Empire Chapter 2

by Starsinger

I appreciate all the reviews, and especially the blatantly honest ones, you know who you are. I'm currently bubble wrapping (my version of brainstorming, looks kinda like connect the dots) the first chapter in the expansion of this story. I also finished doing that with the next chapter of Deneva. It's going to be a little sad, McCoy and Kirk reminiscing on their lives when they were married. But, back to the matter at hand. I'm finishing this chapter, and going on to the next chapter of Deneva, and then, just maybe, going to bed. Amazing what happens when you're tossed out of your apartment for four hours after you just got home from work and find yourself at the Braum's around the corner. Not fair that there's a Braum's around the corner and a Sonic down the street. Don't get me started on what's near work, that starts with a Whataburger. Like him too much. I'm rambling, sorry, don't own them.

It took four days for Kirk to decide whether or not he was going to live, and the answer was a definite yes. Meanwhile, Azetbur had managed to get it into her head that Kirk wasn't going to survive. Her own physician vehemently proclaimed that no one survived the hit he had taken. Except that where Jim's lung was, was where the secondary heart valve for a Klingon's main heart was located, if it had been a Klingon, despite all the redundancies in their bodies, they would have died, instantly. A fact that did not escape the Chancellor. So she set a Klingon honor guard over the prone Captain to scream his name in hopes of his entry into Sto'Vo'Kor. McCoy was concerned that so many Klingons surrounding him would scare Jim to death when he awoke.

A week after Jim got hurt, he sat Azetbur down and talked to her, "Ma'am, we appreciate the honor you're according the Captain, but Jim isn't going to die."

"You don't need to lie to me, Doctor, my own physician has told me that this type of injury is fatal," she told him.

"In Klingons, perhaps, but I got him into surgery fast enough that he should wake up any minute now. I'm afraid he went into this thinking he was under a death penalty, and he's going to wake up thinking that they're there to kill him," McCoy finished.

"If he's not going to die, why hasn't he woken up?" she asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he's catching up on his beauty sleep. He hasn't been able to do that since the war started," he said with a laugh. Azetbur tilted her head in confusion, the English idiom going completely over her head. McCoy sighed before his board lit up, Jim's heart rate and blood pressure went way up, he was probably awake and staring at four Klingons. McCoy rushed from his office to the only occupied biobed in the ICU, Azetbur right behind him. Jim was frantically waving his hands at the men surrounding his bed while peering around for someone familiar. "Jim! Jim, calm down, it's alright, you're on the Enterprise," Jim told him, catching his hands to try and calm him down. "These men are acting as your bodyguards." Kirk looked at him like he was crazy. He was unable to communicate with a tube stuck down his throat and Bones knew he had to feel very vulnerable at this point.

"He is right, Captain," Azetbur said smoothly stepping in. Can't have the newest hero of the Klingon Empire assassinated before we give him another medal," she was very smooth. McCoy suddenly realized how she became Chancellor. Kirk gave them both a puzzled look, "You saved my life, Kirk, a medal is the least I can do. You, and your crew now enjoy the same privileges as the USS Joshua and the USS Gagarin. You are welcome in Klingon space any time. I'm sure they'll show you the way it should be done, so you don't get shot down."

Kirk waved at his mouth and then made writing motions, McCoy took that as a hint and grabbed a PADD. Kirk started typing, What's the damage?

McCoy knew he was referring to himself, "You're battered, bruised, the vent is allowing your left lung to heal. I'm sorry, Jim, it's going to be another one, maybe two weeks before you're off the vent. Admiral Komack has ordered us back to Earth, Starfleet, apparently, wants to reassure themselves that you're going to be okay."

Damn Admirals, Kirk wrote, Can't even let me recover in peace.

"Jim, I'm not sure they would have let you die in peace. I saw the plans they had drawn up for your state funeral before they realized I had a way of bringing you back. They only had ten minutes to come up with it."

Admiral Archer, I bet, sly old bastard, he'd been planning it since I joined, I'd bet. Can't ask him now.

Archer had died before the war started. Barnett had taken over his job, and was doing an excellent job. "Someone's on their way here to assess the situation themselves. Don't know who, though." McCoy glanced at Azetbur, "Can you get them to move outside the ICU. I just don't want him under much stress. He might calm down if he can't see your friends." She nodded and barked orders at the bodyguards.

"I'm returning to Khitomer soon, Captain. I plan on seeing you on Earth for the signing," she said with a nod before exiting the room.

Signing? Kirk asked.

"Yeah, after your heroics, they managed to hammer out a peace treaty and an alliance of sorts. I'm sure the Romulans are going to be so thrilled about that." Bones turned to the swoosh of the doors as they opened to admit someone else into the room. "Well, I'll be damned. When did they let you out?" McCoy asked the figure now coming into Sickbay.

Yes, a mild cliffhangar. Not a biggie, but one nonetheless, and my body is screaming for sleep. Good night everyone.