A/N: I have skewed timeline and the ages of the characters in this one shot. Captain Pike is 52 years old in this version (The same age that he is in Star Trek Discovery).

Christopher Pike let out a long-suffering sigh as he finished sending in the last of his reports for the day. It had been an extremely arduous day. First, he woke up to find that his youngest son Pavel hot and sick, the 14-year-old's still recovering immune system exacerbating his symptoms. Chris' oldest son, Jim had a quantum astrophysics midterm that day, so he was unable to stay home and keep an eye on Pavel. As a result, Chris had to bring the teen to work with him to make sure that he didn't get any sicker.

Then he had to deal with a disciplinary matter between a group of cadets who were caught beating up another. Their attack resulted in the second year cadet ending up in a coma and barely clinging onto life. The fact that the cadet was only two years older than Pavel just added to Chris' rage, and he spent an hour and a half putting the fear of God in the cadets before informing them that the Academy Board would be handing down their punishment. After that fiasco, Chris alternated between writing reports, going to meetings, and dosing Pavel up with meds. As the day wore on, it became clear that the teen's condition was worsening so when Jim finished his midterms, he took Pavel to the medical center. A few minutes ago Dr. McCoy called with news that Pavel had contracted a virus and he would be unable to attend classes for at least a week while they put him on a course of antivirals and white blood cell boosters.

When Pike entered the medical center room, he saw that Pavel was curled up under a blanket with his head resting on Jim's lap. His eyes were squeezed shut, and tears were streaming down his face.

"He's been like this for the past hour," Jim informed his father. "McCoy and I tried to get him to fall asleep, but he won't settle down. He's been calling out for you."

"Hey bud, I hear you're not feeling too well," Chris murmured as he lifted Pavel into his arms and began to rock him. The teen just whimpered and pressed his forehead against his father's shoulder.

"I just signed his discharge papers. Nurse Chapel is just getting together his meds, and then we can go," Jim whispered as he reached out and patted his little brother's back.

The small family sat quietly in the room, Chris gently rocking Pavel in his arms, trying to soothe him to sleep as while Jim sat with his feet tucked under him, watching a movie on his tablet with his head resting on his father's shoulder.

"He's still so tiny, even after four months with us.," Jim murmured in solemn fascination.

"He was abused and neglected for god knows how many years," Pike reminded his eldest quietly. "I'm impressed that his weight has improved this fast. Speaking of which, what'd he weigh in at today?" he asked.

"95 lbs," Jim answered with a small smile. " Bones says that we may be able to take him off of the feeding tube within the next month! Thank god for tiny miracles."

"That's great," Chris whispered in response. "But I'm not surprised, our boy is a fighter, he's proved that thousands of times over."

"What're we gonna do about watching him?" Jim asked as he helped his father dress his still sleeping brother. They had received Pavel's medications and were preparing to head home. "He can't be left on his own, and you have so many meetings that you're rarely in your office. I guess I can contact my instructors and see about getting a dispensation for a week. Uhura is in a few of my classes; I can ask if she can bring me the course work."

"No, I've already got one of you missing classes, I don't need both of you cooped up in the house. I'll see if Spock can keep an eye on him." Chris said firmly

"Spock's not on planet," Jim said, "He's on Vulcan, visiting his parents but his sister Michael is planetside.

"Pavel seems to feel pretty safe with her, and given that she has basic medical training, I think that is a great idea. I'll give her a call tomorrow and see if she'd be up for looking after him," Chris proposed as he lifted Pavel from the exam bed and into his arms, shushing the tiny 14-year-old as he whimpered at the loss of warmth. But for now let's get home, we'll all feel better after a good night's sleep. Luckily we've got a three day weekend starting tomorrow so we can relax. It's been a rough week."

Jim nodded in agreement as he followed his father out to the speeder. He popped the trunk and grabbed a weighted blanket that Chris always kept in the car, in case either of his boys experienced a panic attack. He came around to the side of the car and tucked the blanket around his brother who was safely buckled into a modified child's seat.

Pavel muttered in his sleep and turned his head to rest against the window.

"Once Pavel is better, what would you boys say to us heading down to the house in Mojave for a week? Maybe see your cousins and grandparents?" Chris asked.

"So you'd exempt me from classes to go on vacation but not to take care of my sick brother?" Jim asked in mock offense. "Kinda warped thinking. But it would be nice to get a break."

"I don't want you to catch whatever Pavel's got. God knows with your immune system it'd happen and then I'd have to spend all of my sick and vacation leave to take care of you both. Then none of us would get a break," Chris answered teasingly as pulled the car into the parking garage of their apartment building.

"Now, why we get you, boys, upstairs and into bed? You've both had a long day," he continued as he unbuckled Pavel from the back of the car and settled the teen on his hip. Surprisingly, the teen didn't wake, only settling his head in the crook of his father's neck. Jim let out a sound of agreement stumbling as he climbed out of the car and leaned listlessly against his father's side.

Within twenty minutes, Pavel was tucked safely into bed, and Jim was curled up on the couch with his father, the two of them watching War of the Worlds.

Chris looked over at his eldest with a fond smile as Jim blinked heavily, apparently trying to stay awake. Slowly, so as not to startle the young man, Chris wrapped an arm about Jim's shoulders, pulling the 21-year-old to rest against his chest, head placed right above his heart.

"I knew you were exhausted," Chris chuckled as Jim let out a content sigh and finally closed his eyes. "Sleep son, you're safe. I'm right here." he continued soothingly.

"G'night dad," Jim responded quietly. " 'Love you."

Chris pressed a kiss to the top of his son's head in response. "I love you too, kiddo, with all my heart."