I am celebrating the fact that I handed in an assignment by posting this chapter.
Pike gets set straight and Kirk gets some unplesent news about this universe.
T'Arrah beta'd this chapter, but all mistakes remain mine.
Star Trek isn't mine.
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One minute Jim is staring into the haunted eyes of the man who, in another universe, is like a father to him, and the next minute he is being embraced in a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh my god! I can't believe it! How can this be, George? How are you here... and so young too. It's impossible."
Kirk's heart breaks a little for the man whose arms are surrounding him. He never realized how hard his father's death was on Pike. He doesn't know what to do, so he turns his head slightly to Spock, hoping the Vulcan will help him out. Those hopes are dashed however, when he sees that Spock seems to be frozen in shock by his Captain's unusual behaviour. His expressive eyes are wide in surprise and confusion.
'Guess I'm on my own this time.'
Jim lifts his hands and grabs Chris by his shoulders, and with gentle force, he pushes the older man away so that they are now facing each other. Kirk's expression softens further as he notes that, although Pike is not crying, it is a near thing.
"I'm not George Kirk, Chris. I'm his son, Jim."
With this new piece of information Pike studies Kirk's face before letting go of him and backing way a few steps. A look of bewilderment now crosses the man's face.
"That's impossible. James Kirk died on an escape shuttle during the attack on the Kelvin, minutes after his birth along with Winona. You can't be him."
Jim's face goes deathly white and he sways on his feet at hearing the fate of himself and his mother in this universe. He feels as though there is no ground beneath him and that he is seconds away from falling, but then an extremely warm hand grasps his arm and manages to ground him. Kirk turns to find a pair of worried brown eyes staring at him.
"Thanks," Kirk whispers to Spock.
Spock nods and releases him before addressing a still confused Pike.
"Captain, according to Mr Scott, this man appeared on our transporter pad shortly after we left Star Base 4. This gentleman hypothesises that he transported here from a parallel universe because of interference from an ion cloud."
During this speech Pike has managed to snap out of his daze of confusion and his sight sets on his First Officer.
"You're saying he is from another universe, Commander?"
Kirk's brows furrow when Spock shakes his head.
"Negative, Captain. I am stating that this is what what he is saying. I have yet to be presented with any evidence that this Captain James T. Kirk is who he claims to be."
Pike's gaze snaps to Kirk. "Captain?"
Kirk huffs in annoyance. 'Why is it so hard for people to believe that I am a fucking Captain?'
Instead of voicing his indignation out loud, he plasters on his face one of his most brilliant smiles and nods.
"Yep, youngest in the fleet. I'm Captain of the USS Enterprise. Had it for a year now."
At Pike's disbelieving expression, Jim continues with a smirk tugging at his lips.
"In my universe, of course."
Pike returns the smirk. "Of course."
A deliberate cough has both captains turning to face a very impatient looking Vulcan.
"If you are finished with your moment of human male bonding, maybe we could concentrate on a way to confirm this man's identity. I would like to rule out the possibility that he may be an enemy agent. Or I could wait for you to fist bump each first."
Kirk stares at Spock in a strange mix of amused horror at his blatant display of sarcasm, while Pike just chuckles.
"Sorry Spock. I know how you hate to waste time. But don't worry, I have a way to prove if he is who he says he is."
Pike turns and walks over to his chair and activates the comm unit on its arm.
"Captain Pike to Sickbay."
Kirk holds his breath, waiting to see who will answer. A desire to hear his best friends voice burns through his body. That desire is fulfilled when a familiar souther drawl reaches his ears.
"McCoy here. How can I be of service, Captain?"
Kirk frowns at the lack of sarcasm and the unexpected politeness. 'I have never heard Bones speak that way, except when he is talking to his daughter.'
"I need you to meet me in Conference room A... and bring your medkit," Pike says into the unit.
The slightly worried voice of the ships CMO again fills the bridge.
"Is someone injured, Sir?"
Jim is becoming disorientated once more. He is not used to this level of professionalism coming from his friend. He's accustomed to Bones screaming over the communicator about how this ship is filled with accident prone babies and how Jim is their king.
"No one is hurt, Doctor. I just need you, so that you can run a test for me."
There is an obvious sigh of relief before the doctor responds.
"I'm happy to hear that no one is hurt. I'll meet up with you in five minutes, Captain. McCoy out."
Pike straightens to his full height and takes a step away from the captain's chair.
"Sulu, our visitor, Mr Spock and myself will be in Conference room A trying to sort out this situation. I don't want us disturbed, unless it is an emergency. You have the conn."
Kirk watches as this universe's Sulu salutes.
"Aye, Sir."
Jim takes this moment to scan the bridge and the crew, since he was a little distracted to do so before. He discovers that nearly everything is identical to his own bridge, with only a few minor differences. Sulu is at the helm and looks pretty much the same at the one back home. Uhura is at the communications station (where she belongs), but her hair is different. Instead of her long ponytail, she has a shoulder length bob that, in Kirk's opinion, suits her better. She looks softer. Chekov is next to Sulu at Navigations. At first glance he looks the same as the one Kirk knows, but then he spots the long scar that mars the young man's left cheek. It looks as though young Pavel has had a harder time in this universe.
Kirk's observations are cut short when Pike called to him.
"Come on, boy. I'm sure you're as eager as us to get all this sorted out. You're with us too, Mr Spock."
Spock nods once in acceptance.
Pike returns the gesture and then heads towards the turbo lift. Kirk and Spock follow close behind. Jim tries to ignore the fact that Spock is walking a whole lot closer to him then his own Spock ever has and also the fact that the Vulcan keeps giving him these little unreadable side-long glances. He can feel his palms getting sweaty and quickly reminds himself that he is not a teenage girl and so he needs to stop acting like one. It doesn't quite work.
The journey to the conference room is made in relative silence. Apparently, both Pike and Spock want to pretend that Chris' little emotional out burst on the bridge didn't happen. Kirk can handle that. He was never one for conversations about emotions and in this instance the outburst was justified. He would have acted the same way if he thought his best friend just come back from the dead.
'Yep, I am definitely not going to hold it against him.'
When they arrive at the conference room, McCoy (who looks exactly as Jim remembers him) is already there waiting for them. The doctor rises from where he is sitting and salutes both Pike and Spock. Kirk can't help but crack up laughing at this. It is just too much. McCoy gives Jim a very well known scowl. But rather then intimidating Jim as the doctor had probably planned, it actually comforts him. He feels as though he is on more familiar ground when he is on the receiving end of one of those scowls. However, the scowl soon disappears when Pike steps closer to the doctor and addresses him.
"Doctor McCoy, I need you to take a sample of this gentleman's blood and run it through the computer to find out if he has any family relations on file."
From the corner of his eye Jim spots the moment when understanding washes over Spock's handsome features.
"You are planning to find out if James," Kirk's insides jump at Spock using his first name, "is indeed a member of the Kirk family by comparing his blood to the samples taken from his parents when they joined Starfleet. That is very logical."
Pike smiles at his first officer. "Always the tone of surprise from you, Spock. I'm starting to get insulted."
Spock's lips form their own small smile as his amused eyes lock with his captain.
"It was not my intention to be insulting, but I believe that my surprise is valid. Humans are not exactly known for their great leaps in logic, though you have other attributes that more then make up for the fact you are illogical creatures."
Kirk is so caught up in this unbelievable exchange that he doesn't even notice McCoy sneak up next to him until he is viciously (in his opinion) stabbed with a hypo. His hand automatically shoots up to rub the stinging flesh of his neck.
"Holy crap, Bones! Why do you always have to be so rough, huh? Those things really hurt."
Because Jim is so focused on the pain in his neck, it takes him a minute to pick up on the fact that the room has gone deathly quiet. Both Spock and McCoy are giving him the eyebrow of doom, while Pike seems to be trying to hold back his laughter. McCoy's voice is what breaks the awkward silence.
"I think I'll just run that test now. Shouldn't take but a minute, so just hold tight."
McCoy gives Kirk an apprehensive once over before turning away and heading toward the computer on the the table.
Jim nearly jumps out of his skin when an elbow jabs him in the ribs. Pike looks unapologetic when Kirk spins to face him. Instead he just seems curious.
"Bones? What kind of name is that?"
Spock is also staring at Kirk inquisitively, obviously wanting to know the reasoning behind such a strange name.
Jim shrugs. "Just a nick name I gave the McCoy of my universe. Sort of an inside joke."
Pike seems satisfied with this explanation and moves on to watch the doctor as he intently focuses on the computer screen. Spock, on the other hand seems ready to launch into more questions, but thankfully McCoy interrupts before the Vulcan can voice them.
"The computer is done analysing the blood sample." The doctor turns to address the computer unit.
"Computer, play results."
Everyone in the room falls silent as the computerized female voice sounds out from the speakers in the room.
"Familial matches found. Father: Lieutenant George Kirk, deceased. Mother: Lieutenant Winona Kirk, deceased."
Kirk winces at that, but he was prepared for it thanks to Pike's earlier comment on the bridge. He listens carefully as the computer continues.
"Brother: Ensign George Samuel Kirk Jr., deceased."
This, Jim was not prepared for and he collapses to the floor as his legs buckle beneath him. Spock is crouching beside him almost immediately with concern written all over his face.
"Are you okay, James? Are you hurt?"
Jim shakes his head in answer and slowly lifts his head to look up at Pike, who is staring down at him in sympathy.
"How? How did Sam die?," Jim wheezes out over the constricting pressure around his chest.
Pike reaches down with his hand, offering to help Kirk up. Jim is just about to take it when another hand, this time a pale green colour, appears before him. At some point when Kirk was addressing Chris, Spock must have made his way to his feet. He tries to control his heart rate as he takes a hold of both offered hands and the two men pull him to his feet. Spock and Pike lead Jim to the large conference table and guide him into a seat. Spock takes the seat next to Kirk, while Pike leans
against the edge of the table on his other side. McCoy is still seated next to the computer terminal, looking ready to jump to his feet if he is needed.
Chris stares down at Kirk in fatherly concern and it is almost more then the blond can bare, so his eyes drop to his hands that are resting on the table.
"Please, tell me how it happened. How did my brother die?"
Chris takes a a deep breath as if stealing himself against the pain that will come from talking about Sam. As if this topic will also injure him.
"It was Nero. Sam was on planet for leave when Nero attacked. He couldn't get to a transport in time. I'm sorry."
The warm hand from before is back again, but this time it is on his shoulder. He turns to Spock as the hand squeezes him gently as a form of comfort. The Vulcan's eyes seem to be mirroring his own grief.
"I grieve with thee, James."
Kirk doesn't fully absorb what Spock has said because his brain is just too busy trying to connect the dots. There is a piece of the puzzle missing. His eyes once again fix on Pike. The older man is startled by the obvious anger that is mixed with the confusion on the younger captain's face.
"What the hell was Sam doing on Vulcan? No starfleet personnel are positioned there and it is one of the Federation planets that doesn't offer shore leave. There was no reason for him to be there."
Pike and Spock glance at each other in puzzlement before Pike's gaze returns to Kirk's slightly flushed face.
"Jim, Nero never attacked Vulcan."
Pike hesitates. Kirk simply waits for the man to continue and Chris doesn't disappoint him.
"He attacked and destroyed Earth, son."
Jim's head swings towards Spock, who nods solemnly in confirmation. Bright blue eyes scan the room in a blind panic. He scrambles to his feet, knocking over his chair and backs away from the three other men in the room. Kirk points a shaking finger at a worried looking Pike. An equally worried Vulcan is now standing next to the older captain. Both men seem unsure of what to do.
"That's bullshit! You are messing with me. There is no way that happ..." Kirk trails off as his vision begins to blur and the room starts to spin. He feels himself falling. The last two things he is aware of before darkness overtakes him is that Spock has managed to catch him before he hits the ground and that the rest of Spock's body is just as warm as his hands.
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I will not be posting the next chapter until sometime next week. Got to do my homework first. I am just lucky that I have a super fast beta.