Author's Note: Doubly long chapter just for all my faithful followers! Hopefully I answer any confusion ya'll had over last chapter! I can definitely see where it would have gotten confusing.
Enjoy!
"Why?"
Nyota sat cross legged on a chair in a small cafe in San Francisco. The stunning view of the sunrise over the ocean was dampened significantly by the sleepless night prior. Her lack of energy made the rising sun seem mocking.
She stared at Spock while he formulated an answer to her question.
He was tired.
It wasn't something you could see in his skin, or in his energy level.
It was all his mannerisms.
Right now he sat ramrod-straight. His eyes darted to and from nervously, like somebody was searching for him and he didn't particularly want to be found. When he spoke, it was with a seriousness that held weight. He did not talk in his typical uptight, empty way, but thick with compassion and even fear.
No, this was not a Vulcan way of behavior.
He was filled with emotion.
It was slightly alarming.
Spock's concern permeated the processed air around them.
He finally spoke.
"Which why would you like me to answer?"
Said in a different tone, she would have berated him. However, it was clear by the emotions that were threatening to form words that he had answers, and questions too. He just needed her help.
Nyota sighed all the same.
"Why was McCoy arrested."
She fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug.
"First."
Spock looked at her sharply.
"What?"
She looked toward the window.
"I have more questions you know."
A pause. Nervous glances.
"I am not entirely sure that I wish to answer these questions. However, as it appears that this action would be most beneficial for our relationship, I will attempt to answer your questions to the best of my ability."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Thank you."
Spock pushed his own unfinished mug away. It was distracting. It was the caffeine. Probably.
"I will start at the beginning. When Jim's heart stopped, Doctor McCoy was forced to..."
She put her hand on Spock's.
More distractions.
He began to talk again.
She glared.
"Can we not make this a medical report? I know that somewhere in your mind you view him as a friend. The titles are..." She searched for a word with discomfort, "distracting."
Why she does not understand that titles are simply a way of organizing my thoughts is beyond my comprehension.
"Very well then. McCoy was forced to revive Jim with the serum with which he had earlier injected into the tribble. While the tribble did not thrive under the serum, it was revived, and the medical personnel understood that with the help of the cryotubes and the serum, Jim could be... saved. Of course you already know this part."
She nodded in solemn agreement.
"The problem lay in the timing on this decision. Had we had more time to consider this solution, we would have been able to contact Starfleet and have them clear our decision. As it stands, we were forced to break an endless number of Starfleet regulations in order to save the Captain, most of them relating to the fact we did not have permission from Starfleet to perform such an... unprecedented procedure."
He cleared his throat and she fidgeted.
Their drinks were cold and the faces around them had changed as the sun fell into its place in the sky.
"When we landed, this was one of the very first matters to be taken into consideration. Of course there were a multitude of other problems that were, and still are being taken care or, however, due to the newfound dilemma surrounding Admiral Marcus, the information that our crew, specifically that which the Captain held, were of a great significance to them. Additionally, it seems to be significantly easier for the higher-ups to deal with individual faults than the large picture and their own corruption. Because of this, McCoy was targeted as an... unstable individual."
She shifted forward in her chair.
He noticed that Nyota's eyes looked tired, and it was not simply her lack of makeup.
"I managed to convince the authorities to keep McCoy on the case of James Kirk, only because I assured them that he was the only one who fully understood the situation surrounding the Captain. They were very reluctant, however they need him alive because of the answers they fear he has in relation to Admiral Marcus and John Harrison. They reassured me however that if he made any mistakes or showed signs of instability, that he would be removed from the case."
She stood up and walked to the window. When she looked back it was with concern.
"So thats what happened to your nose?"
He coughed with a raised eyebrow.
"May I ask how you came to that conclusion?"
She faced the window again.
"You forget, I do not leave your side. I was right outside the door. The sound was just... muffled."
He nodded.
"Right, of course. I assume you understand then that the punch in question was of course over the matter of Winona Kirk?"
She sat back down.
"I assumed. It wasn't... wrong of you to let her in. However, it may not have been the right time."
A waitress walked by and refilled their mugs.
They took the time to reflect on harsh words and punches.
Nyota continued.
"She ran. Right after. She isn't coming back."
The look he gave her was full of hurt.
"I... I do not understand."
She put her hands over his and leaned in.
"Some humans," she whispered, "are brave. Some are too broken to remember what bravery is."
She kissed his hand softly.
"You will learn."
A glorious silence.
Fascinating.
She formed more words.
"After the fight?"
He came as close to a sigh as she had ever heard from him.
"They drug him away. I followed closely behind, but at my arrival to the containment facility nearest the hospital, guards stopped my entrance and asked me to remain outside a conference room. 42 minutes later officials began to arrive to discuss the... misconduct of Leonard McCoy. They asked me to leave and I was unable to overhear their conversation. I spent my time watching the doctor who had been knocked unconscious by a security guard after he became volatile. During this I decided that despite his wrongdoing to me, my loyalties remain true to him."
He smiled slightly.
"Afterward a man came to talk to me to discuss the verdict of the meeting. While I was pleased to find that he was to be released due to insufficient evidence to bring to court on the count of assault. The man released Leonard and informed me that... his medical license is to be 'temporarily' suspended."
She looked down with intense sadness.
After a moment she stared into his eyes and asked the question that had been plaguing them since the start.
"Who is taking care of Jim?"
The moment of silence after the question was deafening.
He met her gaze with regret.
"We don't know. His doctor banned me and several other people involved in the incident surrounding Jim's relapse from visiting him in order to stabilize him. An understandable yet misinformed decision. I regret to inform you that you were placed on this list. For the time being, we are in the dark on Jim's situation. I'm sorry."
She fingered with the silky tablecloth.
"So thats why you are not with Jim right now."
Spock gave a pained reply.
"Unfortunately. I also believe that was your third question."
She didn't smile.
Spock finally understood regret.
It was in the plight of others that one can find such a sensation.
Sometimes, finding the truth surrounding an emotion required much pain.
Doctor Dmitriev was the doctor to take Doctor McCoy's place in the great drama that was unfolding. His Russian last name was nearly as hard to swallow as his bedside manner, which would later leave Jim feeling like there might be some chance at justice in the world. After all, McCoy was hardly known for his flawless temperament. Familiarity is comfort.
Dmitriev was currently more than slightly thrown off by the case at hand, seeing as it surrounded a resurrected body, cryotubes, and serum from the blood of a super human.
No, he was not a wizard, and no, he did not learn this is medical school.
He felt a sudden stab of pity for the poor soul dealing with the case initially.
As he stood reading the charts on the PADD in front of him, he was met with even more confusion. Why did this man have so many allergies? Why did he have nearly three years missing medical data? Some documented physiological issues, including frequent nightmare, insomnia, and ADD also appeared. These weren't unusual, however, they did beg the question of whether or not the man was ever suited to be captain of a starship.
He looked over to James T. Kirk as the monitors on the wall began beeping to indicate a change in sleep cycle. The doctor watched as his eyes flicked to and forth in his soon to end sleep.
The monitor silenced itself and the Captain's eyes opened.
Like a teacher, the doctor made mental notes in his head to get to know the patient, to know what he was dealing with.
He looked at the PADD in front of him.
Eyes: Blue.
Check.
That was about all he truly knew at the moment. Of course, he knew all about his accomplishments at Starfleet, but believe it or not, "saved the world multiple times" didn't say much about his personality or medical history.
"Who are you, and where is Leonard McCoy?"
The man's voice was raspy from disuse, but the way he stressed his words made it very evident that he wanted answers and he wanted them now.
In this sort of situation, it is always wisest to make your answer as close to the truth as possible.
"I am Doctor Dmitriev, and I am here to replace Doctor McCoy as your temporary physician."
The doctor could clearly see the fear in the kid's eyes and he wondered what had warranted it.
"The Doctor is unable to attend his duties as a physician, due to the fact his medical license was suspended in wake of the... accident that happened in this room yesterday."
Kirk clenched his eyes shut. It could have been the foreign light or a headache, but he knew that the real reason for his reaction was emotional.
"Shiz... So that wasn't just a dream then. Frick. Ok. Not good, not good. Its all a mess."
He could tell the kid was in pain now, both emotional and physical. There was something cloudy and slow about his reactions, and his words clearly indicated distress.
"I know this must be hard for you, but if you are feeling up to it, I need to do a preliminary examination to ensure that there were no side-effects of the procedure. If you feel like that is not possible at the time, you are strongly suggested to sleep. I assume you already know most of what happened, however, I am not allowed to give you anymore information at this time."
He gave the doctor a withering but knowing look. This wasn't the first time Jim had dealt with this sort of situation.
"Wait. First, what happened to my mother? Where did you put her. Also, where are Spock and Lieutenant Uhura."
Again. Anger.
More fear than anger though.
"I am strongly suggested to not give you any information concerning your mother, due to the fact it may distress you further. Your friends are otherwise occupied, but safe."
Jim could have punched the guy.
"However, as I doubt you will accept that for an answer regarding your mother, I am sorry to say that she left. We don't know anything about her whereabouts, and that is the truth."
Dmitriev had an intense look of pity on his face.
Jim hated pity.
He turned away from the doctor and closed his blue eyes.
"Figures."
It was hardly more than a whisper.
"I think i'll wait on the exam."
The doctor frowned at the screen in his hands.
"If that is your decision. Do you need a sedative?"
Kirk seemed to hide farther into himself as he considered this.
"Yes."
For the the new doctor, this was a likely response to this question. Patients rarely declined drugs that would put them out of pain.
However, James Tiberius Kirk was not your typical patient.
Not having Leonard McCoy as his doctor was not simply unfortunate.
It was dangerous.
A/N: Whatcha think? Any ideas for where I should go with this? I'm open to any story ideas!