As soon as the transporter beam stopped and Kirk and Ton lay on the pad both Spock and McCoy start forward. Ton started to move closer to Kirk and as McCoy and Spock took a second step Travis ordered, "Mister Spock, Doctor McCoy, stop! Return to your positions." as they moved back Spock noticed how Ton had moved as though to protect Jim. There was a lost look about his eyes but it was clear he was going to protect Jim.
"Glen, Glen it is Darren." Slowly Travis walked forward and spoke softly, " It is okay, Glen. It is oaky. You are home."
"Darren?" The voice was like a man lost and unsure.
"Yes." Slowly Travis walked up to the platform, pausing occasionally when Ton would move, still protecting Kirk. "You are home. You are on the Enterprise. I will take you to your quarters. These other officers will take care of Kirk."
"He's, he's hurt, Darren. Just, just like," Travis suddenly sat down as Ton reached out and wrapped his arms around Travis and started sobbing, "No, no, no. That was then,that was then, that was then,that was then."
Only for a moment as he walked to the platform with McCoy did Spock look down at Travis and saw how he was holding Ton, how securely he was holding the trembling body to him. He remembered too many times when he and Kirk had held one another like that. He knew that so much was being said in the way they were holding onto one another, the way Ton was clinging to Travis as though holding onto not just life but reality, and the way Travis was rubbing Ton's back as through rubbing in reassurance and comfort.
"Need to get him to Sickbay. Ton did a good job. Saved his life but there are a few readings I want to check on." McCoy turned and looked at Travis, "I'll need to check him."
Travis said nothing but nodded. Captain Jenkins said, "We'll help get him to Sickbay later. For now he needs this."
Just before they left Spock turned and looked back at Travis who briefly looked up at him. It had not been till he saw the look on Travis's face that he knew his actions would be the right actions, would be the only actions he could take, "Sir, I regret to inform you, Captain Travis, that we are experiencing some difficulties with all the recording equipment in the Transporter Room. I will, of course, notify you when the situation has been corrected." Only the Vulcan and the relieving Captain would ever know what was said in the privacy of the look they exchanged.
Travis gave a slight nod, "Understood, Mister Spock. Thank you."
As he had done so many times Spock stood quietly watching while McCoy worked on Kirk, having removed all the crude splinting and bandages. He had seen how just for an instant McCoy had gone still as he had unwrapped Jim's left arm, quickly glanced at him, then back before nodding. A few other times during the seventy-six point three one minutes that McCoy had worked on Jim Spock had seen him nod to himself as he kept working. Finally he had Jim transferred to a bed, placed a blanket over him, carefully adjusted the settings, momentarily placed a hand on Jim's forehead, then, smiling that oddly reassuring smile, and walked over to him.
"He'll be just fine, Spock. I need to check Officer Ton's history for his medical training as that was a bang-up job he did for Jim. Not just the splinting but the bandaging and looks like at least one blood transfusion. Saved his life." For a moment McCoy just looked at him then said, "You can go over to him and see for yourself that he is okay. I'll find out what is keeping my second patient."
Remembering what he had heard and seen Spock kept looking at McCoy, "Thank you Doctor. I do not think you should go get him. I will see Jim and then we will go. Those who are with him will take care of him till we get there."
An instant retort formed in McCoy's mind but as he looked at how Spock was looking at Jim it died unsaid. Damned Vulcan was right. He had seen it too, that there was something deep between Travis and Ton and that they needed a bit more time together. The way Travis had been holding Ton, silently just holding him and rubbing his back was so like what he had seen too many times between his two friends after some of the more dangerous situations they would only just escape back to the Enterprise from.
As the Vulcan stood looking down at his Human friend he allowed himself to acknowledge just how much the friendship he had with Jim mattered, he allowed himself to admit that he had been torn between believing what he had seen and the facts related to the injuries that would have resulted from such an event and that calm silence that had been in that part of his mind where a resonance associated with this being's existence and importance to him resided. That calm silence had waged against the reality and he had kept what he had thought was madness associated with grief from those around him as such things were not only un-Vulcan but also showed aspects of his own Human heritage. McCoy had guessed it, had somehow known that he believed Jim to be alive, but said nothing. The doctor did know him. Oddly it was somehow comforting to know that, to know that McCoy had known what he sensed and had remained silent in acceptance of it.
McCoy stood waiting. It somewhat surprised him that he was not impatient as he waited for Spock. That blasted Vulcan had most likely had one of those mental feelings about Jim being alive. Now folk know that Vulcans claim to have no feelings but he knew this Vulcan, he had had plenty of time to study the man as a patient, a shipmate, and a friend. He shook his head. Somehow that green-blooded hobgoblin had managed to get to him as he no longer saw him as neither a shipmate nor even a fellow officer but as a friend. That friend had been as certain that Jim was alive as he had been and yet they could not say it aloud before others. That friend would have been planning a way to get back to Valston had Travis not come aboard and wanted to go there.
As he watched Spock standing by the bed he knew that the Vulcan was remembering what they had seen in the Transporter Room. He would be thinking of the many times he had held his friend and Captain the way Officer Ton was clinging to Travis and the way Travis was holding him. There was that same connection. Dammit, that Vulcan knew something about those two. No doubt if he thought it of use to him Spock would tell him what he knew but for the time being he was willing to accept that the Vulcan had a reason for not telling him. He nodded to himself; Spock almost always had a reason for what he did. Almost always as there had been possibly two or three times when he could recall when hormones, spores, and time changes had affected that logical mind. Looking over at the bed he saw another one of those rare and wonderful moments when the two warring factors of the man were in harmony as the Vulcan reached out and lightly brushed Jim's hair back into place, letting his fingers lightly touch the points on Jim's face that they knew so well and the doctor in McCoy saw the pain register drop to normal as Spock kept his eyes closed.
He wanted to both thank the Vulcan as well as ask him if he were practicing medicine without a license but just watched as Spock nodded as he looked at the registers before briefly touching Jim's shoulder and turning away. As he saw Spock look at him McCoy saw the Vulcan mask slowly slip into place and gave the Vulcan a nod. Perhaps only he and Jim Kirk were ever fortunate to see that Human side peek through every so often.
"As they have not brought Officer Ton to us perhaps we should go and find out if there is a problem."
"Are you expecting a problem, Spock?"
"I have found, Doctor, that often whenever humans have the type of bond that was obvious between Captain Travis and Officer Ton, there is often a problem when it comes to treating one without the other in some way trying to assist."
In the turbolift McCoy looked at Spock, "You know that from first-hand, don't you? And you know a lot more about this than you are letting on, don't you?"
"I do know Captain Travis and the others knew Officer Ton before he was on the Enterprise, that they served together." Spock saw McCoy comprehend what he had said and was about to question him, "I suggest we respect whatever they have and just concentrate on helping Officer Ton."
McCoy swallowed his annoyance. He wanted to know what the connection was but Spock was right, they should respect whatever they had just was the three of them would like others to respect what they have. His main concern had to be Officer Ton. Had to for more so many reasons. Spock might have guessed at what had been done to save Jim Kirk's life but he had seen the evidence and knew what had to have been done, knew what it would have cost to have done what was done. What Spock had said as they were leaving the Transporter Room with Jim came back to him and he looked at the Vulcan in almost disbelief as he was sure the Vulcan had lied, "There was no problem with the recording equipment in the Transporter Room was there?"
The dark Vulcan eyes looked at him and in them McCoy saw that Human element Spock would so often deny, "Doctor, I believe that should an inspection be done of the recording equipment be done a gap of about two hundred and fifty-one point six four minutes will be found."
"That's over," McCoy stopped. Four hours, about the time they had been away. Time alone for the four men, time for them to share alone. The cunning little Vulcan was going to erase the time that they had been gone, the time the four had been alone, time that only those in the Transporter Room would know about. "all a good time frame."
When they arrived in the Transporter Room all three visiting Captains were by Officer Ton but Travis was still holding him, supporting him. It was clear that wherever Officer Ton's mind had been when first beamed aboard was gone and he was in the present. He was asking the men around him about their exploits and it was clear that the four did have a bond and that bond was strongest between Travis and Ton.
Spock noted how slowly Ton started to stand as they approached, saw how he put a hand on Travis's should and knew it was both for support and to let Travis know he was okay. "Mister Spock, I present myself for whatever disciplinary action you see fit. I deserted the ship without permission, I did an authorized transporter action, I, I," Spock saw him momentarily close his eyes and his arm that had been resting on Travis stiffened in support as well as pain.
"Sir down, Officer Ton." Spock was acutely aware of McCoy watching him and was grateful that the doctor had controlled his emotions so well so far. "Doctor McCoy will examine you here and then, if he declares you unfit for duty, Captains Travis, Malls, and Jenkins will assist you to your quarters where you will remain until such time as Doctor McCoy re-examines you again and may clear you for duty. Only when Doctor McCoy declares you are fit to resume your duties will we discuss the actions that should be taken. Do you understand?"
Tons looked at him from where he sat next to Travis, partly leaning against the man, "Yes, Sir. I am to go to my quarters to recover under the escort of the three Captains present and then I report here at the time Doctor McCoy tells me to have a medical examination after which you will tell me what action you have to take regarding my actions."
Momentarily McCoy shook his head just waiting for Spock to correct him but Spock gave a quick nod, "That is correct."
McCoy walked up and waved his medical tricorder over Tons twice then eased up the left sleeve of his shirt and exposed what he had expected to find, evidence of a recent injury to the main vein in his arm. The transfusion site. With his head bent he looked up and saw Spock watching, saw the slight nod as the Vulcan also saw that they both had silently suspected. "Can you please stand again for me, Officer Ton?" With the help of Travis Ton stood up and came to attention and looked at McCoy. "I want you to, turning just from your waist, turn as far as you can to the right and to the left." Ton did so, "Now bend as far forward and backwards as you can without moving your feet or bending your knees." Again Ton did as requested. "Now hold your right leg out to the side at forty-five degrees and swing it to the the and front then to the same with your left leg while maintaining your balance." There was a slight wobble but Ton maintained his balance, "and finally hold your arms out at right angles to your body and swing them front to back so you clap your hands in front of you and behind you then raise them above your head then drop them to your side." It was obvious that lifting his left arm was painful but he did it and McCoy looked at Spock then nodded, "I'll just give him this," there was the hiss of the hypo, "and he can go to his quarters and get some sleep."
McCoy looked back at Ton, "I want you to come to Sickbay in about eight hours and I will reassess you then."
Ton nodded, "Yes, Sir. Thank you."
"Captain Travis, if you and Captains Malls and Jenkins do not object it would be appreciated if you could ensure that Officer Ton gets settled in his quarters."
Travis looked at them then at Spock, "Thank you, Mister Spock. We will discuss later the matter of the reports that must be sent regarding the recovery of Captain Kirk."