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Spock woke slowly after the sedation McCoy had given him. 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 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.

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.

Chief Engineer Scott 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.

He well remembered the first time he had been to the First Officer's quarters, how he had been stunned by the contrast between the man in uniform and the man in his own environment. And an environment it was, akin to what he knew of Vulcan. When he entered he was aware that Spock had obviously lowered the temperature for him.

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

"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 consider him a friend. "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 the Vulcan was going to ask about the fault as he had not been advised of any but stopped. For a moment the two men just looked at each other in silent understanding and as a plan silently formulated without words passed. Finally 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.

James Kirk stopped rocking and opened his eyes. It was still there. He still saw it. Spock walking away and that voice saying he was abandoning him. He remembered hearing he had been here for six days. Spock would not have left him here for that long. Spock would not have left him yet he had seen him walk away. He had seen him abandoning him. Spock had not come for him. He had abandoned him. Collins had been right in calling him a fool to believe he could trust a Vulcan. He had trusted Spock and Spock had left him here. Spock had abandoned him.

Not being certain what hours Mister Scott kept Spock hesitated for a moment before he touched the intership communications line and press his number. "Ye ready now, Mister Spock?"

"Might I ask 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 are 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.