You should be here, Jim thinks as he once again finds himself sitting in a bar with no hope in front of him. Admiral Pike sits next to him. The man has become a father figure to him, and he only has love and admiration for him. This man has always believed in him no matter what odds were stacked against him, and Jim has never been more grateful.
But in truth, it's not Pike he wants sitting next to him, telling him "everything's going to be okay, son," as Jim feels tears threaten to spill down his cheeks. No. It's not Pike. He wants his father telling him this is just a setback, and that he'll have his ship back in no time. Jim is too caught up in the moment, too emotional, and all he wants is his father. But he'll admit that Christopher Pike does make a pretty decent substitute given the circumstances.