Adam looked at Kris as the call came over the comm and, as one, they stood up and headed for the door. The starship was a maze of corridors, but Adam had a very good sense of direction and it did not take them long to reach their destination.

"What happened?" Kris asked, falling to his knees next to where McCoy was administering something to Jim.

"The situation was proceeding," Spock said, eyes fixed on Jim, "but the captain seemed unable to touch me. His last words before he collapsed were 'you didn't choose'."

Adam swore colourfully.

"Secondary rejection," he said, knowing that it was the only explanation.

"I did nothing to reject the captain's advances," Spock said in his usual, logical tone.

"Not consciously," Adam explained while Kris helped McCoy with Jim, "but this is one of the reasons it is against our laws to force a bond from the mate's perspective. Unless it is entered into completely of their own free will, there is the chance the submissive will pick up on something that will put them into conflict. Jim must believe that by continuing he will hurt you in some way. What else were you talking about?"

From the expression that appeared momentarily on Spock's face, Adam was pretty sure the Vulcan knew what was going on.

"I brought up Nyota and certain aspects of the relationship we were experimenting with in an effort to overcome some of the captain's fears," Spock told him.

He knew that Kris and Spock had spoken for some time about Lieutenant Uhura and Spock's existing relationship. Spock had assured them he had explained the whole situation to her and that she understood, and it was only logical to proceed with the bond with Jim. He'd had no reason to doubt that when he had seen her, but now Adam was sure it was not that simple.

"And you're in love with Nyota?"

He didn't really need to ask; it had to be something like that. For a moment Spock did not reply, but then nodded shortly.

"Let's get Jim on the bed," McCoy said and distracted him from the conversation.

Both he and Spock moved to help and with all four of them assisting they soon had Jim lying comfortably. The seizure at least seemed to be over, but Jim was barely conscious and unresponsive.

"What is the Captain's condition?" Spock asked.

"He's virtually in a coma," McCoy said, "and I'll be damned if I can find any medical reason for it."

"He's doing it to himself, Doctor," Kris said, giving Adam a worried look, "there is nothing you can do. If we can't break Jim out of his current state, he will eventually shut down and die."

That made McCoy look even less happy with the situation.

"How should we proceed?" Spock asked, ever practical it seemed.

"Strip," Adam said, following his instincts rather than any protocol he knew of, "and we'll strip Jim. If we get both of you into full body contact, he should stabilize for now. Then we need to ask Lieutenant Uhura to join us."

At the instruction to strip Spock began immediately, but at the mention of Uhura the man paused momentarily before continuing. It underlined to Adam that Spock's relationship with Uhura was far more of an issue than the Vulcan had led them to believe. Vulcan logic did not seem to be the answer to the problem after all.

McCoy put a call out for the young woman in question.

Spock seemed entirely unselfconscious, which was one good thing, and once Adam had helped Kris and McCoy removed Jim's clothes, the Vulcan slipped under the cover they had placed over Jim and pulled the man close to him. Spock did not exactly appear relaxed, but the pair almost looked like a genuine couple.

Adam shared several worried glances with Kris as they organised everyone. Neither of them was about to say it, but when a bond was this skewed, it very rarely ended well. It was why their society had so many laws about it.

He'd only really spoken to Uhura once, and at the time, he had thought the young woman reacted with incredible professionalism and compassion as soon as she understood the situation. He only hoped she would take the new circumstances as well. He didn't have long to wait either, because only a few minutes after the call went out, the door beeped, and McCoy opened it. Uhura stepped in and almost immediately faltered when she saw Spock and Jim. The quick glance that passed between her and Spock said it all.

"Doctor," Uhura said in a professional, but slightly clipped tone, "how may I help you?"

McCoy just motioned towards Kris.

"Lieutenant," Kris said in his usual warm manner, "we are sorry to have had to call you here, we realise this is difficult for you, but there has been a further development."

Adam saw the woman quickly scan her former lover and her captain with a glance.

"What do you require of me?" she asked, sounding almost like Spock.

It was all a very awkward situation and Adam decided to step in.

"If I could have a moment of your time," he said, offering her his hand and swapping a quick glance with Kris, who simply nodded.

Uhura looked unsure, but grasped his fingers and he led her to the other side of the room. It wasn't exactly privacy, but it would have to do.

"How much do you love Spock?" he asked very quietly and Uhura almost flinched.

The young woman appeared torn and bit her lip.

"I had always thought our relationship would eventually become official and permanent," she admitted eventually when Adam just continued to wait for her answer.

For a moment Adam had the irrational desire to bang Uhura and Spock's head together. It was now clear they had both downplayed their relationship considerably when the situation with Jim had occurred.

"My next question will not be easy," he said with complete honesty, "and I need you to think about it very carefully. You have to be totally sure of your answer."

Uhura nodded, giving him a very serious look.

"What is it?"

"If you could have Spock back, would you take Jim Kirk as well?"

Uhura's eyes opened in shock.

"I..." she said almost immediately and then stopped, looking over at the two men in the bed.

Her brow wrinkled was a frown line.

"Why?"

"Because Spock was never given a choice to enter into the mate bond," Adam told her in the plainest terms he could, "and Jim can sense that Spock is still in love with you. His instincts are interpreting this as hurting Spock so he cannot move forward with their situation."

He was not about to mention that Jim was dying.

"And you think if I join the relationship the problem will be removed?"

"It is a workable theory. This situation it not something we have had to deal with; if a mate cannot give up what they already have, they would never accept the bond, but you have to understand, in our society it is a possibility we are brought up with, we are more prepared for such a decision."

"But Captain Kirk is bonded to Spock, not me, what if he perceives me as a rival?"

"His need to make Spock happy is greater than any of his own needs, if you are truly willing to share, in all probability he will accept you."

To her credit Uhura thought about that very carefully. As she looked over at where Jim and Spock were lying, a small frown appeared on her forehead as she considered the situation.

"What do I have to do?" the woman eventually asked.

Adam gave her a small smile of support before replying.

"That is where I believe we need to employ Spock's heritage," Adam said and slowly drew her back into the main room.

It was clear Spock had heard every word of the conversation, even though it had been quiet.

"I would suggest a Vulcan mind meld," Spock said in his usual stoic tone; "it would allow us both to mentally contact the Ca... Jim."

There was no doubt Spock was trying.

"You should be in as much physical contact as possible as well," Kris added; "it will allow Jim to better interpret what is going on when he starts to wake up."

Without even being asked, Uhura began to remove her clothes. She slipped under the cover next to Jim and Spock moved so that he was leaning up on one arm.

"Is there anything else we should know?" Spock asked simply.

"You just have to mean it completely," Adam replied, trying to sound as positive as possible.

Spock and Uhura shared a glance and then Spock very carefully reached out. The Vulcan placed one hand on the side of Uhura's face and the other on the side of Jim's, before both he and Uhura closed their eyes.

"My mind to your minds, my thoughts to your thoughts," Spock said slowly and deliberately.

Almost instantly Adam saw the change; both Spock and Uhura seemed to lose all interest in the real world. It would have been better if they had been able to leave the three alone, but Adam was all too aware that they didn't dare. One more seizure could kill Jim.