Changes

Jim was adjusting well considering the situation. She took on the role of being the first female captain in the history of Starfleet rather well. Jim wasn't exactly sure what Admiral Pike told them or what Spock said, but one minute they were going to relieve her of command, the next they were issuing a formal apology. Jim asked Spock what it was he told them during the private call for him from headquarters but Spock was tight lipped about it.

"Just be grateful that you get to stay here and that you aren't being shipped off to some research center."

"I am grateful to Spock and Pike, but I'm also curious. It isn't every day that stuff like that happens."

"I'm pleased to hear it."

"Spock! How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough Captain."

A smile graced Jim's face.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that eavesdropping can lead to trouble?" She teased. Spock raised an eye brow. Jim laughed. "A joke Mr. Spock."

"Yes Captain, I am quite aware of your sense of humor, as unconventional as it is."

Jim laughed again.

"You have a great sense of humor too Mr. Spock."

"Emotions are illogical, Captain."

"We're both off duty now Spock, you can call me Jim."

"You three having fun?" Uhura asked, appearing with a tray.

"Uhura, join us, we were just about to discuss shore leave plans."

"No thanks, Spock and I have plans already for today."

"Have fun you two." Jim said as they left.

Jim didn't understand yet how much trouble it could be until shore leave the following week. She and Bones had agreed to meet at small lounge for drinks and then they would go to dinner. Not a date but as friends. Of course, when she told Rand it ended up with Uhura and Rand getting her a red halter chiffaon dress with a beaded waistline that didn't go past her knees and doing her hair and makeup before she was beamed down to the surface. The shoes were almost over the top and ended up being changed to simple black mary-janes with smaller heels.

"Hey gorgeous." A man's voice said somewhere to her left.

"I'm not interested, go away."

"Not even gonna look at me before you turn me down sweet-cheeks?"

Jim began to wonder where Bones was and if this creep understood the word no.

"Call me sweet-cheeks again, and I'll rip out your tongue. Now go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and stay there."

"Now look here bitch," the man said, grabbing Jim's arm and forcing her to face him. "No girl has ever refused me." Jim scowled at him, not liking the fact that she was being manhandled.

"Rejection is good for people like you, teaches you humility. Unless you don't understand big words, I'll simplify it for you. Let go of my arm, now." She tried to pull her arm free but found it hard to do so with the man's inhumanly tight grip.

The man's face darkened, and he grabbed her throat and forced her off the barstool and into the nearest wall.

"You need to learn a lesson in manners, bitch. No-one here will stop me, they're all too cowardly." Keeping a hand on her throat her forced her from the lounge into a back alley. She struggled the entire way. Before things could get any worse the man was letting go of her throat and she was falling to the floor. Looking up she saw Bones and Spock. Uhura was kneeling beside her.

Bones was really beating this man to a pulp, she'd never seen her friend so furious before, not even as her days as a man. Spock must have been the one to wrench the man off of her but now he was pulling the doctor away from the man. Bones was thoroughly winded, and his knuckles were beginning to bruise.

"Doctor, that is enough. Jim needs you right now."

"Don't you ever try something like that again!" Bones said, delivering a swift kick to the man. Then he was at Jim's side. Jim flung her arms around Bones.

"Bones!" She whined. He got her to her feet and held onto her. Jim shook in horror, the realization of what could have happened fresh in her sharp mind.

"I'm sorry I'm late Jim. Are you okay?"

"Oh god Bones, he was gonna-"

Bones' arms tightened around her.

"He's not gonna hurt you now Jim."

"Is Spock okay? And Uhura?"

"We're okay Jim." Uhura said.

They had gotten out of the back alley and onto the street. Bones examined Jim. Other than marks on her neck, she was relatively unharmed. Bones hated to think what might have happened had they gotten there any later. He made a confused face when he took in her outfit.

"What are you wearing there, kid?"

"I asked the girls to help me look nice. Thought it'd do your self-confidence good if you had a pretty girl on your arm."

Bones smiled and shook his head.

"Idiot. You're not really a girl."

"I know but right now I am."

"You look beautiful Jim."

"I'm a mess."

Bones kissed her forehead at the complaint. "And this dress is on loan. Oh man, Chris is gonna kill me."

"No she won't if you explain what happened, besides, it's only a little dirty. Nothing a little soap and water won't fix. You still up for dinner or do you want to return back to the ship?"

"Can Spock and Uhura stay with us?"

"Whatever you want, kid."

AN: The dress I had in mind I saw on the David's bridal website. I thought it'd be funny to have Jim draw the line at the shoes. The original shoes they planned on using had six inch heels and were silver strappies.