"Are you sure you're okay?" Jim smiled at her mother, "I'm fine, mom. A little banged up but fine. Are you okay? We almost hit part of your ship." Jim knew her mother was on the Mayflower and her heart sank when they got to Vulcan and almost hit part of the ship's saucer section. She filed it away as something to worry about later, hoping that she didn't lose both parents to the same maniac. It was Uhura who found out that her mother was alive; members of her crew were picked up from a damaged section of their ship by a Vulcan cargo vessel. When they asked her why she didn't say anything, Jim's only answer was that her family wasn't any more important than anyone else's.

"I never thought I'd be so happy to get to Starbase One in my life. I talked to Junior; he'll be in San Fran by the time you get here. Did you hear about the Yorktown?" Jim nodded, "Yea." Pike's old ship was destroyed during this whole mess, all hands lost. "I don't know how I'm gonna tell him. He'll know something's wrong the second he looks at me."

"That man always did have a good read on you, better than me most of the time." Jim sighed, "Mom." Winona chuckled, "What? It's the truth. I didn't say it was a bad thing. It's nice knowing that you have someone keeping an eye on you." Jim chuckled, "Well, I think Bones and Scotty are the ones keeping an eye on me at the moment."

"Scott's on the Enterprise? How'd that happen?" She smiled and told her mother all about her adventure on Delta Vega that led her straight to Scotty. "What in God's name was Spock thinking?" Jim shrugged, "His mother died, he wasn't thinking. I don't hold it against him. I mean, I know how he feels, just knowing that you were out here too… I don't know what I would've done if Nero killed you too. It wasn't all bad, if I hadn't brought Scotty with me, we'd all be dead. He saved our asses, mom."

"Well, there's not much he wouldn't do for you." Jim looked at her mother, "What?" The older woman chuckled, "That man is in love with you, Jimmy. I only talked to him once and I could tell." She shook her head, "Scotty's too awesome for me on my best day."

"Oh, sweetie, I bet he thinks the same thing. You should talk to him when you get some time." Jim nodded, "Which means when we get home. I should go I'm sure I went way over my time limit." Her mother smiled, "You're the acting captain, I don't think anyone would mind. I love you."

"I love you too, mom. I'll see you tomorrow." Her mother smiled, "Yes you will, Captain Kirk."


"How are we doing?" Scotty smiled, "I don't know if I should be happy that I'm on the Enterprise or astonished at the state she's in." Jim chuckled, "I watched them put her together, how do you think I feel?" He sighed, "Like someone kicked yer puppy, if I had ta guess." Jim chuckled, "You comm home, yet?" He shook his head, "I haven't had the chance." She took the PADD from his hands, "Go."

"I got work to do, lass." Jim nodded, "And we both know I can handle it until you get back. I am the acting captain, after all. Go comm your family. I'm sure Clara and Rob are worried out of their minds, your parents too. I'll make it an order if I have to." He gave her a look, "I don't remember you being this… bossy." She rolled her eyes, "Liar. I was born bossy. Now, go. Oh, tell Clara that I said hi." He sighed but he did as she asked. As soon as he was out of earshot, Gaila walked over, "So, that's the guy."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said to her green friend. "Then why are you smiling? You got it bad, chica." Jim groaned, "Gaila." The Orion looked at her, "James. Don't worry about it. I think he's pretty cool. I mean, you saw what a mess this place was yesterday. I did my best but I'm not an engineer and they were dropping like flies."

Gaila is a computer programming goddess who could lead with the best of them. She was only in charge in Engineering after Olsen died because everybody was running around without a clue and she stepped up. All cadets have to take basic engineering but like Jim, Gaila went beyond that, she was an observer, always watching what went on around her. The two women were from the school of survival, where everything you see could be a skill you need later on. It was paying off in droves.

"I kissed him." Gaila gave her a look, "And now it's awkward?" Jim shook her head, "Nope. That's the thing. I hopped off the transporter pad, handed Pike to Bones and kissed Monty like it was most natural thing in the universe. I don't know if that's good or bad, or we're just too busy and too tired to think about it." Gaila smiled, "Oh, Jim, it's worse than I thought. You're in love with him. You should say something." Jim didn't say anything as she looked over the reports that Scotty was working on. Gaila sighed, "We almost died, Jim. Most of our class did die. Tell him. What's the worst thing that could happen?"

"He could tell me I'm crazy and stop being my friend." Before Gaila could reply Scotty returned, "Who would stop being friends with you, lass?" She shook her head, "No one. We're talking hypothetical." He chuckled, "If you say so. My sister and her laddie say hi. She'll let everyone else know that I'm okay. You were right; I had her worried. She'll be there to meet us when we get home, my parents and nephew too." Jim smiled, "Don't you feel better now that you checked in with the fam?" He nodded, "Yea, yea. Now get out of my Engineering department before I put you to work, captain or not."

"You act like that's a threat, Monty." He gave her a look and she chuckled, "I'm going, I'm going. I have captainy stuff to do." She chuckled when he rolled his eyes, "'Captainy stuff' my ass."


There was silence on the last shuttle from the Enterprise as it's young acting senior staff looked out the windows at the place that they called home. "She's beautiful," Jim whispered as the view of the San Francisco Bay filled her viewport. She never thought she'd be so happy to see water and dirt in her whole life.

They put down in the same hanger that they –save Scotty- left Earth from a few short days ago. Jim felt like a lifetime has come and gone in the last few days. She hasn't processed most of it and it was gonna take her a while, after all the briefings and classes were out of the way and she had some time alone.

"There are a lot of people here. The crew is still here too," Sulu muttered from the cockpit. Scotty looked over at Jim, "They're waiting for their captain." Jim sighed, "Pike's already down here." Uhura sighed, "He's not our captain. You are." Considering the fact that Uhura kinda hates her, Jim was taking that as a compliment. "I'm not that special, guys."

"Except you are, kid. Nobody else coulda pulled that off," Bones told her. Everyone in the shuttle voiced their agreements. Jim smiled, "I couldn't have done anything without all of you. You guys are special. I'm just me." Chekov smiled, "Well, I will follow you anywhere, Keptin. And I'm not the only one."

"Okay, you guys need to stop before you make me cry. " The shuttle made a smooth landing and docked. Jim sighed, "I don't know where they'll put us all. In case we don't get to serve together again, I just want to say that it's been an honor." She wasn't expecting a reply, the one she got came from the most unlikely person in the shuttle: Spock. "I believe I speak for the crew, in its entirety, when I say that the honor is ours, Captain."


"Jim," her brother whispered as soon he got his arms around her. She spotted him and their mother as soon as her feet hit the ground and after giving the official order for the Enterprise crew to fall out, she made a beeline for them. "I should kick your ass, you psycho." She laughed, "You couldn't beat me with one hand tied behind my back and blindfolded, Sam."

"I could try. You two scared the shit outta me." She could feel him shaking, "I'm okay, Sammy. I got tossed around a little but I'm okay. I promise." Her brother held her tighter, "You sure?" She chuckled, "Yea but if you don't let me go you might cut off my air supply." He sighed, "Sorry, sis." Jim shrugged, "Don't be. I'm happy to see you too, you have no idea."

Sam let her go so their mother could hug her with one arm. "You didn't tell me about this. What happened, mom?" The older woman sighed, "Dislocated it. Occupational hazard. Doctor says I'll be back to normal in a few days. Pike?" Jim rested her head on her mom's good shoulder, "Already at medical. He tried to fight with Bones but you know Bonesy. He pulled medical authority."

"And Scott?" Jim looked around and spotted the man in question with his family, "He's fine. He's over there." He was being fawned over by his mother and his sister as he held his nephew and his father and brother watched on with relief and amusement. "He's doin' better than Bones." His daughter, Joanna was in his arms and his mother was hugging both of them. She knew from experience that his mother wasn't gonna let him go anytime soon.

"You wanna say hi?" Jim smiled, "Later. I'm starving and I wanna check on Chris."


Someone was ringing the buzzer to Pike's front door. Jim pushed herself to her feet and made her way through the apartment, "Hold your horses." She opened the door and smiled, "Uh… Hi." Standing in front of her was Scotty. Jim knew that whatever was going on between them was not something they could ignore forever. It was easy when they were on two different planets and mostly easy during a crisis but, now, they were a few minutes from each other and there was nothing to distract them. She figured that he was probably thinking the same thing.

"Hey, lass. I hope it's okay that I dropped in on ye. Yer mum told me you were here." Jim tried to sleep in the dorms but the campus was just too empty and the press was hounding her like crazy, so she was hiding out at Pike's place. Not that it's really hiding since she had her own room. "It's more than okay. Come on in." He looked around, "This place is nice." She chuckled, "No kidding. I'm not used to all the room. It feels kinda empty without Chris." Scotty nodded, "How's he doin'?"

Jim sat on the couch, "He's restless. That man hates hospitals as much as I do. I was gonna go visit him in a little while if you wanna come with." He nodded, "Yea. I'm sure he'll give me the third degree if you leave us alone." She chuckled as he sat next to her, "Why?" Scotty sighed, "Ye kissed me… In a room full of people, no less." Jim nodded, "I did. Should've done it sooner." The look of surprise on his face was priceless, "What?"

"You're honestly saying you never thought about it." Scotty blushed, "I have. I never thought you would've. I mean, look at me and look at you. You're all… gorgeous and perfect and I'm a mess that can't stay outta trouble." She chuckled, "I am looking. You're brilliant and funny and handsome. And we both know that I'm not perfect. Far from it. I'm just me." Jim stopped herself from saying anything else and just looked at her hands.

Scotty reached over and took one of her hands in his, "You deserve someone so much better than me." Jim sighed before she whispered, "Don't want anyone else." She took a breath, "I want the insanely brilliant guy who lets me talk his ear off about everything under the sun. The man who sent me balloons while he was on Delta Vega and charmed my mom over comm. I want the man who gives me crap about being in command. The man who tells the most insane stories. The man who trusts me even when what I'm thinking is balls-to-the-wall crazy. I…"

'Seriously, Jim,' she thought to herself. Fight Romulans; no big deal. Jump off a drill to save Sulu; child's play. Command a ship with next to no experience; sure thing. Rescue Pike from aforementioned Romulans; cakewalk. Hold your own with the brass during the debriefings; easy as pie. Try to tell your friend that you might be a little –okay, a lot- bit in love with him; harder than any of it.

"Okay." Jim raised an eyebrow, "Okay?" He smiled, "This is how it's gonna go, lass. You are gonna let me take you on a proper date before you surprise me with anymore kisses." Jim chuckled, "You weren't that surprised." Scotty smiled, "I'm not confirming or denying anything, lass." She smirked, "Uh huh."

"I'm trying ta ask ye out. Are ya gonna let me?" She closed her mouth and nodded. Scotty took a breath, "Will ya go on a date with me, Jim?" Her heart felt like it was goin' a thousand miles a minute. "Yes," was out of her mouth before she had a chance to over-analyze or second guess it. He smiled, "Really?" She nodded, "Yea." He sighed, "That was easier than I thought." Jim chuckled, "Like you didn't know that I was gonna say yes."