A/N: I know I have been ridiculously slow in updating this, RL has gone crazy recently. Next chapter is also done, so I will post asap!! (and I mean it)! Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy!!

Chapter 7

Sulu stared at the control panel in front of him in surprise. He swung his chair round to face Spock, who was sitting in his usual post on the Bridge.

"Commander, there appears to be a disturbance in the quarters currently being used by the Elasians."

Spock turned on the sound of his name being spoken by the young pilot. His mind had been playing over the conversation he'd had with Jim in the canteen, prior to him returning to the Bridge in the Captain's absence. He had been confused by the whole encounter; Jim's behaviour had been most....different.... than it had been over the past few days. In some respects it had felt to Spock as though he had actually been in another dimension. It was though the change in their friendship had never happened as Kirk's behaviour towards him had been the cool, neutral approach he used to expect from his Captain.

He was also finding his own reaction to the conversation most unusual - finding himself going over the words in his mind, wondering if he had misinterpreted what Jim had said to him. He was beginning to think that his meaning in wanting the Elasian's to depart from the Enterprise as soon as possible had been unclear.

It was also making him ponder on how having to keep an enforced distance from the Captain was affecting him. He had noticed his breathing becoming elevated in the other's presence. He could feel a need to just be near him at any given opportunity, a lightening sensation taking over his body whenever he knew he was near. Spock had never experienced emotions such as this and he was finding them distinctly disturbing. Frustratingly, as the Enterprise was in the middle of a mission, he was not in a position to consider them in a manner that he would like to.

He had been lost in these thoughts when Sulu's words filtered through to him.

"A disturbance? Of what nature?" He asked, recalling that Jim had been returning to the Elasian's quarters.

"It is not entirely clear Commander," replied Sulu. "There is no video of that area of the ship. However, several people have reported raised voices and muffled noises coming from the female, Elise's, rooms."

Spock sighed, wondered how what should, in theory, be such a simple task of delivering three members of a species to their destination could become so difficult. He had not been able to warm to the Elasian's from the moment they had arrived on the ship. He had been able to sense that they were likely to cause problems. His own telepathic nature was unable to determine anything specific, but something had triggered doubt in him, a feeling he rarely came across. This had been especially apparent in the woman, Elise. He'd felt her cool gaze on him, surveying him, and he had been able to sense a calculated approach emanating from her.

"Sulu, please accompany me to the Elasian's quarters," he ordered. "We shall liaise with security on our way there, Chekov you have the comm."

The young Russian nodded, concern in his eyes as the other members of the crew left the Bridge and hurriedly made their way to the Elasian's quarters.

Spock, Sulu and two members of security made their way along the corridor in which the Elasian's rooms were situated. As they grew closer to their destination they could hear loud, angry voices, combined with the shriller tone of Elise coming from her rooms.

Spock waited impatiently as security punched the override code into the key panel to Elise's room. He followed his fellow crew members inside, nearly tripping over them, as they stopped dead in their tracks in surprise.

Spock walked around them to see what they were apparently staring at and momentarily struggled to remain in control of his emotions. He involuntarily took a step back as he felt air leave his body, unable to stop a gasp leaving his lips. Sulu looked at him curiously, before glancing at the scene in front of them, the pilot's eyes widening.

Jim was being held down by Elance, the more powerful of the two male Elasians. Elise was being held by back Elit, her shrieks of rage still continuing.

It was the sight of Jim that had affected Spock. He was shirtless, his bare chest heaving from where he was being pinned down by the Elasian, his trousers half undone. One glance at the similar undress of the female Elasian told Spock exactly what had been interrupted in her rooms.

"Would you care to explain exactly what is going on here?" Spock asked as levelly as he could.

Elance turned, the anger in his eyes evident, "Myself and Elit had returned to our quarters after eating dinner with Elise when we heard what sounded like a commotion coming from these rooms. We heard muffled sounds, and when combined with glass breaking we felt we had to investigate."

Spock's gaze fell to where a broken lamp lay on the floor, an obvious casualty of what had been taking place.

"Please release the Captain; I am sure you are aware that the situation is over."

Elance nodded at the cool authority in Spock's voice. He relaxed his grip on Kirk allowing the human to get to his feet, still breathing heavily.

Spock couldn't take his eyes off him, even as what he knew to be mixed emotions raced around his body. He couldn't resist letting his eyes linger on Jim's naked chest, chest hair faintly apparent. His trousers were still half undone and his face was cut and bloody. A nasty looking bruise was also beginning to appear along his elbow.

"Sulu I think you had best escort the Captain to sickbay, I am sure Dr McCoy will have plenty to say to him." Spock ordered with a raise of his eyebrows, knowing that letting Jim loose on the wrath of Bones would be a good place to start.

Kirk met Spock's eye as he left the room and Spock found himself bitterly disappointed to see no regret present in their dark blue depths. The only expression Spock could fathom was a mixture of bemusement and distress at being caught.

Spock tried to send him a hurt expression, desperately wanting to show Jim how he had disappointed him, how he had let him down. He had just begun to let down his guard and let his mind come to terms with furthering what he had seen as a growing relationship, and it appeared to have been for no reason.

Jim obviously did not get the message the Vulcan was trying to send him, turning instead to fix a fiery stare on Elit.

"If you hurt her in any way you shall have me to deal with," he snarled, trying to wrench his arm out of Sulu's grip.

Sulu looked at him stunned, as both of the Elasian males turned towards them, lips snarled. "Seriously Captain, sickbay, now," he ordered, clearly horrified at the lack of dignity Jim was showing.

"If anything Captain Kirk, it is us who should be saying such to you. And you aware of how important Elise is to our species," snapped Elit.

Sulu forcefully dragged Kirk from the room before he could respond, even as he struggled with the pilot and the members of the security team as they followed.

Spock watched, startled. He was relieved to be able to hide his emotions to the extent that he could, shock at Kirk's outburst running through him beneath the calm exterior.

"Please accept my apologies for whatever has taken place here tonight." He said, his voice level, calm.

All three Elasians turned to face him, as he stood composed. His hands clasped together behind his back.

"It is not the Captain's fault, "Elise said softly.

"Elise silence!" snarled Elit, tightening his grip on her arms, making her wince with discomfort.

"I am sure you do not need me to tell you there is no need for you to still be restraining her in such a manner," Spock said coolly.

"She might try and follow him." Elit said sulkily, even as he relaxed his hold on Elise.

Spock raised his eyebrows as he blinked in surprise. "I can assure you that I would not let that happen."

He swept his gaze around the room, his eyes landing on the Elasian's guns they had brought to Elise's rooms.

"Your weapons? They look powerful and outside of what Starfleet allow to be carried freely upon board a vessel such as the Enterprise."

"Yes, yes, we know that. Your Captain was full of the same speech earlier this evening." Elit snapped, still standing close to Elise.

"Yet you are still brandishing them." Spock observed.

"He was meant to come and get the key from us, but it seems that he became distracted," Elance said his gaze flicking over to Elise.

"I wonder how that came about," he said glaring at his compatriot.

"Elance...." Elise began, her voice quiet.

"No Elise, not now, we can discuss this later."

Spock watched the exchange curiously. "You commented on how the Captain was aware of how important Elise was to your species, would you care to elaborate on that?"

"Not really," Elit responded.

Spock raised an eyebrow at him, "Do I need to remind you how you are guests on this ship and of Starfleet at this current time."

"You don't, but I'm afraid Commander that this is not the right time for discussions. We shared the knowledge with your Captain as we thought under the circumstances it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately some of our worst fears have been realised and at this moment I need to discuss them with Elit and Elise," Elance replied quietly.

Spock nodded his understanding. He realised that Elance was the most reasonable member of the Elasians travelling with the Enterprise.

"Very well I shall leave you to talk for now, but please understand the matter is not yet concluded." Spock said, "And I'm afraid one of you will have to accompany me to lock these weapons away and give me the key."

"I shall come with you Commander," Elance responded. He held a hand out as a gesture that he was willing to follow Spock out of the room, looking back at Elise and Elit as he did so. "I shall only be a moment, then I think we need to talk."

Spock noticed how the female bowed her head in deference, not speaking.

Elance and Spock entered the male Elasian's quarters with Spock watching as Elance replaced his weapons, locking the case and handing Spock the key.

"I do apologise for what has gone on this evening." Elance said softly, "I am aware that this is just the sort of situation that leads to Starfleet being unwilling to deal with us. I shall do my best to find a solution."

Spock was puzzled by his choice of words, and was going to question him when the Elasian spoke again.

"I must now return to my compatriots. I shall come and find you later if that is to your agreement?"

"That is most satisfactory, if I can be of any assistance please let me know," Spock replied curtly.

Elance smiled and nodded before making his way back into Elise's quarters.

Spock watched as the doors closed behind him, before making his way towards sick bay. His body felt heavy, and if this was what it was like to let your emotions through he wished, not for the first time, that he had been born entirely Vulcan.

tbc