"Are you out of your vulcan mind?!"

Spock looked at McCoy, his face not betraying a flicker of emotion. Uhura was silent.

"I believe I am not, in fact, my presence of mind has never been more certain." Spock's measured response did little to calm the CMO, whose face was growing more flushed. "I do not believe that we can really assist the Captain unless he faces up to what he thinks is causing his distress."

"But what you're proposing is that we bring Khan back?!" McCoy's voice was raised. "How is that going to help Jim? He'll crack!"

"I would argue that his behaviour demonstrates he is cracking already," Spock stated.

"I just don't think this is a good idea." McCoy was shaking his head. "I'm going to run a physical on him this afternoon, and try and get him to talk."

"Bones?"

McCoy looked at Uhura. "Yes?"

"You run the medical. I'll try and talk to him." She bit her lip. "It could be a way of finding out what it is that's disturbing him."

"OK, this won't take long."

Jim sighed. "If you say so."

"I need to see what kind of condition you're in - your health has been deteriorating over the last couple of weeks."

Jim shrugged. "Again, if you say so Bones."

"Step on, please."

Jim stepped on the scale, eyes downcast. Bones looked at him. "You're about 15lbs under your optimum weight - "

"I was technically dead for two weeks," Jim retorted. "You can't eat in the afterlife."

"You're still underweight."

"I know. You've said."

Bones ignored this. "Blood pressure."

A few minutes later, he was looking at him. "Your blood pressure is high, Jim - too high. Even considering the stress that a Captain's under." The CMO shook his head. "This is only going to make it more certain to Spock that he's making the right decision."

"What decision?"

"To send you back-"

"Oh, I know!" Jim almost roared at McCoy. "And I'm sure that it would benefit all of you if you could just pretend that it didn't happen - never existed!"

"What?!"

"Khan - all of it!" Jim shook his head. "But no, its fine, send me back to Earth, back to the Academy, let's pretend it never happened!"

"Would you please remember your blood pressure?!" McCoy shook his head.

"Bones!"

He turned. Uhura was standing in the doorway. "Can I talk to Kirk for a minute?"

He nodded. "Be my guest," he said, his voice edged with exasperation. Uhura smiled at him, then turned and walked towards Jim as McCoy left.

"What is it Lieutenant?"

"I think you need to talk to someone," she said, calmly. "Have a seat."

Jim raised an eyebrow. "Not going to tie me down, then?"

She shook her head. "No. I don't think you're a danger to me, Jim. In fact, I don't think you're a danger to anyone on this ship...except yourself."

He shrugged. "If you say so."

Uhura sat down on one of the white hard backed chairs in the Sickbay. After a few moments, Kirk sat down opposite her. She studied him carefully. He was pale, and the weight loss made him look younger, fragile, tired. She chose her next words.

"When you dream, what do you see?"

He blinked. "Lieutenant?"

"You heard what I said, Jim."

He swallowed. "I'm lying down. Strapped down. And then I see his face."

"Khan?"

"All the time."

"What-"

"He toys with me. Asks me how I feel. Do I feel strong, in control, like a captain? Or do I feel pathetic, weak, that I cannot control what's happening to my ship, or my crew, or myself."

"What happens-"

"He picks up blades, presses them to my skin, threatens to cut-"

"Jim-"

"He slices into it...disfiguring. Can I live with myself if I'm ugly on the outside?"

"Jim!"

He stopped. She was staring at him, her eyes wide with almost horror.

"Do you-" she swallowed - "do you believe what he says? What he says you are?"

"I-"

"Because you musn't-"

"Lieutenant." Jim looked at her. "Please don't tell me what to do."

She got up. "Thank you, Captain," she said stiffly, the last word almost coming out as a hiss. Turning, she hurried out of the Sickbay.

"Well?"

She looked at Spock, then to McCoy. "We do need to retrieve Khan."

"And then what?" McCoy's voice was devoid of patience. "Leave Kirk to his tender mercies on Earth?"

"No." Spock shook his head. "We need to return Khan to the place where he and the Captain began to first form an alliance."

Uhura's mouth fell open. McCoy looked stunned. "Do you mean...bring him aboard the Enterprise?!"

"Yes."

Thank you for reading - please review if you wish!