A/N: I know the first chapter was a little short, but I hope this one makes up for it. Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWO

Spock and Uhura beamed abroad the ship together with the still body of Khan. Slowly, each materialized on the individualized pads. Uhura was still holding the phaser ready to stun Khan again if needed. Spock had been able to knock the superhuman out while Uhura had stunned him repeatedly during the hand to hand combat atop the refuse ship. Now, back safely aboard the Enterprise, Uhura turned to speak to Spock, but he was already directing the security detail that had been standing by to step up and take control of Khan. Khan was loaded and secured on to an air gurney. Then, he would be escorted back to sick bay to the awaiting Dr. McCoy. Clearly, Spock had one thing primarily on his mind, his friend and Captain. Nyota Uhura watched both parties leave and then she slowly began to follow the path taken by Spock.

As Spock and the security detail entered medical, it became immediately clear how much their arrival had been anticipated. Without a glance at all the concerned faces, Spock walked up to Dr. McCoy.

With a nod and a gesture toward the unconscious prisoner, the medical staff rushed forward and a nurse was ready with a hypodermic needle full of a powerful sedative to keep Khan unconscious and therefore, manageable during the blood donor process. The sedative would not affect Kirk as it went directly to Khan's brain to induce sleep with no residual blood effects. The medical and security staff guided the air gurney into the other room to await Dr. McCoy.

Dr. McCoy: "Spock, I'll take it from here."

Spock raised an eyebrow and stated, "Yes, Doctor. How's the Captain?"

Dr. McCoy glanced at Jim's still form. "Vitals are steady. Brain activity looks good. Just need to start the transfusion process." And with that being said, Dr. McCoy walked into the adjoining room to begin.

Spock nodded. He swiftly glanced around and with a stern but caring voice said, "All personnel not needed in sick bay please return to your duty stations. Announcements will be made to keep all informed. We've still got a ship to get to the space station for repairs."

The automatic door swept open as crew members began leaving. One of the last to go was Montgomery Scott. The chief engineer had remained motionless in the back absorbing all the comings and goings of his fellow shipmates. Concern now creased his eyebrows.

"Mr. Scott?" Spock asked in a questioning manner. "Systems report."

Montgomery Scott, or Scotty as known to his fellow officers, focused on Spock for the first time; stepping forward with glassy unfocused eyes that suddenly became quite focused and clear. In a softly spoken but a brusque voice with a slight Scottish accent, Mr. Scott gave his report.

"Mr. Spock, impulse power has been restored. The Warp Core is acting at normal capacity. The ship has stabilized. Several hull breaches on the lower decks. The transporter is fully working and will be available for transporting the injured and ship's crew to the surface. Some of the shuttles were damaged, but we have a few that can make the trip to Earth for the severely injured. Mr. Chekov is overseeing this process. The Captain's actions ….." and with that Mr. Scott's voice trailed off.

Spock nodded. "If you would file a sections report to me at your earliest, I need to add it to the Acting Captain's log."

"Aye, Captain. I will have it to you as soon as I get back to Engineering." With that, Mr. Scott turned and walked out of sick bay. Spock watched Scotty as he exited the room. He'd noticed that Mr. Scott had already thought of him as acting Captain; a thought that Spock wished wasn't the truth.

Unnoticed by both men, Lt. Uhura was quietly observing the exchange. Concern, love and worry made their conflicting reflections across her face. Before she could walk up to Spock, Dr. Marcus crossed the room and stepped up to him.

"Mr. Spock, most crew members that were injured have been treated and released or in the process of being transfered back down to Starfleet medical facilities for further treatment. Medical staff will be accompanying them. We have requested a report from all departments as to the number of missing or dead crew members. Those numbers should be available shortly. I will submit them with my official report."

Spock turned toward the Dr. and said, "Thank you and Doctor, how are you?"

Carol looked startled and confused for a moment and then a small hint of gratitude showed in her eyes. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Spock. Dr. McCoy and his staff have been able to take care of my leg and even though it's broken, the prognosis is for a full recovery within the next few weeks. I guess I'll have to figure how to manage with these crutches and then with a cane for a bit."

"No Doctor. You misunderstand me. How are you?" Spoke asked again. This time with a tone of urgency breaking through his voice.

"Mr. Spock. I'll be fine, with time of course."

"Yes, I suppose we all will be."

"Thanks to you and the Captain. If not for you…I don't want to think about what it could have been." Carol's voice went down to a whisper. With that being said, Carol Marcus made motions to the medical attendants to begin to move the captain's cryo tube towards the operating suite adjoining the one next to Bones. Even though, it was not necessary for the procedure to be done in the operating room, it was a room that still fully intact with no damage and less likely to have Kirk become succumbed to any infection.

This was going to be blood transfusion unlike any other because no one knew if it would really work. Rejection was always a possibility and even though the Tribble was able to come back to life by Khan's blood. No one knew for sure if this would actually work on a human, even an extraordinary human like James T. Kirk. These were thoughts that were circling through the brains of all of his friends and colleagues. Would it work? Could it work? What were the risks? What could be the consequences? All things that were now buried deep as only thing seemed to be the number one concern. Keeping Kirk alive and getting him well. Of course, the fact that Kirk was such a non-believer in the no-win scenario would be such a driving force in his unconscious mind. Bones and others were counting on it.

A/N: So what do you think of the story so far? Please leave a review. Thanks.