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Chekov had got the buzz code from Sulu that Collins was back. "He's back Sulu's just let me know."
Spock slowly stood and looked at the younger officer, "You can do something for me if you would not mind."
"Of course, Sir"
"I do not wish to interrupt them when not on duty so tomorrow I would like you to thank Lieutenant Uhura, Mister Scott, Mister Sulu, and Doctor McCoy for the time and assistance they have given me and the kindness, the friendship and the understanding they have always shown to me. I would also like to thank you for your patience as well as your time and assistance, friendship, kindness and understanding. I wish you all well. Should Ji, should Captain James Kirk ask how I was just tell him that I deeply appreciated everything he gave to me and all that he meant to me. Should he not ask you are to inform him that Vulcan healers can erase all memories and traces of me from his mind apart from the fact I was his First Officer."
Chekov looked at him in a concerned way as it was the second time Spock had stopped himself from saying Jim and then said Captain James Kirk. It was also seemed like he were saying good bye. "Sir?"
"I think it best we stop talking now. Commodore Collins should be here shortly."
As though on cue Collins walked in, looked at Chekov, "You may leave now."
"Sir?"
"You are relieved, is that understood? This area is automated and when I leave I will secure it."
Momentarily Chekov looked at Spock and saw him nod slightly. Every part of him wanted to stay but he had his orders. He did not trust Collins but he was sure that with him and others know he was aboard, and when he reported to the others that Collins had been there as he knew Collins would know he would tell the others the man was not stupid enough to do anything but talk at Mister Spock. Slowly he returned Spock's nod and left.
Once Chekov had gone Collins went and stood outside the cell and looked at Spock, "I know you took him. I know he is alive and you took him. I know he has to be on this ship and you will tell me where he is and who else knows he is here."
Spock just looked at him. There was nothing that mattered now that Jim was safe. Collins could, most likely would, kill him but Jim was safe. The others would take care of Jim. Jim was alive, safe, and still captain of the Enterprise, the best Captain in not just Starfleet but the Federation on the best ship of the fleet with the best crew possible anywhere.
"Just know this was you choice. I will come back later to see if you have changed your mind or have died." Spock watched as Collins went to the control panel. Chekov had switched it back to secure record mode and had obviously done something that Collins did not like but heard him say, "Too far to go back" then he felt cold mist surround him and soak thought his clothing before the temperature in his cell started to drop. He had known Collins would try to get him to tell him where Jim was but Jim was safe. He resisted the longing to touch Jim's mind one last time but instead got onto the cot in the cell and lay down. As the cold started to numb him he recanted and quickly found the passage to Jim's mind, "Good bye, Jim." It was done. Spock relaxed. He had heard freezing to death was not such a painful thing.
McCoy had just finished tidying Kirk's quarters and had a few things on the bed so it looked like he was clearing the quarters when Collins walked in.
"What are you doing here?"
McCoy looked right at him, "I could ask the same of you. I am clearing the Captain's quarters. Last I heard you were down doing Chrkov's job." McCoy half-smiled when he saw the look that confirmed that the crew would know where he had been.
"You, you seem to have taken his death better than the others."
"I do tend have more experience in dealing with death than the others aboard this ship. I will have the room ready in time."
After Collins had left McCoy sat down on the bed and sighed. Jim liked the room a special way and now that Collins was gone be could put it back to how it should be. He found himself setting up the chess board as he had done so many times when he was about to let one or the other, and at times both of them, out of Sickbay then stopped. Only looking at it did he realize that there was still a great possibility it would not be used again, that it would never again be something two very different men could share quiet moments over. He put all the pieces away and left.
Despite having slept on the floor of Uhura's room James Kirk woke feeling better than he had in eight days.. He looked around and saw that he was alone but that a tray with a breakfast had been set for him and a note. "Meet the delegates at 08:30 hours. U"
That would be the time to show Collins he was still alive. That would be the time to expose Collins. All those years ago he had been impressed by Collins. The way he was so committed to his goals, the way he could avoid being caught, and the way he could deflect blame had fascinated Kirk. He had thought of him as a friend. In Starfleet is was important to have friends to help you out, to talk things through, and to relax with after hours and because of Collins he had lost the closest friend he had ever had or was possibly likely to have. At the height of his career to be exposed for what he was would be fitting for Collins. Only now did Kirk wonder how Collins had made it as far as he had, how many other lives he had destroyed on his way up the hierarchy. Kirk looked at the chronometer and realized that he had just enough time to shower, eat, check in with McCoy and Scotty and then go.
He would expose Collins and then go and get Spock to understand what happened. The thought of not having Spock in his life frightened him in a way he had never been frightened before. There had to be a way to get what they had back. He would get Spock to understand and would somehow, no matter how long it took, regain the trust and friendship that had taken him three years to gain and only a few seconds to totally destroy. If he had to he would sit with Spock till the stubborn Vulcan listened to him, really listened to him, no matter how long it took, till he heard and understood all that he was feeling. There had to be a way to make his willful friend listen to him, to understand what had been done to him and how weak he was to let it affect him like that. No matter how long it took he would get Spock to understand. It had taken him three years of hard work to get through that Vulcan wall, to see the real person behind that façade and he had a much harder task now as he had driven his friend back behind that wall, a wall that his friend had now reinforced to keep out all human aspects. But he would do it. He would get his friend back.
With his plan sorted Kirk started to leave Uhura's quarters then stopped as he became more aware of the dullness in his head. He had a vague memory of hearing Spock's voice as he slept saying, "Good bye, Jim." but knew that Vulcans did not say good bye. No, he must have slept in an awkward position. Or perhaps it was a residual hallucination after all that he had breathed. It had been Spock's voice and had woken him but he knew he was just over tired.
The confrontation, reception was only a few minutes away and he felt his confidence being re-enforced by remembering what Collins had done. He saw how Collins must have used people to get to where he was. He was just about at the turbolift to go to the transporter when McCoy rushed by him.
"Bones?"
"Medical emergency. Catch you later."
"Where?"
McCoy paused long enough before the doors closed to look directly into his eyes and say, "The isolation cell." and was gone.
A quiet sinister voice in his head mocked him, "Vulcans never beg yet Spock did. Vulcans never say good bye but Spock did." He heard Spock saying, "I am trying to stay the hell out of his life. I will ensure I never disturb your life again. Live long and prosper, Captain James Tiberius Kirk." He was about to shake it off, he knew what Vulcans said when they were really leaving and Spock was,
Everything seemed to stop as he saw again how Spock had looked at him and said, "However, as it is your stated wish, I will take my leave of you, James Tiberius Kirk." No NO! He had just used his full name. No rank. Kirk took a deep breath as he suddenly realized Spock had been saying goodbye to him then: saying goodbye to him as a person, as a friend, not as an officer, not as his senior officer. That look. Kirk was not too sure if it were a hurt and haunted look or that of a man suddenly totally alone. The words seemed to now mock him, "Take my leave of you. Take my leave of you."