Warning: The scenes that will take place in this story will not be in linear order. Just however they've come to me and I've written them.
Disclaimer: Star Trek does not nor will ever belong to me. I only own Sonja Laxely...and a few drunkards in passing.
A/N: Thank you prettytightkid and SmillyReaper for adding this story to your alerts and favorites list. I hope you'll further enjoy this! And, since I'm American and am enjoying this wonderful day off from work, I'd like to wish anyone and everyone a happy and safe 4th of July!

The First Time

They Argued

"Was he telling the truth?" Sonja huffed as she zipped up her black leather jacket and sped down the dark walkway. The heels of her knee-high boots tapped a loud rhythm on the slick cement causing a rather annoying echo to bounce off of the brick buildings surrounding them.

"Of course not," Jim scoffed while gingerly touching the back of his head with a tentative hand. His slower pace caused him to lag behind his companion a few feet, though she was still able to distinctly hear his hiss in pain as his fingers brushed over a tender cut.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to touch it?" The woman snapped. She came to a halt at a crosswalk and dug her frozen hands into the lukewarm pockets of her jacket. Instantly, she too hissed in pain and whipped her hands back out into the frigid air. The torn skin on her knuckles reddened noticeably from the irritation of brushing fabric.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to put your hands in your pockets?" Jim returned cheekily as he stepped up beside her. He received a nasty scowl in return.

"Why would he lie?"

The man groaned low in his throat as he dropped his head back and rolled his eyes.

"Because he doesn't like the truth!" He had tried to explain it to one person that night, and it had regrettably resulted in an all out bar fight. Was he really going to have to try explaining again?

"Right." Sonja laughed humorlessly. "The truth that you didn't steal his girlfriend, just slept with her."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you sounded a bit jealous."

Fire ignited in her eyes as Sonja roughly shoved the man away from her, causing him to stumble over his own feet and nearly topple over if he hadn't caught himself.

"You not only started a brawl in my favorite bar," The woman growled while pointing an accusatory finger at his face. "You also got me banned for life! For life, Kirk."

"I know, I was there," Jim raised his voice, peeved that she was treating him like some child coming home from a fight in school. "Look, I'm sorry I got you banned, but that guy deserved an ass kicking."

Snorting in bemusement, Sonja stepped onto the painted street fully intent in that moment to leave him behind. "You stole his girlfriend, that's grounds for anyone to be pissed."

Suddenly he was right beside her again, his long legs keeping in step with her. "I didn't steal anyone. Did you see that guy?"

"I had a real clear view when I was standing between the two of you trying to keep your ass from getting pummeled." Sonja snarled, fighting the urge to shove her hands into her pockets yet again.

"Please, like I needed help against him." Jim commented flippantly. "And anyway, the woman was a real babe and a hell of a ride in the sack. No stealing necessary, she's been ready to leave that guy for ages."

"God, man, why can't you control you libido for once?" She spun on the spot to face him, her hands gesticulating wildly. "Or that damn mouth of yours? Not every "babe" has to go for a ride on the…Kirk-master…coaster, or whatever the hell you refer to yourself as. And not every guy wants to be you. Why don't you do the world a favor and grow up already?"

Her eyes lingered on his a moment longer to fully convey just how pissed she was, before she turned back to continue on the path towards the Academy. His azure eyes stormed in contemplation as he watched her continue in her mad pace. Two beats passed and he dashed forward to catch up with her.

"I'm sensing genuine hostility here," He murmured lowly. "Mind telling me what your problem is?"

"No problem, Kirk. I enjoy ending my evenings with a good brawl and banishment from a bar that has amazing music, cheap drinks, and awesome service."

"I said I was sorry." Jim very nearly growled before grabbing her arm and forcing her to stop. "I only ever apologize when I mean it, and even then it's a rare occasion."

Unimpressed, Sonja pulled her arm from his grasp and met his hard gaze with jarring sarcasm.

"Your honesty makes me feel loads better. Now how about you do something with your apology that doesn't make me want to march you back in there and throw your ass back to those drunken wolves."

The sound of shattering glass pulled both of their attentions to a group of swaggering bodies walking on the other side of the street, laughing and singing horribly out of tune while holding on to one another. One of the young men with bright rosy cheeks and drowning in a large thick brown coat waved across the street to Jim and Sonja before grabbing a bottle from his friend's hand and sloppily downing the contents.

Rolling her eyes, Sonja turned back to Jim who continued to watch the group of young drunkards. A shiny mass of dark blood pooled around the wound on his head, seeping through the short strands of his blond hair and slowly making a warm trail down the side of his neck. It almost reached the collar of his black leather jacket.

She could have reached forward to wipe at it, maybe brush a part of the tender skin for good measure. Instead, she punched his chest, restraining only half of her strength. Her eyes widened instantly and she breathed in deeply. It took all of her restraint to keep from crying out in pain. The skin on her knuckles had peeled back further.

Turning to her in surprise, Jim was only able to catch a glimpse of Sonja's pained expression as she turned away from him; one arm cradled in the other; and continued her march down the sidewalk.

"Smooth move." Jim commented dryly.

"Your boyfriend's waiting for you, come on." Sonja snapped over her shoulder.

Leonard had been insistent that Jim get back to his dorm before five o'clock. That way they both could get more than just an hour's worth of sleep.

As she passed another corner and the gates of Starfleet Academy came into sight, Jim joined her side once more. He kept silent however. Sonja could almost hear the many tiny wheels in his head spinning behind his guarded eyes. She decided to focus instead on the torrents of winter air that swept through her jacket and blue jeans, chilling even the crevices between her very bones. Soon, very soon, she would be in her warm pajama pants underneath the stiff white sheets of her bed sleeping off this mad night and all the bruises she'd received from it.

"You're starting to sound like him." Jim spoke suddenly.

Eyes narrowing on the pavement, Sonja licked her lips and caved into her curiosity. "Like who?"

"Bones."

Weighing his response, her lower lip dropped and her eyes lifted to the sky. "I do not."

"'God, man, why can't you control you libido for once,' who says that?" Before she could respond (and she did try-though she didn't get far) he continued without so much as turning to her. "Bones does. You're spending too much time with him. Next thing we know you'll be drinking at ten in the morning and saying all women are evil."

"Bones doesn't drink at ten in the morning."

"But all women are evil?"

They glanced at each other but Sonja quickly shook her head and averted her gaze.