0Title: Holding Fast (2/5)
Author: klmeri
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Pairing: pre-Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Summary: A diplomatic mission goes wrong. With Kirk’s life hanging in the balance, McCoy and Spock are forced to hold the Enterprise—and each other—together long enough to save him.
Previous Parts: 1
The official orders come upon the heels of the arrival of Sulu, Uhura, and Chekov. No one needs to put into words what is already obvious–that Enterprise now has an acting captain–but Spock both plays the Kairon’s video and a shorter missive regarding his temporary promotion. It’s meant to be secret. No one except Spock is supposed to have confirmation that James T. Kirk is out of commission. Technically, no one but Scotty and Spock is even cleared to have returned to the Enterprise before the end of shore leave.
The concerned faces around the oblong table in the ship’s briefing room belong to those people closest to Kirk. Leonard has no regrets about calling them in. If Earth’s starbase security were to show up unannounced to arrest everyone for convening without permission, Leonard would simply confess he ‘had a bad feeling’ and acted alone, then fervently pray the others still find a way to rescue Kirk without him.
He wants to see Jim safe. He also needs to protect Jim’s crew.
Spock surveys them from the head of the table, standing rather than sitting as Kirk typically does when addressing his circle of most trusted officers. “You are not required to be here,” he states. “This meeting will entail discussing facts and circumstances to which you should not be privy and contemplating acts that are unlikely to be sanctioned by your superiors. Your participation alone could result in disciplinary action and possibly a permanent impact on your career in Starfleet. You will not be judged if you prefer to be dismissed.”
Silence reigns. Nobody so much as twitches a finger towards the exit.
McCoy can take no more of their collective tension. “Hoping to scare us off, Mr. Spock? You must be disappointed.”
“On the contrary, I am appreciative of your dedication to Captain Kirk.”
Spock takes a seat across from McCoy, who feels relieved to see an end to the formalities.
Chekov wants his hand as if in a classroom. “Are we setting a course for Sular V?”
Scotty makes a face. “Not with the engine being in pieces.”
“It would be tricky to pull off the dock without raising the alarm,” Sulu joins in. “And I doubt we’d get very far before they sent another ship to intercept and arrest us for an unauthorized departure.”
“Aye, can’t even steal our own ship,” the engineer notes sadly.
Spock reminds them, “Likelihood of success depends on transportation we can control, and this ship remains under my command. Therefore, the Enterprise’s readiness to travel should be prioritized over the issue of authorization. Mr. Scott, how long until the warp engine is functional?”
“Three solar days, if not four, sir–shorter if Keenser and I have help.”
“I can do that,” Chekov offers. The pair shares a friendly nod.
“There will be chatter,” Uhura points out. “Probably on a closed channel, but that won’t be an issue.” Her smile bears the sharpness of anticipating a challenge. “I’ve been wanting an excuse to test a new covert monitoring subroutine. We’ll just say Farm Boy owes me.”
Leonard has always admired Nyota’s willingness to push her own boundaries.
“Acknowledged.”
By which Spock means don’t get caught, translates Leonard privately. As if anyone could outsmart the most decorated communications officer this side of the alpha quadrant!
The doctor chuckles, and Spock’s attention immediately targets him. “Do you find something amusing?”
“Jim would, if he could see us playing spy. He might also be a little miffed, since he thinks espionage is his thing.”
“Actually, it’s mine.” Sulu doesn’t react to the collective raising of eyebrows around the table. “Black Ops hates Kirk. They nearly recruited me.”
Oh, Leonard wants to hear that story. “So, either your options were training to run the underworld someday or to steer our ship? How’d we get so lucky?”
“Better work-life balance,” deadpans the helmsman.
McCoy cackles. He shouldn’t be laughing; he knows he shouldn’t. The alternative is downing the full bottle of whiskey hidden in his travel bag. He almost uncorked at his desk earlier.
It would have been Spock’s job to haul his drunk chief medical officer to this meeting. Leonard tells himself he didn’t get wasted simply to save the poor Vulcan from that embarrassment.
Even now, Spock looks like he’s holding back from dismissing McCoy from the room. The others are just staring between them.
McCoy plants his elbows on the table, leaning toward the Vulcan. “I have an idea if anyone wants to hear it.”
“If you must,” Spock quickly rejoins.
“I’m a frontier doctor, not to mention damned experienced in triage. I’ll volunteer for the Kairon confrontation–no one will turn me down.”
“But you have a job here,” says Scotty, dubious.
Leonard raises an eyebrow. Maybe he should have sipped at something strong before coming here. “Not if I resign.”
One could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence. McCoy’s a bit disappointed. He would have liked an outburst or two. Instead, everyone’s staring at him like he is drunk.
Except Spock.
The acting captain rises from his chair, his tone no longer cool and even but icy. The subsequent “A word, McCoy” is an order not to be disobeyed.
Leonard trails Spock from the briefing room to the empty bridge. Spock moves not to the captain’s seat but to the walkway between the helm controls and the dark expanse of the bridge’s viewscreen. The doctor stops at an arm’s length from Spock.
Spock pivots around to face him, hands clasped at his back. “Offer your resignation.”
Leonard can’t speak for a moment, his throat contracting. Then, “All right.”
Spock closes the gap between them with a single stride. “Until now, Doctor, I had harbored some hope you were not the most foolish of your species.”
His temper flares. “I’m not a fool, Spock!”
“You are desperate–a liability as an officer that this ship cannot afford.”
Spock’s eyes pin him, not unlike hours before. Except they aren’t touching now, so Leonard is not granted a glimpse of what Spock is feeling.
He doesn’t need that connection to know how angry the other man is.
Crossing his arms, Leonard deliberately looks aside to break their eye contact. It does feel a little foolish to admit, “I never said I had a good idea. But it doesn’t matter, not if it’s a way to get to Jim.”
“I quite understand. You would sacrifice your career for the Captain. That is not why I am,” here Spock hesitates before continuing flatly, “opposed.”
This uncharacteristic hesitation prompts Leonard to look his way again and study his countenance more carefully. “Right,” he puzzles slowly, “why wouldn’t you understand? I’m pretty sure you have resigned before, like an idiot, only for Jim to make the paperwork disappear. Then what are you chewing me out over, Spock? For having a bad but, mind you, totally plausible idea? Give me a better play, and I’ll gladly stay as your chief medical officer.”
“We convene a tribunal on the hostage situation.”
Leonard covers his eyes, exasperated. “I said a better play, you pointy-eared devil! The last tribunal we attended was to watch a bunch of stick-in-the-muds fry Jim over a little adventurous programming!”
“He cheated.”
“It was a stupid space game! Nobody was hurt!”
“We haven’t the time to debate the merits of the Kobayashi Maru, Doctor. As you so studiously recalled, like Jim I will lose your resignation should you waste the effort to submit the ten forms required to leave Starfleet. “
Leonard’s eyes pop wide. “T-Ten? What the hell?!”
Spock tilts his head slightly. “I suppose the exercise would be particularly trying for someone who despises paperwork.”
This sneaky bastard. McCoy huffs. “Fine, new plan: sneak me on a ship headed closest to Sular V.”
“I–” Spock hesitates again. “–do not wish you to leave.”
The doctor’s agitation softens. So, Spock doesn’t want to figure this mess out without him. It’s not the way a human like McCoy might go about telling someone they are needed; neither is it the most unpleasant way.
He nods to show his understanding. “How do we pull a tribunal together?”
Spock straightens minutely. “There is a section of protocol within Directive fourteen-point–”
Leonard raises a hand to stall what will not doubt be a primer in the ever-growing loopholes of Starfleet regulation–at least, in how a Vulcan uses them to get what he wants. He ushers Spock forward.
“Better to share with the class,” he drawls. “And by now, they’re probably wondering whether we’ve come to blows.”
“A barbaric custom of humans, not Vulcans.”
Leonard snorts. Maybe for a half-Vulcan if he’s antagonized enough.
The two officers rejoin their colleagues in the briefing room.
~~~
Everyone has an assignment: Scotty and Chekov are tasked with accelerating the flight-readiness of their starship; Uhura will monitor every official–and unofficial–channel while Sulu returns to Earth’s starbase to gather more intel. And Leonard… well, he likes his own assignment less, since it makes him feel useless. “Prepare the medbay,” Spock had suggested.
Just trying to keep me out of your hair, guesses McCoy. This way, I won’t be irritating you with my silly human emotions.
He can’t blame Spock, not really. A subtle tension lies buried within their interactions. It would likely only take an ill-timed remark or a careless gesture to set off another confrontation.
And so, Leonard carefully gives Spock space, letting him and nearly everyone else exit the briefing room first. He does manage to catch Uhura’s attention and pull her aside.
“Something bothering you?” she asks.
“Spock is.” He tries to broach the subject tactfully. “Just not in the usual way.”
The woman lifts an eyebrow. “So, you don’t think he’s being a pain in the ass?”
“Well…”
They share a chuckle.
It feels easier to say, then, “I’m worried about his emotional state.”
“But not enough to remove him from the chair,” she surmises.
“You know I will if I have to.” Leonard sighs. “Listen, just keep an eye on him. He doesn’t show it, but we both know Spock feels deeply about Jim. And just how he can be reckless if the mood strikes.”
Uhura studies the doctor’s somber face. The crease of stress lines about his mouth must be more prominent than usual with the way she takes her time.
“I’ll do my best,” she promises, accepting McCoy’s relieved nod. “And who will watch out for you?”
Leonard thinks of Jim. Always Jim, the person best attuned to his moods, ready to tell him to stop working too hard instead of facing unpleasant things like grief and loss and helplessness. Leonard has tried his best to do the same for Jim over the years, as much as he has been allowed to.
…Damn, but how alike they are.
“I’ll be fine,” he assures Nyota, hoping to channel some of Kirk’s charm. When she rolls her eyes, he can tell she sees right through him. After all, he did just rattle everyone by offering to quit Starfleet. “Call me if you need to. Knocking some sense into that Vulcan’s computer-for-a-brain is always my favorite part of the job.”
He can’t quite interpret the look the woman gives him before she leaves him.
~~~
Perhaps being on the bridge alone is too boring even for a Vulcan. But Leonard swears Spock has only encroached onto Medical to drive him crazy.
He sets another biobed to running self-diagnostics and deliberately puts his back to his visitor, busying himself with refreshing his padd’s screen over and over, hoping for the computer’s results come fast enough to give him a genuine reason to be busy.
Spock circles around until he is in front of the doctor again. “You have not offered any suggestions.”
“Do you really need my opinion?” Leonard grumbles. “It sounds like you already have your mind made up on a strategy.”
“I would not ask if the decision was final, Doctor.”
“Then I suggest we tell our superiors they’re a bunch of morons if they don’t think we can handle the situation with the Kairon. We’re the best damn crew in the ‘Fleet!”
Spock blinks. “Your belief in our abilities is duly noted, but your argument is overly emotional.”
If Leonard brains Spock with this padd, he can just fix Spock right up afterwards. Such are the perks of committing violent acts in a medical bay.
McCoy pulls his device into his chest so he doesn’t swing it. “Aren’t you needed on the bridge?”
“Negative.”
C’mon, I know you’re not this obtuse! “Then did you come here to assist with my duties, Mr. Spock? I could use another pair of hands for the supplies inventory after I finish these diagnostics.”
“I am far more concerned about building a convincing argument than your department’s inventory.”
“Then go plan somewhere else!” Once the words burst forth, Leonard can’t stop. “For god’s sake, you sent me down here to keep me in check anyway! When Jim deals with a crisis, I’d be on the bridge right next to him trying to help. But you think I’m ‘overly emotional’, isn’t that right? I can’t be trusted to see things through the logical way–your way. So don’t act like you’re here for my opinion, Spock. You just can’t stand to be alone when you’re stuck!”
Leonard catches too late how his visitor has stiffened.
Spock pivots, placing his back to McCoy. Leonard stares down at the Vulcan’s tightly clasped hands partly with consternation, partly with regret. To his surprise, Spock doesn’t immediately walk away.
“I am not Captain Kirk–which does not preclude me from wanting your help. On the contrary,” Spock says, inflectionless, “no one is better suited to advise me than the person Jim trusts most.”
Leonard bites back the denial, That’s you, not me.
“Requesting your return to Sickbay was not meant to punish you, Doctor McCoy. I assumed that remaining idle would only increase the stress you are experiencing. I see that I was incorrect.”
“Spock…”
“You censure me for not giving deeper consideration to opinions opposing my own. I cannot disagree. This operation must be successful, and logically so, I am quite sensitive to risks that could jeopardize that outcome. However, Doctor, do not mistake divergence in method for divergence in intent. Kirk is, and shall remain, our priority.” Spock moves toward the exit, then. “I will be in my quarters.”
Leonard doesn’t try to stop him. Part of him feels guilty for forgetting that Spock, like him, tries to stay attuned to the crew’s well-being; the Vulcan is certainly not as blockheaded as Leonard often accuses him of being. Spock wanted to ease Leonard’s anxiety.
And Leonard threw that thoughtfulness back in his face.
What’s happening to us?
But McCoy is alone in the medbay, no friendly voice to soothe his concerns, no comforting weight of a hand on his shoulder.
He knows what he should do: set aside this report, hurry to intercept Spock at the turbolift, and apologize. His feet carry him forward, slowly at first, then moving at an urgent clip that his mind has yet to catch up to.
It is all in vain. Spock has vanished from sight. Leonard will have to make his way to the commander’s quarters, invade what little privacy remains—privacy that Spock is likely using to lick his wounds.
Leonard hesitates before entering the lift, his emotions tangled, head and heart warring over such a simple step forward.
Returning to Sickbay feels like defeat. So, Leonard does what he can to soothe the ache of unfinished words. He ensures the biobeds are functioning, restocks the sedatives and bandages, and calibrates his surgical tools. His hands are shaking as he sets the final device aside, a newer version of the neural stimulator he had needed to confirm Jim’s death after the warp core failure so many years ago. Jim had been clearly broken beyond repair—only for a miracle to present itself that McCoy grasped with both hands, even against his own moral code.
He can’t fix his deteriorating relationship with Spock, but by God, he will use every ounce of training and skill he has to keep Jim from dying again.
~~~
Sulu has gathered some valuable intel from his contacts regarding the handling of the Sular Incident, as it has now been named. Namely, to everyone’s disappointment, internal division amongst the Federation council members and Starfleet admiralty is actively preventing a plan from coming together.
Sulu briefs them: “Command is concerned about the appearance of military presence. The USS Ascendant is holding orbit with orders not to escalate. The planetside convoy has taken some fire from the Kairon already; no reported casualties, but those with injuries are limited to basic first-aid supplies without a safe route back to the Ascendant. Kirk was the first to realize the Kairon were planning to attack the convoy and managed to send out a warning. He was taken by their militia while drawing phaser fire away from the campsite.”
Spock remains perfectly still at this news, while others have varying degrees of reaction. He says, “The Accords between the Kairon and their former mining partner end this year. This is a deliberate effort to sabotage the negotiations to extend the arrangement.”
“Yeah, it’s violently clear the Kairon aren’t interested in keeping the peace,” McCoy says sardonically. “So, I guess their former mining partner is also this space neighbor they want to eradicate–over what, a business deal gone wrong? Somebody getting too greedy? Hell, look where our involvement’s gotten us… our people in the crossfire!”
“To use a popular human phrase, Doctor, the milk is split. The concern now is extrication. Unfortunately, the Accords prohibit Federation ground forces from participating in internal security actions on the planet.”
Uhura looks thoughtful at Spock’s words and surmises, “So, if Command believes our presence can be construed as taking sides, they will deny authorization.”
Chekov points out, “But it is already a firefight. Not intervening doesn’t keep us neutral!”
Leonard hates politics; he really does. Thankfully, Starfleet has some humanitarian ideals, or he would have left the institution years ago. “Then frame it as preventing loss of life. We can make the case that without immediate extraction support, the convoy becomes a mass-casualty event. Most treaties have some provision such that medical evacuation is usually permitted.”
“So long as we’re not returning fire,” agrees Sulu.
Scotty says, clearly thinking through some mechanics, “We could improvise a deflector shield for cover, non-lethal. It could block line-of-sight too, keep eyes off our movements while the convoy is rescued, and anything else we might need to do.”
“All workable approaches,” Spock says. “However, Command is not debating physics but risk. We must convince them that sending in the Enterprise is the least dangerous option.”
Uhura frowns. “With the Ascendant already there, if there’s an order to extract, they are the closest to respond.”
Leonard barely holds himself back from leaping to his feet. “No, it has to be us. We could go in without a show of force but being the flagship, we are still a show of force even if we play by the rules.”
Spock looks past the doctor but agrees, “Precisely. We propose evacuation and protective screening only. We transmit the operational parameters in advance and request authorization for that single, limited mission.”
“And we show them we can control it.” Leonard crosses his arms, seeing their plan take shape. “I’ll write restrictive rules of engagement—medical extraction only. If we take fire, we maneuver shields to interpose; we don’t return fire unless it’s the absolute minimum to save lives. Every action logged. Continuous comms with Command. They don’t have to trust our intentions; they can verify our restraint in real time.”
“Also,” Uhura reasons, “time. Waiting for others to ‘sort it out’ is a decision with a body count.”
Sulu summarizes their thoughts. “So we don’t ask permission to fight. We ask permission to extract. We promise restraint, we define limits, we provide oversight, and we quantify the cost of inaction.”
Yes, it sounds plausible, only if… “Spock,” Leonard says carefully, “this could work with the right group of people. Call Admiral Paris. She doesn’t hate Jim.”
In fact, the admiral would have gladly taken Kirk on as a mentor, training him to become part of the brass whom captains answer to. Luckily, Jim had rekindled his love of exploring; until after the fact, Spock and Leonard hadn’t known how close Jim was to giving up the captain’s chair. When he told them, as an ‘funny’ anecdote of all things, it had shocked McCoy to his core.
Paris sees Kirk’s potential. She may just give them a foot in the door by assisting them in convening a tribunal.
Spock reaches for the room’s central computer terminal. The room goes quiet. Spock appears to study its small, stubborn lights. “If authorization is denied, we may still render aid within the strictest interpretation of the Prime Directive’s humanitarian exceptions—provided we do not alter the outcome of the internal conflict. It would, of course, require unsanctioned travel to make the attempt.”
The Vulcan activates the terminal, opening a comm channel. “Admiral Paris, this is Acting Captain Spock, USS Enterprise. Request immediate convening under Regulation 121, Article 14. I have an alternative to offer regarding the Sular Incident–a limited humanitarian support operation planetside.”
Half a minute passes before the speaker crackles to life. Everyone except Spock leans forward in anticipation.
“Captain Spock, well met,” greets Paris. The smooth timbre of her voice fails to disguise an undercurrent of exhaustion. “Request acknowledged.” She pauses. “This is a hell of a time to ask for a hearing, but I expected nothing less of Kirk’s crew. Stand by.”
Closing the channel, Spock speculates, “As Admiral Paris is known for her efficiency, we should receive coordinates within a solar day.”
Uhura promises, “I’ll alert you the moment the details are shared.”
One hurdle down, and several more to go. Thinking of the reality of facing the higher-ups, Leonard mutters, “We’re not going to make any friends,” but still he is able to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The waiting game doesn’t mean anyone needs to, or should, wait around. Temporary hope buoys the Enterprise’s officers into action.
~~~
Released from the briefing room, Leonard feels a headache coming on, whether from lack of sleep, food, or just general constant worry. No matter, he intends to finish preparing Sickbay as a triage center.
When Sulu joins him in the turbolift instead of following the others to the bridge, McCoy wonders if his plans are about to be derailed.
“Heading to your quarters, Mr. Sulu?”
“To the mess hall. I’m starving,” Sulu explains. “Care to join me?”
So his instincts were correct. Leonard gives the only acceptable answer: “I guess I could use a bite.”
The officer’s mess is usually packed with people coming or going from shifts, grabbing a snack, or just taking time to socialize with colleagues. With barely a skeleton crew, the unused hall has fallen into a disturbing quiet. Sulu and McCoy make their way around empty tables to a row of pristine replicators, all shut down except one to conserve energy.
They both settle on a light meal. Leonard is frankly shocked that his plate of food looks edible. Last he had heard–yesterday afternoon–Scotty called a custom-order sandwich worse than garbage and bemoaned not having time to tinker with the replicator’s programming.
The first bite of salad confirms Mr. Scott was right; visually appealing though it may be, the stuff is tasteless. The sole functioning replicator just had to forget how flavor works. The doctor pushes his salad away in disgust and focuses on nursing his (also bland) hot coffee through sheer willpower.
Sulu gives no indication of his own food being awful, eating with military precision.
“I can watch you feed yourself,” Leonard says dryly, “or we can discuss what’s on your mind.”
Sulu speaks without glancing up. “What’s between you and Mr. Spock?”
He huffs. “That’s a loaded question.”
“Then I’ll clarify.” Sulu sets aside his knife and fork. “I was gone for less than fifteen hours. What changed that you two can’t look each other in the eye?”
Sulu’s always been a perceptive man, noticing little details that others often miss. Leonard feels called out. He also knows Sulu, as one of this ship’s tactical officers, has every right to ask.
“We had an argument, that’s all.”
“Beyond the usual kind, obviously.” Sulu lets the silence stretch between them after that, a useful tactic to make McCoy even more uncomfortable.
He caves. “All right, all right! I misinterpreted an order and said some things I didn’t mean. But, c’mon, we both know Spock isn’t always an open book with his intentions.”
“To most of this crew, maybe not. It’s you and the Captain who know him best. Even Uhura says so, and she’s his ex.”
“Damn it, Sulu, you don’t pull your punches.”
“It sounds like you made a mistake. He’d forgive you if you apologized.”
“I know.” Leonard rubs his forehead. “But that’s not going to fix our issue. I think… Don’t repeat this.”
Sulu nods. “I won’t.”
“Spock tolerates me because of Jim. He respects Jim.”
Sulu’s brows pinch together. “Mr. Spock respects you.”
“Professionally, yes. Hell, he might even respect my refusal to quit arguing with him! But respecting and liking someone are not the same thing.”
“Then what an odd choice the commander made to spend his personal leave in the company of somebody he doesn’t like.”
“Jim conned us into it.”
“‘Con’ seems like a strong word, Doc,” says Sulu dryly. “You seemed so excited about going.”
“I wasn’t excited, I was anxious! Jim planned to climb a mountain without safety gear! That green-blooded hobgoblin didn’t even bother backing me up when I expressed my very rational concern. He was all ‘yes, Jim’ and ‘fascinating’ and ‘what does one bring for camping?’ Then he had the gall to give me the stink eye when I answered lots of booze!” Leonard harrumphs and looks away. “I’m telling you, I only agreed to go because somebody should be there in case your foolish captain injured himself.”
“Our foolish captain.”
“Yeah, unfortunately. I’m gonna have high blood pressure before I’m half a century old because of this job.”
“All I hear,” Sulu says, tone still bland, sitting back in his chair, “is that neither you nor Mr. Spock said anything to Kirk about his plans because you didn’t want to spoil his fun. But you clearly knew between the two of you, the Captain would be kept safe.” Sulu softens his tone. “And now, it’s worse, because he needs help and you can’t reach him. But, Leonard, what good can be accomplished if we sacrifice each other for the endgame? Mr. Spock needs you–not just anyone, specifically you. Who else can he trust to put Kirk’s life above everything else, including a duty to obey?”
Leonard flushes. “Y’all make me sound like a maverick. I’m not like that.”
“When it comes to protecting our lives, you can be.”
“Thanks?”
“A change for the better starts with ‘sorry’, or so I’ve heard.”
Leonard grins. “Your ear must be on the floor at all times, Mr. Sulu. Just before shore leave, I said that to a lieutenant who set her roommate’s favorite outfit on fire.”
Sulu smiles. “Then you know it’s good advice.”
Leonard says again, more firmly, as the two men clear their table and prepare to part ways, “Thanks.”
“Just standing in for a friend. He’d hate to see you two at odds.”
Leonard nods slightly, the message received. For Jim’s sake, if not for others, the Enterprise’s acting captain and chief medical officer should resolve their differences.
He will think about that.
Related Posts:
- Holding Fast (5/5) – from June 18, 2026
- Holding Fast (4/5) – from June 18, 2026
- Holding Fast (3/5) – from June 18, 2026
- Holding Fast (1/5) – from June 18, 2026
