The BLTS Archive - Bad Timing (or Will Kill To Fuck) sixth in the Of Love & Logic series by Yvette (yvette@ecn.net.au) --- "If it helps, Lt. Tuvok, try to remember that I am a *hologram*, and not a real person." The Doctor's voice was dry. Since the fiasco of Vorik's Pon Farr, the Captain felt that measures should be in place to ensure that nothing that dangerous happened again. In a highly confidential directive to all Vulcans on board, the Captain ordered that any Vulcan who was approaching his time would have to consult with Voyager's Doctor. If everyone continued to pretend the situation didn't exist, the chances were high that eventually one of the Vulcans would enter Pon Farr and rape one of Voyager's crew members. There were four male Vulcans onboard Voyager. Vorik had already had his time. That left Sendek, Tarmin and Tuvok. Tarmin was unbonded when he had joined the Voyager crew and he had since begun a relationship with a woman in Earth Sciences and had bonded with her. Sendek and Tuvok were both bonded when they joined the crew, but each had begun other relationships since that time, Sendek with one of the Vulcan females onboard, and Tuvok with Harry Kim. Vorik would be a problem, unless he bonded with someone in the next seven years. Sendek would be fine, as long as he ensured that the Captain was aware of his approaching time and thus did not separate him from his Vulcan wife during that period. Tarmin was due in just over a year, but his wife was from Alpha Centauri. A humanoid, but physically considerably stronger than most human males, she would be able to withstand the rigours of a Vulcan bonding without difficulty. Harry Kim was a concern, however. Vulcan/Human pairings were not uncommon, and there was help available on Vulcan. Discreet counselling was provided for the non-Vulcan partner, who was assisted both mentally and physically. Onboard Voyager there were no such facilities, and the Doctor was struggling to improvise. Sendek, Tarmin and Vorik had all sat through this embarrassing interview, and Tuvok was proving no less mortified than the others at having to reveal personal details about his sex life. "And would you say that you penetrate Ensign Kim more frequently than he penetrates you, Lieutenant?" Tuvok raised an eyebrow grimly. He was getting steadily more annoyed at the intrusive questions and it was beginning to show. It was also clear that he wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for the direct order from the Captain. "I believe you have sufficient information, Doctor. These questions serve no purpose." There was no doubt at all that the Doctor was getting very annoyed. "Lieutenant, I am programmed to provide the best medical care possible. The more information I have, the more readily I can assist you." However, Tuvok had reached the limits of his patience. "I have given you all the information I am going to, Doctor." The Doctor rolled his eyes in frustration and sighed noisily. He then turned the screen around so that Tuvok could read from it. "Very well. I believe the plan I have devised should help you both through your time, Lt. Tuvok, although it would be more helpful if we had a more exact date". Tuvok studied the timetable impassively, and replied, "My cycles have always been erratic. I believe this will be satisfactory." The Doctor was annoyed, as usual. "Yes, but..." Tuvok stood and interrupted him. "Thank you for your time, Doctor. Good day." The Vulcan turned and strode out of Sickbay, the haste with which he left giving some indication of the distaste he felt for the interview. --- The Doctor had entered into full lecture mode and showed no signs of slowing down. He appreciated having a captive audience in the Captain and the First Officer, the unhelpful attitudes of the four Vulcans in question still rankling. The couple under consideration was Tuvok and Harry Kim. "The first and the second Stages of the Pon Farr are not dangerous. The urge to mate simply begins to build from this point. Ultimately, this urge completely overwhelms every other thought, and every other consideration. The first symptoms are a loss of appetite and sleeplessness, as the Vulcan psyche puts mating ahead of eating and sleeping." "Towards the end of the second Stage, and throughout the third Stage, mental reasoning begins to deteriorate, until logic and higher reasoning are completely suppressed by the drive to mate." "In the fourth Stage - the Vulcan *must* mate, fight or die. Vulcans can and will do *anything* to achieve penetration of their mate. This Stage can last for up to twenty hours." Chakotay looked a little concerned at that report. "So, from the sounds of it, the best thing we can do would be to just, well, let them get on with it?" The Doctor disagreed. "Absolutely not, Commander. Even in the first Stages of the Pon Farr, Tuvok's mental processes are attacked by this primal urge to mate. Unless we are careful, Mr. Kim will be worn out physically and mentally before the real effort is even required. The final Stage is the most important of all - Mr. Kim will need an immense amount of physical and mental stamina in order to provide the Lieutenant with what he needs." The Captain nodded thoughtfully. "So, we keep Tuvok and Harry apart until you judge the time to be right, and then we let things go from there?" The Doctor nodded. "Precisely." Chakotay was still concerned. "This leaves us at the same point we began. How are we to ensure that Harry isn't hurt later on? If we separate Harry and Tuvok, isn't it more likely that he would attack Harry in a frenzy?" Chakotay was embarrassed by the bluntness of the question, but it had to be asked. The Doctor looked smug. "I've already thought of that, Commander. I still think that we need to keep Mr. Kim away from the Lieutenant until Tuvok nears the end of the second Stage. I'll keep Tuvok sedated during that time, and we can combine the drugs with some serious meditation. Then, we'll allow him access to Mr. Kim, only we'll restrain him for Stage three. That way, Mr. Kim can take care of Tuvok's needs without wearing himself out, and they can bond mentally at the same time." "Restrain him?" Chakotay was horrified at the thought. "He's not an animal, Doctor! Is it really necessary to tie him down?" "Really, Commander - I have to think of Ensign Kim's safety." The Doctor was quickly losing patience. Why couldn't the senior officers for once assume that he knew what he was talking about? "Tuvok is several times stronger than Mr. Kim at his fittest. He could do some real damage." Captain Janeway jumped in before Chakotay could argue the point. "Yes, very well, Doctor - and Stage Four?" The Doctor switched on the monitor to illustrate his next point. For a brief second the Captain felt immensely thankful that he hadn't thought to include diagrams in his presentation. "We release Tuvok from his bonds, and he fulfills his primal instincts. His most pressing needs will have been assuaged, the bond will be present, and Mr. Kim will not need to go through hours of constant physical intimacy to reach that point." The Captain shook her head, ruefully. "There's just one other minor consideration, Doctor. Tuvok is hardly going to be thrilled at having his Pon Farr co-ordinated from Sick Bay. It's bad enough for him that we even know it's happening." "I'll be able to monitor both Lt. Tuvok's and Ensign Kim's physical condition via the medical scanners, and Tuvok has agreed to audio monitoring of their quarters. Visual would be better, of course..." The Doctor's voice trailed off hopefully, waiting for support from the Captain on this issue. It was not forthcoming. He continued, "Our biggest problem is that Tuvok's time could come anywhere from Stardate 50471and Stardate 50865. There is really no way of knowing until the symptoms begin." "But that's nearly four months!" The Captain was understandably concerned. It would be like having a time bomb on the Bridge, never knowing when it was likely to go off. "Had Mr. Tuvok been more co-operative, I believe I could have given you a far more accurate estimate." The Doctor's annoyance was clear. Captain Janeway didn't look altogether surprised to hear this. She shared a small smile with her First Officer, and asked the Doctor, "Perhaps there is another way of getting the information out of Tuvok - myself, or the Commander could talk to him." The Doctor greeted this offer with alacrity, and picked up a data PADD from the desk. "Excellent. The onset of the Pon Farr depends very much on the sexual activity of the subject in the months prior to his time. I just need to know how often Lt. Tuvok engages in sexual intercourse on a weekly basis, and how often penetration is achieved, and if you could ask him to estimate the time on average between the onset of sexual intercourse and ejaculation..." The Captain held up a hand to interrupt. "On the other hand, Doctor, I think the estimate you've given us will be satisfactory." --- When Harry Kim returned to his quarters at the end of his shift, it was to find his lover crouching down beside their bed, fitting what looked to be restraints to one corner of it. A quick glance took in the restraints already fitted to the other three corners of the bed, and Harry's pulse sped up at the sight. Tuvok glanced up at him once, noting the intense gaze and parted lips, and raised one eyebrow sardonically before returning to his previous task. Harry grinned, and sat on the bed, waiting for Tuvok to finish. It didn't take long. "Something you want to talk to me about, Tuvok?" The grin on Harry's face was apparent in the question. Tuvok finished his task, and rose. "These are for when my time comes. I will need to be restrained for the early stages and this type of restraint is the most suitable." Harry could see that Tuvok was uncomfortable talking about this. It was the same every time the subject of his Pon Farr arose. The Ensign got off the bed and walked over to Tuvok, running one hand languidly over his chest as he kissed him. Tuvok's hand automatically went to the back of Harry's head to hold him in place as the kiss deepened. It was Tuvok who broke it off, however, saying, "I need to check that these are at the appropriate angle." He handed the instrument in his hand to Harry, and lay on the bed. Harry watched as Tuvok placed first his ankles, and then his wrists, in each of the restraints, each of which clicked into placed when downward pressure was exerted. The sight of Tuvok in such a position had a noticeable effect on Harry, whose cock began to harden immediately. They had only ever used soft material for restraints in sex play before, but the vision of Tuvok, his powerfully muscled body completely helpless to the whims of his lover was having a strong effect on his body. Tuvok didn't even notice Harry's expression as he tested each restraint. His left arm was at a slightly uncomfortable angle, and Tuvok knew that if he were to pull with all of his might against the restraint, he would most likely break his arm or collar bone. "The angle is wrong for this one - it needs to be tilted further towards the ceiling." Tuvok nodded at his left arm, and Harry knelt down to adjust the restraint. Some flexing of muscles, further adjustment, and the angle was judged to be 'satisfactory'. Instead of releasing Tuvok, however, Harry put the instrument away and sat down on the bed beside Tuvok with a smile that could only be described as a leer. Tuvok could not have felt less like sex if he'd tried. The Pon Farr was a deeply private and shameful time for all male Vulcans, and the very thought of having to fit restraints so that he wouldn't rape his bondmate was somewhat ignominious. Harry had reached for Tuvok, only to pull back when he realised that Tuvok wasn't feeling the same arousal he was. He rolled his eyes in frustration, saying, "Tuvok - there is *nothing* to be ashamed of! Human females menstruate once a month for God's sake! Bolian males shed their *entire* skin twice a year! The Pon Farr is a normal, natural part of Vulcan life and I just wish you would stop treating it as something to be embarrassed about!" Harry said, clearly baffled. "I would prefer to have this conversation without the restraints." Tuvok's voice was glacial, and Harry flushed as he quickly released the Vulcan. "I'm sorry, Tuvok - it's just kind of a turn on to see you like that." Harry smiled as he recalled a two day shore leave recently when Tuvok had been similarly restrained. Tuvok had no trouble following Harry's thoughts, and his demeanor relaxed somewhat. He sat cross legged on the bed. "You do not understand what it is for a Vulcan to lose control, Harry. We spend our entire lives following the dictates of logic, and non-emotionalism, only to be at the mercy of violent emotions every seven years. It is... extremely unsettling." Harry nodded sympathetically. "But I'll be here with you. No-one else is going to see you and our bond will be that much stronger when it's all over." Tuvok's head was bowed, his eyes closed as he spoke. "It is more than that. My defenses will be completely shattered - you may find it... disturbing." Harry frowned. "I really don't know why you're so worried, Tuvok." The Vulcan's features returned to their normal implacable state as he raised his head to look at Harry. He replied stiffly, "Worry is an illogical waste of time. I merely wish to be certain that you are fully prepared." Harry's reply was lost as the door chime sounded at that moment. It was Chakotay, wanting to talk to Tuvok about the Security roster, and Harry remained in the bedroom while the two men talked. He glanced down at the restraints resignedly - from the looks of things, it would be some time before Tuvok would be comfortable making love in their bed while the restraints were there. Harry thought for a moment, planning the evening ahead. If he was lucky, he might catch Tuvok on the couch later... --- Tuvok pulled against the restraints, his entire body screaming out in frustration. His cock felt like it had been hard forever and every muscle in his body was taut with unfulfilled sexual desire. The wave of need swept over him again, as he began to beg for his bondmate to finish him. His voice rose in volume as the sound of his own pleading echoed throughout the tiny room. Harry's face looked down on him from above, his expression one of disgust as he watched the Vulcan begging for release... Tuvok came awake with a gasp. The dream had been very real and was all the more terrifying for it being the first nightmare he had experienced in more than half his lifetime. "Tuvok?" The Vulcan turned to look at his worried lover. He knew that the dream was unrealistic - that Harry would never be disgusted with him for showing emotion, but decades of training could not be ignored. As Harry watched him with concern, Tuvok reached out to cup his lover's jaw in one hand and kissed the mouth so temptingly near his own. The surge of arousal and adrenaline from the dream were put to good use as Tuvok pushed Harry back on the bed, his tongue never leaving the younger man's mouth. He was already hard and not in the mood for foreplay, but Harry had just awoken from a fairly deep sleep and wasn't quite prepared for the rather forceful approach from his normally reticent lover. Tuvok's hands roamed Harry's body purposefully as he deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue deep into Harry's mouth. The Vulcan grabbed Harry's hand and wrapped it around his own hot and leaking cock, pulling Harry into the rhythm he needed. It was over in minutes. Tuvok's mouth left Harry's and he buried his face in Harry's neck as he thrust hard against the younger man and came. Tuvok relaxed against Harry for a moment, before sitting up and reaching for the clean cloth that was beside the bed. As he cleaned himself and Harry it was impossible to ignore the fact that Harry hadn't come - was not even hard, in fact. Tuvok closed his eyes briefly, battling with inner demons, and then sighed as he turned to look at his bemused lover. "I apologise, Harry - I was not..." His sentence trailed off in a most unusual fashion, as Tuvok cupped Harry's lax penis and began stroking it. Harry's hand stopped his movements. "Tuvok - this isn't about keeping score. You needed me and I'm glad I was here. Now let's get some sleep, huh?" Tuvok lay down beside Harry, and the younger man curled up into his arms as always. The Vulcan assumed he would have trouble getting back to sleep, but it was only moments before both men were deep in slumber once again. --- It was of considerable gratification to the Doctor to find one person who was not adverse to discussing Tuvok's Pon Farr frankly. Harry Kim was always a polite and obedient patient, but the Doctor had expected some embarrassment due to the Ensign's youth. Far from it. Harry wanted to be as prepared as possible for Tuvok's Pon Farr, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to help Tuvok through his time, even if it meant discussing his sex life with the ship's Doctor. "So I could program the hypo to provide anal lubrication much as it would provide anesthetic or a healing salve?" That would make things easier, certainly. The Doctor nodded. "I've reprogrammed the replicator in your quarters to provide a premixed solution of anesthetic and your regular lubricant." For the first time in the interview, Harry was taken aback. "You know what kind of lubricant we use?" The Doctor was surprised at the question. "Of course, Mr. Kim. As ship's Doctor I have access to replicator records and I required that information in order to provide the best medical care for both yourself and Lt. Tuvok during his time." Harry nodded dumbly, not sure whether to be annoyed at the intrusion, or relieved at the Doctor's obvious preparedness. The subject dealt with, the Doctor was keen to continue. "If the Lieutenant is confined to your quarters for the early Stages, I can have the computer release the necessary compounds into the air supply in there. That way I can keep him sedated without actually having to be in the room with him." Harry grinned in sympathy. Tuvok would *not* be impressed if the Doctor was an interested bystander during his Pon Farr. "So then I can join Tuvok?" "Yes. I'll be monitoring the situation from sickbay, so if the Lieutenant injures you I will be able to do a site to site transport." Harry looked annoyed at the suggestion. "Tuvok would never hurt me. We'll be fine, Doctor." And before the Doctor could argue the point, the Ensign was gone. --- Less than two months after his embarrassing interview with the Doctor, Tuvok began to feel the familiar symptoms of the Pon Farr. At first it was a quick flush of arousal in the middle of a shift on the Bridge, and images of he and Harry in intimate circumstances came unbidden to his mind. Vulcans do not daydream, and Tuvok was in no doubt from that moment that his cycle had begun. The next few days would be spent ensuring iron control over his mind and body, until the time came for him to be sequestered in his quarters during the rest of Stage One and Two. Tuvok glanced up from his panel, and saw his lover watching him, a concerned look on his face. Harry also looked flushed, and when Tuvok reached out mentally, he realised that he was affecting Harry as well as himself. This would be difficult. A Vulcan female would have shored up her defenses against Tuvok's mental assault, assisting her mate in maintaining his controls. He would have been able to draw from her strength when necessary - but Harry was a whole different picture. He had no defenses, his mind, his soul and his very consciousness were an open book to his Vulcan lover. And his proximity wouldn't help things, either. Without that extra control, the intense Plak Tow would be upon him within a matter of hours, and not days, leaving him far less time to prepare mentally. One glance at Tuvok and Harry had understood what was happening. Tuvok looked exactly the same as always, but Harry could feel the unusual turmoil through their link. In itself, this was strange. Tuvok would normally block any mental communication that would distract Harry, which meant that he was unable to do so in this instance. There was a chance that Tuvok might be able to control himself during the early Stages and continue his duties, but Harry had no way of controlling his own body's response to Tuvok's pull, and it was unlikely he would be able to work a full day's shift sporting an erection and fighting an urgent desire to fuck his lover. A quick glance at the chronometer confirmed that they were still more than an hour away from the lunch break, and Harry was loathe to put Tuvok in the spotlight by drawing attention to the problem. Hopefully he could hang on until lunch, at least. Within twenty minutes Harry knew he would have to get off the Bridge long before the morning shift ended. It took every ounce of control he had not to draw attention to himself and at the moment, it seemed to be working. Thankful once again for his position on the Bridge which meant that everyone's back was to him, Harry keyed in a quick note and sent it to Chakotay's panel. The First Officer read the message as it appeared on his screen, keyed in a note of his own, and sent it on to the Captain. The Captain gave not the slightest indication that anything unusual was happening, simply keying in her approval to Chakotay's request. Minutes later, Ensign Bennett arrived on the Bridge and immediately went to relieve Harry. As she got to the Ops panel, Chakotay rose from his chair and walked to the turbo lift, saying "You're with me, Ensign Kim," as he did so. The two men were inside the turbolift and the doors closed before the rest of the Bridge even noticed what was happening. Tom turned around in the Pilot's seat to raise his eyebrows in query to Ensign Bennett who simply shrugged her shoulders in equal bewilderment at the quick personnel change. A sudden suspicion made Tom glance over at the Security station, only to see Tuvok manning it with the same impassive expression he always wore. No help there. The Captain also ignored Tom's silent query, and the Pilot shrugged and turned back to his panel. In the Turbolift, a very red-faced Harry Kim was silently wondering why he had ever thought a relationship with a Vulcan would be a painless experience. Chakotay tactfully ignored Harry's bulging erection as the Ensign confided his concern about their original plan. "It's my proximity, I think, Commander. The closer I am to Tuvok, the harder it is for him to maintain his controls. If I'm near him, it's just going to be that much more painful for him. I need to be as far away as possible." Chakotay looked thoughtful. "Well, I suppose if you spent some time down in the shuttle bays..." Harry interrupted impatiently. "I meant off the ship, Commander. I could take a shuttle and just fly alongside Voyager, 10,000 feet or less, even. There wouldn't be any danger if I was that close to Voyager, but the distance could make a big difference to Tuvok." Chakotay thought for a moment. "I wouldn't want you out there on your own, Harry, we don't know for sure how much of an effect Tuvok will have on you and I don't want to have you incapable of flying home when you're needed. Let me think about it for a while and I'll get back to you on it." Harry nodded, and forced himself not to sprint through the open doors of the turbolift and get to his quarters. This was going to be a very long day. --- When he reached his quarters, Harry stripped off his uniform as quickly as possible, and practically threw himself down on the neatly made bed. One hand immediately curled itself around his aching cock and he began the familiar rhythmic stroking that would bring him relief. He could feel the pull of Tuvok's mind from here, and the struggle his lover was having in controlling the intense urge. Harry figured if he could relieve his own discomfort quickly, he could concentrate on blocking Tuvok as the Vulcan had taught him. He was mistaken. Even during his very first Pon Farr, Tuvok hadn't reached this critical point so quickly. The Vulcan was struggling to maintain a bland facade, and not give in to the immense pull of the blood fever. Harry's activities were not helping the situation any. Stripped of his usual controls, Tuvok was unable to help seeing and feeling everything Harry was doing in their quarters, and when the Ensign neared orgasm, it took every effort Tuvok had not to sprint for the turbolift, and get to his mate. Harry's hand was moving faster over his cock, rougher strokes that were bringing him closer and closer to orgasm. There was a familiar frown of concentration on his face, only no-one was there to see it. His muscles clenched as the climax grabbed him by the balls and his hand moved fast, working his cock even while it was shooting cum all over his stomach and chest. He sunk back on the bed, getting his breath back, before heading for the shower. On the Bridge, Harry's lover was standing in his usual position, face impassive as always, but he had missed the last two commands the Captain had made. Aware that the Security Chief's unusual behaviour was getting the attention of the Bridge crew, Captain Janeway walked over to the security station and quietly suggested that Tuvok retire to his quarters 'until further notice'. They both knew that the Captain was relieving him of duty until his Pon Farr had ended, and with his controls shot this early in the piece, Tuvok wasted no time getting off the Bridge. --- Harry was dressing when the call came in from Chakotay. "Ensign Kim, report to main Shuttle Bay for inactive duty immediately." 'Inactive duty', Harry grimaced - Chakotay's way of telling him he wouldn't be called upon to do anything but cope with Tuvok's Pon Farr. Chakotay had said 'immediately', so there was no chance to change the outfit he'd been putting on - a pair of drawstring pants and a matching top that came down to well below his groin. Harry shrugged to himself as he left his quarters. If he was going to spend the next few hours with a constant hard-on, at least he could be a little more comfortable with it. Not to mention that Starfleet uniforms did nothing to hide an erection. --- His exit was extremely timely. Tuvok arrived at their quarters only moments after Harry had left, his entire being focused on maintaining some semblance of control over his urges for the next few hours. The shields he maintained between himself and Harry as a matter of course were down for the duration. There was no point attempting to reinstate them. A Vulcan female would have her own mental shields, which could withstand a good amount of mental battering from a bondmate - but Tuvok was as much a victim to Harry's every thought now as Harry was to his. As soon as he was inside their quarters, Tuvok instituted the security lockout he had programmed months ago. No-one but Harry would be able to enter the room, whether by the door or by transporter. Tuvok was taking no chances. Some well-meaning crew member might attempt to enter the room when he was in the blood fever, and if that happened he was liable to kill them for not being his bondmate. The fever was that intense - and that dangerous. The Vulcan stripped off his uniform, showered and dressed in a thin meditation robe. He would attempt to reach the level of meditation needed to regain control of his urges. The compounds the Doctor was even now releasing into the cabin's air supply would assist, but the main effort would be his. --- When Harry arrived in the main Shuttle Bay, he found Tom and B'Elanna down there already, apparently planning on coming with him. Tom grinned as he took in Harry's change of outfit. B'Elanna had no idea why she'd been called away from Engineering to go with Tom and Harry, but she'd been after Chakotay for days to do a shake-down cruise of this particular shuttlecraft after it had been upgraded with some new components. Technically, the shuttle should work without a problem, but the engineer wanted to be sure. She'd be along to see how things worked, and Tom would be there to pilot the shuttle and put it through some maneuvers. God only knew what Harry was doing there - and not in uniform, either. "Hey, Starfleet." She gave him a quick glance, noting his flushed features, before boarding the shuttle. As the two men boarded behind her, she began the pre-flight check. Tom sat in the other Pilot's seat, and Harry went into the tiny sitting room off the main area and lay down on the couch. The shuttle's departure from Voyager went smoothly, as did the first hours of the cruise. Harry rested for the most part, and tried to ignore the ever increasing images that continued to flow through his mind. At first, relaxation had been quite simple, but as the cruise wore on it was clear that the first Stages of the Pon Farr had transpired a lot quicker than was planned. Despite his distance from Tuvok, Harry could see, and hear and feel the images his lover was sending as easily as if they were physically touching. Distantly, Harry noted the standard tests B'Elanna and Tom were running on the shuttle, but the majority of his brain was trying hard to cope with the immense and even painful pull from his bond mate. The images Tuvok was bringing to mind were transmitting themselves clearly and forcefully to Harry, and Harry was trying hard not to succumb to their lure. For the past hour, the images had started coming thick and fast, and Harry was fighting to keep calm, to maintain control. He ran simulations through his mind, mentally reconfigured the Ops panel, even tried recalling old Starfleet Academy training exercises. But every image he bought forth was overwhelmed by the powerful surge of his bond-mate's thoughts, and Harry was very quickly hard and throbbing. His cock ached, his balls ached - he wanted to be with Tuvok so badly it required every control he had not to go into the cockpit and make Tom and B'Elanna return to Voyager. For Tom and B'Elanna, the first few hours of their shakedown cruise were relatively uneventful. A small plasma relay problem was fixed immediately, and after Tom had quickly explained Harry's dilemma, the two had virtually forgotten he was even there. There was no sound coming from the small sitting room, and Tom had checked on his friend once, to find Harry restless but quite okay. When the shuttlecraft flew through a dense dust cloud, Tom and B'Elanna were suddenly busy. Problems that hadn't appeared before did so now, and the Engineer and the Pilot worked feverishly to combat the problems. Harry was forgotten for the next couple of hours, as Voyager monitored the shuttle's progress - both through the cloud, and through the endless list of minor repairs that had to be done. The shuttle had flown to a distance of ten thousand metres off the port bow, where the dust cloud was less thick. They had almost completed all the repairs they could do in space, when both Lieutenants heard a low moan from the sitting room. Tom went in to check on Harry, but it was a different story this time. Harry was clearly in extremis, sweating profusely, flushed and panting lightly. "What's happening, Harry?" Tom knelt down beside the couch, feeling helpless. "Tuvok - he needs me there," Harry gasped out. He looked to be in pain, except for the erection that was straining even against the loose pants he was wearing. Tom commed sickbay direct - not wanting the entire ship to know Harry and Tuvok's business. Harry's prognosis was confirmed by the Doctor. The sedatives had worked for a time, but would only be harmful if continually pumped into his system. It was time for Harry to return to the ship - immediately. "Okay, Doc - I'll transport Harry directly to his quarters. Stand by." It took less than two minutes to ascertain that the transporter would not be able to get a complete lock on Harry due to the dust cloud's interference. Another four minutes passed before Tom confirmed with his own eyes the evidence that the most recent tiny glitches in the shuttle's engines meant that it wouldn't be able to dock on Voyager any time soon. Onboard Voyager, only the Captain, Chakotay and the Doctor were aware of the situation. Ship's operations continued as always - no-one particularly concerned about the shuttle's long journey back to Voyager because no-one was aware of any pressing need for the shuttle to be back on board. --- Alone in the quarters he shared with Harry, Tuvok lay on top of the bed, dressed only in a thin meditation robe. His periods of lucidity were getting shorter, and further apart. He needed Harry *now*. Before the frenzy could take over his mind completely, Tuvok placed his ankles and wrists in the specially fitted restraints, and listened to each one clicking shut. The Doctor had filled Tuvok in on the problems the shuttle was having reaching Voyager, and Tuvok was doing his very best to maintain control. But it was fast slipping. --- Tom was worried about Harry's condition. He and B'Elanna had done what they could to fix the transporter controls, but the shuttle would need to be a lot closer to Voyager before they could try transporting Harry again. And with the damage that was showing up on the viewscreens, it was clear that it could take some time before the shuttle got close enough. Tom piloted the shuttle for the first hour, then handed over to B'Elanna. Both Lieutenants knew how embarrassed Harry would be to have B'Elanna seeing him like this, and as much as Tom wanted to Pilot the shuttle himself, he knew that B'Elanna was more than capable of getting them back to Voyager in one piece. And Harry needed him now. The Ensign was in a bad way. Tom knelt down on the floor beside the low couch. "Harry - we'll be through soon, buddy - just hold on, okay?" Harry turned to look at his friend, but the expression in his eyes was distant and tortured. "He needs me, Tom." "I know Harry, and you'll be there soon, I promise." "No - he needs my control, Tom," Harry panted out agonizingly, trying to communicate the problem. "He needs me to be calm - for both of us. If I go with the images he's sending me, it just makes it more painful." Tom Paris' mind went a complete blank for a second as he tried to work out what the hell he was supposed to do. Take Harry's mind off it. He could do that. Okay, Tom - think. Non-sexy thoughts... "We can do this, Harry - just think ice, Harry - think a nice, big block of ice, freezing cold." Harry groaned softly, an image coming unbidden to his mind. His own hand, trailing a piece of ice over Tuvok's body, the hot, Vulcan temperature almost sizzling as Tuvok bucked and writhed under the ice, and his hand, and his tongue... Harry moaned as the link became hotter, stronger. He didn't even realise he'd begun to speak, but the images were too strong... "Ice - oh yeah... ice and Tuvok. He gets so *hot*, you can't believe how hot his skin gets when he's turned on... and the taste of him..." Harry was panting quickly now, his own temperature sky-rocketing as Tuvok's burning need began to overwhelm him again. Tom was trying hard not to panic as Harry began to thrust his hips involuntarily. No - not ice .… something else, quickly! "Uh, … okay, Neelix!!" Tom burst out. Couldn't be anything less erotic than the Talaxian cook. "Neelix, Harry - Neelix in one of his stupid hats, cooking up leola root fudge cake!" He finished triumphantly, pleased to note that Harry's movements had stopped, and a small frown of distaste had replaced the earlier look of raw sensual lust. "Yeah, that's good," Harry spoke quietly, feeling the fires banked down a little, "let's go with that image." "Uh, okay - Neelix in a bikini, Neelix singing in the shower - No! Not the shower, ah... Neelix riding a horse! Shit! No, not that!" Jeez, did everything have a sexual connotation? "Neelix... Neelix and snakes! Christ, No! Giant Klingon targ beasts!! Neelix and giant Klingon targ beasts, Harry!" Harry was moaning again as Tuvok's white hot passion threatened to overwhelm him. Shower had been a bad word to use, as Tuvok's lust crazed mind had immediately brought forth images of the two of them, fucking in the shower. God knows there were enough occasions to choose from. Neelix and a Klingon targ beast. That was good. Neelix and a Klingon targ beast. God, Neelix had just turned into Tuvok, and the beast was Harry! Harry, kneeling on all fours as Tuvok entered him from behind ... Tears spilled from Harry's eyes as his body, once again, began to thrust involuntarily. He was moaning continuously now, so hard and aching so much that there was no pleasure from this fantasy. And Tuvok's frenzy was getting stronger, only the Vulcan was in no condition to realise that succumbing to the images would only bring them both pain. They had to be together, had to touch, to bond, to meld... NOW!!! Harry jerked on the bed, the force of Tuvok's demand reaching him without difficulty. He could feel his lover fighting the restraints, could feel the powerful muscles straining to get at his mate. The frustration and anger Tuvok was feeling were powerful emotions and Harry began to feel afraid. The small part of him that wasn't dominated by Tuvok's sexual frenzy wondered if he would survive their mating. Tuvok had long since passed the point where slowing down was an option - how would he feel if he literally fucked his lover to death? Somehow in the delirium his fear was communicated to his mate, and unbelievably, Tuvok began to calm. His natural instinct was to protect his mate and that had - for a moment at least - over-ridden the urge to possess. Harry concentrated on that link now, Tom and B'Elanna forgotten, the shuttlecraft forgotten - everything ceased to exist but the link between himself and Tuvok as he concentrated fiercely on communicating with his lover. Tom watched as Harry's features became eerily blank and the instinctive thrusting stilled. Harry was still hard, his muscles clenched, but the silence now was frightening. "How much longer, B'Elanna?" he yelled at the Klingon. "We'll be through in a minute!" she yelled back - fingers flying over the console as she pushed the little shuttlecraft as fast as it could go. "Paris to the Doctor - how's Tuvok doing?" The Doctor's voice carried its own reassurance, despite the obvious worry. "His vital signs have calmed down somewhat. Whatever it was you did, keep doing it." Alone in his quarters, Tuvok had gone way past the point of no return. His body was still clothed in the thin meditation robe, which was now soaked in sweat. And whilst the Doctor monitored Tuvok's vital signs, the lack of visual input in the room meant that he had no idea just how close Tuvok was to breaking out of his restraints. The tough material was twisted beyond anything it was built to withstand as his powerful muscles fought against it. Tuvok's reasoning processes had been completely subdued by the raging fire within him, and during the moments when he and Harry communicated, his body was gearing up to mate. Finally the little shuttlecraft pushed through the dust cloud and into transporter range, and Harry was beamed immediately to his quarters. As he rematerialised inside the room, the sheer force of Tuvok's need swamped him and his body answered the summons. Tuvok sensed Harry nearby and in one quick, frighteningly powerful move, broke free of the restraints on his bed and lunged at his mate. The Vulcan grabbed Harry and shoved him hard up against the wall, his gaze hot and demanding. Hands spanned Harry's face as the meld was initiated. Independent thought was a thing of the past for both men as two minds joined together in the hot frenzy of the Pon Farr. Harry's cock was hard and aching as Tuvok rubbed up against him. It was like being squashed between two walls, one the ship, and one the hard unyielding muscle of a lover determined to possess him. Tuvok literally tore the clothes off Harry's body and his mouth latched hard onto Harry's neck. Harry moaned and tilted his head to one side to give Tuvok room. As the meld deepened the pain became pleasure, and his aching cock began the familiar throbbing that preceded orgasm. Tuvok left his neck alone for a moment, ripping apart his own meditation robe and spinning the younger man to face the wall. He thrust into him in one hard movement that made Harry cry out in pain, but he had lubricated himself before beaming from the shuttle at least, so there was no real damage. Tuvok began thrusting with none of his usual finesse, and Harry's feet left the ground with each hard push inside his body. Tuvok was again feasting on his neck, marking his mate, and Harry's arms were braced against the wall to stop him being crushed against it. Even so, he couldn't help the orgasm that rushed through his body like a locomotive and when his cock gushed forth at last Harry gave a groan of pure agony and relief all in one. Tuvok stiffened but it was Harry who cried out as Tuvok climaxed inside him - the two bodies becoming one at that moment of completion. Harry slumped against the wall, exhausted, and Tuvok pulled out of his body and turned him around again. The Ensign looked down to find Tuvok still hard and wondered momentarily how many times Tuvok would fuck him before the urge left him. With that thought came the realisation that this was one of the lulls Tuvok had promised would happen. He could feel his mind regaining control again, and rational thought was once more possible. The Ensign half dragged Tuvok to the bed, and pushed him down on it. A quick wash, and then Harry took the engorged black cock in one hand and beginning the firm upwards stroke that Tuvok preferred. The other hand spanned Tuvok's face in the now familiar position of the mind meld. Harry's contact with Tuvok calmed the Vulcan down considerably, and Harry continued to jerk him off, sending his own erotic thoughts through the meld. He wanted Tuvok to come just once more, and then he would rest for a while before beginning again. The double stimulation worked, and Tuvok thrust hard before stiffening in climax and shooting a small amount of cum over Harry's hand. Absently, Harry licked off the familiar nectar as he watched Tuvok relax for the first time in hours. "Mr. Kim?" The Ensign jumped, not expecting to be commed at this particular moment. "Doctor?" "Are you all right, Mr. Kim?" "I'm fine Doc. What's the problem?" Harry could hear the frustration in the Doctor's voice and wondered at the cause. "Mr. Kim as you both insisted on no visual monitoring, all I have to go on is sound and the computer monitoring of your vital statistics. Was that Mr. Tuvok breaking the restraints that I heard? Are you hurt?" Harry grinned despite himself at the obvious concern in the Doctor's voice. "Yes it was, but I'm fine, Doc. Tuvok only broke the restraints to get at me. As long as I'm physically touching him, he'll be okay." The Doctor was clearly still concerned, and, sensing him about to launch into another lecture about the necessity for visual monitoring, Harry made his own offer. "Look, Doc, if things get too much, I'll just yell out "transport", okay? As soon as you hear me yell that word, get me out of here and direct to sickbay. Otherwise, don't worry. We'll be fine. Look, I have to go - Tuvok needs me." Putting the Doctor out of his mind, Harry reached over to the bedside table where the prepared hypos lay. A click and a wave over his behind returned him back to his original state - sans bruising or any minuscule tears. Two switches reprogrammed the hypo and Harry was cleaned and lubricated once again and ready for the next round. As he put the hypos back on the table, Harry noticed Tuvok's eyes upon him, the steady gaze evidence of Tuvok's current rational state. With the meld as deep as it currently was, Harry sensed Tuvok's concern and sent a firm reassurance to his lover, before curling up beside him on the bed for a short nap before the frenzy began again. --- Two days later... --- That it was Tuvok, and not Harry, who was mentally calculating how many more hours before the blood fever could finally be over was indication enough of how far they'd both come. As Harry lay sleeping on the bed, Tuvok stood under the pounding spray of a hot shower and took stock. The fever was still with him, he could feel that much. But the worst of it was over. Right at this moment he felt lucid and in control. But he knew that wouldn't last. Already Tuvok could feel the urge to bond with his mate pulling him. He ignored it while he could, and concentrated on washing himself. His memories of the past two days were fragmented, but would become clearer over the next day or so until the point where he would remember every lust-crazed moment. But for now was the Vh'thyla. The desire to bond mentally and emotionally with his mate. Tuvok switched over to the air cycle and waited until his body was dry before stepping out of the shower and returning to the bedroom. Harry was still deeply asleep, and Tuvok let him rest. He needed it, and the hard work was not yet over. Silently, Tuvok moved about the room, cleaning up the mess left by one crazed Vulcan and his mate after two days of almost constant sexual activity. He had taken care of the scratches, bruises and bite marks all over Harry's body before his shower, and now tended to his own. Feeling the urge become stronger, Tuvok ssettledon the bed next to Harry, careful not to wake him. If he concentrated, he could get an hour or so of light meditation in before the fever became too much and he needed Harry again. The lovers rested. --- It was some time later when Tom Paris called in to check on Harry. Harry opened the door wearing one of Tuvok's meditation robes and looking as tired as he felt. "Jeez, Harry - you get the registry number?" Harry looked blankly at his friend, wondering dazedly if Tom was speaking in code. "Huh?" Tom grinned. "Of the shuttle that hit you. You look like hell, Harry." Harry sighed tiredly. "I'm fine, Tom - just tired. I was asleep when you commed, in fact." The pointed comment wasn't lost on his friend, who smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Har. The Doc sent me to see that you were okay. He said that Tuvok was sleeping, and you..." Whatever the Doctor said about Harry was lost as Tuvok appeared over his lover's shoulder. While Harry's body blocked most of Tom's view, it was clear from what Tom could see that Tuvok was completely naked. Harry blushed as Tuvok slid two hands around the front of his body and plastered himself along Harry's back. Tuvok - completely ignoring their audience - began kissing Harry's neck, much to the wide-eyed amazement of Harry's best friend. "I gotta go, Tom - I'll see you later, okay?" The door cut off any reply Tom Paris may have made and Harry turned to face his lover, knowing full well that Tuvok would be furious when he remembered this. There was no chance to explain now, though, as Tuvok seemed intent on devouring him whole. Harry pulled away from Tuvok long enough to request the computer place a security lockout on the door. Without words, Tuvok simply took Harry's hand and lead him firmly back into the bedroom, where he was stripped of the robe and placed on the bed. Tuvok lay down beside him, and returned to where they'd left off some time before. Harry moaned softly as Tuvok returned to his neck. Even after being fucked so thoroughly for nearly two straight days, his body didn't seem to realise it had had enough. Arousal surged through his body as Tuvok sucked hard on every vulnerable point in his neck and throat. There was no way he was up to responding properly though. Exhaustion was fast overcoming arousal, and Harry was content just to let Tuvok have his way. Then Tuvok left his neck alone, and kissed his way up to Harry's left ear. A tongue traced the outside of one rounded ear, and Tuvok murmured, "Beautiful..." and continued to trace the rounded ear with his tongue. Harry lay, transfixed, as Tuvok continued his exploration of Harry's features with lips and tongue. His eyebrows were kissed, and declared, "lovely", followed by his eyelids, which were kissed in turn. When Harry opened his eyes, it was to find Tuvok gazing lovingly at him. One long finger traced his open mouth, and Tuvok said, "Perfect," with some satisfaction. "Perfect?" Harry wasn't sure what the hell was going on, but he was damn sure he wasn't going to hear this again for another seven years. Tuvok smiled gently, and said, "Your mouth. It is perfectly symmetrical, Harry. Full lips, soft..." Here Tuvok leaned in as if to prove to himself just how soft Harry's mouth was by tracing it with his tongue. Harry leaned in to the kiss, which became a lot deeper then, and Tuvok's tongue went inside his mouth and searched out his own. Some time later, Tuvok left his mouth alone and continued his journey. Harry was light headed by this time, but determined not to break Tuvok's concentration. Even in this defenseless state, Tuvok was as thorough as ever. Harry's eyes were stared into for long moments, before Tuvok could come up with suitably adoring descriptions. "Your eyes, Harry - they are the best part of you. So curious, so ... you. You are everything I ever wanted in a mate, Harry - your eyes remind me of that when your body does not..." Tuvok's husky murmur was so enthralling it was seconds before Harry's brain caught up with the sentence just spoken. "You don't like my body, Tuvok?" The Vulcan smiled gently. It was such a rare sight it almost bought Harry to tears at the thought that he would have to wait seven years to see it again. "I had never been with a man before you, Harry. Had never considered it before. But you... I would want to be with you no matter what form you took, no matter what the difference in age, or innocence." The truths that came out when Tuvok was vulnerable! Harry looked up at his lover, unable to leave it alone - needing to know how Tuvok *truly* felt about him. "Innocence, Tuvok? I hate to tell you this, but I think I've had more lovers than you have." Harry hated to bring other lovers to their bed this way, but Libby wasn't his first, and he was sure that T'Pel was Tuvok's only lover. Tuvok smiled again, saying, "Harry - innocence is a state of mind, not of body. I am always amazed by your ability to see the newness in your situation before anything else. I love the way you explore... the eagerness that is so much a part of you. You make me want to be worthy of you, Harry." The tears couldn't be held back now, as Harry gazed silently at Tuvok. How like his Vulcan to consider those things important! Anyone else would have rhapsodized about the sex or something similar. Not his Tuvok. Tuvok loved him for his mind, his personality, his very soul. Harry reached one hand up and placed it gently on Tuvok's cheek, wanting so desperately to tell him how much he was loved in return, but being completely unable to put it into words. Tuvok seemed to understand, and reached up to change the position of Harry's hand on his face, mirroring it with his own hand on Harry's face. They had melded before but, Oh God! it wasn't like this. Harry could feel the doors in Tuvok's mind opening at his request, and the very depth of Tuvok's love for him shone through every one. But even better than that was the feeling of his own emotions being explored so lovingly by his bondmate. Harry was in no doubt of Tuvok's feelings for him, and knew that every thought he had ever had on the subject of his partner was now laid out for Tuvok to peruse. Was it moments or hours that they lay entwined - tracing each other's consciousness? Harry would never know, eventually slipping off to sleep, watched over by a protective and loving partner. When Harry awoke, Tuvok would be virtually rid of the Pon Farr for another seven years, and there would be no more smiles, no more affectionate adoration. But this was enough. --- Epilogue --- "You knew I would have no control during my time. Why would you answer the door to anyone?" Tuvok was furious. Harry closed his eyes briefly, trying to concentrate on the matter at hand. Their bond was stronger than ever before, and Tuvok's bland facade and controlled features would never mask his feelings again. Unfortunately, anger was one of those emotions Harry would rather *not* be feeling from his lover. "I couldn't help it, Tuvok - you were all over me." Harry was tired, or he would have chosen his words more carefully. Tuvok just glared at him. "It was only Tom!" Harry's argument was weak, but he lacked the energy to come up with something better. "Besides - you were standing behind me, so I don't think he actually saw anything." Harry was trying to be conciliatory, but weariness was fast overtaking him. He hadn't had more than a couple of catnaps during Tuvok's Pon Farr, which had lasted more than two days. Two days of pretty constant fucking was enough to wear out even the fittest Starfleet Officer. He just wanted to sleep, but Tuvok was insisting on an explanation. "Look, Tuvok - the Doctor sent Tom to check that things were okay. He figured we were through the worst of it, and according to the readouts you were asleep at the time. He didn't know you were going to wake up before Tom got here, and I didn't know you were going to come looking for me when I was talking to Tom. I didn't let him in, at least." A giant yawn slurred the last few words. Tuvok opened his mouth to question Harry further, and then finally noticed the state his lover was in. The residual effects of the Pon Farr were still affecting his reasoning processes, or else he would have noticed long before. Harry was practically dead on his feet. The Vulcan walked closer to his lover and picked him up effortlessly. That Harry didn't murmur a protest spoke volumes of his exhaustion. Tuvok lay Harry down on the freshly made bed, tucking him in gently. There could be no doubt that the subject of Tuvok's Pon Farr would be making the rounds of the crew's gossips by now. Bets on how long it would last, and whether Harry would require medical attention or not would undoubtedly be doing the rounds. With Tom Paris chief bookmaker, no doubt. Tuvok considered the current situation for several moments. He needed to inform the Captain that he was fit for duty. His security team had been in the midst of a rather intense training program, so that would have to be restarted as soon as possible. Rosters would have to be re-written and posted within the next Two-Four hours. His work was more than two days behind, and there were weekly reports to be prepared for his meeting with the Captain and the First Officer. And Harry liked to wake up in Tuvok's arms. One didn't get to the advanced rank of Lieutenant Commander without the ability to prioritize. Tuvok slipped into bed behind Harry and gently arranged the Ensign so that he lay in the familiar and secure position of Tuvok's embrace. As the Ensign slept, Tuvok mentally re-worked the rosters. The rest could wait. --- continued in the seventh story in the Of Love and Logic series 'Uncertain Hour'