I'm so sorry its been so long since my last update! RL got in the way. And the fact that I've been having a bit of writers block. Actually I still really don't like this chapter, but i've been glaring at it for the last couple of days, and decided its not going to improve any time soon, so I'm going to publish it, and promise that later chapters will be better!

So on with the story. Which has its new title! Suggested by IGottaFindYou, "'Till the Planets Burn".

Oh, and remember to check my livejournal! New pictures!!!

Chapter eleven.

McCoy had written up a schedule for all the doctors on board, so someone was in the captain's room at all times, so when he did wake up, Bones could be contacted immediately. If he ever woke up. I was currently doing my shift, and had positioned myself at the small desk, and buried my nose onto a book on the medical differences between humans and Vulcans. It was quite fascinating. That was when I was rudely interrupted.

"Damn, I feel like crap."

Startled, I looked up, my eyes meeting the ones of captain Kirk. It was sort of deja vu, him leaning on my desk, looking at me with a strained grin. For a moment I stared at Kirk, baffled. Why was he standing up if he was in the middle of dying? Then my years of medical training kicked into action.

"You insane lunatic, get back on that bed! What do you think your doing standing up in your condition!" I screamed at him, while gesturing wildly at the bed he had just vacated.

"Good to know you care." Kirk replied, with that grin that made my insides all gooey and useless. How unprofessional.

"Why would I care?" I shot back at him hotly as I tucked the blankets around him so tightly that he wouldn't ever ever be able to get up from that bed again unless someone released him. "But it would be a pity to let all of Bones' work go to waste when he obviously very much wants you to survive. Now stay there, and if you move I will execute you personally."

"I thought I was the captain, what are you doing ordering me around?"

"As a doctor, I'm allowed to order around around anyone I please. I'm going to get Bones. He can deal with you."

I made my way to the door, glancing backwards to double-check that he was indeed not moving.

"Riley?"

I turned around, cocking my head to one side and raising one eye-brow as I looked at him quizzically. For a moment he looked taken aback by my perfect Spock impersonation.

"Do you really not care?"

I was taken aback by his question. I think he could see that I was flustered. I was wringing my hands, and shuffling on the spot, not knowing what to say. He looked at me pitifully with big puppy eyes. But no! He would not get the better of me.

"Sure I care. I mean, it wouldn't be good for my career if my first captain died while I was on the job, would it?"

With that I fled the room. Damn melting gooey feelings.

I called McCoy over the intercom.

"Bones? Captain Kirk is awake."

"He is? I'm on my way. How does he feel?" McCoy asked, the joy apparent in his voice.

"He said, and I quote: 'like crap.' I imagine near death experiences can do that to you." I said rolling my eyes.

"Don't kill him before we get there Riley." McCoy replied with a dry chuckle.

Crumbs. That had been top of my to do list for today.

About ten minutes later, the doors slid open, and both McCoy and myself entered Kirk's room. He was still awake, and had seemingly not moved an inch. Not that he could with the blankets tucked so tightly around him. He was simply staring at the ceiling, and looked up at us with obvious relief on his face when he saw that McCoy was standing right behind me.

"Bones!" He exclaimed, delighted.

I pouted, and was more then a little put out. All he said to me when he woke up was 'I feel like crap', which is not really on my list of top ten charming statements. And you know, being the big flirt he was, one would think he knew how to deliver a charming statement. Obviously not when it came to me though. Come to think of it, I still owed him a slap for kissing him. Make that a good hard slap. But I should probably wait until McCoy wasn't in the same room.

McCoy was currently bustling around Kirk, checking him form head to foot.

"Did you try to stand up? Your stitches look strained." McCoy stated, looking at Kirk accusingly.

"No, certainly not, why would I do that. I'm positive I don't have the energy for that." Kirk replied hastily, glancing nervously at me to see if I'd rat him out.

I didn't. I was far to busy attempting not to laugh at him as he attempted to look brave while McCoy prodded him here and there. McCoy then dismissed me. My shift was over anyway, and I had some reports I had to write up if I ever wanted to move up in ranks. So I returned to my room and settled on my couch with the computer and some of my heavy medical school books, and starting writing.

I must have fallen asleep, because the whoosh of the automatic doors woke me up. II blinked owlishly as my eyes adjusted to the light and my brain adjusted to the idea of being awake. Kirk was standing in my living room.

"What on earth are you doing out of sickbay?" I grumbled grouchily, stretching like a cat as I looked at him.

"I had to ask you something. What do you expect me to do with your brother?"

I stiffened.

"He is not my brother." I said, standing up, suddenly much more awake.

"Fine. What do you expect me to do with Spock's brother?"

"Why don't you ask Spock? He'll give you an unbiased solution. I will ask you to execute him. The whole universe would be a better place without him."

"No you won't. Because somehow you care about Sybok as well, don't you? You could easily have killed him with that phaser, and it would have been self-defense. But you only stunned him. And you know very well that I cannot possibly execute him under my own authority. And I don't truly believe you want him dead." Kirk reasoned, taking me by surprise.

"When did you become a psychologist?" I asked, the sarcasm thick in my voice. He grinned.

"I took a course in it at Starfleet academy because everyone told me it was an easy subject that you could bluff your way through, and an easy way to get the credits I needed to graduate. But that's not the point."

We stood their in silence for what felt like ages, but was probably only five minutes. Him waiting for my answer, me turning the matter over in my mind. At last I heaved a deep sigh.

"Take him to the Vulcan colony. They can pass judgment on him." I whispered.

He nodded. Then began to make his way out again. But I was not finished.

"James?"

He stopped and turned around, a look of shock on his face. Understandably considering I had never called him by his first name before. It had always been 'Captain Kirk', unlike how informal I was with everyone else on the ship. I called doctor McCoy Bones, I called Spock, Spock or even Pock, the nickname from our childhood, and I used various nicknames for everyone else on board. But Kirk had always been Captain Kirk. Until now.

"I never want to see Sybok's face again in my life. Whether I care about him or not." I said seriously, looking at the floor in front of me.

I looked up to see him nod, and then he left. With a huff I sat down on my couch and put my head in my hands. Life would have been so much more uncomplicated if I had stayed in England and never joined Starfleet. What was the future Spock thinking when he told me to join?