Are you all right, Mr. Spock?"  Kirk came up behind the Vulcan and leaned in close so that he would not be overheard.

"Yes, Captain, I am fine," Spock replied, much in the same manner.

"Captain," Sulu's voice broke into the conversation, "we are approaching Starbase 28, sir."

"Standard docking procedures, Mr. Sulu," Kirk replied, straightening and stepping away form the science station, "Notify me of their completion."  He headed for the turbolift.  "Mr. Spock, please join me."

The first officer obediently rose and followed his captain off the bridge.  They walked through the corridor in an easy silence accomplished by their profound friendship.  It wasn't until after they arrived at Kirk's quarters, entered, and sat down that either of them spoke.

"I have a theory," Kirk began, "and I want you to help me to prove or disprove it."

"Very well," Spock replied, "Perhaps it would be helpful for me to know your theory."

"No no no no no.  Just answer my question."

"That is illogical."

"I know."  Kirk smiled at the amusement in Spock's eyes.  "About what time last night did that incident take place?"

"Approximately 03:17."

"Approximately."

"Yes, Captain, I was preoccupied."

"All right, what happened leading up to it?"

"I believe I have already…"

"Details, Mr. Spock."

There was a slight pause.

"I was considering the problem you set before me when I…" Spock's voice trailed off and he began again, "As though a dam had burst, floods of memories and images that were not my own flowed through my mind.  I became disoriented."

"And fell."

"That is irrelevant, Captain.  There is nothing more to tell."

Kirk smiled again.  "What, exactly did you see?"

"I do not see why you find this amusing."

"Sorry."  The smile disappeared.  "What did you see?"

"It is appalling enough, Captain, that I invaded the privacy of Lieutenant Montgomery's mind…"

"It saved her life…"

"To divulge what I found there would add to the crimes committed."

"Crimes committed?"  Kirk sat forward in his seat, incredulous.  "If my theory is correct, I already have an idea of what you're going to say."

The Vulcan sat straighter and lowered his voice.  "Perhaps now you will tell me your theory."

Kirk frowned.

Spock continued, "If you were to tell me what Lieutenant Montgomery openly told you, it would be better than if I were to tell you what I took from her mind without permission.  Especially if your theory is incorrect and the information is different."

"Flawless as always, Mr. Spock," Kirk sighed.  "She didn't even say anything that made sense, but here goes.  We found Lexxi in her quarters.  Besides threatening me with a knife, which soon ended after the lights went up, she seemed fine.  She even cracked a joke or two."

Spock briefly wondered where Lieutenant Montgomery found a knife a Kirk went on.

"But as soon as she was left with McCoy, something snapped, and she turned the knife on herself, pleading with some unknown person to first let her go and not touch her and then to kill her.  It was as if some primal urge to kill herself had triggered old memories standing there, stripped bare of all defenses…"  Kirk did not vocalize his next thoughts, in all her tortured beauty.

"At what time did this take place?" Spock took charge of the conversation, breaking Kirk's daze.

"Huh?  Oh, I don't know," Kirk replied, "3:15, 3:20?"

"Then it seems your theory, which you have yet to tell me, is quite correct."  Spock sat back a little as though satisfied.

Kirk sat forward a little more, as if to compensate for the larger area between them, placing clasped hands on the desk.  "I believe that you saw what she saw, and only because she was so out of control.

"That is logical," Spock commented.

Kirk threw himself back into his chair, exasperated.  "I'm glad you think so!" he exclaimed.

The conversation was interrupted by Sulu.  "Docking procedures complete, sir."

"Good," Kirk replied, standing.  As Spock silently mirrored the action, the captain ordered, "Begin sending down parties for shore leave."