Fathers and Daughters
by Starsinger
This follows the same pattern as the others. If you think the names of these two, and the name of the young man who Lisa introduces in the second half of this story, sounds awfully familiar, then you, like I, are also a Techie. You also know what that means. If you don't, again, not terribly necessary to know it for the story. Don't own any of it.
Admiral Donald Hayes pulled on his white gloves as he prepared to go to Kirk's funeral. He swallowed hard, the young man had saved his daughter from rape while still in the Academy, and this just felt so wrong. He took a deep, hitching breath, he needed to hold it together for Lisa. He approached his daughter's room and heard her soft weeping within. "Lisa?" he asked opening the door.
Lisa sat on her bed, also in a dress uniform, sobbing. She grabbed a tissue and blew her nose, "I'm sorry, Father, I don't know why I'm this emotional. I only met Jim a few times."
Donald sat heavily on the bed next to her, knowing how she felt, "Don't be sorry, sweetheart. He saved your life, and we couldn't save his." She nodded looking down at her hands in her lap, tissue held tightly. "Chin up, Lisa, car will be here soon."
Lisa rose and followed him outside as a black car hovered outside. They entered and sat quietly inside, watching the scenery stream by. It was an obscenely beautiful day outside, and Lisa felt the ache in her heart that was so foreign, yet familiar. The last time she felt this was when she was ten and her mother died.
The funeral was a private affair. Jim's friends and crew showed up. Donald and Lisa walked into the Chapel and walked up to pay their respects to the deceased. Donald patted Jim's hand, unsure as what to say. Lisa put the single red rose she clutched in her own hand on his unmoving chest. Donald watched as she struggled with her emotions. He put his arm around her and handed her the box of tissue he'd brought with him. It was strange how someone who you knew so briefly could so profoundly affect your life.
Donald steered Lisa to a pew and sat her down before looking around. He spotted McCoy up front talking with Scotty and Sulu. They saluted as he approached. He returned their salutes, "What about Jim's family?"
"We can't reach his mother, Winona," McCoy replied, "and Sam, his brother, is off to Boot Camp as we speak. There is someone else that might be coming, ah, there he is." They all looked up to see an older gentleman entering the chapel. He looked enough like Jim to be related. "Richard!" McCoy called. The man walked up to the coffin, glancing in with a sigh. "Admiral Hayes, this is Richard Kirk, Jim's paternal uncle."
The other man sighed, "It's kind of sad when the only family present is an uncle whose only seen Jim a few times in his life. Oh, I understand about Sam, Leonard, don't worry about that. I'd've gotten him out of here too if I were you. Listen, about Jim's will, he left some money for Joanna in a trust fund for her education. I'm transferring it to Starfleet's JAG office tomorrow for distribution when the time comes. The rest goes to you and the rest of his crew as you see fit." McCoy looked away, Jim had always thought of others. Even the little girl he had come to love as his own.
McCoy's heart leaped into his throat as he looked up to find Jocelyn and Joanna walking down the aisle toward him. He hurriedly excused himself and walked quickly up to them, scooping up the little girl into his arms, "How? Who?"
"Nyota called me, Leonard. How could I not be here?" she said softly. She joined him as they walked up to see Jim.
"Daddy? What's wrong with Uncle Jim? Why won't he wake up?" her little voice broke McCoy's heart.
"Jo, Uncle Jim is dead," he softly explained. "He will never wake up again." The little girl looked at her Father as tears streamed down his face. "This will be the last time we see Uncle Jim, sweetheart," he finally said.
"Is he in heaven, Daddy?" she asked.
Jim wasn't a particularly religious person, but if anybody deserved to be there, it was definitely him, "Yes, honey, Uncle Jim is in heaven." As the service began McCoy sat down next to Lisa and Admiral Hayes. Then he turned his eyes skyward with a silent wish, "If you're watching, Jim, thank you, for everything."
And alive
Jim sat in his wheelchair adjusting his dress uniform. Today was a happy day, and Bones was letting him out of the hospital for this special occasion. He looked up to find Donald Hayes walking in his door, "Hey, Jim, ready to go?"
Jim grinned. He was using the hoverchair this time, so as not to get his white dress gloves dirty. "How's Lisa?" Jim asked.
"Nervous," Donald replied with a laugh, "as she should be. I'm glad you could come. I'll drop you off at the Chapel and see you later." Jim smiled, this would be a good day.
Jim wheeled himself into the chapel and found Pike standing there, "Aren't you walking yet?" Chris smiled down at the younger man.
"Hey, I thought you'd like a change, I mean me looking up at you, not the other way around!" Jim said with a laugh.
Pike shook his head, cane in hand, "Not as much as you'd think. No, seriously, when are you going to be walking?"
"Already am, Chris. It's just a long, slow process." They looked around as guests started to fill the chapel. He recognized Lieutenant Commander Claudia Grant and Commander Roy Fokker immediately. They were fine officers whom he'd tried to get on the Enterprise, unsuccessfully. Captain Henry Gloval, of the USS Macross, had beaten him to them, much to his dismay. Lisa would be his First Officer, after the honeymoon of course.
Claudia smiled and walked over and looked down at him, "You look good, Jim. Better than those pictures a few weeks ago."
Kirk chuckled, "Yeah, well, those weren't my idea!"
"Sure Jim, always the media hound, even unconscious!" Roy said with his half grin.
"Hey, shouldn't you be with the groom?" Claudia asked Roy. Roy gave a sardonic salute before kissing Claudia and leaving for other parts of the Chapel. They set the wheelchair on the outside aisle so as not to trip over anyone. Claudia also disappeared, being the maid of honor and all. Jim watched as a handsome man with a shock of black hair and startling blue eyes came in and turned around.
"That's Commander Rick Hunter," Chris murmured. Jim nodded, he'd heard a lot of good things about the man. He'd also heard that he was cocky, just like someone else he knew. Everyone stood, except Jim, as the bridal procession started. Donald escorted Lisa down the aisle to her waiting groom, Jim grinned, Lisa was beautiful.
At the reception, Lisa came over and kissed Jim on the cheek before introducing her to her new husband, "I'm glad you could make it."
Jim shook Rick's hand, "I'm glad I could too. You're a lucky man, Rick."
Rick wrapped an arm around Lisa's waist, "Don't I know it." Lisa laughed. They moved off as someone else took control of the chair.
"Captain, I've been given strict instructions that you need to get something to eat," Roy's voice intruded. Jim groaned. "Chris is afraid what McCoy will say if you don't." Roy was right, Jim knew he was. They got in line and Jim was faced with a buffet. He took the bare minimum that he knew McCoy would want him too and maneuvered himself back to his table, non-alcoholic punch in hand. Roy watched him eat in silence while munching on his own goodies. "Wow, you really do eat like a bird."
Jim shrugged, "Old habits die hard." Kirk looked around, "You know, we're here so often for funerals and other sad events, it's nice to have something happy occur here."
"I agree, Jim, I agree."