Back On the Enterprise…

Everyone froze on the Enterprise as they watched the planet Vulcan, disappear before their very eyes. Olivia reappeared in the turbo lift, her hands outstretched but holding nothing. Her eyes were blank and glassy. Her hands dropped, not even reaching for her bloodied shoulder. She didn't even make an attempt to leave the turbo lift. She just stood there, staring out at where Amanda should have been standing. Kirk and Bones ran to the lift but Spock could not move. He stared at the screen that showed that only one person made it back. Olivia's knees buckled and hit the floor. She still stared at nothing. Kirk opened the doors to the turbo lift and ran inside, Bones hot on his heels.

"Olivia, hey look at me, you're going to be okay. Bones how bad is it?" he asked holding her by her good shoulder.

Bones removed the cloth bandage and inspected the wound.

"It's deep but I can fix this up…no problem," he said quickly standing up.

Olivia made no attempt to move. Kirk looked at Bones.

"She's losing a lot of blood Jim so I need to get her to the sickbay now."

Kirk scooped Olivia up with no protest and carried her off to sickbay with Bones. Spock had heard them say 'sickbay' and proceeded to the elevator in cool but hastened steps. He was also in a trance of some sort. His mind was elsewhere. Uhura followed him into the elevator and stopped it.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry," she said and kissed him softly starting with his lips and working to his cheek then neck.

She hugged him tightly and the hug reminded him of Olivia's tight hugs. He returned it delicately. She pulled away slowly and looked him in the eyes.

"What do you need? Tell me," she asked twice.

Spock swallowed hard trying to keep on a mask of no emotion.

"I need…everyone to continue to act admirably…" he said and pressed the button so the elevator could move again.

Uhura nodded and kissed him softly. This time he returned it. He needed comfort and she was offering it to him. The elevator came to a stop and he headed out not looking back once.

Sickbay…

They had just finished placing the white bandage on her arm when Spock entered the sickbay. Kirk was sitting next to her while Bones sealed the wrapping. Olivia hadn't said much but at least now she was coherent. She answered McCoy's questions and spoke quietly to Kirk. She was still dazed. Spock walked up to the three and Olivia did not look at him. She couldn't face him. McCoy finished up and called Kirk over for something. Olivia knew it was to give her and Spock time alone…Kirk did too but was quite reluctant. He still didn't get along with the pointy eared bastard, as he called him. Once the two were gone, Spock spoke.

"How is your injury?" he asked quietly.

Olivia kept her head down.

"Fine…" she said softly.

Spock stared at her.

"Why will you not look at me?" he asked in a monotone voice.

"I don't want to see the pain…or the hate on your face."

Spock furrowed his eyebrows.

"I do not hate you Olivia…I do not think it is logical for someone to hate another for attempting to save their family."

Olivia looked up at him and immediately wished she hadn't. The pain was all over his face, but he was right…there was no hate.

"I failed…I didn't save her…she's dead and it's all my--" she was cut off by Spock.

"Do not blame yourself…my mother made a choice…she chose to save you…be grateful to her as she would have been to you," he said quickly and Olivia met his eyes.

"Why can't you just admit you're hurting? Yell or scream or something? Why must you put on that fake emotionless face with me when you know I know you better then that? You're hurt and angry so be hurt and angry!" she said raising her voice.

Spock continued to look at her, his face unchanged.

"I must continue to captain this ship…I do not have time to reside on my emotions pertaining to what has happened…perhaps when you are ready, you can join us upstairs. Your company is missed," he finished and turned around.

He heard the soft sobs as he reached the elevator and hesitated. He wanted to go to her, to comfort her, to let her comfort him, to stay with her and just be with her. He stepped into the elevator and turned around. He saw her face buried in her hands. She was trembling. His feet moved to go to her. The elevator door closed.

On the Bridge…

Spock had decided it would be best to go back to get help. Kirk disagreed and voiced it highly.

"We must gather with the rest of Starfleet…to balance the terms of the next engagement," Spock stated calmly.

"There won't be a 'next engagement!' By the time we've gathered, it'll be too late! But you say he's from the future and knows what's gonna happen, then the logical thing is to be unpredictable!" Kirk fired back.

"You are assuming that Nero knows how events are predicted to unfold. The contrary, Nero's very presence has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on the USS Kelvin, culminating in the events of today, thereby creating an entire new chain of incidents that cannot be anticipated by either party," he finished smoothly.

Uhura added, "An alternate reality."

Spock nodded.

"Precisely. Whatever our lives might have been if the time continuum was disrupted…our destinies have changed."

Kirk continued to resist until Spock ordered him to be removed. Kirk fought against it. Spock pinched the nerve on Kirk's neck causing him to pass out. He had a portable shuttle arranged to take Kirk off the ship. When Kirk was taken care of, he returned to his duties. Olivia came up from the sickbay. She put on her best face and walked to the bridge. She was greeted by her comrades warmly. She looked around for one in particular.

"Where's James?" she asked softly to Bones.

McCoy sighed.

"The genius over there had him removed from the ship…sent him to some freaking glacier," he said angrily.

Olivia's eyes widened and her composure was lost.

"He did what?!" she exclaimed a little louder then she intended.

She turned to look at Spock who was in fact looking at her.

"You sent James off the ship?!" she yelled walking up to him.

Spock stood up.

"He was becoming a liability. I could no longer have his presence on this ship," he said coolly.

"Permission to speak freely sir," Olivia asked.

Bones moved up to her.

"I tried this already."

Olivia went for it anyway.

"Are you making a logical choice, sending James away? Probably. But the right one? Absolutely not!" she yelled and Spock took a deep breath.

He had just had this conversation with McCoy.

"As I have already said to Dr. McCoy, I intend to assist in the effort to reestablish communication with Starfleet. However, if crew morale is better served by my roaming the halls weeping, I will gladly defer to your expertise. Excuse me," he said and walked away, leaving Olivia wide eyed.

McCoy moved to her side.

"I said those same words to him. I got that same answer from the green blooded hob goblin. Don't take it personally."

Olivia's eyes lowered and her face became blank.

"Too late…" she murmured walking to her station and sitting down.

Spock felt guilty right after the words came out of his mouth. He did not mean to say those things to her.