Title: Family

Time Setting: At the end of Star Trek IV.

Codes: Kirk, McCoy and the rest of the original crew.

Summary: The crew contemplates their fate prior to the Court Martial.

Disclaimer: Star Trek and characters are Paramount's property, I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. Any original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.

Copyright 2005

A couple of people have pointed out that any name starting with a T is a female. At some point I will go back through the story and change Admiral T'San to a female character.

Chapter 10

As soon as the verdict was read by the Federation President, Kirk and his command crew boarded a shuttle to their new ship. Kirk was elated. He was once again just a Captain. He knew he would not miss the title of Admiral. Bones couldn't have asked for a better outcome for Jim and was greatly relieved. Sulu knew any promotion for him would be far in the future but at least he retained his rank. He really thought they would break them up and send them to different ships. Chekov was relieved to be back with his crew mates no matter what ship they were assigned to. Scotty laughed to himself as he knew they would never tap him to work on an Excelsior class ship again.

They were elated to when the shuttle boarded a constitution class ship named for their beloved Enterprise, an overjoyed Jim Kirk sent the rest of the bridge crew to prepare the ship. He left a puzzled McCoy and Spock in his wake as he made a trip to the botanical garden on board and gathered a handful of flowers. The ensign on duty caught him, "Hey, what are you doing? Oh, Captain, I'm sorry. Can I help you?" She turned red when she realized she almost chewed out her new captain.

"I have what I need. Thanks." Jim felt like he had as a child when he was caught stealing the neighbors apples. He quickly exited the room.

The ensign shrugged her shoulders as she assumed the Captain took the flowers to give to a woman. She had heard the many stories of this Captain's romantic exploits.

Jim almost made it back to the transporter room when Spock and Bones caught up with him. They followed him into the room and McCoy asked, "Are those for Gillian? I thought she had already shipped out." Bones leaned against the console.

"No, they're not for Gillian."

Spock stood beside the transporter panel as he had dismissed the transporter chief. "We wanted to make sure nothing was amiss. Are you returning to Earth, before our departure?"

"Yes." Jim moved over to Spock and leaned an arm on the console.

"Are you giving those flowers to someone?" Bones turned to face Kirk.

"Sort of." Jim was enjoying their discomfort.

"Damn it, Jim, tell us what is going on. You've made a big turn around, what happened?"

"Okay, Bones, I was going to tell you after we shipped out. But I'll tell you now. The night before my interview, I saw Edith Keeler on the Golden Gate Bridge. We talked and she helped me to resolve a few issues and pull myself together. You can call it a hallucination or my imagination or whatever but I know what I saw and felt."

Bones looked skeptical and a little worried and decided Jim's physical would be first on his to do list with an emphasis on the psych scan.

Spock jumped in before he could say anything. "We have seen many strange phenomena over the years, much of which we could not initially explain. What do you plan to do with the flowers?"

"Something I have wanted to do for years but never had the courage to do, until this moment. I found the cemetery where Edith is buried. She's buried in a small town a few miles from New York City." Jim sobered a little as he spoke. "I want to take these flowers to put on her grave before we leave Earth. I would welcome the company of friends to go with me." Jim handed Spock the coordinates.

"Let's go then." Bones stepped up on the transporter pad. Jim followed and Spock set the controls and joined them. They materialized outside an ancient cemetery with a stone wall and wrought iron gate. Much of the cemetery was overgrown with weeds but the front of the grounds had been recently mowed. Jim opened the gate which creaked with age and walked toward the center of the cemetery, it took only a few moments to find the grave he was looking for. Spock and Bones hung back and let Jim have some time alone.

Jim placed the flowers on the grave, and he brushed grass and dirt off the tombstone until he could read her name: Edith Keeler. "Edith, you were right, I had given up. I won't do that again. I have been given another chance to command the Enterprise and I will make the most of that chance." He touched his lips and then Edith's name. "Until we meet again my love."

Spock and Bones walked up to flank Jim. "Are you okay?"

"I'm better than fine, Bones. I'm ready to head out there again. Let's go." Jim opened his communicator, "Three to beam up and tell the Bridge I will be there in a moment and be ready to head out immediately." Three figures faded away, and began yet another adventure.

Fin