Scotty's POV
When Spock left the bridge after receiving an urgent message from sickbay, I started to get worried. He hadn't shown any outward signs of anxiety or fear, but it was clear from the way he had rushed out more quickly than normal that he suspected something was wrong. And I thought I knew what it was.
He stepped back onto the bridge about fifteen minutes later. Chekov immediately stood up from the command chair. "Em, Mr. Spock," I heard him say. I turned from where I was kneeling on the floor, repairing some burnt out circuits. Spock looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you were in sickbay; is – is Captain Kirk alright?" Everyone else on the bridge turned to look. Obviously they were wondering the same thing.
Spock paused for a moment, then said, "No."
Chekov looked at him with wide eyes. "Is he – going to live?"
"No." There was a shocked silence. The Russian stumbled back to his console.
"Mr. Spock!" I said, standing up. "How can you say that like that!? Do you really have no emotion!?"
"I will not discuss my emotions."
"Our captain is going to die – the captain who seems to be the closest thing you have to a friend – and you feel nothing for him, do you?"
"Mr. Scott, I am half-human. I am not entirely emotionless, though I choose not to allow my emotions to influence my actions. I must keep them under control."
I felt guilty as understanding dawned on me. "Mr. Spock, I'm sorry."
"Your apology is accepted, though unnecessary, Mr. Scott."
Chekov sniffed. "It is my fault!" he exclaimed. "This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been so stupid!"
"Chekov, lad, you made a mistake. Nobody blames you."
"But it is my fault. I should be blamed." He was shaking. "Can't I do something?"
"No, Ensign," said Spock. "But Mr. Scott is correct. There is no use in causing yourself pain over something you cannot change."
After leaving the bridge five hours later, my own grief began to overwhelm me and I imagined it was much worse for Chekov. The Enterprise would not be the same without Kirk. Even though we would get a new commander, there was no way he could replace Kirk as our captain.
And there was certainly no way you could replace a friend.
