I walked along the Star Fleet academy halls. As I walked remembered when I was an Ensign here and fought to keep my face calm as the feeling of being nervous flooded me out of automatic response. Captain Pike had called me yesterday and asked me to come. He needed my counseling services at the Academy. I really was not up for this. I had not wanted to come back here. This place was chaotic with all the high running emotions from the Ensigns.

I walked to the Captains Office and pushed the com button near the door. My skin was tingling from the emotions flooding around me, but my outward face was calm.

"Enter."

Pike's voice made me jump internally.

I walked and then noticed another there. A tall, handsome male Vulcan with almost whiskey colored eyes. I paused and realized this must be Commander Spock every one was talking about. He was the only Vulcan, well half Vulcan, in the Academy. I nodded to him respectfully then looked at the Captain.

"If this is a bad time I can come back?"

My slightly accented voice seemed to echo in the still room.

Pike's blue eyes looked at me and he smiled knowing me better then most. My father died around the time I was born and I meet Pike when I was very young. He had been acting like adoptive father to me for a long time. He and my mother, Jannea, have dated a long time but have never talked about marriage. I have never commented on this, but then again, humans out of all species, confuse me the most.

Pike let out a warm, laugh.

I could see why my mother was attracted to him.

"No Lieutenant Commander Allora Brigten please come in. This is Commander Spock."

I turned to the Vulcan and wondered if I should stick out my hand to shake. Vulcan's are notorious for not liking to be touched, but it would be rude not to. I placed my hand out and spoke.

"It is Honor to meet you sir."

I waited to see if he would accept my hand.

I felt as if I was testing him by holding out my hand, and I am not sure why.

"Indeed. Captain Pike talks about you quite a bit."

His eyes seemed to look searchingly into mine.

He then elegantly took my hand and shook it. For a moment I felt dizzy at his touch and it unbalanced me. I took my hand back and took a step back. My eyes went to Pike and I stood at attention.

"Captain you requested me?"

My voice sounded emotionless to me.

I sighed internally.

Pike looked at me with a smile playing around his lips.

"I lost my counselor, she was transferred last week. I thought of you. Being half Betazoid I knew you would fit. I have a new group of Ensigns coming in tomorrow at 0800. Please meet them as they disembark."

I knew he could tell I wanted to say no. So I stiffened my back and nodded.

"As you wish Captain, anything else?"

Pike smirked at me, but with warmth.

"No Lieutenant, your dismissed."

I bowed at him and went to leave. I turned to Spock to find him watching me intently. I pretend not to notice and bowed to him.

"Good day to you both."

I did an about face and left not very happy with the wall Pike had backed me into.

I walked to my new quarters and unpacked my articles. I sat down on the bed and though over my meeting with Pike and Spock. So that was the infamous Spock. I pondered my reaction to him. It irked me. I may be half Betazoid, but I prided my self on being emotional controlled. I did not like my reaction to him. I found Vulcan's to be cold and arrogant. I am sure Commander Spock will be no different. I yawned suddenly tired. I meditated for a while then went to bed hoping to be rested for tomorrow.

I woke up tired and disorientated. Where was I? Oh yes back at the Academy. I sighed softly. How did I get talked into this? Sneaky Pike, I thought amused and pushed off the warm blankets. It was cold in my room, but I slept better that way.

I flinched as my feet touched the cold floor and I hobbled, feeling old, to the refresher. I leaned against the wall letting the warm water work the knots out of my back. I knew I had thirty minutes to make my self-snap out of this and get ready to meet the new Cadets.

I finished washing up and then walked to my small table. I picked up my uniform and smiled. I had only made Lieutenant Commander recently and still felt a rush of pride when I looked at my rank. I slipped on my uniform and brushed out my very blonde almost white hair. It was at one time darker, but a near death experience had turned it this color. I placed my finger along the scar that ran down near my neck and almost down to my right breast. If Pike had not been there. I broke off the thought and forced my self to stand.

With my hair braided, I ordered Klingon coffee. It was stronger then human coffee and was like getting punched in the face. I loved this stuff with a passion. I looked around the small room and drew in a deep breath. I hoped I could handle this, was my thought as I walked out my door.

I watched the people pass me by as I walked the busy halls. Some were Ensigns who had been there awhile. Some were officers, with an important air about them. All lost in their own worlds with their thoughts echoing in my head.

' That professor hates me I swear..

Why can't I work out this formula….

I dread my next class. That student gives me gray hairs.'

I chuckled and continued along. I reached the docking bay and an Ensign addressed me.

"Lieutenant Commander Brighten? Captain Pike told me you where coming. Are you ready Ma'am?"

I flinched internally. I despised being called ma'am, but the baby faced Ensign did not know this, so I let it pass.

"Yes I am, let the new victims-I mean Cadets-off."

I smiled and he laughed at my lame joke. The door opened and I walked in. I spoke in a calm but authoritative voice.

"Good Morning I hope your ride was pleasant? I am Lieutenant Commander Allora Brighten. I'll be picking your brain today."

I heard some groans and nervous laughter. I looked at the twenty people sitting in the shuttle.

Most of them where very young and trying to look mature. I called out their names and let them pass as I did.

I read off a name and paused.

"James T Kirk?"

My breath caught.

I knew that name, his father's actions saved my mothers life. My eyes looked at the young man as he stood. Bright blue eyes with a huge amount of arrogance and sexual confidence stared back at me. I almost laughed. Cocky thing isn't he? I find most human males are, but I could feel his pain and bitterness hidden behind his facial mask. The man next to him though I had meet before.

A warm smile filled my lips.

"Dr McCoy what a pleasure to see you again."

He looked older and slightly bitter. I looked at his hand and saw the wedding ring was gone with only a faded patch there on his skin. Ah, I thought. I had met his wife once and had not liked her. She seemed a cold and very vain woman. But he had been very much in love with the stunning woman with flashing green eyes and musical voice. I stood there and waited to see if he had truly become bitter. His lips gave a half smile, as he looked at me.

His hazel eyes warmed slightly.

"Hello Allora"

He paused

"though I should probably call you Lieutenant Commander now I guess?"

I grinned.

"Only while on duty. Now both of you off."

I turned and exited. I felt the two of them behind me. I stood off to the side, as the two men passed me.

I turned and looked at all the Cadets.

"Welcome, first things first. I am sure you are all tired and hungry. On your data pads are the locations to your rooms, you will share it with another Cadet. Same sex of course. You will be given twenty minutes to clean up, store your stuff and meet me in the Mess hall."

I nodded at them all and exited the room. Once outside I let out a breath of air. I rolled my neck and walked to the Mess hall.

The Mess hall looked the same, but was quiet as most were in class. I walked over to a table and sat, gathering my wits for what I knew was to come. I straightened my uniform and waited. Surprisingly enough, Kirk and McCoy came within five minutes of when I left them. I looked at them both and pointed to the table.

"Gentleman pick a seat."

Not surprising Kirk sat too close to me.

I mentally rolled my eyes. I knew what I looked like. It had always been a problem and I tried to down play my female attributes as much as I could. I am 5'7 toned, but my body seems to want to be curvy no matter what I do. I have startlingly violet eyes, with alabaster skin and that combined with my hair color, is not a combination I would have picked. A dratted Barbie Doll, I hated it.

I looked at McCoy. He looked at ease, but I knew better his thoughts where chaotic and he seemed troubled. McCoy did not like riding in shuttles or beaming through transporters. How he made it in this day and age was constantly a mystery to me. I opened my mouth to speak, when suddenly other Cadet's came in. I almost sighed in relief.

The next hour was a blur, as I spoke about who I was and what was expected of them. I found my eyes looking at McCoy and Kirk often. McCoy, because I knew him and Kirk because I wondered what the Famous Captain Kirk's son was like. After I had finished my speech. I stood smoothly.

"I will leave you to your food. Today, your are expected to learn your surroundings and your class schedule. Do what needs to be done, because of tomorrow life will get a lot more fun."

I gave an evil smile and some of them laughed.

"I will be talking to you all one by one. Where and what time is on your data pad."

I bowed and left.

I headed to the office assigned to me and sat tired. I had forty minutes before the first Cadet showed. I used it to meditate, before the chaos began.

Several hours later, I sat slumped in my chair, my eyes burning and I was not thinking pleasant thoughts about Pike. I looked at my data pad. McCoy and then, oh no, Kirk. I was grateful they where my last two, but not happy that they where coming at the end of the day when I was exhausted. I stood and worked out the kinks in my back.

I heard the chime on my door and turned.

"Come in McCoy."

I watched as the doors open and he strolled in. I couldn't help but smile. I had once had a huge crush on this man. The last year has weighed heavily on him. I had brief unpleasant thoughts about his ex-wife. His frame was almost too big for the chair.

I smothered a smile.

"So McCoy should I ask how you've been or would that be dangerous?"

His deep laughter sounded rusty.

"Still as feisty as ever I see?"

His eyes looked at me almost in a doctor way.

I shook my head same old McCoy.

"Did you expect anything different?"

I grinned and then went serious.

"I never thought you'd join Star Fleet. You always swore to remain a country doctor."

His face went sad and I wanted to kick myself. I found myself reaching for his hand and paused before the action was completed.

"She took everything and left me with nothing Allora. I needed a do over."

His voice was almost broken and anger hit me.

Stupid woman, I thought. I nodded kindly at him and withheld the urge to hug him, though I gave into the urge to touch his hand.

"I for one am glad you're here McCoy. It is nice to see a familiar face."

His hand was warm under my touch and he seem to relax more at my action.

Finally I smiled with warmth and stood. I held out my hand for him to shake. He looked at it. In the old days he would have hugged me, but I was a young girl then and not a grown woman and sadly that changes things. He took my hand in both of his very warm one's. That was one thing that had not changed about him, his hands still held such warmth. Good healing hands.

His eyes looked into mine.

" I thought your hair would go back."

His finger traced a strand, and pain whispered through me at the memory.

" It looks nice but I wish..."

He broke off.

"McCoy you did all you could have done. You saved my life. It was not your fault or Pike's."

I watched him struggle with the memory, doctors always put too much on themselves and this passionate doctor was no different. But this memory was making me feel vulnerable and that is not an emotion I liked.

So I pulled back with a warm smile and stood tall.

"Be at peace Doctor McCoy, I am."

He smiled back at me but I knew he was not fooled.

"See you around Allora."

He gently reached out and touched my face. Then his hand dropped, he nodded and left.

I sucked in a deep breath and waited on Kirk. My pad beeped and there was a message informing my meeting with Kirk would be delayed till tomorrow. I must admit I was grateful. I cleaned up my office and left. I went to the teacher's exercise room and swam for an hour till my body and mind where numb. I left and ate back at my quarters. I finally fell into a fitful sleep.