A Brother's Fury Stardate 2258.28+

K’alod Merdoch had seen his house fall to ruin as they were defeated over and over by the Federation. It wasn’t one of the big Klingon houses but it had been an honorable one. His own people could barely stop from fighting one another, let alone try to win a war with superior numbers. Klingons had been victorious against larger numbers before but the Federation was made up of so many different races. They were difficult to predict and his house committed too many ships in some of the worst defeats the Klingons ever had. He and his brother, J’mis each had the newer Birds of Prey. They had been conducting raids on Federation Colonies and small convoys. Their ships were equipped with cloaking systems., disruptor cannons and PhotonTorpedo launchers. They attacked not because they had to, the war was just about over. But because they wanted to. The thirst for violence and revenge fueled their attack.

3 hours 15 minutes after going to warp...

“So in all the years I’ve known you Spock, and I’ve never seen you laugh. Not even smile. Lt. Turner here has seen you laugh and cry. And I missed that,” Kirk said musingly. Spock raised one eyebrow. He didn’t particularly enjoy talking about emotions. Certainly not expressing them but he had. It was not a pleasant experience.

“For humans expressing emotions is commonplace, for Vulcans it is unheard of. I am...embarrassed, that it happened,” Spock said. “Oh c’mon Spock, we all know you’re only half Vulcan. Thus, you have emotions. I’m just sorry I missed it,” Kirk said. “I, am not,” Spock said. Kirk grinned as he turned back to face forward again.

Doctor McCoy was bored sitting in Sickbay. All of his patients were released and he was just sitting there and decided to come up to the bridge to see what was going on...and to at least be near Elyse. There was a medical station there so it wasn’t like he didn’t belong on the bridge. The turbolift opened and he stepped onto the bridge. Kirk saw him come up,

“Ah, Bones, I take it everyone has been returned to duty?” Kirk asked. McCoy came up to the railing and leaned against it as he looked at the viewscreen. Even looking at it made him uneasy. “The whole ship has a clean bill of health,” McCoy replied.

Elyse had contacted her father the night before to tell him about what had happened and when she mentioned the Distinguished Service Medal he had been extremely proud of her and had told her so. Making Captain Idris Turner proud had to be well earned and he didn't just say it to everyone. Elyse was still riding on that high the next day. 

After they went into warp, Elyse continued to monitor the helm, while Kaia monitored communications. Kaia had heard the coordinates that Kirk had given Sulu and she secretly relayed those to the Romulans. She glanced between the Captain and Kaia as she remembered the very familiar way Kaia had said the Captain's first name while unconscious. She began to wonder if there wasn't something more going on between them, but she kept her mouth shut about it. It wasn't any of her business...although she wanted to know. 

A little while later Dr. McCoy came onto the bridge. Elyse glanced over at him with a little smile and she saw him smile back at her. They had made plans for a date that evening. Elyse was very excited and also a little nervous.

"Come to see the sights Doctor?" Kirk asked. He was in a good mood and wanted to banter a bit. "Well its a sight better than staring at 4 walls all day," he said and when he said that his eyes shifted to Elyse though her back was to him. "I came to see how everyone was feeling," he said. Kirk looked around the room and his and Kaia's eyes connected for a moment before he looked around the room once more. "I think everyone is feeling well. Lt. Fox had the worst of it and she's doing fine," he said. He knew she was a little tired but she was doing her duty and that was good enough for him. Besides, he didn't want to tell the doctor that.

"Well, make certain everyone gets their breaks. Plenty food and fluids," he said before he moved to his medical station. From there he could use the internal ship's sensors to monitor the crew. He was looking for temperature spikes in the crew so he began his scans. The medical station was to Elyse's right. She could see McCoy's left shoulder and back if she turned her head a little. Spock sat directly behind her to the right side of the Captain. Sulu sat to her left. Kaia's station was behind the Captain to his left and Spock's science station beside the medical station. There was a tertiary Omni station to Sulu's left that could be configured for all sorts of things. Science, Medical, Tactical, Communications. It depended on who sat there and what they did. It configured itself by biosense or by access code. Sometimes Lt. Quinn would come up and take that station but it wasn't often.

"How long til we reach the Starbase Mr. Sulu?" Kirk asked. "16.25 hours Captain," Sulu said.

6 Hours later. 1600 hours...

Kirk was in the cafeteria. He had gotten a tray of food; Salmon, green beans, mashed potatoes and a piece of cheesecake. Iced Tea to drink. He didn't sit with the crew often and today he sat at one of the Officer's tables. Spock was at the Con along with Sulu, Ensign Rachael Bates at the Helm and Ensign Alan Peterson at the communications station. Bates and Peterson were still learning and sometimes they were allowed to take duty shifts in between Alpha and Bate shifts. McCoy just opted for a cup of coffee since he and Elyse were going to have a meal in her room. It was either hers or his and it felt more right to go to hers. Officers had personal replicators in their rooms and he was curious what Elyse was going to replicate for their meal. Or, if she had even thought about it? It was a date so he figured she would think about it. He had a bottle of red wine ready to go. Real wine from California, a Merlot which went with alot of different kinds of cuisine though McCoy wasn't much of a wine snob. He was a pretty simple man in that respect with simple tastes.

By the time their meal break came around Kaia was quite hungry. She was getting her strength back and being hungry was a good sign. She also picked the salmon, but chose a salad to go along with it and an iced tea to drink. She picked up her tray and turned and saw Kirk sitting at one of the Officer's tables. However, she also saw Nathan sitting alone at another table. She saw Kirk look at her. Her first instinct was go sit with him, but she needed to talk to Nathan about what had happened. Her memories had been slowly returning and she felt they needed to talk. She walked over to his table and asked if she could join him. When he said yes, she sat down across from him. She sat facing towards Kirk. 

"Nathan, I wanted to talk to you about what happened. I just wanted to apologize for my behavior. I hope you can forgive me."

Elyse entered the cafeteria just as Bones was leaving. They shared a little smile before Elyse went to get some food. Once she had gotten her tray she looked over and saw the Captain sitting alone at one of the Officer's tables. She couldn't help but notice that he was looking rather intently at the table where Kaia was sitting with Nathan. She slowly approached the Captain's table and smiled at him. "Mind if I join you Captain?"

Nathan looked up to see Elysa standing there. He had just came down for a bite and then go right back to it. He nodded when she asked to sit with him though he wasn't certain he wanted to talk to Kaia right then. He was embarrassed and also a little hurt by what she had said earlier. He really liked Kaia but it was clear she didn't want him in that way. Her words made his cheeks color but he managed to maintain his composure although just barely.

"You weren't in your right mind. We know that now. It's actually embarrassing," he said and felt his face heating but he continued. "It's embarrassing because it is what I wanted though I don't normally engage in such things," he said. The memory of her touching him and the way she spread her legs, inviting him to take her was something that was going to take time to forget.

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Kirk stood when Elyse approached and gestured for her to sit. "Not at all Lieutenant," he said. He honestly preferred a less formal way of addressing one another but it wasnt very professional. And these were new officers and female and he wasnt certain if they'd and others, would understand.

Kaia could tell Nathan was embarrassed and uncomfortable and for some reason she felt upset about. She didn't understand what was happening to her and why she was starting to care so much about what these people thought. She sighed a little and looked at him.

"I would really like it if we could be friends Nathan. Although I will understand if you'd rather not."

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Elyse smiled and took a seat across from him, unintentionally blocking Kirk's view of Kaia and Nathan. She hadn't known the Captain very long, but she could tell he was very different from the other Captains she had known or met. She gave him a little smile. "I honestly don't mind if you call me Elyse."

Nathan just looked at Kaia a moment. "So...then there's no chance...uh, you'd ever develop...feelings for me?" he asked. It took a lot to say that but he was someone who spoke his mind and his heart, in this case.

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Kirk couldn't see Kaia and Nathan so he decided to just let it go. "Alright, Elyse it is," He said. "I know its informal but in stressful situations, saying Lt. Turner versus just 'Elyse' just takes too much time. I open to informality as long as it does not offend anyone. It might Spock but, he'd never say so if it did so I just tend to do what I want," he said as he took a bite of his fish. "I was actually surprised Captain Lucas didn't do something more to try and keep you," he said.

Kaia wasn't sure what to say to Nathan. She couldn't tell him the truth about her feelings for Kirk, but she also didn't want to lead him on either. She looked across the table at him. "You are incredibly handsome Nathan and a great guy, but I think you and I would do better as friends."

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Elyse took a few bites of her salad. She hadn't gotten much to eat since she was going to be having dinner with Dr. McCoy later and she wanted to be sure she was hungry. "Well, to be honest he did offer me a promotion, but I turned it down. I've heard nothing but incredible things about you and your crew and the opportunity to go on a 5 year mission does not come up that often. I feel in the end that this was better for me."

Nathan looked down at his plate. His brow furled in hurt but he nodded. "I understand," He said softly in his thick, british accent. He managed to look back up...to face her and look her in the eyes but it was difficult. We're going to be working together for the next 5 years. I think we could be friends," he said but the way he looked at her, Kaia knew it would take him time to stop wanting them to be more. He had seen her all but naked so he knew what he was going to be missing. But, he wasn't one to push so he would have to try and forget everything that's happened.

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"Well, if you continue to perform on this mission better than you already have, you'll be sitting in that chair. I never met Captain Turner but I know he is a good man," Kirk said. "Spock has nothing but praise for you. That with your performance, taken together I stole a good officer from the fleet," he said with a pleased grin as he took a bite of the potatoes.

Elyse smiled warmly at Kirk. She liked him quite a bit. He was young, but he was a very good Captain and clearly cared a great deal about his crew. She liked his positive attitude, but he still expected a lot from those serving on the Enterprise. 

She became quiet a moment as she began to think about her upcoming date with Dr. McCoy. She knew that Kirk had known him for a while now. "I have a rather strange question for you. Do you know what Dr. McCoy's favorite meal is?" She blushed a little when she saw Kirk look at her with a knowing grin. "We have a date tonight and I wanted to have something he would really like."

Kirk nearly choked on his iced tea and he wiped his mouth with his napkin. He smiled. "Well, that didn't take long," he said with a chuckle. But, he knew it was going to happen. 5 years was a very long time. And everyone had had that speech. It was one of those speeches that was repeated to them all through the academy and before they took a new posting on a ship.

'If you engaged in personal relations on a starship, then, if it did not work out, you are expected to act in a professional manner toward the individual you coupled with. Likewise if it did workout.'

"His favorite food, hmm. Well, something basic...like a steak or something he can eat with his hands. Ribs or a burger," he said. When she blinked at him he elaborated. It was a very ancient type of food. Now adays, people did not eat with their hands. "Chef knows how to make that stuff...they call it Barbecue I think," Kirk said. "And beans and fried potatoes," he said. "Chef can make all kinds of foods and we have alot in stock ofcourse. "He likes a good Bourbon or whiskey after dinner as well," he said. "You can get that from Chef as well," he said.

Elyse knew that engaging in romantic relationships while onboard Starships was not always smart, but 5 years was a long time and she knew that if it didn't work out between McCoy and herself that they would still be able to behave in a professional manner. However, she was hoping it might work out. She listened to what Kirk told her and smiled a little at the idea of having the chef make something for them. She had never heard of ribs or a burger before but if it was something he would really like and something that would surprise him then she would talk to the chef about that. 

"Well, I'll have to talk to the chef then. Thank you." She was quiet a moment before speaking again. "I'm glad that Kaia is doing better. Dr. McCoy said it was really touch and go there for a little while."

Kirk did look over at Kaia and Nathan. They were talking softly to one another. By Nathan's body language, he was just dealt a blow of some kind. He could guess what that was about. He knew he had feelings for Kaia. Strong feelings and he wanted her in the way a man wants a woman. But he still wasn't certain it was a good idea. He thought he could satisfy himself with dalliances from women among the crew but he wasn't so certain now. Seeing Kaia again had muddled everything up. Was it a good thing? Or bad? He could not say but her blue eyes haunted him in his dreams.

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"Does this mean you don't want to assist me in martial demonstrations then?" Nathan asked. His classes were going to begin next week.

Kaia looked at Nathan. "No, I can still assist you with that. I'm actually looking forward to it. I didn't get a lot of opportunities at the Academy to do things like that."

Nathan smiled but it was a weak smile. He would take this in consolation. "Well...I better get back," Nathan said as he stood up. He picked up his tray. "Perhaps I will see you later," Nathan said politely though he doubted he would. He favored her with a nod and left the table. Kirk saw him go and decided to wait until Kaia had gotten up to leave as well. He saw her tray had food on it though and knew she needed to eat. The virus really did a number on their systems and he had eaten alot this morning.

Kaia gave Nathan a little smile and a nod, but she found herself sighing as he walked away. All of these new, strange emotions were confusing her and were starting to cloud her mind a little. However, she would push past it to do the job she was sent here to do. 

Elyse eventually got up and left as well. Kaia was still eating, but as she looked up she saw Kirk sitting at his table still. She saw him look at her and she looked back at him.

Kirk was visited by several people. Crewman and officers, and the Yeoman who needed him to sign something. When she finished, only then when she got up to deposit her tray did Kirk get up. He followed her at a distance until she got into the turbo lift. "Hold please," he asked. There were two others in the lift with her. They asked for desk 8 where as he and Kaia were going to deck 5. Once the two crew members got off and the turbo lift started up again Kirk stopped it.

"Im glad that your feeling better Kaia. I won't ask what this thing with Nathan was about. Though I suspect you'd like it if I were a little jealous. I'm not you know. I really do hope you find someone while on board," Kirk said. It was not easy to say that either. He just knew it needed to be said. He would not hold her back from finding someone. He could not know that it was exactly the opposite of what she wanted him to say for several reasons.

Kaia looked over at Kirk as he began to speak. What he said was not at all what she had been expecting him to say and she found that it angered her. She had just told him yesterday that she needed him after he had said the same thing to her and now he was saying he hoped she would find someone? She felt her fists clench and then she forced them to relax. However, Kirk would see her jaw set and her blue eyes became cold towards him. 

"So yesterday you tell me that you need me and I tell you that I need you too and now your telling me to go find someone else?"

Kirk saw her eyes, they were like blue ice toward him. He thought the turbo lift had dropped in temperature right then they were so cold. "Kaia...You have a long career ahead of you. A wonderful career. Where do you see this going? Will we 'date' forever? Your room or mine? Relationships advance or they die," he said. "As we are now...we are friends...at least, I hope we are. What if we take this up a notch? Are we...lovers then? And then after that? Or do you see us just staying that? At some point, this mission will end. In 5 years you could be a Lt. Commander by then. You could have your own ship. And then where would we be? Hurting because we're apart. Is that where you want this to go?" He asked. He knew there was alot of 'theory'in what he said. And most of that was years away yet but he did want to know what she thought.

Kaia felt like her heart was being twisted inside her chest. She didn't understand why she was feeling this way or why she even cared. What would it matter in the end? But for some strange reason it did matter...it mattered a lot to her. There was just something she felt when Kirk was around...or even when he wasn't...that she had never felt with anyone else. It was strong and true and the thought of not being with him was extremely difficult for her. 

"I don't know. I don't have any answers for you. All I know is that I've never felt what I feel for you for anyone else. And I'm not just talking sex...I'm talking about everything. I have no interest in anyone else. That's why I turned Nathan down. I just...I just want to be with you James."

Kirk could see she was on the edge. The thought of not being with her. Not loving her made his stomach churn. He had never felt like this about any woman. Though he had but it was the same woman. He didn't realize he had closed the gap between them. He had taken her into his arms. Her eyes looked sad and lost as if she needed him. And then he was kissing her. 'Why am I doing this?' He asked. But he was and he didn't want to stop. Her lips were warm and familiar like her arms as they snaked around his neck. She pressed her body against him. Familiar memories popped into his head. He did remember her. The way she kissed him. The way her body felt against his. How desperate they were to see one another. Dodging between classes and appointments just for a moment. A word, a look, a kiss. Anything to reaffirm that she belonged to him. For a moment he became lost in her arms. It was just something that happened when she was this close. But things had changed. He held the responsibility of his entire crew on his shoulders now. And they were no longer at the Academy.

Kirk did the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. He reached up and gently removed his hands from his neck. Her face shifted forward as if unwilling to let their kiss end. And then it did end. With him looking at her and her him. The elevator had started moving again. The manual stop only lasted for so long on its own. He still held her hand and their eyes were locked with one another. Kirk took a step back. He could not lose himself like this. He knew now that he still loved her. The absence had only made that feeling stronger.

"I'm...sorry," he said even though his own words made bile rise up into his throat. The doors opened and Elyse was there. Kirk took the opportunity to 'escape' and he moved quickly down the hall away from the turbo lift. Elyse stepped on and the doors closed behind her. "Oh, Hello Kaia, I was just..." She began. She had been to talk to the Chef to get everything ready for tonight.

Feeling James' lips against her own and breathing in his familiar scent made Kaia's head spin and her heart feel like it was expanding in her chest. She pressed her body up against his as memories of them finding a quiet, private meeting spot between classes came back into her mind. Though the sex between them had been incredible, it hadn't just been about sex. They would often stay up late just talking about anything and everything. Kaia knew in that moment that what she felt for Kirk was love. The thought both frightened and excited her. She thought about just confessing everything to him in that moment. To tell him what she had been sent to do...to find a way to fix it, but then she felt Kirk reach up and gently remove her arms from around his neck. She tried to stop this from ending...but as he pulled away she looked into his eyes and her heart began to break. She just stood there numbly as he said he was sorry and then stepped off the lift. Kaia was barely aware that Elyse had joined her. She just stood there quietly as the pain began to consume her.

"Kaia? Are you alright?" Elyse asked. When the woman just looked at her Elyse knew something was very wrong. Elyse hit the stop button on the turbo lift. "Kaia?" She asked gently.

Kaia hadn't realized it, but tears had started to stream down her cheeks. The only other time she had felt this much pain was when she had watched her parents die on the USS Aurora. She looked over at Elyse and part of her told her not to confide in her...that she was ultimately only using Elyse and everyone else on the ship...but the other part of her needed and wanted a friend. 

"If I tell you something I need you to promise me that you won't tell anyone else," she said as she wiped her eyes. She waited for Elyse to promise and then she drew in a shaky breath. "James...I mean Captain Kirk and I...we...we had a relationship back at the Academy. Ever since we met up again there has been something building up between us...but now its over. I...I know he loves me....and I love him...but he says he has responsibilities and that it won't work between us...."

The turbo lift had started again but Elyse stopped it again and came over to Kaia. She put a hand onto her shoulder. Elyse did not have alot of experience with this sort of thing. But she had friends at the Academy. And some of them had had their hearts broken and had needed comforting. Elyse wanted to slap the Captain upside the head for what he was doing to Kaia but she knew she could not do that. "Well...you'll just have to set him straight. He looked upset when I came onto the lift. So he's feeling what you're feeling I think," she said. "And you know he loves you," she said. 'The Captain!? What was Kaia thinking!' She shifted and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "If you want, I could come to your quarters. We could get some wine and talk?" she said with an inviting smile which meant they'd talk about the weaker sex. She knew she had a date tonight but Leonard would understand...at least she hoped he would. Kaia looked as if she needed her and Elyse wanted to be there for her.