Bones was chewing on the end of a pen and flipping through paperwork when they arrived in Sickbay. He looked up when they entered and nodded them over. "Any luck?"

Kirk gave a negative reply at the same time Spock said they had spoken to some of Mifune's friends. They glared at each other for a moment before the science officer continued. "You said you information for us, Doctor?"

"I do." He turned to a computer terminal and tapped the screen. "Based on how far along she is, this was the date of conception." He waited for Spock to copy the date down in his notebook, then nodded toward a portion of the bay that was curtained off. "It's been hell getting her to talk but Uhura's been working on her."

"I didn't know Uhura was talking to the Ensign." Spock arched an eyebrow at this new revelation.

"We don't have a shrink onboard and I'm not willing to pick some girl's brain about her rape." Bones shrugged. "Communication is more than just language. Uhura's the best person on board for Ensign Mifune to talk to."

"Did she tell Lt. Uhura anything useful to the investigation?"

"There was a party at 'Bon Bon's' quarters. She tossed a few back, talked to a few people and left. Went to the kitchen to make some food for a holiday or something and that's when it happened."

"Thank you Doctor. That is helpful."

"Wait a minute, wait. How is this helpful again?" Kirk asked. "No offense Bones, but the only new information you gave us is the date."

"Bit curious about that myself." Bones looked at Spock.

"Simple. While we suspected Ensign Mifune had attended the party, now we are certain. If she left the party alone it would have provided an excellent opportunity for someone so inclined to attack."

"You think someone from the party attacked her." A fourth voice joined in. The men looked up to see Uhura standing behind Spock. Kirk wondered how long she had been there. "That makes sense, most rapists know their victims."

"How do you know that?" Kirk asked.

"Life in Starfleet 101. Lecture 13: Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention." She deadpanned. "I think you were sick that day."

Kirk was about to snap back with an order to remember that he was the captain when he remembered that she was partly right. He had skipped that lecture, had e-mailed his professor with the excuse of being sick when he had been suffering from a hangover.

The memory made him feel nauseated. His mouth went dry and he couldn't think of anything to say. Finally he told them he wanted to talk to Mifune and to make sure Uhura got to her quarters safely. For a moment it looked like she would protest but Spock took her hand and guided her out of Sickbay.

"I didn't mean to make him feel bad." She said when they were out of Sickbay and walking down the hallway. "At least not that bad."

"The Captain is agitated." Spock replied. "He believes he is to blame for what happened."

"That's ridiculous."

"I agree."

"Almost as ridiculous as you making sure I get home alright." She arched an eyebrow, mirroring his favorite expression.

It was a testament to his grace under fire that Spock did not break out in a cold sweat under that look. "There is an attacker on board ship. We do not know his identity, nor when or where he will attempt to hurt another woman. Until this situation is resolved it is logical to take precautions to protect yourself."

"Spock, nobody is going to jump on me in the middle of the hallway." She pointed out.

"I have noticed the women on board ship have taken to traveling in pairs and groups." This was true; rumors about the investigation had spread. Fear and common sense had prompted many of the ship's women to use the buddy system.

"I can take care of myself." Uhura snapped. "Just because I didn't notice something was wrong with Ensign Mifune doesn't mean I'm totally incompetent!"

"I didn't mean to imply that you were." Spock said, arching his own eyebrow. They had reached her quarters and he hesitated when the door swooshed open. Figuring that it would not be wise to leave her until he knew the extent of her feelings and had done what he could to soothe her he stepped into her room.

If she was surprised that he had followed her inside she didn't show it. She just ordered a drink from the replicator and offered him one.

"No thank you. My intent was not to join you for a drink."

"So what did you intend?"

"To find out why you are angry."

Uhura sighed. "Ensign Mifune is on my communications team. I am directly responsible for her safety. Now do you see why I'm upset?"

"No." Spock said simply. "You are doing the exact same thing the Captain is doing: blaming yourself for something you had no control over." He removed the drink from her hand and they sat on the edge of the bed. "I have noticed that humans like to control things and when they are in a situation they cannot influence they become fearful and angry. It is a side effect of not controlling your emotions."

She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to control these emotions. I don't want to have them at all."

"Then you wouldn't have any emotions and I would not love you." He said softly, wiping his thumb across her cheek and brushing away a tear. "And I wouldn't worry as much about your safety."

She sniffled and gave a weak smile. "You're sweet." She said. "Very chivalrous. Now you just have to lure the bastard out from his rat hole and you won't have to worry about me getting home alright."

Spock was quiet for a second. He had a look that indicated he was thinking; his forehead was slightly creased and his eyebrows were drawn together instead of arched. Uhura touched his knee. "Spock?"

"I had not thought to lure him out." He said. "My intent was always to find out who the culprit was by detective work and process of elimination. However…"

"You think you can catch him in the act." She finished.

"We should talk to the Captain."

Kirk was still in Sickbay, where they had left him. He was hesitating between pulling back the curtain that surrounded Ensign Mifune and leaving her alone. He was confused and he looked at Bones for help. "Is this a good idea?"

"I'm a doctor, not a shrink."

"Aren't shrinks doctors?"

Bones looked annoyed. "Well…they're a different kind of doctor. My point is I can't tell you if it's a good idea or not. The only people she's seen since she was brought here are Lt. Uhura and me."

"You kept her isolated."

"Well how would you feel if you were raped and got pregnant and had to deal with everybody stopping by to check up on you and ask questions and satisfy their own curiosity? This is a Sickbay, not a zoo!"

"Alright, alright!" Kirk took a step back. "Don't get angry."

Bones rolled his eyes and there was a tense moment where they looked helplessly at each other, neither of them knowing what to do. Kirk was about to leave when a small voice from the other side of the curtain said: "I can hear you."

Kirk drew the white curtain aside to see Ensign Mifune staring at him. "Sorry." He said awkwardly. "I didn't realize we were so loud. Or that this curtain is as thin as a sheet." He looked at Bones, who shrugged.

"Starfleet regulation. Apparently they never thought anybody would come to Sickbay for privacy." He pulled the sheet back across the curtain rod it was attached too and they watched his boots walk away.

Kirk was keenly aware of Mifune staring at him and he found it hard to meet her eyes. Despite Spock's logic, he still felt at least partially to blame for her condition. It was one of the few times when he didn't know what to say.

She saved him by breaking the ice herself. "How's the investigation going?"

"It's going well." He lied. "We've talked to a lot of people. We've got a few ideas, eliminated a few possible suspects."

"Dr. McCoy told me Adam offered up his DNA."

"Yeah. He's not the father."

"Why can't you ask every man to undergo a DNA test?" She asked. Her eyes were wide and if anyone had asked him, Kirk would have told them she looked fifteen. "Wouldn't that be easier than talking to people?"

"It would but bio-ethics privacy laws prohibit us from forcing anyone…"

"I didn't say force. I said 'ask'." She interrupted. "It would narrow your suspect list."

Kirk opened his mouth to respond when his communicator beeped. "Spock to Captain Kirk."

"Kirk here."

"Captain, Lt. Uhura has an idea about how to find the attacker. Can you meet us in her quarters?"

"I'll be there before you can blink." Kirk said. He looked at Mifune. "You are a genius."

"Starfleet Academy said the same thing. I'm not sure I believe it."

"Believe it. I'm gonna go pitch your idea to my First Officer and talk to Lt. Commander Green. You keep thinking…" He paused because he wasn't sure what to tell her to think about. "You keep thinking up good ideas, okay?"

She gave him the thumbs up. As he walked out of Sickbay, Kirk felt hopeful about the investigation for the first time.

Fin.

Author's notes: I like this chapter better than the last. More drama, more action.

This chapter was supposed to be finished two weeks ago but I got a job (which is awesome by the way and I thank the good Lord that I have one) which took up a lot of time. Then my computer got a virus and my friend had to come over and fix it. Then I went off to Anime Mid Atlantic. The con was lame but the parties were excellent. So yah, life got in the way.

But seriously, thank you for your patience and support. Ya'll are great.