━━ Napkin Nurse
System Loading... Bethany O'Neal... 4%

Bethany stared at the young man in horror as she felt Reagan's grip on her arm tightened. Sometimes she was surprised at the level of violence the human race can display towards each other. The young man's nose looked to be broken as it sat crookedly on his face with blood running down.

Bethany went to follow Reagan out the door when she heard Pike call out for her, "Cadet O'Neal, see to this man while I have a word with the cadets."

She nodded, "Yes sir."

"Y'alright, Son?" Pike asked.

The young man looked as if his ears were ringing, "You can whistle really loud, y'know that?"

Bethany made her way to him, but broke into a sprint when she saw him beginning to pass out. She grabbed hold of his shoulders as all of his body weight leaned against her. Together with Captain Pike's help they put in him a chair so Bethany could stop the bleeding.

"Just patch him up as best you can." Pike stated. "I need to have a word with the cadets."

"Good luck, sir."

Pike left the unknown man in her capable hands as she tested to make sure he didn't have a concussion, before stuffing tissues up his nose to stop the blood flow. By the time she was done he was looking rather silly, but Bethany supposed it was for the best. As long as he was healthy and would live to fight another day then she had done her job.

Bethany stood to inform Pike of the man's vitals when a hand came to rest on her arm. The tough startled her as she jumped away from him. When she looked back blue eyes connected with teal as the two stayed silent. Bethany would never admit that she found the man quite handsome in his own roughed up way.

"What did you stuff up my nose?" He asked.

"Napkins." She replied. "Unless you want to give the term bloody Mary a different name."

The unknown man cracked a smile at her small joke, but stopped when Pike came to sit in front of him. Bethany left the man's side to stand behind her commanding officer and superior. She was waiting to be dismissed, but the order never came. Instead she witnessed Pike's recruitment skills of the lad that sat before her.

"I couldn't believe it when the bartender told me who you are." Pike stated.

Bethany's an eyebrow shot up as the man asked, "And who am I, Captain Pike?

" Your father's son." Pike began with a smile. "For my dissertation, I was assigned the U.S.S. Kelvin. Something I admired about our dad... he didn't believe in no-win scenarios."

Bethany had to reign in her shock as she connected dots to the man that sat before her. The U.S.S. Kelvin was something of a legend among the cadets. The bravery of its final Captain was something to stove for and something that people hoped was never repeated. Bethany was surprised to see George Kirk's son in the state he was in now.

"He sure learned his lesson."

"Depends on how you define winning. You're here, aren't you?" Pike lamented, but the man looked away. "That instinct to leap without looking- that was his nature, too. And in my opinion it's something Starfleet has lost. We're admirable, respectable. But overly-disciplined."

Bethany had to raise an eyebrow at Pike's explanation of Starfleet. She felt it was oversimplified, but she knew better than to say anything out loud. Instead she listened more carefully to Pike's choice of words. To Jim they may sound like nonsense, but to her this was her first lesson here at the academy and she intended to remember it well.

"Those cadets you took on, they'll make competent officers - but you can bet your ass they'll run home to momma the minute they're looking down the barrel of a Klingon phaser cannon." Pike continued.

"Why are you talking to me?" Jim asked.

"I looked up your file while you were drooling on the floor and Cadet O'Neal was patching you up." He answered. "Your aptitude tests were off the charts- what is it, d'you like being the only Genius Level repeat-offender in the Midwest?"

"Maybe I love it." Jim replied after sending Bethany a wink.

"So your daddy dies... you can settle for a less-than-ordinary life." Pike recites. "Or do you feel like you're meant for something better? Something special?"

Silence clung to the air as Jim looks anywhere but the two members of Starfleet. Bethany found it slightly amusing when he finally settled on the Starfleet ship salt and pepper shakers. Part of her felt bad that he was having to defend himself, but Bethany knew to trust in Pike. He wouldn't be antagonizing the man if he didn't have a reason.

"Come to think of it, I do want to feel special." Jim said, after a long moment of awkward silence. "You know what? I'm gonna go start a book club-"

"Enlist in Starfleet."

"Enlist?" Kirk scoffed. "You must be way down on your recruiting quota for the month-"

Pike shook his head, " If you're half the man your father was, Jim, Starfleet could use you. You could be an officer in four years, have your own ship in eight."

Jim seemed to grow irritated with Pike's pestering, "We're even, right? I can go."

"Just make sure to thank Cadet O'Neal for taking such great care of you."

Jim looked at the brunette behind him, "I suppose you want me to enlist as well?"

Bethany shook her head, "It's not my job to get you to enlist. My job is to make sure you are able to stand and walk out of this bar, preferably on your own. If you can do that then I am satisfied."

Jim nodded and turned back to Pike who stated, "Riverside shipyard. Shuttle for new recruits leaves tomorrow, 0800."

Jim turns to try and leaves when Pike grabs his arm, "Your father was Captain of a Starship. For twelve minutes. I dare you to do better."

With that last statement Pike exits the establishment with Bethany in tow, but not before she spins on her heels and sends him a friendly smile, "I know you're probably sick of hearing it, but I'm sorry about your father."

Jim looked at her in surprise before he said, "Don't say that. Never got the chance to be a father so there's nothing to miss."

"Now that's a lie if I ever heard one."