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"Is he awake?"

McCoy shook his head. "No. He's been out now for almost 13 hours."

Spock frowned. "Perhaps you should wake him up."

The CMO looked at the First Officer. "How is that going to help?"

"The sooner he faces Khan, then better." Spock's face and voice betrayed none of the emotion that had been stirring throughout the rest of the crew. Kirk's disappearance and the sudden return to Earth had sent unease running through the rest of the team. McCoy had felt increasingly that the decision Spock had made had been misguided. Now, faced with the prospect of waking the sleeping Kirk and sending him to the Bridge, he felt it was simply bad.

"All right, Spock." McCoy's tone was sharper than he intended. "I'll get him up, and on the bridge."

Spock nodded. "Thank you."

"OK, wake up."

McCoy gently withdrew the syringe from Jim's arm, after releasing a mild shot of adrenaline into the other man's system. Kirk muttered, and began to stir. McCoy watched, guarded.

Suddenly, Kirk's eyes opened. "Um...I.." He blinked, and began to struggle to sit up. "Where - Bones?"

"Jim. You're with us." The CMO nodded. "On the Enterprise."

"I'm back on the ship?"

"Yes." Bones nodded, and turned to leave the room. "You need to get dressed. They're expecting you back on the bridge."

Kirk leaned over the sink, and sighed. For a captain, he surmised, he looked anything but. His eyes looked tired, and he noticed, his face gaunt. Clearly Bones' re-feeding plan hadn't worked.

He pulled the gold shirt over his head, noticing it was looser than previously. As he turned to the side, he shook his head. He was definitely thinner than he had been before this nightmare started. An unceasing one of not being able to sleep, eat, or function. Of living in a parallel nightmare world which no longer made sense.

He straightened his shirt, and began to head for the door. As he did, the door slid open to reveal Carol Marcus.

"Jim." She smiled at him, warmly.

He swallowed, blinking. Of everyone whom he had expected to see, she was not one of them. "Dr Marcus - I - "

"I wanted to talk to you," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "Its about - well, how are you?"

He blinked. "I'm - OK. Heading for the Bridge."

"Oh. Right." The slight curtness in his voice made her take a step back. He shook his head. "Sorry. Let's walk together."

As they both made their way down the corridor, she spoke. "You look...well."

He glanced at her. A blatant lie, and they both knew it. "Thanks."

They walked in silence for the rest of the time. As they got to the bridge, Kirk heard Sulu's voice. "Captain on the Bridge!"

As he entered, he heard the ripple that passed through the other crew members. He felt it was paranoia, but also knew there was a possibility a sense of unease was creeping through the assembled members.

"Captain!" Spock approached. "I need you to come with me."

Jim raised an eyebrow. "Can't it wait, Mr Spock?"

"No, it cannot." There was an undertone of urgency to the Vulcan's voice that made Kirk blink. "This is urgent."

Sighing, Jim nodded. "All right. Mr Sulu? please take the chair."

"I really don't see why this could't wait, Spock," Jim grumbled as they headed through the passage. "I'm only just back on the Bridge-"

"I know." Spock's tone was unexpectedly gentle. "Which is why we have to see this now."

"See what?"

As both men entered a supply room, Spock turned to Kirk. "Whilst we were on Earth...something was added to the ship's cargo."

"Right. What?"

"This."

As they both approached the shadow wreathed tube, Kirk's face creased. "Looks like a cryo tube."

"It is." Spock's voice was grave. "Look who's inside it."

Kirk leaned over, and blanched. "Get him off the ship. Now!"

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