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"Can you hear me?"
Jim swallowed, and began to sit up. He'd been lying on the bunk in the holding cell, and turning his head, faced Spock and Uhura. The expressions on both their faces were frozen. He nodded.
"I need to hear your voice - Captain."
Jim raised an eyebrow. "So you are not now Captain, Spock?"
"Captain, you are under arrest for the assault on a fellow crew member." Spock's voice was devoid of emotion. "We are returning to Earth where you will be put into the custody of StarFleet to face trail. You will remain in here until we arrive."
"Thank you, Commander." The words were spiked with venom.
Uhura stepped forward. "Jim. Please. You're not giving us a choice."
"I gave you both a choice. I told you what I needed."
"No, you gave us an ultimatum that we could not fulfill." Spock's voice was cold. "And then you attacked Dr Marcus."
Jim blinked. "I did- what?"
"You had your fingers wrapped around her neck as though to choke her. We have no choice but to detain you." Spock turned, and began to walk away. Uhura paused, then took a step forward. She met Jim's eyes, and paused.
"You really don't remember?"
"No." He shook his head. "I don't remember - except him."
"Him?"
"He had me tied down - threatened to slice open my face-"
"Jim!" Uhura was visibly shocked. "Who?"
Jim didn't change his expression.
"Khan."
"How are you feeling, Dr Marcus?"
Carol looked up as Bones approached her. She had been in Sickbay since the incident, under monitoring. "Better, thank you." She looked at him. "How's the Captain?"
"Not officially Captain anymore," Bones informed her. "He's currently demoted - and in a cell."
"A cell?"
"He could have killed you, Dr Marcus. He's going back to Earth to face a trial."
Carol shook her head. "I can't believe - Dr McCoy, you have to let me speak to him."
"No one is to see him. Except Spock, Uhura, and myself." Bones gave her a half smile. "And I really wouldn't try and cross Spock."
"As you wish, Dr McCoy."
"How do you feel Captain? How do you feel right now?"
Jim blinked, Khan's face hovering above his.
"I think I can guess, Captain. You feel weak. Helpless. Pathetic."
"I-"
"Jim?"
He blinked. McCoy was in the cell, looking at him. "Time to wake up."
He sighed. "Reason?"
"You need to eat."
Kirk shook his head. "Not hungry."
McCoy looked at him, then at the food tray that had been set on the small table next to the bunk. "I don't believe you. You've eaten virtually nothing for two weeks - ever since we started this mission. Unless you want me to send you back with a diagnosis of Anorexia, I suggest you eat."
"I doubt that would get any sympathy."
"Jim. I'm not being funny. You either start eating or I will authorise you being tube fed."
"Then you're going to have to do that." Jim almost smirked at the CMO. "Get some meat on my bones...right?"
"Are you serious?" Bones looked at him, his expression shocked. "You are telling me - effectively - that you're on hunger strike."
"No." Jim shook his head. "I'm just not hungry. And if you are that worried, you need to do what you see fit."
Turning, McCoy left the cell.
"If he is refusing to co-operate, then use your authority, doctor."
"I really would rather not force feed anyone, Spock. Especially someone who is in a fragile mental state!"
"I don't think we have a choice. We have to return him."
"Dr McCoy tells me you are refusing to eat. As that is the case, I am authorising you to be tube fed."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Commander, your sarcastic tone is unnecessary. Please remember I have to keep you alive until you return to Earth."
"I know."
Sitting on the bunk, Jim looked at the Vulcan, separated by the glass.
"I will return with Dr McCoy."
"You can do that."
"Captain." Spock looked at him. "I really do not understand what has happened to you."
"I don't think you could."
"Perhaps you should try to explain to me."
Jim blinked. "Have you ever had dreams, Spock? Nightmares?"
"I'm not sure that I have."
"Have you ever dreamt that you're being...tortured? That you're helpless?" Kirk got off the bunk and faced the Vulcan, not breaking eye contact. "That you're completely at someone's mercy? That they are telling you how you've failed? As a leader? As a captain? That you're better off dead?"
Spock looked at him, unblinking. "I have never felt this way. I am trying to understand why you do."
"Because of what happened." Kirk looked at the floor. "Because of the face he nearly killed me, and all of you. When are you going to accept that the only way this ends, is if I finally kill him for what he did?"
"But you are not capable of that, Captain."
"I wish I believed you, Spock."
"So you actually want me to give him an IV?"
"Dr McCoy, I cannot have him starving himself. Please do."
McCoy swallowed. "
Spock turned away. "I cannot authorise that."
"You're going to have to."
Both men turned. Uhura was standing in the Sickbay, her expression rigid. "He dreams of him."
"Who, Khan?" McCoy shook his head. "Maybe he needs a stronger sedative as well!"
"He mentioned that he has dreamt he's been tortured - and helpless." Spock looked them both. "I think I understand what you are asking, but -"
"Spock." Uhura's voice was tense. "He has to see him. I don't think we have a choice."
Spock nodded, slowly. "I am beginning to see that."
"Spock." McCoy's voice was sombre. "Are you going to let - authorise - find Khan?"
The Vulcan nodded. "I don't think we have a choice." He nodded. "We return, and retrieve Khan."
"Are you serious?"
Spock nodded. "Yes."
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