Chapter Seven

Respecting Spock and the Captain's privacy McCoy stepped into his own office. He glared at the prescription bottle sitting on his neat desk in plain view. In a rare act of deviousness Bones had placed a locator in the bottle and then left it on his desk with the door open in hopes that whoever had switched the pills would steal the evidence.

"No such luck."

From what he knew about murderer psychology when a plan went wrong the killer tended to resurface to either try again or cover their tracks. McCoy turned around and looked over sick bay, there was good chance the killer was there, keeping a close eye on things. However, everyone that was hanging around either worked in sick bay or was legitimately ill. No one looked out of place.

"Give it up, McCoy," he sighed to himself "you're a doctor, not a detective."

Bones wasn't sure why he felt he should be able to easily spot the wolf in their fold. He decided that it was because he was the only person on the ship that had intimate contact with every single person aboard the Enterprise. He handled the initial physicals of everyone who boarded the ship. At some point he'd had the medical charts of the killer in his hands and he never suspected anything.

Feeling frustrated McCoy sat down at his desk and picked up the prescription. Reading the label he stared at his own name under 'doctor'. The pills themselves came from the Starfleet pharmacy since the copper compound that Spock needed would be deadly to a human it was a controlled substance. Bones furrowed his brow for a moment.

"I didn't make a mistake...did I?"

McCoy hastily put the bottle down and tapped on the glass surface of his desk which instantly demanded a hand print identification. Bones unlocked the computer and tapped in the codes that brought up Spock's medical records. The Vulcan had a hefty chart, second only to the Captain himself.

"I've never known a more accident prone pair." Bones grumbled.

Every year McCoy checked to make sure that the supplement was balanced properly. It was tricky since there was no precedent for a Vulcan using anything other than diet to regulate their needs. Even Spock's father went to great lengths to continue his Vulcan diet on Earth. The last time he had changed anything was nearly a year ago, and it had been for more copper not less. Thinking he was at a dead end Bones went to close the file until a date caught his eye.

"'Prescription refilled on Stardate 4562...'" Bones read out loud and did the math. "That was three months ago. Of course we stopped briefly for supplies, Spock would have renewed it even if he had another month's supply in case we didn't make it back in time."

Bones thought about the implications of this discovery. It broadened the scope of who could have poisoned his friend. The killer didn't need access to Spock's personal quarters anymore, the switched could have happened when the supplies were initially brought onto the ship or anytime between the loading dock and medical.

"It still doesn't make much sense." Bones shook his head. "Tampering with medical supplies is so risky. The sealed containers would have to be opened, the prescription found among the rest of the stuff, switched, and then everything put back and reseal the shipping containers. Not exactly a quick or easy job, lots of time to be caught."

Bones picked the bottle up again and checked the refill date once again. It was definitely the bottle that had come aboard three months ago. He opened up bottle and carefully spilled the pills onto his desk. He took a few moments to count them out and found just over two months worth was missing. Bones scooped the pills and the small locator back up and placed them back in the bottle. He hadn't given up hope that the killer would come back to steal them.

"Security?" McCoy called into the intercom.

"Yes, Doctor?"

"I need the records from the last supply shipment, I want to know every single person who had access to the shipment."

"That's a long list, Sir."

"Then you'd better get started."

"Aye, Sir."

McCoy looked around his office, hoping that somehow the answer to this mystery was going to suddenly come to him. He was relieved to at least discover that it didn't have to be one of the handful of people that had access to Spock's medicine cabinet. He was just starting to think of what to do next when he spotted Kirk leaving sick bay in a hurry.

"Jim!" Bones called as he got to his feet. "Jim, wait..."

Kirk didn't even slow down and in moments he was gone. Bones just sighed, knowing how stressed out the Captain had been lately. Now he not only had a ship to run, but a murder investigation to lead. McCoy decided that his new revelation could wait and went to see how Spock was doing.

Spock was sitting up with his arms crossed over his chest. He was staring vacantly at a point on the floor. McCoy was concerned when Spock didn't look up to acknowledge that he had entered the room. His friend looked tired both physically and mentally. Bones stepped up and passed his hand through Spock's line of sight. Spock looked up, but didn't say anything.

"Something wrong, Spock?"

"Someone aboard this ship has attempted to murder me."

"I meant besides that."

"You believe there is a more pressing matter on my mind?" Spock asked with a touch of irritation in his voice.

"No." McCoy shook his head sadly. "You just had that troubled look on your face that you normally reserve for when you think Jim is in over his head."

"I am concerned over the Captain's stress level." Spock admitted.

"So am I."

Spock nodded slowly and his eyes lost their focus once again. Bones wasn't medically alarmed by Spock's short attention span. He had seen it many times before. Spock was lost in thought, he would respond to a question, but he was not about to initiate a conversation. However, Spock suddenly sighed, and that was something Bones was not used to hearing. McCoy stepped closer and lightly placed his hand on Spock's shoulder. Normally Spock would look at the hand that was touching him as if trying to figure out what the human gesture meant or in silent request for its removal. This time he looked directly into McCoy's eyes.

"Spock, is there something you're not telling me?"

"Yes."

"Care to share?"

"I can not."

"A secret?" Bones asked.

"Yes, Doctor."

"Vulcans don't like secrets," Bones pointed out "they make them uncomfortable."

"Indeed they do, and this one is beginning to have a cost."

"Something to do with Jim?"

"I can not say."

"Okay," McCoy nodded "I'll talk to him."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"You're getting better at 'subtle', Spock." McCoy beamed.

"It is taxing to remain honest and truthful while having to hide."

"Well, try to get some sleep."

"May I continue my recovery in my own quarters?" Spock asked.

"I don't see why not. I've done everything I can for you here. You're just lucky that the Vulcan nervous system is so good at repairing itself. It would take a human months to recover from something like this, if they even recovered at all."

"Another oversight by my attempted murderer."

"Perhaps. Do you need help getting to your quarters?"

"No. I am feeling stronger than I have in quite sometime."

"Well don't over do it. I don't want to see you on the bridge for at least the next five days."

The fact that Spock didn't argue and just nodded gave McCoy a strong indication of just how ill Spock was still feeling. He almost retracted his decision to allow Spock to leave sick bay, but he didn't it was fair to keep him from his wife. Spock got off the exam table and took a moment to set his balance. As he left Bones went with him.

"I do not require assistance, Doctor."

"I'm not assisting." Bones said innocently. "I'm off duty, just taking a walk."

"In the same direction that I am heading I assume."

"You assume correct."

"Very well."

Bones was glad he decided to tag along. About half way down the hall Spock spontaneously lost his balance. McCoy just nudged Spock into the wall so that he'd have something solid to help him reorient himself. Spock quickly composed himself and was able to make it the rest of the way to his quarters. Before disappearing into his room Spock turned to McCoy.

"Thank you, Doctor, for everything."

"My pleasure."

"Doctor...." Spock hesitated.

"Spock?"

"Nothing. Good night."

Before McCoy could say anything else Spock ducked into his quarters with surprising speed and the door slid closed. Bones was left standing alone in the hallway feeling once again like there was something big going on that Kirk and Spock felt they couldn't share with him. Feeling stressed himself McCoy went to find the Captain.

He knew that Kirk almost always retreated to the main observation deck when he was truly stressed. As he came to the deck doors he hear the sharp crash of breaking glass followed by severe swearing. Alarmed Bones stepped into the room. Kirk was over by the mirror that decorated the right hand wall. The mirror had been struck so hard that it was not only cracked but several pieces of glass had fallen out and hit the floor. Kirk was holding his hand, which was bleeding heavily.

"Jim?"

"Damn it, Bones, get away from me." Kirk hissed.

"Is that an order, Captain? Or are you just being difficult?"

Kirk looked over at his friend with a defeated look on his face. He muttered something that sounded like an apology and beckoned Bones to come closer. Kirk wordlessly offered his injured hand to the doctor. McCoy gave it a critical look and yanked a piece of glass out from between Kirk's knuckles. After casting about for a moment Bones found a cloth napkin over by the wet bar. Bringing it back over he wrapped Kirk's hand in the cloth.

"Thanks, Bones."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"How about a drink?"

"That sounds better."

Bones chuckled and wandered back over to the bar to fetch a bottle of scotch and a pair of glasses. Kirk went over to the chairs that they had been sitting in just a few nights before. Bones filled one of the glasses and offered it to Kirk over his shoulder. Kirk reached back and gratefully took the room temperature alcohol. Pouring a drink for himself Bones settled down in one of the other chairs.

"Spock's acting strange." McCoy said bluntly.

"Yeah, well, someone just tried to kill him." Kirk shrugged.

"I think it's more than that. In fact I'm getting very close to ordering medical leave for you both."

"I would welcome it." Kirk groaned. "I need a break."

"Then take one."

"I can't."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jim." Bones snapped. "You are more than deserving of some leave, and Spock will be on paternity leave soon. Turn this ship around and get her back to Earth."

"We've been given another mission, level A-1 priority."

"What?" McCoy asked in disbelief.

"You heard me. Admiral Cooly is going to chew my ass out for not having broken orbit already. We're going to be late again."

"When did we get this new mission?"

"While you were working on saving Spock's life. That's why I wasn't there, I was arguing with Cooly."

"Does he even care that we might have a murderer aboard?"

"No." Kirk growled. "Of course at the time I didn't know it was murder, but I don't think it will matter. He didn't even seem to care that I might be moments away from being without a First Officer. He was furious at me about the attack on the research station, and rightly so."

"Jim, the attack wasn't your fault."

"We weren't here because of me. I changed our course."

"Why did you do that?"

"I honestly don't know. For some reason it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"It does seem a little odd." Bones mused.

"What does?"

"The fact that you were worried about the Romulan border and here it looks like we've got a Romulan attack on our hands."

"We don't know it was Romulans." Kirk said quickly.

"You didn't tell the Admiral that Spock thinks it might have been Romulans, did you?"

"No." Kirk admitted.

"Jim, you have to tell him." McCoy said firmly, believing he had stumbled upon the secret that was bothering Spock. "As soon as Spock is back on his feet his theory about the Romulans is going to be in his report. If Cooly finds out second hand..."

"I know, I know." Kirk groaned. "It's just that this could start a war, and it just doesn't feel right."

"Feel right?"

"My gut is telling me this wasn't Romulans. It's too random, too out of nowhere."

"Kind of like Spock's poisoning."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"Take it easy, Jim. I'm just saying that both events seem so out of the blue."

"You don't think I had anything to do with it, do you?" Kirk asked suddenly.

"What? Do you mean do I think you are being Spock's illness? What kind of question is that?"

"You thought Nyota might have done it, aren't I the next obvious suspect?"

"If I was going to be 'logical' about it: yes." Bones replied. "However, I know you, and I know Spock, and I know that you are both good friends. You have nothing to gain from Spock's death. Even if you did, you have enough respect for him to grant him a quick death if it ever came to that. Poison is an act of cruelty, you wouldn't make him suffer like this, no matter what your motive was."

"I suppose you're right."

"Why are you even entertaining the idea that I might think it's you?"

"I don't know, I guess I just want answers, and there are so few people who could have done this."

"Spock has enemies, Jim. There are more than a few people aboard this ship that don't like taking orders from a Vulcan."

"They don't have access to his medicine cabinet."

"I was thinking about that, and I have a new theory. I think the tampering happened when the pills were originally brought onto the ship."

Kirk became lost in thought upon hearing this new news. Bone saw him visibly relax and was able to relax a touch himself. He studied his friend for a moment and was suddenly struck by how young he looked despite the strain he was under. Sometimes it was easy to forget that the Captain didn't just look young, he was. The events surrounding the incident with Nero had promoted him to Captain far before his years.

McCoy was wondering if perhaps some years without so much responsibility before becoming Captain might have been helpful. He could have used a mentor to show him how to cope with the mounting stress. Bones leaned forward and cleared his throat to get Kirk's attention. Kirk looked up at him and stared at him expectantly.

"Jim...call the Admiral back, get us off this new mission. We need a break."

"Trust me, Bones, I pulled out all the stops trying to get off this one. He's insistent that we go."

"You'd think we were the only ship in the galaxy." Bones huffed.

"We sort of are. Right now we're the only ship directly under Cooly's control."

"Really? Isn't that a bit odd?"

"The fact that we're under direct control of a Council member is what's odd. It's only because of Admiral Pike's retirement that he even has us. Normally the Council sticks to its business, informs Starfleet of what they want and Starfleet dishes out the orders to whatever ship they feel is best."

"So why hasn't Cooly handed us over to someone who is strictly Starfleet?"

"He's trying to prove how well he can play with his pawns in a ploy to get more ships under his control. I think he wants the best of both worlds, a spot on the Council and direct control of at least part of the fleet. He's politically motivated and he's suckling off the teat of my successes to move up the ladder."

"And if you fail?"

"I'm sure he'll find some way of using that to his advantage too."

"When did you figure all of this out? You didn't even know Cooly was on the Council until a few days ago."

"It was the minute I learned that he was that I came to my conclusions."

"So you have no proof that he's using you?"

"No, not really. Just...intuition."

"Be careful with your intuition, Jim." McCoy warned seriously. "I'm worried it's going to start getting you into trouble."

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"I have to worry about you, Jim. Beyond the fact that it's my job, you're also my friend and you're in a position that no one else has ever been in."

"What do you mean?"

"You've got less years in the service than your own First Officer, that's never happened. You've got your father's reputation to live up to, one of the prize ships in the fleet to care for. Not to mention the four hundred plus lives aboard her. Now you're working on nearly a year without leave, with a murder investigation on top of everything else."

"Bones, does this little speech of yours have a point?"

"It's a lot of pressure for anyone, and you're barely thirty."

"You think I'm about to snap."

"I do."

"Well, I guess we'll see." Kirk drained the rest of his drink. "I'd better get to the bridge, we've got a mission deadline to meet."

"Just what is this 'oh so important' mission we're being sent on?"

"That's part of what was making me so angry." Kirk replied with a mirthless chuckle. "We're being dragged twenty light-years out of our way to go guide the 'South Pacific' through her route to the outer rim."

"You're kidding."

"I wish I was."

"Babysitting a Federation cargo freighter is more important than the mental health of a Starship Captain and the physical health of the First Officer?"

"Apparently."