"What are you reading?"

Jamie smiled as he sat next to her, "My mom gave me some of her and George's papers from the academy. God, that's weird."

"What? Having a mom?" he asked with a smile. She nodded. Hikaru chuckled, "Guess you couldn't be orphan Annie forever. What were they working on?" Jamie handed him the PADD.

"I haven't read her engineering and computer programming stuff yet, but George was working on the importance of ship commanders understanding multiple functions on their ship. It's not finished, though. He went with something else for that assignment."

"Didn't you write something similar to this at the academy?" Hikaru asked as he read through the paper.

She nodded, "It was a case study: 'Why Captains should understand Engineering.' As much as I loved Chris, he never knew what I was talking about when it came to the ship. There were some setbacks during the Enterprise's build. I had to translate the engineering talk into something he could understand. The guys at the shipyard thought it was funny." She took a breath, "All that time I spent wondering about George… and where I came from."

"Looks to me that you take after your parents more than you thought."

"Whatever you say, mama's boy," shr teased. Hiri sat the PADD on the table and pulled her into his lap.

"Daddy's girl."

"That really doesn't apply to me," she told him.

He chuckled, "Between Pike and my dad, it kinda does." Jamie almost opened her mouth to argue but she realized that he was right.

"Okay, I'll give you that one. I just wish I got to meet George. Like actually meet him. I saw him… when I was in my coma."

Jamie hasn't really talked about what happened when she died. She could tell that it was too hard for her friends to listen to and even harder for Hiri. He sighed, "You wanna talk about it?"

Jamie rested her head on his shoulder, "I don't know. I mean… you guys had to deal with my death…"

"But you haven't dealt with it, yet. If you're worried about me, don't be," he told her.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yea, I'm sure. If you need to talk about it, I will listen. You know that," he whispered.

Jamie smiled, "I was in a bar."

"Of course you were," Hiri chuckled.

"It was a place that me and Bones go to… went to, Khan kinda crushed it with that ship. Anyway, I walked in and I didn't know what to think."

"Pull up a seat, kid," a familiar voice instructed.

Jamie looked around, "Where…? How…?"

"Where are we? And how are we here?" Chris chuckled. "You're in your head… mostly. You died on the Enterprise. Before you ask, your crew is okay. McCoy brought you back and now you're in a coma, so don't get too comfortable."

"It's okay," Jamie said with a nod and sat in the seat next to him. There were worst ways to go. That doesn't mean she wasn't angry but she could accept that it was necessary in order to save everyone else.

"Is it?" Jamie turned to look at the person who entered the room behind her. "I mean I died for my family and look where that got ya. Hi, sweetheart." She was looking at her father and Jamie didn't know if she wanted to hug him or hit him. George chuckled, "Go for it, I deserve one of each."

She looked at him, "Are you…?"

"Reading your mind? A little. God, you look like me. No wonder Nona had a hard time."

"Is that why you're here? To tell me not to hate my mother," Jamie asked.

Her father chuckled, "You don't hate her. You want to but you don't. You got time to worry about that later. Those friends of yours don't know when to quit, huh?"

Jamie could hear someone talking; it was faint but there. "…'The time will come, the time will not be long in coming, when new ties will be formed about you - ties that will bind you yet more tenderly and strongly to the home you so adorn - the dearest ties that will ever grace and gladden you. O Miss Manette, when the little picture of a happy father's face looks up in yours, when you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you'…"

She smiled, "That's Hikaru. He's reading the Tale of Two Cities by Dickens… in Japanese. That's my favorite part of the story."

"You better go out with that boy when you wake up," Pike said. Jamie glared at her mentor and he chuckled, "Don't look at me like that, I figured you guys out a while ago. You love him. You won't admit it but you do and you should tell him. The man is sitting at your bedside reading one of your favorite books while you're recovering from dying."

George nodded, "It's crazy what we do for people we love. I didn't even meet you but I died for you. If I had to guess, you went into that warp core for him."

"The ship was falling out of the sky. What else was I gonna do?" she asked.

"You saved the person you love. It's okay to admit it. I'm George Samuel Kirk and I got myself killed so that my wife and newborn daughter could get away from a bunch of crazy Romulans. See, easy."

"Not that easy, I had to kill said Romulans myself," she pointed out. "You could've just let us die. I mean… look at what happened."

He smiled, "You went through some really bad stuff, but you came out on the other side. You saved a bunch of people on Tarsus. You saved the world from Nero. You stopped Marcus from starting a war. And you saved God knows how many people from Khan. Not bad from where I'm sitting, little one."

"But Sam and Hoshi and Chris..."

Her friend shook his head, "You leave me out of this. You saved my life plenty, kid. There was no way you could've saved me at Daystrom, Spock tried. You saved as many people as you could. You always do." He gave her a hug and kissed her forehead, "You did good, Jamie. Remember, I believe in you." She watched him walk out of the bar.

"He's a good man, I'm glad you had him watching your back for the last few years. Hoshi was just happy you got off Tarsus alive, your brother too. They'd be here but everyone figured that I since I was the only one you haven't met to let me hang out with you while your body healed. Chris thought you'd need to see a familiar face. He knows you better than the rest of us."

"So, is this the part where you tell me…" Jamie stared but she stopped when she heard Uhura singing, she didn't understand the song, it was in another language, but her voice was soothing.

"Man, you have the best friends."

She looked at him, "They're my family."

He nodded, "I know. I wish I could've been there for you but I needed you to live."

"Why?"

"Because your life is more important to me than anything, even mine or your mother's. I know you feel like you aren't worth it but you are. Just look at your friends. The grumpy doctor who hates space and joined Starfleet because he thought he had nothing left. He tolerates the black because you're there. The Human/Vulcan hybrid that never had a real friend before you. The teenage genius who never had anyone look out for him like you do. Hell, I recruited Keenser myself, ask him about it. All the stuff you've done means next to nothing compared to that group of people that you turned into a family. You were always meant for greatness, Jamie. Even if you stayed dead, you still did better than me."

Jamie felt a pain run through her chest.

"Ahh. It's almost time," he said. Time. Time for what? He took her face in his hands, "You're friend, the grumpy doctor. He fixed you. I like him, by the way. You're gonna wake up soon. I guess this is my last chance to tell you that I love you, little one. I am so proud of the person you've become. I'll see you when you die for real… Hopefully, it'll be a long, long time from now."

She felt like she couldn't breathe, "Dad…"

He smiled, "I'll be here, sweetheart. I love you."

"I…" Jamie couldn't talk and George pulled her into his arms as her knees buckled. She had so many questions for him. She wanted to tell him that she loved him. She wanted to stay with him but she couldn't say anything.

"I know, little one. I know." She held onto him as tight as she could as her eyes fluttered closed. "I love you, Jamie."

"That's when I woke up to Bones grumbling at me." Hikaru didn't say anything for a few minutes before he nodded.

"He was right."

"Who? About what?" she asked.

He chuckled, "George was right about all of it."

"You don't mean that," Jamie shook her head.

"You don't see yourself like the rest of us see you. If it came down to your life or mine, I'd die for you in a heartbeat and I'm not the only one."

Jamie stood up and started pacing, "It shouldn't be like that. What makes me so much more important than you or anyone else?"

"You don't get it, do you?" Hikaru said. "What makes me or McCoy more important to you?"

Jamie looked at him, "You have parents and siblings and, in Bones' case, a daughter."

"You think that you're excluded from being our family? There's a reason that McCoy treats you like his little sister. To him, you're no different than Donna. He cried, Jamie. I watched the grumpiest person I know cry like a fuckin' baby when he thought he lost you. Then, we had to stop him from running himself into the ground to bring you back. It's not that you're more important than everyone else. It's just… you act like you aren't important at all and you are. You're important to me and McCoy and Uhura… God, you should've seen her. And Spock. Spock almost killed Khan with his bare hands. You aren't the only one willing to die for someone you love."

"I…" she didn't know what to say.

"You matter. I would think that we all showed you that but if I gotta say it every day until you listen, I will. You matter, Jamie."

"Uhura, you have the con. Spock and Bones, with me."

They were orbiting Pyris VII to check on the mapping expedition. Scotty, Hikaru and Ensign Jackson went to the surface and were an hour overdue for their check-in. When they finally got in contact with them, it was just Jackson requesting to be beamed up. According to Lieutenant Kyle, when Jackson materialized on the transporter pad, he immediately fell to the floor, dead. But, somehow, a voice from his dead lips warned that that they are cursed and they must leave or everyone on the Enterprise will die.

Jamie had to watch the footage twice before she decided to send another team for Hikaru and Scotty. Not willing to risk anymore of the crew, she decided to go herself but Spock and Bones went with her like they always do.

"We might not find him, Jim," her best friend said.

She looked at him, "Them. And I know that. If they're alive than something's wrong. If they're dead, I want to know why." They beamed to the spot that Jackson was beamed up from. "Foggy."

Spock nodded as he ran a scan with his tricorder, "It is unlikely that the fog is natural given the planet's environmental conditions, Captain. There are multiple lifesigns in that direction." Jamie nodded at her friend and started walking.

Bones looked at her, "I don't like this, Jim."

She agreed with him but before she could say anything three women appeared.

"Captain Kirk! ... Captain Kirk! ... Captain Kirk!" The first woman yelled.

"Go back! ... Go back! ... Go back!" The second woman told them.

The third looked at Jamie, "Remember the curse!"

The first woman spoke again, "Wind shall rise!"

The second, "And fog descend!"

Then the third, "So leave here, all, or meet your end!" All three disappeared into the fog.

"That was creepy as hell," Bones muttered.

Jamie nodded and looked at her first officer, "Spock. Comment?" He sighed,

"Very bad poetry, Captain," he said.

"A more useful comment, Mister Spock," she chuckled.

He looked at her, "I do not have one. We should proceed."

"Yea. Let's go," Jamie snickered.

They kept walking to where they were reading lifesigns. Like the three women said, the winds and fog tried to take them out but they discovered a large castle; the source of their readings. Jamie, hand on her phaser, entered with Spock and Bones behind her. They spotted a black cat that led them through the corridors.

"Where is this thing leading us?" As soon as Bones said the words, the floor collapsed under them. Jamie registered that they were falling, than nothing.

When Jamie woke, she realized that they were all chained to a wall, "Where are we?"

Bones looked at her, "I don't know, Jim." She nodded before pulling a pin out of her hair and picking the lock.

"Where did you acquire that skill, Captain?" Spock asked.

Jamie smiled as she moved to pick their cuffs, "My brother. We gotta find the guys."

Bones nodded as he rubbed his wrists. The trio walked out of the room and down a long corridor. She saw Scotty and Hiri heading in their direction; she could tell something was wrong with them. Jamie put her finger to her lips and pressed into the wall. As soon as they were close enough, Jamie grabbed Hikaru and Spock grabbed Scotty, neither man seemed to recognize them. She tried not to let it hurt her feelings too much when Hiri pinned her to the wall.

"Hikaru," she whispered. His eyes were lifeless, like someone pulled everything that made him Hikaru out. Someone else was in his mind and she didn't like it one bit.

Suddenly, they were all in another room with a strange man. He looked at her as Spock helped Jamie to her feet. She sighed, "Who are you and what did you do to them?"

"Captain, the expedition noted no lifeforms on this planet," Spock told her.

She nodded, "Wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've ever seen, Spock." That goes to the polywater intoxication from a year before.

They learned that the man's name was Korob, he's not native to the planet. He offered them food and drinks, then he offered fortunes in gemstones, all in an attempt to get them to leave without asking more questions.

"We could make gems on the ship. They're worthless to me. Sulu and Scott are priceless. Let them go," Jamie demanded.

"I studied your kind. You value these things."

Jamie shrugged, "I don't."

"You passed," Korob smiled. "I needed to see what kind of person you are." She looked at him as he continued, "You are loyal, brave, and incorruptible." She wasn't perfect but she would do anything, give up anything for her family.

"Well, what do we have here?" a feminine voice said from the doorway. Jamie, Bones and Spock watched the beautiful woman walk into the room. Jamie's blood ran hot when she touched Hikaru's face. "Oh, don't worry about your friends. They are perfectly fine."

Jamie looked at the woman, "Then let them go."

"Why would I? I have control over them. It's what I do, control men. From the looks of it, so do you," the woman, who called herself Sylvia, said. Jamie didn't bother arguing with her, it was kinda true.

"What do you want with my men?" Jamie asked. Sylvia smiled at her but didn't offer a response. The captain looked around before she lunged at Scotty and took his phaser. She pointed the weapon at Sylvia, "Let us go."

The other woman smiled, "No." Hikaru grabbed Jamie and Sylvia chuckled, "I could have him kill you, you know. Take her back the dungeon. Her pointy-eared friend too." Jamie looked at Bones as Hiri and Scotty pulled her and her first officer out of the room.

"BONES!" she called. He made a move towards her than stopped, Sylvia must have done something to him. "Hiri, I know you're in there. You gotta fight her… No matter what happens, we fight for each other. I know you can hear me, sweetheart. I'll even watch the damn Pirates of the Caribbean movies with you, just come back to me."

For a second, his grip loosened, that was all Jamie needed. She slipped from his arms and ran, she couldn't actually hurt him. Jamie had no idea where she was going but she needed find some way of warning the Enterprise not to send anyone else down here.

She slammed right into Korob. She looked at him, and for a second, she thought that he was gonna chain her up again.

"Come on." He pulled her into his room as Hiri searched for her. "I can't control what Sylvia is doing anymore. She's become irrational and dangerous. I'm sorry that you and your people got mixed up in all this. I will help you get your men out of here."

"How?"

He handed her a wand of some kind, "That is the key to everything… including Sylvia's power. I must ask you… you and the one you called Hikaru. Are you his?"

"Yes," she nodded.

Korob sighed, "He is a lucky man to have a woman such as yourself fight for him."

"He fought for me last time around," Jamie smirked. "What do I do with this thing?"

Before he could answer her, the door was forced open. Hikaru, Scotty, Bones and Spock were all there under Sylvia's control. "Korob, you should know better." Jamie hid the wand behind her back as Sylvia shot the man with one of the phasers. "Oh, child. You know you can't win."

Jamie looked at the men she loved, "You took from me the only thing that mattered. You got two seconds to let them go…"

"Or you'll do what? You don't have a clue on how to use that thing. Just give it to me and I'll let you leave."

"Not without them," Jamie growled.

Sylvia looked at the men with her, "What makes them so important, child?"

Jamie looked at Hiri, Bones, Spock and Scotty, "They're my family." She shattered the wand and undid everything... almost everything.

At the away team's feet were two small aliens that withered and died. Jamie looked the guys as they quickly returned to themselves.

"When did you get here, lass?" Scotty asked as he rubbed his eyes. She pulled her friend into a hug.

"Long story, Monty," she sighed. "I'll tell you later.

Hiri looked at her as she moved to hug him, "Are you crying?"

She nodded against his chest, "Yea. I thought we lost you guys."

"Never, Dejah."

Jamie chuckled, "John Carter? Really?"

AN: I don't own Annie, A Tale of Two Cities or John Carter of Mars.