"Oh man! What a day" James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk, sighed heavily as he flumped down on the long couch in his new quarters.
It was a big space with luxurious furniture (being a captain did come with some perks after all), but none of that mattered to him. At the moment all he wanted was to sit and stay in this position for the rest of his life because by god he was feeling exhausted.
He listened intently to the sound of the shower that was functioning behind his bathroom door, and of the woman singing softly in it.
I can't stop this feelin'
Deep inside of me
Girl, you just don't realise,
What you do to me
"ah…that's the stuff" the young captain smiled as he sank back into the chair, his eyes shutting gently as the soothing voice all but lulled him into a daze.
When you hold me,
In your arms so tight
You let me know
Everythin's all right
Well something must have gone right today
His smile widened as the girl suddenly belted out.
I~I~I'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me
Wow…twentieth century karaoke? Now I know she's happy!
Not that Jim could blame her.
For the past week, Layla Serena Pike had been anything but happy.
True their quick and heroic escape from the Narada and the black hole had perked up her shaken confidence. But the fact of the matter remained, that her much-beloved step-father Christopher Pike still had a long way to go in his recovery from the torture Nero had inflicted upon him.
Against all the odds Leonard "Bones" McCoy and his surgical team had managed to extract the Centauri slug from the traumatised man's spine. On the upside, it meant that Christopher had a ninety-eight percent rate of recovery. On the downside, he might never be able to be as active a captain as he once was.
The news had come as a real blow to Layla, to hear her step-father's hopes of being captain of the Enterprise during the new five-year missions were practically dashed. True, Christopher's courage and valour had finally earned him the long-awaited promotion to Admiral, but it had been one of Layla's dreams, to be able to serve alongside her father in the call of duty, to prove herself an excellent officer to him day in day out on a starship…to make him proud.
Of course, anyone could clearly see that she'd already accomplished such a feat. And in any case both her mother and step-father already loved her to the ends of the earth.
Which just begged the question to Jim.
Why was his best friend so determined to continue to prove herself worthy of something she was already worthy of?
No…don't bring it up now…too tired…talk tomorrow morning.
Jim chastised himself as he yawned. Forget his bed. This couch was almighty comfortable enough.
He had just about kicked off his boots and was raising his legs to rest on the low coffee table when the ship's computer suddenly sprang to life.
"Captain a mister Andrew Hawkins here to see you."
Jim groaned.
Great…just what he needed today.
With a huff, he swung up to his feet and trudged over to the door which he admitted to open.
His scowl intensified as he caught sight of a familiar head of white blonde hair with stormy grey eyes that were wide with surprise as he took in the captain's form.
"Kirk" he nodded briskly
"Hawkins" Jim clipped folding his arms. "What do you want?"
"I came to see Layla. Your crew said she was bunking with you" Hawke coughed, his cheeks dusting ever so slightly pink as he tried to peek over Jim's shoulder, only for Jim to block his view completely.
"She's in the shower. But if you want I can take a message" Jim's voice was barely holding back a snarl.
He couldn't help himself. Every time he even looked at this guy he felt on the edge like he was an animal trying to protect his turf from a predator…a predator who just so happened to have his eyes for his best friend.
It didn't help his mood when he saw Hawke's nostril's twitch ever so slightly, almost as if he were smelling the hostility hovering over the cold air-conditioned threshold.
When the younger man finally spoke, it was in dangerous dark tones.
"Actually, I'd prefer to talk to her personally myself. Now if you'll excuse me-"
He reached forward to brush past, but Jim blocked him again this time a growl escaping his tight jaw.
"You are not going anywhere near her."
"Why? Are you that threatened Captain Kirk" Hawke sneered into his face. "Afraid I'll take your precious little bodyguard from you? Afraid she'll drop you once she sees what a real man is capable of-"
"Why you little-" Jim reached out, his fingers all but clenching tight around the younger man's black shirt. Not that it frightened Hawke much. His sneer just widened considerably.
"Ohh…wow captain, resorting to violence to threaten me. I feel so scared."
He was cut off by the hand on his scruff tightening and Jim's snarl.
"Listen here jackass. Layla's smart enough to take care of herself and I trust her judgement, but I that still doesn't mean I trust you. Now seeing that you did help us on the Narada, I'm willing to let you run free on this ship for the time being. But let me warn you. You are still on my turf. If you overstep your bounds, put one toe out of line, hurt my crew or hurt my friends, or disobey a direct order, then you'll be in the brig faster than this ship can fly. Also, unlike the others on this ship, I know exactly what your type is like, and I know all your tricks, and I'm not gonna let you hurt my best friend just because you're looking for some fun. So when I say stay away from Layla, you stay away from her. Are we clear?"
"…as crystal" Hawke clipped, but was distracted quickly as footsteps suddenly made themselves heard approaching them.
"Captain?"
Both young men turned, as Commander Spock stopped in his tracks, eyeing them both with an impassive face.
"Commander Spock. What can I do for you?" Jim coughed as he dropped his hands quickly from Hawke's scruff and stepped back.
If Spock made any indication he had noticed the gesture, he made no comment, save for the quirked brow he offered Jim
"I was hoping to talk to you, Captain Kirk." The Vulcan corrected himself promptly and smartly "An important matter has arisen that requires your attention. However-" Spock glanced sharply at Hawke who stiffened as those brown eyes burned into him "-if the time is inconvenient I can wait for-"
"No! No it's alright" Hawke coughed as he swiftly stepped back from the Vulcan hybrid, his gaze now wary "I was just leaving anyway. Good evening Commander, Captain" he added venom lacing his voice as he locked glares with Jim, whose knuckles were now white as he kept them clenched tight by his sides.
As soon as the younger man was far off down the corridor, Jim allowed himself to deflate a little, his back sagging as he relaxed his posture.
"I really don't like that guy" he muttered, angrily glaring as the head of pale gold hair disappeared around a corner.
"While I have had very few interactions with Mister Hawkins he does seem to project a rather aggressive air for a human male of his age. Though that may just be a result of his feelings of rivalry between the two of you, especially when it concerns Cadet Pike." Spock's eyebrows rose in Jim's direction.
"You heard everything huh?" Jim sighed, running a hand over his face.
"Yes, though accidentally eavesdropping was never my intention." Spock began, but Jim just waved him off.
"It's alright. Actually, I'm glad you came around when you did. If you hadn't I might have…well…you know…" Jim shook his head. "Listen why don't you come in. If we're gonna stay up all night chatting, we might as well be comfortable."
Spock bobbed his head courteously as he followed his captain into his quarters.
When he heard the soft singing issuing from the bathroom, he tilted his head curiously, and Jim allowed himself a small snort as he secured his room with the lock pad.
"Layla's in the bath. But she should finish up soon."
"I see" Spock nodded thoughtfully as he tore his eyes away from the bathroom door.
Jim frowned as he caught sight of the oddly concerned gleam in the usually emotionless eyes.
"So what is it that's so urgent that it needs my attention Mister Spock."
"I have been to check with Doctor McCoy about Captain Pike's condition. It has come to my attention that the surgery was a success -"
"Yeah Layla knows already" Jim smirked glancing at the door just as a voice suddenly called out:
"Jim! OY JIM! Could you pass me my-Oh forget it you lazy ass, I'll-Commander Spock?"
Both Spock and Jim turned to see Layla standing on the threshold of the bathroom wearing nothing but her towel and a look of surprise on her face.
She pulled her coverings tighter over her petite body, and Jim was indeed glad that he had chased off Hawke when he had. Though he only saw her as a dear friend, even he, Jim, couldn't deny her attractiveness. To do so would be as ridiculous as saying that the moon wasn't a satellite of earth.
"Lieutenant Pike" Spock nodded stiffly, as he took in her surprise. "Forgive me for the intrusion."
"No, it's okay." Layla coughed awkwardly "It's my fault, I forgot to bring my change of clothes into the bathroom since Jim and I are uh-um bunking... So what brings you here Commander?"
"As it so happens you are the reason I'm here Lieutenant." Spock stood up and handed her a datapad. "Your history thesis. Full marks."
"Huh?" Layla blinked as she took the pad, being very careful to keep her towel wrapped tight around her with one hand. "Wait…you…you marked it?"
"Of course. You did submit it for re-evaluation did you not?"
"I did…wait hold on a second" she frowned as she quickly dashed behind a changing screen, but not before shoving the datapad into Jim's bewildered hands.
"Wait isn't this your Eugenics thesis? The one-"
"The one Commander Novella refused to mark for supposedly moral reasons. Yeah, that one." Layla grunted as she pulled her head through her sleeping T-shirt.
"Though I understand while some humans may feel uncomfortable discussing such a topic, I fail to see why Commander Novella was so adamant about not assessing your writing. The reasons she gave in her initial report in relation are surprisingly feeble in contrast to her usually sound judgement." Spock stated calmly, turning his back on the screen to give her more privacy.
"It is clear to see in your syntax that you have distanced yourself from the topic sufficiently enough to see the facts from multiple perspectives."
"You can thank my mother for that" Layla shrugged rolling her eyes as she came out from behind the screen, in a black sleeping shirt and grey sleeping pants. "If I couldn't write that well she would've disowned me years ago. Just kidding" she added at Spock's quirked brow.
"Speaking of professor Pike, she has been trying to contact you on your personal communicator for quite a while."
"Shit! I forgot I left it with Leonard in his office before we jumped." Layla cursed under her breath. "she hasn't heard from dad or I since we first took off, she'll be worried sick-"
"Your friend doctor McCoy has taken the call on your behalf. He has assured her that you and your father are both fine and that you will call her when you wake up from resting. She was anxious." Spock's voice softened ever so slightly.
Jim's smirk fell a little as he caught sight of the small flash of sadness in his first officer's brown eyes.
He'd almost forgotten in the wake of their victory, of the personal losses suffered in the wake of this mission. Not just Spock's mom, but also of the many upstanding officers on the other fleet ships destroyed by Nero, many of whom had been friends or family to his own crew.
He was pulled out of his reverie as the Commander quietly cleared his throat and pulled on his standard blank face.
"I believe it is getting late, and I too must retire and get rest before tomorrows shift. Goodnight Captain…Cadet Pike, while you have attained top marks in your thesis, I should advise you to still review the comments and critique for future reference." he nodded briskly and quickly strode towards the door.
"Spock-Spock wait" Jim tried calling, but the door had already slid shut behind the Vulcan's back.
"Jim it's okay, he just needs time" Layla put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's been a rough few days for all of us."
"I know…it's just…when I took command from him, I said a lot of things about his mom. And now I'm here in the captain's quarters instead of him…" he looked around at the large spacious living area.
Layla followed his gaze, her face sad as she caught sight of the photograph of her family that stood on the bedside table next to the large bed. She had been but ten when it had been taken, at her step-father's commendation ceremony for Captaincy. She remembered how excited and how proud she and her mother had been for the promotion…and the dangerous mission he had gone on that had insured it.
"Why couldn't you be my real father?" She muttered as she picked the picture frame up in her hands.
"Well, for one thing, I'm only twenty-five-" Jim snorted trying to relieve the tension, but his face was tired to do anything but grimace.
Regardless his joke worked as Layla smiled weakly and gently rolled her eyes.
"I know it sounds stupid. But sometimes I wish I was Dad's kid by blood if only so I could be a proper donor if ever he needed the help" she muttered tracing the face of the man in the photo.
She felt a warm arm around her shoulders and leaned into Jim's bare side-wait bare?
"I'm going for my shower. You can go to sleep if you want," Jim explained regarding her quirked brow as he gave her shoulders an affectionate squeeze before detaching himself and trudging to the bathroom.
Layla nodded and quickly ordered the lights to be lit twenty-five percent, so that the room was just light enough to see in but dim enough to make one drowsy.
She was quick to slide under the covers of the Captain's bed setting the photograph down on the bedside table so that it faced her.
She stared at it as she lay her tired head on the pillow, unable to shut her eyes as she stared at the image thoughtfully.
While she and her mother had some noticeable similarities, such as the same petite build, gentle noses and similar smiles, she and her stepfather couldn't be more different. He was rugged, straight-jawed, brunette with honest dark eyes that were friendly to most they looked upon. Layla, on the other hand, had defined high cheekbones, raven black hair that stood out starkly against her stubbornly pale skin and pale icy eyes, that so often than not made people nervous around her as they pierced through everything she looked at.
Her mother had said that she looked a lot like her birth father, whom she had never met. She had never even seen even a picture of him, but oddly enough she knew that if she resembled him so closely, he must've been quite a formidable figure, especially since her mother had also said he had been well over six feet tall.
Her mother had said that she looked a lot like her birth father, whom she had never met. She had never even seen even a picture of him, but oddly enough she knew that if she resembled him so much, he must've been quite a formidable figure, especially since her mother had also said he had been well over six feet tall.
Trust me to get the short genes.
Layla frowned to herself in the dark as she remembered the one and only conversation she'd ever had with her mother about her birth father. She'd been ten years old and had been crying in her bedroom after getting into trouble at school for punching an older boy in the face. He'd been making fun of the fact that she had looked nothing like her step-father and had, in turn, started insulting her mother.
Layla had always known since she was old enough to speak, that the man she had called Dad wasn't her real father, but it still made her angry enough to shatter that twerp's nose, and yell at her mother for never telling her anything about her birth father.
"You're still awake?" Jim's voice cut through her thoughts in the dark.
Layla blinked and suddenly became aware of the dip in the mattress on the other side of the bed where Jim had just sidled into, dressed in a T-shirt and boxers.
It wasn't often they were forced to bunk together. The last time they'd done so had been during that survival class camp the previous year, where she and he had to share his tent so that her actual tentmate, Louise, could have a secret rendezvous with her boyfriend in the tent she and Layla were supposed to be sharing. The arrangement had ended up being permanent for the rest of the trip as Louise and her then partner ended up all over one another nearly every night like rabbits in heat.
"Can't sleep. Too many thoughts in my head," she grumbled as she rolled over onto her back as he turned over to face her.
"About what?" his smirk softened before gently commanding "Light's zero percent"
"About Louise and the tent" she snorted, and Jim chuckled tiredly as they were bathed in darkness.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. How on earth did we ever fit in there? I mean that thing was just a single. Thank god this bed is a king size."
"Yeah, maybe I won't get suffocated by your arm again when you try to spoon me" Layla snorted, and he rolled his eyes.
"That was one time and only because it was freezing. Otherwise, I was a gentleman."
"True." She conceded with a yawn though she still couldn't find it in her to go to sleep.
Jim too seemed wide awake and concerned as he looked at her, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.
"Lay, what's up? Something's obviously eating at you."
"It's nothing" she sighed softly as she looked up at the darkened ceiling. "Just thinking about something stupid."
"Like what?" he shifted nervously on his pillow. He could sense her apprehension rolling off her in waves.
He hadn't seen her looking so rattled since that moment on Nero's drill over Vulcan.
When she spoke, her voice wavered slightly.
"I've received a promotion to lieutenant-commander."
"It's about time" Jim smirked, only to cough as she fixed him with an irritable stare. "Sorry, so you've got this promotion but…"
"but…I've also received a job offer…from Starfleet Intelligence," Layla mumbled.
"Starfleet intelligence?" Jim's eyebrows rose into his messy hairline. "Shit…that's…that's Wow. Only best of the best operatives get positions with them."
"I know." she gulped not quite meeting his eye as she sat up and leaned on her curled up knee. "But it's not so much a job offer as much as it is a training opportunity. Apparently, Admiral Marcus has seen the report about my actions on the Narada and wants me to undergo training with Starfleet intelligence before I can be considered to go on the five-year deep space missions."
"But isn't that great?" Jim exclaimed sitting up "Extra training for the five-year missions. Not to mention how handy it would be to have a chief of security trained in counter-espionage"
"I get all that, and I'm all down for it. It's just…argh!...it's weird" Layla ran a hand through her hair as she huffed "I just have this feeling that…that there's something weird going on. I mean sure it would be great to have at least someone in the crew, trained to be a professional spy if only for the skillset. But…I don't know, something smells off to me. And I don't know what it is!"
"When do you have to give the Admiral a response?" Jim asked quietly putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"On the day of your commendation ceremony when we get back on Earth." She muttered.
"and that's in a week. You still have plenty of time to think about it." Jim ruffled her dark locks, his hand lingering a little as she stifled another yawn behind her hand.
"Come on, let's hit the hay. Or else Bones will have our heads tomorrow."
"Agreed." she lowered herself back onto the bed, and Jim did the same, but even as they both rolled over to go back to back, she gently grabbed his hand.
"Hey,"
"Hmm?" Jim grunted, eyes half shut already.
"Thanks…for listening. It really helped"
"Glad I could help. Goodnight Lay." Jim smiled, giving her hand a squeeze.
"G'night Jimmy"
A pair of icy pale eyes scanned the room about their owner.
He seemed to be in a sterile room, restrained forcibly to a medical bed and wearing a medical gown of a patient.
Where…where am I?
After being so long in darkness, even the soft light of the dimly lit ceiling seemed blinding to the eyes and their owner who snarled a little as his ears finally began to work again.
"-waking up. His vital signs are stabilising far quicker than we anticipated" a hushed voice whispered, followed by a much gruffer deeper one.
"How long till I can talk with him?"
"Talk? Admiral, he's just woken up from three hundred years of Cryo-sleep, he needs rest."
Three hundred years?
The man in the bed inhaled a sharp breath and gasped as cold air flooded his throat and lungs for the first time since he awoke.
The owner of the gruff voice seemed to have heard him, for there was the thudding of booted footsteps approaching him.
The man in the bed looked up warily and wearily as the face of a lined much older man blocked his view of the ceiling.
He was wearing a grey uniform and a very disconcerting smirk as he murmured softly.
"Khan Noonien Singh, you truly are a remarkable son of a bitch."
The assembly in the Starfleet Academy great hall was grand. The cadets all standing to attention in their straight red suits, while all the senior officers stood at parade rest in their official grey dress uniforms.
And in the centre of the vast amphitheatre, the tall, dark form of Admiral Barnett stood straight-backed and proud as he addressed all his students, peers and colleagues and most importantly, the young blonde haired blue eyed young man standing before him.
"This assembly calls Captain James Tiberius Kirk" Barnett smiled as the youth before him gulped with excited apprehension "Your inspirational valour and supreme dedication to your comrades are in keeping with the highest traditions of service and reflect utmost credit to yourself, your crew and the Federation. It is my honour to award you with this commendation."
Jim Kirk smiled, his nerves melting away as a small box was presented to his superior and opened to reveal a shiny gold medal, which was quickly pinned to his left breast.
He tried not to smile too giddily as Barnett withdrew his hand. It was just too unreal. Barely two weeks ago this very same admiral was condemning him to academic suspension because he "cheated" at a simulation. Now here he was pinning a medal on his maroon cadet uniform for exemplary service.
"By Starfleet Order 28455, you are hereby directed to report to Admiral Pike, U.S.S. Enterprise, for duty as his relief." Barnette shook his hand and him to the side where none other than Captain, now Admiral, Christopher Pike, sat in a wheelchair in his new white and grey dress uniform. Behind him, pushing the chair, Layla stood in her maroon cadet suit, beaming proudly as she watched her best friend stand to attention before her father.
"I relieve you, sir"
"I am relieved" Christopher smirked dryly. Behind his back, his daughter stifled a small snort with a cough. Trust her old man to make a joke like that at a solemn ceremony.
"Thank you, sir," Jim smiled as his new commanding officer proffered his hand to shake.
"Congratulations, Captain. Your father would be proud."
The claps and cheers around the pair were deafening as they shook hands and it took all Layla had not to run out from behind her father's chair and hug Jim excitedly. Instead, she opted to clap with them, laughing as her small "Whoo!" made both men jump a little in surprise.
"Sorry" she mouthed as her father turned around in his seat to quirk an amused brow at her.
Jim quickly turned to grin at the rest of the amphitheatre, just in time to see Uhura smiling wide, Checkov clapping fast and enthusiastically while Sulu gave a shrill whistle right into an exasperated Bones' ear, while Scotty laughed at his expense along with Keenser. In the row, in front of them, he saw Spock clapping politely but silently, his face its usual blank mask, though the corner of his mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly as he let a little of his own happiness slip through just a fraction. He gave him a tiny nod of acknowledgement as they made eye contact and Jim's smile broadened.
This had to be one of the best days of his life, and there was nothing that could possibly ruin it.
Little did James Tiberius Kirk know just how wrong he was…
There was a reception in the courtyard, with food and refreshments laid out on various tables that many people flocked to.
The mood was a mixture of joy and solemn remembrance as they all toasted and drank to the crews that were lost during Nero's attack on Vulcan.
Friends and families comforted one other, doing their best to lift one another's spirits as they consoled themselves with the fact that their loved ones had not died in vain. They would be remembered as heroes. Starfleet Command had already given all those killed in the attack posthumous commendations of Valor in the line of service and devoted a massive memorial for them to be placed on campus for all future generations to see and remember.
The memorial was, in fact, several walls of black, one for each of the fallen starships, inscribed with the names of all members of its crews and their ranks, all laid out in Starfleet's beloved stylized arrow insignia.
It was at the foot of the USS Farragut Memorial that Layla gently placed a bouquet of flowers. Though most of her closest friends had thankfully survived with her on the Enterprise, a few of those she knew had been on the Farragut when it had been demolished…like Gaila…
To think that barely two weeks ago she had been so angry at the Orion girl for sleeping with her best friend and giving him access to the Kobiyashi Maru Firewall.
"I hope you guys find peace…wherever you are" she murmured softly as she carefully touched the wall.
"I'm sure they have" a gruff voice spoke from behind her.
"Uncle Alex-I-I mean Admiral Marcus, sir!" she quickly snapped to attention as she turned to face an older man in the white and grey admiral's uniform.
"At ease kid. There's no need for formalities, especially not at an event like this" Admiral Marcus smirked as he walked to stand beside her. "I just talked with your parents. They both seem to be doing well, or at least as well as can be expected given your dad's condition."
"Yeah, he's still got a lot of rehabilitation to go" Layla sighed. "That slug really did a number on his spine."
"Indeed." Marcus frowned, his expression softening as he turned to the wall of names.
"It truly is sad." He murmured quietly "So much potential, so many hopefuls all wiped out by one murderous bastard."
"With all due respect sir, but the truth isn't that black and white." Layla's eyes hardened a little as she glanced sideways at the Admiral. "Nero might've murdered hundreds of people, but he felt his cause was justified by his grief of losing his future family and his home and the need to protect them at all cost. Something I think you and I can both strongly relate to."
"You sound like Commander Spock," Marcus smirked at his junior officer. "He too said something like that effect in his report. Surprising really, considering that Nero destroyed his whole planet."
"It's not really that surprising. Despite his leanings towards logic, the Commander is deep down, a far more empathetic person at heart."
Marcus looked down at her, eyebrows raised.
"Sometimes I forget how smart you are." He muttered with a small smirk that Layla didn't like one bit. "Speaking of smarts, I got your response, and I am glad you decided to join Starfleet Intelligence."
"I never said I'd join intelligence" she clipped over him. "I merely said I was interested in the training. As you read in my response, I believe it would be beneficial that some officers of starships should have some training in specialised Intelligence operations."
"And you offered yourself to be the guinea pig in this little experiment?" his voice hardened impatiently.
"Yes, though I have conditions." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"First off, all Intelligence training I undertake will not interfere with my duties aboard the Enterprise as Chief Security Officer. I will keep going on missions with them, and I will go with them when we set out on the Five Year missions. Secondly, you keep my parents out of this, they've got enough on their plates as it stands. Thirdly and finally, no matter what my training I will not, I repeat, NOT under any circumstances be asked to or forced to undertake illegal activities that go against Starfleet, or Federation regulations and laws. I don't care how much my dad trusts you, but I won't give anyone an excuse to make me a scapegoat for any reason. Not even you."
"Layla, you wound me" Marcus forced a smile onto his face, though his eyes were cold and seething. "You're like family to me. How could you ever think I would force you to do something illegal against your will?"
"Because I know you, Sir." Layla met his gaze levelly, her voice deadly quiet. "And unlike my dad, I know exactly what you're capable of doing if things don't go your way."
"Is that a threat lieutenant commander?" Marcus's lip curled.
"Of course not sir. Simply an observation." Layla smiled oh-so-sweetly. "When do I start my training?"
"Orientation starts tomorrow o-nine-hundred hours. Don't be late" Marcus clipped and turned on his heel to march off, leaving Layla behind to stare at the flowers she had placed by the memorial wall. They were lilies, pure white and unblemished against the dark stone.
"Gutsy move, pissing off an Admiral" a voice spoke.
"Gutsy move, trying to hide from me" Layla looked up and saw Andrew Hawkins stepping out from around the back of the memorial. He was dressed in a grey officers dress uniform, sans the cap, his white hair standing out starkly as he carefully tried to settle it into place.
"I see you escaped your babysitters" Layla smirked.
"For the moment. But I have to go back with them in five minutes, so I can give my full report to Starfleet Intelligence in person." Hawke grimaced awkwardly as he stepped towards her.
"Are you going on another mission?" she asked, and he gave a small nod, though he avoided her eye oddly as he mumbled:
"This might be the last we see of each other for a while. I wanted to make the most of it." And with that, he leaned down swiftly and planted his lips on her cheek.
It was a careful press, warm and affectionate. So utterly different to the usually brisk and aggressive air with which he often held himself. It took Layla aback just how gentle the action was that she only blinked in response, her cheeks traitorously flushing as he leaned back and smirked.
"It was nice meeting your short stack. Even if our time together was brief, I won't forget you easily."
"And I you" she nodded, cursing her cheeks as they flushed a deep red. She was usually so in control of her emotions, mainly when it involved being around the opposite sex (or same sex depending on the person), but this guy just somehow knew how to get under her skin no matter how hard she tried to keep him at arm's length.
And yet she found herself hesitating to let him leave as he stepped away towards a small group of men in similar grey uniforms. They weren't of any ship or crew that had been present for the commendation ceremony, they were Intelligence agents sent by Starfleet Intelligence to pick Hawke up and escort him back to base.
And yet even as Layla watched the young man approach the agents, she couldn't help but notice that they kept their eyes on him warily, almost as if they were looking to see if he might cause trouble.
It was a look she knew all too well as a security officer, and it wasn't the look of a small escort. It was the look of jailers when they transferred prisoners.
She quickly turned away as one of the agents caught her eye briefly.
She had a sneaking suspicion that Admiral Marcus was responsible. He certainly was keeping a close eye on Hawke from where he was amiably chatting with her dad.
She kept her eyes trained on him even as she strolled back over to where Jim and Leonard were standing and murmuring over drinks at a refreshment table.
"Hey boys."
"Hey, kid. You doin' okay?" Leonard handed her a glass of water.
"I'm doing alright. Just giving Admiral Marcus my response. I report to him at nine o clock tomorrow morning for orientation" Layla downed a gulp of her drink.
"You said yes then?" Jim sipped at his own juice.
"Yeah…though I did make sure to do it on my own terms. The last thing I want is to be anybody's lackey." She snorted through another sip.
"Well, as long as you're happy with your choice, we'll support you no matter what." Leonard patted her on the back before adding in a mutter. "as long as that Hawke guy isn't a part of it."
"Seriously Leo, you are worse than my dad sometimes." Layla rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah, then what was that kiss all about?" Jim sniggered, chortling loudly as her cheeks burned red hot like an old fire hydrant. But seeing as they still had to adhere to some code of conduct at this formal event, she suppressed the urge to slap his head, though she was sorely tempted as she mumbled.
"He was just saying goodbye. He's being reassigned."
"To where? A prison cell" Leonard's smirk fell a little as he watched the object of their conversation be quietly led away by his handlers. "Those creepy bozos don't look too friendly."
"I'd keep your voice down if I were you Bones," Jim coughed as he eyed the agents disappear behind a nearby building. "Lay's gonna be working with thugs like that when she joins Intelligence."
"Not that I'm looking forward to it" she admitted gulping down the last of her water.
"Then why did you take the job?" Leonard frowned.
"I need the training. And I won't be joining them…at least not completely." She set her water down with a small cough. "The Admiral has agreed to let me continue my duties on board the Enterprise as Chief of Security. In-between missions I will undergo training with all the other candidates, but I won't officially join S.I. as an agent."
"Can he do that?" Leonard's eyebrows rose into his hairline.
"I convinced him in my written response that it might be useful for certain members of ship crews to have experience dealing with counter-espionage without being part of the S.I. think of it as another specialised skillset like engineering or Medicine."
"It would be handy having a trained spy as one of the crew," Jim nodded as he considered the idea.
"Provided they don't turn double agent on us and slit our throats in our sleep" Leonard muttered only to wince as Layla narrowed her eyes dangerously at him.
"Leo! You honestly think I'd knife you in the back."
"No-no! I know YOU wouldn't want sweetheart!" Leonard quickly put up a placating hand. "but I can't say the same for other people. I sometimes see some of them coming into medical to get patched up on the night shifts and well, I know we've got confidentiality agreements but let's just say that some of the stuff those agents get up to is…not too pretty."
"Good thing you're my trusted backup physician then" Layla sighed as she cooled her heightened temper as she set her empty glass on the table.
"Backup? I thought Bones was your primary physician?" Jim frowned.
"He is still. But while I train at intelligence, I have to make use of their doctors, so I don't let anything leak. But don't worry Leo, if I am leaking and those bastards can't fix it I've got you on speed dial."
"Lord give me strength" Leonard rolled his eyes, though he was betrayed by the smallest of smirks that played on his lips as Jim chuckled heartily into his drink.
Layla smiled at the two of them, her icy eyes thawing ever so slightly as she allowed herself to swell up with pride and deep affection for her two best friends.
If only moments like this could last forever.
And TADAA! this chapter is finally up after so long
been looking through all my old fics and stumbled again across my star trek ones. thought i'd get back in the swing since i just started watching ST:Discovery a few weeks back.
anyways glad to be back. updates might be slow because of work and such but they will happen.
Anyways, if you enjoyed please review and i'll hopefully be posting more soon.
Cheers
FuzzyBeta