Chapter five

Three days had passed. Spock's progresses were improving slowly. He hardly could stand up for 10 minutes and make a few paces without having his legs shaking like in an Earthquake! Dr M'Benga has explained that his muscles were deeply wounded and it would take a few more days before he could walk alone. But now, he needed help. The catheter between his legs had been removed this morning and he wanted to go in the bathroom. Should he ask a nurse for help? With Nurse Beckett off duty, he had no other choice than to request the female nurse to come and accompany him to the toilet.

But when he released the call button above his bed, he was surprised to see Montgomery Scott entering his room. Both his hands had been bandaged and seemed unable to function but the smile on Scotty's face was genuine when the engineer said "Let me help you!"

Spock raised an eyebrow.

Two men, two legs and two hands non-functional, that's marvelous!

Scotty had managed to support him in the men's facilities.

"Ok! We are arrived! Um …Do you need something else?"

"Well…I…I require solitude."

"Oh…Yes…Of course." Scotty said while retreating on the other side of the door. "I'll wait you here."

"Thank you Mister Scott!" Spock answered, uneasy.

10 minutes later, Spock was rested in his bed, Scotty in a chair by his side.

"Mister Spock, I have a question. When was the last time you saw Doctor McCoy or the captain?"

Spock didn't reply. The silence was finally broken by Scotty two long minutes later.

"This is so strange. We are both confined in Sick bay and they don't come to see us."

Again this feeling… Something remains unsaid…This was echoing in his mind.

It was true. In fact, he saw McCoy the day he woke up but since that day …Nobody else than Dr M'Benga or Dr Triss came to see his progresses…

And why his captain had not taken one minute to see him? Was he not his friend?

Scotty was sorry. He had guessed Spock's thoughts.

"Come on lad! We have to find what is going on! First, we have to check his office, this is only a few yards from here…I'm sure we will find him asleep under an amount of paperwork!"

Spock nodded and began to stand with Scotty's help, when a voice made them stop!

"Mister Scott! I'm looking for you since 20 minutes! Why did you leave your bed when it was time for your care?"

"But Miss Chapel, you have already changed my bandages this morning and take a look at…"

"Nurse Chapel, Mister Scott was helping me to…"

"Mister Scott! Your doctor has ordered me to change them twice a day! Now go back to your room, Mister! Have you already forgotten that you had a new skin on your hands! And you, Mister Spock, you have to call me when you need something!" She said firmly. "One minute! Did you plan to escape from Sickbay?"

"Well…In fact…We have just planned to go and search for Doctor McCoy or the Captain…"Spock explained.

Christine Chapel became suddenly embarrassed.

"Well …I …I will call the captain…Please, wait here!" Christine begged in a strange voice.

Scotty was astonished by the sudden change of tone and attitude of Christine.

Something remains unsaid…

Five minutes later, Jim Kirk entered Spock's room and has faced the two men. He looked extremely tired. It was the afternoon on the ship and he was not even shaved yet!

"Spock …Scotty…I am sorry, I did not have the time to see you yet…Christine told me you wanted to see Bones but …It's impossible."

"Captain, please, tell us what's happening here! Where is Dr McCoy?" Scotty asked.

"What happened to Admiral Jones?" Spock added.

"What? Mister Spock, we don't care about what happened to that man! We want to know what happened to Leonard!" Scotty said in a furious tone while seeing the looks exchanged between his two friends. Well, he had heard some rumors about an argument between McCoy and Jones but … Was McCoy missing because of Jones?

"Please gentlemen, sit down!" Jim sighed.

James Kirk sat down himself in a chair while Spock and Scotty were seated on Spock's bed.

"I …I don't know where to start." Jim told them.

"You can tell us where is Leonard!" Scotty said in a serious tone.

"Well…Yes…I can tell you that. Leonard is confined in his quarters…"

"Confined?"

"Scotty, please don't interrupt me!" Jim said firmly.

"I'm sorry …Captain."

"Scotty, call me Jim here! So, Bones is confined in his quarters because I refused to put him in jail. Since three days I'm trying to convince Admiral Jones and Starfleet command to not blame Bones for what he did…"

"He saved us all!" The engineer shouted.

"Scotty! What did I ask you?" Jim sighed before continuing his story. In front of him, Spock was listening with an inexpressive face.

"…Bones hit Admiral Jones with a hypospray containing an anesthetic and a powerful hallucinogenic… Admiral Jones has joined Alice in Wonderland for six hours… You know our good doctor and his delicate manners.

"Bones uses hyposprays faster than his shadow…"Scotty said with a faint smile.

"Then, he has restrained Admiral Jones in bed and ran toward the laboratory when he worked with his colleagues on an anti-toxin. Two hours were enough to find a cure! McCoy raced to your room, Spock, and started the IV treatment with you first…When Jones woke up, he was furious. Despite the fact that you two and the others were safe, he ordered me to arrest Leonard for insubordination and attack on a Superior Officer! Please, believe me, I tried to defend him but they didn't listen to me. Geoffrey and Helen Triss have also pleaded in his favor. I think you know about his file. He has previous history of insubordination…He has always been strong headed. The Council of the Association of Physicians has given his opinion but Leonard hadn't made a medical error. On the contrary he discovered a new cure for a new disease! They even recommended Leonard for a medal… But some admirals have complained he has gone too far by attacking an admiral. They're Jones's friends I'm sure. They want to make an example of McCoy, but not for his good action…They eventually made known their decisions two hours ago…"

James Kirk had closed his eyes. He was unable to look at his friends while finishing his story. His throat was constricted and he felt nauseous. He was so tired.

"What did they decide?" Scotty said in a whisper.

Jim sighed. He was so tired. "Sending him in court-martial is unthinkable. He is a rewarded doctor who does his job. They are too afraid that the media seize of the matter. So they gave him two options. First, he resigns and returns to civilian life. Second option, he loses his rank and restarts his career from scratch. It means losing his posting as CMO aboard the Enterprise. They offer him to send him on an isolated outpost far away from …nowhere! McCoy chose the first option…Now, Leonard is in his quarters. He is packaging all his belongings. The ship is approaching Earth. It will be in orbit in ten hours."

"But …It's unfair! He saved us! Admiral Jones is a senile fool!" Scotty said, furious.

For the first time, Spock gave them a sign of emotional reaction. His hands were slightly shaking.

Spock had listened Jim, trying to not show his anger and his culpability.

Three days ago when he woke up in this same room, he had believed that his life aboard the Enterprise and his career had come to an end. He had thought having to leave his friends and beginning an uncertain new life, alone. During all these years, his friends have become his family.

Now, this was McCoy's future life…His friend had risked his career for him.

"It's my fault…" Spock said. "He had broken the rules to save my legs…"

"No, Spock! It is not your fault. It is Jones's fault and his ego." Jim stood up and came near his friend. He hesitated but finally he took Spock's hands in his.

"I will miss him…" Scotty said sadly.