A/N: Welcome to That Night in the Cave's finale marathon. Over the next two weeks, I will be posting the last chapters of this story.

Previously:

Pike felt his way to the tactical console behind him. "Hiten it is time. You take the helm."

Tilly was the last to leave the Vayu. She stopped the pod just beyond the danger zone. As a final gift she was determined to be an eyewitness to Captain Pike's last sacrifice. She reflexively shielded her eyes as the anticipated explosion bloomed, muttering sadly, "Goodbye my love."

Discovery

24 Hours Ago

"There is no one there?" Saru asked again, this time his voice trailed up an octave. "Are you confident this is the cave they sheltered in?"

Once Stamets regained consciousness, he proved well enough to jump Discovery from the location of the suspected but ultimately false third signal back to the planet where Pike and Tilly were stranded. Immediately afterwards Tracy Pollard returned the engineer to Sickbay for additional rest, batteries of tests, and treatment. Scans confirmed the geometric storm had abated, Discovery settled into orbit and an away team was dispatched to the surface.

"Yes," Michael answered. "There are stacks of firewood as well as Federation supplies," she added with a note of hope in her tone of voice. That brief feeling quickly faded as her report continued, "It is unclear if these are the supplies Discovery beamed down before leaving orbit or supplies from the shuttle we sent later. We found an ensign's uniform jacket, most likely Tilly's. And … there is blood on it. The emergency medical kits as well as the food and water are consumed. And …"

"Continue," Saru ordered.

Michael straightened before delivering her last piece of information, "Neither the Captain nor Tilly are here. Nor have we found any human remains."

"Very well, secure the remaining supplies and rejoin the ship. Owo has confirmed the shuttle crash landed with little chance of its occupants' survival. Discovery's sensors prove your observations and local scan results, there are no human life forms present other than the away teams."

Discovery

Present

"Exactly how long will you be torturing me?" Pike asked his CMO.

"Until you get it through that thick skull of yours every time you leave the ship you get hurt. When command examines Discovery's logs, I will be lucky to get a posting as a medic on a fuel ship. You do realize it's my job to keep you well and whole," Tracy huffed.

"And you excel at that," Pike pointed out.

She snorted. "You're confined to Sickbay until the eye patches come off. At least another four days. Then …" Tracy shook her finger at him, "I'll consider your request." Her tone softened, "Sir, we don't know yet if the treatment will work, your vision loss may be permanent."

Pike smiled and reached for her arm missing it by several inches. Tracy's eyes grew cloudy. Damn, she thought, I tell him the blindness may be irreversible and he's comforting me? She had grown fond of Discovery's temporary Captain. Tracy traded concerned looks with Una who was seated by Pike's bedside. The doctor tilted her head meaningfully towards their mutual Captain before leaving to tend another patient.

One of the toddlers coughed a fireball. His brother agreed. Bonnie, who had become an adept dragon babysitter, quickly contained it. Malie gathered the triplets under her arms and admonished, "You can puff smoke all you want, but you are still eating solid food." Turning to address the group she said, "Doctor, Captains, with your permission my brood and I will retreat to our quarters before someone gets scorched."

"Number One, is there something you wish to discuss?" Pike asked.

"Hmmm. Scolding, check, Tracy took care of that. Otherwise I am seeing to various minor details that keep your other ship running efficiently."

"Anything to report? Anything that requires my attention?"

"No and you've already contributed," Una answered as she worked.

"I can hear you tapping your finger against a screen."

"Yes … on Enterprise crew moral is a little low. I'm putting together a … we shall call it a motivation item. One useful for an entire year."

"Excellent. And it is?"

"A picture calendar," Una said.

"OK. Interesting choice What is the theme? Past missions?"

"Yes, you could say that. Though I am keeping it to a single subject, captured differently in each month. I think, with the wood and the fire … yes that is perfect for October. Ensign Tilly has a good eye, she could be a professional photographer."

"How could Tilly …" Pike's voice drifted off as he puzzled his XO's cryptic clues.

Una paused before continuing, "If a prominent Captain is going to parade half naked in front of young impressionable officers, it stands to reason they will snap a picture and share it with their friends on and off the ship over social media."

"What?" Pike sat up suddenly, the rapid motion causing dizziness in his battered, dehydrated body. He resettled on the biobed and responded before sensing the trap. "You're teasing me. No equipment worked during the geometric storm."

"Ah-ha. So it did happen!" Una responded in a triumphant tone.

As was his habit, Pike rolled his eyes. The gesture was hidden by the eye patches. "In my defense I thought she was asleep, and my clothes were soaked and icy."

"Of course."

Pike continued without hearing her, "… and when I took my uniform pants off, I sat on the opposite side of the fire, out of view … mostly … and the important bits were covered."

Una raised an eyebrow. "Bits? An interesting description, but we shall save that subject for another day. In that moment you were simply behaving as a responsible leader would, setting an example for a command trainee."

"Exactly. Modesty must never eclipse survival."

"An important topic. I believe I shall suggest it be added to the Academy's basic survival training course. Perhaps you will deliver the first lecture?" Una suggested helpfully.

This is why you never allow an ex to meet a current companion; subtitled, keep your crews lightyears apart, Chris thought.

He couldn't see Una grin as she delivered her final zinger. "And true, no electronic equipment was working on the planet, however; there is an ensign on board with an interest in 20th century old print photography. And she explained in detail and very enthusiastically since this was her first true scientific away mission, she wanted to capture it for her scrapbook."

Pike tilted his head, "You're making that up."

Una rose and said serenely, "Perhaps. Now I must put a pirate in his place." She held out her hand to Vayu's Captain. The burns and cuts on his face, hands, and arms inflicted when the helm console exploded were still healing. "Hiten, Dr. Pollard released you to quarters. It is time to explain why you waited until moments before death," she stressed the words, "to profess your love your me." She paused, "And yet, I have forgiven you and accept your offer for a monogamous relationship."

Hiten paled as they left Sickbay. "Ah, did I say exclusive? Of course you are the love of my life my Sundar, but we are so often apart …"

Saru entered Sickbay as Hiten continued his careful explanation, tiptoeing through that precarious minefield with the careful grace of a ballerina dancing on the head of a pin. "Doctor Pollard, may I speak with the Captain?"

"Yes," Pike and Tracy said in unison. She added, "For a few minutes and I am counting."

"Commander, well done on arriving, literally, in the nick of time," Pike said with a smile.

"It was unfortunate there was no available interval for calculating a safer response. The remaining Klingon ships disintegrated under our phaser fire. I have come to tell you, as Commander Una is the superior officer, I will relinquish the ship to her until you are certified for duty."

"Which is going to be awhile," Tracy called from the other end of the room.

"Is that what you truly want?" Pike asked in a serious tone.

Saru thought he heard a note of disappointment in the Captain's voice. "The transfer of command is prudent until your review of my decisions during this incident. You may find them wanting."

"I see."

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"You had … hope … Discovery would return. Despite the odds, despite our long absence. Otherwise leaving a message in the cave indicating your whereabouts was a futile action. Why have that confidence? Our return was unlikely."

Pike answered quietly, "Because I left you in command."

Saru's hands fidgeted around his waist. "You … believed in me?"

"Yes. In you. In our crew. In your steady leadership."

Saru stared just above his Captain's head. Pike waited patiently for him to continue.

"In that case, I withdraw my offer to stand-down in favor of Enterprise's XO. If you will excuse me, I have my duties to attend to."

After Discovery's acting captain departed, Pike replied, "Well done, Mr. Saru."