When Czacheck remained quiet but looking at him Kirk shook off McCoy's hand and took a step closer to the doctor, fury and anger mixing and welling up in him, "Well, what the hell gave you the right to touch him? If it was not a benediction what the hell was it?"
From behind him came a voice, a beloved voice he thought he would never hear again, "It was, as he mentioned earlier, Captain, him,' while the voice kept entering his ears and words registered with his brain all he could do was walk slowly up to what he was sure was a projected image, only to find when he embraced it that it was solid, it was that lean muscular form he was familiar with and he was beyond the state of ecstasy when two arms wrapped around him and he felt hands rubbing his back, "attaching to me part of an individual transporter unit that transported me directly to his SickBay. When he first bent over me to check for life he could tell that officer Twindell had ensured that I did not sustain a sufficiently long enough blast from the phaser to kill me. The blast was strong enough to cause sufficient damage that not only rendered me unconscious but that also required a substantial amount o time in a deep healing trance with some external assistance. It seems that Doctor Czacheck and Doctor M'Benga both served time working with Vulcan healers to learn those things that the elders have said off-worlders who may encounter Vulcans in need of medical assistance could learn. It is very apparent that, like M'Benga, he was a very good learner of the ways. He enabled me to remain undisturbed for three hundred and sixteen point one nine standard minutes and was there to assist me into full cognizance of what had happened and what was happening. I have faint recollections of being somewhat aware at times of you needing me but I could not get to you. I knew you had McCoy with you and the others who would protect you so I could recover. I had to recover as not only was Czacheck's treatment, that is a special Vulcan inhalation, but I could sense you were full of what would be a what Humans call a soul-destroying guilt and I knew it was not your doing."
He was aware of hearing the words but they meant nothing. All that was real, all that mattered, all Jim Kirk could do at that moment was cling to the precious being who was now also holding him tightly. All he could feel was the unconditional love and trust and safety he had always found in that embrace. All that existed at that moment was this, this feeling he had thought he would never feel again and being with the special being he thought he would never see again, much less hold and be held by. There were others around, he knew, but he did not care if they saw him like this, clinging to and being held by, this special being and sobbing so much with emotions pouring out of him frp, so many levels of relief he could hardly stand and all he could say was "You're alive. You're alive."
It had taken McCoy a few minutes, he knew that that blasted walking-computer could have said how many minutes, to accept what had just happened. His mind was still trying to accept what Czacheck had said earlier about an individual transporter unit to linked to his sickbay that was made from salvaged items and that it had not been fully tested. He had clearly been able to get it onto Spock and been able to get treatment started on Spock within that fifteen minute window before a Vulcan, struck by a short blast from a Starfleet issue phaser set on kill, was so badly internally damaged there is no chance of survival. Jim had said that Czacheck's security guard had stayed with him, that Czacheck's guard had grabbed him as soon as he started to fire.
Czacheck's guard was Twindell. He had heard or read something about them. Czacheck and Twindell, Czacheck and Twindell. Damn. There was something about those two names together. Czacheck and Twindell. Twindell and Czacheck. No, they did not matter, all that mattered was the pointy-eared, green-blooded walking computer of a hobgoblin he was pleased to call a friend was back and clearly himself again. As he watched the reunion of his two closest friends he felt such great happiness for them and yet a twinge of what? Envy? Sadness? Exclusion?
As he watched them he was pleased they had each other again, more pleased than he possibly would ever admit. For sixteen days he had helped Jim Kirk deal with believing he had killed his best friend and for those sixteen days he had had to bury his own deep feeling of loss in order to help Jim Kirk. It was only right that these two close friends have this reunion alone. He started to turn as he would leave them to celebrate and he would find that special bottle he had and later,
"McCoy?" the voice was soft but unmistakable and he looked back at the two only to see Spock looking at him and holding out an arm to him with the unsaid on a face so many said was inscrutable For a moment he felt only the reassuring and welcoming hug from his Vulcan friend and then he was aware of Kirk moving and wrapping his arm over him in a hug. Deep inside him McCoy knew, as he was sure the other two did, that one day one or more of them would not recover, not return, but for that moment that reality did not matter. This band, this bond of love and acceptance was enough. This special combination of emotion, logic, and action oriented beings belonged together in this moment to reconnect and share what they and they alone shared. A piece of literature he had read years ago while studying old Earth's literature came to him, some playwright had written, "We brothers, we band of brothers," and that was what he felt with these two very different, very special men: that they were brothers despite and because of their differences.
Gradually Kirk's emotional turmoil settled and he felt his Vulcan friend realize it and help him ease back to the present. As he watched he saw McCoy also compose himself as he leaned against Spock and saw how gently as the so often so very Human Vulcan also helped him ease back to the present. Slowly he turned and looked at where officer Twindell stood next to Czacheck, "I want to thank you for what you did for me, for us."
The man gave a nod, "That was my duty, Captain, I am sorry that I bruised your ribs as all I was thinking of at the time was stopping you." He then looked at Czacheck, "I'll be in my quarters if you need me. I'll have my report done for you." Czacheck had nodded and Kirk realized from how they looked at one another that they had a relationship that was more than just fellow officers, more like what he had with the two with him.
Once it was just the four of them Czacheck looked steadily at each of them then nodded as though he had seen an answer to some deep question, or series of related questions. "Now we have to deal with Pellon. Now we have enough to stop him and the answers to questions regarding just how he went up the ranks as fast as he did. We know you, Kirk, earned your way up but there has been some questions as to just how Pellon has done so."
With Czacheck having said that brought back to Kirk what he had remembered and now saw how evident it was that Pellon had clearly been to Jubliline Five before and Kirk wondered if he had planned this whole thing. He had been surprised when Command had told him that the Enterprise was to escort the Dakota back to Command to be decommissioned and had jokingly, he had hoped, been reminded how often Pellon had said he wanted the best starship and not only did he not want to have to wait for a new starship but also did not accept that it was the crew that made a ship like the Enterprise the best. The crew, he looked at McCoy and Spock, and nodded to himself. Yes, the crew from the bridge crew to the newest ensign all working as a unit was what made his ship the best. He doubted if there was a more loyal crew than he was fortunate to have.
"We can continue this discussion on the Enterprise after the three of us have freshened up, if you do not mind." Czacheck nodded this thanks and Kirk said, "Officer Twindell is welcome to accompany us."
"I will advise him that I will be on your ship, Captain, and that he is welcome to join us. I will also ask him to bring his report with him as I believe you will find it most interesting."
"No offence meant," McCoy started, "but I'll also want to check Spock over in my own Sickbay as,"
"No offence taken, Doctor McCoy, and no need to explain as I know of your history and your high standards and I would have been surprised if you had not done so before our meeting. If positions had been reversed I would also want to do the same. Captain, I too, would like to freshen up and I still have others to deal with before I beam over. I will beam over thirty standard minutes after you, if that is not rushing you.. Should Pellon ask I am just making sure how Kirk is."
Kirk looked at Czacheck, at Spock, at Bones, then back at Czacheck and saw the truth, they all thought as he did, that Pellon was after the Enterprise and that Pellon had been to Jubliline Five before and not made a favorable impression.
"That will be sufficient time for us to freshen-up and McCoy to satisfy his curiosity about my physical condition." Spock had looked at both McCoy and Kirk and then at Czacheck, "If I am not mistaken one of those other three observers was one of Pellon's officers, one who was usually with him." Kirk and McCoy shared a satisfied look as they saw an eyebrow arch slightly. "You are aware,"
"Yes and I had no hesitation in allowing him to watch as I will not dismiss those three until I am on my way to be beamed over to the Enterprise. Officer Wainrite will ensure nobody leaves the room till I get there and I have a feeling that we will find the recording during the period from when their ability to hear what was going on until they are released will be informative. I am sure that as soon as I release them that that one will go directly to Pellon like a well-trained little puppy and tell him how Captain Kirk remembered so much. They know nothing of you being alive. The last they saw and heard was when I asked Captain Kirk what had annoyed or angered him when I had touched you."
Spock had nodded, "Those other two were there to engage in conversation with him."
"Yes, but they had instructions not to be the ones to initiate the conversation with him. They could, however, state talking with one another. I believe that Pellon's officer will want to get to him as soon as possible to tell him all that was remembered so Pellon is ready for what is to come, or rather," Czacheck looked at Kirk and then back at Spock, "what they think is to come."
Kirk had seen that slight smile when Czacheck had said "think is to come" that made him wonder what else Czacheck had planned. "I look forward to hearing that conversation. We shall see you on the Enterprise."
A/N Looks like we've had summer - a whole two weeks of it - as today was just ideal for working in the vegetable garden and getting the bulb beds ready for their winter rest. May get back to thins in 2 - 4 days. Enjoy. Take care and HAVE FUN!