Ch 25 PAYING THE PIPER

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BACK OF THE SHUTTLE FIVE MINUTES EARLIER…

"Sit rep," Jack says to the security team as everyone begins to stretch getting ready to leave the planet.

"All sections clear. No sign of any bogey," Dawson responds from the Enterprise. Even with all the firepower of the Ranger battalion surrounding him, Jack felt the most comfortable with his people in control.

"Copy," Jack says. "I still want the teams reporting in five-minute intervals. Stay alert and keep an eye on the beaming signal strength." Dawson stares off like a teen getting a lecture from a parent. He is one of the most laid-back security officers on the Enterprise, but that doesn't mean he is sloppy or ineffective.

"Things copasetic," Jim walks up to Jack concerned there is an issue.

"Yep, sir just checked," Jack relaxes into his laid back everyday attitude. Another valuable skill he learned in Section 31 was delegating authority. The people he left in charge are the best and what will happen will happen. Jack inhales the cool night air. "We need to do this more often. The kids had a good time."

"Yeah, it's hard creating a normal childhood on the Enterprise," Jim nods. "Hey, I'm thinking about camping in the shuttle bay one night next week. Campfire, s'mores, tents…think they boys would like it?"

"Spock won't so I'm in," Jack grins.

"Rank has privileges." Jim looks around realizing Kate is not sitting on the blanket. "Have you seen Kate?" Both men scan the immediate area not finding her among the kids packing up. "Check the inside of the shuttle? I'll check the front," Jim orders.

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FRONT OF THE SHUTTLE…

"Now why would you do that," Rogan uses the Force to close off her airway preventing her from screaming or breathing. "Now they have to die." Kate's hands go to her neck instinctively trying to remove the invisible force choking her. A lump begins to fill her throat as the air fights to be expelled from her lungs.

The soft crunch of dry grass lets Kate and Rogan know someone is coming. Kate locks eyes with Rogan. The next few minutes could be life or death for someone. "Katie bug are you back here," Jim's voice indicates he is closing in on their position.

"Do I kill him or are you going to find it," Rogan asks icily. He holds the Force choke just long enough to see Kate is ready to seriously fight back. With the Enterprise's transporter weapon, Rogan can't afford for the Captain to beam him and Kate on his ship.

Once released, Kate takes several deep gulps of air before responding. "Go I will find it," Kate promises rubbing her neck. Rogan stands not moving hearing Jim approach.

"Never turn off your comlink again," his fingers bite into her arm holding her back.

"Go now," Kate hisses in full panic mode. She doesn't need to access the Force to know Jim is steps ways from them. Kate barrels around the corner slamming into Jim's chest. "Captain," Kate looks up shocked at how close he was. "You scared me." Kate hopes her excuse will explain the flush to her cheeks and her panting.

"There you are," Kirk feels some relief that he has found her. "Why didn't you answer me?"

"I…um wanted to stretch my legs," Kate takes his hand.

"You had a short walk then," Kirk eyes his daughter. Even in the dark, he can see she is anxious.

"Very," Kate stretches out to the Force in an attempt to self-calm. "We ready to go home?" She fights the urge to shiver as the icy tendrils of the dark side claws at her back threatening to pull her down like hands from hell. Rogan is still lurking around the corner of the shuttle. Kate has to get Kirk moving. If a fight is going to occur she needs the all the adults and distance between them and Rogan. "We should help the others pack up," Kate tries to walk to the back of the shuttle. Jim looks around trying to find what has Kate so on edge. Although he sees and hears nothing but the typical night sounds of insects and the occasional owl, Jim's gut tells him something is wrong. "Are you coming," she pulls at his hand.

Jim allows Kate to lead him back to the group. If there is trouble, it will be better to have everyone in one spot than scattered about. "You sure you're okay?"

"Right as a river," Kate says hastily finally moving Jim forward.

"Rain. Right as rain," he corrects following her. When they reach the back of the shuttle, Jim can see how anxious Kate is in the glow of the light from the shuttle interior. "Kate what's wrong?" Jim forces her to look at him.

"Too much caffeine. Bones is right. I need to cut back," Kate mumbles a response scanning the area for any signs of Rogan.

Kirk sits her in a folding chair while bending down to her eye level. This serves two purposes: allowing Jim to look into her eyes for any sign of deception and focusing Kate's attention squarely on him. "What is wrong? You can tell me, sweetheart."

"Nothing," Kate rolls her eyes popping an attitude. "It has just been a lot this week."

"Doesn't look like nothing," Jim presses ignoring her defensiveness.

"Get off it," she snaps. "I am fine but the more you ask the more the less I am." A cold knot forms in her stomach as Kate watches Bones approach. Her overreaction is drawing far more attention than she needs.

"Everything okay," Bones smiles.

"Kate isn't feeling well," Jim paints her into a corner. The second Bones runs his fancy scanner over her he will register that her blood pressure and heart rate are elevated. Kate allows the Force to flood her concentrating on tapping into the other kid's emotions.

"Really darlin'," Bones takes the tricorder from the backpack he always cares when off the ship.

"Um yeah," Kate licks her lips letting the feelings of happiness, peace, and calm fill her.

Whirls and beeps signal the device is working as Bones waves it over her body. "She has been getting so many immunizations it could be a flu or virus," Bones reads the results. "Her heart rate is slightly elevated but so is her glucose level. My professional opinion is too much junk food and sugar but bring her by Sick Bay if she still feels sick in the morning."

"I'm sure I will be fine by then," Kate gets up making her way into the shuttle.

"Problem," Jack asks approaching Kirk and Bones.

"Not sure?" Kirk replies as the trio watches Kate slip into the cockpit. "Anything odd reported?"

"All quiet," Jack looks around sliding the safety off his phaser. "Maybe we should take this party back home?" Jim nods following Kate into the shuttle. Within three minutes, any remains of the Drive-In are gone.

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DIRTSIDE

Rogan leans against the tree catching his breath as the shuttle streaks from his view. He had managed to elude the meager forces protecting the shuttle using Force speed. This skill is very handy but has a draining effect on the user. The longer one uses it, the longer it takes one to recover. Rogan closes his eyes meditating attempting to speed up the process. Zala Tsu is right. They are losing Kate to the Captain. They must act quickly if they are to retrieve the device and the child.

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USS ENTERPRISE SHUTTLE

The trip back to the ship is much quieter. Even though it is early afternoon, being on the dark side of the planet is screwing with the kids circadian rhythms convincing their bodies it is much later than it is. The girls are falling asleep and Katie has not said a word. "Penny for your thoughts," Jim says trying to engage Kate. Something happened and Kirk needs to find out what. Kate ignores him staring into the blackness of space. "It means your dad would like to know, what is bothering the kid who left the ship happy, had a great time planetside, and suddenly won't talk after disappearing in front of the shuttle." He doesn't look at her when he talks but continues to flying the shuttle. His tone, however, suggests he knows something and is not going to let go until he has an answer.

Her heart is beating so fast she swears he can hear it. "20 questions. Do you have any family," Kate asks desperately to start a new conversation.

"A brother Sam and three nephews," Kirk responds. "What happened in front of the shuttle?"

Kate pushes her anger aside. Getting him mad at her will not serve a purpose. "Who are my grandparents," she says playing the game but getting defensive.

"George and Winona," he answers asking immediately, "What happened in the front of the shuttle?"

"What was your favorite game as a kid," Kate tries another question.

Jim sighs seeing this is not going to be as easy as he hoped. "Kate talk to me. I am not going to get mad. Did the Jedi make contact with you? Threaten you again?"

"No Jim," Kate stares him down. "My favorite game is smash ball. It is like football. Now board game is sabacc."

"Kate, I am not playing," Jim says sternly.

"Because you are one shitty player at this game," Kate forces a fake smile. "How about favorite fruit?" Kirk sets the automatic pilot getting up.

"Jack, we need to lockdown the planet," Jim starts speaking as he leaves the cockpit.

"Stop," Kate grabs his arm. "No one commed me. I just freaked out in the dark. I don't like it dark… outside… at night." Her gut tells her Jim is bluffing. There is no way he can shut down all traffic from a planet, but Kate can't take the chance. If Jim shuts down the planet, Kate can't get home. He turns looking at her making Kate squirm in her seat. "There was a battle on Dantooine and it was at night. It was bad." Kate gets a far off stare remembering the death and bloodshed. She takes a deep breath pushing the images from her mind. "When you jumped out it freaked me out."

It's not the truth he wanted, but Kate is telling him some truth about her past. "You better not be lying to me." Jim's tone gives Kate no room to doubt his meaning.

Kate fights not to fidget under his parental gaze. The lives of everyone she has ever loved rests on her ability to convince Jim she is telling him the truth. "Kirk I am not lying," Kate manages to look him in the eyes for a few seconds.

Jim takes the pilot's seat next to Kate. "I'm going to trust you on this. Don't prove me wrong." Jim has every reason to doubt her and none to believe her. Kate has only told the truth when she has no options left. Jim gives her a chance hoping it will build some form of trust between them.

"Nothing happened OK. Nothing! Now drop it," she says defensively but the damage is done. Kirk knows something. This month will stick in Kate's mind forever. No matter what the next twenty-four hours hold, she has lied to and betrayed every person in her life. She just hopes that one day they can forgive her. They ride back to the ship in silence. Kate's mind wishing she could tell him all her problems while Jim's mind thinks of ways to protect her.

As everyone disembarks, gathering their stuff, Jim grabs Jack's arm. "Stay sharp. Something happened that has totally freaked Kate out. I'll give you three guesses what it was."

"Roger that," O'Neill says roughing up John's hair as his son passes.

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CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS 2200 Hours

"Okay shower then bed. We are moving class back by two hours tomorrow, but you still need to go to school so chop chop," Jim claps his hands.

"I have things to do. You go first," Kate plops down on the couch. She needs to find a way to get to the Holocron without Jim being present.

"Yes like school tomorrow. Shower, teeth, bed now," Jim lists what needs to be done.

"Ugh… will you back off. I have taken care of myself for a while now. I know when I need a shower and go to bed Kirk," Kate snaps.

"Whoa there," Jim sees Kate has no plans to do anything he is asking. Whatever happened on the planet now has Kate thinking she has some choice about following Jim's rules. "Kate what's gotten into you?" Jim sits in the chair opposite her hoping she will open up.

"My piss poor attitude is back I guess," she stares at him. Kate pushes away the voice screaming in her head to talk to him. She can't take the chance. Kirk will never approve of a plan that would have him let her go home and turn the Holocron over. One day she will make it up to him.

"You're telling me, but you had better find a way to lose it. Now move it," Jim says sternly

"Fine, fine I will take a shower," Kate grumbles stomping into the bathroom.

Kirk immediately goes into her room. This would have been a much simpler job three days ago when she owned nothing and her room only had a bed in it. Uhura's makeover has created numerous places to hide any number of things. The problem is Kirk is not sure what he is looking for exactly. Kate never entered the room after the Drive-In, but she also took nothing with her. Jim doubts she carries it in that backpack of hers, but it is the first thing he goes through. The contents shock him. Her Jedi outfit, toothbrush, pocketknife, several ration bars, two bottles of water, and several random photos are its only contents. It is clear to him although Kate appears as if she has accepted the idea of staying, she has no intention to remain on the Enterprise. Next, he goes through her drawers and the closet patting down everything. Her closet comes out clean along with all her clothes. His gut is never wrong. The Jedi are contacting her somehow causing the rapid mood swings. He has to find the communication device they are using. Jim sits on the bed trying to think back to when he was a kid. "Where did I hide shit I didn't want my mom finding?" He remembers hiding things between the drawers, but these are more trays with no space between them. "No rooftop ledge, loose floor boards, spaces between the furniture," he checks off looking around the room until his eyes fall on the air vent. "Bingo," he says crossing the room. Taking the cover off the air vent, he gingerly feels inside finding nothing. Realizing Kate is too short to reach the vent without a chair, he rises on his toes, reaches deeper in the vent, and finds the cigarettes and currency. Anger boils inside of him. To him this is almost worse than finding a communication unit. Kate has only been off the ship twice. She could not have stolen the money or cigarettes from the hospital. The only other options were during her shopping trip or off his crew. He takes her stash into the living room. Throwing it on the coffee table, he waits for Kate to come out of the bathroom.

TEN MINUTES LATER…

"I had so much fun tonight," Kate says happily coming out of the bathroom. "Can we," she starts but sees the stolen items on the table and Kirk scowling from the couch. An icy knot fills her stomach spreading to her entire body. Kate is in a whole lot of trouble with no way out. If things were different, Kate would have admitted to stealing, taken her punishment, and moved on; however, that would be if she were living a normal life. Stealing is wrong. Kate knows this, but the ends justified the means in her mind. Kirk was not going to pay her way home so Kate found a way to make it happen. "You broke into my room," she says in a tone showing hurt mixed with anger. "You said that was my room. I don't go sniffing around your room looking through your stuff."

"And the expectation of privacy is always under my discretion. Privacy is a privilege, not a right. Your behavior tonight had me concerned so your privacy was revoked," he states in a matter of fact tone. He leans forward gesturing at the items on the table. "Stole these shopping? At that store you just needed ten minutes in?"

"No," Kate flatly denies the charges to buy time. Her mind races for a solution out of this mess. She only stole the money out of instinct. She should have waited and just stole as she needed when she made her escape. A sickening feeling creeps into her belly. She has been nowhere but the planet surface and the Enterprise. If she didn't admit to stealing it on the planet the only other place was from the crew. That icky feeling courses through her body forcing Kate to squirm attempting to make it go away.

"Want to revise that statement, young lady," Kirk asks coolly. Jim focuses on breathing to control his anger. The illogical side of him prays she has an answer that will explain it all away, but the reality is there is none. Kate stole the money and is lying.

Of all the emotions, Kate hates guilt most. When she was with alone on the streets, Kate felt guilt each time she stole from others. Then it was a necessity. There were no replicators to feed her or quartermaster to give her clothes. Now, Kate was caught red handed. Looking around the room desperately Kate plays the only card available to her: the truth. "Yes, I lifted the money. The cigarras were an afterthought even though I don't smoke." Silently she thanks God she did not take off her clothes in her bedroom. If he had found the comlink stuffed in her pocket the conversation would be headed in a whole other direction.

Jim isn't sure if he is more stunned by her oh well attitude or the fact that she has stolen the money. Honesty and not giving a shit are two different things in his book while Kate seems to think they are the same concept. "Not good enough. Sit your ass down while you still can young lady," he yells.

Kate jumps at his tone and words slinking across the room to the chair next to the couch. She has to make him understand the reason behind the theft. Kate has a hard time making eye contact as Kirk stares her down. Part of it is guilt. Part of it is that Kirk is damn scary right now. "It's the truth," she mumbles before clearing her throat nervously. "I needed money and," Kate prepares for the lecture of her lifetime.

"For what! I have money," Kirk thunders not letting her continue with her thought. "Do you even care that you were caught stealing?"

"Yes," Kate feels guilt and embarrassment flood her face turning her cheeks bright red. None of Han's stories of stealing ever ended with him getting a lecture. They always ended in him saving the day. "I feel bad about it. It was a lapse of judgment. I won't do it again and you can have the money."

"Lapse of judgment," Jim slaps table trying to expel his anger causing Kate to jump three feet in the air. Jim calsm down before beginning again. "So who did you take it from the crew or the town's people?"

"Town," she yells mortified. "I would not steal from the crew! God, what kind of person do you think I am?"

With every word Kirk sees Kate's form of guilt and remorse are vastly different from his. "A thief that takes what's not hers," Kirk watches his words sting her. It is clear that Kate sees herself as a Robin Hood instead of a Jesse James. Jim's mind wanders to her life in Sky River. Kate has stated repeatedly that her foster parents were respected people. Jim begins to wonder if Leia is really a Chief of State or a Ma Barker. He has to dispel Kate's enamored vision of war and crime with reality. "What if that was their last bit of money for their family till payday? What if they can't pay rent or eat now because of you?"

Kate has never thought about that aspect of stealing. Yes, Han would say he was broke sometimes and show the kids an empty wallet, but that was only for luxuries or toys. They always had food and a roof. Even Ouris Dover was never broke when he said they needed money. All the kids knew he had piles of credits locked away in his office. The idea that someone had no safety stash makes Kate stop and think. "I don't know," she says guiltily.

"Exactly you don't know but you stole anyways," Kirk drives his point home.

Kate licks her lips thinking. The people she stole from could not be as poor as Kirk is trying to make her think. "Yes, but I only took the cash. I did not touch their credit cards," Kate adds hoping in some way this gesture will calm him down.

Jim sees Kate still missing the point. She obviously feels bad but still isn't making the connection that stealing is wrong no matter what. "That don't fucking matter. It wasn't yours," he thunders making her jump slightly in the chair.

Kate looks at the ground. "I know it wasn't, but I just needed,"

"Shut your mouth. You needed nothing. You are a thief. A common criminal like Ouris Dover," Kirk says each sentence slowly. Jim stands up looking down at her. "Have I refused you anything since you got on the ship," he asks icily. "You have your own bedroom, TV, clothes, food, PADD, and computer," he lists everything he has given her as Kate wipes away a silent tear sliding down her cheek with her fingertips. "You have everything you need and you didn't even have to ask for it. I made sure you had it. Tell me what did I not give you that you had to steal for?" Kate fights to lock it up and bury her feeling deep. Kirk is right. Every need and luxury was given to her without asking. Kirk and the crew have been good to her.

Kate needs to find a way to let him know the money was stolen for a purpose. It was her nest egg for a day when things weren't going to be as sunny. "I know but," her words catch in her throat as if her body refuses to let her lie. There was no reason to steal when she did. If she was hungry or cold, there would have been a reason but that was not the case. The more Kate thinks about why she stole the money the more guilt she feels. Subconsciously she wonders if she stole it just to be caught hoping he would find it preventing her from leaving.

Kate's mind races as Kirk drones on. "Uhura and the others went to great lengths for you."

"I know," she murmurs quietly. Kate feels the weight of her crime pressing down threatening to crush her.

"Never take from others ever again. I mean ever," Kirk says in a controlled tone that is worse than if he was yelling.

"I won't ever steal, here again," Kate promises. To Kate, this is not a true lie. If she has to steal she will but not without an immediate purpose. "I am so sorry."

"No you will never steal again ever anywhere," he corrects her. After a week, Kirk is realizing Kate can't lie worth a damn to him or the people she cares about. She chooses her words carefully when speaking and cornered. Kate's admission of 'here' proves she is not taking his words seriously. "Stealing is wrong. I know you know it. I also know there was a time in your life you had to do it, but that time is gone both here and in Sky River. I will NEVER condemn you for things you had to do before you came here EVER. Understand and know that, but once you started living under my roof the rules changed. I can't let this go and pretend it didn't happen Kate. I will buy you anything you need. It's my job as your parent to take care of you; however, I can't let you go around pickpocketing and stealing," he says without anger in his voice. He gets up and starts pacing the room. Kirk plays a different angle to make Kate understand. "What do you think Han will say when he finds out you were stealing again?"

Kate goes pale as bile rises in the back of her throat. If Han ever found out she was stealing he would kill her. Kate never thought the lecture would go there. Kate needs to turn this back on Jim to get out. "I know, but that is who I am," she deflects her actions as a thief back on her being alone in an attempt to gain sympathy.

"That is not who you are," Jim slips momentarily into a nurturing role. "You are Katherine Kirk. You are not Pike or Solo or whatever the hell alias you used on Sernpidal."

"Yes it is," she plays the pity card and it is working like a champ. Kate fights the surge of guilt trying to make her feel bad for playing Kirk.

"Don't give me that shit Kate," Jim has almost a whiny quality when he speaks out of frustration with his daughter. "Anyone can change. Your past is not an excuse for you current actions."

Kate hears the frustration in his voice. Kirk has gone from anger to sympathetic. It just took longer than she expected. "You're right. I had no reason to do what I did. I have a fresh start here and I will take it," she promises smiling weakly telling him everything he wants to hear.

Jim looks at his daughter's watery eyes. She is not sobbing but allowing just the right amount to fall as if on cue. Kate's body posture with the rounded shoulders and face tilted down would fool anyone. Kate is a master at manipulating adults and Kirk is going to make sure Kate realizes he knows this is a show. "Come here Kate," Jim motions for her. Clearly, he needs to explain the score to his wayward daughter in a way she understands.

Kate walks over planning to embrace him, crying a few tears on his shirt. She will spew false promises, say everything he needs to hear, and end the situation. As Kate reaches for his waist, Kirk sits down taking Kate over his knee. He is so fluid with the motion, it takes her a moment to realize what is happening. The first of several sharp cracks on her ass explains to Kate exactly how mad Kirk is. She moves her hands to her butt attempting to stop the blows. Kirk slides them efficiently out of the way finishing his six attention getting whacks. "Hey what hell," she grabs her ass as he rights her. "Oh my God that hurt," her face holds shock and confusion. "You can't spank me? I am twelve-years-old dammit. You ground me or yell," Kate starts and is promptly turned back over his knee for an additional swat.

"No cussing," he rights her again so he can look into her eyes. Kate fidgets rubbing her ass to try and remove the stinging sensation. This is far worse than admitting she stole. Kirk reads on her face he finally has her attention. "If I ever catch you stealing again I will double the spankings regardless of where we are."

"Why did you do that? I said sorry. You said honesty fixes everything around here," Kate's face matches her ass as she talks to him. Both are bright red. The spanking hurt like hell, but the embarrassment of being treated like a small child is worse than the blows.

"You weren't sorry. You thought a few tears and lip service was going to fix this," Kirk's tone is serious. "Kate I have let you determine the pace of our relationship, but I warned you once already. If you want to act like a petulant three-year-old I will treat you like one so we are going old school. Go stand in the corner."

His words take a minute to process. "Do what," the blank look on her face is priceless. If the situation wasn't so serious Kirk would have broken out in laughter.

"Go put your nose in the corner young lady," he repeats his command pointing annunciating each word.

Kate looks at the spot and back to him. "The corner," she repeats in disbelief.

"I don't repeat myself so unless you need an escort I'd move now," Kirk's eyes burn into her. Kate doesn't want to press him any further. She slinks into the spot determined to outlast him. This by far is the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to her. "And don't ask when you can get out." Jim settles back on the couch grabbing the remote.

"This is so embarrassing," she mumbles resting her forehead on the wall playing with a fingernail.

Standing in the corner is a child's punishment but it was also used effectively at the Academy to work off demerits. One day when they are in a less serious situation, Kirk will commiserate with her sharing the many hours he and Lauren worked off the numerous demerits they accrued. "Hands behind your back forehead off the wall," Kirk takes a page from a particularly annoying dorm monitor. A small smile threatens to break on his face as he remembers thinking he could outlast the Resident Assistant of the Female dorm as Kate is thinking now. They are two peas from the same pod.

Kate spins giving him a WTF look. His sharp glare informs her this was not a suggestion. Kate settles in ready to outlast him. She will fix Kirk for this indignity. She will stand here all night even when he tells her to stop. The man behind her will not break Kate; however, she groans hearing the "ahhh" as he flips on golf channel. This will be her undoing. How he can watch the most boring sport in the Milky Way astounds her. The monotone quiet voices of the announcers always make her sleepy. "Ughhh," she bangs her head on the wall. At least he could have chosen something interesting to listen to.

"No head banging Kate. Chips the paint," Kirk snaps ordering a cup of coffee from the replicator. "Dammit not in the sand trap Palmer. You suck at getting out of sand traps," Kirk noisily slurps his coffee talking to the TV.

Kate squares her shoulders ready to show him a shitty show and the smell of coffee will not weaken her resolve. Kate sneaks a peak at the wall clock. By five minutes, she is ready to pull her hair out. By ten minutes, she is ready to Force strangle herself into unconsciousness. At thirty minutes, she is asleep leaning into the wall.

Seeing Kate asleep, Jim turns off the TV. He picks up the PADD sending a message to Bones. "Hey, Bones I need a ruling," Jim types into his PADD. "How long do 12-year-old kids stand in the corner for? I assume it is a minute for every year, but this is Kate? How much is overkill?"

"30 minutes," he responds, "longer if they are intent on testing you." Bones resists the urge to ask his best friend about how as Captain he makes split-second calls but as a dad, he second-guesses himself with every decision.

"Has Joanna ever fallen asleep in the corner? I can't remember that far back," Jim smiles. Joanna may be Miss Manners now, but in her prime Joanna's tantrums lasted forever.

"Yes. Just wake her up and talk to her." Bones waits for a return message but after five minutes, he rolls over and goes to bed. If Jim needs him, he will call no matter the time of night.

"Kate," he gently shakes her awake. "Kate." She blinks a few minutes to get her bearings. "Sit with me," Jim motions her back to the chair. His voice is softer indicating the shared time out did both of them some good.

"Can I stand," she asks hoping he is polite enough not to laugh or snicker

Jim allows a hint of a smile to cross his face before becoming serious again. "What were you planning to do with the money? Run away? Buy something?" Kate fidgets at his questions. She still can't look him in the eye. "Honest answer or back you go." Kate gives him the universal kid shrug. She is not avoiding the question but realizes she has no excuse for stealing that anyone would find acceptable. "Back in the corner then," Jim points.

"No wait I um…I don't know what I was going to do with it," Kate twists her index finger nervously around the hem of her shirt. "I just took it to take it." From the sour look on his face, she has to give him a better answer. "In case I needed money later," she adds. Kate is not lying at this point. This is the version of the truth she doesn't feel guilty admitting.

Kirk crosses his arms staring at her hard. It is too late to continue this tonight. "Go to bed. We will talk in the morning." Kate nods heading towards her room. "And Kate…you're grounded. No television, PADD or hanging out after school for a week. Your life is school, home, bed. Now go to sleep. We have things to do tomorrow." Kirk hears her crying the second she is alone. He fights the urge to comfort her. She is not crying because she is upset. She is crying because she was caught. Eventually, he hears her crawl in bed and the crying stops. Jim sits on the couch trying to figure out a plan for tomorrow.

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ONEILL QUARTERS LATE THAT NIGHT…

Sam enters the quarters finding all the lights off. She thanks god everyone is asleep. The last person she wants to see is her husband. Sam hangs up her coat as Jack appears from nowhere. He pins her to wall between his hands kissing her silly. He, like his wife, is still mad but knows fights get worse the longer they go on. "Get out of my way," she says a little less hostile but not returning the kisses.

"I love how you fight. It's so sexy," Jack nuzzles her neck. Angry sex was always great with his wife but angry make up sex was the best..

"I am not done being mad at you Colonel O'Neill," she says ducking under his arm walking into the bedroom.

Jack lets his head hit the wall. "Yep this one is gonna take a few days," he murmurs. Sam is already in bed pretending she is asleep as Jack enters the room. "And you being mad at me is nothing new," Jack says pulling the blankets back on his side of the bed. "I love you," Jack says closing his eyes. There is a snowballs chance in hell he is getting angry sex tonight. Probably not tomorrow night either.

"Oh I love you but you are my least favorite person on the ship right now Colonel O'Neill," Sam says punching her pillow before turning her back to him.

"Yep…gonna be a long week," Jack mumbles closing his eyes. He quickly falls asleep much to Samantha's annoyance. What she doesn't realize is Jack is used to falling asleep in hostile situations. That one skill still comes in handy even after leaving Section 31.