"Do I have to make it an order? I want you two to get at least six hours of sleep and have something to eat. I have told the others the same. We now have to wait." While he had been talking McCoy had moved a chair close to the bed, sat down and placed his hand on Barnett's hand. "Well, don't be standing there. Git!"

Together he and Spock had gone and had a meal. They had not talked about the event nor much of any real importance, recounted their last chess game, talked about the food on the other craft that Spock had commented had an oddly fresher more natural taste, and then gone to their quarters. Till he had lain down on his bed he had not been aware of just how exhausted he was.

Spock had been in his quarters when he had awoken and had handed him a cup of coffee. "Are you well rested, Jim?"

As he had taken the coffee he could tell from how his friend and First Officer was looking at him that something was not right. "Yes, Bones was right, I needed that sleep. And you?"

"I found it beneficial to rest as well."

"Want to tell me what is wrong then?"

"I contacted McCoy before I came to see you to inquire about Randell and was told, in the way only McCoy can abuse language, to do my own damned job, to leave him to his and that he would obviously have contacted me if there was anything to tell me." For a moment Spock had looked away then back at him, "I was relieved to know that the good doctor was back to his own usual form but I would have appreciated knowing how Randell was doing."

He had smiled. He had long watched the friendship his two friends had and knew that while they would verbally do battle, would taunt one another, underneath was a deep caring emotion for one another. Just as much as Spock would deliberately infuriate McCoy, Bones would give back as good as he got. It was just the occasional time that Spock was still uncertain about what McCoy meant.

"I think he means that Randell is the same but if it will make you happy I will contact him." He had planned on doing it when he woke and reached out, "Captain Kirk to SickBay."

"McCoy here. Jim, I will tell you what I told Spock and Scotty. There is no change in Randell's condition and I will let you know as soon as there is any change. I hope you both got some sleep."

"We did. Thanks, Bones. We'll have breakfast then go to the bridge. If you need,"

"All I need, Captain, is for you to keep your First Officer busy and out of my Sickbay. I do not expect Randell to wake for a few hours more and before you ask, Spock, I do not know how many hours. We just have to wait. McCoy out."

They had had breakfast, had gone back to the bridge, turned the ship around, and done a report that lacked one major encounter and was lacking in details as to what caused the destruction of the Klingon ship. Instead of making the report in his quarters he had made it on the bridge and had Uhura have it ship-wide so that the whole crew knew what had been said. They had all been a part of it and he wanted them to know exactly what those not there would ever know about the events. With him having said it was the official report he knew his crew understood that it was the only report that would be given.

"McCoy to Captain Kirk." The silence and waiting had ended and he almost automatically looked at Spock yet was aware of the others watching him.

"Kirk here."

"In a few minutes, after he has had some liquid food, Officer Barnett can have a maximum of two visitors at a time for a few minutes only . He will still need bed-rest and steady physical therapy for some time and I would expect him to be back on the roster in six weeks on light duties. At present all his signs are normal and a full recovery is expected. He still will need some help for a spell but with the roster that Uhura has I doubt if there will be difficulty with finding additional help. There is one slight problem, though,"

Spock moved over to stand next to Kirk on his right side beside the command chair and Kirk saw the raised eyebrow, "And what is that, Bones?"

"When I went to analyze what that potion was the bottle that had been in the syringe it was gone."