Saratoga Hallway

The two Nlians hurried through the corridors. They had been told by a crewmember that the Captain
had left the bridge, along with his counterpart, and was now heading toward the Astrophysics lab.

Ahead of them they heard two familiar voices.

"Did it have anything to do with Nibiru?"

"Nibiru? No. I've never been there." A pause. "Were you on shore leave on Stardate 2258.72?

"Yeah, I was planet-side. Went to a bar, had a couple drinks. Nothing big happened though."

"I see."

They briefly froze. They recognized their Soul Brother's voice and…the other's. They also recognized
the date mentioned and what the conversation was about.

"I take it that something happened to you?"

"Yes…It's the reason I left."

"Something happened during a shore leave that made you decide to leave the Enterprise?"

"It's more like what happened afterwards, Captain. And I prefer not to discuss it right now."

They rounded the corner and beheld…Captain James T. Kirk and Captain James T. Kirk.

"Captain?" Alyen said softly.

As the two men paused and turned to them, both Nlians stared. Both Kirks could have been
identical twins. But the lifemates knew their Soul Brother. Even without touching him they could
pick him out from a dozen other Kirks.

This other Kirk…he was him and yet he wasn't.

He didn't recognize them, they were nothing but two faceless crewmembers. He had obviously
been through hardships and trials…but there was an innocence in him that their Soul Brother had
lost that tragic night three years ago. He may have been hurt over the years, but he had never
been betrayed. He hadn't gained the same wisdom that their Soul Brother had. He hadn't had
the same sorrows or the same joys.

Upon seeing them, their Soul Brother's gladness to see them was obvious….as was his pain.

"Captain, may we speak to you for a moment?" L'Naym asked earnestly.

He gave his double a nod. "If you'll excuse us for a moment, Captain." He turned back to
the Nlians and motioned them toward a door. "Let's step in here for a moment, Crewmen."

As soon as the three of them were in the room, L'Naym grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
"Jim," she whispered. "When we heard what was happening…" She stepped back and looked at him.
"How are you holding up through all of this?"

"I've been better." His voice was weary.

"What do you need, Soul Brother?" Alyen asked softly.

"Right now, both of you," he whispered.

The lifemates each reached out a hand. Kirk laced his fingers with both of theirs.

Three Souls briefly touched.

The Joined Souls felt the depth of the Touched Soul's love for both of them.
His love for them…
His gratitude for their presence...
And above all his pain.

Pain at the reminder of the past…
Pain at the sight of the vast silver starship, Enterprise.
Pain at the sight of its crew.
Pain at the sight of his double.
Pain at the reminder of what he had lost…
Pain for what might have been.

The knife re-plunged.
Old wounds reopened.

The Joined Souls wrapped their arms tightly around the Touched Soul…
Embracing him, in both body, heart and soul.
He returned their embrace just as tightly, almost desperately.

*Feel our love, Soul Brother. Let it heal you.*

The Touched Soul felt the depth of the Two Joined Souls' love for him.
Their grief for his pain.
Their unwavering support.
He drank it like a man dying of thirst being given water.
The bleeding slowed and the pain eased.

The Three Souls spoke what had been their Truth for two years.

*You are Jim and you are ours.*

*You are Shylea and Tuskaro. You are one and you are mine.*

The Joined Souls gently drew the Touched Soul's attention to the tiny life growing
within the female half.
It was still too young to Share or communicate….
But its presence could be felt.
A precious little spark of light and being.

*We love you, Jim.

*And our son, your nephew, he will love you too.*

*You are our brother and you are family.*

*I know. And I'm glad.*

Love heals and love strengthens.
The wounds were still there.
They would always be there.
And they would ache for as long as the other Enterprise as her crew where there.
But they were no longer bleeding.
The knife was no longer plunging.

The Three Souls embraced tightly…and then slowly withdrew.

"I need everyone on this ship to pull together and stay strong for now," Kirk whispered as he gently
disengaged himself from his Soul Siblings. "Hopefully we'll soon find a solution to this mess."

"Everyone on this ship is with you, Jim," Alyen said quietly. "You know that."

Kirk smiled. "I do know that, Little bro."

"Let that knowledge, like our love, give you strength," L'Naym whispered.

"It does, Sis. More than you know."

He had his Soul Siblings and he had his crew.
He could hold everything else as long as they held him.

All three took a moment to compose themselves. Then L'Naym straightened. "Do you have any orders
for us in particular. Captain?"

Kirk gave another slight smile and then looked at Alyen who had also straightened and was looking
at him with determination.

"Alyen, get back to Sickbay and help Dr. McCoy in any way you can. I also need you and all the other
Medical personnel to keep an eye out for anything unusual, health or otherwise. And be your usual
encouraging self, I'm sure everyone down there will need it." His eyebrow raised. "Especially Bones."

"Of course, Captain."

"L'Naym, you'll still help in the botanic lab. Every department on this ship will be collecting and going
over data. Most of it will be from Engineering, Operations, Physics and Astrophysics, but the other labs
might come up with something as well. And keep your eyes open; we know that inanimate objects react
to the anomaly, there's a chance that plants might too. Your main priority though, will be as morale officer.
Do what you can to help the crew through this. I'm sure everyone will need as much cheering up as possible."

"Right away, Captain."

The three exited the room and both Nlians headed down the corridor back toward their posts.
Their Captain had given them jobs to do and they had no intention of letting him down.

The other Kirk watched them curiously. "Who were those two? If you don't mind my asking?"

Kirk paused. "Crewmen Tuskaro Alyen and Shylea L'Naym. Husband and wife. Paramedic
and Botanist respectively."

"Friends of yours?"

Friends?

Kirk's face was expressionless but his voice was anything but. "They're more than friends, Captain.
Much more."

Something about his tone let his counterpart know not to press for more info.

This is out of your league, Kirk so don't stick your nose in it.