CH 12 Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

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JIM AND BONES CAMP FOR THE NIGHT

Jim stares at the small fire chewing on his emergency ration bar. "You think the kids have hooked up with each other," he asks deep in thought.

Bones has seen this deep in thought look over the years. Jim is so focused on a problem it is consuming him. "It would be a reasonable assumption," Bones tries to reassure his friend. He is just as worried about Joanna but now is not the time to voice his concerns. They both have to rely on each other and Jim needs him now. "I bet right now they are snuggled up against each other singing campfire songs." Bones tries to be overly supportive.

"Let's say not," Jim turns sharply to Bones surprising the doctor. Where McCoy thought he was being comforting he appears to have agitated Jim more. "Does Jo disappear for hours at a time, 'cause Kate does? I mean what do three girls and three boys do together for hours?" Bones tries not to laugh realizing what Jim actually meant by hooking up. He stifles a chuckle watching his friend contemplate the issue in his head. "I think the next time I go looking for her, and can't find her, I am checking to see if John is missing too."

"It's a big ship. I'm sure they have some kind of hidey hole or fort somewhere," Bones sees where this conversation is headed and eases Jim into it reality. "Kids do want their privacy at this age." Bones levels a finger at Jim. "I also distinctly remember bringing this issue up to you several months before YOUR daughter got here. You told me kids need a place to hang out. Leave them alone. Perspective is different when it's your kid and not one you are playing favorite uncle to."

Jim tunes out Bones completely. It is different now. Jim has a daughter and worrying about her is a full-time job. Jim washes his dinner down with a swallow of water. "We could have Spock scan for them one day? See where they go."

Bones can tell Jim is not paying attention to him. He takes some devilish pleasure in his next statement. He leans back against a log lacing his fingers behind his head. "I distinctly remember my summer being twelve. There was this sweet little thing named Jamie Ann Buchanan. That summer she taught me,"

Jim looks at Bones like he has lost his mind. "Are you nuts?" Jim spats cocking his head to the side.

"Nuts? Yes I'm assigned to the Enterprise. It's a prerequisite," Bones remarks but sees Jim is back focusing on his problem.

"Caught John trying to teach Kate to bat once," Jim says like it is a key piece of evidence.

"And that bothers you why exactly," Bone settles back enjoying the shoe being on the opposite foot. Until now, Jim Kirk had kept fathers awake nights. It is his turn for the first of many sleepless nights.

"Bones I have never seen such a hands on approach. He was directly behind her and so close I didn't even see Kate until I was on top of them. I mean who gets that close to someone with a baseball bat unless you are in a fight," Jim says through a mouthful of food. "He backed off the minute I got there but it piqued my interest." Bones laughs at Jim's concern over John. "And then there was the time he cut in when we were dancing at the Halloween party."

Bones finds Jim's choice of words amusing. He is acting like some guy was trying to muscle in on his date. "He cut in," Bones can't refuse the chance to taunt his best friend.

"While we were dancing," Jim says annoyed that Bones doesn't seem to remember. "Yes cut in. You probably didn't see it because you had your head up that red head's ass. Remember I took the girls home that night." Jim balls up the wrapping from the energy bar throwing it in the fire. "What do you think that means?"

Bones can see he is going to have to rip the band-aid off. "You have a beautiful daughter Jim. It means that John likes her."

Bones sees Jim did not hear a word he has said. "I mean if you think about it from the beginning he has always seemed to have an interest in Kate. He gave her his mini PADD after what like sixteen hours on the ship," Jim tries to remember how long it took John to make his first move. "And then there was that time he picked a playlist for her, made her join the bowling team, signs up as her partner for every school project," Jim rambles.

Bones tries again to reach his best friend. "Jim, John is a good kid and you need," but is cut off before he can finish his thought.

"Damn. Then there was the time on Deneb II. He kept her right at his side," Jim grumbles shaking his head. "I was focused on other things at the time but he was whispering to her the entire time they walked down the street. What do you think he was saying?" Bones can see Jim is not going to let this topic slide.

"Maybe relax," Bones guess. "Everything is going to be okay." He hopes his word choice will also settle Jim down.

"You know the more I think about it how the hell did he get that many pictures of her for her Christmas present. Some of which I have never seen. Does she have that much down time?" Jim poses a rhetorical question and presses on. "I went through that album. She was smiling in every picture and you know what… John was not in any of them. Now if John was not in them you know what that means," Jim rambles on until Bones breaks his trance by snapping his fingers in Jim's face. Jim rears back annoyed. "What Bones? Don't be all," Jim snaps his fingers in Bones' face.

"Why are you surprised that the two of them would like each other? Kate and John are very much alike," Bones uses Jim's silence to continue. "The kids are entering that special time in their lives Jim, where they," Bones' speech is interrupted yet again by Jim's overly active imagination.

"Special time in their lives? I thought you were from Georgia and not Kentucky," Jim fires back angrily. Jim goes back to thinking about John and Kate. "I can't believe I didn't see it. You know John got a bloody nose staring at Kate," Jim says eating another emergency ration bars. This was one time Jim wished he had picked up smoking. "We were on that moon colony but the point is that if he had been playing ball and not ogling Kate he would not have been hurt." Bones looks at Jim like he has lost him mind. "Sam dressed her up in this little sundress thingy. Had her… um you know and it was… um short showing her uh," Jim stumbles over the words trying to find synonyms for female assets. Kate is way too young to have assets in his mind. She will be too young to have assets at thirty. Jim sees Bones getting far too much amusement. "Okay Mr. finds this so amusing," Jim points his ration bar at McCoy. "What if Jo had someone she liked… like Ronin?"

"No she likes Cameron Scott," McCoy says firmly.

Jim is shocked. "Cam? You know this for a fact," he says surprised McCoy hasn't requested the Montgomery's be transferred.

"Yes," Bones repeats.

"And are fine with it," Jim presses.

"No but I had a talk with her," Bones leans forward. "A very pointed talk."

Jim needs a drink. He suddenly remembers Bones' medicinal flask "Give it to me," Jim wiggles his fingers at Bones. They have been friends long enough that Bones knows what he wants. Jim talks a large swig before speaking. "A talk or THE talk because I am not ready for THE talk," Jim takes another drink before handing it back.

"Both Jim," McCoy takes a swallow before screwing the lip back on. "I trust her and Cam to make the right decisions."

"Oh my God I think I just vomited in my mouth. At twelve Kate can barely remember to do her homework," Jim says looking pale.

"Put you head between your knees," Bones orders gruffly. "And they are not having sex or anything close to that. Making the right decisions means waiting for everything."

"So what topics do you cover in the "talk". I know the put Peg A into Slot B but is there anything else I should cover," Jim says raising his head. "I don't want to give her ideas," he stresses the word give.

"Pregnancy, STDS, marriage, being responsible for your own body," McCoy's voice is like a buzzing in Jim's ears.

Jim looks like he has been slapped. "Pregnancy? Really at twelve. There is no way no way in hell they doing that on MY ship." Jim tries to tune out McCoy's rambling about how early pregnancies affect your life but can't. "Stop it," Jim throws a rock at him but Bones dodges it laughing. Jim is barely able to control his anger at Bones. "So you are like here is a pack of rubbers make sure you use them?"

Bones stops laughing and gets serious. "Hell no. I put the fear of god in her. Told her about Sulu having Erica at 17," Bones calmly explains

This news stuns Jim. Yeah Sulu is only a few years younger than him but Jim never cared to do the math on how Erika is twelve and he is twenty-nine. "How come I don't know any of this," Jim asks a little hurt.

"You didn't ask or need to know," Bones pulls out his doctor patient confidentiality.

"So you think I should have been 'hey Hikaro you look mighty young for having a 12 year old. Wanna tell me about it'," Jim shoots back in a smart ass tone. All this talk about sex and the kids has made Jim jumpy. "We need to find the kids," Jim states standing up.

"We will in the morning. You are just asking to get hurt stumbling around in the dark. Sit down," Bones says roughly.

"So what's your rules for," clears his throat, "dating young Montgomery or don't you have any. Do you play it by ear? I mean if Kate or John thinks this is going to be a free for all they'd better think twice."

"Well they can hang out in her room as long as I am home and the door is open. Kissing okay but," Bones tries to explain.

"Kissing!" Jim sits ramrod straight. "You let them do that. You have seen it?" Bones nods causing Jim to rethink if he should be coming to Bones for parenting advice. Jim resigns himself to having the talk with Kate once they are back on the ship. "You think Kate has the basics?"

"Don't all kids," Bones says making Jim feel like he is a child. "We did at their age."

"Yeah but I was an asshole at twelve," Jim gives Bones a sly grin.

"Still are," Bones confirms laughing.

Jim suddenly lights up. "The ruler law from the Academy," Jim says gleefully.

Bones raises an eyebrow. "Because that worked so well for you," Bones' face reminds Jim of the countless demerits he earned violating that specific academy rule.

"Hey I was 20 before the official violation caused an issue," Jim throws the wrapper from his second ration bar in the fire. "And then I was married to Lauren so it wasn't a true 12 inch violation. What could Kate see in him?"

McCoy shakes his head. He decides to screw with Jim for all the times Jim screwed with him. "Women tend to marry their fathers," Bones states the well-known fact.

"So," Jim is momentarily lost by Bones comment.

Bones leans forward smiling. "You are John are clones," he whispers.

"Go to bed," Jim snaps before mulling it over in his head. "Then I am going to become a priest," Jim throws back. "See how much he wants to follow me then."

"Father Jim the celibate," Bones snorts. "You can marry John and Kate," Bones laughs falling to the side. "That means you will be related to Jack." Bones can barely stop laughing.

"Keep laughing," Jim shoots Bones a sour look. "I am the one being serious here."

"So am I. John is a good kid Jim. Kate could do a hell of a lost worse for her first boyfriend."

"Why are you so relaxed about this? Doesn't it freak you the hell out," Jim asks sincerely.

"No because they will grow up no matter how much we want them to stay kids. They will marry and make us grandparents," Bones loses his calm demeanor to continue teasing Jim.

"That's it," Jim stands up pacing next to the fire. "Go to bed you bastard. You have officially given me insomnia tonight."

McCoy stretches out next to the warm underground blaze. "You gave it to yourself Jim," he says closing his eyes. "Kate is a good kid with a solid head on her shoulders. Don't over think this at least here. Let's find her first and then throw her in a nunnery."

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BOYS CAMP FOR THE NIGHT

As much as Cameron and John try to sleep they can't. It's not that they don't trust Ronin it's just their minds are wandering. "So think they're okay…the girls I mean. Maybe the Captain or your parents found them," Cameron says in a worried tone.

"Man I hope so," John says. "I am freezing my ass off. Never realized how accustom you can get to climate control." This causes small snickers among the boys. They never complain about being cold like the girls do even on the ship.

"Well at least they have Kate there," Cameron's tone is so sure John thinks he is talking about the Captain or his dad.

John decides to set the record straight about Kate. He props himself up on his elbows before starting. "Kate is tough," John starts trying to be supportive for Cameron.

"Yeah Kate has probably started a fire and use that Force thing to haul out a load of fish from a nearby river," Ronin jokes.

John has to set the record straight. "See thing about Kate guys if she is not what she makes everybody think she is. Not much about her is real." John sees Ronin and Cameron are listening carefully. "I mean she's not phony or anything but I think she's scared all the time." John decides to tell him everything he knows about Kate. "She's told me a little bit about what it was really like in Skyriver. Yeah everything was great when she met the Solos but even then her galaxy was being destroyed by war," John tries to think of how to proceed. "Kate was alone for a long time. She told me about having to steal in order to keep her place with a guy named Ouris Dover. She said if they didn't bring home enough money they had to sleep outside and find their own dinner. I think the story that bothers me most was the one where she first met the Solos. I mean she was standing on a planet about to explode. She was four years younger than us and had no way off. She always ends the story on the positive note of Anakin rescuing her but all I think about is how it would feel to know you are going to die. And I never really thought about how hard it was on the Enterprise when she first got there. I mean even after she stopped trying to eat our food," John laughs remembering how Kate thought they were trying to poison her. "She couldn't even order food."

"What do you mean she couldn't order food? We taught her in Smugglers Run how to use the replicators. She always had lunch when I saw her," Cameron says.

"But it was always the same thing. Unless someone ordered for her it was waffles, cheeseburgers, pizza, or a ham sandwich. See the part we all forgot when we showed her how to use the replicator was she had no idea of food names. I never even knew that until after that crazy dinner party her mom threw at Christmas," John says in a sad tone. "So now I guess I just watch her more closely. I think sometimes when she gets really mad it's because she's lost or embarrassed."

"Dude I never thought of it that way," Ronin feels bad like he should've known also.

Cameron begins to reassess Kate. "So she's no better than Joanna or Erika out here." Cameron feels sick to his stomach. "I thought the Jedi were all live off the land and be monks."

"No I think she's fine but she'll have her breaking point Cameron. They must teach survival skills at the Jedi school but Kate likes her tech. Kate also says not all Jedi skills are equal," John explains stretching the stiffness from his muscles.

"So she can't levitate them out of the woods like a witch," Ronin jokes.

John throws a pebble Ronin. "Stop it with Kate already. Besides she's my witch to worry about. You both have your own witches regardless if they have powers," John jokes but the guys know he's serious.

"Fine I just thought that… well the girls would be safer with her than on their own. It's just making me crazy to think Jo was could be out there alone," Cameron confides.

"Yeah me too bro," Ronin backs up Cameron.

"They are," John tries to make his friends feel better. "I just thought you should know Kate is not some superhero even if that's what she wants everyone to believe." John is as worried about Kate as they are about their girlfriends. He notices Cameron has begun to sharpen more spears as they have been talking. Ronin is working on making a bush bows during his watch.

"Damn boy you are fast. We would've had you help with dinner instead of lounging by the fire if we thought you had any skills," Ronin teases. John is happy to be off the topic with the girls. "There are many things ya dunna know about me laddie," Cameron imitates his dad's thick accent. "I can sharpen a spear and will beat cha if we were racing to a bonfire. Lots of people in clan Montgomery and only so many hot dogs at a bonfire. Gotta be quick," he tries to add humor. "Yep you need to be real quick at a Montgomery barbecue. Once the hot dogs are gone they serve haggis dogs. Ever eat a haggis dog?"

"What is a haggis dog," John says almost gagging on the word. "It sounds totally gross."

"Well haggis me laddie is the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep. Ye grind it all together, stuff it in the intestines and cook it. When it is cut into links it is usually disguised as a hot dog or sausage. Same look but taste," he shudders. "Just get there early."

John feels his stomach roll. "Are you trying to ruin the four-star dinner we had Cam?"

"No I'm just warning you what a Montgomery campfire holds for the non-fleet footed," Cameron explains as if it's the most serious thing in the world.

"So get there early and eat first," Ronin laughs. "And for the record WE out ran you," Ronin points to himself and his brother.

"It was only a Klingon threat not a haggis threat," Cameron defends himself with a huge grin.

John is never going to sleep tonight. "Ronin get some sleep. Cameron take second watch. I got third. We should be moving at first light."

"Like any of us will be sleeping, Cameron says assuming Ronin's previous position.

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GIRLS CAMP FOR THE NIGHT

Kate and the girls find a deep crack between the rocks. "Okay this sucks but I think we should sleep in there," Kate suggests getting desperate looks from the girls. "Unless you want to take the chance of falling out of a tree, it's the only place that gives us any cover." Kate is trying to pretend she is her dad but it's not working. Kate, more than the other two, paid close attention when Jack went over survival skills in school but she never thought she would need them. "Come on Erica...Jo," Kate says trying to sound upbeat. "We can build a Cheyenne fire for a while and I got a trick to stay warm," Kate uses a tone like the one adults use for something special.

"Do you have a trick for dinner," Joanna asks feeling her stomach grumble.

"No," Kate admits, "but we need water over food. Can you two start the fire thing?" Erika nods with more confidence that Jo. Kate gives them a small smile and takes off. When she fought the first group of Klingons, she was by a small stream. She hopes that Jack is was right. In class, he told her water is often at the base of mountains due to run off. She hopes this holds true. Fifteen minutes later, something finally goes Kate Kirk's way. Kate takes off her shoes and wades knee deep into the running water. Jack told her running water prevents bacteria and other contaminates from forming so it is a better choice than pond water. The water is soothing to her scratchy throat. Kate drinks deeply. After she has drank her fill she returns to camp.

"Did you find anything?" Jo asks hopefully.

"Water but not food," Kate tries to keep the disappointment out of her voice. "You got the fire going," Kate says happily warming her hands. "I'll watch it. You two go get some water. We have no way to carry it so drink up. It will make you feel so much better. I was getting a headache but now it is going away.

"From dehydration," Jo confirms. Twenty minutes later Jo and Erika come back chatting happily. The three girls sit by the fire not talking. Kate thinks it has to be a first. An hour later the forest is pitch black. Their sunken fire adds heat but little light. "We should just go to sleep since we have nothing to eat and I for one am exhausted. Should we take guard shifts?" Jo asks brushing her clothes off.

"Great idea. I will take the first one," Kate volunteers, "But first the surprise." She lights a stick before snuffing out the fire. Kate takes off her short black t-shirt grabbing the first of several large rocks she added to the fire when the girls left for the stream. She tosses them into the crevice where they are going to sleep. "Okay so when Wookies go to the surface of Kashyyyk there are no caves. They can't keep fires going because it attracts wildlife." Kate keeps digging out stones tossing them in the crevice. "So they heat rocks and place them around the camp for warmth and protection. I am just looking to stay warm," Kate confesses.

Erika is the first one in and lets out a squeal. "Dude I just burned my butt," she laughs adjusting the heated rocks.

"I feel like were Hansel and Gretel crawling into the stove. It is damn hot in here and dark," Jo jokes crawling in beside Erika. "But at least we have skylight." Jo looks up at the top of the crevice seeing a small patch of stars through the trees.

"Does that make me the witch," Kate pretends to be angry pushing Jo in deeper. Between their bodies and the heated rocks, the cave is very warm. Erika and Jo quickly fall asleep. Kate decides to let them. Being sacred and hungry is not fun. Maybe if they sleep all night they will feel better in the morning. "Dad I need you," Kate whispers up at the stars. She knows Jim is not there but the Enterprise is. Kate rests her head against the rocks trying to see the Enterprise. "Please help me. I want to be safe and warm." Kate wipes a tear away closing her eyes. "I want to be with you."

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JACK AND SULU'S CAMP FOR THE NIGHT

"So you think the kids have hooked up," Sulu comments poking at the fire.

"I hope so," Jack tries to sound reassuring but he did not see any of them go into the forest together. With the woods, being as thick as they are, Jack is not surprised no one has found each other. They could be within a mile of each other and not know it.

"So do I," Sulu exhales loudly in frustration. Jack is surprised the young helmsman has fared so well today in the woods. Star Fleet Academy requires survival courses to graduate but most cadets never take it seriously. It appears Sulu did.

"I have taught the kids basics survival skills," Jack reminds Sulu causing him to laugh.

"I remember that day well. Erika came home bitching about having to eat a pinecone during survival lunch. I think that was the only night she ate her vegetables without fighting me," Sulu shares.

"Damn kids will rat you out every time," Jack grins. "And for the record I did not force them to eat. I just suggested they try it because it was going to be several hours before dinner," Jack plays it off as if it was no big deal. Jack appreciates creature comforts in life but one meal from the bush will not kill anyone.

Sulu stops chewing his ration bar. "Kinda feel guilty now," he indicates his half eaten dinner.

Jack nods slowly. "Yeah me too but they have skills. They know how to make an undetectable fire and ways to find water." Jack's words sound hollow even to him. "Look I am sure they have met up with the boys," Jack tries to be supportive. "Sulu my boys know how to survive and track. I can't promise it but my gut says they have found the girls and are eating one of those rabbit-like things. With this area being unpopulated, they are damn easy to catch."

Sulu nods but Jack knows it doesn't make a difference. Sulu needs to see his daughter to know she is fine. "You regret coming down?"

"Me no…but my boys yes. I had to be here," Jack throws his trash in the fire.

"Why did you bring them? I mean Kirk said no one had to bring the kids. You out of all of us were the one most adamant on not letting them come," Sulu presses for an answer.

Jack is glad it is dark. He doesn't mind talking to Sulu but would prefer a topic other than his family. "Let's just say between my wife and the dinner party I was swayed." This is enough of an answer for Sulu.

"Erika was all about coming for kate. Said she wanted to be there for her," Sulu explains his justification for coming.

"So were the boys…oh and not looking like wimps," Jack adds. "They are getting to that stage. Ronin most of all but John and Cameron's competitive streaks are getting more pronounced. Oh to be young and indestructible," Jack sighs wistfully.

"Ronin is a good kid," Sulu comments about Jack's oldest son.

"He is. I'm glad I found him," Jack says solemnly.

"Which is why I hate to say this Jack but the kids need more supervision," Sulu dives straight to the issue bothering him.

"Oh," Jack scans the area processing what Sulu has said. "What do you mean supervision? We have 424 adults on a ship? How much more supervision do you think they need?" Jack suddenly feels like he is in a conversation with Sam. He knows the topic but somehow does not understand it.

Sulu turns blunt. "Erika has a crush on Ronin and I am not sure that is a good idea."

Jack's confusion clears up immediately. "Oh that kind of supervision," Jack scratches his head. Jack definitely feels like he is in a conversation with his wife. Sam blind-sides him all the time but then she handles the issue. Here he is the one required to give an answer. Jack does not have a problem doing this unless Sam has already set some rules. "If you're worried about ...you know," Jack wiggles his head hoping not to have to say the words. This conversation has come faster than he planned.

"Yes Jack that is exactly what I am worried about," Sulu's face is dead serious. Jack can't believe Sulu would even think that is going on.

"Sulu he's only 13 and knows better. Secondly he shouldn't even be thinking about things he should know better about thinking," Jack can hear himself rambling but can't stop.

"Yeah but they are only going to get older. I don't want her making the same mistakes I did. You are damn stupid at that age. You think you are invincible. Nothing can affect you until it does," Sulu says solemnly.

"Thirteen is a bit young to be making mistakes like that don't you think," Jack defends his son praying it is a pre-emptive gesture. Ronin can't be involved with Erika that way. Hell he just asked for a new video game last week.

"I met Erika's mom at 14. Her name was Phoebe Ogawa." Sulu lets a small smile cross his face remembering Phoebe as a kid. "Her dad was Japanese but her mom was American. She had a hard time then they transferred from Japan to San Fran but I liked her instantly. We were close like Erika and Ronin. Almost inseparable."

"Which led to faster relations," Jack sums up the story and the problem now facing Sulu.

"Not that fast," Sulu jokes, "but yeah. We were on the co-ed fencing team in middle school. Two years later things got more serious. By seventeen, I was a father." Sulu pokes at the fire distractedly. "I never saw it coming. I mean we were so careful always."

"Damn," Jack is not quite sure what to say. Every guy at seventeen, knows the risks but never heeds them. Jack himself had a scare or two before Sam. He is abruptly brought back into the conversation by Sulu's next statement.

"And the bitch of it was she never said a word. Not one about getting pregnant until I was 22."

Jack sits stunned by Sulu's revelation. "Not a word. None at all," Jack finds it hard to believe you couldn't know your girlfriend was pregnant.

"Nope. Her parents felt she had ruined her life. They moved literally overnight. Phoebe came over to my house on a Friday all upset…crying. I thought it was just a girl thing. Phoebe and her parents were not close. The fought all the time," Sulu shares remembering his junior year of high school. "On this night in particular she asked me if I ever thought of running away."

"Did you," Jack can't help but think of this story as some damn chick flick.

"Hell no I laughed. I had a decent relationship with my parents for a 16-year-old kid. I told her go home. Call me in the morning like I always did. I thought it was only girl drama," Sulu looks like he wishes he could go back in time.

"Didn't go over well," Jack throws a few more sticks into the fire.

"No," Sulu shakes his head in regret. "She kissed me goodbye, said she would comm me in the morning, but never did. On Monday, I waited for her at school but she never showed. Eventually I found out she moved. I was so pissed at her." Jack shakes head in surprise. "I thought how the hell could you just leave and not say a word."

"They just left…skedaddled…like a thief in the night. The whole family," Jack needs clarification. The O'Neill's move was abrupt but still took a month. The boys made that the most unbearable month of Jack's life. Maybe there was something to the Ogawa's throwing everything in a suitcase and taking off.

"So guess what a surprise it was on grad day from the academy she showed up." Sulu continues the story, "Oh and not only with a 5 year old kid but a guy named Hank Cooper. After five years, her first words to me were that she and Hank were going to be married in a month. I hugged her and said congratulations. I mean I had not seen her in five years. I had moved on. I wished her luck and a happy life."

"Makes sense," Jack agrees.

"Then the bomb was dropped," Sulu exhales leaning back against a tree.

"Erika was yours," Jack finishes the statement.

"Bingo," Sulu makes a shooting motion at Jack. "Turned out Hank wanted to adopt her and needed my signature."

"Are you shitting me," Jack says astounded.

"Phoebe said it was for the best. Apparently, Hank had met her six months after Erika was born. I shook Hank's hand. Told him thanks for everything he had done but I was not signing anything. I got a lawyer and a blood test two hours after receiving my commission. We shared custody for exactly four years and 12 days. I got Erika when I was dirt side. Phoebe and Hank turned out to be decent about it. Even gave my parents time with Erika when I was space side. Things were going great until Phoebe got pregnant again. By now, the Cooper family had grown to three with a new one on the way. Hank had one from a previous relationship and Phoebe was pregnant for the third time. Erika hated Hank's daughter Melanie so she said she wanted to live with me. I was stunned. I met with Hank and Phoebe only to find out they were moving to some hippy farm commune on Delta Omicon 5." Jack stiffens at the name of the planet. "It was started by some freak ass hippies called Barb and Ben. They were going to live off the land like in the twentieth century. Erika begged me to keep her. I went to Jim not sure, how I was going to pull off being a single father and the helmsman of the Enterprise. Jim did what he does best. He made it work. He convinced Bones to bring Joanna who was having issues with Jocelyn and Clay." Sulu starts to laugh for the first time in this conversation. "Jim put out the word that if anyone had kids between 10 and 12 and wanted the Enterprise for an assignment he would take them. You know that is why he went for you don't you? There was not a rush on Star Fleet personnel with preteen kids wanting a five year assignment."

"And I thought it was my cunning abilities and winsome personality," Jack jokes dryly.

"Bones and I were not thrilled it was two boys but four kids were better than two kids," Sulu stretches the kinks out of his shoulder muscles. He knows he will be stiff by morning from hacking his way through the brush. "So my point is I can't have Erika making the same mistakes. Maybe if we just agree to the same rules you and Jim have with John and Kate," Sulu says hopefully.

"Um Kate," Jack's face makes Sulu break out in a deep laugh.

"Oh hell," Sulu chuckles getting a scowl from Jack. "Don't worry Jack. I only found out through Erika. She was complaining one night when I told her I did not want Ronin over when I was not in our quarters. She told me you have no such rules with John and Kate. I got the "it's so unfair speech". I told her there is no way that happens."

"Absolutely," Jack says without an ounce of confidence. He hopes his vague answer will suffice until he talks to Samantha.

Sulu's brow furrows. "What does that mean exactly Jack? Do you know where John is or not?"

"He says they are studying and such," Jack confesses being out of the O'Neill family loop causing Sulu to laugh harder. "I had no reason not to believe him…or Ronin. Why is that so funny," Jack demands running his hands over his face.

"You had a 66% chance of hitting the Captains daughter and I can tell you Jim has nooooooooo idea. I just I asked him about changing my shift and he gladly took the Charlie shift." Sulu can barely speak through his laughter. Said Kate loved having him gone so she could get her work done in quiet."

"Hardy har har. Sam has a handle on this. I know she knows," Jack says confidently. "You think she knows?"

"So you um want the first watch," Sulu wipes his eyes laughing.

"Sure, I'll take first watch. I need time to think. I couldn't sleep if I wanted to. Thanks Sulu," Jack mutters adjusting his pulse rifle in his lap.

"Wake me for my shift," Sulu says trying to get as comfortable as possible.