CH4 What you don't Know Can Hurt You Part 2

STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS EARTH

Pike sits at his desk staring out the window at nothing in particular. He is lost in thought and his face is tight with worry. He has lost all track of time. The last thing he clearly remembers is Stella, his personal secretary, knocking on his door at 2300 hours telling him she was leaving. The buzzing of his communicator pulls him back to reality. He blinks his eyes trying to get them into focus. The clock on his communicator reads 0100 hours. He picks up the communicator silently cursing as it displays the name of the caller. "Damn it," he says leaning back in his chair as the comm goes into his voicemail. He knows this will not deter the caller. The communicator shuts off but resumes moments later. Pike sighs loudly before activating the comm line. "Director Kirk, how may I help you?" Pike tries to keep his tone civil.

"Admiral I am surprised you are up. What time is it there on earth?" Sam Kirk tries to keep the conversation upbeat and light. Sam has other resources to find out his information but Pike is a family friend. Hopefully he will give Sam what he needs as expeditiously as possible.

"0100 hours son and I am really busy so," Pike tries to keep the call brief.

"Working hard or hardly working," Sam shoots back with a small chuckle. He is going to find out what Pike knows or heads will roll. His team is not closer to deciphering the code than they were a day ago.

Pike gets a gut feeling Sam knows something. How he knows is giving him a headache. "Well neither right now."

"So then what are you doing at your desk at 1 am," Sam counters back.

Pike rubs his eyes with his thumb and index finger. "Okay Sam let's cut to the chase. You only call for one reason and that is when you want something."

A humorous huff escapes Sam's mouth. "You know me so well," he says slyly. "Where is my brother?" Sam's tone turns serious.

"On a five year mission. If you two are having family problems again I can try to help but," Pike says sarcastically leaving his sentence open-ended.

Sam glances out the window at the early morning sunlight filtering through the trees on Deneva. "Family problems. Good one, Chris. I got a better one. You know he is not at the classified location you think he is?" Sam give a few seconds to let the information sink in before continuing. "See I was just checking because I want to make sure you are on the same page as me." Sam takes the dead silence on the line as confirmation he knows more than Pike.

Pike gets stiff in his chair. He knew Sam would find out about the mission. The damn man knows everything that happens to his brother since Tarsus. He is just never there to actually help Jim. "And what page is that?"

"Page two of the Fucking Liberal Bad Plans Book. You know the one where you sent the Enterprise and I hope at least two more ships for back up to Delta Vargon 2. Except Jim is not going to be there. The transmission you sent was bugged," Sam spits out venomously.

Any exhaustion Pike was feeling is eliminated by a surge of adrenaline. "Damn it Sam how do you know this?" Pike doesn't wait for a response. Sam is never wrong which is why he is so good at his job. "Okay so where is Jim if he is not on Delta Vargon 2?" Pike then counters with, "and how do you get this intell?"

"It doesn't matter now but what does is that my team is having some difficulty deciphering the code. I need to know who on your end had access to the coded transmission from the Klingons," Sam prays Pike will just give him the name. If needed Sam can handle it from there. "Okay your silence is not good here Chris," Sam jokes humorously. "You do know about the Trojan code right?"

"Director I have no idea what you're talking about?" Pike hears shattering of glass on the other end of the line and a beep from his comm monitor signaling another call.

Sam had no idea Star Fleet command was more in the dark than he is. Pike activates the comm monitor seeing Sam staring at him from his desk on Deneva. Pike ends the communicator call as Sam begins speaking. "The coordinates you sent Kirk had a virus Chris. The coordinates you think you sent Kirk are bogus," Sam explains simply trying not to yell.

Pike feels sick. "Director so help me god if," Pike tries to keep his voice steady. "We sent the code with YOUR decryption codes! What do you know?" Pike gets the conversation back on target. Sam obviously knows as much as him but the question is does Sam know more. "So you tell me what you know and I will see what I can do to help clear up any misunderstandings you have."

"One week ago it was decided that Kate was to receive the Bat'leth. The diplodinks from both sides agreed on Delta Vargon 2 as a neutral zone for the meeting. This info was only to be known to them and your privy few. The Klingons sent the coordinates and you sent the time; however your transmission had a Trojan virus attached to it that altered the message once it left Star Fleet. So I ask again, do you know where Jim is because I am sure as hell he is not arriving on Delta Vargon 2 in the next oh," Sam checks his watch for effect, "five hours." Sam takes a deep breath saying icily, "I need the name of the point person on your end that sent the code."

"Markell, Graham Markell," Pike supplies the needed name. Sam instantly runs the name against bank accounts and watch lists looking for anything to implicate the man. "Markell is not a traitor. He has been head of Star Fleet secure communications for fifteen years. He is not the one who did this." Pike sees Sam is not convinced. "I'll have him brought in though for questioning. If he is in on it, we will find out."

Sam lets out an annoyed snort. "Secure communication in Star Fleet? That's joke. No wonder Kate was able to get the message out."

"Don't chastise me son," Pike fires back angrily, "and don't push your luck. You can be replaced," Pike threatens. Sam Kirk is not the only one with friends in high places.

Sam laughs deeply. He may not have the relationship Jim does with Pike but he respects the hell out of the man. "Admiral no one is going back to hell to recruit for my position any time soon sir. From what I hear the devil himself refused a second interview. So I need the details now so I can do my job."

Pike smirks back at the young man on the video screen. He is a dead ringer for George and has the same fervor for Star Fleet as his old man did. Even though Sam doesn't serve as visibly as George or Jim, his main goal has always been protecting the citizens of the Federation. "I assume you have the original e-mail," Pike relents tired of the verbal cat and mouse game they are playing.

Sam opens the message sent from Kate as looks at Pike with a non-amused look. "Yeah the Yo Gorkon one." Sam shakes his head in disgust. "I mean how dumb are your boys there? Did no one even think to flag a Yo Gorkon message sent from a command position?"

"We did flag it but by then we were painted into a corner by the diplomats," Pike defends those involved.

"Yeah after it was sent," Sam plays with a paper clip thinking about the hell they are in with no way out. "You could have just killed killed him ya know and been done with it," Sam says like they are discussing the scores from the last 49 er's game.

Pike wishes he could put his fingers in his ears like a kid and not listen. "What did you just say?"

"I said you could have just killed him ya know and been done with it," Sam repeats his last statement verbatim.

It takes everything Sam has not to burst out laughing. Pike is wearing the same dumbfounded expression he probably does when a cadet comes in after being arrested at a bar fight. "I thought that is what you said." Sam shakes his head slowly. "So you think that would not start a war?"

"Well yeah if you shoot a phaser between his eyes but if he say slipped in the bath tub," Sam's voice trails off briefly. "You know it is the number one cause of death for the elderly?"

"Let's deal with one intergalactic incident at a time shall we son?" Pike wants to know nothing about any real or imagined assassination attempt on the Chancellor's life.

Sam picks up a pen ready to take notes. "So how long is this meeting supposed to last?"

"Two days. Dinner reception on day one and a simple ceremony on day two," Pike confirms.

"Well at least Larry, Curly, and Mo did not decide to go the Kronos route," Sam exhales loudly running the time line in his head.

Pike is pissed that Sam would even think Star Fleet would entertain sending the Enterprise to Kronos. "Jesus Sam we aren't stupid."

Sam adjusts in his seat. "Fine so one person was thinking," Sam concedes.

"Damn it Sam you are not above the law and will respect the Federation and its decisions," Pike says standing behind his desk.

Sam's body grows rigid and his voice cold. "When the Federation can keep their people safe I will. Whose brilliant idea was it to turn over a 12 year old kid? Let me guess Chandra, Lui and Komack were more worried they had a lunch in their teeth for the camera shots than Kate and the Enterprise. I respect the hell out of you Pike you know that but those liberal ass bastards you call friends," Sam takes a calming breath. "They can all go to hell."

Pike tries to stifle a laugh. Everyone knows Star fleet command is divided almost evenly on every decision. "Barnett, Archer and I were against it from the start. We also had Daniels and Forrest but they don't hold enough rank. Ultimately the Federation President made the call." Pike realizes he has been clenching his fists and tries to relax. "Fine the mole Sam and I will take care of him."

Sam leans back in his chair settling an icy gaze on Pike. "I will take care of the mole. You just get help to my brother. I will get you those coordinates but you had better be there." Sam's unspoken threat causes a shiver to run down Pike's back. Chandra, Lui and Komack had better sleep with one eye open if anything happens to Sam Kirk's family. "Start working on your end. You have five hours to find out something before Jim, by my calculations, drops out of war into a trap."

Pike is already dialing Archer's home number. "Call me when you have something Sam? Pike out." As the comm call buzzes across town walking Archer from his bed, Pike looks around his office wondering if Section 31 had bugged Star Fleet commands office again. Pike spends the next five minutes being bitched at and given orders to be at command in fifteen minutes. "Just enough time to get a cup of coffee," Pike thinks as Archer abruptly disconnects the call. As Pike passes his secretary's desk on the way to the meeting, he drops a hastily written note to have his office debugged again.

Six hours later on Deneva, Kowalski sticks his head into Sam Kirk's office. "Yo Bossman we got another request for a de-bug run at SF HQ. Who should we send in?" Kowalski asks with a smile.

.

CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS ENTERPRISE

Kate easily weathered the last three days of her grounding. It sucked but she caught up on homework and actually went to sleep at a decent time each night. By day four however, Kate has run out of things to occupy her time at night. For the first time in her life she is looking forward to school just to have something to do. Her dad has been so busy preparing for the upcoming meeting she can't even spend the evening talking to him. "Are you going to catch the game tonight?" Kate asks desperate for a way to kill time before she has to go to bed. Kate stares at the ceiling in her room praying he will say yes.

"Nope I'm good. I got paper work," Jim replies opening up a file of reports he needs to go over.

Kate asks the next logical question hoping his playful banter means he is softening on the rules. "Can I watch the TP?" Kate's tone is hopeful.

"Nope…you're grounded. No friends, telepresentor, mini-PADD for a week," he recites the rules once again for Kate's clarification like he does every night. It is like she has temporary amnesia every moring when she wakes up.

"Ughhhhh I hate this," Kate groans. He has gotten so much harder with this grounding thing. At first it was only not leaving the quarters. Then he added no PADD use except for homework purposes. Once he caught her surfing and not using it solely for homework he restricted it to use only in his visual field when grounded. If grounding is going to be like this Kate is going to go out of her mind. "Aren't you supposed to be on the bridge?" She snaps hoping Jim will not notice how annoyed she is with the situation.

"No I switched. I'm not the Captain for nothing," Jim's smart ass reply comes from the other room.

"I'm not the Captain for nothing," she mimicking him under her breath. Kate is determined to show him it doesn't bother her. She closes eyes and opens them knowing an hour must have passed by now. She is ready to scream seeing it is only 2000 hrs. Kate walks out of her room and approaches his desk. "Can't you just like beat me or something and we call it a day."

Jim wants to burst out laughing. Grounding is so much more fun as a parent than he thought. Bones was right. Find the right combination and kids crumble. He lays down his PADD looking at Kate seriously. "No I can't just beat you. Besides this is so much more fun. Think of all the time we have shared together with no TP, working on math…"

"It is not fun for me," she huffs like Jim should care stomping to the couch. "I hate this. I am going out of my mind," she screams into a pillow.

"THAT'S the point Katherine Ann Kirk. It is supposed to be so mind numbly painful you don't do it again," Jim uses her middle name indicating how serious he is.

"God I told you I am never doing it again," Kate complains throwing herself dramatically back on the couch. Rogue paces agitated around the room. Kate has never been this grumpy since she arrived nor stayed in their quarters for so long. "Rogue nan (come)," Jim pats the side of his leg using Huttese. Training the dog to respond to Huttese commands was a brilliant idea by Kate. It prevents anyone from knowing what they are actually commanding the dog to do when on away missions. "She's just throwing a fit is all," he assures Rogue petting her side. Rogue whimpers looking at Kate.

"I am not throwing a fit," Kate picks up a pillow. "You wanna see a fit?" Kate has never been good with self control. She is at her breaking point and wants to hit something. Even when she was in trouble with Han there was a change of scenery from the Falcon to wherever they were going. For four days it has been the same four walls.

"Oh do that and you'll be standing for dinner," Jim threatens. Playful bickering with him is one thing. Open defiance is another and Kate is walking a thin line now. Rogue stands to comfort Kate. "Rogue bidkana (stay)," Jim orders picking up the PADD again. This is a good moment to test Rogue's training. Rogue might be the kid's dog but she must respond to the adults first over any order given by the kids. The kids are smart but still just children. On an away mission Rogue needs to understand who is in command.

Kate sees Rogue looking pathetic. She knows Rogue is upset because of her temper tantrum. "Rogue nan (come)," Kate orders patting her leg. If she can't play with her friends she at least has Rogue for company.

Jim keeps his attention on his PADD but roughly orders, "Rogue bidkana (stay)." Rogue desperately wants to go to Kate. She wobbles slightly on her haunches but does not move.

Kate thinks this is a game with Kirk over who the dog likes better. She kneels down and says playfully. "Nan (come) girl. Nan watta (come here) Rogue," Kate says in a high pitched voice. When Rogue does not budge, Kate changes her tone. "Rogue nan (come)," Kate says authoritatively. Rogue lets out a sharp bark and stands.

Jim does not give the dog a chance to need correction. "Rogue picheha (lay down)," Jim commands. Kate watches the exchange as Rogue turns to Jim and starts whining. Jim repeats his command more sharply. "Picheha (lay down)." Rogue lays down whining agitated at Jim's feet.

Kate stands up. "Dad, leave her alone you are confusing her," Kate reprimands her dad.

Jim directs his attention to Kate. "No Rogue is trained to follow adult commands then the commands of you kids. In the field there may be a time we need her to listen to us and not you."

Kate looks like she has just been slapped. "What? That is ridiculous and stupid. It's not like I am going to tell her to bite you or someone else."

Jim knew this fight was coming. Kate likes no one to challenge here. "Like it or not kiddo that's the way it is."

Kate is learning which buttons to push to get a rise out of Jim but not pay for it. "Asinine," she says under her breath but loud enough to be heard.

It has the desired effect. "What was that last word Kate?" Jim drops his stylus on the table.

"Asinine," she smirks. "It means ridiculous, stupid, inane, full of bull"

"I know what asinine means and I know what you just did. I would seriously watch my step little girl. I am not in the mood," Jim points his stylus at Kate. She tries not to buckle under his stare. "Jack trained her as I ordered because it important for rogue to know who's boss," Jim says sharply. Kate knows that comment was also directed at her.

"Do you really feel this much need to control every part of my darn life," Kate feels trapped and frustrated. "You are not the boss of me."

Kate's eyes grow wide as her dad stands up from behind the desk. "I am your father until your 18 and on your own. I am the boss and can explain it more clearly if you need me to."

Jim doesn't have to say or do another thing. Kate knows exactly what he is implying. "Ugh I hate this. I am totally clear okay. I get it. I just have to survive for the next six years."

Jim sits back down at his desk. "I went through the same thing with my mom. You'll live."

Kate plays with her fingernail. "Look how good that turned out," she snips and regrets her words. She can feel her dad's gaze settle on her. She shuts up staring at the ground.

"You say something?" If Kate has one more smart-ass comment Jim will blow. He watches Kate try to pretend she is not in the hot seat. "That's what I thought," he gets in the last word. "Damn open my mouth and my mom comes out. That's scary," he thinks to himself.

Kate sits quietly for five minutes. Fifteen minutes later is another story. Kate's groans, huffs, and flopping has Jim nuts. "Give Rogue a bath Kate," Jim tells his daughter. Maybe an activity will distract Kate long enough for him to get through the last of the reports. "Go with Kate Rogue. Time for a bath."

"But it is not my turn," Kate protests. "She hates baths and it's not like she smells."

Jim continues to look at his work while speaking. "Kate, having a dog is not a toy but a responsibility."

"Yeah but a shared responsibility. Why am I the one always responsible for her bath and crap," she bitches from the couch. Jim raises his head enough to cock an eyebrow in warning. "Okay, okay," she whines before relenting. "Rogue nan (come)." Kate walks into the bathroom muttering how she hates everything the whole way. Rogue wags her tail barking like it is a grand game.

Soon Jim decides to give Kate another payback. Unbeknownst to the adults, the kids taught Rogue a trick. Cameron has taught her that each time she hears the word "Miller Time", Rogue is free to not listen to commands. The first time the adults heard this was when Bones was bathing her. Next was when Rogue ran amuck in the engine room with Scotty's Antimatter Variance Scanner. It took the Engineering chief thirty minutes to trap the dog and get it back. Both times the kids found it utterly hysterical as the dog jumped and went completely ape shit ready to play. Jim decides to let Kate in on the adults knowing their secret training word. "Well I am finally done with my paperwork," Jim replies leaning in the doorway to the bathroom. "I think it is MILLER TIME," he says from the door. Jim wishes he had the camera ready. Kate's face was priceless as she registers what he just told the dog. Hearing her release word causes Rogue to bounce playfully all around the tiny bathroom. Bottles of soap and shampoo fly everywhere. Rogue sees a bottle slide across the floor and bounds after it slipping and sliding. Water sloshes over the rim of the tub.

"Stop it. Stop it Rogue," Kate squeals as she is covered in water and suds. "Sit! Beu! Sit! Dad!"

"Beu (sit) Rogue," Jim orders before clicking a picture captioned DOING OUR HAIR and sending it to the kids.

"You so suck," she laughs, "and I mean that." Kate tries to wipe the smile off her face. She knows she was caught once again trying to pull a scheme. Kate stares at him trying to see if the MILLER TIME comment was in reference to his nightly beer or to her dog.

"Yeah I know I do," Jim winks walking out. He texts the soaked image of Kate to the adults but with the caption KATE AND MILLER TIME. "Oh and if you want pay backs don't tell your friends. We figured out Miller Time last week. Every one of us is gunning to get you all back." Kate laughs shaking the water off her body. She can't believe he found out. There is no way she is warning the rest of the kids. She is not the only one going down with that ship.

By 2100 hrs. even Jim is bored. He misses the time he could be spending with Kate watching movies or playing a game. Maybe grounding isn't as much fun for adults. He thinks for a minute and decides on a plan. The e-mail was her fault but it was a long time ago. He knocks on Kate's door. "Katie bug you asleep?"

"At 2100 hrs are you kidding," she laughs as Jim enters her room. "Okay I get it. We both need personal lives although you are always going to be in mine. I really am sorry if I embarrassed you. I never meant for anyone to know." Jim smiles down at Kate. He can see she finally got the message it was not just an e-mail. Kate hates the look he is giving her. "Okay so you suck and this sucks and I hate it and I want to kill myself right now but…I get and love you," Kate rambles.

"So do I baby otherwise I wouldn't be grounding you," Jim embraces her in a hug. "Okay so there is a documentary on the beginnings of the Federation on. It's not Chris Hemsworth but educational. Interested?"

Kate walks with her arms around her dad's waist to the living room. "I must be desperate to watch this willingly," she says lying with her head in his lap on the couch.

Jim lets Kate get comfortable before throwing a blanket over her. "Yes you are Katie bug," he confirms turning on the documentary. This is one of my favorite," he shares settling back. Before the first commercial Kate is asleep in his lap. "No wonder why you can't pass history," he laughs brushing the hair from her face behind her ear. They are going to rendezvous with the Klingon's tomorrow. Maybe he can let up in the no TP rule once the award ceremony is over. This mess wasn't entirely her fault. Jim watches the TP for an hour trying to relax while Kate snores softly on his lap. A shrill trilling whistle makes Jim jump. He looks at his desk. The comlink is demanding his attention. "Son of bitch it works," Jim whispers. He quickly slides from Kate thanking god she is such a deep sleeper when she feels safe and does sleep. His hands tremble slightly as he activates the device. When Lauren departed the Enterprise at Christmas she left a few toys. The comlink was the only one Jim prayed worked. Lauren promised him it would. She swore that this little cylindrical device would allow her to communicate with him all the way from Skyriver half way across the universe. Jim had kept the comlink in his pocket for several weeks before leaving it on his desk. He knew that nothing so tiny could transmit over 50 million light years but he was wrong. He flips the switch and a shimmering blue image of Lauren Kirk hovers over it. "I'll be damned," Jim murmurs.

"Jim," Lauren's voice purrs softly from the other end of the universe.

"Hey baby. How are you? I have missed you so much," he confesses taking the comlink into his bedroom closing the door. He will wake Kate after he spends a few moments alone with his wife. "How is everything going there? Are you okay?"

"Jim there will be a huge time lag so give it a few minutes before you expect a response," Lauren instructs. Jim waits to see how long it takes for Lauren to respond to his message. "I am fine baby. How is Kate? Can I talk to her?" Jim looks at his watch. From what he can see it takes four and a half minutes for his message to transmit from the Milky Way to Skyriver. An eternity by modern communication standards but when he thinks of the actual distance he is stunned how minimal the delay is.

"Lauren from what I can tell it takes four and a half minutes to receive a message. So I am going to talk and then wait for your response. Yes you can talk to Kate but first how are things going there? Have the Vong been stopped? Have you given the Jedi Council your resignation? When do you think you will be coming back home? God I miss you baby. I miss everything about you. Over." Jim stops transmitting. He sits on the edge of the bed waiting for her reply.

Luaren's shimmering blue image appears four minutes later. "I miss you to Jim. This was harder than I thought. Leaving you and Kate. I think about you all the time. Things are as well as can be expected. The Solo's are departing for the Myrkr mission in three days. So much is riding on it. I have been helping to relocate entire planetary populations but there is nowhere to go. Resources are stretched so thin. Some planets are even closing their doors to refugees." Lauren looks exhausted. Jim reaches out with his fingers tips distorting the image, aching to touch his wife. "I have filed my resignation papers with the Jedi Council but there is no one there to respond. I am so sorry but I can't leave as soon as I expected. I hope to be back your way by April. I hope you and Kate will understand. Jim, I can't leave these people here like this. Over."

Jim sighs loudly and before resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. Lauren snickers seeing one of his two classic poses. When he is breaking bad news he assumes the seated position. When he is pissed his arms cross his chest and his brow furrows. She takes it as a good sign he is sitting as she stares at his holocom image. "Just take care of yourself Lauren. You look exhausted. I will try to help Kate understand but please try to come home as soon as you can. We miss you more than you will ever know. Just know that celibacy sucks. I love you. Let me get Kate."

Lauren waits for what seems an eternity before Kate's sleepy expression fills the holocom. "Hey mom! How are you? How is Jaina, and Jacen, and Anakin?" There is a brief pause before Kate begins to jabber on again. "Mom….mom why won't you answer me? What is wrong? Dad why won't she talk to me?" Lauren's heart breaks at the panic that is filling Kate's face.

"Katie bug remember I told you it takes almost five minutes for her to reply. Here sit with me," Jim pats his knee, "and remember to say over so she knows you are finished talking." Lauren may miss Kate more than anything but the sight of her on Jim's knee and his calm words convince Lauren she made the right call. Kate belongs with Jim.

"Hey sweetie. The Solo's are fine so are the Skywalker's. I am trying really hard to come back there as soon as I can okay." Jim can hear the slight tremble in Lauren's voice. She is on the verge of crying but so far is holding it back. "Look angel a five minute response time is sooooo not acceptable. I mean it is going to take forever for you to rat out Dad and then for me to tell him to leave you alone." Lauren hopes she is able to bring a smile to Kate's face. "I am going to talk to Ghent tomorrow and see what he can do about making the connection faster. I know it is late there so I am going to hang up." Jim can tell Lauren is barely able to make it through this conversation without crying. "Take care of daddy and I will try you again in several days. All my love forever. Jim, take care of our girl. Over and out."

"Mom…mom," Kate jumps up flying to the comlink as Lauren's image winks out. "Why? Why would she just hang up like that? I wasn't done talking to her," Kate's eyes begin to brim with tears.

"Baby, mommy was just calling to see if the connection worked. She will call again I promise," Jim tries to make Kate feel better.

"Fuck her," Kate yells flinging the comm unit across the room. "If she wanted to stay she would have but she chose to go. She chose to leave me again and I will not wait another eight god damn years for her to stroll into our lives. I hate that,"

"Kate enough," Jim says sharply. "Watch your mouth. You know I don't tolerate that kind of language." He stares at Kate's tear streaked cheeks and opens his arms. Kate falls into them crying softly into his shoulder. He strokes her hair as he talks. "Kate, I know you are mad and it is okay to be mad," Jim soothes her. "You just need to remember that she is trying. People make mistakes and it is our choice to forgive them or not. So give her a break? She's trying right?" Kate nods yes in his shoulder with her head. If Kate is going to be this upset after each call, he may have to limit the calls she takes from Lauren. April is only three months away. If Kate has to, she can wait until Lauren comes home before talking with her mom. It was eight years between Kate and Lauren's last conversation. Three months should be nothing. Jim will not let anything hurt Kate that he can stop. "Hey baby girl it is late. Time for bed okay. We have a big day tomorrow." Jim pulls the blankets back on his bed as Kate tries to stop crying. It serves no purpose for Kate to go to her own room. She will never sleep alone tonight. If Kate were to go to her room she would be back in an hour, two tops. Kate snuggles against the pillow inhaling Jim's scent. It calms her enough that her breathing steadies.

"If I had gone with her you would not be in this situation dad. Maybe I should have left," Kate takes deep calming breaths and blows them out her mouth like Dr. Jackson has taught her.

Jim lies down behind her on the bed wrapping strong arms around her. "Shhh…don't ever say that. Close your eyes. You are safe and warm and where you should be." Jim listens to Kate's breathing as she self calms occasionally offering a soothing word and a kiss. His heart breaks. Every time things appear to be going normal life throws them a curve ball.