hi all, I'm trying to get better at updating so this chapter is short but I've been super busy lately. Sorry! I definitely live for reviews and am working on getting things rolling! Let me know what you think and I hope it's ok!

tishbing

Chapter Nine

Jim could feel the warm arms around her and sighed. This was what she had been missing. She felt him snuffle at her neck and his arms tighten, breathing pattern change and his legs stretched and curled around hers. Jim loved early mornings with Bones. It was like they were safe and protected in a small bubble that was just them but then the world intruded and dragged them away.

Gentle kisses started at her shoulders and moved up the back of her neck to behind her ear making Jim shiver.

"Morning." McCoy murmured.

Jim considered feigning sleep a little longer to prolong just being together without responsibilities but this felt good too. McCoy moved his right hand lower, cupping her belly and pressing more kisses to her neck.

"I know you're awake."

Jim thought about Sloane, how he could take away everything from her, take away Bones and her daughter and it scared her. He'd taken away her entire faith in Starfleet during her SERE training. Those weeks had been among the worst in her life and to discover that there had been nothing that could be done to prevent it had caused her to want to close off, to try and protect further harm to anyone else but in closing herself off, she had hurt those closest to her. The look on Bones' face last night had been so vulnerable, so afraid and so full of love it had taken her breath away.

She never wanted to see it again. They had spent the night talking

"I can hear you thinking, Jim." A deep breath and Bones tightened his grip before pulling away and she missed him already. Rolling over, Jim smiled at the sight of the sleep rumpled doctor. His face was puffy from sleep but his brown eyes were bright as they gazed down at her.

"Yeah." Reaching out, she pulled him to her and pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. "I was thinking how much I love you." Another. "And how much I missed seeing you in the mornings next to me."

McCoy shifted to hover over her, bracketing her with his arms. "Oh, really?"

Jim wrapped her legs around his slim hips and pulled him close. "Yeah."

"Mama's a-gone! Mama! MAMA!"

A small brunette typhoon ran into their room, tears in her bright blue eyes. "Mama?"

Poor Ella. She'd gotten used to Jim being on the couch since they'd arrived on the Farragut. With the sudden change, it was possible she thought she'd left again. Since she'd gotten back from the fated training trip, Ella had become a touch possessive. She'd been late as a result, arriving to her last shift in her rotation in communications and had been forced to spend the entire time re-wiring the dated panels. It had been the most boring and painful shift of her life. Her fingertips still had bruises from the delicate work. Ella had also been throwing horrible tantrums every time Jim had to drop her off at the crèche.

McCoy sprang back as if electrocuted and Ella clambered up, elbows and knees digging in painfully in her enthusiasm to get in the bed. Glancing at the bedside clock, Jim saw that it was early.

"I'm here, baby." She whispered into the soft brown hair as Ella clung to her, burrowing into the warm blankets. She felt the bed shift as Bones moved closer to wrap an arm around his girls.

Jim waited until Ella had settled and nodded off, enjoying the warmth and feel of her child with her. "Bones, something is going on at Axanar." She hated having to use Bones for finding information but her training had, if anything, taught her to use every resource available.

"Is there anything unusual that you've noticed?"

McCoy stiffened and sat up, his back to Jim and all thoughts at a calm morning forgotten. "Jim, we're cadets. This isn't something that you have to be involved in."

His body language became defensive and Jim knew that there was something going on. He had just confirmed it through his evasiveness. Scowling, Jim shifted closer and sat up, dislodging Ella who grumbled and shuffled closer.

McCoy shifted at her grumble and turned, his eyes softening on the small child. Brushing fingers through her hair, he sighed. "I just want to keep you safe, Jim."

"I know and in order to keep me safe, I have to be informed. I can't go in blind."

McCoy's hand fell away and clutched into a fist. "You shouldn't be going in at all, dammit."

"Look, we arrive at Axanar later today. Maybe it's just nothing."

McCoy's lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes darted away. It was the look he got when he didn't want to talk but knew he had to. He let out a deep breath, steeling himself. "You know the reason for Starfleet's medical aid? The virus that's ravaging the planet?"

Jim nodded for Bones to continue.

"There's evidence that it's a manufactured virus, not natural."

Jim's eyebrows pulled down in thought. "Genocide?"

McCoy shrugged. "Not sure but it looks possible."

"Can you find a way to manufacture a vaccine?"

"I'm working on it but it'll be easier once we identify the source. I'm a doctor not a psychic."

Jim smiled. "You're too pessimistic to be a psychic and I have complete faith in you."

"And you're too optimistic." He countered.

"No. I just know." McCoy's cheeks flushed red at the confidence.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Bones won the coin toss and as a result Jim was chasing after a very excited toddler on her way to the crèche. It was a sort of show and tell day and Ella had been ecstatic that she was allowed to take "Harry" the Tribble.

A flash of blue disappeared around the corner before she heard a loud squealing and trilling. Jim picked up her pace and came to a sudden stop.

The vulcan ambassadorial aid, Velek, was standing over Ella, who had clearly run into him. A case was on the floor and he was straightening his brown robes, a glare evident as he looked at her daughter. Ella was scooting back on her butt, a shrieking and shaking Harry in her hands and her blue eyes were wide with fright.

Jim swooped into action, helping Ella up and pulling her away and behind her. She'd never heard the tribble make that noise before and had the look of anger from the aid had turned rapidly into disgust at the sight of the two women.

"What is that creature doing outside of the medical labs?"

Jim's back straightened and she had to rely on all of her training to not snap back. "It's my daughter's pet, sir."

"Shouldn't the child be supervised rather than running the halls and knocking down staff?"

"Of course, sir."

"Then see to it and remove that creature from my sight, cadet." He sneered.

He collected his case and swept by them away from the medical bay on this level. A whimper from behind Jim stopped her from staring at the retreating Vulcan's back.

"Mommy, scary man!"

Jim spun around and picked up Ella, who was still trembling and the little girl buried her face into Jim's neck, squishing the, now quiet, tribble between them.

"I know, honey." She rubbed her back and stood, carrying Ella the rest of the way to the crèche. "Come on, let's get you to daycare."