.o0o.

"Captain," Spock spoke as soon as he'd entered the Kirk's cabin. "The crew has begun to question why we still remain in orbit despite the continued effects of the temporal waves. I am uncertain myself."

Kirk moved sluggishly. He'd done everything sluggishly since they'd returned from the planet, like he had trouble bringing himself to do anything at all. The captain lifted a piece of paper. "This."

Spock moved to take it, reading it quickly. It was a new, fresh copy of the warning note Kirk had received to keep the Klingons on the ship. "I figured this has got to be the way we sent it back in time. I'm still debating whether or not I should send it. There is no reason for it now, since we've already kept the Klingons, but if we don't get the note, would that change our history? And what happened the last time that caused us to send it in the first place? Stupid time paradoxes."

"There are several hypotheses concerning this very time paradox of which you speak. The multiverse theory states that-"

"I'm just going to send it." Kirk cut him off. "Just in case."

Spock nodded. "Shall I accompany you?"

The captain shook his head, standing slowly. "I'll take care of it. Let the crew know that we'll be leaving within the hour."

Spock nodded again and, feeling the dismissal in Kirk's tone, vacated the room to return to the bridge. He had only resumed his duties from the captain's chair for 26.4 minutes when McCoy entered, standing beside him like he so often did with Kirk.

"Jim's gone back down to the planet." Concern was rolling off the doctor in waves.

"I am aware." Spock responded blandly.

"And you didn't go with him?" McCoy was raising his voice and it was attracting the attention of the rest of the bridge, though they attempted to make their observations discretely.

"An illogical question, Doctor, as I am not currently on the planet."

The doctor ignored him. "You know he's taking Edith's death pretty hard. He needs support. Especially on that planet." McCoy folded his arms. Spock knew he must have been upset himself as this was the first time that the doctor had referred to the planet as anything other than 'the donut-hole of time planet'. Spock did not understand the reference.

Spock found McCoy's apparently deep understanding of the situation peculiar, given that he hadn't even known the majority of the events that took place between their arrival in the past and the doctor's until Spock had informed him. "Edith Keeler died hundreds of years ago. Had we not allowed history to play out as it did, millions more would have perished."

McCoy let out a long-suffering sigh. "Logically, he knows that. But emotionally? He just watched someone he cared about, maybe even loved, die. That's not something you get over easily."

"I fail to see how my presence could have alleviated his distress." He heard the turbolift doors open but did not immediately look up.

"Why, you green-blooded-"

The doctor was interrupted by a cough. They both raised their heads to see the captain standing behind them. Spock quickly left his seat, which Kirk took and relaxed into. "Sulu, take us out."

"Aye, Captain."

Kirk looked up at Spock, then over to McCoy. "I see that your relationship hasn't interfered with your ability to squabble about everything."

McCoy scowled and stalked into the turbolift. Spock wondered if he was bothered by the openness with which Kirk had addressed their relationship. Neither of them had yet to acknowledge the situation in public. Then again, it was difficult to tell as the doctor was prone to scowling and becoming offended at the smallest provocation.

"Captain." Spock broke the silence. "Perhaps it would be helpful for you to discuss this with Dr. McCoy."

"Your relationship?"

Spock's eyebrows flew up. "No. That would be ill-advised. I was referring to the events that transpired on the planet."

"Spock, I'm fine. I just need time." Kirk said earnestly. "Now, I believe you have a performance you're supposed to be giving."

Spock nodded his head and left the bridge, heading for the Rec Room. Ensign Zarov, expert pianist and one of the few remaining members of Baker's crew, had been so thrilled by his progress that he'd arranged for the Vulcan to perform a few pieces. He'd had to reschedule three times since the temporal waves made it too challenging to play.

When he arrived, he found the room to already have nearly two dozen spectators eager to hear their First Officer's debut. Zarov clapped his hands together in excitement and fidgeted with the sheet music on the piano. McCoy was there too, sitting between Uhura and Chapel in the front row, chatting happily with them. He seated himself and the room hushed.

He went through the first piece with nary a sound in the audience. Briefly, he wondered if he'd done something wrong that had the crowd silenced, but at the end, there was furious clapping by most of the audience. While he was fond of Bach, he preferred Brahm's work and the second two pieces reflected that preference.

When he was finished, he stood and bowed as Zarov had instructed him earlier. Clapping continued for a few minutes and then the room began to clear.

"Good job." Zarov grinned at him, handing him some sheet music. Spock raised an eyebrow in question. "It's a copy of Brahm's Symphony Number 3 in his own handwriting. I thought you would like it." The Ensign didn't wait for a response, just left the room with the same wide grin.

Uhura and McCoy were coming towards him and he acknowledged them. "That was beautiful." The woman complimented.

Spock nodded. Uhura smiled and departed. The doctor bounced on the balls of his feet. "You only play classical?" He asked.

"I am quite capable of playing other genres; however, I find classical music... stimulating."

McCoy seemed to find this humorous because he smiled. "If you want to join me in my quarters, I can show you something even more... stimulating."

Spock quirked an eyebrow. While he might have otherwise misconstrued the doctor's meaning by his words, there was no mistaking the emotions he felt through the link. "I find your proposition agreeable."

Snorting, McCoy led the way from the room. Spock found himself squelching a seed of nervousness as it appeared. The doctor had not expressed an interest in engaging in physical intimacy since he'd returned his katra a couple weeks ago.

McCoy increased the temperature and decreased the lights just as soon as he entered his room. Then he turned around to face Spock and extended two of his fingers. Spock recognized his desire, connecting his own two fingers and gently rubbing them along the other man's. His sensitive fingers sent pleasurable waves through him. The link rejoiced at the contact. McCoy closed his eyes and shivered.

"Are you cold, Doctor?"

McCoy's eyes flew open. "You are not going to call me that when we're doing this."

Spock quirked an eyebrow, his hand stilling. McCoy took over, and Spock could feel a tingle of amusement. "What would you prefer?"

"Anything would be better, really. Leonard. Len. Hell, I'd even take Bones."

"Bones?" Spock repeated with a gravelly tone.

"Nope." McCoy immediately refuted. "Scratch that."

He stepped toward McCoy, guiding him backwards towards the bed. "Then I shall call you Leonard."

"Much better." McCoy... Leonard smiled. "I think I like being able to talk and kiss at the same time."

"I do not wish to talk, Leonard." Spock responded capturing pliant lips in a human kiss.

Leonard didn't seem to mind, tugging Spock closer by his shirt and running his tongue along the Vulcan's lips. Spock growled and found himself disturbed by his lack of control, though Leonard was emanating pleasure.

He pushed at Spock's chest until they separated, panting slightly. "Shirt off." Leonard demanded, taking the opportunity to remove his own shirt. Spock removed both layers of clothing and dropped them to the floor in an uncharacteristic manner. He eyed the other man long enough for Leonard to fidget, wrapping his arms around himself. "What?"

"There have not been many opportunities to view you like this." Spock supplied. "I am simply making use of this one."

Leonard rolled his eyes. He reached out, grabbed Spock by his shoulders and twisted them before pushing Spock onto the bed. "You're talking too much." He dropped on top of the other man, settling his hands on either side of Spock's head and continuing to kiss enthusiastically.

Spock ran his hands up the other's back, eliciting a moan from the human.

Then the comm binged. "Dr. McCoy to Sickbay."

Leonard dropped his head onto Spock's shoulder and let out a breathy sigh. "Goddammit." He then moved to the comm. In possibly the surliest voice the doctor had ever used, he replied. "This had better be an emergency."

"It's the captain." Chapel replied instead.

"On my way."

Leonard grabbed his shirt off the floor, dragging it over his head quickly. "We will be continuing this later." He said as he hurried out the door.

Spock picked up the other shirt and put it on. He straightened and smoothed his hair, then his clothes before following the doctor at a more sedate pace.

When he arrived in Sickbay, Kirk was laughing heartily despite a torn tunic and a deep cut down his arm. A flustered Scotty was standing beside him still attempting to make apologies. While he was pleased that the captain was no longer morose, he could not see why he was laughing at his injuries.

"I don't see what's so funny, Jim." Apparently, neither could the doctor. "You're getting blood all over my Sickbay."

Still smiling like a fiend, Kirk calmed down enough to explain. "I hadn't realized your promotion had already gone through."

The doctor instantly looked at his sleeve and the commander stripes, his face turning bright red. "Shut up."

Spock decided to make a strategic exit before he was dragged into the fray. If he indulged in a moment of human sentimentality to recall his mother's insistence that the more things change, the more they stay the same, well, no one was around to see it.

.o0o.

The End*

.o0o.

A/N: Thank you my faithful readers for sticking it out until we got here. I believe I've satisfactorily addressed all the gaps and provided a feel-good ending full of hope and love and... stuff. So, there it is. The End. Thank you for the reviews and good night.

Of course... there may be a sequel of some sort that I'm working on called "Dependency: Progeny." It may already be posted. Progeny is a sequel and not part of the series itself, thus I did not lie when I claimed that Missive was the final part in the series. Please note, though, that I've upped the rating for good reason, so if you're not into the harder stuff, enjoy your happy ending and quit before I ruin it with poorly written extensions. (Everyone knows that sequels just aren't as good (or as long) as the original right?)

I blame you, JDPenny.