“I don’t like it, Spock; it sounds too risky!”

Kirk watched Spock purse his lips together and noticed his hands tightening around each other behind his back at Dr. McCoy’s avowal of doubt. Truthfully, Kirk wasn’t too thrilled by Spock’s plan, either, but he knew enough about his first officer that the Vulcan wouldn’t suggest something unless the odds were astoundingly in its favor.

“Doctor, reeducation is only effective to a certain point. Should we wish Lieutenant Uhura to simply be a ‘unit’ as the Nomad considered her, then data tapes and audio primers will be completely sufficient. Should we wish her to be the woman she was before the Nomad’s attack, then my plan should be implemented.

“But a mind meld?” Kirk asked. “Aren’t those simply your memories?”

“No, Captain. I have a theory. Given the incredible rate Lieutenant Uhura is relearning, I do not think Nomad ‘wiped’ her mind clean, but simply, in a sense, turned “off” the memory synapses of her brain. As she relearns information, the synapses are reconnecting, turning back on. I could go in and restore those synapses.”

“And, like I said, that sounds risky!”

Spock sent McCoy something dangerously close to a glare. “Doctor, you will forgive me if I consider Lieutenant Uhura worthy of such a risk. If it were the captain—”

“If it were the captain I’d be saying the same damn thing!”

“Gentlemen,” Kirk sighed, sitting in Bones’s chair in his office. He was glad Uhura was occupied by Scotty, Sulu, and Chapel and that the office was far enough away they couldn’t be overheard.

Spock turned his attention to him. “Captain, I will not influence her thoughts with my own. I can shield my mind against her.”

“But she cannot shield hers,” Dr. McCoy reminded him. “It’s a violation!”

“So is surgery, and yet it is required sometimes,” Spock returned.

Kirk averted his eyes so he wouldn’t give into laughing at the astounded expression that had settled on McCoy’s face. Coughing, he sat up straighter and looked at the desk.

“I think we can all agree Uhura is more than a capable communications officer; she is also our friend. Bones, if that had been me Nomad had wiped clean, I would like for Spock to attempt this solution.”

“Jim—!”

“And you will be right there monitoring her vital signs as he does it,” Kirk continued on. “I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. Between the two of you, I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

He grinned internally at the “damn, straight!” look that passed between the two other men.

They decided to try the next day at the end of the alpha shift. When it was just the three of them and Uhura, Spock explained to her what they were attempting to do with Bones on the other side of the bed assuring her he would watch over her very carefully.

Afterward, Uhura looked at Spock point-blank and said, “I trust you.”

“You do?” Spock asked, confusion clear in his tone.

“Of course! If Dr. McCoy is letting you do this, then you are a trustworthy person,” Uhura said, as if it were as simple as that.

Dr. McCoy started mumbling under his breath, but Kirk shot him a sharp look.

“Very well,” Spock replied, then nodded and left sickbay briefly.

Kirk took up the space Spock had just vacated and touched the back of her hand. “I trust Spock too.”

Uhura’s smile was so bright Kirk couldn’t help but return it. He looked at Dr. McCoy, who rolled his eyes but nodded.

This was the right thing to do.

No one spoke once the meld was initiated. Kirk hovered almost badly as Bones did during the process, and Nurse Chapel was right outside the door just in case McCoy needed her. Spock had said the less people, the better; and even though Kirk knew he was less essential than Chapel, there was no way in the universe he would not be there for Uhura.

Bones rarely looked anywhere but at Spock and Uhura and the readings above her bed, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he clenched his fingers behind his back. Spock looked more focused than Kirk ever remembered seeing him; but given the delicate task he was undertaking, Kirk was unsurprised.

An hour later, Spock slumped back in his chair and let out a deep breath. Still, no one spoke. A shaky hand smoothed down his face, and McCoy immediately drew the medical scanner over him.

Kirk gave the doctor a questioning look.

“Give me a moment,” Spock said roughly.

“He checks out, Jim, physically, anyway,” Bones replied.

Kirk nodded, his eyes on the readings above Uhura’s bed. They looked normal to his eyes, but she hadn’t awakened yet, and that made him jittery.

Spock stood from the bed. “Captain, I wish to return to my quarters.”

Kirk frowned. “Don’t you—?”

Spock shook his head, his lips tightly pressed together, his hands behind his back.

Kirk nodded. “I’ll come by for a report later.”

Spock nodded at McCoy and Kirk before quitting the room.

The two men didn’t speak for a moment, just looked at the woman lying on the bed. Kirk allowed himself to come closer, and he grasped her hand in his.

“Remember when we went through the Guardian, Nyota? Remember? We promised you we’d return. And fair or not, I’m holding you to the same promise.”

“Jim…”

Kirk ignored him, bringing around the chair Spock had been sitting in and seating himself in it. He held her hand to his cheek as he watched her, not paying attention to Bones or Chapel flit in and out doing what medical personnel did. All Kirk needed was for Uhura to open her eyes.

Thirty minutes later, she did. They were unfocused as they gazed at the ceiling, but when they fell upon him, Kirk could see realization enter.

“Captain Kirk…”

“Nyota,” he replied.

She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Hi, Captain Kirk.”

Her voice sounded nothing like the childlike wonder and curiosity she’d spoken with for the past few days. He smiled hesitantly.

“Are you all right, Captain?”

He chuckled. “Ironic you ask me that when you’re the one lying in sickbay.”

Uhura laughed and squeezed his hand. “Oh, you know me…”

“Yes, but do you know you?”

Uhura frowned and Kirk’s heart clenched. Then she began speaking. “My name is Nyota Upenda Uhura. I am twenty-nine years old and the chief communications officer aboard the USS Enterprise. My mother is M’Umbha Uhura, formerly Michelle. She is from Chicago, Illinois, United States, and met my father Alhamisi while living in Mozambique on a Linguistics grant. I have three older brothers—”

“I think you know who you are,” Dr. McCoy said with a small smile.

“Len!” Uhura exclaimed, holding out her other hand for him to take. He did and kissed her knuckles.

“Welcome back, my dear.”

“Welcome back? I thought I’d been here all the time,” she replied with a wink.

The men chuckled and squeezed her hands. Uhura took a deep breath and looked at Kirk for a long, questioning minute.

“He went to meditate,” he said lowly. “He brought you back to us.”

“I’d like to tell him thank you,” she whispered, her eyes blinking slowly.

“I will make sure you get that opportunity,” Kirk vowed.

He didn’t see Spock again until after dinner. They were deep into a chess game before Kirk broached the subject.

“It worked.”

Spock made a move, not looking at him. “I know.”

Kirk frowned, both at the play Spock had made and the response. “You know.”

“If you recall, I was the one who made the repairs.”

“Repairs? She’s not a computer, Spock!” He took his friend’s pawn.

The Vulcan made another move without response.

“She wants to thank you, Spock, and you play chess with me!”

Spock glanced up. “You suggested the game, Captain.”

Some of Kirk’s thunder dissipated. This was true, but it was only to break the ice a little bit.

“Are you going to see her at all?”

“I’ve seen much more than I was meant to see,” Spock said softly. “Doctor McCoy was correct.”

Kirk paused and abandoned the game altogether. “Did Nomad—?”

“The theory was correct, Captain.”

“But—”

“I do not wish to discuss it.”

Kirk frowned, crossing his arms at his chest. “Spock—”

“I cannot face her, Captain,” he finally admitted.

Kirk let out a long, slow breath, finally taking a good look at his first officer. His features were pinched, not unlike how they’d been when the Enterprise had diverted to Vulcan a few weeks ago.

“Did you…see something that disturbed you, Spock?”

The Vulcan shook his head. “Her mind is a complex jumbled entity, and yet I had no problem following where I needed to go. It was as if it had welcomed me and directed me on how to restore it.”

“And that bothers you?”

Spock shook his head again slowly and steepled his fingers at his chin. “No, Captain, it humbles me.”

Kirk couldn’t help but feel amused. “She did say she trusted you, Spock.”

“Yes. However, there were other emotions for which I had not been prepared to…acknowledge.”

Kirk tilted his head to the side. “Were these…unpleasant emotions?”

Spock heaved a great sigh and crossed his arms at his chest. “I am sorry, Captain, but unless you require more information for your report, I do not wish to discuss it.”

Kirk shrugged and nodded. “All right, Spock, but please go see Uhura at some point.”

He nodded once. “Very well.”

The next evening, Kirk stopped by sickbay, and the sounds of the lute reached his ears as he entered. Going immediately to Uhura’s bed, he smiled as Spock strummed the strings while Uhura sang.

In Vulcan.

He recognized it as the tune they’d performed a long time ago, right when Uhura had first begun her lessons. Except this time, Spock didn’t look at Uhura at all, and she kept her eyes closed.

“They are very good, aren’t they, Captain?”

Kirk looked at Nurse Chapel and smiled mildly. “Yes, they are.”

“I’m glad Mr. Spock was able to help her.”

Nurse Chapel nodded and went to the bed with Uhura and Spock. Dr. McCoy came up next to Kirk on his other side.

“He hasn’t looked at her for more than absolutely necessary.”

Kirk lowered his head. “Whatever he saw really freaked him out, Bones.”

Dr. McCoy bent his mouth to Kirk’s ear. “Wouldn’t you be freaked when confronted by an undeniable truth you’ve been pretending doesn’t exist?”

“What? That someone’s in love with you?” Kirk asked, watching the performing pair.

Dr. McCoy snorted and shook his head. “No, Jim, that you love someone in return.”