AN: This is a very old story that I just stumbled upon. It was supposed to detail the life of Yeoman Janice Rand on the Enterprise, and fit between my previous stories, Confessions of a Teenage Starfleet Cadet and A Tale of Two Ensigns. It was also meant to be much longer than this, but I've simply not got the energy or inspiration to write what I originally planned. I've done my best to finish it off satisfactorily, and I'm pretty happy with this story. (In my opinion, it's my third-best Star Trek work after Heroes Are Made and Phobia, and definitely my best plotted story.) Therefore, I decided that I might as well share it and see if anyone else enjoys it!

Please note that since it was written before Into Darkness was released, it is not compatible with the film in any way.

Janice Rand checked her customary beehive in the mirror one last time, humming to herself as she prepared for her first day on the job, as Captain's Yeoman on the Enterprise.

She wasn't quite fresh out of the Academy, not like many on this ship. She had a couple of years of experience under her belt, and at twenty-six, she was older than many of the former Cadets onboard.

But they did have something she didn't; experience in a crisis situation. She'd spent those two years on a Starbase, making coffee, delivering food, filling out paperwork and taking minutes in meetings for Admirals and Ambassadors alike. This was her first assignment aboard a starship.

That was what provided the little worm of doubt in her mind, the self-doubt that wondered whether she would be accepted by this tightly-knit Crew that had already been through so much together.

She hadn't hesitated when she'd been given this assignment. In the weeks after the Narada Incident, once the major details had come to light, she had been personally approached by the newly-promoted Admiral Pike, requesting that she report to duty as Captain's Yeoman of the Enterprise.

His exact words had been a little more informal than most.

'Miss Rand, I'd like you to become Kirk's Yeoman. He's a good action hero, but I'll be damned if the kid can fill out a report properly. He's young and inexperienced; he'll need all the help he can get. Every record of yours is glowing; you're one of the best in the 'Fleet. Help him.'

She had accepted, and a few days later, she had shipped out with the Enterprise.

Which brings her back to the present day, her first day of duty aboard the Enterprise, which had just departed Spacedock the day before.

She glances at the PADD with her Captain's file pulled up on it.

The holo-news was right, he is quite a handsome young man.

With a rather unfortunate middle name. Tiberius. No wonder he calls himself Jim Kirk.

She adjusts her red uniform skirt one last time, and heads out the door, to the Mess Hall for breakfast.

She picks up a tray and selects a quiet table in the corner, not expecting any company on her first day.

She is soon pleasantly surprised.

An African-American Operations Lieutenant strides up to her table in the corner.

'Is this seat taken?'

Janice shakes her head.

'No, it's all yours.'

She sits and takes a sip of her replicated orange juice, pulling a face.

Janice laughs.

'Not quite like the real stuff, is it? I'm Nyota Uhura, Chief Communications Officer.'

'Janice Rand, Captain's Yeoman.'

Uhura gives her a pitying smile.

'You've got your work cut out for you. The Captain's an organizational mess.'

'So I've heard.'

The smile fades as she issues another warning.

'Don't let him get to you with that golden-boy grin of his. Federation hero and youngest Starfleet Captain or not, he's a skirt-chaser.'

She hadn't been at the Academy with him, she hadn't heard of his exploits, and Admiral Pike had never mentioned it. Her assignment had been so rushed, so soon before the Enterprise's departure, that she had heard precious little on the grapevine. She was flying blind.

'I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice.'

Uhura smiles again.

'No problem.'

The Communications Officer spots someone, and waves them over to join them.

A blonde Nurse places her breakfast tray on the table.

'Janice, this is Christine Chapel, Head Nurse. Christine, this is Janice Rand, Captain's Yeoman. Christine, I was just telling Janice about her likely boss troubles.'

The newcomer rolls her eyes.

'She's not the only one, Nyota.'

'Christine's boss is Dr Leonard McCoy. He can get a bit grumpy.'

'Understatement of the century! He's got a stick-'

Nyota polishes off her orange juice, and stands to leave, interrupting Christine's rant.

'Sorry girls, talk later. I've got to meet Spock before shift.'

Christine giggles like a schoolgirl. Janice just stares at her, a quizzical expression on her face.

'You really are new to this ship, aren't you?'

Janice just nods, not quite sure of what to say to the Head Nurse.

Christine just leans over and fills her in on all the juicy gossip onboard the Enterprise.

By the end of her first breakfast, she has two new friends, and is also up to date on what seems like every detail of everyone's lives.

Well, that'll be something handy when I'm doing the paperwork...Yeomen the galaxy over gossip over their paperwork. It is boring, after all.

She presses the chime on the door of the Captain's Ready Room.

'Come in!'

The door swishes open. She enters.

The sight that greets her makes her fingers itch. She wants to tidy this pigsty up. Now.

How did he manage to make such a mess after just having shipped out yesterday? I know that he sometimes uses this office while in dock...but even so!

Captain James Tiberius Kirk is seated on the chair behind the desk, twirling around on the wheels, feet up on his desk, tapping his fingers like a villain from an old Terran movie.

And he is most certainly not doing his paperwork.

'Good morning, Captain.'

He looks quizzically at her.

'Do I know you?'

She resists the urge to put her head in her hands.

Nyota was right...

'I'm Yeoman Janice Rand, First Class. I'm your new Yeoman.'

'Starfleet sent me a Yeoman?'

Mental facepalm.

Did he even read the report?

'Yes, Captain. All starship Captains have a Yeoman. '

'You're my secretary?'

Somehow, she manages to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

'In a manner of speaking, yes. Starfleet sent you a report on this, have you read it?'

'Can you go get me coffee?'

She really wants to slap him.

He grins at her.

'Just joking, Yeoman. Regarding the report, I think it might be somewhere here...'

He trails off, indicating the messy pile of PADDs on his desk.

He's hopelessly disorganized...

Somehow, she doesn't want to slap him anymore. Damn that grin and those eyes of his!

There is another chime at the door, and First Officer Spock enters.

There's not a being in the galaxy who hasn't heard of these two.

'Good morning, Captain. Good morning, Yeoman Rand.'

She's not terribly fazed that the Commander recognizes her. He's Vulcan...and he's dating Nyota.

'Morning, Spock.'

'Good morning, Commander.'

Captain Kirk practically jumps up from his seat, anticipating something to do, rather than sit here and fill out forms.

'Captain, we are about to exit warp. Sensors have indicated an anomaly, and you are required on the Bridge.'

'Excellent, Spock.'

He looks around, slightly awkwardly.

'Umm...Yeoman, would you mind tidying up a bit? I think there's an important report somewhere...'

She forces a smile.

It is going to be a very long day...

'Of course, Captain.'

As Commander Spock exits behind his Captain, she swears that he gives her a sympathetic look, at least as sympathetic a look as a Vulcan can give.

Sighing, she gets to work sorting out the mountain of PADDs.