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Uhura could not quite believe what she had just heard. Swallowing, she tried to understand. Spock, his expression unreadable, was standing next to her. He gestured for her to question the Engineering Chief again.

"You did - what?!"

"I hit with a wrench, Lieutenant. I didn't wannae do it, but he was going mad, crazy - ranting away about how he had to get back to Starfleet, wanting me to sabotage the core-"

Uhura had heard enough. "Thank you Mr Scott. Myself and Commander Spock will be there in due course. Please don't move him."

"I have no intention of doin' so." Scotty sounded remorseful. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

Uhura got up, and followed by Spock hurried out of the room.

"He- he was rantin' away, Mr Spock." The Engineering Chief was standing next to the prone body of Kirk, who was on the floor, looking as though he were fast asleep. Scott's expression was regretful. "He - was jabberin' on about havin' to go back - about how he'd made things worse-"

"Mr Scott." The calm, emotionless tone of the Vulcan cut through the Scotsman's panic. "I do not believe you would ever attack the Captain out of malice or a desire to harm. For you to do this there must have been a serious provocation which you are explaining. Once we have dealt with the Captain, I will speak to you to find out what happened."

Mollified, Scotty nodded. "Aye, Sir."

Spock turned to Uhura. "We have to get him to the sick bay so Dr McCoy can conduct a detailed examination." The Lieutenant did not object. Her eyes had widened when she saw Kirk on the ground, and also the sizeable wrench that the Engineering Chief had wielded. Crouching down, she began to hook the unconscious man's arm over her shoulder. Scotty moved forward.

"No, Lieutenant, let me."

Spock nodded, taking Kirk's other arm. As they pulled him up, Scott looked at the First Officer with an expression of surprise.

"What is it, Mr Scott?"

"Well, maybe I'm speakin' out of turn, as I did just whack him with a bloody great wrench, but-" the Engineering Chief looked at Spock.

"What is it, Mr Scott?" The Vulcan repeated.

"Has he been on a diet?!"

Uhura looked at the First Officer. For the first time, she thought she could detect an emotion in them - worry.

"Not that I am aware of," Spock replied calmly. "Let us get him to Sickbay." He turned to Uhura. "Lieutenant, I must ask you go to the Bridge. Whilst I am dealing with this situation you are in charge."

Her jaw dropped. "But-"

"Lieutenant. Please?"

Nodding, she turned and left.

"Spock!" Bones hastily put down a handful of paperwork when the First Officer and Chief entered, dragging the limp body of James Kirk between them. "What in God's name happened to him?!"

"I hit with a wrench doctor," Scotty answered.

McCoy looked at Scott as though he had started speaking in Klingon. "You - did - what?"

"Hit him with a wrench. How many times do I have to say it?" The Scotsman's exasperation was beginning to show. "Does anyone of ye wannae know why I hit Captain James Kirk with the wrench?!"

"I am very interested in why you did that, Mr Scott," Spock said calmly. "But first I would like Dr McCoy to examine him and give me his views. Would you mind going to the bridge and waiting for me? Thank you."

The command was delivered politely and firmly. The Chief had no choice but to accept and walk out of the sick bay, leaving McCoy, Spock, and Kirk.

McCoy nodded. "Right. On the bed."

As the two men shifted the third up, McCoy blinked. "He's lighter than he was - did you notice that?"

"Mr Scott did," the Vulcan replied. "But I have not noticed anything."

"You wouldn't." There was a slight edge of annoyance in the doctor's voice. "Have you noticed how he looks exhausted? And I'm willing to bet he's not been the most alert lately."

"I have noticed he has not been as confident as he usually is, but I am not sure that is a bad thing."

"Meaning?"

"Dr McCoy. Sometimes the Captain is too confident, and he takes risks." Spock swallowed, as though he felt a twinge of guilt at criticising - albeit mildly - a man who was unable to defend himself. "If he is becoming reflective that can only be beneficial for the ship. But-"

"But what?"

"I did ask him if he were depressed." The First Officer looked at McCoy. "He denied it."

McCoy swallowed. "Thank you Mr Spock. I trust you want me to do a full medical?"

"I do." The Vulcan nodded. "Dr McCoy, I authorise you to keep Captain Kirk here until I give notice."

Bones looked at him in disbelief. "Are you saying you want me to keep Jim a prisoner down here?!"

"Not a prisoner, but until I discover why he is behaving this way I do not consider it safe for him to be on the bridge." The First Officer looked almost troubled. "I will leave him in your capable hands, doctor."

"Thank you Commander."

"One other thing." McCoy looked up. "I will not allow any visitors except myself and Lieutenant Uhura. Not Mr Scott, and not Dr Marcus. Is that agreed?"

McCoy nodded. "Agreed."

"I didnae mean to lamp him, Lieutenant, but-"

"Its allright, Mr Scott," Uhura said, gently. "What was the Captain doing down in the core?"

"I asked him to go down there - I needed to show him some new tech." Scotty swallowed. "But he started rantin' on about how he'd made mistakes, and he hadnae listened to me, or anyone else - and that was why he was-"

"Why he was what?"

"I didnae know, Lieutenant. He didn't finish telling me. But he wanted me to sabotage the ship, so we had to go back to Earth."

Uhura was stunned. "Kirk - he actually wanted you to-"

"Aye." Scotty nodded. "He did. I asked him if he were turnin' into the power mad one - you know-"

Uhura did. "And then?"

"I hit him, Lieutenant. I had to. I was worried he do something crazy." Scotty swallowed. "The warp core is not that stable. Its not as stable as it was before. If he'd tampered with it, he could have killed us all. Not taken us to Earth."

Kirk stirred, mumbling. McCoy looked up from the vital statistics he was studying. "Well, hello." He walked to the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

Jim swallowed. "I...what...happened?"

"Apparently Mr Scott hit you with a wrench." McCoy's face was expressionless. "So, you're here."

Lifting his head up and looking down his body, Jim's eyes widened. He was wearing a regulation sick bay tunic, with his ankles restrained. He blinked, and tried to move his wrists. "Bones? What are you-?"

"Whoa, steady there." The doctor's reassuring presence only comforted Kirk for a moment. "You're not going anywhere."

Kirk looked at him. "Are you holding me down here for a reason, Bones?"

"I am." The doctor nodded. "I'm holding you here because I have done a detailed examination - one that you have kept refusing. You are currently deficient in several minerals, your heart rate is erratic, and your weight is low. So, I am keeping you here."

Kirk shook his head. "You don't need to."

"I am on orders of Commander Spock."

"Spock!" Suddenly furious, Jim turned his head fully and glared. "He is not Captain, I am!"

"You're a Captain who asked the Engineering Chief to sabotage the ship."

Uhura's curt voice sliced through the rising tension in the room. McCoy nodded. She stood next to the bed. "Scotty has told me everything, Jim." She looked at McCoy. "What are you doing for him, Doctor?"

"He's on an IV." Bones pointed to the clear bag full of glucose that was winding its way into Kirk's system. "A compound of calories and vitamins needed." He looked at Kirk. "I estimate you are at least 15lbs lighter than you were a year ago. And the fact you do not seem to worry about this...its worrying. So I'm intervening." He tapped the IV bag with a pen. "Being on this for a few days, hopefully you should gain back at least 5lbs."

Kirk sighed. "Oh, fattening me up now?"

"If it slows you down that may not be a bad thing," Uhura snapped. She leaned over, almost hissing at Kirk. "If it stops you from trying to pressure the Chief Engineer to do something that could kill all of us - I'm happy for Bones to keep you here for a year!"

"Not to mention," Bones interjected, "your weight loss is a sign of other issues. Your exhaustion. Your mood swings - they are not normal."

Kirk shook his head. "Spare me. Just let me up."

"No."

Jim blinked. Spock was in the doorway. Ignoring Kirk, he spoke directly to McCoy.

"Doctor. I ask that you keep the Captain here for the next 48 hours. Monitor his signs and report any regularities." He glanced at Kirk, who icily returned his gaze. "Please ensure that he maintains regular nourishment and is allowed to sleep."

Bones nodded. "Of course."

"Wait!"

The Vulcan looked at Jim. "Yes, Captain?"

"Are you going to keep me here? Think you can?"

Spock didn't betray a flicker of emotion. "Captain. I would think carefully about what you just said and the tone in which you delivered it. Your behaviour is indicating that you are not fit to be captain of this ship. As you seemingly refuse to accept that, then I am taking command as Acting Captain. You will stay here until myself, Dr McCoy, and Lieutenant Uhura feel you are fit to return to the bridge."

Spock turned and left, followed by Uhura. Bones leaned over and whispered.

"Jim. Accept it. You could be coming off this ship in handcuffs."

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