“Commander?”

“Yes, Mister Sulu?”

‘We’ve found them, sir. And we’re ready to transport them back to the ship.”

Spock breathed an inward sigh of relief. “Very good, Lieutenant.”

“But Commander, the captain…”

Spock’s heart froze in his side and he exchanged a quick panicked look with Nyota.

“The captain?” he made himself ask.

“He’s pretty bad, sir. We are going to have him transported directly to the medbay.”

Spock swallowed. “And the doctor?”

“His leg is broken but he’s doing all right. Barking orders.”

“Very well. Keep me posted. Spock out.”

After a few minutes, during which he gripped the arms of the captain chair almost hard enough to cause damage, Nyota walked over to him.

“Spock, go to the medbay.”

“I am on duty and—”

“We have this. I promise. I’ll contact you immediately if we need you. Go check on Jim.”

He blew out a long breath, nodded and stood.

He made it there in record time.

The captain was laid out on a biobed, pale and sweaty looking.

Spock was surprised to see that McCoy was upright rather than in a biobed himself.

“Should you not be a patient also, doctor?”

McCoy, who leaned against Jim’s bed, waved that away. “I’m fine. Nothing a regenerator can’t take care of in a few minutes.”

Since there was no one better to see to Jim’s medical care, Spock nodded, rather than arguing.

“Will he…”

“Of course he will. I’ll have him up and being a pain in the ass to both of us in no time.” He smiled a little. “But you can come closer if you want. Just don’t get in my way.”

“I will not,” Spock promised, as he did indeed come closer and took Jim’s hand.

McCoy glanced at him. ”You should tell him.”

“What?”

The doctor sighed and shook his head. “Idiots.”