Scotty had finished making the repairs needed on the engines to allow the ship to go back up to warp factor 5. It took a little more than a day, but was fixed in a short amount of time, certainly faster than Scotty imagined it would take.

About 4 days went by, and the Enterprise had arrived in Vulcan's orbit. It was night and tomorrow morning, Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty would be teleporting down to Vulcan with Dr. McCoy to take him to the hospital to receive the treatments Spock had referred to.

Captain Kirk was in his quarters pacing back and forth across his room, when the buzzer rang on his door. The door opened, and Spock walked in.

"Good evening, Spock," Captain Kirk muttered, softly.

"Good evening, Captain," Spock replied.

"How are you feeling,"

"Fine,"

"At least one of us feel fine,"

Spock cocked his head to the side and looked at Captain Kirk.

"Spock, as soon as tomorrow comes…our lives will change forever…for better or for worse." Captain Kirk spoke.

Spock nodded.

"I understand, Captain," Spock answered.

"What if we bring Bones down to the hospital, and…not even the Vulcans can help him?" Captain Kirk whimpered.

"Captain, I know for a fact that there are many medical procedures and treatments that can be used for such conditions as the doctor's current one. After all treatments and procedures that are possible have been performed and executed, only then will we know if anything more can be done for Dr. McCoy."

"I can't lose him, Spock…losing him…you…or Scotty…it's unimaginable."

"I understand quite well, Captain."

"Spock…what will happen, if Bones does in fact die? What will happen to Sickbay? What will happen to the Enterprise itself? How will we tell Starfleet, his friends, family what has happened?"

"Captain, spending only your time focusing on the cons of Dr. McCoy's possible outcomes, then hope and faith will fade slowly away, until it no longer exists within you."

Captain Kirk sighed, when his door buzzed, again. This time, Scotty wandered in.

"Good evening, Captain…Mr. Spock," Scotty greeted, softly.

"Mr. Scott," Spock replied.

"What's going on in here?" Scotty questioned.

"Just talking about Dr. McCoy, Scotty." Captain Kirk answered.

"Oh," Scotty spoke, nodding sadly.

"I was just telling Spock how after tomorrow, our lives are never gonna be the same, again."

"Yah right on that, Captain,"

"Does Starfleet know we're doing this?" Spock questioned.

"No, Spock…I uh…haven't had time to tell them what's been going on." Captain Kirk answered.

"Been too worried on McCoy, haven't yah, Captain." Scotty commented.

"Yes, Scotty…Bones is the only thing I think about, anymore." Captain Kirk answered.

"I can relate, Captain…it hasn't been the same since…it happened." Scotty replied.

"Avoiding the topic of what has happened to Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, will not make the situation become any less of a reality than it is, now." Spock answered.

"Mr. Spock…I can't…it's too painful for me to think about…I keep wondering what I coulda done that night differently…so Dr. McCoy would still be here." Scotty answered.

"It's all my fault," Captain Kirk muffled under his breath.

"What, Captain," Scotty questioned.

"It's…all my fault…I'm the one who ordered him to go down there with you…it's all my fault."

"Captain…it ain't yah fault…yah didn't know that was gonna happen…none of us did."

"Had I'd never made the call to order him to tend to those wounded in Engineering…"

"Dr. McCoy did what he was trained to do for Starfleet. He put others' lives before his own."

"I'm the reason Bones is in his coma…I'm the reason he…may die."

"Captain…it isn't logical to blame yourself for such events occurring. Both you, I, Mr. Scott, nor Dr. McCoy knew that he would go down to Engineering during the battle with the Romulans and be put into a coma from a faulty pipe that broke off from the ceiling due to several collision and phaser fires at the ship." Spock spoke.

Scotty walked over to Captain Kirk and wrapped an arm around him.

"No matter what happens, Captain, we've gotta remember that Dr. McCoy did what he was trained to due for Starfleet Command. If he dies…he died because he was saving other crewmembers' lives." Scotty wept.

"Scotty…I just keep praying to God I don't have to plan my best friend's funeral." Captain Kirk muttered, teary eyed.

In the morning…

Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty were all in the transportation room, waiting for Dr. M'Benga to wheel down Dr. McCoy to be transported down with them. The transportation door opened, and Dr. M'Benga wheeled in a gurney with Dr. McCoy attached to several portable machines, IVs', and several other things. Spock helped Dr. M'Benga get Dr. McCoy up onto the transportation platform. After Dr. McCoy had been situated on the platform, Dr. M'Benga got off and walked over to Captain Kirk.

"You take care of Sickbay, while we're gone, alright?" Captain Kirk questioned, softly.

"I will, Captain Kirk," Dr. M'Benga answered.

Captain Kirk sighed then frowned, when Dr. M'Benga placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.

"The Vulcans will take good care of him, Captain Kirk." Dr. M'Benga answered, with a gentle smile.

Captain Kirk nodded, still frowning. He patted Dr. M'Benga's shoulder, then he, Spock, and Scotty all jumped up onto the platform.

"Alright, Lieutenant…energize," Captain Kirk ordered, tiredly.

Lieutenant Kyle nodded and pulled the lever and flicked the switch. Within moments, Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty were gone along with Dr. McCoy and the gurney.