As soon as he got back to Engineering Scotty told the two officers to wait and then went to his comm unit. "Lieutenant Uhura, could ye, Sulu, and Chekov all report to Captain Kirk's quarters now, please, He wishes to speak with ye collectively. Scott, out." He smiled to himself as he knew, making it so short, would likely have them wondering what was really going on, and turned his attention to the two young officers before him and just kept looking at them till he saw that both of them were thinking over everything that had happened while they were there alone. "Ye two both did a good job and I'll tell the Captain that you two deserve some extra shore leave time. If you want it here ye best tell me now so I get it done."

Even before the two answered the Scotsman had seen the look they exchanged and knew the answer. He knew of the many attractions Command had and had been sure his officers would welcome the extra time off the ship.

"If it is possible, Sir, we would appreciate it here."

"No promises now but I'll ask, wait outside." Once both were out the Chief Engineer looked at the roster he had, the time, and nodded to himself. He walked to the door and looked at the two young officers, seeing the hopefulness about the faces and stance, "It is nae often that I will do this, it is nae something that tis done but ye both have twelve hours extra shore leave starting now. I expect nae trouble and nae delay reporting for your next shift. Ye have your communicators and if ye are needed back here I expect ye back immediately, understood?"

Almost in unison he heard, "Yes, Sir."

"Well, don't be just a'standin' there then." He smiled to himself as he punched in the time they were due back on ship. There was that hearing to finish, more crew were yet to have time off ship, and some new crew was to get familiar with the ship and that would take longer than twelve hours. If need be he would inform the Captain later as he knew that both Spock and McCoy would often allow officers extra shore leave when time allowed without it being taken as their officially recorded and allocated time off the ship after the officers had done something they thought warranted some form of recognition that was not officially recorded.

As Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov walked to the Captain's quarters for a few minutes there was silence and then Chekov stopped and looked at the other two, "What if the Keptin is still as he was? He was him but he was not him. What if,"

"I do not want to even think that, Chekov, but this could be a way for Doctor McCoy to tell us away from others exactly how he is and what happens next. You know, give us time to adapt if things are bad before we had to deal with the rest of the crew. Or," Sulu nodded his head, "it could be that there is an improvement and we can somehow help."

"If we can help I am sure that we could get others of the crew to help as well with so many little things that might also help." Uhura looked away for a few seconds then at her two friends, "Or," she nodded, "it could be that he made a full recovery and yet is still having trouble with, with."

"That's just it." Sulu nodded, "I do not think he will ever fully recover as he did kill Mister Spock and we all know how close they were."

"Yes, Keptin Pellon said it was like he changed when he realized he'd killed Mister Spock," Chekov also nodded, "Said the Keptin knew he had to stop him to protect the mission but the Keptin would have stunned him, not killed him. He would have stunned him."

Sulu nodded, "The Captain always had his phaser set on stun so had to have tried to stop Mister Spock but for some reason,"

"No," Uhura shook her head, "There just is no way the Captain would have killed Spock. He would have checked the phaser first. He always had his on stun. There had to be something very, very wrong and desperate for him to fire a phaser on the kill setting. He simply just would not have killed Spock."

"But what else would have him like that?" Sulu was clearly shaken by all the evidence and explanations, "Captain Pellon said that the Captain had reacted to stop the situation escalating, that he ordered Spock to stop but he ignored orders and that the only thing that could be done was to stop Spock and that the Captain just fired his phaser. We've all seen officers suffering from great shock and he was showing all the signs of a very deep and great shock. Like Chekov said, he was still the Captain but he was not the Captain we have known for so long, he was not himself to his core. It was like something had taken whatever made him him was gone and we had something else that physically looked and sounded like him but was not him."

"Can either of you actually see him killing Spock?" Uhura paused to look at her two friends, "Him being the one to turn a phaser set to kill on Spock after all they mean to each other, after all they have been through together? I still cannot believe he did it. I refuse to believe it."

Outside the door to Kirk's quarters Sulu looked at Uhura as did Chekov, "Although I find it difficult to believe it I also saw how he was. That sort of shock, to me, indicated he did it, he killed Spock. He may have thought his phaser was on stun, we were not told the circumstances, but they all said the Captain was the one to fire the phaser and it was set on kill."

"The Keptin always had his phaser on stun unless things were really bad. Keptin Pellon did not say what had happened only that the Keptin had killed Mister Spock." Chekov had shaken his head, "The Keptin always had it on stun."

"We'll soon know. It will be good to know just what has happened and how we can help the Captain." Uhura slowly placed her hand on the panel to notify the Captain they were there.

After Scotty had left Kirk looked at Spock, "Before they get here do you want to be here or wait in the sleeping alcove till,"

"I believe I will stand beside Doctor McCoy as he will be best able to ensure that there is no real emotional overload."

McCoy was momentarily stunned as he was so used to Spock calling him overly emotional and warned him his emotions would cause him troubles and for Spock to now say he would be able to ensure there would be no real emotional overload was both surprising and the high praise from him. He rocked slightly on his heels as he looked at his friend, "Why, thank you, Spock, I will do my best to do that."

"I appreciate that you were able to control your own emotions upon seeing me, Doctor, and I am sure that you will help the others curb their emotions as you will know what words to use should they be needed."

Jim Kirk smiled to himself as this was a rare thing, yet something he knew well, to see the two so openly showing not only their understanding of one another but also their deep seldom openly acknowledged or displayed friendship. He had seen them like that many times when it was just the three of them but Captain Czacheck and Officer Twindell were also there.

As soon as he heard the buzz that let the five of them know the others had arrived Kirk said, "Enter."

Although later none of the Humans remembered exactly what happened Spock clearly recalled how the three had first only looked at Kirk and they looked relieved then saw McCoy and nodded, and then saw him. For three point six seconds Sulu and Chekov just stood looking at him and then rushed up to him to clasp his hand and slap him on the back as he had long ago realized was a very Human reaction to the great pleasure at meeting again with one for whom there are deep positive feelings. He was aware that Uhura had tears in her eyes, her hands were cupped over her mouth as though trying to smother the words, "You're alive, you're alive.", and she had been shaking her head as though not believing it. There was no mistaking that through the tears was a glow of love and, when he had held out a hand to her and softly said, "Yes, Uhura." she had ignored his hand and pushed Sulu and Chekov aside as she rushed forward and brieflytightly hugged him then quickly released him and stepped back. "I. I'm sorry but you are real, you are here, you are alive."

Spock quickly raised an eyebrow as he looked at McCoy and nodded, "Does this qualify as emotional overload?" It pleased him to see his five friends smile and laugh as it was a feeling of being home.

"It gives me pleasure to introduce to you, Doctor Czacheck and Officer Twindell, Three of the most efficient officers you could find on any ship's bridge. Lieutenant Sulu who is one of the Fleet's best at the helm, Ensign Chekov who shows excellent navigational what would challenge some of the Fleet's more senior officers in the some position, and Lieutenant Uhura who is undoubtedly the Fleet's best Communications Officer." as he named them each nodded at the two visitors. "It is because of Officer Twindell's initial action and Captain Czacheck's quick action and administrations that I am still alive."

"Thank you both so very, very much. I, I am sure I speak," Uhura looked at the others then back at Captain Czacheck, " not only for just us but for the compliment of the Enterprise as we are incomplete without Mister Spock with us."

Czacheck smiled and nodded, "It was," he looked at Twindell and, while the others might not have noticed it, Spock saw how Czacheck and Twindell looked at each other for two point eight seconds before Czacheck continued, "the least we could do at the time. We are on the same team if not the same ship."

Again that taunting hint of a memory came to Spock. There was something in the depths of his memory about those names, Czacheck and Twindell, and now especially with that saying same team if not the same ship. It was, if he cared to admit it, most annoying as he knew there was a connection, there was something that linked all three. While he had every confidence in McCoy's assessment that he would remember he just had hoped it would be at a faster rate. He had a sense that he had to remember the connections soon, they seemed related and connected with what had happened.

"It was most pleasing to have such a welcome back to the ship and I am most relieved to be back with you. I will meet with you individually later but I believe that Captain Czacheck, Doctor McCoy, Officer Twindell, the Captain and I have matters we must attend to with regard to an upcoming meeting at Command."

The three looked at each other then Sulu looked at Spock and said, "We will make no mention to anybody that you are alive, Sir. It will be up to you and the Captain as when it is appropriate to do so. We will be at our stations should we be needed." All three nodded and left.

Once they were alone again the five men were silent for four point eight minutes before Officer Twindell said, "We had heard how united your crew is, Captain Kirk, and now we have seen how correct that statement was. I now think both crews would be pleased if we were able to not only find out who was behind the attack on Mister Spock but also who had reason to want to implicate you as the killer."

"While I believe we have an assumption as to who and why that, as Mister Spock would no doubt point out to us," McCoy looked at his Vulcan friend, "it is illogical to assume that a person is guilty of a crime without irrefutable proof. I do not think we have anything that could be called proof."

"Quite correct, Doctor. I am reasonably confident we have all encountered situations where the guilty parties, due to lack of proof, were released. You are also correct, Doctor, in that we have no proof and I believe we are unsure of exactly where we would now find any proof as there has been sufficient time for the perpetrator to destroy any proof."

For a moment the Enterprise trio saw how Twindell looked at Spock, "Do you not think that should be perpetrators?"

The question made Spock really look a the man and could see that he clearly had the same suspicions he had. To carry out such a thing would require more than one being to ensure it appeared an accident. There was also still the question of why the security on Jublilne Five had reacted as they had. He nodded , "There would be the main perpetrator and they would have others to support them and assist them in carrying out their action as well as destroying any evidence."

"Any other time my first reaction would have been to send you to find answers, Spock, but at the time I was not coping well believing you dead. Whoever is behind this had time to cover their tracks." Kirk saw how Spock was looking a him, "I mean they would have had time enough to ensure that there was no way to discover they were responsible."

"I am familiar with the expression, Captain, I was attempting to calculate the various tasks that would be required, the number of persons who would be involved, and the amount of time it would take to destroy all implicating evidence. Without exact details of locations for reference points and data about the materials used I am finding it difficult to include or exclude personnel. I believe Doctor McCoy was correct in that my mental skills are taking some time to improve but I am aware they are improving. I apologize for not being," Spock stopped when he saw Kirk raise his hand.

"There is nothing to apologize for, Spock. This was not your fault. The main thing is that you are alive and McCoy said your mental abilities would return to normal in time. I just wish I knew what really happened but, as we all seem to acknowledge, there is no physical evidence and whatever we think would just be conjecture. So unusual that tomorrow is a summation hearing and there is no finding to me made."

"We appreciate you making accommodation available to us as we shall stay aboard this evening and accompany you to the hearing tomorrow." Czacheck looked at Kirk, "If you will excuse us we will leave now and meet up with you in the morning. I suspect you three have a great deal to discuss before confronting the hearing tomorrow."

"Well before we discuss too much with Spock I'd really like to take him to my Sickbay and officially clear him to be aboard the ship. It would be helpful if I had,"

"I believe you will need this, "Czacheck held out a small disc, "all that I have from what I did. I could not record it on the ship's computer with the unknown factors about what happened. I knew you would want to know what was done. I did a thorough check of his systems just prior to beaming over and you will find his readings not only clear him to be aboard your ship but also," he looked at Kirk, "at the hearing should need arise."

McCoy took the disc and had so many questions but after a quick look at Kirk and Spock realized they really were all starting to think along the same lines. "Thank you for this."

"While you two work out where Spock spends the night I will escort our guests to their quarters."

A/N Thanks for reading. Torrential rain forecast again today - lawn slowly becoming a mower killing mass of green. Will post again in about three days. Take care and HAVE FUN!