Kirk sat in the waiting area, his head buried in his hands. Pike walked over to the cadet and sat in the adjacent chair.

'I almost lost it again,' Kirk mumbled into his hands.

Pike looked thoughtfully at the young man sitting beside him.

'No, Kirk… I knew you'd never pull the trigger,' he told the cadet.

Kirk dropped his hands and looked the Starfleet Captain in the eyes.

'But I almost did,' he repeated, 'if Kevin hadn't been there I'd be in that cell right now with Kodos.'

Pike stared back into the young mans eyes.

'But you didn't,' he said firmly, 'Kevin was there and you're out here while Kodos is in there.'

Kirk's gaze didn't budge and Pike's eyes narrowed slightly at his scrutiny.

'Why was Kevin there?' Kirk asked, although his tone implied he already knew the answer.

Pike didn't shift his gaze either.

'Why don't you ask him?' he said evenly.

'I'm asking you,' Kirk pointed out.

Normally, Pike would have sternly reprimanded any cadet who dared answer him in such a way but Kirk was an exception; after all, Pike had been the one who had found Kirk and rescued him on Tarsus IV.

'I saw you scanning the crowd when I was holding the phaser against Kodos. Just barely, mind you – in my peripheral vision – but I saw your eyes nevertheless,' Kirk told him.

Pike raised his eyebrow at Kirk in amusement. Kirk took it as a sign to continue.

'You weren't looking in the direction that back-up was coming from, so you must have been looking for something or someone else,' he mused.

Kirk finally tore his eyes away and leaned back in his chair, sighing as he did so and staring at the wall in front of him.

'You knew Kevin was going to show up, didn't you,' he stated disgruntledly.

Pike turned his gaze to the opposite wall as well.

'Anger is a curious thing,' he said innocently, 'it can cause determination and success, or cloud our judgment – make us forget everything else and ultimately cause failure.'

Kirk grunted, he propped his elbow up on the armrest and rested his head in the palm of his hand.

'I guess Starfleet doesn't take risks, huh?' he said matter-of-factly.

Pike inclined his head apologetically.

'The thought of your boys may have been enough to stop you from strangling an adversary, but Kodos is your nemesis; I thought you might've needed a little more realism that a memory,' he said helpfully.

'It's a good thing you did, too,' Kirk told him.

Kevin sat on Kirk's bed, poking through his friend's padd – with permission of course.

'You sure you want to do this?' Kirk's muffled voice drifted through the sealed off entry to his bathroom.

'Yep,' Kevin replied, 'If you're doing it, so am I – there's no way your going through this alone. Anyway, I got asked too as well you know.'

Kirk walked out of the bathroom, dressed in modest civilian clothing. He dropped his Starfleet academy uniform onto his bed and Kevin handed him back his padd.

'I want to see Kodos get what he deserves,' Kevin told his friend firmly, 'the media already know who I am ever since his arrest so it's not like I'm risking my privacy for this – my secrets are out as much as yours.'

Kirk smiled fondly at Kevin's familiar, determined attitude. He nodded and motioned to the door.

'Ok, let's go.'

Kevin alighted timidly from the vehicle; he swallowed nervously as he sighted the crowd of reporters not far off – barely being held back by security. He felt a hand on his shoulder and twisted his head around. Kirk smiled reassuringly at his friend and nodded. Kevin took a deep breath and returned the smile before the pair turned forward and braved the swarm of reporters. It was uncanny; Kodos trial date had only been announced a few hours ago yet the media had still managed to locate the venue and set up shop in time for the hearing. Noticing Kevin and Kirk, they immediately doubled their efforts to over-run security.

'Jim Kirk! What are your thoughts on todays trial?'

'Are you expecting a positive outcome?'

'What do you have to say to the families of those who lost loved ones on Tarsus IV?'

'Kevin Riley! What was your connection to Jim Kirk during the massacre?'

Kirk maintained his gentle grip on Kevin's shoulder as he steered his friend protectively towards the courthouse. He kept his head low and turned away from the cameras. Their escort of Starfleet officers did their best to keep the reporters at bay.

'Why would you attend the academy of the same people who abandoned you when you needed them most?'

'Isn't Starfleet the reason your father is no longer alive?'

Kirk waved his hand in a warding gesture towards the press.

'No comment!' he yelled at them.

Unfortunately, it did little to stem the flood of questions.

The trial was quick and simple. Kirk and Kevin respectively provided their testimonies and each confirmed that the man on trial was indeed, Kodos the executioner. After a brief squabble between the lawyers, the judge declared his verdict and Kodos' punishment for his crimes.

Kirk sat atop the same hill Kevin had found him on. He stared out into the distance, breathing in deeply. For the first time in a long time, he felt absolutely and unequivocally free. Kodos was behind bars and his faith in Earth's justice system was restored. In the distance, he could hear two sets of footsteps approaching him from behind. When they were a few metres away from him, he turned to see their owners and smiled as he recognized his friends. Returning the joyous expression, Bones and Kevin sat down onto the grass either side of Kirk.

'Looks like you two have gotten to know each other,' commented Kirk.

After hearing of Kodos' hearing on the news, Bones had tracked his friend to Starfleet Security to check on his wellbeing. Upon arrival, he had seen his friend conversing with a young boy. Putting two and two together, Bones had quickly concluded that the boy was Kirk's 'old friend' from Tarsus IV.

Riley grinned at the doctor.

'He and I have similar goals,' he said.

Kirk raised an eyebrow.

'Is that so?' he questioned, 'would those goals happen to involve me?'

'Yeah, goals to keeping your sorry ass out of trouble,' Bones scoffed.

Kirk grinned as he swung an arm over each of his friend's shoulders.

'What would I do without you two?' he laughed.

Bones frown deepened which only caused Kirk's grin to grow wider.

'As if you'd ever make our job any easier,' Bones grumbled.

The trio fell silent as they watched the world below them. Life was good thought Kirk as he sat atop the hill – he couldn't ask for anything more than for friends who loved him. He real family might be gone, but his friends were his family now.