One Week Later
San Francisco General Hospital
"..Leonard, I thought you had classes?"
"Finished em for the day and I got excused from clinic to be here in case Jim wakes up."
"You're a really good friend to him, Leonard. Just be sure to take breaks now and then."
Soft beeping filled Jim's ears and he slowly opened his eyes, frowning when he realized that he was in bed surrounded by IV's and machines. He could see blurry figures through the window, but he didn't know who they were and where he was exactly. All he could remember was being stabbed by Ayel.
Jim tried to speak, but his throat was dry and sound came out as a strangled whimper, "Jim's awake, Doctor Piper," he heard Leonard say anxiously. "I put some water by his bed; he'll probably need…"
There was a silence and Jim suddenly felt something being placed on his face and his vision immediately cleared. He silently turned his head and was surprised to see Leonard sitting at his bedside wearing green scrubs, a white coat, and a stethoscope, "Bones," he croaked, surprised that his voice was weak.
Leonard responded by taking the glass of water off the portable table and gently putting the straw in Jim's mouth, "Slow sips," he instructed gently, sighing when Jim silently did as he was instructed.
"Where's my legs?" Jim asked groggily as he spat the straw out. "Did you tie them up or something?"
Leonard frowned, "You were stabbed pretty badly and the knife hit your lumbar artery," he spoke in as calm a voice as he could manage. "You have a colostomy, a damaged kidney, and you are…"
"Am I paralyzed?" Jim asked in a weak voice, realizing that Sam wasn't there. "Where's Sam at?"
Leonard sighed, "Sam is working," he spoke calmly. "He says he owns a clinic in Deneva."
Jim nodded and he sighed weakly, "Where am I gonna go?" he spoke softly. "I'll be asked to leave."
Leonard gave Jim a look, "It's a hockey academy and if I can't walk, I can't skate and I've got no place there," Jim spoke in a faint voice, tears filling his eyes. "I have no idea what I'm going to do."
Unsure of what to say, Leonard silently sat in a chair beside the bed, "I wish I could lie and say I had answers, but I don't," he spoke gently. "You can be angry, cuss at me, do whatever you want…"
"Is Spock okay?" Jim asked in a quiet, trembling voice, as he was beginning to quickly tire out.
Leonard nodded, "Spock's fine and Ayel is rotting in jail," he spoke quietly. "Are you getting tired?"
Jim nodded, "It's okay if you want to sleep, Jim," Leonard spoke gently. "You're recovering."
Sighing sleepily, Jim closed his eyes, but the tears continued to slip from his eyes because being tired didn't change the fact that he was scared. Leonard knew that he too felt scared about Jim's future.
Starfleet Hockey Academy
"Ya wanted to see me, Cap'n?" Officer Tucker asked in a quiet voice as he came into Dean Archer's office and saw Dean Archer silently working on his computer. "Has McCoy called about Kirk?"
Dean Archer nodded and sighed, "Kirk can't feel his legs, McCoy said," he spoke quietly.
"So, just get that crazy Scott fellow to build him a wheelchair," Officer Tucker replied calmly.
Dean Archer looked amused, "I've been trying to get a hold of Doctor Kirk to see how he wants to handle Kirk's care, but I can't," he replied worriedly. "I sent Pike out to Deneva to deal with it."
"Some people can't deal with disabilities," Officer Tucker replied in a somber voice. "I should know."
Dean Archer frowned, "What are you talking about, Trip?" he asked softly. "I thought T'Pol…"
"I tried reaching out to my parents," Officer Tucker replied somberly. "Over Christmas."
Dean Archer nodded, but said nothing, "They were offended that I would dare defend the Vulcans and that I'd lose a limb for a backwoods Asian culture," Officer Tucker replied. "They got even angrier when I said that I had married a Vulcan and said that I was disgracin' the Tucker name by intermarrying…"
"I'm sorry, Trip," Dean Archer spoke quietly. "You do know that you have a family here?"
Officer Tucker nodded, "Since we're meetin', I thought I should let ya know that the Vulcans wanna honor Kirk for what he did at the courthouse," he spoke in a calm voice. "Spock is the only acknowledged heir of Ambassador Sarek and the grandson of Empress T'Pol, so Kirk basically protected a member of the Vulcan Royal Family by takin' that knife for Spock. I thought you should know."
Dean Archer sighed and looked concerned, "You should ask Mister Kirk if he wants that," he replied in a worried voice. "I know the Vulcans have their customs, but James Kirk is a very private person."
"Speaking of privacy, I've been getting calls from students all hours of the day because everyone wants to know if Kirk's all right and when they can see him," Officer Tucker spoke softly. "It's unreal."
Nodding, Dean Archer got up, "I suppose that means I need to go pay a visit to Mister Kirk and see what he wants to do in terms of contacting people and having visitors," he said calmly. "Are you coming?"
"I gotta go talk to Monty Scott about making Kirk a chair," Officer Tucker replied in a kind voice.
Deneva, California
The clinic was closed, but two cars were in front of it and lights were on and Captain Pike found himself confused, "Doctor Kirk?" he called out, banging on the front door. "Doctor Kirk, it's Captain Pike."
Silence filled the air and the front door opened a crack, "Captain Pike?" a quiet voice spoke.
"Doctor Kirk, your brother woke up and you aren't there to reassure him," Captain Pike spoke sharply.
The door opened wider, revealing Sam in a shirt, tie, and dress pants, "Captain Pike, I've been busy using my pull as a Kirk to get some justice," Sam explained in a quiet voice. "I'm holding a bit of a meeting."
Sighing, Captain Pike entered the clinic and was shocked to find Judge Riker and Senator Hayes, "Ever since our father was killed by Romulans, the government has owed the Kirk family a debt," Sam explained in a quiet voice, quickly closing the door. "I'm requesting that Ayel be executed."
"Shoudn't that be Jim's decision?" Captain Pike asked in a quiet voice. "I told you he woke up."
Sam sighed, "Romulus, of course, is making things difficult," he said quietly. "As expected."
"Since your brother is now out of his medicated coma, maybe you could take a break using the Kirk name to get political favors and go visit him," Captain Pike snapped, aggravated by Sam's evasiveness.
Judge Riker's eyes widened and Senator Hayes looked amused, "Captain Pike, I'm not one of your little hockey lackeys that you can boss around," Sam snapped. "I'm an adult and I have responsibilities…"
"Then act like one and show some compassion," Captain Pike snapped. "He's at San Francisco General and you know what room he's in, but McCoy implied that you haven't been there all week."
Sam scowled, but said nothing, "If you'll excuse me," Captain Pike snapped as he left the clinic.
Tucker Hall – Starfleet Hockey Academy Campus
"…Vat bus do ve need to take to awoid ze curfew?" Spock heard a voice say as he sat in his dorm room, silently brainstorming ideas on how he could thank Jim for saving his life. "He vill need hees books."
Paper crinkled, "You know they're not gonna let just anyone walk into his room," Spock heard Hendorff say in a quiet voice. "I can't believe you found out Kirk was there, Chekov. You're gonna get caught."
"Offeecially, eet vas Heekaru who found out," Pavel's voice spoke. "Deeplomats hawe access to…"
Wondering what was going on, Spock got up off of his bed and moved down the hallway and paused when he saw Pavel, Hikaru, Hendorff, Nyota, Tomlinson, and Riley gathered around the computer in the dorm that Hikaru and Pavel shared, "What are you all doing?" Spock asked in a toneless voice.
"We're trying to figure out how we can sneak Kirk's school stuff to him," Hikaru replied, gazing at Spock.
Spock frowned, "Mister Kirk is in a classified location and I sincerely doubt he is in any condition to consider his schoolwork at the moment," he spoke tonelessly. "I'm sure the professors here…"
"Kirk's at San Francisco General," Hikaru interrupted. "I accessed it through my diplomatic rights."
Spock raised an eyebrow, "That is an abuse of the system access granted to diplomats," he replied.
Pavel frowned, "Hees record says he eez unable to feel anyseeng below ze waist," he said in a somber voice, eyeing the computer screen. "Hees also got a colostomee and ees en eentensive care."
A chill shot through Spock's spine, as he hadn't been kept apprised of Jim's medical condition and now Jim was paralyzed for being heroic, "You're not gonna be able to get in there," Hendorff said quietly.
Nyota looked at Spock, "How are you doing, Spock?" she asked in a concerned voice.
"I am functioning," Spock spoke tonelessly. "Sneaking to the hospital would not be appropriate."
Hendorff gave his friends a look, "Why do you not vant to see heem?" Pavel asked curiously.
"I do not wish to remind Mister Kirk why he is in the hospital in the first place and as I am the cause of his current situation, I sincerely doubt he wishes to see me," Spock spoke tonelessly. "Good day."
Once Spock was gone, however, Pavel sighed, "I vill take hees books," he volunteered. "I am small and am not easily seen, so I can get een and out. Just giwe me vat I can carry and I vill do my best."
"I'll help," Hikaru offered. "I'm the son of a diplomat and they'll let me in to visit him if I ask."
Pavel nodded and Hendorff sighed, but Nyota silently left and followed Spock back to his dormitory, "Spock, are you okay?" she asked softly, noticing that he looked sad. "Please, what's wrong?"
"Mister Kirk may be permanently paralyzed and it is my fault," Spock spoke quietly, his head hung low as he sat on his bed and silently removed his shoes. "I did not ask for him to save my life, but he did."
Nyota nodded and sat beside him, "I am grieving because of both the past and the present," Spock explained tonelessly. "What happened reminds me of when another saved my life at a great cost."
As Spock began to quietly recall the past, Nyota silently took his hand and listened intently.
San Francisco General Hospital
Heroic? Jim thought silently as he lay in his hospital bed, silently watching a news rerun on a TV that Leonard had brought him before going on a meal break. I'm not heroic. I just took a knife in the gut and I'm paralyzed.
As Jim stared at the television in shock, the door opened and he sighed, "What is this?" he asked, not expecting the medical staffer to give him a straight answer. "Why is the news saying I'm a hero?"
Footsteps neared the bed and Jim looked away from the television, shocked to see Dean Archer standing at his bedside, "Have you come to expel me?" Jim asked in a frightened voice.
Dean Archer sighed and sat beside the bed on the side where Jim's hand was free of any casts so that Jim could respond as he wanted to, "Really, Kirk, if you're stuck in a wheelchair forever, it's simply a matter of adding ramps and extra technology wherever they're needed," he replied calmly. "It's illegal to expel a student on the basis of disability, but I thought you could use a friendly visitor."
Jim frowned, "I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of being seen as a hero because then people will dig up my past," he spoke in a quiet voice, his expression anxious. "I'm not proud of what I came from."
Dean Archer silently reached down and brought Porthos on to the bed, "Did you know Porthos is a registered therapy dog?" he asked kindly, smiling as Porthos nudged Jim's hand. "Good boy."
Jim slowly lifted his hand and shakily stroked Porthos's head, "Bones is mad," he spoke softly. "I…I heard him yelling at M'Benga about something while I was sleeping. Has Sam really not been here all week?"
Dean Archer frowned and Jim sighed heavily, "He's got a clinic and a family," Jim spoke softly. "I…"
Without warning, Jim suddenly gagged and Porthos quickly hopped off the bed, barely missing being hit as Jim threw up all over himself and the bed and began wheezing. Dean Archer quickly pressed the call button and was deeply relieved when several nurses came into the room along with Leonard.
"I…don't…f-feel good," Jim managed to say as the nurses gently lifted him from the stained bed.
In record time, the bed had been replaced and Jim had been cleaned up, but his eyes were focused on the bathroom mirror and what he could see of his bandages. Tears of anxiety filled his tired eyes.
"It looks bad," Jim spoke shakily, horrified by what he saw in the mirror. "All that stuff…"
The room went silent and the nurses quickly turned Jim away from the mirror before putting him in a clean gown, "Can I sit in a chair or something?" Jim asked in a shaky voice. "The bed's boring."
"Well, it might look better to the Vulcans if you were in a chair," Nurse Sarati spoke anxiously. "They…"
Jim paled and Dean Archer frowned, "I thought I asked for Kirk to have no visitors unless he himself asked for them," Dean Archer spoke in a stern voice. "This has been a big enough circus without…"
"Why…why do the Vulcans want to see me?" Jim asked anxiously. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Dean Archer sighed, "They wish to thank you with pomp and circumstance for saving Spock's life that day at the courthouse," he replied quietly, watching Jim tremble. Ambassador Sarek is insisting on it."
As Jim was eased back into bed, he swore, "I was in prison and the media will bring all that up if I let the Vulcans make me seem like a hero," he protested weakly, his breath weak. "I don't want that at all."
"All right, Jim, calm down," Leonard spoke firmly. "Your vitals are going all over the place…"
Jim sighed heavily, "If I've got nowhere to go, can you just find me a quiet corner of the world?" he asked in a tired voice, quickly wearing down. "When I'm allowed out, I don't have anyone to go to…"
Leonard sighed quietly as he tucked Jim back in bed, "Do you want anything to eat?" he asked softly.
As Jim and Leonard talked, Dean Archer sighed patiently, "I'm going to take Porthos out to do his business," he said calmly as he got up. "I'll come back in a little bit and I want you relaxed."
Starfleet Hockey Academy
"You're too good…too pure to be in a place like this. I'll take care of you."
Sadness filled Kevin Riley's normally cheerful demeanor as he sat in the dorm that he now had to himself since his last roommate had filed a grievance with Academy Housing. Kevin knew he had night terrors and he was able to keep them to the dorm, but they had often aggravated his roommates.
Ever since coming to the Academy, Riley had been in counseling for the night terrors and other things related to his past, but it was a hard thing to get over. He hadn't approached Jim openly simply because with all they had been through, it was doubtful that Jim would remember that he had been at Tarsus.
The sound of heavy breathing filled the air and Riley was surprised to see Pavel stop in front of his room dragging a bag filled with books, "Chekov, what's up?" Riley asked softly. "What are you doing?"
"Jeem needs hees books," Pavel breathed. "Zere are just so many zat I cannot carry zem all."
Riley silently got up and walked over to Pavel, "I can help you carry them," he offered kindly.
"Zat vould be wery kind," Pavel replied in a pleased voice. "As long as ve are quiet, zo."
Riley nodded, grabbed his jacket and wallet, and took some of the books, smiling at Pavel as they left Tucker Hall. The walk to the bus was relatively short and the bus came not long after they got there.
As Pavel and Riley got off at the stop in front of the hospital, however, they were shocked to see Dean Archer on the lawn with Porthos. Dean Archer looked amused at seeing them loaded down with books.
"I figured someone might try to see Kirk," Dean Archer spoke calmly. "He might be happy to see you."
Pavel sighed, "I might seet for a moment," he replied softly. "Ze journey here vas a beet rough."
Dean Archer frowned and guided Pavel over to a cleaned off bench to rest while Riley silently took his share of books into the warm hospital to wait for them. A few moments later, Dean Archer, Porthos, and Pavel came inside, "I warn you, Jim might not be very social," the dean spoke in a kind voice. "Ready?"
The two young men nodded and followed Dean Archer through the hospital to the Intensive Care floor, surprised when they saw that Jim was sitting in a padded wheelchair, working at a computer terminal that was in most of the rooms for long-term patients. Leonard was standing beside the chair looking concerned because it was obvious that Jim was finding the work exhausting and physically difficult.
Riley paled and quickly sat down, but Pavel silently wandered into the hospital room, "You should rest, Jeem," Pavel spoke in a gentle, quiet voice. "Ze schoolvork vill vait for you to get strong enough."
Leonard looked at Pavel gently, but Jim continued working and purposely ignoring everyone.
Pavel silently approached Jim and gently placed his hands on Jim's shaking shoulders, "Jeem," he spoke.
Jim froze and suddenly broke down crying to the point where his hands were covering his face, but Pavel wasn't scared, "Ven you are stronger, I veel tutor you zo you can catch up like you deed for me ven I vas seeck," Pavel spoke softly, prompting Leonard to look surprised. "You need to give your body time."
"I'm just tired of lying in bed with nothing to do," Jim spoke weakly. "My mind isn't distracted."
Pavel sighed patiently, "Zere are seengs to do zat you can do from bed unteel you are stronger," he spoke in a kind voice as he moved away and let Leonard carefully maneuver Jim back into bed in such a way that Jim wouldn't notice. "And who knows? Maybe you can get mowed over to ze Academy."
"I'd like that," Jim spoke, sniffling softly. "At least I know that people care about me over there."
It was then that Jim noticed he was back in bed, "How…how I get back here?" he asked quietly.
"I moved you while you were talking to Chekov," Leonard spoke calmly. "Feel better?"
Jim sighed and nodded, relieved to have the pillow behind his back again, "I brought some of your books and Kewin Riley brought some ozzers," Pavel spoke softly, lifting the bag on to the table. "Zere."
A tired expression crossed Jim's face as Dean Archer and Riley came into the room, "Hi," he said softly.
Dean Archer smiled, but Riley said nothing, "Bones, can you see if they can move me?" Jim asked softly.
Leonard nodded, "Dean Archer, can we talk outside?" he asked calmly, needing to get permission.
Dean Archer gave Leonard a look, but followed him from the room, "Where…where do you want these, JT?" Riley asked nervously, his arms shaking from the weight of the books. "I helped Chekov…"
"JT?" Jim asked in a confused voice, eyeing Riley suspiciously. "I haven't been called that since…"
Riley sighed and brought a chair over to the bed, "You were caught stealing food to feed your family and ended up in Tarsus as a scare tactic," Jim spoke in a quiet, shocked voice. "You're that Kevin Riley."
"Yes," Riley spoke quietly, prompting Pavel to look confused. "Chekov, I was in prison."
Pavel shrugged, "I vas zere as a child," he replied calmly. "Eet does not deefine who you are now."
Riley looked surprised, "You were in prison, Chekov?" he asked softly. "What did you do?"
"What my fazzer made me do," Pavel spoke quietly. "I do not talk about eet wery much."
Jim sighed sleepily, "Hey, Chekov, do you know if they have smoothies here?" he asked softly.
"I do not know, but you should say sometheeng if you vant to eat," Pavel spoke gently.
Jim nodded, but looked reluctant, "I vill go tell Doctor MeeCoy," Pavel said kindly. "All right?"
"What have you been up to since Tarsus, Kev?" Jim asked when Pavel had left the room.
Starfleet Hockey Academy
Tucker Hall was quiet, as most students were either at evening classes or supper in the canteen, but Spock was seated at a table in front of the television. He had ordered a diabetic-friendly meal and had elected to eat a quiet meal alone, do some leisure reading, and watch a bit of the evening news.
"…In breaking news tonight, Doctor Samuel Kirk of Deneva has joined forces with California Senator, Duncan Hayes, to petition the federal government with a request for a 'cleansing' of Romulus and mass execution of all Romulans," a voice suddenly said that caused Spock to look up at the television.
Spock's eyes widened as reporters surrounded Doctor Kirk and Senator Hayes outside of what appeared to be a medical clinic, "My brother, James, was almost killed by a disgusting Romulan and the Romulans have been getting away with things for far too long," Sam spoke coldly. "It's time to destroy them all."
Taken aback, Spock silently shut off the television, finished his meal, and gathered his things together before getting up and walking across campus to the Administration building. He was shocked to see that Dean Archer was sitting at the front desk on the phone with a concerned expression on his face.
"…I'm glad you were able to calm him down, McCoy," Dean Archer said calmly. "Take care."
Dean Archer sighed as he hung up the phone, "I take it you saw the news?" he asked softly.
"Doctor Kirk and the state senator are advocating genocide?" Spock asked in a worried voice.
Dean Archer nodded, "That interview was recorded earlier this afternoon and Sam went to tell Jim about it and visit a bit," he spoke anxiously. "Jim went ballistic and McCoy kicked Sam out."
"I take it that Jim does not support his brother's actions, then?" Spock asked quietly.
Dean Archer shook his head just as the door opened and Captain Pike came in looking both shocked and exasperated, "Sam Kirk's on his way here, Jon," Captain Pike said quietly. "After McCoy kicked Sam out of Jim's room, Sam found out that Jim is trying to get himself moved back to the Academy and Sam…"
"Doctor Kirk doesn't have any power, Chris," Dean Archer spoke calmly. "Jim's competent enough to make his own decisions about where he wants to recover and even if he wasn't, Sam can't."
Captain Pike frowned, "Sam's next of kin and has power of attorney, doesn't he?" he asked softly.
Dean Archer shook his head, "You and McCoy do, Chris," he replied calmly. "I thought you knew."
"No, I didn't know," Captain Pike replied in a worried voice. "I'm honored, though."
Spock sighed, "I do wish there was some way I could ease Mister Kirk's distress," he spoke quietly.
"Could you take some dinner and some things to Doctor McCoy?" Captain Pike asked calmly. "I know he's been at the hospital as much as he could since Jim went in there and he has very little with him."
Spock nodded, "Thank you, Spock," Dean Archer spoke calmly. "Let me get you a curfew pass."
San Francisco General Hospital
"…Don't get smart with me, Pavel Chekov!" Leonard heard a shout as he came down the hall with a milkshake and a bit of dinner for Jim. "I don't even know why you're allowed to visit with your…"
Leonard froze at the sight of Sam yelling at Pavel and Riley, both of whom were sitting on the couch outside of Jim's hospital room, "Is there a problem here?" he asked in a stern voice. "Doctor Kirk?"
"I was on my way over to the campus to try and stop this idiocy, but Dean Archer called and told me that I don't have any power over Jim's decision making," Sam snapped. "Why does he want to leave?"
Pavel and Riley frowned, but didn't speak, "I still have his stuff at my house in a room that I made for him and I thought he wanted to come back with me?" Sam asked softly. "He doesn't want to…"
"Maybe it's because you and the senator of California are trying to advocate for the genocide of a culture?" Leonard asked in a cold voice, glaring at Sam. "I don't like the Romulans, but to kill…?"
Sam scoffed, but Leonard noticed that Pavel and Riley were suddenly eyeing the hospital room with concern in their faces, "Jeem just crawled eento ze bathroom," Pavel spoke in a quiet voice.
"Look, go somewhere else tonight and cool off," Leonard hissed at Sam. "Or I'll call Security."
Sam swore, but left the hospital and Leonard quickly hurried into the room, frowning when he saw Jim lying on his side, silently hugging himself as tears streamed down his face, "Jim?" he asked softly.
A quiet sob escaped from Jim's throat and Leonard quickly set the food out on the portable tray before kneeling down beside his friend in the bathroom, "I can't support a whole culture getting killed," Jim managed to say quietly. "They killed my dad, but killing doesn't solve anything and I can't…"
Leonard silently rubbed his back, wondering if something had happened to Jim at Tarsus to trigger such a panic attack, "I kicked Sam out of the hospital for the night," he finally spoke gently. "Okay?"
"Can you help me off the floor, Bones?" Jim spoke in a tired voice. "Do…do I smell food?"
Sighing patiently, Leonard gently helped Jim back to bed, "Have you eaten?" Jim asked quietly.
"Don't worry about it," Leonard spoke gently, but firmly. "I'll eat something after you do."
Jim silently reached for the food and nervously tasted it, "It seems okay," he spoke softly.
Leonard nodded and watched as Jim slowly began to eat, "Do you think Chekov and Riley are hungry?" Jim asked, suddenly noticing that the two were still out there. "I don't know if I can eat all of this."
"Chekov and Riley are fine," Leonard spoke quietly. "Just eat what you can. I'll get you more tomorrow."
Jim sighed and quietly ate his food, "I've been funny about food ever since I was in jail because of what happened there," he admitted quietly. "Warden Kodos thought experimenting with food would be interesting, so he poisoned it and served it to select prisoners who all became manic and violent from food poisoning. He then used their behavior as an excuse to carry out a mass execution…"
Leonard frowned, "I had a couple of Romulans as cellmates at the time and they hated Warden Kodos and tried to get me involved in their plan to kill him," Jim spoke softly. "I told Frank their plan."
"I take it Frank punished you over it?" Leonard asked quietly, saddened to hear about this.
Jim nodded, "I got PT and disciplinary segregation, but I also was forced to watch as Frank told Warden Kodos about the Romulans plan," he spoke quietly. "Warden Kodos then publicly blamed the poisoning of the food on the Romulans and got federal approval to execute them with me as a forced witness."
"And that's why you blew up at Sam?" Leonard reasoned softly. "Because of that mass murder?"
Jim nodded and sighed as he finished the food, "Well, that's understandable," Leonard replied.
"I can't support genocide," Jim spoke softly, his eyes full of tears. "Even if it costs me my family."
Suddenly, the door opened and Spock came into the room with a backpack on his back and bags on each arm, "Doctor McCoy, I have been sent here by Dean Archer with a proper meal and supplies to keep you going," he explained tonelessly. "I can keep Mister Kirk company while you see to your needs."
Jim sighed, "Bones, you gotta take care of yourself so you don't fall out of remission," he replied softly.
Leonard sighed, got up, and walked over to Spock, "Thanks," he said calmly. "I'll be back soon."
Spock silently settled himself in a chair near the bed as Leonard took the items and left, "Jim, I have not had proper opportunity to thank you for what you did for me at the courthouse," he spoke softly.
Jim looked worried, "I wasn't involved in my brother's decision to talk to Senator Hayes about the Romulans, I promise you," he replied anxiously, suddenly worried that Spock would lash out.
"I do believe you," Spock replied tonelessly. "You do not seem like a contentious person."
Jim nodded and suddenly felt himself getting tired, "If you require sleep, Jim, I am quite able to amuse myself until Doctor McCoy returns," Spock spoke tonelessly, seeing that Jim struggle to stay awake.
Unable to resist sleeping, Jim sighed and closed his eyes, "Thanks, Spock," he mumbled sleepily.
"You are welcome, Jim," Spock replied as he adjusted the blanket so that Jim would be warmer.
Staff Housing - Starfleet Hockey Academy Campus
A deck of cards and a box of poker chips sat in the middle of a table, but nobody was playing poker or even discussing it. Worn down by the events of the last week, Dean Archer, Officer Tucker, T'Pol, Reed, Paramedic Mayweather, Captain Pike, and a few others from the days of Enterprise Base sat in silence.
"The Sulus have asked me to travel to Japan to try and find out if this rumor about Hikaru having a child is true," Reed explained as he showed a letter to the group. "That's why I asked for this gathering…"
Mayweather frowned and Officer Tucker sighed, "Japan is the closest I can get to Thermopoli and that might even be difficult with this crap that Doctor Kirk and Senator Hayes are trying to pull," Reed explained, his voice anxious. "Captain Archer, surely, you can get them to back off this ridiculous…"
"The diplomats are rallying to try and stop it, but the Kirks have a very strong pull with the government because of what happened to George," Dean Archer replied somberly. "If the Kirks want it…"
Captain Pike scoffed, "George wouldn't have wanted the annihilation of a culture," he replied angrily.
"You said that the Kirks have a strong pull," Reed stated softly. "Tell me, what about Jim Kirk?"
Officer Tucker frowned, "Jim Kirk's in the hospital and you want to use him to try and stop this crap that Sam Kirk and Senator Hayes are trying to instigate?" he asked crossly. "Reed, the kid was nearly killed…"
"I don't like that Kirk was nearly killed protecting Spock, but Sarek has already given a statement to the press in the evening paper that he does not support the genocide of Romulans," Reed stated as he produced a newspaper from his pocket. "The Romulans tried to wipe out the Vulcans, but…"
T'Pol sighed patiently, "Vulcans do believe in legal, lawful means of dealing with those who cause us or our friends harm," she stated tonelessly. "To commit mass murder over this situation is unethical."
"I don't feel comfortable involving Jim in this," Captain Pike spoke up nervously. "While I wish you the best in fulfilling the Sulus request, Mister Reed, I do not think Jim is up to dealing with the stress of this."
Reed sighed, "If the government tries to destroy the Romulans, they'll launch Toriadol gas attacks over here and pick us off like they picked a lot of the Vulcans off," he snipped. "At the very least, we can file a petition with Judge Riker because he's a federal judge and he can block this genocide petition."
"Malcolm, please be careful over there," Dean Archer spoke softly. "We've had too many losses."
Reed nodded, his expression somber, "Christopher, I know you don't want to involve Jim, but his opinion of the situation would mean a lot to those who see him as a hero for saving the son of the Vulcan Ambassador." Dean Archer spoke calmly. "Will you please at least try talking to Jim?"
"In the meantime, I sent off an email to Judge Riker to try and temporarily block this genocide push from going any further," Officer Tucker spoke up calmly as Captain Pike nodded his agreement to Dean Archer's request. "Being a war hero, I do have the right to make special request of the system."
Dean Archer nodded, "We certainly don't need another war that will force the students of this generation into situations we have faced and nearly died trying to resolve," he replied in a somber, but determined voice. "The Romulans are very competitive by nature and it was our reaction to what happened in a hockey game that has allowed their hate for us to grow and develop over the years."
Tucker Hall - Starfleet Hockey Academy
I really cannot play anymore, but I can at least walk. Pavel thought softly as he silently examined the hockey jersey that hung in his closet alongside his other clothes. Jim cannot even walk right now.
Sighing, Pavel tucked the jersey back into his closet, shut the door, and sat on his bed just as Hikaru came into the dorm, "Hey there, Pavel," Hikaru spoke calmly. "I heard about your little sojurn."
"Jeem needed hees books," Pavel explained in a quiet voice. "He might not be able to valk again."
Hikaru nodded, "I heard that," he spoke softly. "He's a hero for helping Spock, you know."
"Vy vould anyone vant to harm Spock?" Pavel replied in a stunned voice. "He eez not bad."
Hikaru sat on his bed, "My parents told me a long time ago that Vulcans and Romulans are of similar ancestry, but they have never really gotten along because of their different beliefs," he explained in a quiet voice. "Romulans crave power while Vulcans are more peaceful and do not care for dominance."
Pavel sighed, "There was a war a long time ago between the Romulans and Vulcans where the Romulans decimated the population of Vulcan, but my father doesn't talk about that war much," Hikaru continued softly. "The war is ongoing and from what I saw of Romulus, the war has taken a heavy toll on them."
"I know you hawe ze bad dreams sometimes," Pavel replied softly. "Eeet eez okay to talk about eet."
Hikaru nodded, "My parents were told that all the time I spent over there as a slave might have gotten someone pregnant," he spoke in a somber voice, feeling as if he could trust Pavel. "I might have a kid."
Pavel's eyes widened, "In Romulus?" he replied in a stunned voice. "Are you going to go find eet?"
"My parents are handling it because they want me to finish school," Hikaru replied in an anxious voice as he removed his shoes and socks and sat cross-legged on the bed. "Can you imagine me as a father?"
Pavel gave Hikaru a hard look, "I seenk zat eef Jeem Kirk can survive such a terrible attack, zat you can be a fazzer eef your child eez found," he spoke in a serious voice. "Jeem should be an example to you."
Hikaru gazed at Pavel and sighed, "You're right," he agreed softly. "Jim is a good example to me."
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