The rest of the semester passed in relative normality. Classes, lunch meetings, and study sessions filled a lot of their time. And for the most part, Jim stayed out of trouble. She finished the semester at the top of her cadet class in Federation History I, Basic Engineering, and Intro to Command; she came second in hand to hand, but that was probably because the instructor was a chauvinist pig.

Jim managed to get into only a few more fights, and like the first time, Bones was there to fix her up. He'd grumble about "damned foolishness" and wondered why she couldn't pick fights with people her own size. She'd shut him up with a laugh and a pointed look that clearly said "Where's the fun in that".

And she'd finally realized that, although it was an impossible idea, she was more and more attracted to him. It was different than the guys at the bars she went to. With them, she (and they, let's be honest) only wanted a night with no attachments. She enjoyed the domesticity she had with Bones, however. Jim brought him coffee during his massive study sessions during finals. They had pizza for dinner on Saturdays when he didn't have a shift at the clinic, and they'd watch old movies, and just… hang. It was nice.

In December, when the semester ended, all cadets received free transport credits to travel home for the holidays. They hadn't discussed plans, but Jim was definitely staying in the dorms. It wasn't as if she had any other place to go, and she'd assumed it'd be the same for McCoy as well. Up until she came home to find him packing.

"Where are you headed?" she asked.

"Home. Jocelyn graciously granted me a week with Joanna while she and Clyde travel to New York to visit his parents."

She sat on her bed and watched him stuff a duffle with the few civilian clothes he had along with PADDs. Homework, of course. "I thought she was barely letting you talk to Joanna on comm, let alone see her."

"I'm guessing she's out of babysitting options. Clyde's parents don't approve of her or Joanna," he said, preoccupied. "What are your plans?"

She picked at the comforter on her bed and forced a grin. "Oh, you know. I think I'm going to stick around San Fran, see what the city has to offer."

Bones stopped packing and looked at her. "Aww, shit, Jim. I forgot, I'm sorry."

"It's cool, Bones, really. Tell Joanna hi for me."

McCoy ran a head over his head. "Well, you could come down to visit for a couple of days. If you want, that is. Joanna told me she wanted to meet my idiot roommate in her last letter."

Jim laughed. "Idiot? Thanks for building me up, Bones. I might take you up on that. If I can fit it into my busy schedule, that is." She played it off, but really was relieved that McCoy would let her within a hundred yards of his daughter. She knew that her antics must leave her very low in the role model category.

Bones left for his shuttle fifteen minutes later, and the silence in the room was oppressive to Jim. She set about cleaning the room, the old fashioned way, scrubbing the bathroom and hand washing dishes. She read a book or three. Paced around the room. The next morning she booked a shuttle ride to Atlanta and sent McCoy a comm saying she would in fact be taking him up on his offer.

Jim's shuttle landed in Atlanta in the late afternoon two days later. She spent the ride bouncing with nervousness and hoping he hadn't been offering just to be nice. She did not want to be an imposition. Jim stepped off the shuttle and let her eyes adjust to the bright Southern sky. She picked up her bag and made her way to the public transport that would take her to her hotel.

She was stopped, though, when a small body launched itself at her legs, effectively immobilizing her.

"Joanna! Get back here, you crazy thing. Let the woman walk, for God's sake," a gruff voice called above the crowd. Jim looked down and saw that the body was that of a six year old girl with long dark hair and hazel eyes.

"Hello there. I'm sorry to ask, but could you help me?" Jim asked the girl, unwrapping her legs from her. The girl said nothing in reply, grinning. Jim bent to meet her eyes. "I am looking for a grumpy old man. Really tall, broad shoulders, a permanent frowny face? Have you seen him?"

Joanna giggled. "Daddy's not grumpy, he just worries a whole lot."

"Oh. My mistake. But you have seen him then?" She stood up and held her hand out. "Lead on, McCoy."

Joanna pulled Jim through the crowd towards her father. She watched as McCoy's shoulders loosened as his daughter came fully back into sight. Jim grinned brightly at him, and said, "You didn't have to come for me."

"I told you I always would. 'Sides, how'd you know how to get to our place?"

"I was going to get settled into my hotel and then comm you."

Joanna gasped. "No, Daddy! She's gotta come stay with us! Gramma won't like her stayin' somewhere else."

Bones sighed, and looked at his daughter. "It's not my decision, darlin'. You need to ask Jim. Maybe she doesn't want to stay at Gramma's."

Joanna looked pleadingly at Jim. "Pretty please, Ms Jim? Gramma's got a room all fixed up and everything!" She crooked her finger at Jim and looked left and right. Jim bent down towards her. "She even made peach cobbler, but don't tell Daddy. It's a surprise!" she whispered conspiratorially.

Jim bent back up, turning her attention to McCoy. "I'm being bribed. It's up to you, you're the host, Bones."

He took her bag, grabbed Joanna's hand, and began walking towards the parking lot. "Guess you'll have to cancel your reservations, kid."