Chapter 19: The Captain's Return

Upon seeing the Captain, Spock knew that McCoy had been right. Kirk was definitely pissed off.

The Captain was sitting on one of the Sickbay beds and ranting, his words loud but barely intelligible. The Doctor seemed to be attempting to calm him down.

"Look! You're all right!" McCoy tried to say in a calm voice but his exasperation was evident.

"I'd better be!" Kirk spat.

Seeing Spock, Kirk rose. He walked over to the Vulcan. The human looked at the Vulcan and in one swift moment the Captain's fist rammed into Spock's jaw. Spock did not fall back nor did he look as if he had been struck at all.

"That's what I like about you, Spock. You just take it," Kirk stated, looking calmer.

"Why did you do that?" McCoy shouted at the Captain. "He didn't do anything."

"I know," Kirk said.

"Well he certainly isn't your personal punching bag," the Doctor grabbed Kirk's arm.

Kirk raised the other arm, fist clenched, McCoy flinching as he prepared himself for the blow, but Spock grabbed it mid-air. McCoy opened his eyes, surprised when contact was not made.

The angry Captain turned around to look at the man holding his arm. It was with a look of pure outrage that Kirk's eyes met the impenetrable darkness of his First Officer.

"The action you were about to commit would not solve anything, Captain," Spock stated.

Kirk freed himself from the tight grasp. He stalked over to the corner of the room to sulk.

"Thanks," McCoy whispered but the Vulcan said nothing in return.

"Would you mind telling us what has caused your irrational mood?" Spock looked at the returned Captain.

Kirk looked at Spock.

"Can we logically guess that your mission did not go as planned?"

"Yes. You can say that," Kirk smirked.

"Can you tell us why and how?" McCoy answered.

"No."

"Then may I suggest that you remain in the Sickbay until you can calm yourself and not make the other crewmembers suspicious?" Spock suggested.

Kirk considered the suggestion and apparently found that it had some merit. He nodded, sitting down again but remaining silent.

McCoy glanced at Spock, wishing they could talk. He knew, however, that any conversation would, undoubtedly, be over-heard by the Captain.

Suddenly Kirk stood. "You were right, Spock. I feel better now. I want Scotty to see me as soon as possible. He was the only one who saw me land."

"I will tell him to come immediately."

"I don't want you here, Sawbones," Kirk turned to address McCoy.

"Any particular reason?"

Kirk just smiled slyly.

"I guess I'll come with you," McCoy looked at Spock.

"Just like old times," Kirk said. "Glad to see you two still glued at the hip. It looks like things haven't changed. I have to commend you for that, Spock."

Once again, McCoy was reminded of how uneasy the Captain's presence made him.

Spock walked towards the door, not waiting to see if McCoy followed him.

Safely in the hallway now, McCoy looked at the man beside him. "What do you think happened?"

"I can make no other hypothesis then the one I told Kirk, Doctor. His mission was not a complete success."

"Still it was enough of a success to want to talk to Scott alone," McCoy reminded him.

"Yes."

"How about any guesses on that subject?"

"I am smart enough to not make 'guesses' when I have no idea of what they concern."

McCoy sighed. "How perfectly Vulcan."

Spock kept steady with his pace. "Yes. I am truly my father's son."

* * *

Kirk remained in the Sickbay several days after his return. McCoy wondered how his reappearance on the Bridge would play out. The crew had taken his sickness quite well. He somehow doubted they would accept his sudden state of good health with the same enthusiasm.

In the meantime, both Spock and McCoy were prone to find Scott making his way stealthily through the ship. Several times they had found him exiting Kirk's room or in odd and strange places.

Spock understood that whatever Kirk had planned it undoubtedly relied on the Chief Engineer's knowledge of the ship. It was deadly enough, however, to not trust with any of his Science Officers.

"He's making me ansty," McCoy confided to Spock one night. "I don't know what they are doing but it can't be good for any soul on this ship who doesn't know about it."

"Then we are at a slightly better advantage," Spock theorized.

"How's that?"

"At least we know that something is happening, Doctor," Spock raised an eyebrow. "We know that Kirk was not onboard the Enterprise for many Stardates, as we also know that he is in the midst of carrying out whatever he had hoped to accomplish. No matter how badly the event carried out."

The words were meant to comfort, McCoy knew. He also knew, equally as well, that they did not console him in the slightest.