You all have waited so patiently for this chapter, I couldn't let you wait another week. I hope you all enjoy reading because I had a lot of fun writing it :)

Chapter Eleven: Rain

The minute the turbolift arrived on the deck with the brig, all the bravado and confidence Charlie had blew away with the opening hiss of the doors. Jim had specifically ordered her to not to meet with Harrison, but after the discussion with Uhura and her time in Marcus's clutches, how could she not? Something didn't add up, something she feared was very dangerous. Why did Harrison go rogue, why did he surrender to Jim without a fight and what was up with those torpedoes? She could feel something was wrong, something bigger than Jim might even be aware of and she would break all the rules if it meant those she loved on the Enterprise were safe.

Charlie peeked out her head into the isolated hallway before she stepped from the turbolift, her ears trained for any hint of the captain. Hearing and seeing nothing, she relaxed her tense muscles and dropped her shoulder against the wall. Now that she was there, what reason could she use if someone she didn't want caught her down there? Drawing her lip between her teeth, she rubbed her forehead as she thought. She could get a DNA sample for McCoy, but then she remembered Jim called him down there already. There was the idea of a written confession, but she wasn't a lawyer. She had to be sly, to make the excuse viable enough she could argue she was following protocol.

With a start, her sister's voice echoed in her head and she ran to a computer station near the entrance of the prison. It only took her a couple minutes to find what she was looking for and she grinned in triumph. A stop by a food synthesizer later and she had herself covered should anyone ask why she was in the brig.

The instant she walked around the bright corner with the tray in her hands, Charlie could feel all the rage and grief she repressed rise to the surface like a thundering tsunami. The very sight of the strong man in black, his hair slicked back and his eyes piercing had all her hackles rising and she felt herself stiffen her shoulders and draw her chin higher. A hint of amusement entered his gaze when he caught sight of her, sauntering closer to the glass as she moved to the side of the cell and shoved the tray of food through the hatch.

"What's this?" he asked.

"What's it look like?" she snipped. "Brought to you courtesy of Starfleet protocols."

Harrison picked up the tray with a curled lip of distain before he placed it on a shelf. "You don't like me much, do you," he remarked, his sharp gaze flipping over his shoulder and meeting Charlie's. She felt the same icy coolness from before flood her system and had to resist the urge to shudder.

"What gave it away?" she retorted, glaring into his hard, unforgiving eyes. Eyes that held no remorse, no hint that he regretted any of his decisions.

"Your distain is palpable."

"And here I was trying so hard to hide it."

Harrison smirked as he turned towards her. "Now I wonder what could cause such strong emotions from one so small."

"Come out here and say that to my face, then you'll learn how small I am."

He grinned, the first signs of light entering his cold gaze. "Refreshing. It's always a pleasure speaking with someone so . . . passionate. Tell me, why do harbor such passions towards me?"

Charlie paused, glowering through the glass and chewing her lip. Something about this man was different. It was evident in the way he shifted, the cat-like restraint in his movements and the promise of pain should he release those muscles to do what they appeared bred to do. But it was more than that. He wasn't like Sagan who was misguided and grieving. He appeared human there was something in human about his actions, the way he spoke, the hint of brilliance locked behind those startling green eyes.

"You killed," she challenged.

"I've killed a lot of people, you need to be more specific," he snapped.

"Are you gloating?"

"Merely stating a fact, Ensign . . ." She remained silent. "You're not going to give me your name? That's not very nice."

"Tough shit."

"Temper. I'm not sure your Captain would agree with your choice of language."

"He doesn't control me."

"Oh now that isn't true."

"Really? And what brought you that conclusion, Sherlock?"

Harrison laughed then, a predatory feral sound. "It's simple really. You brought me this meager choice of food because you wanted to talk to me, and this is your excuse. Don't look so shocked, Ensign, it's practically obvious. Now the question is why would you go through such trouble to speak to me? Obviously, I did something you disagree with, and we'll get to that later. No, let's focus on the task at hand. It's because someone ordered you not to see me that you would have to go out of your way to find an appropriate reason. There's only a handful of people onboard this vessel with the power to do so; that you would listen to. You don't strike me as an obedient woman, but you also don't want to create problems. That means you have to remain under the radar, make as little noise as possible. Tell me, who would suffer the most if word of your exploits were to get out?"

Charlie smirked, her brow raised in defiance as she crossed her arms. She remained silent, however, unwilling to influence any conclusion Harrison would come up with. She had learned early in her life, silence was a valuable tool.

"I've heard of this Captain," Harrison continued, stalking toward the glass and lowering the deep vibrato of his voice. "That wildly passionate man who has saved the Federation from a suicidal Romulan, and later a Klingon plot on the outer reaches of the galaxy. He intrigues me; that wonderfully simplistic idea of right verse wrong. His naivety is refreshing.

"He was in here earlier, but of course you know this. He must be important to you, more important than a simple ensign/CO relationship for you to risk so much just for one word. It's that relationship that controls you, doesn't it? You love him."

Charlie kept her expression passive, but her heart rate had increased and she knew her brows had risen in surprise before she got herself under control. "Impressive," she drawled as she began to pace in front of the glass. "Really, that was quite a trick."

"It was far more than a trick."

"Wasn't it?" she goaded. "I'm barely in here five minutes and you think you have me figured out."

"I have everyone figured out, Ensign. Human nature does not change."

She matched his grin then. "Trust me. There are things about me that would blow your mind."

His eyes narrowed and he cocked his head to the side, staring intently at Charlie. He racked his jade gaze from the top of her dark hair, over her yellow uniform, down her legs to the tips of her black, scuffed boots. Cocking her hip, she cleared her throat and his eyes snapped to her unamused ones. "Like what you see?" she challenged.

"You appear familiar to me. How?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

"The manner you speak, it is not like the others."

"'The manner I speak?'" she echoed with a scoff. "Really, that's what you're picking up on? Pretty sure I speak American English just like a lot of people here."

"American?" Harrison's interest visibly changed. He faced her fully, coming as close to the glass as he could while he glared at her. "You are American?"

Confused, Charlie said, "Duh. What else would I be?"

"From the United States?"

Charlie paused then, warning flags sparking in her mind when she remembered what Pike had told her after one of her history classes. "Don't you mean the former?" she tried.

"No," he growled, his voice deep and powerful, instilling itself in her very core. "Not the former. You aren't from the former."

"How can I not be from the former United States? The US doesn't exist anymore."

"You aren't from this time." There was such finality in his tone, like the moment the last puzzle piece is connected to all the others.

Charlie snapped her mouth closed and pursed her lips in annoyance. After a moment, she muttered, "but that's impossible. Time travel is impossible."

"You did it. How?"

"I don't know—"

"Do not lie to me, Ensign," he growled deep in his throat, his words punctuated with force. "I am an augment, your superior, your ruler. Do not lie to me."

Charlie took a hesitant step backward, that lethalness she detected earlier shining through like a beacon. She was starting to doubt her decision to speak to Harrison, but at the same time she felt her back stiffen and her fists clench. He was under lock and key, brought onboard by Jim and as soon as they were in motion again, he was headed back to Earth to face trial. He couldn't hurt her.

"And I thought Marcus had a superiority complex," she sneered. "I don't know what an augment is, but whatever you are, you don't scare me. I'll give it you, I'm not from around here, but this isn't my first rodeo either. I came here to see you, to look into the eyes of the person who killed one of the most important men in my life. You're a murderer, plain and simple, and you will answer for your crimes when the time comes. Feel lucky Captain Kirk didn't release those torpedoes on you, because I sure would have."

Harrison shook his head, his arms going behind is back as he turned to pace away from her. "The 20th century."

"I beg your pardon?" she asked.

"You are from the 20th century. As am I."

Charlie paused, her mouth hanging open like a fish starving for oxygen while her brows furrowed in confusion. "And what makes you think—"

"You thirst for blood," he growled, again coming up against the glass wall of his prison like a tiger wanting to attack and forcing Charlie back several more steps by the speed of his movements. "You thirst for my blood, to avenge the man close to you. The man I killed. The men of this time, of this era do not share the same desire. Your Kirk proved that when he decided to request my surrender instead of releasing those torpedoes. Do not deny it."

Charlie stood still, glaring at the dangerous man behind the glass wall. "Fine. I was born at the end of the 20th century. And you?"

"When?" he asked, ignoring her question.

"1989." Harrison paused, his stare hardening further, feeling as if he were trying to pierce her soul. "But I don't see why that is of any consequence," she added, rising her chin. "How did you end up here?"

"That I am afraid is my own business."

"No, if we're sharing are deepest secrets, you have to play along too. It doesn't have something to do with those nifty torpedoes we have, does it?" she challenged. He only remained silent and watching, Charlie shuffled her feet as she answered with her own. "Fine then," she said. "If you aren't going to play along, I guess this conversation is over." She spun on her heel, the blood pounded in her ears from what she had just learned of their mysterious prisoner. She had to tell Jim, to let them know Harrison was not what he seemed.

"He'll end up just like him," Harrison shouted at her retreating back.

Unable to ignore the threat, she glanced over her shoulder and asked, "Who will end up like whom?"

"Captain Kirk. He will grow to be like Marcus."

"So he'll become an Admiral. Great, that's moving up the ranks," she shrugged.

"That's not what I mean," he spat. "I remember you, now. I remember reading your file; Case number 626, Ensign." She smirked, turned fully and crossed her arms as she gestured for him to continue. Harrison scowled, but there was a light of pleasure in his pale eyes. "A woman of my world, lost in this century. Marcus took you into custody; took you away from your captain and everyone else on this ship. He forced you to remain on Earth and attend frivolous meetings with him and his counselors while Kirk travelled the galaxy like you always dreamed."

"He had his motives —"

"Oh yes he did. He wanted you for me."

Charlie's head titled to the side. "He what? I don't understand."

"No, you couldn't, could you? You're not like me. You weren't bred to be the best, to be far superior to any other human."

"Well, if you're so superior then why are you on the other side of the glass?" Charlie challenged, sauntering up to the wall of the cell herself. She knew how she looked, the short yellow dress showing off more of her legs than she liked, hugging her curves and emphasizing how much of a woman she was. She tilted her head back, the wisps from her bangs brushing the corners of her eyes. Her gaze narrowed further. She didn't know where her bravado was coming from, but just looking at Harrison and the arrogance he emitted set her teeth on edge. "Why stand behind there like a puppy in a cage?"

The predator came back, his grin feral and fierce. "I have my reasons. I let your captain take me onto this ship. I surrendered to him and his pathetic crew for my own purposes. I could have destroyed them with barely a whisper."

"And why didn't you?" she barked. "If you're so high and mighty, why didn't you take them out instead of letting yourself be captured?"

"I told you, I have my reasons," he answered dismissively.

She glared at him as he turned his back to her, stalking around the tiny room. "And you're telling me this why? I could go to Jim and tell him everything you've just told me."

"But you won't," Harrison said.

"Really? Who's going to stop me? You?" she dared.

Harrison smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "I don't have to. In order to explain to Jim everything I told you, you would have to admit to seeing me. And you went through all this trouble to bring me my snack." Charlie's eyes widened a fraction when she realized he was right. If she were to tell Jim that Harrison was from her time, and that he surrendered for a purpose still undetermined, she risked his wrath as her captain, and worse, her boyfriend. "I see you've reached the same conclusion. It's a shame you already fear him."

"I don't fear him," she spat. "He has never given me a reason to. He's the smartest, bravest, kindest man I've ever met, and he loves me."

"There's a difference between the man and the captain, Ensign."

"Like you would know anything about it," she sneered, pacing in front of his cage. "You stand there dolling out relationship advice, but you are the most despicable of beings. You care nothing for anyone, killing a room of innocent men and women with barely a thought, so forgive me if I don't think your advice has much merit here, Sparky."

"You know nothing," Harrison snarled, his visage darkening. "You know nothing of love and loyalty, your standing here evidence of that. Do not speak of what you do not know, Ensign. Of what I lost. It might just kill you."

The threat hung in the air ominously, the reverberations of his deep bass causing the hairs on her arms to stand straight up in fear. But if there was one thing Charlie knew, one piece of advice gained from a Colonel as a father, it was not to back down from a fight, no matter how the odds were against her. "I know more than you give me credit for. You say Jim will become like Marcus. How? Sure Marcus has done some things I don't necessarily agree with, but he is human. We make mistakes."

"You think it is all to do with mistakes? My dear, you are naïve if you think that is the reason."

"The explain it, Harrison. My patience is wearing thin."

"Temper, Ensign," he purred. "It'll start how it always does. First, his focus is on protecting you and his crew, just like every good captain should. But it will escalate. The more dangers you encounter, and the more threats that make their appearance will change him. You will need more and more security, more defenses because the threat that barely brushes across the conscious of your little world demands it. He will become secretive about his plans, become paranoid that he can't see when a true threat is eminent because of what he has faced; what you both have. He will perceive everything as a threat while you are here. So those defenses will increase, a stronger more aggressive approach is warranted until he decides the best defense is a good offense."

"A nuclear deterrent," she breathed, her eyes widened.

"Precisely. You're captain is very persuasive, Ensign," he added, smirking at her. "He is well-known and respected by many in this Federation for his heroic acts. He will use it to his advantage. Kirk obviously has uncontrolled passion, and it is that weakness that will manipulate him."

"You have one thing wrong, Harrison." Her downcast eyes, watching the scenario Harrison described playing in her conscious flickered up to his, narrowed as she glowered at the man behind the glass. "Emotion, passion is not a weakness. It is a strength, and it's a pity no one in your life has taught you that."

"You will learn, Ensign. You and I, we are from a different world than those on this ship. We have seen the costs of war; have felt the icy claws of death and destruction in a way they couldn't even imagine. We are wise to its effects; they are not."

"They've had longer to learn," she said. "This crew, this ship is capable of things we've only dreamed about. I will find out what you want; why you chose to be on this ship and why you attacked the command center of Starfleet. And when I do, you had better pray you're still behind that glass. I will do whatever it takes to protect this crew from you. Maybe Captain Kirk has decided to bring you back for a trial; but as you said, I'm from a different time. A different universe you might even say. You may still feel the effects of 21st century justice."

Harrison grinned then, amusement playing in his icy eyes and his smile a Cheshire cat. "I look forward to it."

Charlie stalked away from the brig with her thoughts swirling as fast a hummingbird wings. All she could think about was the revelations that Harrison shared with her and what that could mean for the future of the ship. As much as she hated to admit it, Harrison made a very valid and startling truth about her and Jim's future. There was a possibility that his prediction could come true, and she could see some of it already.

Then there was the matter of Harrison himself. Charlie couldn't help but argue that she knew next to nothing about the man other than the fact that he was a criminal and a coward. Those facts alone should have dissuaded her from ever assenting to anything he said, but that nugget of doubt that grew in her own mind saw a hint of truth in his words. She swore to herself she'd do everything in her power to stop that prophecy from happening. Jim was too important to her and the Federation.

She ran a quick, frustrated hand through her hair as she headed towards the one place she might find answers to her questions. She rushed into the library and research center, and with a quick nod toward the librarian, she slid into a seat in front of a console. Researching had always been her best skill back home, and during the time she lived on the Enterprise before Sagan had made his appearance, she had become adept at locating hard to find information.

For the next half an hour, Charlie searched, read, and then searched again anything on the man named John Harrison. There was a few times she had to implement less than traditional forms of researching, utilizing back channel networks Scotty had shown her, but she soon came to realize that John Harrison was an enigma. He popped up on Starfleet's radar a about year before, but he didn't seem to exist earlier than that date. It was as if he had just sprung out of nowhere and into Marcus's clutches. Her hands fisted in frustration as she glared at the screen. Who the hell was he? Harrison seemed to have designed the torpedoes, so someone like that had to learn his skill somewhere.

"But where?" she whispered to herself. With an irritated growl, Charlie stood from her station and signed off the console, erasing as much of her history as possible. She needed to talk to Jim, to see if he had found something else about Harrison that she didn't know.

She had just turned the corner towards the bridge, walking across a causeway when she saw Jim to the side rolling his eyes.

"Charlie!" he exclaimed, snapping his communicator closed when he saw her scurrying to him. "Where were you? I've been looking for you everywhere."

"I huh, was researching," she shrugged as she dodged around him. "I didn't want to bother you."

"Researching? Researching what?" Jim questioned.

"Our prisoner," she threw over her shoulder. Within seconds, Jim was by her side as she darted around those in the busy passage.

"You didn't go see Harrison, did you?" he asked, matching her stride.

"I saw him when you took him off the ship, Jim," she responded with a roll of her eyes, her stare straight ahead.

He grabbed her arm and spun her towards him. "I'm serious, Charlie. I don't want you to go near him."

"Why? Harrison's an enigma. I couldn't find anything on him earlier than a year ago; It's like he just materialized out of thin air. Maybe there's something we could learn, something I could find out."

"You have a lot of confidence in yourself, Ensign."

"You're one to talk, Captain. I vaguely recall the whole disbelief in a no-win scenario."

"There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, Charlie."

She narrowed her fiery gaze as she crossed her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you aren't trained for the kind of interrogation required with Harrison—hey!" Charlie had scoffed at his answer and spun on her heel as she headed towards the bridge again. Not trained for interrogation. If only Jim knew of her past. "Don't walk away from me, Ensign," Jim snapped as he snatched her arm again, whipping her around to face him.

"Then don't make stupid assumptions, Captain," she growled as she leaned towards him, her hands rising to her hips.

Jim's face darkened as he matched her posture. "I am ordering you to stay away from him. No excuses. I don't trust him."

"Well I'm not exactly on the bandwagon for that new science officer you added."

Surprise flickered across his eyes while his shoulders sagged in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Carol Wallace," Charlie bit out. "You don't find it at all strange that she just happened to be assigned to the Enterprise at the same time we get these new state-of-the-art torpedoes. Missiles that are so classified your Chief Engineering can't even get the 'spects to?"

"I'm not having this conversation," Jim growled, turning away from her.

"Why not? My points are just as valid as yours are with Harrison," she said, following behind.

"Drop it," he ordered as he continued to stomp down the hallway.

"Jim," the tone of her voice had the captain pausing while he glanced back over his shoulder as the irate woman commanding the middle of the busy corridor. "We really need to learn to communicate better. I know you're the captain, and I'm just an acting ensign, but my opinions have validity too. Would you brush off another member of your crew if they raised legitimate concerns?"

"But your concerns are ridiculous. Dr. Wallace is a weapons specialist assigned by Marcus. She was probably brought onboard because the torpedoes have never been tested before." To Charlie's ears, his defense was weak and lacked conviction. She could see that something didn't seem to sit right from the tension between his eyes and the stiffness of his shoulders. "Listen, I don't have time for this. Harrison gave me some information that might be useful, and as much as I hate to admit it, he's pointed something out I don't like."

Immediately, Charlie's defenses fell and she hurried to Jim's side. "Which is?"

"He gave me coordinates near Jupiter," he muttered. "I just hung up with Scotty who's going to go check them out."

"What do you think it is? And why trust Harrison?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I can't help thinking that secret organization of Marcus's didn't just stop at torpedoes. It might be time we find out what's so classified about them. Let's go get Bones and Spock. I need their input." Charlie nodded as she turned towards the doors to the bridge. "And Ensign?"

"Yes?"

"Don't question my authority again. We may be together, but that doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that when we're on duty, understand?"

Charlie grounded her teeth together as heat and indignation rose in her cheeks. She stared at Jim's firm, cerulean stare with a defiant one of her own. But after a moment of the silent showdown, Charlie heard the voice of her past, telling her that after years of military involvement, she should know better.

With a sigh, Charlie gave one curt nod and said, "I understand, Captain," and then followed Jim onto the bridge towards whatever plan next awaited them.

Please review! I would love to know what you think of Khan, and that little bit of dynamics between him and for reading!