I've always wondered what happened in between the death scene of Spock in the reactor chamber and his funeral proceedings. Who got him out? What happened after that? Well, here is my take on a possible scenario and very well may not be canon as I have never been able to find information to substantiate any specifics concerning that gap in time. This is my first attempt writing in the Star Trek realm. Reviews are welcome as one can always learn something from constructive criticism. I hope you all enjoy.

Of course, Star Trek is the property of Paramount and the only thing that I own in this story (so far) is the characterization of Admiral Sedgwick and Captain Beckham. You be the judge of Sedgwick. Personally, I despise him, lol.

Chapter 1

It was over. Spock was dead and all they could do was stand in silence. Some grossly overwhelmed with staggering grief; the cadets in shock having witnessed their captain and teacher willingly lay down his life so that they might live.

A half an hour had lapsed and Kirk had not moved from his position against the glass separating him from Spock's lifeless body. He stared aimlessly at the floor, not moving, not caring to.

McCoy was the first to come back to reality. He slowly walked to Jim's side and knelt softly beside him, not caring to wipe his tear-stained face.

"Jim," McCoy called out, trying to rouse the despondent admiral. There was no response.

McCoy tried once again, to no avail.

He turned to Scotty who was still trying to grasp some measure of control over his own emotional response. Scotty stepped forward and sank down on the other side of Kirk.

"Admiral, the radiation levels are back to normal. We have to remove the Captain's body," Scotty said, gently laying a hand on Kirk's shoulder.

Kirk turned pained eyes first at Scotty then turned his view to McCoy.

"Jim, we can't just leave him in there," McCoy said, voice straining with grief.

Slowly, they helped Kirk stand. His legs were weak, his entire being suffused with enervation. All three turned in unison to look inside the chamber. Spock's body had succumbed to gravity and his lifeless form had slid down the glass and was on his side on the floor.

Kirk's knees threatened to crumple at the sight.

Scotty glanced over at the doctor, making sure he had a firm grip on Kirk's arm. Turning to the left, he opened the door.

He helped McCoy lead Kirk into the chamber. As they turned in unison towards the lifeless body of their fallen comrade and dear friend, Kirk lost all strength and fell to his knees beside the body of his precious friend.

Kirk reached out and gently turned the body face up. His brow furrowed as he fought to control the turbulent emotions flowing inside his mind and his heart. He laid a hand on the now cooling forehead, brushing away the ebony bangs.

Strange, how he remembered the heat that seemed to roll off his friend in waves were now no more. His friend's life force was gone.

Rivulets of precious emerald blood streaked across burned flesh from eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Blood was on the floor beneath his head, saturating silky ebony strands. A life sacrifice borne of a true, selfless heart.

Kirk could not control his own pain as he thought of his dear friend's suffering before he died.

Reaching a hand underneath Spock's head, he gently started to raise him up into a tender embrace. Kirk sat there and began to rock back and forth as his heart could contain the agony no longer. Unbidden tears began to flow as he lifted his eyes towards the heavens and a great agonized cry of denial burst from his lungs.

Scotty sat hard on the floor, overwhelmed by the rampant emotions and McCoy knelt next to Kirk, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. McCoy ran his hand over Spock's brow, noticing that his eyes were only half closed. Gently he brushed his fingers over Spock's eyes, pronouncing the finality of things. His hand still resting on Spock's eyes, McCoy bowed his head, body shaking as torrents of tears began to fall.

Scotty carefully laid his hand upon Spock's leg. "Goodbye laddie, my dear friend" Scotty said, voice thick with sorrow and tears. "I'll see ye again one day."

"Jim, we have to remove him from inside this chamber. The gurney is here," McCoy said quietly, looking through the glass at the waiting medical staff.

Kirk didn't respond.

"Jim!" McCoy said, raising his voice ever so slightly.

Kirk looked up at McCoy and nodded. Rising, Kirk lifted Spock, cradling him to his chest as one would a child. Placing the body on the gurney, he took a step back and wiped the tears from his cheeks. McCoy took the sheet from a nurse and began to cover Spock's body and finally after a few minutes hesitation, his face.

McCoy motioned for the nurses to step back and he, Kirk and Scotty took Spock's body in quiet vigil to Sickbay's morgue.

(8 hours later)

"No!" McCoy snapped at the image on the computer monitor. "He's gone through enough! Now you are demanding an autopsy?!"

"Dr McCoy, Captain Spock will not be going through anything. He's dead," Admiral Sedgwick said with a petulant smirk gracing his features.

"We know what killed him! There is no need for an invasive autopsy!" McCoy rebutted.

Admiral Sedgwick's visage darkened even further at McCoy's recalcitrant outburst. "Dr McCoy, you WILL do an autopsy!"

Seeing that he was getting nowhere with the Enterprise's CMO, Sedgwick changed his tactics. "Listen McCoy, I do realize that Captain Spock was a close friend of yours and you have my sympathy on your loss," Sedgwick stated with a patronizing air. "Nevertheless, my order stands. If you refuse, you will be reprimanded and the medical team at Starfleet Command will do it."

"Why?" McCoy asked, exasperated. "Why is it necessary? I understood that since I'm the CMO of this ship, it would be up to my determination if an autopsy would be warranted, not some paper pusher at Starfleet Command! It is definitely not! I watched him die with my own two eyes. I assure you, Spock's death was due to radiation, not some anomalous, unknown cause!" McCoy continued to rant.

"Let's just say Captain Spock was unique and I am curious as to what the intense radiation did to his body," Sedgwick continued.

"Good God, man!" McCoy looked incredulously at the Admiral. "I don't need to hack his body up to tell you what it did! His entire body was bombarded by pure uncontained radiation. The radiation caused extensive external burns and breakdown of tissue and vital organs. Basically, he was cooked alive! He gave his life so we all could have a chance to live and I'm not about to dishonor his memory by chopping him up to satisfy your curiosity! We owe him more than that…much more than that!"

Admiral Sedgwick stared at McCoy, absorbing his caustic response with disdain. "Do the autopsy, McCoy," Sedgwick said, glaring through the screen. I'll expect a detailed report on every aspect of the procedure. I want the report in 48 hours. Do a thorough autopsy. I want a complete report including blood analysis and toxicology. Make sure that you record the actual autopsy. I want that as well. That's a direct order. My warning stands and you will suffer the repercussions if you defy my orders. If you refuse to do it, then the staff at Starfleet Medical will and you will be court-martialed for refusal to follow a direct order and dereliction of duty. I seriously doubt our staff will take the great care that you would with the Captain's remains. Sedgwick out."

The monitor screen went blank and McCoy fell back in his chair, completely exasperated with the admiral. Throwing his stylus across his desk, he opened a drawer, pulling out a bottle of amber liquid and two glasses.

Furiously rubbing his eyes, he reached for the intercom button. "McCoy to Admiral Kirk."