"What do you base that idea on, Doctor McCoy." The Ambassador looked at McCoy and for a moment the doctor had his doubts, thought he had seen what was not there. "I am sure that Captain Kirk, like so many other commanding officers, could not readily name every officer who has died under his command in the line of duty which, in effect, saved his life and his career."

McCoy again rocked on his heels. No, he had been right. The man was deflecting. "You mentioned six years and six years ago Officer Wishard underwent eight weeks of intensive physiotherapy for severe trauma to all his muscles. You also were the one to insist the Admiral's aide expose his upper arm, as though you knew there would be those bruises there. Now I have not accessed your records, Sir, so do not know what he did but I am sure that you are part of whatever caused those injuries."

"And you are so certain just because of two events occurring six years ago? As to the aide, he had not hesitated to expose his other upper arm so it was easy to assume he was hiding something."

"I must agree with Doctor McCoy, Sir." Spock looked from McCoy to Kirk and then the Ambassador. "I base this reasoning not only on the six year factor you are attempting to, I believe the Human term is down-play, but also when you entered the Intensive Care Unit and saw me you immediately looked at the bed and there was an undeniable look of recognition about your face when you saw him as thought you expected him to be there. Is there a reason for that?"

The Ambassador looked at each of them, at the door to the Intensive Care Unit then at Spock and the Vulcan saw him relax as he sighed, "I know Vulcans do not drink as we Humans do, Mister Spock, but I need a drink while I talk of that time. Is there some place we four can go?"

A few minutes later they were all sitting in McCoy's office with the three Humans each with a glass of McCoy's special medicine and Spock with a non-alcoholic drink.

"You are right, you are both right, in that I did have an encounter with Angus Wishart six years ago. It was my last trip on my ship as Captain. We had been ordered into a region with another starship to try and halt a war. The other Captain and I beamed down along with not only security but also medical and engineering specialists to help the people. The other Captain and I, with two security officers, went to meet with the leaders but on our way to the meeting the security officers were killed and we were abducted, gagged, bound back to back, and dangled over a cliff on some braided rope that we knew would eventually fray with our combined weight. One of the engineering officers from the other ship had seen us and the security guards walking and, as the other Captain later told me, said he had an odd feeling about it when he saw some men walking the same way and when the men walked back he finished what he was doing, told a fellow officer to give him one standard hour then to follow where he went. He found us, most have realized that the rope would not hold us much longer, used some of the rope they had left and his uniform pants to secure his legs to a tree, and leaned over the side and gripped one of my arms and one of the other Captain's arms in a grip I was sure would crush my bones, only said we had to hang around quietly together for an hour. It was just over an hour later when help arrived and I doubt if I will ever forget seeing him laying on the ground silent, in obvious pain, and uncontrollably shaking."

Spock looked at the man in a way Kirk knew meant he knew something, "The rebel conflict on Halop Ten. Captain Pike was the other Captain. All he said after he returned was that there had been a situation and two security officers had been killed and a third officer injured. That truce still stands."

Kirk looked at the man, "I have not heard of you spending any time with any of the crew since you came aboard. Did he know you were aboard?"

"I didn't. Captain Pike said that he was the sort of officer who would just see his actions as the only ones he could take and to thank him would only embarrass him, said he was almost like his Vulcan officer in that regard."

The Ambassador looked back at Spock, "Pike did let me know when he had fully recovered and when I was informed about a missing crew member apart from you I knew in my gut it was him and that you were with him or he would not have come back." He then looked at McCoy, "What is his status?"

"His physical injuries will heal but it is too early to tell about his mental health. In order to save Mister Spock he had to be a creature that was the total opposite of his core for four days that he is trapped between it and who he is, between his past and present. We are taking him to the best facility in StarFleet for a full evaluation and Mister Spock has said he will take him to Vulcan, if necessary, to get treatment."

The Ambassador nodded and slightly shook his head, "Pike said it took him over a week to fully mentally return to normal duties. Said he seemed to go to some place deep inside himself after he had gripped us and said we would have to hang around quietly as he never said another word. Also contacted me later to say his bruises had all healed and mine were fading. Those three on the aide's arm let me know that they had been intentional, he had left them as a mark for us."

Spock kept looking at the man nut gave a slight nod, "He seldom spoke to me, he seemed in a different place, a different person. To hold the weight of two Humans for an hour would have required not only physical strength. And while I do not believe your gut has any cognisance I do believe that you felt certain, from your own experience of being lost and him finding you, that he would find me. Although I fail to understand his reasoning, although it may be due to his past in some way, I do find I have to agree with your assumption that had he not found and rescued me he would not have returned to the Enterprise. You can be assured he could get no better care than that of our Chief Medical Officer and the personnel in his department."

"I have no question at all about the care he will receive, Mister Spock. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me I have a report to file and prepare for the Tutaki to take myself and those two back to StarFleet headquarters. I will need a recorded deposition from the three of you about what transpired on the ship and on the planet. When Officer Wishart is fully recovered, and if Doctor McCoy believes it will not cause him further psychological trauma, then a deposition from him as well as now that we have these two we want to make it clear of all members of the Federation and all personnel in StarFleet that the activities such as they were engaged in will not be tolerated. I trust I will see you all again in the Transporter Room."

After the Ambassador had gone the three looked at each other and finally McCoy said, "I could give them some suggestions as to what to do with and to those two."

Kirk had smiled, "So could I, Bones, but I have a feeling the Ambassador, having seen what it was like down there, what it would have been like for Spock, will have a few ideas that are just on the Human side of humane."

"Pity but I agree. Now I never met Captain Pike but I imagine he would have kept an eye on Officer Wishart."

"For once your imagination is correct, Doctor, although it is only now that I can understand why every time Officer Wishart was off the ship Captain Pike was always in the Transporter Room when he beamed aboard. I had believed it was because Officer Wishart could give a report devoid of Human emotionalism and just give the facts and a correct chronological pattern. Now I see there most likely was another element, a Human element, that saw him always there."

"If you two will excuse me I should go find out what our next orders are for after the Tutaki has taken our visitors."

"I shall go to the bridge, Captain. It was be most agreeable to be back there."

"And I will go check on our prime patient. If there is any change I will let you both know. He seemed to be to be a bit more lucid for those few moments but I could be wrong."

"You were not wrong, Doctor. For eleven point eight seconds Angus was lucid, was determined to let us know and then he slid back, perhaps not as far but as you like to say time will tell."

For the next twenty-nine hours things were routine on the ship.

When Spock had gone to the bridge he had been warmly welcomed back and then the crew had returned to their duties. Although he seemed unaffected by the emotionalism the Vulcan allowed himself to be aware of how his Human half felt, loved, by the others. On his way to the bridge he had passed other crew who had all given him what he knew was what his mother had long ago told him, a "Welcome home, glad to see you back." smile. Here, on the bridge, he had felt the relief seem to circle around the bridge crew.

In his quarters Kirk reflected on all that had happened and reread his report. It had been difficult not to express his thoughts about the Admiral and his aide but knew he had to stick to just the facts and, content with the final draft, sent it away then sat and felt himself fully relax for the first time since Spock had vanished. He stretched out on his bed and felt a peace seem to blanket him. All was well with the universe as Spock was home.

McCoy had fetched a big urn of black coffee and gone into the Intensive Care Unit, sat beside the bed, and looked at his patient. Eleven point eight seconds was an improvement. There was a part of the man who wanted to come back but McCoy could not stop wondering about the world he has slipped back into. How many other times had he been something, someone else, to save others? How much had he put his body, and mind, though for fellow officers? Damned fool was not part of Security.

"Bridge to Captain Kirk, the Tutaki is approaching. I will meet with you and our guests in the Transporter Room. Spock out." Kirk rolled of his bed and headed for the Transporter Room, it was going to be good to get back to routine.

In the Transporter Room the Admiral and his aide stood on the platform and all bravado seemed to have gone from both of them. A security guards stood at each end and for a moment Kirk looked at his Vulcan friend as they walked in and could see that Spock was likely thinking as he was, that the two security guards were just wanting either of the men to make the slightest move. The Ambassador turned and looked as Spock and Kirk walked in. "I would like to say it had all been a pleasant trip, Captain, but once we had them and Mister Spock back it was a pleasant. It was good to meet you both. I am pleased that Officer Wishart will be looked after and I am pleased he did not know I was there and saw him like that. You will not tell him,"

"No, he will not be told."

"Thank you I,"

"Captain Kirk and Mister Spock to Sick Bay."

The two men looked at one another and the Ambassador made a move toward the door before them then paused and looked at the security guards, "If either of them moves a millimeter stun them on maximum setting. If I may, Captain."

Kirk just nodded and the all but ran to Sick Bay where McCoy met them and stopped them from going into the Intensive Care Unit, "He's semi-lucid. Knows he's on the ship but wants to know that Spock is okay. I," McCoy looked at the floor then at Spock and the Vulcan saw pain on the man's face, "I told him I would have to check and would let him know."

"Would seeing me have a detrimental effect on him?"

"I do not know, Spock. I am sorry but it could push him further into that world or help him out of it."

The Vulcan looked from McCoy, to Kirk, to the Ambassador and slowly walked to the door to the Intensive Care Unit and looked through the window that McCoy had set on one-way. Angus lay on the bed with his eyes open and Spock saw the slight movement in his fingers. He was frightened and fighting. Without a word he walked into the room and over to the bed, gently taking hold of Angus's left hand. "Doctor McCoy said you wanted to see that I was safe and on the ship with you."

"Yes. Had to say sorry for touching you there. Vulcan do not like touch. Had to get drugs out and clean. Forgive. Thought I saw a Captain I saw with Captain Pike in here. Confused."

"There is nothing to forgive. You need to rest. I will come back later."

"I did not see that Captain?"

Spock looked at the man, "You have had visitors who wanted to make sure you were safe but you did not see that Captain. The only Captain who has been in to see you has been Captain Kirk. As you said, you have been confused. You rest and I will come back." As the man looked at him Spock remembered something he had read when he had gone over the man's records. "You rest and when I return I will bring you a lemon ginger chocolate biscuit even if Doctor McCoy may protest."

The smile on his face was reflected in Angus's voice as she closed his eyes, "Deal."

Spock walked back to where the others had remained and looked at McCoy, "I should have asked you first but I noted it was his favorite desert."

"That's fine, Spock, but he will have to have plenty of water with it as he is not ready yet for solid foods."

The Ambassador looked at Spock and said, "Thank you for what you said to him. I know that Vulcans do not lie and I was wrong to ask you to not tell him the truth." the man smiled, "I liked the way you dealt with it as you told him the truth while but did not let him know I had seen him."

"It was made easier as he did say he was confused."

"Now, gentlemen, I believe we left the Tutaki waiting for me." as the walked back to the Transporter Room the Ambassador looked at Kirk, "You know I so hope one or both of them made a move while we were gone. We have had doubts about so many disappearances of crew members and the items that they brought back which they sold and made themselves a nice retirement fund but we needed to trap them, to catch them, to have irrefutable proof. They will never be free."

The transfer went smoothly and as they watched the Tutaki moved away Kirk looked at his First Officer, "You sure you are okay, Spock?"

"I am fine, Jim."

"I'm the doctor here and I think we all need a good meal and a good night's sleep now that they are gone and Officer Wishart is going to recover."

An eye-brow arched, "You are certain he will recover, Doctor?"

"With my bearskins and rattles and your changing his diet and tap-dancing around the truth I am sure he will be just fine in time."

"And just when and how did I tap-dance around the truth?"

"You know perfectly well it was when you told him he had not seen the Ambassador."

"Really Doctor? If memory serves he did not mention an ambassador. He asked if he had seen a Captain and I told him the truth in that Captain Kirk has been the only Captain he has seen. I told him the truth, I did not tap-dance around it."

McCoy slowly calmed as he looked at his Vulcan friend, "You know, I believe you are right, Spock."

"Oh," Spock looked at McCoy and Kirk smiled as he looked on.

"Yes," McCoy smiled as he rocked on his heels, "I somehow have difficulty picturing you dancing at all, Spock, let alone tap-dancing, as dancing is an expression of emotion and is often an illogical reaction."

- - - - - # - - - - -

A.N. COLD AND WET and may be away for some time as Spring starts next week and I have a garden to get sorted out and planted and a dog going to obedience and therapy dog training.