December

Vulcan Embassy – San Francisco

"Identification, please," Sonak, who had come to America replace the sentries who had been murdered, said as Captain Pike and Jim came to the gate. "I trust you parked appropriately?"

Both Jim and Captain Pike remained silent as Sonak checked their identification and allowed them on to the grounds after unlocking the gate, "Just remember, Jim, Spock just barely got out of the hospital and might not be up to long conversations," Captain Pike said in a quiet voice.

Jim nodded and stood on the porch in silence while Captain Pike knocked on the door, having been previously instructed not to use the bell because Spock might be sleeping. The door quickly opened and Stonn bowed at seeing Captain Pike and Jim, "Come in," Stonn said calmly.

Christmas decorations adorned the many walls and Jim found himself enamored by them as he followed Stonn and Captain Pike into the Embassy and into the residential suite. Sarek was silently working at a computer terminal in the corner of the room and rose when he saw Captain Pike and Jim there, "I will inform Spock of your arrival," Sarek stated. "Please sit."

"I haven't been to see Spock at all and I feel bad," Jim said softly. "I've just been busy."

Captain Pike sighed, "A lot of people haven't had the time, Jim, as the curriculum is very demanding this semester," he replied calmly. "Spock is aware that people care about him."

There was a heavy silence and a door opened and closed, prompting Jim to turn in his seat and be surprised when he saw Leonard guiding Spock. Spock's hair had been freshly washed and he was wearing a healing robe over his sweatpants and shirt along with a pair of slippers. His face was pale and one hand was sporting an IV while the other sat encased in a blue cast, "I assure you, Doctor, I am well enough for a conversation," Spock spoke in a quiet voice. "Help me sit."

Leonard scowled, but helped Spock sit in a chair facing the couch, "Ambassador, Spock's taken his medicine and I'm done here for the day," he said calmly. "Thanks for inviting me."

"I shall arrange for your transportation back to the Academy," Sarek replied as he rose and followed Leonard out of the suite to allow Spock privacy with his current visitors.

Spock sighed heavily, "Doctor McCoy is very kind to travel to the Embassy every day and personally administer the treatment for Toriadol he invented," he spoke quietly.

"Bones invented a treatment for Toriadol?" Jim asked, surprised. "I knew he was smart…"

Captain Pike sighed, "Spock, your two recent essay projects for your degree were absolutely amazing," he said calmly, quickly shifting the topic. "They are worthy of being published."

"If the Academy wishes to publish those papers for the benefit of mankind, you have my permission to do so on my behalf," Spock replied softly. "A very wise individual once told me that personal experience shared works to benefit humanity far better than diplomacy."

Captain Pike nodded, "How are you feeling, Spock?" Jim asked softly. "You're missed."

Spock nodded slowly, "I am aware that my absence is provoking emotions from both staff and students, as I have received approximately 100 emails per day from students and staff inquiring about my health since the incident was shared by the media," he replied quietly. "I am doing my best to produce responses to all the emails, but I find myself fatigued simply reading them."

"Do you want me to tell people to back off a little, Spock?" Jim asked softly. "So you can rest?"

Spock was silent for a moment, "I would appreciate it," he finally said quietly. "I have taken the liberty of establishing a Facebook page for myself and so the well-wishes are free to direct their comments and inquiries there. I do not have the energy to reply to every single email."

"Can I ask how you are?" Jim asked softly, noting that Spock was good at avoiding questions.

Spock sighed, "Physically, I am quite a bit stronger than I was two weeks ago, but I am still in need of recovery time because my injuries were quite serious," he replied tonelessly. "I am on medications to offset pain and to also stabilize my blood sugar. I also take daily treatments to flush the Toriadol out of my system. I am at the point where I am able to socialize briefly."

Suddenly, Captain Pike's cell-phone rang and giving Spock an apologetic look, he silently left the suite, "I must thank you for coming after me, Jim," Spock spoke quietly. "Had you not and simply allowed the authorities to respond, Sybok would have succeeded in overwhelming my body with Toriadol to the point where I would cease breathing. I appreciate you very much."

"You're welcome, Spock," Jim replied calmly, frowning as Spock yawned. "Are you okay?"

Spock sighed, "I am fatigued," he replied softly. "I apologize that I am not good company."

"It's all right, Spock, you've been through a lot," Jim said quietly. "Do you want me to help you back to bed? I don't know where Captain Pike or Bones went, so I have some time."

Spock nodded and so Jim stood, taking great care when he helped Spock stand up. They slowly made their way over to Spock's open bedroom and Jim noticed that soft Vulcan music was playing on a CD player and Spock's bed was made, ready for him to use immediately.

"Easy," Jim said calmly as he helped Spock lie down. "Would you like me to tuck you in?"

Spock sighed and nodded, so Jim gently covered him up, "Thank you, Jim," Spock said softly.

"I might come visit again after finals are over, okay?" Jim said in a kind, quiet voice.

Spock was already asleep, so Jim quietly left the room and the embassy suite, surprised to find Captain Pike, Leonard, and Ambassador Sarek gathered in the foyer, "Spock got tired, so I helped him back to bed," Jim explained quietly, seeing Captain Pike's frown. "What?"

"I need to talk to you on the ride back to the Academy, Jim," Captain Pike replied softly.

"Why are you so upset?" Jim asked as the station wagon stopped at a stoplight halfway between the Vulcan Embassy and the Academy. "I've never seen you so somber."

Captain Pike sighed, "The Academy got a call from Iowa State Penitentiary and your stepfather somehow got permission to try and talk to you," he said quietly. "Security relayed the call to Dean Archer, but they were watching on a separate channel. Frank wants you to visit him."

Leonard scowled and Jim paled, but neither said anything, "You have every right to refuse and you don't even have to talk to Frank over the phone," Captain Pike said in a worried voice as the light changed and the car moved forward. "I know you didn't want to hear this news so close to final exams, but I know I don't have the right to keep the information from you."

"Does Sam know?" Jim asked softly, his anxiety rising. "What…what does he have to say?"

Leonard frowned and gently put a hand on Jim's shoulder from the backseat, "Jim, calm down," he said calmly, knowing that Frank was a sensitive topic. "Take some time to think about it."

"Frank's been writing me since January," Jim replied softly. "What does he want?"

There was a heavy silence and Jim sighed, "Maybe if I see him, he'll finally leave me alone," he said in a quiet voice. "I guess I need to go see him if only to ask him to leave me alone."

"You can go see him, but not by yourself," Captain Pike said calmly. "With a chaperone."

Jim scoffed, "I'm not disrupting anyone's Christmas with this," he snapped. "I'm fine."

"I can go," Leonard cut in calmly, earning a look from Jim. "Don't even argue."

Unable to think of a good reply, Jim sighed and looked out the window in silence.

Riverside, Iowa

The next two weeks were filled with finals and other things that kept Jim so busy he didn't have time to think about the visit. It came quickly, however, and Jim had finally allowed Leonard to go with him because he knew he needed emotional support and Leonard was good at that.

What Jim didn't count on, however, was showing up to the airport and finding that Captain Pike had decided to also come along as protection. Jim had quietly tried to protest, saying that he must have his own plans that shouldn't be disrupted. Captain Pike had gently responded by saying that his plans were closer to Christmas and it was fine. Leonard had likewise arranged for other medics from the Academy to go and give Spock his daily treatments and checkups.

Jim had spent the plane ride from San Francisco to Iowa resting and writing in a therapy journal Dr. Piper had given him during their mandatory pre-visit counseling session. After getting off the plane, they had checked into a Comfort Inn in the newer section of town and Jim suddenly felt very hesitant to go despite having arranged a visit with the prison for the next day.

The diner in the older area of town is where they eventually ended up, "James!" Rodney, who had taken complete ownership of the diner in the last year, said in a warm voice as Jim, Leonard, and Captain Pike entered to eat. "James Kirk, I'm so happy to see you healthy."

"How's it going, Rodney?" Jim asked quietly as he moved to the counter. "Still here, huh?"

Rodney smiled, "I own the place outright now," he replied calmly. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, Frank asked me to visit him in prison," Jim replied softly. "I go out there tomorrow."

Rodney sighed sadly and nodded, choosing not to say anything, "Hey, James, sit there a moment, I've got something for you," he said as he hurried into the back room.

Jim frowned as Rodney returned bearing an envelope, "This is something I got because I knew your mother," Rodney explained calmly. "She left you the Kirk farmhouse deed and a key."

Frowning, Jim took the items, unable to formulate a reply, "We can go there tomorrow if you want to look at it," Captain Pike broke in gently, taking the envelope from Jim. "Eat supper."

"I've got a nice new burger on the menu," Rodney said calmly. "Let me make it for you and your friends along with some of those onion rings I know you've liked in the past."

Jim nodded and Rodney wandered into the kitchen, "I'm going outside to throw up," Jim said, his voice shaking as he got up and left the diner with a shaky stagger in his step.

Retching sounds filled the diner and Captain Pike sighed, tucking the envelope in his travel bag, "Maybe this wasn't a good idea," Leonard said worriedly. "You could have told Jim no."

"Jim's stubborn and if he's going to do this, I'd rather be able to be there," Captain Pike replied.

Leonard nodded and watched as Jim came back into the diner and settled himself in a booth close to the jukebox. He drummed his fingers on the table and silently stared outside.

Iowa State Penitentiary

"You're clear," a grim-faced guard told Jim as he finished searching him. "Follow me."

Jim sighed and felt Captain Pike and Leonard join him as they walked through the bleak hallways of the prison, all three of them declared clear at the searches. There was the odd Christmas decoration on the walls, but the prison looked bleak and lifeless.

"Since it's the holidays, we're allowing open visiting in the pods," the guard said in a calm voice as he unlocked a door and led them inside. "Prisoner Warner, your visitor is here!"

There was a silence and then a stern looking man with a crew cut of gray hair adorned in a blue jumpsuit came over to a table and sat, eyeing Jim and his companions quietly. Swallowing hard, Jim silently walked over to the table and sat on the other side, as did Leonard while Captain Pike silently lingered near the guard, not trusting Frank or his innocent request to see Jim.

"Jimmy," Frank said quietly. "I'm pleased that you agreed to come and visit me."

Jim nodded, but didn't reply because he didn't know what to say or what Frank's game was because it had always been a game with him. Suddenly, there was a loud commotion in the back of the large pod and the guard moved off to check what was going on back there.

"I guess I should go," Jim said as he slowly got up. "Um…I'm not sure what to say…!"

Frank suddenly lunged at Jim, pinning him against the wall with a fist against his throat while he extracted a shank from his pocket, "Try and fight me, Jimmy, and I'll cut your throat," he hissed, keeping Jim in a headlock as he turned and pressed the tip of the blade against Jim's neck.

"Jim!" Leonard said as he stood up, frowning when Frank pressed the tip harder. "Stop!"

Captain Pike swore and bolted for the phone, angry that the guards were so few and incompetent that this was happening, "Let me have fun with you again, Jimmy," Frank breathed into his ear as Jim felt a nibble on his neck. "Your mother had fun with you as a kid and I had fun with you when you were in Tarsus under my command, but it's been oh so very long…"

Leonard paled and Jim tensed, whimpering as he felt teeth sink into his neck and suddenly felt blood running down his arm as the knifetip caressed the sleeve of his sweater, "PRISONER WARNER!" a loud voice boomed through the pod. "STAND DOWN IMMEDIATELY!"

The cocking of guns echoed through the pod and a CRACK echoed through the air as Jim suddenly felt his hand being slammed into the cinderblock wall before Frank threw him to the floor and stood over him, grinning as he sliced through the lower part of Jim's sweater with the shank, smirking as the sweater became stained with blood. Leonard scowled, but a guard stepped in front of him before he could react, "Let us handle it," the guard spoke quietly.

Frank cackled and stabbed Jim in the shoulder, prompting Captain Pike to lose all control and lunge at Frank, sending them both across the room in a heap. Frank swore and punched Captain Pike in the face, but Captain Pike wrestled the shank away and threw it across the floor.

Leonard shoved the guard aside and hurried over to Jim, who was breathing heavily, bleeding all over the place, and on the verge of going into shock, "Get off your donut eating rumps and get EMS in here NOW!" he yelled in an anxious voice. "Jim, listen to me, I'm just going to…"

A gunshot suddenly went off and Jim promptly passed out cold. Leonard turned to see that Frank was lying dead on the floor with a gunshot wound in his head and blood and brain mass all over the floor. Captain Pike was standing nearby with a hand pinching his bloody nose.

Swearing anxiously, Leonard turned his attention back to Jim and tried to stabilize him.

Riverside Airstrip

"…He doesn't look cleared to fly, sir. With all due respect."

"My mom owns the plane and I'm a doctor, so I say he's cleared for an hour flight to Georgia!"

Jim cringed at the sound of the yelling, overly exhausted from blood loss, medication, and from the whole interaction with Frank. He had woken in a clinic to the news that he had been subjected to moderately serious injuries and the news that Frank had been shot point blank in the head by prison guards after being tackled by an infuriated Captain Pike.

Jim knew that he had suffered a serious stab wound to the shoulder, a broken hand and dislocated wrist, cuts to his abdomen and arms that had required several stitches each, and bite wounds on his ear and neck that required cleaning, stitches, and bandaging. His face had also been cut, but minor bandaging had fixed those. After being given a complete physical, Jim had demanded to be released and taken back to the hotel. He had been given heavy medications and put in the back of Captain Pike's rental car, quickly falling asleep as the car was in motion.

As Jim woke, however, he realized that they were at an airstrip and that Captain Pike was standing by the open door while Leonard and a pilot argued beside a large plane. The plane on the airstrip was small and white with Helpline emblazoned across it in a red, white, and blue elaborate lettering style, "What's that?" he asked in a groggy voice. "A plane home?"

"No," Captain Pike replied calmly. "Let me help you out of the car and over there, okay?"

Jim groaned, but allowed himself to be helped out of the car and escorted over to the plane, "The plane is ready for you, sirs," the pilot said, plastering a smile on his face. "Is there any…?"

Leonard sighed and hurried over to the rental car, quickly grabbing his backpack, Jim's duffel, and Captain Pike's rolling suitcase from the back before closing the trunk. He hurried on to the plane and saw that Captain Pike had settled Jim in a seat and was gently strapping him in.

"I didn't think your mom was wealthy enough to own a plane, McCoy, but I take it that her humanitarian business is rather successful?" Captain Pike asked as he took a seat near Jim.

Nodding, Leonard set the luggage near a wall and sat down in his own seat, pointedly ignoring the pilot as he boarded, pulled the door shut, and swept off into the cockpit, "She only uses it for humanitarian deliveries, Red Cross things, and emergencies," he replied quietly.

"The media is having a field day over this," Captain Pike said. "This was a good idea."

Scowling, Leonard listened to the propellers start up, grateful that they had an escape.

McCoy Homestead - Georgia

"…Are you out of your mind? I want to know why Jim was even in Iowa!" Sam's angry voice filled the house, causing Jim to flinch and slowly come to awareness. "Talk to me right now!"

Jim frowned and looked around, realizing that he was in a bed in the upstairs rooms of the lavish McCoy homestead wearing clean clothes with his left arm in a clean shoulder sling, "You will not shout in my house, Samuel Kirk, and I mean it!" he heard Eleanora suddenly snap.

Dread filled Jim as he realized that news of his disastrous visit to Iowa had reached Sam and now Sam, Leonard, and Eleanora were downstairs arguing about it. Not wanting to be a burden yet again, Jim quietly got out of bed and managed to get down the stairs without making noise.

"…Honestly, I think everyone needs to calm down," Captain Pike spoke in a stern tone.

Trembling anxiously, Jim quickly found a pair of shoes, slipped them on, managed to grab a blanket from the decorative bench using his good arm, and quietly slipped outside. He draped the blanket around his shoulders and began the walk to town, desperate for some peace.

Inside, Sam was leaning against the stove with his arms folded and a scowl on his face, "It suddenly got really cold in here," he said in a grouchy voice. "Is the front door open?"

Captain Pike frowned and Leonard dashed into the foyer, swearing loudly when he saw his running shoes missing, the decorative bench open with a blanket missing, and the front door open with nothing but blackness outside, "Jim's taken off!" Leonard shouted angrily.

Sam frowned and stood up, but Captain Pike scowled, "You will sit down at this kitchen table and we are going to have a very serious talk, Doctor Kirk," Captain Pike snapped angrily.

Sam's eyes widened in shock, but he grudgingly obeyed while Eleanora grabbed a set of car keys and went into the foyer, "Town's only three miles from here," she said anxiously. "Len…"

"Jim shouldn't go drinking with the medication he's on, but he probably will either end up falling in a snowdrift or at the bar where I overdosed," Leonard replied gruffly, taking the keys and quickly getting his coat and boots on. "He must have heard Sam yelling and freaked out."

Nodding, Eleanora steered him towards the door, deeply worried for her second son.

Churchillo Tavern – Atlanta, Georgia

Quiet jazz filled Leonard's ear as he silently entered the dingy dive bar and saw a tender sullenly wiping down the bar, "You lookin' for the banged up blonde?" the tender asked gruffly.

Leonard nodded, having been unable to find Jim from the drive to town from the farm, "He's over there nursing a Coke," the tender replied gruffly. "Looked blitzed when he came in, so I refused to serve him any liquor. He's been drinking Coke for an hour, but he's so out of it."

Jim was silently nursing a glass of Coke in the corner, either oblivious or ignoring Leonard's presence as he approached the table. He had the straw in his mouth and was periodically sipping the carbonated drink while his good arm sat on the table, trembling uncontrollably.

"Hey," Leonard said, gently removing the straw from Jim's mouth. "I think that's enough."

Despite having his glasses on, Jim squinted at Leonard and then belched, "What do you want?" he asked in a slurred voice, inebriated from the combination of caffeine and strong pain medication. "I'm not going there as long as Sam's there and yelling about how I screwed up."

"Pike's madder than I've ever seen him," Leonard replied, taking a seat. "He yelled."

Jim looked surprised, but reached for the Coke with his good hand, scoffing drunkenly when Leonard took it away, "How about some real booze?" he asked in a groggy voice.

"You can't drink with the meds you're on," Leonard replied in a concerned voice.

Jim scoffed, "I nearly got raped today and stabbed a billion zillion times with a dull shank, I should be able to drink whatever I want," he spoke drunkenly as he tried to stand, but failed.

The bartender cleared his throat and scowled at Leonard, clearly wanting Jim gone, "Hey, Jim, why don't we go somewhere and you can rest?" Leonard asked softly. "There's a hotel just down the street and you can rest there til tomorrow without having any stress."

Jim looked at Leonard and his legs gave out when he tried to get up, prompting Leonard to gently haul him to his feet, "Come on," Leonard said gently. "Did he pay for his drinks?"

The bartender scowled and Leonard dropped a hundred dollar bill on the counter as he silently escorted Jim outside, "The world's spinning," Jim suddenly said. "I need…I need to sit down."

Leonard frowned as Jim fell over into a snowbank face down, "Jim!" he shouted as he hurried over to where his friend lay, frowning when he felt Jim's forehead and realized it was warm.

Jim didn't respond and so Leonard quickly rolled him on his back and pulled out his cell-phone.

"…He's on some pretty strong antibiotics for the infections, oxygen, and fluids for dehydration, but I put in a central line as a precaution because his heartbeat was a little fast. Probably from all that crap they put him on at that backwater clinic in Riverside he was hauled off to…"

"…You're a member of the American Medical Association with rights and privileges to practice in any state, so why don't you handle this? Jim seems to be comfortable with you and I'm…"

"Get your head out of your rump, for gosh sakes. I'll treat him, but that doesn't mean you get to run away from this…"

Blurry lights greeted Jim as he opened his eyes and looked around, muffled breathing filling his mouth as he tried to speak, "He's awake," a voice said. "Get me his glasses, will you?"

There was a silence and Jim's vision suddenly came into focus and he frowned when he saw that he was in some sort of hospital room. He saw Leonard standing behind the bed while Sam, who looked mortified and concerned, lingered at the foot of the bed looking worried.

"You've got a breathing mask on, which is why you're having trouble speaking," Leonard spoke quickly, seeing that Jim was confused and freaked out. "I got an ambulance to come pull you out of the snowdrift and your fever was about 103 degrees then, but it's lowered to 101 and you've also got blood poisoning from the knife wounds. I rebandaged everything for you and you're on antibiotics and fluids for dehydration. You're in a patient care room upstairs."

Jim sighed, reached up with a shaking hand, and ripped the mask from his face, "You'll probably be in the hospital over Christmas," Leonard said in a quiet voice as he reached up, took a nasal tube off the wall, and put it in Jim's nose. "You were in massive shock after that whole fracas at the prison and I probably shouldn't have put you on a plane, but you were demanding to get out of the Riverside clinic and you punched a doctor, so I thought I had better do it."

Sam sighed and facepalmed, prompting Jim to sit up and eye the sling his left arm was in; it was brand new complete with a new cast for his hand, "I'm sorry I started yelling and caused you to run away," Sam spoke quietly. "That Pike fellow blew up and me and told me what happened."

Jim sighed tiredly and slumped back down to his pillow, "Well, I've screwed up Christmas for a pile of people," he mumbled, beginning to feel tired. "Bones, are there any books to read?"

"I'll go check the hospital library," Sam spoke up as he silently left the private room.

Leonard sighed, "Why don't you just sleep for now?" he suggested, knowing that Jim was in no condition to hold a book in his hand, let alone read it. "I'll sit here with you while you sleep."

"You gotta do all your Christmas stuff with your mom," Jim protested in a sleepy voice.

Leonard sighed and responded by moving his chair to the end of the bed and picking up Jim's left sock-clad foot, "Don't worry about it," he replied softly, gently rubbing Jim's foot.

"You know that makes me sleepy when I'm sick, Bones," Jim protested groggily.

Leonard nodded, but didn't say anything and Jim slowly gave into his desire to sleep.

San Francisco, California

"I appreciate you coming to enjoy a meal with me, Nyota and Pavel," Spock said as he, Nyota, and Pavel sat together on the couch in the Embassy's residential suite, enjoying a small plate of sandwiches and tea that was on the table before them. "Most are quite busy this time of year."

Pavel sighed, having not touched the food and only a bit of tea, "Heekaru and hees parents vent to Havaii for Chreestmas," he replied softly.

"And there's no place I'd rather be than here, Spock," Nyota replied softly, smiling at him.

Spock smiled at Nyota, frowning when Pavel's cell-phone suddenly went off, sending a ringtone of classical music, "Oops," Pavel said in an anxious voice as he stood. "Please excuse me."

Nyota and Spock watched as Pavel moved over to the corner of the suite and frowned as he talked on the phone, "…Why can I not come out zere?" Pavel asked softly. "I do not mind."

There was silence as Pavel listened to Captain Pike explain that he didn't have to and to spend time with his friends, "All my friends hawe plans veeth lowed ones," Pavel said in a quiet voice.

Pavel listened closely as Captain Pike said that he would get on the computer and email him a plane ticket if he was sure about coming, "Da, I am sure and I veel breeng geefts," he replied in a kind voice, feeling compassion for Jim's situation. "I lowe you too, see you een a few days."

"When is Captain Pike returning to San Francisco?" Nyota asked softly. "Will it be soon?"

Pavel shook his head, "Jeem vent to Iowa preeson to veeseet heez stepfazzer and Keptin Pike and Doctor MeeCoy vent veeth heem," he explained, feeling the need to reveal what had gone on. "Ven zey got to ze preeson, Jeems stepfazzer took heem hostage and stabbed heem veeth a preeson veapon and Jeem vas eenjured. Keptin Pike and Doctor MeeCoy took Jeem to Georgia and Jeem haz blood poisoneeng and veel be wery seeck in ze hospeetal ower Chreesmas."

Nyota's eyes widened in shock, "What?" she said in a shocked voice. "Kirk's stepfather…?"

"Ze preeson guards shot Jeem's stepfazzer in ze head after he heet Keptin Pike," Pavel spoke.

Spock looked surprised and sighed softly, "Please bring my laptop computer to me and I will enable you to fly out to Georgia immediately so you can be of help to Jim," he replied softly.

Pavel looked surprised, but quickly retrieved Spock's laptop, grateful for the help.

Atlanta General Hospital – Atlanta, Georgia

The next time Jim woke, he immediately saw a small TV-DVD/VCR setup in the corner of the room along with a stack of G-rated titles on top of the setup. Christmas decorations littered the room and a stack of books sat on the portable table along with a glass of juice and a straw.

"It's good to see you awake," Captain Pike said calmly as he came into view and took a seat beside the portable table. "Sam and Doctor McCoy went off to do Christmas shopping and I believe Doctor McCoy's mother is busy with her businesses. I thought I'd sit with you."

Jim nodded and Captain Pike picked up the glass of juice, "Time for some nourishment," Captain Pike said softly as he fed Jim the straw. "This'll help bring your fever down."

Jim drained the glass and sighed heavily as Captain Pike took the empty glass away, "I'd love to read a book," he said in a tired voice, his IV-laden hand shaking as he tried reach across himself.

"How about I read to you?" Captain Pike suggested, picking up a small book. "Short stories?"

Jim frowned, "You had Christmas plans and I've ruined them," he spoke sadly. "I'm sorry."

Tears escaped Jim's eyes and Captain Pike silently grabbed a tissue from the box on the bedside table and gently wiped Jim's face, "All because I wanted to go see a guy who wished I died in Tarsus," Jim wept softly. "I shouldn't have gone, but I wanted to believe that he had changed."

Captain Pike sighed, "Did you want to talk to someone professionally trained while you're a patient here?" he asked softly. "What happened was very serious and it might help you."

"A psychiatrist?" Jim asked quietly. "Not while I'm feeling half-dead. Could you read to me?"

Captain Pike nodded, quietly fished a pair of reading glasses out of his pocket, and put them on before reaching for a book. As he began to read, Jim felt himself dozing off again.

The sack was lifted from his face and a lifeless cell with a single mattress greeted Jim, who had been stripped of his street clothes and forced into prison blues, "Get in there and I don't want to hear a peep from you until lunch or you will not get any," Frank hissed, shoving Jim forward.

It had gone on for nearly four years that way; Jim had been under Frank's direct supervision and the prison itself was so overcrowded that Warden Kodos had simply let Frank have his way with his stepson. Frank had taken full advantage and wrote Jim up for every little infraction, often deploying the taser, a leather belt, or depriving him of meals as punishment. Frank had pegged Jim as being dangerous and had originally put him in the prison for his own safety.

One winter, however, prisoners had suddenly begun dying at an alarming rate and Jim had suspected Warden Kodos of poisoning food supply to deal with the overcrowding issue, but he had no proof or way to find it. Jim had managed to make a discreet phone call to the state about inspecting the prison, but he had gotten beaten into unconsciousness shortly thereafter by Frank for insubordination. The next time, he woke, he was in hospital and Frank had been arrested and charged with prisoner abuse and attempted murder with a line of other charges.

"…Do you remember what we used to share, Jimmy?" Frank had hissed in his ear at the prison while holding the shank to his throat. "Our nightly meetings, our weekly sessions…"

There was a gasp and Jim screamed as he suddenly felt a hand brush against his face, "DON'T!" he howled in an anxious voice, not wanting to be touched. "Frank, please, stop hurting me!"

Anxious sobs escaped Jim's throat and he suddenly felt himself being held in a warm, gentle embrace, "Shh," he suddenly heard Captain Pike say gently. "You're all right, James."

Jim gasped as he opened his eyes and realized that Captain Pike had climbed on to the bed and was gently holding him close, "You were having a nightmare and this is making me order you to mandatory counseling once next term starts," Captain Pike spoke softly. "No argument."

"It felt so real," Jim whispered shakily, sniffling as he struggled to stay awake. "I'm tired."

Captain Pike gently stroked Jim's hair, "Sleep," he spoke softly. "I'll stay right here."

Overly exhausted from his nightmare, Jim slowly fell asleep clinging to Captain Pike.

Downtown Atlanta

It was the next morning by the time Pavel got into Georgia on a flight that Spock had paid for using his Embassy credit card. Pavel had used the airport shuttle to get a ride into town, but had no idea where to go or how to find the hospital where Jim was spending Christmas.

Swallowing hard, Pavel entered one of the largest buildings in the downtown sector and suddenly found himself surrounded by people working to wrap presents, prepare food hampers, and put together sets of clothing. The lobby was filled with busy people and stacks of boxes that looked as if they were ready to be shipped out. Rolls of wrapping paper were everywhere and as Pavel moved around, he accidentally brushed against one.

"Are you here for help?" a security officer suddenly asked as he came out from near a stack of boxes because he had noticed the young man enter with a single bag and baggy clothing.

Pavel looked around at the chaos, deeply confused, "Help?" he asked in a confused voice.

"Ah, you're a refugee," the guard replied, picking up on Pavel's accent. "Follow me."

Pavel frowned, but didn't speak or move because he had been taught not to blindly follow strangers, "It's all right, kid, this is what you'd call a rescue shelter," the guard explained, wondering if the kid was scared because of his uniform. "You'll get a bed, a meal, and some better clothes in a few minutes, but all newbies have to go meet the director first."

Again, Pavel was confused and the security guard sighed, gently taking him by the arm and guiding him over to the elevator, "It's all right, you don't have to say anything," the guard said calmly. "Let's get out of here; they're busy putting together stuff for the Christmas rush…"

The elevator ride was quiet and Pavel frowned as he was led into a fancy office where a well-dressed woman sat at a desk that held files and a computer, "This one wandered in off the street and he's a refugee judging by the accent," the guard said in a quiet voice.

"I am not vatewer zat eez and I am looking for Jeem," Pavel replied anxiously.

Suddenly, the woman's eyes widened in surprised, "Sit," she replied, pointing to the chair.

"My Papa Chrees told me newer to take orders from strangers," Pavel replied softly.

Eleanora's eyes widened, "Chris, as in Christopher Pike?" she asked softly. "Who are you?"

"Pawel Chekov," Pavel replied softly. "I heard Jeem vas een ze hospeetal here and I offered to come and see heem ower Chreesmas, but I do not know vere ze hospeetal eez from here."

Eleanora nodded, "Eleanora McCoy, Leonard McCoy's mother," she replied calmly. "Sit."

Nodding, Pavel sat, "You're the kid who was taken captive by Khan Singh two years ago," Eleanora said, remembering Pavel from the news. "How on earth can you be so courageous?"

Pavel shrugged silently, "Anyway, Jim had a very bad night and he's resting this morning, so I think Leonard restricted visitors for the day so he can rest," Eleanora spoke softly. "Captain Pike has a hotel room in town, but it's a bit cold for you to be wandering around by yourself, Pavel."

"I am used to ze cold," Pavel replied softly, cringing as he felt twinges of pain in his ankles from having to walk around the city. "I do not wish to bozzer my papa today."

Eleanora frowned, got up, and came around the desk to see Pavel flexing his feet, "Do your feet hurt?" she asked in a concerned voice as she sat down across from Pavel. "Can I see your feet?"

Pavel frowned, but allowed Eleanora to remove his boots and socks, revealing swollen feet, "I geet arthritis een my feet eef I am on zem too long sometimes," he replied softly. "Zat eez vy Papa Chrees does not let me stay on ze ice for wery long anymore seence Khan's brutality. I get ze arsritis more now seence ze arena bomeeng ven I fell zrough the floor of ze Embassy arena."

"Good Lord," Eleanora replied in a worried voice. "Your feet are terribly swollen."

Pavel shrugged, "Stanley, go downstairs and get some pressure socks and a pair of firm slippers," Eleanora said in a worried voice, looking to the guard before looking at Pavel. "Pavel, I want you to lie down on my couch in the corner and elevate your feet for a while. I'll call Chris Pike and have him come get you."

Nodding, Pavel silently retreated to the couch and elevated his feet while Eleanora hurried to the phone and called Captain Pike's cell, "Captain Pike, it's Mrs. McCoy," she said. "A young man named Pavel Chekov showed up here looking for you…Yes, he's at my office…"

The call ended and soon enough, Captain Pike had arrived with the guard, who was bearing pressure socks and slippers, "Pavel, your feet," he said in a worried voice, frowning at how swollen Pavel's feet looked. "I thought you were going to wait until I sent a ticket to come out here?"

"Meester Spock bought me a ticket," Pavel replied softly. "How eez Jeem?"

Captain Pike took the slippers and socks from the guard, silently outfitting Pavel with them before helping him up, "How long have your feet been like that?" he asked softly.

"I vas treated after ze bombeening veeth a painkiller, but eet stopped vorking around sanksgeeveng and I am struggling to vant to eat, but I eat so nobody veel vorry," Pavel replied softly, a sigh in his voice. "Ze resources vere owerstretched and I vas not an emergency case. I hawe been just trying to get zrough finals."

Captain Pike sighed, "Since you want to go see Jim at the hospital anyway, why don't we get you checked out at the same time, hmm?" he suggested. "Thank you, Mrs. McCoy."

Atlanta General Hospital

"Doctor McCoy, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could take a look at another patient while Jim sleeps?" Sam asked in a worried voice as he came into Jim's room and saw Leonard silently putting together a small Christmas tree on the table while Jim slept soundly.

Leonard sighed and nodded, silently reminding himself that Jim was sleeping aided by a sedative and wouldn't wake up for hours yet as he followed Sam from the room, "The patient says he knows you and I've already drawn blood," Sam explained as they stopped outside a door in a nearby room. "He's pretty tired, but I don't think the kid is fond of hospitals because he was very tense and horribly quiet while I was taking blood from him."

Nodding, Leonard followed Sam into the exam room and frowned when he saw Pavel, who was wearing a simple sweater and jeans, lying on the bed with his swollen feet on a pillow, "Someseeng broke inside of me ven I fell during zee arena bombeeng," Pavel spoke softly. "I vas geewen someseeng for pain and ze pain vent away, but eet came back and I feel seeck. Papa Chrees made me come here because my feet are wery, wery swollen."

Deeply concerned, Leonard grabbed Pavel's chart and scanned it, "I put a stat on the bloodwork, but the lab's always slow this time of year," Sam commented worriedly.

"I came here to see Jeem," Pavel spoke in a tired voice. "Eef I hawe to leave, he vill be sad and alone."

Captain Pike sighed, "Jim didn't even know you were coming for Christmas, kiddo," he replied softly.

"Let's not jump the gun until the bloodwork comes back," Leonard cut in, wondering if the symptoms were pointing to a possible kidney injury. "Do you want anything to eat?"

Pavel sighed and shook his head, "I am a leetle cold and feeling seeck," he replied quietly. "Not hungry."

Captain Pike quickly covered Pavel up with the blanket on the bed, "You may not have a choice about whether or not you stay here or go back to San Francisco, Pavel," Leonard spoke in a worried voice. "If you need treatment, it's better to send you to the Academy infirmary because they know your body best out of everywhere."

Pavel frowned, but curled into a ball that relieved the nausea slightly, "Just rest and we'll talk more when the bloodwork comes back," Leonard said quietly, deeply worried for Pavel because he knew that something was wrong and had been ignored by the infirmary staff simply because there hadn't been time or resources to attend to it when so many others had been hurt worse or died in the bombing. "I'm sure it won't be very long."

"I am not scared of being seeck," Pavel replied softly, his eyes sad as he lay there. "I am scared of dying young."

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