Chapter 1: Travelling Home

Author's notes: The title refers to the song "At the beginning" by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis from the animated musical film "Anastasia". Lines of the lyrics will appear in later chapters.

Disclaimer: Star Trek isn't mine. I'm just borrowing the characters for this fic.

Jamie Kirk hated being in sickbay. She was absolutely certain she was needed on the bridge as Acting Captain. The only good thing about practically being grounded by the Acting CMO Leonard McCoy was that she had a bed for now.

The Enterprise travelled at impulse back to Earth and the survivors of Vulcan took every free bed on the ship. Since Captain Christopher Pike was bound to Medbay and unconscious most of the time, she'd given the captain's suite to Ambassador Sarek and two of the elders.

Yeah, space was really limited. Jamie knew that Leonard had given his quarters also to a Vulcan. He was sleeping on the little couch in the CMO's office – if he was sleeping at all. She somehow doubted that he did.

But, well, neither was she. She constantly checked the ships status and the status of the repairs on a PADD. The one she always hid away quickly when the doctor came to her. He didn't want her to work. But she was Acting Captain. So she did it in secret. Spock wasn't happy about that – if one could use that word.

The newest message told Jamie the ship was finally near Earth. After days at impulse they'd almost made it. Only five more hours to go. And Jamie was determined to sit in the command chair when they would arrive.

So, she left the bed and put on a golden uniform dress a yeoman had brought her on her request. She wasn't sure if this was the best idea since she wasn't supposed to be on the ship and technically still on suspension. On the other hand – Pike had made her first officer which had made her Acting Captain after the little Spock incident on the bridge. And, so she told herself, at this point it didn't matter anymore. Maybe she would be expelled from the Academy. So she could at least wear that uniform for once in her life.

Jamie slowly walked through the damaged Medbay. It was a miracle the most important stuff worked.

She looked to Pike. He was awake and met her gaze. She felt a little caught. Because of his condition she hadn't talked to him since his rescue and she didn't know if he knew that she was in command of his ship.

She took a deep breath and closed the distance to his bed.

"Command Gold suits you", he said with a smile despite being in pain.

"I'm sorry", was all that came to her mind.

Pike managed to chuckle. "McCoy told me what happened. So you're on your way to the bridge, Captain Kirk?"

Jamie gave him a stunned look. He knew. But she'd expected another reaction. "Uhm… yeah…"

He nodded with a smile. "Good. Heard you also were here for a while. And the yeoman who snuck your uniform in told me how well you managed to do everything from your sickbed."

"You're not mad about what happened", she realized.

"That you saved me, the ship and Earth? Hell, no."

Jamie let out a short laugh and wondered if she was blushing. "Not that. I mean about me being in command. When you left Spock was Acting Captain. Now I am."

"And you're doing a good job. Remember the bar when I dared you to do better than your father? Well, you saved billions of lives. To say you're not doing things half way, would be the understatement of the millennium."

Okay, now she was sure she was blushing. She usually didn't have that much problems being in the spotlight. Today however… She almost rolled her eyes when realization hit her: She wanted this. She wanted to be captain. That made her nervous. She wanted to wear this uniform not only today, but, well, forever. And she was a little afraid what would happen back on Earth. She would go back being a cadet – or not in Starfleet at all. She wondered if she would really be expelled after she and her crew had saved Earth. But she knew Starfleet was about rules.

"Dammit, Jamie!"

The exasperated yell of Leonard McCoy ripped her out of her thought.

Pike laughed. "Well, I take it, he didn't release you."

"Not exactly", she muttered.

Leonard stomped to them. "What the hell are you doing out of bed?"

She gestured to herself in uniform, almost enjoying the look he gave her. "What does it look like? I have to get to the bridge."

The doctor huffed. "Don't think I don't know what you were doing all the time. I know you had that PADD and were running the ship from here." He exhaled sharply. "But at least I could keep an eye on you."

Pike suppressed an amused smirk. He surveyed them carefully and wondered if they were aware about the sparks between them.

"So give me one of those monitoring bracelet thingies", she replied, giving him Leonard brightest smile. "But I'm fine. I would go nuts here. The ship needs me. And Starfleet wouldn't be amused to find no one in the captain's chair when we arrive in Earth's orbit."

"Call Spock. Or give command to Sulu."

"No", Jamie and Pike said in unison, looking at each other surprised about it.

Leonard rolled his eyes.

A nurse who had followed the conversation walked to Jamie with the bracelet she'd mentioned. Jamie extended her arm and the nurse put it at her wrist.

Jamie lifted her arm, presenting the device. "See? If anything's wrong you'll know it, Bones. And you're welcome to come to the bridge every hour to see that I'm okay."

She smiled at him, placed a light kiss on his cheek and walked towards the exit.

Leonard's mouth fell open. He wanted to yell at her and make her come back. But somehow his voice betrayed him – he didn't get the words out. He unwillingly touched the spot on his cheek where she'd kissed him. He tried to remember when she'd ever done that before. But the warm feeling from the peck occupied and blocked his mind. That startled him.

Captain Pike chuckling added to that. "So the rumors are true."

Leonard snapped back to reality. "What are you talking about? What rumors?"

"About you and Kirk", Pike replied amused.

"What do you mean, Captain?" the doctor asked confused, though getting a notion. He hoped he wasn't getting red.

"How long have you been in love with her, McCoy?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Pike laughed. "Alright, alright. I see you're still in denial. But I guess it's safe to say that this isn't onesided."

"I think I need to check if some of your meds are counteracting. You're hallucinating."

Pike watched him getting a tricorder and starting a scan. "Knock yourself out. But it won't change the facts."

The bracelet stayed silent and Leonard called a few times, but didn't go to the bridge until the Enterprise was at the repair dock at McKinley Space Station in orbit around Earth.

"Incoming call for the captain", Uhura announced.

"On screen", Jamie ordered.

Leonard stepped next to the command chair. He expected the brass to ask about Pike despite the reports he'd sent – and Jamie sent.

Admiral Michael Hadley appeared on the screen and critically eyed Jamie Kirk. "Acting Captain Kirk. Well, this is a change from the hearing a few days ago?"

Jamie just shrugged. A few things came to her mind, but none of the appropriate for this kind of call. "A lot happened", she replied neutrally.

Hadley's expression changed. "It did. And we are very thankful and impressed with what you did, Kirk."

"Wasn't me alone."

He laughed. "So now you're getting modest. Well, anyway. The Kobayashi Maru isn't forgotten. We'll still have to deal with that. But…" His gaze became warmer. "… what you showed in the past days could no test."

Jamie held eye contact and decided to change the subject. "This call isn't about my hearing, Admiral. This is about the Enterprise. So let's talk about the ship."

"Very well. Your helmsman already got the instructions for the repair dock. And we'll send medical transports." He looked to Leonard. "Acting CMO McCoy, I presume."

Leonard just nodded.

"Is Captain Pike stable enough for a transport?"

"Yes. Although – I can't believe I'm saying this – I would recommend beaming him to Starfleet Medical. He shouldn't be moved on a gurney or a shuttle. Too much movement and vibrations."

"Alright. Talk to Boyce. He's in charge for the patients from the Enterprise."

"Did you set a time for our debriefings, Admiral?" Jamie asked.

"Not yet. Unfortunately the press comes first."

"The press?" Jamie echoed in disbelief.

"The entire planet knows what happened. And, after a heated discussion, the brass decided to let them shoot a little footage from the return and welcome of the heroes who saved Earth."

Leonard groaned. "Is that really necessary?"

"We just did our duty", Jamie added. "We don't want any fuss about it."

"Earth was near destruction. The Enterprise saved us. People want to see the faces they owe their lives to. And everyone wants to thank all of you. So put on clean uniforms and smile for the cameras." He looked to Leonard again. "By the way, Doctor, aside from your mother a certain Jocelyn Treadway contacted us."

Leonard's face showed instantly a mix of confusion and anger.

Jamie turned her head towards him. "Isn't that your ex-wife?" she asked, realizing her voice suddenly had a strange pitch. She felt a little… well, she didn't exactly know. But she didn't like the fact that his ex-wife had called. Also, she had a weird feeling in her gut.

"What did she want?" Leonard asked coldly. "Haven't heard from her in a long time."

"She wants to be at the welcome reception. We can't deny her since she insists on bringing your daughter. The girl needs a guardian at the event."

"I see", was all Leonard managed. He was torn. He felt excitement at the prospect of seeing Joanna. But Jocelyn… He knew she had to have some kind of agenda.

"We want you in front of Starfleet Headquarters In one hour. We want the bridge crew and the officers who were on the enemy ship. And you, of course, McCoy. Prepare yourselves for answering some questions. But answers will have to be as vaguely as possible. Don't give any details about the Narada or relating facts away. Please speak only of an enemy ship, nothing more. I wished we had some time to brief you. But the public needs to see now the faces of their saviors asap. They need it to start healing from the shocks of what happened. Hadley out."

The screen went dark and they saw the dock Sulu was currently steering the ship to.

Jamie's gaze wandered to Leonard again. She sensed how tense he was. "You okay, Bones?"

"I should be the one asking you that question, Jamie", he deflected, took a tricorder and started scanning her.

"You won't find anything", she said with a warm smile.

The doctor wanted to disagree, but the scan showed normal vitals. He huffed and shook his head. "She has an agenda. Why else would she want to see me after all this years? I want to meet Joanna. Haven't seen her in person for three years. But I don't wanna deal with Jocelyn."

Jamie rose from the chair and gently placed her right hand on his left upper arm. "With any luck Jocelyn will be somewhere far in the back."

She made a mental note to get a picture of the woman, look for her in the crowd and make sure that she was as far away as possible from Leonard. Suddenly she felt very protective of him.