Huge THANK YOU to LONE WOLF O'NEILL SGI expert extraordinary! If you have a question he is your guy. I promise this will get lighter in the next couple of chapters but I feel like Kate being shot requires more than 1 chapter and a hypo spray. Give me your thoughts. Please read and review.

Ch 14 DAMAGE CONTROL

"Jim I am so sorry." Pike says coming up behind Kirk in Sick Bay. He was briefed on Kate's condition by Spock and Bones but was not prepared to the actual sight of her beaten body and still form. She looked so helpless compared to the feisty pink princess he met last night. "God was that last night." Pike thinks to himself. "If there is anything I can do Jim just ask." He claps a strong hand on Jim's shoulder providing a fatherly support that Jim is severely lacking now.

"What time is it? When did you get here?" Jim asks releasing Kate's hand and stretching his stiff muscles in the chair.

"2100 hours," Pike confirms. "The Enterprise arrived several hours ago to Deneva." He sees a flash of shock on Jim's face and realizes Jim has not left her side in at least six hours. "Spock has filled Archer and me in on the results of Mr. Blue's interrogation. Archer has every ship on lockdown and is running full background checks on every person. We will find the third agent. The Merrimac is under the guard of the Alexander along with the prisoner." He sees Kirk begin to bitch about the transfer of Mr. Blue but Pike doesn't want to hear it. "Raynor will not let anything happen to him he doesn't deserve. You know Lucas. He's a good man and threatened me within an inch of my life if I didn't let him handle the prisoner."

"I can do my job." Kirk states icily annoyed that everyone thinks he can't be a Captain and a father.

"And your job is to take care of Kate right now." Pike reminds him sternly.

Kirk lets his anger subside realizing Pike is right. Kate needs to be his focus. Raynor, Archer, and Pike can see to the details of the investigator until at least morning. Kirk assumes the same posture as he has had for the past six hours holding her hand and staring at Kate.

Pike walks over to Bones. "How is she really?" Pike asks his voice full of concern.

"Her heart rate is back to normal and the cardiac arrest left no permanent damage. I am more concerned about the cerebral edema. If we did not have the Bacta I am not sure she would have survived." Bones admits causing Pike to stare again at Kate. "You need to get him out of here for a little while."

"Let's go present a united front." Pike says as the two men walk back to Kate's med bed.

"Jim, go get something to eat and at least six hours of sleep," Bones orders checking the monitors on Kate's bed. "She won't wake up until at least late tomorrow afternoon and that is if we don't decide to keep her under again. Her vitals look good and aside from the external bruising she is actually in great shape. Kate is tough and is going to be fine." Kirk appears to be tuning Bones out so the doctor looks to Pike for support.

"Don't make me make it an order son." Pike says trying to help the situation.

"Don't put me in a position to break it." Jim counters smoothing Kate's blanket across her chest.

"Go Jim. You are not going to be any use to Kate if you pass out from hunger or exhaustion." Uhura says wedging herself between the bed and Kirk. "I'm serious. Go now. I will contact you if anything happens but this is not the hard part. When she wakes up and is scared or has questions you need to be there then not now. That is going to be the hard part. We can handle it now. She will not be alone a second I promise." Uhura's tone is firm, commanding, and final. Kirk is usually very alert to his surrounding but somehow Uhura had snuck in without him noticing.

Jim gets ready to remind her who is Captain and remembers what he promised himself in the ready room four hours earlier. To everyone's surprise he stands up and gives Uhura the chair. "Thirty minutes and I want a bed brought in here." Kirk negotiates. "I am staying here until she wakes up."

Bones nods an affirmation to Jim's requests and Uhura sits down demanding a cup of coffee from the nurse on duty. It may not be a typical task but the nurse complies wordlessly. Kirk smiles and thinks command may have been a better career choice for Uhura the communications. Kirk walks to the top of the bed and whispers something in Kate's ear and kisses her forehead before striding out of Sick Bay. It may look like confidence to everyone else but he knows if he doesn't keep moving forward he will go running back. Pike follows him to the mess hall. It is virtually empty at this hour and eerily quiet. Kirk sees Archer, Spock, Jack, and Sam seated at a table with two trays of food waiting and knows he is being set up for something. He decides to let their little game play out until he is ready to not listen anymore. He is the Captain and Kate's father.

"Admiral, Spock, Jack, Sam," Kirk acknowledges each person at the table and pushes the tray forward. The past nine hours have been mentally draining so he does grab the coffee from the tray and takes a sip. "I know everyone is sorry and all that shit but let's cut to the point. What do you want?" Kirk says holding his coffee cup in both hands. "You look like a cadet review board."

"Jim the outpouring of emotions is unbelievable. The press has gotten a hold of the story and it has gone viral in a matter of hours." Archer states but rapidly continues while Kirk is silent. "We can't locate the third co-conspirator but Spock and Sam here has come up with a brilliant plan to help catch the son of a bitch." Archer leans forward to make sure Jim knows it was not his idea. "Do not say anything until you hear them out. It will be quicker that way. Took them and Pike an hour to tell me and it is a solid plan. It has worked before."

Jim shifts his attention to Spock and Sam. He leans back in his seat, holds his cup, and prepares to let them have their say before he goes fucking berserk. It had to be insane for them to clear the mess hall and require two superior officers here to tell him. Sam starts in a gentle tone reaching forward to cover his hand with hers. "Let the reporters in to see Kate."

Her words shock Jim so much that as he rips his hand from hers the coffee goes flying everywhere. "Captain you need to listen," Spock starts but is cut off by Jim standing so abruptly the chair flies over.

"I told you she will not be a public relations puppet for Star Fleet. How many more times do I have to say this? I'll resign my commission before I let you use her like that?" Kirk lashes out at Archer.

"Jim sit your ass down and start thinking strategically and not like an over wrought father." Jack commands his for the second time today.

Kirk is beyond pissed that Jack would back such a plan. "You'd parade John? Ronin? For….for what? Star Fleets glory." Jim demands an answer from his friend.

"Initially no. I'd react the same as you but then after I thought about it yes I would. We need to do this so Section 31 will get off our asses and leave her the hell alone." Jack fires back angrily. "The entire Federation and half the Klingon Empire is appalled and hero worshipping that little girl right now for her actions on Khitomer. I am not saying it is going to be easy but Chancellor Gorkon," Jim has heard enough and begins to walk to the door. His mind races as the thinks about what these so called friends are asking him to do. Suddenly he is slammed up against a wall and finds Jack holding him in place with a forearm to the chest and a handful of his shirt. "Fucking think about it for a God damn second you arrogant asshole. The Nero and Khan incident elevated you to golden boy status. If they see their hero and that little girl, who beamed down on a planet of Klingons and saved 36 lives, beaten and torn apart which way do you think public opinion is going to fall? They will tear apart the galaxy looking for the bastard that tried to kill Katherine Kirk."

"Star Fleet has agreed to publically call out Section 31 for their actions and Gorkon plans to tell the entire Federation about how she helped save the colony. The reason for her involvement will be unexpectedly hearing their plans and was being dealt with accordingly until you arrived." Spock says from behind Jack.

Jack feels Kirk's body begin to relax from his hold and slowly takes his hands off his commanding officer. Jack knows if it was any other man the treated this was his career would be over but this is Kirk. He will see the truth in his words and years from now they will be drunk and remembering this differently. "It's a fucking shit deal for you and Kate I know that but, unless you have a better idea it's all we got to find him and put pressure on Section 31 to stay the hell away."

"How are they going to explain her abrupt arrival to the Federation? Adoption? I was some lonely bachelor and thought hey I'll go get a kid?" Jim laughs at the absurdity of the plan but at least he is listening.

"Boarding school," Pike yells from across the room causing Jim, Jack, and Spock to come back to the table. He rights the fallen chair and Jim sits back down.

"Boarding school?" Jim says incredulously "How the fuck will that work?

"The simpler the story the better," Spock says. "We say that she was born before you graduated. Lauren and you divorced over your decision to stay in Star Fleet. Lauren left with her until she died six years ago. Kate was placed in a boarding school until Star Fleet changed its regulations. Upon that time you chose to raise her on the Enterprise. The story is common enough that it is believable."

"It also parallel's Kate real story close enough so that if she slips or makes mistakes they shouldn't raise too many questions." Sam says gently.

Kirk hates the idea of parading Kate at her most vulnerable to the galaxy but the plan is actually quite brilliant. They will be at Farpoint during the chaos and it will be old news when they return to Earth in five years. "We still have orders to Farpoint Station at the end of this cluster fuck?" Kirk asks and is given assurances by both Admirals that that will be the case. Kirk picks up a fork and pokes at his food in thought. "Tomorrow morning then," he says taking a bite of the now cold potatoes and dropping his fork on the tray with a clang. "No more than two reporters actually board the Enterprise and they are off by 0730 hours. I will beam down at 0900 hours to say whatever the fuck is needed with Gorkon and then we are out." Kirk lays the ground rules. He feels sick but knows that this will work. Public outrage over Section 31 is still simmering from the Khan incident and if John Q. Public thinks they are targeting kids for some scheme it will seal their fate for at least a little while.

"Sir," Yeoman Rand slides a new tray of hot food in front of Kirk.

"Thanks but I gotta get back," Kirk says pushing back from the table while taking a long drink of hot coffee.

"It has only been 25 minutes son. You promised thirty. Pretend you are back in the 'cadmy and it's and order. Think I still outrank you." Pike smiles over his coffee cup. Jim sits down and makes an attempt to eat something on the tray.

SICK BAY

Kirk walks in to Sick Bay and comes up behind Uhura. He leans over her shoulder and kisses her on the cheek. "Thanks but you can go now." He says and walks around to look at her. Uhura looks at him for a long time.

"It is a solid plan sir as sick as it makes me feel. At least she will be sleeping during the interview and by the time we get back no one will remember a thing." She says letting Kirk know she feels the same as him. "Your bed is over there. Get some sleep." She says giving him a hug. "This didn't just happen to you Jim. It happened to all of us. We are a family." Jim watches her walk out the door. Jim sits in his chair and assumes his vigil.

Sometime later Bones comes up behind him waking him up. "You fell asleep. If you aren't going to go to your quarters at least lay down on one of the beds. I'm sleeping in my office and will monitor her all night. Get some sleep. I'm going to take her out of the induced coma tomorrow." Jim looks at Bones with concern in his eyes. "Jim she is fine. The swelling from the concussion is almost gone, her heart is fine, and the phaser burn only needs another dermal gen treatment or two until it is gone. She may have some lingering effects like headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping but that is treatable."

"She looks so vulnerable Bones," Jim remarks looking at the bruises covering her arms and hands. "Why was she down there? I should have," Jim starts to finally question the events that have lead up to now even though he knows he couldn't have done any more.

"Stop. It may have been the best thing to make her realize this cloak and danger soldier thing isn't all it's cracked up to be." Bones says.

"Helluva lesson to learn," Kirk says. "You sure she'll be fine."

"Absolutely," he says and walks back into his office. Several hours later Bones wakes up and walks out to check on Kate. Kirk has pulled his chair as close to the bed as possible and is resting his head on his arms next to Kate's waist. At least he sleeping Bones thinks and goes back to bed.

0600 hours Jim feels a hand gently shaking him awake. As he raises his head he realizes he can't straighten his neck. His entire body is stiff and he can barely move. "You have one hour until Jenna Blalock and Matthew Simpson arrive. Get some coffee and take a shower. You look like shit." Bones says as Kirk rubs his eyes.

"Works for the distraught father angle," Jim says humorlessly not believing he agreed to this. Forty-five minutes later he is dressed in his formal uniform and looking every bit the dashing hero the public expects except for the dark circles around his eyes. Jack and Bones are already waiting there. "Let's get this fucking dog and pony show over. Energize," Kirk says and before him are two of the most famous journalist in the Federation along with their camera men. "You have thirty minutes and it takes ten to get there and ten to get back. I suggest you don't dawdle." Kirk says and walks out of the transporter room followed by the reporters. He is trying to waste as much time as possible to he takes the longest possible route to get there. They begin to ask questions but Kirk cuts them off sharply. "I don't particularly relish the idea of you taking pictures of my beaten daughter in Sick Bay but if this is the best way to screw the people that did this so be it. I will answer questions at 0900 hours so get your pictures and get off my ship." Kirk says exiting the turbo lift. Jack looks at Bones who raises his eyes at Kirk's bedside manner with the reporters.

The reporters gasp slightly at the sight of Kate and then begin to talk rapidly to their camera men. At least Jenna and Matthew are smart enough to work together for the shots they want. The room is small and they know Kirk is not going to budge on the time constraints. The camera men are in and out of the room in three minutes and are setting up for Jenna's and Matthew's live reports in less than a minute.

"They are efficient." Spock says behind Kirk. He may not have had as much contact with Kate as the other crew but still likes her as much as they do. Secretly Spock hopes his First Officer duties will lighten and he can become closer to Kate in the upcoming weeks.

"They have five minutes and 46 seconds left." Kirk says arms crossed over his chest watching their every movement.

Jenna walks up confidently to Kirk during Matthew's interview and whispers, "I have a daughter Mr. Kirk. I swear to God I will paint a picture with words to find Mr. Third Color."

Kirk's head snaps around to stare at her wondering how she knew about the reference he made in his Ready Room.

"Relax Captain," Jenna says "I have numerous contacts everywhere. Your reference to him is nothing special."

"What would be special?" Kirk spits back at her pissed over the whole situation.

"Knowing that the USS Merrimac received a distress call six hours before the actual bombing commenced," Jenna says never taking her eyes off Matthew's live report. "She took on two doctors and orders to run blind until the bombing was confirmed. When John Talus commed in the bombing to Fleet command the two doctors went missing. Apparently beamed into thin air until the appeared on Khitomer and attacked your daughter. The transmission did come from Star Fleet but from Division of Scientific Health. Star Fleet is running voice analyzers on everyone there trying to match the transmission voice, which also is Mr. Third Color's voice. It will take a while but we'll get him. Star Fleet may want to give up on this impossible task after a week or two of good effort but I'll make sure the story stays front page news until I get an answer that satisfies me. Talus is clean, but"

"And you know all this because," Kirk says both pissed and interested.

"My father was in Star Fleet for 20 years. I didn't have the luxury like you of being with him but I met enough people in his career. Talus is a good man. He put the events together immediately after hearing about Kate and knew he was set up. He shut down the transporters so that no one could beam off before it was ever an order from Archer. Mr. Kirk I may be a reporter but I do understand the need for secrets. Secrets keep us safe and protect the ones we love." Kirk stiffens slightly wondering if they were still talking about the Merrimac or Kate. "I may appear to embrace liberal ideology for the ratings but I want my daughter to be safe going to the mall or visiting other planets. I can take secrets as long as I apart of them," Jenna says with a slight smile curling on her lips. Matthew finishes up his report and looks at Jenna. She knows it's now or never. "Captain we need one picture of you with her."

"No." Kirk says flatly staring at his watch.

"Public sympathy will only go so far seeing her picture but they need to see how it has affected Star Fleet and her family. If her mother" Jenna says but gets a deadly glare from Kirk. She stops immediately trying to some information on the story of how Kate actually just appeared out of thin air. She doesn't buy the cover story in place.

"One shot. You have thirty seconds." Kirk walks over to Kate's bed and assumes his position holding her hand. He momentarily forgets the cameras and let's his mind wander to what it would be like if Lauren was here. Yes he would have to be strong for Lauren but he could actually devote his time to finding the people who did this and not sitting around doing nothing. A flash pulls him back to reality and he looks at his watch. It has been nine minutes and fifty nine seconds. Kirk kisses Kate's hand and announces they are now required to leave his ship. They walk back to the transporter room in silence.

"Captain Kirk I want to thank you," Matthew Simpson says extending his hand but Kirk just walks onto the transporter pad.

"Mr. Simpson I really want this over with so I can get back to my daughter. Please step on the pad," Kirk says tersely. "Energize," he says and they all beam down to the planet to participate in the conference.

0900 hours DENEVA TOWN HALL

Pike stands at the podium and delivers a scathing speech about how Section 31 has again overstepped their bounds. "I challenge each and every one of you to make sure events like this will not go unchecked. It is your duty to stand up for righteousness and do the honorable thing in the face of injustice. A twelve year old child looked past her fear in an unspeakable situation to make a difference. Will you follow her lead and do the same?" Pike's motivational speech is a hit with the crowd and is followed by cheers and whistles.

Pike is followed by Chancellor Gorkon who retells the tale of how one Federation child saved 36 Klingon children and was repaid for her honor and courage with pain and suffering. "Although our two great nations have had their differences a single voice united them for 30 minutes on the battlefield. Klingon's accept death but she taught us like Kathless the Unforgettable that to willingly give in to death is cowardly. That we should fight for each moment of our lives to achieve honor and glory even when all hope appears gone. Upon talking to the Klingon High Council, we would like to bestow the Order of the Bat'leth to Katherine daughter of Kirk. In one year's time we invite the Federation to send the Enterprise to Kronos to celebrate in the glory she has brought on both great Nations."

Gorkon calls for all Federation and Klingon citizens to seek out the cowards who perpetrated the crime against Kate. As he demands a punishment befitting the crime, Kirk leans into Bones ear whispering, "at what point in this good, solid plan did I miss Kate being called out as a Klingon hero. Do you realize we were just invited to an all day kegger on the Klingon home world next year. I am going to kill Sam, Spock, and Jack in that order." Jim says in a serious tone remembering the cameras trained on them.

"Just mark not able to attend on the invitation." Bones says and gets and eye brow rise from Kirk. "Your right what the fuck was I thinking. You can't get to the paperwork you have now. By the time you finally get to RSVPing she'll be married with kids." Bones says with a straight face.

"Don't worry I'll go with you to tell Joce that Jo will be perfectly fine." Kirk can see briefly confusion flash across Bones' face. "The Enterprise is going to have to take Kate there and you need a second to stand with you at the ceremony. I am sure Kate will want her little BFF there. We can plan all our annual shore leaves on Kronos. Kronos should make an interesting family vacation spot for all of us." Kirk is joking but he knows Bones' will stress about this for at least a few days.

0930 hours SICK BAY

The Force, extra Bacta, and McCoy's medical care is healing Kate at an exponentially faster rate than McCoy can even plan for. Kate begins to stir and moan. Her waking up initially goes unnoticed because everyone is in McCoy's office watching their Captain on the telepresentor. Kate tries to open her eyes but the lights are blinding. She tries to raise a hand to her face but finds that she is being restrained. The last thing she remembers is being shot and hearing that Kirk was next. She has never been in the isolation room and with the shades drawn doesn't realize she is back on the Enterprise. Her heart rate sky rockets as she begins to panic that the man actually took her and killed Kirk. Kate struggles against the restraints that were in place only to make sure she didn't roll off the bed while in her medical coma. She doesn't know this and her mind races with all the nefarious scenarios that could occur with her in this position. Kate tries to wriggle her arms out of the straps but a flash of pain radiates from where she was shot. She bites her lip and blinks to clear the tears that formed from the flash of pain. She slams her head back on the pillow in frustration causing waves of pain in her head from the concussion.

Dr. Reed hears a beep and picks up a PADD with her vitals displayed on it watching Kirk take the podium. "Shit. It looks like our little Miss Kate is waking up. Contact McCoy," Reed says walking out of the office.

"But the Captain is speaking now," Ensign Carol says watching the live telepresentor.

Dr. Reed may be new but he is not stupid. He stops in the doorway and tells Carol, "if you want to wait that's fine but I'll make sure the Captain and CMO knew you made that call." Reed raises his eyebrows and the Ensign quickly places the comm. He can hear sounds from Kate's room like she is struggling and sees her heart rate climbing unnecessarily fast. He enters the room to see her thrashing wildly. "Kate calm down you're safe here." He says flying to her side realizing she is confused and disoriented.

Kate sees someone approaching and she realizes she has to get free now. She thrashes wildly from side to side hoping to free at least one arm. She digs deep inside trying to access the Force to help her and feels something unleash. Kate can't control the Force but in extreme stress she can access its raw power. The flood of light energy gives her the ability to ignore the pain momentarily as she rips her right arm out from the restrain dislocating her shoulder. Pure adrenaline and the Force are pouring through her caused by her panic. Kate has to get away from the man in a blue shirt. He is yelling something at her but with one arm out the strap has loosened. She pulls her left arm free and as he reaches for her. Kate makes a fist with her left hand and brings it towards his face impacting his nose. She feels hot liquid squirt on her face and sees him backing up. She can't figure out why she can't move her right arm but works frantically at the waist strap with her left taking her eyes momentarily off the blue shirted man.

0930 hours DENEVA TOWN HALL

Kirk is up next and he slowly walks to the podium. "Citizens of the Federation and Klingon Empire, I, my daughter, and the crew of the USS Enterprise thank you for prayers and words of concern. We are deeply touched by the compassion you have shown," Kirk is just beginning his speech when Bones covers the microphone and whispers something in his ear. The look of shock on his face is caught by everyone in the audience and on GCN telepresentors everywhere. "Ladies and Gentlemen I have just been informed that my daughter has woken up from her coma. Please excuse me. Thank you." Kirk says amidst gasps and clapping at the perceived happy news by the audience. Kirk is cursing the fact that he is here and not at Kate's bedside. The media frenzy begins trying to ask just one more question as Kirk and Bones leave the podium. "Beam us up Scotty." Kirk orders and he and Bones are on the Enterprise five seconds later.