A/N: In case it wasn't clear, these last few chapters have centered largely around the episode Errand of Mercy, which is why I didn't go into depth in the actual mission down on the planet. In fact, I stole some of the dialogue.

Also, last chapter in this story. Sorry for the delay.

.o0o.

Spock followed patiently behind Captain Kirk as they made their way silently from the transporter room to the Bridge. They encountered several familiar faces and a couple less familiar faces on their way, but each new face seemed as eager as the last to welcome them back. Kirk was less responsive than normal, even grunting in reply to some of the cheerful faces.

As always, the silence did not bother Spock. In fact, on this particular occasion, he was thankful for it. Inside his head, the link had instantly flared to life as he boarded the ship and McCoy's emotions flooded unhindered into his mind. First, worry and concern, then anger and confusion greeted him. Spock tried to ease McCoy's worries without being entirely certain what they were.

Unfortunately, he succeeded and anger became the only prominent emotion he could sense. He was unsure if this was an improvement over the other distracting emotions, but Spock was fairly certain it was at least more normal for the doctor.

Sulu was wearing a broad grin when they entered the Bridge and Uhura stood in her excitement. The captain's chair was empty and Kirk sat down and gazed at the viewscreen. Spock stood beside him. A whole fleet of Klingon ships were orbiting Organia with them.

"Sir." Sulu began stiltedly. "The war..."

"Canceled." Kirk responded.

Sulu furrowed his brow and nodded. Spock was unsure if he should elaborate but took his cue from the captain and remained silent.

"Mr. Sulu, did I not instruct you to leave should you encounter Klingons?"

"We did." Sulu's words were drawn out, like there was a great deal missing from the explanation. Spock decided that this was likely and picked up a PADD to review what had transpired in their absence.

Distractedly, he supplied, "Perhaps the Organians drew the Enterprise back. The extent of their powers was difficult to ascertain." Kirk shrugged in response. After several long minutes of perusing the backlog of events and finding himself rather uncomfortable with the extent of danger they'd been in, he finally addressed Kirk. "You've been most restrained since we left Organia."

"I'm embarrassed. I was furious with the Organians for stopping a war that I didn't want." Kirk idly brought his hand up to his face as he sorted out his thoughts. "We tend to think of ourselves as the most powerful beings in the universe. It's unsettling to realize that we're not."

Spock had lived his whole life under the premise that there were beings more powerful than himself in the vastness of space. It was part of what had drawn him to exploration. Thus, it took him a moment to understand the captain's position and formulate the proper response. "Captain, it took millions of years for the Organians to evolve into what they are. You and I have no reason to be embarrassed. We did, after all, beat the odds."

"Oh, no." Kirk was shaking his head. "No, Mr. Spock. We didn't beat the odds. We didn't have a chance. The Organians raided the game."

Spock decided this was a valid interpretation of events and chose not to respond.

The intercom rang. "Baker to Bridge."

Kirk tapped on the arm of his chair. "Kirk here."

"Good to hear your voice, Captain, but I think it's time we got out of here. Let's head back toward Starbase 6."

Kirk looked up at the screen. "I couldn't agree more. Sulu, you heard the lady."

"Aye, Captain."

"And, Captain," Baker continued, "Can you meet me in the debriefing room in about an hour?"

Kirk frowned but shrugged, though Baker would be unable to see either. "See you then."

The ship peeled out of orbit and Spock's mind went back to McCoy. He'd have expected the doctor to meet them at the transporter pads, or, failing that, show up on the Bridge. He'd have to check on him soon to see if he was well.

As if reading his mind, Kirk shot up from his chair. "Let's see how Ol' Bones is doing." They entered the turbolift and Spock unthinkingly corrected their direction from Sickbay to the living section of the ship. Kirk didn't comment.

"Much has transpired in our absence." Spock announced and passed his PADD to the Captain.

Kirk handed it back after skimming the contents. "I'm going to kill him."

Although there were a multitude of males mentioned in the passage, Spock was reasonably sure that Kirk was referring to McCoy. "I must insist that you refrain from doing so." Kirk passed him a look, which he'd only recently identified as his attempt to gauge if the Vulcan was joking. Spock kept his face rigid.

McCoy was standing in front of the door with his arms crossed looking surly when they slid open.

"What are you doing in Spock's quarters?" Kirk asked innocently.

Spock entered and shut the door. "When Stark was making room assignments, he did not account for McCoy being placed anywhere other than Sickbay or the brig, and his room was reassigned to Captain Baker. When it became apparent that the doctor would be allowed to return to work, I switched him to my quarters as a familiar location. I was beginning to wonder if he was even aware of the switch when he chose to sleep in Sickbay instead."

McCoy shrugged it off and returned with, "I really don't like Baker. She has me sequestered in here." Spock wasn't sure what to make of the shrug. Was McCoy indifferent to being asked to share quarters with him or was he simply too upset with Baker to care either way?

"Well, I don't know," Kirk responded, moving around the doctor to sit in one of Spock's chairs, leaning back like he owned the place. Spock folded his arms behind his back and stood near the closed door. "I think you might have deserved it. What were you thinking, going on a Klingon ship by yourself?"

"I was thinking we were all going to die if we didn't try something." McCoy growled. "Besides, it worked. The ends and the means, and all that jazz."

Intentionally or not, McCoy's mind was translating his odd words into 'the ends justify the means.' "You believe this was the event that the Captain's note was referring to." Spock stated.

"But you said we wouldn't send a note back just to save the ship." Kirk argued, looking back at his First Officer.

"Unless the ship or one of its occupants were to make a difference so profound that it was unavoidable." Spock supplied.

Neither of them appeared to be listening. McCoy was passionately making his case. "Besides, it makes perfect sense. Kritrok was apparently a bigwig for the Klingons and without him, we never would have gotten away from Organia in one piece. If we'd followed our instincts and gotten rid of him first chance we got, you and Spock would have been the only survivors from the Enterprise."

"I suppose this could have been it."

"Or some future event for which we no longer have the Klingons on board." Spock added, helpfully.

McCoy glared at him. "What happened down there, anyway?"

Kirk looked contemplative for a moment, then eagerly began to tell the story. "Well, we thought we were going down there on an errand of mercy to protect some defenseless people against the horrors that were the Klingons. We spent so much time trying to convince them to accept our help that we actually ran out of time and had to disguise ourselves as Organians to avoid getting killed by the Klingons. And then the Klingons were killing them by the hundreds and the Organians... they just didn't care."

"What?" McCoy leaned forward intently.

"The Organians were actually these incorporeal beings, and oddly enough, the only ones in any real danger of dying were myself and Spock. And they were so powerful. They just... refused to let us fight." Kirk finished off his story with a shrug. "So, the war is canceled."

Spock debated briefly if he should correct some of the less accurate statements, but decided that it would probably do more to raise confusion than clarify. His report, on the other hand, would be completely accurate.

A minute ticked by slowly. Spock could tell that McCoy was feeling a bit awkward. They generally only used the captain's quarters when they all spent time together as it was a bit larger than his own. He wondered if it was the change of scenery that was affecting the atmosphere or if he'd neglected some traditional human hospitality ritual.

Kirk was fiddling with one of his antique sculptures and Spock braced himself for the inevitable vaguely inappropriate commentary or question that would appear. McCoy was eying the captain as well, obviously familiar enough with his mannerisms to expect the same result.

"You know, Spock, you never did explain Vulcan perception on homosexuals."

"I've been wondering that myself." McCoy agreed guardedly.

Spock raised an eyebrow. He had expected the question from McCoy, not from Kirk. "Homosexuality does not exist on Vulcan."

"Wait... what?" McCoy sputtered.

"Nor does heterosexuality. These are human terms that are generally not recognized. Mates are established by mental compatibility and logical suitability. Thus heterosexual relationships are by far the most common as they are, in almost all situations, the most logical by way of their ability to produce offspring and continue the Vulcan race."

"I'm sensing a 'but' here." Kirk prompted.

Spock paused a moment to think of the best explanation. "However, there are instances where the anatomy of the partner is irrelevant. For instance, older couples may be undesiring of children as they will not be capable of adequately caring for them and consequently burden others. And, on occasion, a homosexual relationship can be more logical than a heterosexual one. It is generally perceived that the minds of Vulcans of the same gender are more similar and links are more easily formed. Often, recently widowed individuals approaching Pon Farr may be more inclined to create a less permanent link with an acquaintance of the same sex if there is insufficient time to find a life-partner. Similarly, unlinked Vulcans traveling for extended periods of time who are detained unexpectedly may find themselves in need of a mate."

Kirk's open palm slammed down on the table making McCoy jump in surprise. Spock was uncertain if this response was in anger or not. Vulcan mating rituals were rarely discussed, and he was beginning to wonder if he'd said something to offend. McCoy's expression was oddly unreadable and his emotions were all over the place. Kirk wet his lips. "That's what Serin was talking about. He'd said that you linking with Bones was somehow a good sign for Vulcans wanting to join Starfleet. He must have seen your willingness to link as a sign that a Vulcan unable to return to Vulcan wouldn't be a death sentence."

Spock remembered Serin, but couldn't recall any such conversation. He thought it odd that Serin had been willing to bring it up. Then again, Serin may have assumed that the topic had already arisen. "It is one of the concerns a Vulcan must consider when joining." He conceded.

"So," McCoy broke in, "Homosexuality is just a contingency plan."

"The term is inaccurate, but you are primarily correct. However, there are other causes to consider. Surak himself was in a homosexual marriage because he believed that children would distract him from his aims. Some devoted scholars and researchers follow in his footsteps." Spock recited this little known fact as if it were mostly irrelevant, but he knew it was potentially inaccurate. Surak, despite his own teachings, was rumored to have married for love. His own parents had married for love, but it was not the Vulcan way. Two logically sound, mentally compatible individuals were sufficient to produce a successful marriage. Spock thought back to the doctor's comment on two computers having nothing to disagree about. On Vulcan, it was somewhat ideal.

"Whoa." McCoy's eyebrows crinkled. "I thought you were a descendant of Surak."

"I am of his blood line."

McCoy plopped back down on Spock's bed. "So, homosexual partners are a result of an emergency or fanaticism. Peachy."

"Perhaps I was unclear." Spock did not frown, but he was willing to admit that he didn't like McCoy's attitude about the situation. It distressed him, though he was unsure why exactly. "Homosexual relationships are considered honorable among my people, and although our situation is abnormal, we did link our minds in order to preserve life. There is no cause for your shame."

"So, I have a question." Kirk butted in. "If any Vulcan can link to either a male or a female, does that mean that all Vulcans are bisexual?"

McCoy was giving Kirk a look that the captain had referred to on several occasions as 'the hairy eyeball', but Spock was unsure what that meant as eyeballs did not have hair. "Vulcans are biologically inclined to find their mate sexually appealing. This is partially why links are necessary during Pon Farr."

"Jim." McCoy whipped around. "Leave."

"No way. This is just getting good."

McCoy crossed his arms and growled, "Don't you think this is kind of personal?"

"My ship." Kirk responded. He wandered over to the replicator and started jabbing at the buttons.

McCoy coughed, drawing Spock's attention again. "So, by virtue of us being linked, you find me attractive."

Spock thought this was an odd and overall unnecessary statement to make. He'd already confirmed that this was the case. McCoy had to be aware of it as well as he had, on more than one occasion, felt the doctor's attraction. It was the nature of the link. "Vulcans are quite capable of appreciating aesthetics outside of their mental links; however, it is much more difficult to derive sexual stimulation from an individual to whom they are not linked." Although there were very few humans involved in Vulcan links, Spock found it difficult to believe that McCoy would be completely exempt from this.

Spock followed McCoy's gaze to their captain, who was currently munching on popcorn at the table. Spock mentally scanned through the regulations for protocol on evicting a captain from a crewman's personal quarters and came up with a medical emergency only.

"I do not understand why this distresses you."

"Because!" McCoy responded promptly and with enough finality, that Spock was unsure if there was an actual reason forthcoming. "Because there's no choice. It's all biological imperative!"

"Are humans not also victims of biological imperative? Or have you chosen who to become attracted to in the past?" Spock's eyebrows bunched together in a Vulcan frown. "I believe the Vulcan way to be much more satisfactory. Links are formed on mental compatibility and attraction is based on the links. This eliminates a common problem among humans where physical attraction can override mental attraction, which results in faulty relationships without a strong basis on which to thrive."

"He has a point." Kirk chirped, throwing some more popcorn into his mouth.

"Shut it." McCoy grunted.

"Captain. If you wish to be on time to your meeting with Captain Baker, you must leave immediately."

"Duty calls." Kirk announced, setting aside his food. "All right. Come on, Spock."

Spock noted that the invitation had not explicitly included himself but did not protest. He followed the captain from his room. The captain whistled as they went and Spock noted that his poor temperament had all but evaporated. Spock was more concerned with the meeting at hand. He was unsure of what Captain Baker's intentions were, but requesting a formal meeting struck him as odd.

"Captain Kirk. Mr. Spock. I'm pleased to see you have returned unharmed." Captain Baker announced as they entered the room. Stark stood beside her.

Kirk glanced his way before responding, suddenly stiffer. "Captain Baker. Thank you for keeping my seat warm."

"Archer asked that I take command after we barely escaped the Klingons. I assume their lack of attacks is due to some arrangement you made on the planet's surface?"

"It was more like an arrangement made for us."

Spock watched the interaction blandly. He was unsure of the cause of hostility, but he could still detect it there. Kirk did not relax at the knowledge that Baker had only assumed command on Archer's orders, instead, he seemed almost to tense up more. "The Organians were much more powerful than we originally believed. It appears that they have the ability and the inclination to halt any military force between the Klingons and ourselves."

"Then they pulled us back to Organia?" Stark asked.

"That would be a logical assertion given the evidence."

Kirk was still staring hard at Baker. "And?"

Baker straightened. "And I have no intention of relinquishing command to you at this time."

"The Enterprise is my ship." Kirk sounded affronted.

"Captain." Baker shook her head and lowered her voice. "Jim. You and I both know you've been making a series of questionable decisions just since I've come aboard. Allowing Dr. McCoy not only free reign of the ship, but to return to work as your CMO after he's proven himself dangerous and unpredictable, that alone would be enough to raise red flags. My own crewman is in your brig for the same offense."

"Dr. McCoy's situation is different." Kirk responded curtly.

"Why? Because your First Officer can keep an eye on his mental state?" Stark butted in with a less friendly attitude. "He was present on the Pioneer when your doctor first acted strange and was unable to prevent injury then."

Spock raised an eyebrow. Despite being factual, he was finding this line of reasoning distasteful. He wondered if it was caused by Kirk's harried expression. He'd seen that angry look before and wondered if he should step in before he engaged in a physical altercation.

Baker stepped in first, resting a hand on her First Officer's shoulder. "I'm not trying to pick a fight with your methods, but I think you can agree that that may have been a mistake. Unless, of course, Mr. Spock can guarantee that such an occurrence with Dr. McCoy could never happen again."

All eyes were on him now. Spock wasn't sure why, but he felt relieved that McCoy was not present to hear his response. There was only one logical answer. "I cannot." Spock considered the options. Unless a more skilled Vulcan healer managed to see the doctor's mind more clearly than he could, which did seem doubtful given the depth of their connection, they could truly only be certain of the doctor's safety if the one who placed the traps in his mind were to die or otherwise rendered completely incapable of using his mental faculties.

"All right." Kirk conceded, a deep frown on his face. "I will keep Dr. McCoy monitored at all times."

But Baker wasn't finished. "You've also kept 12 Klingons aboard this ship, among your crew and not in the brig, even after war was officially declared. You left Lieutenant Sulu in charge of your ship when you had several members of the crew, myself included, with a higher rank and more experience handling crises. Take a few days off to get your head on straight so I don't have to report this."

Kirk let out a huff but didn't argue. If Baker went through with the report, he might lose the Enterprise for a lot longer than a few days. They would all have to be more careful.

.o0o.

A/N: And that's the end of 'Honor.' I hope I've adequately answered whatever questions you had. Thanks a bundle for all your reviews.

The fourth and final installment of my series, called 'Dependency: Missive' is posted already. Check it out through my username, and don't forget to bookmark it.