Warning: Story deals with rape. It is not particularly graphic, but it will be dark and it is an adult subject. Consider yourselves warned.

The kitchen on the Enterprise was small. The replicators provided all of the needed food and the archaic task of cooking was left to those with too much time on their hands. The kitchen had a couple of stoves, a sink, and Lt. O'Malley's distillery. It didn't get much use.

Ensign Shina Mifune was making rice balls. Tomorrow Japan would celebrate the Girl's Festival. Being a feminist meant she had to arrange for a 'Girl's Night In' with her friends in the Communications Department. Ice cream would be replicated for those who didn't want rice balls.

Then the lights in the kitchen went out. Her mouth was covered with a piece of cloth and she felt a burning sensation in the back of her throat. She tried to fight back but was too dizzy to do anything more than struggle.

She managed to get out one scream before passing out.

Three months later…

The voice that filled the captain's quarters sounded unusually frazzled and worried, prompting Kirk to pick up his communicator a bit faster than was normal. "Captain Kirk here. What's up, Uhura?"

"Captain, you might want to get down to Sickbay."

"Did McCoy put you up to this? I said I'd reschedule that physical." He grinned at the thought of the doctor getting so desperate.

"Jim, please." She sounded so frightened then that his grin disappeared. "Please, we need you in Sickbay."

"I'll be there in a second." The fact that she was frightened freaked him out and he ran down to Sickbay in record time.

It was empty except for McCoy, Uhura, and the Head of Security, Lt. Commander Alexander Green. The vicious scowl on Green's normally placid face confirmed Kirk's suspicion that something was very, very wrong. His gait slowed as he came up to the group and he noticed what they were surrounding.

They were gathered around a small woman lying on a hospital bed. Her short, jet black hair was uncombed and her eyes were red. She was speaking, but between her accent and sobbing he couldn't make anything out. He was saved from having to ask when McCoy quietly pulled him away.

A few paces from the bed, he spoke in a low, quiet voice. "She was raped."

Kirk's hand curled into a fist and he really wanted to hit something. "Who was it?"

"We don't know. She doesn't know. The kitchen lights went out and nobody else was there." McCoy paused. "She didn't tell anyone until today."

"Until today?" Kirk repeated. "How long ago did this happen?"

"I don't have an exact date yet but she just finished her first trimester."

"Oh shit."

"Yeah." McCoy nodded. "That's a good way of putting it."

"Can you…" He was so mad he had trouble turning his thoughts into words. "Can you figure out who? With DNA from the kid?"

The doctor hesitated. "Yes and no. Yes because it's possible. No because I would need a DNA sample from the man to compare it to. And to get anyone's DNA I would need a warrant otherwise it's an invasion of their right to keep all biological knowledge private."

"You're kidding me."

"No." McCoy shook his head. "Starfleet Regulations state I can't take a sample of anyone's blood for any reason other than medical safety."

"It is medical safety!" He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Her medical safety! The medical safety of every woman on this ship!"

"And I took her DNA. But you can't go around stabbing people with needles and taking their blood. You need a warrant." He emphasized the last sentence by jabbing his finger against Kirk's chest.

"And to get a warrant I need a suspect." Kirk sighed and glanced back at the hospital bed.

"I want her to rest. Uhura and Green have been questioning her almost nonstop since they got here. Talk to them before you bother her some more."

"I just want to tell her one thing." Kirk pulled away and crossed back to the hospital bed. He sat on the edge of it and took one of the girl's small hands in his own. She tensed up and he felt a swell of loathing for whoever had made her afraid of human contact. "Ensign, I promise you. I'm gonna find the guy who hurt you and I'm gonna hurt him." He couldn't be certain but he had a feeling that Green was backing up his words with a firm nod. "So get some rest and don't worry, okay?" He gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile and led Uhura and Green out of Sickbay. He looked back over his shoulder and was glad to see McCoy pulling curtains around her bed, sealing her away from the rest of the medical wing and giving her some privacy.

When the doors swooshed shut and they were alone in the hallway he turned to both of them. "Tell me everything you know."

Uhura spoke first. "I noticed she was showing. I asked her about it and she broke down." She didn't look him in the eye. "I got her to Sickbay."

Green spoke up, his Texan accent harsher than either of them had ever heard before. "She said it happened in the kitchen. She doesn't remember the time but said it was after her shift." He looked at Uhura. "Lieutenant, do you know her schedule?"

"From three months ago?" She shook her head. "But I can check the computer logs."

"Do it." Kirk ordered. "Mr. Green, any suggestions?"

The older man inhaled and thought for a minute. "We should investigate the kitchen. Anything useful is probably gone by now but we should still check. The ship's cameras, obviously." He puffed his cheeks and exhaled. "We should talk to her roommate and friends."

He nodded. "You had experience in law enforcement before Starfleet, right? Any detective work?"

Green shook his head. "No Sir, I'm afraid not. My specialty is combat maneuvers." His brow creased. "But I think I know someone who would be really good at this sort of thing."

"Who?"

A few minutes later Spock arched his eyebrow at the two men who had just marched into his quarters. "Your idea does not lack merit, Mr. Green, but my logic should not be the deciding factor in who leads the investigation."

"Believe me, Sir, nobody in my department has any experience in detective work. I gotta buncha kids who know as much about investigating as you do. Only difference is, you're more logical."

Kirk cleared his throat. "You'll be working with me. I want to help catch the bastard."

"That is not surprising, but it is also unwise. At least one of us should be focused on our duties to the Enterprise."

Kirk's hand curled into a fist again. "Keeping the crew safe is our main duty!"

"We can not ignore the Enterprise as a whole to focus on one issue." Spock argued. "Be logical."

"This isn't a logical situation!" He yelled. "This is rape! She's a child and he raped her and I want to find him!"

"Starfleet regulations forbid anyone younger than seventeen to board a spaceship as a crew member." Spock coolly replied.

For a second Kirk wanted to hit him. How anybody could respond to such a horrible act with a cool, collected response was beyond him. His hand shook and he glared daggers. "I can't believe you. What if it was Uhura lying in that hospital bed?" That was a low blow but judging from the brief flicker of rage that passed over Spocks face, it had connected.

The half-Vulcan nodded. "Captain, you have convinced me. But I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"I will be in charge of the investigation. You will follow my lead on this since I believe you are too emotional to be in charge of an investigation of such magnitude."

Kirk thought for a moment. He was still angry but he was smart enough to realize his First Officer had a point. His knowledge of detective work could be typed on a note card and he couldn't honestly promise not to beat the crap out of the first suspect they stumbled across. "Deal." He held out his hand and they shook.

Fin.

Author's notes: This might qualify as the heaviest thing I've ever written. Whoo. More to come.

Star Trek does not belong to me. I wish it did.