Sorry it took me so long to get this started. I decided since I finished Stargazer that I'd take the rest of the week off (Also, I spent the weekend attending Animix and peddling some of my wares)!

For those of you who are new this is a sequel to Stargazer, so you might want to read that first. Thanks!

Chapter 1

---Kira---

Bleary-eyed, I stared up at the ceiling through the darkness as my mind tried to determine where I was. As the haze that covered my mind began to clear I began to recognize my surroundings; I was in my quarters. They had assigned me this room after I had been released from sick bay, and days later I was still trying to adjust to my new surroundings.

Not sure what had woken me I turned my head to the side and I saw the green glow of a digital clock glaring into my face; it was already 11- I had overslept.

Ugg. Why am I so tired?

When I closed my eyes again I heard the whoosh of the door opening and the soft thump of Starfleet issued boots padding across the carpet.

The lights flicked on.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" I looked up to see Bones towering above me.

I scrunched my nose at him and confided, "It's gloriously soft… so soft that I just can't seem to sleep on that thing."

I wiped some grit from my eyes and sat up. "What are you doing in my room anyways? Isn't it considered rude to just barge into a person's quarters without knocking first?"

"I rang, but you didn't answer. So, considering you are an hour late for your appointment I decided to take matters into my own hands. Now if you would…" Frowning, he nodded his head towards the bed and extended a hand to help me up.

I accepted his outstretched hand and with an easy tug he hefted me up off of the floor.

As I settled on to the edge of the bed he pulled out his tricorder. I could hear its soft hum as he turned it on.

"I thought you didn't make house calls."

"I don't." His frown deepened, "if someone would bother to show up for her scheduled check ups I wouldn't have to."

I huffed impatiently at him. "That's because there is nothing to "check up." I've had far worse than a couple of bruises… I'm fine."

"You're a giant walking bruise, and you are not fine." He argued back and poked at my arm roughly. "See!"

I swore softly and clenched my eyes shut. "You make a painful point. How you ever managed to become a doctor escapes me."

He smirked a bit in response and continued on with his examination. After a while the silence began to pull heavily at my eyes as my body demanded more sleep.

"I didn't mean to miss today," I apologized. "I overslept. I'm just so tired all the time lately."

He looked at his tricorder one last time before stowing it away.

"It's normal," he explained. "I was able to fix the major problems, but I'm afraid there is no cure for bruises besides good old fashion time and patience. Your body is working overtime to heal itself, so all of your energy is focused on that rather than elsewhere. Don't push yourself if you are tired, you need all the sleep you can get."

"But I don't want to sleep… not really. Scotty promised me a tour of the ship."

He chuckled softly, "There will be plenty of time for that. We won't make it to earth for at least a week. I'm sure you'll be feeling up to a tour by then."

I hesitated a bit before asking, "… So we are headed to earth then?"

"We have a few quick stops before then, but yes."

I stared down at my hands intently, my hair slipping down in front of my eyes, and picked nervously at my finger nails.

"What's going to happen when we get there?"

It was not the question I wanted to ask, but the only one I had the courage to put into words. What I really wanted to ask was 'what is going to happen to me when we get there?' but the question was too close to my heart for me to feel comfortable asking it- even of him.

He looked at me consideringly for a moment before he answered. "I don't really know any specifics," he explained.

"Sylar and his men will have to go on trial… you will have to be there too. Jim wants you to testify against them."

"I don't think it will mean much coming from me. "

"You helped us escape, even at your own personal risk, it means a lot. Besides, Jim is not going to let anything bad happen to you… none of us are."

I smiled a slight wisp of a smile at him, not really believing. I think he realized my disbelief because his brow furrowed as he pursed his lips.

Surprisingly, he reached out and pushed my hair back behind my right ear. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the gesture; perhaps he was merely trying to comfort me.

Coming to the Enterprise I had been exposed to more human contact than I was used to, and I certainly couldn't remember the last time someone had tried to comfort me. It was strange, but oddly enough I did feel reassured.

My cheek still tingled warmly where he had touched.

He shifted uncomfortably, "Anyways, you're fine."

"I told you so."

"Heh. And I'm the doctor, so I'll be the one doing the telling."

He stood there a moment with his arms hanging at his side; then, finally, he moved towards the door. "You should get some more rest. Doctor's orders."

"Yes, sir." I saluted with a wry look on my face.

Then he turned and left me to myself and the silence of my room.