Again, thank you to all who have read and reviewed my story. It really makes a writer want to give more and I hope I am not disappointing.
When Bones walked out of Jim's room, Spock was waiting.
" How is the Captain?" Spock asked as he noted the ragged appearance of the doctor, whatever had transpired in the room had taken a toll on the man.
"How the hell do you think he is? You damned fool, you told him that he is basically to blame for Carla Ann's death. She would have done anything to protect her little sister, a sister she thought had died along with her parents." he stepped away from Jim's door, not wanting their conversation overheard by the drugged man inside, Spock followed.
" I assure you I had no intention of making the captain's condition any worse, as a matter of fact, I thought the news would assist him in his recovery." Spock felt horrible for what he had done to his Captain.
" You thought wrong, Spock. Oh hell, the man already takes the blame for one death, and now he has to come to terms with the fact and that trusting Areck in accepting his denials years ago was something he could have changed with the knowledge that Adeline was in his possession."
Bones leaned against the wall, he was exhausted, and he wondered how he was going to help his best friend.
" Dammit man, it just isn't fair!" Bones' tirade continued, he knew he was yelling at Spock out of complete frustration for being unable to help the man in the isolated room.
Bones took a breath and calmed himself. It had been difficult to walk into the room and to see Jim in such a state, a total mental breakdown if ever he had seen one, and his concern for his friend had escalated to a whole new level.
" You are right doctor, I should have known that Jim would have taken the responsibility for the young woman's demise and the prolonged captivity of the sister. I will need to meditate for a while. I too want to help Jim." He dismissed himself, leaving Dr McCoy alone in the hallway.
Bones straightened himself and started walking back to his office, he had to call Dr Connors, he had to update him on their patient's latest setback.
Room 827
Jim lay quietly in the bed, wanting to forget what Spock had told him, the drugs were tugging at his consciousness. He had been so stupid, so naive. He continued to fight the drugs in his system, he needed to see Adele.
Adeline was only three years old when they thought she had been murdered by Kodos but actually none of the bodies were even recognizable, they had been torched soon after and when he and Cat had found her home up in flames. They had assumed Adele was there with the rest of the family, dead.
Jim looked over at his new Vulcan sitter, he seemed less protective and was actually reading a book instead of giving him the hawkeye stare. His mind felt heavy, the strong sedative was tugging at his consciousness but he needed to think now, he had to devise a plan to get out, to visit Adele. He just wanted to make sure she was really alive and well.
Jim also wanted to know what had happened all those years, no matter how difficult it might be, he needed to know how she, they, had suffered at the hands of the brutal tyrant.
He blamed it all on Kodos, for killing their families, for destroying the only peace he had ever known. At least the man was dead now, no longer a threat for any of the survivors.
Jim knew if he continued to fight the psychologist he would be here for a long time and if he gave in too quickly they would see right through him, especially Bones and Spock. He would have to find a way to get them to believe he was feeling better, though today's emotional scene would probably get him a new visit soon from his brain shrinker.
He would have to get in control of his emotions long enough to get out of the hospital, then he would need to find a place to decide his future. First, he would need to find Adele, he needed to see her alive.
How had she survived, he had seen a child's body in the ashes, or at least he thought it was a child. His mind must have been playing tricks on him, he must of see what he thought was a child's body, he wouldn't allow Cat to go that close to her home, feeling a sense of protection for her even then. It would have been too much for her to see her family killed in that manner.
He rolled over in the bed, his neck still stung from the injection, but it was good to even feel the pain, because everything else felt so numb, so unimportant.
Jim closed his eyes and visually pictured the vivacious three year old, her red hair and beautiful freckles still an image he couldn't forget, such a contrast to Cat and her blond curls. He always wondered what she would like today, and the image of a raggedy Ann doll crossed his tired drug mind, and he would have smiled if the Vulcan hadn't been looking over at him.
He would need to find her, to see her with his own eyes, to make sure it was her. Something wasn't right though but his tired mind could not connect to what it was, but it was important. He yawned and readjusted his head on the pillow.
Within seconds he was asleep, his body finally caved in to the heavy sedation.
Dr Connors Office
Dr Connors had left early, before Jim had experienced the difficult episode, his office secured, his files locked away. But the man who now sat behind the desk could not help but to feel a twinge of guilt as he watched the video feed of the man James T Kirk in his isolated hospital room. He was suffering no less from Post traumatic stress, it had to be difficult to lose the same woman twice in one lifetime.
The site of the man as he was lay in the bed reminded him of a different time, a time that he had determined his fate. Then, he wanted James Kirk to live, wanted him to become his own child. He had saved the boy so many times, only to lose him again and again.
He reached over and touched the screen, he felt a connection to the man in the bed, felt a need to have him close to him, to allow him to love him as a father. He had killed a nation, killed the only real family that James Kirk had ever really connected to and now he felt an overwhelming sense of need to connect with him again, to let him know, explain, why he had done the things he did on Tarsus IV. He had done it all for James.
He felt a sense of pride as he looked over at the screen, all the beatings that he had ordered for the boy had only made him the strong man he was today. He knew that he would need to continue his harsh treatment of James, it is what made him strong and he definitely needed his son strong. He would start his regimen of discipline as soon as he returned him to Tarsus IV, their home.
" Oh Jimmy, I have missed you so over the years. I need to bring you home, you belong to me." the man smiled as he stood to leave, he would be back soon to get his child. James needed a real disciplinarian as a father. James needed him.
The man reached down and gathered the information that would assist him in getting legal custody of James, the copied files would be his key to getting what he had desired for so many years, a son. He smiled down at the sleeping form of James Kirk and smiled, " Soon, son, we will be together." he then left the room, as secured as he found it.
Bones Office
Bones had notified Dr Connors of the situation with Jim. He had informed him of the news that he had received and the man was on his way back to the hospital.
He reached up with both hands and ran them through his already messed hair, it had been one hell of a day.
He heard a faint knock at the door. " Come in." he called out, wondering who it could be now.
" Am I disturbing you doctor?" the young lady asked as she entered the room.
Bones stood and rounded his desk to invite the beautiful, blond into the office. Her face was flawless, not an imperfection present, not even a freckle. He could not help but to think that she looked familiar, even though he knew he had never met her in his life.
" Doctor McCoy." he reached out his hand to shake hers, wanting to introduce himself.
" Adeline Therian." she returned, and took the seat that Bones was offering.
" Thank you, I am sorry to bother you. I know that you are a very busy man but I won't be long. I did want to check up on a patient who is under your care. His name is..." she was about to finish but was interrupted.
" James Kirk." he walked around the desk and sat on the edge, wondering why the woman was seeking out Jim. According to the brief tense moments in Jim's room he had mentioned seeing her last when she was only three years of age. Jim seemed to also think she had died and been surprised to find out she was alive and under the imprisonment of Areck. Something was off but he brushed it off for the moment.
" Yes, I would like to talk with him if I could. I'm getting ready to go off planet to visit my family, I will not be back for a while." she wanted the doctor to know why she had came to the hospital, wanted him to know that it would be a while before she returned and that she wanted to speak to him before she left.
Bones thought about for a few seconds, the possible repercussions, the possible shock that Jim might experience and he wished Dr Connors was there as he made his decision, it would be better for him to assist Jim with the newest revelation.
"I just don't think it would be in the best interest of my patient right now. It might be best for you to wait until you return." Bones hated to delay the visit but he really didn't think that Jim could handle anything else right now, at least, until he was feeling better.
She smiled and stood, " I understand. I would not want to cause Jim anymore pain." She was almost out of the office when hesitated, then turned and pulled out an envelope from her dress pocket, " When he is feeling better, would you give him this?" she handed the thick envelope to Bones.
Bones nodded and took the sealed envelope. " I'm sorry." he offered the woman a rare apology.
" Tell him I look forward to seeing him when I return." she gave him a sad but tender smile, then exited the room.
Bones opened the top drawer of his desk and placed the brown envelope inside. He knew it would be a while before Jim was ready to deal with the news of Adele's need to reach out to him. First, Jim needed to be able to handle the everyday life events before he added anything else to it.
Bones took a seat, hopefully, Dr Connors would be there soon.
Outside of the Hospital
The beautiful young woman looked out into the busy street, waiting for her father to join her, she had done her job and though she would have loved to see her soon to be brother again , she knew she had to have great patience, it is what her father had taught her over the years.
When he finally walked up to her with files in hand they just smiled at each other, they had accomplished so much today. It wouldn't be long before they were a family and back on the planet they called their home.
Yeah, I went there. I loved this episode Conscience of a King. I hope you guys will like where I take it. I would love your input.