"Captain," Uhura greeted him as Jim exited the turbo and made his way to the Command Chair. "Starfleet Command has been requesting I put you on visual as soon as you arrive." Although she tried to look upbeat, he could sense a foreboding in Uhura's placid features. She was concerned about Ambassador McCale's threats.
Mr. Spock rose from the command chair and moved aside, going back to the Science Station without a word except a nod. Yet, Jim could feel that his Science Officer hoped for the best solution to the problem. It was not Spock's way to offer comfort, still his nod meant that he too hoped for Starfleet's approval.
"Put him on visual, Lt."
"Yes, Captain."
The viewscreen filled with Ambassador Nagasaki's Asian features. "Captain Kirk. We've been trying to reach you for a while now. Lt. Uhura tells me there's been some type of interference with the planet Mavaro. It took us awhile here to get through, but I wanted to personally speak with you. Ambassador McCale has made some accusations and of course, we got word about your deal with King Hescate regarding the free shipping."
Jim sat back and stiffened himself, preparing for anything. Although he'd rather not lose the Enterprise, maybe it was the answer about Jamie. If he had to take a desk job, if he still had a home with Starfleet, he could have Jamie with him anyway. Maybe.
"King Hescate has been most enthusiastic about your offer of the free shipping. While our Shipping Department has estimated this will be a costly giveaway, it will also reap considerable profits in the long run. The King has gotten many of the planets in this quadrant to contact Federation Shipping, even several who had originally gotten contracts with the Altrusians. . ." Ambassador Nagasaki chuckled, his inscrutable Asian face beaming. "While we can't give all of them six months, we have been able to negotiate deals of lesser time which have been accepted. In the long run, the profits and the peaceful negotiations we will gain will be immense. Good work, Captain Kirk!"
Around him, Jim could feel a collective exhale of relief in his bridge crew. He tried, without much success, to manage a modest show of pride. Suddenly, feeling as if the weight of the galaxy had been lifted from his shoulder, he couldn't stop grinning like a fool. So, despite Ambassador McCale's threats, he hadn't lost the Enterprise. "Well, um . . . thank you, Ambassador." To be honest, he knew he had to let Starfleet know he hadn't planned the shipping deal. "It wasn't exactly anything I planned, Sir. I'm sure you've heard about the circumstances with my daughter on Mavaro."
The Ambassador nodded.
Fumbling a little with the story, Jim's hand played across the arm of the command chair as he tried to still the frenetic beating of his heart. "Offering the shipping was a bribe to get her safe release. I'm sure . . . as Ambassador McCale has told you . . . having the children along has made things a little more . . . difficult in our dealings with Mavaro. The Children in Space program has encountered more than a little . . ." I'm repeating myself and why do I feel as if I have sweat pouring from my forehead?
On the viewscreen, the Ambassador waved a hand in a so-what gesture. "No explanations necessary, Captain. I've heard McCale's rumblings as have the other Federation Council members. He speaks for no one but himself. That old bag of hot air!"
Behind him, Uhura stifled a rather undignified snort of laughter.
"He's always got a complaint about something." The Ambassador continued. "I've learned to take him with a grain of space dust. The Federation is aware of the whole story and despite your mishaps recently, we believe the Children in Space program is certainly worth keeping. There are bound to be bumps in the road getting started, but it should all even out one day. We are quite pleased at the number of new enlistments since children are allowed to accompany their parents. Again, excellent work, Captain. This idea will have far-reaching ramifications for the good."
Jim nodded in what he hoped was an acknowledgement of the Ambassador's faith in him. At the same time he wondered if this would also reflect badly for Jamie if she went back to Earth. He'd learned from having George Kirk as a father that sometimes having a hero for a dad made life difficult for the child. "Um . . . thank you."
"I trust your daughter is no worse the wear for her recent kidnapping by Lt. Varoom? We will, of course, have Security personnel at the Denali Base to take him into custody when you arrive."
"Jamie is . . . um, recovering."
"Excellent! I'd say you and your daughter have earned some free time. When was the last time you had shore leave?" Ambassador Nagasaki asked.
"Shore leave? Well, I . . . I'm not sure."
Behind him Spock interrupted in a murmur, "I believe it has been five months, three weeks and fourteen days, for the record."
"Thank you for clarifying, Mr. Spock. Jim, take some before you leave Mavaro. Your daughter would love the fun park, I'm sure. It's renowned across the galaxy. And Captain, when you reach the Denali Base send Ambassador McCale tottering home. We had thought that allowing him to handle the shipping deals would keep him out of our hair for a while. However, it appears he can make his grievances heard across the galaxy. Perhaps a desk job . . . in the East . . "
With that hopeful thought, the Ambassador closed the transmission.
On the bridge, the crew reacted with a loud burst of applause! Spock appeared at his side; his eyebrow raised in a reflective gesture. "It would seem," he said, "as if once again everything has worked out to your advantage, Captain. Your . . ." for a second he seemed at a loss for words as he searched his mind for a fit tribute, "your gamble to offer the Mavaronians free shipping was a success."
"And don't forget that the Children in Space program is safe," Uhura commented. "Captain, permission to contact Mr. Scott to let him know how the conversation went. He was concerned about his nephew's future aboard the Enterprise."
"Certainly, Lt. Why not a general announcement. I'm sure a lot of the crew are wondering."
While Uhura happily related the announcement over the ship's central communications line, Spock leaned over to ask, "And will you be taking Jamie to the planet as the Ambassador wished? May I remind you that you are long overdue for shore leave, Captain."
"I don't know. Jamie . . ." he left the thought unfinished and stood up. "You have the com, Mr. Spock. I'll be in . . . my quarters." He had some serious thinking to do and he needed quiet.
"Very well, Captain."
#####
Although he planned to think, once in his quarters Jim could do nothing but sit in the chair that had once been his father's. Absentmindedly running his hand along the leather arms, he tried to imagine the Enterprise without Jamie onboard. A future without her presence . . . it was startling bleak.
After a while he noticed a green light blinking on his personal computer. He got up and went to retrieve the message. Anticipating it to be from Bones, he was startled to hear instead his mother's recorded voice. It was Skymail without the video and filled with cracks, pops and interspace static. When he thought of the light years between Mavaro and Camaroon's Folly, Jim was surprised the message had gotten through at all.
In between the interstellar interference, Winona Kirk's commanding voice rang through loud and clear, beginning with the use of his whole name. A ploy that had turned his young knees to jelly when he'd been caught in mischief as a child. "James Tiberius Kirk! What's this I hear about you planning to send Jamie back to Earth?"
And which of my 'friends' put that bug in your ear?
"Surely not! Jamie needs to be with you now. Not years from now when you retire from Starfleet, if you ever do. I don't care what you have to do to keep her on the Enterprise, Jim, but you make sure you do. Jamie's been fatherless too long. Don't deny her both parents. Winona out."
He stood for a second longer, his thoughts a million miles away. The sharp whistle of an incoming communication brought him back to his senses. "Kirk, here."
"Jim, looks like Jamie's going to be coming out of the sedative in a couple of minutes now."
"I'll be right there." And I wish I knew what decision I was going to make.
#####
Jamie woke up, frightened at all the scary thoughts crowding into her mind. The inside of her mouth felt as dry as space dust and every part of her hurt. Her arms and legs ached; even her head felt like something must have sat on it. Sitting up, she clutched the edge of the sheet and blinked her eyes at the bright lights.
"You're all right," Dr. McCoy was there by the bed, handing her a cup of water. "Drink this and you'll feel better."
Suspicious about that, Jamie stared at the yellow cup. "Will it make me go to sleep again?" She glared up at him, not quite forgiving him for that old hypo. Jamie itched the place on her neck that still hurt from that. Doctors tried to pretend like they didn't hurt -not like in the ancient times when they stuck people with needles - but Jamie knew better. "'Cause I'm not drinking it."
On the other side of the bed she heard a laugh and turned to see Daddy smiling at her. "I think she's figured you out, Bones."
Dr. McCoy didn't act angry. Smiling, he held the cup out and said, "It's just plain water with a little cherry flavoring. Promise."
"Go ahead and drink it, honey."
Not real sure, but so thirsty she had to drink something, Jamie took the cup and drank. It did taste like cherry and that could hide a lot of nasty stuff. But, it didn't make her feel one bit sleepy, just better.
"See." Dr. McCoy chuckled as she handed him the cup. "I'll leave you two alone," he nodded to Daddy.
Suddenly, Jamie didn't know where to look. She thought maybe Daddy would be awful mad about her getting in another shuttle. Maybe he would start hollering and tell her she had to go back home. Jamie wasn't sure how she felt about that. Even though she missed Gramma and Iowa, a tiny spot in her heart already ached when she thought about having to go back to Earth. Maybe Daddy had to be the Captain most of the time on the ship, but she still got to see him. If I went home, it might be years and years before I saw Daddy again.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." Probably saying that was a good start. He hadn't started hollering yet and . . . Jamie glanced up at him. Daddy was looking down at her, not saying anything. She couldn't tell if he looked mad or not. There wasn't any smile on his face, but he wasn't frowning either. Daddy looked mostly a little . . . sad. "Truly. I told Nanny we had to go to the shuttle deck an' say goodbye to the Ambassador. She didn't want to." Jamie was through getting other people in trouble. "But, I just ran and she had to follow me."
"Why was it so important for you to get there, Jamie?"
"I heard Teacher tell Nanny that the Ambassador might take away the Enterprise . . . because of me being in that jail. He was gonna tell everybody in Starfleet and make you lose your ship." Jamie wiped away a stray tear that trickled out of her eye. "I didn't want you to lose the Enterprise 'cause of me. I wanted to tell him it was my fault and ask him to please not be mad at you."
"Even though you hate the Enterprise second?" Daddy asked and by the teasing in his voice, Jamie felt like maybe she could breathe again. The scary fist around her heart started to open and her insides didn't feel like a bunch of Titan glowbugs were jumping around.
He isn't mad! He isn't going to holler.
Jamie shook her head. If she opened her mouth just then, she knew all the words would come out blubbery like a baby. When she thought maybe she could say the words, she whispered, "I don't think I hate the Enterprise anymore . . . not all the way."
"I'm glad to hear that. And, I have good news for you. I heard from Ambassador Nagasaki awhile ago and there's no danger that I'll lose the Enterprise. No one at the Federation cares what Ambassador McCale says. They think giving King Hescate the free shipping was a very good thing."
Throwing her arms around Daddy's neck, Jamie hugged tight. "I'm so glad! Now I don't have to tell him I'm sorry."
Daddy chuckled way down deep in his chest and the rumbling tickled the cheek Jamie pressed against his shoulder. "Ambassador Nagasaki also said something that concerns you."
This didn't sound good. Maybe the whole Federation was mad at her. Maybe they would make her go back to Earth and leave the Children in Space program. The thought made her feel awful hollow inside, like at the end of Christmas vacation when you had to go back to school. Like everything good and fun was over forever. "I . . .Is he mad at me?"
"No." Daddy answered gently and pressed his forehead to hers so she could look straight into his hazel eyes. "In fact, he said that while we're here on Mavaro, you and I should go on shore leave together. The Ambassador thought you might enjoy the fun park. Would you? We can stay a couple of days."
That old place! Jamie thought back to her last visit there and shuddered. Even the thought of riding the ride Javik called wicked fun didn't interest her. But Daddy thought she wanted to go and she would have him to herself. "I . . . guess . . . if you do, Daddy."
Maybe Daddy had to go to make old King Hescate happy.
"That doesn't sound like a very enthusiastic response." Daddy smiled. "I'm sure the Ambassador thought you might enjoy it, and you did miss your chance to go with the other children onboard."
Biting the edge of her lip, Jamie worked up the courage to tell him the truth. She leaned around and whispered in his ear. "Do we have to go there?"
"Certainly not. We can go anywhere you'd like or nowhere at all. There are some nice moons near Mavaro. One has a climate like the Rocky Mountains . . . we` could . . ."
"Go camping?" Suddenly, Jamie squealed at all the exciting possibilities. "Could we go camping, Daddy? Please."
Daddy looked happy about her choice too. He gave her an extra squeezy hug and said, "Camping it is. I'll have Yeoman Barrows make the arrangements for us to go down to . . ."
No, no, no, this was not what Jamie wanted. Maybe Daddy saw the worried look on her face because he looked right into her eyes and asked quietly. "What is it you want to do, Jamie? Tell me. We'll do whatever you like."
"Daddy, couldn't we go camping at home? In the field behind the barn where the pond is and the fireflies come out at night . . ."
"I'm sorry, honey, but we're light years away from . . . how would we . . ." Daddy started to say, looking worried and sad at the same time, until his mind figured it out. A big understanding grin spread across his face. "Ah, the Holo Room . . ." He gave her another hug and a giant kiss, pulled her out of the bed and took her hand. "That sounds like the best idea I've heard in a long time!"
Jamie felt so happy her heart bumped in skippy jumps inside. We're going camping! Just me an' Daddy.