Spock tried, too

Remorse

Our perspective swing to sick bay where there were are two red shirts being tended to by Christine and Backett. Scotty was sitting on the biobed with a ice bag clenched to the side of his head appearing to be apologetic. A Hondurian ensign walked out of sick bay alongside a Andorian lieutenant. Stone was working late instead of ending his shift in the morning like any sensible damn doctor in his career. He generally liked to care for others and be around on the spot when a star fleet officer becomes an idiot that they injured themselves gravely. Unlike Doctor McCoy who usually could be found on the bridge, Stone could be either found in his quarters wrapped by a blanket or in his office playing scrabble online.

"Sorry, Doctor," Scotty apologized, leaning up covering the corner of his right temple with a ice bag. "I did nae mean tae get into a fight."

"Over the Enterprise of all things," Stone said. "not surprised." He handed the dermal regenerator to Brackett He faced toward the Scotsman. "My predecessor sent me a message last week regarding what to expect when it came to his old crew. Hell, I met him at one of the Gangorian protests! A real sweetheart."

Scotty was skeptical at first.

"Doctor McCoy, a sweetheart, are we talkin' about the same man?" Scotty asked.

"Why yes, Scotty," Stone said. "he wasn't grumpy all the time. "

"Ah ha," Scotty said. "you didn't actually meet him face to face."

"We worked on the same patient," Stone said.

"Define workin' on the same patient," Scotty said.

"We worked on the same patient," Stone said, flashing a smile toward the older man as briefly. "you are discharged." he turned his attention in the direction of Nurse Brackett who had shoulder length dark brown hair with her attention turned toward a young black woman. "Nurse Brackett, you dropped your stylist."

"Why thank you, Doctor," Brackett said.

"Evary is pining on you and please , for gods sake, resolve your pining after they by talking to them like an ordinary person" Stone said. Stone rolled an eye. "I don't need nurses fainting on the job."

Stone went past the woman.

"Evary is pining me?" Brackett said, looking over in the direction of the quite male-appealing-person-but-had-the appearance-of-a-woman body wise to the Mak'Tar. Evary's cheeks turned a shade of pink. Their rolled elephant like trunk getting tighter above their lips making a unusual loud high pitched sound, their pointy white ears turning a shade of pink, the ridge above their eyes knitting together almost vanishing beneath the bowl hair cut. Evary finished writing on the padd then exited the room. "That certainly explains a lot."

Scotty got off the biobed. The scar that had been on the side of his forehead was no longer there and all that would take to heal the growing bruise would be time and patience. Suddenly an announcement went off in Sick Bay, "Doctor Stone, prepare for incoming traffic." Scotty made his way out of sick bay. Scotty saw several pairs of pointy ears headed his way in dark gray attire with children among them. He stepped aside out of their way. Several security officers were around them making sure they were being escorted and did not run away for their check up. Scotty grew alarmed. They couldn't be there right away. By his count, there appeared to be around forty to fifty Vulcans. Most of them were children ranging in height. He didn't see anyone in the group who appeared to be familiar.

Scotty made his way to the captain's ready room.

Someone had to check the poor lad.

Scotty  finally made his way to the ready room after  passing other officers, taking several, and using the turbo lift that seemed to be malfunctioning for no damn reason at all. The turbo lift technicians had told Scotty that they got the glitch out. The turbo lifts needed overnight repairs with skilled workers. Scotty had a rough idea of who should do it, namely him, and a woman named Jaylah. Jaylah was a fast paced being running through the engineering track. Spock was silent sitting down in his chair turned away from the desk.  He had known her for a few years now and here was as a lieutenant on the Enterprise. Jaylah would immensely enjoy the challenge that Scotty knew.  Finally, he entered the ready room with the ice bag pressed against the side of his head.

"Mr Spock?" Scotty asked.

Spock turned away from the window back in the direction of the Scotsman with a raised eyebrow.

"Mr Scott," Spock said. "What brings you here?"

Scotty stepped forward.

"The survivors," Scotty said. "I saw them. And I was wonderin'. . . did you lose someone?"

Spock briefly closed his eyes then reopened them.

"Is it to be expected," Spock said. He took out small balls then placed them onto the table.  "They were in the ejection pod." Scotty could see great pain in the Vulcan's eyes. A kind of ache that seemed to be unusual for him. Grief. It had been a long time since the scotsman and Spock had been face to face. "Did the doctor tell you where he was going?"

Scotty paled, lowering the ice bag.

"He said that he was goin' somewhere to help people," Scotty said.

It was definite. He was sure. The thought of it made his stomach twist up into knots. Leonard McCoy was dead.  And so was his companion Mallard. He recognized the balls. One with a sticker showing a Megamite from the Pokemon franchise. The others had remarkably the same sticker. He wanted to fall down and weep. His legs felt heavy beneath the Scottsman. He couldn't be gone. And Scotty helped the man get his death sentence. If a ejection pod was the only thing that arrived then it probably meant  what sent the pod was dead. And the ship with it. Spock bowed his head then looked toward the Scotsman.

"Your concern is appreciated, Mr Scott," Spock said, his deep voice monotone.  "Today I lost my older brother.  .  ." He sighed. "I do not believe that Doctor  McCoy was a part of the vessel that left Hellgaurd."

"He is still there," Scotty said.

"I believe so," Spock said.

"I should have asked him where he was goin'," Scotty said.  Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Mr Scott, there is nothing you could have done to change the doctor's mind," Spock said. "When his decision is made . . .  there is no stopping him. And he would have lied of where his preferred destination had been."

"I could have helped him if he asked," Scotty said. "He shouldn't be there alone. . .and ye should nae lost your brother."

"There are many things that should not have happened," Spock agreed.

"Do you need some company?" Scotty asked.

Spock shook his head.

"None is needed," Spock said. "I prefer privacy for the time being."

"If that helps you grieve, Mr Spock," Scotty said, then he walked out of the ready room.

Spock felt a cold hand place itself on his shoulder.

"Tushah nash-veh k'du," Spock heard Jim's voice as he felt sympathy.  It occurred to Spock.

Jim has, and always shall be, by Spock's side.