First Officer Spock had lost track of time. That should have forewarned the Vulcan of what his actions were doing to his body, what his emotions were doing. His whole purpose was to keep the ship safe till Captain Kirk returned. He had to defend the crew against Commodore Collins, adhere to Doctor's medical orders, and keep reviewing the building plans in order to locate the Captain.

The Commodore had, as per regulations, taken command of the ship and had been highly critical of the command crew. There was not one member of the bridge crew, as well as the senior crew in both the Engineering and Medical Sections, that he had not defended against the man's delusional demands and irrational tirades. McCoy had wanted to keep him in Sickbay but he had to be there for the crew. When not on the bridge he would go to Sickbay so that Doctor McCoy did not pester him when he went to his own quarters where he studied the building plans.

On the sixth day he walked up to the command chair and looked at Commodore Collins, "Sir, may I ask what attempts have been made to recover Captain Kirk?"

"Need I remind you, Science Officer, that the original purpose of this mission was to prepare for the first visit to Halton by senior officials of not just Starfleet but also the Federation? We were to come and ensure the facilities were ready for inspection a week before their arrival and to do what needed to ensure they were ready. While it is unfortunate that Captain Kirk was killed in an accident while inspecting the substructures with an inspection group we are to wait for the delegation without sending further personnel down. Is there any part of that you do not fully understand?" Commodore Collins stayed seated in the command seat on the Enterprise and looked at him as he stood before him and Spock could detect a look of supremacy and victory.

There was also the sense of being totally alone. He could feel the presence and silent support of the others. He could also sense the undercurrent of disgust and distrust that the bridge crew had towards Collins.

Looking directly at Collins and standing at full attention he said, "No, Sir, while I fully understand what you have just said I must return to the planet. I must find the Captain."

Collins had looked at him, "I admire your dedication to your former Captain, Mister Spock. You saw the site, you read the reports. It has been five days. You must accept the reality that Captain Kirk is dead and that I am now in command of the Enterprise. As my First Officer I expect the same dedication and loyalty from you that you gave to Kirk. Vulcans are known for their loyalty and dedication to their Captains."

"Sir, I again respectfully request permission to return to Halton for the Captain."

Spock was aware of Uhura glancing at the others and saw how both Sulu and Chekov had slightly turned in their seats and Scotty had totally stopped and turned to watch. He could feel concern radiating towards him McCoy and appreciated his silence.

"Why, Mister Spock, that is as close to begging as I have ever heard of from a Vulcan. I have never heard of a Vulcan begging for anything. Your kind simply don't, do you? Your kind just doesn't beg for anything."

For a moment Spock closed his eyes and felt McCoy's hand on his shoulder but at the shake of his head McCoy removed it. He, too, must have seen the slight smile both about the Commodore's eyes and on his lips. Slowly Spock opened his eyes and looked at Collins, "Sir, I am begging you. Please let me go find the Captain."

As Spock watched the man he saw just the start of a broad smile before Collins rubbed his hand over his mouth as though contemplating an answer before he looked at Spock, "Permission denied. Doctor McCoy, please take Mister Spock to either his quarters or Sickbay where I want him confined till he is able to function properly. Keep him off my bridge."

Although he had expected that response, there was only an eleven point six percent possibility of him being given permission, it greatly discomforted him that he would have to somehow find another way of getting to the Captain. He found he could not move, that he could just stand as he tried to think of how he could return to the planet.

He was aware of the stillness around him then felt the strong arm of Mister Scot wrap around him and heard that reassuring voice, "Come on, Mister Spock. Let's be getting ye back to Sickbay."

"Mister Scott, I did not say you could," pure anger was in the voice.

There was a pause and Spock was aware of Mister Scott half turning to look at Collins, "I may nae understand Vulcans, but ye do not treat anybody in shock like that. Are ye really so stupid or blind not to see it?"

"I will not,"

As the turbolift doors were shutting Spock was sure all could clearly hear Scotty say, "Sit on it and turn, Sir."

In the turbolift Spock was aware of McCoy looking at him, once again clearly making sure he was just holding on to not only his sanity but also his control. Over the years McCoy had become almost as proficient at his detection of such things as some of the Vulcan healers who had never treated Humans. Spock was aware that only Mister Scott's arm around him was really keeping him on his feet. Through their physical contact Spock could feel the man's concern about him, sensed that the man considered him a friend, and was not shocked at some of the primitive methods used by the man's great ancestors appealed to the man for what to do to Collins. Only once before had he ever seen Spock beg but this, this time had been far worse. That it had been on the bridge in front of the crew was bad enough but he had been made to beg by somebody who had no intention of granting his request and was deliberately tormenting him. McCoy could see that thin line holding Spock together was tighter now than it had been since they beamed him and Collins back to the ship without Kirk.

"Spock," the Vulcan turned his head and looked at the doctor, "Spock, do you want to go to Sickbay or your quarters?"

"My quarters will be sufficient, Doctor." Although his voice was no more than a whisper he knew that both McCoy and Scott heard him and that they had also heard all that was behind the words. It was the first time since leaving the bridge that Spock seemed to notice how McCoy was holding his arm and Scott still had his arm securely around him, half guiding half supporting him. Through their contact a feeling of understand and friendship flowed and he felt safe. "Gentlemen I, I must apologize for my,"

"Ah, tis us you're talking to, Mister Spock. No apology needed. Ye rest." The engineer gave his arm a gentle squeeze,

"Thank you Mister Scott."

While the Scotsman got the bed ready McCoy took his full weight and the Vulcan was aware of the doctor supporting him physically as he had supported him mentally for so long. He was also aware of how those blue eyes were clearly reading him. He tried to smile, "I will be quite alright on my own, Doctor."

"Bed's ready for ye," Scott stood before him and looked him in the eyes, "Ye know where I will be if ye need me. Anytime." There was that light pat on his arm and the engineer went back to his bairns. It was strange but over the years Spock had come un understand why and how the man could think of the engines of the Enterprise as his children.

McCoy guided him to his bed and made him sit down then looked down at the bowed head, "Now I do not fully understand all that Vulcan mind stuff and that connection you two plainly have but you don't feel Jim is dead, do you?"

Spock shook his head and looked into the understanding eyes seeing in them that he could tell McCoy what he was sensing without fear of ridicule, "There is pain, fear, confusion, and he is blocking me. It is almost as though he were afraid of me. At times I have been able to get through his barriers and calm him. But you are correct, I would know if he were dead. I need to find him before his mind is too far gone, Doctor. I must get back down there and find him."

As soon as he felt the hypo pressing into his arm Spock knew he had made a mistake by closing his eyes. "We aren't him, Spock, but we will help you through this."

Spock woke slowly after the sedation McCoy had given him and, as was true with many of McCoy's medications, he did feel a bit ill but clearly his body had needed the time to adjust, time for him to let all he had thought and felt get back into order. Although he had believed Commodore Collins would refuse his request there had been an eleven point six percent possibility he would be allowed to go to the planet if he complied with the implied request. To not have done so, to not have tested that minimal percentage, would be unpardonable should it be found that Jim was still alive when they left and he had not exhausted all possibilities of getting to him.

He just had to think of a way to get to the planet as he knew Jim was alive but lost, frightened, and hurt. He had no proof but he suspected the Commodore was somehow involved which made things all the more difficult. He could have either transported down or taken a craft, both of which would involve other crew and he could not risk their lives nor their careers. There was no doubt in his mind that they would be willing to help but he could not, would not, put them in harm's way, even for Jim. Should he ask for their involvement and something go wrong that cost their lives but saved Jim's life he was certain Jim would forever blame him and he knew he would not be at peace with himself. No. There had to be some way but he could not think of,

Scott. There had been something about the way Mister Scott had gripped his arm, that look, the way he had said, "Ye know where I will be if ye need me." His hand moved almost on its own volition to the communicator.

"What?" Chief Engineer Scott's obvious frustration at being woken in what Spock realized, with chagrin, was his sleeping time, was clear.

"I apologize for awakening you Mister Scott,"

"Ye need my help?"

"If I could speak with you,"

"I'm on my way."

As he stood looking at his monitor Spock realized how he had oddly expected such a reaction. It seemed strange that he now realized that those on the bridge and Mister Scott were a family, a close and connected family who one another could rely on, often without words. Although he still had some difficulty understand certain aspects of the Human ways this small band clearly understood him.

As soon as he had heard Scott saying he was coming Spock walked over and turned down the room temperature. He knew it was set at what he was used to on Vulcan which was approximately five degrees Celsius warmer than the others had theirs set at.

had been surprised when Spock had contacted him and asked if he could speak with him. It was not often the Vulcan really spoke to anybody when not on duty apart from the Captain and McCoy. They would exchange words and maybe briefly discuss something to do with the ship but that was about all. He accepted that the Vulcan was a very private person just as he knew the Vulcan accepted him as he was.

"Thank you for coming, Mister Scott, I know you are off-shift and have other things you,"

The man had looked at him and said, "I told ye if ye needed me I'd be here. What is it, Mister Spock? How can I help ye?"

"I need to get to the planet. I can only do so by taking a craft or by transporter. I cannot,"

"I can arrange the transporter."

His willingness to help had not overly surprised the Vulcan as he had, over the years, come to respect the Engineer and did, in fact, consider him a friend. Those four other: Uhura, Sulu, Uhura, and McCoy, were also friends but none were as close as Jim and they seemed to understand and accept it. "I cannot ask you to risk your future in,"

"And just how would I be doing that if I were checking that wee fault we have with the transporter? Ye and everybody else knows when I am working on a wee problem I only see the problem not the people around me so if ye were to be there how would I know?"

Just for a moment Spock was going to ask about the fault as he had not been advised of any but stopped. For that moment the two men just looked at each other in silent understanding. This was what Spock had wanted, a way to the planet. As Spock looked at the man he realized that Mister Scott was doing this for him and Jim under the guise of checking the transporter. The Chief Engineer was responsible for the operational safety of the transporter and if he suspected any fault he was charged with investigating and correcting the Spock nodded, "What time is the repair scheduled for?"

"When ye want it." the Engineer grinned, "Being the so-called miracle worker I can make it anytime and if his upshot self wants to get to the planet while I'm working he can take a craft."

Despite himself Spock half-smiled, "You are talking about a senior officer."

Scott smiled back, "He may be senior but he is no officer. Do ye know where ye want to be beamed to?"

"I will advise you once I have confirmed my calculation. Do they have any form of shielding up?"

"Not since the Enterprise arrived. Should I tell the others?"

"No. It is bad enough that I am asking you to risk your,"

Quickly Scott reached out and briefly placed a hand on Spock's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze, something so out of character the Vulcan looked at him, "Nae such a thing has happened. I just advised ye of a wee problem with the transporter that needs to be fixed. Now, what sort of a risk is that? And ye did no asking as far as I recall about the transporter. I told ye of the trouble with the transporter and that's the end of it,."

Long after the Engineer had gone and while he tried to concentrate on the layout of the building he was certain Jim Kirk would be in, Spock found himself oddly comforted by the knowledge that while McCoy and Kirk were the closest friends he had ever had that there were ones like Scott around. He had seen, in the past, how the others: Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu, were there for him as well and he knew he only had to ask but he had not felt comfortable asking Scott for his assistance even though the Scotsman had made a logical argument pointing out how the decision was his own. Just for a moment he had thought of debating the wisdom with the man but Scott had said, "I told ye of the trouble with the transporter and that's the end of it," before he walked out.

At off times over the next eight days McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov had to his quarters to see if he was okay but did not stay long as he insisted he was studying and needed to concentrate. When they had asked what he was studying he had found the most convoluted way of saying building structures so that none of them knew exactly what he was planning. He could tell that McCoy suspected something was amiss but the doctor had not asked: only staying a few minutes and always bringing food and waiting till he had consumed at least half of it.

Early on the ninth day Spock hesitated for a moment before he touched the intership communications line and press Scott's number. "Ye ready now, Mister Spock?"

"Might I inquire as to how you knew it would be me?"

"Who else would be calling me at this hour? I'll be right there. Just tell me where."

Only on very rare occasions had Spock seen Mister Scott in civilian clothing and he could tell from Mister Scott's face he was equally as surprised to see him in civilian clothing. "Ye have the coordinates then?"

Spock set in the co-ordinates and looked at the man beside him, "I could set a delay. You still have,"

"And just how would ye get back up here if ye were a mite late? We've discussed it all we're going to." He held out a small communicator. "I best get on with the repairs that need doing. Ye just bring him home."

As the beam took him Spock found himself wondering how many of the others would suspect something was happening, how many of the others actually believed Jim to still be alive. There had been such absolute certainty in the Engineer's voice.

What he had thought from the plans of the building to be the most likely room for Jim to be hidden seemed to be a sauna. There was a very warm scented mist filling the air. Steam vents in the floor ensured that there was no place the mist would miss. He turned to leave then saw the mat with a tightly curled naked form on it. Just for a moment he stood looking at his friend laying in a tight fetal position, he fought back an anger that was growing in him at those who had done this to Jim. He could see no signs of physical abuse but when he lightly touched Jim's face he felt his mind, his mind was in chaotic turmoil. Cautiously he took out his tricorder, the reading on the steam indicated a substance that was extremely hallucinogenic to humans. Any thought of a meld was out of the question. His main priority had to be to get Jim to McCoy as the doctor would know what to do for him.

"Mister Scott?"

No response. Now was not a time for the dedicated man to be engrossed in his work.

"Mister,"

"I'll be right there, dear. This repair is going to take me a mite bit longer as company has come to see what I am doing."