Bones arrived back at the ranch and put his horse in the barn. While he was tending to him, Jim came out there. "Well, what happened?" he asked. "Why are you back already?"

"Problems," Bones said. "Let's go in the house. I'm cold after that ride."

They went to the house and Bones rubbed his hands in front of the fire. "It's so good to have a warm house," he said.

"Bones, will you just tell us what happened?" Jim asked impatiently.

"I found out that Jim West did make it to Grand Island. He met up with some guy named Rawlings, and he wasn't seen after that. Mister Gordon thinks they're holding him hostage until some big deal goes through over in Omaha. He's going over there now, and he wants us to give him thirty-six hours and then come on over to Omaha so no one will know we're connected with him. I'm sure we'll have a hard time recognizing him. He says he'll incorporate himself into the town over there and find out what he can."

"So, he thinks Mister West is in Omaha."

"I guess, but he also mentioned the old site of Grand Island. You think we should go and check that out?"

Jim considered that. "If they were holding him there, they wouldn't have to worry so much about him interfering with their activities over there in Omaha."

"So you do think we should go over there and check it out."

"We have time before we're supposed to show up in Omaha."

"Jim, what are you getting into?" Carol asked.

Jim looked at her. "We can't just sit here and do nothing," Jim replied.

"It sounds dangerous."

"It probably is, but we've been in dangerous situations before."

"Jim, we have a baby coming! You can't just consider us anymore."

"Carol."

Carol turned and went to their room and shut the door. Jim looked at Bones. "She'll be alright," Jim said.

"You could just let Spock go with me," Bones replied.

"Jim, I would be glad to accompany the doctor on this mission," Spock said. "You can accompany us when we go to Omaha."

Jim sighed. "I suppose you're right, but how am I supposed to know if you find anything. What if you get into trouble over there?"

"Well, if we don't come back in a reasonable amount of time, you can come after us," Bones declared.

"He is correct, Jim," Spock agreed. "Uhura can also accompany us. With three of us going, it is likely that one can perhaps escape to bring you word that there is trouble."

Jim nodded. "Just be careful."

Bones, Uhura, and Spock began studying a map to figure out exactly where the old sight of Grand Island was. Jim went back outside to do more work on the house. He supposed he would have to learn where his priorities were since he was not alone anymore. Carol came out there to him and leaned on the wall. "You really want to go with them, don't you?" she asked.

"I'd just as soon sit here and wait," Jim replied.

Carol could not help but hear the inflection he put on the word "sit". "Are you angry at me?"

"No. It's just hard for me to sit here and let them do everything. I'm not used to that."

"I know. It's not fair that I demand that you stay."

Jim looked at her. "You didn't demand that I stay."

"I might as well have."

Jim nailed another nail into the wall. "What are you trying to say?"

"I can't demand that you stay here."

"Oh, now we're going in circles."

"Jim."

"Okay. Okay."

"If you want to go…I won't argue with you, but you know I can't go with you."

Jim stopped what he was doing and leaned on the wall. "I don't want you to think that you have to say that," he said.

"Mister West and Mister Gordon helped us a great deal. If it hadn't been for them, we might never have gotten this far. How can we not help them now?"

"They do deserve our help. I'm worried about Mister West. I mean, what if…"

They both frowned at the idea that Mister West could be dead. "Why would they take him if they just intended to keep him there?" Carol asked.

"Maybe for insurance?" Jim asked. "Who knows what a criminal thinks about? We don't know the circumstances of the situation over there. Mister Gordon is going to find out. I just hope he doesn't end up in trouble himself. I mean, what would we do?"

"You would have to report it to whomever they report to."

"We don't even know."

"You know they work directly with the President."

Jim nodded. "Right. But maybe it won't come to that if we do the right things to help him."

"Yes, and I can't stand in your way."

"Carol, I love you."

"I love you too, but you better not get hurt."

"I'll try not to."

They kissed and then went inside. Bones was standing with his arms folded. "We were wondering when you were coming in," he said.

"For what?" Jim asked.

"What's our plan?"

Jim looked at Carol and she just smiled. "Well, we're gonna go over to the old Grand Island and find out what we can," he said. "If there's nothing there, we'll move on to Omaha."

"That's it? What if there is something there?"

"We'll have to see the circumstances before we do anything. We can't make plans without seeing what's happening."

"Oh, that's always the way it is, isn't it? We just jump in and hope we come out alive."

Jim smiled. "That's the whole fun of it, isn't it, Bones? After all, you're the one who wanted to get in this first."

"I must have been temporarily insane."

"No. You just like it."

"I think I'll just let the three of you go on this mission," Uhura said. "I'll stay here with Carol. Have you found out who's been watching the ranch yet?"

"Not a clue," Jim said. "But don't let your guard down. They could even know that we're involved with West and Gordon."

"How would they know that? No one in this town knows."

"It doesn't seem likely that they would, but they could have known that we came here on that train for all I know."

"That was months ago. They must know that they weren't here with us."

"Whatever it is, we have to watch. It might be better if you two went into town to stay. Maybe you could even find out some more information there."

"We won't let someone run us off our place, now will we, Captain?"

"No."

"We'll stay here, and if we do go into town, we'll find something."

"Just get ready to go to Omaha."

"We'll be ready."

Jim looked at the map that the others had been studying. "We have to cross the Wood River right there," he said. "That shouldn't be too hard. It's not that wide."

"How do we keep them from knowing we're crossing it?" Bones asked.

"Maybe they won't be expecting anyone to look for them over there."

"That's a really big maybe."

"Well, we'll just have to figure it out."

"That sounds like our Jim," Carol said.

"Yeah, just jump in the middle and work your way out," Bones said.

"You love it and you know it," Jim replied. "Get our horses ready."

"Oh, why do I get the feeling we might have been better off going without him?" Bones asked as he was going out the door.

Jim chuckled at that. "I will be ready shortly, Captain," Spock said and went to his room.

Jim wondered if he should just wear his usual attire, but he thought he would since they had to wear a coat most of the time now. He kissed Carol. "Don't worry too much," he said.

"I'm glad you didn't say don't worry," Carol replied. "Be careful."

"Always."

"I think that's an exaggeration."

"Probably, but I'm going to do my best to come back the same way I'm leaving."

"I can't ask more than that, I suppose."

Bones had the horses out front when Jim and Spock went outside. Spock did not have much trouble hiding his ears now that he could wear a hat that went down over them since the weather was very cold.

They rode out of town to the East which was the direction they had to go in order to get to the actual island that was once called Grand Island. "What if that river is swift right now after all that rain we had?" Bones asked.

"We'll find a place where it's not so swift," Jim replied. "Let's not start fretting already."

"I'm not fretting. I'm just pointing out what could happen."

"Your specialty."

"Well, since you never think ahead, I guess I try to do it for you."

"If you say so."

When they arrived at the river, they could definitely see that it was full of water, but it was not flowing swiftly, but was rather a little frozen. "We're really going to cross that?" Bones asked.

"We have to if we're going over there," Jim replied. "But maybe there's a narrower place further down."

They went further downstream, and indeed, did find a narrower place to cross the river. They got across easily and rode on toward the abandoned town. When they came into sight of the town, they tied their horses in a grove of trees, and then hid among the trees to watch and see if there was any movement in the town.

"This sure is a cold stakeout," Bones whispered. "We're liable to freeze to death before we see anybody out there."

"Bones, we're not going to stay here till we freeze to death," Jim whispered.

"To suggest that we would is to suggest that we do not have enough intelligence to get in out of the cold," Spock remarked.

"Spock, have you been reading?"

"Captain?"

"Never mind."

After watching for a while, they moved out toward the town, which seemed to still be abandoned, but they would have to be sure. "What if there's someone down there but they don't have Jim West?" Bones asked.

"Bones, let's try not to think of the worst," Jim said.

"What if he is there? How do we get him out?"

"We'll think about that if we find him. There's no guarantee that he's here. We're just checking."

They finally reached the edge of the town and hid behind the first building and just listened, but they did not hear anything. "Perhaps we should search the town, Captain," Spock said. "It does not seem that anyone is here."

"It does seem empty," Jim replied. "Let's search, but let's be careful."

They went around to the boardwalk and started down through the town. When they got down to the old jail, they heard something and stopped. "Did you hear that?" Jim whispered.

Spock and Bones affirmed that they had heard it. It had sounded like a chain being shaken or moved. They wondered if someone was in that jail. They moved closer to the doorway. "Spock, you better keep watch," Jim whispered. "If something happens, don't get captured."

"I will try not to," Spock replied.

Jim and Bones moved to the doorway and Jim tried the knob. It was not locked which he figured was normal. He shoved the door open and they aimed their guns in first but there was no one in the office area so they went on in. They moved on to the door that went into the cell block. Jim wondered if every old jail cell was built the same way. He shoved that door open and they looked into the cell block.

Not to their surprise, they saw Jim West in one of the cells. "Mister West!" Jim said.

West's mouth was tied so he could not talk and he was chained to the wall. They could not help but notice that he did not have his jacket on nor his boots. "I'll see if I can find some keys," Bones said as he tried to pull open the cell door. He went back to the office area and looked through all the drawers but there were no keys. He noticed that West's jacket was hanging on a nail there in the office so he got that and took it back into the cell block. "There are no keys in there, but I did find his jacket."

Jim looked at West. "So, I'm sure there's something in this that can help us get this door open," he said.

West nodded. Jim felt of the jacket and finally found what looked like a long key. "Well, I can't say I have ever picked a lock, but…"

"I have," Bones said. "Give me that." He took the "key" and picked the lock.

Jim just looked at him a moment. "You know, I wish we could go to the time when you were born and watch you grow up. I think it would be very interesting."

"Shut up."

Bones opened the door and they went in. He untied the bandana that was holding West's mouth. "Thank you," West said. Bones gave him his jacket and he picked the lock on the shackle that was holding him to the wall. "How did you guys find me? How did you know?"

"Well, Mister Gordon came to see us and told us you were missing," Jim said. "He went on to Omaha, and we decided to come over here and see if they were holding you here."

"I'm glad you did. I have to get over there to Omaha. Artie is in danger if they find out who he is."

West stood up, but he felt a little woozy since he had not ate since he had been in there, nor had he had any water. They helped him get into the office, and he got his boots on and his jacket. "It's cold," he said. "They had a fire built in there for the first day but they just left."

"Well, let's get out of here," Jim said, and they went out to the horses.

West looked down the street and then whistled twice, and then they heard a horse whinny. After a few moments, a black horse came running right to Jim West. Jim Kirk could not believe what he had just seen. "How did you train him to do that?" he asked.

"It took a lot of time," West replied. "He won't let anyone take him off, and he comes when I whistle for him. Looks like he found something to eat."

"Okay, let's get out of here then."

They rode back to the ranch and got Mister West something to eat and drink. "That sure helped," he said.

"Do you need our help?" Jim asked. "You want us to go over to Omaha?"

"Artie and I can probably handle it. I'll just have to go over there and find him. I sure am glad you folks came after me. It's very good to have friends."

"It was just by chance that we found you. I just had a feeling that we should check it out."

"Yeah, he gets those," Bones said.

Jim West sat there a moment still drinking his coffee, and then he noticed that Carol was… "Hey, are you folks expecting?" he asked.

"Yes," Jim replied. "I didn't think about telling you."

"Well, congratulations."

"Thank you," Carol said. "Are you sure you don't need any help?"

"I certainly wouldn't want to put you in danger in your delicate condition. I have a feeling that this is going to be a very dangerous mission. They most likely thought I would die over there and no one would ever find me until I was nothing but bones."

"What kind of people are you dealing with?" Bones asked. "What kind of people do things like that?"

"Greed makes people do things like that. People who don't care about human life other than their own. They just want to take over and they will run over anyone who gets in their way. They know as long as I'm alive, I'm going to keep trying to bring them down."
"If you need our help, just let us know," Jim said. "We'll be here. Mister Gordon had told us to come into Omaha in about two days after he establishes himself there."

"Ah, yes. He'll be in disguise, but he wasn't expecting you to find me here."

"I guess he'll be surprised to see you come into town."

"I'm sure he will but he won't be disappointed."

"I hope you'll be careful and maybe the two of you can stop by and see us when you're not chasing a criminal."

West laughed at that. "We will."

The next day, Jim was working on the outside of the house again. He was still putting siding on it that helped to keep the cold out, and he was sure it would help with the heat during the summer. At least that was what he had been told by Mr. Dowdy. He had helped them a great deal in knowing how to fix the house, and it had all worked out. Spock worked in his lab most of the time and he had acquired metals and other ingredients that he needed to create at least medical devices. Jim did not know how he could remember all the details of how to make something like that, but he was glad he could remember it.

Bones was working on the barn. He had found that he enjoyed building and he had even started building a chicken coup and intended to get some baby chicks when the spring came. He tried to wear gloves so that he would not have calluses on his hands. He did not think a doctor should have rough hands when they were caring for patients.

Jim wondered if they would be here for good. He had not seen Q anymore, and had no indication that he would be sending them back to their own time. What could they do but accept what they had to do and make things as good as they could? He just could not help but wonder what was happening with the Enterprise now. Had they been taken off the five year mission? He was sure they had a new captain by now. If he was sent back, would he be able to get his ship back? He could not imagine living with the idea that someone else had his ship and he was…where? Where would he be?

"Jim?"

Jim looked to see Carol looking out the door. "Yeah," he said.

"We're almost out of flour and a few other things," Carol replied. "Can you go into town today?"

"Yeah. I can do that. I just have a few more boards to put up here."

"Is everything okay?"

Jim thought she could always tell when he was fretting about something. "I'm alright," he said.

Carol came out there. "You're thinking about something," she said. "Why don't you tell me?"

"Just thinking about the Enterprise."

"You miss it. I miss it too. I can't say that this is all bad, but I miss the ship, and I miss my mother. I suppose she will never see the baby."

"I guess my mother won't either. I guess they have a new captain on the Enterprise by now. I suppose if I went back, it would be hard to get my ship back."

"It might, but it wasn't exactly your fault that this happened."

"I know. I wonder if Q has been going to them and gloating."

"I think it's strange that he hasn't come here again."

"What's he waiting on?"

Carol looked at what Jim was doing. "I could help you with that, you know," she said.

"I only have a few more boards," Jim replied. "This is supposed to help keep the cold out, and it will probably help keep some of the heat out too."

"That's good. I think Spock is making some progress at making the gadgets for Doctor McCoy."

"Yeah, I saw that. I couldn't remember all that stuff if I tried. I never knew how they were made anyway."

"It's not as complicated as you might think. I intend to help him with the other devices. Right now, he is working on…"

"Jim!"

Jim and Carol looked toward the barn. "Bones?" Jim said.

"Jim!"

Jim and Carol hurried toward the barn and when they got inside, they were horrified to see Bones lying on the ground. "Bones, what happened?" Jim asked as he knelt beside him.

"I fell off that ladder!" Bones said. He was aggravated at himself. "I think my left leg is broken!"

"What should we do?"

"See if Spock has those instruments ready."

Bones was shivering. "You're cold," Jim said. "We should get you inside."

"Just see if he has the instruments ready."

Jim looked at Bones' left leg and could see blood on the side of his pants. "I'll hurry," he said.

Jim ran to the house and hurried inside. "Spock!"

Spock came to the door of his lab. "Jim, is there a problem?" he asked.

"Yes! Bones fell off the ladder and broke his leg! Are the medical instruments ready?"

Uhura grabbed her coat and ran out the door. "I have not tested them yet, Captain," Spock said.

"This is a good time to start," Jim replied. "Let's go."

Spock grabbed the medical instruments that he had been working on. They were powered by lithium batteries since he did not have the technology, nor the resources to create the power cells of the 23rd century.

Jim and Spock ran back out to the barn where Uhura and Carol were with Bones, who was looking very sick and shivering. "Spock, you're not a doctor," he said through gritted teeth. "It's really bad, isn't it?"

"We are about to find out," Spock said.

Jim cut Bones' pant leg open and they could see that the bone was coming through the flesh. Jim wanted to turn away from that, but he looked at Spock. "What should we do?" he asked.

"Maybe I should go and get the doctor in town," Uhura suggested. "At least he can help. He'll know what to give him to keep infection down. We're not doctors."

"She is right, Captain," Spock agreed. "After the doctor does what he can, we can use the medical instruments to heal the wound as much as possible."

"You have to remember that he's going to be coming back to check on him," Jim said.

"I'll tell him that I can take care of myself," Bones said. "I'm a doctor. All I need is someone to fix this."

Jim looked at Uhura. "Go get the doctor," he said.

Uhura ran to get a horse. "We should get him into the house," Jim said.

"One moment," Spock replied. "I will try and do a scan to determine if he has any other injuries that are not apparent. This will be the first time I used this."

Spock began his scan. "I believe it is working, Captain," he said, sounding as glad as a Vulcan could. "According to this reading, the only injuries he has besides the broken leg are bruises and abrasions."

"Then it's safe to move him?" Jim asked.

"I believe so."

Bones dreaded being moved, but he was freezing. "Just relax," Carol said.
Bones did not think he could do that. Jim and Spock got ready to get him up. "You ready?" Jim asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Bones replied.

"On three…one, two, three."

Jim and Spock picked Bones up, not without a loud groan from him. He felt like his whole body hurt and he felt dizzy too. "Oh, I think I'm going to be sick," Bones said.

"Just hold that thought till we get you out of here," Jim replied.

"Don't you know that broken bones make you sick?"

"Well, I'm not actually a doctor, so…no."

"Don't tell me you have never had a broken bone!"

Jim realized Bones was just trying to keep his mind off the pain. "No, I haven't," Jim said. "Just because someone is a little reckless doesn't mean they jump off ladders and stuff."

"Jump off? I didn't jump off that ladder!"

"You've been eating a lot too. You're heavy!"

"I'll have you know, I have gained a lot more muscle than fat since I've been here. We've been working on this place for more than three months."

"Yeah, and we've made a lot of progress."

"I agree," Spock said. "We have done quite well for people who have never built anything in their lives."

Carol opened the door when they got to the house, and they got Bones inside to his room and put him on the bed. "You should have let me put a blanket there first," Carol said. "He'll get blood on the bed."

Jim and Spock got Bones' boots off while he almost wailed in pain. "Sorry," Jim said.

"Why did this have to happen?" Bones asked to no one in particular. "Why in this day and time!?"

"Just relax. You'll be alright."

"OH don't tell me that! That doctor's gonna set that bone! I think I might die."

"Bones."

"It could be no worse than when you cauterized a wound for me," Spock said. "I suggest you use some of your techniques to make the pain less."

"Those don't work, remember?" Bones asked.

"You did what had to be done and I survived. We will do what has to be done for you as well."

Bones was still shivering but he was not sure it was just from the cold, and he was sure it was not cold in the house with a roaring fire going in the fireplace. He just closed his eyes, and tried to relax.

Jim hoped the doctor from town could help Bones, and he also hoped they could get through this without the doctor figuring out that they had used some futuristic device to heal his broken bone and wounded leg.

Uhura soon came back with the doctor from town. Doctor James came into the house. "Where is the patient?" he asked.

"He's right in here," Carol replied and led the doctor into Bones' room.

Dr. James went over to the bed where Bones was lying. "Well, Doctor McCoy, it looks like you've run into some trouble," he said.

"My left leg is broken," Bones replied.

"I see that. We'll have to set that bone and then sew up that wound. Since it's not bleeding any worse, I can assume there are no major veins or arteries hurt." Dr. James looked at Bones. "I'm afraid I don't have any anesthesia."

Bones could not imagine how this was going to feel, but he knew he could not stay like this. He just nodded. Oh, how he wished he could suddenly be back on the Enterprise where it would be so simple to fix this.

Dr. James looked at Jim and Spock. "You might ought to hold him," he said.

Jim swallowed hard at the thought of that. He had been hoping they could wait outside. He sat down beside Bones and could plainly see that he was dreading this. "It'll be over in a minute," he said.

"I know," Bones replied. "You remember when we were on that prison world and I set that collar bone for you?"

"Yeah."

"I guess I'm getting to know how bad that was. We doctors sometimes forget how much pain is involved in situations like that."

Jim knew Bones was just talking to distract himself. "Hold him tight," Dr. James said.

"I don't think I'll ever look at doctoring the same way again," Bones said with anxiety in his voice.

When the doctor pulled Bones' leg to set the bone, he thought about yelling, but somehow, he could not. He had never felt a pain like that in his life. "Bones?" Jim said, but he did not get an answer.

Later, Bones woke up as Uhura was putting a cold cloth on his head. "I guess I'm still alive," he said.

"Yes," Uhura replied. "You have some fever, but the doctor is still here."

Bones knew what that meant. They could not use Spock's devices as long as the doctor was still there. "Did he give me something to take?" he asked.

"Not yet. You've been out for an hour."

"I take it the bone is set?"

"Yes, and you've been sewed up and bandaged."

"I'm afraid to move."

"Just lie still. You're going to be fine."

"Did I pass out?"

"Yes."

Bones closed his eyes. "I'm tired," he said.

"Just rest," Uhura replied.

The doctor checked on Bones again, and then left some medicine for him to take. "I want to see that leg again tomorrow," he said.

"I'm sure Doctor McCoy will be able to see after it himself," Jim replied as he was standing at the doctor's buggy.

"I'd like to see it again, and make sure infection's not setting in. Just keep him still."

"Yes sir."

Jim watched the doctor leave. He could not let Bones lie there and suffer just because that doctor wanted to look at him again. They would use the instruments anyway and figure out something.