask to whom you are to be bonded, Spock?" his father
asked.

"I have chosen Admiral James Kirk as my bondmate, and I have
asked Dr. Leonard McCoy to become my sko'tan."  Spock stated
this in a very matter-of-fact tone.  He then waited, looking
directly at the screen, on the response from his parents. He
was completely composed, but both Jim and Leonard held their
breath while waiting, what seemed an eternity, on the
response.
 
"Are these gentlemen with you at this time?" Sarek asked.

"Yes, Father, they are with me."

Kirk and McCoy moved into the range of the viewer. 
"Ambassador," Jim spoke first, "it is a pleasure to see the
both of you, again."

"Good day to you both," Bones added.

"Gentlemen," Sarek looked at the three men on the screen and
without any sign of emotion stated, "I offer you both welcome
to the house of Amanda and Sarek cha'Skon.  It will be our
honor to receive you both into our family.  Spock, from our
house to yours, I bid you welcome." 

Amanda, who had turned her attention to her husband, waiting
to see what his reaction was to be, turned back to the
viewer, her face was all smiles and a tear was beginning to
overflow from the corner of her eye.

"Thank you, Sarek," Jim responded.  "I graciously accept your
offer and I am honored to be accepted into your family."

Spock looked to Leonard and he understood that the response
was expected. 

"Thank you, sir.  I, too, graciously accept your offer and I
am honored to be accepted into your family."

"When will you be arriving, Spock?" Amanda asked.

"We will be arriving on Vulcan in five earth standard days,
Mother.  If you wish, I will advise you of the arrangements."

Amanda looked to Sarek, who nodded his approval toward his
wife. "Spock, we wish to take care of everything.  Your
father will arrange for the ceremony, and I will plan the
reception."

"Thank you.  Your assistance with this matter is most
appreciated."

"Spock," Sarek stated, "your companions will be welcome in
our home. I am not displeased with your choice in this
matter."

"Most kind, Father."  Spock paused, looking directly into
Sarek's eyes, and stated, "Father, if you so please, it would
be my desire that you attend me."

"I would be most honored, my son."

"Your hospitality is appreciated.  You will be contacted upon
our arrival."

"Until then."  Spock closed the transmission with the formal
Vulcan closing and the transmission was ended.

"But Spock, I thought you said that only Jim would have the
family right bestowed on him."

"My Father has chosen to honor both my bondmate and my
consort with equal status, as is his right.  It is quite rare
that a Vulcan would choose this path.  It speaks very highly
of you both.  It announces to the Vulcan hierarchy that your
position in his family is above reproach."

"I am very honored, indeed," McCoy stated, with a smile.

"Spock," Jim asked carefully, "does this mean that your
father, your parents, have given full approval for this
bonding?"

"It does seem so.  At the very least, my father acknowledges
my rights to choose whom I wish."

---

Jim showered and Spock booked passage for the three of them
to Vulcan while Bones prepared one of his famous breakfasts. 
He did not usually condone the intake of sugars and fats that
these breakfasts contained, but with the workouts that they
had been getting lately, he saw no danger in serving this
type of meal.  Even Spock managed to consume some of the
blueberry pancakes. 

They decided to spend the morning exploring some of the
hiking trails.  It would give them some time to discuss the
events at hand, as well as give them the privacy they may
need.  They packed a couple of daypacks with some basic
provisions.  Bones made sure the med-scanner was fully
charged and they started out.  

They walked along one of the heavily wooded trails for about
two hours with each lost in their own thoughts.  They emerged
into a large opening that had a breathtaking view of the
valley below.  They decided to rest a while here.  They
settled onto a patch of lush grass and pulled out something
to drink. 

Leonard was curious about the upcoming events that would take
place on Vulcan.  "Will the ceremony be the same this time?"
he asked Spock.


"No, we will not meet at the same location.  I would imagine
since my parents are making the arrangements, the ceremony
will be either in their gardens, or in a ritual site that is
located near the Vulcan Academy of Science."

"What will the ceremony be like? What is expected?" Leonard
was somewhat nervous about the process.  Their last
experience had been a nightmare.

Spock lay down and pulled Leonard down so his head was
resting on his shoulder.  Jim stretched out beside them. 
"Leonard, I will not let you go into this unprepared.  There
is very little that either of you will need to do during the
ceremony.  You will be asked a series of questions to which
you will respond.  I will have time on the voyage to Vulcan
to go over the responses with you.  A Vulcan priestess,
possibly T'Pau, will meld us and form the bond.  At that
point you both will feel the burning and no other response
will be necessary."

"You call it a burning, is that what it feels like?  Heat?"

"No, it is a body being aflame with passion.   You will feel
my intense desire to mate."  Speaking of these things, Spock
felt the desire rise in his body.  He had fought against
these thoughts on the hike up the slope, concentrating
instead on the flora.  But these men had to know what would
be involved.  He would not allow them to be unprepared for
this, again. 

Jim rose to a sitting position and looked at Spock, "Where
will the mating take place?  And," he looked at Bones and
back to Spock, "what will happen there?"

"There is a dwelling behind my parents' home.  My father had
it built to distance himself and his consorts from my mother
during the period of Kal-tai.  That is the portion of pon
farr when all reasoning is stripped away.   We shall go
there."  He rose to a seated position.  His breaths were
becoming deeper.  Both humans had noticed the flush to the
skin and the obvious enlargement at his crotch.  His tone was
becoming deeper and more agitated.

"Spock," Jim whispered,  "we can discuss this later if it
disturbs you."

"No, these are things which I must tell you."  He took a deep
breath and continued, "By the time we reach the dwelling, I
will be deep into plak tow.  The sexual acts will be quick
and often.  You will be able to read my thoughts and my
desires, as I will be able to read yours.  However, I do not
know how much control I will have on pleasing you.  During
this time, I will have brief periods of reprieve in which to
meditate. 

By the second day I will be in Kal-tai.  All of my thoughts
will flow to the two of you.  It may be purely sexual, or
there may be thoughts related to suppressed emotions that do
not involve sex at all.  I will not be able to control this
release of emotion."

Spock had to stop to collect his thoughts.  Every few moments
he would sharply shake his head.  Then, as if succeeding at
shaking off the effects of the affliction, he would continue
with his chin held high.  The words were becoming difficult
and his need for release was strong.  "This will be the most
difficult portion of the process for the two of you.  There
may be a great deal of unpleasantness associated with this
time.  When a Vulcan is mating to another Vulcan it is
understood that these are merely reflections.  It is a flood
of all emotional thoughts that have been pushed back into the
subconscious."

"By late into the third day, I will begin to have lucid
moments.  There will still be intense periods of desire, but
they will become more infrequent.  By the fourth day I will
regain my logic.  My thoughts will clear and that evening we
will leave the place of mating.  There will be a reception
where we will be officially accepted."  He was unable to
continue.  His resistance crumbled as the wave of desire
rushed over him.  His hand went between his legs to massage
the ache.  He threw his head back and groaned, as if a savage
animal was gripping him.

Leonard unclasped the pants, and Spock raised his hips so
they could be removed.  Spock lay back down and grabbed his
erection and began pumping furiously.  Jim came to his knees
and grabbed Spock's hips as he took the head of the organ
into his mouth, engulfing both ridges, massaging the head
with his tongue while Spock continued the assault on the
shaft. 

Leonard reached for the med-scanner and powered it up. 
Spock's pulse was double the normal beats, temperature
increased by 2.7 degrees, blood pressure up by a total of 19
points, muscle tension was off the scale and all of the other
readings were either elevated or unreadable.  He had seen
these readings only once before.  The day many years ago that
he advised Kirk they must get Spock back to Vulcan, or he
would die.

Spock's head rolled back and he arched his back and found the
release he so desperately needed.  The moans and spasms
continued as wave after wave crashed down upon him.   Jim was
able to consume very little of the volume of fluid that was
released from the body.  Slowly, Spock's mind fought back to
the present.  He lay on the ground and his body began to
relax.  He released the vice-like grip on himself and brought
his arm up to shield his eyes.

Leonard continued monitoring his vital signs.  They lowered
somewhat, but settled nowhere near the level they should
read.

Spock sat up.  He reached for a napkin from the pack that was
beside him and began to clean the remnants of the spent fluid
from his thighs, testicles and abdomen.  He shook his head
quickly and his body tensed, "I am sorry. That was an
abhorrent display.  I shall attempt to refrain from such
behavior in the future."  His face showed the humiliation he
felt at the moment.  To lose control over his emotions, in
this way, was disgusting to him.  To make love to these men
was his choice, but the thought of lying in front of them,
letting them see him lose all reasonable judgement, made him
sick.  Nausea began to overtake him. 

Jim reached out a hand and ran it through the silky hair. 
The vulnerability of this man tore at Jim's heart.  "My
friend, there was nothing abhorrent about it.  You have
entered into a time where you must be satisfied. Whatever
that takes is not disgusting to us."  He leaned over and
pressed his lips to the side of the flushed face.
 
Leonard wrapped an arm around the tense shoulders and
whispered into his ear, "Spock, I am concerned about these
readings.  I will do anything I can to sustain you until we
can get you to Vulcan.  Anything you have to do, any act you
have to perform, that will get you there safely, is fine by
me."

They felt Spock relax. "I am afraid this will not improve
until we have bonded and I have passed through all that I
must."

"Then just hold on to us, Spock.  That is why we are here,"
Jim gripped both of the overheated biceps.  "We love you," he
whispered.

Spock nodded.  The nausea abated as he fought against the
stinging sensation behind his eyes.

Jim handed the discarded clothes to Spock and he stood and
redressed himself.  They gathered the packs and descended the
slope back to the cabin.  It had been decided this morning to
return to San Francisco tonight.  That would give them two
days to make any arrangements necessary for their departure,
and with the three days' travel time on the transport, that
would put them on Vulcan in exactly five days.  Only one day
to spare. 

The humans were concerned with the slim margin of time they
had to work with.

---

Exactly forty-four hours later, they boarded the Nicholas B,
a Federation transport bound for Vulcan.  The last two days
had been hardest on Spock.  His system was taking a beating
from the strain.  His controls were weakened from constantly
fighting the pounding of emotions that now invaded him
several times a day.  Just this morning, his temper had
flared at Leonard when he was running yet another scan.  
He had grabbed the scanner and thrown it across the room,
shattering it.  Now, settled into their quarters aboard the
transport, the humans seemed to sense that this madness was
approaching an end.  They were mistaken.

The next two days they seemed to fall into a routine, as
unpredictable as it was.  McCoy and Kirk alternated staying
with Spock during the attacks of the blood fever.  Each
trying to give the other time to rest, each failing miserably
as his time to rest came.   As bad as the attacks were, Jim
dreaded the periods of perspicuity worse.  He would see the
humiliation in the face of this gentle being.  This man who
had stood at his side, unflinching, in the face of the most
powerful adversaries the galaxy had been able to throw at
them, was reduced to this.  Jim finally understood why Spock
had begged to be locked away the first time he came into pon
farr, and this time it was even worse.  McCoy seemed to feel
it was because the initial bonding was never completed, but
the why no longer seemed to matter.

Twenty-four hours away from Vulcan, Jim was standing in the
solarium watching the view port.  God, he did miss this
sensation so very much.  Even now, he felt a pang of envy to
those whose life existed out here among the stars.  He loved
the life he was living with the two men beside him, he just
wished it was out here.  He had accomplished a great deal in
these last months in his position as Admiral.  He knew he was
making needed changes in the fleet, changes that he could
never make as a starship captain, but this was the life he
loved.  He heard the door open.  He did not need to turn to
know who was coming into the room.  "How is he, Bones?"

"God, Jim, I don't know.  You tell me, your guess is as good
as mine.  His readings are all over the place, he hasn't
eaten anything since breakfast four days ago, I go near him
and he is either violent or clings to me and sobs.  His skin
has become so sensitive that any touch is painful, so trying
to help him with sexual release is out of the question.  He
has tried to meditate, but that has failed him.  I finally
did get him to let me give him something, and he is asleep
for the moment.  How in the HELL can a culture value its
logic when the result is this madness every few years?" 
There was anger building in McCoy.  He became angry when
there was nothing he could do to heal someone he loved.

"Bones, you are doing something.  You are here with him,
keeping an eye on him, doing what you can to ease the pain. 
And, you are on your way to Vulcan to bond with him."
 
Leonard just shook his head.  It was not enough.  He wanted
to stop this thing that was tearing his friend, his lover,
apart.

"You are exhausted.  While he is sleeping, let's go get some
rest.  We are going to need all of the strength we can muster
in the next few days."

He led Bones into the cabin he had been assigned.  All of the
cabins adjoined, but this was directly adjacent to the one
where Spock was asleep.  He keyed open the door separating
the rooms and turned down the covers on the bed.  They
undressed and slid under the covers.  Jim wrapped his arm
around the compact shoulders and pulled him down next to him. 
They lay there holding each other, listening for any sounds
from the next room. 

As exhausted as he was, Leonard could not sleep. He tried to
move quietly, so as not to disturb the man beside him, but it
felt as if every nerve was raw.  The events of the last days,
and the contemplation of what was yet to come, left little
room for rest.  Jim's breath was steady but Leonard was
uncertain as to whether he was asleep.  Once more he tried to
gently arrange his position to find some level of comfort.

"Bones, try to rest," Jim whispered to him, turning toward
him and laying his hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I should go get in the other bed.  I am going to
keep you up all night."

"You do not belong in another bed," he stroked the dark hair.
"You belong here, with me, always."

"Jim." Bones pulled the man to him.

Their lips met in a tenderness that had been forgotten these
last days.  The tenderness that had been present until the
fever of pon farr had begun to consume their lover.  It felt
good to feel the slow softness of a gentle touch.

Jim ran his fingers down the side and back of the warm man
beside him.  He felt his body respond to the soft nuzzling at
the base of his ear.   They let their hands explore and
caress the flesh of each other, bringing each other to
arousal in quiet affection.   Jim's hand stroked down to the
waist and across the abdomen slowly finding its way to the
erection.  His fingers played up and down the shaft,
spreading the fluid that was forming across the tip.  He felt
Bones responding to the touch by the sharp breaths against
his neck.

Jim felt the hand that had been fondling his nipple move down
and across the patch of fur, finding the base of his heat. 
The long slow strokes up and down the shaft were soothing and
arousing at the same time.   Their lips met and they caressed
each other's mouth with their tongues.  The strokes quickened
and he felt the man shiver in his arms.  He matched the
strokes with his hand to the ones he felt on his own cock. 
Their free arms tightened around each other and the spasms
began.  They stroked each other to completion until each
began to relax.  Their arms cradled each other and within
moments both had drifted of to, much needed, sleep. 

---

In what Jim thought were just moments later, he was awakened
by the COM signal in his room.  He opened his eyes and tried
to focus on where he was.  A cabin, a ship, but not his
cabin, and not his ship.  It took a moment to realize they
were aboard the transport.  He eased himself from beside the
man next to him.  When he looked at the chrono, it read 0618
earth standard time.  They had been asleep for almost seven
hours.  He slipped on his shirt and trousers and answered the
COM.

"Admiral Kirk, Commander Spock is unavailable, and there is a
vid message coming through from Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan. 
He has agreed to speak with you, do you wish to take this
message?"

"Send it through, please."  He turned to the bed to see McCoy
already heading through the door for Spock's cabin.

Sarek's face appeared on the screen, "Kirk, I understand you
will be arriving this evening.  I wanted to advise Spock that
all as been arranged.  There will be an entourage that will
meet you at the disembarkation platform.   One group will
escort Spock for preparation, and two members of our
household will escort you and McCoy to our home.  We will
welcome you there."  The stoic face on the screen seemed
older than he had seen it before.  The face was certainly
more serious.

"Very well, Ambassador.  We will look forward to meeting you
in your home this evening."  He looked up as Bones came back
into the room.  Bones softly advised Jim that Spock was
meditating.  He looked back to the vid screen, "Spock is in
meditation at this time. Do you wish to speak with him?"

"No, he is doing what he must."

"Then we shall see you this evening."

Sarek nodded toward the screen and the transmission was
ended. 

"How is he?"

"Better, right now."

"Sarek has made all arrangements.  We will be met on Vulcan. 
I think this has hit Spock stronger than he had anticipated."

"Indeed, your are correct," Spock had entered the room behind
McCoy.  "I did underestimate the effects that this would have
on me.  For that, I apologize."

"Spock," Jim uttered, "how are you holding up?"  There was
deep concern emanating from his eyes.

"I have rested and was able to meditate for a while.  It has
helped."

"Spock, I have just spoken with Sarek.  He tells me that all
arrangements have been made.  There will be an entourage
waiting for us on Vulcan."

"We should be docking in about twelve hours," Leonard stated.

"Actually, in eleven point six hours, Doctor," Spock replied. 
There was a coy look from the raised eyebrow.  At least for
the moment, he was himself.

"Eleven point six hours!"  Leonard actually appreciated the
fact that Spock felt well enough to contradict him. 

"I do need to take this opportunity to advise you of the
ceremonial rites, and the areas in which you will need to
participate."  Spock spent the next hour explaining the
ceremony and advising them on the correct responses. 

"Since my parents have granted you each status, the
participation will be the same for you both.  The ceremony
will last only a few minutes, but the meld and bondings could
take much longer, depending on the receptiveness of the
individuals involved.  There will be-," Spock stopped in mid
sentence.

The humans saw the flash of panic on his face as the cycle
began again.  Vulcans did not generally believe in a supreme
deity, their culture was based on the honoring of those that
had come before, however, Spock found himself mentally
grasping for any being that could stop the rush of madness
gripping his mind.   The next nine hours were spent with
Spock fighting the demons that possessed him.  Writhing in
agony upon the bed until the covers, and his clothing, lay
in shreds.  Then, when the touch of the material on the bed
inflamed his skin, he moved to the floor. The humans stayed
by his side, trying to wipe the sweat from his eyes and
cleaning him, as gently as possible, when his body refused
control. 

Slowly, a look of recognition returned to the dark eyes.  The
toll of these days had dulled the normally beautiful eyes to
pools of agony.  "Hold on, Spock," Jim whispered, "we're
almost there."  Spock rolled onto his side and curled into a
fetal position.  His body shook from pain and degradation. 
Leonard knelt beside the curled, nude body.  Wanting to cover
him, but knowing he would not be able to tolerate the weight
of even the lightest cloth on his body.  He stood and watched
in utter helplessness.   His hands clenched in anger until
the nails were cutting into the skin.

The humans busied themselves cleaning the room.  They
stripped the bed and threw the bedclothes, along with all of
the towels they had used, into the recycler.  This was a ship
that was staffed by a mostly Vulcan crew, but they did all
they could to rid the area of the evidence of Spock's
condition. 

Spock was able to bring himself to a seated position on the
floor.  His hair was matted from sweat.  Bones leaned down
and said, "Spock, let me get you into the shower.  We will be
docking within the hour."  Spock nodded and Leonard helped
him into the sonic shower.  It was not as refreshing as
water, but Spock would not have been able to stand the
beating of water against his skin, even if it had been
available.

They each took turns cleaning themselves and by the time all
was ready, the ship began its docking procedure.  They
wrapped Spock in a loose Vulcan meditation robe and led him
to the exit. 

When they left the craft, they were immediately approached by
five robed and hooded Vulcans.  Without a word, three of the
men led Spock away.  The other two stayed with Kirk and
McCoy.  One pushed back his hood and stated, "If you will
follow us, we will take you to the home of Ambassador Sarek."   
Kirk nodded to the man, and with that, they turned and left
as the two humans followed.

The aircar left the transportation center and headed of the
city of Shirkar.   Leonard McCoy had been on this planet
twice.  Once he almost lost both of these men, the last time
he was certain he had lost one of them.  The jury was still
out on this visit.  A short distance from the docking station
the heart of the city became apparent.  It was large and
modern, although did not sport the towering buildings of a
San Francisco or New York.  The architecture was low and
airy.  His eyes were only scanning the images as they went
past, his thoughts were elsewhere.

The aircar turned away from the buildings of the city and
moved over what looked like private residences.  Jim looked
at Leonard and saw the lines of worry on his forehead.  He
smiled at the worried face and gave him a reassuring wink. 
They felt the vehicle move toward the ground and turned to
look outside.  The place they were approaching was a
beautiful, large, low, sprawling estate that was a series of
squares and rectangles spaced around a central quadrant. 
There seemed to be gardens beyond, but in the light of the
low late afternoon sun, it was difficult to see.  The car
came to rest in front of the home and once the doors opened,
they stepped out.

---

Sarek stood just outside the entrance and Amanda came to
greet them at the vehicle.  "James, Leonard, it is so good to
see you.  Sarek and I welcome you to our home.  Please come
inside."  She was smiling and gracious, sincerely pleased to
see them.

Leonard spoke first, "Amanda, it is wonderful to see you
again.  It has been much too long."  These two had formed
quite a friendship when they had first met onboard the
Enterprise.

"Yes, thank you for inviting us to your home." Jim greeted
the lovely woman.

They followed her toward the entrance, toward Sarek.  They
stopped in front of the most impressive Vulcan.  Jim greeted
the man, "Ambassador Sarek, it is most pleasing to see you. 
We appreciate your offer of hospitality into your home."
 
"From my family, I bid you welcome.  My home is yours to
share for as long as you wish.  Gentlemen, please come
inside."

They passed through the arched entrance and into the heart of
the house.  "Your bags have been delivered to your rooms. 
Let me show you where you will be staying.  You may freshen
up if you like, and I will have refreshments set up."

He ushered them out of the main dwelling to another building
that was connected by a breezeway.  The feeling here was
open.  It reminded Jim of a hacienda he had visited in the
southwest several years ago.  However, this complex was made
from stone, not adobe, and a sheer fabric lined the walls. 

They were led into a large open room that contained a sitting
area and a sleeping alcove, divided only by the same sheer
fabric that lined the walls of the home.  "I hope that this
will be to your satisfaction," Sarek indicated toward the
room.

Obviously it was acceptable for him and Bones to share a bed. 
"Yes, thank you," Jim responded.

The room opened onto the large terrace that connected the
five large structures of the main residence.  "Once you are
settled I will meet you in the courtyard," He motioned to the
arch that led onto a large outdoor area.

"Thank you, Ambassador.  We shall join you shortly."

Sarek left the men to themselves.  Bones looked around the
room and out onto the courtyard, "Damn, Jim, this place is
beautiful!"

"Yes, I would like to come here when we could truly enjoy
it."

"Have you noticed that there are no doors either within these
buildings or leading to the outside?"

"I assume, due to the fact that protection against either
rain or cold are of little consequence, they are probably
considered unnecessary."

Leonard went to the arch and surveyed the layout of the
property.  "I knew Spock's family was very important, but I
never expected this kind of affluence.  To hear Spock tell
it, he grew up in a moderate family."

Jim smiled, "Spock has always had a tendency toward over-
simplification."

They unpacked what they would need for the evening and the
next morning, and went to the courtyard to meet with Spock's
parents.
  
"Ambassador, Amanda, you have a beautiful home."

"Thank you, Leonard," Amanda responded.

Sarek motioned for them to be seated.  "Not being involved
with diplomatic duties, at this time, shall we dispense with
formal titles?"  Without waiting for an answer, he continued,
"I perceived in our earlier transmission, that the voyage has
been difficult." There was no expression of feeling in the
facial expression or tone of voice, however, through the eyes
of this man showed great concern.

"Yes, quite difficult."  Jim was unsure of what details to go
into.  This culture set great value in what was not spoken
between individuals.  He did decide to venture on, "The
intensity was unexpected."

The Vulcan nodded once to indicate his understanding.

"Sarek, forgive me any rules that I may break, but I do have
some questions.  To what extent are you capable of discussing
this?"  Well, he might as well find out now.

"James, you are unfamiliar with the Vulcan customs, and you
are the man my son has chosen as his bondmate.  And, Leonard,
you have been chosen as his sko'tan.  It is my understanding
that you both will be present with him during the bonding as
well as the koon-ut, the mating." He looked to McCoy with a
raised eyebrow.

"That is correct," Leonard stated, "We will both be with him
through this.  It was his wish, as well as mine."

"Then it is my responsibility to answer any questions either
of you may have."

Jim leaned forward in his chair and addressed Sarek.  "I was
with Spock the first time.  There did not seem to be the
intensity then as now.  Also, he was taken by surprise when
this came upon him.  He felt that he had several more years
before this would affect him.  Is there an explanation for
why this has been so difficult, and mistimed?"

"I am unaware of any definitive reason.  There have been men
that entered this time upon the breaking of the disciplines
at Gol, however there are other factors, as well, I can not
be certain of the cause."

"Other factors?"

"Yes, the incompleteness of the first bonding, the nearness
of death on the latest mission and the recent choice he has
made to explore his emotions."

Amanda rose and poured each another drink.  "Gentlemen, if
you will excuse me, there are some things that I need to
attend to.  I will see you at the evening meal."  It was
obvious she did not wish to hear of her son's suffering.


They stood and agreed to see her later in the evening.

"Sarek, we understand that this is not a usual path for a
Vulcan to choose.  Are you concerned with the choice that
Spock has made?"

"My son has made many choices that have been unusual for a
man in his position.  As my son, I have learned to respect
that with which I do not always agree.  You are aware that I
opposed his joining Starfleet, a decision that I still have
not come to terms with.  However, in this situation, I can
find no fault with his decision. You were the ones who stood
beside him four standard years ago.  I chose not to be there
due to the break in our relationship.  That was an error on
my part."

Leonard turned to face Sarek.  In a soft low voice, he
replied, "we love him." 

Sarek looked to the man standing before him. "Indeed."

Jim watched this man standing in front of him. The lack of
emotions in Vulcans was a myth.  This man felt deep emotions,
where his son was concerned. 

---

"Sarek, what will take place?  Spock was able to give us
information regarding the actual ceremony, and after, but
what of the time between now and the bonding?"

"You shall stay here this evening.  We will have an evening
meal and you are welcome to enjoy the house and grounds at
your leisure.  Early tomorrow there will be attendants that
will come for you.  They will escort you to the place of
mating, and prepare you for the koon-ut.  You will then be
escorted to the place of joining, which will be held in the
ceremonial site located in on our grounds.  Spock and his
entourage will meet you there, along with the Reldai, who
will conduct the ceremony and perform the meld between the
three of you."

Bones had a question regarding the information Sarek had
given them. "What is involved in the preparation for this
ceremony?  I thought we would just put on our dress uniforms
and meet Spock at the place of joining."

Sarek raised an eyebrow, was it possible that Spock had not
given them this information?  He looked at the men before
him, wondering how descriptive he should be regarding the
procedures.  As a diplomat, he had discovered that the
disclosure of all facts was usually not necessary.  However,
he was not dealing with a peace treaty, he was dealing with
the men his son had chosen to be his adun, his life partners. 
Complete disclosure was most important.   "Gentlemen, perhaps
we should walk and I will show you where the ceremony site
is, and answer any questions." 

The three walked through the courtyard and past the outermost
building that made up this complex.  They emerged into a
series of connected gardens, separated by rows of hedges. 
There was very strong Terran influence in these gardens;
these were obviously not native Vulcan plants. Sarek began to
speak, "The attendants will bring you to the house located at
the furthermost end of the gardens.  There, they will
thoroughly cleanse each of you.  You will then be dressed in
either the traditional Vulcan robes or your uniforms, the
choice of garment will be yours.  They will escort you to the
ceremonial site when the time for the joining has arrived."

"Sarek, are you saying that someone will literally bathe us?" 
Leonard was not getting a good feeling about this.

"Forgive me, I assumed my son had informed you of the
preparation.  Yes, you will be bathed and rubbed with native
oils from a variety of Vulcan herbs.  You will be cleansed
internally and will have substance applied to keep you from
being damaged."

Holy shit!  Was Sarek saying what he thought he was saying?
"Internally?" Leonard asked in disbelief.

Sarek began to realize how little these men understood
regarding the process. "You must be aware, that in this
state, Spock is incapable of concern with your level of
comfort.  As a healer, you understand the injuries that will
occur without preparation."

He understood that even with the preparations they had
practiced, there were times when 'that certain area' of his
body became very tender and he would have to refrain from
specific activities for several days.  However, the thoughts
of having some stranger give him a high colonic was not his
idea of fun. He nodded his understanding after carefully
considering the alternatives.

They had reached the garden with the ceremonial altar.  "This
is the place of bonding." There was a platform that held an
ornate stand.  Hanging from the stand was an object that made
Jim's blood run cold.  It was a gong exactly like the one
that had been used in the last ceremony he attended.

"Will that be used for the ceremony?"
 
"Yes, it is a part of the ceremony.  James, I understand your
concern regarding the ceremony.  The last time you
participated there was a kal-if-fee.  I am assuming that you
do not have any intention to make such a death challenge? "

"No, no challenge."  Jim could not help the nervous smile he
flashed at Sarek.  "Will T'Pau be conducting the ceremony
tomorrow?"

"No, she will not be in attendance.  There will be a Vulcan
Reldai, a Vulcan Priestess, who will bond you."

They had reached the building at the back of the gardens.  It
was very isolated from the rest of the property.  The style
was much the same as the main dwelling, but much smaller than
the palatial main house.   There was a terrace that led to
the arched entrance.  There was a very large room that was
obviously set up for one purpose.  In the center was a large
platform that held a thick pad and multiple pillows and
throws.  There was a corner that held a fire pot and mat and
a wall from which protruded a long, wide stone shelf.  In the
back corner there was a partitioning stone wall which blocked
the bathing facilities from view. Light, even the dim light
from the late afternoon Vulcan sun, streamed into this
dwelling through the open areas in the ceiling and along the
top of the walls. 

"I understand that we will be alone here for four days," Jim
stated as he surveyed the dwelling.

"You will be here for four days, but you will not always be
alone.  As I have chosen to attend Spock, it will be my
responsibility to bring food and drink in periodically. 
Also, at those times, it will be my responsibility to make
sure no one needs a healer.  As his attendant, traditionally
it is my primary concern to see about his welfare, however, I
will offer either of you any assistance that you may need."

They left the dwelling and began walking back toward the main
house.

"You will be coming in during the period of mating?"  Jim
thinking, sarcastically, that this was just getting better
and better.  He was certain that having Sarek see the actions
that would be taking place would be very uncomfortable.  He
placed his hand to his forehead.  He was definitely getting
the mother of all headaches.

"Embarrassment is not an emotion that should concern you,"
Sarek stated in a surprisingly soft tone.
 
"Sarek, forgive me, but it is a basic human emotion to feel
embarrassment when observed while engaging in certain
activities." Jim tried to put into words what he was
thinking, 'You, walking in while Spock is fucking us is going
to be DAMN embarrassing!'

"James, I do understand your need for privacy, however, we
are not speaking of a normal encounter.  This brings on a
madness that requires an unaffected participant to be
present.  Someone to intervene should the activities get too
perilous.  It is not uncommon for a male to inflict injury
upon the bonding partner at this time.  If Spock were bonding
himself to weaker individuals, there would be someone in
attendance continuously. However, I do not believe there is a
need for someone to be with you throughout the koon-ut.  I
shall request someone else to attend you if you believe my
presence will be offensive, but be assured that I will not be
aggrieved by any conduct I witness during these days."

Jim looked toward Bones who gave the slightest shrug of his
eyebrow which after spending these many years with this man
he knew meant, 'whatever you decide, Jim, I'll agree to.'

Looking back to the Vulcan he nodded his head and stated,
"Spock has chosen you to attend him at this time.  I have
always valued Spock's judgement and I have no reason not to
trust him in this matter.   You understand that my hesitation
is due to the fact that this is a same sex union-"

Gentlemen," Sarek interjected, suddenly acutely aware of the
cause of the concern, "Let me put your minds at ease.   The
experience of male to male bonding is not something that I am
unfamiliar with."

Jim stopped and turned to Sarek, stunned by this revelation. 
Before he could stop the words from pouring from his mouth he
asked, "You have a male consort?"

"I have had several consorts, of both genders."

"Sarek, I apologize.  I should not have questioned your
practices.  You certainly do not need to explain."

"No apology is due.  I must assume from your question Spock
has revealed to you that it is my choice to use consorts."

"Well, yes, he advised us where the mating would take place
and told us why this dwelling on your property exists.  I
hope that will not cause you ill feelings toward Spock."

"The two of you have been accepted as members of my skan.  I
have no secrets.  It is acceptable that he has revealed this. 
Although she is my bondmate, it was my wife's choice not to
participate in the pon farr.  That is her right. This madness
is far removed from the normality of a relationship.  I
believe you have experienced this in these last days. 
Therefore, I take others.  Gentlemen, this time is
contemptuous to Vulcans.  We wrap it with traditions of
antiquity and do what we must to survive.  Because of our
disdain this is not a subject that is spoken of openly. 
However, it is my wish that you both feel informed and
comfortable with your decision."

---

The group had stopped in an area of the gardens with benches. 
They settled themselves and Leonard decided to forge on with
the questions.  "Spock spoke of taking a Kalogi servant. 
However, he explained that there are certain difficulties
associated with that solution.  Is that a common practice?" 

For a moment the humans thought that Sarek had become angered
by McCoy's question.  His expression changed from caring to
quite agitated.  "No, and I could not, knowingly, allow my
son to be attended by a Kalogi.  The pain from the
incompleteness of the union would be torturous.   A mental
release is as important as the physical.  Why would he
consider such an irrational act?"

Surprised by what, among Vulcans, would be considered an
emotional outburst, Jim explained.  "Sarek, the relationship
between us is new.  He was not expecting this now.  Although
we had discussed the fact that we wish for this to continue,
we had not discussed bonding.   It was his wish not to force
this on us, and he had no desire to form a bond with anyone
else.  A Kalogi servant was his only other option.  It was
only at our insistence that he accepted us for this bonding."

"For that I am most appreciative.  A Kalogi serves only the
purpose to sustain life.  That is a path chosen only when all
other possibilities are exhausted, logic has been stripped
away and death is the alternative.  However, I was unaware
that this was a new relationship.  The three of you have
served together many years.  Leonard, when you contacted me
regarding Spock's decision to cloister himself at Gol, it was
my understanding that you considered him as your partner. 
That event was more than two years ago."

"Yes, served together and have been close friends for many
years.  However, we did not become intimate until just prior
to the end of the original mission, and then only briefly." 
He glanced at Jim, knowing this was still an open wound for
him.  "It was not until the return from the V'ger mission
that our relationship changed."

"Leonard, may I ask you why you are not a co-bondmate?  The
distinction between sko'tan and bondmate is only in the depth
of the bond and family status.  However, as is my right, I
have granted you each equal status in our household."

"Spock offered me the opportunity to be a bondmate.  However
I preferred to accept the position of consort.  I have very
strong feelings toward your son, more than I can express with
words. However," he wanted to express this accurately, but
diplomatically, "I have some concerns about an unyielding
bond."

"Leonard, with frequent intimate contact the link may
progress as deeply as that of a bondmate.  A sko'tan is
considered a confidant or a partner.  Intimacy outside the
time of pon farr is a rarity."

"I was unaware of that, and I don't believe Spock is aware of
this, either."

"Due to our distance in the past years, I cannot stipulate to
the extent of Spock's knowledge in this area.  With his first
bond being broken, it is possible he is incognizant of this. 
It is not something that we have discussed."

Jim noticed the expression on Bones face. This man was caught
somewhere between the extreme desire to be a part of this
union, and sheer panic.  He knew the fear this man felt.  How
many times had he heard Bones object to having someone
'messing around' in his head?  He also knew Bones wished to
be joined to this union.  He leaned forward and said quietly,
"Bones, Spock will understand if you choose not to go through
with this.  He will not love you any less."  He glanced at
Sarek knowing that speaking of Spock's emotions was probably
more insulting than speaking of the actual bonding.

Leonard turned his face to Jim; his expression was one of
determination.  "No Jim, this is something that I need to do. 
If it becomes a deeper bond than I had planned on, so be it.
I know I could live better with the bond, than to never feel
it at all."

Leonard turned to Sarek, "I choose to be bonded, as consort,
to Spock.  I understand the possibility of the bond
deepening.  I accept that possibility."

"My son has chosen his companions well.  My wife and I are
pleased to have this addition to our family."  Sarek was
offering his full approval to the union.

Jim smiled and nodded to the most impressive man seated with
them.  Jim had spent very little time with him previously. 
On the occasion that he was aboard the Enterprise, other
situations had come about to preclude long discussions with
this man.  The apprehension that Jim felt about this
encounter was quickly turning to admiration.

Leonard had spent a great deal of time with both of Spock's
parents aboard the ship, and was already comfortable with
them.  Well, as comfortable as one could get under these
circumstances.  It was still difficult to comprehend that
this man would be what in old earth terms would have been
referred to as their father-in-law.
 
The three started back toward the courtyard.  Out of his
close relationship with Amanda, Leonard asked, "Sarek, you
stated that Amanda has chosen not to participate when it is
your time.  Should we refrain from speaking of this in her
presence?"

"The subject is not forbidden.  As my wife, she has full
knowledge of this time and is aware of the depth of the chaos
associated with it. Understandably, her human emotions are in
turmoil.  She is pleased that her son has chosen his life
partners, however, awareness of what Spock is going through
is most difficult for her."

"And for you, as well, I believe." Jim stated solemnly.

The briefest of smiles touched the face of the man. "Your
perception is to be commended.  It is true that where my son
is concerned, my emotional restraint is often in question."

"Where is he now?"  Leonard had tried to steer his
concentration away from him, but the images of Spock kept
creeping into his mind.  He hoped he was not suffering the
way he had earlier today.

"He is where he must be.  He will enter into a period of deep
meditation that will last throughout the night.  He will then
be prepared and escorted to the ceremony.  Please, do not
focus on him at this time. You will serve him best with rest. 
Your strength will need to be at its peak for what is to
come."

They had reached the main house.  Dinner was served and the
coming events were not discussed.  The conversation over
dinner, and afterwards over drinks, consisted primarily of
the new long-range expeditions that Starfleet had begun, and
Jim's influence in the expansion of the diplomatic
involvement.  A move that Sarek was in favor of since he had
pushed to see a greater concentration toward peaceful contact
by the Federation.
 
Sarek found that the more time he spent with these men, the
more respect he gained for them.  He had been aware of their
reputation for many years.  However, he had always viewed
Kirk with a cautious eye.  His exploits were known through
the universe to be, at times, reckless and driven by emotion. 
He was beginning to come to the conclusion that what most in
the diplomatic community viewed as recklessness was, in
actuality, aptitude.  'Interesting,' thought Sarek, 'this is
a human who thinks logically.'

Jim and Leonard retired for the evening.  Unknown to whether
it was fatigue from the events of the last days, or the
unexpectedly heady drink they had consumed after dinner, but
they both collapsed into bed and were able to fall asleep
quickly.

---

Jim opened his eyes in the deep orange light. He was
instantly alert.  Bones was asleep in his arms.   There was
someone in the room with them.

"James, Leonard," Sarek's strong but soft voice reached out
to them, "your attendants are waiting for you to join them. 
I am leaving to attend to Spock.  We will meet at the
appointed place."

"Yes," Jim rose and pulled a robe around him, "Sarek, thank
you."

"James, I seek no solicitations of gratitude.  It is I, who
am most appreciative for what is to come."

Jim smiled and nodded to the imperturbable man. 

Sarek nodded and left the room.

"You know, I could never get used to a place with no doors!" 
Leonard drawled, as he rose to get dressed.  They collected
the items they had brought. 

Jim noticed the tremor in Bones' hand as he reached for his
uniform.   He reached for the hand and held it, turning the
man toward him.  "Bones, are you ready for this?"

"Ready?  Yes, I am ready. I think I have been ready for this
for seven years.  But I gotta tell you, I'm scared to death!" 
He looked up to the gold flecked eyes, "You ready?"

"To have Spock and you a part of me?  Yes, my friend, very
ready."  He paused and said, "Bones, I know what we are going
to go through the next few days will be difficult, but I have
to keep reminding myself that it is nothing compared to what
Spock has already experienced."

"We'll be fine, Jim."  He knew it was so, this was the day
the three of them declared their allegiance to each other. 
The day their minds would be joined.  "Well, let's go get
married!"  He started to pull his hand from Jim's, but Jim
tightened his grip and pulled him close, pressing their lips
together.  For a moment they stood there with their arms
around each other, knowing this would be their last peaceful
moment alone for several days.
 
They were escorted to the dwelling where the mating would
take place.  They were disrobed and laid onto the platform
structure and covered with a silken cloth.  The only area
exposed at any time was the area that each attendant was
concentrating on at the moment.  They were bathed and dried. 
Then fragrant oil was massaged onto their skin from head to
toe.  It was very soothing and pleasant.  While lying on
their stomachs, fluid was pumped into their bodies and
extracted quickly.  Certainly not pleasant, but not as
traumatic as either man had feared.  Sarek was correct; they
were thoroughly, but gently, cleaned internally and
externally.  The last of the preparation involved a small
amount of foamy substance being pushed inside of each man's
rectum with a syringe.  They were then allowed to dress, each
choosing to wear the formal Starfleet uniform, and led out of
the structure.

Upon arriving at the ceremonial garden entrance they saw
Amanda, accompanied by several Vulcans with whom they were
unfamiliar.  They were directed to wait at the entrance to
the garden.  They could see the altar with the firepot, which
had been set ablaze.

At the sound of bells, the humans turned to watch the path
leading into the garden from the opposite side.  Jim flashed
a look toward McCoy.  The gong was sounded as the party
approached.  The Vulcan Reldai led the procession.  Once she
had taken her place, Spock entered the area.  He was in a
light ceremonial robe, and Sarek was at his side.  The sight
of him took the human's breath away.  He looked more relaxed
than they had seen him in days.  He was beautiful!  The last
of the processional party were two masked attendants carrying
the ahn'woon, the all too familiar instruments of death.  
Jim felt a weakness in his legs that he was unprepared for. 
It took all of his strength to keep from collapsing to his
knees at the sight.

The attendants motioned to the humans to join the wedding
party at the altar.  When they reached the front they took
their places beside Spock.  Jim stood to his right and
Leonard to his left.  Spock's hands were steepled in front of
him and where there should have been no hint of comprehension
in his eyes, the humans could see the glimmer of recognition. 
Yes, he was indeed aware of their presence.  Jim could feel
the pull of Spock's desire.  It was all he could do to
refrain from grabbing Spock and consuming him right there. 

The Vulcan Reldai took her place before them.  Her powerful
voice split the air.  "Falikal - As it has been from the time
of our ancestors we have come to recognize this joining of
the minds.  These that stand before me have come to declare
their intention to bond.  If any challenge to this joining is
to be made, let it be made now."

Jim held his breath.  When the gong was hit he visibly
jumped.  'No challenge!  Thank GOD,' he thought to himself. 
He flashed a look of relief out of the corner of his eye
toward Bones.  They were instructed to kneel at the altar.

The Reldai continued the ceremony in ancient Vulcan.  Leonard
glanced toward Spock at every opportunity, hoping to see
something reassuring in those black eyes, but the face had
become very stoic.

"James Kirk, you have consented to serve Spock cha'Sarek as
his bondmate.  If this is your desire, make your
declaration."

Jim rose and faced the Reldai, "I, James Tiberius Kirk, do
present myself to the family of Spock cha'Sarek as bondmate,
and companion, of their son.  It is my wish to be accepted as
a member of the honored house of Sarek cha'Skon and his aduna
T'Sai Amanda Grayson.  I have no other intention than to do
honor to this family and their ancestors.  I await this
acceptance."

"Sarek cha'Skon, is this man, James Tiberius Kirk, granted
status in your house?"

"We grant honored status to this man and welcome him as a
member of our house and as bondmate to our son."

"Leonard McCoy, you have chosen to serve Spock cha'Sarek as
sko'tan.  If this is your desire, make your declaration."

"I, Leonard McCoy, do present myself to the family of Spock
cha'Sarek as sko'tan and companion of their son.  It is my
wish to be accepted as a member of the honored house of Sarek
cha'Skon and his aduna T'sai Amanda Grayson.  I have no other
intention than to do honor to this family and their
ancestors.  I await this acceptance."

"Sarek cha'Skon, is this man, Leonard McCoy, granted status
in your house?"

"We grant honored status to this man and welcome him as a
member of our house and as sko'tan to our son."

She turned to Jim, "Give me your thoughts."  She reached out
a hand and located the meld points with the fine, long
fingers.  She then placed her other hand on Spock's face, her
fingers exploring until all of the meld points had been
located.
 
Jim felt sharpness in his mind, pulling, pushing, and
searching.  This was more than a meld, this was a probing of
every corner of his brain.  He recalled incidents long
forgotten, smells long since past, tastes from his childhood. 
He could feel the touch of his mother's hand against his
face, the smell of fresh mowed hay, the coolness of the arms
of the command chair on the Enterprise and a thousand other
forgotten sensations. 

He was instructed, through the meld, to extend the fingers of
his right hand.  He felt them contact two warm fingers of his
lover.  In a spark he was not alone, there was another here
with him.  The other part of his being.  He was filling and
being filled.  //Jim// this other being called to him. 
//Spock// his soul replied. 

Warmth flooded the parts of his being that he did not know
existed.  Light illuminated the deepest corners of his
thoughts.  //Spock, how have I survived so empty.  I didn't
know, I didn't know. // And the two minds found each other
soaring, entwining, gripping, and clinging as if they had,
for as long as time had existed, searched for the other. 
They were one.

Then there was another.  Fighting the invasion, calling out
for help.  The voice that was Spock called to him, //Leonard,
come to us.  We are here. //

The other voice gasped as if suffocating, //I can not find
you. //

The voice that was Jim spoke to him, //Bones, we're here, in
front of you, reach for us, Bones, we need you. //

The voice that was Spock, strong and rough, demanded
//Leonard, come be with me, come be with us. //

And the other was there.  Like heat, fire and light they were
together. There was no fear, no pain, there was only
belonging.

Then they felt the fire flow from the one named Spock.  The
part of their being that was holding them together.  The
needs, the want, the burning of the soul for those that now
resided in him.  They felt the fingers that held the link
withdraw, they did not know from which being they were
withdrawing, but a thread of the link remained.  A powerful
thread, very fine but with a strength that could not be
severed. 

Slowly, consciousness returned.   A garden, an altar, faces,
names.  Their thoughts cleared and they were standing.  Words
spoken in an ancient language that should not be understood,
but the meaning was clear through the bond. "Declarations
made and accepted, bonded in a life bond, inseparable. 
Parted but never parted, touching and always touched."

---

Jim's thoughts were clearing.  He could no longer hear the
thoughts from Bones, but he was still there.  Apart, but
still just a breath away.  Spock was still with him.  He
could feel the warring for control and the losing of the
conflict. He could hear Spock's need for him.

"Bones," Jim called to his friend as they reached the
dwelling.  The man was pale but the color was beginning to
return to his face.  "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I will be fine."  He shook his head in an attempt to
clear his thoughts.

Sarek was still with them. "Gentlemen, I will take my leave
of you.  I shall return periodically with food and drink." 
He turned and left the three of them together.

Leonard had gone to see about Spock, "Spock, can you hear
me?"

"Yes," Spock whispered roughly.  He ran his hand down the
face of the one before him.  His finger found the meld
points and he fell into the disordered mind flashing with
emotion.  He pulled the man to him and captured the cooler
mouth with his own.

Jim did not need the meld.  Their minds were entwined
together.  What Spock felt, what he needed, was a part of
him.  //Jim, I need to feel you against me.  Leonard, touch
me.  Feel my arousal//

Jim moved behind Spock, laid his hands on the shoulders and
pressed his groin against the rounded form beneath the robe. 
His own cock straining against the fabric of the uniform.
Jim could feel the rush of desire.  They all felt it.  He
knew that nothing would stop what was going to take place. 
They could see, as well as feel, the need to have their
bodies joined.

Leonard found the apparatus at the neck of the flowing robe
and unclasped it.  He reached beneath the robe and brought
his hands to the protruding hardness.  It was if he was
touching himself but the feeling was magnified through the
bond.  It was as if every nerve ending was seeking its own
release.  He gently ran his fingers up the silken steel
shaft and gently touched the tip.   His own cock began to
spasm and had to withdraw his fingers to keep from
ejaculating.  //My God, Spock.  Just touching you has me
about to cum.//

Leonard brushed the shoulders of the robe off and it fell to
the floor.  Spock reached for the front of the doctor's
jacket and ripped it apart.  In just moments he had the
doctor's clothes laying on the floor.  He ran his hands over
the chest and across the hard abdomen until he grazed the
head of the engorged shaft.  The sensation caused them both
to gasp.  Their breaths became short and heavy.

Jim rubbed his body against the nakedness of the body before
him.  He craved the feel of his flesh against the heated
mounds.  He removed his clothes and pressed his erection to
the hot crevice.  His lips and tongue tasted the
copper/cinnamon flavor of the moisture dampening the skin on
the neck and shoulders.  His tongue trailed a path to the
area behind the flushed ear.  To the area at the point where
the neck, back of the ear and hairline all converge.  An
area that he discovered was as sensitive to this man as a
brush against his prostate.  Touching his tongue to the spot
caused his own body to incinerate. The power of the link was
overloading his sensations.

Spock turned in his arms and captured his mouth.  Consuming
and consumed.  This sensation through the bond was as if
this was their first time together.  Each caress brought a
shiver to the other.  The heat from Spock's fingers branded
the humans under his touch.  His breath was ragged against
their lips, tasting and exploring his two lovers, each aware
of the pleasure that their individual tastes brought to this
man.  They experienced the hot passion and the need
crescendo.

Spock wrapped his arms around Jim and pulled him to the
platform.  Aggressively throwing them both down upon the
soft pad he began to thrust hard against the nakedness
underneath him.  He pulled one leg up and centered his cock
at the opening, pushing hard he entered the tightness,
engulfing his cock completely in one powerful thrust. 

Jim felt momentary panic at the knowledge that there would
be no preparation for this entry.  He felt the cock find his
opening and felt Spock push his way in.  The muscles did not
fight and there was slickness to the entry.  The substance
that had been inserted was for this purpose.  It had relaxed
and lubricated him so there was no pain.  He felt the
hardness pumping inside of him, but through the bond he also
felt the sensations of Spock's organ within the tightness. 
He experienced the cock rubbing within his own body.  His
scrotum filled with fluid and became tight and his cum
splashed between them.  He felt the hot ejaculate fill him
as Spock came. 

The cock was pulled from his body, and he watched as Spock
reached for Leonard, kneeling on the bed, knowing what Spock
wanted.  Spock captured his mouth roughly and explored it
with the heat of his tongue. Leonard turned in the arms and
went to his knees.  The invasion was immediate.  Spock
grabbed his hips and began pumping his full length into
Leonard.  It was only moments before his head rolled back
and he groaned loudly as he released himself into the form
beneath him.  He pulled out from the body and turned Leonard
over, spread the thighs and engulfed the hard cock in his
mouth.  Needing to taste this man, he began an oral assault.

//Fill me// he pleaded through the bond to Jim.  Jim moved
behind him and placed his hands on the mounds, spreading the
cheeks and exposing the center of the body that was craving
his attention.  Straddling the legs he moved to the opening
and pushed inside.  Matching his strokes to those of the
mouth on Bones, he pumped into the heat of the body.  With
the three of them in contact it was no longer distinguishable
as to who was penetrating whom.  For unknown hours they
continued until they felt the plak tow crest, then subside. 

Sweat had poured from them and mixed with the stickiness of
the semen released from them, all were in need of cleansing. 
Jim limped to the area behind the wall just in time to
release the fluid he had been filled with over and over
again.  He turned on the shower and climbed under the spray. 
There was some tenderness around his rib cage, he had
expected that, and the sides of his thighs, where Spock had
gripped him, were bruised.  There was a nasty cut underneath
his lip due to a forceful assault from Spock's mouth, but no
serious injuries, he noted.

Bones dashed into the area and rushed for the toilet with
decided urgency. Rising from the facility he stepped under
the spray with Jim.  He wet himself from head to toe and
stepped to the wall, placing his back against it he slid to
a seated position on the floor. 

Jim knelt down beside him and brushed the dark hair back
from his face.  "Bones, are you OK?"  There was no response. 
He placed his hands on either side of the face, "Bones!
Answer me, are you hurt?"

He raised his face to Jim and rested his head against the
wall, "No, I am not hurt.  We are going to have to change
those linens out there, though.  I'm not sure I made it in
time."

Jim smiled at the man, "Bones, we are going to have to
change the linens, anyway.  They're soaked in sweat!"  He
didn't mention the other variety of bodily fluids that the
linens had absorbed in the last hours, including the blood
he still tasted in his mouth. 

"The only complaint I have is that my cock feels like it has
been buffed down with sandpaper, but I brought along some
cream that should alleviate that problem.  What about you? 
Looks like your mouth is swollen."

"A cut on the inside of my lip, nothing major."

"I have something for that, too."  Bones stood up to soap
himself.  He was surprised that his ass was not torn up. 
"Amazing stuff, that Vulcan concoction, they should market
it!"

"I don't think I would like being this numb, normally, but
it is working great, so far.  I hope it holds out."  Jim had
finished up and grabbed a towel and dried himself.  He
wrapped it around his waist and pulled some fresh sheets
from the shelf.

He walked back to the main room.  Spock had knelt at the
firepot and was deep in meditation.  Jim discovered that
when Spock was meditating, the bond between them was quiet. 
They had only been bonded this morning, but he already
missed the link when it was silent.  It was as if part of
his soul was sleeping.  He replaced the soiled sheets on
the bed and looked for a recycler for the old ones.  There
was none so he pushed the sheets into a large receptacle by
the door. 

---

He took advantage of the fresh supply of ice, 'wonder when
that was brought in,' and poured himself and Bones some
liquid from a vessel.  It was some type of Vulcan juice, but
anything liquid to help them restore some of the fluid in
their bodies would help.  He took a sip and looked at the
glass, it was very potent.  'Juice, Hell!  This stuff could
knock Scotty on his ass!'

He took the drink to Bones in the shower.  "Careful," he
said as he handed the glass to him, "I've tasted some of
your hundred year old bourbon that's not this strong."

"Sounds like it's just exactly what I need," he said and
tossed the green liquid down his throat.  It burned all the
way down.  Burned was an understatement, this was more like
molten lava.  Obviously, there was a lot about Vulcans that
was myth.  Their reputation for not consuming alcoholic
beverages immediately jumped to mind. "Now that feels good!"

Jim could feel the link activating.  "Spock is coming out of
meditation."

"You can feel that?  From here?  I can hear both of your
thoughts when we are touching, but I do not feel anything
now."

"God, Bones.  This feels so good!  I never knew how alone I
felt before.  When we were bonded, it was if my mind had
just been sitting there waiting for his to find me. And
Bones, he feels the same.  Underneath this madness, he
feels the same."

He felt the strong arms wrap around him.  "Indeed I do," the
deep voice resonated in his ear.

Jim turned to meet the sparkling black eyes.  Spock was in a
period of reprieve from the fever.  His lips found the
cooler ones and caressed them with tenderness.  He tasted
wonderful, but his lips were dry and hot.  He needed to get
liquids into his body.  Jim worried that he was becoming
dehydrated.  So much so, that he forgot that Spock was
hearing his thoughts.

"I will first need to shower.  If you will prepare me
something to drink, I will be out shortly."  Then, without
words, Jim heard, //T'hy'la, my bright lover.  Yes, I hear
your thoughts, as you can hear mine.  Your thoughts are
blindingly bright to my mind, like a constant shower of
sparks that has shed light into the deepest reaches of my
soul. //

Bones thought Spock was speaking to Jim, but he realized he
was hearing their thoughts through the link.  He reasoned
that being this close he could hear their thoughts, and he
felt like an interloper.  Through the bond he could feel
what these two felt for each other.  There was something
very different with the bond between them.  As if they could
exist in a universe of their own.  As if given the
opportunity, they would disappear into a dimension of their
own.  He finished drying off and started past the two lovers.

He felt a strong hand grab his arm, turning him to face the
dark, clear eyes.  //And you// moving his arm to around the
waist of his other, //No, you are not my bright lover.  Your
thoughts have as many deep colors as a Rigelian rainbow. 
When my mind is once again clear, I am going to spend the
rest of our lives exploring each band of color in that
volatile mind. //

Bones realized that he had been so concerned with the health
of this man in the last days, that he had forgotten just how
very much he loved him. 

"Spock," he still preferred verbal communication, "I am glad
to be here with you.  I do love you," spoken softly, but
spoken aloud.  Their lips met briefly.

Leonard walked around the barrier and into the main room.  
When Spock emerged from the shower, Jim had prepared him a
glass of the drink and some of the fresh fruit.  Spock took
the glass and plate and sat on the edge of the platform.

It was wonderful to have Spock, their Spock, with them again. 
Even though aware that this was just a short reprieve, it
was still reassuring.   "Spock, I thought Vulcans didn't
drink alcohol.  You can't tell me that is just fruit juice!" 
Bones couldn't help ribbing Spock about this myth.

"Doctor, Vulcans do not normally consume alcoholic beverages,
alcohol is synthesized from another substance such as grain
or fruit, this is saya, the natural juice from a native
Vulcan plant."

"So, you are wanting me to believe that since this is not
synthesized, but natural, there is a difference?"

"Indeed there is."

"In a pig's eye!  It's still a potent, mind altering
substance that would put some of the stuff I drink to shame!"

"Indeed it is.  I have often wondered why you would partake
of such weakened substances."

"You mean the reason you do not drink alcohol is because it
is too weak?"

"It does seems like an illogic waste of time if the desired
effect is to alter the consciousness."
 
"Why you son-of-a-bitch!  I always thought you didn't drink
because you had some holier-than-thou thing against mood
altering substances!  Why didn't you tell me it was because
it was like drinking soda pop to you?"

"You never asked," Spock replied in a deep seductive voice.

---

The fever was returning.  Jim could feel it through the bond
and Bones noticed the increased flush on the body.  The time
of reprieve was over.  Throughout the next thirty-one hours,
there was no reprieve.  The humans had at various times,
when Spock was not claiming both of them, allowed the other
to collapse in total exhaustion for a few minutes of rest.
 
There was no concept of time.  Blurs of sensations.  Glasses
of cold liquid brought to the lips, but whose lips, unknown. 
Wet rags wiping a brow, wiping the stinging sweat from the
eyes.  The face of Sarek.  The sensation of wet cloths being
rubbed against their bodies.  Unrelenting need for orgasm. 
Searing pain against raw skin, but the body still needing
more.  Syringes of foam cooling inflamed tissues. The face
of Sarek.
    
The period that Spock entered into Kal-tai was very
difficult.  Spock had been correct about the mental strain
during this time.  All emotions that the Vulcan had dealt
with during the last years were channeled to the humans. 
They felt all of these emotions, magnified to the extreme as
if floodgates had opened against a centuries old trickle of
water.

They felt the years of intense desire.  Desire for them. 
The years he battled against this emotion using his logic as
a shield, and losing.  Every touch between them had seared
into his soul.  The disgraces of having his logic fail him
and needing to quell the desire alone, usually in his
quarters, occasionally elsewhere.  They felt the pull on
their groin as they saw the times he had hidden away and
allowed himself the fantasy.  The enviousness that arose
with the constant parade of willing bodies that filled
Jim's bed.  The intense jealousies he felt in witnessing
Jim use his sexuality to seduce the enemy many times over.
The fear that he would never be allowed to profess his
feelings for this dynamic individual that held his heart.
 
The madness of dealing with the illogical idealism of
Leonard.  A madness that would later turn to envy, then to
love.  The aching dread that he had missed any opportunity
to approach this man on those occasions that Leonard had
become romantically involved.  They felt the constant
hidden terror that harm would befall these men, and the
horror he dealt with when losing one or the other had
seemed a certainty.  The torment of the soul and finally,
the decision to allow his feelings to be exposed.  The
explosions of long dreamed of desires, their feel, their
touch, their scents had overwhelmed him.  Beyond fantasy. 
Ecstasy.  Then the pain of rejection.
 
Lust, love, confusion, they all manifested themselves
through the mental outpouring.  The blinding fear,
loneliness, disgrace and guilt that had been so overpowering
that it had driven him away from Starfleet and to the
comfort of the Kolinahr.  The humans felt all of this,
and their souls were detonated in round after round of
emotional and physical bombardment.

They felt the blazing heat radiating from the Vulcan sands,
as he was looking to the face of the Priestess, but only
seeing beyond.  The feeling of familiarity, of longing, at
the sight of the Vulcan sun flanked by the two glowing
planets.  Epitomizing Jim, with Leonard and himself at his
side.  There, under the sun, a flood of emotion, of love,
overtook him, and a realization of the truth.  There was
only one place in the span of the universe that he belonged,
and that was at the side of these men.

The initial encounters on the Enterprise and his
determination to refrain from involving these men
emotionally.  A determination that was ripped from him at
the first sight of them.  The desperate attempt to shut
down all emotions.  Failure, failure, he could not find
his center.  Slowly the strand of logic builds.  The
emotions are pushed away. 
  
His balance is intact and the emotions are cold.  The
coldness of space, the coldness of pure logic, the coldness
of a life without emotions floods through him.  Wanting,
needing more.  V'ger knows, logic is empty without the
warmth of touch.  Is there anything more?  So cold. 
Needing warmth.  Needing touch.  The hand in his.  Jim's
hand.  Warmth spreading throughout him.  Answers found. 
Logic is only the beginning.

The mental release debilitated the humans, much more than
the physical release.  At some point the images dimmed and
their companion fell into a deep meditative state.  The
bond became silent, but the images were still very present.
Jim dragged himself from the platform bed and into the
shower.  His skin was raw from the constant pounding
against it, but he paid no attention to the external
condition of his body.  His chest ached, his throat was
sore and his eyes felt raw.  He knew it was from the hours
that he had spent in bone racking sobs throughout the
ordeal.  He never understood how much pain he had
inflicted on this man in the years they had spent together.
Not until now.  He never understood how much this man
loved him.  Not until now.  Standing under the fine spray
his stomach retched.  Had he had anything in his stomach,
he would have vomited.   As it was, all he could do was
stand there with his fingers gripping the stone, trying to
restore some balance to his body, to his mind.

Bones downed another glass of the potent liquid.  He wanted
to have his mind cleansed from the scenes that had been
portrayed to him in the last day.  Despite the heat of the
Vulcan afternoon, his body was shaking uncontrollably.  He
looked at the shelf that held a fresh supply of food and
drink.  He knew that he had no appetite for anything solid. 
It had been more than a day since either Jim or himself had
consumed any food.  As a doctor he knew he should eat, as a
man he understood that that was an impossibility. 

He poured another glass of the liquid. He turned to see Jim
emerge from the shower.  He had a towel wrapped around him
and looked like hell.  "If you look that bad after a shower,
I don't even wanna know what I look like!"  He sat the empty
glass down and headed for the shower.

Jim perused the shelf of food, but unable to consider
eating, he poured a glass of clear liquid.  It was water,
not the native water that had a strong mineral taste; this
was the pure water he drank on earth.  Sarek had made sure
that this was supplied for the humans.  He had been aware
of Sarek's presence on several occasions during this time,
but there had not been time to dwell on that fact. He was
vaguely aware of Sarek attending to them.  He had wiped
them with cloths and given them drink.  He remembered the
relief when more of the foam had been inserted into his
sore body. It was not until this brief period of reprieve
that Jim recalled Sarek being present during some
particularly active sessions.

'Damn! There are just some things that do not need
witnessing!'  While Spock was meditating, the bond was
silent once more.  As much as he found he missed it the
last time he meditated, this time he was grateful for the
reprieve.  He poured a large glass of the water and took it
into the shower to Bones.

"Sarek has been here.  He has furnished us with some water. 
Drink this, you need it more than that concoction you were
downing out there."

"Sarek was here, WHEN?"

"He has been here several times over the last two days. 
When we were, well, otherwise occupied."

"Shit!  Flashbacks to my mother catching me and Allie
Anderson with my britches around my ankles!"  Leonard was
beginning to recall the face of Sarek, but whether it was
once or several times, he was unsure.  He seemed to
remember someone supporting his head as he drank. 
Everything else was quite fuzzy.

Jim leaned his side against the wall, "Bones, he said he
would be in and out.  He also said we are accepted as a
part of the family, and there are no secrets."

"Well, there certainly aren't any anymore!"

"No, Bones, that's a fact, between any of us!"

"Jim, are you OK?  I know a lot of that was rough,
especially some of the stuff directed at you.  You gonna be
able to get past his?"

Jim just shrugged, turned and walked away.

With the sheets changed and the humans showered, they lay
back down and attempted to rest, but each time sleep tried
to claim Jim, the memories would rush in.  In the more than
seven years that these men had known each other, it was only
the few weeks between the V'ger incident and the onset of
Spock's pon farr that had given them true peace. 

It seemed, through Spock's fevered haze, that the rest of
the relationship was a constant blur of desire, pain, lust,
torment and betrayal.

//And love, my T'hy'la.// The voice came from the bond,
//do not forget love.//  The calming, rich voice echoed in
Jim's brain. 

//Spock, oh god, Spock.  I have hurt you many times over. 
Sometimes out of duty, but more often out of ignorance. 
Please, forgive me. //

//There is nothing to forgive.  I watched as you found
pleasure in others, unable to express to you my feelings. //

//I love you, I always have, you know. //

//As I have you. //

---

Leonard was roused from a deep dreamless state by his own
moan.  The sensation of the heated mouth sucking against
his erection was delicious.  He raised and spread his knees
and the dark head settled between his thighs.  The mouth
released him and moved to the pouch, licking and sucking
the orbs. This was not the rush of hot unquenched desire,
at least not completely, but a pleasuring from deep caring. 
The warm moist tongue worked a path up his body. He was
feeling the sensation of the mouth and through the bond
tasted his own saltiness. The bond was much weaker.  He
could feel the sensations, but the hearing of his thoughts
was missing. Surprisingly, this made him sad.

Spock stared into the icy blue depths and traced the outline
of the face he had come to know so well.  His fingers
touched against the meld points.  Now that the fevered
state was waning, he could only feel the emotions and senses
from his consort.  Grateful that he no longer had to fear
intense waves of the fever, he wished to explore this tangle
of contradictions.  Falling into the rich colors of this
one's thoughts consisted of navigating a mass of swirling,
twisting, streams with many eddy's.  Between his soul and
actions lived an abyss of emotional turmoil.  As if being
swept down the current of these thoughts, Spock found his
mind being pulled over rapids and waterfalls, there were
whirlpools and backwashes of lust, anger, fear, and love,
all rushing forward toward a common goal of understanding.

//Amazing what turmoil your mind goes through to, usually,
find the most logical answers. //

//And you, my friend, start with logic, but channels of
thought seem to branch far beyond into deep-seated emotions. 
You have spent years letting your thoughts stop at the
centers of logic and have refrained from exploring further.// 

Leonard was enjoying his explorations of this ordered mind. 
He could feel the neat ordered lines connecting the centers
of information and reaction.  He could feel the pockets of
emotion that had held few connections to the conscious
thought.  However, he could feel the new strength of the
strands connecting these centers of emotions to the rest of
the being held in his arms.  Strands that, in more recent
times, had been spun into a tapestry by the conglomeration
of emotions involved with the feeling of love.  There was a
blindingly bright area to this ordered mind.  As if staring
into a quasar, it hurt to explore this area in the recessed
corner of his brain. He mentally avoided this area and began
to focus on the body in his arms.

Spock saw the desire of this man to be surrounded.  After
days of self-gratification, he wanted to please his lover. 
He raised and moved his legs to the outside of Leonard's
hips and centered his opening to the tip of the erection. 
Pushing against the head he impaled himself onto the shaft. 
The feeling within the meld was a feeling of being both the
invaded and the invader.   Each stroke that one pumped into
the other brought the rush of pleasure to both.  Leonard
stroked the cock against his abdomen as he pressed upward
into the tightness.  The heat began to gather in is thighs
as ejaculation was imminent.
 
McCoy thrust deeply into the tight channel and his body
jerked as he released his sperm inside his lover.  The dark
head of his lover arched back as his stream of hot liquid
was spewed between them, both gasping as wave after wave of
pleasure washed over them.  Through the bond the brightness
in his lover went nova.  The origin of Spock's blinding
mental light was Jim.
 
Spock leaned down and found the mouth of his consort.  Able
 now to gently suck and nip at the lips without the
ravishment of the last days.  The desire to continue was
still strong, but controllable.  He gently freed himself
from Leonard, his organ still erect, and lay down on his
stomach.  The intensity of the meld faded.

---

Leonard felt that the greatest crisis of the fever had
passed.  Spock was pulling out of the insanity that had
claimed him.  That had claimed them all.  He decided this
was a good time to try to see if any permanent damage had
been done to any of them. 

He remembered the last time he attempted to use a med-
scanner on Spock, in a conscious condition, it was flung
across the room.  He rolled to his side and whispered,
"Spock, I need to see if any of us are injured and I need
to use the scanner.  Will you be OK with that?"

The form beside him had his face buried in his folded arms,
but nodded his consent.

As he ran the scanner over Spock he was glad to see that
the bio readings were returning to normal.  They were still
somewhat elevated, but much closer to acceptable limits than
they had been on the transport four days ago. 

When completed with Spock he moved on to Jim, who was now
awake and sitting on the bed.  There was concern in those
eyes; he waited to see what the report was to be on Spock. 
When Leonard began to scan him, Jim waved off the exam with
his hand, "I'm fine, Bones.  How's Spock?  How are you?"

"Jim, I intend to check us all out, you included.  I would
appreciate it if you would not give me a hard time about
this.  I've been through quite enough recently without
having to fight with you."

Jim smiled and relented to the exam.

It seemed all recent injuries were limited to raw skin and
a few bruises and cuts.  This was a new scanner and had not
been programmed for the men he was using it on.  It showed
injuries, old injuries, that a programmed scanner would have
ignored.  'My god,' Bones thought to himself, 'it is so easy
to forget what these bodies have been through in the last
years!'  How many times had he patched these bodies?  A
variety of healed stab wounds, broken bones, ruptured
organs, burns, severed vessels, and a host of other
atrocities inflicted upon these beings over the years,
appeared on the screen.

He saw where there had been recent damage to this one's
hand.  Severed vessels that had now healed leaving only
faint scar tissue on the palm.  Scars that Jim refused to
have dissolved.  Faint reminders of how he had crushed the
porcelain cup in his hand the night he realized what was
important to him.

However, it was surprising to see that Jim had a cracked rib
that was several days, possibly a week old.  The bone was
not displaced and it was healing, but it should have hurt
like the devil with the recent activities. 

"Jim, when did you crack a rib?  It's been recent."

"It's nothing, Bones."

"It's not nothing!  You should have let me seal this, days
ago.  When did this happen?"

"On the transport."

"How?"

Jim looked over at Spock, then back to Bones.  "We do not
have to discuss this now, Bones.  I am fine."

Spock raised his head and turned to Jim.  He ran the back
of his hand down the side of the bronze face. "It seems,
Doctor, that I threw him into a bulkhead on the transport."
Jim was still not used to Spock being able to read his
thoughts.

"Jim, I am sorry.  I have been so concerned with my own
needs these last days, I had not realized you are hurt." 
The anguish in the black eyes ripped at the heart of both
humans.

"Spock, I am fine!" Jim leaned into the hand on his face. 
"I haven't given it much thought.  It hasn't been a
problem," he reassured the man next to him, taking a hand
and brushing the dark hair away from the forehead.

"Well, all in all, I would have to say we escaped any major
injuries.  Even the rib is almost healed.  Nothing to be
alarmed about."  Bones felt he was actually talking to
himself because the men on the bed had disappeared, as they
often did, into a world of their own.  He decided a shower
and a walk in the garden was in order. It would feel good
to leave this dwelling for a while.

Jim moved to a kneeling position beside Spock's outstretched
form.  Strong hands connected with his shoulders, massaging
and kneading the tight muscles.  Jim's hands worked magic up
and down the spine, working his way from the shoulders down
the hard back and finally contacting the round mounds.  His
tongue traced a trail from the neck to the top of the crease.

Jim increased the intensity of the assault on the heated
form, sucking and nipping the flesh with his lips, feeling
the heat of the arousal through the bond.  His fingers
traced the crease until they contacted the hot pouch.  He
could feel the rolling of the testicles as he gently
squeezed and massaged them. 

"Roll over," he whispered.

"T'hy'la, do you know what you are doing?  I am still under
the effects of the fever."

"I know exactly what I am doing.  I am going to burn this
damn fever from you."  He lay on top of the hot body and
his tongue began to trace the point of one delicate ear. 
He worked is way to the ultra sensitive spot on the long
neck.  He felt the body buck against him, rubbing their
erections together. 

Jim moved to tongue and suck each nipple, bring them to hard
nubs.  Taking time that had not been allowed these last
days, he savored the body.  His tongue moved to the abdomen
and continued down the line of fur that traced a path to
the base of the extremely sensitive cock. 

When the lips nipped at the base of the cock Jim felt Spock
loose control.  He knew that to fight for control was not
what this man needed, he needed to relinquish his desires
to the fever so that it would pass.  He engulfed the rod in
his mouth and teased the area under the ridges.  He felt
the hands move to his head and force his mouth up and down
the shaft.  Jim fought to remove his mouth from the cock. 
He had every intention of sustaining the arousal as long as
possible to burn the last embers of the fire from the
tortured mind. 

He grabbed Spock's wrists and held them by his side and
teased the swollen cock with the tip of his tongue.  He
pried apart the thighs with his knees and settled between
the legs.  Rising to a kneeling position while still
grasping the wrists he nuzzled his own erection into
Spock's scrotum.  He could feel how close this man was to
cuming.  As it had been these last days, he was ready for
a quick release.  Jim was equally determined this would not
be over quickly. 

Moving his knees further under Spock, he was able to tilt
the pelvis upward.  He maneuvered his cock to rub along the
crevice, stroking against the opening.  Spock's cock was
engorged and just inches from Jim's mouth.  All he would
need to do was bend slightly and he could take the organ
inside him.

Spock heard his own animalistic plea for release as it
escaped his lips.  Words would not form but the desire for
the mouth to contact his cock was very clear through the
bond. 

"Are you wanting me to suck you off, Spock?" Jim sneered,
passionately.  "You are so ready to cum.  You want to
explode in my mouth, don't you?  Well, my friend, it will
not be that easy."  He bent and touched the tip of his
tongue to the moisture that was forming.  The cock convulsed
at the contact but Jim pulled back. 

Spock wrenched a hand free from the tight grip around his
wrist and reached to grab his organ.  Jim allowed him one
stroke up and down the shaft before reclaiming the hand and
pulling it away.  He felt the full flame that was shining
from behind the black eyes.  "Yes, my love, we burn."

He centered his cock to the opening and pushed deeply inside
in one thrust.  The hips attempted to buck against him but
had no room to move with the tight position Jim held him in. 
Jim held his position inside the body and thrust only
occasionally, allowing the Vulcan to incinerate with desire. 

Finally, Jim's body could stand the surrounding heat no
longer and began to move inside the opening.  A few hard
strokes and his body began to convulse as he released his
fluid.

As Jim's body relaxed with the last wave, Spock freed his
hands and pulled away from the cock.  He grabbed Jim by the
shoulders and threw him to the bed on his stomach.  With
the speed of a cat he was mounting the now outstretched
form.  He pulled the hips up and sank his cock into the
tight orifice. He wrapped his arms around the broad chest
and lay across the back as he ravished the ass with his
cock and the back of the golden neck with his mouth. 
Grunting and groaning he humped against the body.  He
growled and pushed deep as he pounded into the heat and
climaxed.  Wave after wave of hot fluid filled Jim.

Gasping, Spock collapsed onto the body in his arms.  The
fire of the blood fever was cooled.  He pulled free of his
prey and began a gentle massage, with hands and lips, to
the area along the side of his lover's rib cage.

---

Standing under the spray, Leonard began to consider the
situation that had just occurred.  Jim and Spock had a way
of falling into each other that sealed everything else out.
Within the bond they fused together.  It was difficult to
find the thread where one started and the other stopped. 
It reminded him of the V'ger transformation. His thoughts
were reeling.

He finished his shower, pulled on his trousers and walked
outside as doubts regarding his purpose in this union began
to grow.

Leonard found a patch of soft groundcover and settled
himself in it.  After the activities over the last days,
it seemed a much better option than a stone bench.  He
stretched his legs out and sat there, propped up on his
elbows, letting the heat of the sun radiate against his
bare chest. He had slipped on trousers, but had forgone a
shirt.  His eyes closed and turned his face up to the
late-day sun.

Contemplating.  Was he here only because of some obligation
that Spock felt he was owed?  He knew from the meld that
Spock wanted him.  He knew there was love felt for him from
both of the men inside. He also knew that it was different
from what the two of them felt for each other.  They truly
did 'burn' in each other's presence. 

He heard steps behind him.  Expecting it to be Jim or
Spock, he turned to the person approaching and brought a
hand up to shield his eyes.  Sarek was standing beside him.
He started to stand, but the powerful voice said, "Please,
do not get up.  Do you mind if I join you?"

"Sarek, no, of course not."

Sarek gracefully sat next to Leonard on the ground.  "I
came to see if anything was required."

Bones could feel the heat creeping up his body.  He could
not look at this man.  This man had been witness to his
most private sexual experiences.  What small relationship
he had shared with this man in the past had been based on
respect.  Bones did not want to consider what this man must
think of him now. 

"No, I believe that we have everything we need at this time,
thank you." He looked ahead, over the horizon.

"Leonard," Sarek said.

McCoy visibly jumped when the man called his name.

Sarek continued, "Being joined to a human, I understand
your trepidation.  However, embarrassment toward me is a
wasted emotion.  I do not feel anything other than
gratitude for the actions of these last days.  The two of
you did what you must, to save my son's life.  For that, I
am most appreciative."

Bones turned to look at this man.  There was sincere
gratitude in his eyes.  "Thank you for that.  You're right,
I have always been," he paused looking for the right word,
"private, regarding such matters."

"What I have witnessed is not so far away from the
experiences that I have had.  The greatest difference is
the emotional bond the three of you have with each other. 
That is something that I have not experienced."  Sarek's
voice sounded almost wistful.

"But didn't you say that you have several consorts?"

"Yes Leonard, however, I am not," he briefly raised an
eyebrow and thoughtfully said, "in love, with my consorts.
They serve a purpose, nothing more.  Amanda is the
receptacle for any emotions I allow myself."
 
Bones was filled with a new admiration for this man. 
"Sarek, the emotional bond is because of that man in there.
That man is filled with the highest standards of respect,
loyalty and integrity.  I believe it is something he has
in common with his father."  The doubts he was having
regarding his part in this union were not addressed.  That
was something the three of them would have to work out.

Sarek, looking at McCoy, raised his eyebrows and cocked his
head at the statement. 

McCoy smiled at the man, he couldn't help himself.  "Do you
know how alike the two of you are?"

"I have never found the similarities."

"Isn't that often the way with parents and children?  The
more alike they are, the harder it is for each to see?"

A faint smile appeared on the face of the man, "Perhaps,
Leonard, perhaps."

Sarek asked, "Are you all well, physically?  I know you
are a physician, however, there may be some specific
treatments should you require a Vulcan healer."

"No, all injuries are superficial.  Nothing that will
require serious treatment.  Although, I feel that we
would be much worse off, if not for your care throughout
this."

Sarek nodded his understanding.  Satisfied that all was
well, he left.

---

Cleaned and fitted out in their dress uniforms, they were
ready to leave the cottage.  It would soon be time for the
reception to begin.

Jim surveyed the two men and remembered the night they had
all dressed in this same attire and gone to eat at the Lotus
Spot prior to the V'ger reception.  The bursting pride he
felt walking in with these men at his side paled compared to
the feeling he was experiencing this evening. 

Jim seemed positively edgy.  They were collecting their
things and placing the bags beside the door for them to be
delivered to the main house later. 

"Jim, what the hell is wrong with you?"  Bones had seen Jim
drop several items while trying to get his bag packed.  This
was not a clumsy man.  Something was definitely up.

Nervously, Jim pulled two small boxes from his bag, "Spock,
Bones, I know that giving of gifts is not a tradition
associated with Vulcan bonding.  However, before we left
Earth, I had these made for us." He presented each man with
a box.

Leonard took the first and carefully opened it.  Inside he
saw a small gold medallion hanging from a chain.   Imprinted
onto the medallion was an image of three stars each joined
to the other two with a band of golden rope.
 
He looked from the present to the man in front of him,
"Jim," he whispered, "God, Jim, it's beautiful.  The three
of us, bonded," he pulled the chain from the box and turned
it over in his hand.  On the back was engraved the term
'Tres Nunquam Dividuusum'.  His breath caught as he looked
to Jim, then to Spock.

Spock opened the box as he heard Leonard's comment.  He saw
the medallion with its emblem, its symbolism apparent.  This
man, this bright lover, who had given himself completely, had
presented him with a most precious symbol of their bond.  He
turned the small medallion over and he felt an unaccustomed
swell in his throat.  Written on the back, in ancient Earth
Latin,  'Three Never Parted'.
 
Jim took the chain from his hand and placed it over his head. 
"I love you, I always have. You complete me.  I never want
you to doubt that."

Spock stared into the bright gold eyes.

Jim turned to Bones, took the chain and slipped it over his
head.  "And you, you have been my confidant, my healer, my
friend, my lover.  Now you are a part of me, a part of my
soul."

"Damn, Jim.  Thank you.  Thank you, both, for making a place
for me." Yes, he had a place in this union.  Finally, he was
sure of that.  The three of them were three parts to a whole. 
Without him, Spock and Jim would lose themselves in each
other.

Jim reached under his collar and pulled a fine gold chain
from beneath his jacket.  An identical medallion was
suspended from the chain.

Jim noticed that Spock still had not spoken and his shields
had snapped into place. He realized that this might not have
been such a good idea.  He asked, "Spock, are you alright
with me giving you this?  I mean, have I broken any
directive?"

"No," he whispered.  "I am pleased.  I would, if you would
not mind, like to speak to the two of you regarding this,
and all that has transpired."

He walked to the platform bed, turned and sat down.  He
reached down and caressed the small medallion between his
thumb and fingers.  Looking back up he asked, "May I have
just a few minutes before we leave?"
 
Jim warily responded to the question, "Spock, you may have
as long as you like. What is it?"  

"I am unsure of how to adequately express my feelings,
verbally.  Even with our recent relationship, I find it
unfamiliar to speak of emotions.  However, at this time, I
feel the necessity to clarify these to you both.  I am
concerned that the mental release during this time has left
some aspects unexplained."

The humans were unsure of what was to come, but the
seriousness in the tone was not exactly reassuring.  They
waited in silence.

"I spent my life alone.  I always knew it would be so.  I
would not belong in the human world of my Mother; neither
did I find endorsement among my peers on Vulcan.  Starfleet
was a refuge for me.  I could be accepted for my capabilities
and it was assumed that, being Vulcan, I preferred a life of
privacy and solitude.  That was satisfactory for me."
 
"Then one day a young, brash, illogical, over-confident,
emotional being came into my life as my commanding officer
and disrupted all that I had sought to achieve.  From the
first moment I saw him he took my breath away.  Jim, in the
time that it takes to blink, you managed to tear down all of
the barriers that I had spent my life building.  I quickly
decided that this was completely illogical and I, foolishly,
thought that I could ignore these new emotions."

"However, within days another individual invaded my
territory.  He was to be our Chief Medical Officer, which
being in the science department, I would have to work with
consistently.  He managed to point out every flaw in my
ordered way of thinking and forced me to deal with these
most illogical, emotional, humans differently.  The two of
you, together, then proceeded to introduce me to anger,
loyalty, resentment, humor, envy, faith, fear and lust.  In
other words, gentlemen," he raised his eyebrow, "love."

"Leonard, you once told me that you felt sorry for me
because I could not feel this emotion of love. The ecstasy
and the misery associated with it.  What I could not tell
you, at that time, was that I was already well versed in
the pitfalls of that condition because I was already in
love with the two of you. I found that, where I could burn
up in the presence of Jim, you are my anchor."

"I am very proud, yes, I know, pride is an emotion that we
Vulcans do not readily admit to, however, I am proud to
present the two of you as my family this evening."

A short time later, leaving the cottage behind, they walked
the path leading to the main residence.  Jim walked between
the two men. 

Spock stopped and looked toward the horizon where the deep
orange sun of Vulcan hung just prior to setting.  The last
time he had contemplated this orange orb had been on the
sands of Gol.  Even in his ordered mind, it was hard to
believe that had just been over three months ago.  He looked
to Jim, and beside him, Leonard.  He touched his hand to the
spot where a small gold medallion rested beneath his uniform.
There was now order to his universe. 

"Yes, Spock, this is as it should be," Jim whispered to him.

"Yes, Jim, indeed it is."

As they turned to walk away together, Jim leaned to Bones
and said, smiling, "Bones, some day you just gotta tell us
about Allie Anderson and getting caught with your pants
down!"

---

The End