Quick question, is there anything in particular that you guys would like to see?

I've completely the plan of where this fic is going to go, but it's fairly flexible, so if there's a certain scene or moment that you want to see between certain characters, or even just a line that you want someone to say, tell me!

Rachel :D

Chapter 10

Spock slowly woke up to the sound of yelling.

"-telling you to ask!"

"I can't ask, you idiot! Do you even know-"

"No, Bones, I don't! Because you won't ask-"

"Oh for the love of-"

"-just ask already!"

The Vulcan frowned, and blinked a few times to try and clear the fog that had descended upon his brain. Where was he...?

Slowly sitting up, the sheets fell to his waist, and he stared at the stitches across his chest in surprise. They were new.

A quick glance around the room informed him that he was in the medical bay, and that the angry voices, Doctor McCoy and a man he guessed to be Jim, were arguing in the doctor's office through a door off to the side.

Arguing about what, however, he was unsure of.

Why he was here to begin with, he was also unsure of.

Thinking back, Spock tried to sort through the hazy memories leading him to this moment.

He had been changing his bandages, that he was certain of. And then Jim had come in. And then... And then he'd had a flashback.

Spock's eyes widened.

He'd had a flashback.

In front of Jim and Bones.

And they... they had helped him?

He looked down at the stitches once more.

It would appear so, he mused, before abruptly snapping his head back up as the office door opened.

When Bones stepped into the med bay and saw him, he froze, before forcing himself to somewhat relax.

"Spock. You're awake".

It wasn't a question, but the Vulcan felt the need to answer anyway.

"Affirmative, doctor".

"How... How are you feeling?"

Spock paused.

How was he feeling?

Angry? Upset? Embarrassed?

"... Foggy" He finally replied, and Bones snorted a laugh, "Yea, that's the morphine for you... No pain?"

"Should there be?"

"What? No! No, no, of course not!" He said quickly, walking forwards slowly, almost cautiously.

He's expecting me to run, Spock realised, and to be fair, it wasn't a half-bad thought given the current situation.

"Are you..." Bones paused, decidedly uncomfortably looking, "... comfortable?"

"Yes".

"Good".

McCoy awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, "So... you're, uh, all stitched up now. Some of the lashes on your back were infected, but... well... they're not anymore, so... there's nothing to worry about".

"Thank you".

Silence.

"... Spock-"

The office door opened again, and Jim stepped out.

The Vulcan couldn't help the blush that graced his cheeks and he ducked his head to avoid the man's questioning gaze.

"You ask him yet?"

"Oh for- Jim!"

"What?" He shot back defensively, though still oddly aggressive, "I told you to ask him!"

"And I told you no!"

"It's for the greater good-"

"-that he's not forced to answer!" Bones growled, glared at him.

They stared at each other for another few tense minutes, before Jim finally dropped his gaze.

"Fine" He bit out angrily, "Have it your way. See how much 'better' it is in the long run".

With one last vicious glare, he spun on his heel and marched from the room.

Spock stared after him, confused, "... Doctor?"

He sighed, frustrated, "... He wants me to ask you something".

"I gathered".

"And I just... I don't think it's the best idea".

"... May I inquire as to why not?"

Bones stared at him for one long moment, "... You had a panic attack. Earlier on, before I stitched you up. You... You fell to the floor, curled up, started whimpering, crying out... and then you stopped breathing... It took me a full six minutes to shake you out of it, and being perfectly honest, Spock... Those were the most terrifying six minutes of my entire life".

"I... apologise, for causing you such worry" He finally said, and McCoy took a sharp breath, "No. No, you don't get to apologise, Spock. You're not allowed to apologise. You didn't want this, you didn't cause this, you didn't ask for this... This isn't your fault, you understand that, right?"

He remained silent.

He knew the answer that the doctor wanted.

But he also knew that the man didn't like being lied to.

"... Why don't you want to ask me Jim's question?"

Perhaps changing topic was the best answer.

Bones closed his eyes for a moment before replying, "... Because if you panic again, I'm not quite sure if I'll be able to snap you out of it".

Spock slowly nodded.

He could understand the doctor's reasoning.

But he also didn't want to upset Jim.

"Was it an important question?"

"I'm not going to lie to you, Spock. It's probably the most important question".

Ah.

"You want to know who did it".

Bones looked up at him in surprise, "Well... Would you actually tell us?"

Spock tensed.

"You don't have to name people" He quickly backtracked, "Just... tell us enough so we know who to blame. Who to curse. Who to potentially murder if we ever come across them... Was it your family?"

Spock's breathing faltered.

"Your fiancé?"

Spock's hands tightened around the bed sheets.

"Your... father?"

Spock abruptly stilled.

Bones stared at him for another minute, before sighing and collapsing in the chair next to the Vulcan's chair, hands rising to rub at his forehead.

"... You know, my ole' man was a right dick".

The younger turned to him, surprised.

McCoy remained staring at his shoes, "He was an alcoholic... And a violent one at that".

The doctor leant back in his chair, "I'm not... telling you this to try and... I don't know... sympathise? empathise? some-other-ise? with you... I'm not trying to relate or to share experiences or any of that shit... My father used to beat me around a few times, but yours..."

He glanced down at the multitude of scares covering the Vulcan's chest.

"Yours, Spock... took this abuse thing to a whole new level".

Bones suddenly shook himself out of it, "Anyway, that was Jim's question. I have one myself, however, if you'd care to hear it. Since you've answered the first one... well... mine's quite similar".

Spock tilted his head, curious, and gestured for the doctor to continue.

Returning his gaze to the younger's bandages and stitches, Bones pause, "... You told me you left Vulcan three months ago now. Is that the truth?"

He quickly nodded.

"Then... Then how are some of these injuries only three weeks old?"

"Such a pretty thing you are, I'm sure we can work out something for passage. There's no such thing as free travel, you know, but I'm sure my men could have some fun with you-"

Spock swallowed thickly, "I... I left Vulcan".

"And jumped from cargo ship to cargo ship" Bones supplied, and he slowly nodded, "Yes. But I didn't... I didn't have any... I had to barter with them".

"For travel, yes, I understand. But you had no money?"

He shook his head, "No... But I had to leave. I needed to leave".

Realisation dawned in the doctor's eyes, and his stomach churned painfully.

Spock avoided his gaze entirely.

"I needed to leave... And I was willing to trade anything to get away".