Second to last chapter of this story! Special shout out to sleepingshadows97, whose incredible review yesterday got this chapter out earlier than it would have otherwise. I really appreciate you taking the time to write that.

Jim just sat there gaping at Cogley, his mind apparently convinced that he was drunk if its current processing speed was any indication, as it tried in achingly slow motion to comprehend the meaning of the lawyer's last statement. He opened his mouth, no doubt intending to say something stupid, embarrassing and completely inappropriate for the courtroom, only for his mouth to fall shut as his long lost brother walked into the room.

Jim kept an eye on Sam as he walked toward the witness stand. He was so much older, looked so different than the last time they'd seen each other, but so much was the same. He could still see all the traits the two of them had jointly inherited from their family; the strong jawline from their father, the eyes from their mother, the bags under the eyes from their step-father, though Sam's seemed a bit lighter than they were before he'd run away all those years ago (although, Jim reflected, that could just be his perception. His bags had gotten quite a bit darker not too long after that day).

"Please place your hand on the sensor."

"Identity: Kirk, Samuel George. Occupation: child psychologist (Jim did his umpteenth double take at this). Current residence: Deneva colony."

Cogley stood and walked over to Sam, stopping just in front of him before beginning.

"Mr. Kirk, thank you for coming. You lived with your step-father and brother for several years, correct?"

"Yes," Sam replied. Jim was startled yet again at the voice. It had changed, matured. It was a man's voice now, yet it was so soft.

"Could you please explain for the court exactly how you came to cease living with them?"

Sam closed his eyes, as though willing the universe to change the answer to his question before he had to give it. When the universe blatantly ignored his petition, he squeezed out a sentence.

"When I was 14 I ran away."

Cogley nodded, knowing this was difficult yet having little choice. "Could you explain why?"

"I couldn't take it anymore."

"Couldn't take what anymore?"

"You name it. My father was killed and my mother died with him. In the end my mother remarried for the sake of- oh man, all these years and I still don't know why she did it. Convenience maybe? She left us with him to go off into space where there'd be no reminders, nothing to bring my dad's memory back. Couldn't have picked a nicer guy."

"Oh? How so?"

"He hit us, Mr. Cogley!" Sam burst out. "He hit me, he hit my little brother, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. He yelled at us, he cursed us, he made us serve him, he invited other people to do the same, and all the while tried to make us feel like we deserved it! I got fed up. He wasn't our father, he wasn't our anything, he was just some worthless excuse for a man trying to be a bigger man by showing he had more power than a couple of teenagers. He-"

"Worthless!" spat out Frank as he sprang up out of his chair. "You have the nerve to call me worthless you pathetic little runt! You, the one who ran away! The one who couldn't take it like a man! You want to sit there and tell me you didn't deserve it you rotten little dweeb! You who believed everyone should bow at your feet because of your father who wasn't good for anything other than getting himself killed? You were just too stubborn to learn your place. Nobody could make you realize. You're nothing! You were nothing then, you're nothing now-"

"Order!" The judge snapped, banging his gavel. If Frank even heard he gave no indication. He just kept glaring at Sam.

"I tried to teach you some respect," Frank ground out the word, "but you were just too stubborn. Both of you! You thought you were better than everyone else, expecting us all to bend down and kiss your boots because of your sob story. You never listened to me. I asked for help but you wouldn't listen to anyone else either! You-"

"Enough! Bailiff, I'm ordering him held in contempt. Take him!" called the judge over Frank's rant.

The bailiff strode over to the crazed man and grasped him by the arm, but Frank shook him off and shoved him away. The force sent the bailiff to the ground sliding several feet. As Frank took off on his rant again, spittle started flying from his mouth as he began casting his glare around the courtroom, trying to bring it down on everyone there.

"Get your hands off of me! You're all alike! You're a bunch of spineless saps who cry for the poor little boys! Well let me tell you something, the brats deserved every bit of it! They wouldn't respect anyone! Even Kodos was shocked at how badly he failed at teaching this one any manners! Knew I should've just had them put down-"

Frank broke off suddenly as his body stiffened before falling to the floor. Spock stood behind him, his hand coming back down to his side from where it had been extended to perform the nerve pinch.

"Thank you, Commander Spock. Bailiff, are you alright?" The man nodded as he lifted himself up off the ground. At his nod the judge went on. "Then if you please, have this man taken to a cell. We'll deal with writing up the extra charges later." The bailiff nodded and gestured to one of the pair of guards that had just entered the courtroom, apparently having been summoned when Frank's outburst got out of control. As they cleared the room, the judge turned to look at the rattled court.

"Well, I think in light of what just happened we can conclude this trial. Any objections?"

The head shakes were unanimous, even Fasel agreed, although his was rather morose. He simply knew there was no way to dig his client out from under the mess he'd just built himself.

"Well then, members of the jury, we thank you for your service. Arrangements regarding sentencing will be made within the next several days. Court is adjourned."

With another bang of the gavel, the court stood as the judge left, before voices broke out all over. But Jim heard none of them. He had eyes for only one person in the room. Sam wilted under the beam of Jim's gaze, looking like he wanted nothing more than to turn and bolt from the room. But such was not the Kirk way, so he squared his shoulders and strode over to his younger brother.

"Jim."

"Sam."

The two stood there, simply staring at each other. Neither had noticed that most of those who had been in the courtroom were being discreetly urged out by the Enterprise crewmembers.

"I don't know what to say Jimmy. I really don't."

"Try."

Sam started to say something, but it came out as more of a squeak. He stopped, took a deep breath, and started again, his voice still quivering, but at least intelligible.

"I'm so sorry Jim. I'm so, so very sorry. I've regretted leaving you there for as long as I can remember. I tried to find you about seven years ago, but there was nothing there to go on. I- I was so relieved when you got command of the Enterprise, I finally knew you were alive-"

"Why didn't you contact me then?"

Sam let out a deep sigh. "I was ashamed. I knew I had failed you, and I didn't know quite how to begin. I didn't want to ruin your moment of glory by dragging issues with me into the picture, so I figured I'd wait a bit for things to die down and try then."

"Dumb idea."

"Yeah, I was rationalizing and I knew it. But the truth is, as stupid as my reasons were, now I'm glad I waited. If I had tried to talk to you not having known…. I can't just apologize Jim. There are no words that will make this better. There is nothing that can justify leaving you alone with that monster, leaving you to get sent to… that place… alone. I just- I want to at least try to make up for what I did. I know I have no right to ask you for that chance; I know it will probably take me the rest of my life to even begin, but if nothing else, I owe it to you to ask. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough, that I betrayed you, that I ran away. Sorrier than you will ever know, I-" His speech was interrupted by his brother yelling.

"Dammit, Sam! All this time and you still don't get it!"

Sam just looked at Jim, tears in his eyes, his face wild and bewildered. Jim opened his mouth to yell some more but cut himself off as he felt a pair of hands on his back. One he knew very well, one he had only felt recently but would always remember. Drawing strength from the touch, taking a deep breath and sending a mental thank you for having been given Bones and Nyota, Jim started again in a softer, yet still fairly loud voice.

"You didn't betray me by running away, Sam! You made the smart decision. We were in a terrible position, it was the only thing that made sense. The betrayal was that you didn't take me with you."

Sam's eyes went wide, ruining the effort of keeping the tears at bay.

"Jimmy… I- I- you're right. I should have taken you."

Jim stood there watching the tears cascading down his brother's face, mirroring, he knew, those going down his own. He saw the apology written in his eyes, and with the hard earned skills of his life, he judged it. When he was done, he stood there for a moment, before blurting out the only thing he could think of to say.

"So… Deneva, huh?

Sam snorted through his tears and nodded.

"Nice there?"

Another nod.

"Child psychologist?"

Another nod. "Seemed right."

"Yeah… I know what you mean."

Before either brother knew it they were in each other's arms, weeping shamelessly, the pain of their years of separation not anywhere approaching healed, but at least somewhat easier on them both by being being shared between them.