"Spock?" McCoy asked, his heart beating out of his chest as his wort fears were coming to life. Spock stood alone on the transporter pad, covered in soot and ash. "Where..." He began to ask and his heart sank. "No." He breathed. "No." His blood ran cold as Spock shook his head slowly in shame. "Spock, where is he?" McCoy asked, his vision starting to swim. "Spock, where is he?!" McCoy screamed, but Spock didn't meet his eyes.

"The captain..." Spock began quietly as his lungs fought to pull in oxygen. "He..."

"No!" McCoy screamed and hot tears began to flow from his eyes. "No, we have to go back for him!" McCoy's voice shook as he climbed onto the pad. "Scotty, beam me down there!" McCoy begged, but Scotty was staring at Spock in disbelief, motionless.

"Doctor, there's too much interference," Scotty breathed, tearing his vision away from the broken Spock and looking back down at the platform. "It's a miracle tha' we could even bring back Spock," He said, his head reeling.

"How could you just leave him down there?!" McCoy sobbed as he latched onto Spock's shirt.

"Doctor, I-" Spock started, shame rising in his chest.

"You abandoned him! And now," McCoy began to hyperventilate as the possibilities ran through his head. "He-he could be down there, right now, burning alive!" He huffed and Spock's eyes finally met his own. The sorrow in Spock's eyes nearly brought to McCoy to his knees. Spock didn't have to say anything before McCoy realized what had happened. "No." McCoy breathed as he loosened his grip on Spock's shirt.

"The captain was..." Spock started, but a tear slipped down his sooty cheek instead. "We were making our escape..." Spock paused again, more tears falling down his face. "The lava..." He sniffed, beginning to feel weak in the knees.

"Spock!" Uhura burst through the door to the transporter room. Spock looked at her with heartbroken eyes and she raced to him and held him in a tight embrace. McCoy stumbled back against the wall and slid down to the floor, his legs buckling beneath him.

"No."

/

"Hey," Uhura cooed, placing a comforting hand on Spock's back. Spock sat on the bed, his face buried in his hands. "Can't sleep?" She asked gently, shifting to sit up beside him.

"No." Spock answered quietly, picking his head up.

"Do you want to talk?" She asked, rubbing her hand on his back.

"I should check on Doctor McCoy." Spock sighed and pushed himself up from the side of the bed.

"Ok," Uhura answered back understandingly. "But I'll be here when you're ready to talk."

"Thank you, Nyota." Spock kissed her gently on her forehead and slipped a shirt over his chest. He quietly slipped through the bedroom door and walked carefully through the dark quarters. He silently pushed open the door and walked slowly through the halls of the building, his mind racing. He didn't know what to say to McCoy. He didn't think he ever would.

"Spock." McCoy said gruffly as Spock slipped into Scotty's room. McCoy had set up camp on the couch in the living room, since the entire crew had elected that it was best not to leave him alone. He poured another glass of whiskey and reclined on the couch, refusing to look at Spock. "You got something to say? Or are you just 'expressing your concern' again?"

"Doctor, I wish to apologize." Spock said quietly, folding his hands nervously behind his back.

"For what?" McCoy asked, already knowing the answer.

"I should have done more to save Jim." Spock said, and he cringed as Kirk's name escaped his lips. McCoy flinched at the sound.

"I'm not going to lie, Spock. I was mad at you. You were the only other one down there." McCoy sighed as he took a drink from the glass. "But, it's wrong to hold that against you." He paused and stared into his drink. "Besides, I should've been down there. Maybe that would've changed things." He said, near silently. "But it's not your fault, Spock. I realize that now. Jim wouldn't want me to be angry at you."

"Doctor," Spock started, but he almost couldn't bear to continue. "I have not told you everything that transpired down on the surface of the planet." He stopped and McCoy's eyes finally met his, swimming with confusion. "Do not be so quick to forgive me."

/

Kirk pulled the rest of his body out from under the dark rocks, his body shivering uncontrollably. The remains of his Starfleet command gold tore as he struggled to free himself, leaving the shirt in tattered remains on the ground. He stood up shakily on his feet, each movement sending fiery pangs of pain up his back. His head spun as he tried to keep his balance.

He looked around the carnage surrounding him. Nothing remained. He sighed heavily, provoking yet another coughing fit. Once he calmed his lungs, he turned his attention to the bright day sky, hoping to see something coming to his rescue. Not to his surprise, the sky was empty, save for the swirling smoke clouds scattered around. He bent over painfully and scooped up a piece of tattered cloth that was once his uniform. The Starfleet insignia glittered against the sun as he held it up. he smiled slightly and slipped the piece into his pants pocket.

Now what? He asked himself, still scanning the area for anything useful. He quickly remembered the communicator tucked on his belt, but when he reached to grab it, he came up empty handed. So, I've got no weapon, no communicator, and no ride home. He cursed under his breath. But, I don't believe in no-win scenarios. He reminding himself and slowly put one foot in front of the other. He didn't have the slightest clue where he was going, but he knew that he had to walk.

His fatigued body shivered violently as he struggled to move forward. Something's gotta be out there. He thought to himself as he ignored the pain that radiated through his body with every step he took. He kept himself moving forward, slowly and painfully.

He walked for what felt like days until he heard the low hum of an engine in the distance. A new strength found its way into his bones as he scanned the horizon to find the cause of the commotion. His eyes caught on the glimmer of metal in the distance, and he took off running, waving his arms like a madman. He sprinted to the gleam, and slowly, a rusty, broken down ship began to take shape before him. As he drew closer, he could see a small form standing outside the ship, kneeling down and inspecting something on the ground. An uneasy feeling began to rise in his gut. Something wasn't right.

Kirk tried to scream, but his lungs filled with ash and he began coughing again. He continued waving his arms until the figure stood up and saw him. He smiled wildly as he finally came close enough to the small junk ship to touch it. The figure stood there quietly, watching as Kirk nearly keeled over when he finally made it to the ship. Kirk could see them now, clothed head to toe in scraps of cloth, thick goggles concealing most of her face.

"Who are you?" She asked, watching him closely.

"Captain...James...Tiberius...Kirk..." Kirk panted, bracing himself on the side of the ship. "Of... the USS... Enterprise..." He coughed.

The woman in battered clothing nodded slightly, then quickly reached from the gun tucked into her waistband. Kirk's adrenaline kicked in and he hit the gun out of her hand before she could fire it at him. The gun skittered to the ground and the woman grabbed Kirk's wrist and twisted it sharply. He squeaked in pain before grabbing her shoulder with his free hand and pulling it down, flipping her onto the ground. She released his wrist in confusion and he pinned her to the ground quickly.

"Listen to me," He panted, his lungs burning with the struggle. "I'm not going to hurt you!" He explained, but she snatched a a knife from her belt and slashed it at Kirk, narrowly missing his chest. He doubled back in surprise and she charged at him, thrusting the knife at his chest. He grabbed her arm and turned it, throwing off her momentum and making the knife swing hard to his left. As her arm continued in that direction, Kirk turned her around and wrapped his muscular arm around her neck, pulling her into a tight choke hold.

"Just listen, alright?" He huffed as she squirmed under his grip. "I need a ride."

"Over my dead body." She snarled and he sighed heavily before tightening his muscles. She gasped for air as Kirk held her neck tightly. She struggled until she passed out, her body going limp.

"Sorry." He sighed and slowly picked himself up from the ground. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her up the ramp onto the ship, picking up her small laser pistol on the way. He pushed down the uneasy feeling that lingered in his gut, asking him why there was a ship out in the middle of nowhere. "I really need to get back." He sighed as he disappeared into the junk ship.

/

And the plot thickens! Thank you for all of the positive feedback! As always, feedback is highly appreciated, so feel free to leave me a review, whether it's constructive criticism, or just a positive note. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for more!

-buckminsterbarnes