I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. ~ Clarence Darrow

Pike rang the bell and waited less than a minute before Hikaru opened the door to admit him.

"Hi ya," Hikaru said in his usual cheerful manner. He was dressed in jeans and a dark blue sweater, frayed at the cuffs and neck. Chris thought it might actually be Jim's sweater but gave it no more thought as Sulu moved aside to allow him to enter the toasty house.

"Sulu," Pike said with a nod. "How are you?"

"Great. Couldn't be better," Sulu assured him, leading him across the foyer and into the living room. Jim was laying on the couch in jeans and a tattered sweatshirt, watching the fire dance. Leonard was in his favorite chair with his favorite drink, apparently watching Jim but Chris was pretty sure his eyes weren't entirely focused. Pavel was bent over his padd, studying it with near ferocious intensity. He didn't even look up when Hikaru sat back down beside him. There was faint banging coming from somewhere in the back of the house – Scotty no doubt.

"Hey Chris," Leonard said, looking up at him as Pike entered further into the living room. "What's new?"

"Not a whole hell of a lot. How are you feeling?" he asked Jim, standing next to the couch to look down at him. He thought Jim looked a little pale but no worse for the wear for the most part.

"Fine. Ready for the marathon next week," Jim joked.

"There are no marathons here in December," Pike informed him, shaking his head. "What is Scotty doing?"

"Increasing the efficiency of the heat pump. I think," Leonard said with a shrug. "Who can say for sure?"

"True. Pavel," Chris said to the younger man who had not yet looked up.

"Oh hello Mr. Pike. I am wery sorry. I have much vork to be doing." Chekov stood up to tell Pike this, Chris laughing at his eagerness.

"As you were, Pavel," Chris said, moving to sit in the vacant armchair. "Thanks for getting Gaila out."

Jim shrugged at that. "Not a big deal. Her husband was thrilled. I'm pretty sure she didn't stop talking the entire trip home."

"That's Gaila," Chris agreed. "Grigory complained about the quiet. Now I see why."

"Yeah," Jim said.

"Why didn't you send me with them?" Sulu asked casually, still looking at Chekov's padd.

"I didn't think he'd find a way to hurt himself this time," Chris laughed. "Next time for sure."

"I'd prefer it," Leonard said. "Scotty had no shuttle co-pilot on the trip home. With Jim losing so much blood."

"I was fine. Scotty was fine," Jim protested.

"Next time. I promise. So I talked to Spock. And Sarek," Chris told Jim, everyone listening in, naturally.

"You explain that Jim would call once he got around to it?" McCoy asked.

"Pretty much. Don't think they are too pleased. But if they want to continue to be your publisher, I made it clear they would have to accept you on your terms. Since they are Vulcans, they won't openly complain."

"What'd they say?" Jim asked, clear he didn't particularly care.

"They aren't going to risk losing one of the most popular writers. If they can't reach you, they agreed to call me," Chris told him.

"Good. I guess they want me to come in and 'discuss the necessary revisions'."

"Something like that. I told them I would pass on their request," Chris said with a shrug. "You have any more of that?" he asked Leonard who was enjoying his drink.

"'Course."

"I'll get it," Sulu said, going into the kitchen, Chekov following close behind.

"Good thing you chose an open floor plan," Pike laughed. "Or we'd never see them again."

"We can hear you," Sulu called from the kitchen where they had managed to disappear into the pantry. The pantry where the bourbon was most definitely not stored.

"Please bring my drink before you get too distracted," Chris called back.

"Yes sir. Right away sir," Sulu said, not appearing.

Chris had to shake his head, laughing. He went into the kitchen himself, returning with a glass and the decanter, refilling Leonard's glass on his way back to his chair. "When's dinner? We won't see them again until they get hungry."

"I have no idea. Hikaru's in charge. Now we'll never get to eat," Jim said.

"I think he's making stir fry," Leonard suggested. "Surely we can do it ourselves."

"Not me. I'm still recovering," Jim claimed.

"So you're healed enough to run a marathon and scrub all the toilets. But you can't stir fry some chicken?" Leonard asked.

"Something like that," Jim agreed with a charming smile.

"You are a real head-case," Leonard responded.

"Have I ever denied it?"

"It would be pointless," Leonard agreed.

"We're having dinner for Marjorie on Saturday," Jim told Chris. "You can come, right?"

"Absolutely. You want me to bring some wine?"

"That would be great. Then we wouldn't have to drink that swill Jim always buys," Bones grumbled.

"It's not swill," Jim protested. "I'm a world famous writer. I can afford the good stuff."

"Afford it yes. Buy it no," McCoy said. "We did get the vodka the Prime Minister sent us. Now that is prime."

"Even though it was vodka?" Pike laughed. "I thought you were a one-drink man."

"Jim made martinis out of it."

"Shaken not stirred?" Chris asked, smiling at the younger man.

"Absolutely," Jim agreed. "Did the Vulcans have anything else to say? Even if they don't complain."

"You are one of the main reasons they were interested in acquiring the House. You and Harrid-Shar."

"No way," Jim said with a laugh. "They bought it so they could have access to Orion porn?"

"It's not porn. It's historical romance," Chris said, unable to contain his laughter.

"It's porn," McCoy said. "Sex. Porn. Sex and more porn."

"And you know this from …the covers?" Chris asked.

"Of course. Or I accidentally saw the descriptions on Amazon. You know. When I was… browsing. To see how cheap Jim's books have gotten."

"Sure. Of course," Chris said, watching Hikaru and Pavel return from the depths of the kitchen empty handed. "Are you making dinner?"

"Yep," Sulu agreed. "What time is it?"

"Nearly 5," McCoy said. "You making stir fry?"

"We were planning to. So we don't need to start just yet," Sulu said.

"No," Leonard agreed, watching Scotty come in through the patio door. "You finished making all that racket?"

"Sure am," Scotty said with a smile. "Hi Chris."

"Scotty," Chris said in greeting. "New efficient rating for the heat pump?"

"Absolutely," Scotty agreed. "Humming like brand new."

"It is brand new," Chris said with a laugh.

Scotty shrugged, pouring himself a stiff drink before looking down at Jim. "How long has he been asleep?"

"I'm not asleep," Jim said, his eyes still closed.

Scotty snorted at him, putting the afghan over him before moving to the fireplace to put on extra logs. "You aren't watching the American football game?"

"It was on earlier. But it got boring. The next one's started if you want to turn it back on," Leonard said, handing Scotty the remote. "After dinner. Or tomorrow. Would you check the heater on the pool? I swear it doesn't keep it warm enough."

"Of course I will," Scotty agreed. "Tomorrow first thing."

"Thanks," Leonard said. "Jim, do you need to go to bed?"

"Nope. I'm just fine," Jim assured him. He grumbled when Bones moved to sit on the couch next to him, his palm resting on his forehead. "I'm fine. Stop being a mother hen."

"You feel warm. I'll get the thermometer," Bones said with a frown before disappearing into his suite.

"Do you have a fever?" Chris asked, alternating between watching the football game and Jim.

"No. He gets like this every time I'm hurt," Jim said with a shrug. He automatically opened his mouth to accept the thermometer, understanding the utter futility of refusing. Bones took his pulse as they waited, nodding and removing the thermometer. "Well?"

"It's a degree high. Nothing out of the ordinary when you've been hurt," Bones said. "I'll get you some aspirin."

"Thanks," Jim said, looking over at Chris who was watching him. "He can't help it."

"I know," Chris agreed with an affectionate smile.

Jim accepted the aspirin without complaint, washing it down with his Pepsi.

"Is Nyota coming for dinner?" Pike asked McCoy when he was settled back in his chair.

"Not tonight. She has to attend some gala," Leonard said with a shrug.

"And she didn't drag you along?" Chris laughed.

"Not this time. It's a woman's empowerment thing. Said I didn't qualify."

"Just as well," Chris said in sympathy.

"Yeah. Jim made a sizeable donation," Leonard assured him.

"I did?"

"Yep. Very generous of you," Leonard said, saluting him with his glass.

"I'm very generous. Apparently," Jim said, the others laughing at him.

"You told me to put him on your accounts," Chris reminded him. "You're sorry now, aren't you?"

"God yes. Take him off, okay?" Jim requested.

"Can't. Too late," Chris said with a shrug.

"Some lawyer you are," Jim huffed.

"I am an excellent lawyer," Chris reminded him. "The best in town."

"Yeah but it's a small town," Jim retorted.

"Hmm…when did you become such a smart ass?" Chris asked, barely able to stop from laughing.

"You don't really want him to answer that, do you?" Leonard asked.

"Probably not," Chris agreed, turning to look over at Pavel and Hikaru who were still intently studying Pavel's padd. "So Pavel."

"Yes sir?" Chekov responded right away, looking at Pike with wide eyes.

"Do you want to be certified next week?"

"Really? I can get my credentials?" Pavel asked, all enthusiastic energy.

"I think it's time," Chris said with a nod. "Do you want to go out with Scotty?"

"Absolutely," Pavel agreed with a nod. "Yes sir. What day?"

"Aye'll be going out Tuesday," Scotty told him. "Be back Wednesday."

"Can Hikaru come as vell?" Pavel asked.

"Not this time," Pike said. "I'd send you with Jim but he's out of commission for the next week."

"You don't need to put me on the shelf," Jim protested. "It's just a scratch."

"That needed six stitches," Leonard added.

"It's only for five days, Jim," Pike said, shaking his head. "It's not a complicated job."

"Who's the target?" Sulu asked, feeling a swelling of pride that Chekov was about to make his first kill.

"Xiawoun," Pike said.

"Kingpin of Hong Kong?" Leonard asked. "Isn't he a little big for Pavel's first?"

"The sharks are already circling. We'll be doing him a favor," Pike said.

"Then Karu should come," Pavel said in request.

"I don't speak Chinese, Pav," Sulu reminded him fondly.

"No. But you will be fitting in. Scotty and I. Ve vill be sticking out like the thumb that's sore."

"We don't all look alike," Sulu laughed.

"No," Pavel agreed with a bright smile. "You are much more handsome than anyone else."

"Thanks," Sulu laughed again.

"So back to the assignment," Pike suggested, Sulu and Chekov looking only slightly guilty that they had gotten distracted.

"Yes sir," Pavel said with a nod.

"You're leaving at 13:00?" Pike asked Scotty.

"Aye, that we are. I plan to have us back by 21:00 on Wednesday."

"Da," Pavel said.

"Do you have any finals on Wednesday?" Sulu asked him.

"No, Karu. Monday is only day. Then I am done for the Christmas."

"Already?" Leonard asked. "It's 3 weeks to Christmas."

"Da. Exams last veek. Only one next veek," Pavel explained.

"Three weeks?" Jim asked. "So I still have time to do my shopping?"

"You have never gone Christmas shopping in your entire pathetic life," Bones informed him.

"I most certainly have," Jim retorted. "I give Chris a lovely gift every year."

"You write me a check," Chris corrected with a laugh. "Which I promptly donate to the charity of my choice."

"I get a check too," Hikaru agreed.

"Me too," Scotty piped up.

"Why does he give you one?" Bones asked Scotty.

"Services rendered," Scotty said with a shrug.

"Does he write you a check?" Pike asked Bones with a laugh.

"No. He usually tells me he doesn't believe in Christmas. Too commercial," Bones said.

"Yet he told me to go tomorrow and get a tree," Hikaru laughed.

"I'm right here," Jim said in a lazy, unconcerned voice.

"Go to sleep so we can talk about you in peace," Bones requested. "Are you getting an 8 foot tree?"

"I had planned to. Frasier fir?"

"Good," Leonard agreed. "Can you go to the attic tomorrow and bring down the ornaments? I'd rather not have Jim up there."

"Sure. I'll take care of it," Sulu assured him.

"Come to my office tomorrow after your exam," Pike was saying to Chekov. "I'll get you all the documentation you need. And you can choose your weapon."

"I get to pick?" Chekov said sounding like a child being offered the chance to choose as many puppies to take home as he wanted.

"Certainly," Chris said patiently. "Jim prefers ballistics. Leonard only uses knives if he can help it."

"I can pick a phaser?"

"Of course," Chris agreed with a smile. "And a gun if you want."

"What did you use, sir?" Pavel asked him, barely able to contain his growing excitement.

"I carried a phaser for the most part."

"That was what you used to make your kills?" Pavel asked.

"It would have been. Had I ever actually killed anyone."

Despite what Chris had believed, Pavel's eyes did grow bigger, his excitement more evident at those words. "You never killed?"

"No Pavel. I never killed anyone," Chris said, a small smile threatening to break out. "When I entered, it wasn't a requirement. When that changed, I wasn't required to requalify."

"I vas unaware," Pavel said, staring at Chris.

"I'm capable of it," Chris told Pavel warmly. "But there are enough qualified that I don't have to."

"Of course you can," Pavel agreed, turning to Hikaru who was talking to Leonard and Scotty about whether or not to buy two trees instead of one. "Kaur. Did you know?"

"Yeah, Pasha. It isn't really a secret. Doesn't change who Chris is," Hikaru told him.

"I…I did not know."

"Now you do," Chris said, shaking his head at the younger man and his expression of…well, Chris didn't have a name for the expression on Pavel's face.

"Did you know?" Pavel asked Jim, sitting next to his hip on the couch when Pike joined the conversation about trees, Jim looking up at him in patience and understanding.

"I did. I guess we thought you already knew," Jim said quietly, his right hand on Pavel's knee. "Why are you upset about this?"

"I am not…upset," Pavel said, glancing at the other men who were busy surveying the living room for the perfect spot for the second tree. "I am…surprised."

"Do you think if it came down to it, that he couldn't do it?" Jim asked softly. He knew he had guessed correctly when Pavel looked away from him. "Pav, you know he would. He can. He just doesn't. Doesn't make him any less than he has always been."

"Da. But he tells you to do it. Something he does not do himself."

"Something he hasn't done himself," Jim corrected. "Bones has only five. Scotty probably doesn't have that many. Their talents are elsewhere. Mine is…cleaning up. Pike's is planning."

"Karu?"

"All of it," Jim said fondly. "And running my life. The parts of it Bones and Chris don't control. He's extremely organized and efficient. In everything he does. You'll see when you go out on assignment with him."

"You are one man. How does it take three to make it all vork? Plus your Marjorie?" Pavel asked with his normal innocent smile.

"Because of the complications I can't seem to avoid. If I were just a writer, it'd be easier. But… you know," Jim said with a shrug.

"Da. Vhen do we get to read your latest?"

"There's a copy on my desk if you want to go get it. Are you and Hikaru staying the night?"

"Da. If there is the room," Pavel said, glancing over to make sure Sulu was still in his sight.

"Of course. Scotty will no doubt insist on sleeping on my floor. I don't think Chris is planning to stay."

Pavel nodded again, looking back at Jim. "It does not bother you, right? That Chris never has."

"No Pavel. It doesn't bother me at all. He can. He just hasn't," Jim assured the younger man.

"Da," Pavel said with a nod, standing up and going over to Hikaru who was standing with the others in front of the French doors that led to the passageway to the pool. They were engaged in a friendly argument about whether or not the tree should be placed in the corner between those doors and the bay windows.

Scotty said it would be too easy to knock over. Chris thought it would make a nice balance with the one in the foyer. Leonard thought it was a lot of nonsense to spend so much trying to decide.

"Vhy do you not put it right here?" Pavel asked, standing in the center of the small alcove formed by the bay windows.

"Perfect," Leonard agreed with a nod.

"You have enough decorations for two trees?" Chris asked Leonard.

"We probably have enough for three or four. Jim seems to get a lot of them from his fans. And my patients give them to me," Leonard said with a shrug.

"The ones that survive," Jim called from the couch but they mostly ignored him. Except Bones who made the universal symbol for f*u.

"It's settled then," Hikaru said. "One in the foyer. And one right here. After I get the trees I'll come pick you up and take you to Chris's."

"Da," Chekov agreed, following Sulu into the kitchen to help make the stir fry which could have been done much sooner if not for all the …distractions.