Five hours had passed since then. Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty were all waiting in the operating waiting room, as Dr. McCoy still hadn't come out of surgery. All three men had no idea whether that was a good sign or a bad one. Captain Kirk kept pacing back and forth with Scotty going in the opposite direction of him, and Spock was gazing out into the night sky, deep in his thoughts. It was around 3:00 AM at night. Dr. McCoy had been in surgery since around 10:00 PM.

"What's taking so long?!" Scotty exclaimed.

"I don't know, but I'm gonna march into that operating room any second to demand to know what's going on in there." Captain Kirk grumbled.

Captain Kirk and Scotty stopped pacing around and noticed Spock.

"Have yah noticed Mr. Spock hasn't moved since Dr. McCoy was taken into surgery?" Scotty questioned, in a hush tone.

"I wonder what he's so deep in thought about." Captain Kirk wondered.

"Do yah think it's a Vulcan way of grieving, Captain?"

"I don't know; Spock's never done something like this, before. I have no idea what it means, Scotty."

"Wish I could do a mind meld to see what was going on inside his mind."

"Maybe when Dr. Sarell comes to get us, he'll tell us what's wrong."

"Yeah…to tell us that Dr. McCoy's no longer here with us."

"Dr. McCoy will be with us forever and ever, no matter what."

"I'm gonna miss him, Captain!" Scotty blubbered. Captain Kirk awkwardly wrapped his arms around Scotty.

"There, there, Scotty," Captain Kirk softly spoke. He was trying to fight back his own tears, which wasn't working too well.

There was a song in D minor coming through the intercom, which was quite uncomforting in the time of what the three Starfleet officers were experiencing, currently.

"This song doesn't help with the mood, either." Captain Kirk stated.

He turned to look at Spock; Spock was frozen and still as a statue. He didn't move the slightest bit, and Captain Kirk couldn't remember the last time Spock had blinked his eyes.

"Spock," Captain Kirk spoke, softly.

Spock didn't answer.

"Spock,"

No answer.

"Mr. Spock, answer me,"

Nothing.

Captain Kirk let go of Scotty and walked over to Spock, then knelt down in front of him.

"Spock…can you hear me, Spock?" Captain Kirk questioned, softly.

Spock did nothing, but continue to stare out at the night sky.

"Spock, Spock…you've gotta snap out of this, Spock. Bones wouldn't want this, Spock, you've gotta snap out of it, Spock!" Captain Kirk ordered.

Spock remained motionless and silent.

"Why is he doing this," Captain Kirk questioned, frustrated.

Scotty had settled down a little and simply shrugged his shoulders.

"He's not gonna answer you." A familiar voice spoke.

Captain Kirk and Scotty turned their heads to the entrance of the waiting room. Standing in the doorway was Dr. Sarell and Dr. Srynn. Captain Kirk rose to his feet, and both he and Scotty approached the men. Neither one of them wanted to ask the question. They were horrified to know what caused Dr. McCoy to die. They didn't wanna hear the news that Dr. McCoy would never wake up and talk to them, again. They didn't wish to know they would return to the Enterprise without their beloved, old country doctor.

"What's wrong with Mr. Spock," Scotty quivered, sadly.

"You're not gonna ask about Leonard?" Dr. Sarell asked.

Captain Kirk sadly shook his head.

"No…we already know…we wish to know what's wrong with my First Officer." Captain Kirk softly asked.

"It's how Vulcans handle grieving. Instead of going through the emotions of anger, yearning, and depression, Vulcans enter a catatonic like state while they recover from their loss. It should last no longer than a week." Dr. Srynn answered.

Captain Kirk nodded.

"None of you are gonna ask about Leonard?" Dr. Sarell questioned.

Both Captain Kirk and Scotty shook their heads 'no' with them hanging. Dr. McCoy was gone, and now Spock had entered a catatonic like, Vulcan voodoo state of mind that wouldn't end for a week.

"None of you wish to know that Leonard's gonna be alright?" Dr. Sarell asked.

"No…we'll just be heading back to…" Captain Kirk paused and slowly raised his head, his eyes gaping and his jaw hanging from its hinges. "What,"

Dr. Sarell and Dr. Srynn didn't answer him.

Scotty was beginning to smile, tears of joy streaming down his face.

"Dr. McCoy…he's alive," Scotty cried.

"Yes," Dr. Sarell answered.

"Surgery was difficult and meticulous, but Leonard pulled through." Dr. Srynn answered.

"He's awake and in his room, if you wish to see him." Dr. Sarell added.

"Captain," Scotty balled.

"God, Bones, I knew you were too stubborn to die!" Captain Kirk wailed.

Both men hugged each other and cried. They ran off to the nearest elevator to go see Dr. McCoy. Spock snapped out of his trance and ran off to catch up with Captain Kirk and Scotty.

In Dr. McCoy's room…

Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty silently entered Dr. McCoy's room, in case he was sleeping. Dr. McCoy fluttered his eyes open and slowly turned his head to the doorway and gave a meek smile and sighed.

"I was wondering when you three would come up to see me." Dr. McCoy spoke, raspy, with his gentle smile.

Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty all sat down in their chairs surrounding Dr. McCoy's bedside. Captain Kirk was the first to give Dr. McCoy a big hug.

"Bones…you have no idea how much we missed you!" Captain Kirk spoke, tears still falling from his eyes.

"I miss you, too, Jim." Dr. McCoy answered.

Scotty was next to hug Dr. McCoy.

"I thought I lost yah, McCoy." Scotty sobbed.

"I'm right here, Scotty, and don't let Jim tell you anything. If you feel like venting to me right now, I have enough energy to listen." Dr. McCoy answered.

Scotty smiled through his tears.

"Aye, Dr. McCoy," Scotty answered, cheery.

Spock had tears falling down his face, and Dr. McCoy looked over and saw.

"Spock…you're crying," Dr. McCoy spoke, in awe.

"Vulcans do not cry, Doctor…I am just flushing out dirt in my eyes, is all." Spock quivered.

Dr. McCoy smiled and held his arms open. Spock, for once, actually responded in a human way and hugged Dr. McCoy tight, but not too tight.

"I missed you, too, Spock." Dr. McCoy answered.

Spock nodded.

"As to you, Doctor," Spock answered.

"Bones, go to sleep; we're just glad to have you back." Captain Kirk spoke, with a smile.

Dr. McCoy smiled small then fell asleep.

Two weeks later, back on the Enterprise…

Dr. McCoy was back to work, but taking it slowly, only doing paperwork, until he had regained his energy. He looked over to the door, when he heard a buzz, notifying him someone was coming into Sickbay. Scotty entered wearing a green Starfleet shirt that belonged to Captain Kirk. Dr. McCoy chuckled softly.

"I see your bet is for real." Dr. McCoy chuckled.

"Aye, Dr. McCoy," Scotty answered smiling.

"A whole week being Captain, huh?"

"Aye, and it feels great."

Dr. McCoy chuckled and slowly stood up, then he placed a hand on his desk and the other one on his hip, crossing his legs.

"It feels even better to have yah back to health." Scotty remarked.

"Kinda glad to not be in a coma anymore, myself." Dr. McCoy answered, friendly.

Captain Kirk and Spock entered wearing red Starfleet shirts.

"How am I suppose to be an Engineer Officer, if I know nothing about machines?" Captain Kirk commented.

"I believe that's why we assigned me as Chief Engineering Officer, Captain." Spock answered.

"I'm Captain of this ship, I'll be Chief Engineering Officer." Captain Kirk answered.

"Actually, Scotty's Captain for now," Dr. McCoy answered, smiling.

Captain Kirk smirked, then put a friendly hand on Dr. McCoy's shoulder.

"Good to have you back, Bones." He spoke, smiling.

Dr. McCoy smiled back.