Chapter 2

"Well..." Caroline started. "There is nothing to tell."

James swallowed the beer quickly, shaking his head. "Impossible, there is never nothing to tell. For example I was born in space, my mother spent all her time off planet and I have an impressive criminal record and a genius IQ. So there has to be something."

Caroline smiled as she grabbed the beer from James and took a swig. "Fine, I was accepted into the Starfleet Academy at the age of 16 but never went, I was raised her by my grandparents, I was an athlete in high school, I have never been to space but I dream of travelling the stars and I am going to the Starfleet Academy in about 6 hours."

James smiled taking his beer back. "There I already know you better. So how long have you worked here?"

Caroline hopped up on to the counter. "Nearly 9 years. It's an alright job just not what I want to do forever."

"9 years? That's a long time, how old are you?" James asked. "I'm 25."

"A lady never reveals her age. But I'm 25 if you must know, I've worked here since I was 16." Caroline answered.

James shook his head laughing. "So you don't follow the rules I like that. I'm not one for rules either. Did you see the Starfleet guy?" Caroline nodded without speaking letting James continue. "He just offered me a place in the Starfleet Academy that is signing up for a lifetime of rules and regulations. I don't think I could handle that."

Caroline shook her head. "I don't like to look at them as rules and regulations, more recommendations and guidance. I think for a guy like you, from my limited knowledge, living a life here on Earth would be hell. Knowing that the proper adventures are out there but consigning yourself to a small town job not worthy of you, it would kill you. I know it's killing me,"

James smiled, the cuts on his lips stretching enough for small drops of blood to appear underneath his skin. "Recommendations huh? Sounds better than rules. I think you might be right but packing up and going now, isn't it a bit quick?"

"Life moves at the speed you let it, is what my gran says. I have spent 9 years on a serious go slow and it took 8 of them to work out being down here is destroying my soul. I let an opportunity pass once, I can't make that same mistake again. So James what for you is the bigger mistake going and taking the chance or staying and never getting another one?"

Caroline hopped off the counter and walked away from James as he sat thinking about her question. Caroline rearranged the chairs and tables that had been knocked over in the fight and gave the bar a quick clean before walking back over to James, who had helped himself to another beer.

"Worked out your answer yet?" Caroline smiled as she sat down next to James, who stared at her with those sparkling blue eyes.

James nodded. "I'm bored here. My life on Earth has been nothing compared to what it could be anywhere else. My life began in space; I could make a life there. Travelling and exploring, having fun. Does your gran have any other advice to convince me?"

Caroline shook her head "No but my dad does. You either live life – bruises, skinned knees and all – or you turn your back on it and start dying. I grew up hearing that. I only recently realised that it makes perfect sense."

James laughed. "Does your family run a fortune cookie factory?" He smiled flashing Caroline a perfect smile.

"Nope, my gran was a Starfleet professor and my dad works for Starfleet like his dad I never knew my mum. What about your family?" Caroline asked.

James winced, his usual reaction to talking about his family. "My mum also worked for Starfleet, she was a science officer but is now an off-world ambassador. I lived with her husband while she worked, he was a complete ass. I never knew my dad; he died the day I was born. I was born on the USS Kelvin, the lightning storm in space."

Caroline sighed. "I'm sorry. My grandda told me about that. I wouldn't have asked if I knew." She smiled apologetically.

James shook his head. "I asked first and I'm sorry about your mum, what happened?"

"I wish I knew, no one ever told me." Caroline answered looking away from James placing her hands on the counter.

James put his hand on top of Caroline's. She stared at their hands, still not speaking.

"I at least got to live with the fact that my dad was a hero. I hate living in his shadow. I will help you find out what happened to your mum one day." James said speaking quietly even though no one else was there.

Caroline turned and looked at James nodding slowly as a small smile grew on her lips. "Thanks." Caroline looks up at the clock on the wall which reads 04:38. "Twenty more minutes and I'm heading away from here. Have you made your final decision, James do you stay or do you come with me?"

"Give me 20 more minutes to decide." James laughed. "I think I know what I'm doing. I'm going to enjoy these 18 minutes left and then I'm going home."

Caroline nodded, upset as the front door to the bar opened.

"Tina, sorry I'm slightly early, the wife woke me up." A male voice said from the door. "I'm sorry I didn't realise you weren't alone and not Tina. Aren't you heading for the shuttle?"

James and Caroline both turned to face the man who stood in the door way.

"Hey Frank. Starfleet cadets caused a fight and this guy was on the end of it, so I offered to clean him up and we have been talking for the rest of the night. I am but I'm just going to go from here all my stuff was sent a few days ago to my gran's place. I'm going to drop James off first though." Caroline stood from her seat and James followed her. "I am not going to miss this place. Bye Frank" Caroline walks out of the bar James just behind her.

"Were you serious about the lift?" James asked pointing away from the bar.

Caroline nodded as she opened her car door, James opening the passenger door on the other side of the car. The pair drove in silence until they reached the address that James had given when they got in the car.

"Thanks for everything Caroline. I'll see you around at some point." James said, breaking the silence as the car pulled to a stop.

Caroline turned to face him. "I hope you find your adventure James. I really do."

James opened the car door and went to leave the car. "Enjoy the stars Caroline." James said before leaning over and kissing her cheek lightly, then leaving the car quickly the dashboard clock reading 05:24.

Caroline drove to her grandparent's house, a five minute walk away from the shuttle station, the drive took nearly 20 minutes and a few broken speed restrictions. Caroline left the keys in the mailbox as she had agreed to do when she left the house hours earlier and all out ran the shuttle. The run took 2 minutes and Caroline arrived at the shuttle station to see the same officer from last night waiting outside the door greeting cadets going on to the shuttle. Caroline took a deep breath not wanting to see the man and walked forward no sign of James in the area.

"Commander" Caroline said not looking up.

The officer looked shocked seeing the woman in front of him. "Care-bear I didn't see your name on the list."

"It is under Caroline Jackson." Caroline replied looking down.

The commander looked surprised as Caroline walked past on to the ship, looking for James although knowing he wasn't coming. She found an empty seat next to a man looking slightly worse for wear, as she sat down she noticed a few of the cadets who took part in the fight last night.

"I hate space." The man next to her said. Caroline turned to look at him.

"Then I think you are in the wrong place." She said a smile on her face.

"Do you know how many ways there is to die in space?" The man answered still looking a bit sickly.

"Millions but there is equally as many on Earth. 42% of accidental deaths take place in a person's own home." Caroline stated looking at the man as a smile grew on his face.

"Leonard McCoy. Medical." Leonard stated offering Caroline his hand, which she accepted.

"Caroline Jackson. Command." They nodded at each other as a man sat on the other side of Leonard and he turned back on his I hate space routine.

"I might throw up on you." Leonard stated to the newcomer.

"I think these things are pretty safe-" A familiar voice replied. Caroline leaned forward in her seat.

"Don't pander to me, kid: one tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds - solar flare might crop up, cook us in our seats - Hell, some of the damn passengers are blue. And when you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles, see if you're still so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding- space is disease and danger, wrapped in darkness and silence." Leonard stated as James smiled and Caroline stiffened a giggle.

"I hate to break this to you, but Starfleet operates in space." James replied a smile on his lips

"Yeah, well my ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce, all I got left is my bones. Leonard McCoy." Leonard answered offering James a flask.

"Jim Kirk- you really gonna throw up...?" James asked taking the flask.

"Maybe- this is ..." Leonard sat back pointing to Caroline.

"Miss Caroline, surprised to see me?" James asked raising his eyebrows.

"Yes what are you doing here?" Caroline asked imagining what convinced him to come.

James smiled reaching across Leonard taking Caroline's hand. "Finding my adventure."

Author's Note: Hello please read and review I want to know what you all think. I also want to say thank you to my reviewer Emerald Monkey for my first chapter. Also RIP to the great Leonard Nimoy. Live long and prosper.