McCoy stood next to Spock on the lift as they went to Sick Bay.  Spock’s eyes were closed and he leaned against the lift’s walls to support himself.  McCoy studied the wrinkled, almost transparent green skin, the wasted muscles and he noticed the tremor in Spock’s body in reaction to being cold.  This stirred McCoy’s deep compassion for Spock; he hated to see the Vulcan like this.  Spock always seemed immortal and invincible; years did not affect Vulcans as years affected humans.  There had been so many times that McCoy had felt protected by his strength.  McCoy placed his hand on Spock’s shoulder for comfort and concentrated on sending heat into the thin body, although Spock would say it was not physically possible to infuse heat into his body by one hand, he did allow his love and reassurance to flow to Spock.  Spock leaned into McCoy’s touch, his eyes were still closed but there was a trace of relief on his face.  The lift doors opened and he gently guided Spock to Sick Bay.

“Doctor, though I am affected by the aging effects, I assure you that my body has not transmuted into porcelain.”  His normally logic driven statements lacked the bite due to his hoarse voice.

“I know.  I’m just tryin’ to be a little sympathetic here.  I went through this too.”  McCoy said and he softened the tone of his voice, this was not the time for one of their verbal bouts. 

When they entered Sick Bay, Nurse Chapel walked on the other side of Spock.  They walked with him toward the Biobed; which was tilted so that Spock would not have to climb up onto the bed.  McCoy and Chapel were silent as they strapped Spock’s chest and extremities down in preparation for the treatment.  There were tears in Christine’s eyes, this was so difficult for her to see; she had to witness the effects on Kirk, Scotty and McCoy.  Strapping Spock in reminded McCoy of the extreme pain and spasms that his body went through; his bruised ribs and the pulled muscles in his neck and back were still giving him discomfort. Spock was getting a far larger dose.  McCoy turned on the heating element in the cushion under Spock and he activated the over head heating devices used for treating patients with hypothermia.  The heat would alleviate some of the muscle pain from the spasms.

“Thank you, Doctor.  The heat is comforting and a considerate action on your part.”  Spock said.

“Don’t mention it, Spock.  We want you to have some comfort through this process.”  McCoy said in his professional doctor’s tone.  “That was the last restraint.  Spock, I know you have the ability to control your pain but I’m telling you as a patient myself, this is going to be very painful.”

Spock closed his eyes and took a deep breath and slowly released the breath, “Proceed.”

McCoy was not prepared for the expression of intense pain on Spock’s face, nor was he prepared for the cry of anguish as Spock screamed.  The raw emotion displayed on Spock’s face, the twisting and distortion of his body and the jerking of his extremities were difficult to watch.  McCoy gently motioned for Christine to leave, she was sobbing at this point.  He was relieved she left because his eyes were filling with tears also.  After thirty agonizing minutes the years dissolved away; Spock’s body resumed his lean muscular build, the green skin became supple and smooth and the once silver stiff hair returned to the silky jet black hair.  McCoy left the restraints on for a few more minutes and then the ebony eyes opened, the keen focus and the intelligence in them shone.

“You may remove the restraints, Doctor.  I am no longer a threat. I must acknowledge your warning about the discomfort, it was not exaggerated.”  Spock said with his usual deep voice.

“I never exaggerate my treatments.”  McCoy said as he released the last strap and stepped back as Spock moved off of the Biobed.

They stood and studied each other in silence, Spock relishing the return of McCoy’s soft skin, the dark hair and the dark eyelashes that encircled the intensely blue eyes.  To see the Doctor so frail, vulnerable and weak had been a foreshadowing of the years to come.  However, he was amazed at McCoy’s mental and emotional strength during the aging episode.  There was no fear of death, his mind maintained the quick recall of knowledge and there was a bravery that he had seen in McCoy before.  Looking at the Doctor’s slight build he realized that McCoy outwardly still possessed that vulnerability that Kirk and he often felt.  Not that McCoy was weak physically by any means; it was the Doctor’s character that gave him his strength.  It was as if McCoy was more valuable now that he had seen him so frail and he could have lost him.  Losing Kirk would have been difficult also; he realized that within hours without the treatment he would have lost them both.

“Well, how does it feel to be young again?  I must say that you were the best looking old man of all of us.  Is there anything else that you need, Spock?” McCoy said with his usual half smile.

“I was noting that though your body was greatly affected, your mind and your character remained strong.  Your arrival at the treatment should be commended.  I think that an ‘Old Country Doctor’ would not be an accurate summation of your skills.” Spock said.

McCoy was taken aback, he was not prepared to be praised, “Thank you, Spock.  Well I have a lot of charting to do about our little trip into the future, one that I do not want to make again anytime soon!”

“Leonard, when are you going to rest and at least eat a meal?”  Spock asked.

“Oh, I’ll be having my supper in my office while I’m charting.”  McCoy said, quickly changing the subject.  “Bring your portable computer and we can eat and log all of our findings and conclusions together.”

Spock stepped closer and then they both embraced, there had been no time for them during this event.  Most of their time was spent researching and McCoy’s physical weakness limited his endurance.  There had been little change in Spock when McCoy had started aging, but to feel Spock’s solid warm body again was heaven.  Spock had assisted McCoy when he was so frail, almost brittle; it felt like his Vulcan strength would easily have crushed him.  To have McCoy in his arms with the renewed suppleness and substance of his body, the auburn highlights of his hair and the velvety softness of his skin was a tangible reassurance.  They parted and McCoy quickly brought two fingers to Spock’s hand and stroked the elegant long fingers.  Spock sighed and brought his other hand to McCoy’s face and cupped his cheek.  McCoy smiled and turned away toward his office, Spock noticed he was limping slightly and his arms were crossed protectively across his chest.  Spock shook his head; McCoy had broken the contact so that Spock would not pick up on his discomfort.

Chapel returned much more in control.  Her eyes brightened at Spock’s recovery.  “How are you feeling, Mr. Spock?”  She asked.

“Very well, Nurse Chapel, no lasting effects.  How did the others respond to the treatment?”  He asked.  Kirk had returned to the bridge fully recovered and exuding his usual energy and physical stamina.

“Kirk and Scotty tolerated it very well.  Dr. McCoy received some bruised ribs and strained muscles, of which he has not stopped to be treated or rest…but no adverse reaction.”  She answered.  “You know how he is.”

“Indeed, I do.  Thank you, Nurse Chapel.”  He said and he went to his quarters to retrieve his data disks and portable computer unit.

Spock and McCoy worked on their logs in the Doctor’s office.  Spock would look over at McCoy from time to time and noticed him massaging his neck and back muscles, McCoy would wince if he turned to fast in is chair or bent over to pick up a data disc off of the floor.  Then he noticed McCoy was dozing off in his chair, it was time that McCoy rested.  Spock rose and walked over to his chair.

“Doctor, I think that it would be wise for you to go to your quarters and rest.”  Spock said, “Doctor?”

McCoy awoke with a start and the let out a string of curses as he splinted his chest with his arms.

“Dammit, Spock, don’t sneak up on me like that.  I just dozed off that’s all.”  McCoy said as his body relaxed.

“Nurse Chapel stated that you have not received any treatment for you muscle strains…”  Spock began.

“Have you had a massage by that woman?!  It would be less painful if a Gorn was giving the massage.  I’ll take some muscle relaxants before I go to sleep.  There’s nothing to do for the bruised ribs, just pain medication.  The pain keeps me focused.”  McCoy said.

“It has been a long day, Doctor and our bodies have undergone massive regenerative processes.  These processes require a great deal of energy and my Vulcan reserves are far more extensive than yours.  I am very tired and I require rest.  It would be negligence on your part not to rest and restore your reserves.”  Spock said, his expression was not condescending but McCoy reacted in his usual emotional way.

“So you’re gonna rub my nose in my human failin’s, are you?  It always comes down to Vulcan superiority doesn’t it?”  McCoy yelled.

Spock responded with a nonverbal eyebrow rise of affirmation.

At this point the weariness and pain was displayed in the Doctor’s posture and expression.

“You’re right, Spock, I need to call it a night.”  McCoy logged out of his notes and stiffly rose from his chair.  Another string of expletives escaped his lips.  “Dammit, this is worse than when I was old.”   He straitened slowly.  They walked together to their quarters and they stopped outside of McCoy’s door.

“Leonard, please allow me to ease your discomfort.  I do not understand why you persist in the idea that you are an exception and are not in need of medical care.  You frequently are so supportive of my comfort and health, allow me to help you.  It is not a weakness to ask for help or to receive care.”  Spock said his eyes intense.

By this time McCoy was so tired, he lacked the energy to feign that he was not in pain.  His nodded and they went inside.  McCoy let out a small cry and a loud curse as he tried to pull his tunic and undershirt off.  Spock sighed and slowly helped him remove the clothing.  There were two transverse bruises across the Doctor’s chest, even McCoy’s eyebrows rose at the site.

Spock guided him to the bed and motioned for him to sit down.  He knelt in front of McCoy to help him remove his boots and the Doctor allowed him to do so, then he removed his socks and pants.  Spock rose and walked to the other side of the bed and rested his warm hands on McCoy’s bare shoulders.   His long fingers firmly massaged the tight muscles in McCoy’s neck, shoulders and back, the muscles relaxed under his precise manipulation.  Then he noted that McCoy’s head was tilted forward and the sounds of soft snoring could be heard.  Spock knelt on the bed behind McCoy and supporting his neck he eased him back onto his chest and then reached under McCoy’s knees and rotated him.  Careful not to allow movement of the Doctor’s chest, Spock kept his legs bent keeping him in a semi-sitting position.  Spock sat down on the bed and draped McCoy’s legs over his lap, still cradling the doctor’s upper body against his.  He held the sleeping Doctor in his arms and gently caressed the soft skin of his arms a back.  In his sleep, McCoy nuzzled his head under Spock’s chin and let out a contented sigh.  Spock held him most of the night, reveling in the years that they had regained. 

                                                        The End