Pain shot through M'Benga's muscles as he eased himself on to a chair in the Mess Hall with the cup of steaming tea he had just gotten from the replicator. He had just come from his quarters and was angry.

Phlox had kicked him out of Sickbay shortly after Dr. McCoy had been discharged and M'Benga knew that it would be a hard thing to get back into Sickbay. With a sigh, M'Benga slowly sipped the liquid.

A soft cry suddenly filled M'Benga's ears, "Hush Amanda, it's all right," he suddenly heard Nyota say in a distressed voice as the Mess Hall door slid open. "Oh, Doctor M'Benga; I didn't know anyone was here."

"It's all right, Lieutenant," M'Benga replied in a calm, smooth voice as he watched her carry her sobbing half-Vulcan daughter into the Mess Hall. "I was just trying to pass some time, but it's not working."

Nyota frowned as she came over to where he was sitting, "I thought Phlox and President Pike would have put you back on the duty roster by now?" she asked in a concerned voice. "Have they not?"

"President Pike thinks I am a Security risk to the Enterprise even though I was prisoner on the Veritas Nero just as Captain Kirk and Commander McCoy are," M'Benga said in a frustrated voice even though he was soon due to contact Jeris and give a report. "How am I supposed to recover without working?"

Nyota sighed and sat across the table from him, setting Amanda in the highchair that had been attached to the end of a select few tables for the duration of the mission, "If you would like, I can talk to President Pike and Commander Spock for you," she offered in a concerned voice. "You need something to do."

Letting out a distressed sigh, M'Benga nodded and took a deep drink of the steaming liquid, "I am a medical professional for heaven's sakes and I should be seen as a hero for what I had to endure on that terrible Romulan vessel," he said in a quivering voice. "I feel like I haven't got a friend in the world."

Amanda suddenly stopped crying and stared at M'Benga with a look of curiosity on her face, almost as if she was trying to read his emotions and thoughts. Nyota, however, patted his hand reassuringly.

Father, why is Doctor M'Benga so sad? Spock suddenly heard a quiet voice ask in his still mind.

"…I HATE SCHOOL!" an angry young voice suddenly bellowed from the corridor. "ZACH'S MEAN!"

Quiet sobbing suddenly filled the corridor, "Charlie, it's all right," Spock suddenly heard Kathryn say in a soothing voice. "I promise that I'll get all the paint out of your clothes and also punish Zachary…"

The doors suddenly slid open and Kathryn walked a sobbing Charlie, who had blue fingerpaint all over his jeans and shirt, into the Presidential quarters. Spock raised an eyebrow at Charlie's messy clothes.

"Go to the bathroom and get those clothes off," Kathryn gently instructed Charlie. "I'll be along."

Sniffling, Charlie nodded and hurried off to the bathroom, "Doctor McCoy is currently in a state of sleep, but I administered his antibiotics at the appropriate time," Spock stated tonelessly as he stood up.

A wooshing sound suddenly filled the air, "Gramma, I turned on the tub all by myself!" an excited voice called out from the bathroom. "I think I'm makin a mess with all the soap. Mommy usually does this…"

"That boy," Kathryn said in an amused voice. "If you'll excuse me, Spock, I need to go help Charlie…"

Spock nodded and was quiet as Kathryn hurried off to the bathroom, "…Arianne, why can I hear you in my mind?" he suddenly heard a groggy voice mumble from the guest bedroom. "I'm…I'm just tired…"

Impossible. Spock thought as he entered Leonard's room and saw that Leonard was asleep. It cannot be.

"…Arianne, I love you," Leonard mumbled groggily as he slowly extended his hand as if reaching for her.

Before Spock could decide whether or not to initiate a meld, Leonard winced and began to tremble violently, "LET HER GO!" he moaned in a groggy, but very anxious voice. "TAKE ME INSTEAD!"

"Spock, is everything all right in there?" Kathryn's voice filtered into out of the bathroom.

Leonard suddenly groaned and went limp, "Doctor?" Spock asked, gently shaking Leonard's shoulder.

When Leonard didn't wake or respond, Spock quickly took out his communicator, "Commander Spock to Doctor Phlox," he said in a toneless voice. "Doctor McCoy had a disturbance in his REM sleep cycle…"

"I'll come as soon as I can," Phlox replied in a calm voice. "Monitor Doctor McCoy in the meantime."

Spock nodded and it was then that he noticed a small tear sliding down Leonard's closed eyes, "I hope you will forgive me for this, Doctor," he whispered in a faint voice as he put his hand on Leonard's face.

Arianne, have you been able to hear Leonard's thoughts? Arianne suddenly heard Spock ask in her mind as she leaned against a wall in the cell she, Jim, and Ambassador Spock had just been taken to after spending a large amount of time just below the trial chamber. He is becoming affected by yours.

Shock filled Arianne; she had no idea that her and Leonard's Academy romance had ended up with them bonding so intensely that they could hear each other's thoughts. She knew that they had established some sort of romantic telepathic link, as she had felt it at several random moments during her time on Voyager, but had not dwelt on it because she had been married to Admiral Archer at the time. However, now that she and Leonard…

The door suddenly slid open, "Prisoners, it is time for sentencing," a dark voice said. "Rise and come."

"Arianne, are you all right?" Jim, who had been sleeping on the floor to try and block out the constant pain he was in, whispered groggily as he sat up and looked at her with his bruised face and tired eyes.

Arianne nodded, "Where's Ambassador Spock?" she asked softly, suddenly realizing that she and Jim were now alone in the cell and that the aged Vulcan ambassador was gone. "Jim, can you stand?"

Swallowing hard, Jim shakily stood up and helped Arianne to her feet, "The sentencing is about to take place," the voice said as Jim and Arianne walked out of the cell and followed after a stony-faced Romulan guard who had been waiting just outside the door. "Spock's sentencing will take place first."

"I-I can't breathe," Jim, who had experienced slight dizziness after standing up too quick, suddenly moaned as he placed a hand on his chest and doubled over. "I feel like someone is sitting on my chest."

The guard stopped, turned, and silently watched as Jim crumpled to his knees, "It is climate sickness that outsiders sometimes experience," he explained tonelessly. "Get up, keep moving, and it will pass."

"Jim, come on," Arianne whispered gently as she knelt down and put her arm on his shoulder.

Jim gazed at her, "Don't do anything foolish," he replied groggily. "You…you gotta take care of you."

"Leaving you on the floor to suffer is foolish," Arianne whispered gently. "Slow breath, and then stand."

Even though Jim just wanted to rest and focus on just getting back to his sons, he nodded and did what Arianne had instructed before standing up again. The rest of the walk was done in complete silence.

"Enter," the guard said tonelessly as the three of them approached a large steel door. "Do not speak."

The doors slid open and Arianne and Jim entered the room only to find Ambassador Spock standing against a painted target with his hands clasped together and above his head, supported only by a single chain that dangled from the vaulted ceiling. His eyes were swollen shut and his face was battered.

"Welcome to the ceremony," a deep, yet very eager voice said as the doors quickly slammed shut.

Phlox frowned at Spock, who had broken off the meld shortly after initiating it, "I suppose initiating a Vulcan mind meld was an attempt to stabilize the doctor's health?" he asked in a confused voice.

"It was merely to confirm a suspicion I have had ever since Commander McCoy was kidnapped," Spock replied in a toneless voice as he stared down at Leonard. "I must speak with Ambassador Sarek…"

Phlox sighed and quickly scanned Leonard with a medical tricorder, "Doctor McCoy seems all right, but I'm not sure when he'll wake up," he explained in a somber voice. "Whatever was going on in his mind caused symptoms that are equivalent to those of a seizure; in simple words, the mental stress of his dream caused such physical stress that Doctor McCoy's body shut down as a defense mechanism."

Spock remained silent, but nodded, "I'll hook up a drip line and administer the next dose of antibiotics while I'm here, though," Phlox said, hoping to reassure Spock. "Doctor McCoy should be monitored…"

"I believe that the doctor would become upset if he were to wake up back in Sickbay," Spock, who had observed how frustrated Leonard had been during his time in Sickbay, replied. "I can remain here."

There was a moment of silence and then Charlie, who had been thoroughly scrubbed in the tub, came into the room wearing a clean shirt, clean jeans, and clean socks, "How's Papa?" he asked in a worried voice as he came over to the bed and saw that Leonard was asleep. "I was hopin he was awake…"

"Hmm?" Leonard suddenly spoke in a groggy voice even though his eyes remained closed.

Phlox quickly put the medical tricorder away and took out a hypospray just as Leonard opened his eyes and looked surprised to see Spock, Phlox, and Charlie in his room, "Arianne and Jim are on Romulus," Leonard said in a faint voice as his eyes locked on Spock's. "You gotta tell President Pike…"

"We are en route to Romulus, Doctor," Spock replied tonelessly. "I must speak with my father now."

Spock silently left the room, nearly running into Kathryn, "Can I stay here with Papa?" Charlie asked, giving puppy dog eyes to his grandmother. "I don't wanna go back to the schoolroom today."

As if he recognized Charlie's voice, Porthos suddenly yipped and sat up, "Papa and Porthos both want me to stay, Gramma Kathy," he said in a quiet voice. "I promise to let Papa rest and to do my work."

"Whatever," Leonard mumbled groggily as he again closed his eyes. "As long as you're quiet."

Charlie nodded and left the room, "The best thing for you to do right now, Doctor McCoy, is to get some rest and not worry about anything," Phlox said gently. "If you wish to stay awake, try reading a bit."

Leonard, however, wasn't listening and there was a somewhat vacant expression on his face, "It's strange, isn't it Doctor Phlox?" he asked in a hollow whisper. "I can see the Veritas Nero in my mind."

"Really?" Phlox asked, wondering if Leonard was hallucinating or actually having some sort of vision.

Leonard nodded and took a deep breath to ease the pressure he felt from talking, "Why don't you describe what you're seeing if you can?" Phlox asked as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Slowly."

Jeris stepped out of the shadows holding what looked to be a very lethal looking instrument, "Welcome to Ambassador Spock's execution ceremony," he said in a dark voice. "Captain Kirk, you and Commander McCoy will not be executed, as I have better uses for you, but Ambassador Spock has outlived his use."

"What do you plan to do with us?" Arianne asked cautiously to spare Jim from talking and suffering pain.

Jeris chuckled evilly, "You will know in time, my dear," he hissed. "For now, watch and remember."

"A-Arianne, I have to sit down," Jim whispered as he placed his good hand on his chest. "Hurts to…"

Before Arianne could stop him, Jim sank to his knees and was promptly rewarded with a hard jab from the guard's phaser rifle, "No talking!" he snapped. "Now rise and give Captain Jeris some respect."

As Jim slowly got back up, Arianne cringed and swallowed hard; she was experiencing a bout of morning sickness, but was unable to say anything because she knew it would only mean more trouble for them.

"This is a painstik that I got from Klingon allies during my journey in exile," Jeris explained as he showed the weapon to Jim and Arianne. "Normally, Vulcans can tolerate quite a bit, but this one is weak…"

Jim snarled and opened his mouth to say something, but Arianne quickly clapped a hand over his mouth to protect them from any future trouble, "Wise choice, Commander McCoy," Jeris said in an amused voice as he paced back and forth in front of Ambassador Spock. "Now, behold Nero finally being avenged."

Silence greeted Spock as he entered the quarters where his father was going to reside for the duration of the journey to Romulus and back. Sarek was seated in a cross-legged position on the floor near the window in a Vulcan meditation robe with his back to the door. Only small candles lit the large room.

"Speak your mind, Spock," Sarek spoke in a toneless voice without turning. "You are concerned…"

Spock sighed, "I am," he replied in a toneless voice. "Doctor McCoy has experienced mental communication with Commander McCoy to the point where it causes him physical distress."

"Mental communication that obviously involves the sharing of feelings and physical reactions or else it would not cause Doctor McCoy physical distress," Sarek replied tonelessly as he got to his feet and turned to face Spock. "I sense that you have suspicions about the reason behind this communication?"

Swallowing hard, Spock nodded, "I believe that there is a bond of sorts at play," he replied tonelessly. "I do, of course, recall that Doctor McCoy and Commander McCoy were romantically involved during their time at the Academy, but they ended their relationship when Doctor McCoy joined the Enterprise…"

"Commander McCoy was married to Admiral Archer for a brief time, but it was not a marriage of romance and passion," Sarek commented thoughtfully. "I suspect she was guarding a secret…"

Spock, who had been one of Arianne's confidantes back at the Academy, said nothing; he had been sworn to secrecy by Arianne when she had confided in him and had prompted him to apply for the First Officer position aboard the Enterprise. She was going to apply for it, but had been unable to…

"Was Doctor McCoy ever told?" Sarek asked, bringing Spock out of his thoughts. "It is his right to know."

Spock shook his head slowly, "Commander McCoy did not wish for him to give up a promising career," he replied with a hint of regret in his voice. "I did attempt to convince her to tell him, but she did not…"

Suddenly, as if someone had thrown a bomb into each of their hearts and detonated it, Spock and Sarek both went silent and Spock nearly collapsed, "A Vulcan has been killed, Father," Spock spoke in a trembling voice as he struggled to get his human half under control. "I must sit and meditate."

Sarek nodded and was silent as Spock sank to the floor in a cross-legged position, "My mind to your mind," Sarek spoke softly as he knelt beside Spock and placed his hands on Spock's face. "Relax."

Ambassador Spock's body lay on the floor and Jim silently stared at it while Arianne retched in the corner; it hadn't taken many jabs with the painstik for Ambassador Spock to die and now it was done.

Jeris had left them alone with the body, only stationing an armed guard outside the door so that the two could fully process what had happened. Arianne had promptly used the opportunity to become sick, but Jim silently stared at what had once been a great figure in his sudden rise to Captain of the Enterprise.

"James, I'm so sorry," Arianne said in a weak voice as she slowly walked over to him and stared down at the lifeless Vulcan Ambassador. "I didn't know him very well myself, but I'm sorry for your loss."

Jim nodded and looked at Arianne, "He said that your baby was still alive, didn't he?" he asked softly.

"I don't know how it still is," Arianne replied softly as she placed a hand over her stomach.

Jim frowned, "You should rest," he replied in a more concerned voice. "I can guard the body."

"Ambassador Spock is a Vulcan and if Jeris had any sense, he'd send the body to Vulcan for proper burial," Arianne replied in an almost snappish tone. "Jim, I'm sorry; I'm very tired and didn't…"

Compassion filled Jim's eyes, "I know," he replied softly. "We'll probably have to leave soon…"

Suddenly, the doors slid open and the armed guard came into the room, "Captain Jeris has ordered that I escort you two to the prisoner barracks," he said in a commanding voice. "Your sentence has begun."

Jim nodded and silently helped Arianne to walk out of the room and follow the guard down several long, winding hallways that all reeked of gloom. They then entered a lift and were taken down several floors before the lift stopped; the guard escorted them out and down a hallway to a large steel door.

"This will be your cell," the guard stated commandingly as he pressed a button and the door opened.

Swallowing hard, Jim silently led Arianne into the cell and was surprised to find a dark-haired teenage girl, who was dressed in a dark pantsuit and boots, standing in the cell holding a medical bag, "Captain Jeris told me to wait here and to check the prisoners over," the girl explained in a commanding voice.

"I will wait outside for you," the guard replied as he left the cell and the doors closed behind him.

The girl sighed and gestured to the two cots that were against the right wall, "Are you even old enough to be a doctor?" Jim asked as he helped Arianne over to a cot and helped her to sit. "You look so…"

"Young?" the girl replied in an amused voice. "I'm 14, but there are some days I feel like a little kid."

Arianne smiled as the girl handed her a small food pack, "You're pregnant, right?" the girl asked, ignoring Arianne's look of shock. "It's easy to tell, even in a place like this…so, go ahead and eat."

"What's your name?" Jim asked as he sat on the other cot. "Why are you helping us so willingly?"

For a moment, the girl was silent and then took a roll of bandages from the bag, "You're the first humans I've seen face to face since I was little," she replied softly as she unwrapped the roll and began rewrapping it around Jim's swollen wrist. "I've got pictures of my parents, but my mother died when I was young and I was taken in by the Romulans. They told me everything of my heritage and my family."

"I never had a mother either," Arianne replied softly. "I was adopted as a baby by a Starfleet Captain."

The girl looked intrigued as she finished wrapping Jim's wrist and set it against his chest, "My mother was insane and never wanted my father to know that I was still alive," she explained in a soft voice as she stepped away from Jim and went back to her medical bag. "Anyway, do you hurt anywhere else?"

Jim suddenly looked down at his lap, "Jeris and Carol did something to me on the ship," he replied in an anxious whisper as he lay on his cot and looked at the girl. "I just can't remember all the details…"

"You probably have a head injury too," the girl commented, eyeing the gash on Jim's forehead.

Jim sighed, "You remind me of someone, you know that?" he said in a tired voice. "Bones."

Nodding, the girl took some antiseptic wipes from the bag and began to clean Jim's forehead, "I was made aware of your arrival a few days ago, Captain Kirk," she explained, ignoring Jim's wincing as she cleaned and bandaged the gash. "I was wondering if you knew anything about a Leonard McCoy?"

"Why do you want to know about my husband?" Arianne asked, unable to resist her curiosity.

The girl looked at Arianne with a curious look on her face, "Leonard's my father," she explained in a somber, almost caring voice as she offered Arianne a food packet. "My name is Joanna McCoy."

Arianne's eyes widened, but before she could speak, a klaxon sounded, "Oh, I have to go," Joanna said in an apologetic voice as she handed Arianne the bag. "Make sure you both take care of yourselves."

Swallowing hard, Joanna got to her feet and hurried out of the cell, "Arianne, I'm tired," Jim said in a faint voice as he lay down on his cot. "I've got a head injury, so I need to be woken in two hours…"

"Okay," Arianne replied softly, silently wondering how Joanna was alive. "Have a good nap, James."

The Mess Hall was quiet, but not empty. Nyota had taken Amanda back to her and Spock's family quarters hours ago, but Dr. M'Benga remained seated at the corner table with yet another cup of steaming hot liquid in front of him. He was full of pain and guilt over his time on Jeris's ship.

M'Benga sighed wearily and rested his head on the table just as the doors slid open and Tom came into the Mess Hall with B'Elanna, who was carrying Miral. At first neither Tom nor B'Elanna noticed M'Benga and they busied themselves getting wholesome food for themselves and Miral from the replicator.

"Tom, who's that?" B'Elanna asked as she turned around at suddenly noticed someone seated at the corner table with their head resting on the table. "He looks either tired or sick; I can't tell which."

Tom frowned and walked over to the corner table, "Hey, are you okay?" he asked worriedly. "I don't…"

"I'm Doctor M'Benga," M'Benga replied softly, not lifting his head. "I just want to be left alone."

Tom nodded and M'Benga slowly sat up, "I'm actually not feeling all that well," M'Benga replied in a pained voice as he slowly got up from the table. "I think I'm going to my quarters to rest."

"I'm currently a medic, so maybe I can help you," Tom offered gently. "What exactly is wrong?"

M'Benga sighed, "I'm still feeling the aftereffects of my time as a prisoner on the Veritas Nero," he replied in a semi-irritated voice. "Admiral Pike currently has me on medical leave from duty."

"You were a prisoner on the Veritas Nero?" B'Elanna asked in a soft voice, looking at M'Benga briefly before turning her attention back to feeding Miral. "I was for a while and then I got some help here."

M'Benga nodded, but remained silent as he left the Mess Hall, "I can understand how he's feeling, Tom," she replied as Tom came over to their table. "When I first remembered who I was and what had happened, I didn't want to talk about it either. I'm just relieved that I was able come back so well."

"I'm relieved about that too," Tom said in a gentle voice as he sat next to her. "So, I heard a rumor that Lorian was showing Naomi around the hydroponics bay tonight; are they officially dating now, or…?"

B'Elanna chuckled, "Ensign Wildman and George are with them, so it's technically not a date," she replied, having talked with Ensign Wildman about it earlier in the day. "Besides, I don't think they want to date…"

"You and I started out as friends and look at where we ended up," Tom commented in an amused voice as he smiled at Miral. "They're young, though, and Lorian's trying to deal with Captain Kirk being gone…"

B'Elanna sighed, "I just hope we can find Arianne and Captain Kirk soon," she replied in a more somber tone as she finished feeding Miral. "While I was in Sickbay, I saw Doctor McCoy and he wasn't reacting well to the absence of his wife and Captain. Arianne's children aren't really talking about it either…"

"Well, their oldest one is certainly upset about it," Tom replied worriedly. "His name is Charles, right?"

Despite the somberness of their situation, B'Elanna chuckled again, "Don't call him that to his face, Tom," she replied gently. "Can we just not talk for a little bit and just relax? I really need it."

Nodding, Tom put an arm around his wife and held her as they both smiled lovingly at Miral.

Soft talking greeted Leonard as he opened his eyes and saw that he had been retucked into bed and given a dripline in his left hand by Phlox. The PADDs and a glass of juice were on the bedside table.

"…This food is acceptable," Seven's voice spoke. "Young Charlie, why do you not consume it?"

There was a tiny sigh, "Auntie Seven, I don't wanna eat when Papa Leonard can't," Charlie's voice replied in an upset tone. "If I go ask him if he's hungry, he'll get sick because his body's broken."

"Papa Leonard was shot, Charlie," Kathy's voice replied worriedly. "His body gots to heal itself."

Leonard sighed tiredly; he must have fallen asleep while talking to Phlox and Phlox must have merely made him comfortable before excusing himself, "It eez good to see you avake," a gentle voice said.

Frowning, Leonard turned his head and saw Chekov standing in the doorway holding a tray containing a small bowl of soup, a small cup of juice, and a small bowl of pudding along with the proper cutlery and a cloth napkin, "Commander Spock regrets not being able to come himself, but he vas needed on ze Bridge to relieve Admeeral Pike," Chekov explained nervously. "I…I just got off my Bridge duties…"

"I'm guessing Phlox wants me to eat that?" Leonard asked, eyeing the tray. "Let me sit up and…"

Chekov quickly entered the room and set the tray on a small tray that was next to the bed as Leonard slowly sat up, "Let me fix your pillows," Chekov said in an anxious voice as he rushed around the bed and quickly propped up Leonard's back so that he could sit up comfortably. "How does zat feel?"

"Is there some sort of party going on, Chekov?" Leonard asked tiredly. "There's so much talking."

Chekov nodded, "Prezident Pike and his wife are having dinner with some of ze old Voyager crew as well as all of your little ones," he replied gently. "You do not haff to eat now if you are not feeling like it…"

"It's what everyone expects," Leonard replied tonelessly as he forced himself to lean forward and grab the cutlery even though it caused stress on his healing abdomen. "Thank you for the dinner, Ensign."

Swallowing hard, Chekov nodded and silently left the bedroom. As he walked towards the door, Kathryn came out of the dining area and frowned at seeing the nervous expression on the young Ensign's face.

"Doctor McCoy kicked me out and eez attempting to eat alone," Chekov explained nervously. "I…"

Kathryn nodded, silently looked into the bedroom, and saw that Leonard was laying back down with one hand on his abdomen and a pained expression on his face, "Thank you, Ensign Chekov, I'll take it from here," she replied gently. "If you wish, you can join us for dinner or you are free to do whatever…"

Nodding, Chekov quickly left the room and Kathryn silently walked over to the comms terminal.

For the first time since the journey to Romulus began, the Bridge was quiet. President Pike had been helped back into his wheelchair by a crewman and now was at the back of the Bridge with Spock, quietly briefing the Vulcan commander on the previous shift. Sulu was at the helm while Riley sat quietly at navigation deep in thought about Jim and Arianne. Nyota, who had hunted down Naomi and asked her to watch Amanda, was sitting at the Communications station waiting for Spock to become available.

Scotty, who had spent the afternoon making a secret get well basket for Leonard that was to be delivered at a later date, was seated at the Engineering station and Lorian was silently sitting at the Science station with several PADDs containing schoolwork both on the console and on his lap.

Normally, a teenager would not be allowed to sit at a station on the Bridge, but President Pike had felt sympathy for Lorian and had invited him to spend some time working on the Bridge. Lorian had apologetically ended his tour of the hydroponics bay, kissed his baby brother, and had promised to pick George up later from Ensign Wildman and Naomi's quarters. The Bridge was a quiet place to study.

A flashing light on the Communications console suddenly caught Nyota's eye and she quickly picked up her headphones. She could hear Kathryn calling for Commander Spock, but Nyota already knew that Dr. McCoy obviously needed a babysitter and Kathryn was trying to get Spock to come help him out.

"Nyota, why do you hesitate to inform me of the internal transmission?" Spock, who had sensed Nyota's hesitation, asked as he walked over to the Communications terminal. "Your duty is to inform…"

Nyota snarled, "And your duty is to your family, Spock!" she snapped. "Our daughter needs you and so do I! You've been so busy attending to your duties and to Doctor McCoy, that you've neglected us."

"We have had adequate personal time both together and with Amanda," Spock replied in a confused voice as he gave her a concerned look. "I have also been assisting Lorian with meditation techniques…"

Chris looked slightly relieved at that comment; he had noticed that Lorian had been somewhat more relaxed over the past few days than before the journey to Romulus, "Spock, I've been thinking and I want you to simplify things a bit," Nyota said in a kinder voice. "You're taking on far too much…"

"Nyota, this is an inappropriate time and place to be having such a discussion," Spock replied in a toneless voice even though his eyes were filled with frustration and concern. "We can discuss this later when we have both had adequate food, rest, and time to appropriately process our feelings."

For a moment, Nyota was silent and then nodded stiffly before turning back to her station, "Lorian, I think it's about time for you and I to collect George from the Wildmans and for you to turn in for the night," President Pike said in a gentle, but very firm voice. "You need your rest for school tomorrow."

"Yes, Grandfather Pike," Lorian replied softly as he gathered his PADDs into a stack and slipped them into a small satchel that was around his shoulder. "I thank you for the opportunity to learn here."

President Pike smiled, "Come on; let's go get your brother," he said in a gentle voice. "All right?"

Lorian nodded, stood up, and silently walked over to President Pike's wheelchair. He silently placed his hands on the handles of President Pike's wheelchair and wheeled him into the open turbolift.

As the turbolift closed, Scotty looked at Spock, "Captain Kirk would be proud of tae boy, Commander," he said in a calming voice. "Lorian's tae first teenager I've ever seen that is so focused on studying."

Spock nodded and silently moved himself into the command chair, "I suggest, Mister Scott, that we do not refer to Captain Kirk or Commander McCoy in the past tense," he spoke tonelessly. "I am certain that Jeris has not murdered them, as there would be no benefit to doing so. Now, I want reports…"

Deeply ashamed of himself for referring to Captain Kirk and Commander McCoy in the past tense, Scotty nodded and turned his attention back to his station. Nyota shot a glare at Spock before turning to her station, but Spock didn't notice it. He was too busy formulating a plan for when they reached Romulus.

"The Enterprise is on its way here, Captain Jeris," an anxious Romulan guard reported as he entered the room where Jeris was seated on a stool beside the exam bed where Carol was being examined by a female Romulan doctor and a nervous looking Joanna. "They will stop at nothing to mount a rescue."

Carol scoffed, "One starship against the entire Romulan Star Empire?" she asked softly. "The Enterprise is a weak ship and her officers are even weaker. Spock would be a fool to even try a rescue."

"Perhaps it would be better to move the prisoners," Jeris said in a cunning voice. "I have been made aware of the peace between the Romulan Star Empire and the Klingon Empire by Romulan officials who have also given me the authority to deal with the prisoners as I see fit since Nero was my Captain…"

For a moment, Jeris was silent, bowed his head in reverence to Nero's memory, and lifted it again after just a moment, "I will speak to the Romulan Senate about sending the prisoners to the Klingons," he said in a calm voice as he looked at the Romulan doctor. "How are Carol and the baby faring, Doctor Rakala?"

"Both mother and baby are fine, Captain Jeris," Doctor Rakala replied. "Joanna, you're dismissed…"

Nodding, Joanna curtsied to Captain Jeris and Carol before silently leaving the room. Dr. Rakala smiled at the two of them and quickly left the infirmary to allow them to process the news of their child's health.

"Joanna should go with Captain Kirk and Commander McCoy to the Klingons," Jeris stated. "I do not trust her."

"Doctor McCoy?"

Leonard opened his eyes and was surprised to see Phlox standing at his bedside, "Kathryn contacted me and said that you had some difficulty eating," Phlox stated gently as he sat on a small stool and gazed at the tray of untouched food briefly before looking back at Leonard. "Would you like to try eating again?"

Leonard sighed, "What time is it?" he asked groggily. "Kathryn had some people for dinner…"

"It's nearly 2200 hours," Phlox replied gently. "Everyone else in these quarters is asleep for the night."

Nodding, Leonard grabbed the napkin off the tray, "I guess I should eat something," he said in a tired voice as he tried to sit up, but immediately lay back down. "I guess my body wants to stay down."

"You should be taking it easy anyway, Doctor McCoy," Phlox replied gently. "You had very major surgery only a week ago and nobody expects you to have a fast recovery; if you need help, people are there…"

Leonard suddenly felt himself relax, "I know," he replied softly. "Everyone's been so helpful already…"

There was an awkward silence and Leonard suddenly noticed Lorian walk into the living room and sit on the floor in a cross-legged position in nothing but sweatpants and a t-shirt, "What's Lorian doing up so late?"

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but Lorian's been experiencing periodic insomnia since Captain Kirk and Commander McCoy were taken," Phlox quietly explained. "President Pike and his wife are allowing Lorian and George to stay in the Presidential quarters until Captain Kirk is rescued. I believe Commander Spock taught Lorian some meditation techniques and that is what Lorian engages in when he is unable to handle the current crisis…"

Leonard silently nodded and watched Lorian meditate for a moment before turning his attention back to Phlox, "I guess I could use some help eating," Leonard said in a tired voice. "That is, Doctor, if you're willing to help me."

Phlox nodded, picked up the spoon, and dipped it into the soup, "Open wide," he said in a gentle voice, smiling as Leonard accepted the food and swallowed it without complaint. "Just take your recovery one day at a time."

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