The Captain of the Enterprise did not miss the look that his Chief Medical Officer and his First Officer exchanged. It was a look he knew only too well meant that the two of them were keeping something from him. After all he had just been through the last thing he wanted or would accept was them keeping something from him. "Well, Doctor McCoy, I am waiting for you to tell me not only what Wairstone's present medical status is but also just how you expect me to react."

Spock was aware of how Jim just stared at McCoy as though totally unaware of his presence. They had not been advised that the Captain had returned and now he stood just staring at McCoy awaiting a reply. A quick glance at McCoy let him know that the man was not only stunned at the appearance of the Captain but also at a loss of what to say. If he had taken time to analyze his action he might find it was most likely emotionally based on sympathy for the situation McCoy was in but he knew it was the only logical thing he could do to remind the two they were friends and that McCoy would have told Kirk at a more appropriate time.

"I believe you will find, Jim, that McCoy knows how you would find very Human way of blaming yourself for Wairstone's present condition for which you are not responsible. I am also certain that he is unsure how to tell you that to do so is not only illogical because of the many random factors that are unknown at the moment but also because of his concerns for your own present state of physical and mental health which are still in the process of recovery from the hunt." He was satisfied that his words were reaching deeper into Kirk's mind as evidenced by the slight nod of Jim's head and how he had not immediately turned to face him. "He has made no mention, thus far, on your medical records with regard to the possibility you having suffered from a period of on-going hallucinations. As you are well aware, Jim, per the regulations he is required to report any occurrences of a commanding officer either admitting to having hallucinated or to be suspected, by the Chief Medical Officer or other senior ranking officer, of having had repeated periods of what could be considered hallucinations."

"I never," Kirk started then stopped and Spock saw he suddenly remembered what he had said to Doow.

"Captain, you did admit to Prime President of Bohana One a belief of having had help on the planet before it was proven which, in itself, constitutes hallucinating. By regulations, as I have already stated, Doctor McCoy should enter it in your medical records." Kirk now looked at him and Spock saw the realization and the question he had hoped to see, "Should it be known by Command that you had a period of hallucinating, irrespective of its duration, that your Chief Medical Officer knew about and did not report then you both would not only be immediately and permanently removed from all active duty but also dishonorably discharged from Starfleet."

"Your report would have to," Kirk started then stopped as Spock continued.

"I have made mention in my report of the incident only that you were not alone in the hunt." He paused and saw Kirk realize how factual but vague such a statement was, "I am not as qualified to comment on your mental status as McCoy is and the only reason I can surmise for him not stating what you told Doow is," he quickly glanced from Kirk to McCoy then back to Kirk, "based on something not covered by Starfleet regulations."

For five point eight one seconds Spock looked into the hazel eyes of his friend and his Captain and saw the man see the unsaid and give the slightest of nods.

"Captain, there has been no significant change to Wairstone's condition, he is still what Doctor McCoy would most likely classify as seriously critical but he is still alive. There is nothing more that can be done for him at this stage but to wait. All that any of us can really do for him now is to wait, to go about our duties and to wait." Spock saw Kirk's shoulders slightly slump and how McCoy was watching him, "I do believe McCoy will allow one member of the crew at a time to be with him as it does seem that Humans not only recover better if they are conscious of the closeness of somebody familiar but also it seems to make the person sitting beside the patient believe their presence is vital to the patient's recovery."

"Wait." Kirk had half-muttered and half whispered it at he looked at Wairstone. He always felt so helpless when he had to wait beside an injured officer, especially an officer he owed so much to. All those times with.

A long fingered hand gripped his shoulder and he looked into dark eyes showing a deep understanding, "As I have witnessed over many occasions such as this you tend to let your emotions cloud your thinking unless you are first and foremost concentrating on your duties."

McCoy half-smiled at him, "And you cannot tell me, Spock, that all those times when Jim has been hurt and you have insisted on siting beside him that you did not feel you and only you could be there for him, that he needed you to be there, that other officers could fulfill your duties ."

"You know me too well for me to dispute that, Doctor. I was merely stating that you will, most likely, allow the Captain to sit with Wairstone when he has the time on the proviso he does not ignore his own well being or his duties." He looked from McCoy to Kirk, "The Captain will not be the only one who will sit with Wairstone as I know that Mister Scott will want to spent time with him as will I."

"I guess we will have to let McCoy tell us when who can be with him." Kirk turned slightly to look fully at McCoy, "I did tell Doow that I would see if you would allow him and his wife to just see Wairstone. It seems to be important to them."

McCoy looked from Kirk to Spock and saw the answer there, "It would be," he smiled as he turned to look back at Kirk and slightly smiled, "only logical to do so as we are to leave only as soon as the Ambassador is all settled in. How is that going?"

"As far as I know he has settled in as he went with the officials and did not come charging back so that is usually an indication that all is well." Jim Kirk remembered a few of these trips when the officials they were to leave on a new member planet wanted to go back with them and had made no secret of it by almost rushing back to the ship. "He also has not sent any message to get him out of there. I better go let our hosts know they can come up and see Wairshone but can I look in on him first?"

McCoy's only reply was to step aside enough to indicate to his friend he could go into the Intensive Care Unit.

While he was aware of both his friends watching him Kirk walked over to the bed and knew that the two watching him would have seen how he hesitated as he took those last three steps closer to the bed. It had been in those last three steps that he remembered the fear he had felt before he felt that arm around him and that hand over his mouth. In his mind he had envisaged a man as solid as Scotty with long arms and hands like Spock's and on the bed he saw a man perhaps as tall as Spock and perhaps a few pounds heavier but nowhere nearly as solid as Scotty and with fingers about this size of his own. While the being who had helped him had seemed so strong, sure, and in control Kirk realized, as he looked at the man, just how wrong he had been in man's physical appearance. Looking at the tubes helping his officer recover also showed how wrong he had been about the man being in control as the tubes seemed to almost ensnare him. For just a moment he closed his eyes. Those tubes spoke so clearly of just how serious Wairstone's condition was as McCoy did not usually use what he called "old fashioned but very effective methods from the late twentieth century". It was difficult to accept that this man, this officer, had been the able to restrain him, bandage him, obviously carry him, and get him close to the hut was now so helpless, so dependent on not only others but also machinery.

He opened his eyes and carefully, almost fearfully for some reason, reached out and lightly touched the side of Wairstone's face, "You and I will have a long talk when you are up to it. Your actions in saving me need to be addressed. I am very grateful that you did so but at what cost to yourself? That woman with the children you saved was the wife and sons of the Prime President of Bohana One and he and his wife will be here shortly to see you. They will not stay long. You just rest and let Doctor McCoy take care of you. I will come back later to talk with you."

"Don't look so worried, Bones. I will explain his condition to them and ensure they do not tire him."

"I would feel much better with sone security in here."

"Doctor McCoy, I will be here. They will do him no harm." There was that certainty in the baritone voice and McCoy felt the strange chill he often had when Spock spoke in that tone, it was not quiet a threat but was a promise. McCoy looked from Kirk to Spock and saw a reflection of that statement in the eyes and realized that the would rather have this one Vulcan than all the officers in Security.

As Kirk walked to the Transporter Room he flicked open his communicator, "Kirk to Sulu, come in Sulu."

"Sulu here, Sir."

"Spock and McCoy are with him and the crew will be allowed to be with him but you can bring our guests up. McCoy has okayed their visit. I will meet them and you in the Transporter Room."

"Understood. Thank you, Sir. Sulu out."

When he walked into the Transporter Room he saw the look Mister Scott have him and he just nodded back, "He's got McCoy and Spock in with him."

"Then the lad's in the best of hands. Are we expecting guests, Sir? "

"Yes. On Sulu's signal when he contacts you."


A/N Thanks for reading. Winter-Spring battle going on in the garden but am winning a few battles, or I like to think I am. Take care and HAVE FUN!