A/N - Thankyou SO MUCH to those who've reviewed. I've been walking around with a stupid smile on my face for the past two days. You're all made of AWESOME. This one is a bit short coz I'm a little stuck on the next bit, but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting any longer.

- -

Chapter Three

"Meow."

"Meow."

"Meow."

Spock actually sighed, feeling the stirrings of frustration. He quelled them quickly, turning his chair to face the cat at his feet. "Yes, Captain?"

Jim leapt into his lap, purring loudly as he butted his head against Spock's cheek. 'pay attention to me' he seemed to say. Spock ran his hand over the soft fur, "you must be lonely, my friend, with little here to entertain you." He smiled, "perhaps when we next make port, I shall buy you a cat nip mouse… but until then, maybe some conversation is what you would like."

He placed his hands on the Jim's head, uncertain about the sensibility of trying a meld with an animal without the presence of a medical officer. Logically, however, this was Jim, not an actual cat. And Jim needed him.

Decision made, Spock closed his eyes, and initiated contact.

*

"About time!"

Spock opened his eyes, "I am sorry, Jim. I'm still not certain about the safety of performing a meld with the mind of an animal. I do not wish to harm you."

Jim rolled his eyes, "Right now, I'm bored out of my skull, there's no more damage that can be done to make this torture any worse."

"I would allow you out of my quarters if I didn't think that you would find trouble."

"Me? Never?!"

"With all due respect, sir. You are currently stuck in the body of a cat. That proves your attraction to trouble."

Jim sighed, "Alright, point taken. Can't I do something."

Spock repressed a smile, "play Sudoku?"

There's silence again and Jim steps forward, clasping Spock's hand like it's something he'd always done.

There's a tingle in the back of Spock's mind. Like a persistent itch.

"Isn't there someway we can maintain this communication link without you having to be in a trance state?"

Spock paused, "only in bonded pairs. And even then, touch has to be maintained." He wants to pull his hand away- the easy touch is making him uncomfortable, it's like an uncertainty and he can no longer predict his own actions.

He stays still, unable to deny Jim the only human to human touch he can have. Even if it's all mentally.

"Well," Kirk sighs, annoyed, "can't we just do that then?"

Spock jerks away, startled, the movement severing the connection.

*

He finds himself back in his quarters and stands abruptly, teetering a little off-balance.

Bond!?

Spock knows the offer wasn't serious, but there's a niggling at the back of his mind.

There's a pitiful mewling coming from the direction of his feet and Spock gives Jim a small smile, "I am sorry, my friend. I am simply tired. Perhaps we shall try again tomorrow"

He moves through his nightly ritual before folding his long frame onto the bed. He feels the bed dip next to him, a small, warm body nestling next to his side. Spock reaches down, resting a hand on the soft fur as he drifts into sleep.

*

"I'm sorry. I startled you." Jim says ruefully.

"I am fine."

Jim laughs, a bright sound, echoing blue in their heads, "of course you are."

The scenery is different this time.

"I noticed that." Jim comments, and Spock finds himself confused, how was Jim able to tell what he was thinking.

"Also noticed that."

Spock frowns, irritated. "My shields are down."

"As are mine."

"That I am in a dream would be the logical conclusion." Spock decides, with a nod. "Although, I must confess, I do not often dream, and never something as illogical as this."

Kirk laughs again. "Then perhaps you're not."

"How are you in my head? I am certain I did not initiate a connection. You should not have been able to penetrate my shields. You have little telepathic ability."

Jim shrugs, unconcerned, "does it matter?"

The landscape is red this time, rocks and caves and rubble. Desolate. A far cry from the green/blue confusing swirl of Jim's own mind. Jim looks around curiously and picks up a rock that lays at his feet. There appear to be hinges and a foreign, indecipherable script decorates the front.

"Hey, these are egg… rock things!!"

He moves to open one but Spock is quicker, snatching it from Kirks grip and cradling it carefully against his chest.

"I ask you not to pry, please, for my own privacy."

Kirk frowns, confused. "Pry?"

Spock kneels on the dirt, placing the rock in a pile with some others. "They are my memories. You are in my head, I ask that you value those things that have been locked."

Kirk looks around him at the barren landscape. "There's nothing here."

"It is the discipline of the Vulcan's."

"Vulcan," Jim echoes. He reaches for Spock's hand, like he has the last few times. Spock can't bring himself to pull away.

His mind itches as their palms come into contact. His barren world starts to spin and whirl and twist. Blues and greens leak from void-space, invading his private space and he aches to move. To sever the connection but Jim hold his hand tightly.

"What in the blazes is going on here?" Jim whispers.

Spock closes his eyes and uses every last drop of mental discipline to slam his shields down, almost wincing as they cut through their bound hands, separating them through a wall of glass.

*

Spock's head aches the next morning and he tests his shields, carefully. There appears to be no weaknesses, but he shall mediate tonight, to be sure.

Kirk sleeps beside him still, sprawled on his back and taking up more room than Spock would have thought possible for such a small animal. He shakes his head as he stands, heading to the shower.

"Bridge to Spock! Come in, Sir!"

"Spock here. What is it, Lieutenant?"

"We are receiving a distress signal from a nearby planet Chorek Delta 6. What should we do?"

"I will be there momentarily."

Spock dresses quickly, his shower will have to wait. He picks up a sullen Jim as he passes, slinging the cat over his shoulder as he moves. Claws dig into his uniform and prick the skin underneath painfully. Spock just hopes that Jim will refrain from ruining his clothes. It's bad enough that everything his owns is now covered in a thick, ginger layer of cat hair, he doesn't need his uniforms to be destroyed by sharp claws. He pauses at the door to the bridge, dropping Jim to the floor and straightens his shirt. He tucks his hands behind his back and enters.

"Comms. Status report!"

"Distress signal received from Chrek Delta 6 at 07.43, Sir. Awaiting orders to respond."

"Science. Status of the Planet."

"Safe for us, Sir. Class 3 Planet. Peaceful race"

"What is the origin of the distress call?"

Uhura turns on her chair to face him, "I do not know, Sir. It's definitely not from the government, the signal is weak and the message is unclear."

"Open comms. Request permission to dock"

Uhura taps a few buttons, murmurs into her mouthpiece. She turns back to Spock, "Permission granted, sir."

*

Spock steps off the ship, arms clasped behind his back – McCoy and Uhura behind him as he steps forward to greet, hand held out in the Vulcan salute, "I am acting-Captain, Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise."

The humanoid being in front of him returns the gesture with a smile, "Greetings, Commander Spock. It is not often we have Starfleet visitors. I am Sil'kuh, Admiral of our modest fleet. What can we offer Starfleet today?"

Spock gives him a rare smile that doesn't reach his eyes, "I request permission for shore leave for my crew."

Admiral Sil'kuh looks at him, puzzled, "Permission granted, Commander, of course. However, our planet is not affiliated with Starfleet personnel. We do not have the same facilities on our planet that you would find at your disposal elsewhere."

Spock gives a brief nod in acknowledgement, "we understand, Admiral. We shall not stay long, however, my crew is getting restless. You understand my position here. They are overdue for shore-leave."

Sil'kuh examines the Vulcan's face carefully before giving a fake smile, "of course, Commander, if you would follow me, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement."

Spock falls into step with the Admiral, Scotty and McCoy only a step behind as the hatch to the ship closes behind them.

Unseen by the crew, a small furry feline darts out, as the door closes with a click.

*

TO BE CONTINUED!

Please review, it'll make my day!