A/N: Please let me know what you think! Review!
Remember I don't own anything except Sophie and Pikes family!
Year 2- continued
"Is Sophie here yet?" Jim asked nervously.
"She said she wasn't coming, had to much to do or something." Andrea replied her back turned to him as she continued with dinner.
"Oh." Jim replied somewhat defeated.
"Anything you particularly want for dinner dear?"
"Oh no. Whatever's fine." He said going to sit down in the living room with Nick, Brad, Lena and Chris who were all talking.
The Pike's had invited him and Sophie over for dinner and to spend the night but Sophie and him were still not talking. It had been 3 months now and it was slowly killing him. He had tried to apologize, tried to talk to her but every time he got rejected with nothing more than a cold glare or hello Kirk. Now Jim found himself sitting on the couch next to the boys who were home for a few days by request and he didn't know what to do. He wasn't in the mood for talking so he sat there playing with her necklace that he had kept with him all the time not wanting to give up hope.
"Excuse me." Jim said quickly getting up and pulling his comm out, stepping out in the hallway to make a call.
"Hey Sophie." Jim said softly once he realized she wasn't going to answer him, leaving him to leave a message. "I…I know you don't want to talk to me but I miss you Soph. God I miss you. I'm at the Pike's and I…I just I need you. I don't think I can handle it tonight without you. Please just call me back or message me, anything." Jim continued leaning against the wall pleading into his comm. "I miss you. I'll um…try later. I…I love you P." he finished quietly before hanging up.
Standing there in the hallway alone on that night scared him. He had never dealt with it himself and knew she hadn't either. He could only hope she would call him back and soon before he went crazy. Dinner went smoothly as always and the Pike's plus Jim were all in the living room talking and laughing when someone rang the doorbell.
"I'll get it." Nick said getting up and going to see who it was, only to find Sophie standing there.
"Hi." Sophie said softly.
"Sophie." Nick replied hugging her tightly. "How are you?"
"I'm ok. I…Jim left me a message."
Nick nodded and let he inside. "He's in the living room. You want me to get him or you want to go in there first?"
"Can you get him? Then I'll come in."
"Sure thing." Nick replied going into the living room and getting Jim.
"We need to talk." Sophie said quietly when Jim came into the hallway.
"I know." Jim replied walking towards her before she stopped him.
"Listen to me first." She started staring at him. "I didn't come here to make up with you. I got your message and I realized I didn't want to me alone tonight either, so here I am. We will sleep in the same room but I won't sleep in the same bed as you like we usually do. Got it?"
Jim nodded his heart deflating as he thought he had a chance again. "Ok." He said quietly watching her before he realized something. "Why don't you just spend the night with your boyfriend?"
"Because we broke up a month ago." She told him.
"A month?" Jim said not believing her. "A month and you still didn't talk to me?"
"Steve was never the problem." She told him firmly. "You screwed that up all by yourself. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go say hi to everyone."
He watched her leave let out a frustrated sigh before following her in. That night Jim and Sophie were given the spare room that consisted of two twin beds, each for one of them. Neither had spoken to each other as they got ready for bed and crawled in.
"Goodnight Sophie." Jim told her from his position in bed.
Minutes went by and Jim waited to see if Sophie would reply, he knew she wasn't asleep but still she said nothing until, "Goodnight Jim."
Jim smiled slightly and turned over to go sleep while Sophie lied there in the dark with tears pouring down her cheeks silently. She missed him, missed him so much but she couldn't get over what he said to her. Sighing she found herself thinking about Jim before she fell into a nightmare filled night.
Sophie woke up with a start a few hours later to Jim who was tossing and turning in his bed. She quickly got out of bed, forgetting they weren't talking and went to him and sat on the edge of the bed. She gently shook him calling his name, holding him tight before he woke up. Jim opened his eyes and realized Sophie was holding him, whispering soothing words to him. It was then that he it dawned on him that she was holding him.
"Let go Sophie." Jim said somewhat angrily as he woke up.
"What?" Sophie replied looking down at him.
"Let. Go." He told her again. "Please let go of me."
"Jim I…just tell me what it was about." Sophie said softly letting go of him like he asked.
"Why would you want to know?" Jim demanded looking at her. "I've been having them for 2 months and now you care that I have nightmares? Just leave me alone."
Sophie stared at Jim in shock, before nodding her head and slowly getting up and slipping back into her bed turning away from him letting the tears fall once again. Minutes went by, as the two lay there silent in the dark as Jim tried to slow his heart down.
"You. The dream was about you." Jim started quietly after several minutes went by. "Has been for the past 2 months. Only this time we weren't on that planet. Some of them are, but not tonight. Tonight…you were in trouble and I couldn't get to you in time because we weren't talking and…I couldn't save you."
Sophie sucked in her breath as Jim continued to talk to her back, which faced him. He had finally sat up and was staring at her hoping, wishing she would turn around and look at him.
"I'm sorry Sophie for everything. I shouldn't have said those things to you. I have no excuse for it and I'm sorry, yes maybe I was little jealous, maybe I didn't want to share you I don't know. All I know is I miss you." Jim told her softly. "God I miss you. I can't…these past 3 months without you have been horrible, I hardly slept, I never went out or did anything else Bones dragged me too. I miss my best friend Sophie, I miss talking to you, snuggling with you and just seeing you. When you took the necklace I gave you off I thought…I thought that was it. That our friendship was finally over and you were going to leave me like everyone else did in my life and…I can't handle that. You know I don't make friends easy and I probably won't and…" Jim whispered his voice breaking.
Jim sighed and slowly got up from the bed and headed towards the door before turning around one last time. "I kept it, the necklace. It's in my jean's pocket. I didn't think I could throw it away without hoping you would talk to me again. I'm sorry I ruined everything, just know that…that I love you Sophie. No matter what." Jim finished quietly taking a deep long shaky breath and leaving the room.
Hearing the door close Sophie turned over and saw he was gone. She waited a few seconds before getting out bed and going over to Jim's clothes. She found his jeans and dug through them somewhat frantically before she found her necklace and let out a sob as she realized he had kept it with him. Sophie gripped the necklace tightly and rushed out the door quietly not caring she was only in her short shorts and tank top. Quietly walking downstairs she found Jim in the kitchen with his back to her leaning over the sink looking out the window. As silently as she could Sophie walked up behind him and wrapped an arm around him, holding the necklace in front of him in the other.
Startled by the touch Jim turned around to face Sophie looking down at the necklace in her hand back to her face, waiting for a sign. Sophie gently place the necklace in his hand and turned around swiping her hair to one side.
"Help me?" she asked quietly waiting for him to put it on her.
She heard Jim exhale slowly before feeling him putting the necklace back around her neck where it belonged. He finished clasping the necklace on before he wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind pulling her flat against his chest while he nuzzled her hair with his nose, breathing in deeply. Sophie turned in his arms and pressed herself into him wrapping her arms around his waist holding onto the back of his shirt while she pressed her face into his chest.
"Sh-h." Jim said quietly stroking her hair, his face still next to her neck and ear.
"I've missed you." She said into his shirt.
"I've missed you too." He answered softly smiling, knowing they were going to be ok.
Year 3
Sophie found herself walking across the Starfleet campus humming to herself thinking that in just month she will graduate from Starfleet and become a full officer.
"Jim! Leo!" Sophie yelled as she approached them. "Guess what!"
"What?" Bones asked her rolling his eyes as she jumped into Jim's arms.
"I just got done meeting with Chris, I mean Pike and guess what!"
"You were meeting with Pike? Why?" said Jim releasing her.
"He wants me on the Enterprise when I graduate next month! He said I have a spot on the bridge and he wants me there!" said Sophie barely containing her excitement.
"WHAT!" they both exclaimed.
"That's fantastic!" Jim told her swiping her up into another hug.
"That's amazing Sophie!" Bones stated her giving her a hug as well.
"I know! I just…I can't believe it! I'll be an officer on the Enterprise!" She told them bouncing up and down.
"I'm proud of you Soph." Jim said, "But I got to go study."
"Study? For what?" Sophie asked looking at him. "Wait…Jim are you serious? Tell me you aren't taking the Kobayashi Maru test again!"
"It doesn't bother you that no one's ever passed the test?" Jim asked the two of them.
"Jim it's the Kobayashi Maru. No one ever passes the test and no one goes back for seconds, let alone thirds." Said Bones.
"I gotta study. Congrats Soph." Jim replied kissing Sophie's forehead. "I want you both there!"
"Study my ass." Bones muttered as they watched Jim walk away.
"He's going to see Gaila isn't he?" Sophie asked sighing.
"Yeah."
"I probably should just forget it shouldn't I?"
"He care's about you, know matter what you think. He cares trust me." Bones told her.
"Thanks Leo." She replied quietly.
"Come on let's go eat something." Bones told her putting an arm around her shoulder.
The Trial
Two days later Sophie found herself seated in between Bones and Jim in the great auditorium along with the rest of the Starfleet cadets.
"This session has been called to resolve a troubling matter." Stated Admiral Richard Barnett to the audience. "James T. Kirk please step forward."
Jim hesitated in his seat before he felt Sophie squeeze his hand; he squeezed back and slowly got up glancing at Bones before going down to stand trial.
"Cadet Kirk, evidence has been submitted to this council suggesting that you violated the ethical code of conduct according to regulation 1743 of Starfleet." Admiral Barnett told him. "Do you have anything to say before we begin?"
"Yes. I believe I have the right to face my accuser directly." Jim replied.
The Admiral looked at Jim before finding the accuser in the audience and nodding to him to rise. The accuser stood up and Sophie changed a quick look with Bones noticing he was Vulcan.
"Step forward please." The Admiral said. "This is Commander Spock. He's one of our most distinguished graduates. He's programmed the Kobayashi Maru exam for the last four years. Commander."
"Cadet Kirk, you some how managed to install a sum-routine in the programming code therefore changing the conditions of the test." Commander Spock stated.
"Your point being?" Jim asked causing Sophie to sigh.
"An academic facular, you cheated." Said the Admiral.
"Let me ask you something, I think we all know the answer to." Jim said after a few seconds. "The test itself is a cheat is not? I mean you programmed it to unwinnable."
"Your argument precludes a no-win scenario." Spock replied.
"I don't believe in no-win scenarios." Jim stated looking forward.
"Therefore did you not only violate the rules but you also failed to understand the principle lesson."
"Please enlighten me." Jim asked.
"You of all people should know Cadet Kirk, a captain can not cheat death." Spock said with almost an air of arrogance.
Jim stared at Spock hard before looking down, "I of all people."
"On no." Sophie said quietly exchanging glances with Bones. She knew how Jim felt when ever someone talked about his father and what had happened and knew it wouldn't end well. He told her once that the only one who he could talk about it with was her because he knew she wouldn't judge him, she knew what it was like to lose a parent.
"Your father, Lieutenant George Kirk assumed command of his vessel before being killed in action did he not?"
"Leave him out of this." Jim replied firmly. "My father and what he did has nothing to do with this."
"And yet it is the perfect example of…"
"Leave my father out of this!" Jim hissed getting angry. "You have no right to talk to about it, none of you do."
"James." Sophie said firmly from the audience, after getting a nod from Pike to interfere in order to prevent Jim from saying something he would regret later. "Deep breath."
Jim turned to find Sophie looking at him with pleading eyes, and he sighed nodding his head at her. He took a deep breath before turning back around.
"Now that I think about it, I don't think you like the fact that I beat your test." Jim said after recomposing himself.
"Further more you have failed to comprehend the purpose of the test."
"Enlighten me again." Jim said with a slight edge to his voice.
"The purpose is to experience fear. Fear in the face of certain death. To accept that fear and to maintain control of ones self and ones crew. This is a quality except in every Starfleet captain." Spock finished.
Jim didn't have a reply ready for that as he let the words sink in. He looked down at his hands and took a few breaths. He knew that the resolves of this weren't going to be good and could feel he was going to disappoint her again, Sophie. He wanted to prove to her he was something more than just some kid who was reckless and juvenile but this, it was embarrassing enough to do it in front of the entire Starfleet, with out having Sophie there call him out when he got angry over his father.
Just then a cadet came walking in a handed Admiral Barnett a PADD before walking away. The Admiral glanced at the PADD before looking up to address the rest of them.
"We've received a distress call from Vulcan. With our primary fleet engaged in the Uthayan System. I hear by order all cadets to Hanger 1 immediately. Dismissed." The Admiral ordered before getting up and leaving.
All the cadets instantly got up and started to exit the auditorium heading to Hanger 1. Sophie stood up and walked slowly down to the floor with Bones to see Jim who was still standing there looking at Spock who was leaving.
"Jim?" Sophie asked coming to stand next to him placing a hand on his arm.
"Who was that pointy ear bastard?" Jim asked looking down at Sophie before looking back to where Spock was.
"I don't know, but I like him." Bones said with a slight smirk before going to leave.
"Leo!" Sophie gasped. Jim glared at Bones before feeling Sophie grab his hand and follow Bones out.
"Cadet Pace." Captain Pike called approaching the three of them.
"Yes sir?" Sophie replied stopping.
"I know you still have not graduated but given the circumstances I would still like you to report to the USS Enterprise for duty as our tactical officer on the bridge. Lieutenant Pace." Pike replied smiling.
"I – Yes sir." Sophie said smiling at him.
"Congrats Sophie." Pike replied hugging her quickly before turning to Jim and Bones. "Hang in here Jim alright? Everything will work out."
"Yes sir." Jim responded nodding.
"Good. Get changed and report for duty then Lieutenant." He said, "Gentlemen good luck."
They watched as he walked away before Sophie turned to Bones and Jim and grinned.
"Come on!" Sophie exclaimed taking their hands and dragging them to Hanger 1 so Bones and Jim could see where they were assigned.
Arriving at the Hanger, Sophie pushed the two to go get assigned while she changed into her new uniform. After changing into her new uniform, Sophie came back into the hanger to find Jim walking over to a man who was in charge of reading the assignments with Bones right behind him. She sighed catching the tail end of Jim's comment to him.
"…Didn't call my name. Kirk. James T." Jim told him while Sophie came to stand with Bones.
"Kirk you're on academic suspension, that means you're grounded until the academy board rules." The man stated before walking away, leaving Jim with Sophie and Bones.
"Jim?" Sophie said tentatively. "I…"
"It's ok Soph," he said quietly not looking her in the eye.
"Jim the board will rule in your favor, most likely" Bones told. "Listen Jim, we gotta go."
"Yeah. You both go. Be safe." Jim said turning around to face them both and shaking Bone's hand. Bones nodded shaking his hand back before walking away.
"Jim." Sophie started but he cut her off.
"Go Sophie. I'm fine."
"But Jim…"
Jim drew her into a hug, "I'm proud of you Soph. Now go kick some ass alright?"
"Ok." She replied muffled from her face in his chest.
"And I'm sorry." He mumbled letting her go.
"For what?" she asked confused.
"For…for disappointing you again." He said softly, but cut her off again before she could reply. "Don't Soph. Just go, you're gonna be late."
"I love you J." She said softly.
"Love you too P. Now go."
Sophie nodded and walked away towards Bones who stood a few feet away.
"See you up there Leo." She said softly before heading to her shuttle.