CHAPTER 6

A shaky intake of breath drew him out of his contemplation and he gazed up to find Uhura and Spock both standing near the entrance to sickbay looking at Jimmy with two of the saddest expressions he had ever seen on either of their faces. Uhura had one hand covering her mouth and tears gathering at the corner of her eyes while her other hand held a PADD that was nearly slipping out of her lax grip. Spock's mouth was open slightly in horror and his hands were dangling at his sides instead of clenched behind his back as usual.

"Leonard..." Uhura whispered as she took a step towards him.

"He'll be okay Uhura. I–He'll be okay." He whispered back, looking sadly at Jimmy's still form.

Leonard felt Christine squeeze his shoulder, "What are you two doing here?" He asked quietly, turning to face them so he didn't have to keep staring at Jim.

"I – " Uhura stopped short and cleared her throat before continuing. "I was coming to tell you that I started looking into Frank, Jim's step-dad, and I found something that might explain why he's so scared of medbay." She said softly, "I also found out that he's still living at Jim's moms farm in Riverside."

Leonard's expression hardened when Frank's name was mentioned, "What did you find?"

Uhura licked her lips before handing him the PADD, "He used to work as a janitor for one of the local hospitals. Apparently he was good friends with some of the doctors there and they let him use some of the facilities after hours as long as they were allowed to stay and watch while he was there." She ground out, her voice overflowing with barely suppressed anger.

It didn't take a genius to put together what Jimmy being afraid of sickbay and his abusive step-fathers use of medical facilities could mean.

No wonder Jim hates doctors and sickbay as an adult, god only knows what those bastards did to him there. Leonard thought as he scrolled through the data Uhura had put together on the PADD.

"I'm pretty sure Scotty and Sulu are trying to find a way to get us docked near Riverside for repairs next time we have a bit of shore leave after all this is over." Uhura said humorlessly as she took the PADD back.

Leonard smirked at her, "I hope so." Then, suddenly remembering that Spock was also in the room he turned to address him. "Spock, is this what you were here for as well?"

"Negative, Doctor I was coming to inform you that I believe to have synthesized an antidote that we can use to reverse the effects of the Delvian purity fruit."

"Are you sure? Did you make sure your little minions had a list of everything medical-wise that Jim is allergic to? I'm not taking the change of giving him something that might end up causing an allergic reaction, who knows what kind of shit could happen if something goes wrong now." Leonard huffed, as much as he wanted to just jump right in to give Jimmy the antidote he just couldn't in his right mind take the chance that it might harm him more.

"I have overseen the production of the serum myself doctor, however I fully understand your concern, I as well wish for no further harm to come to Jim. If it would allow you some form of comfort, you can always come to the science labs and give me a secondary opinion on the chemical make-up of the serum." Spock stated, "In fact, it might be best if you do so after you have finished repairing the damage that has been done to The Captain's younger body."

"Yeah, Yeah I'll do that as soon as I use the dermal regenerator to heal what I can with Jimmy. I doubt I'll be able to heal everything, cause the regenerator takes energy and I don't think after everything he's been through that Jimmy will be able to handle it without being down for the count for a while."

Spock inclined his head in a nod and moved to leave sickbay, Uhura threw a watery smile in Jimmy's direction before moving to follow after Spock, " Uhura?" Leonard called.

"Yeah Len?"

Leonard hesitated, looking back at the sleeping toddler on the bio-bed. "I was thinking, if you have some time...Jimmy might like something to help keep him calm when he wakes up. I was wondering if you might be able to get me something for him?"

Uhura brightened up almost immediately, "Yeah, I'll see what I can do to get something back here for him before he wakes up." She said. "Don't worry Len, we'll figure this out and Jim will be back before you know it."

"Thank you."

Leonard sighed as he sat back in a chair next to Jimmy's bed, he hadn't been able to fully heal all of the bruises that were scattered about on his body but he had taken care of the fractured sternum and wrist, the broken ribs along with his broken ankle and partially crushed windpipe. The kid would still he horribly sore when he woke up and he would have to take it easy with his ankle and wrist but other than that he should be okay. Or at least that was what Leonard was hoping would happen.

Now it was just a waiting game to see when Jimmy would start waking up, the hypo Christine had given him during his panic attack was due to wear off soon but it was entirely possible that Jimmy would sleep for a while longer since he had been so exhausted earlier.

Leonard glimpsed up just in time to see Uhura and Chekov stroll through the doors of sickbay with several items clutched in their arms. Chekov's face lit up at the sight of Jim but it was obviously marred by the sadness in his eyes when they fell on all the bruises still covering him.

"Zhe Keptain, he is doing better zhen before, Da?" He asked quietly as he tip toed over to Leonard. It was glaringly obvious he was trying to be quiet, not knowing whether or not it would wake Jimmy up.

"Yeah kid he's doin' a lot better, but he's not outta the woods yet though." Leonard huffed "What do you have there, Uhura?"

"You asked me to get some things for Jimmy to have when he wakes up, well Chekov and Scotty helped me program some of those things into the replicators."

"We put seweral different toys in zhe replicator if you vant to make them later." Chekov said cheerfully.

Leonard grabbed the toy as Chekov held it out, it was a stuffed puppy with dark brown fur and hazel colored eyes wearing a Starfleet dress uniform. "We vere going to put it in a blue uniform but zhe Lieutenant said he wasn't fond of medical professionals. Zhere is a blue uniform programmed in zhe replicators if he wants to change it!"

"I'm sure he'll like it kid, what else do you have hidden behind your back Lieutenant?" He asked teasingly.

Uhura answered him with a smile pulling a soft looking blanket out from behind her back, "I've been in sickbay enough to know that the blankets here are itchy and uncomfortable at best and painful and irritating at worst, McCoy. I figured he might like something more comfortable that would be able to keep him warm."

"Thank you, Uhura. You too Chekov, thank you for your help."

Chekov gave Leonard a shy smile before averting his eyes and putting his focus on the small body on the bio-bed. "Doctor, I think zhe Keptain is waking up!" He called excitedly, bouncing on the balls of his feet as Jimmy's eyes twitched.

Leonard got up quickly moving to the head of the bed, he set the toy down on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through Jim's hair. "Jimmy, Darlin' you awake?"

Even though his eyes didn't open the increase of vital signs on the monitor along with the tensing of his facial muscles clued Leonard into the fact that Jimmy was awake. "C'mon kiddo show me those baby blues of yours, I know you are awake. I've got some gifts here from some people who really want to meet you."

Jimmy blinked his eyes open sluggishly. "Leonard?" He slurred softly.

"Hey, I'm right here buddy." Leonard helped Jimmy sit up in the bed, stacking several pillows up behind him so that he could sit up without struggling. "Now, That man right there is Mister Chekov, he's the top navigator for our ship and he's a genius. And that lady, I don't know if you remember it 'cause you were pretty out of it but she was on the transporter pad with us when we first brought you onto the Enterprise, she's the head of our linguistics department and she is a badas – a lovely lady." He whispered conspiratorially, pointing to Chekov and Uhura respectively.

"They made you some gifts, like I said, a stuffed toy and a blanket to keep you company while you're in medbay that way you don't get lonely." He said holding up the stuffed puppy and laying the blanket over top of Jim's lap.

Jimmy looked at Chekov and Uhura with unconcealed awe. "Y–You guys made these for me?"

"Yeah we did Jimmy. We want you to feel safe here, just like Leonard wants you to feel safe." Uhura said seriously. "It's not much but it'll be something to hold onto if you get scared. That way you don't feel like you have to run away again."

"Thank you, c–can I name him?" Jimmy asked clutching the puppy tightly to his chest like it was the best thing in the world and for all they knew maybe that was the best thing in this five year old's world.

Uhura, Chekov and Leonard all shared a look over Jim's head. "Of course you can buddy. What are you thinkin' about naming him?"

He looked down at the puppy, studying it with an intense scrutinizing stare for almost a full minute before turning back to the adults around him. "Bones. I wanna name him Bones. Is that alright?"

"That – That's a good name Jimmy. That's a really good name." Leonard crooned breathlessly as he rubbed up and down Jimmy's arm. He could feel Uhura and Chekov's gazes boring into his back.

Leonard sucked in a deep breath. "Jimmy." He started gently "I'm gonna have to go help some people on another part of the ship for a while. Do you think you'll be willing to stay in medbay while I'm gone?"

Jimmy looked down at Bones and swallowed shallowly, "Can – Can I come with you? I – I really don't like it here." He said softly as he rubbed his face into the top of his puppies head.

Leonard opened his mouth to start saying he had to stay here only to be cut off by Uhura. "Actually if it's alright with Leonard, I was thinking that maybe you could come up to the bridge with us? It would give you a chance to get some exercise and a change of scenery." She said with a smile. "Would you like that Jimmy?"

Jimmy look up excitedly at Leonard, "Can I Leonard? Please? I'll be good, I swear! I won't touch anything or be loud or distracting and–and–and I can get them stuff they need, I'm really good at getting stuff!" He babbled desperately hoping to convince Leonard to let him out of sickbay.

"As long as you promise to take it easy." Leonard said. "I mean it, no running around or picking up heavy stuff. Your ankle and wrist need time to heal. And no going anywhere without an adult with you okay?" He said sternly chuckling when Jimmy beamed up at him, it was the first real smile he had seen on the kids face and it made his heart melt, he didn't think he could deny Jimmy anything with that look on his face, least of all a trip to his favorite place on the ship.

"And you two better keep an eye on him! I'm serious if he comes back with even a hair outta place I'll have some unsavory hypo's waitin' for ya during your next physicals." He rounded on Uhura and Chekov, waving his index finger in their faces.

"Ve vill be wery careful with Jimmy! Not one iota vill be out of place, Da!"

"So, Jimmy do you like your puppy?"

"Y–Yes m–ma'am." Jimmy stuttered out.

Uhura and Chekov had managed to get Jimmy from medbay to the turbolift with little hassle but for some reason now that the three of them were alone together Jimmy seemed almost wary or confused whenever Uhura talked to him. He had almost immediately clung to Chekov once Leonard had left to go to the science labs, and it wasn't like he was mean or even rude to Uhura, he just seemed worried about her presence.

Like he was waiting for her to do something, but Uhura couldn't figure out exactly what it was he was waiting for.

Granted she wasn't to offended by the behavior because he also seemed to be incredibly shy around Chekov as well. Besides it was probably the excitement of getting out of medbay wearing off and leaving him wary of the adults around him.

"Ve'll be on the bridge soon Jimmy, ve are currently studying a Nebula! You'll be able to see it out zhe front view screen. Isn't zat exciting!" Chekov asked cheerily, bouncing Jimmy a little in his arms as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.

Jimmy looked up at Chekov and gave him a sad smile. "I guess. Winona says that space is to beautiful for me to look at and that I shouldn't get to look at something so beautiful when I took her husband away from her."

Uhura gaped at him in horror at the words that supposedly had come out of his mothers mouth and she could see Chekov's shocked expression over Jimmy's head. "Does she say things like that to you often, Jimmy?"

"Most of the time when she's home she tells me to stay out in the barn so that she can pretend like I don't exist. Sometimes she just ignores me." He said clearly unsure about whether or not he should be revealing these things.

Uhura was suddenly hit with the realization that Jimmy had been confused when she talked to him because he was so used to his own mother ignoring him and telling him not to be around her because she couldn't stand the sight of him and she was horrified that he had been treated that way. She was about to reassure him that he was more than worthy of seeing beauty when the turbolift doors finally opened to reveal the bridge.

"Lieutenant, Ensign. I see you have brought a guest with you to your shift." Spock said as he glanced back from the Captain's chair.

"Yes Captain, ve thought that it would be nice for Jimmy to get out of medbay."

Spock nodded at the explanation and waited until Chekov had come around to the navigation consoles with Jimmy before getting up to greet the child in his arms. "I am Spock. I am the Captain of this vessel, may I know your name, child?" He asked softly, the senior bridge crew had all agreed that it would be best to go about interacting with Jimmy as if they had never met him before.

Jimmy looked at Spock with a small shy smile as he half hid his face in the fur of his puppy. "James T. K–Kirk, sir but everyone calls me Jimmy."

"Is Jimmy what you wish to be called?"

"M–Maybe?" Jimmy was obviously startled at being asked for his opinion. "That's what Mr. Pike used to call me b–but Hoshi-san used to call me Jamie sometimes, maybe–maybe t–that might be nice?"

"Then those names will be what this crew addresses you by for the duration of your stay here, now may I make a somewhat personal inquiry?" Spock waited for Jimmy's nod before continuing on, "You referenced a man named Mr. Pike, is the man you are referring Christopher Pike, a officer in StarFleet?"

The reaction was immediate as Jimmy perked right up, much like he had at the mention of getting out of medbay. "You know Chris? Is he here, can I see him –" He abruptly stopped talking and looked at Spock with horror on his face. "I–I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked to you like that and Winona says I can't call Mr. Pike by his first name. She gets real mad if I talk about him." He stammered out quickly.

"It's quite alright, Jamie." Spock assured him with a soothing gesture. "I asked you a question and you had every right to answer that question. To answer yours, yes I do know Christopher Pike but no he is not aboard this vessel, however if you wish I believe Lieutenant Uhura might be able to get in touch with him on your behalf."

"I would like that very much! Thank you Mr. Spock and Miss Uhura."

Uhura smiled at him and patted his head, "I'll get right on it." Then she watched as Chekov turned around and introduced Sulu to Jimmy. Sulu and Chekov spent several minutes drawing Jimmy out of his shell, talking to him about the nebula and letting him ask constant questions about their stations and consoles as well as what their jobs entailed.

He did however surprise everyone when about 10 minutes in when he turned and asked if he could sit with Spock in the Captains chair, even more surprising was the fact that Spock without complaint about regulations just leaned over and grabbed a hold of the five year old under the arms, hoisting him up and settling him firmly in his lap.

Uhura made sure to send the message to Admiral Pike through as needing an urgent response, with just Kirk's name in the subject line.