Jim's little theatrics had earned him a fractured wrist and another CT scan. Spock had come running into sickbay, white as a sheet and convinced (though said in his own precocious wording) that Jim had further injured his brain. But the scans proved that it was Jim overworking his body, and not a brain bleed, that had caused him to pass out.

McCoy had just started the osteo-stimulator for another round when he saw Jim's eyes flickering open. And while he knew the odds, he couldn't help but hope that as Jim woke up again he would remember everything.

"Hey Jim. Welcome back to sickbay. I hope you're happy - you've gotten yourself a nice little adventure out of this, haven't you?"

Jim blinked, clearing the haze from his eyes. "What happened?" He asked slowly.

McCoy frowned. "Try and remember for yourself. You didn't hit your head again so if you've really forgotten you're in for a world of tests."

A pause, then: "Did I really win the Medal of Honor?"

McCoy rolled his eyes, but inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. At least they weren't dealing with another lapse in memory. "Yeah. That was about three years ago." It felt weird to mention it to him – and not just because he couldn't remember it. Jim was kind of touchy about the subject, and believed he didn't deserve it. McCoy had argued with him about it a few times, but had eventually let the matter lie. You had to pick your battles.

Jim moved so that he was sitting upright. "What the hell did I do to get that?"

McCoy blinked. Even though he knew that the past would have to be rehashed, he hadn't thought about how exactly he was going to tell the story. "I'll have to give you the log about it. But basically, the ship that destroyed the USS Kelvin reappeared, and you were able to figure out what was going on and played Russian roulette with your life a few times before saving the planet. And try not to move your arm, will ya?"

The doctor looked up from the osteo-stimulator to see that his friend's face had gone quite pale, and the heart rate monitor picked up a bit.

"Did you say the USS Kelvin?" Jim bit out.

Shit. He had forgotten how taboo the subject of George Kirk was to Jim before he joined Starfleet. "Yeah," he said slowly, "you used what you knew about the attack to keep the Enterprise from being smashed to bits."

Jim blinked, composing himself, and then a frown came over his face. "How the hell did this happen?"

"You got hit in the head by a rock."

Jim shot him a look of disbelief. "First of all, let me just say that's dumbest way to have lost six years of my life. Second, that's not what I was asking."

Leonard sat down in the chair next to the biobed. "What do you mean, then?"

"What I'm asking is how did I end up here? I mean – Starfleet? It's impossible. The 'fleet and I are not exactly best friends."

"Pike only got you to join on a dare, as I recall. It would have been not long after you took that shuttle back to earth from Risa. And really, you and Starfleet are still not best buddies."

Jim frowned. "You said Pike – you mean Captain Christopher Pike?"

McCoy nodded.

"Well, can I talk to him? I – I know him. No offence, but it'd be nice to see a familiar face."

Goddamnit he really had to watch what he said. He took a deep breath, and his face softened. "Jim, I'm sorry, but Pike's dead. He died two years ago."

Jim went very still, and McCoy couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness that came over him. So much had happened to Jim in the last six years, and obviously not all of it was good. He felt a sense of dread thinking about the other horrors that would have to be sprung on the younger man.

"Jim, I –"

"Don't. It figures." He glared at the floor. "Not like he would've been much help anyways."

"Don't say that. I know how much Pike meant to you."

Jim spun his gaze to McCoy. "And how the fuck do you know so much? I don't know you!"

Leonard knew that Jim was just deflecting, but it still struck him to hear that. "Believe it or not, when you're friends with someone for six years you tend to learn some things about them."

"I must have had a stroke or something to have that kind of lapse in judgement. Why would I tell you anything?" Beneath the anger McCoy could see the actual confusion. Jim was incredibly slow to trust, even now, and when he started at the Academy it had taken him a good six months for Leonard to even start getting any details about his past.

Feeling drained, he went for the straight answer, looking his friend in the eye as he said, "Because you trust me, Jim."

Jim's anger faded quickly, and was replaced with confusion. He held Leonard's gaze for a few moments before looking down at his feet. "I saw a picture of the two of us in – well I guess it's my room."

McCoy smiled a little. "Is that what you were after? A little proof?"

"Can you blame me?"

"Well, I can blame you for fracturing your arm."

Jim shrugged.

"The photo is from the academy, a few weeks before the Narada attacks – when you got the Medal of Honor," he clarified, when Jim looked confused.

Jim looked up at him, studying his face. "I just can't remember any of it," he said after a moment.

"I know, kid. But we'll figure this out," McCoy replied with a confidence he didn't feel.

"What if I never remember?"

Leonard felt his chest twist, and figured he would have to get used to the feeling. "Then we'll figure that out, too."

McCoy had left him alone to read over logs and reports on some of the events that had happened to him over the past six years. It still didn't make sense to him that he wouldn't remember anything, but it was getting harder and harder to deny it. And boy, a lot had happened. Starfleet Academy, the Narada Incident, what happened with Khan (the details on this were weirdly vague – he'd have to ask McCoy about it), Yorktown - and that was just the big stuff.

He heard footsteps and his head snapped up to see who it was.

The Vulcan who had been in McCoy's office and later chased him back to sickbay walked up to his bed and stood silently. Jim didn't offer any conversation, instead waiting for the officer to make the first move.

"I understand that your trip through the ship's Jefferies tubes did not result in any further memory loss," the Vulcan said eventually.

"Yeah, I remember you freaking out perfectly," Jim responded. "You know, for a Vulcan you're a pretty emotional guy, aren't you?" Said Vulcan looked affronted, and Jim just chuckled. "So, I figure we know each other. What do I call you?"

Face carefully blank, his response was: "I am Commander Spock, First Officer of the Enterprise."

Jim nodded. "Alright Spock, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Pardon?"

"You must be here for some reason. What is it?"

"I... merely came to ascertain your status for myself."

Jim nodded. "Well, I'm intact. My arm's broken – I mean, it was. I've never seen a bone knitter work so fast." And he'd had plenty of experience with them. "Hey – I didn't think about that. There must be all sorts of new tech out there."

Spock considered him for a moment, then said, "When you are well enough to get a tour of the ship, I can show you all of our new systems."

Jim looked him in the eye and replied, "I'd appreciate that."

Just then an attractive blonde-haired nurse walked up to his bed holding a new IV bag. Jim smirked. "Well hello. How come I've never seen you before?" He asked. "I'd much prefer your face over that scruffy looking doctor."

The nurse looked up and raised her eyebrows incredulously before turning to switch the IV. "I'd almost forgotten about this side of him, Spock. What a delight."

"Yes, you are."

She rolled her eyes. "How does your wrist feel?"

"Just fine, thanks." In reality, it was still twinging a bit, but who needed to know about that?

"Right. Let me see it, then."

He held up his hand for the lady, looking into her eyes as she prodded parts of his arm. Then she squeezed right over the break. "Hey! Ow!"

She pursed her lips. "Just as I thought. I'll give you an ice compress soon and we'll do another osteo-stim in a few hours."

Jim scowled. "If you knew it was gonna hurt why bother checking?"

She looked him in the eye. "I've learned that when it comes to you, everything needs double checking. If you're not lying about your health it's not a day that ends in 'y'."

Jim blinked. For a moment, he'd forgotten that everyone around this ship knew him. He felt extremely exposed. Who knew what these people knew about him? He plastered on another smirk. "Gotta love that mouth."

The nurse gave Spock a long-suffering smile.

"Thank you, Nurse Chapel," Spock said to her, and Jim was surprised to hear a note of humor in his voice. Chapel walked off, empty IV in tow.

"She's a bundle of fun," Jim said.

"She is an extremely qualified nurse."

"I don't doubt it." Jim looked up at Spock. He knew the Vulcan had said he was just here to see how he was doing, but he couldn't shake the feeling there was another reason he was here. "So, Spock. How do we know each other? You said you're the First Officer, and I've been told I'm the Captain, so I see that, but to my knowledge Vulcans don't tend to go looking to see how people are doing."

Spock frowned. "I consider you a friend, Jim. And to my knowledge, friends are inclined to ascertain each other's health."

"Well, shit," Jim chuckled. "Gotta give myself credit for this one. You guys aren't too easy to befriend."

"No, we are not."

Jim raised his eyebrows before looking away and clearing his throat. "Right. So, you're sure there's nothing else you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Actually," Spock said after a beat of hesitation, "I do have an option for you to consider. We will have to discuss this more once Doctor McCoy is on duty, but I have a possible solution. At the very least it could clear up any doubts."

He frowned. What was Spock going on about? "Oh, yeah? What's this option you've got for me?"

"I am not sure whether or not you are aware, but Vulcans have certain telepathic abilities."

"I know that."

"Do you know of Vulcans' ability to mind meld?"

Jim shook his head slowly. "Can't say I do. What is it?"

"It is a telepathic link between two minds," Spock explained. "It involves an exchanging of thoughts and a sharing of consciousness. It could help with the retrieval of your memories."

He soaked in it for a moment before saying, "So what you're telling me is that you want to prod around inside my brain?"

"In extremely crude vernacular, yes. Though I must say I would never prod."

"And you're sure this would help?"

"In truth, no. However, the discovery that it would not help would be just as revealing. And I would need your full consent to proceed."

Jim looked at him incredulously. "Then no! Sorry, buddy, but I'm not giving you free reign over my mind on the off chance that it'll bring back some memories. I'm alive right now, I'd like to keep it that way."

Spock's eyes softened. "I understand. I will leave you. I have other work to attend to." He paused. "Please keep this option in consideration, Jim."

Jim didn't respond, and Spock left him alone in sickbay. And for some reason he couldn't explain, Jim couldn't help but feel sad.

What's this? An update two days after the last one? I know, I'm as shocked as you are. But I'm gonna try and keep this train rolling for as long as I can. And let me just repeat: if you wanna see anything in this story, just let me know. I'm open to any suggestions.

Enjoy!