A/N: I'm Glad to say that I'M BAAAAK! Thank you SO much to bookdragon01 for beta-ing this for me. As always I only own the plot and the characters that no one recognizes. Yes that means I have to claim Victor, unfortunately. ;)
A/N 2: I am back more or less this is just a fix and minor edit on this chapter. I finally got part of McCoy's rant at Jocelyn that's been bugging me for forever to make a bit more sense. YES there will be a new chapter here shortly as well as a new one for Meetings. I've almost finished tweaking chapter 21 and just need to get Kirk to stand still long enough to finish 22. lol I will put the reason for the lack of updates in the notes for both new chapters.
Three and a half hours later they stepped off the shuttle and in to the heat and humidity of Atlanta. McCoy led the way to rent a ground car and drove them to one of the rebuilt late 20th century style neighborhoods.
"There it is everyone." He said as they passed a large home in the center of the block about fifteen feet back from the street.
"It's beautiful." Uhura commented.
'Mrs. Parker is still on her porch I see." Rhymer said as they passed.
McCoy took a long look at the house before turning the corner. He drove for another couple of blocks then pulled over.
"So how are we goin' to do this?" McCoy asked.
"I figured we'd take the information to the police station and if there are any delays, Uhura can stay and the rest of us will get Joanna and meet her there." Jim threw out.
"What?! So that's how I'm supposed to help?" she demanded glaring at Jim.
"Look at it this way we kinda have a time limit here, not knowing how badly she's hurt. If it looks like it's going to take forever to get in to see the Captain, you can let them know what is going on while we're getting Joanna. If things don't go according to plan we're gonna need you to bring the cavalry. I don't know what we're going up against Uhura, and I don't want anyone else hurt if I can help it. And if they need to ask Joanna any questions we might need you there if Bones can't be and it'll be easier if they already know you." Jim explained to her.
"Ok, Kirk but don't forget to call alright." She said realizing the sense in what he said. "Ok Len how do we get to the station?"
"The nearest precinct is six blocks over." Bones said pulling back onto the street.
Ten minutes later they entered the precinct and followed Jim to the front desk.
"We need to see the Captain, which way to the office?" he asked the Sergeant.
"Down that hall third door on the left, Sir." The Sergeant replied glancing up and recognizing the look of someone used to being in charge in Jim's attitude.
"Thanks." Jim replied leading the others to the indicated door. Inside was an outer office, and the department secretary; a slightly built man in this thirties with an oily attitude.
"Can I help you?" he asked looking up as they entered.
"Yes we need to see the Captain immediately on an urgent matter." Rhymer said stepping up to the desk as Jim stepped back and let him take over. "I'm Lt Cmdr Rhymer of Starfleet JAG we are here to deliver some important evidence to your Captain and request the assistance of the APD. I believe that Adm. Pike called roughly an hour ago to let you know to expect us." Rhymer told him handing over his ID.
"Well you can't Capt Logan isn't here right now and I've got no clue when she'll be back cause she's got court today." Was the secretary's disinterested reply.
"You sure of that? Cause the Sergeant at the desk would have told us that when we asked for directions." McCoy half snarled.
"I have no clue. But you aren't getting in to see her anyway without an appointment." The secretary replied bringing up a calendar. "Let see there's an opening next week at four PM if you want it."
At the muted snarl from McCoy Jim nodded at Uhura. "That's alright, Lt Uhura will wait here. We have another errand that can't wait on you to get your head out of your ass." Jim snapped as he led the others to the door.
"Good luck." Uhura whispered as Rhymer handed her their evidence.
"You too. Make sure you get in to see this Captain Logan. Do whatever you have to." Jim told her as they left.
"So Jim, how are the rest of us gonna to do this?" Bones asked on the way back.
"Well we need you and the Lt Cmdr at the door. I figured you two and Spock take it, I'll stand back up." he explained. "You need the best for this part and that's not me. Yeah I could probably either charm or force my way through but that might cause more problems in the long run."
McCoy and Spock were surprised to hear their captain say that he wasn't capable of something, but they both realized he was telling the truth; logic and following the letter of the law would get them farther than a Jim Kirk stunt.
"Ok here we are." Bones murmured pulling into a space at the curb. They got out and looked around, sizing things up. They saw Mrs. Parker sitting on her porch apparently knitting, and Jim noticed the phaser on the table at her elbow.
"She knows how to use that thing, right?"He whispered to Bones.
"She's a crack shot Jim. You bet she does." He whispered back waving at her.
Then McCoy, Rhymer and Spock headed up the walk leaving Jim leaning against the car, arms crossed over his chest eyes fixed worriedly on his friends.
McCoy took a deep breath as they reached the door. After a quick glance at his companions he rang the bell. A couple of minutes later it was opened by Jocelyn. When she saw who was there her face froze.
"What the hell are you doin' here Leonard? I thought that I'd made myself very clear that you were not welcome at this house." She demanded icily.
"Hello Jocelyn. As to what I'm doin' here I'm here to pick Jo up for my two weeks of shore leave." He replied stiffly keeping his anger in check.
"No you are not! The court gave me custody of her and control over your visits. You never cleared pickin' her up early with me so she's not going. And who are these two?" Jocelyn demanded staring down her nose at Spock and looking uneasily at Rhymer.
"Lt Cmdr J. Rhymer, from Starfleet Judge Advocate General, and this is Cmdr Spock, First Officer of the Enterprise." Rhymer performed the introductions quickly, none of them missed the ill-disguised contempt for Spock or the flash of fear at hearing Rhymer was a lawyer.
"I'm here to inform you that your divorce is being appealed on the grounds of official misconduct and fraud by the officers of the court involved as well as yourself." Rhymer said formally, handing over a thick legal document.
"What? No there has to be some mistake. I'm a never stir-" she trailed off as Rhymer continued.
"Also you are here by ordered to release your daughter to her father immediately. With the grounds that we have for lodging the appeal of the main issues of your divorce, your custody arrangements are also suspended and will be subject to strict review. But since you have denied Dr. McCoy all contact with his daughter for a period of five months, he is within his rights to demand to see her, with or without the appeal." He said handing over several other sheets of paper. Jocelyn glanced through them in disbelief.
"What are you talkin' about? I am not handin' her over to a drunk, lyin' bastard that only cares for himself" she exclaimed.
"Mrs. McCoy, I believe you are stating an erroneous, illogical conclusion concerning the Doctor's habits. Over the last two years I have never heard of nor seen him even remotely the worse for drink whether or not there was even the slightest possibility of being called upon as a physician." Spock coolly informed her. "So your statement of his being an alcoholic is both baseless and stated without full knowledge of the facts. Also I have on numerous occasions seen him put his own life on the line to save both members of the crew and any others placed in his care, with no thought to his own safety or wellbeing. I also know him to be truthful to the point of tactlessness. So there again your statement is highly illogical." Spock said, doing his best to imitate both his father's attitude and manner of using polite insults; and faintly heard Jim snicker behind them as Jocelyn huffed in anger.
"Mrs. McCoy, no doubt you'd rather keep her locked up in a room with a black eye, split lip and who knows what other injuries. Isn't that right?" Rhymer added annoyed by her attitude.
Jocelyn looked shocked at that accusation. "I have no clue what you're talkin' about. Yes Jo is in trouble for tryin' to run away, my fiancé caught her Thursday while I was out, but I assure you she is no more injured than I am." She replied haughtily.
"Jocelyn, go get Jo, now. I'm not the same man you practically ran out of town five years ago and I don't think you understand just who you're dealin' with now."McCoy said his voice taking on the growl that preceded one of his rants.
"Oh really?" Jocelyn scoffed at him.
"I earned the spot of CMO on the Enterprise the hard way when the original CMO was killed over Vulcan, and spent the next ten days seein' more injured than I ever saw in one place, and short on everything else. I've spent the last two years as the CMO of the Enterprise, and I hope to hell you realize what that means. It means that you aren't just facin' me you've got the whole damn ship plus a good part of the Admiralty to convince that I'm what your Daddy and your own twisted mind have convinced you that I am. Those are folks you and your Daddy can't buy, Jocelyn, most of them see me every damn day or know enough about me form the reports we send. So don't think you can push me around anymore. You made sure as hell that you came out smellin' like a damn rose last time with your 'friends in high places', but I guarantee you won't this time."McCoy snarled letting her see the unyielding resolve to do whatever it took, that saved so many lives after a battle.
Jocelyn stepped back frightened by the transformation before her; the Leonard McCoy she'd married was a dedicated doctor and gentleman, he wasn't the ruthless man in front of her. She didn't know what to do and Victor wouldn't be home for half an hour yet.
"Mrs. McCoy there have been reports that your daughter has the injuries Cmdr Rhymer told you about and it would be in your best interest to cooperate. If you refuse to we are in place to involve the Atlanta Police to force you to comply. And I can promise you that they won't be as courteous." Spock told her a hard edge barely detectable in his voice.
She glanced around frantically looking for a way out from under the two hostile gazes and one coolly assessing one, before admitting defeat, but they'd see that there was nothing wrong with Joanna and then they'd leave and it would all go back to normal, she'd have her daughter and Leonard's money and be planning her dream wedding.
"Keys in the door" was all she said, looking at the floor of the porch.
She saw Leonard start to move when a new voice said "Spock take watch."
She looked up sharply to see a younger man in a leather jacket and jeans, tall, blonde, mid to late 20s she thought with the brightest, coldest blue eyes she'd ever seen walking towards them, as the Cmdr headed towards the road. For some reason he looked vaguely familiar.
"I'll get her, you stay here and help Spock keep an eye on things" he said as he ducked passed her like she had something contagious.
Feeling very conspicuous, she started nervously looking through the papers in her hand again when she heard the voice of the fourth man from inside. "Shit! Sonuva-! Goddamnit!" followed by faint footsteps and some unintelligible sounds. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Leonard stiffen at the sounds, one hand going nervously to his side.
'Lookin' for a drink, no doubt,' she thought in satisfaction. She was shocked when he stopped and muttered something that sounded like: "In the damn med kit" when his hand met air instead of whatever he'd reached for. But the shouting from upstairs had her worried now. It shouldn't have taken this long to let Joanna out of the room and bring her down stairs.
Then they heard the sound of someone slowly coming down the stairs. She gasped when she saw that the stranger was carrying Joanna carefully in his arms, and when they got into the light from the door, the bruises on her arm stood out vividly.
As they reached the foot of the steps she could hear him talking to her softly, chin close to her ear, but couldn't make out the words. But she understood the glare he sent her; the rage in it had her moving back out of his way.
"JoJo its ok kiddo, I got you, and your Dad's just outside. I'll give you to him, no one else without your say so." She heard him say softly as they stepped out of the house, Leonard was there seconds later.
"Jo, Darlin' I got ya" he murmured laying a hand carefully on her shoulder, as she raised her head to look at him.
"Daddy?" she whispered.
"Yeah Darlin' Girl, I got you sweetheart," he told her a catch in his voice, gently brushing his hand through her hair as he tipped her head against his chest.
"Set her down Jim. Spock, get the damn med kit outta the car." He ordered for a moment switching to the brisk no nonsense doctor, as Jim carefully sat in one of the rockers on the porch with Joanna in his lap.
Hearing Leonard call the man Jim made Jocelyn start; as she realized that this was the same 'kid' that she'd seen a few times on the com with Leonard. Jim Kirk was what Joanna had said his name was; then it clicked Jim Kirk was Capt James T Kirk of the Enterprise. Then she got a good look at Joanna as Leonard moved to take the med kit and didn't want to believe that her daughter was sitting there, injured and she hadn't known about it. She wanted to go over but a look at the men's faces stopped her cold.