Authors Note:

Just a little update before I round things up nicely! I hope its ok. Its quite a sweet little chapter in my opinion! We are almost at the end!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jim stared at the video link with his jaw dropped, he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "You must be Penny's great, great, great… well granddaughter. I can't believe how much you look like her."

Abigail smiled at him. "She had good genes and yes, it's a lot of greats!" She almost laughed. "You met her back in the late 1950s. It was you that encouraged her battle for female working rights. She's a hero."

"She was a hero. She saved me." Jim smiled back at her, he still couldn't believe she had found him.

"Not according to her." Abigail said seriously.

Jim looked confused, how could she possibly disagree with her? He was there after all. "What did she tell you exactly?"

"She told us how you inspired her to fight for equal treatment of women in the workplace. You taught her to never give up her fight. When she cared for you, her male colleagues mistreated her, they assumed she would… fall for you, sir." Abigail grew slightly awkward speaking to her senior officer like that, but she couldn't think of another way to tell her story. "Penny continued to treat and care for you, despite the awful way the other doctors treated you. She grew fond of you, but not in the way the others assumed. She believed you were a part of something special. Turns out she was right."

"I inspired her to do all that? I don't see how, I was lost myself. I had no idea who I was or where I came from." Jim explained, dipping his head.

"She could see the determination to remember in your eyes. Every time she was around you, she felt an indescribable feeling, it made her want to do better. She became extremely determined to find your home. Luckily your home found you first." Abigail continued to explain.

Jim squinted as small flash backs of his final goodbye to Penny flicked into his mind. "I remember… Spock, didn't he make her forget?"

"No. He helped ease her pain. He showed her the hope of future and how important her staying in her own time was." Abigail continued to explain.

"And she explained this to generation after generation of her family?" Jim listened to her carefully, but still wasn't sure how it all made sense.

"She wrote a book, to be passed down generation to generation. That way the words and story would always be the same. She was incredibly determined to reach you again somehow." Abigail spoke with such beauty. Just like her grandmother.

Jim didn't know what to say, he couldn't stop smiling. "I'd like to see it one day."

"Next time you're on Earth I'd happily show it to you, I'm sure Penny would have liked that." Abigail smiled back at him. "I'm also sure she would be pleased to see you smiling."

Jim continued to smile, remembering there wasn't really much of a chance to smile when he was stuck in the hospital. It felt good, it was the happiest he had felt in a long time. "Thank you."

"No, Thank You, Jim. Your positive influence changed the world. Don't worry – I can see what incredible progress you're making. I'm going to make sure you get back onto your ship. The world and beyond needs you to continue making positive changes."

"I don't know what to say…" Jim said, feeling his happiness overwhelm him.

"You don't have to say anything. Just keep up the good work and you'll be back to your ship soon." Abigail finished, she gave him a quick wink before closing the video comm. down.

"We welcome back Captain James T Kirk, Admiral Christopher Pike, Doctor Leonard McCoy and myself, Admiral Johnathan Archer to continue our meeting. Unfortunately due to some interference we are unable to continue the video link with Admiral Forrest and Doctor Harrison. However, his views on Admiral Pike's findings and a report on Jim's mental state of mind have been transferred over."

"Typical" McCoy muttered under his breath.

"Gentlemen, I won't beat around the bush with the news I have received." Archer spoke seriously. Causing the tension in the room to rise. McCoy noticed Jim's hands shaking in his lap under the table. He wanted nothing more than to still them for him, although he was sure Jim would prefer it if he pretended not to notice.

"First of all, congratulations Christopher. Your hard work and effort was a success and Dr Digby has added a new charge to her list by sabotaging medical equipment to cause serious bodily harm. Doctor McCoy, the doctors at Starfleet General are requesting Jim's medical notes on everything happened during and after his treatment. It will help build a stronger case against her for a hearing to take place."

"It will be a pleasure." McCoy grinned as he exchanged looks with Pike.

Jim was silent, although Abigail had said she would give him a positive review, he still couldn't help but feel nervous. Especially as the Admirals at Starfleet wanted him back on Earth. He squeezed his hands together in an attempt to still them.

"Captain Kirk." Admiral Archer said, taking a deep breath. "Jim…" he said.

Both McCoy and Pike sat on the edge of their seats and the fact Archer was teasing them like this just irritated them both.

"Your orders are to return back to Enterprise. They aren't taking you away from her." Archer smiled as he felt the tension lift.

Both McCoy and Pike rose to their feet and embraced each other in a man hug, before swiftly pulling apart and shaking hands with a slight awkwardness.

Jim laughed at the pair. "Thank you so much, Admiral. I don't know what to say."

"You do have to finish your exercise routine until you are back on your feet, however Commander Spock is 'happy' to remain in command until you are signed fit for duty… did I really just say a Vulcan would be happy?" Archer almost laughed at himself.

"Speaking of Commander Spock, I am surprised he wasn't involved in this meeting to start. Wasn't he evidence for Jim against Digby?" Pike asked, looking around the room.

"Spock had to return to Enterprise last night. He found the Star base environmental settings… uncomfortable." Archer explained. "He has given a formal report on his experience on Doctor Digby."

"It was too cold for him." McCoy smirked.

"Captain, Doctor, you are welcome to stay on the star base for the next few days. In fact, I welcome it. However it would be wise for you to return to your ship soon after. We are expecting a medical emergency in roughly 7 days, roughly 24 were injured. We will need time to prepare the med bay." Archer explained, cutting the celebrations short.

"I'd feel more at home on my own ship, sir." Jim said, squeezing his hands together as they finally stopped shaking.

"Jim, we want you at your best before you meet the crew again. It'll be best to stay here the next few days and then we can return. However you're staying right in my sickbay where I can keep an eye on you." McCoy said, squeezing his shoulder.

"Fine. As long as I get to see the crew first." Jim said crossing his arms.

"You are all dismissed. Well done everyone, looks like everything is as it should be." Archer said, rising to his feet.