It didn't take long to get Jim back into the bed and situated. Owen looked around the room. "One day the good doctor needs to tell us what all of the numbers and squiggly lines mean."

Len continued to look at the screens. "Truth is they don't mean anything. But if I look at them thoughtfully it makes me look extremely intelligent." Len moved some small piece of equipment as he continued his study.

"I got news for you cuz, it ain't working." Owen flopped in the chair they had put next to the bed.

Jim studied both of the men, but his gaze settled on the younger man in the chair. "It's all right Owen, we humor him all the time. It's good to give the doc a boost of confidence. You know with his limited intellect…" Just then Len stabbed him in the neck with a hypo spray. "HEY!"

"Vitamins asshole, you need them." He turned to Owen, brandishing the hypo. "Have anything else to say."

"Nope, not a fucking thing, best doctor in the universe. Jim, I think I need to see if Roar needs any help with...with anything." Laughing he left the two alone. Owen knew they needed time to talk, but it was fun ganging up on Len. It gave the three of them a fleeting sense of normalcy.

"Bones?" Jim sounded tentative, nervous.

Len was studying the readings. Everything still looked good. "I know you were kidding."

"Not that. All kidding aside, how do things look?"

McCoy turned from the screens put down the bed's side rail, and sat next to Jim. "All kidding aside? Some of your readings are better than they were before you died." The last word was hard for the doctor to say, but Jim didn't flinch. "The muscle weakness should subside with PT and then walking will come. Eventually you should be back to your old self." He was looking into Jim's eyes. "That is the physical; physically you should make a complete recovery."

"No sign of the radiation poisoning?"

"None. Plus, your eyesight may have improved and the mild astigmatism seems to be gone."

"Anything else?"

"The gene for male pattern baldness has been turned off."

"It wasn't turned off before?" Jim's eyes grew wide as his eyebrows jumped.

Len snickered. "Nope."

"When were you going to tell me?"

"When your hair started to thin." The sideways grin seemed cemented to his face.

"Is yours turned on?"

"No, it isn't." Now he was laughing. "I didn't think it mattered."

Jim took a deep breath. "I guess it really doesn't. So, if I can walk with a walker I can get out of here?"

"Yes, but don't push it. If you do you could put your recovery back a week or more. We all want you back home but at the correct pace. I've set up a physical therapist from Taccoa to come to the farm."

Jim was playing with the edge of the sheet, staring at it as if it were the most complicated piece of equipment on the Enterprise. "Do they know?"

"Does who know what?"

"The town, do they know what happened."

"I'm sure they do. All the federation knows." Jim looked even more lost. "Nice thing about Taccoa, no one will give a shit."

"I just want to be Jimmy."

"You will be. But you know the ladies are going to want to take care of their boy. I think they are happiest when they are making a fuss. Remember when 42 hurt Pavel. Not much more than a good cut, but they fussed over him for a week."

"Do you think Mrs. Volpe would make that Italian wedding soup with the tiny meatballs?"

"I think she will if you ask. You know how she loves you. You won her heart when you fixed her hover craft in the middle of that hurricane."

"It was easy. I just got wet, no big deal. She taught me how to make lasagna the Neapolitan way."

"I remember, and those amazing meatballs. Jim, you can do this, you can come back."

"Can I?"

"You can. But I think you need to be home." Len stood up. "I've given it some thought. If your readings hold you can leave before you're walking. We can work on things back home. I'll have the ortho call the PT and have things set up. The eval. has been done and trust me the PT here would be more than happy to turn you over to them. But you have to promise me one thing."

"What is that?"

"No torturing the PT back home. If you do, you can go to Emory and be an inpatient."

Jim chuckled. "I promise, but I bet you are going to have either Mama or Kat at my secessions."

"Yep, or Sarah."

"Oh shit! I promise, I'll be good." He was smiling, really smiling. "Bones, thank you."

Len went to the comm panel as Jim drifted off to sleep. He commed the PT on Doyle St. in Tacoma. They agreed to have one of their more experienced therapists come to the farm three times a week to start. He explained how Jim could be and the office manager decided the new people would not be a good fit.

The doctor was sitting in the chair alternating between his reports and watching a sleeping Jim when the comm went off with a code he didn't recognize. "Dr. Leonard McCoy." He stepped over to the wall with the readouts and turned his back to the bed, hoping he wouldn't wake Jim.

A woman's voice Len didn't recognize greeted him from the other end. "Hello, I was wondering about James Kirk. How is he doing?"

Len was confused. His code wasn't public but the woman on the screen looked vaguely familiar. Someone in medical must have given her his business code. "I'm sorry ma'am, you have me at a disadvantage. I don't know who you are."

"Oh, I am sorry, I thought they told you. I'm Jim's mother Winona."

"Good afternoon. Unfortunately, I cannot give you that information."

"But I'm his mother, his next of kin."

"You are his mother, but you are not on his list of people to notify in case of emergency."

"But I thought…"

"Ma'am…"

"It's doctor."

Len smirked at her obvious feelings of inferiority and lack of control. "Alright, doctor, you are not on my list of contacts with regards to the patient's condition."

He heard her sigh. Len would have felt bad for her if he didn't know Jim's background. "Doctor McCoy, I want to know if I need to come to see my son, or if he is doing better and I don't have to leave here. I have a very important meeting tomorrow."

"He will be in his home soon."

"Where is that?"

"I would think that a mother would know where her son calls home." McCoy's exasperation was beginning to show through his professional mask. "You don't have to inconvenience yourself. He has his family here. He is loved and cared for by them." Len shut down the communication before he lost his temper.

Kirk shifted in bed, feigning sleep. Len didn't realize his conversation had been overheard. Jim had stopped expecting anything from his mother years before. As a small boy he would cry for her, those tears were long dry. Len had told her his family was here, that he was loved. He was loved. These years with the McCoys and then his family on the Enterprise, and in Georgia, had given him a feeling in his soul that he had never known before. If coming to care for him was a chore for her, his true family saw it as normal. In his family it was a privilege to care for one another.

Funny, Charlie had congratulated him when he graduated and when he got the Enterprise. He checked in periodically and Jim would check in on him. They were brothers but they weren't close, and it wasn't just because they were physically light years apart. They cared about each other, but had grown apart and neither had enough in common with the other to want to try to close the gap. Charlie had married Aurelan while Jim was still in the Academy; he had taken Cal to the wedding. They had three sons Jim had never met. His brother and sister-in-law- were biologist with the Daestrum institute and had been sent to Deneva to study the indigenous animal life. He and his family had thankfully left Deneva before the parasites arrived. He would comm him when they got home.

Len took a deep breath as he leaned on the shelf. Even with his eyes closed he could see her face; the look of indifference regarding her youngest written in her eyes. He had seen Winona at a conference on interspecies relations. He recognized her immediately. She looked like the picture Jim had unceremoniously thrown in his desk drawer at the farm. The woman charmed the room with her smile and superficial conversation. Len talked to her for a few minutes, he wanted a feel for who she was. In those minutes he learned all he needed to know. She had all the charm of her youngest, with none of the heart. She was calculating behind a beautifully crafted façade. No wonder she had advanced so quickly in the federation. Len had met her many times before; different eyes, different face, but the same person. Jim didn't need the stress of having her near him, not now.

McCoy heard the bed creak as Jim turned over. Len wanted him to sleep. Later he would draw more blood and run it through the scans he had set up. He wanted him out of the antiseptic environment and back in a building where he didn't have to worry about anyone's motives. The doctor in him knew Jim would lash out, accuse them all of things that occurred only in his head. He would need to sit down with Jo. She wasn't prepared for what was to come.

Kat walked into the room. "I heard that the patient has been giving the staff a hard time."

"A very hard time." He looked down at the 'sleeping' form in the bed. "It is his anxiety."

"And he needs control of something." The comm on the shelf started to blink. Kat nodded towards it. "They are going to say they need him in half an hour for a PT secession." Len's eyebrow shot up. "They commed your personal code. Owen answered they thought it was you. He had them going for awhile before Lena grabbed it from him. I think that might be them."

McCoy sighed as he answered. They were coming for the first real secession. The PT had recommended they start that day after he went over his initial evaluation. Truth be told, he most likely wanted the captain out from under his care as soon as possible. "Kat are you staying for that."

"Absolutely. He won't argue as long as I'm here."

"I'll leave when they get here. I want to talk to Jo before she spends the night with Jim."

"She's with Pavel, something about playing Go."

"Oh, that should be interesting." The half hour passed quickly. Len kissed Kat on the cheek and left before the PT got to the room. He didn't want to be there when they woke Jim up. With just Kat there, Jim wouldn't be tempted to argue about the exercises.

It was early evening when the doctor entered the bungalow. Seri had gone to the civilian hospital and was still there. Cal was helping with dinner. The men were cleaning up the den and dining area, each arguing about where things should go and how the table should be set up for dinner. Pavel and Jo were tucked in the far corner. A small table held the Go board. Jo sat cross legged on her chair as Pavel leaned over the board, fingers tangled in his hair. "No, Jo, I don't see it."

"Don't see what kid?"

"I don't see how this move is going to block her next one."

Len laughed and moved one of Pavel's white pieces to the middle. "There, now you at least have a chance. Turtle, I need to talk to you about something." Her brow furrowed. "You're not in any trouble. We just need to talk about somethings before your uncle comes home."

"Alright dad." She smiled at Pavel, moved her next piece, then stood to leave with her dad.

Pavel tangled both of his hands in his hair as he leaned back into the chair, eyes never leaving the board. Len put on his best doctor mask as he fought back the laughter. "Can I borrow Jo for a bit?"

"Keep her as long as you want. Chert!" His eyes didn't leave the board as father and daughter retreated to the outside porch bench.

Jo was giggling as they sat down. "He hates to lose. Go is almost the opposite of chess, strategy wise that is. It drives him crazy."

"I should never have taught you that game." He smiled as he moved a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I need to talk to you about what might go on with uncle Jim."

"I know, he might get angry or be sad for no reason."

"Yes, there is more baby. I know your uncle. He can get cruel when he feels cornered or powerless. Jo, he won't mean it, especially when it comes to you. It is best, just for now, that you don't fight back. Tell one of us and we'll deal with it."

"I don't mind fighting my own battles." She seemed determined to handle things on her own.

"I know baby, and you know I love that about you. This is a little different. With what he's going through, you trying to handle it could make the situation worse. Uncle Jim has been through a great deal of trauma."

"Because he died?"

"That and other things; he is having a hard time processing all of it. Does that make sense?" Len needed her to understand so she would do as she was asked. Joanna had a habit of defying them if they didn't giver her reasons for their decisions or requests.

"Yes. Grandma told me about PTSD and what it could mean."

"You should ask her about GAD as well. That might come in handy for later." His smile was soft as he willed his daughter to truly understand what could happen if she didn't comply with his request. "You know how much your uncle loves you?"

"Yes?"

"You know he never wants to hurt you?"

"Yes?"

"But you understand what all of this could mean?"

"I do. I'll come to one of you if he says anything mean or yells." She looked sincere as she took her dad's hand.

"Do you think he'll get better?"

"He will baby. But it won't happen overnight. With us there to help him, he'll get better."

"He wouldn't hit me, would he?"

Len knew that wouldn't be an issue except during a nightmare. When stressed Jim tended to lash out verbally, not physically. "No baby. He has nightmares, and I don't want you waking him if you see him having one. If you do you could get hit."

"Is that why you wanted Aunt Seri with me tonight."

"Yes, Uncle Jim requested it and I agreed. She knows how to handle him if that happens."

"Maybe I shouldn't go."

He didn't want Jo to be afraid of her uncle. Jim would move past this, there was no reason for her to be afraid of him. "No baby. He loves you so much and there is no reason to be afraid of him. If Aunt Seri asks you to stand back, just do that. Jo, I just wanted you to understand what is happening and what to expect."

"I promise to listen to you dad. I won't argue with him…for now."

He kissed her on the forehead. "Don't worry, it won't be for long."

"You'll let me know when it's over."

"I have a feeling he will. Now go decimate Pavel." She kissed her dad on the cheek before running into the den. Seri came walking up the steps. "I thought you were going to rest."

She sat next to him. "I just want to help. Things are calming down so far as my skills are concerned." She curled into his side.

"Want to come with me for a walk?"

She knew what he was up to. "Really?"

"I always wanted to try it. I know it's a cliché, but I've never done it there."

"Not even with Joce?"

"No, Jo was small so we didn't have an opportunity."

"Alright Dr. McCoy." They headed to medical.

The elevator opened onto Jim's floor. All of the rooms on this part of the hall were vacant. And the doors at both ends were locked. He drug Seri into the second patient room and locked the door. "Come here." Without releasing her hand, he pulled her over to the windows. "Take off your clothes." He took off his shirt.

"No romance, a little champagne, soft music, roses scattered on the bed…"

"Take off your clothes." He kicked off his shoes.

"Alright." She stripped, even taking the ribbon out of her hair so the blonde waves fell down her back and around her face. "Better?"

"Much." Len knew all of the windows were one way. No matter what was put against them no one outside could see in. He pushed her against the window, tongue in her mouth and fingers in her before she knew what was happening. Her arms flew around his neck as her left leg hooked around his hip. He wanted her to cum with the entire world watching.

She started to push herself on to his fingers harder and faster. Her walls were pulsing hard almost crushing his fingers, then she tumbled over the edge. Even as she was cumming she wanted more; it wasn't enough. Seri pulled off of him and sunk to her knees. He was sticking straight up as clear liquid dripped out of his cock to leave glistening streaks down his cock to his balls. His taste was an aphrodisiac to the Betazoid. Her tongue licked the liquid from the tip as she groaned her approval. "Open your eyes Imzadi. Let the world see us. Watch them as they see you in me. I want them to see us."

Seri didn't talk dirty often, but when she did it was always at the exact right moment. She knew how to play him; how to say exactly what he wanted to hear. Len opened his eyes. He could see across the quad. It was still a little light. People looked up at the building as they approached the steps. Len pretended they could see them. He let his mind play the fantasy that they were on display for all of the Academy to see. He would show them how it's done. He would show them how to fuck.

Just then she took him all the way to his balls. "Fuck!" As she swallowed her throat constricted about him. Long fingers tangled in her hair as he leaned back slightly, his back arched forward making it easier to see her lips wrapped around his dick. People continued to look up to the window. Suddenly he felt her groan around him. The vibration pushed him closer to his edge. Instinctually he pushed deep into her mouth, his thrusts matching hers. Without warning he came hard, spilling down her throat.

Seri managed to swallow all of it. Carefully she pulled off him. Len was catching his breath when Seri noticed his hard on, it hadn't gone down. He grabbed her again. Breasts pressed against his chest. This fantasy had played in his head since he was an intern; he and his lover in the hospital. A wall of windows was a bonus. Now he couldn't come down. It took less than a minute to back her to the bed. This time she took charge. "No, I want you on the bottom."

As he moved around her to climb on the bed, he turned on the monitors. When he laid down, the bed betrayed his excitement; heart rate, 110. "Come here."

Seri climbed on top of him. In a moment her was in her and his heart rate went to 115. She started to rock, pushing him in and out of her until his hands grabbed her hips. He helped her speed up, her clit rubbing against his pelvis. Len loved to watch his fiancé lose control. Her head fell back causing her hair to brush against his legs. She rode him, tightening her legs the same way she did when she rode Cince across the dusty. She screamed as her walls locked around his dick. It wasn't long before Len joined her; screaming his release as he arched his back off the bed.

Slowly she slid off of him to rest at his side. McCoy turned to her. Tiny slender fingers traced his hairline as sweat was pushed away. "I could get used to your multiple orgasms."

Len smiled as he kissed her palm. "They are nice, but I wouldn't get too used to them."

"I know. We should probably strip the bed."

"After I'll tell housekeeping I took a nap in here."

"That works. Did this live up to your fantasy."

"It surpassed it. How about you."

"I never had a hospital fantasy, but I did enjoy the windows."

"Oh, a bit of an exhibitionist." His finger traced a path from her neck down to her sternum.

"Only a little." She kissed him on the nose. We need to get cleaned up."

"We still have a little time." He pulled her to him, resting his half hard dick between her legs. Normally they didn't have sex this often, but almost dying changed things. Both of them needed to feel alive.

Jo was ready to leave for the hospital when Len and Seri returned to the bungalow. "Dad, should I take my nightgown?"

"It would be more comfortable then sleeping in your clothes."

She smiled, ran back to her room then came out with her bag and the Go game. "Night daddy."

Len kissed his baby. "Goodnight Turtle." It might be a very long night but her trusted Seri to handle anything that might happen.