Chapter Twenty-One

Jim trailed after Uhura to the fifth shoe store they'd tried on Post Street. Her arms were laden with bags containing everything from make-up to jeweled hair pins and a very expensive dress was hung over her shoulder. Uhura's sister, Kaidi, had been a welcome relief from the tedious nature of shopping. She was shorter than her sister and was the complete opposite in everything.

Kaidi was an actress, much to her parents' displeasure. She had the same mocha skin as Uhura but her hair was down in loose waves, her face was rounder and instead of brown eyes, she had the most unusual vivid shade of green Jim had ever seen. She was a warm and friendly woman with a free spirit that easily surpassed Jim's. Her acting troupe travelled the galaxy performing anywhere and everywhere.

"So, our last show is tonight and then we head to Vulcan. The Ambassador believes that it'd be good for the vulcans to see some of Earth's classic literature portrayed." Kaidi told Jim enthusiastically.

Jim shuddered slightly. She couldn't imagine trying to get a reaction out of a group of vulcans. It would probably be pretty creepy having them analyze you and humans in general, while putting on a play showing the human emotions of love and anger and everything in between.

"I don't know. I think it'd be weird." She replied. Kaidi rolled her eyes but they narrowed as she looked closer at Jim before her expression turned to one of excitement, pointing at Jim like she was a messiah.

"Do you have any acting experience? Only, the manager's daughter, Lenore, is not going to make it to the vulcan showing and her understudy doesn't look the part. You'd make a perfect Juliet!"

Jim laughed and shook her head. "Maybe if my career in Starfleet falls flat I'll consider it." Jim and Kaidi followed Uhura into the shop where she was ogling a pair of bright yellow heels with silver trim. Jim scowled at them with the knowledge that she'd break her neck if she tried walking with those.

Turning back to Kaidi, she started up their game of Jim's trying to guess her sister's name. Jim knew what it was and had for months. After all, hacking into the student mainframe had been child's play but she respected the woman and wanted to let her choose when to divulge that information. It made for entertaining fun with some of the more ridiculous guesses Jim tried with Kaidi. Uhura laughed along but Jim could see that there was something bothering the woman.

"Theresa? Mary? Angel?" Jim tried with a smile.

Uhura turned with an exasperated look and shook her head while Jim grinned. Uhura plucked the bright yellow shoes off the stand and after checking the size handed them to Kirk.

"Here. Try these." She said and Jim looked at the stilettos with a grimace.

"I don't suppose the name of a saint is appropriate considering you're forcing me into wearing instruments of torture. Maybe Damien?"

Kaidi's giggle helped Jim through the trying experience of shoe shopping.

Kaidi had had to leave while Jim was finishing her transaction. So while Uhura was saying goodbye, Jim paid for her own silver strappy heels and ordered the pair of yellow peep toe pumps that Uhura's eyes had been straying to the entire time they were in the store. The price made Jim's eyebrows shoot up in surprise but she figured that it was worth it. All the times that the woman had watched Ella and had been her confidant was worth a few hundred credits. She set it up for them to be delivered to her dorm tomorrow and took her own purchase before leaving the store.

The whole ride back to campus Jim's companion was biting her lip and seemed ready to burst with whatever she was holding back. Once inside, Uhura started.

"You've not been talking to me." Uhura had her hands on her hips. Jim shrugged off her jacket and put down the bags, mindful of the dress that her friend had picked.

Jim snapped her fingers and pointed. "Belinda?" At Uhura's glare, Jim tapped her chin. "Bertha?"

Uhura gave a frustrated growl. "Stop deflecting Kirk!"

"Sorry, Beatrice?" Jim tried but Uhura's eyes flashed and her black nails looked a little more like talons than fingers as she pointed at Kirk and pursed her lips so Jim decided to give in.

"I've been busy." She mumbled and looked down. Hands gripped her shoulders and Jim looked up to see concerned, dark brown eyes staring into her own.

"You've been avoiding people since whatever happened in the shuttle lab and I know it was bad. I don't know what happened but I do know it was bad. You also didn't seemed particularly overjoyed when your mom was in town. You've also slowed things with McCoy to a snail's pace. Tonight's the first time things are moving forward and you wouldn't have even said anything if McCoy hadn't have set up our shopping trip! What is going on?" Uhura's nails dug in and she gave a little shake as she finished her tirade.

Jim shook her off, irritation welling in her chest.

"Oh. Like you talk to me?" She scoffed. Jim's hands balled into fists and her face started to get hot. "It's a two-way street and some things are private!"

"Not when it involves security banging on my dorm room door in the middle of the night terrifying Ella, who we were watching, and then we find out you're at Starfleet Medical!" She snapped back.

Jim deflated under the verbal assault and sank onto the couch, putting her head into her hands.

"I didn't realize." Her voice was muffled but she knew she had been heard when she felt the other woman slide next to her and put a warm hand on her back.

"What happened that night?"

Jim took a steadying breath and told Uhura everything. The times Finnegan harassed her in class, the unwanted touches, the leers directed at her and finally...the attack and subsequent lack of punishment on his end. By the time she was finished Uhura had covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide and shining with horrified tears.

"He didn't..?" She asked quietly and Jim shook her head.

"Almost but Bones came in and interrupted." She said solemnly and Uhura grabbed Jim and pulled her into a crushing embrace, ignoring her surprised squeak.

"You could have told us. You didn't and don't have to deal with this alone!" Uhura scolded into Jim's shoulder. Jim wasn't one for hugging and she tried to pull away only to have Uhura's grip tighten like steel bands.

"It was nothing. I'm fine!" She insisted and Uhura squeezed tighter.

"Fine. Fine! If I talk will you let me breathe?"

Uhura gave one final squeeze in warning before letting go. Jim felt grateful for her support and she felt a lump in her throat when Uhura sat back, still holding onto her hand with an expectant look.

"It wasn't nothing, Jim. It was something horrible and I want you to get it through your head that there are people that care about you." Uhura insisted and Jim had to blink rapidly because her eyes were burning with tears. She nodded her head and smiled.

"Yeah. I know." Her voice was rough with emotion.

Uhura nodded and smiled, satisfied. "Now, let's make you beautiful for your first official real date and tomorrow, you're going to tell me everything." Uhura smiled and reached into her oversized purse and pulled out curling tongs and Jim almost wished she had been born male with the though of what Uhura was planning to do with those.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

McCoy growled as he tried a third time to tie the black bow tie. He'd dropped Ella off at Gaila and Uhura's dorm, ordered the taxi and had gotten his tuxedo resized. Since he'd been at the academy, his muscles had become more defined and his shoulders had broadened. He finally got it tied as his door chimed.

Frowning, he grabbed his overcoat and pressed the release on the door and what he saw took his breath away. Jim was standing in the doorway wearing a long, dark blue dress with thin straps. The bodice hugged her and showed every curve. It was was decorated with diamond and sapphires covering the upper half, ending at her hips and the gown flowed to the floor where she was wearing silver strap heels. Looking back up, he saw that her hair had been curled and was artistically pinned up with an array of jeweled clips that sparkled in the light.

Jim was smiling nervously and twisting her wrap and McCoy was speechless. She looked beautiful.

"Uh...everything alright, Bones?" She asked and McCoy had to shake himself.

"Uh..." He cleared his throat and offered his arm. "Yeah. You look..."

"Ridiculous."

"Beautiful." They said at the same time and Jim's cheeks flushed at his compliment. She took the offered arm and McCoy could feel how tense her body was and it surprised him. Normally Jim was the embodiment of confidence and considering they had known each other for months, it was weird.

"Thanks." Jim smiled and looked him over. "You look really handsome yourself."

"You ok? You seem nervous."

Jim shrugged and they walked to the campus gates where their taxi was waiting. Jim glided smoothly into the back seat of the car. She was quiet the entire ride and he quickly pulled up to the Bentley Reserve on Battery Street in the financial district.

It was a very old building, large columns on the outside with lights set in the ground accenting it's stonework. McCoy could see some of his colleagues from work walking in with, what he assumed was, their wives or husbands. He started to feel nervous himself. He hadn't been to one of these things in years. The last time he'd gone it had been with Jocelyn who had loved the attention at being a doctor's wife. McCoy could tell Jim wasn't comfortable. She was definitely not in her element.

They walked up the steps and into the atrium. It had a high ceiling that was decorated with delicately carved wood trimming. A sign pointed them to an adjacent room for the benefit and Jim carefully walked, holding onto his arm.

The room was extravagant. There were numerous tables that were lit with candles, chandeliers hung from the ceiling and a band was playing classical music off to one side. A few couples were already on the dance floor and waiters were navigating effortlessly through the crowd, trays of champagne carefully balanced.

"Ah! Dr. McCoy!"

Leonard turned to see Kapil Puri striding forward with a large smile. His wife was trailing behind him wearing an elegant pink and gold sari denoting their Indian heritage.

Puri put out a hand and McCoy shook it. They hadn't met before but McCoy knew who he was by reputation alone. He was an amazing neurosurgeon and McCoy was excited to meet him to discuss his research into neural grafting that he had been working on when he was at Atlanta General.

"It's good to finally meet you, sir." He managed. Puri motioned to his wife who bowed.

"This is my wife, Neela. Neela, this is Dr. Leonard McCoy. He pioneered the neural grafting research and is currently a cadet at the academy. He's destined for great things."

Puri's voice was loud and he sounded very proud. McCoy felt flustered under the attention and greeted Mrs. Puri quietly.

"And this must be the lovely Mrs. McCoy?" Puri took Jim's hand and pressed a kiss to it. Jim looked at him, clearly unsure how to respond but she quickly reined in her panic pasting on a nervous smile.

"James Kirk, sir. Nice to meet you. "

Puri recovered quickly. "I heard that you tow have quite a beautiful daughter. She just turned one?"

Jim's smile brightened at the mention of their daughter.

"Yes. She's a cutie. She took after her father." Jim answered and Puri chortled.

"You don't mind if I steal your date for a moment?"

It wasn't really a question so Jim smiled as McCoy was led away. Neela Puri pulled Jim away and McCoy stifled a glower as Puri launched into his questions about McCoy's long abandoned research.

It was a good hour before he was able to escape. Puri was very interested in him and was talking about his plans for McCoy once he graduated suggesting the Enterprise as his posting. It was a much coveted position and normally McCoy would have jumped at the chance but the Enterprise wasn't a generational ship. He didn't want to be separated from Ella and Jim even if it meant his career would be put on a slight hold.

He saw Jim sat at one of the tables and groaned. A very recognizable Denobulan doctor was sat next to her, PADD out, talking animatedly to her. Jim's features were constantly shifting from uncomfortable to outright amused to embarrassed. Dr. Phlox had that effect on people with his matter of fact statements. He slowed his approach and listened carefully.

"And so, during our first contact with the Vissians, we discovered that in order to procreate, they required the use of a third party. A cogenitor was what they were called."

Jim frowned in confusion. "Uh..."

Phlox smiled. "It's perfectly understandable to be curious. It's a healthy human response. Now, the cogenitor releases an enzyme and..." Phlox pulled up a document that made Jim's eyes widen and her face flush beet red.

"I'm good. I..."

"Nonsense! After all, learning about new species includes every aspect of their life. The body is an amazing thing. Take my osmotic eels. They release a chemical that can heal the body more naturally and just as effective as a dermal regenerator. If you'll look here..."

Jim's color rapidly changed from red to green faster than a traffic light and McCoy decided to step in.

"Doctor Phlox. I see you've met my date for the evening."

Jim smiled in relief while Phlox's grin widened to historic proportions.

"Ah yes, I noticed Miss Kirk seemed a bit nervous around so many people and I decided to keep her company."

He patted her hand and Jim flushed red, probably remembering their earlier conversation. McCoy knew how open Phlox was with information. He was one of McCoy's instructors at the academy. To say his classes were intriguing was a gross understatement.

Jim turned to Phlox. "So, how long have you been working with Starfleet?"

Phlox thought for a moment. "About a hundred and two years. I first served on the Enterprise NX class under captain Archer. I was in the Interspecies Medical Exchange program and I stayed on after."

Jim's eyebrows shot up in surprise. McCoy wasn't surprised. Though Phlox was a legend in the medical community, those in command focused on the command teams.

"So you were around when the federation was born and for the firsts of everything!" Jim perked up and an excited look crossed her face. Just as Phlox was about to talk, waiters appeared with their food and McCoy shuffled to sit next to Jim.

Most of the doctor's stories he had already heard but Jim was listening with rapt attention. Eventually, McCoy noticed that they had drawn quite a crowd of people who were also listening in on Phlox's lecture.

The conversation was quickly turned to Jim who evasively tried to steer it away from herself.

"Dr. McCoy is one of my best pupils. Although, his methods are more traditional than mine but no less effective."

Jim turned to McCoy and smirked. "I knew you were a sadist with those hypos!"

McCoy rolled his eyes. "Only with you. You're a special case."

Jim smiled. "I'm always special." She joked.

Phlox chuckled at their banter and everyone quieted as the lights dimmed for the speeches by various heads of departments and philanthropists asking for donations. The theme was raising funds for other worlds affected by preventable diseases. So many people and children were suffering by something that was as easy to treat as a hangnail by simply administering a hypo. Simple vaccines. Research was also on the agenda and as the collection tablet went around, Jim swiped her chip to add to the growing funds. Before her inheritance, she never would have been able to do this but she'd be damned if a child died because she did nothing.

As the lights brightened, McCoy was, yet again, stolen away from her. This date was rapidly going downhill. It seemed like she was regarded as nothing other than a piece of arm candy.

"First date?" Phlox leaned near her and Jim nodded, frown marring her features. She could see McCoy was getting irritated as well but, considering he was dealing with his superiors, there wasn't anything he could do.

"Technically, it's a first official date. We've been together in the past." Jim grit out as McCoy was being manhandled by an andorian woman onto the dance floor.

"Ah yes. I heard about little Ella Kirk. I bet that was quite a surprise for him."

Jim snorted, her eyes watching the andorian female's hands drift lower. "You could say that."

Phlox and Jim were both watching McCoy struggling to disentangle himself with limited success. Phlox leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his features as he regarded Kirk.

"I was reading an interesting article by a Thomas Leighton, co-authored by a J. Kirk. It was regarding an interesting proposal on genetically modifying alien grains to withstand fungal infections and resistance to pests built in to their genetic codes."

Jim stiffened but nodded. "Really?"

"There was also a patent for an earth grain that had been successfully modified. Quadrotriticale. The name of the creator was well hidden to the point of only initials. A J.T.K."

Jim kept her voice neutral. "Fascinating."

Phlox smiled at Jim. "I would think that someone who could create something so amazing and continue to do that work in secret should be able to rectify this situation tactfully."

He nodded towards McCoy who was now being manhandled by a betazoid. He shot a desperate look at Jim before he was spun away.

Jim laughed and shook her head. "You're a sneaky Denobulan, you know that?" Phlox smiled widely.

"And way too smart." Jim added before standing.

She turned and shook his hand. "Thank you."

Jim strode across the dance floor confidently and the betazoid woman, upon seeing Jim, quickly stepped away to let her cut in.

A slow song started and McCoy's arms wrapped around Jim, encircling her waist in his warmth and she sighed, resting her cheek on his shoulder. She could feel his tension melting away as they swayed.

"Traditionally, it's the guy who asks the girl to dance." Jim whispered.

McCoy grunted. "Like I could say no to my superiors."

Jim laughed and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I have a better idea to keep you to myself. Let's go."

McCoy raised an eyebrow suspiciously but allowed Jim to drag him out of the room. She threw a quick wave to Phlox who raised his drink with a smile and soon they piled into a waiting cab to take them back to the academy.

McCoy's curiosity peaked when Jim didn't lead them back to their dorms but instead to the astrometrics lab. He saw her press a few commands into the computer before the door opened and she stepped through, beckoning McCoy to follow and what he saw was amazing and beautiful. Soft music played and it seemed that Jim was standing in nothing but starlight. Galaxies and nebulas swirled around her, highlighting the jewels in her hair and her blue eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement. It was like the universe was there just for them.

He stepped forward and took her outstretched hand and twirled her to the gentle music, reveling in her smile of pure joy. The stars sparkled around them, seeming to dance with them. It was perfect.

He looked into her eyes and could see the stars reflected in the bright blue. She was so beautiful. His hand moved up her back to tangle in her hair and he pressed a gentle kiss to her. Her lips were so soft and opened to him to let him push his tongue in, twining with hers. Her hips swayed with the music but it was more of a shuffle as they explored each other. Her hands untucked his shirt and fluttered along his sides as he pulled her closer.

A sudden beeping caused them to spring apart, red-faced and panting in excitement. Jim grabbed his hand and pulled him out the back way, laughing, as the main door opened to reveal security. They were long gone before they were spotted.

Jim dragged him across the campus and finally up to his dorm. His skin felt overheated and he knew that he loved this woman. This crazy, intelligent, daring and mischievous woman. His hands were clumsy as he pressed in his entrance code and they fell through the door, kissing and fumbling with their clothes. Jim, pulling off his shirt while he slowly slid the zipper on the back of her dress down.

The feel of her soft skin sent his blood rushing south and Jim smirked as she wiggled out of the gown. McCoy's mouth went dry and Jim trailed kisses along his jaw and neck, moving lower as she deftly unhooked his belt.

Jim looked up at him with a smirk and he pulled her up, kissing and pressing her back towards the bed. This time, it wasn't going to be her driving him mad. He was going to show her exactly how much he loved her and it was going to take a long time. Perhaps the rest of their lives if she'd let him.

AN: ok, I decided to let the readers imaginations fill in the blanks. This is the end of the first part and I hope I did it justice. The next installment will hopefully be up soon. Reviews and ideas are always appreciated and will make me want to write faster so please review! Please? I live off of reviews! The next installment will be the third year encompassing some of the school year and the movie. If you want to find out sooner rather than searching, please click the follow author button. :) I love you all! Thank you for your support!

Tishbing