Bones had been so caught up in getting help for Solan that he had not thought of whether Jim got Cax to the station or not. He went to the security station. "Did Admiral Kirk bring our prisoner in here?" he asked.
"I haven't seen Admiral Kirk," the guard replied.
"Get some security officers now! Get over there to that ship!"
The guard called for a security detail and they were there in moments. Bones grabbed a phaser rifle and they all headed for the docking port where Cax's ship was connected to the station. As they neared the port, Cax came to the door of his ship. "Stop right there," he said.
Bones could see he had his boots back on and his jacket, and he also looked like he had been in a fight. Bones aimed the rifle at him, and would have fired, but Cax brought Jim into view. He could see that Jim looked like he had been in a fight as well. "I wouldn't do that, Doctor McCoy," Cax said. "You kill me, and the good admiral here, you, and everyone on this station will die." He nudged Jim in the side with his blaster barrel, causing Jim to grimace. "Tell him."
Bones could see Jim was furious, but something else. "Bones, he set this ship to self-destruct," Jim said. "You have to let him go."
"I'm not letting him take you, Jim!" Bones declared.
"You have to. He'll kill all these people."
"NO!"
"Bones, that's an order!"
Bones was trembling. "I'd rather die than know I let him take you to those Klingons!" he said, his voice shaky. He fired his rifle, hitting Cax square in the forehead.
Jim stood there stunned for a moment, but he knew Bones was a crack shot. Jim ran into the station and closed off the port. "Get everyone away from this side of the station!" he commanded. "We have to move that ship away from here with a tractor beam!" He ran to the control station and began yelling orders to the ones who controlled the docking ports. "Get that ship as far away from here as possible!"
Jim watched as the ship moved slowly away from the station. He had no idea how long it would be before it would detonate, but it was not long. Jim was knocked off his feet by the impact the exploding ship had on the station. His ears were ringing as he realized a viewport had broken out. He also realized he was being pulled toward it by the silent, invisible wind. He grabbed onto something waiting until the shields sealed everything again. As gravity reestablished itself, he fell to the floor. He lay there a moment, hoping he would not have to take anymore punches or jarring collisions with the floor today. He was not sure he wanted to get up until he thought of Bones.
Jim got up and headed down the corridor ignoring his pain. There were several security personnel there and they all jumped to attention when they saw him. "Where is Doctor McCoy!?" Jim demanded.
"I-I think he returned to the medical bay, Sir," one of the guards replied.
Jim headed on toward the medical bay. The guards all looked at each other as they could tell Kirk was angry. "I'm glad it wasn't me," one of them said.
Jim shoved both doors of the medical bay open as he entered. He looked around the room for Doctor McCoy but did not see him. "Where is Doctor McCoy!?" he demanded.
"He hasn't come back, Sir," the nurse replied.
Jim went to a computer terminal. "Computer, where is Doctor McCoy?" he asked.
Doctor McCoy is in the conference room on deck five.
Jim looked at a schematic of the station. He had never even been to this station so he did not know where anything was. He could see the conference room and went down there. As he walked in, he was still furious. Bones stood at the other end of the conference table. Jim just glared at him a moment. "Do you realize you could have killed everyone on this station!?" he asked finally.
"I couldn't do it, Jim!" Bones said. "I could not stand there and let him take you to those Klingons! What if it was you!?"
Jim went around the table to face Bones. "Bones, you were given a direct order! You deliberately disobeyed! What am I supposed to do?! We're not on the Enterprise anymore!"
"Nobody died except Cax! Why does it matter? Why do you have to keep on with 'what ifs'?"
Jim grabbed Bones by the collars. "You know protocol!" he said. "We have to report this! Now, we've caused an incident here at Jupiter Station!"
"That wasn't our fault! Could you have stood there and let him take me? Answer that, JIM!"
Jim let go of Bones and turned to pace. He did not know what to do. "There's no way we can just not report this," he said.
Just then, someone else walked into the conference room. Jim thought his blood pressure must have spiked as he realized Admiral Anthony Simmons just walked in. Jim and Bones both snapped to attention.
Simmons walked over to Jim, stopping maybe five inches from him. Jim was not sure it was that far. "Admiral Kirk," he said as he glared at him. "I should have known something would happen when I found out you were coming here to my station! I don't like it when my people are endangered! Two people lost their life today! I want a full report about this on my desk in ONE hour!"
"Yes, Sir," Jim replied.
"Just what happened here?"
Jim's mind almost went blank at that moment. He was not sure where to begin. "Well…"
"Never mind. You get that report written, and then you bring it to my office…PERSONALLY!"
"Yes, Sir."
Admiral Simmons turned and left the room, and Jim stood there wondering if he was still breathing for a moment. He did not even look at Bones, but left the room to find a computer station to write a report. Bones just stood there. He did not care what the consequences were. His best friend in the galaxy was safe and was not being tormented by Klingons. That's all that mattered to him. He would not let Jim take the fall for this…he disobeyed him, disrespected his authority, but he would do it again.
Jim sat down at a computer station. He was starting to feel all those bruises now. He thought everything hurt. Where was Ajah when he needed him? He wished he were here now to dictate for him. He opened a communication terminal and contacted Ajah on Earth.
"Admiral," Ajah answered sounding relieved.
"Ajah, I need you to do something for me," Jim said.
"Are you okay, Sir?"
"No I'm not. I need you to write a report for me while I tell you. I don't think I can type right now."
"Yes, Sir." Ajah got ready for the report. "Go ahead, Sir."
Jim lay his head down as he told Ajah what to put in the report. "Make sure you don't leave out any of those details," Jim said.
"I won't," Ajah replied. "Sir, are you about to go to the medical bay?"
"I don't have time, Ajah. Get that typed and send it to me here. I have to get it to Admiral Simmons very soon."
"I'm working on it, Sir. It'll be ready in a few minutes."
"Thanks. You're a life saver, Ajah."
"Thank you, Sir."
Jim ended the transmission. He tried not to groan as he stood up again. His hands were so sore, he knew he could not have written that report. He headed for some place he could at least wash his face. He looked in the mirror and hoped he could get rid of all those bruises and swollen places before Carol saw him. As he washed his face, he thought of the fight he had with Cax. Oh, he felt all of it now. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and not get up for as long as he could stay there. He made himself as presentable as possible, and then checked for his report, but it had not come yet. He had no quarters on this station so he had no place to rest. He knew the security personnel usually had "barracks" on stations like this, so he looked at the schematic of the station again and went to that.
When Jim walked in there, he found about five ensigns who were completely taken by surprise, and their eyes widened as they saw him. They all jumped to attention. "At ease," Jim said. "Is there an unused bunk in this place?"
"Yes, Sir," one of the ensigns said.
"Where?"
He showed Jim to the bunk. "Thanks," Jim said. "I need to rest. Wake me in about thirty minutes, please."
"Yes, Sir," the ensign replied. "Do you need a blanket, Sir?"
"Yes, please."
Jim lay down on the bunk and was asleep before the ensign even returned with the blanket, but he put it over him anyway. The others all stood with him and just stared at Jim a moment. "Isn't that Admiral Kirk?" one of them whispered.
"Yes," the other answered.
"Why is he here?"
"I don't know, but he wants to be awakened in thirty minutes."
They all looked at the time and then went back to the table where they had been sitting when Jim walked in. "Maybe we should clean this place up some before he wakes up," one of them suggested.
The others looked around them and then nodded. They were sure to wake Jim up on time. "Sir, it's time to get up," the ensign said, feeling nervous.
Jim was a little startled, but then he remembered. "Thank you, Ensign," he said. He thought he felt even sorer now, but he stood up. He stood there a moment.
"Are you alright, Sir?"
"I'll be fine." Jim picked up the pad he had brought with him and found the message Ajah had sent. "You're a gem, Ajah."
Jim walked out of the barracks saluting the ensigns as they jumped to attention. "At ease, everyone," he said, and then he stopped. "By the way, which way is it to Admiral Simmons' office?"
"I'll be happy to show you the way, Sir," one of the ensigns said.
"Lead on."
Jim was glad he would not have to find the way himself as he followed the young ensign. He thought he had timed everything just right because they arrived at the admiral's office about five minutes early. Jim stood at the door as he was starting to feel apprehension again. He knocked on the door and heard the admiral say, "Enter."
Jim opened the door and went inside. He stood at attention. "Admiral James T. Kirk reporting as ordered, Sir," he said without looking at the admiral.
Admiral Simmons stood up behind his desk. "Well, at least you're on time," he declared. "Where's the report?"
"Right here, Sir."
Admiral Simmons took the report and sat down, but he did not tell Jim to have a seat so he had to stand there while he read the report. Jim thought this admiral must be angrier with him than most he had ever met. Oh, how he ached from all that fighting and struggling. He thought maybe that short sleep had made him feel just a little better, and he had been somewhere that no one knew he was there except the ensigns who were present.
Jim did not say a word and he wondered if the admiral was reading slowly just so he would have to stand there longer. Finally, he stood up again and laid the pad on the desk. He walked back around to Jim. "Bounty hunter, huh?" Admiral Simmons asked.
"Yes, Sir," Jim replied.
Simmons just glared at him a moment. "At ease," he said as though it were a pain. Jim relaxed just slightly. "Doctor McCoy shot this bounty hunter after he was informed that he had set the ship to self-destruct."
Jim swallowed hard. "Yes, Sir, but…"
"No buts. I hope you intend to discipline him for disobeying a direct order."
"Yes, Sir."
"You sure about that, Kirk?" Simmons asked as he stepped closer to him. "We all know he's a friend of yours. You know what the punishment is."
"Technically, Sir, Doctor McCoy isn't an officer in Starfleet any longer. He…"
"Are you arguing with me, Kirk?"
"No, Sir."
"McCoy is employed as a doctor by the Federation on Pacifica. Therefore, he is under direct command of Starfleet when he is in a situation like the one today!"
"Yes, Sir."
"I expect you to bring charges against him, Kirk. If you don't, I'll be bringing charges against you. Dismissed."
Jim stood at attention and turned and went out the door. He leaned back against the wall. What could he do now? He either had to bring charges against his best friend in a court martial or…he would face it himself. He headed back down the corridor. How could Bones put him in a situation like this? He knew the consequences.
Jim just went back to the barracks. Only two ensigns were still there, and they stood at attention as before. "I'm just gonna sleep some more," he said. "Act like I'm not here…and don't tell anyone."
"Yes, Sir," they both said. They watched him walk down the hallway toward the bunks.
"He looks sad," one of them whispered.
"Yeah," the other replied. "Did you hear what happened?"
"Some of it."
Jim went to the same bunk and lay down. He pulled the blanket over him and was asleep…
Bones was in the medical bay with Solan who was awake now. "So, where are we?" Solan asked.
"We're on Jupiter Station," Bones replied.
"Is Jim alright?"
"Yeah. He is now." Bones thought he would just spare Solan the details of what happened while he was out.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. He had a meeting with Admiral Simmons. Probably still there."
"He always gets stuck in those meetings, doesn't he?"
"Yeah." Bones knew it was his fault this time, but he could not let Cax take Jim when he could stop him. Of course, he knew the situation could have been a lot worse.
Solan closed his eyes. "I have to work out more," he said. "I'm getting worse at fighting."
"You weren't fighting. You were taunting somebody while your hands were cuffed."
"Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot that."
Solan was asleep after that. Bones sat beside the bed. He wondered what kind of trouble Jim was in. He knew he had disobeyed a direct order, and it could be court martial.
After about two hours, Bones started to wonder where Jim was. He made sure Solan was comfortable and that everything looked good and then he left the medical bay to search for Jim. He wondered if he had acquired quarters on this station. He went down to the control center. "Hey, have any of you seen Admiral Kirk?" he asked.
"Not since he left here before," the technician replied. "Aren't you Doctor McCoy?"
"Yes I am."
"You have a message from…Andrea."
"Where can I take it?"
"Right over there at that terminal."
Bones went over to the computer terminal and brought up the message. She knew what had happened. He sent a message signal back, and got almost an immediate reply. "Leonard," Andrea said. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Bones replied.
"Carol is worried sick about Admiral Kirk. Where is he?"
"He's here on Jupiter Station…somewhere. I don't think he wants to see or talk to me right now. Tell her he's fine. He's okay. We got away from Cax. Solan's a little beat up, but he's in the medical bay. He's gonna be fine too."
"Why didn't you contact us before?"
"Well, we haven't had time. There's been a lot going on. I'm sorry, but we just haven't had time."
"Okay, Leonard. I love you."
"I love you too. I would have contacted you, but…things were a little touchy for a while. I'll find Jim and tell him to contact Carol. Just tell her he's fine."
"Okay. I'll let her know. When do you think you'll be back?"
"I don't know right now. Solan's recovering. I'm sure Jim won't want to leave him here. A few days."
"Alright. Call me."
"I will."
The transmission ended. Bones just sat there a moment. He had no idea where Jim was on this station so he did not know where to look. He did not want to talk to that angry admiral. He thought maybe the computer would know where he was so he went to another terminal. "Computer, where is Admiral James Kirk?"
Admiral James Kirk is in the security barracks.
Bones was surprised at that answer. "What's he doing there?" he mumbled to himself. He looked at a schematic and headed for the barracks. He walked in to find two ensigns playing cards. "Hey, is Admiral Kirk here?"
"Yes, Sir," one of them answered. "He's resting."
"Resting? He's sleeping on a bunk?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Where?"
"Right in there, Sir."
Bones headed down the hallway as the two ensigns watched after him. "That's Doctor McCoy," one of them whispered. "How did we get all these famous people here today?" The other just shrugged.
Bones walked around a corner to the back of the barracks and found Jim sleeping soundly on a bottom bunk. He folded his arms and plopped down on the edge of the bed. Jim was startled out of his sleep. "What are you doing in here?" Bones asked.
Jim rubbed his face. "Bones?"
"Yeah, it's me. What are you doing in here?"
"Sleeping. I'm tired."
Bones realized he was drifting back to sleep. "Hey, wake up."
"What do you want?" Jim asked.
"I wanta know what that admiral said."
Jim was silent a moment as he yawned and grimaced slightly. "It doesn't concern you, Bones."
Bones shook his head. "Don't tell me that, because I know what you had to tell him."
"He wants me to file charges against you," Jim said honestly.
"Charges for court martial?"
"Yeah. You know that's what it is. I can't do it, Bones."
"And what if you don't?"
"Nothing."
"Jim, don't lie to me."
Jim frowned. "Okay. I'll be court martialed myself if I don't press charges against you."
"Then you'll have to."
"Bones, I don't want to do that…not anymore than you wanted to let Cax take me to the Klingons."
"Jim, you can't do that. I'm the one who disobeyed your order…and I'm gonna tell you this: I'd do it again. I don't care what the consequences are. I wasn't going to let him take you off to the Klingons."
"He wouldn't have made it, Bones. You should have listened."
"You would have died! If they had fired on that ship, you would have died! We were between a rock and a hard place…well, I chose the hard place."
"I'll talk to Admiral Winston. Maybe he can have some influence on this if we tell him what happened."
"You best hurry. That admiral's fit to be tied."
"I know. I don't think he likes me at all. I had to stand at attention while he read that whole report."
"Do you need medical care?" Bones asked. "What happened?"
"We had a brawl, that's what. I'm sore, but I guess I'm not hurt all that bad."
"I'd feel better if you'd get down there and let me check you out. I don't want you to end up like Solan."
"Bones, can't you just bring your scanners down here?"
"Fine. Why are you hiding in here?"
"Because I want to rest and I don't want that admiral staring me down."
"What do you want me to tell him if he asks where you are?"
"Tell him you don't know where I am."
"That would be lying to an admiral."
"Tell him I'm resting."
Bones shook his head. "I'm going to get a scanner. I'll be right back."
Bones left there and went back to the medical bay. Before he went in, someone said, "Doctor McCoy!"
Bones looked around to see Admiral Simmons coming that way. He stood at attention as the admiral approached. He glared at Bones. "Where's Admiral Kirk?" he asked.
"He's…resting, Sir," Bones replied.
"In the medical bay?"
"No, Sir."
"Then, where?"
"Uh, he's waiting for me to bring a medical scanner, Sir. He was injured in a brawl with that bounty hunter."
"Injured? Why hasn't he already been seen to?"
"Well, Sir, I don't know."
"Have the two of you always been this lax in protocol?"
"No, Sir."
"I'll just go with you to treat him."
Bones thought that would be the last thing Jim would want. "I'll get my equipment, Sir," he said.
"You do that," Admiral Simmons replied.
Bones went into the medical bay. He did not like feeling like he was being reprimanded like a kid. He wanted to talk to Admiral Winston about this situation. At least he listened when someone talked to him. He grabbed a medical kit and blew out a deep breath before he went back out into the corridor.
"Lead on, Doctor," Simmons said.
Bones went on down the corridor, wondering what that admiral would think of Jim borrowing a bunk in the barracks…but it was not like he had quarters assigned here. He supposed Jim did not want to create any sort of fuss. They entered the barracks, finding only one ensign there now. He jumped to attention when he saw Admiral Simmons. "At ease," he said as he walked by.
Bones led Simmons down the hallway to the bunk where Jim lay sleeping. "Well, wake him up, Doctor," Simmons said in his usual brusque way.
Bones was beginning to wonder if he ever talked any other way. He sat down on the bunk. "Jim, wake up," he said.
Jim was a little startled, but when he looked up to see Admiral Simmons standing there, he almost knocked Bones off the bed getting up. He also bumped his head on the edge of the other bed, but he stood at attention. "Admiral Simmons, Sir," he said.
Simmons just stood there a moment, and reluctantly said, "At ease, Kirk."
Jim relaxed slightly. "I was just getting some sleep, Sir. Were you looking for me?"
"As a matter of fact, I was. I haven't seen anything come across my desk from you concerning this incident that almost destroyed my space station!"
"I didn't realize you wanted that right away, Sir."
Jim knew this admiral got pleasure out of giving punishment tasks for what he thought was insubordination or being "lax". He thought he would get even more pleasure out of making him do something.
"You know what, Kirk?" Simmons asked. "I've always wished I could have you under my command for just a little while. You know we heard about your antics all the way out here, and I couldn't believe you were given command of a ship. Admiral Marcus must have been insane…but I do know it was Admiral Pike who thought so highly of you because of the heroics of your father. I'd have taken you and molded you into something better."
Bones was scanning Jim while Simmons talked. He intended to contact Admiral Winston when he got out of here. He knew they could not help the situation. Jupiter Station had been the closest place for them to bring a prisoner. Simmons had no idea what all they had been through in deep space, and Jim had been the leader to get them through it.
Simmons continued to scold and ridicule Jim until Bones finished his scan. "Well, how is your patient?" Simmons asked.
"He has a lot of bruises," Bones replied. "He also has a cracked rib. I'm taking him to the medical bay for treatment."
"When you're well enough, I want you in my office, Kirk."
"Yes, Sir," Jim said.
Bones grabbed Jim's arm and they headed for the medical bay. "Bones, I don't feel like I have a cracked rib," Jim whispered.
"You don't," Bones whispered.
"You lied?"
"I was getting you out of there. Besides, you have some other injuries that I need to take care of."
"Bones, why did you lie?"
"Because I felt like it. I'm contacting Admiral Winston while you're being treated."
Jim thought he would love to talk to Admiral Winston right about now. He lay down on a medical bed as Bones was collecting the equipment he needed. "So, what other injuries do I have?" Jim asked. "I don't feel sick, Bones. I just feel tired."
"Yeah, well, if you…"
Jim did not hear the rest of Bones' mumbling as he turned to grab a medical instrument. "What?" he asked.
Bones turned back to him. "You got kicked in the groin, didn't you?"
Jim frowned. "Yeah."
"Well, hold still."
Jim lay still. "Is it that bad?" he asked.
"If you wanta keep making little Kirks, I suggest you stay still."
Jim stared at the ceiling. "I think Admiral Simmons hates me," he said.
"No," Bones said sarcastically. "You're kidding."
"Alright, Bones. You don't have to be so sarcastic. I'm surprised he didn't relieve you of duty and refuse to let you work in this medical bay."
"I'm a doctor, Jim. Whether I get kicked out of Starfleet or not, I'm still a doctor."
Bones finally finished with the treatment. "You know if you get up, you have to go to his office," he said.
"Bones, I might as well go on and get it over with," Jim replied. "Am I okay now?"
"Yeah."
Jim got off the bed. "How is Solan?"
"He'll be alright," Bones said. "I've got him sedated right now so he'll rest instead of worrying about everything."
"I'll see you later."
Bones watched Jim leave. He did not know why Admiral Simmons despised Jim, but it was clear that he did.
