Two Weeks Later

Tucker Hall – Starfleet Hockey Academy

Deeply exhausted from attending his mother's funeral service, Spock sat on his bed still wearing the Asian formal wear that diplomats and their children were expected to wear at formal gatherings, somber occasions or not. Classes had resumed, but Spock had been given time off to attend the funeral and traditional gatherings, but he had left after the service was over.

None of the Vulcans save for T'Pol had bothered to speak to him and his father had refused to interact with him at all except for through the customs called for in Vulcan funeral rituals. It had been a rather large service, as diplomats from everywhere had been invited, but it was somber.

As Spock slowly undressed, his hands shook and he finally gave up trying to remove anything more than the jacket to his outfit, "Ow," he suddenly heard a quiet voice whimper nearby.

Frowning, Spock rose and followed the quiet whimpering down the hallway to the dorm that Pavel and Hikaru shared. Pavel was standing in front of his bathroom mirror, anxiously trying to clean up his bleeding nose and a cut on his forehead using simple antiseptic wipes. Pavel, however, didn't notice him and so Spock quietly returned to his dorm to be alone.

One more problem I cannot fix. Spock thought bitterly as his eyes travelled to the bag of liquor and sleeping pills that he had bought on the walk back. Would peace only be found that way?

Swallowing hard, Spock tore the bag apart and took five sleeping pills before opening the bottle and beginning to consume the liquor. It was a terrible taste, one that he found repulsive.

Not very deep into the bottle, Spock suddenly felt very woozy and collapsed to the floor unconscious with the bottle still in hand while the sleeping pills remained on his desk.

"Hello?" Pavel called out, having heard a soft thump down the hallway. "Hello?"

An uneasy feeling filled Pavel's heart and he immediately left his dorm and moved down the hallway, wondering why he felt so uneasy when he was alone in the residence hall during the class break. As Pavel passed by Spock's door, he stopped and his eyes widened in horror when he saw Spock passed out on the floor with a bottle of very expensive liquor in hand that was 75% full. When he noticed the sleeping pills, Pavel swore loudly and ran into the room.

Ignoring the trembling in his hands, Pavel got on the video-phone and quickly dialled the infirmary, "Zees eez Pawel Chekov," he said in an anxious voice. "I need an ambulance."

"What seems to be the emergency, Mister Chekov?" Phlox asked kindly, noting that the mess of Pavel's face was quite bad. "If it's about your face, you can simply come over to the…"

Pavel shook his head, "Spock eez passed out on ze floor of hees dorm vith a bottle of liquor een hees hand and zere eez an open bottle of sleeping peels nearby," he replied anxiously as he looked at the bottle closely. "Some of ze liquor eez gone and some of ze peels are meesing."

Phlox's eyes went wide and he immediately pressed a few buttons, "A medical transport is en route," he replied in a more professional tone. "Make sure Spock is lying on his side so that he won't aspirate in case he throws up. You look scared, so I will remain on the phone."

Nodding, Pavel rolled Spock on to his side and swore as Spock vomited a little bit, but didn't wake or show signs of waking. Pavel knew without a doubt what Spock had been trying to do.

Classroom

"…Please take out your books and read the next chapter," Captain Pike, who had personally taken Spock's class for the day so he could go to the funeral and the after gatherings, said in a calm voice as he sat down at the desk and took out his iPad to check people's grades.

Jim and Leonard did what they were told, "It's weird not having Spock teaching today," Nyota whispered to them as she leaned across Hikaru. "He had his mother's funeral, though."

"Why didn't you go with him, Uhura?" Jim whispered. "You're his girlfriend."

Nyota sighed, "Spock was told to go alone," she whispered. "He said his father didn't want him bringing anyone and drawing attention to himself when the day was to be about Amanda."

"What a piece of work," Jim hissed. "He didn't even visit Spock when Spock was sick."

Christine, who was sitting in the seats behind them with Carol, "Kirk, shh," she whispered.

As Captain Pike contemplated interrupting the quiet discussion, the classroom door opened and a secretary hurried over to him, "Chris, the infirmary just called," she whispered anxiously.

Captain Pike frowned, but didn't say anything, "Apparently, Pavel was at Tucker Hall between classes and he came across RA Spock passed out on the floor of his dorm with a liquor bottle in hand and an open bottle of sleeping pills nearby," the secretary said anxiously. "Some of the pills were apparently missing and Pavel called for help. Spock is over at the infirmary now."

Absolute terror filled Captain Pike and he rose from his desk, "Class is dismissed early," he announced in a shaking voice. "Finish the chapter and do the questions in the chapter."

As Captain Pike hurried off, Jim looked at Leonard, "No, Jim," Leonard said quickly.

"I've never seen Pike that scared," Jim replied softly. "I wanna see what's wrong."

Leonard sighed and nodded, "Not by yourself," he replied, packing his bag up. "If I let you go off by yourself, you'll end up hurt and Mama wouldn't be happy if you showed at the hotel hurt."

Infirmary

Pavel's hands trembled as he silently folded the formal attire that had been removed from Spock after they had come to the infirmary. Spock had immediately been rushed into a trauma room by Phlox and Pavel had been sent to sit in an exam room to have his face treated.

A nurse had visited and given him Spock's clothes, stating that it was forbidden to cut them off and they had to be carefully removed. While he waited for a doctor, Pavel had done his best to fold the clothes and clean them as much as he could because they were stained with vomit.

The door opened and closed and Pavel frowned at seeing Dr. Piper there with some supplies, "I sot you vould hawe been een veeth Spock," he said shakily. "You and he are friends."

"Phlox and some nurses are pumping Spock's stomach at the moment, so there's really not much I can do," Dr. Piper replied kindly. "I can, however, have a look at your face."

Pavel sighed, "I vas jumped by some goons from Delta Hall on my vay from my first class and zey said zat I should hawe died because I couldn't save ze vife of an Ambassador," he confessed, unable to lie to such a good person. "I also get nasty emails from ze Wulcans."

"Well, I'll have campus security look into it after they look at the liquor bottle and the pill container you brought in," Dr. Piper said, gently touching Pavel's nose. "It looks broken."

Pavel nodded and sighed, "Eez Spock going to be okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Let me get you cleaned up," Dr. Piper said, truly unsure of how to answer Pavel.

Dean Archer silently watched through the window as Phlox and several nurses quickly pumped Spock's stomach with a tube through his nose that spilled contents into a bucket on the floor while Spock lay on a gurney unconscious with a gown and blanket covering his body.

"Jon, what the actual heck is going on?" Dean Archer heard Captain Pike ask. "I was told…"

Dean Archer sighed and looked at Captain Pike somberly, "Pavel said Spock mixed some alcohol and some pills," he replied in a concerned voice. "I thought the funeral rituals were supposed to go all day long and Spock was supposed to be back this evening. I don't know why he's back…"

There was a gasp as Spock suddenly vomited several times and promptly passed out, prompting Phlox to pull the tube out of his nose, "Five sleeping pills in total," Phlox murmured anxiously before he pressed the intercom near the bed. "I'm going to intubate Spock while I administer fluids and medicine for his blood sugar. Vulcans cannot physically handle any sort of liquor."

"Wha…?" the two men suddenly heard an anxious voice behind them. "Bones, is that…?"

Dean Archer and Captain Pike turned around to see a shellshocked Jim and a worried looking Leonard standing behind them, gazing into the trauma room, "Kirk, McCoy, what are you two doing here?" Dean Archer asked sternly. "This is certainly not a show and you two…"

"I tried that when I was in Tarsus and Frank pounded me in stomach until I threw everything up," Jim spoke, ignoring them. "Is this cause Spock's father has been ignoring him since he got sick during the Embassy explosion? M'Benga said to leave it alone, but I've been…"

Leonard sighed, but said nothing because he had mixed pills with booze not long after Joanna had died and his mother's reaction had been to send him to in-patient rehab. He knew that Spock had been under massive stress since his mother had died and he had finally snapped.

"...Bones's mom is here for a while because of what happened, maybe Spock should just come be with us for Thanksgiving," Leonard heard Jim say softly. "His family won't talk to him."

Captain Pike scowled, "I've been hacking Spock's text messages and emails since his mom died and his father has seen them, but not responded," Jim confessed. "He's been up late most nights, but I was told in very vulgar language to mind my business when I tried to help."

"Spock swearing?" Dean Archer asked, surprised. "That is certainly not like him at all."

Pointedly blocking out the conversation, Leonard silently wandered into the trauma room and saw that Spock was awake and quietly refusing to let M'Benga tube him, "I assure you that it is not necessary to put a tube down my throat," Spock said weakly. "I do deserve this pain."

"M'Benga get out for a minute," Leonard said in a dark voice. "Go talk to Archer and Pike."

M'Benga scowled at Leonard, but silently left the room, as did the nurses because they were terrified of Leonard's expression, "You think you're the only person who's lost someone important to them?" Leonard growled. "You're not the only person who's mixed booze with pills and craved peace because they felt like they were worthless. I've done it too and…"

"McCoy?" M'Benga said as he lingered near the door. "Archer and Pike want to…"

Leonard scoffed and glared at M'Benga, "Go and do something useful somewhere else for a few minutes, Geoff!" he snapped, seemingly irritated. "I will tell you when I am done in here!"

M'Benga flipped him off and walked away, "I lost my little daughter in a very bad car accident involving a drunk driver about a year before I came to this school, Spock, and it still hurts," Leonard said in a serious voice, turning his attention back to Spock. "I also lost my father to an incurable cancer that same year and I turned to booze for comfort because I had nothing to distract me from hurting. I mixed it with pills once and my mama sent me to 90 day rehab."

"I was not aware of that," Spock spoke softly. "You are right…I craved a sense of peace."

Leonard nodded, "I do not wish to have a tube down my throat," Spock spoke softly. "I am able to ingest appropriate medicine without becoming ill. I only managed to drink a bit of alcohol…"

"Then you won't have a tube," Leonard replied firmly. "You do, however, need your medicine."

Spock nodded and sighed tiredly, "I expect that Mister Chekov is quite upset," he spoke softly.

"Don't worry about that right now," Leonard said calmly as Phlox came into the room. "Um…"

Phlox looked amused, "Doctor M'Benga has left and he's quite upset," he replied calmly. "I am here to give Spock his fluids and his medicine. I also think he requires a change of clothes."

Nodding, Leonard grabbed a hospital shirt and some scrub pants from a nearby closet and took away Spock's puke-stained gown. Spock said nothing as Leonard dressed him in the clean clothes and got him a clean blanket before throwing the puke stained items in the bin.

"I think Spock could use some rest, Doctor McCoy," Phlox said in a gentle voice.

Leonard sighed, "Hey, Spock, my mom's in town for Thanksgiving and Jim and I are going to eat supper with her at her hotel that day," he said kindly. "Did you want to come join us?"

Spock gave Leonard a tired look, "I will consider it," he replied quietly as he drifted off.

Leonard nodded and silently left the room so Phlox could work, frowning when he heard talking coming from the waiting room. Wondering if M'Benga had gone off and started blabbing to others about Spock in anger, he went to the waiting room and was surprised to see Jim sitting there with Captain Pike and Nyota, who looked extremely worried and distressed.

"I followed you and Kirk," Nyota replied softly. "Captain Pike is Spock's emergency contact…"

Captain Pike nodded, "That's why Dean Archer called me," he explained in a quiet voice. "I have been Spock's emergency contact since he first came to the Academy and I would usually call…"

A silence fell over the room and Jim sighed, "Is Pavel all right?" he asked worriedly.

"Pavel's been treated and sedated because his nose was broken," Captain Pike replied in a tired voice. "Security's investigating it and they're also dealing with Spock's attempt. I have tried to get Miss Uhura to go back to her dorm, Kirk, and I very much doubt that you and McCoy will listen to my admonition either, so you're free to wait in here. I do need to go check on Pavel again and then I need to go give a report to Dean Archer. Please try and behave yourselves."

Administration

"…Ambassador Sarek and Spock got into a confrontation at the funeral service over Spock's grief and Sarek expressed his desire for Spock to vacate the premises," T'Pol, who had also left the service early to spend time with Officer Tucker, said in a toneless voice as she and Officer Tucker met with Dean Archer in his office. "Spock left the grounds on foot immediately."

Dean Archer frowned, "And nobody thought to go after him?" he asked incredulously.

"Spock left very fast and I could not determine where he had gone, nor did I think it proper to bring up the fact that he had left to the guests," T'Pol replied tonelessly. "I was not required to stay because the Vulcans know I wished to spend time with Charles to plan our wedding..."

Dean Archer's eyes widened, "Trip, when did you get engaged?" he asked pleasantly.

"Not long after the incident at the arena and Lady T'Pau bestowed her blessing upon both of us when she arrived in San Francisco for the funeral," Officer Tucker replied, smiling.

Dean Archer nodded, "You've been dating for nearly five years, so I'm really relieved," he replied in a pleased voice. "When exactly are you planning on getting married?"

"Um, we were discussing doing it here at the Academy during that Thanksgiving thing you're holding for the students," Officer Tucker replied calmly. "They need a happy distraction."

Dean Archer nodded, "Is Spock well?" T'Pol suddenly asked. "You mentioned his attempt."

"Spock only took a few drinks and five sleeping pills," Dean Archer replied quietly.

T'Pol nodded, "If it is permitted, I would like to speak to Spock," she replied tonelessly.

"Maybe this evening," Dean Archer replied calmly. "Spock…Spock is resting right now."

Officer Tucker sighed, "Does Sarek know what Spock tried to do?" he asked worriedly.

"Captain Pike is listed as Spock's emergency contact and he's not going to contact Ambassador Sarek unless Spock gives permission," Dean Archer replied quietly. "This is a mess."

Tucker Hall

Scotty sighed as he cut the last of the stained carpet out of Spock's single room and threw it into a trash bag with the others. He had been contacted over his maintenance radio after class and asked to do a carpet replacement job with the promise of being excused from classes.

The whiff of alcohol was easy for Scotty to identify when he went into Spock's dorm with carpet to replace and tools to pull it up, but he wasn't one to judge. Spock had lost his mother and if he wanted to drink despite Vulcans not being physically able to hold liquor, he could do it.

"Ah, Olson, I wish ye were here tae help me," Scotty mused. "This is a huge job."

Silence answered Scotty and he silently got to work installing clean squares of carpet where the old ones had been that were an identical pattern so that nobody would know the difference, "…Spock had liquor in his room?" he suddenly heard an anxious voice say. "Why?"

Frowning, Scotty got up and moved into the hallway, "Mixed em with five sleeping pills," he heard Korby say in an anxious voice. "My gosh, he's been a mess since his mom died. I share a dorm with M'Benga and he was writing up an entry about it for the infirmary on his laptop."

Scotty glared at Korby, who was sitting with Carol, Giotto, Hendorff, and Christine on the couch, "Laddie, yer out of line," he growled. "Ye invaded M'Benga's privacy and Spock's."

"Get over yourself, you scotch-hound," Korby snarled. "Spock's being a drama queen."

Scotty scowled and Korby got up, "What exactly do you even do here, Scott?" Korby asked in a sharp voice. "I see you in Generals and I see you fix stuff. Are you a glorified custodian?!"

"Roger!" Christine snapped, appalled at her boyfriend's behavior. "Sit down!"

Scotty scoffed and turned away, "Yer full of hot air, lad," he said as he moved away.

Korby swore and lunged at Scotty, sending both of them to the floor in a heap. Before Scotty could react, Korby grabbed his hair and Scotty instinctively rolled over, sending him into the wall. Korby then punched Scotty, prompting Hendorff to get up and hurry over to them.

"Stop right there or I'll pull my student weapon out," Hendorff said sternly. "Separate."

Scotty quickly got out of the way and Hendorff silently forced Korby's hands behind his back before cuffing him with the practice pair that Policing students carried, "Dude!" Korby yelled.

"I'm a third-year Policing student and I have the right to detain anyone who initiates a physical altercation," Hendorff replied in a stern voice. "Scott, do you wanna press assault charges?"

Scotty looked at Christine, as it was a well-known fact that she and Korby were engaged, but Christine sighed, "Roger, I can't help you," she replied softly. "You gave Scotty a black eye."

"A black eye?" Scotty replied in a shocked voice. "Aye, I guess I will be pressing charges."

Hendorff nodded and hauled Korby to his feet, "Giotto, are you feeling up to helping me?" he asked, as Giotto had lost his spleen in the embassy bombing. "Korby's really strong."

"Yeah," Giotto replied as he got up and helped Hendorff escort Giotto from the building.

Christine frowned, "Scotty, I'm really sorry," she said softly. "Roger's a hothead."

"Is…is it true about Spock?" Carol asked nervously, frowning as M'Benga came down the hall.

M'Benga sighed, "I was in the bathroom for just a few minutes and I come out to find Korby reading my screen!" he replied in an anxious voice. "I have to go report myself now for leaving my screen up! Korby knows a lot more than he should now and I'm going to get in trouble."

Carol, Scotty, and Christine exchanged a look and M'Benga swore before stomping back to the dorm that he and Korby shared. A moment later, Korby's books, toiletries, and clothes started flying out the door into the middle of the hallway, some of it splitting apart or breaking.

"Korby can get another roommate!" M'Benga shouted, slamming the door in a huff.

Scotty cringed at the mess, "Do you think we should get some get well presents for Spock if he is at the infirmary, or should we just go over there to show that we care?" Carol asked softly.

"I got some carpeting to finish up and a mess to take care of," Scotty replied in an annoyed voice. "There are only so many maintenance guys and losing Olson made us busier."

Carol nodded, "Christine and I could help you and then we could all go there," she offered.

"Aye, lassie, that's mighty nice of ye," Scotty replied, smiling as Carol and Christine stood.

As the three went over to the mess, they could hear M'Benga talking on his video phone.

Infirmary

Having settled Spock in a private room to rest, Phlox came to the waiting room and saw that Jim, Leonard, and Nyota had been joined by a shaken Pavel, Eleanora, Hikaru, Takari Sulu, Jun Sulu, and Eleanora McCoy. Eleanora and the Sulus were holding wrapped items on their laps.

"Is Young Spock allowed visitors yet?" Takari asked quietly. "We are aware of what…"

Pavel sighed, feeling slightly woozy from the pain meds he was on, "I vas scared and I asked for Heekaru to come because Keptin Pike eez busy," he explained. "I told Heekaru and Heekaru…"

"I told my parents and McCoy told his mom," Hikaru finished. "They…they want to help."

Phlox frowned, "Did anyone tell Ambassador Sarek?" he asked in a worried voice.

"Ambassador Sarek is rather busy entertaining the matriarchy at his home, but I do know that Lady T'Pau inquired about Spock's whereabouts and is quite upset at Sarek for the conflict at the funeral," Takari replied calmly. "Do not be surprised if Lady T'Pau comes here."

Phlox nodded, "I am sure Dean Archer will entertain her if she does," he replied calmly, giving Takari a relieved look. "Spock is coming to terms with what he did and it is emotionally…"

"We understand," Jun spoke calmly. "There is no issue with remaining here, is there?"

Phlox shook his head and smiled at Pavel, "Pavel, perhaps you had better lie down on a couch if you plan to stay," he said kindly, noticing that Pavel was fighting to stay awake. "All right?"

Pavel nodded and sank down on to the couch he was sitting out, quickly falling asleep, "Pike should really come get him," Jim commented softly. "I wanna know who beat him up."

"Pike's dealin with a fight, lad," Scotty said in an anxious voice as he, Christine, Carol, and a deeply shaken M'Benga came into the waiting room. "Korby's been telling people about Spock and when I told him tae be respectful, he jumped on me and gave me a little black eye."

Jim's eyes widened, "Giotto and Hendorff hauled him tae Security and M'Benga threw all of Korby's stuff intae the hall," Scotty replied. "Korby saw M'Benga's screen when he was…"

"In the bathroom, sir," M'Benga replied shakily. "I've already filed a report on myself."

Phlox nodded and took Carol's hand, "Can we stay?" Carol asked softly. "We're worried."

"Oh, look at the young lad," Scotty said, seeing Pavel asleep. "What happened to his nose?"

Security

Profanity filled the holding cell area as Officer Tucker locked the door to the cell where Korby was now being held, "Thanks," he said calmly, looking at Giotto and Hendorff. "Giotto, you better not be overdoing it or I'm going to limit your physical activity for two weeks more."

"I just walked beside Hendorff while he held on to Korby, sir," Giotto replied calmly.

Officer Tucker nodded, "I heard that there was a scuffle between Chekov and some older students," he said in a stern voice. "Did anyone find out who the students were?"

"Chekov hasn't filed a report," Giotto replied quietly. "He's over at the infirmary, but I know there's a few of the fourth year Policing students who are mad at him over the explosion…"

Officer Tucker frowned and Hendorff looked surprised, "I was in San Fran General for a week and I heard other students talking about him," Giotto confessed. "They think Chekov should have kept doing CPR on that Ambassador's wife and he should have just got her body out."

"There were undetonated explosives down there, did you know that?" Officer Tucker asked briskly. "Doctor Puri and Maintenance Man Olson set some off and a lot more could have ended up dead if Scott hadn't talked the rescue services into evacuating the area."

Giotto shrugged, "I remember being hauled out of there on a backboard and into the Triage tent," he admitted shakily. "I was on some strong meds for a while, so my memory's shot."

"Hey, Tucker, I heard a rumor," Hendorff said in an amused voice. "You're getting married?"

Officer Tucker looked amused as Hendorff reached into his bag, pulled out his iPAD, and showed a campus-wide email that gave information about the campus-wide Thanksgiving dinner that was to follow a wedding between Campus Security Chief Tucker and T'Pol of Vulcan.

"Yes, I'm engaged," Officer Tucker replied calmly. "And the wedding is open to anyone."

Giotto and Hendorff exchanged an eager look, "Did you finish the investigations on Spock and Chekov yet?" Officer Tucker asked calmly. "If so, I would like to know what you found."

"…KROYKAH!" Dean Archer heard an angry shout as he sat at his desk in his office.

There was a silence and the door opened, revealing Secretary Barrows with a somber looking T'Pol and a regally dressed T'Pau, "These ladies wish to see you," Secretary Barrows reported.

"Please, do come in," Dean Archer replied, rising from his seat. "Welcome to campus."

T'Pol and T'Pau nodded and all three quickly sat down, "Something has happened," T'Pau spoke tonelessly, giving Dean Archer a look. "I feel that a result has stemmed from the conflict between Spock and Sarek at the service and I very much wish to know what has happened."

Secretary Barrows quietly excused herself, closing the door behind her, "Sarek has been chastised for his behavior towards his son, but I feel something terrible has happened as a result of the conflict," T'Pau continued sternly. "I am Spock's grandmother and I must know."

Dean Archer sat in silence for several moments, wondering if he should break confidentiality or not, "Would you like to ask Spock yourself?" he asked, silently tapping on his video phone.

Infirmary

"…Be quiet or else we'll get caught," Spock heard Jim say in an anxious voice.

Spock opened his eyes and was surprised to see Jim and Nyota at his bedside, "Spock, how are you?" Nyota asked softly, gently taking Spock's IV laden hand. "I've been worried."

"I know," Spock replied in a tired voice. "I have been contemplating what I attempted."

Nyota nodded and the door suddenly opened, "Spock, there is a call for you from Administration and it is your grandmother," Phlox said calmly. "She wishes to talk to you."

Spock looked reluctant, "You don't have to if you don't want to," Jim spoke up softly.

"I cannot continue to avoid responsibility for what I have done," Spock replied softly.

Phlox nodded and activated the video phone next to Spock's bed, "Spock," T'Pau said in a toneless voice, noting her grandson didn't look well. "I have been concerned for you."

"I have done something unforgivable, Grandmother T'Pau," Spock spoke softly, unable to control tears from spilling out his tired eyes. "I took sleeping pills and consumed alcohol."

T'Pau was silent for several moments and nodded, but said nothing, "I was heavily distressed after the funeral service and I craved peace," Spock spoke tiredly. "I sincerely apologize."

"The death of your mother weighs heavy on you, Spock," T'Pau replied tonelessly. "You require rest and we shall continue this conversation after you are rested. I am grateful you are alive."

Spock sighed as the screen went black, "I require rest," Spock spoke tonelessly, closing his eyes.

As Spock fell asleep, Nyota kissed his cheek and silently left the room with Jim and Phlox.

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