For being an idiot. You are not fine! You, the most social person on the ship, are sitting in your room doing paperwork! That's not the Jim Kirk I know. Now, what's going on? What did you do to Len?"
Jim sighed, still rubbing his head. Damn but the woman could cause some pain.
"It's confidential, Uhura."
"I know what happened on Tesla III, captain. Spock told me when he dumped me."
"I should have known."
Really, it wasn't surprising. After all, she would want a reason for calling an end relationship, and Spock wouldn't lie about it. Still—
"That doesn't mean I can talk to you."
Nyota smacked him in the back of the head again.
"Do that again and I'll throw your as in the brig!"
"Do it, but I've had enough of this! Whatever you've done, you're hurting Len! And yourself! I've already lost a man I loved. I can't lose my friends too!"
Jim lost count of the number of languages she used while ranting at him, but kept his hands raised, ready to ward off more blows. It didn't help that she was right.
"I've tried!" he yelled when he finally understood what she was saying, and she was yelling that he needed to apologize.
"I've tried! He won't talk to me! God, I've tried everything I can!"
He shot to his feet and started pacing.
"I've tried to apologize in person! I've commed him, I've sent messages! He won't answer me! He won't—I can't even blame him. It was a dick move, and I should have—I should have helped him, and instead I kept him here."
Nyota listened to more rambling that made little sense, but she was gradually able to put the pieces together. It sounded like Jim had a serious problem, one she had to help him straighten out. She would help him, because she meant it when she said she couldn't lose her friends.
"We'll figure it out. He can't stay mad at you forever."
Three days later, Jim was beginning to doubt his communication officer's words. He'd gone to Sickbay every day, and still Bones ignored him in anything other than an official capacity. Once he got past a patient's condition, he was done with talking. The full bottle of scotch that Jim had picked up on the space station was returned unopened. Messages were returned unread. Maybe Bones really could stay mad at him forever.
His only consolation, if it was any consolation, was that Spock wasn't having any better luck. And didn't that make him feel like shit for thinking that way. He shouldn't want Spock to fail.
"Captain, we're being hailed."
"Put it onscreen."
"Sir, they're demanding to speak with you, privately. Should I put it through to the ready room?"
That was strange. He couldn't even see a ship anywhere. Who was hailing them?
"They asked for you by name, Captain."
Even stranger. Now Jim really wanted to know who this was.
"I'll take it in the ready room. Mr. Spock, you have the con."
He thought he was ready for anything when he switched on the screen. He was wrong.
"Kirk! I wondered how long it would take you to answer your call."
"Admiral Pike?"
Jim stared at the screen in disbelief. Sure enough, Chris Pike's grinning face filled the view screen.
"What the—where are you?"
"I'm right in front of you."
"Bullshit. There was nothing on the screen. Seriously, where are you?"
Chris' smug grin widened as a call from the bridge came through.
"Captain, we have a visual on a small shuttlecraft."
"How the hell'd you do that?"
"Just let me on, Jim. I'll explain later."
"Uhura, alert bay two that we have an incoming shuttle."
Jim waited until he heard Nyota's confused agreement before heading for the shuttle bay, and his mentor. A million questions ran through his mind as he made his way through the Enterprise. What was Chris doing here? How did he mange to sneak in front of them without being seen?
The shuttle was already landed by the time Jim made it to the shuttle bay, and he was surprised to see not only Chris step out, but the counselor from Deep Space Six, the one who'd told off all the admirals. Now Jim was really confused.
"Jim, you remember Dr. O'Hara? She's come to see your CMO."
"No. No way. Bones doesn't need a shrink. He's doing fine."
Jim could think of only one reason Pike would bring a psychiatrist to see Bones, and he would not allow it.
"I'm not here to question his fitness, captain. I promise. Starfleet didn't send me."
Jim still wasn't sure if he could trust her. He didn't know her. He wouldn't put it past her to help Bones run off if he asked her to.
"Calm down, Kirk. She's not going to kidnap your CMO. She just asked to tag along when she learned I was coming out."
"How'd you do that, by the way?"
His interest in Chris' little ship outweighed his distrust of the shrink. Chris wouldn't let her take Bones off the ship. Besides, his authorization to leave was still revoked. Even if she was to try and take him with her, they wouldn't be able to transport anywhere, not even to a waiting ship. And Jim wasn't going to reinstate Bone's leave authorization until they had made up, and he had his b