"Pike would let me know when he knows something, right?"
"Yes, and if you keep pacing, we're going to be charged for a new floor. Sit down."
Jim's fate was yet to be decided. They'd been on Earth for three days, and beyond the debriefing, there had been no word as to Jim's future in Starfleet. To say she was nervous was an understatement.
Bones did his best to keep her occupied. They'd visited with the Enterprise crew still in hospital. Spock Prime even graced them with his presence before he left with the Vulcan refugees to a potential colony site. He'd gotten great joy out of meeting Bones, and Bones had grumbled that it was hard enough dealing with one Spock let alone two, but he liked Spock Prime even if he wouldn't admit it. They even vid called Jo.
On the fourth day, news came. Jim came tearing into their rooms from her run, her comm in hand. "BONES! They've called an assembly. This afternoon."
Bones came over and kissed her forehead. "It'll be ok. They can't kick you out, not after you saved their asses."
Jim wrapped her arms around McCoy, hugging him tightly. "You think so?"
"I know so."
Jim's comm beeped again. "It's Pike. The assembly's for me. God, this is nerve wracking."
"You'll be fine." Bones accented each word with a chaste kiss. "Go start getting ready. I'll get some lunch ready."
They were one of the firsts to arrive at the assembly, the rest of the bridge crew greeting them outside the assembly hall. Uhura gave Jim a tight smile and brushed back a flyaway strand of hair from her bun. The women nodded at each other, and they all went and found seats towards the front. It meant a lot to Jim that they were presenting somewhat of a united front against the Academy panel.
Slowly, the hall started filling up. The number of empty seats were a stark reminder of all that had been lost recently, and Jim started to feel a bit selfish that she was so worried about her future when so many of her classmates, Gaila included, had no future at all. She began picking at invisible fuzz on her uniform skirt until Bones laced her fingers with his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Admiral Barnett, the same man who presided over her probation hearing, moved towards the podium. Jim took a deep breath. "This assembly calls Cadet James Tiberius Kirk."
Show time. Jim stood and straightened her red cadet uniform. She marched down and stood before Barnett's podium.
"Your inspirational valor and supreme dedication to your comrades are in keeping with the highest traditions of service and reflect utmost credit upon yourself, your crew, and the Federation. By Starfleet Order 284.55, you are hereby directed to report to the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise for assignment as his relief."
Translation: probation lifted, you're promoted. The Enterprise is yours.
Jim grinned and saluted before turning to Pike. Still recovering from his injuries in a wheel chair, the new admiral and newly promoted Captain saluted each other.
"I relieve you, sir."
Pike smiled warmly. "I am relieved." He reached out his hand for a shake and pulled Jim in close to whisper, "Take care of Enterprise. The last person who flew her really did a number on her." He winked and Jim fought back a laugh.
She turned towards the crowd that had erupted with applause. Her eyes scanned the crowd, and she thought she caught a glimpse of Spock Prime in the atrium, but he was gone before she could get a good look. Her eyes soon found her crew cheering loudly from the third row.
It took a while to sink in, but she hadn't been expelled. Not only that, but she'd been given the Enterprise! No more Academy classes, no more simulations. This was real, and it was hers, and she couldn't be happier. Bones cleared the crowd (once dismissed) and engulfed her in a huge hug, swinging her around.
"I'm so proud of you."
The duties of Captaincy soon ended their celebration. Jim had to comb through thousands of applicants to fill the empty positions on the ship. With the loss of ships worth of third and fourth year cadets, the Enterprise would be shipping out with a limited crew for the time being anyway.
She knew she'd keep Bones as CMO and Uhura at communications. There was no way Scotty would leave behind the Enterprise and all it had to offer. Sulu and Chekov had already given their okay to being kept. She'd leave the medical staff appointments to Bones and let Scotty pick his Engineering crew. She just had to approve those. The position of first officer was still up in the air. She knew Spock would be a good balance, now that they'd learned how each other operated… well, as close as they could in the amount of time they'd had. A spur of the moment message put a temporary hold on that dilemma.
The Enterprise was being well taken care of in the docks. The repairs made in transit had held up and were being replaced with a more permanent fix, as well as the shields being upgraded and the weapons array reconfigured. In two weeks, the Enterprise and her new crew would be setting off on a new mission, parameters to be determined, and the crew were given time off to say their goodbyes to the Earth bound families.
McCoy and Jim flew out to the farm to spend a weekend with Ellen and Jo (graciously given over by Jocelyn). It was nice to spend some time in nature, relaxing with family. Ellen nodded with a bit of a smug smile when they announced they were together. Joanna whispered "Finally!" before asking if they were keeping Jim. The answer was yes.
And then it happened. The day Jim had been waiting for her whole life, whether she knew it or not. The Enterprise was ready, the crew was selected, their mission handed down. They were ready to sail. Jim stood in her ready room (officially, really and truly hers) smoothing out the wrinkles in the skirt of her uniform. If she was completely honest with herself, those were butterflies in her stomach. But she was ready for this.
She left the room and made her way down the corridor to the bridge. As the doors opened, Sulu announced that pre-checks were ready and the crew was awaiting her orders. She saw Bones standing off to the right of the Captain's chair and a playful glint shown in her eyes. She walked up to him, patting him on the shoulder. "Bones!" She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Buckle up!"
He rolled his eyes, and grumbled, "Trapped in space with you… God help me."
"You love it."
Chekov stated the weapons were online as the doors to the bridge slid open again.
"Permission to come aboard, Captain?"
"Permission granted, Mr. Spock. Finally giving me an answer?"
The Vulcan raised his eyebrow slightly. Jim figured it was a slight sign of either amusement or he thought her impertinent. She'd take either. "First Officer reporting for duty, Captain, if the position is still available. Should you desire, I could provide character references."
"Welcome aboard, Spock." She turned, looking at Bones. "You owe me twenty credits. I told you he'd show. Take us out, Mr. Sulu."
Bones groaned.
Sulu smirked. "Aye, Captain. Maneuvering thrusters."