Spock was surrounded by nothing but darkness. There was the exception of something resembling a spot light that shone above him and followed him, wherever he were to walk. Besides that little lighting, there was nothing but blackness and unknown ahead of him.

"Fascinating," Spock commented, amazed and curious to know where he was inside Dr. McCoy's brain. He assumed it was a part of his brain that had been damaged, but then again couldn't be 100% sure of himself.

"Well, I was wondering when I'd be seeing you, again, Spock." A familiar, kind, southern voice spoke.

Spock turned his attention to his left and saw Dr. McCoy standing there, smiling. Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Very fascinating," Spock commented.

He approached Dr. McCoy and analyzed him carefully.

"What are you doing here, Doctor?" Spock questioned.

"Oh, I'm not Leonard, Spock; I'm his memory. I'm just taking the form of your dear friend to comfort you." Dr. McCoy answered.

"Interesting…where are we, exactly, in Dr. McCoy's brain?" Spock asked.

"Can't say; there's more darkness in here than imaginable. Glad my office is still in working condition."

"You mean where memory is located in the brain."

"Correct, Mr. Spock,"

"Are you and the ones that remain unharmed making attempts to heal the wounded parts of the brain?"

"Trying, but some parts are beyond repair; we'll need extra assistance, if you wish for your friend to wake up."

"How long do you estimate it will take until the Dr. McCoy's brain is repaired enough to regain consciousness?"

"That's a question even I can't answer, Mr. Spock. Unless we're given the help and assistance we need, it could take over a year before Leonard is well enough to regain consciousness. 75% brain damage is not a great look of things, if I remember anything from medical school."

Spock nodded.

"I see…will you let Dr. McCoy know that Captain Kirk and Mr. Scott miss him, and that we all want him to make a quick recovery?" Spock questioned.

Dr. McCoy smiled.

"I will be sure to tell Emotions that, when I see 'em." Dr. McCoy answered.

"So, emotions are still functioning, too?" Spock questioned.

"Yes, they are,"

Spock nodded.

"I will now be dismissing myself; I have the Captain and Mr. Scott waiting for me in your hospital room." Spock answered.

"I understand, Mr. Spock," Dr. McCoy answered.

Spock nodded.

"Goodbye, Dr. McCoy's memory," Spock spoke.

"Goodbye, Mr. Spock; and tell Jim and Scotty I say 'hello'." Dr. McCoy spoke, with a gentle smile.

Spock nodded and faded away back to reality.

In Dr. McCoy's waiting room…

Spock slowly opened his eyes, as the trance had come to an end. He looked up at Captain Kirk and Scotty.

"Spock, what happened," Captain Kirk begged.

"I have spoken to Dr. McCoy's memory; both memory and emotions are still functioning and working." Spock answered.

"Oh, thank God; at least we know when he wakes up, he'll know who we are." Scotty sighed, with relief.

"If the Doctor regains consciousness. According to Dr. McCoy's memory, unless given the help and assistance needed to heal his brain, it could be until over a year Dr. McCoy regains consciousness." Spock answered.

"No…Mr. Spock, say it isn't so!" Scotty pleaded.

"I can not, Mr. Scott," Spock answered.

Scotty began softly weeping.

"I do bring a little bit of good news to you two, however." Spock continued.

"What, Mr. Spock," Captain Kirk sadly spoke.

"I told Dr. McCoy's memory to send word that we all wish for him to make a speedy recovery, and that he wishes to say 'hello' to both Mr. Scott and you, Captain." Spock answered.

Captain Kirk looked up and a little smile grew on his face.

"Bones says 'hi'," Captain Kirk quivered, smiling.

Spock nodded.

"His words exactly were 'Tell Jim and Scotty that I say 'hello'.'" Spock answered.

Captain Kirk turned to look at Dr. McCoy and smiled.

"Bones…I knew you were still in there somewhere." Captain Kirk softly spoke, holding his friend's hand tightly in his.

"That sounds like the Dr. McCoy I know and love, alright." Scotty commented, with a smile.

Spock nodded.

"I hope that is enough to satisfy you both, until we know more information regarding the Doctor's outcome." Spock spoke, softly.

"Yes…thank you, Spock," Captain Kirk spoke, with a small smile.

Spock nodded.

"You're welcome, Captain," Spock answered.

Captain Kirk went back to look at Dr. McCoy.

"Come on, old man; I know you, Bones…you're too darn stubborn to die, now. Come on, Bones…just open your eyes." Captain Kirk begged.

Four days later…

Dr. Sarell had given Dr. McCoy the next injection to send live brain cells to his brain through the spinal cord. After the 72 hours needed to give the injection to run its course, Dr. Sarell ran an MRJHI on Dr. McCoy to see if it had worked.

Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty were all surrounding Dr. McCoy's bedside, talking to him and telling him how much they missed him and wanted him to come back to them. Dr. Sarell knocked on the door, holding the results to Dr. McCoy's MRJHI scan. They all turned to him and rose from their chairs.

"What did the MRJHI say, Dr. Sarell?" Captain Kirk questioned.

Dr. Sarell wouldn't answer. He simply walked over to show Spock the results and pointed to a few things here and there. Spock nodded and gazed down at Dr. McCoy, with a look in his eyes Captain Kirk nor Scotty had ever seen before, but they sensed it wasn't good.

"What does it say, Dr. Sarell?!" Scotty pleaded.

Dr. Sarell flipped around the clipboard and showed them. Dr. Sarell then pointed to all the blue and purple spots on the piece of paper with several images of Dr. McCoy's brain. There was less purple dots than there were blue dots. The purple dots were scattered throughout all the images, some places had splotches of purple dots clumped together, and other parts had barely any at all.

"Captain, do you see all these dots?" Dr. Sarell questioned.

Captain Kirk nodded.

"I do…but what do they mean, Dr. Sarell?" Captain Kirk worried.

"The purple dots are the brain cells that succeeded in the treatment process. Those parts of the brain have been healed." Dr. Sarell answered.

"That's good, though…right?" Scotty questioned.

"In lots of cases, yes, but your friend has many and many brain cells that are just sitting there not knowing what to do with themselves. They aren't repairing damaged tissue and/or brain matter, which the blue dots indicate. Therefore, the treatment has failed to work." Dr. Sarell answered.

Scotty bit his finger to withhold from screaming out for mercy. Captain Kirk gulped and nodded.

"What…what do we do next, then, Dr. Sarell?" Captain Kirk questioned.

"Considering the last treatment has proven to fail to heal Leonard's brain, I am only resorted to three treatment options left." Dr. Sarell answered.

"Which are what,"

"One is a minor operation that would leave a small scar behind one of Leonard's ears. The operation would involve injecting a substance known as calligraphatic narsoma. It would travel throughout Leonard's brain and would repair sensory parts of the brain, such as sight, feeling, taste, smell, and hearing, but would not fix the essential parts of the brain needed for a person to live off of life support."

"What's the second option,"

"The second option is another injection through the spine that would send nerve signals to the brain to try and repair damages, but that treatment has always failed to our substantial needs. There is only one other option that is proven to work effectively and efficiently."

"Which is what,"

"It's an operation that Dr. Srynn and Dr. Scaptak are familiar to, but I have no experience in, therefore they would perform the surgery, but I don't recommend it unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Why is that, Dr. Sarell?" Scotty questioned.

"The operation is very life threatening…and more than likely would kill your friend. There's even a high chance of him never making it off the operating table." Dr. Sarell answered.

Captain Kirk and Scotty both had their jaws hanging from their hinges.