Chapter 8: Joanna on the Enterprise

Joanna's eyes got wider and wider as soon as she and Jamie materialized in the transporter room of the Enterprise. The girl looked around and was at a complete loss for words.

"Welcome back, Captain Kirk", a man in red uniform said.

"Thanks, Lieutenant Mathews." She glanced to the completely stunned Joanna. "Meet Joanna McCoy, the daughter of Leonard McCoy."

"Hello, Miss McCoy. Welcome to the Enterprise. I'm Lieutenant Tim Mathews."

Joanna slowly started to move. "Hi…" she replied, then looked to Jamie. "I'm I really allowed to see the Enterprise?"

"Well, I'm still the Acting Captain. And I asked for permission to bring you here, since there's a lot to be repaired. So we can't go everywhere on our tour and you need to stay close to me and listen to me, okay?"

The girl nodded eagerly.

"Okay then." Jamie smiled and extended her hand – Joanna took it. "Let's go to the bridge."

Joanna grinned broadly. "Cool!"

"I'll send him to you", Mathews said quietly.

Jamie nodded and Joanna didn't notice. She was too taken by all the new things she was seeing. People of the repair crew were walking and working everywhere. Joanna watched them fascinated and said politely hello when they greeted her and Jamie.

They stepped into a turbolift and even though the girl had a million questions she stayed quiet and just looked at the lights flickering. She let out a sound of admiration as soon as the doors opened.

Two members of the repair crew were in a corner near the comm station and turned for a moment to see who was entering the bridge. Jamie nodded to them. The continued with their work, glancing to the acting captain and the girl from time to time.

Joanna's gaze fell on the back of the chair in the middle.

"Is that yours?" Joanna asked, pointing to it.

Jamie smiled. "Temporarily." She gently placed a hand on Joanna's back, signaling her that it was okay to go further.

They walked to the helm and Jamie sat down. She gestured Joanna to take the navigator's seat. The girl sat down and looked at the strange instruments and displays.

Jamie grinned and pointed with a nod to the captain's chair. "Or do you wanna sit rather there?" She winked.

Joanna returned the grin instantly. The repair crew also grinned covertly.

"So, go on."

The grin got even wider and the girl almost jumped to the command chair. It was very big compared to her small figure, but she loved it.

Jamie was turned in her direction when the door on the left side of the bridge opened and Leonard McCoy walked in. He was stunned to see his daughter. Let alone seeing her sitting there. He couldn't decide whether to roll his eyes or to laugh at the picture before him. He finally laughed, shaking his head slightly. He should have known Jamie would pull off something like this. If anyone could – it was her.

Joanna waved to him. "Hi, Daddy!"

Jamie just smiled. "Surprise."

"That's an understatement." He walked to them.

Joanna hopped off the chair and threw herself at her father. He picked her up and hugged her. He held her close for a few moments, then put her down again.

Joanna sat back in the command chair, obviously liking it very much.

Jamie rose from the helm and closed the distance to Leonard. She kissed him briefly.

"How did you do that?" he asked in awe. "Joanna on the Enterprise?"

"Joanna with us all day", Jamie corrected him.

"What?" He gave her another surprised look. He heard the words, but couldn't believe it.

"Yes, Daddy!"

"Yes, Bones." Jamie kissed him again.

He pulled her close and tight against his chest. "I love you", he whispered into her neck. "God, I love you so much. You're incredible. I don't know how you do all those miracles… I just…" He trailed off, not able to say more.

Now it was Jamie's turn to be completely stunned. A declaration of love was the last thing she'd expected here on the bridge. Especially since they hadn't said those word yet to each other.

She allowed him to draw her in even closer. "You're making me blush", she replied with a chuckle.

Leonard slowly released her from the tight embrace.

She smiled at him. "I lo–"

He cut her off with a kiss. A chaste one, considering his daughter was watching them. "I know", he whispered against his lips.

Joanna giggled. "I knew it. I told Mom that you're in love. But she just made me be quiet."

Jamie and Leonard smiled. He had still an arm around her waist.

"Wanna see Engineering and Medbay?" Jamie asked.

Leonard rolled his eyes. "Medbay is no place for a little girl."

"I'm not little", Joanna protested with a pout that was more acted than real.

"No, you're not", Jamie agreed. She extended her hand. "Come on."

Joanna hopped off the chair and took Jamie's hand. The girl reached for her father's hand and the three of them walked through the side door together.

They took the tour and finally arrived in the mess hall. For now it was only open to the repair crew, but the three got a few sandwiches and Joanna asked nonstop questions about the ship. Jamie and Leonard knew, of course, that she would ask about them and their relationship as soon as the excitement would wind down a little.

At some point, Jamie's com beeped, reminding her about the press conference. That was the part of the day she'd been ignoring successfully. "Okay then, we need to beam back to the Academy and get into that press circus."

"Uhm…" Leonard started.

"Don't worry, Daddy, Mom won't be there", Joanna said to both their surprise, before Jamie had the chance to reply anything.

Jamie chuckled. "I had a little chat with your ex earlier today. She won't come to the conference. You can spend some time alone with Joanna later while I'll visit Pike. After dinner we'll return Joanna to her mother and you can negotiate how seeing her regularly can work."

Leonard was surprised that Jamie was able to stun him even more this day. "You… you think she'll really agree to regular visits?"

"Yeah, I do." She refrained from telling him how calculating Jocelyn was. But she had the feeling he already knew that. "Of course, it's not easy without knowing where we'll end up, but you can set a direction for an agreement and go from there when we know more."

He slowly nodded, reaching for her hand and gently squeezing it.

Jamie smiled. "Let's go and get it behind us."

They rose and Joanna ran a few steps ahead.

"Do you remember the way?" Leonard called.

"Yeah", the girl replied, rolling her eyes and with the usual expression he gave Jamie. Then she disappeared through the exit of the mess hall.

The Acting Captain grinned seeing how much Joanna was like Leonard.

They slowly walked after the girl.

"Why didn't you allow me to say it?" Jamie asked him near the transporter room.

"Because I already knew. It didn't need saying. You brought me Joanna – actions are louder than words", he replied with a warm, lovingly smile.

She smiled back. "But I wanna say it… I love you, Bones."

"Are you going to kiss again?"

They looked to Joanna who was already standing at the door of the transporter room. Jamie burst into laughter.

"I don't mind", Joanna added. "You have my permission to kiss Daddy as much as you want."

Leonard also laughed.

"Well, that's good. Thank you, Joanna", Jamie replied and slid her hands into Leonard neck, pulling him into a kiss.

That earned them a few cheers and applause from a repair team that was walking through a crossing of the hallways nearby.

Joanna grinned happily. "I like the Enterprise. Can I visit you here during summer break?"

"We don't know if we'll be stationed here, Honey", her father answered.

"But wherever we are, I'm sure we can arrange something", Jamie added with a wink.

Joanna squealed and turned to the door which opened. She decided to give the adults a moment to themselves and ran to the transporter chief.

Leonard gave Jamie yet another stunned look. "How do you do that?"

She let out a laugh. "What do you mean?"

"Surprising me again and again and being so great with Joanna."

She shrugged. "I'm just as always."

Another smile conquered his face. He realized that she was right – she was just her usual incredible self. "Yeah… you're one hell of a woman." He kissed her again.

Jamie's com beeped, reminding her again of the press conference.

Sighing she pointed with a movement of her head to the transporter room. They went in and saw Joanna chatting with Lieutenant Mathews.

"Oh, I have to go", Joanna said to the Lieutenant.

He nodded. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss McCoy."

The girl gave him a bright smile. "Bye, Mr. Tim."

Jamie and Leonard smiled hearing her calling him that.

They stepped on the transporter platform and were a few moments later in a transporter room at Starfleet Academy where Admiral Hadley was already awaiting them with a woman in red uniform.

"Hello Joanna", he greeted the girl.

"Hi. You're the Admiral from yesterday."

He chuckled. "That's right. Your Dad and Captain Kirk need to come with me. But my aide Ensign Siria will take you to a nice seat in the first row, okay?"

"Okay", she replied with a smile and a nod, but looked to her father to get his okay, too – he also nodded.

Jamie, Leonard and the Admiral watched Joanna and Siria go.

"So", Hadley said, making eye contact with Jamie. "You don't need my help anymore, hm?"

"The jury's still out on that. I guess I managed to keep the ex away, but since there's anyway Security all around, you might wanna show them her picture. Just to be on the safe side."

Hadley laughed. "They already got it."

"You think Jocelyn might show up despite your agreement?" Leonard asked.

Jamie gave him a warm and yet serious glance. "You tell me."

"She usually kept her promises. But better safe than sorry."

Hadley nodded. "Let's go then."