Authors notes: Alright, you yourself and you, you reviewed. Here's the next chapter… of Doom! No, seriously. Enjoy one and all.

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Spock's eyes continued to relentlessly review the data stream in front of him, even as M'benga gave up at ever understanding what the computer was telling them. As the stream sped faster and faster to accommodate Spock's innate Vulcan ability to comprehend at amazing speeds, Doctor M'benga began to get more and more distracted. Eventually, he fell asleep.

That was what shocked Spock out of his reverie, the sharp thunk of M'bengas head hitting the table. He looked over at the other man, snoring softly and completely unaware of the world with a sense of nostalgia that was uncommon for him. He couldn't help but wonder if that, under other circumstances, Leonard McCoy would have been here now. Constantly bickering at him, and near constantly complaining, but the fact of the matter remained that McCoy would have been better company.

Would have been.
If circumstance were different, than maybe Spock wouldn't feel this pressing need to figure out why when Leonard had fainted, his memories had disappeared. He would have been able to look at the problem objectively.

Spock frowned, looking back at the constant flow of data, only a portion of his mind realizing what was flashing before him. This wasn't even where the problem was, this was just the detail on Korbin, Leonard's son. The son who would never know his father. At least not at this rate, especially not if Spock didn't concentrate his energies on the big picture of saving Leonard McCoy.

But he could not bring himself to do so. Instead, Korbins words to him earlier in the day whispered through his head, bumping into other thoughts and trickling into his conscious mind.

"If I really did do something, do you really think I'm dumb enough to let anyone find out?"

The words seemed to dance before his eyes in place of the data actually on the screen before him. He couldn't get the words out of his head. It scared him a bit, something he had once been unaccustomed to feeling.

It was frightening because Korbin really wasn't dumb enough to let anyone find out. But then, if that was true, why would he drop such a huge hint in Spock's lap?

Frustrated, Spock switched off the screen, knowing full well that he would just have to go over it again latter, if he did not get his mind in order.

He stood and allowed himself a brief stretch, half the muscles in his back slid back into their rightful place after a long night of sitting, the other half groaned in protest and refused to move. He glanced at the door to the main room in Sickbay, carefully pushing away his hopes of going in there to see Leonard.

He considered briefly, were they really hopes? Yes, he decided, they were, and the worst kind too, the logical kind. He knew in his misplaced heart that if a cure was never found, his Leonard would be shipped off to some sick ward on the far edge of space, never to be heard from again.

Halfway through this thought, Spock realized he was already standing in front of the door, raring to go through and see his Leonard.

He jumped. When had Doctor McCoy become Leonard? And even worse, as his Leonard.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

Spock turned to face his Captain with the stiff air of to much formality. He glanced at the still sleeping form of M'benga, politeness always foremost in his mind. "I do not know what you mean, Captain." He said in a voice low enough to be a whisper, yet somehow not so.

Kirk laughed, motioning Spock to step into yet another room with him. Once they had escaped the pressure of hushed voices, Kirk cleared his throat. "I believe you do know what I mean, Spock, and I would appreciate it if the conversation we are about to have contained only truth."

Spock once again stiffened, "Captain, Vulcans do not-"

"Lie." Kirk interrupted his eyes bright with hidden laughter. But even the introverted Spock could see that it was a sham, the worry lines etched across his alternates forehead and the dark half circles beneath his eyes gave away how worried he was. "But an omission of truth is not considered a lie, even by Vulcan standards."

The Vulcan nodded his agreement, "This is true."

Kirk opened his mouth, suddenly struggling for words. "Spock, listen, I know what you told me yesterday wasn't the whole truth. Even an idiot like me can see that you like Bones. Is this… Is this thing you didn't or did have what is stopping you from talking to him?"

Spock had to nod. "It is."

"Spock… as your friend, you can tell me. Did something happen?"

Now Spock stiffened uncomfortably, "I am afraid that would depend on your view of what constitutes something 'happening.'" This was not a conversation he wanted to have with anyone, least of all Captain James T. Kirk.

"Well, did you…. you know. Or just, talk?" He said the last word as if it wasn't a natural thing. Two people who are attracted to one another do not just talk.

"We talked." Spock said, fibbing only slightly. A kiss was hardly mentionable, even if it was one of Spock's favorite memories. Despite the fact he had in essence kissed himself. He paused, deep in thought. He had never looked at it that way before; he supposed a human would have been put out by the notion, though Leonard hadn't seemed too worried. He came back to reality as Kirk continued the conversation unabated.

"Well, I know I have no control over what you do with your personal life but… Spock, I just think you should talk to him. He really doesn't know anything and I think we're starting to worry him with all this secrecy about his life. Nurse Chapel and Doctor M'benga are the only ones who have seen him so far, and that was in the line of duty. He needs a friend."

"You, Captain, are his closest friend."

Kirk let out a dry, woeful laugh, "I thought I was, but that was a foolish notion. You're the man he loves Spock, or at least the man he did love."

Spock was shocked, but not visibly so. He fought with his emotions and shoved them down deep beneath layers of protective shielding. "I will consider what you have said today, Jim." It was a dismissal softened only slightly by the use of Kirks first name.

Kirk nodded, "Sure, yeah, I'll just go then." He turned and wandered out the door in a fashion more suited to a drunk or lame man, limping and with a shocked stagger.

Spock couldn't find a way to blame him. His abrupt end to the conversation had sounded odd even to his ears. He took a small breath, assuming even more control of his emotions.

Filled now with and odd sense of purpose, he too walked through the door ready to find away to save his Leonard.

Because Leonard had loved him, and he was too scared to let that feeling go.