A/N: Welcome one, welcome all to the next installment of my story! Once again I would like to thank my loyal reviewers and encourage others to review more. Congratulations to JazzyClaws who was the first person to correctly guess the song from which chapter 7's title was taken. =] P.S. Sorry I was gone so long! Life's been very hectic lately. I'll try to do better I promise. =]

Lady Lupindawn: I just can't resist whumping. Haha I'm glad to hear I have you hooked! =D

Passionfornight: Bombshell isn't but should be my middle name. Spock is a Vulcan. He takes everything well. Vulcans are like rabbits! The population won't be low for long. xD

Coastiewife465: I'm glad I updated too. Longest chapter yet! Jim is having a bad lifetime in the AU timeline. Next time Bones will undoubtedly be in the brig, guaranteed. =3

Traptrogue6: Haha not at the moment you can't. But feel free to figure out a song name and earn the right. =D MUAHAHA my plan for emotional turmoil is working!

JazzyClaws: Aww thanks ^-^ AND YES! YOU WIN!

Ebony Coleman: Welcome to the story. =D Oh any accent does. But Southern is the most fun.

Crysania Fay: LOL I'm glad you're happy. Being mean to Jim is just so… Bones. Hm… you will be a blue shirt. This way either one could potentially cry over you. ;]

Raven2547: Lol glad you like it. xD

xhavenofgorex: Hah! That's my specialty. =]

"Joanna!"

"Ensign Fay!" Both Jim and Bones jumped up at the same time. The blast rocked the ship and Joanna ran to her father. Jim made his way to the door. Another blast hit the ship and he doubled over. Bones and Jo were sitting on the bed. "Stay here unless you're called!" He yelled as he left and closed the door.

"What the Hell is going on out there?"

"Sir! It's a Klingon warbird! It came out of nowhere on its own and started firing! Commander Spock told me to get you." The harried young Ensign kept up with her Captain's fast pace while trying to stay standing. Kirk made a note to promote her later.

"Understood. You're in medical right?" The girl nodded. "Go there and get ready. Our shields won't hold much more." She nodded and ran in the opposite direction.

Once he reached the bridge, Kirk put on his "command face". "Commander Spock, report!"

"Captain! I'm sure Ensign Fay already told you of the details and there is no time for me to repeat them."

"Understood. I want main shields boosted and photon torpedoes fired on my mark. Meanwhile, get us the Hell out of here and make damn sure they follow! We have to get them away from Earth."

A chorus of "aye aye Captain!" was heard on the bridge and Jim sat in his chair, watching the stars whip past them as they traveled at warp speed. Once they dropped out of warp, all bets were off and they rounded on the warbird. "Ready everyone? Mark!" Jim ordered. Two torpedoes were fired and the Klingon shields flashed then dropped.

"Captain, it would appear as though they are already weakened. Do you wish us to destroy them?" Spock asked of Jim. The Captain thought for a second.

"We have to. Fire photons." There was a burst of light in space and the warbird was blown to pieces. Jim sighed. "Mr. Sulu, set a course for New Vulcan. Commander Spock, follow me please."

"Aye aye, sir." Sulu did as he was told and kept the curiosity out of his voice by a mere miracle.

"Mr. Sulu, you have the conn." Spock said as he followed Jim into the turbolift. "What is it Captain?"

"Spock, New Vulcan is under attack by Klingons. Your father asked for our help. I apologize for not informing you sooner but I had to inform a crew member of family deaths."

Spock set his mouth in a thin line. "I understand Jim. Do you know the extent of the damage the new planet has sustained?"

"It's not bad yet. A few Klingons were sighted on the other side of the planet away from the capital. We'll make it in time. I promise." Spock nodded and Jim left the turbolift. "If you need anything, let me know."

"Thank you Captain, though I doubt I will require anything from you. In fact, you look as though you require sleep. It is my recommendation that you fulfill this requirement as soon as possible."

"Yeah I know. You have the conn. when you get back up there." Kirk waved behind him and headed for his quarters. It wasn't until he opened his door that he remembered Bones and Joanna were still in his room.

"Jim! What the Hell was that!" Bones released his daughter and jumped off the bed.

"Warbird drifted towards Earth. We destroyed it and we're on our way to New Vulcan." He ran a hand over his face. The stress lately was piling on top of him. Bones took notice.

"Alright. Joanna baby, why don't you go to your room and take a nap. It's been a long day." Joanna yawned and nodded then trudged down the hall to her own room. Bones pulled his bag out from beneath Jim's bed. "I have the meds here. Gotta be administered intravenously for two hours a day. You can rest and I'll make sure those two hours are always on your off-shifts." He unfolded a metal pole that looked similar to a coat rack with wheels and hung a bag from it. Bones took the protective cover off of the sharp plastic end of the tube and punctured the bag, being careful not to let the catheter end slip. Jim watched and didn't particularly care.

Once Bones was done with the line, he lifted Jim's hand. "This may hurt but I can't give you any anesthetic cause of your allergies."

"Yeah yeah just get on with it." Bones grunted and carefully stuck the needle in the back of his hand. Jim didn't even move. With a sort of sick fascination, he watched as the toxic liquid seeped into his veins. It burned as it went along, sending a dull fire up his arm and into his chest. It felt sort of… funny. "Am I allowed to sleep during this?"

"Yeah. Just try not to move in your sleep. This is nasty stuff." Bones cautioned as he carefully cleaned up his surroundings. Jim closed his eyes and tried to relax. He heard a commotion outside his door in the form of Ensigns Fay and newbie Cathair Sullivan.

"I'm sorry but you can't go in there!" Fay said in exasperation.

"Please, we'll let him know you stopped by." Sullivan was just as irritated. Jim looked over and saw Bones had an eyebrow raised. The door slid open with a hiss – and Jim broke into peals of uncontrollable laughter. Standing in the doorway, with her hands on her hips and face set in determination and annoyance was none other than Joanna McCoy. "Sir! We tried to stop her but-" Sullivan tried to explain. Jim held his hand up and cut him off, wiping tears of laughter from his face.

"She's a little girl. And you guys had trouble." He held back more giggles. "You're dismissed." As they turned away, Jim looked at Joanna. "C'mere princess." He spread his arms and Bones was utterly flabbergasted when she grinned and jumped onto the bed with him and gave him a hug.

"Thank you for my room Captain Jim! It's really pretty. And the model and the picture of mommy are nice."

Jim laughed. "Well I'm glad you like them." He smiled down at the little ball of energy. "Aren't you forgetting something though?" Jim gestured his head towards a very shocked looking Bones. Joanna turned and blinked at him. "Hi daddy. So Captain Jim, where'd you get the model of the ship? And all the pink!"

Bones made a noise of indignation and Jim broke down to laughter again. Jim couldn't help the fact that he was good with kids. He always had been. Well not always. Since Tarsus he had gotten better. "I was given the model by a good friend. He was the captain of this ship before me. He gave it to me the first time he met me and challenged me to join Starfleet. The next day I was in San Francisco. Pretty neat huh?"

Joanna's eyes were wide with fascination and child like wonder. Jim's arm was starting to itch. He scratched at it absent-mindedly. "And the pink?"

"Well princess, you can thank Aunt Uhura for that. She was nice enough to lend you… some… some…"

"Captain Jim?" Joanna asked as she shook Jim's shoulder. "Daddy, Captain Jim isn't waking up." She looked confused. Bones looked over at his little girl and his best friend.

Jim was out cold.

His chest wasn't moving.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And just when things were getting better too.... =D I hath done what you commanded of me, oh mighty reviewers. There is yet more to be written.

-Bunny