Scotty stirred, groaning as his face began to throb. Alarms blared. The Enterprise shook around him, only a seatbelt keeping him in place. He raised a hand to gingerly feel for a forming lump, and there it wa-
Jim.
He stabbed the button to free himself and unsteadily clambered to his feet, grabbing the console and walls for support as he stumbled towards the door. The young captain was just crawling back, every inch of ground he gained visibly draining practically nonexistent strength. As Jim finally collapsed beside it, Scotty tried to open the door, even knowing it wouldn't. He glanced up at Scotty, but had no breath left for speaking. His eyes, normally a vivid electric blue, were losing their light to agony and terror. They pleaded silently for what Scotty knew he wasn't the right person to give.
Jim Kirk, Mr. Lone Wolf, was pleading for comfort in his final moments.
"I'll be right back," Scotty promised. "Dinnae…" Don't die. "Don't go anywhere."
He ran back to the console, praying the intraship communications were still working. He started to comm. McCoy, but hesitated. Was that the right move? Jim clearly had time enough for only one goodbye, and it had to be special. McCoy and the kid were incredibly close, but was this the goodbye Jim needed? They were on good terms. They knew how much the other cared. Besides, bringing a doctor here would symbolize desperation for survival – and that wasn't an option, not anymore.
No, there was only one person to comm. One person on this entire ship who would accept that, who wouldn't beg Jim to fight encroaching death. One person on this entire ship who had a tension-fraught friendship with Jim, whose feelings weren't entirely clear. One person on this entire ship who could give the captain the reassurance he needed, who could give Jim the comfort he needed.
He pressed the comm. button. "Engineering to Bridge. Mr. Spock?"
"Mr. Scott."
Spock sounded wary, as if he knew bad news was coming. Scotty's voice trembled, suddenly remembering it had only been a few months since Spock had lost his mother.
"You'd better get down here. Better hurry."