.o0o.

"You want to talk about it?" Kirk asked, scooting closer to McCoy on the bench.

"About why Scotty suddenly turned mutinous and locked us in the brig?" The doctor shot a sideways look at his friend. "Because I've got about as much information as you do right now. At least he let Spock stay in Sickbay."

"I meant about the pregnancy." Kirk clarified. "We didn't really get much of a chance to discuss it. I mean, are you even sure that you're pregnant? Did you do a test?"

McCoy rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Trust me, even if I hadn't run three separate tests when I got back, I'd still know I was pregnant. I've got a... connection with the baby."

"And you still want to have an abortion?"

McCoy gave the captain a sour look, but he just shrugged. It was a valid question. McCoy shifted against the wall but didn't pull away, even though they could both feel Kirk's emotions slowly being absorbed, the effect of the child an unending weight. "It's the logical solution." McCoy finally concluded. "Jim, you need to be aware, this child would be a tri-brid, for lack of a better term. For all that the Admiralty is afraid of what I might be able to do, this... thing growing inside me could be infinitely worse. We have no idea what kind of abilities it might possess with genetic material from an Indyrin, a Vulcan and a human. Imagine the physical and mental prowess of a Vulcan combined with a walking, talking Indyrin trapped in a body of an infant with a brain and morality developing at the rate of the average human child. We could be talking about a creature with the ability to psychically destroy us all and the whims to do so over spilled milk. I honestly don't know if it's safe to bring a being like that into this world."

"Look, I'm not just saying this because they put an injunction against you having an abortion-"

"There's an injunction? Why? When were you going to tell me this?"

"It's technically an endangered species." Kirk cringed. "That's not the point. If you want an abortion, I'll make sure it happens. But the way I see it, if that baby has the potential to be dangerous, there are no two better parents to make sure that doesn't happen than the two it has. You of all people shouldn't be quick to dismiss the power of one's heart over the ability of one's mind."

They let the silence stretch while McCoy thought. Spock had dismissed any possibility of children when he linked their minds. Now that it seemed apparent that they would have a child, he was unsure of how he should feel, but it was clear to McCoy that he had already formed a bond with the child as well and was struggling with the idea of termination. McCoy found it challenging to determine his own opinion on the matter with his emotions evaporating as quickly as they could come, but the relief that had flooded him upon finding out the child was Spock's wasn't solely due to the knowledge that he wouldn't be tied to the president of Mokdan.

It suddenly occurred to McCoy that his mind was abnormally quiet. Spock was unconscious again, so his silence was expected, but he also hadn't heard from Serin in a long time, either. Every other time he'd debated his options, Serin and the Indyrin had been quick to admonish him for even considering abortion. This time, there was silence. McCoy reached out with his thoughts, but still there was nothing.

"You have that look on your face again." Kirk interrupted his attempts.

"Serin isn't answering."

"I would have thought you'd be happy about that."

"Well, if this baby wasn't sucking me dry..."

Kirk chewed on his bottom lip as he thought. "You think something happened to him?"

McCoy shook his head slowly. "No. I feel like there's just some sort of... interference."

"The brig?"

"The way he described our connection, I somehow doubt three metal walls and a forcefield could keep him out."

"Scotty did say we had to beam through an ion storm. Do you think that could have done it?"

"Don't look at me." McCoy grumbled. "I'm a doctor, not a psychic expert."

"I'm just thinking, if it is, maybe we can replicate it somehow. Like a protective helmet or something."

"Maybe." McCoy responded thoughtfully. They lapsed into a silence again, each trying not to think about the most pressing question, which was why they were in the brig in the first place. "I'm not sure I'm ready to leave the Enterprise."

Kirk nodded beside him, like he'd been expecting that comment. "Some ships are already being outfitted for families. And the Enterprise is not primarily a military vessel but primarily an exploration vessel, it may be possible to do both."

"That's not what I mean." McCoy fiddled with his shirt sleeve, like he didn't want to voice his next comment. Finally, he admitted. "I know that the Admiralty has been splintering and taking Starfleet with it. I know a lot of the controversy is over what to do about the Indyrin. What to do about me. As long as I'm a part of Starfleet, it's going to be a point of contention, and now more than ever, we need the Admiralty to be a united front."

"Bones, you're going to be a point of contention for the rest of your life, part of Starfleet or not. It's just a matter of whether or not they'll figure out how much your skills give us our advantage."

"I don't want to become a weapon for Starfleet." McCoy replied in a moment of fleeting anger.

"I meant your skills as a doctor."

"That's not how they'll see it."

Kirk opened his mouth to argue, but was swiftly interrupted by the appearance of several surprising figures outside their cell.

.o0o.