Disclaimer: You know the deal. I don't own anything that sounds familiar to you. Also – I changed the dog's name to Dante. I like that name better. It's more great Doberman-ish.

Chapter 4: Dragged By Her Hair

And so it was with that promise that Amanda packed some of her most treasured things, wished Dante a tearful goodbye, leaving him at a neighbor's house, and allowed her brother to bring her to the Enterprise.

Now, Amanda was someone who lived her life for others. As an empath, she had found that it was just easier that way. When she was around people, their feelings were literally contagious. Besides, she could never really refuse Jimmy. This was something that her brother was keenly aware of and had put it to good use for their entire life together.

As soon as the ship came into view, Amanda felt that familiar dread grab a hold of her throat. She already felt trapped and she wasn't even on board.

It took Kirk several moments to realize that she wasn't beside him anymore. He turned and ran to catch up with her rapidly retreating form.

"We had a deal." He reminded her.

She looked at him with sadness in her eyes, "I can't, Jimmy. I'm not ready."

"You'll never be ready. As Captain of the Enterprise, I refused to allow an asset like you to go to waste."

"For Christ's sake, Jim, I'm not an asset, I'm your sister!"

His glare softened. "I know. And that's why I have to do this. I was just like you not so long ago, if you recall. Starfleet changed my life."

"Well, it ruined mine."

He shook his head, "Sandek ruined your life. Starfleet had nothing to do with it."

"Why can't you just leave me alone? I'm happy here."

"Come on, Mandi – you're not happy. You're miserable. Living in exile, punishing yourself. For what!?" He grabbed her roughly by the upper arm. "You're dying, Mandi! You're killing yourself. And you're asking me to sit here and watch." He was pleading with her now. "But now I'm in a position to help you, please let me."

Amanda shook her head, "I'm sorry, Jim. I just can't."

"If you won't do it for yourself, at least do it for mom. She's worried sick about you."

His torment was killing her, but Amanda had learned long ago to push those feelings aside. She just continued to shake her head.

Seeing that she was a resolute human bobblehead, Kirk knew that there was no way to get her on that ship.

Not without a fight.

And so he slumped his shoulders in defeat and turned away, only to rapidly spin around to grab her and throw her over his shoulder.

It was no easy feat. When Kirk had told Spock that Amanda had been top of her class, he had meant all the way at the top – in everything. Including Advanced Hand-to-Hand combat. She had been president of the fencing club and the sparring club. She was lethal.

But, to his advantage, he was her brother and she didn't want to hurt him. In addition, his combat training wasn't too shabby either.

He practically had to drag her to the Enterprise by her hair. "This is for your own good – " he was telling her as they approached.

Spock was waiting outside for them with an amused look on his face.

"Spock – a little help here?" Kirk pleaded in a strained voice.

His first officer didn't move. "I'm quite enjoying the unfettered display of sibling affection, actually."

"Spock, come on!"

"Don't touch me!" the girl yelled, but Spock already had his hand on her neck. A second later she fell limp over Kirk's shoulder.

"You didn't say we were abducting her." Spock chided as they boarded the ship.

"We're not." Kirk maintained, "She wants this. She just doesn't know it yet."

Spock was a little bothered by the way the captain manhandled his sister, but he was also curious about her. Amanda's being on the ship would give him the opportunity to study her. There had to be some explanation for her unparalleled performance at the Academy and her subsequent dismissal of Starfleet.

They finally reached a door that Kirk opened to reveal a small suite.

"You intended to do this all along." Spock observed. Kirk had had rooms specially prepared for his sister. They were colorful and modern, less extensive than his or the captain's but nicer and larger than one of the crewmember's rooms.

"Spock, she's my sister. You saw that place."

"Why didn't you tell me? Tell the crew that you were planning this detour?"

Kirk reflected for a minute. "Not sure. Nothing was confirmed."

"Or you wanted to keep her a secret." Kirk and Spock turned to see the ship's medic, who Kirk called Bones, standing in the doorway. "So much for that. You made quite an entrance there. All of the women on board are calling you a brute more frequently than usual."

"It's complicated." Kirk made no real attempt to explain as he laid his sister down on a large black and white bed in the corner. "Bones, want to do a physical?"

Bones raised his eyebrows, "Want to? Of course."

"Geez, Bones. She's my sister."

"And that response was most improper." Spock scolded the doctor.

"But I won't." Bones finished. "I'll have one of the nurses do it when she wakes up."

"Captain, we are needed at the Bridge. The crew is anxious to leave," Spock advised.

Kirk nodded, "And we have to get out of here before she wakes up."