Chapter 20

Star date: 2248.198 – 0900 hours

"There were really five kids out there?" Jenkins asked incredulously.

"Yes sir. The Endeavor scoured the hills until they found them. One kid put up a good fight I heard. But somehow they managed to convince them that they were there to help. They're onboard the Endeavor being treated in their Medbay. Poor kids, looked like they hadn't eaten in weeks. One of them, a Vulcan girl, was already in a coma."

Jenkins exhaled heavily, running a hand over his face. This whole Tarsus incident was draining him physically and emotionally.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Harrows. Keep me informed" Jenkins said to their Communications officer before shutting off his comm link.

Jenkins pulled up the PADD he had been perusing earlier. The bodies of the massacred citizens of Tarsus had been located by the Newton's landing party. Now, that they had located the place where a memorial would be built and had also retrieved the kids, they didn't see any further need to stay here.

Jenkins informed the Captain about the situation and he agreed for them to pack up and leave Tarsus. After the Endeavor had also been duly informed, they agreed to depart by 1600 hours the same day.

Jim was asleep in the private room where he had been housed during the entire debacle. His appendicitis surgery had been performed successfully, though the doctor lamented not having recognized the symptoms earlier. He had been complaining of the ache in his abdomen but she had dusted it off as residual pain from the triple surgeries in his spleen and liver.

Now, Jim lay peacefully on the bio-bed, his steady vitals forming a comforting backdrop sound to his slow breathing. Winona entered the room and took stock of her son, blissfully unaware to his surroundings due to the anesthetics he was under.

She had just gotten word from Commander Jenkins that the kids Jim had talked about had been located and transported aboard the Endeavor. The oldest of them who was better off than the younger ones had recognized the other three kids who had been rescued along with Jim. They had repeatedly asked the commanding officers of the Endeavor if they had rescued JT, their friend and savior. But Winona had strictly asked Commander Jenkins to not reveal Jim's identity or his whereabouts.

Winona's reasons were many. The kids were sure to be interviewed by the media. They were the only survivors who had fought for their lives every single day along with her son, the twelve Vulcans being exceptions. But then, they were Vulcan adults and JT's ragtag group consisted of children. It was easy to guess who would win over the people's hearts. Already, JT's story was doing the rounds in every Federation channel, going so far as to hail him as the hero of Tarsus who killed Kodos, the Executioner. If the children became aware of Jim's identity, the media would too and she did not want that for her son. It was better that everybody thought JT was one of the victims to starvation than to find out that it was none other than George Kirk's son.

The thought sent a shudder through Winona's body. It still hurt to think that her son had been through all that.

Winona pulled up her usual chair and sat next to Jim. The lights were turned down to a minimum and the soft blue light made his skin look pale; not that he wasn't already. The light caught his blonde hair giving a golden glow. She noted idly how Jim's white blonde hair during his childhood that had been exactly her hair color had now darkened to a bronze gold, much like his dad.

Jim hadn't been very good-looking as a pre-teen (something she would never admit to anybody even under threat of death), but somehow as he was growing older, his face was taking on the handsome features of her long gone husband. A couple more years and she was positive he was going to end up too dashing for his own good.

She chuckled at the thought. She wondered if he would become a sweet, good boy like his dad or a fickle charmer like herself. She still couldn't find a person to settle down with. George was the best and last thing to happen to her. She had been ready to see her life with George as the 'forever' kind. Look where that went, she thought to herself. The only balm to her broken heart was her two lovely boys, though they were occasionally (frequently) a pain in her behind.

Sam had gotten in touch with her during the start of year and had informed her how he was doing in his college. Sam had reconciled with his mom as soon as he heard that she had divorced Frank. She made a mental note to inform Sam about Jim soon.

Just then, Jim breathed loudly and Winona watched him coming to consciousness. He blinked repeatedly as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He turned his head and saw Winona. He seemed to want to say something but no sound escaped him. Winona brought a glass of water to his lips and he drank it gratefully.

"What happened?" Jim asked blearily, finding it hard to concentrate on her.

"Appendicitis. Nearly gave me a heart attack when the nurse commed me for an emergency."

Jim's lips quirked as he attempted to smile. Winona smiled in spite of herself. Jim became serious as he asked "Did they find them?"

Trust Jim to remember that even when under sedatives, Winona thought ruefully.

"Yes, Jim. They did and they're all alive" she added when Jim opened his mouth to ask just that.

Jim noted how she used 'alive' and said slowly "I want to see them."

Winona sighed "You can't Jim. They're all aboard the Endeavor and we're at warp. We left Tarsus about thirty minutes ago."

"But, I can see them when we get back, right?" Jim asked hopefully.

Winona hated to refuse him but she had to "Jim, you can't see them again. It's not safe."

"What do you mean it's not safe? They're my friends!" Jim breathed, unable to raise his voice even when he intended to.

"Jim, this is very complicated. There's a reason you can't see them. The entire Federation is eager to get their hands on anything related to you, or more specifically JT. If they find that JT is Jim Kirk, your life won't be the same again" she explained patiently.

Jim however, either due to his fuzzy brain or outright stubbornness, didn't seem to agree. "I don't care! I want to see them. They're my friends. I need to know how they're doing."

Winona sighed again. She seemed to be doing that a lot now. "Jim, you're not in a good state of mind to think about this right now. Sleep honey, we can talk about this later."

Jim was seething "You'd prefer not to talk about this at all."

Winona, who was already running on fumes since her last nap thirty hours ago, didn't have time to take any of his attitude. "That's right. You better listen to me on this one. It's for your own good, Jim. Do you think your mom didn't act with your best interests in mind when she decided on this?"

Jim muttered something under his breath, clearly frustrated. Winona didn't catch anything but she sternly said "I heard you, mister."

Jim huffed and turned his head to the side, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep.

Winona went to the attached restroom to change into her nightclothes. She would have to deal with Jim when they got back to Earth in six hours.

Though Dr. Boyce had advised her to continue Jim's treatment in Starfleet Medical, Winona had refused citing the impending media that were sure to be around in San Francisco. She had contacted her good friend in the Farragut who had given her the contact of her brother who was a physician in a hospital in Des Moines. It was definitely closer than 'Frisco to Riverside, and her friend's brother had already contacted Winona to get a hold of Jim's situation. After a lengthy talk with Dr. Boyce, he had agreed and informed that he would prepare everything for their arrival. Boyce had seemed satisfied with the doctor and had given the necessary papers to him.

She only hoped Jim would understand her decision. After all, didn't mothers know better?

A/N: And that's a wrap!

This chapter is dedicated to the lovely Samantha Kirk whose review made my day! Also to Katiikiinz for her support ;) Thanks to the guest reviewers and my followers and favoriters.