A/N - And I'm back…sort of. So I really wanted to get this written before exams and also because this is my form of release and I am just so over worked its not even funny. Good news is that there are only two weeks until my holiday break and I don't have to worry about school for three weeks after that so I get to write. Ideas for this fic are coming slow and that is the major reason for the lack of updates. Currently, I've been in the mood for Kirk/McCoy and I'll probably start up another one of those sometime soon too, so if you like that pairing keep an eye out.

Also, I want to thank everyone that answered my survey, I really appreciate it and I'm turning in the final draft of it on Friday. It really means a lot that you guys helped me out. This chapter is mainly for all of you! So I hope you enjoy!

After two weeks, Jim was still limping but he was allowed back on the bridge as long as he didn't strain himself. McCoy knew his orders would be followed because was there to keep a very watchful and over-protective eye on Jim. He did have to admit that over the course of the two weeks, the things between him and Spock had gotten much better. Spock no longer became possessive if McCoy touched Jim and they had fallen into their old habit of bickering with each other whenever possible.

He could see that Spock was still jealous of the relationship that he and Jim had, but they had three years of history before Spock came into the picture and that was something that wasn't just going to disappear. McCoy didn't get in their way; he could see that this was the happiest that Jim had ever been in his life and he knew that Jim was finally realizing that his life meant something to more than just him.

"Kirk to sickbay."

McCoy looked at his comm and flipped the switch before leaning back in his chair. "Whatcha need, Jim?"

"Bones, can you meet Spock and me in my ready room? We got new orders and I want your opinion."

The Doctor got up and stretched, "Be right there." He flipped the switch and walked out of his office, telling the nurse-on-duty where he would be should they need him.

When he walked into the ready room he could see that whatever was going on was coming between Jim and Spock. He sat across from Jim and let his gaze go between the pair. "Alright, what's going on?"

"One-point-three hours ago we received orders from Star Fleet Command investigate a new planet and determine if it was suitable for colonization."

McCoy raised his eyebrow looking at Spock, "And I needed to come down here why?"

"Because," Jim said before Spock could answer, "Spock doesn't think that I should go down with the away team."

"You are still having trouble walking and if a dangerous situation would arise you would not be able to defend yourself properly. Also, Leonard has not cleared you for such duties yet," Spock said before looking at McCoy. "Is that not correct Doctor?"

McCoy groaned putting his head in his hands. "Great, put me in the middle of the whole thing."

Jim laughed and leaned back in his chair. "We're not putting you in the middle of it. I just want you to tell him that I'm cleared to go down and explore the planet with the away team."

The Doctor sighed and looked up, "Jim, you're still not one hundred percent and I haven't cleared you for full duty yet. And knowing you, you would find some way to get hurt down there. I can't give you the go ahead to do anything besides paper work and light bridge duty until your back at your peak."

Jim narrowed his eyes slightly and folded his arms over his chest. "You said I would always have the limp."

"No, I said that it may be sore from time to time, not that you would be limping around for the rest of your life," He saw the angry and wounded look on Jim's face and rolled his eyes. "Don't be such an infant Jim. I think you can handle staying up here for one beam down. If there is any reason why they need you down there after they've explored for a bit I'll go down with you, but other wise you're not going down."

Spock looked smug, well as smug as he could and nodded at McCoy, "Thank you, Leonard,"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." he muttered and got up, "Anything else or am I free to get back to sick bay?"

"Just have someone from your department ready to go down there and take some readings within two hours," Jim said still not looking as happy as he could.

McCoy put his hand on Jim's shoulder and gave him a smile, "Look, how about we play some Speed while Spock's on the planet. You'll be off duty then anyway."

Jim smiled gently, "Fine."

Spock looked at McCoy and gave him a nod before walking out to prepare for the mission. McCoy told Jim that he'd see him later before going and finding someone to go down with Spock.

A couple hours later found Jim and McCoy in the Captain's quarters with a deck of cards and two glasses of bourbon. They caught up with each other and let the alcohol warm them while they played. McCoy even noticed that Jim was smiling and forgetting that he was down on some unexplored planet with some of his crew.

"We should really set a night out of the week for us to just sit down and play, you know that Jim?" McCoy looked up from the pile of cards he was straightening up and saw Jim's eyes closed and a pained look on his friend's face. "Jim?"

"Bones," he groaned, dropping the cards that were in his hand. "Call the away team up."

McCoy got up and knelt next to Jim's chair. "Tell me what's wrong, Jim,"

The Captain gripped the table and fell out of the chair in McCoy's arms. "Spock's hurt…call the transporter room and have the team beamed up." Jim was shaking, pain filling his eyes as his body went through a fraction of what Spock's was.

McCoy went to Jim's desk doing what he asked before calling sickbay and telling them to get ready for injuries. He rushed back to Jim and wrapped his arm around his back and hoisted him up. "Lets get you to sickbay so I can monitor you."

"I'm fine Bones, its just some pain. I've been through worse,"

"Don't remind me," McCoy muttered and helped him to the medical ward.

Jim was fine, besides the waves of pain the coursed through his body whenever Spock felt something like it. It was tense while they waited for the team to beam up, Jim's heart rate was through the roof and McCoy tried to keep it down. What was merely minutes seemed like hours, but finally Spock was carried into the sickbay and both Jim and McCoy paled at what they saw.

Spock's shirt was shredded and bright green blood left trails down his skin. His eyes were closed and the normally straight hair was mussed up and going in all different directions. Dirt and mud caked what remained of his uniform, and the green skin was at least three shades paler than normal.

"No Jim, stay here," McCoy said and pushed him back onto the bed before he made his way to Spock assessing the half-Vulcan himself. The gashes on his chest and abdomen were deep and after a scan with a tri-corder McCoy found a new type of bacteria that was causing havoc in Spock's mind.

McCoy let Spock slip into a healing trance and took a vial of blood to run some tests on the bacteria. He walked over to Jim, "It's new…attacking his mind and adversely attacking yours. I'm gonna get started on it right away."

Jim nodded and looked over at Spock, "You'll fix it…you always do Bones."

The Doctor smiled gently and rubbed Jim's shoulder. He knew Jim well enough to tell that the Captain was hiding and dealing with the pain so that no one worried about him and just focused on helping Spock. "Why don't you go up to the bridge. It'll help keep your mind off of things, hell you'll probably be able to relax more up there than if you were in your room."

"Just…keep me updated okay, Bones?"

McCoy rubbed his shoulder again and gave him a gentle yet reassuring smile. "Of course Jim," He walked out of sickbay and got into the lift making his way to the labs. "Damn mind links." he muttered and got to work.

A/N - And that was chapter 26...let me know what you think and as always thanks for reading!

L.A.