"Bones, I'm not sure about this." Kirk cleared his throat as he adjusted the tight collar of his dress uniform.

"Don't be such an infant," McCoy helped him to pin the medals on his lapel, then smoothed out the wrinkles on his chest. "You're going to a banquet honoring your last mission. Most people would die to receive an honor like this." McCoy brushed some dust off Kirk's shoulder.

"Is that why I feel like I'm dying?" Kirk asked and a small smile spread across his lips. McCoy raised an eyebrow at the younger man and gave him his 'I could slap you right now' look.

"Suck it up and sit through one ceremony. Then you can get back to that death trap you call a ship." McCoy grumbled as he looked over Kirk one more time, searching for imperfections.

"Now, Bones, I know you don't mean that." Kirk laughed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "You know you wanna get back to the Enterprise just as much as I do."

"No thanks," McCoy started for the door as he called out defiantly. "I'd rather stay here on Earth, thank you very much. Nothing like solid ground under your feet."

"I've got a funny feeling in my stomach," Kirk said quietly as he stood still, staring at the door.

"If you're going to try and play sick to get out of this, it's not going to work." McCoy scoffed and waited for a response. He was met with an uneasy silence and he turned around to face Kirk again. "Are you okay, Jim?" He asked, seeing the concern written all over Kirk's face.

"I just have a bad feeling," Kirk admitted, shrugging slightly. "I'm sure it's nothing." He shook it off and the classic Kirk smirk reappeared on his face. "Let's just get this over with."

"After you, Captain." McCoy snickered, gesturing to the door.

Kirk shook his head and stepped out of the dressing room. He sucked in a deep breath as he made his way to the backstage, where there were a few Starfleet members waiting for him patiently.

"Captain Kirk," A young officer saluted him and Kirk saluted back respectfully. "They're waiting for you to make your remarks."

"Thank you, Ensign." Kirk nodded as he peered behind the corner of the wall to see the councilwoman introducing him.

"And now, without further ado, I present to you, the great Captain James Tiberius Kirk!" The woman gestured to him form the podium and Kirk stepped out from behind the wall, and was met with thunderous applause. Kirk smiled warmly and waved at the crowd as he stepped towards the podium, and the councilwoman took her leave. Kirk recognized his crew, sitting the front row of the crowd, all of them looking like proud parents. Kirk smiled to himself. What did I do to deserve them? He asked himself as he neared the podium. Still, despite the warm welcome, the uneasy feeling gnawed at his stomach. He took a deep breath as he remained steps away from the podium, when an explosion rang out through the room.

/

McCoy's head was spinning, the ringing in his ears blocking out most of his thoughts. He slowly opened his eyes as he tried to take in what had just happened. His muscles ached and groaned as he pulled himself up from the linoleum floor, his thoughts still jumbled in a mess of half-sentences. What the hell? He finally managed to think as he looked at the carnage surrounding him. Smoke rose from the floor, the stage before him flickering with small flames. He looked behind him and watched the chaos of people swarming the exits in a frenzy. He shook his head in disbelief and turned his attention back to the stage.

Jim? He thought, watching the flames leap up the stage. Jim! He stumbled to his feet and pulled himself up the stage stairs, his mind racing. His eyes caught on the crumpled mass laying battered against the wall. Oh God, He swallowed hard as he remained frozen to his feet. He shook of the shock and raced towards Kirk, sliding and kneeling down beside him.

"Jim?" He yelled, but his voice seemed so distant and far away as his ears continued to ring. "Jim!" He cried out as he flipped his friend onto his back and saw the large piece of shrapnel that had pieced into Kirk's stomach. Kirk's eyes were wide with fear as he looked at his friend, his body bloodied and broken, dirt and debris smudged across his face. He looked down at his stomach in fear, but McCoy pushed his chin back and lifted his feet off the ground slightly.

McCoy watched in horror as Kirk mouthed his name, reaching a shaking hand to his arm. Spock knelt down beside the two men, placing a hand on McCoy's back. Spock's heart raced as he assessed the Captain's injuries.

"We need a med team over here!" McCoy screamed over his shoulder. "Now!" He continued, his voice going hoarse as he inhaled more of the thick smoke. "Hang on, Jim." McCoy pleaded as Kirk began to shake, his eyes still fixed on McCoy's face. "Hang on."

/

"God," McCoy breathed, his head still thundering from the concussion. "I can't believe this." He said quietly, gripping the back of his neck and rubbing it slowly.

"What do we do now?" Uhura asked, on the verge of tears. She gripped onto Spock's arm tightly as they stood in Kirk's hospital room, watching his chest rise and fall shakily. Spock stood stoically as he took in the sight of his once strong captain relying on the tubes in his throat to breathe.

"I..." McCoy trailed off, his eyes slowly moving to the vital signs blinking on the screen. "There's not much we can do," He said, defeated. His head hung low as he spoke, refusing to meet their eyes. "I've been over his file a million times." He breathed, barely holding back tears. "The most we can do is... is make him comfortable." He breathed, a tear slipping down his cheek. I've failed him. He thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. I'm the goddamned doctor, and I can't even do anything for him.

"No." Uhura said, near silently, her eyes filling with tears. "No, no there has to be something." She said quickly, he grip on Spock getting stronger and stronger. "I mean, with all the modern medicine, there's has to be something." McCoy picked up his head and looked at her with sorrow-filled eyes. "No." She covered her face with her hand. She pressed her head against Spock's chest. Spock lifted his hand out of reflex and cupped her head with his hand gently, pulling her closer to him. He continued to stare at Kirk's his eyes refusing to tear away from the sight.

"What about Khan's blood?" Spock asked quietly, after a long pause.

"That would work if he was only fighting your typical broken bones, torn organs, and the works." McCoy explained, watching Kirk with absolute despair. "Jim, he has brain trauma. Even if we could boost the healing process, we can't do anything about his head. He couldn't regulate the healing even if he wanted to," McCoy let another tear slip form his eye. This is it. He thought. This is the end.

Spock suddenly tore away from Uhura and stormed silently out the door. "Spock," Uhura called after him, her eyes wet with tears. "Spock!" She called again, louder, but Spock was already gone.

"Commander," Scotty stood up quickly, along with the rest of the crew when Spock appeared in the waiting room. "How is the lad?" He asked, but Spock didn't let up pace. "Mr. Spock?" Scotty asked, but Spock had already pushed through the doors. Uhura ran out from Kirk's room, reaching out to Spock, but she was already too late. Scotty looked to Uhura for answers, but he wasn't expecting to see the tears streaking down her face. The entire waiting room went silent as they all took it in.

/

"Father," Spock burst through the doors to the Vulcan Science Academy office on the San Francisco base.

"Spock," Sarek nodded to his son, standing up from his desk to greet him. "I heard what transpired at the ceremony. I wish to express my condolences, and to query about your condition." Spock continued forward, not breaking stride as he approached Sarek's desk. Sarek watched his son with masked concern as he drew closer.

"I need all the information that the Science Academy has on healers." Spock stopped steps from Sarek's desk, folding his hands neatly behind his back.

"Spock, I'm afraid that what you're asking for is not what you seek," Sarek said, carefully choosing his words. "The Science Academy has already published all useful methods of treatment and Starfleet is using all that it finds to be effective."

"I am asking for healers." Spock said firmly, his voice dangerously close to a snarl.

"I cannot help you," Sarek said quietly. Spock sucked in a deep breath and turned on his heel to leave, his anger building quickly. "However," Sarek called out to his son, and Spock stopped in his tracks. "I know someone that can." Sarek opened the drawer to his desk and pulled out a small tape. Spock stepped quickly to the desk. "Ambassador Spock left this for you. He requested that it be given to you only in case of an emergency." Sarek placed the tape gently into his son's outstreched hand. "Judging by your current demeanor, I would say that this constitutes as an emergency."

Spock stared at the tape in his hand with scrutiny. "Thank you, father." Spock said, remembering the words of his older self.He remembered how he had promised his younger counterpart that he would not meddle in his affairs. He sucked in a deep breath as he remembered him.

"Do with it what you will," Sarek took a seat gracefully again. Spock nodded and took quick steps towards the door. "And Spock," His father called out again, and Spock swiveled on his heel. "Live long and prosper," His father offered the Vulcan salute and Spock returned it.

"Live long and prosper, father."

/

Uhura sat in the waiting room with her fellow crew members, each of them staring at the ground, tears slowly leaking from their eyes. None of them could fathom what was happening to them. Flashes of their captain played through their heads as they watched the ground solemnly, none of them able to muster the strength to speak and comfort their fellow crew mates.

Spock burst through the doors, making a beeline for Kirk's room. "Spock!" Uhura called out to her boyfriend, standing up to meet him. He pushed forward as though he didn't hear her, but she stepped into his way, pushing her hands against his chest until he came to a stop. "Where the hell have you been?" She asked him, tears flowing freely from her eyes, but her voice unwavering.

"Show me to him, Spock." A young woman pushed through the main doors and into the waiting room. She wore a small fur top and tight fitting pants, and she twirled her jet back hair mindlessly as she stood in the doorway, her hip popped out seductively.

"Who the hell is she?" Uhura asked in disbelief.

"I'm here to heal your Captain." She smiled slyly at Uhura. Spock pushed his thoughts into Uhura's mind through their contact. Please, trust me Nyota. "Now, show me to him."

/

And the adventure begins! Thank you for reading, and I hope you'll stick around for the rest of it! As per usual, I don't have a beta reader, so please excuse my mistakes and be patient with my errors. Feeback, from constructive criticism to your thoughts on the story, is always welcome, so don't be afraid to leave a review! Thanks again for reading!

-buckminsterbarnes