Doctor, I highly doubt if anybody would have taken it."
"Not that kind of gone, Spock. Gone as in dissolved. As you recall I placed the syringe with the bottle in it on the security table by the bed and locked it. The syringe was still as I had placed it but there were two drops of liquid where the bottle should have been. I analyzed then had the whole Science department verify my findings."
"And what were they, Doctor?"
"Water. Pure water. It does not seem possible."
Kirk had seen the eyebrow raise, "As I have said, Doctor, to an advanced society what we consider advanced technology and science to them would seem very backward."
"But aren't you the least bit curious as to what it was?"
"While curiosity is an emotion, Doctor, I will admit that it would have been fascinating to know what it was.."
"Hear that, Jim? Something that could do what it did and all he can say is that it would have been fascinating to study it. Something like that,"
"Is something we are not ready for, Doctor."
"How, how can you say that, Spock? Do you realize what that could have done?"
"It would be like what would have happened if anybody from Earth's twenty-first century were to have access to the medical treatments we have at our disposal. Think about that warlike period of your history and if one group having the power to unleash a lethal disease on an enemy, or the whole planet, knowing that they and only they had the cure yet not knowing of the side effects nor of what it would react with. We are not ready for it, Doctor. In time we may be ready. Is it not enough that for now it saved Officer Barnett's life after he had saved our lives?"
"Dammit, must you always be so infuriatingly logical? Yes, it is really enough that it saved Rarnell's life. At least you did not compare it to the rattles and bearskins as you have often referred to how I practice medicine. I am thankful for small mercies. I'll expect you two down at some stage. McCoy out."
Kirk shook his head and sat still for a moment just looking about the bridge and at the stars. There was quietness about the ship again. It was not the unsettling silence as before. No, he sat with his eyes briefly closed, this was a comfortable almost warming quietness. When he opened his eyes he saw Spock looking at him and he knew what it was. it was that peaceful near silence he knew was found in homes, even homes as big as the Enterprise, filled with friends and family when all is well and no words are needed.
FIN
A/N Well that's that. Thanks so much to those who did review/PM about it.