The man held out his hand, "Dean Jennings, Captain, my sister-in-law told me you were interested in the actions of your officers down then and while I reported what I remembered at the time it was not until Ed Barrett was talking about the clearing of the medical center I recalled that officer who, if you don't mind me saying so, thought he was in control of the others, had gone back into the supply room when everybody was out and I saw him throw something away. Now I thought that odd so went over and had a look. It was empty pads of Blarnock, yet we had tossed them out."

"They were not past their replacement date, were they?" McCoy answered the question as he asked it and Kirk heard the fury in his friend's voice.

"That's just it. The packs he threw away were empty but were less than a year old, they were still good for another standard year. But they had been used so he obviously had severe muscular pains."

"Did he see you?"

"Yes, he did not see me see him throw them away but did see me in the area. He said he just wanted to make sure the junior officers had missed nothing which was, to me, also strange as I would not have thought of the others as junior officers as they were doing more work than he was."

"Thank you for telling us that."

After the man had left Kirk just looked at McCoy and grabbed his arm as his friend started for the door. "Wait! Wait, Bones."

"Wait? Wait? He did it. He tried to kill,"

"You think I don't now accept that? But we still have to find out where he would have got the Blarnock. If it was not there and you are not missing any,"

The two men looked at each other as a reality dawned on them, "My god, Jim, he came aboard with it. He had it in mind to kill,"

"Let's get all the evidence and facts first, Bones."

There was a coldness to his friend's voice that made McCoy stop and look at the younger man. There was that thousand mile stare of certainty, that ramrod straight spine. Every possible warning sign that the human body could give prior to almost unstoppable, deliberate action was there before him.

"Jim?" No response at first and McCoy lightly placed a hand on Kirk's shoulder, "Jim, what are you going to do?".

"Nothing, Bones. Nothing till I have all the facts and proof." There was that tone in Kirk's voice that McCoy recognized as an indication of murderous intent and saw the faintest of smiles on the man's face, "I am going to find out if he came aboard my ship with that drug to kill my friend and if he did," Kirk let out a long breath and McCoy looked at him knowing it was just a momentary release of emotions.

"If he did bring it aboard, what?"

"I, I can't tell you Bones as that would make you part of it. If I can prove he intended, had planned ahead, to kill Spock, if I get irrefutable proof that be brought them on my ship with the intention of killing Spock then he is all mine."

One look at Kirk and McCoy knew to be silent. He knew he would have to find a way to keep Kirk from any sort of action, to keep him from doing what he himself wanted to do.

"This Blarnock, do we have it aboard the ship?"

"All ships have it, Jim. Like I told you on humans it is the best treatment for severe muscular distress. And before you ask I checked our supply and it is untouched."

"Blackmarket?"

Despite himself McCoy laughed, "It is not worth the time of effort, Jim as there are no side effects on any other specie but Vulcans. And for the quality of what was in Spock it would have been of a high standard, I would say Starfleet standard but,"

"Before he came aboard the Enterprise,"

"I'll contact Doctor Collins on the Saratoga, the last ship he was on."

"What about Walker's tubes? How long?"

"I'll do them now. Best let Scotty know and you go get Spock."

"Ganner?"

McCoy smiled as he reached for the com unit, "Bridge."

"Uhura here, Doctor."

"Is Mister Scott there?"

"Aye, I'm here, Doctor."

"Could you come to Sickbay?"

"I've nay need,"

"It is about tubes."

"Aye, the tubes. I'll be right there and there's nay need to worry about that other matter. It is being taken care of."

"Thank you. McCoy out."

"Am I to understand that that other matter is Ganner?"

"You could understand it to mean that." the slight twinkle in McCoy's eyes was all Kirk needed to know. This crew, and especially the bridge crew, most decidedly was a family

Spock had been sitting at his computer when Kirk walked in and all he said was, "Jim, Ganner attempted to kill me. I remember it all now."

"McCoy and I thought so, had it largely confirmed by people there. Right now we have to go to Sickbay. McCoy is going to remove the tubes from Walker."

In Sickbay McCoy reached out and touched the side of Walker's face, "Angus, you can wake up now. I am going to remove the tubes. While you are still groggy I will remove the ones from your lower body. You just relax."

When McCoy took hold of the larger tube Walker groaned and Scotty immediately gripped his hand, glanced at Spock, then down at Walker who still had his eyes closed, "Ye will be alright, lad. Mister Spock, the Captain, and I are right here. Ye will be just dandy."

"That's them done, now," McCoy picked up a hypospray, looked at Walker and put it back down.

"Angus, can you open your eyes?"

Two brown eyes looked up into blue eyes and then at the others, lingering on Scotty. The Scotsman gave the hand in his a squeeze. "Ye just let McCoy do what he needs to, lad. I'll be right here if ye need a hand ta hold."

Spock stepped closer to the bed and saw the eyes follow him, "I am here as is the Captain. If you need pain assistance," There were a movement of the eyes from left to right and back to the left and Spock nodded, "I understand. I will remain to assist the Doctor."

Twice Kirk had to look away as he remembered only too well what it was like having those tubes taken out, the way the body reacted, the overpowering panic.

McCoy's voice was very calming yet still very authoritative, "That's it, Angus. Just hold still, not much more to do."

Almost as soon as the tubes were out Walker reached out to Spock, the words mere whispers, "Ganner. Don't trust. Eyes body don't match."

"Understood. You must rest now," Spock took the hand and placed it back on the bed. Walker started to groan then was violently sick and McCoy quickly turned him on his side..

"Good, good, Angus, let it come." McCoy said as Walker's body convulsed and more fluid was spewn on the floor. "That's the last of it. You'll sleep some now. I'll be right here."

Angus weakly reached out as Mister Scott again stepped forward to help place Walker more comfortably on the bed Walker took his hand, "Worked?"

"Aye, lad. But ye rest now as McCoy said. We've time later ta talk of it but it worked just fine."

Together Kirk and Spock walked to Kirk's quarters. "We're going to wait here. McCoy is going to find something out for me about Ganner. I want that information before I think of how I am going to proceed with this. Right now everything in me wants to kill him for what he did to you."

"And to Officer Walker, Jim. He clearly suspected something and came after me."

"What makes you so certain about that?"

"What he just said in there. He clearly watched Ganner and believed that his actions and his words were not in synchronization and therefore what he was saying was not what he was feeling. It is a trait in some Humans, their postures and actions are very basic animal ones and say more than their words. Of course I will confirm this with him later."

"Of course. And till McCoy gets here I want you to sleep or at least stretch out on my bed and rest. No argument."

While Spock rested Kirk went back over Ganner's record. It was almost enviable, the way he had risen through the ranks. All his promotions and transfers said to reflect his attitude towards the roles. Nothing about his relationship with other crewmembers.

Two hours later McCoy walked in with a tray bearing two cups of coffee, one herbal tea, and some cookies. Even as he looked at McCoy as he set down the tray Kirk could see the controlled fury in the man.

"I, I contacted Doctor Collins on the Saratoga." McCoy bowed his head, closed his eyes, and shook his head and remained silent for far too long.

"Bones?"