Jim was pressing Bones' wound, trying to stop the bleeding when suddenly, the holodeck became just that…only a holodeck. Everything else disappeared and they were in the gray room that created all the scenarios. "Hang in there, Bones!" he said. "They're going to get to us!"

Bones stared at the ceiling feeling very light headed. Carol leaned over him. "Doctor McCoy!" she yelled. She could see that he was going into shock.

Scotty pulled out a small box from the console and cut the wires from it. He grabbed the wires and stuck them together, and the door of the holodeck slid open. "Solan, get in there!" he yelled as he was securing the two wires together.

Spock could not let go of the cable he was holding yet, but he was looking into the holodeck and could see the doctor lying on the floor. "Mister Scott, we must hurry!" he said as he could see blood on the floor.

"I'm hurrying!" Scotty replied. He finally got the wires secured. "Okay!"

Spock let go of the cable and hurried into the holodeck. Scotty thought he would collapse from all the strain. He rubbed his face and then went into the holodeck himself.

"Mister Scott, go to the transporter and get the medical team up here!" Spock said. "If there is a doctor down there, bring them too!"

"Yes sir!" Scotty turned and ran for the transporter room.

Spock and Solan looked at Jim who was still trying to hold Bones' blood in. "Jim, you are injured as well," Spock pointed out.

"We can't let him die!" Jim said.

"The medical team will soon be on their way."

"Bones!"

Bones was not responding to anyone but he was not unconscious yet…

Scotty arrived at the transporter room. He contacted Uhura and explained the situation as quickly as he could. "We need them here now!" Scotty said.

"They're here waiting, Mister Scott," Uhura replied. "Transport them and us."

"Ready for transport."

Uhura, Sulu, Ensign McCoy, and the medical team were soon appearing on the transporter pad. They had also brought a doctor with them, as Uhura had anticipated that there would most likely be a need.

They were soon all running for the holodeck, not knowing who was injured. Ensign John McCoy was the first to arrive at the holodeck. He saw his brother lying on the floor with blood all over him, and Captain Kirk was trying to stop his bleeding.

As John stood there stunned, the medical team came rushing in, as well as Uhura and Sulu. "You shouldn't be in here," Sulu said.

"Yes I should!" John replied. He ran to his brother. "Leo!"

Bones did not respond as he did not know what was going on around him now. Jim and the others backed up to give the medical team room to work. Jim stood up, staggering just a bit. Spock got over to him. "Jim, you're injured," he said.

Jim looked at Spock, and then almost collapsed, but Spock did not let him fall. "Jim." He realized Jim was completely exhausted.

"Just let me sleep, Spock," Jim said.

Carol was standing behind Jim, and she just put her arms around him. For a while, she had wondered if any of them would get out of that alive.

Scotty felt like he could collapse himself. His hands felt shaky and he was not sure he had ever felt quite as nervous as he did this time. Carol turned to him. "Mister Scott, you saved our lives," she said and just hugged him.

"I'm glad I could," Scotty replied.

Spock had laid Jim down on the floor until they could get him to the medical bay. Right now, the medical team was working on Bones with no time to move him before they did part of the procedure there.

Once it was safe to move Bones, they got him onto a gurney. Jim and Carol were also carried to the medical bay. Carol thought she had come out of that situation rather well according to the condition of Doctor McCoy and Jim. They had tried to keep Khan away from her. She supposed that was just how they were…trying to be her knights.

Later that day, Jim sat straight up on the medical bed. He had been dreaming that he was still in that holodeck. "Jim, you are safe now," Spock said.

Jim still felt shaky but he remembered now that they had gotten out of that thing. "How's Bones?" he asked.

"He is recovering, but he is still unconscious."

"Where's Carol?"

"I advised her to go and get some rest. I had to promise not to leave your side before she would do so."

Jim lay back down. "What happened, Spock?" he asked. "How did that happen?"

"Mister Scott determined that Khan had programmed the holodeck program to activate when you entered the holodeck for the tenth time. I believe he installed this program when we were on Pacifica, as we know that he entered the ship."

"He did this to try and kill me even if he didn't survive."

"Yes, Captain. It was a very complex program and they are working to free the ship from it as it was connected to almost every relay in the ship which would have caused a chain reaction to destroy the entire ship. We have docked the ship on the planet so that the technicians can help Mister Scott. He and Solan have worked tirelessly."

Jim realized then that he was not in the medical bay on the ship. "So we're on the planet?"

"Yes."

"Where's Bones?"

"He is in intensive care, and is being watched over carefully."

"He saved Carol's life. Khan would have…" Jim closed his eyes as he did not want to remember. "Sometimes I wish there was a way to erase memories."

"Captain, our memories are what make us who we are. I felt this way when my planet was destroyed, but it is a memory that I will have to live with, and remember my planet as it was before…as well as my mother."

Jim looked at Spock. He had never considered the fact that Spock was haunted by that memory when he saw his mother fall out of his grasp. Spock did not show his emotions, and never spoke of his sadness. "I'm sorry I haven't considered your feelings more, Spock," Jim said.

"You needn't be sorry, Jim," Spock replied. "We have all suffered losses since we have embarked on this journey together, but I believe it has brought us all closer together and has made us into an even better team. The entire crew is very efficient because of our loyalty to each other."

"I realize that."

"A team that accomplishes this has a good leader."

"Maybe but they're just good at what they do."

Just then, Carol walked into the medical bay. She smiled with relief as she saw that Jim was awake. She walked over to his bed. "Jim, how do you feel?" she asked.

"I'm very sore," Jim replied.

Carol leaned over him and kissed him. "My knight in shining armor," she said.

Jim smiled. "I don't know about that. If you hadn't helped me, I don't think I would have beaten him."

"I don't think I will want to be on the holodeck for a very long time."

"Hey, we didn't get to do our novel. I'm sure Scotty will make that the most secure holodeck in the fleet."

Carol kissed him again, and they just looked into each other's eyes. "I love you, Jim," she said.

"I love you too," Jim replied.

"I have no doubt that we can get through anything together."

"I agree."

Spock stood up. "I will let you know when there is progress with the ship, Captain," he said.

"Thank you, Spock," Jim replied.

"I will go and visit the doctor as well."

Spock left the area where Jim was and went to the intensive care where Bones was. To Spock's surprise, Bones opened his eyes when he came up to his bed. "Doctor," Spock said. "I was not aware that you had awakened."

Bones did not say anything for a moment. "Did you have to be the first person I saw?" he asked, trying to be as sarcastic as he ever was.

"I see you have not lost your sense of humor along with half your blood volume."

"As long as they didn't give me yours."

"That would not be possible."

"Is Jim okay?"

"Yes. He is recovering, and Doctor Marcus is doing well."

"I wasn't going to let him watch her die."

"Jim?"

"Yeah. You wouldn't understand I don't guess."

"I understand more than you think, Doctor. Jim and Carol have a deep love for each other."

"Are you never going to stop calling me 'Doctor'? You called me Leonard once."

"That was an attempt to let you know that I do consider you as a friend, even though we insult each other quite often."

Bones almost laughed but it hurt. "Don't make me laugh," he said. "It just makes the trip less dull."

"I realize that."

Bones looked at him. "You do?"

"Yes. The longer I am around this crew, the more I realize that humor is important."

"Well, I never thought I would hear that."

"I am…glad that you are recovering, Leonard. It would be quite a dull trip without your form of humor."

Bones almost laughed again. "Please, don't make me laugh. It hurts."

"I will let the captain know that you are awake. I am sure he will be happy as well."

"Well, you can tell them that they don't have to get all mushy about what I did."

"I am sure Doctor Marcus will thank you, and Jim as well. He has already mentioned the fact that you saved Carol's life."

"I would do it again…but I hope I don't have to."

"I will be in to see you again."

With that, Spock turned and left the intensive care area. He stopped and told Jim and Carol that Bones was awake. "I am pleased to say that he is his same old self," Spock said.

Jim smiled. "Why? Is he already insulting you?"

"He has not lost his sense of humor."

"What would we do without that?"

"I believe it would be a very dull trip. If you will excuse me, Captain."

Jim nodded and Spock left. Jim looked at Carol. "I want to get in there to see him," he said.

"You're not cleared to get up yet," Carol replied.

"I'm not as tired as I was before."

"I don't think I have ever slept so soundly. I was so tired."

"I'm just glad we didn't have to face another Khan hologram. I was expecting…"

Carol put her hand on his mouth. "Please, let's just try not to think of what could have happened," she said.

"Right."

Later that day, Jim went to see Bones who was sleeping when he walked in. John was there, and he stood up. "Captain," he said.

"As you were, Ensign." Jim could see that John was tired. "How's our sarcastic doctor here?"

"He's improving."

Jim stood beside the bed a moment and then leaned over to Bones. "I think you're enjoying this too much," he said quietly.

Bones was just a little startled but he realized it was Jim. "I'm glad to see you standing up," he said.

"I'm glad to see you breathing," Jim replied seriously.

Bones looked at him. "I wasn't going to let you watch her die, Jim," he said. "I saw that…well, I just wasn't."

Jim had never seen Bones when he was not pretending to be angrier than he really was, or being sarcastic or cynical. "Don't stand there and stare at me," Bones said.

"You know I think I have learned more about the people on this crew since we've been on this mission than I ever knew when we were at the academy," Jim said.

"I don't think you took much time to get to know much about anyone…except women." Bones looked at him. "But I guess everyone matures eventually."

"I have to say thank you…for saving her life."

"You don't have to go on about that. You would have done it."

"Yeah, I intended to."

"But you couldn't. Khan saw to that. Even that hologram was as sadistic and heartless as the real one. I hope we never see him again."

"I don't think we will. That should be the last of that."

"I'm not sure I trust holodecks anymore either. If glitches like that can happen…"

"Scotty's learning more about that thing and making it more secure even as we speak."

"I still think it'll be a while before I want to even walk through anymore corn fields."

Jim smiled. "I don't mind the corn field anymore. I think it would be quite relaxing."

"You may be right. I can't remember ever getting into any trouble in a corn field except maybe getting lost. I sure never met any sadistic, blood thirsty maniacs who wanted to kill me."

"Neither did I." Jim was silent a moment. "You take care and do what these doctors tell you."

"Don't worry. I'm going to be a very good patient."

"I'll see you later."

Jim left the room. He limped slightly on his right leg since that wound was taking longer to heal. He went to the communications station. He smiled as he saw Uhura there. "Captain, it's so good to see you well," she said.

"It's good to be up," Jim replied. "How is everything going on the ship?"

"Scotty is working hard to make sure nothing like this can happen again. I also contacted Starfleet and let them know what happened. It's very disturbing."

"I'll say."

Jim walked on and went to the ship to see just exactly what Scotty was doing. He was surprised as he came to the holodeck. Scotty had the entire control system pulled out. "Captain," he said looking a little surprised.

"Mister Scott, what are you doing?" Jim asked.

"I'm working on this thing. I guarantee you nothing like that will ever happen again."

"Have you had any rest?"

Scotty stood up. "I got a few hours sleep, but I had to get to work on this right away."

Jim nodded. "You guys worked together so well, and you saved our lives."

"I…" Scotty was not sure what to say. "It was our duty, Captain."

"I'm beginning to think we're all more than just a ship crew. I'll let you get back to work."

"It's about time," Solan said over the intercom.

"Don't get sassy with me," Scotty replied.

Jim smiled. "Where is he?"

"Where else would I be?" Solan asked. "I'm in the access tube!"

Jim did laugh then. "Why should I have to go in that thing when I can send him?" Scotty asked. "After all, I outrank him."

"Will you just get on with this?" Solan asked. "You're a time waster!"

"Don't call me a time waster, you lazy leech. I'll come in there and belt you one."

"I doubt it since you loathe crawling."

"I do! And I'll not hear anymore sass from you!"

Jim could not help but laugh as he walked on. He thought conflicts brought them all closer together rather than making them more afraid. They could depend on each other and get through anything together.