"He came to me as soon as we landed, said he was going back to Bannet Base on your behalf," Chekhov looked away then back at Kirk, "Sir, it is the only time I can remember him telling a lie. I knew he would be going as you not for you. I knew he knew I knew but he just nodded. He thanked me for all my assistance and friendship and gave me a gift. He gave me the Vulcan salute and then turned and left."

"Same here, Sir," Sulu looked at Kirk, "I think he knew none of us would be at all welcome there after what happened. He also knew I did not believe he was going there on your orders but that it was a wrong had to be put right. He also thanked me for my assistance and friendship, was given a gift, he saluted and walked away as though he was not coming back."

"Aye, he knew they would likely kill anybody from the Federation, especially the Enterprise, for what happened. He came and saw me. Gave me this," he handed Kirk a bag, "ta give ta ye and I was ta say he thanked ye for your friendship, for all ye meant ta him, and for all the memories. I was ta say live long and prosper and he smiled, he actually smiled, when he told me I need not do the salute. He'd nae listen ta me, said he had ta let them know it was nae your action but a higher ranking officer and that he had ta put it right somehow. He said that despite the logic of him going alone McCoy and Uhura were going with him and he would nae allow any other member ta go. He said he would ensure that they were safe nae matter what. He then thanked me for my assistance and friendship, gave me a gift, saluted me, and walked away in that determined way of his without a backward look. He had made a decision an there was nae a thing any could have said nor done ta stop him."

There was a silence as first Kirk just fingered the bag then, aware the others were watching, he reached in and pulled out an antique old Earth sextant. He reached in and pulled out the other item he had felt. Wrapped carefully in a thick protective cover he opened an authenticated signed copy of C.S. Forester's Hornblower's Early Years. He shook his head realizing just how well his friend knew him.

"Mine was an old Earth encyclopaedia of Russian Proverbs and Sayings on discs and a real book of famous failed Russian "pick up" lines."

"He gave me an antique Japanese sword and knife set we had seen years ago at a display of old Earth weaponry that only select personnel were invited to. He was invited and took me with him. I can remember seeing how much it would cost to replace and Spock had surprised me by getting me the opportunity to actually handle it and I had thought no more about ever owning such a piece. The other item was a selection of chopsticks."

"He gave me a genuine antique engineer's tool box from Glasgow in Scotland. There was an assortment of tools in it that showed true craftsmanship. There was also a bottle of real aged Scottish Whiskey in it". Scott looked at him and said what they were all thinking. "Sir, I think he did this as he does nae think he will be back. I am nae one ta judge but after what ye said ta him on the bridge he was nae the same and I think he knew they would want blood for blood and going in your place he was likely ta be killed."

Kirk closed his eyes and shook his head, "The last thing I said to him was to get off the bridge and to stay the hell out of my life. He left thinking I hated him. He left such a very formal message telling me he had gone to Bannet Base. He, he didn't use my name, just my rank. How long now?"

"About three hours, Sir. Can't be more exact than that."

The finality of what could be hit him and he looked at the Chief Engineer and saw understanding on his face, "Oh Scotty, those last things I said to him. They must have hurt him. How could I, to him, I, I" Kirk tried to calm himself but could feel his eyes watering and felt a part of him start to shake.

Two strong hands gripped his upper arms and briefly held him, stilled him, "Here, we'll nae have that. We have ta be strong for him. We have ta be strong and send our love and strength to him. He is half-Vulcan so I know he will feel our strength and love. I have been around Uhura too much as that is what she believes, that he knows us that well and knows what we feel about him. McCoy would have told him we're coming. Till we know we will be strong for him. Till we know we have work that needs doing. He would expect nothing less from us. He'll nae want ta see four grown men with red eyes now will he?"

Scott's words got to him. He was getting ahead of himself. Spock would hate that. He had to think what he was going to do when they arrived at Bannet Base. He would have to explain what happened to those in power. He would need his crew to check things out themselves and see what needed doing, "We have to find out what needs doing when we arrive."

"Uhura has that under control as well, Sir. She will have the people organized to help each of us with engineering, transport, security, building, you name it she has it taken care off. Said it made her feel she was doing something."

Kirk looked at the three officers and realized despite how he had treated them they still cared about him, still respected him, were still his crew. When he nodded Scott released him and he took the prepacked meal Chekhov handed him. "No telling what their food supply is like."

Janet Wallen came in with a tray that had a cup of coffee for both of them and a selection of sandwiches. "You have to eat." She walked over to the bed and looked down at Spock, "You two, the one called Chekov, the one called Sulu, the one called Scott, and the one called Captain are his family. He has told us that. We asked him about his family and he said you six were his family. He said he has parents but that you were his family. You are so lucky to have such a member who cares so much about you. From how he spoke it is the one called Captain he is closest to, it was like they were real brothers. Is it the one called Captain that had angry words with him last?"

"Yes," McCoy took a sip of coffee after finishing a sandwich then wiped Spock's face, neck and shoulders, "Very angry words."

"Did he mean them?

"At the time he thought he did but he was not himself."

"But he said them to Spock and he heard them?"

"Yes, he said them and Spock heard him."

For a few moment Janet just looked at them then asked, "Do you think Spock will call out his name?"

McCoy was aware that Uhura was looking at him and in her eyes he saw the same uncertainty he felt. Each time Fallet berated the crew and Jim did nothing they had seen Spock stand up for the crewmen and retreat further and further into the Vulcan. No, it had been more than that but just what McCoy could not say. They saw how when Jim had lashed out at him the last time something inside Spock seemed to snap, he seemed to give up on his human side. This trip to Bannet Base was both an obligation he felt and, McCoy shook his head as he accepted the reality, a possible suicide mission. Spock would have known about Gainine, would have known it could kill him. Uhura was still looking at him, clearly remembering the last time the Captain and Spock were together and how totally shattered Spock had been. She knew Vulcans did not believe in suicide but there had been murderous intent on the faces of those who had met the craft and Uhura wondered if Spock had, in some way, thought this might be a final mission for him: a way to be free from that pain.

Uhura nodded, "I want to think he will. I believe there is still a part of him that cares so deeply about the Captain that he will call out his name."

McCoy cleared his throat, "I really don't know. I hope he does but I will understand if he doesn't. While I do not believe the words were meant, they were words that Jim Kirk would never say to Spock unless something was really wrong with him. Spock's not fully understanding human ways does not make things easy. I just hope he realizes that Jim, the Captain has not been himself lately."

A broad smile flashed to the girl's face, "He often told us how we humans make life far more complicated than it need be. He showed us how what seems so complex is really so easy. He showed us how to look at the individual thing instead of the whole picture but to remember how each part makes a whole and compared it with his ship and our home. We are all individuals and can be alone but we work best and get more done together. Does he work alone a lot? He seems to prefer it."

"Yes," Uhura smiled back at the young girl, aware of how their quiet Vulcan had had an impact on so many people, "He has a mind that is constantly observing and analyzing things and often prefers to be on his own but he is such a great and truly wonderful friend."

"How does he feel about the one called the Captain?"

"They are closer than friends, almost closer than brothers, which is why he has been so hurt by what the Captain said to him and how the Captain had acted towards him lately. The Captain will, when he recovers from whatever has him acting as he has, hate himself for what he said as they are almost like one. We often find it hard to think of one without thinking of the other." For a moment Uhura stopped as it was the first time she had actually thought of one without the other, of how Kirk would be without Spock. "It wouldn't be right."

"The one called the Captain must really care about, love, Spock for if Spock calls out his name it will be up to him to bring Spock back."

"How?" McCoy asked, hoping there was something he could do.

"It is something my grandmother does and makes. I cannot tell you more than that as I have not learned that part yet. It was decided years ago I would learn modern things yet also be a healer as I showed an aptitude for it since childhood and my grandmother says I have the gift. It takes fifteen years to learn all one must learn to be a healer like my grandmother and not many now want to be one. I do know that whatever it is he must do it is important, that the one called the Captain must do without hesitation what he is asked to if he truly loves Spock."

Uhura looked at McCoy and slowly nodded, "I know that Spock would do anything without hesitation for the Captain and I believe the Captain would do the same for Spock. They have many times in the past.

"Bannet Base, Bannet Base this is Sunrise Nine from Federation Starbase Eight Bannet Base, Bannet Base this is Sunrise Nine from Federation Starbase Eight. We are on a mercy mission. We have supplies requested by crew already here. Our crew is four from the Enterprise and one Federation Commodore. Requesting permission to,"

"Sunrise Nine, Sunrise Nine, you have permission to land in designated area. Sunrise Nine, Sunrise Nine, you have permission to land in designated area."

"This is Sunrise Nine, thank you, Bannet Base."

"The security detail requested will meet you and detain the Commodore"

Kirk gave the Commodore a quick glance as he was just waking then nodded at Sulu, "Acknowledged, Bannet Base. Thank you."

Fallet sat upright and looked around, "Where?"

"Welcome to Bannet Base, Sir. I will arrange for their Security to show you what the torpedo did while I take care of my crew. You will be turned over to us when we return to Starbase Eight. I am unable to tell you how long that will be."

"You are not leaving me alone with them, are you Kirk?"

"Yes."

"But, but you can't."

As Sulu eased the craft to a smooth landing and the Security team approached the door, Kirk looked at Fallet and saw the fear in his eyes and tried not to smile as he said, "Watch me." The four Enterprise walked away from the shuttle and Kirk looked at obvious leader of the Bannet group, "You were told,"

The man nodded, "We are to show him what damage was caused, have him assist in the work that needs doing, but not to injure him and definitely not to kill him. You will take him back to face your justice."

"Good." Kirk smiled to himself, pleased that Uhura had reminded them they could not actually kill the man. "He is fit and can help out with any jobs you might be short-handed with. I don't know how long we will be here but we will find you before we leave." as Kirk spoke he saw a youth run from the hospital, motioning to them to follow him.

It was like running in a labyrinth after a rabbit but they stopped outside a door marked Emergency and Trauma and the young man pointed to it, "He is still breathing."

As soon as they went in Uhura walked up to him and hugged him, "McCoy says it won't be long now as his lungs are filling with his blood, he is fighting to breathe. They're in the next room."

Kirk gave her a quick embrace and walked into the other room. McCoy blocked his full view of Spock but Kirk could see Spock was breathing through his mouth, could hear him straining for each breath and saw how he looked pale, far too pale.

As he started to go further into the room McCoy gripped his arm so he had to look at him, "That elderly woman there is the boss, she is in total control as far as we, and especially you, are concerned. She has kept him alive this long. She's an old fashioned healer and I'll be damned if she hasn't kept him alive much longer than I could have. Do as she says, Jim. I kept thinking we would lose him but she has kept him with us this long. You do exactly what she says when she tells you and nothing else, ya hear me?"

Kirk nodded and slowly walked in and stood looking first at the woman who placed a finger to her lips silently telling him not to speak, then at Spock. He wanted to hold the Vulcan, wanted to somehow give him all of his own strength to fight with. The woman stood and placed a hand under his shirt and on his chest over his heart and then reached out to Spock, placing her other hand where the Vulcan heart was and closed her eyes. "Say nothing. Briefly take his hand in your hand as you usually do when he is unwell, hold it till I say to let go. Then be still and silent." Carefully Kirk took Spock's hand in his, feeling the fingers just laying limply in his hand yet knowing the strength those fingers held, almost instinctively he gave it a gentle squeeze and rubbed the back of Spock's hand with his thumb as he did on the Enterprise.

Vaguely Kirk was aware that the others had walked over and formed a semi-circle around him as though blocking out everything and everybody else even though there was nothing to block out.

"Let go of his hand. Move you had away so that he must reach out for it. He must decide on you now. It is now for him to decide." For a moment Kirk was not going to, did not want to, but saw how McCoy looked at him.

Nothing happened and Kirk found it difficult not too speak, not to pull Spock to him. His friend looked so frail, so thin, so ill. As he waited and watched he noticed how very gradually Spock's breathing slowed.

A/N Would love to be able to send some of our summer warmth to those in the U.S. and our calm seas to those in the U.K. Thinking of you guys. Got a busy weekend coming up so thought I would get this up now. Take care, stay safe, and enjoy.