"Kirk here, what is it?" The long fingered hand on his shoulder had given him a reassuring squeeze before it was removed.

"Captain, Officer Hanfer here. All stations on the bridge are operational and manned. Holding position and awaiting your orders."

With one look around he saw Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scotty heading out, each pausing to glance in at Randell, "On my," he hesitated with his hand on button of the communication unit as he saw McCoy slowly walk up to the bed and look at a bottle of a oddly glowing solution. He also saw how Spock was watching McCoy. "I'll be up shortly, Hanfer. Mister Sulu will be there shortly. He will relieve you. Thank you. Kirk out."

Together he and Spock had walked into the Intensive Care room and up to where McCoy was still looking at the glowing liquid. The registers were all reflecting the intensive pain Randell was in and the struggle he was fighting.

"Doctor McCoy, is there a reason you have not administered that medication?"

"I don't know what it is, Spock." McCoy looked at the Vulcan then at him, "I do not just inject something into a patient because I am told to, especially not by the things that caused the damage in the first place."

"And yet you will use medications given to you by Command and not question their source."

"That's different and you know it, Spock!. The medications would have been tested,"

"Is it not possible that their own doctors and scientists could already tested some of it on Randell? Is it not possible that they know it will save him? They are more,"

"Blast it, Spock I know that they are more advanced than us. I am fully,"

For a moment he had not really listened as he had watched his two closest friends starting another of their long debates and seen how the indicators had slowly risen. He could also understand both sides for he understood both men so well. Bones with his emotion and feelings ruling him at the moment and Spock relying on his logic and ability to ignore his Human emotions.

"Doctor, I believe we both know that there is nothing more you can do for him. We both know that, and we both know that what you are holding they said will save his life. What are you really stalling for?"

"Don't you understand, this could kill him. I could kill him." McCoy closed his eyes and bowed his head, "I could kill him."

It was strange, almost a Human gesture that caught him by surprise as Spock reached out and gently placed one of his hands on McCoy's shoulder and took hold of the bottle of glowing liquid. "I do understand, Doctor. I will administer the medication if you will release it. It is illogical but I believe what they said, that it will save his life. I do not believe they would kill him in this way after all he gave them. I will do it if,"

McCoy had nodded his head and looked up Spock, "No, no I will do it, Spock. I am this ship's CMO and it is my duty. Also they said that I had to do it. It could still be a part of the test."

For a moment the two just looked at one another and he could tell there was a private conversation going on as they looked at each other. Finally Spock nodded, released the bottle, and took a step back, "As you wish, Doctor."

After McCoy had emptied the syringe into Barnett's heart he had seen how he had briefly closed his eyes and bitten his bottom lip. McCoy had just stood still for a moment until Spock had moved and taken the syringe from McCoy's grip and placed it on the tray beside the bed. "It is done, Doctor."

McCoy had mutely nodded and had, clearly as an automatic action and in one seemingly fluid movement, placed the syringe on the small security table and secured the lid over it. A clear indication that he would study it later.

There had been perhaps a minute before Barnett's body contorted several times and his breathing became strained then his body went totally limp and momentarily all the registered leveled at the bottom. While he had stood still he had seen how Spock had gripped McCoy's hands, "They told us of this. This has to be, McCoy. This has to happen."

McCoy had for a moment struggled and there was anger in his voice as he said, "You made me kill him, Spock. You and them made me kill him. I swore to do no harm and look how he died at my hand."

Spock had just kept looking at McCoy, "You were right, Doctor. It was part of the test. They wanted to see if you were a doctor and could set aside your emotionalism for the good of your patient. That was why they said you had to do it." he had heard the baritone voice lower and soften, "You have to believe that it will work, Doctor. You had already said there was nothing you could do for him. They told us this would happen."

There had been so much pain and torment on his friend's face when McCoy had looked up at Spock and as he watched he had seen Spock nod, "You have given him what he needed, Doctor, and you have shown them the qualities that make you the finest doctor in the Federation."

McCoy had just started, "But I," when Barnett's body shook violently and the registered rose to the normal level and he coughed and few times which had both Spock and McCoy rush to the sides of the bed and steady him.

As he watched Barnett briefly opened his eyes, looked at McCoy then at Spock and seemed confused then seemed to struggle, "Mister Scott. They,"

"He is down in Engineering. We are all safe. You need to sleep. Somebody will always be with you. When you awaken we will talk. You sleep." From how McCoy had quickly looked at him he could tell that McCoy had also been surprised at how calm and friendly and reassuring Spock had been. Barnett gave a slight nod, closed his eyes and gone to sleep.

McCoy had done six scans of Barnett, looking more and more satisfied with each reading and then turned and looked at both Spock and him, "Haven't you two got somewhere to be and something to be doing? My patient will sleep now for a few hours and I will let you know when he can have visitors."

"Do you intend to be with him all,"

"Well, since you told him that he would not be alone and I know of your dislike for Sickbay of course I will be with him. The Captain will take you to have something to eat and then you two should get some sleep."

"Bones," he had started to protest.