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"Strap him."

Jim blinked as McCoy pushed him down, gently, before buckling the restraints. Spock nodded. "Excellent. Administer the sedative."

As the needle penetrated Kirk's skin, Uhura turned and walked out of the room. Spock followed her.

"Is this going to work?"

The three had been sitting, in conference, for most of the day. Sulu was Acting Captain, a responsibility that Spock knew he neither wanted nor thought he deserved. But, he also felt that he had no choice. He needed to justify his decision to the two people on the ship - aside from Kirk- that he trusted.

"It will work if we do the following." Spock looked at McCoy, whose features had settled into an expression of mistrust. "We return to earth, with the Captain under sedation. Whilst we are back, we retrieve Khan, and bring him aboard. In cryo sleep."

"And then?"

Spock swallowed. "We wake the Captain up."

"But then he'll want us to wake Khan up - Spock, surely you can see this is insanity?!"

"Doctor, I am aware," the Vulcan responded coolly. "But if Khan is in cryo sleep, he poses less of a risk."

"I see what you're doing," Uhura mused. "You think that if Jim sees Khan lying there - helpless, vulnerable - then he's going to feel superior-"

"And not want to bother," McCoy finished. "He was out of it after we brought Khan back."

"Perhaps this is fuelling it," Uhura mused. "That he wasn't involved in bringing Khan to justice."

"He almost - well, he did - die," McCoy commented, his voice heavy. "That may be a factor."

"Fine." Spock got up. "Doctor, I leave the Captain in your hands. Please ensure he's properly medicated and cared for. I expect us to have returned to Earth in five days."

"But you're not going to tell him?"

"No." Spock shook his head. "As far as he's concerned, he's returning to Earth for treatment. But we keep him on the ship - and we need to see his reactions."

McCoy nodded. Spock got up, and left.

"More food?"

Bones sighed as he fitted the IV to Jim's arm. "Yes. Problem with tube feeding is it has to be frequent - the equivalent of five to six meals a day. And as you are refusing to eat, you're leaving me with no choice."

"By the time you get me back to Earth, I'll be huge." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm spending all my time lying down, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Hardly. And to be honest, if you're worried about the ladies not wanting you, I doubt you'll be seeing many of them."

"Oh, really?"

"Jim. You tried to strangle Carol Marcus. You need serious help."

"I didn't realise." He was lying down, his face twitched. "She was there - but I was-"

"Well, it happened." Bones stood up, and looked at him. "I can't wait to get you back to Earth."

"Thanks, Bones."

"No, it means you'll be getting proper treatment- proper therapy. You went through a trauma-"

"Bones-"

"Jim. You died because of Khan. Therefore, you need assistance in processing it."

"I've told you what would help me process it."

"I heard. Sweet dreams."

"Two days. Just two days."

"We're making the right decision."

"Spock. You're making the decision. We're agreeing with this. And if it fails..."

"I know."

"So helpless, Captain. So weak. But don't worry. Soon this will be over."

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