A/N: I recommend a box of Kleenex. There is a scene in here inspired from the series M*A*S*H. You'll probably know which one.
Spock stopped off at his quarters on impulse. He checked the chronometer. It was seven at night on New Vulcan. Who should he call? He knew either man would answer. He called his father first.
The line was connected after nearly four minutes. "Yes?" Sarek remarked softly.
"Father." Spock felt his throat tighten and he fought back his emotions. "There has been an incident."
Sarek turned on the light on the desk and stared at the monitor. "James?" His voice was stronger now.
"He has been telepathically violated. He is comatose and his vital signs are failing." Spock tried to keep his report as factual as possible but he felt his heart hammering in his side. "I am disobeying direct orders and bringing him to New Vulcan to reach a healer. Will you help us?"
"When do you estimate your arrival?" Sarek began to pull on a jacket.
"We are at warp 4. I will increase that to warp 6 momentarily. I estimate no more than two hours to your orbit." Spock looked at his parent and whispered, "Father…"
Sarek stopped moving and focused on the screen. "I know, my son. Be strong. I am contacting Ambassador Solion. We will do everything we can for your mate. Keep us informed."
"Thank you," Spock responded before closing the connection. He took a rare vulnerable moment to let a sob out before clearing his throat and taking several deep breaths. When he was steady again, he returned to Sickbay.
The scene hadn't changed much in the past hour. Spock stopped Nurse Chapel as she crossed the bay and asked her a silent question. She shook her head. Spock nodded and went on to the room.
Dr. McCoy was seated in the chair, speaking to Jim softly. He stopped when he heard the footsteps behind him.
"Hey. I was just telling your spouse here that I lost good money when you two tied the knot. I was figuring you'd kill each other first." McCoy sniffed and patted Jim's hand. "Your main squeeze is here. I'll talk to you later, bro." The doctor walked past Spock and hesitated for a moment. "Keep talking to him, Spock. No one has ever figured out if patients in comas can hear the outside world. But it might make you both feel better."
Spock nodded mutely and took his seat. He slipped his fingers beneath Jim's palm and wrapped them around the other side.
"Jim," he began, and once more had to stop to allow a torrent of emotion to pass. "I wish you would wake up, Jim. You know how I dislike being left in command when you are injured." He sighed and laid his other hand on top of the same hand. "I did what you would have, ashayam. I disregarded the orders and did what I thought was best."
Spock raised the hand carefully and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. "Father is making arrangements as we speak for a healer to meet us. He is concerned for you." Spock gave a small smile. "I am aware that Ambassador Solion will be unsettled as well. You are close to him." He took a shaky breath. "The crew is behind us completely, Jim. Not one person objected to my plan. To our plan. I know somehow you would have approved."
There was a change in the monitor and a small alarm sounded. Within seconds Dr. McCoy was back, checking the equipment. Spock looked up at him, concerned. The doctor shook his head. "His oximetry reading dropped for a moment. He's alright." Spock nodded and the other man left again.
"I never should have let you go down there," Spock began finally. He looked around the room. "I had such a strong impression that this was not a safe mission, but I had nothing to substantiate my claims." He reached up and rubbed his fingertips across Jim's brow. "I do not know how I will ever be able to let you leave the ship again." The joke echoed in the room and he looked down.
"If I was wrong, please return to consciousness and correct me. I will take whatever punishment you see fit." He placed his hand near Jim's heart, mindful of the wires already there. "If I was right, would you see fit to tell me that as well? I would appreciate hearing either way from you."
Spock suddenly bent over at the bed and placed his head on Jim's abdomen. He whispered "My mother used to sing to me when I was small and sick. Would you like me to sing to you, Jim?" He nodded and in a small voice began to sing "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray…"
Outside, in the main medical bay, all the personnel paused in their work. Their heads turned to the Intensive Care ward and the gentle tenor voice echoing in there. Nurse Chapel broke into soft sobs and ran out of the room. Dr. McCoy made the sign of the cross and looked up hopefully. Then the moment passed and movement resumed.
About an hour later, Spock emerged from the room and walked out of the Sickbay. He was headed back to the bridge. He entered the turbolift and pressed the destination button hard. If he had any qualms about his actions before, they were gone now. He was completely at peace with his decision. He walked out onto the bridge and motioned to Lieutenant Sulu.
"Increase speed to warp 6. Mr. Chekov, estimated time to New Vulcan?" Spock spoke crisply.
"Current ETA thirty-five minutes at varp 6." Chekov looked at Spock and raised his eyebrows in question. Spock shook his head.
"There is no change, Ensign." Spock looked back at Uhura, who was turned away from her station and filing her nails. "Is there any word from Starfleet Command, Lieutenant Uhura?"
She blew the dust off her fingers before rubbing the tips against her uniform top. "Maybe," she began cryptically.
Spock came closer. "And?"
Uhura made a face and shrugged. "Maybe we're having a communications failure. They'll have to get back to us."
"They have ordered us to continue to Starbase 15." Spock was slightly amused.
"They can kiss my grits," she retorted, and the rest of the bridge cracked up. "Sir," she amended.
Spock closed his eyes for a moment. "I will have to brief the captain on the crew's actions during this crisis." The communications console gave off a chirp and Uhura placed the earpiece in her ear for a moment before tossing it aside casually. "Starfleet Command again?" Spock ventured. She gave an evil smile. "I believe the captain would say, 'Give them hell, Uhura'." His imitation of their leader brought smiles to their faces.
He started to leave when another Jim moment came to him and he paused. "If you would like to take turns visiting the captain in Sickbay you may arrange for your relief to take over momentarily." This announcement really thrilled the crew and they began to place notices to their respective reliefs. Spock decided to stay on the bridge after all.
They drew straws and Chekov went first. The young navigator crept into Jim's room and stood cautiously at his bedside.
"Hello, Keptain." He swallowed and looked up at the medical monitors. He was a brilliant physicist in his own right but he couldn't decipher what the graphs and lines meant. He glanced back down. "Ve are headed to New Wulcan. But you probably already knew this." He came a little closer. "Meester Spock is being wery brave. You vould be wery proud of him." There was a sudden loud bee-boop and Chekov gave a start.
Dr. M'Benga stuck his head in. "Oh. His IV is empty. I'll change that in a second." Then he disappeared again.
Chekov dragged his toe across the floor before continuing. "Ve are all so happy about you and ze Commander. Vhen Sulu told me I vas wery excited. I think you vill make each other wery happy." Chekov looked up again. "Please get better so ve can plan ze second ceremony. It vould make ze crew so happy." He watched for any sign that the captain heard him. When there was no response, he shrugged. "Get better soon, sir. Ve are all rooting for you." With that he left the room.
Dr. M'Benga came in and switched out the empty IV bag. As he did so, he glanced over the monitors. He paused when he got to the EEG.
"Hey, McCoy, get in here." M'Benga called out across the med bay. Everyone looked up in alarm, and McCoy came running.
"What is it, Matt?" McCoy was breathless from anticipation. M'Benga gestured to the EEG reading and McCoy hummed softly. "That's an improvement. What did you do?"
M'Benga shook his head. "I didn't do anything. The Russian kid just left though."
McCoy narrowed his eyes, pleased. "So Spock's having the bridge crew visit their intrepid leader. Taking a page out of the rascal's playbook. Good for you, Spock! Keep monitoring the readout after every visit. I want to see if you notice a trend."
Uhura was next. She walked into the med bay confidently and headed for Intensive Care. She sat primly in the seat next to the bed.
"So. You can't go a single day without some fantastic event happening. You tell us you're not leaving the ship, then you go off with Spock, and the next thing we know you're married." She flipped her ponytail and laid her hand gently on his. "But we could have done without this latest stunt. Why do you insist on being the resident guinea pig for every mission?" Uhura sighed and squeezed his hand. "You're driving your husband insane, I hope you know that. He's never been thrilled at you being in the landing parties, and now he's really going to clamp down. You may never leave the ship again," she unconsciously paraphrased the Commander.
Finally she took a deep breath. "Come back to us, Kirk. Spock's great but it's just not the same without you." She laughed gently. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but the bridge just isn't the same without your smiling face." She stood up and leaned over to kiss his forehead. "You're in my prayers, sir. See you soon." With that she left the room, her perfume lingering behind her.
M'Benga crept in silently after Uhura left and checked the monitor again. He smiled softly and nodded, and then left again.
Uhura walked back on the bridge and gave a thumbs up to Sulu, who motioned for his relief to take his station. He headed down to the Sickbay with a hopeful expression. When he got there, he looked around a bit before an orderly pointed him to the tiny Intensive Care wing. Sulu walked in softly and looked around. He whistled low.
"Boy, they've got you hooked up six ways to Sunday," the pilot began. He felt kind of silly talking to someone who wouldn't respond, but if it would help…. He began again. "So, I got to do some really kick-ass stuff on what little break I had. I learned a new kata; I was hoping to show it to you when we all got back. Guess I just didn't get the chance." He realized how dark that sounded and corrected it. "Yet. I'm sure we'll make time soon."
He stood with his hands resting on the chair. "Scotty called me and told me you had gotten married. I accused him of hitting the hooch too hard. Could've knocked me over with a feather when he told me it came straight from Dr. McCoy." Sulu smiled. "I'm really happy for you sir. For both of you. Now that I think about it, it's so freaking obvious. I just know you're going to have a million years of love together." He turned serious again. "But you're going to have to get out of here. So I'm issuing the challenge, Captain. Get your ass out of this bed and get back to being the best damn captain in the Fleet." He saluted on impulse. "I'll be waiting." With that he strode out.
A stealthy form snuck into the room. Again, a nod and a smile. The plan seemed to be working.
After the bridge crew had visited, the Chief Engineer showed up. Not being one to darken the doors of Sickbay unless it was an emergency, it was a surprise to see him. McCoy walked up to him.
"Scotty! Are you okay?" The doctor looked him over.
"Aye, sir. I've come ta see tha cap'n." He looked around hopefully. McCoy hid a smile.
"He's in Intensive Care, right over there. Go talk to him. I'm sure it will cheer him up." McCoy gave him a gentle nudge and walked away.
Scotty walked over hesitantly to the room and stuck his head in. There were quiet beeps and whistles sounding, but otherwise the room was still. He came in and stood by the bedside, his hands clasped in front of him.
"Afternoon, sir. How are ya?" Scotty paused for a moment. "I know things are a wee bit dodgy now, but we'll get ya right as rain again, laddie. Mr. Spock is doin' a bang-up job tellin' those Starfleet stuffed shirts what to go do with themselves." He looked around the room conspicuously. "I really ought not be tellin' ya this, but if Mr. Spock hadn't told off tha brass, I would 'ave." The engineer twisted his hands for a moment. "Tha ship needs her cap'n back, sir. You've just got ta come back." With that he turned and walked out of the room.
Both McCoy and M'Benga walked in this time and checked the monitor. M'Benga pointed to one readout. "See? After each visit his higher functions have seemed to stabilize."
"It's a good thing, Matt. Maybe it won't be such a long shot when we get him to the Vulcans." The doctors left.