Medbay
Several hours later

Kirk wearily made his way toward medbay. He'd spent hours talking to the Xindi who were eager to keep today's nearly fatal
mishap from becoming a diplomatic incident. The Xindi Council were on the colony's administrators and the administrators
were on the building inspectors on rather or not the building in question had been up to par. He was worn out from all of it
and it still wasn't over by a longshot.

For now though he was taking a break to check on two of his crewmates.

As he entered medbay he noticed Deerhorn sleeping in a chair beside her daughter's biobed. He mentally reviewed what he knew
of her. Born Monica Pierson in Manitoba, Canada. Early-thirties. Her records indicated that she was dedicated and fearless.
Those who knew her all agreed that she was straightforward and to the point. Never picked fights but always stood her ground.

Her previous assignment had been the U.S.S. Arbiter where she'd met and married Lieutenant Karl Deerhorn, who like her was
also in Security. A little over a year after their marriage Trisha had been born. A missile cruiser that patrolled hostile areas was
obviously no place to raise a child and she and her husband had been in the middle of applying for transfers when he was killed
in a planetary skirmish, leaving her a widow with five month old daughter. She had transferred to the Saratoga where she had
been ever since.

Kirk made his way over to the biobed and looked down at the sleeping little girl. You never got to know your dad either, he thought
sadly. But at least he got to know you for a few months, which is more than mine did. He frowned. Your mom lost him and today
she nearly lost you. We all nearly did.
He noted the steady rising and falling of her chest with satisfaction.

He noticed McCoy approaching. "How is she, Bones?" he asked softly so as not to wake mother or daughter.

McCoy led him away a distance. "She'll be fine. I repaired her nasal fracture and the bruising, but I'm keeping her overnight for
observation." He managed a smirk. "She stopped screaming right after I gave her a pain killer and started bossing me around."

Kirk smiled. "Almost as ornery as you, huh, Bones?"

McCoy's face softened. "She's one tough little girl."

"She's one lucky little girl," Kirk said quietly. "If Shylea hadn't been there…"

"Captain?" L'Naym had been dozing on another biobed and upon hearing their voices sat up. Alyen who'd been hovering nearby
quickly moved to her side. "How's Trisha?" she asked urgently.

Kirk made his way over to her. "She's fine, thanks to you." He looked the Nlian in the eyes. "You saved her life, Shylea,"
he said softly.

"I know," the botanist replied just as softly. She looked over at the exhausted mother. "Lieutenant Deerhorn's thanked me over
and over."

Kirk looked at McCoy. "How's my botanist doing, Doctor?"

"I repaired the fractures, scrapes and bruising and with a little rest she'll be fine. She had a nasty shock today so I'm keeping
her overnight too. She's off duty tomorrow and on light duty for the next day or so. I'm also recommending she have a couple
of sessions with Sanchez."

"Doctor?"

Everyone looked back at L'Naym. "My people believe that if you save someone's life they become part of you and you of them,"
she said softly. "And more then that, they become yours. Someone who saves another's life is called a Tunaren- Second Parent,
because if you save someone, you've given them life for a second time so you become their parent and they become your child
as much as if they were your own flesh.

"Healers understand that better than anyone because they save many lives. It's one of the reasons why healers have always
been greatly esteemed on my world. In fact one of the words for healer is Tunarenmel-Parent of Many. Every single person that
a healer helps regards that healer as a father or mother and healers in turn regard everyone they've helped as their sons and
daughters."

Her sea-green eyes locked with McCoy's hazel ones. "Have you ever felt…overwhelmed when you save someone? When you look
at your 'son' or 'daughter' afterwards and realize that the only reason they're still alive…is because of you?"

McCoy nodded solemnly. "Sometimes."

L'Naym was every bit as solemn. "I feel very overwhelmed now. When I think about what could have happened…" She looked
over at Trisha. "What if I hadn't been there? What if I'd been too late? What if I hadn't caught her?" She swallowed hard, her eyes
moistening. "That precious little life…"

Kirk gently put his hand on her shoulder. "But you were there and you did catch her. And that precious little life is safe. Focus on that."

She nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Captain."

"Get some rest." Kirk looked at Alyen. "Take care of her, Crewman. That's an order."

Alyen managed a slight smile. "Yes, Captain."

Kirk turned to McCoy. "I've got to go. I've some more meetings with the administrators."

McCoy smirked. "Bet you're really looking forward to that."

"Not. I won't be finished until late tonight and I've got even more meetings tomorrow."

As the two men made their way toward the exit, Kirk gave his CMO a sly grin. "You've saved a lot of lives, Bones, so that means
you're a father several times over."

McCoy gave him one of his trademark scowls. "Get out of my sick bay, Jim."

Kirk's smile turned mischievous. "And you've patched me up a few times so I guess I should start calling you Dad."

"Get out of my sick bay, Jim."

Kirk looked back over at Trisha and his expression once again grew solemn. "And I guess that means Shylea's a mom now.
I've a feeling she'll be a good one."

It was McCoy's turn to look thoughtful. "You're probably right."

Kirk headed toward the door then turned around. "See you around. Dad."

He ducked out before the doctor could throw something at him.