Tony Stark sat in a restaurant on Pacifica wondering what he was going to do. He did not know how they got to the time he was in now, and he did not know how to get back where he belonged. He supposed he had time to think about it while he stayed with his new friends on their incredible star ship. He thought maybe they had some insight into the matter, but they had been occupied with worry about their friend whose life was hanging in the balance. He knew he could use a science lab to try and figure out his dilemma. It had already been offered, and Justin Hammer was in a Federation prison on this world. He hoped he stayed there, but he thought he might have to go and talk to him about how they actually got to this time…but then again, he also knew that Hammer most likely did not care about going back to his own time.

Jim walked into the restaurant and saw Tony sitting alone, so he walked over to his table. "You expecting someone?" he asked.

"No," Tony replied. "Have a seat."

Jim sat down. "I suppose you're trying to figure out how to get back to your own time."

"I am."

"Any ideas?"

"Not yet. I don't know exactly how we got here. I was knocked out so I don't know what happened."

"I think we have some readings on the Enterprise that might help you. We picked up some strange activity and it wasn't long after that we found you. I don't know how the ship was not right there with you but, maybe it was flung further or something."

"Maybe. How did you find me?"

"We went to the place where the unusual activity was and then we started picking up your signal…I guess from your suit, and we transported you onto the ship."

"And I woke up in your medical bay." Tony was silent a moment. "We might have to be right there at that same place."

"I'll tell you this, we've been through spacial rifts, and we ended up in another galaxy, probably in another time. We're not sure of that, but…it could have been a rift in time. After all, we're in an alternate time."

"We are?"

"Yeah. It all had to do with red matter, and an older Spock, and Nero. He came through that black hole that caused a rip in time."

Tony just stared at him a moment. "A black hole?"

"Yeah. I guess it was an unusual black hole. Then again, there was this Maw in the other galaxy that had a whole bunch of black holes and…the distorted time in places."

"We didn't encounter a black hole."

"Right. Were you in space?"

"Actually, no. I don't know why I would have ended up in space."

"That's strange, but I'm glad we found you."

Tony leaned on the table. "I need a lab," he said.

"You can use the science lab on the ship, or the holodeck, all you need," Jim replied. "We're heading back to Earth tomorrow."

Tony nodded. "I'll go with you if you don't mind."

"You're welcome to. We'll be leaving in the morning."

"This is a nice planet here."

"Bones and his family live here."

"Is it a nice place to live?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if I end up stuck in this time, I suppose I can go where I want, right?"

"I don't see why not."

Tony realized he had nothing in this day and time. "Alternate time," he said thoughtfully. "Are you saying that your timeline runs along the other timeline?"

"Something like that. You can talk to Spock more about that. He's more of a scientist."

"What if I'm supposed to be in that timeline?"

"I don't know what to tell you."

"I'll work on it and see what I can find out."

"Great."

"Let me ask you something?" Tony asked.

"Go ahead," Jim replied.

"Do you just roam through space with no direction?"

"Not anymore. We were on a deep space mission before, charting space. We were mostly alone then, but we did have missions."

"What's that like? Did you feel alone, scared, lost? How did you stay out there that long?"

"Well, we knew where we'd been and we could get back to a Federation world sometimes, and we would take shore leave. It wasn't like we were out of touch completely."

"I'm not used to being in space. As a matter of fact, it kinda unnerves me."

"Anyway, we'll be leaving tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?"

"I'm waiting for my wife and kids to get here. I left them on Kronos."

"Oh. I forgot that."

"I'll see you later."

Tony nodded. He sat there wondering if he would be stuck in this time. Time. He had not studied much about time travel, but he supposed he would be studying it now because he wanted to get back to his life.

That evening, Carol and the children arrived as Korax brought them from Kronos. "Thank you for bringing them," Jim said.

"You are welcome, my friend," Korax replied.

Jim and Carol kissed and then he picked up Joy. "I missed you," he said, and got a wet baby kiss in return.

They went on into the Enterprise. As they went to warp, Tony was in the science lab where he had been given an office, and Scotty had helped him create a hologram station which he liked much better than what he was using before. He had to figure out how to travel back through time to his own time, and he had to be precise or he could end up in the dinosaur days. Then he would be in worse trouble than here. At least here, they had technology that could help him. He sat in front of his hologram table thinking about time. "I need a GPS," he said. "Only it'll help me find my way through time. Just like a regular GPS, only it knows the map through time." He paused a moment thinking. "Jarvis, display the mobius strip again." He stared at the mobius strip that he had looked at so many times. It looked like nothing more than a ribbon…or almost like an infinity symbol. "Add eigenvalues and singular-value decomp of time."

"This could take a few minutes, Sir," Jarvis replied.

"Take your time. If the eigenvalues are right, we'll be able to see how time is spread out on the matrix, and the singular-value will make calculations to a certain point possible." Tony stood up and stared at the strip as the values were falling into place. "I don't believe it," he whispered.

Just then, someone knocked on the door of his lab. He did not want to be disturbed at the moment, but he supposed he had to answer it. "Enter," he said.

Jim walked in and stopped as he stared at the display. "What is that?" he asked.

Tony did not say anything for a moment. "It's…time."

"Time?"

"Yeah. I think I've figured it out."

"That's…good. How do you intend to use it?"

"I haven't figured that out yet…but I will."

"Well, I'll leave you alone then. Just don't forget to stop and eat once in a while."

"Right."

Tony was not concerned with eating at the moment. He wanted back in his own time. He had to create that GPS he had been thinking about. At least he had materials to create here and technology that was even beyond what he had of his own.

Jim went back to his own quarters where Carol and the children were. "Is he making any progress?" Carol asked.

"He's looking at a mobius strip," Jim said.

"A mobius strip? What does that have to do with time travel?"

"Don't ask me. I've had my fill of time travel."

"Does he think he can get where he wants to go?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"I suppose we'll know soon enough. I'm ready to be back home."

"I think I am too. I'm glad that situation is over except correcting his time travel. I've never met anyone quite like Mister Stark."

"He's quite confident," Carol said.

"I think he has a reason to be."

"Maybe."

"You don't think he's as intelligent as he believes?"

"I don't know. It's kinda hard to get to know him. Maybe he's a little shy."

Jim scowled at that but he could see the amused smile on her face. "You're kidding me," he said.

"Maybe he just has trouble trusting people. I can think of others like that. One in your very own circle of friends."

"I suppose you're right, but right now, I want to spend time with you."

"I can't think of anything better."

"Why don't I just get a babysitter and we can go to the holodeck since the kids are napping?" Jim asked.

"Wouldn't you rather just cuddle?"

"That might be even better."

"Might be?"

Jim smiled as they walked over to the bed. He lay down on the bed and stretched. Carol sat watching him. "You have to stretch out first?" she asked.

"You know me," Jim said. "I have to stretch when I lay down."

Carol lay down beside him. "What do you think Admiral Shapel will do with his prisoners?" she asked.

"I don't know but I think he was happy about us leaving Hammer with him. I think he wants to issue his own punishment."

"He has to return to his time, doesn't he? Do you think they've upset time?"

"I don't know. I have no idea what timeline they came from even," Jim said.

"I hope he can figure it out."

"As determined as he is, I'm sure he can."

"He said something about a GPS when I talked to him this morning."

"You talked to him?" Jim asked.

"Yes. I was curious," Carol said.

"The scientist in you?"

"Yes. His ideas are very interesting. It could have helped us a great deal when we traveled back in time."

"You're right about that."

At around 2am, Jim was awakened by his communicator. He turned over the other way ignoring it. He knew of no reason anyone should be calling him in the middle of the night. He was not the captain. When he was falling back asleep, he heard the door chime.

"Jim, someone's at the door," Carol said sleepily and turned over. "See who it is before they wake the children."

Jim at up as he heard the chime again. He got his pants on, thinking whoever was at that door was going to be cleaning the warp plasma filters. He went to the door and opened it. Tony Stark was there looking wide awake.

"Do you know what time it is on Earth where I come from?" Jim asked.

"No," Tony answered. "But I figured it out."

"Figured what out?"

"Time travel."

"You couldn't have waited till morning to tell me?"

Tony was just a little dumbfounded. "No. Aren't you excited?"

Jim considered that. "Not at two in the morning."

Tony just stood there a moment. "I just told you that I figured out time travel and you don't care?"

"I didn't say I don't care."

"Come on. This is a breakthrough."

Jim rubbed his face. "Okay. Just give me a few minutes. Come in but be quiet. The kids are sleeping."

"Right," Tony whispered.

Tony stood in the sitting room while Jim went to the bedroom. He looked out the portal into space and the warp field. He still felt nervous thinking about being in space. He sat down in a chair to wait. He was not sure what he would be doing just now if he was in his own time.

Jim soon came back. "Okay, let's go to the science lab and you can tell me about this."

They left there and headed down the corridor. "You saw the mobius strip," Tony said.

"Yes," Jim replied.

"It's like an infinity symbol. You can travel around it, but you're gonna come right back to the point you started from."

"Right. So?"

"So, when you divide time on it, you can calculate the time you want to go to."

"Oh. And how are you gonna accomplish this?"

"Well, I'm gonna build a quantum tunnel and a special suit that'll allow me to travel through time."

"What about Hammer?"

"You could always keep him in prison here. I mean, he'll be in jail there anyway."

"How will we know you made it back?"

Tony considered that. "I'll just have to think of something."

"So, you're gonna need a lab on Earth?"

"Yes."

Jim nodded. "I'll see that you have what you need," he said.

"I would pay you, but you know…I don't exist here."

They went into the science lab. As they entered Tony's office, Jim could see the changes that had been made to the mobius strip. Tony showed him the model of the time GPS he intended to build. "It won't take me long at all," he said.

"And you're really confident that you can get where you want to go?" Jim asked.

"It's the only chance I have."

"Like I said, I'll make sure you have what you need."

"Thank you."

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

Tony folded his arms. "What's it like being a father?" he asked.

Jim was surprised by that question. "It's the most wonderful job I've ever had. Even better than being captain of this ship. Why? Are you expecting to be a father?"

"Well, I hope so…eventually. I intend to be the opposite of what my father was. Nothing will be more important."

"You been thinking about that a long time?"

"I guess I've thought I wouldn't be a good father because I don't know how."

"You learn as you go. I never knew my father at all, so I'd say if your father was around and was good to you, you were lucky, even if he wasn't the perfect father."

"Well, he wasn't mean. He was good to my mother."

Jim looked around that office. "You like being in here with no portals?" he asked.

"Seeing out in space kinda makes me nervous," Tony admitted.

"Because of that New York incident?"

Tony nodded. "It just doesn't go away."

"You were pretty brave to go out in space like that with all that anxiety."

"I had to be."

"I guess you should concentrate on that then."

"I'll try."

"If that's all you needed, I'll go back and get some rest. Why don't you get some sleep too? You'll feel more like working tomorrow."

"I suppose you're right. Good night, Admiral."

"Good night."

Four days later, they were back at Earth, and Jim did just what he said he would do and provided Tony a lab in which to work. Later that day, Jim also got a call from Bones on Pacifica letting him know that Ajah was going to recover. Jim was relieved to hear that. "When will he be able to travel?" he asked.

"Another couple of days," Bones said. "He's lucky, Jim. That huge surge almost ruined his own physical electrical system."

"How? I mean, he manipulates electricity all the time."

"Not that much. It's like anything else that uses electricity. If it gets a surge of some sort, it damages it, shuts it down."

"Right."

"So, how's our time traveler?"

"He's trying to figure out how to get back to his own time. He's figured out a GPS for time. Can you believe that?"

"Are you sure that'll work?"

"I don't have to be sure. He's the one going."

"Are you gonna let him do it?"

"I don't have authority to stop him. Just let Ajah know that I'm looking forward to having him back on Earth."

"Will do."

Jim ended that call. He thought of the risk Tony was going to take, but he supposed they had taken a risk when they went on a five year mission in deep space not knowing where they were going too.

Three days later, Tony called Jim to come and see what he had done. Jim was surprised to see a contraption in the lab. "So, you're gonna ride this thing through time?" he asked.

"Yeah," Tony answered. "And I need Spock to help me. He can operate this for me. I'll teach him everything about it."

"I'll let him know. I'm sure he won't mind helping you."

"Great. I'll make sure I send something back to let you know I made it."

The next morning, Spock was there, and had learned everything he needed to know to operate the "time machine". Tony was wearing his Ironman suit, along with the GPS. Spock was not sure about this situation, but he thought Tony was very confident, so he agreed to help him. He stepped into the machine and took a deep breath. "Well, here goes nothing," he said with his voice enhanced through the mask.

"Good luck," Spock said.

Jim was there as well and he watched as Tony disappeared from the circle he stood in. "Well, I guess that's that," he said.

"I do hope he made it where he wished to be," Spock replied.

Just then, the machine lit up again, and something appeared in the middle. Jim walked over and picked it up. He got out of the machine quickly, not wanting it to suddenly whisk him off to another time. "It looks like a helmet from his suit," he said as they examined it.

"I believe it has a message, Admiral," Spock said as he flipped a switch.

A hologram of Tony appeared. "Hi," he said. "I hope this is reaching you at a good time. I told you I'd figure out a way to let you know I made it back home. I also wanted to introduce you to my family." A woman, whom Jim and Spock had never seen, stepped into the hologram and was holding a baby. "This is my wife, Pepper, and our baby girl, Morgan," Tony went on. "I'm glad to know the future has good people like you in it. Good luck. Oh, and just so you know, you've helped us in more ways than one."

The hologram disappeared. Jim and Spock looked at each other. "That was very nice," Spock said.

"I'm glad he made it," Jim replied. "What do we do with this machine now? I don't think it's a good thing to have around."

"Nor do I, Jim. I suppose we could dismantle it."

"What if we need it later on, or what if he needs it?"

"Jim, disturbing the timeline is not a good idea for any reason."

"Right. You take care of this. I'm getting back to my office. Ajah should be home in a day or two."

"That is good news."

"We all survived again."

"Yes, Admiral. We have once again overcome the unexpected."

Jim nodded. "I just hope we don't run into anymore unexpected tragedies for a while."

After two days, Ajah arrived on Earth on a transport. As he walked down the boarding ramp, Jim was waiting for him, as well as Helek, Solan, and Felonia. Ajah smiled. Felonia greeted him with a warm hug and kiss. "I'm so glad you're here," she said.

"I'm glad to be here," Ajah replied.

Helek hugged him as well. "I was sure worried about you, Brother," he said.

"I had to do it."

"I know."

Jim was standing beside Helek. "You were very brave," he said.

Ajah stood at attention. "It's good to see you again, Sir."

"At ease. I'm afraid you're on the docket to receive a medal."

"I don't need a medal."

"Well, you're getting one anyway. You almost died trying to save that station." Jim frowned. "I didn't mean to send you into something like that."

"I would do it again, Sir."

"I'm glad you're back cause I would hate to try and replace you."

Ajah smiled. "It would be impossible."

They all laughed. "I think he developed a sense of humor while he was under," Helek declared. "I would have never thought it."

"No one is planning anything for tonight," Felonia informed them. "Ajah and I are having an intimate dinner…alone."

"OOOOh," Helek said. "I wouldn't want to interrupt that."

"Shut up," Ajah replied.

They all laughed as they headed back into Starfleet Headquarters…a whole group once again as one had been restored. Jim had to wonder what Tony Stark meant about their helping them more than they knew, but he supposed he would never know unless there was some future message in the works…