CH3 Revelations

"Fine, tell me what to say and I will talk to them for you," Kirk offers. Kate turns her head to stare at the map. The swish of the door to Sick Bay opening turns Kirk and McCoy backward.

Jack strides into Sick Bay heading directly for Dr. McCoy. "Jack," McCoy says slightly surprised to see the COS (Chief of Security) in medical. "How are our other guests?" Jack can hear the concern in Bones' voice.

"In their cells waking up," Jack replies heading to the replicator to get coffee. Jack doesn't run on coffee like many of the other crew members but today he can use a kick start. 0430 hrs is too damn early. "Coffee…large…black," he requests from the replicator.

Jim nods crossing his arms. "I want to talk to them. Let me make sure things are being handled on the bridge and meet me in the Brig in ten," Jim orders before walking out. "Can do," Jack nods. Bones gives him a slight head towards his office. "I just wanted to know how the kid was holding up? I am not sure if we were more surprised at what happened in there or if she was. Did you see the look on her face?" Jack confides.

"No, but I bet it is similar to the one she has now," Bones motions to Kate from across the room.

"Yep that's the one," Jack takes a long draw on his coffee. "She is in way over her head." Bones crosses his arms studying Jack. "So how is the kid?"

Bones picks up his PADD containing her vitals. "Her name is Kate probably Katherine. From the medical tests, she is between 11 and 13 years old. 4'8" tall, 80 lbs and healthy according to my initial scans. I was just going to take a blood sample and run it for further analysis but I don't expect to find anything out of the ordinary." Kate keeps her eyes on the map but intently listens to their conversation. "I need to take a DNA sample but she is resistant," Bones says. "I thought I would try again now that Jim has left and she is calmer."

"It will make it a helluva lot easier to track down her parents," Jack agrees finishing his coffee. "You know she is listening right?" Jack points out.

Kate knows she has to react now. The doctor can't run his blood test. Kate jumps off the table igniting the lightsaber. "You're right I'm am," she calmly states pulling it to a defensive position in one fluid motion. Kate takes a deep steady breath watching the two men intently.

"Whoa," Jack yells as she walks to the center of the room with the weapon. "You people carry those sword things like normal people carry gum," Jack says dryly getting a half smile and laugh out of Kate. Jack takes this as a good sign. He can tell she is scared but not terrified at the moment. He can handle scared. It's when people are terrified and panicked that things tend to get really messy. He silently curses himself for not assigning a security detail to her.

Bones is not as relaxed as Jack. "Jesus Christ kid put that down," he snaps before sliding back into his calm demeanor. "Take it easy darlin'. No one here is going to hurt you. You are safe and we are here to help you," Jack is mildly surprised the doctor is handling the change in his young patient so well.

"Hey Red Shirt, you're coming with me. Take me to the Brig now," Kate demands holding the blue blade in a defensive posture.

"Red Shirt?" Jacks says looking hurt.

"I think you are being taken hostage," Bones softly jokes setting his PADD down on the table next to him.

"Move it Red shirt and you…blue…take a seat," Kate tries to control the room. Jack chuckles at the face Bones gets for being called Blue shirt. Kate knows she has to make a move soon. This place is too public not to have unexpected guests and right now she has her hands full with two. "I said Red move and Blue sit," she orders sharply.

The cuteness of the situation is beginning to wear thin with Jack. "You didn't say Simon Says," Jack jokes but losing the humor in his voice.

Bones tries to keep the situation under control. "Look darlin' we can help you but you have to put that thing down. No one wants to hurt you," Bones repeats.

"Do it," Jack clarifies the request in the least threatening way possible. Bones gives Jack a scathing look but the doctor has not seen that light sword in action. Kid or not she is still brandishing a weapon.

Jack can see Kate assessing her surrounding like his boys would. This sets off a red flag that maybe she is not as helpless as she pretended in the transporter room. "Hurt me! That blinking bishwag shot my friends." Kate directs all her anger on Jack. "You fired first. You attacked us. Kidnapped us from our own ship and you want me to believe you are friendly?"

Jack needs to get the situation under control. "Yes I did," he verifies her claims.

His confession shocks Kate. She expected lies and false platitudes. "Why," she demands. "We came in peace." Kate lets her eye scan the room finding the exit. She angles her body slightly sideways taking a step. She can't run for the door and the look in the security guy's eyes tells her he knows what she is thinking.

"I made a call. From where is stood you did not look happy to be there. In fact, I would wager a guess you were surprised at their behavior in the transporter room. They didn't follow the plan did they," Jack uses a calm, even, non-threatening tone as he speaks shifting his stance so she stays directly in front of him. Jack can tell he struck a nerve by the way her forehead crinkled at his assessment. "They also never said take me to your leader which as you well know is the standard alien invasion greeting." Jack shoves his hands into his pockets attempting to look less threatening.

"You are so funny Mr. Red Shirt. Should I laugh or be hurt that you don't believe me," Kate counters taking another step sideways. The swish of the door signals more people have just entered Sick Bay. Kate pulls her attention briefly from Jack and Bones to reassess her situation. Kate sees two more men in red shirts at the door entrance both with blaster-like weapons drawn.

Jack extends a hand telling the men to lower their weapons. "We are just talking here guys. No need to get all crazy at 0830 without coffee," he jokes giving them the code for taking a shot when available.

"It is 0500 hours," she counters. "This isn't my first pod race. They told me you would do this. Lie, jail them, and then separate me."

Jack is shocked she is present enough in the situation to know he gave an order. "Jailed is such a strong term. I prefer resting in private rooms away from the hustle and bustle of the ship," Jack tries to make it sound fun.

"Take me to them," Kate demands. "Get back all of you or you will be sorry." She threatens seeing the men at the door taking a step forward.

"Darlin relax. You're scared and I get that, but if you don't trust him listen to me, Kate. Neither you or we are the bad guys here," Bones tries to reason gently.

"Make him get back," she tells Bones about Jack as he takes a small step forward. Kate sees the minute head nod from Jack signaling his men to attack. "Bad move there buddy," Kate warns releasing one hand from the blade. She extends her hand outward in a Force push but nothing happens. Again Kate tries a Force push but can't focus enough to move them an inch.

Jack extends a hand imitating her saying, "Hello," very slowly. "I have never seen a greeting like that have you Bones but heck you learn something every day."

Kate is infuriated at Jack making fun of her but she controls her anger. Instead, she tries for the last time to reason with them. "Please…please put down your weapons. I only want to get out and not hurt you," Kate's tone is far more pleading and desperate than she intends. Jack takes her brief hesitation to signal Adams and Dobbs to shoot. Kate may not have full use of the Force but it is enough that she can sense they are trying to hurt her. As her adrenaline kicks in she turns whirling the blade deflecting the shots back at the two security guards at the door. They drop bonelessly to the ground. Kate spins back turning her attention to Jack and McCoy. The shots were more of luck than Force skill.

"Peaceful! You just shot my men," Jack shouts disgustedly pointing at Adams and Dobbs on the floor.

"I did not," Kate squeals back. "They shot me and I defended myself. Don't see any blaster bolts coming out of here do ya? My weapon is defensive."

"I seriously doubt that," Jack laughs. Faster than McCoy can see Jack flings his, "Everyone runs on Dunkin" coffee cup at her. He needs to assess her weapon and would rather do it with an inanimate object than himself. Kate brings the blade around neatly severing the cup in two. It remains that way until the halves shatter on the floor. From what Jack can tell the modified flashlight as he has been calling the new weapon, is nothing more than a very cool sword.

"Why did you do that," Kate yells shocked. Mr. Red shirt better attack or back off because he is really starting to piss Kate off with his snappy comebacks.

"Now that is one nifty sword you got their kid," Jack compliments. "Can you show me how it flies across the room? I mean does it have little jet packs or what?" Jack hopes she can shed some light on how it was moving in the transporter room by itself.

"What?" Kate demands almost breathlessly. She can't believe these people don't seem to know who the Jedi are or what a light saber is. They have to be in one of the companion galaxies to Skyriver she realizes. "And stop talking. Standard procedure for taking down a hostile is to buy time engaging in conversation. I did not fall off the apple grav-cart yesterday."

Jack gives her a half laugh. "You're just confused and tired. Can't we just be friends? So what will it be kid? I'll even get you ice cream or a piece of pie," he adds to the end hoping to distract her enough to disarm her.

"What?" Kate is so confused why no one will take her seriously. Zala Tsu definitely knew what she was talking about when she warned Kate they would try to confuse her. "Backup", Kate warns seeing the gap closing between her and Mr. Red shirt. "I do not want to hurt anyone…please," Kate pleads.

Jack knows that even holding that weapon she will not use it. He can read it in both her body language and word choice. "Then drop your flashlight kid," Jack begins to take slow, controlled steps toward her.

Kate knows she can't stop him and will have to fight. The problem is she can't hurt him. He has really not done anything to her and is not threatening her life only her freedom. "Why are you making his so difficult." Her tone is pleading and her hands are beginning to shake. Jack knows it is now or never. He throws his hat her. As she cleaves it in two he dives forward grabbing her wrists, angling the blade away from them and to the floor.

"Kriff me," Kate yells stunned at his play. If she leaves the blade active someone is going to get hurt and she is not in the mood to lose an arm. She deactivates the blade opening her hand so it tumbles to the floor. Jack kicks it out of the way as she starts her attack with a knee to the groin. Jack turns enough so that she impacts his inner thigh rather than his groin. Kate follows through with a front kick that Jack blocks grabbing her right arm. Kate brings her elbow up sharply to his face nailing him in the cheek. If Jack hadn't moved his face to get it out of her hair she would have broken his nose. Jack decides it is time to stop playing. Kate has had more than a few classes in self-defense. He grabs her left hand neatly placing her in a basket hold against his chest. Kate feels panic bubbling in her again. She has not had to fight without the help of the Force in a long time. It shows she has gotten slow and dependent on it. "Let me go," she struggles against his chest realizing she is not in a good position. "Please don't hurt me," Kate begs putting more desperation in her voice than she feels hoping to generate sympathy. Kate tugs at her arms testing his hold.

"I will when you calm down Kate," Jack explains. Kate doesn't struggle but doesn't relax planning her next move. "Now I am going to let you go and you are going to be calm and relaxed while Bones here finished up with you. Got it."

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Bones pulling some sort of syringe from a drawer. "Blood test," Kate whispers. She is in more trouble than she realized. Kate begins to yank wildly on her arms but can't get leverage with them crossed in front of her body. If she had control of the Force Kate could Force shove him into the wall, but she doesn't. Kate would be in awe of Jack's mastery of the basket hold if she wasn't in it. She has about fifteen seconds to get out of the hold before the doctor comes over. Kate yanks her wrists sharply forward as Jack tightens his hold slightly. "Ow ow ow you're hurting my arm," she squeals feeling her right shoulder coming out of its socket. It is an old injury but the way he is holding her and the way she is struggling will definitely dislocate it again.

Jack can feel her arm popping out of its socket and releases his grip some. He doesn't want to hurt her just calm her down. Kate is slipping into the panic phase where people become unpredictable. She already pulled a weapon on them and Jack is kicking himself for not frisking her like he did the others. He learned the hard way once that just because you are a child doesn't mean that you can't be armed. "Keep fighting and you will pop your shoulder out," he warns gently. "Just calm down and I will let you go I promise Kate." Kate thrashes her legs and swings her hips desperately trying get loose. "Shhhh," Jack whispers in her ear. "It is going to be alright kiddo. Bones just step back okay. Relax Kate okay," he tries to be as soothing as possible knowing she is just scared. "I am going to take some of the pressure off your arm okay," Jack tells her loosening his grip.

Kate relaxes just enough to have Jack loosen his grip before she goes wild thrashing forward pulling her arms hard. Jack almost loses control of her. "Kate I am not letting go until you are ready to listen and be calm. Relax now or you will either get hurt or get tired understand me," Jack tries to be stern since soothing wasn't working.

"No," Kate fights back harder than ever.

Jack has no choice. "Bones a little help here," he asks. He had hoped sending Bones away would calm her but she is in this to win this. If he holds her any longer she will pop her shoulder out of the socket and Jack doesn't want that to occur.

Kate knows she only has one play left. She pushes off the ground hard throwing her weight backward planting her feet on his knees. Before Jack can move she pulls her knees up and arms down. Gravity plus the weight of her body places too much stress on her arm. Before Jack can take her to the ground her arm pops out of its socket. Jack instantly lets it go as she screams out in pain. Kate has forgotten how badly dislocating her arms hurts. It lies limp at a weird angle useless. Kate pants heavily from the excretion and pain. Jack reaches out to help her up but Kate tries to leg sweep him while holding her injured arm. "Kid my patience is at an all-time low with you," Jack warns scooping her up into his arms. Kate screams out in pain as Jack carries her to med bed 1. "You are going to have your shoulder set and then we are going to have a long talk on manners young lady," Jack chastises her. Kate stares into his eyes attempting to gauge how serious Jack is. "Bones," Jim signals the doctor forward. Kate knows she has to reset her shoulder before she tries anything else. She leans back into the bed fighting back the urge to cry from the pain. Jack sticks out his hand for her to hold. "Take it. I know how bad this hurts but Bones here is a champ. He'll have you up and running in no time. I'll even let you take another crack at me okay," Jack jokes bringing a tight smile to her face.

Bones comes over explaining each step before he even touches her. Kate wishes these people were not her enemies. They remind her so much of the people from back home. Bones hypos her with Ketorolac to numb the pain as much as possible. He has her shoulder back in the socket before she realizes it. "See I told you," Jack punches her gently in the uninjured arm drawing her attention squarely on him as Bones gives her a sedative. Fear flashes across her face then Kate slumps back on the bed. Jack sweeps the hair from her face as Bones straightens her legs on the bed.

"She will be out for several hours," Bones informs him pulling off her boots before covering her with a blanket. "I have no idea what the hell this kid has been through but it has been a lot. That shoulder is a chronic injury. I'll x-ray it when she is out and run some of the other tests." He draws the much-needed blood sample as he talks. "Get to the Brig. Find out why those assholes are here and what they want from her," Bones orders as Jack leaves to meet Jim in the Brig.

.

BRIG

Jack enters the Brig seeing Kirk and Spock standing at station 2. "Col. O'Neill," Spock acknowledges his arrival. "The Captain and I were just discussing the most efficient way to question the detainees."

"Detainees?" Jack asks raising his eyebrows at Spock's choice of words.

"Spock feels better calling them detainees instead of prisoners because we have not officially charged them with anything," Kirk translates never taking his eyes off the prisoners. "I say they crossed the threshold from guest to prisoner the minute they involved the kid in the transporter room. Although Spock here says they have not done anything to warrant a change in status and a night in the brig except to royally piss me off." Jim continues to stare at the Jedi in the cells.

"Captain being Vulcan I do not feel one way or another. I was simply pointing out that the evidence we have against the Jedi is not necessarily enough to warrant incarceration," Spock defends his view.

"Would a person of interest satisfy you both," Jack offers. "Now depending on how you define it a person if interest can be someone we want to talk to," Jack motions to Spock. "Or it can be a euphemism for suspect allowing Jim to keep their asses in here as long as he wants."

"I knew I liked you for a reason," Kirk jokes before becoming serious again staring at all three Jedi calmly meditating in their respective cells. He studies each individual for a few seconds before motioning Hendorff over. "Have they said anything?"

"No sir," Hendorff says also keeping his eyes on the cells.

"Permission to speak freely sir?" Jack asks finally getting a minute alone with his CO.

"Yeah," Kirk replies and pulls his attention off the Jedi.

"What the hell is going on here sir? Why were they beamed aboard in the middle of the night without any scans, visual confirmations..." Jack demands.

Kirk stiffens when hearing Jack's tone. Permission to speak freely is one thing but accusing Jim of purposefully endangering his crew is another. As he prepares to hand Jack his ass, common sense prevails. The guy is only doing his job like it or not. A new thought crosses Jim's mind. "Did you feel helpless at times in their presence?" Kirk asks turning back to stare at the Jedi. "No helpless is not the right word but I'll be dammed if I can describe the feeling," Jim says shaking his head slightly as if to clear his mind.

"Helpless isn't the right word...but something was off," Jack confirms rubbing his forehead with his palm. "In the transporter room, you know when she began approaching you, I should have fired then but it was as if something in the back of my brain kept saying 'relax. Everything is fine' in some weird surfer type voice. This situation is FUBAR* sir".

"Yeah… I think your right," Jim says rubbing his chin. "Okay, so I say we each take one and see what we can find out. The kid was not of any help," Kirk confides.

"About the kid," Jack looks at Jim uncomfortably. "She pulled one of their weapons on us in Sick Bay after you left." Jack sees Jim is about to become unglued. "Jim she is a scared kid but in taking her down, she dislocated her right shoulder. Bones set it and then gave her a heavy sedative. He got that blood sample he needed and is running some other medical tests. He said she would sleep for the next few hours. I just thought you should know," Jack tells the Captain. Jim can read through the lines. The comment that Kate is his daughter has been gnawing at the back of his mind since Zala Tsu said it in the transporter room. He knows Bones and Jack have it on their minds as well even if they are not talking about it.

"Thanks but right now they are our concern," Jim indicates the Jedi in front of him. "I will take Zala Tsu. Jack, you have Rogan and Spock you have Da-Mu-Unka. Find out what you can," Kirk orders walking to the cell holding Zala Tsu. "Hendroff open the cell," Kirk commands stepping in.

Jim stares at the blue skinned woman in front of him. She is lounging on the bed which elevates her breasts. Jim has been around enough women to know she is clearly trying to come on to him. "So Miss Tsu care to tell me why you have come half way across my galaxy?"

"Shala," she purrs. Jim notices her two head tails twitch slightly as she talks.

"Shala…is that a greeting or your homeworld," he asks still standing ramrod straight.

Zala Tsu's melodic laughter fills her cell. "My name Zala Tsu Shala but in my culture, we do not use surnames, Jim." She lets Kirk's name roll off her tongue seductively.

"In my culture we go by rank," Kirk replies calmly.

Zala Tsu sits up with a coy smile. She presents her wrists to him like she plans to be handcuffed and says sultrily, "a Captain must know his crew does he not. Take me somewhere private and I can show you many things. Twi' elks are revered in the galaxy for our knowledge of what others need."

"Excellent tell me the name of your galaxy 'cause we both know you are not from around here," Jim quips sitting on the cell bed across from her. Jim has to focus on keeping his eyes on hers and not her nearly exposed breasts. "What do you want and why are you using the kid?" Jim directs the conversation. "That is was I need to know."

If she did not need to buy time for the little Solo brat to complete her part of the mission, Zala Tsu would snap his neck. "We are not using the Chikra. She is dear to us and to you Captain or have you not taken my advice," she coos from her perched position on the cell bed.

"Then why the guise of friendship? Why contact us with the promise of a wondrous gift when you have nothing?" Jim tries to keep his anger in check.

Zala Tsu slowly walks over to Jim. She drags a single finger lazily across his chest. "When meeting a stranger or guest for the first time we usually exchange gifts or something else as a welcome," she says as seductively as her movement. "It is customary to share what we have. I have given you the most precious gift of all." Zala Tsu opens her hand sliding down his chest towards his waist. He feels himself involuntarily growing at her touch. He roughly grabs her hand tossing it aside.

"I have 430 lives to protect. I need answers and if you will not give them to me you are of no use to me," Jim threatens firmly.

In a lightning fast move, Zala Tsu straddles Jim's lap. She shoves him backward pressing her full lips to the edge of his ear. Dawson and Michaels drop the force field to her cell leveling their phasers at her head. "I have delivered to you your salvation…your hope," she says huskily before taking his earlobe into her mouth.

"You have delivered nothing more than a lap dance I did not pay for," Jim stands forcing her to her feet.

"I have given you your daughter," Zala Tsu stares at him looking for a reaction. "Tell me does it gnaw at your soul to know you were not man enough to for your wife. That Master Lauren Shan could not be fulfilled by you," Zala Tsu offers walking back to her side of the cell. She sits seductively with her legs slightly spread leaning back against the wall. Jim refuses to be baited knowing Zala will continue until she has said what she wants to say. Jim just hopes it is something useful. "We did not take Kate Solo from her. In fact, I have not seen Master Shan in years but I have seen your daughter many times." Zala feels through the Force Jim's heightening anger towards her and Lauren. "Your daughter is special. She is one of us and will grow into one of the most formidable foes your galaxy has seen. Tell me will you stand beside her as her right hand when she rules your galaxy."

A cold chill courses through Jim's body. Eighteen months ago he had a similar conversation with Khan Noonien Singh. He prays the kid in Sick Bay has not been genetically altered like he was. "I have set a course for Starbase 11. When we reach it you will be turned over to Star Fleet. I do not know what you want and frankly, I don't care. I just want you off my ship. This is the last contact we will have until we arrive and I turn you over to the authorities.

Zala Tsu leans against the table watching Jim exit her cell. "Do not believe that Captain. We will speak again and soon. Tell me is the little one safe. I need to know she is unhurt," Zala Tsu's silky voice tries to take a maternal quality as it follows Jim out of her cell.

"Lady you care about that kid as much as a pit viper does a mouse," Jim hollers back over his shoulder. Zala Tsu walks to the bed and lies seductively on her back staring out the window at the stars. She knows it will not take Jim's crew long to figure out Kate's piece of the plan. She just prays Kate completes her mission before they do.

Spock and Jack are exiting their cells the same time Jim does. "Da-Mu-Unka proved to be surprisingly forthcoming with details," Spock informs Jack and Kirk. "Were your person's of interest as well?"

Jack gets a half grin at Spock using the term person of interest. "Gambler over there just wants a drinking buddy," Jack indicates to Rogan. "He did give me some insight on tactically what they are capable of. He is highly intelligent so it wasn't a slip. He wanted me to know this information for a reason. I just have to figure out why." Jack sees Jim deep in thought. "What did you get from Bambi the blue skinned vixen?"

"A lap dance, kid, and a divorce," Jim says sourly walking out of the Brig. Jack and Spock follow a half step behind him. "I want them off the ship ASPA Coronel. I am calling the senior staff to my ready room at 0730 hours. Find a replacement for yourself and get there." As Jim turns to leave he notices that Zala Tsu has watched the entire exchange between his men and himself.

"I'll be waiting Captain" Zala Tsu taunts from behind the glass as Jim turns and walks out.

"I am going to Sick Bay to check on the kid. You said Bones was running the blood test," Jim asks trying to hide his queasiness with the inquiry.

"Yeah," Jack doesn't pry but wishes he had the same relationship McCoy does with Jim. It is not that he wants to know the Captain's sordid past but needs to know. If the kid in Sick Bay is Kirk's, that will alter Jack's way of handling her. She will not be an unknown but the daughter of his superior officer. There will be no dumping her off at Star Base 11 with the rest of the Jedi. Kate will become part of the crew. With Kate clearly not going to like this idea, she will pose enough security risks it makes Jack's head hurt. Jack decides to wait until her paternity is confirmed or denied before coming up with a plan.

.

SICK BAY

Kirk stares down at the small form sleeping in Med Bay 1 as he rolls down his left sleeve. "We should have the results in a few seconds," Bones replies as he carries the blood sample to a monitor across the room in his office.

"A huh," he mutters lost in thought. There is no denying Kate's blond hair matches Kirk's and the green eyes that searched his during the confrontation were reminiscent of Lauren's but hell genes are genes right. Millions upon millions of humans have that combination throughout the galaxy. He watches her small chest rise and fall with a steady rhythm and begins to drift back to that day on Risa. Everything was perfect. They were happy. Weren't they? He remembers Lauren laughing in the water with the sun shining off her hair. Lauren taunting him. "Wanna hit this. Right here. Right now," she laughs standing waist deep in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon slowly removing her bikini top. A persistent murmur gnaws at the back of his mind as he is reliving the last time he had made love to his wife during a break from the Academy. A deep loneliness settles in his core forcing his to ponder the events he thought were long forgotten. "She can't be mine." Kirk silent muses. "Lauren would never have left no matter what the circumstance." But the reality is she did. Kirk's subconscious still defends her adding, "Even if she did she could not have stayed hidden this long." His anger begins to replace the loneliness and he looks up at the monitor over the bed. The name Doe, Katherine is displayed in white letters on the screen. In the next few minutes, Kate will have a new surname. Jim can't decide if he is happy or sad it won't be Kirk.

"Jim. … Dammit, Jim are you with me" Bones repeats from his desk as he stares intently at the computer screen displaying the results of Jim and Kate's blood work.

"She is not mine," Kirk professes again to himself breaking his stare off. "Yeah, whatcha got," he replies walking into McCoy's office. He drops into the chair across from his old friend.

"A match," Bones states emphatically turning the screen for Jim to reveal the results.

"Run it again," Kirk demands flying to his feet. He leans in so close to the screen that he blocks Bones' view.

"I did," and after a long pause, "Twice," Bones calmly states.

"Then run it a fucking third time," Jim rants as he begins to pace the room. He locks his hands behind his head as is to add a physical barrier to the information streaming from Bones' mouth. Jim's strides increase as he paces the small office but with nowhere to go but back and forth, Jim appears to be running from one side of the room to the other. Bones watches the display with a detached resoluteness. He has seen this behavior before in patients, spouses, parents when he diagnoses a life shocking result: cancer, death, paternity tests, the list goes on but the recipients all play out the shock in one of two forms: crushing sadness or overwhelming anger. Bones knows his friend and steels himself for the rage that is coming his way.

"Run it again. That an order" Jim screams and slams his hands on the desk so hard Bones' coffee ripples next to him. Bones does not move and fixes Jim with a steady stare. Their eyes lock and neither of them blinks for an endless moment. "Did you hear me?" Jim replies slowly enunciating each word with venom. "Fucking run the goddamned test again," Kirk yells so loud that everyone in Sick Bay is watching the exchange between the two men. Kirk catches Chapel and two other nurses out of the corner of his eye. Taking long strides out of Bones' office he screams, "Clear the room." They quickly exit Sick Bay and Jim returns to Bones' office. "You looking for a special invitation to follow orders," he snaps and begins pacing again. Typically, after such an outburst, Kirk will apologize but not today. He has three hostile "guests" in detention, an alien ship off his port bow, a child claiming paternity and over 400 crew that require his attention. For the first time since Tarsus VI Jim is unable to control all the emotions he is feeling. He lashes out in rage slamming a fist into the office wall. The pain radiates through his hand and helps to calm his head briefly.

Bones never moves and continues to watch Jim pace with the steely demeanor that is sometimes required in his position as Chief Medical Officer. Slowly he opens the bottom drawer to his desk and removes a strong whiskey and two shot glasses. The familiar clink of the glasses causes Jim to turn and look at Bones. Bones silently pours himself a shot and then Jim. Staring at Jim, Bones downs the contents and pours himself another. Jim walks back to the chair across from Bones and downs his drink. He sets the glass on the desk with a loud clink motioning with his head for another one. Bones refills the glass and waits for Jim to proceed.

"Bones, I know I fuck around a lot but this is not happening to me. If she was 2...Hell 5 even …maybe I could entertain the possibility of a night gone wrong but she's like 15 of something," Jim stammers. "I was with my wife then." He sighs dejectedly drawing out the word wife for several seconds and slumps back into the chair. "She's dead Leonard. She would not have just run off taking our kid with her." Jim gets off the topic of his marital status. "Besides... apart from that the one guy... our guests aren't exactly residents of our current neighborhood if you catch my drift. I know I would have remembered seeing a female humanoid like that, if they were part of the Federation," Jim rambles on.

"He's ready to talk," Bones thinks and leans forward resting his elbows on the desk between them. "The child is roughly 11-13 based on her physiology. Knowing what we do she is twelve. I also compared her sample to Lauren's from the database. The results are a 100% match." Bones' words force Jim to accept reality. "You have got to pull it together or I will declare you emotionally compromised and restrict your ass to Sick Bay. Regardless of how you feel about the test results, there is a child 10 feet from you that is going to be just as shocked with the results. I am surprised she hasn't woken to your tirade of she is not mine." Bones stares at his Captain and realizes he needs to rip the proverbial band-aid off now before he has another screaming Kirk in Sick Bay. "Now you're gonna pull it together when you are around her. Try and lessen any further psychological trauma she has undoubtedly experienced being ripped from whatever home she was at understand," Bones leans back in his seat rubbing his eyes trying to fend off a headache beginning to grow there.

Kirk nervously looks over his shoulder at Kate and then back at Bones. "I can't pretend to know her. Be her father. I am a Star Fleet Captain, not some deadbeat dad who wouldn't know his own kid," he whispers. Jim searches for an ally in Bones' eyes but is only met with Leonard's level stare.

"Did the female guest say anything to make you believe it is not true," Bones questions trying to get Jim to think critically and act like the Captain he has known for almost 15 years.

"No, just that we would be receiving a package that would be of immense value to Star Fleet. She only referenced me being the father after she was transported onto the ship." Suddenly Jim's blood turns to ice water. "They did not do something to Kate did they," Jim asks jumping up and making it to the child's side in three quick steps. He starts to reach for her hand but she inhales deeply and he quickly retracts it. "How can she be mine," he again silently repeats as almost a mantra in his head.

"No. All medical tests and screens came back negative for illness or medical issues," McCoy states as he walks up to Jim's side. "She has a bill of health as clean as the other kids on board."

"Take care of her Leonard," Jim quietly says staring down at the sleeping form before turning on his heel and heading towards the door.

"Where are you going man," Bones demands grabbing Jim's arm as the doors to Sick Bay slide open. "You can't walk out on her. I am a Doctor, not a babysitter. What are you going to do if she wakes up here alone?"

"She is not going to be alone. You are here. I have a ship to run," Jim spits back icily yanking his arm out of Bones' grip. Bones stares at him until the door slides shut and then shakes his head in disgust. As he walks back to Kate the door slides open and Jim re-appears. "Comm me immediately if she wakes up before I get back," he says. "Bones, I am not being a dick here but I have several fires to put out and only one hose." Jim takes a step back into Sick Bay. "Stay with her for me," he pleads softening his voice almost to a whisper. "If you can keep her sedated until I return with some answers I think it will be for the best. I am an adult and can barely process the past hour." Kirk searches his friend's face and sees the tension starting to fade from the corners of Bones' eyes. "I…" Jim's voice cracks as he is for the first time, in a long time, at a loss for words.

"Go. Do your job. I won't leave her side until you get back here," Bones agrees as Jim claps him on the back leaving Sick Bay. "You are going to be just fine darlin'," Bones says as he stares down at Kate taking her pulse. "Your dad will come around and then I will have two of you to worry about," he softly chuckles changing the monitor above the bed to read Kirk, Katherine.