*Flashback*

4/16/2258
Starfleet Academy
Student Housing: Alyen and L'Naym's Apartment
7:14 PM

"Alright, Tuskaro. It's time for you to put away your books and have a few laughs!"

Hakeem Arinze, was an Englishman of Nigerian descent and training to be a medical technician. Since they'd
entered the Starfleet Training Program for Enlisted Personnel, he and Alyen had formed a friendship.

He had agreed to keep an eye on Alyen while L'Naym was away. She and the rest of her Botany class had
been taken on a trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens of London, home to Earth's largest collection of plants.
She would be back the following night, but her lifemate was trying to get over his loneliness by burying
himself in even more studying.

Alyen started to head back toward his labtop. "I'm rather busy right now, Hakeem. This latest article is really
fascinating-"

Arinze pushed the laptop closed. "I don't particularly care how fascinating that article is, my Nlian friend.
Exams are not until next month, but you and your lovely wife tend to do nothing but study and ever since
she left yesterday you've been gluing yourself to a desk."

He crossed his arms. "This is a Friday night and I have taken it upon myself to make certain that you take
a break and that you actually have some fun."

Alyen raised an eyebrow. "I don't have a choice do I?"

"No, you don't. We're going to a party over at Frasier's. It's his birthday and he's going to have a few friends
over to celebrate. He said I could bring you."

Justin Frasier was a long time associate of Arinze. He had a condo in the Bay area and was very fond of hosting
parties. Arinze had taken the Nlians to more than one of his 'gatherings'.

San Francisco Street
8:00 PM

"I think Frasier may be having more than just a 'few' friends over," Alyen pointed out as they got out of the car.
"You had to park six blocks away!"

"It looks like it," Arinze joked. "Don't worry, you know that his gatherings are never too wild." He chuckled.
"And you should see how crazy parking is around here on New Year's Eve!"

"Hakeem…" Alyen had noticed a flat across the street that had several Starfleet security guards around it.
"Hakeem, you know this neighborhood, do you know who's home that is over there? And why it's guarded?"

Arinze looked at the building Alyen was indicating. "That's Captain Kirk's flat," he said.

Alyen's eyes widened "Kirk? The Kirk that everyone's been talking about?"

"That's him. I guess he doesn't want to be disturbed. Not surprising considering everything that's happened."
He motioned down the street. "Come on, we've got six blocks to walk."

"Wait," Alyen said quietly but firmly. He crossed the street and approached the guarded flat.

One of the guards stopped him. "I'm sorry, sir, but you're not allowed any further. The Captain gave explicit
orders that he not be disturbed and a few days ago we had to arrest a group that wouldn't leave."

"I understand," Alyen said softly. "I'm from the Starfleet Enlisted Training Program. I don't want to go in,
I just wanted to…" He took a breath. "If you can…please tell the Captain that a lot of people are very sorry
about what happened to him."

"Who's the message from?"

"My name wouldn't mean anything to him; we've never met and probably never will. I just wanted him to
know…that a lot of people are thinking about him."

The guard nodded. "You're not the first would be well-wisher that's come by. I'll tell him."

"Thank you."

*End Flashback*

8/4/2259
Saratoga
Alyen and L'Naym's Quarters

Kirk gasped as he released his Soul Brother's hand. "Tuskaro," he whispered. "You were there that day?"

"Yes," Alyen said. "It was a random apartment across the street from where a friend happened to park.
But from the moment I learned who lived there, I felt drawn to it. And you and I had never even met.
Later that night after the party was over and I went home, I got a comm from Shylea. I mentioned that
I'd seen your flat and she told me that that day she'd heard some associates talking about you and her
thoughts had gone to you as well."

Kirk's mind was whirling. What had he been doing that night? Sitting on his couch or lying in bed most likely.
Exhausted from the trial. Numb from the bone-deep ache that his heart and soul had suffered since the events
of the Enterprise Incident. Drowning in anger, bitterness and pain.

And also filled with petty satisfaction that only a few days before, when his supposed crewmates had come
crawling to his flat with pitiful excuses and worthless apologies, his guards had not only kept them away
but had even arrested them for public nuisance when they refused to leave. The idea of the Senior staff
of the Flagship in the brig for public nuisance had been rather satisfying. An empty victory perhaps, but the
only one he'd had at the time.

No, not the only. He had brought his rapists to justice. He'd had Pike and Bones. And although he hadn't
even realized it, there had been others who cared about him as well. Two of whom would soon matter so
much. He knew Tuskaro. Knew that his Soul Brother would have been instinctively drawn to an injured soul.
And that Shylea, his Soul Sister would have as well.

"Well," Kirk whispered. "You were wrong about one thing; you said that we'd probably never meet. I'm so glad
that we did."

"So are we," L'Naym whispered. "You're our Soul Brother, Jim. We know you. And we know that we couldn't
ask for a better brother or a better Captain."

"It's why neither of us are afraid or worried," Alyen said. "No matter how stormy the seas are, as long as Shylea
and I have each other, as long as we have our fellow crewmates, and as long you're at the helm, we know we'll
be fine."