A/N: Hey, y'all. I considered breaking this into two chapters, but decided to lump it together. It should hold y'all over some. I neglected my video today to work on this (and I had to make dinner; considering the next section of my vid I have to work on, I want a full day to do it). Anyways, I'm really surprised at how popular this story's turning out to be. Boredom apparently yields incredible results. Wow...

McCoy rummaged about his office. He straightened, organized, and properly placed every little thing. Except for his liquor cabinet. He stubbornly refused to go near it while he was still so unbalanced.

Chapel had noticed his sudden take on cleanliness. While everything had been in order, if not neat, he was finding every little nitpick and fixing it. Mostly, he was staying busy to avoid the planet report. Oh, he'd started writing it. He talked about the medical centers being set up in Pentarii, as well as the cases presented to him during his time down there. But after that he couldn't go on. Not just yet. He figured that in a day or two he'd be alright. He'd calm down, write the report to Spock's ludicrously high standards, and they'd all get on with their lives. Viewed objectively, it wasn't that bad… he'd been through worse dozens of times. Sometimes Jim and/or Spock had been there… sometimes it was by himself.

So why did this one have him jumping at every little sound?

Because your nerves are shot, he grumbled to himself. Then he winced. Bad choice of words, McCoy…

"Doctor?"

He jerked again and cursed himself for it. "Yes, Nurse?" he said professionally. He worked to get his thudding heart to calm.

"Mr. Spock and the captain are here to see you," Chapel said.

McCoy sucked in a discreet breath. But he knew this was coming. There were times he wished his friends didn't know him so well.

"Very well, send them in."

Kirk and Spock appeared at his door and stepped inside. McCoy glanced at them. "Spock, I know you want that report, but did you have to call the captain on me?"

They weren't amused. "Bones," Kirk began. "Is everything alright?"

His half-smile vanished. "With the supplies, the natives, or with me?"

Kirk saw right through his obvious stalling. He leaned forward and placed his hands on the desk. "With you."

McCoy surveyed the small room. "Well, I about broke my back in surgery, and the sudden bombing probably took a few years off my life, but otherwise I'm alright."

"You were not injured?" Spock clarified.

"No."

Kirk frowned inwardly. It seemed that that had held a note of… distaste in it. He knew McCoy had a martyr complex like themselves (though he wouldn't admit it) but the doctor always counted his blessings whenever they came back alive.

On the other hand, that unusual anger seemed to be gone.

"Then there is no reason for the delay in submitting the report," Spock continued.

McCoy fought to keep his temper down. He was still trying to process the events and the Vulcan wanted a damn report. There was a war raging on the planet below and he and the captain were hounding him about a paper.

"Mr. Spock," he said coldly, catching Kirk's attention with the icy professionalism. "Your report is coming, but right now I'm in the middle of overseeing medical supplies getting shipped to the surface. We're supposed to be setting up stations and improving hospitals on Shekk. Now, due to an unexpected delay, we're behind on that. So if you will excuse me, I'm going to make sure everything is ready to beam down so we can pick up where we left off." He shrugged past them but Kirk caught his arm.

"Doctor, what happened?" he said in a harder tone.

McCoy jerked himself free. "You're going to have to be more specific, Jim." Without another word he strode determinedly out of Sickbay.

"Well, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I figured it would've gone better than that." Kirk rubbed his brow.

"He seems to become unusually guarded whenever the subject of the events on the planet come up," Spock observed.

Chapel entered the office. "Any luck?"

"No, nothing," Kirk answered automatically. Then he realized that Chapel shouldn't know what they had seen Bones for. "Why?"

"Well, something's obviously bothering him," she said. "Since getting out of surgery he's either been high-strung or seething about something. He's been doing a bunch of odd little things around Sickbay to stay busy."

That was a definite sign that something was bothering the doctor. Spock seemed about to say something when the comm whistled. "Bridge to Captain Kirk."

"Kirk here," he said, tapping the button on the wall.

"Captain, the Nekati are hailing us," Uhura relayed.

He glanced at Spock. "I'll take it in my quarters, Lieutenant. Kirk out." He hit the button again and looked at his first officer. "Mr. Spock, if you will accompany me."

The two men left to go talk with the eyewitnesses on the planet.

"…the bombs didn't hit anything too important and treatment for the injured is already well underway. I must say that those medical centers are absolutely splendid! They're providing much-needed relief."

"I'm glad to hear it," Kirk said to the Nekati on the screen. He was an impromptu leader of the survivors in Pentarii. "Some more shipments are scheduled to beam down shortly, Joxap."

Joxap grinned. "Oh, fantastic. But I was wondering when your people would be returning to the planet?"

Kirk glanced at Spock. "Perhaps with the shipment."

"Oh, yes. By the way, is everyone alright? I am aware that you had some injured."

"Dr. McCoy informs us that they are recovering nicely with no expected complications."

"Good, good," Joxap said. He noticed the two Starfleet men exchange glances. "Is something the matter?"

"Joxap," Spock began. "Are you aware of the conditions in which McCoy was found?"

Joxap frowned. "I know Carimend's forces pulled him out of a holding cell. He and Shiak's body were found in it. Why, is something wrong?"

"Don't know. He's been acting a little strange- whose body?"

"Shiak's. He was a fair warrior; very much believed in our cause. We buried him outside the city."

"How did he die?" Spock asked.

Joxap grimaced. "Shot in the head. I never got to see McCoy after they stormed Vilsa- is he alright?"

"Uninjured, but again, acting oddly. Joxap, could Mr. Spock and I beam down this round? I understand the diplomatic complications-"

"Oh, of course, of course, Captain. We should keep you covered. After all, it's the Demetrians that had objections to any personnel other than medical teams. But if you do want to talk more privately," he glanced around. "That would be best."

"Very well. We will see you shortly."

"Agreed. I do hope the doctor is alright. Those centers are just fantastic! Did I mention? I shall ask around and glean what information I can. Perhaps I can locate Carimend for you to speak with."

"That would be very helpful," Spock said.

"Thank you, Joxap. Enterprise out." Kirk cut the transmission and looked at Spock. "Well, at least we're getting somewhere, now."

"Indeed."

For the record, I do know what happened on the planet. I know lots of things... the ending of this story ain't one of them. But we'll find out together! (hopefully) Thanks for the reviews, everybody (13 in two chapters... whoa.)!