McCoy watched, knowing that his friend and Captain was enjoying toying with Ganner, was giving him just enough hope, building up the man's certainty that he would be selected. He was not fully prepared for when Kirk looked at him with that façade of not knowing the answer, "But I must first ask Doctor McCoy his opinion as to if he feels the selection I have made is fit enough to commence duties."

"The officer is fit to commence full duties, Captain. I will keep an eye on the officer and immediately take them off all duties." As Kirk looked at McCoy he knew the doctor was deliberately aiming that statement at Spock, knowing full well the Vulcan could not, at the time, comment.

"Well, I best tell the crew. Kirk to Bridge,"

"Uhura here, Sir." Just as Kirk had thought, Sulu would have told the bridge crew what was going to happen and Uhura would have it on audio.

"I want ship-wide, Uhura."

"Ship-wide set, Sir."

"Thanks you, Uhura. This is the Captain speaking," Kirk looked from Ganner to McCoy and gave a slight nod, "As most of you know I have my First Officer in mind and I am,"

The door opened and Kirk saw the shock on Ganner's face match the mixed shocked and panicked emotions in his almost scream of, "No! No! No, I gave you enough Blarnoch to kill you. Both packs. No! No! I planned this for years. I knew you would go running believing there was an unknown officer trapped. No! No!"

"As I was saying, I am pleased to report that Mister Spock will resume his duties with his next shift. Thank all of you for your support during the last few days. Carry on. Kirk out."

Spock stood quietly just looking at the now silent man before him. "If I may, Officer Ganner, I would correct you on two major errors in your answers and statements. First is that you did not know where all the officers were on that landing party. You clearly fabricated the trapped officer and you were obviously unaware of where Officer Walker was at the time of sending me on what you Humans call a wild goose chase. Your second major error was assuming that Vulcans are without feelings and or emotions and that our actions towards others are related to our reverence for all life forms. As First Officer the safety and welfare of the Captain is paramount followed by that of all the crew before my own. As to the apparent lack of emotions and feelings by Vulcans, that is only because the emotions and feelings of Vulcans are so powerful Humans and most other species cannot deal with them as they are so consuming so we are taught from childhood to control them."

"But, but, but the Blaroch. It was a new batch, I gave you more than enough,"

"You were also observed by Officer Walker who obviously saw something he thought suspicious, just what it was I have yet to find out, but it was his action that saved my life."

"There is no cure. I, I checked. In Vulcans what I gave you should have killed you."

"I suspect Officer Walker either did not know that or did not accept that."

"Uhura, please send security to Briefing Room One. Officer Ganner is to be held in his quarters under watch while all charges against him are compiled."

"Yes, Sir." only those who know the Lieutenant heard the excited pleasure in her voice. "Oh, Doctor M'Benga as asked for Spock to go to Sickbay as soon as you are through."

"Understood. Thank you. Kirk out."

Near panic was on Ganner's face as he looked around then back at Spock. While Kirk and Spock might not have noticed much but a shattered man McCoy saw a man whose delusion was crashing into reality with him trapped between the forces. "No. No. This is all wrong. You died. We could not risk retrieving your body. This is wrong. I will be First Officer. I will be First Officer. I will," Quickly McCoy pressed a hypospray against the man's nearest arm and Spock caught him as he fell.

As two security officers entered McCoy nodded to Kirk and Spock, "You to go see what M'Benga wants to see you about. I'll get him settled in his quarters and make sure they are safe for his state of mind then join you there."

When they walked into Sickbay Walker had his eyes closed and M'Benga nodded to them, "He wants to get up and go back to fixing something. I told him he had to wait till you got here. There is no way he is ready to be out of bed but he is as pig-beaded as you two."

"Doctor M'Benga, you have clearly been associating with Doctor McCoy too often as you are starting to use his metaphorical incorrect words."

"The fact remains, Mister Spock, that he will have to be restrained if he is does not accept that he is not ready to be out of bed."

Walker sighed, "I am awake and capable of being out of bed." He opened his eyes and looked at Kirk then at Spock, "Will you please tell them that, Mister Spock?"

For a moment there was quiet then Spock said, "Although I think it unwise if you believe you are able to get off that bed and to your quarters unaided then I will ask for you to be medically discharged."

"Thank you." slowly Walker pushed himself up to sit on the side of the bed and smiled, "See? No Problem." He got onto his feet and held onto the bed for a moment then stood at attention before Kirk, "Sir, I will be ready to return to duty when I have my uniform on." He took one step and started to collapse, Spock catching him before he fell too far.

"I would suggest you remain in bed till both Doctor McCoy and Doctor M'Benga agree that you are allowed up." Spock helped him back onto the bed and into a sitting position. "I will, however, bring you my one of the transmitters as it was not fully functional when we last tested it."

"If you could also bring my one I can reset it to my signal."

"That would be prudent. I will remind Doctor McCoy about a first meal he promised you. I admit it did not sound very pleasant but did sound nutritional."

"Did I hear my name being used in vain?" McCoy walked up to the bed, "I see you are content to stay there. Spock didn't bully you, did he?"

"No, he showed me it was best."

McCoy looked at M'Benga, Spock, Kirk, then back at Spock, "Showed? What the hell does he mean you showed him?" then at Kirk, "And you let him?"

"Bones, Bones, it was just what you have done to us, shown us we had to wait till you gave us permission to leave your lair."

"It is my lair and I want you two out of here. You're both bad patients and I do not want him to learn any more bad habits." When Kirk and Spock looked at McCoy they saw the twinkle of laughter in the blue eyes reflection his contentment that all his charges and his friends were home and safe.

"Let's go Spock, we've got reports to do."

A/N That's that one done. Be about two weeks before the next one as spring planting is getting in to full swing. Thanks for those who followed, read, reviewed, or even skimmed over this. So many written back then in two week periods with short ones between: those were the days before my fingers had "senior moments". TAKE CARE AND HAVE FUN!