*Chapter Warning* M rated themes found in this chapter. Nothing too graphic, just warning you now so you don't yell at me later. *Chapter Warning*

Chapter Six: Homeland

The next month passed in a blur of activity for Charlie. Between her classes, assignments, therapy sessions, and enjoying time with Admiral Pike who fast became the father she always craved, time flew by at an alarming rate. Her nightmares had all but disappeared since she began visiting her counselor, and her knowledge of the 23rd century was growing exponentially. When she brought up the idea of joining the Academy at Starfleet, Pike not only embraced the idea, but wholeheartedly agreed to sponsor her application.

"You're exactly the type we need," he told her. "I was hoping you would choose to join, but I wasn't going to pressure you."

"Just drop not-so-subtle hints?" Charlie smirked over her box of Chinese noodles. The admiral had taken to leaving pamphlets of the academy scattered strategically all over the apartment for Charlie to find. Which she did. A lot.

"You can't blame a man for trying," Pike chuckled with an innocent shrug.

She also could not contain her excitement when he informed her that after their survey mission at the planet Nibiru, the Enterprise would be returning to Earth for a two-week shore leave as they waited for their next assignment. She would finally be able to see Jim again, Marcus having eased his restrictions on her movements the week before.

Although Pike was gone more than normal in the week leading to Jim's return, he made sure to arrange Charlie's move back to Jim' apartment.

"It's only right that you stay with him," he said the night before Jim was to arrive. Both he and Charlie had sprawled out on the couch in their pajamas; he worked on the latest reports and logs from ships around the quadrant while she finished her latest bioengineering assignment. "But I am going to miss having you around."

Charlie smiled, scooting over to wrap her arms around the admiral, her cheek leaning onto his chest. "Me too," she mumbled into his flannel shirt. "Thanks for being the dad I always needed."

Pike's arms wrapped around the young woman's frame as his own cheek leaned on the top of her hair. "Anytime, kid. You'll always have me looking after you. You're an honorary Pike now."

Thinking over the night before, Charlie grinned to herself as she stood in the hangar bay waiting for the shuttle from the Enterprise to arrive. Her knees were jelly from anxiousness and she began to pace back and forth while her stomach swirled with butterflies. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself, but she didn't want to embarrass the admiral who was casually leaning against a set of storage containers.

"They'll be here soon," he chuckled, ignoring her unheated glare as she continued to move.

"Not soon enough," she grumbled and tensed when the sound of s shuttle grew louder. She relaxed though when the shuttle flew by.

While they waited, a fidgety ensign appeared next to the pair. He was a young boy, younger even than Chekov with bright red hair who turned the same shade when he noticed Pike in the corner. "Ex-excuse me, Admiral Pike?" he stammered.

Pike shoved off the container onto his cane and smiled kindly at the frightened boy. "That's me, Son. What can I do for you?"

"Admiral Marcus sent this for you," he squeaked. "Says it's urgent."

With a perplexed look on his face, Pike reached out and took the PADD from the boy's hands. "Thank you, Ensign—"

"Peterson, Sir. Lloyd Peterson."

"Ensign Peterson," Pike nodded as glanced down at whatever written on the screen. "Thank you for delivering this. Dismissed."

"A-aye, Sir!" he saluted with a snap then scurried away.

Charlie gazed after the boy both amused and perplexed. "Jumpy little thing, isn't he?" she remarked.

Pike smirked. "You know, not everyone has the same bravado as you and Kirk seem to unnaturally possess."

"It's a gift," Charlie shrugged with a grin, spinning around when she heard another shuttle approaching. Behind her, Pike swore and she glanced over her shoulder in alarm. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," he growled, limping away as fast as his cane would let him. "There's an emergency I need to go handle," he threw over his shoulder. "Give my regrets to Jim. I have to go."

"O-okay," Charlie answered uncertain as the man hurried through the hanger bay towards the darkening sky of evening. As he left, a gust of air blew pass and propelled her hair into her face as she whirled toward the landing shuttle. All thoughts of Pike drifted from her mind as she strained her neck left and right, trying to see around those exiting the vehicle once it settled on the bay floor.

Uhura was the first to find her, waving at Charlie with a smile that didn't quite meet her dark eyes. Charlie waved back as she noticed a distinct tension between her and Spock, who had followed the woman out of the shuttlecraft. Bones came after the pair, looking decidedly grumpier than when he left; a feat Charlie was impressed by. He shuffled down the stairs, and gave Charlie a quick hug before he hurried on his way, grumbling something about 'boneheaded captains.'

Then he came. He ducked out of the door to the shuttle and the breath in Charlie's lungs froze. She couldn't believe that after four long months of isolation, she was finally with him again. Jim stood up straight, his cobalt gaze roaming over the crowd of other Enterprise family and crewmembers until they landed on her. He broke out into a cheeky grin and they both dashed toward each other, skirting around the others disembarking until they crashed together. Lips sought the others and arms were wrapping around bodies in a frenzied collision. Charlie found herself lifted off her feet, crushed to Jim's chest as her lips moved hungrily against his; feeling she could fly just by the sheer joy of his arms around her again. Jim set her on her feet with care, and only because oxygen was required to survive did they break their embrace.

"Hey," Charlie whispered, her eyes shining like bright amber beacons as a large grin stretched across her face.

Jim continued to smile as he said, "Hey yourself. Miss me?"

"Every damn day."

Jim laughed, releasing her only long enough to pick up the bag he had dropped, and then draped an arm around her shoulders. "Where's Admiral Pike?" he asked, regarding the emptying hangar bay with surprise. "I thought he was coming with you."

"He was here," Charlie answered as Jim steered her though the crowd of people toward the exit. "But something from Admiral Marcus made him leave just as your shuttle came it. He told me to tell you he was sorry he had to miss seeing you, but there was an emergency of some kind."

"I hope it's not anything too terrible," Jim said with a frown.

Charlie shrugged, wrapping her hair around her wrist to keep it from blowing around in the evening breeze. "He did run out of here pretty quick."

Jim continued to frown, his gaze distant in deep thought. Charlie lightly jabbed him in the ribs, reproaching, "Hey, you're off the clock. Now, it's time to have some fun."

"What kind of fun were you thinking?" Jim uttered huskily, leaning down to nuzzle near her ear and sending waves of goosebumps over her flesh.

"Stop that!" she laughed, shoving him away. "Later. I was thinking of going out to dinner first, seeing as you've only had replicated food for the last few weeks."

"A pizza does sound nice. We could order in," he suggested wagging his eyebrows.

"Is that all you can think about right now?" she queried, one brow raised in humor and her arms crossed as they headed toward Jim's place.

"Come on! It's been what, four months? Tell me you haven't been thinking about it too."

Rolling her eyes, but grinning nonetheless, Charlie muttered, "Rogue."

"That's why you love me," he smirked.

"Oh is that it?" she laughed, sliding through the glass door that Jim held open for her, and hurrying into the lobby of the apartment building. The marble floors reflected the overhanging chandeliers while their feet echoed through the cavernous room. "I thought it was because you were intelligent. No wait, it's that devilishly flare of bravado that amuses me. Can't forget that sarcasm too. But no, according to you, it's because you're a scoundrel. What would my father say?" she breathed out dramatically as they stepped onto the elevator.

Before she could realize what happened, Charlie found herself pinned against the wall of the lift with Jim's hands on her hips and his lips on her neck. All the air that had been in her lungs whooshed out by the intimate contact and she gasped, instinctively tilting her head back to give him better access to the delicate white flesh under her ear. His hands began roaming up her sides and under her shirt, his fingernails teasing her skin to just under her breasts. She became a light of fire, her inner heat burning with such passion she began to pant as the sensations from his hands and lips sent her blood boiling. Her cheeks flushed and her knees wobbled, only the force of his body against hers kept her standing.

His hands moved from under her shirt and into her hair as he maneuvered her lips to his, searing them with his own passion and drinking her in as if she was an oasis. His tongue moved against the tender pink flesh, silently asking for permission. With a groan from deep inside, Charlie granted access, and he dove in with vigor as her arms wound up around his neck.

Jim pushed his body against her harder, his hands unable to touch enough of hot skin. After agonizing weeks of loneliness, he could barely contain the sensations rolling through him. He wanted to touch, and kiss, and lick every avenue of her skin, he wanted to hear her subtle gasps when he found that place that made her squirm.

They were both so lost in each other, neither acknowledged the ding of the elevator arriving at Jim's floor, or the soft swoosh as the doors opened. Only a gentle cough caused Charlie's eyes to snap open, noticing the elderly couple gaping at them from the hallway. With her cheeks now red in embarrassment, Charlie shoved Jim away, soothing her frazzled hair and rumpled clothes back into place while Jim grinned cheekily. Picking up his bag, he followed Charlie as she darted around the couple, her eyes on the floor as she bit her lip in chagrin. The woman entered the now vacated elevator with a huff, but the man sent a quick wink and a grin to Kirk before he followed his wife.

Chuckling, Jim caught up with Charlie, leaning down to whisper, "I think your dad would think I was quite a catch."

The next thing he knew, she punched him.

The pizza box was open on the coffee table, three quarters of its contents already devoured. Two plates were stacked next to the box along with two glasses and an empty bottle of wine. A trail of clothing lay scattered throughout the darkened living room and kitchen, leading down the hallway to a back bedroom where music was playing on an old record player. Laughter could be heard above the music, and a soft squeal echoed throughout the apartment.

Charlie was trying her best to fend off Jim who had unknowingly found a ticklish spot on her side, and was now attempting to discover other entertaining areas of her body.

"Jim! Stop! Please!" Charlie gasped between laughs, shoving at his shoulders and trying the wriggle her body out from his roaming hands.

"I never knew you could make that sound," he laughed, not registering her blows. "And you hit like a girl."

"That's it," she growled as she reached up to grab the pinky on his right hand, wrenching it back until he had no choice but to release her. Whipping around, Charlie wrenched his arm behind his back, and the next thing Jim knew he face planted into the mattress with Charlie straddling his back. "Ha! Pinned ya," she grinned.

It took him a moment to register what had happened. "Where the hell did you learn that move?" he groaned, rolling onto his back as Charlie released his arm still smiling ear to ear.

"I took a couple self-defense classes," she shrugged, a triumphant gleam to her eye. "And Pike taught me a thing or two."

Rubbing his hand, Jim shook his head as he sat up, impressed but also weary of the slight woman. "Remind me to talk to Pike to see what things he taught you."

"I'd be happy to show you," she smirked, cracking her knuckles.

"Thanks, but no thanks," he said, his hands raised in surrender. "I have a feeling I'll find out eventually."

"Why? Planning on being bad?" she whispered, leaning forward to capture his lips with her own.

"Mm mm, very," he grinned, his arms reaching out to pull her on top of him as he leaned back. The kiss intensified, and Charlie could feel the heat burning in her core and spreading through her limbs. The way his hands glided across her soft skin and the hard muscles under her fingers forced a groan to resonate deep in her very being. She was on fire with desire, and no matter how hard she tried to quench her thirst for him, Charlie was never able to drink her fill. Jim was a drug she was happily addicted to, and the time they spent apart only intensified her attraction to him.

With her mind distracted, Charlie found herself on her back with a gasp. Jim hovered over her and slid down to her neck and collarbone, leaving little love bites behind. His hands found those delicious spots that made her purr and she wriggled under him, desperate for more friction in the place she needed it most. Between the pulsing of the music and the ministrations of the man above, Charlie found herself rising toward that cliff of pleasure. When they joined together, Charlie let out a breathless sigh, the unity she felt with him easing the tortures of the months apart.

Faster than either would have liked or admitted to, they crested their individual peaks of desire and began floating back to earth, both happily sated for the time being. Jim flipped onto his back and pulled Charlie to his side, her sweaty head resting on his rapidly rising and falling chest.

Their breathing had just returned to normal when Jim's communicator began beeping somewhere in the room. With a groan, Jim pulled himself out from under her head, and as she flopped onto her pillow, she whined, "You're not seriously going to get that right now, are you?"

He pulled the blankets up, searching for the loudly beeping device. Clothes were thrown about and he shut off the record player until he finally found the gadget halfway under the bed.

"I have to. You never know what it might be," he said as he answered. "Kirk here. Admiral Pike! Uh, no I'm not busy." Charlie raised unamused brow and crossed her arms, glaring at the man. Jim just shrugged innocently and headed out of the room, quickly throwing on a pair of boxers as he did. "Yea, I got back alright. Sorry I missed seeing you . . ." his voice trailed off as he wandered down the hall.

Charlie waited a couple minutes then shrugged, getting out of the bed to use the bathroom, wondering why Pike would call so late at night. Figuring it was probably something important, she promptly returned to the warm confines of the covers, snuggling in as she breathed in the scent of Jim and being home. Just as she settled in to go to sleep, Jim appeared back in the bedroom. He dropped the communicator on the shelving near her head with a sigh and crawled under the covers.

"What did he want?" Charlie asked, turning onto her side to face him while he went about arranging himself.

"He wants a meeting at 08:00 hours tomorrow morning," Jim answered, laying back and pulling Charlie to cuddle at his side. "Says he has something important to discuss with me and Spock, and that it can't wait."

"Do you think it has something to do with me, and review board?" Charlie asked, rising up enough to stare into Jim's eyes. "He said that it was going to be soon."

"I don't think so," he shook his head, pulling her back down and closing his eyes with a contented deep breath. "He would have asked for you too. Might be that new five year assignment everyone's been talking about. Whatever it is, we'll worry about it in the morning. I just want to enjoy having you back."

Jim felt as Charlie grinned, rising her head only enough to kiss his chest before snuggling back into his side. With his arms wrapped around her, both fell into a contented sleep, something neither had had in four months.

"Spock, I'm telling you, this is why he called. I can feel it," Jim said the next morning as he and Spock hiked over to Admiral Pike's office for their early morning meeting. He was holding his hat in his hand, a clear refusal to follow standard dress regulations as they walked toward the tallest towers on the Starfleet campus. He had left Charlie sleeping in his room, not having the heart to wake after wearing her out right before dawn.

"Your feeling aside," Spock said, the barest hint of exasperation in his voice. "I consider it highly unlikely that we will be selected for the new program."

"Why else would Pike want to see us?" Jim asked. "Forget about seniority. They gave us the newest ship in the fleet. I mean who else are they going to send?"

"I can think of numerous possibilities."

"A five-year mission, Spock!" Jim exclaimed interrupting the Vulcan. "That's deep space! That's uncharted territory! Think about how incredible that's going to be."

"And what about Miss Noland?" Spock queried entering through the door into the main lobby. "Have you not considered the possibilities that such a mission would place a great amount of pressure on her in your current relationship."

"She would come with us," Jim explained, sending a wink at a couple of women who walked by, causing them to roll their eyes.

"Regulation protocols do not allow for the appearance of non-active civilian family members onboard a starship, Captain. You know this."

"Then where is she going to go, Spock?" Jim snapped coming to a stop in front of the Vulcan. "It's not like she has anyone on Earth waiting for her, and I'm not about to leave her behind again. Pike knows the situation. I bet you he's come up with something. He'll support us."

Spock merely ducked his head in agreement, not wanting to argue further with the Captain. Both men checked in with the security on the main floor, then headed over to one of the lifts and took the elevator up to floor holding many of the admiral offices. Both men tucked their hats under their arms, and after a quick conversation with his yeoman, Kirk and Spock were led into Admiral Pike's office.

The man was leaning back in his chair, a PADD in his hand as he read the report listed on it. Cars and shuttlecrafts were zooming by outside the large rectangular window that opened toward the city of San Francisco, light streaming into the large and spacious office. Both men came to stand behind the chairs facing the admiral's desk, and not bothering to look up, Pike drawled, "'Uneventful.'"

"Admiral?" Jim questioned.

"It's the way you described the survey of Nibiru in your captain's log," Pike answered, looking up at the man.

"Uh, yes, sir, I didn't want to waste your time going over the details—"

"Yeah, tell me more about this Volcano," Pike interrupted, setting down the PADD. "Data says it was highly volatile. If it were to erupt it would wipe out the planet."

"Let's hope it doesn't, Sir."

"Something tells me it won't," Pike pointed out.

"Well, Sir, volatile is all relative," Kirk explained. "Maybe our data was off."

"Or maybe it didn't erupt because Mr. Spock detonated a cold fusion device inside it right after a civilization that's barely invented the wheel happened to see a starship rising out of their ocean!" Pike exclaimed. "That is pretty much how you described it, is it not?" he added, gesturing to Spock.

Jim, stunned, turned to Spock and interrupting him asked, "You filed a report? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I incorrectly assumed that you would be truthful in your captain's log."

"Yeah, I would have been if I didn't have to save your life," Jim pointed out.

"A fact for which I am immeasurably grateful and the very reason I felt it necessary to take responsibility for the actions . . ."

"Take responsibility, yeah. That would be so noble, Pointy, if you weren't also throwing me under the bus."

"'Pointy'?" Spock asked, confused. "Is that a derogatory reference to –?"

"Gentlemen," Pike interrupted the argument, rising and grabbing his cane. "Starfleet's mandate is to explore and observe, not to interfere."

"Had the mission according to plan, Admiral," Spock announced as the man limped around his desk. "The indigenous species would never have been away of our interference."

"That's a technicality."

"I am Vulcan, Sir. We embrace technicality."

"Are you giving me attitude, Spock?" Pike growled warningly.

"I'm expressing multiple attitudes simultaneously, Sir," Spock said in a Vulcan form of cheekiness. "To which are you referring?"

"Out," Pike ordered. "You're dismissed, Commander."

Spock stared at the Admiral a moment, and then turned to Jim who stubbornly kept his eyes on the wall behind the admiral's desk. Once the Vulcan was gone from the room, Pike said to Jim, "Do you have any idea how much of a pain in the ass you are?"

Jim paused a moment, then answered, "I think so, Sir."

"So tell me what you did wrong, what's the lesson to be learned here?" Pike asked exasperated.

"Never trust a Vulcan."

"Now, see, you can't even answer the question," he snapped. "You lied. On an official report, you lied. You think the rules don't apply to you 'cause you disagree with them."

"That's why you talked me into signing up in the first place," Jim argued. "It's why you gave me your ship."

"I gave you my ship because I saw a greatness in you," Pike said. "And now, I see you haven't got an ounce of humility. Even with the introduction of Charlie into your life, you're still making these boneheaded decisions."

"What was I supposed to do," Jim growled, fully addressing Pike. "Let Spock die?"

"You're missing the point."

"I don't think I am, Sir. What would you have done?"

"I wouldn't have risked my First Officer's life in the first place! You were supposed to survey a planet, not alter its destiny! You violated a dozen Starfleet regulations, you've put Charlie's review under suspicion, and almost got everyone under your command killed."

"Except I didn't!" Jim snapped back. "You know how many crew members I've lost? Not one!"

"That's your problem, you think you're infallible!" Pike shouted. "You think you can't make a mistake. It's a pattern with you! The rules are for other people!"

"Some should be," Jim said off handily.

"And what's worse is you using blind luck to justify your playing God! Did you even think what this would do to Charlie when she finds out?"

"Charlie's got nothing to do with this," Jim barked.

"Like hell she doesn't," Pike bit back. "Her association with you, the circumstances of her involvement with the Enterprise is all part of the review boards process of releasing her back into the general population and allowing her access to you and your crew; never mind stepping back onboard the Enterprise. Your actions have a direct effect on her, and her future."

Jim glanced away with his lips pursed, his hands fisted into his hat and at his side.

"You told me to protect her until you came back, but how can I do that when she might need protection from you," Pike growled. Jim snapped his head to stare at admiral's hard and unforgiving gaze, blinking in confusion. "You brought this girl into my life, and I have come to love her like a daughter. It'll be a cold day in hell before someone hurts her, you included.

"Now, given the circumstances, this has been brought to Admiral Marcus's attention. He convened a special tribunal, to which I was not invited." Pike paused a moment, letting the reality of the situation descend on Kirk. "You understand what Starfleet regulations mandate be done at this point. They've taken the Enterprise away from you. They're sending you back to the Academy. I don't even know what this'll mean for Charlie."

Jim was stunned, searching for a sign of leeway, of hope in Pike's eyes. "Admiral, listen . . ."

"No, I'm not going to listen. . ."

". . . I can't justify . . ."

". . . Why should I listen? I'm not going to listen . . ."

". . . I understand regulations . . ."

". . . You don't listen to anyone but yourself . . ."

". . . But ever decision I've made . . ."

". . . No! I can't listen!" Pike shouted, cutting off Jim's argument. "You don't comply with the rules, you don't take responsibility for anything, and you don't respect the chair. You know why? Because you're not ready for it."

"Sir, if I could only talk to Marcus—"

"You think Marcus will listen to you after this?" the admiral snapped. "I'm going to have a hell of a time convincing him not to send you back to Command 101."

"I understand, Sir, but there has to be something I can do for Charlie. She can't have everything taken away from her because of me."

"I'll worry about Charlie and the review board," Pike snapped, limping back to his desk. He fell into his chair with a small groan. "The only saving grace she has is the fact that she had no knowledge and didn't take part in Nibiru."

"How did you know I didn't—?"

"Tell her?" Pike glared. "All of her comms were recorded Jim."

Shaking his head, Jim muttered, "She's going to love that."

Pike smirked, as he nodded. "I can only imagine what she's going to say when you tell her. You're dismissed, Jim."

"Sir, I swear, if you just let me—"

"Dismissed," Pike ordered firmly. "I'm not going to tell you again.

Jim snapped his mouth close and nodded. He paused a moment, as if debating saying one more thing, before he turned and exited the office, plunking his hat on his head as he did so. He was leaving one battle, and heading toward another.

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