"Easy now, Jim." McCoy said gently as he helped Kirk ease off the treadmill. Kirk panted as he McCoy took his arm and the treadmill slowed to a stop.
Kirk didn't protest as McCoy helped him, perhaps a little more than he needed to, off the treadmill and back onto solid ground. Kirk's muscles burned slightly with the push of running at a low speed, his body still unsure of what had happened to him.
"How are you feeling, Jim?" McCoy asked, waving the tricorder over him again.
"Fine, Bones." Kirk said, as softly as he could muster it.
McCoy's lips curled into a slight frown. "Right," He said, rechecking the output that the tricorder gave him.
"So?" Kirk asked, looking McCoy in the eyes. "What's the verdict?"
McCoy paused, biting his lip. "Alright," He sighed heavily and slipped the tricorder back into his pack. "I'm clearing you for restricted duty. But don't think that I won't be monitoring you closely," He followed up sternly, guiding Kirk back to his room.
"Does this mean I get my PADD back?" Kirk jested as they approached his room again.
"Only if you promise me something," McCoy said, his voice unwavering.
"What's that?" Kirk asked, standing up slowly with the help of his bedside as McCoy hovered around him.
"You won't act like Jim Kirk about this," He reached for Kirk's civilian clothes on the dresser. "You'll tell me if anything, and I mean anything feels off. Especially when it comes to that noggin of yours," McCoy tossed the stack of clothes to Kirk, who caught it without difficulty.
"I promise." Kirk smirked at his old friend, looking down at the clothes fondly. He was ready to escape.
"I mean really promise." McCoy folded his arms across his chest and stared him down.
"Cross my heart and hope to die," Kirk made an x on his chest with his finger and gave McCoy his most reassuring look.
"Yeah, you just might if you don't tell me." McCoy scoffed, and Kirk chuckled. "Meet me outside of your room once you've changed."
"Will do, Bones." Kirk smiled widely, and McCoy shut the door softly behind him.
Finally. He thought as he slipped his pants on his legs. Time to get back on my feet.
/
"Here he comes, here he comes!" Chekov said, jumping around like a puppy that had just been let off his leash outside for the first time.
"Ok, everyone get down!" Uhura hissed and the entire crew hid behind the assorted tables and chairs around the room.
"You know you don't have to hover, Bones." Kirk chuckled as he pushed through the doors of the conference room. One of the crew members flicked on the lights and the room lit up, revealing all of the colored balloons and banners scattered around.
"Surprise!" Everyone jumped up from their hiding places, and Kirk stumbled backwards, nearly knocking over McCoy.
Kirk tried to catch his breath as he looked around and saw the décor, and his family surrounding him. "Jesus," He whispered and a smile crossed his lips.
"Welcome back, Jim." Scotty whapped Kirk across the back of the shoulder, sending him stumbling a step forward. McCoy gave Scotty a sharp look, but Kirk's smile only grew wider.
"Captain, it is pleasant to see you outside of the hospital." Spock nodded to his friend, his hands clasped behind his back. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Kirk scanning the room, for what he presumed to be for threats.
"It's good to be out of there," Kirk clapped Spock on the shoulder. "No offense, Bones."
"Yeah, right." McCoy huffed, his arms crossed against his chest as he hid his joy.
"This is really too much, you guys," Kirk glanced around at all the banners again.
"It is only fit for a Captain," Spock said politely, but was nearly knocked over by Chekov shuffling in front of him.
"Keptin!" Chekov's exuberant voice brought more joy to Kirk. "Ve hawe somezhing for you," He pulled a certificate from behind him and presented it to Kirk, like a child would present artwork to their father.
Kirk took it in his hands by the corners and read the black print across the crème paper. "Best Starship Captain in the fleet," Kirk read and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Chekov," Kirk nodded to the young man, who beamed at him. "Now," Kirk lowered the certificate. "It's about time that I get back to being a Starship Captain," Kirk scouted out an empty table.
"Really? Working at a time like this?" Uhura asked, slipping her arm through Spock's.
"Well, last time I checked, someone planted a bomb and tried to kill me at an award ceremony," Kirk raised an eyebrow. "So yeah, now seems as good a time as any to work."
"Then I'm going to need a drink," McCoy sighed and headed off for the bar.
"Get me one too!" Kirk called to him.
"You're still on restricted duty!" McCoy said gruffly over his shoulder. Kirk waved a hand at him dismissively and turned his attention back to Spock.
"So, what do we know so far?" Kirk asked Spock, who led the group towards a vacated table.
"Well," Spock started, taking a seat and folding his hands on the table. "Starfleet security has taken up the case, but we are closely following it."
"Any leads so far?" Kirk asked, sitting down across the white clothed table.
"The bomb was expertly planted," Spock explained. "The only mishap occurred when you did not approach the podium in time for the bomb to be set off."
"So who knows enough about what they're doing to pull that off?" Kirk asked, his eyebrows knitting together in thought.
"Fragments of the bomb suggest that it was of Klingon origin." Uhura chimed in, sitting down next to Spock.
"Planting a bomb in the middle of an honorable ceremony? That doesn't sound very Klingon to me," Kirk mused.
"That is precisely what I suggested to the security masters, but they did not see it the same way." Spock said politely, trying to hide the agitation in his voice.
"Right," Kirk furrowed his brow, leaning forward towards the table, lost in thought. "So, who do we have that could be trying to frame the Klingons for something?" Kirk asked, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.
"The possibilities are endless," Spock said, taking note of Kirk's behavior. He exchanged a worried glance with Uhura, whose hand instinctively reached for her communicator. "The Klingons have no shortage of enemies."
"But there's only a select slice of the Venn diagram of peoples that hate us, and peoples that hate the Klingons." Kirk sat up straight again, the wheels in his head turning quickly. Spock breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Find out where they overlap, and we've got a suspect."
"Once again, Captain, that is not a short list." Spock said, already running through all of the enemies of Starfleet that he could think of, and cross-matching them with enemies of the Klingons.
"But it's a lot shorter than listing everyone in the universe," Kirk shrugged and crossed his arms across his chest.
"You are also ruling out the possibility that the culprit could possibly have no relation to the Klingons and are merely pinning the crime on the most obvious criminal group."
"Someone like that wouldn't take the time to study Klingon weaponry. You know, unless they're a psychopath." Kirk stated. "Add those to the list."
Uhura rolled her eyes and smiled. It was good to have their captain back. McCoy waltzed over to the table, drink in hand.
"Causing trouble yet?" McCoy asked, taking his seat next to Kirk.
"I'm about to." Kirk stood up from the table. "Can I talk to you for a second, Spock?" He asked, and Spock raised an eyebrow. "Alone?"
"Of course, Captain." Spock stammered after a brief second of silence while everyone waited for his answer.
"Great," Kirk smiled his usual smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He started off towards the door, and Spock stood up to follow him. McCoy grabbed Spock's arm as he passed through, stopping him
"Watch him. Tell me what he talks to you about." McCoy hissed into Spock's ear.
"Of course, Doctor." Spock nodded, and McCoy reluctantly relaxed his grip on the Vulcan's arm. Spock followed Kirk's footsteps, watching curiously as the young captain headed towards a door at the side of the room. Kirk slipped through the door and Spock followed close behind, shutting the door behind him. Kirk flipped on the lights, and a conference table and chairs, not unlike the ones on the Enterprise, became visible. Kirk took a seat around the table, and motioned for Spock to follow suit. Spock sat across from the Captain, who folded his hands on the tabletop.
"Alright, Spock." Kirk cleared his throat, his voice edged with almost undetectable fear. Fortunately for the Vulcan, he had spent enough time to learn Kirk's quirks and mannerisms. He could tell that the captain was afraid of something. "Tell me about the healer."
"Well," Spock sat up straighter, his heart beating faster and faster. "Ambassador Spock left a tape for me, describing a healer that could be contacted in an emergency-" Spock started, but Kirk put up a hand, interrupting him.
"No," Kirk let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I've already heard the McCoy-approved version of this story. Tell me the truth. Where did she come from?"
Spock stood silently for a second, then cleared his throat. "The woman is a Kahn-ut-tu healer from the planet Neural."
"And how'd you find her?" Kirk asked, rubbing his temple.
"I took a small vessel to the planet and asked for such a woman that Ambassador Spock described from his journeys." Spock continued.
"They just hand her over to you?" Kirk asked, pushing his hair back and laying his hands back down on the table. "How'd you convince her to come with you?" Spock shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Spock," Kirk pressed.
"I promised to help her people to develop protection from the technologically advanced civilization waging war on her colony." Spock looked away from Kirk's eyes shamefully.
"Hang on," Kirk put up his hand. "Are you telling me that you violated the prime directive to bring her here?" Kirk asked breathlessly, unsure of how to react.
"That is correct." Spock nodded after a brief silence. "But I will assure you that it was the most logical decision. I suspect foul play from the warring civilization. It seems as though a third party is involved."
"Oh my God, Spock." Kirk breathed. He sat in stunned silence as the Vulcan sat up straighter, his resolve growing. "So," He started and shook his head. "So, what kind of powers does this woman have? What the hell did she do to me?" He asked, remembering the sharp pain in his skull from before.
"I am unsure, Captain, as I have yet to thoroughly interrogate her." Spock answered quickly.
"You have yet to – you know what? Forget it," Kirk shook his head and stood up from the table. "I'm going to question her myself. Then we're shipping her ass home."
"And what of the promise that I made to her?" Spock asked, standing up with his captain.
"God," Kirk let out a frustrated sigh. "We'll head out there, poke around for ourselves and see what's going on. If there is a third party involved, we'll intervene. If not, well, I don't know yet. We'll figure it out as we go." He started out of the room, moving quickly and forcefully.
"Perhaps we should keep the woman here a little while longer, Captain." Spock said and Kirk hesitated slightly. "She could provide us with useful data on alternative treatments to injury. Perhaps advance the medical field exponentially."
Kirk's movements faltered slightly, and he stopped for a brief second, then held his head. "No," He insisted, shaking his head again. "No, we'd better just get her home. Before Starfleet finds out what you did."
Strange, Spock thought, then followed his captain through the doors and back to the party.
/
Sorry for the slow progress on this story and the less-than-thrilling chapter, but I promise that I'm going somewhere with this. I hope you'll stick around for more adventure and action to come! Thanks for reading, and as always, feedback is appreciated. I promise I'll keep trucking along, slowly but surely!
-buckminsterbarnes