Chapter Eight

Pike groaned as he came around. His eyes snapped opened as he remembered what had happened with Kodos and Jim. The dim lights didn't seem right. Chris blinked as a blurry face came into his view. Tear tracks colored Jim's cheeks where there wasn't dirt or splattered blood from Kodos.

"Chris, are you okay?" Jim's voice was tight and panicked.

Pike didn't answer as the room spun. He could see the slumped body across the room. They were still on the planet's surface and he was still bleeding. Jim's hands were covered in the dark liquid. The kid returned to putting pressure on the wound when Chris didn't answer.

"Ship…" Pike coughed, unable to say anything more.

"I don't know why they haven't come to help us. Bastard probably shielded this area."

Chris nodded. "We'll have… to move."

"You can't!"

"Jim, we don't – don't have a choice."

Pike tried to sit up, but the pain caused him to roll to the side and throw up. Jim kept a trembling hand on his arm. The kid was too weak to help much. Jim put an arm around Chris and together they stood up. Pike pressed one hand to the wound. A wheezing sound passed Jim's parted lips. Blood dripped onto the floor from Pike's wounded arm and it rolled down his pants and pooled beneath his feet. Jim took a step forward. He pulled Pike with him as they walked back down the long hallway. With each step, Pike could feel the blood seeping thought his fingers and he bit back a groan. Jim stopped moving.

"You shouldn't have come after me."

Pike felt his heart stop as he wavered slightly. "No. I told you I won't let anyone hurt you and I couldn't let him hurt you again." He took a shaky breath. "I wasn't leaving you, Jim."

The kid shook his head. "I'm not your responsibility."

"Yes, you are Jim. I saved your life and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you again… you've felt too much pain for a kid." Chris coughed and felt moisture in the corner of his mouth. "You deserve to be protected."

Loud thumping came from down the hallway and around the corner. Pike pressed his hand harder against the wound to increase the pain and his awareness. Jim pulled him forward. He could hear soft gasps from the kid. They rounded the corner as the hidden wall burst open. Taro and Miller were first through the opening. Taro reached him first and took Pike's weight from Jim's shoulder. The boy started to fall, but Miller steadied him and ended up lifting the kid in his arms.

"Kodos… he's dead… in the back room."

"We'll take care of it. Let's get you to the doc."

Pike nodded as the blackness seeped in again. He stayed conscious as the transporter deposited them on the ship. Taro guided him to lie down on the stretcher. The voices blurred together. He knew his eyes were still open, but he couldn't see anything. A few spots cleared and Pike tried to focus on the faces.

"Where's Jim?" He lifted his head.

"Lay still, Lieutenant," a medic said.

Pike tried to sit up and look around as they got closer to the medbay. The doors opened and the medics transferred him to a biobed as he tried to keep from crying out in pain. He couldn't see Jim anywhere. Doctor Ravi appeared next to him and he dropped his head back. His stomach rolled and he couldn't hold on for much longer.

"Chris, I'm gonna give you something for the pain." Doctor Ravi pressed a hypospray to his neck.

"Where's… Jim?"

"He's safe. I need you to relax and let the analgesic take effect."

Pike gasped and his eyes searched the room. "I need – to make sure Jim is okay."

He tried to stay conscious, but whatever the doctor had given him helped eased the pain and made him sleepy. Chris finally saw Jim. The kid was standing across the room and one of the nurses was trying to approach him. He kept putting up his hands and moving to the side. Pike lifted his hand. He wanted to comfort him and calm him down, but the room spun around him. He dropped his head to the bed and let the darkness take him.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Where's Jim?" Chris blinked heavily, trying to clear the last of the sedation from his system. The painkillers were working nicely, but his head felt foggy.

"He's fine," Doctor Ravi answered, putting a hand on Pike's shoulder. "You're lucky to be okay."

"How long have I been here?"

The doctor adjusted the drip on the IV and administered another hypo. "You've been in the medbay for approximately ten hours. I kept you sedated after the surgery to remove the projective. The wound barely missed your internal organs. Your arm will be sore for a while, but I expect you to fully recover."

Pike nodded. "When can I leave?"

"I'm hoping to discharge you tomorrow, but you'll be off duty for at least three days. We are on our way back to Earth."

"Thanks, Doc."

The Betazoid nodded. "Captain O'Mara will be in later. He'll need your report on what happened on the surface with the former criminal."

Pike sighed, rubbing his forehead with one hand. "Is he really dead?"

"I performed the autopsy myself. Kodos won't be hurting anyone again."

"Good."

Pike leaned back and gave himself a mental check-up as the doctor examined his wound. Despite feeling a bit listless and his head being muddled, he felt alright. The doctor pulled back the bandage and Pike glanced away, not wanting to look at mark on his side. Dr. Ravi gently touched it and Chris hissed in pain. Dr. Ravi apologized. He used the dermal regenerator before covering it up again. Pike glanced around at the empty medbay. His eyes went to the door to Jim's room.

"How is he?" Chris shifted slightly in the bed.

"He had some cuts on his arm and bruises, but he's resting right now."

"Mentally, how is he?"

The Betazoid's shoulders dropped slightly. "Jim is stressed. Along with the physical stress to his body, his mind is not at ease. When I'm near him I sense pain, guilt, shame, anger, grief and anxiety to name a few. He's begun to recover physically since I finally received his medical file and I'm now able to treat him properly, but emotionally he's barely started."

Pike remembered the look of fear on Jim's face. "Poor Jim. Do you think he'll ever recover emotionally?"

"Jim will struggle with his past, but I think he's strong enough to endure. He has you. You should get some rest though." Doctor Ravi put a hand on his shoulder and then released it. He walked to the end of the bed and turned around. "You saved his life, Chris. He will never forget that."

The doctor exited the section and pulled the curtain closed behind him. Pike closed his eyes as he tried to digest the Betazoid's words. He was only alone for a minute before he heard two little voices whispering and trying to stay quiet. Chris opened his eyes as the curtain moved slightly.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Lieutenant. Are you up for visitors?" The head nurse, Amanda, stood at the edge of the curtained area and gave Pike a warm smile. "I'll make sure they don't stay long so you can rest."

"Of course." He tried to push himself up a little bit, but quickly stopped when it pained him.

Two small little faces peaked around the edge of the curtain. Kevin and Tommy cautiously came into the space. Their eyes focused on the lines going under Pike's medical gown and protruding from his hand. Chris smiled at the kids.

"Hi guys, how are you?"

"Mandy says you got hurt," Tommy whispered, holding tight to his stuffed animal.

Chris chuckled at the nurse's nickname and ruffled Tommy's hair. "I'm okay, kiddo. The doctor is taking good care of me. I should be able to come and play with you tomorrow."

Tommy climbed up on the bed and swung his legs back and forth. "Can you bring JT to play with us? We tried to see him earlier, but the doctor said he didn't want any visitors right now."

"Yeah, why doesn't JT want to see any of us?" Kevin asked.

"He's had a really bad day. Just give him a little time and I'm sure he'll want to see you."

The littler boy picked at the ears on his stuffed animal. "I heard the doctor talking to Miss Mandy. He said JT isn't talking. He can't talk." Tommy sniffled. "What happened to him?"

Pike's lips tightened, but he put on a smile for their sake. "He's just struggling. He'll be okay."

"Alright boys, we need to let Chris get some rest so he can play with you tomorrow. Also, the captain has promised to come play some games with you in a little bit," Amanda interrupted.

The two boys shouted in excitement and ran from the area, yelling 'bye' behind them. Pike wanted to demand the doctor explain why Jim wasn't talking and he hadn't told him, but his energy levels were too low. His eyes closed and he drifted into an uneasy sleep.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Pike was getting a promotion when they returned to Earth, but he couldn't be excited. His thoughts were focused on Jim. Captain O'Mara had debriefed him and informed him that Starfleet Command wanted to promote him to Commander for his work on the surface. Chris dressed in his civilian clothing since it was more comfortable. Pike walked toward the door to Jim's room and stepped inside. The breathing mask that had been present on his face for so long was gone, along with one of the IV lines. A little bit of color had come back to Jim's cheeks and he didn't appear as ill. A piece of uneaten toast sat on the bedside table with a cup of orange juice.

"Hey," Pike said, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

Jim's eyes slowly opened and he turned his head. A harsh cough passed his lips, but he didn't say anything.

"Doc says you actually ate a little something earlier."

The kid blinked.

"That's progress."

Jim began picking at the blanket with his fingers and coughed into his hand again. He moved a little in the bed.

Pike sighed. "I talked to Tommy and Kevin yesterday. They want to come visit you, but they said you didn't want any visitors. I think it would be good if you saw them."

The silence in the room was driving Chris nuts as Jim continued to be quiet. He kept his eyes down. Pike leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, wincing slightly when the movement pulled at his side.

"We're headed back to Earth." Pike watched as Jim glanced at the wall to the left. "I was thinking of taking some leave when we get back." He cleared his throat, hoping to get Jim's full attention. "I plan on asking if you can stay with me until we can find some family for you to stay with. Doctor Ravi says you'll have to spend a few days at Starfleet Medical, but after that… you'll need someone to take care of you."

Jim still didn't answer.

"I want to help you, but you have to give me something. Jim, I don't know what he said to you before I get there, but there's nothing he can do to hurt you anymore. He's gone and I promise to make sure you are safe."

Nothing. Pike reached out and picked up his book from the table and leaned back in the chair. He wasn't leaving Jim alone again.

After a while, Chris realized Jim had fallen asleep. He brushed a stray hair from the kid's forehead and felt the low-grade fever beneath his fingers. The medical monitor put it at 101 degrees. Jim couldn't catch a break. He sat back down, continuing where he left off. Thirty minutes passed. The computer beeped softly. Pike put down his book and checked the monitor, seeing Jim's heart rate had increased. No one came running, so he assumed it was alright. He picked up the book again, but he couldn't bring himself to read it. Jim flung his arm across his chest, startling Pike. A low groan came from the kid's parted lips. Then panic. Jim thrashed around on the bed, shouting and trying to escape. The IV was torn from his hand, getting blood on Pike's arm as he tried to hold him down.

"Jim! Wake up, Jim."

Jim's eyes flew open and Pike saw the raw horror in his eyes. The kid pushed himself up and a choking sound came from his throat. Pike grabbed the bowl on the table in time for Jim to throw up the little food he'd eaten. Tears streamed down his cheeks and he reached for Pike. Chris didn't hesitate as he embraced the boy, whispering to him that it was gonna be okay. It didn't matter that Kodos was dead and he couldn't physically assault the kid anymore, just the memory of Kodos was torture and Jim was already hurting more than Pike knew how to fix.