Chapter One

He looked down at the small golden haired child and smiled. He did good. Though she will have a hard road ahead of her she will know peace and happiness at the end. He knew that he was playing with fate but...after all...isn't that the purpose of the Q? His parents had taught him well and he was only trying to make amends for his past encounter of this soul in that other universe. Trelane would help Kirk whether he wanted it or not. Well...now it was she.

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"Spock! I told you I'm fine! Let go!"

Leonard McCoy's head snapped up from where he was taking readings on the latest viral samples and cursed under his breath. Grabbing his tricorder, he rushed over to where his friend and idiot captain was being frogmarched into the medical bay by a very irate looking Spock. Her long hair was pulled back into a bun but it was half hanging out. She had a minor cut on her cheek and she was cradling her left wrist.

Dammit Jamie!" His head snapped up to look at Spock as he started scanning Jamie. He immediately noticed that her wrist had a hairline fracture and grabbed a hypo with an osteoblast treatment and combined it with a heavy painkiller bringing it down on Jamie's neck with unnecessary force. On cue, Kirk yelped and jerked away but McCoy knew her too well and used his other hand to grip her collar and pull her to the biobed. Spock stood back now that his charge was being cared for.

He manipulated Jamie's arm and placed it into the bone knitter.

"Bones, why are you always so vicious with those things?"

He rolled his eyes and turned to the commander. "What happened?"

Spock looked at the captain and then returned his gaze back to the doctor, his back ramrod straight and his face in an unnaturally emotionless mask. McCoy knew Jamie must have really pissed him off to get that reaction.

"The captain chose to attempt rock-climbing during her allotted shoreleave time on a new simulated rock-face on Risa despite my warnings about that particular level as it is not recommended for humanoids."

Kirk waved her free arm angrily and glared. "I'm right here!" Both men turned and shot Kirk disapproving looks.

"It was allowed just not recommended. It's supposed to be a challenge when the handholds change mid-climb and I would have been fine if Spock hadn't followed me up there in levitation boots and distracted me!" Kirk swayed and McCoy gripped her shoulder to steady her.

"Whoa! What the hell was in that shot?" She blinked slowly and frowned as if she was trying to remember what she was saying.

"Uh..." Jamie shook her head and pointed at Spock who stood still with his hands behind his back.

"Anyway, aren't you supposed to be with Uhura? I don't need a damn babysitter!" She snapped. Spock frowned slightly and tilted his head.

"Apparently you do. If I had not been there then you would have broken your neck. I do not think the crew would be able to handle your death a second time." He retorted acidly.

With that Spock spun on his heel and Jamie looked like she'd been slapped. She sunk down and grumbled while McCoy cleaned the cut on her forehead and quickly ran the dermal regenerator over the small cut. Once he'd finished he pulled a chair up to the bed where Kirk was still waiting for the bones in her wrist to finish being repaired.

He felt a small stirring of worry and concern as he looked at his friend.

"Jamie, why did you go against the warnings? You could have been hurt a hell of a lot worse." He breathed a deep sigh and ran a hand over his face. Since Jamie's death in the warp core two years ago she had thrown herself into her job and into the path of danger more times than he could count. While she would literally walk through fire for a fellow crewmember or even a complete stranger, Jamie just didn't have the same regard when it came to her own safety.

Kirk shrugged tiredly. "It was fun. It was there and it made me feel alive."

McCoy laid a hand on her arm. "Jim, you need to talk to me. You're behaving much riskier you used to."

Jamie rolled her eyes and laughed. "Jesus Bones. I was on shoreleave! I wasn't on duty and it has nothing to do with anyone else."

McCoy scowled and crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "Believe it or not, it does affect us."

Kirk snorted. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you need to talk to someone."

The knitter beeped signaling the end of it's cycle and Kirk pulled her arm out and stood with a grimace.

"I'm fine, Bones. I don't want to or need to talk about anything." She adjusted her shorts and brushed an errant hair behind her ear. "It was fun. That's all! What I do on my shoreleave is my business."

Jamie's eyes lowered and she flexed her wrist to test the repair and nodded. McCoy knew she was stalling. He just had to wait her out.

"I risk myself on the away missions because I don't want to lose another person under my command ever again." Her voice was a whisper and McCoy gestured to his office. She followed and settled on the couch, pulling her legs up to where her chin rested on her knees.

"People say that just because I'm the captain that I'm more important when the truth is that everyone is just as important, if not more so. I was given a second chance. These people won't get that if something happens to them."

McCoy looked at the clock and saw that his shift was technically over and pulled out a bottle of his hidden stash. He quickly filled a tumbler for him and grabbed a bottle of water for Jamie who pouted as he gave it to her.

"You're on meds." He replied.

Kirk sipped her water and was quiet. McCoy decided to interrupt the comfortable silence.

"You almost didn't get that second chance."

Kirk nodded and sipped her water. "I know, Bones."

Kirk's comm in her pocket beeped and she flipped it open and growled as she read the message.

"What?" McCoy asked.

"Spock is asking, and I quote, if my "juvenile antics have caused me to need to be relieved of duty for my shift tomorrow." It's times like this when I wonder if we'll ever really have that "life defining" friendship that the Elder Spock told me about." She gripped the water bottle tight enough that the plastic started creaking under her grip.

"I know that it's not gonna be like his relationship with his Kirk." Her cheeks flushed and McCoy frowned in curiosity. "It's just that I was at least hoping for friendship."

"What do you mean the other Spock's relationship with his Kirk?"

Jim lowered her legs and faced McCoy.

"Well...the other Kirk was male for some reason and he and his Spock were...together...that way." She squirmed a little in her seat.

McCoy raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You mean to say that he was gay?"

Jim nodded and laughed. "Surprising, huh? They really loved each other."

He put his hands up. "Wait a minute! You like the hobgoblin?"

Jim's cheeks and even her damn ears turned bright red in response to his words. McCoy sputtered and shook his head.

"He's with Uhura!"

"I know!" Kirk snapped. She quickly stood. "And that's why nothing is ever going to happen and he's never going to find out!"

Before McCoy could say anything Jamie spun around and left. McCoy's mind was still spinning with his friend's confessions as he typed in Kirk's latest accident report. It was times like this that he truly didn't understand his friend.

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Spock returned to his quarters and felt a sense of peace. He saw Nyota reading on his couch. Her long legs curled under her and a serene look upon her face. She was truly magnificent. He always felt calm and in control around her, his control was perfect in Nyota's presence.

She looked up and smiled, unfolding herself from her seat and quickly came to him. As she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him he closed his eyes in relief. Whereas Jamie Kirk brought his emotions to the surface like a rock being thrown in a pond disturbing the tranquil waters, Nyota was the opposite. She soothed his ragged edges and calmed the chaos of his emotions.

"Is Kirk ok?" She mumbled into his neck.

"Yes but I am concerned that I will not be there the next time. She is reckless."

Nyota leaned back, her brown eyes meeting his.

"Maybe you won't be or maybe you will. No-one can know the future. She's her own woman and you can't be responsible for her. You're not her keeper." She started pressing gentle kisses along his neck and he wrapped his arms around her, savoring the feel of her skin.

"Let's enjoy the rest of our time off. We have until alpha tomorrow."

As Nyota's hands moved lower, Spock closed his eyes in bliss and his breath caught.

"That is a more...productive use of our time."

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Jamie Kirk pulled on her command golds and checked herself in the mirror. Tugging the skirt lower, she frowned. The designers who picked the women's uniforms were amazingly sexist. You couldn't even bend over without giving a show. At least the academy skirts had a couple of extra inches.

She glanced at the clock and saw she had a little extra time so she was able to put her hair in an elegant knot rather than her rushed ponytail. No matter how much effort she put into her appearance, Spock always gave her a look like that of a disappointed parent. She could never impress him. Hell, even when she woke up at Starfleet medical he told her much later he had been disappointed that she had died. That it had caused everyone pain. That had hurt. She had wanted to say that it was better to have had that pain than to have died burning up in the atmosphere but she had bit her tongue, for once. The look in Spock's eyes was pretty close to the one she had seen when he had tried to choke the life out of her over the navigation console after the destruction of Vulcan. She hadn't been in the mood to test his control.

Satisfied she looked professional, she made her way to the bridge. She made a mental note to contact Spock's counterpart, Selik, to see how the colony was doing. He was her off-ship confidant. He never failed to make her smile with his anecdotes and was great at giving her advice on dealing with the admiralty. The way he looked at her made her feel...special.

"Captain on ze bridge!"

That never failed to make her smile. Her ship. It was an amazing feeling. Even though her personal life was a mess, she was in control here. She walked forward confidently and sat in The Chair, gracefully crossing her legs.

"Status report, Mister Spock."

Spock moved from his station and took his customary place by her side only giving her the briefest of glances.

"We are due to leave orbit from Risa in four hours. Our orders are to head to the Romulan neutral zone and patrol there for the next 2 months which will include star mapping the area in more detail as the Enterprise has high resolution scanners compared to other ships in the past."

Spock handed Kirk the new orders on a PADD and Jamie looked it over quickly, signed the document acknowledging the orders and handed it back. Ever the consummate professional. She smiled up at him and he raised a questioning brow.

"Excited about the mission?" She asked teasing. Spock looked over the PADD before replying.

"I am neither excited or not excited about the mission at hand though I admit to curiosity about the Paulson Nebula and Alterean Rift."

Of course. Kirk thought. She nodded her dismissal and he left to return to his station. It was quiet for the next several hours. She was just typing up the orders and ready to start departure procedures when Uhura's voice rang out in the silence.

"Sir, we're receiving a transmission of unknown origin."

"From the planet?" Kirk stood and turned to the communications officer. Uhura's graceful hands were flying over her console while her brows were drawn in concentration. She shook her head, puzzled.

"No...nor can I identify where it's coming from. I don't see a ship's transponder signal either."

Her voice was tight with irritation. Kirk knew she was the best and if she couldn't figure it out now, she would very quickly.

"Let's hear it." Kirk ordered and the next second a flash of light appeared in the bridge causing everyone to shield their eyes. When they lowered their hands alarms started ringing. Kirk saw a man with curly dark hair and an outfit reminiscent of 18th century earth. Velvet and lace surrounded him and he looked to be around forty but a mischievous glint in his dark eyes reminded Kirk of a child.

"Oh, do turn off that annoying noise." He waved a hand and all the alarms ceased. Kirk jerked her hand to tell Uhura to call security which she quickly did. This was why she loved her crew. They understood her without her having to talk. The man stepped forward and started walking around Jamie, looking her over with a satisfied smirk. She clenched her fists in irritation. Sulu and Chekov started forward but Kirk held up a hand to make them stand down. They didn't have weapons and didn't know what they were facing. The man smiled and crossed his arms.

"Well now, my dear. I must say you turned out quite nice."

He sounded pleased and Spock stepped down from his place at the science station. His frame was tense and his eyes sparked dangerously.

"Who are you and what is your purpose for entering a Starfleet vessel illegally." He looked at the man who was eyeing Kirk like a child who is seeing a new toy. Jamie stepped back and had a bad feeling about this character. Spock moved to place himself in between the man and Kirk which only served to irritate her. She didn't need anyone to protect her.

"And what is your interest in our captain?" Spock asked calmly but Kirk could feel the tension in his words, the unspoken threat but the man simply smiled and held out his hands in what, to most, would be a placating gesture but to Kirk, it was patronizing. She moved out from behind Spock and dodged his arms that were trying to shield her and stood next to him.

"I am Trelane. A member of the Q continuum." He smiled like his statement would mean something. "I've met your dear captain before in another place and another time."

Jim scowled and Trelane continued.

"I'm sad to say that our meeting was...less than cordial. Now that I am older and wiser I have been working to make amends since you were conceived." He answered looking at Jamie.

She stepped fully around Spock and narrowed her eyes at this creature. "What are you talking about?" She growled.

Spock whispered a warning and tried to push her back but her anger was overriding her sense. The doors to the bridge burst open with Hendorff and his security team, phasers drawn and aimed at the intruder. Before anything could be said, Trelane waved a hand and the team froze in mid-motion.

Kirk whirled, her hands fisted at her sides. "What the hell are you playing at? What did you do to my people?"

"I told you that I'm here to make amends, my dear captain. I can't have anyone interrupting that."

Spock moved forward in a defensive stance and Jamie couldn't risk Spock too. "Stand down, commander!" She snapped. Trelane's gaze settled on Spock with an excited smile.

"I'm so glad you're both here! It makes things so much easier." He waved his hands and to the bridge crew's horror both Spock and the captain disappeared in a flash of light. Trelane turned to them.

"I'll have them back to you in a tic!" Sulu and Chekov leaped forward only to hit empty air as Trelane vanished from the bridge. Uhura called Lt. Cmdr. Carol Marcus to the bridge. They had to find them and figure out what was going on.