Hello everyone! Thank you so much for all your wonderful support with this story! You have all been amazing and I'm so glad so many of you have enjoyed this.

Unfortunately I am making this story come to an end. It may seem a little sudden and abrupt and I am sorry that it may come across that way. I have some personal stuff going on at the moment which has affected the way I have written this story which is a shame because I really liked where this story had been going. I wanted to make it longer too, draw it out a little more and go into much more detail but I can't do that anymore - for those who write yourself you may have experienced how some things can affect your writing process which has happened to me and this story :(

I hope that you all enjoy the last chapter though and that it does round it off for you all. I apologize for any mistakes and maybe one day I could come back and fix it the way it was intended to but at the moment I have to end this story and I really do hate leaving things unfinished.

Chapter Seven

"Where did you say this stuff came from?" Gaila frowned as she looked over the new food order that arrived that morning for the big group that was coming in. Many group booked functions at Grind Me since they offered a wide range of different meals. Today's function was a cultural meeting that gathered every six months at Grind Me.

Jim shrugged. "Brought on the usual supply ship I guess."

Gaila sniffed and then reeled back. "Smells off."

Leaning in Jim sniffed the food and recoiled sharply. "That is not normal."

"That group is coming in today. What the hell are we supposed to do?" Gaila sighed.

"No Gaila. That's not normal. Even for regular off food. I've smelt that before," Jim said.

"What do you mean?" Gaila asked and rolled her eyes as Jim promptly stalked out of the kitchen. She followed closely behind him, unsurprised when he walked directly to Spock. She had watched the commander come in with Jim and take a seat in the middle of the café and hadn't moved since. He had brought a PADD with him, working on official Starfleet business but she had seen the way Spock's eyes had followed Jim around the premises.

"Gaila," Jim said as she nearly crushed into him at his sudden stop. "Grab me a weapon and subtly hand it to me."

Gaila was smart and she understood that something was wrong, even if she didn't have all the information. She peered around Jim and saw that Spock was not sitting alone, a new person she had never seen joining him at the table. Spock was usually stiff and straight postured when he sat but Gaila knew there was something off about the way he was sitting today.

"Fine, I'll take this customer so you can go talk to lover boy," she said, a little too loudly and gave Jim a wink to show she understood. She knew something had happened the minute Jim had come in for his shift even if he didn't share the details with her.

She sashayed towards the front counter with the ease of casualness but inside her heart was pounding, wondering what the hell she had just been dragged into.

Spock glared at General Kodos, his fingers curling into fists as Jims at down at the table with him. He was angered that he had allowed Kodos to enter Grind Me and immediately take hold of the situation with a phaser set to kill on Spock's body.

"How you have grown, James," Kodos said, his voice deep and rough. "I am surprised, however, to find you working in such a simple establishment. Beneath your certain talents if I am not mistaken."

Spock watched Jim's jaw clench, his body rigid in such a way that would have been painful to the human. His human half wished to reach out and touch Jim but he did not wish to give Kodos any more of an advantage then he already had. He could feel the pain, the overwhelming fury, the hunger that Jim was feeling from where he sat beside him and wished to reach out and inflict such violence on Kodos that Spock didn't believe he was capable until now.

"You are aware of why I am here," Kodos said. "Correct?"

"I'm not giving you what you want," Jim said, thrusting his chin out.

"James," Kodos said with an easy smile that held a threatening undertone. "Still the stubborn boy, aren't you? Such a shame you were not qualified to be apart of the new colony." Kodos turned to Spock. "Defected, if you weren't aware."

"Jim is not defected," Spock growled, a deep rumble echoing in his chest. "Your corrupted view of what defines a perfect colony is primitive and unseemly and illegal."

Kodos' eyes sparked with interest, flickering between the two of them.

"As an officer for Starfleet I am placing you under arrest," Spock sneered.

"Unless you want to be burying Jim in his quaint little hole I would think twice with your actions… Commander," Kodos smirked.

Spock snarled, eyes darkening in a frightening manner that Jim had never seen.

"Now James," Kodos said. "I was impressed with your ability to steal my research on the fungus in your state. Perhaps it was dumb luck. Did you realize what you were stealing?"

"Yes," Jim said.

Kodos hummed. "Yes, I agree that you did know. For such potential is such a shame you are defected. Though, you did manage to survive and keep several children alive. But not all of them, if the reports were correct."

Jim launched himself over the table. The table lurched under his weight but he didn't care. He gripped Kodos jacket tightly in his hands, the momentum tipping them to the ground. Screams erupted around them but Jim ignored them as he raised a fist and aimed at Kodos face. His hand throbbed with pain as it collided with his jaw but he didn't care. He couldn't see past the anger, past those who had lost their lives in his care.

Kodos regained quickly and suddenly a hand was wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground. He clawed at the grip and his eyes darted to Spock who was frozen, the charge of the phaser gearing up as it was pointed at his Vulcan.

"You've certainly grown into your body," Kodos grinned manically. "Such a waste of a thing last time I saw you. You packed quite a punch, intellectually, in your younger years. What happened? You used to be such a smart boy."

Jim choked, gasping for breath.

"Give me the research, James. I may even spare you this time," Kodos said thoughtfully. "Though if the rumors are true you peaked at thirteen, you would be such waste."

Spock growled, inching closer but Kodos raised his phaser, leveling it between his eyes.

"Now, what did you do with my research?" Kodos asked. He slackened his grip just enough for Jim to get the words out.

"We ate it," Jim grinned and swung his leg forcefully between Kodos legs.

Spock moved, grabbing the phaser as Jim was dropped, collapsing to his knees as he gasped for breath. Spock didn't stop moving, pulling back his fist and punching Kodos in the jaw, hearing a satisfying crack. Kodos hit the ground hard and spock was on him, hauling him up and with a terrifying growl he grasped Kodos neck and delivered a painful Vulcan nerve pinch, knocking the monster out cold instantly.

Spock briefly looked at the flood of Starfleet officers that came pouring in, phasers at the ready before moving carefully to Jim who was still gasping for breath. He helped him up, directing him away and towards the back room, out of sight from Kodos who remained slumped on the ground.

Sitting Jim down, Spock carefully moved Jim's neck and growled as he saw bruises already bruising on his skin.

"I'm sorry," Jim gasped out.

Spock growled again. No apology was needed from Jim and he pulled him into a kiss, allowing himself to project the emotions he was feeling onto Jim. He pulled back when Jim hands pushed on his chest and panted for breath when they separated.

"Fuck," Jim swore. "Hurts. Sorry."

Spock shook his head. "I should have been more wary of your injury." That didn't stop him frown nuzzling gently at Jim's neck, gently kissing the bruises forming. Spock tensed as he heard the door open and stood protectively in front of Jim, growling at Gaila as she came to a screeching halt.

"McCoy, they're in here," Gaila called.

Bones entered, grumbling under his breath and glared at Spock as he let out a low growl.

"Easy, Spock. I need to check his injuries," Bones said.

At Jim's gently squeeze of his hand he stepped to the side to allow the Doctor to work. Spock was struggling to control the instincts of protecting his mate and hovered, squeezing Jim's hand at ever touch the Doctor made.

"Where's Kodos?" Jim wheezed.

"No talking," Bones snapped. "I don't like the look of your vocal cords. Pike is dragging that pricks ass out as we speak. It's over Jim. He aint ever getting away again."

Jim simply closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Bones' shoulder.

Jim sighed, letting his eyes shut at Spock once again gently kissed the bruises around his neck. They had retreated to Spock's quarters on Starfleet property while Kodos remained in custody. They were still trying to discover how Kodos had found Jim and hadn't wanted him to return to his apartment until it had ben thoroughly checked out by authorities in case Kodos had left some surprises. Jim shuddered at the thought of that monster being in his apartment, going through his things.

"He cannot harm you, Ashayam," Spock murmured against his neck. "He will never escape again."

Jim patted the soft, silky black hair and shifted until they were face-to-face, nose brushing as they lay side by side. "I know."

"Speak your mind, Jim," Spock said, his arm sliding around Jim's waist and pulling him closer.

"I'm not sure what I am supposed to do now," Jim said. "I spent so long protecting this information, so long damaging myself."

"You are not damaged," Spock insisted, pressed a quick but firm kiss to Jim's lips. "I do not like you to speak of yourself in such a manner."

"It's just…I remember how I used to be," Jim said quietly. "What I did…I could never believe that Kodos had died. He was too smart for that. That why I did what I did."

"Your abilities are remarkable," Spock said. "That would have taken even the most skillful Vulcan years to achieve."

"I didn't have years," Jim sighed, eyes closing as Spock's fingers brushing lightly over his face.

"What is troubling you, Jim?" Spock asked.

Jim allowed his eyes to flutter open, catching the brown eyes staring intently at him. "You said you like me for my mind. Could you tell that's what I was hiding? Is that what interested you in me?"

"I have admitted that I find your mind fascinating," Spock said. "But I didn't not know what you had done to yourself. But I am not only attracted to your mind, Ashayam, but to your being." He slid a thigh between Jim's legs, pulling their bodies flushed together so there was no space between them. "I sincerely hope you do not doubt my feelings for you."

Jim shuddered, rocking his hips slowly. "Oh."

Spock hid his smirk in a kiss.

They pulled back and Jim pressed himself closer still. "I don't know what to do with myself now. My heads still a little…." He struggled to explain how he felt there still may some residual effects from the puzzle he created.

"There is no rush," Spock said. "Take your time and I will be with you whatever you decide."

Jim smiled. Yeah, he really liked the sound of that.

Happy reading everyone :)

Thank you all again so much for sticking with this and happy reading!

I have other ideas for more Spirk stories so keep an eye open!

Thank you all again so much for sticking with this and happy reading!

I have other ideas for more Spirk stories so keep an eye open!