When the two reached their room, Jim headed straight for the couch and McCoy grabbed the bottle of whiskey and two glasses. He kicked off his shoes and sat beside her. "Now. You gonna tell me what that was all about?"

"Better make mine a double."

He loosened his tie. "That bad, huh?" Bones poured the drinks and handed a glass to his friend. Jim downed it and handed it back. He raised an eyebrow, but refilled the glass.

She took the drink and stared at it. They sat in silence for a long while until Jim was ready. "It's no secret who my dad is… was... how ever you want to say it. But that's beside the point." She took a sip. "Anyway, the admiral taught a class on Starfleet command history I had to take the first two semesters. There was a huge focus on the 'no-win scenario' Kelvin situation. Two weeks tearing apart everything that the Captain and my father did wrong, in his 'humble opinion'. Two weeks, Bones!" She stood up and began to pace. "He would single me out in class, ask me how I would have handled the situation. How the fuck should I know?! It's not like I was a first year cadet or anything!"

Bones watched in silence. Jim paced for a moment longer then collapsed on the couch again. "I got tired of it, so I set a meeting with him after I spoke with Pike about what's going on. I went to his office, and he tried… he came…"

McCoy put an arm around Jim's shoulders. "Take your time."

She grabbed her glass and downed it. "He came on to me. Strongly."

"Oh. Oh!"

"I'm not the same girl I was when I enlisted, Bones. I'm not. People like to use it as an excuse to hate me. Whatever. Screw 'em. But he forced me against the wall in his office. And when I shoved him away, he basically told me he knew what was going on between Pike and myself and if there was anything I wanted to change about my grade or participation in class, I knew what to do."

McCoy felt something in him snap, and he growled with a disturbing fury. "That bastard." He bent down and reached for his shoes.

"No! Bones, no. It's fine. Really. I never went back to his office and sat in the back of the class for the rest of the semester. I've avoided taking any of his classes. It's fine."

McCoy's jaw dropped. "F-fine? It's fine? THE HELL IT IS! Jim, this man tried to assault you, and you think that because you don't have to take his class, it's fine?" he roared. "He still terrifies you, Jim!"

Jim's eyes pleaded for him to drop the subject. "Ok. Ok!" He leaned back against the couch with a sigh. "I won't do anything." Jim sighed in relief. "Yet. I won't do anything yet. But I want you to talk to Pike about this."

"What do you think I did, Bones? Just sat around and let this happen? I did speak to Pike. He went through all the channels. Lot of good that did." Her eyes began to water.

McCoy pulled her close to him. He quietly stroked her hair as she released three years of tension into massive sobs. He murmured nonsense noises. He had lost track of time by the time she stopped crying. "Jim?" he whispered. No response. "Jim?" A snore. Bones chuckled. "Of course you're sleeping. You ruin my shirt and just fall asleep." He took his arm that wasn't cradling her back and scooped up her knees. Slowly, he stood up and carried her to her bed. He laid her down on the bed, careful not to disturb her, and pulled the covers up. Satisfied that she was fully asleep, he bent down and kissed her head, brushing her hair out of her face. "G'night, Jim."

When Jim woke up the next morning, it took her a moment to realize that she was in her room. Fully clothed. Strange, the last thing she remembered was talking to Bones on the couch. Shit, she thought. Things were going to be awkward for a while. Jim heard the clanking of dishes in the living area, and decided to shower and put last night's events out of her mind. A fresh start to a fresh new day.

She took her time in the shower, nearing the end of the hot water when she finally stepped out. She pulled her hair into a bun. Dressing in an old sweatshirt and jeans, she took a deep relaxing breath and opened her door. Bones was in the kitchenette with his back turned towards her, cooking eggs and bacon. Jim went to the counter quietly and poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"I was wondering when you were going to pull yourself outta bed," Bones said without turning to her.

"Shut up. It's called the weekend. Not everyone gets up with the roosters like you, Bones."

He laughed. "It's almost ready. Grab a plate."

She complied and he filled her plate with breakfast. He filled his plate with the rest. They both sat down on the couch, and McCoy took a sip of coffee. They ate in silence and neither of them moved to speak when the food was gone, until McCoy got a good glance at Jim's apparel.

"Is that my shirt?"

Jim looked down at the sweatshirt. "Umm, no. Why?"

"Because it says 'Ole Miss' on it?" Bones raised an eyebrow.

"Oh. It must've gotten mixed in with my stuff. Want it back?" She made to get up.

"No, no. It's fine. I wondered where that got to. What else of mine have you stolen?"

Jim blanched. "I didn't steal it!"

Bones quickly hushed her. "I'm kidding, Jim. What's with you?"

She pulled at the sleeves of the shirt. "Nothing."

He sighed and nudged her shoulder with his. "If this is about last night, it's…fine. I'll drop it. But if he says anything to you again, you tell me. Deal?" She looked everywhere in the room but at him. McCoy got up from the couch and knelt in front of her. "Deal?" he said sternly, forcing eye contact.

"Deal! Deal, alright?" Jim hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you." Bones shot her a confused glance. "For not asking if there was anything going on between me and Pike."

He nodded, then ran a hand over his hair. "Dammit, Jim. Do you really think I'd think that?"

She shrugged. "People think what they want to think. I couldn't really care less."

"Obviously."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

He pushed up from his crouch and walked towards the window. It was a while before he spoke. "Jim, if you didn't care what people thought, you wouldn't be this upset over a stupid admiral's snide comments. You put on a good act, but I know you."

Jim was silent. Was she really that transparent? If so, that would mean that there would be no more than friendship between them. Ever. He'd certainly seen how she felt about him, and since he'd never reciprocated… She shut that line of thinking down quick. Jim composed herself and asked what he meant.

"You…work people, ya know? Take last night for instance. You immediately sized up the room and could chit chat with doctors and admirals and their spouses. Any topic, you had an opinion. And then there's the other side of you, that the cadets see. Overachieving, full of yourself, and good in bed. You let them think this because it makes them feel better, but I've seen you when someone like Escobar digs in a little too deep. It cuts you like a knife."

She snorted. "Well, Bones, when did you become so philosophical?"

"When I realized you were short selling yourself."

She stood up. "Well how's this for selling myself right? I'm retaking the Kobyashi Maru."

Bones blinked in surprise. "Again?"

"Yep. Be my navigator?"

"Jim, the test's unbeatable. No one ever passes. Why are you taking it again?"

"Because I can? And there's no rules against it? Bones, I'm going to beat this test."

McCoy side eyed her, wondering if he was hearing her right. "What?"

She smirked. "I'm going to make a name for myself, aside from being the great George Kirk's daughter. Beating the test will do that. I won't be living in a shadow. Will you be there with me?"

They stared at each other for a long time. Finally, "Dammit Jim." She just smiled wider.