(A/N: Before I start on the next chapter Id like to thank everyone who reviewed AND put this story on their Story Alert. Sam: I will be doing flashbacks here and there too. In fact theres one in this chapter.)

Breakaway

Ch. 2

(Kirks house, Iowa)

Like every sleepover they had at James house, Angela always slept on his bed, while he took the floor on an air mattress. Before they could sleep, however, Angela needed to do one more thing.

'"I need to disinfect those cuts," she announced.

He groaned, but sat down on the air mattress. Angela carefully dabbed his cuts.

"Ow!" he flinched when the alcohol stung.

"Dont be such a wuss," she told him.

"You know, this feels oddly familiar," Kirk commented after a moments pause.

"What does?" she asked.

"You cleaning me up after a fight," he reminded her. "Please tell me you havent forgotten how we met."

Angela laughed at the memory.

"You came to my rescue that day," she said. "How could I forget."

*(Iowa Elementary)*

12 years ago . . .

Angela sat alone, under a tree. The much younger Angela wore used clothes and her black hair was in a messy, not combed ponytail. She wore a sad expression on her face as she read from a tattered, old book. The 10 year old finally looked up from the book when she heard shoes rustle the grass.

A gang of boys, no older than her, stood around her. Theyre the 6 of the biggest and meanest boys in the school yard.

"What are you reading now, Montgomery," the tallest of the group asked, snatching the book out of her hands. He read the title to himself, but then passed the book around.

"Give it back", Angela said in small voice.

The boy sneered to Angela, "You studying medicine for? Hoping to make enough money to support your father when he gets out of jail?"

At the mention of her father, Angela stood up angrily and faced them.

"Shut up about my dad," she said, with as much courage she could muster.

"Oh oh!" the leader said. "It looks like Ive hit a sore spot with our future MD!"

"Hey, what was it like seeing your mom dead on the floor?" one of the boys asked rudely.

Angelas face grew red.

"Give it back," the girl said.

She tried to grab the book back, but the boy lifted it up in the air. Angela jumped up and down, trying to get it. The other boys laughed loudly. The tall buy with the book pushed her down. Her face grew redder and stood back up.

Angela pushed the boy back with all of her strength. Which wasnt much. The boy retaliated and pushed her back hard. This made her fall back, hit the tree behind her and fell to the ground.

"Hey, back off, guys!" a voice said.

"Stay out of this, Kirk," one of the buys spoke up.

Another one of the boys asked, Besides, what are you gonna do about?

Angela forced herself to sit up. She didnt have enough strength to stand, so she just leaned against the tree and watched the fight break out, her head pounding.

(Kirks house, Iowa)

"Done," Angela announced, putting her things on the bedside table.

She stood up and stretched.

"You had better stay out of fights while I'm at Starfleet," she told him.

"I'll do my best. Doctor," he said.

She smiled as she crawled into bed.

"It's still not too late to join Starfleet," she told him.

"Good night," he mumbled.

"It'll be easier on me if you went,"

"Good night," Jim repeated.

"You'd miss me too much if youd stay," she said.

"Good night, Ang," he mumbled again.

Giving up for the moment she replied, "Good night, Jim."

*****

But she didnt get much sleep. Angela woke up a few hours before dawn. She couldnt get the image of her dead mother, and now of her dead father, sprawled on the living room floor out of her mind.

Angela sipped her tea. She sat, leaning her head sideways against the back of the couch with her feet up. Angela gave a sigh and a sniffle.

"I was wondering when it was going to soak in," a familiar voice said.

She didnt need to look up to see who it was. James went over and sat down next to her. He motioned her to him; she obeyed, putting her tea cup down. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and let her head rest on his chest, letting the tears flow.

*****

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" James asked.

Angela was running around the house, getting ready to leave. Which wasnt much, as she wouldnt be brining any of her things with her. But, she still needed to get dressed and look somewhat presentable.

"First you wake up too early and then you wake up late, a few hours later," he continued.

Angela took a second from getting ready to stick her tongue out at him.

"Real mature, Ang," he said partially amused.

She reemerged from the bathroom and slipped on her motorcycle jacket.

"Ready," she announced.

"Splendid,"

The rush of riding on his motorcycle was the same as when she first rode it. It also cleared her mind of all thoughts and pushed any anxiety out of her mind.

At no time at all, they arrived at the ship building docks. A short distance away were the shuttles to San Francisco. James stopped to gaze upon the not-quit-finished ship that would soon be the USS Enterprise.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked in his ear. "You could be Captain of it."

The prospect of being Captain of his own starship was very tempting indeed.

When they reached the departure shuttle James turned off the bike and got off with Angela. She folded her arms in front of her chest and did her best not to start crying again.

"You sure you dont wanna come, Jim?" she asked.

He didnt answer.

"There's nothing left here for both of us. All we have each other, you know," Angela pointed out.

When he didnt respond to that she said quietly, "Okay."

She reached up and kissed him on the lips softly. Angela had been secretly wanting to do that since High School. She cupped his face in her hands.

"Bye, Jim," she whispered.

With that she headed up the stairs into the shuttle. Angela found a seat across from a beautiful black woman. She must have sensed Angelas anxiety about leaving her home for the first time and her sadness about leaving James, which was the only reason that she had stayed this long in Iowa to begin with, because she smiled sweetly to her.

"You gonna be okay, hun?" she asked.

Angela nodded and told her, "I'll be fine once were in San Francisco." she sighed and added, "Maybe if Im too busy at Starfleet, I wont miss my best friend so much."

"My names Uhura," The woman introduced herself.

"Angela," she replied politely. "Nice to meet you."

As Angela strapped herself in she heard somebody hit their head on a low awning. She looked up to see who was the idiot who couldnt read the big sign in warning.

"Jim!" she gasped. "You changed your mind?"

"Well, somebody has to defend your honor," he said cheekily. "Besides, you think I'm gonna let you leave after that kiss, your sadly mistaken."

He sat down next to Angela as she blushed a little.

"I don't need a doctor. I am a doctor," they heard a loud, annoyed voice. He sat down in the empty seat next to James. "I may throw up on you," he told Kirk.

Angela smiled over at Uhura, trying hard not to laugh at the uneasy look on James face.

To be continued . . .

(A/N2: Thanks again for the reviews. Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!)