Hi! I am sooooo sorry that I've been remiss in writing lately. Please forgive me by writing a review! I hope this chapter was worth the wait. It's a bit longer and (as always) un-beta'd so I apologize for mistakes. Thank you so very much for reading! I absolutely love hearing your opinions so please let me know what you think. It's going to start getting more interesting now that things are moving along.
Tishbing
Chapter Seven
It felt like he was drowning. The struggle to claw through the darkness was overwhelming and hands tried pulling him back into the abyss of sleep. A steady beeping was his anchor that helped pull him out of it. Waking with a gasp, McCoy's eyes darted around his room. Nothing seemed different but he was very tired. It was like a fog had clouded around him making him sluggish and slow.
Instinctively, he felt the space next to him and was surprised to find it cold and empty, clearly had been empty for a while. Jim had been gone for a while. Hitting the alarm, McCoy got up, his neck protesting the movement. Must've slept funny. He decided.
Going into the living room, he spied Jim sitting at the kitchen table. Her hair was back to it's customary length with it half up, half down secured with a glittering red barett. She was frowning at a PADD and sipping coffee, her entire body strung tight as if she was readying herself for a fight.
He'd been seeing more of this version of Jim since she'd come back from Alaska and he didn't like it. Conversation was strained between them and her interactions with their daughter was almost like she was scared. He was used to the easy-going girl that he had known for the past year and a half. He had known her to keep secrets from him before but something was different about this one. It was literally suffocating her and McCoy was starting to reach his limit with allowing Jim to suffer alone and shut him out.
He moved closer, not bothering to approach quietly and when Jim saw him she straightened in her seat. Just what the hell happened to her to make her think of him as the damn enemy? Upon closer inspection, he noticed a new bruise on her left wrist barely hidden under the cuff of her cadet red sleeves. Her face was pale with tiredness but she looked relatively well.
He nodded and went to the small coffee-maker in the kitchenette, grabbing his morning brew. He was going to miss his real coffee but he'd rather not have that luxury than have Jim away from him when something was clearly going on.
Sitting across from her, he watched as she eyed him nervously, tugging on the offending sleeve. "Mind telling me what happened there?"
He could see the calculations whirling in her blue eyes, slight frown in place. He knew she was going to lie before the words even left her mouth and it was sorely tempting to throw his mug across the room.
"I caught it on one of the bags." Jim laughed. "It was heavy. Guess I should have packed fewer toys for El."
"Pull the other one, Jim. I know you wouldn't have been stupid enough to grab a heavy bag with your wrist, let alone the fact that it's the same arm that has a shoulder still healing."
Jim's hands twitched, whether to punch him or pull him closer, he wasn't sure. She seemed a strange mix of relieved and upset that McCoy wasn't falling for the lie. He could see the finger shaped bruises. He'd seen them during his residency at Atlanta General in the ER with abuse victims. The darting eyes, raised breathing rate, nervous twitch. Jim had it all right now.
"What's going on, Jim?" He practically growled and Jim flinched.
"I think I've earned the right to know." When no answer seemed forthcoming, he slammed his coffee down in the table, a small amount sloshing over the rim. At the sight of her paling further and inching away, McCoy closed his eyes and counted to ten, bringing himself under control. Anger simmered just below the surface and, for the first time he could remember, it was directed at Jim. He wanted...no...he needed to know what was happening. It was tearing the delicate balance between them to shreds.
"Why are you being so goddamn stubborn? Can't you see I'm trying to help you?" He knew he'd said the wrong thing when Jim's expression turned into a frightening imitation of a vulcan's, blank and calm.
"I need to get Ella up and ready. I already had someone pick up the bags."
She started to get up and in a panic, McCoy grabbed her uninjured hand, effectively stopping her. She looked down at their joined hands as if it was an alien appendage, confusion and a touch of fear. "Talk to me." He pleaded.
Jim closed her eyes as if his words physically hurt her and tugged her hand out of his grasp. "I can't. Not right now."
She started for the toddler's room but stopped just short of the door. "I think we should take a break."
The words were so quiet that McCoy wasn't sure he'd heard them correctly. The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room, his chest tight with shock. "What?"
"I need some space, Leonard."
She still wouldn't face him, her hand gripping the doorframe so tight that her fingertips were white. McCoy stood and walked over to her on numb legs, his stomach in knots.
"Talk to me, Jim!" He almost put his hand on her shoulder to spin her to face him but she turned first.
"I just need space, Leo. When I'm ready to talk I will but right now I have an assignment to do."
"You can't just dump this on me out of the blue and think I have nothing to say about it?" He grabbed her forearms and held her.
"You're suffocating me. You, of all people, should know that there are some things that you can't talk about until you're ready."
Just what in the hell does she mean by that? He loosened his grip and, again, she pulled away from him, determination in her steps. He considered following, the conversation was far from done, but the sound of Ella's grumbling and complaining stopped him. He didn't want a tiny set of ears to overhear them.
Ella's complaints at being woken up turned into a full blown tantrum when she realized that her new pet wasn't coming with them. The current crisis of getting her ready and presentable put their argument on the back burner.
Ella was dressed in a purple set of overalls with a cream shirt, her hair loose and messy because she refused to allow either of them to brush it and high tops. She had her thumb secured in her mouth and her pup pup under her arm. Neither parent noticed the bulge in her pocket, too focused on rushing through the shuttle bay to get on board the Farragut.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Jim felt awful. The hurt and disbelief from Bones was like a slap to the face. She couldn't let him get involved. It was dangerous enough that he was accompanying her. Ella was hiccuping next to her, still trying to calm herself down after their own argument and it intensified her guilt.
"Hey, honey. It's ok. You're going to have so much to do, you won't even miss...er...your pet."
Ella fidgeted in her seat and pulled her knees to her chest, tugging on the restraint belt in irritation and ignoring her mother. Jim sighed and watched as the sky turned from a cerulean blue to a black starscape. It had been too long since she'd been up here. She hadn't even been able to fly with her squad in months.
"Look, Ella. There's where we're going."
Even though the toddler was still angry, she couldn't hide her astonishment at seeing the ship come into view. Nebula class, crew of 400 plus their families, used for exploration and diplomatic missions, occasionally relief efforts. It's graceful, sleek lines made it look like it was constantly in motion. Stark white against the black backdrop of space only highlighted it's beauty. A large circular front with two warp nacelles attached underneath the main body.
Ella turned wide eyes to her mother and Jim smiled, feeling excitement even though she had no right to. "Really, mama?"
"Yeah. There's gonna be some kids your age and you will get to see so many things."
The shuttle swung around, the viewport now showing Earth on their side. Ella pulled at the restraints, eyes practically popping out of her head and she pointed to the window.
"That's Earth. Our home." McCoy explained. Jim was surprised that he was speaking because his hands were gripping the armrests tightly. Ella continued to crane her neck to watch out the view port, even as the shuttle entered the Farragut's bay, large white doors taking over the view.
Once the bay re-pressurized, the family exited with the other cadets on the shuttle. There were only another ten cadets and three children. Most looked excited and Jim couldn't blame them.
Their shuttle wasn't the only one to dock at the same time. There were two others. One was a dark grey with blue highlights, clearly Andorian while the other was a deep burnt orange with Vulcan script along the side.
"Cadets and families, if you will come over here please."
Jim's attention was torn away from the shuttles and their potential occupants by a young man in a crewman's uniform with a clip board. Ella clung to her father's leg and peeked out, nervously eyeing the speaker. Jim squeezed her shoulder and smiled to let her know it was alright.
"Dreyes family?" He called and two women with a little boy about Ella's age stepped forward. "Deck Six, B753." He handed them a small PADD. "Instructions to get to your quarters, medical bay, crèche and your orders to meet your superior officers are on here."
Both women acknowledged with a firm nod and left.
"Gomez." The process repeated with a young Hispanic man. As Kirk listened with half an ear, she saw the bay doors open and a man and woman entered the bay. Both wearing grey dress uniforms with gold trim. Captain and first officer then. They passed around the cadets with a slight glance but continued towards the back of the bay.
"Kirk-McCoy family." McCoy shoved her to get her attention and they all stepped forward but Ella wasn't looking at the Quartermaster. Her eyes were fixed behind them.
Leo was taking the offered PADD when Ella suddenly darted from around them. It was like a horrifying slow motion train wreck. Jim's fingers brushed against the small girl's clothes but she was too fast. Her squeal of delight brought the attention of the ship's captain and first officer, not to mention the Vulcan and Andorian representatives being greeted by the officers. Jim and Bones tried to catch the child but she was able to navigate quicker around the adults scattered in the bay easier with her small size.
It was like a cosmic joke when the tiny brunette dashed past the captain's legs and slammed into a tall vulcan standing next to a slim human woman. Her arm immediately wrapped around the Vulcan, tangling in his robes where he proceeded to bend down and pick her up.
The captain turned around and frowned at them while the black haired first officer stammered apologies. The human woman smiled and the Vulcan frowned and reached into Ella's front pocket, extracting a lump of brown fur that trilled. It suddenly went so quiet, Jim could swear she heard a pin drop two decks away.
"While it is pleasing to see you again, Ella, I see that you are not keeping your Tribble in his correct environment."
"Ambassador, I am deeply sorry about this incident." The captain moved forward as if to take the child but the vulcan made no move to put the child down.
"It is of no concern, Captain Garrovick. Miss Kirk and a I have met prior to this."
Jim turned back to McCoy who looked like he was about to pass out with how red his face was. She was sure she wasn't in a fitter state.
"She was merely greeting me in a human fashion. Though unexpected, it is not unpleasant."
Jim had to make sure to pick her jaw up off the floor.
"And this must be Ella's mother."
The first officer jerked her head to move them forward, the whole bay was watching them. Jim put up a shaky hand.
"D-dif-tor heh smusma, Ambassador." She stuttered. The ambassador and the other delegate's eyes widened in surprise at the traditional greeting. Jim was wondering if she'd gotten it wrong when the ambassador raised his own hand in the ta'al.
"T'nar jaral." The formal reply.
"I apologize, ambassador, for my daughter's exuberant greeting." Jim was praying that she could just crawl off. After all, Sloan had wanted her to keep a low profile and this was not low profile.
The human next to the Vulcan ambassador smiled indulgently at Ella and took her from the man, settling her on her feet. Ella giggled and showed the Tribble to her.
"May I present she who is my wife, T'Sai Amanda and my aid Velek." Garrovick introduced his officers while Jim and McCoy hovered nearby uncertainly. Ella had a small hand clamped on the ambassador's robes and Jim couldn't extract her and slink away without them noticing.
The team moved over to greet the Andorian delegation. Jim spared a thought to thank the stars that it wasn't a Tellerite team. The elderly andorian ambassador smiled brightly at the sight of the human child.
"I am Ambassador Shras and my own aid, Talas." A very young andorian female moved forward, her antennae moving excitedly. Jim was thankful that Ella didn't openly stare too badly.
Amanda knelt down and whispered in Ella's ear. She nodded reluctantly and slowly released the robes from her death grip, moving back to her parents.
The captain gestured towards the doors. "If you would follow my first officer, Commander Teagan, She will show you to your quarters and help you settle in."
The large group left with a final wave and nod from Amanda and Sarek, Garrovick staying behind. Jim, quietly hoping to escape, started to shuffle with McCoy and Ella.
"Not so fast, Kirk." Jim's face turned hot in embarrassment.
"Cadet McCoy, you may leave with your daughter. I need a word with Miss Kirk." McCoy shot her a sympathetic glance and pulled Ella along beside him. Once the doors closed, Kirk faced her commanding officer at attention.
"Relax, Jim, before you sprain something. I was wanting to talk with you but your daughter moved our meeting up a bit earlier than I had planned." He laughed and she relaxed a bit, taking in the captain's appearance.
He was older, graying at the temples but still had a fair amount of dark hair. A square jaw with deep brown eyes, surrounded by laugh lines. He looked like a fair commanding officer, probably a fun person especially considering he was a friend of Captain Pike's. Jim liked him.
"I was wanting to talk to you about what Chris told me. My ready room ok?" He led her away without a response, clearly expecting her to follow.
Jim walked alongside Garrovick and her eyes darted everywhere to take in her home for the next several weeks. Crewmembers jumped to attention as he passed and saluted. Garrovick smiling and greeting each of them. Clearly, he was a trusted captain and Jim was considering her career post-academy. What it would be like to serve on a ship like this.
The captain's ready room was a small office just off the bridge. The command center of the Farragut wasn't as large as a constitution class vessel but it was still impressive. Vivid white walls with blue flooring, impeccably clean and organized. The science station seemed to take up a larger portion of the bridge than usual but other than that, it was a standard Starfleet bridge.
Once in the ready room, Garrovick took his seat at his desk and gestured for Kirk to sit in one of the chairs available to her. She perched carefully, still tense despite the older man's relaxed behavior. On the captain's desk was a portrait of a young man smiling wearing a graduation cap and gown.
"My son."
Jim's eyes snapped up.
"He's a botanist. Just got his PhD and is on Betazed. Apparently, he found himself a young man he's quite taken with. I'm waiting for the wedding invitation but I have to say, a betazoid wedding makes me a bit nervous."
Jim frowned at that. Betazed was a pretty new federation planet so she didn't know too much.
"May I ask why, sir?"
Garrovick laughed and turned red. "It's customary for all attending the wedding, including the couple, to be naked."
"What?"
He started laughing harder and Jim giggled at the thought.
"It's to celebrate fertility and the fact that we are all children of Betazed. We came into the world that way."
Jim flushed at the thought of ever attending a Betazoid wedding. "I'm sure you're very proud of him."
"Just as Captain Pike is proud of you."
The heat crept up her neck at the praise. Garrovick sobered and leaned forward, arms on his desk.
"Chris told me what happened and I have to ask, are you alright enough to continue with this assignment?" He eyed her, assessing her appearance.
"Yes, sir. I can do this but I'm not sure what is expected of me from you."
"I want this section 31 shut down. I won't have a rogue agency messing up these negotiations with their agenda nor will I have them pilfering members of my crew. You are a member of my crew and as any captain knows, you are my responsibility. I want you to give me regular reports but I want you to appear to be working for this 31."
Jim nodded in agreement. "Should I give misinformation?"
The captain frowned, considering her words. "No. I don't think so. Any misleading on your side could end up stirring trouble. I do want you telling me anything you are reporting to 31 first. Any threats made against you or anyone else, let me know immediately. My first officer, Jennifer Teagan, is aware of the situation so, if you can't get a hold of me, then she's your next best bet."
He let out a deep breath. "I want to find out who is involved with Section 31 and hopefully to take it down. People like that are not what we stand for."
"Agreed, sir."
Slapping his hands on his thighs, Garrovick stood up, Jim following suit. "I hear you're writing your thesis on the importance of a starship captain understanding Engineering principals, perhaps to where they even have to take engineering courses at the academy."
"Yes, sir."
Jim smiled as the captain slapped her on the back. "Well, I'll tell you that our chief engineer will love you. He's been trying to get me to take classes for years."
"I'm looking forward to meeting him."
"You will, tomorrow at 0800. You get alpha shift with him for the next three days. Until we arrive at Axanar, you'll get a bit of every department ending up with diplomatic relations as a bridge officer slash security during negotiations. Cultivating multiple skills is what truly makes a good commanding officer."
Despite everything, Jim felt excited. She was getting closer to her goal. "I can't wait."
Opening the door, Garrovick said good bye and Jim made her way to her quarters, the captain' words ringing in her ears. She didn't see the arm shooting out from around the corner but she sure as hell felt being pulled into the alcove. Immediately on the defense, Jim pulled her fists close and readied herself.
Sloan.
"That was not low profile, my protege. You are fortunate that the negotiation team were charmed by your daughter." Sloan hissed. He was in an engineering crewman's jumpsuit, piercing blue eyes glaring down at her.
"Also, it's rare for the captain to see a cadet so quickly and...so privately."
"Hello to you, too and good bye." Jim turned but Sloan grabbed her bruised wrist, twisting to where her shoulder started to protest. Vaguely, Jim wondered if her shoulder would ever heal. When a small cry of pain escaped, Sloan lowered her arm but the position kept her close. She knew she was healed enough to put up a fight but Garrovick had told her to go along with 31 so she stayed still.
"He's a friend of Pike's. Of course he'd want to see his friend's goddaughter." She spat.
"Keep your head down and your ears open, Kirk. Considering your daughter is currently the darling of the negotiating team, use that to your advantage. Get close and report anything back to me." He slipped a comm in her hand he was holding hostage.
Once he released her, Kirk turned around. "You're here. Why can't you do this? Why me?"
Sloan rolled his eyes, as if she was a particularly dull child. "As I explained to you before, the arrangements were made months in advance. The only position available was for a cadet. You are that cadet, Kirk."
Jim rubbed her wrist, glaring daggers at the agent who seemed undisturbed by her attitude.
"Remember our deal."
How could she forget? Sloan nodded curtly and left. When she looked around the corner, the corridor was empty apart from two science officers. Tucking the communicator into her belt, Jim made her way to deck five. She still had to deal with the fallout of Leonard McCoy and Ella and the damn Tribble. Why did it have to be so hard?