Chapter 4: Talks

"Why didn't it work, Penny? Where did the girlfriend come from?" Jocelyn shot a dark glare at Penelope Gordon.

The reporter just shrugged. "I'm sorry, Joce. I didn't know he was dating Jamie Kirk. I didn't even have her on the radar for a serious relationship. That woman is known for sleeping around."

"Well, apparently not anymore", Jocelyn remarked angrily. "And what kind of reporter are you when you don't know Leonard is in a relationship?!"

"Hey, I held up my end of the deal. Well, as good as I could anyway. If Leonard and Jamie Kirk weren't a couple, all the world would have the perfect reunion story, if you would have been able to lull him in." She shrugged again. "But let's be honest, Joce. He didn't look like he was happy to see you. And Commander Spock saw right through you."

Jocelyn snorted and crossed her arms. "I don't care. What do Vulcans understand about feelings?"

"We didn't see each other since highschool, but I know you well enough to know that you must have done quite a number on Leonard in the divorce." Penelope glanced to Joanna who was feeding ducks at a nearby pond. "The chances were slim, but you wanted to try it."

Jocelyn exhaled sharply. "He would have come around eventually. He loves his daughter and if not for me, he would have given us a second chance so he could give her a family."

Penelope gave her an almost pitiful look. "If you say so."

Jocelyn's glance got darker again. "Well, you won either way. You also have a great story now."

"True. But I was always going to have that, because those people saved all our lives. They're true heros." She exhaled heavily. "Wie did you drive him away in the first place? And you never told me, if you actually have still feelings for him."

"Does it matter? He worked too much. I was lonely and home alone. I was going nuts only taking care of Joanna and seeing him only in the evenings and sometimes only half the weekends. "

"Joanna is a great kid. And from my research I know Leonard didn't work more than other doctors." Penelope tilted her head and crossed her arms. "You know, it's kind of funny. You complain about the very thing that enabled him to provide for his family. You didn't work, did you? But you always wanted to be a famous doctor's wife. Back in school you always told that. I guess there were actual feeling you had for Leonard, but he wasn't a made man yet. He only was on the way, but it wasn't fast enough for you. He may have worked much, but your impatience and lack of understanding also contributed."

"So if you knew all of this and have this conclusion, why did you help me and tell me getting him back would work?"

Penelope shook her head. "Might work. I said it might work. But you were dead set on getting him back in order to make use of his status as a hero."

Jocelyn pursed her lips. "Maybe it's not over yet. I wonder how serious this so-called relationship is, if that Kirk-girl really is known for sleeping around."

The reporter sighed. "Well, do what you must. But the way they were looking at each other… I'm sorry, my dear, that is love. You of all people should know how he looks at a woman he loves… They went to hell and back together. I don't think you stand any chance. You can't break up a couple like that."

"We'll see."

Penelope gave her another pitiful look. "If only you were doing this because of love... You don't love him, do you? But he – they – will see right through you and your selfishness."

"I only want the status I deserve."

The reporter studies her for a moment. "Oh, Joce, you could have that already if you wouldn't try so hard to be the wife of a great man. You could be a great woman yourself."

"So I'm old-fashioned. I'm not a working woman. I'm the wife and mother type."

Penelope sighed again and glanced to the playing girl at the pond. "Good luck with that. I guess we'll me again at the press conference tomorrow when you take Joanna to see her father again? I hope you're thinking of Joanna in all of this, too."

Jocelyn huffed. "That Kirk-girl left me no other choice. But I guess that's my second chance in getting Leonard back."

"See you then", the reporter just said and turned to leave.

"Yeah…" Jocelyn watched her walk away and joined her daughter at the lake.

Joanna threw another piece of bread on the water and a few ducks tried to get it. "We're going tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, Honey." She gave her a smile, calming down a little and already starting to think about the next day.

The girl beamed. "I can't wait to see Daddy again and ask him about how he helped saving Earth. You know, the things he isn't allowed to tell in public."

"Sure…" Jocelyn said a little distracted.

"Jamie is nice, isn't she?" Joanna asked carefully.

Jocelyn's mood dropped visibly. "Don't count on that this is serious, Honey. There's still a chance I'm getting back together with your father. Wouldn't you like that?"

"But she's Daddy's girlfriend. That means they're in love."

"Sometimes it's…" her mother started, but stopped and exhaled heavily. "You're too young for this, Joanna. We're seeing your father tomorrow and see how it goes from there."

"Are you mad that Jamie said she is Daddy's girlfriend?" Joanna asked curiously, even though she saw the mood her mother was in.

"We won't talk about this anymore, Joanna. Period. We're going to the hotel now. Come on."

Joanna nodded slowly. "Yes, Mom."

The girl hoped she could spend a little time with her father, but didn't dare to ask her mother about it. She still didn't understand why her mother was behaving so strangely. But the girl knew enough of her parents to know that they wouldn't get back together. She'd been barely six years old when they got divorced and had been even younger when the marriage slowly broke apart. And she had seen her mother marry and divorce another man.

Joanna longed to see her father. Regularly. But, no, she was sure that her mother's wish to marry him again would not come true. And strangely, Joanna was now more sure than before the meeting – she didn't need to have parents that were married. But she wanted to have them both in her life. She wanted her father in her life badly. And she wanted to get to know Jamie Kirk. She'd seen that her mother didn't like her father's girlfriend – but Joanna did like her. Which was a bit confusing to her for she hadn't liked her mother's second husband that much.

The nine-year-old walked with her mother to the hotel and was imagining telling her father about school and stuff the entire time. She was excited.


Her solo briefing seemed to go on forever. Jamie Kirk answered every question by the Admirals Michael Hadley, Edward Janeway and T'Ral patiently. Always wondering if they also were going to ask her about kissing Leonard McCoy and the nature of their relationship.

"I guess we're done here", Admiral Hadley finally said.

Jamie nodded, half relieved, half not believing it was actually over. And she was right.

"Just one more question", Hadley added.

Jamie sighed silently and knew exactly what was coming.

"What's that with you and McCoy?"

"That's private", she said, sounding as unimpressed by that question as possible. She couldn't let show that she didn't know herself.

"Not if you're kissing him in front of a dozen reporters. Also, we have to wonder what part that relationship played in the past days."

Jamie looked him straight in the eyes. "And you chose to ask this now? You didn't ask when you let me explain to you how I got on the Enterprise."

He chuckled. "True. But you didn't mention anything either."

"I'm being professional. Which I also was a few days ago. And the time in between."

Hadley nodded. "Fair enough." He exchanged some glances with the other two admirals. "We respect that and accept it."

"You see", Admiral Janeway started, "we're in a little predicament here. You were on suspension and got smuggled on that ship. But without that breach of protocol none of us would be alive today. We should you and McCoy both expel and promote at the same time."

"But you can't", Jamie concluded. "It has to be either one."

Hadley chuckled. "Sort of."

Jamie blinked and had for the first time in days the feeling that she might still have a future in Starfleet.

"First of all: Your personnel file will get a reprimand for the hacking you did with the Kobayashi Maru. But we won't expel you for that", Hadley said.

She gave the three men a surprised look. "Uhm… thanks..."

"But we can't have you at the Academy either", Hadley continued.

Now she was even more confused, because her finals were about five months away. "I don't understand", she replied honestly.

Hadley smiled, even grinned. "Well, let's face it – the situation out there was your real life Maru. And you passed it with flying colors and with saving billions of lives. You are Starfleet with every fiber of your being. We would be nuts to not acknowledge that."

"Okaaay…" she drawled, trying to grasp the compliments.

"So… we're having something in mind, but need a few days to get a few things sorted out first. We also need to debrief Captain Pike. We'll do that tomorrow." Hadley exchanged another look with his fellow admirals. "But I can say, that you and your fellow cadets will graduate early. We lost a lot of good officers and ships. We need everyone with your knowledge and skills out there in space."

Jamie was at a loss for words. She just stared at Hadley.

He laughed. "Did I really manage to render you speechless, Kirk?"

"I guess…" she replied. Slowly a smile took over her face. "No kidding?"

"No kidding", he confirmed with another laugh. "As for your rank and assignment we can't say anything yet. You, McCoy and that whole bunch of ex-cadets from the Enterprise get the week off after the press conference tomorrow."

"Thanks", she said with a smile.

"The graduation ceremony will be at the end of that week. And now, out with you, get some rest. You're dismissed."

She nodded. "Yes, Sir." She turned to go, but hesitated. "Can I… Sir, I have one request. Well, two actually."

"Yes?"

"It's about Joanna McCoy."

Hadley chuckled. "You want my help in making sure that the girl can spend a few days with her father, because you think the ex-wife might be stonewalling him after that little display earlier."

"Yes."

"I'll think of something."

She smiled relieved. "Thank you, Admiral."

"And the second thing must be about McCoy himself, isn't it?"

"Is there a chance we'll get a posting together?"

Hadley chuckled. "We'll see about that. And now, out with you, Kirk. I guess McCoy is already waiting for you impatiently."

She nodded.

"He's already informed about your accommodations. You won't be staying in your old dorm rooms. We have some other rooms for all early graduates where you won't be disturbed by the press."

"Thanks."

He nodded and gestured her to leave.