This story would just not leave me alone and it's grown a life of it's own.

Chapter Summary: Jim makes an unexpected friend on the shuttle.
Rating: PG-13? If that. It will go up in later chapters.
Warnings: AU, (miniscule amount of cursing in this one)

Disclaimer: I don't own them or Star Trek. I just like to see them all bendy. I promise to return them.

Stepping into the shuttle and settling into a seat was a relief to his pounding head. Well, it would be after it stopped ringing from that beam he'd run into. He rubbed his forehead and heard a giggle from his side. Turning to view the empty seats on either side of him, he realized one of them wasn't as empty as he'd originally thought. Jim's gaze was caught by caramel colored eyes and a dimpled smile.

"Well hello there. Aren't you a little young to be joining Starfleet? Surely they can't be that hard up for recruits?" he teased gently.

She giggled again. He wondered how old she was, sitting there in what was obviously a pajama dress. She had mussed dark hair in a bob and was staring intently at him. Which was no wonder, he thought as he looked around at the sea of cadets. Everyone else was acting like she was the elephant in the room. He's taken a few blows to the head the night before, but he highly doubted he would hallucinate a little girl. But what was she doing here? As he opened his mouth to ask her where her parents were, she spoke.

"My name's Joanna. I'm 4!" She held up the appropriate number of fingers.

"Well Jo it's nice to meet you. My name's Jim. Uh, where are your parents?" He asked running a hand through his hair.

"I'm here with my dad! Mom said I had to stay with him." She leaned forward as if sharing a secret with him and whispered loudly "My dad doesn't like flying. He's hiding in the bathroom." She leaned back again and beamed at him. "I like flying! I think. I've never flown before."

Jim chuckled, repressing a wince when it made his ribs ache. Ah, well that explained why she was out here sitting alone. Cute kid. "I like flying too."

"What happened to your face?" She scrunched up her nose at him.

Her question gave him pause "Well…I…uh," Oh hell. "I got into a fight." Honesty's the best policy right?

She nodded. "That's what I thought. I punched my neighbor Billy in the nose once. We was arguin' and pow! There was blood everywhere! He screamed a lot. I thought it was really funny, but mom got mad, and I got in trouble. She made me apologize, so I told him I was sorry his face got in the way of my fist. Then I got a spanking. Daddy thought it was funny too, and laughed and gave me ice cream and said I wasn't to tell mommy. Billy's face looked like yours afterwards."

She was beaming again, dimples on full display, and he beamed right back, even though it made his cheeks hurt.

She started to rub her eyes. "Did you get hit by a girl too? I bet you didn't cry like Billy." She drew her legs up and underneath her, yawning.

He couldn't help his bark of laughter. "No, I didn't get hit by a girl, though he certainly hit like one."

He shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around her. She snuggled into it, her eyes fluttering closed as she yawned heavily some more. "I like you Jim." She muttered as she drifted off.

He smiled "I like you too, Jo." But she was already fast asleep

Which was good, because within moments what Jim assumed was her father was brought out of the bathroom arguing with a crew member.

"You can't stay in the bathroom! Now get into a seat and strap yourself in before I have you restrained." She yelled

Jim looked at Joanna, but she didn't stir.

"I know that! I was just getting some water. Fool woman." He muttered as he took the other seat next to Jim.

Jim raised his eyebrows at the water remark but didn't say anything. The man was scruffy, had at least a day old beard, and looked to be suffering from a hangover himself.

"I may throw up on you." He said to Jim, after he'd strapped himself in.

Jim couldn't help it, he grinned. "You know Starfleet operates in space right? Besides, these things are pretty safe."

He snorted "Don't pander to me kid."

"So what are you doing here if you're afraid of flying?" Jim couldn't help asking.

"My wife took everything in the divorce, including the planet. All I've got left is my bones." was the grumbled reply.

Jim looked pointedly at the sleeping figured curled up beside him. "Only your bones?"

'Bones' looked over as well, and that hardened look in his eyes softened. When he opened his mouth, his voice came out gruff, "Well, everything not a part of me."

Jim didn't expect him to elaborate, but he did. His eyes still glued to the little girl sleeping quietly, her cheeks pink and flushed with sleep.

"Her mother just showed up this morning, Jo-Jo asleep in her arms, and said she couldn't do it anymore and handed her over. Didn't bring any of her things or even a blanket. I'd already signed the recruitment papers. Both of us stepped on the shuttle this morning with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Guess I'll have to request family housing now. But I just can't find it in myself to be bitter. Not when I thought I'd be getting to see her grow up in pictures, and that only if I was lucky."

"She's quite a kid." Jim said

"Yeah." Was the fond reply

"Jim Kirk." He said sticking out his hand.

'Bones' looked at it like it might bite for a second, taking in the bruises on his face, then shook it firmly, even if he wiped his hand on his pants right after. "Leonard McCoy".

The rest of the shuttle ride passed by quietly, both of them adjusting to their new circumstances within their own heads. Soon it was over, and they were in San Francisco. The second the shuttle had stopped rumbling, a very pale McCoy had unstrapped himself and his daughter, and had her scooped in his arms. A red sea of cadets parted to let him through before reforming into a mass again, and Jim lost sight of them.

Well that was interesting, he thought as he waded out. Damn! His jacket. Oh well, the clothes on his back indeed. He followed the mass of students to registration and began the tedious task of filling out applications.

What seemed like hours, and way too many 'The James T. Kirk'…George Kirk's son?-s' later he staggered out with an armful of cadet red uniforms, and a PADD with his classes and room assignment.

His stomach rumbled, and he sighed poking at his PADD to bring up a campus map, so that he could drop off his stuff in his room and get something to eat.

"Jim!" a child's voice yelled loudly.

"Joanna! Wait!" a newly familiar male voice called.

He had a second to think, 'Wow she can yell really loudly.' Before he felt a small body impact his legs and little arms clamp down.

He grinned down at her. "Hey Jo! Long time no see."

He shifted his stuff, so he was holding it in one arm. Then he bent down and untangled her from his legs and hoisted her up, so she was sitting comfortably on his hip while he tickled her ribs with skill. She giggled and squirmed, wrapping her arms around his neck. She was wearing his jacket even though it dwarfed her.

McCoy appeared at his side, flushed and a bit frantic from chasing his daughter down. He had his own PADD and armful of 'Reds.

"Joanna don't run off like that! Sorry about that kid, she's got a mind of her own." He apologized.

"Don't worry about it Bones." He saw McCoy make a face and mouth 'Bones?' as he winked and continued "I know all about trouble. It's why we're already such good friends. Right Jo?" He asked while bouncing her on his hip.

She gave a shriek. "Right!"

Jim's stomach gave another growl, and he heard Joanna's give an echoing one. Never shy in forcing his presence on others (it was the reason he currently sported a Technicolor face) he had no compunction in saying:

"Say I'm starving! Why don't we find our rooms together and then grab a bite to eat. How does that sound?" He knew Joanna would be an easy sell and most likely be the one to convince her father, so he kept his eyes on her face.

"Yeah! Can we dad?" She exclaimed, her eyes swiveling to his face and pleading.

McCoy scowled "I don't know Jo. We don't wanna bother the Cadet."

Jim pounced. "Just Jim. And it's no bother. I'm hungry, you're hungry. We're both new on campus and need to find our rooms."

Joanna batted her eyelashes. Seriously? Jim thought. She knows how to do that already?

"Pleeeeaaaase dad?" She threw in a woobie face. Jim was impressed, she already had skills. He added in his own eyelash fluttering.

"Come on Bones. I promise I don't bite, much." Jim threw in a pout. That combined with the ongoing woobie face seemed to do the trick.

"Fine." McCoy growled. "Let's go."

"That's the spirit Bones!" Jim praised. That got him a glower.

Joanna giggled. "His name's not Bones, Jim. It's daddy."

Jim smiled at her. "I don't think he'd let me call him daddy, Jo. Besides Bones fits."

"My name's Leonard." He said sounding resigned. He took Jim's PADD and started mapping their course.

"Nah, you don't seem like a Leonard, Bones." Jim winked again for good measure.

Bones grumbled all the way to Jim's room where Jim swiftly threw his stuff on one of the beds, never setting Joanna down. He barely took the time to glance around and mark the building in his mind. Bones continued his grumbling as they headed over to the family housing. Joanna and Jim ignored him. Instead Joanna proceeded to point out things she found interesting and that she thought Jim should find interesting too.

The family housing units were much larger than the ones for sharing cadets, which isn't surprising. There were two bedrooms in Bones' unit, a living room, 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette. Bones strode into the biggest bedroom and opened a drawer to deposit his uniforms. Then he placed his PADD on the coffee table.

"Alright, let's go." He said striding back out of the front door. The door slide shut behind them with a whoosh. "So where are we going then?"

"I dunno I figured we could just wander until we found someplace open and head in." Jim said

There was that raised eyebrow again. "You can't just wander around with a hungry child and hope to find someplace to eat."

Huh. That seemed reasonable. "I'm open to ideas. What do you suggest we do?" Jim asked, trying to avoid the fingers Joanna was currently poking at the mottled bruises on his face.

"Jo-Jo stop that. I'm sure he doesn't appreciate it" 'even if he probably deserves it' Jim heard him mutter. Jo pouted but stopped. Bones gave a sigh "I figure it's best we head for the mess. We have to find it eventually, and it's a safe bet."

"Suits me. Let's go." Jim said, starting off towards where he knew the mess was supposed to be. He already had the campus map memorized.

The mess was crowded with lots of old and new cadets. As they waited in line, Jim spent his time dipping Joanna upside down, making her squeal.

When they got to the front, Bones offered to take Joanna while Jim picked his meal. "I can take her if you want." He offered with his arms out.

"No! Want Jim." Joanna mulishly said, tightening her arms around Jim's neck.

"That's alright Bones I got her." Jim shifted her a bit "What do yah wanna eat kiddo?" He said trying to take a tray. However, Joanna, having almost lost her ride, refused to let him have any more freedom of movement. "Um, alright. This isn't exactly productive Jo." Her response was to bury her face in his neck.

Bones had had enough. "Joanna Alison McCoy! You know how to walk and you know better. Now get down and pick something to eat."

Knowing that tone of voice meant business, Joanna loosened her grip and slid down to stand beside Jim. Not looking the least put-out she looked up at Jim contemplatively. "Mac 'n Cheese?"

Grabbing a tray he placed a portion of the dish on it for Joanna and himself.

"I don't see any vegetables on that tray yet." Drawled Bones.

Not really minding but grumbling for show anyway, Jim grabbed two sides of corn. Apparently Joanna was used to the vegetable command because she didn't even bother with the protest. Reaching the end of the line, Jim's hand went automatically for two glasses of milk before he gave pause.

"She's not lactose intolerant or allergic to anything is she?" Jim asked

"Spoken like someone with allergies. Nah, she hasn't any allergies that we know of so far." Bones replied.

Jim grabbed the glasses of milk, placed them on the tray, and started visually scouting for a table. "That obvious huh?" Spotting a good one that was isolated in the back, he nodded for Bones to follow.

Keeping Joanna between them, they navigated the crowd. "When you know what to look for. Comes with the territory." Bones said as he and Jim set the trays down.

Before Jim had a chance to ask what that meant, Captain Pike appeared at the end of the table. "Dr. McCoy nice to see you again. I hope you're settling in ok?"

"I'm settling in fine thanks." Bones said, stiffening, the 'I'd be better if you'd fuck off' was unspoken but hovered loudly in the air.

"That's good to hear." He turned his gaze to Jim, "Jim, nice to see you as well. I see you're healing as well as can be expected."

"Yeah, thanks." Jim slurred with just the right hint of insolence to make Pike smirk.

Joanna had shrugged off his jacket and had taken to her food with gusto. As she reached to take a sip of her milk Bones muttered "Both hands Jo." Which caused her to scowl but comply.

Pike cleared his throat. "Well, I'll see you gentlemen around. Let me know if you need anything." They nodded concentrating on their food. Ignoring his retreating figure, they dug in.

Once Pike was gone, Jim opened his mouth. "Don't." Bones said trying to cut him off. But Jim has never been one to be deterred.

"Dr. McCoy is it? So you really are a 'Bones'? I sure called that one." He smiled at Bones triumphantly.

Bones rolled his eyes. "Yeah, great kid. Your psi ability must be off the charts."

Jim smirked around a mouthful of corn.

They spent the rest of the meal bantering and arguing about nothing important. Making sure Joanna didn't make too big a mess. When they were all finished, Joanna shrugged back into Jim's jacket and walked with them, on her own, out of the cafeteria. It was getting dark when they stepped outside, the shuttle ride and registration having taken up the majority of the day.

They walked back to the family units still bickering, this time about the weather and what constitutes good surfing waves. In Bones' case nothing or 'no way am I gonna swim out to stand on a board and have it beat me to death. I'm a doctor not a piece of seaweed!' and in Jim's case, waves in sizes that Bones considered suicidal.

Bones had picked up Joanna half way there, when she started to lag behind. She was almost all the way asleep now, the excitement of the day too much. Jim followed them in the door, but didn't go past the living room. Bones turned to look at him, his eyebrow quirked again in a manner that Jim read as saying, 'Now you need an invitation? You've invited yourself everywhere else today without one.'

Instead of answering the eyebrow, Jim speedily said, "Thanks for the company Bones! It's getting late, I should probably let you two settle in. I'll see you around. Goodnight Joanna!"

And then he spun on his heel and exited quickly. Whistling, he headed back to his room. Maybe he'll wash his face and go and check out the local bar scene. And if he just happened to forget his jacket again? Well that's just a coincidence.

TBC...

More to come in the future. Let me know what you think!