A/N: Well, THANK YOU for the ride! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, favorited, and even just read this! Your support was spectacular, and I hope it all delivered. I bring to you now the end of this story request.

As for other updates in my fanfiction world. My school starts tomorrow so I am unsure how often I will be able to update/post new stories. I have this one poem-sort-of-thing that I will probably type up and post because it's already written, but other than that I don't have any plans write now in the Star Trek category. They're limited to finishing Three Heroes (at some point; my enthusiasm for that story comes and goes and right now I'm waiting for it to come back) and co-writing a story with BballgalKaitlin. Otherwise, I do feel like a break is needed for a little bit of Star Trek fanfiction. I've been driving hard since Lent and for this whole year on ff net it's been a pusher. I would like to explore in other fandoms, too, namely Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hogan's Heroes. I hope to start with a gen story that's been on my mind before my schedule gets too crowded.

Well, folks. I ain't leaving, but I do need a break. Enjoy this, and until next time!

Kirk walked off the bridge, feeling tired, but still alert. After destroying the warbird they had escorted the shuttle back to the starbase, and also delivered the two Romulans they had captive. Sorting out just what had happened had been a headache. The Enterprise was still on yellow alert and so was the starbase in case any more cloaked vessels were floating around. So far, though, Spock hadn't found anything.

And now it was time to turn in. Kirk didn't head for his quarters, however. After speaking for the first time in ages, McCoy had left the bridge, sweeping quickly away. Now, Kirk was determined to find him.

The doctor wasn't in Sickbay, or the mess hall, despite it being his usual time to eat. Kirk approached the door to his quarters and rang the buzzer.

There was no response.

Undeterred, he overrode the lock and stepped inside. The room was dark, but there was a figure sitting on the bed. He approached him and sat down next to him. Bones stared blankly at the opposite wall.

"Bones?" he murmured after a moment.

McCoy didn't seem to hear him, and kept staring away at the wall. Jim sighed heavily as understanding washed over him. So M'Benga was right. Once he spoke, McCoy would face the emotional upheaval of such a trauma. Seemed like the fallout was hitting.

He was proved correct when McCoy suddenly started shaking. He didn't cry, whimper, or make a sound. He just shook all over, uncontrollably. Kirk wrapped his arms around him and didn't say anything, letting it pass. The shaking continued for a long while, coming and going in waves.

"Jesus Christ, Jim," McCoy broke, his voice cracking. "Did it all really happen?"

Jim didn't know exactly what 'it all' was. But he rubbed McCoy's shoulders, replying, "yes, Bones, it did. But it's over now," he added firmly.

McCoy nodded, sucking in a shaky breath. "Yes," he whispered, barely audible. "Yes it is."

McCoy's true recovery finally began in the days that followed. M'Benga progressed with the counseling sessions, gradually learning more and more about what happened with the Romulans. Due to excessive nagging and promises of good behavior, he was reinstated to light duty in Sickbay. The work actually cheered McCoy up, as he was finally able to do what he hadn't been able to do for more than two months. He spoke softly, still giving his voice box time to adjust to the workout. Refusing medication for it, he settled on copious amounts of hot honeyed tea. Everyone seemed very supportive of this- Kirk caught McCoy and Spock exchanging tea recipes.

Reports on his progress and story were still sent to Starfleet, who was glad to finally get the scoop on some more Romulan interrogation techniques. With rival powers, it was important to stay updated on the other's activities.

The whole crew was helpful, making small talk with McCoy in the mess hall, sneaking him rare treats of unsynthesized chocolate, and engaging him in rec room activities. Slowly, like drawing a shy flower out to the sunlight, the warm, friendly, sociable Bones returned. As his interactions with people increased, so did his assertiveness, until he was close back to being the old, outspoken Southerner.

But there was just one thing missing…

Kirk looked up as the door to his quarters opened. "Ah, Dr. M'Benga, how may I help you?"

M'Benga gave a soft smile. "You could sign something for me, sir."

"Oh?" Kirk raised both eyebrows.

"Yes." The doctor placed a PADD on the table. "As much as I appreciate your faith in me, sir, I feel that it would be better for me to wait and gain more starship experience before becoming a CMO." A twinkle in the eye accompanied the slight smile.

"I see," Kirk said, following along. "Well, it's dreadful to have you resign your position, Doctor," Kirk replied. "But if you feel it's for the best, then there's really nothing I can do about it."

"A shame," M'Benga agreed.

"Well, if you're getting reduced to AMO," Kirk continued, signing the PADD. "Then we'll need a new chief for Sickbay."

"Right away, too," Geoff added.

"Fortunately," Kirk said, a smile finally creeping onto his face. "I have someone in mind."

"I wish you'd stop grinning, Jim," McCoy commented suspiciously. "It's just a little signature."

"A little signature, but for a big job," Kirk said, and tried (and failed) once again to keep the grin off his face.

"But I've done it before. And don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get things back to normal and get back to work, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something else going on here."

"What?" Kirk asked innocently. "Nothing else is going on, like you said, Bones, you're just getting your job back. You signed the PADD already?"

"Yeah, ages ago," McCoy huffed, rolling his eyes. "You were dawdling for a while."

"Why not? There's no rush?" Kirk collected the PADD and discreetly glanced at the time. "Why don't we head down to Sickbay, Bones? Get you re-acclimated to the climate?"

"'No rush', eh?" McCoy smirked, but allowed Jim to swing an arm around his shoulders and walk them out of his quarters.

Just before they entered Sickbay, McCoy stopped and looked Jim in the eye. Jim looked back, waiting.

"There's a party in there, isn't there?"

"Party? What party?" Kirk blinked.

McCoy just lifted an eyebrow and kept staring at him.

"Yeah, there's a party," Kirk broke down quickly.

Instead of ranting, however, McCoy chuckled. "Don't feel bad about spoiling any surprises, Jim, I knew it was cake mix I smelled coming from the chemistry lab."

Kirk grinned. "Well, then, let's go eat some cake, shall we?"

They entered Sickbay and quickly enjoyed a rambunctious 'SURPRISE!' from everyone inside. His staff, plus the bridge crew, and yes, even Spock somehow found it logical to attend were all there, smiling and congratulating him.

"Aw, Jim," McCoy said, ducking his head. "Nobody holds a 'reinstated' party!"

"Maybe they will, now," Kirk replied jubilantly. "Maybe we started the next big thing. Maybe this is just the beginning. Soon enough there will be 'reinstated' parties going on within Starfleet Command and the Admiralty!"

"Suuure," McCoy drawled. "Well, I'm going to make the most of this and nab some of that cake."

"You do that, Bones," Kirk called. "Enjoy yourself!"

McCoy smiled, and, just before leaving: "Thanks, Jim."

Kirk smiled back. "Anytime."

The celebration continued, migrating to the mess hall at McCoy's request (he was nervous about all the people messing up the sensitive Sickbay equipment).

Despite being the center of attention, McCoy found a quiet corner in the mess hall and watched the festivities, eating his slice of cake.

"Curious," came a voice. "It was my understanding that typically the one for whom the celebration is for would be the one who is most involved in its activities."

"Good to see you too, Spock," McCoy greeted.

Spock inclined his head and stood next to the doctor. They watched the party silently, relaxed in comfort.

"It's just a lot to take in," McCoy admitted after a moment.

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"What you said earlier? About being the, the, center or whatever," McCoy snapped his fingers. "It's nice, but just a little much right now."

Spock nodded, surveying the shenanigans. "I, too, would feel slightly uncomfortable in such a position."

McCoy smiled. Then he shifted his feet, hesitantly reaching a hand up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen, Spock, I uh-"

Spock looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

McCoy hummed for a moment, tilting his head. "See, I'm… I feel grateful for your… impassiveness. No, that's not right. It's… see, the whole time I was… you were the only one who didn't try to push anything outta me, ya know? You just took it in stride, like nothing was different, and I just wanna say that… well, it worked, but, that's not it, it's that, ah, y'see-"

"Doctor," Spock broke in. "Admitting that there was change is the first step to making it real. Should we behave any differently?"

"No!" McCoy said quickly. "But, I felt like I needed to, to say, to express some form of appreciation…"

"Ah," Spock replied. "Then it is fortunate that Vulcans do not require such things."

A relieved grin broke out on McCoy's face. They looked at each other for a moment, finding that always-unspoken camaraderie, and that same understanding.

"Do you want some cake?" McCoy asked, sounding completely off-topic. "I think it's vanilla, but it's got enough of a lemon hint that I'm not 100% sure."

"Perhaps I will be able to determine the type of mix used," Spock replied smoothly.

The two moved off to the cake table, chatting idly. McCoy rambled on about the time his cousins tried to bake a cake and somehow managed to blow a hole in the sink, while Spock listened on serenely.

Kirk observed this from elsewhere in the room, a smile flickering across his features. All was right with the world.