"Fancy meeting you here." If she asked, he could admit that he was actually looking for her when he walked into the bar. He hadn't seen her in the few weeks since the Hawking got back and he was tempted to ask Pike where she disappeared to but never drummed up the courage.
She smiled, "Hello, Bones." He sat down next to her and ordered a drink.
They sat in relative silence for a while as he watched her, "Haven't seen you around. Are you okay?"
Jim nodded, "Yea… Yea, I'm good. I was in Iowa working on the Enterprise. You'll see more of me soon enough, I got my orders. I'm assigned to the academy for the next year, at least. Oh, and they're giving me a commendation for that thing on the Hawking."
She didn't sound too excited about that part. If he thought about it, he could understand her issue, "People got hurt, the ship got damaged and you don't want to be rewarded for doing your job."
She let out a breath, "Finally, someone other than dad that gets it. I thought I was losing my mind but I'm relieved to know that somebody actually understands how I feel."
He smiled, "Been there. I hate it when I lose patients but then everybody tells me how I did such a good job and I just want to beat the crap out of them. I mean when someone dies, I don't want your praise."
Jim smiled, "That sounds about right. They're having a reception. You should come; I bet you're on the list anyway since you were on the ship. Maybe I'll actually behave long enough to get through the whole thing. On the other hand, I could just get really drunk. Porter is getting promoted, Jax too."
He looked at her, "Parties aren't really my thing."
She nodded, "Mine either. Unfortunately, I can't skip it. I was ordered to attend."
Leonard smiled, "We'll see. So what will you be doing around here, if you don't mind me asking?"
She shrugged, "Teaching: Engineering, Philosophy and Basic Helm Control. Don't worry, I'm not your instructor, you'll be flying with my friend Mitchell. He's one of the best in the fleet, so you, my aviophobic friend, will be in very good hands."
Flying, Leonard hated to fly, and he hated that he had to learn even more. Watching Jim or Pike, they both made it look so easy but he knew that unless his life depended on it, he wasn't jumping into the pilot's chair anytime soon. Jim must have read his mind, "It's not that bad, I learned how to fly when I was ten."
"I'm not surprised. Pike?"
She shook her head, "Archer."
He raised an eyebrow, "Archer? As in the man that basically founded the Federation, former Federation President, Commander Starfleet, Admiral Jonathan Archer? He taught you how to fly?"
Jim chuckled, "Yea, but he's usually Uncle Archie to me when I'm off duty. Don't tell anybody that." Leonard made a motion to cross his heart. Now he was beginning to understand what she meant about liking that he didn't automatically know who she was. Between her birth parents, her adoptive dad and all the officers she grew up around, she was practically Starfleet royalty.
"Know any other legendary officers?"
Jim smirked, "Plenty. I don't really talk about it. Depending on the person, they aren't really legends to me, just family. Then there are the officers who don't like me because I'm not George. They're all harder on me than most people; they all expect great things. George and Dad both have big reputations and I carry both legacies. It's funny because people always ask me about being a Kirk but I'm only a Kirk by name and DNA. I grew up a Pike. I didn't know George, everything I know about him I learned from dad and Sam. Dad, has been my dad my whole life. Hell, he's been keeping an eye on us since I was a baby. The last thing I want to do is disappoint him. He's the only parent I really got. Winona is… something. I can't believe they let her go back on active duty, she's nuts." Leonard nodded as she shook her head, "Why am I telling you all this?"
He smiled, "Because I highly doubt you tell any of this to anyone. Everybody expects you to be this ideal so nobody bothers to see it when things bother you. I mean, you talk to your dad but it's not the same. I don't care about who your parents are and I'm not afraid to call you out if I need to. Although, if I'm being honest, Pike being your dad and my advisor makes me nervous."
Jim laughed, "I'm a big girl and dad usually keeps our lives and our work as far apart as possible. It's not easy but he tries. If it'll make you feel better, I won't tell him that we slept together. I like you too much to watch him break your legs…" He looked at her as she sat stone-faced for a minute and then burst into laughter, "He wouldn't really break your legs. I'm sorry, you should've seen your face. He has this look; you've probably seen it before when some cadet does something stupid. You really don't want to see it if it has something to do with me. Seriously, as far as dad is concerned, I know what I'm doing. He would just want to make sure I was treated properly… and you treated me very well, so there's no need for you to worry."
Leonard watched her for a second, then smirked, "If it's all the same with you, I don't want to test that theory."
She chuckled, "Yea, telling my dad about my sex life is right under drinking acid on my list of things to do." They had a few more drinks before she nudged him, "It's a school night, you should get back to campus. How the hell do you deal with the curfew?"
He shrugged, "Other than working at the hospital, I never had to worry about it. And I get a pass for shifts. How did you deal with it?"
Jim shrugged, "I started the academy when I was fifteen and graduated in three years, I knew how to stay out of trouble and I never went too far away from campus. Last thing I wanted was to explain to Uncle Archie why I was being pulled into his or Barnett's offices."
He nodded and stood to leave, "Well, Miss Jim, as always, it has been a pleasure." Jim smirked, reached for his waistband and grabbed his communicator. She punched in her information and handed it back to him.
"In case you need something."
He had a retort on the tip of his tongue but he stopped himself from telling her exactly what he needed and settled for a nod and a "See ya, later, Jim."