Chris

He didn't know how long they sat there, but the weight against his arm told him that Jamie had drifted off to sleep. Chris looked down at her with a smile, for someone who doesn't feel safe around most people, she felt safe enough to fall asleep on him. She was tough, but he figured she had to be. He couldn't help but be impressed with Jamie. Most people would only see the worst, she had somehow managed to see the good in things.

Watching her, Chris realized that this was probably the first time she's gotten any real sleep in a while and he didn't want to wake her. Knowing that he had to report all the information that she had just given him to the captain, Chris had three options; he could take her back to sickbay, he could let her sleep in his quarters or he could take her to his dad. Making a decision, Chris carefully maneuvered Jamie into his arms and carried her out of engineering, earning sad and worried looks from the crew members he passed.

Charlie

Charlie was a little surprised when Chris showed up at his door with a child in his arms. Once he got a look at her, he realized that she was the girl he had observed in sickbay a few days earlier. "Do I want to know why you're walking around the ship with a teenage girl in your arms, son?"

"She fell asleep on me in engineering and you were the closest. I have to talk to the captain but I don't want her to wake up alone. If I take her back to sickbay I doubt she'll get to sleep for long and she's exhausted." Chris quietly explained. Charlie couldn't help but smile, at twenty-seven years old, Chris looked older and younger in this moment. "Can I let her sleep in here?"

Charlie nodded and pointed to his bed, "She can stay, I'll keep an eye on her." Charlie watched as his son, using a gentleness he'd never seen before, tucked the girl into Charlie's bed. "Anything I should know?" He asked after Chris had the girl settled.

"Her name is Jamie, this whole thing is just the most recent tragedy she's survived, and don't get too close unless she says it's okay. It's a long story." Chris informed his father. As Chris went to leave the room, he turned around and pulled his dad into a hug. Whatever her story was, Charlie could tell that it had gotten to Chris. "Love you, old man."

"Love you too, son." Charlie smiled as he embraced Chris. As they pulled apart, the younger Pike schooled his features back into officer mode and left the room. Charlie looked over at Jamie; he had a feeling that this girl was going to change everything, hell, she already has.

Chris

Sitting in the captain's ready room, Chris wanted to be anywhere else. His captain was mulling over all the information that Chris had just given him, it was everything that Jamie had told him. Chris was actually enjoying the fact that Kamnach looked a little green around the gills. At least the man understood how this was a huge problem.

"We can't let anyone know who she is. The press will never leave her alone. None of those kids will ever have any peace. Maybe we can get the children's information classified, that way they at least have a chance at having a life." The captain finally said. Chris wanted to jump for joy, this was small win but given what's been going on the last few days, Chris will take it. "I'll talk to the brass and get the ball rolling, you keep doing what you're doing. They all seem comfortable around you and Miss Kirk seems to trust you. We can set aside some space to get them out of sickbay since Boyce has cleared all but one of them. Use anyone you think could be of help, even Chief Pike. I know I usually order you to steer clear of each other but I think he could be helpful with the kids. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed." Chris stood at attention for a second and then left the room. He had some work to do.

Jamie

She didn't know where she was. Jamie sat up and looked around. She was in someone's quarters, the room wasn't very big but it was for a single person. Given what she knew about the fleet, Jamie guessed that these were a Chief's quarters.

"You're awake," said a voice she didn't recognize. Chris wouldn't really leave her with some stranger would he? His reaction to her past told her that it was unlikely. She was going to ask who this man was but he beat her to the punch. "I'm Chief Charlie Pike. I'm also Chris' dad." The man said with a smile. Jamie could see it, the similarities in the two men. "He had to see the captain but he didn't want you to wake up alone and sickbay is not exactly the most peaceful place."

Chris served with his dad. Jamie couldn't help but wonder what that was like, she didn't realize that she actually said it until he answered. "It has its moments. We don't really work together, unless it can't be avoided. I'm proud of him, I think he'll make a hell of a captain one day. Getting to see him work is just a bonus."

Jamie nodded, she could see it; Chris as a captain. The man was a born leader, everything about him screamed command. Maybe that's why he made her feel safe. Leaving her with his dad so she wasn't alone was something a leader would do. She had done the same thing with the children, if she wasn't with them Cody was.

"My kids?" she asked quietly.

Charlie smiled, "Getting settled in their new room, Chris converted one of the rec rooms into a dorm for you guys. It has beds, books, toys, and some movies. They even managed some clothes for everyone, don't ask me how. He commed me a few minutes before you woke up, told me that's where he was if you asked. He's reading to the little kids. He said that Tommy has to stay in sickbay but the rest of you were cleared to roam as long as you weren't alone." Noticing the question in her eyes, he continued, "You've been asleep for seven hours. Are you hungry? I know that Doc's restricted diet isn't great, but it's better than nothing, right?"

Jamie smiled and nodded at Charlie as she got out of the bed. Before he could say anything, Jamie had reached over and fixed the sheet and blanket. When she noticed him watching her, she chuckled, "My grandpa was fleet, taught me to make my bed every morning. I miss him."

"Was he on the planet with you?" Charlie asked as they made their way out of his room and headed towards the galley. Playing with the sleeves of the sweatshirt that she had gotten from Chris.

Jamie shook her head, "No, he died right after I turned eight. I'm named after him, his name was James. I'm guessing Chris didn't tell you much about me." She wasn't surprised, Chris probably told the captain but he didn't have much choice since some of it was information he needed to know.

"No, he just told me your name and not to get too close unless you allowed me too." He replied. "He said it was a long story, but I think it's more than that. Whatever you told him, shook him up. I don't think he was expecting you to tell him anything. You're starting to trust him, aren't you?"

If that question had been asked at any other time in her life about anyone but Sam, she would have quickly answered with a negative. This time was different and Jamie had to think about it for a minute, did she trust Chris? She felt safe with him since the second he found her, Chris has been doing everything to make her and the kids feel comfortable and she found that she had opened up with him in a way she never would have before. She had only known the man for a few days but fact that she fell asleep on him answered the question for her.

As they entered the galley, Jamie looked up and smiled, "Yeah, Charlie, I think I'm starting to."

Chris

He shouldn't be having this much fun, but he couldn't help it. Despite all that these kids went through, they still managed to find fun things to do. Right now, they were playing Hide and Seek. The game was a classic but still good, and Chris found himself being included. At the moment, the lights were at ten percent and little Kevin was 'it.' From what Chris could see, Kevin was closing in on his hiding spot. Unfortunately, for Chris, his communicator went off at that moment. He got up from under Tommy's bed and answered it.

"Pike."

"Sir, the captain needs to see you in his ready room. He says to bring Jamie with you." The captain's yeoman, a kid named Rossi, told him.

"Tell him that we're on our way, Pike out." Kevin must have figured that Chris wasn't playing anymore because he went to find someone else. The whole room was full of giggles. Chris smiled, "Jamie, the captain wants to see us." He wasn't surprised when the teenager in question emerged from behind a partition. She kissed Kevin on the head as she walked pass him, shared a look with Cody and Tommy before falling into step with him.

"Wonder what he wants," she stated as they left the room.

Jamie

"It's been brought to my attention that you want to be emancipated, Miss Kirk," the captain said after Jamie and Chris sat down. "Usually, this is handled by legal in whatever region you're from and most teenagers are a little older than you when the paperwork is processed. Since you are essentially an orphan, and your father was... who he was, Starfleet HQ has decided that we could process the request here on the ship, and as CO, I was given the power to make the decision. Given what I know about you and your capability to take care of yourself and others, as well as your birthday being in six weeks, I'm ignoring the fact that you're thirteen. Technically, there is no one to emancipate you from; you have no living family aside from your mother, who gave up her rights to you back in '43. Your aunt and uncle had custody of you, but because of their deaths, you're a ward of the Fed." The captain paused, "At least you were until a few minutes ago." Kanmach handed Jamie a PADD. "Congratulations, you are officially an adult." Jamie read the words on the screen that legalized her as her own guardian. She let out a small chuckle. Cody is going to love this.

"I was always an adult, I was just trapped in a kid's body," she half joked. Jamie didn't let it show but she was relieved, a group home was not on her list of places that she wanted to go. "So what happens now? When we get to earth in two days does that mean I can just go?" It was all too neat. Starfleet was covering up her involvement, she knew that. What she didn't know is what they wanted? Nothing is without cost and Jamie knew that there were some politics at play.

"That's exactly what it means. You've given us all the information that you had and Boyce says you're as healthy as can be expected. When we get back to earth, you are free to go," the captain told her. "I have to admit, I'm going to miss having your group on the ship. Despite what brought you here, I am glad that I got to meet all of you. I hope that I get to see you again someday. See how you all turn out."

This is the nicest thing that Jamie had heard from the captain since she's met him and judging by the look on Chris' face, it's the nicest thing he's heard to. As much as she wanted to believe that he liked having them around, Jamie knew better, he had a reason for liking the fact that the kids were aboard. The man was a good diplomat, she had to give him that much.

"Can I go tell the others? Or do you need something else?" She asked, ready to leave this office.

"You can go, Miss Kirk. Pike, I need to have a word." Jamie glanced at Chris, who offered her a small smile, thanked the captain for his help and made her way out of his ready room.

Chris

"So, what is the real story, sir?" Chris knew politics when he heard it; Kanmach was an idiot if he thought Jamie couldn't spot the maneuver for what it was. "Bad PR if the press figures out that she was there and how she ended up there, right?" Chris knew he was right before his captain even opened his mouth.

"Processing her emancipation ourselves means the brass can make sure that everything, aside from the fact that she is emancipated, is classified. All the details and circumstances are classified, all mention of Tarsus have been wiped from her records. Her information is there, just not where it came from." Chris understood that that the brass was covering everything up, what he didn't understand is why Kanmach didn't tell Jamie as much. He had no doubt that she figured it out herself before she even left the room. He wasn't going to press on the matter now, but he would talk to Jamie about it later.

"Liking the kids on the ship, sir?" Chris was curious as to what his captain really thought. That's one that shocked him, and Jamie, judging by the look that had crossed her features.

"I meant that part, Pike, mostly. Our work didn't suffer and they made everyone smile. Maybe I'm just a softy who misses his kids. As far as seeing where they end up, Miss Kirk in particular, I'm not the only one." Chris had to smile at that. It's easy to forget that many crew members had families somewhere. Before he could say anything, Kanmach continued. "The reason I wanted you to stay is because I have good news for you, as well. You're getting promoted to Commander. Your orders have you reporting to the USS Lake, as CO. Their current commanding officer, Commander Weston retires next month, and you are his chosen replacement. You go on leave after we get to Starbase One and you report to Weston in three weeks. The Lake is a research ship, she's small with only eighty-five crew members but I think you'll get used to the size. Congratulations." Chris wasn't sure what to say. His own ship, he hadn't been expecting that for a few more years.

"Thank you, sir," was all Chris could say, he was shocked.

"It was all you, Christopher. I just gave HQ my honest opinion. You're a good officer and I have no doubt that you'll do just fine. Now, get out of my ready room and go tell your father, that's an order." Chris didn't need to be told twice, he left the room in search for Charlie.