Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: The Federation's recruits are not at quota, so they decided to have an essay contest on why Star Fleet is important to the Federation and to let some lucky person 'win a date with Jim Kirk'... And the lucky winner is the biggest surprise of all.

The name is a take on the movie "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" but that's where the similarities end because I never watched the movie

Shout out to T'Slash who ensured me this was a good idea, she might be a nut, but we love her!

The bridge of the star ship Enterprise was silent as the crew watched the Captain out of the corner of their eyes reading his morning messages on his PADD while he sipped coffee. They waited with bated breath for Kirk to find the announcement from Command. Bets had been placed and sides had been taken, the crew had either sided with Spock or with Bones. This was the first time a message from the Admiralty had heaped this much fun on the crew. Even Rand was hiding her grin as he flipped through the messages. They squirmed in their seats as he addressed some serious messages from the different departments and requests for time off, schedule changes and normal ship inter-departmental communications.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Kirk's eyes grew big and his sip of coffee came spurting out all over the small walk way between his chair and the helm. "WHAT?" Jumping up out of his chair, with his mouth agape Jim turned to face the Communications station. "Uhura, get me a secured channel to Admiral Pike in my Ready Room, now!" He thrust his other PADDs and his mostly empty coffee cup into Rand's open arms. Jogging off the bridge, he left Spock in charge with a wave of his hand.

Once the air lock had sealed behind him the crew roared with laughter. Chekov fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard, Sulu had started to snort, Bones was doubled over holding his stomach, Rand had dropped the PADD and the coffee cup laughing so hard she didn't care, all while Uhura was waving her arm trying to keep down the noise to contact Command and keeping herself from giggling like a school girl. Sulu leaned over to help Chekov off the floor, only to loose his balance and land beside him, both laughing even harder. Bones was leaning against the wall for support and Rand had sunk down to the floor. Spock watched their outlandish behavior, and only slightly amused by their antics.

Regaining some composure, the two Lieutenants sprawled across the floor were finally able to stand. "I beliewe zat is ze funniest zing I hawe ewer seen!" Chekov was red faced as he tried to catch his breath.

Sulu nodded. "Dude, that was awesome!" He high-fived his shorter friend, still chuckling. "But was it Kirk's reaction or the fact we've got one hundred credits each coming our way? You should have seen your faces!" He pointed to Scotty and Bones.

Finally clicking Pike into Kirk's Ready Room, Uhura pulled her frequency modulator from her ear as she turned to face her friends. "Ok, that was even worth the hundred credits I lost! Who would have thought Jim Kirk would be upset that the Federation is using him as the poster-boy for being single and famous?" She came to stand next to where Bones had sat down on the step into the center of the bridge.

Wiping his eyes and still chuckling, Bones smiled up at her. "Mama, I believe our playboy is finally growing up." They all erupted into a fresh round of laughter.

Spock stood from his station and with his hands clasped behind his back he made his way to where the humans had huddled together, leaning on one another for support. "I do believe it is advisable that everyone return to their post before the Captain returns." With a twinkle in his eye, Spock watched as Scotty, Uhura and Bones pulled out their share of the bet to be split between Sulu, Chekov and himself.

Standing up and slapping the credits into Spock's out stretched hand, Bones glared. "I would have thought bets were illogical." He snarled. He had been so sure that Jim would have loved the idea of being strutted around like a Federation prize rooster.

Tucking away his newly won prize, Spock raised an eyebrow. "It is only illogical to bet on anything that is not the highly probable out come. I have noticed that Jim Kirk is no longer the man he was when he first assumed the captaincy. However, you of all people Dr. McCoy should have realized that." With his last quip still ringing in the doctor's ears, Spock returned to his post. This time the laughter following him was at Bones' reddened face and not at the expense of their Captain.

Kirk's blue eyes were blazing as Pike came into view. He didn't bother with niceties or salutations; he jumped straight into the heart of the matter. "What is this contest? What do you mean you are auctioning off a date with me? I thought we were going to try to 'reinvent' my image! You've just cashed in on the very thing the Admiralty wanted to smooth over! Did no one in your 'think tank' ever stop to get my permission?" Kirk was furious, his fired his questions in rapid fire succession.

Holding up his hands in defeat, Pike kept his calm. "I had nothing to do with this. This is another PR stunt to try and boost recruits." No one had expected Kirk to have a problem with this, and he was included in that assessment.

The younger man seemed to relax minutely knowing that Pike was innocent. "I should have been notified." He murmured. "How long have you known?" He sank down into his chair, hanging his head to hide his embarrassment. Kirk had thought that he had finally put his past behind him and started over fresh, yet they had just brought his history out into the open to be re-hashed yet again.

Clearing his throat, Pike would never have thought Kirk might not have loved to soak up the attention. "You are right, I'm sorry. It's just that between the Captains and Admirals in Star Fleet, you are the youngest and best looking. You are every young girl's fantasy and every young boy's role model. This is not a bad thing, I promise." He would pull a few strings and make damn sure the Admiralty understood that James T. Kirk was not someone's play toy, he was a man who had saved the Federation with one hand practically tied behind his back. This should be taken seriously with all the pomp and circumstance he deserved.

Nodding his head, Kirk accepted his fate bringing his eyes up to meet Pike's. "Fine, but make no mistake, they owe me." He clicked off the screen, letting out a deep sigh. The worst part of the whole thing would be facing his crew. Nothing said 'respect' like writing some essay to win a date with your commanding officer.

A/N: thanks for reading

Anyone ready for the next installment?

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