Chapter 14

Jim straightened himself in his chair, rubbing his eyes with one hand and drumming the other against the armrest. "Stop fidgeting."

"Can't help it," Jim grumbled as McCoy took his wrist and checked his pulse. "Your hypos are doing this."

"Well you need them," McCoy snapped back and checked the healing patch on Jim's shoulder. "You've got a concussion, blood loss, a broken clavicle. All of this on top of exhaustion and a cold. Can't believe they want to talk to you now of all times. You need rest."

"You've been saying that for the last three hours, Bones, as you checked over my stats every ten minutes," Jim looked at his friend pointedly. "I can handle a few minute call."

"If by sheer stubbornness," McCoy muttered. "If your headache comes back you need to stop the call and I will know if it comes back Jim."

Jim looked at him blankly. "How exactly?"

"You don't want to know, Jim," McCoy smiled maliciously. "You're going back to sleep after this."

"What? No story time before my nap, mommy?" Jim asked with a snarky smile.

"I'll call your mother and have her do it," McCoy smirked.

"If she sees me like this I think she might just die of fear," Jim muttered returning to rubbing his forehead. "Anguish… Disgust…" He let out a heavy breath.

"Don't work yourself up, Jim," McCoy admonished. "I've got you on enough meds. I don't want to give you anymore."

"I'll do my best," Jim muttered giving Jim a sly look. "Besides I need to be coherent to talk to Desde."

"I'd wack you over the head if I knew it wouldn't cause your semi under control condition to destabilize after hours of my time were spent stabilizing you," McCoy growled.

"You know I love you, Bones," Jim grinned.

"And you're the bane of my existence," McCoy rolled his eyes. "Now go explain yourself to the brass."

Jim groaned as he climbed into bed, careful that he didn't put pressure on his shoulder. Spock looked at him from where he was propped up in bed. "Captain, I assume your debriefing went well."

"You assume correct, Spock," Jim rolled his eyes and snuggled down into the blankets McCoy pulled over him. Spock looked at McCoy for clarification.

"It was brutal," McCoy rubbed his neck and checked the monitors above Jim's bed. "I've been set back another couple of hours because stress shot his fever up… yet again."

McCoy narrowed his eyes at Spock. The Vulcan sensed his question. "I have not left my bed. It was illogical to do so when I would strain my nearly patched skin. All reports have been sent to my PADD."

McCoy smirked and looked at Jim's curled up form. "Why can't you be well trained like him?"

"Go to hell," Jim grumbled groggily. Chapel peaked around the curtain.

"Desde," She crooned giving the slightest glance to McCoy. Jim sat up right at the word she uttered. Chapel smiled, McCoy glowered and Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Nap first,"

"You said I could have a story before I went to bed," Jim sniped. "And Desde needs one."

"You aren't leaving Sickbay and you're definitely not leaving the chair beside her bed," McCoy pointed at him threateningly. "No touching."

"You wound me, Bones," Jim coughed. "I wasn't even thinking of it."

"Of course you weren't," McCoy looked at Chapel before walking towards his office. "Take Captain Love Boat to his Lady."

Jim was still grumbling when Chapel wheeled him over to Desde's bed. Chapel looked at the sleeping girl. "That's odd. She was awake…"

"She'll be up soon enough," Jim whispered, watching her sleep. "Thanks Chapel. Go make sure Bones gets some sleep."

"I knocked him out while you were asleep," She winked. "Don't tell. He thinks he just passed out."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jim smirked and Chapel swayed off.

"Dream of what?" Desde sat up slowly, the sheet ruffling to her lap. "You're insane."

"Bones said you thought that about me," Jim leaned back in his wheelchair.

"But you are," She whispered. "How the hell do you survive this?"

"You'll manage," Jim smiled. "You were strong enough to save an entire planet. I think you can manage feelings like this."

"You saved me and the whole planet," She rolled her hand over her thigh in distaste. "I just sat around getting captured."

"You took me to where I needed to go, Desde…" Jim smiled tiredly. "Usually something like that gets you a medal."

"I don't want a medal," She said despairingly. Jim sighed.

"Yeah… Getting medals for horrible things never really did much for me either," They sat in silence, Jim rubbing the stubble on his chin, Desde picking the blanket. "I'll be back in a bit Des. Don't go anywhere."

She watched him wheel away in shock. Time stretched on and on for her as she looked around for something to speed up the minutes. Jim slipped back next to her, dressed in a black undershirt and black pants. "You can walk right?"

She nodded and allowed Jim to help her off the biobed. "Where are we going?"

Jim glanced out and pulled Desde with him as they snuck out of sickbay. "Little fieldtrip."

"Are we there yet?" Desde asked tiredly. Jim was lagging with her. "Because I don't think you'll be able to take this much longer."

"Just through this door," It slid open and Jim gently guided her in. Desde stopped as all eyes looked up at her. The temperature had been dropped to the Hielo natural spring weather, beds and tables set out around the 300 odd refugees. Hielo had had a small population to begin with. The military was loyal to Iago and Iago only so they had been left to their own devices and the next Federation Ship that would be around in another week. Several Hieloans looked up and the whispering intensified until all eyes were watching Desde.

"Desdemona!" She cowered slightly. Jim pushed her forward.

"You wanted an answer," He whispered. "Here it is."

Several children ran forward and grabbed onto her legs. "Dessy! Are you ok?"

Desde looked up, her entire body shaking as she looked into the eyes of the parents of the children hugging her. They were smiling at their kids and… her. She squatted down and hugged the children.

"Sorry I worried you," She smiled at them, her eyes crinkling closed. Tears slipped down her face as warmth seeped through her. "I'm glad you're all safe."

Jim smiled and stepped away as the Hieloans brought Desdemona into the center talking, patting her on the shoulder, congratulating and hugging her warmly. A hand rested on Jim's shoulder as her green eyes looked back with relief and gratitude.

"You're supposed to be in bed," Jim glanced to where McCoy was. He didn't seem angry, almost jolly about the situation before them. "Is this how you dealt with it?"

"Not in the slightest. She needed something different," Jim nodded his head at the green eyes still watching him and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I think a very long nap is in order. For both of us."

"Finally you're seeing it my way, Jim," McCoy helped Jim down the hallway and away from the joyous racket coming from the occupied banquet hall.

Jim smiled down at the picture on his PADD, of Desdemona Caldwell helping her people settling in on their new world. He re-read the note attached.

I would thank you again but it will fall on deaf ears. I know I'll find you well or as well as you could ever be considering your inability to stay out of trouble. But perhaps this is what brings out your most refining quality: Your ability to inspire. I have taken what you have given me, the freedom I have always sought, and am now helping my people on our journey, much like you are with your crew. I know wherever we are taken by the twists and turns that we will manage but I also know that you, James T Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise will triumph over everything that would ever obstruct your path. That Spock and Dr. McCoy will stand by your side through it all.

Jim looked up, the words echoing his mind, a confident smirk on his face as he strode onto the bridge. He slapped McCoy on the shoulder as he passed. "Buckle up, Bones."

That in the face of the unknown you will never falter because you are the one who inspires the weak and the restless.

He slid into his chair. Uhura turned to him. "All communications running clear, Captain. Starfleet expects a com once we have arrived."

"Understood, Lieutenant,"

You are the one who will bring hope to the oppressed.

"All departments report ready, Captain," Spock said from his post. Jim smirked and flipped open a com.

"Mr. Scott?"

"All Engines are online and ready ti go, Captain,"

"Thank you, Mr. Scott," Jim flipped the com closed and looked to the view screen as Sulu guided them away from the planet.

You are the one who will bring the universe to a shining new era.

"Coordinates laid in, Keptin," Chekov recited happily.

"Thank you, Mr. Chekov," Jim straightened in his chair and nodded at Sulu. "Steady as she goes, Mr. Sulu."

You are Captain James T Kirk.

The Enterprise blended into hyperspace off to the next unknown adventure its crew was sure to find.

The End

1586

A/N: Well.... That's the End! Yay! I hope you all enjoyed it! Please tell me what you think!

Iluvwind