bitter water || star trek

CHAPTER ONE

Murphy's bike flew down the streets of Hobart, occasionally sliding on the corners of wet road. She was going to be late for dinner if she stalled once more. Murphy just knew her dad was going to chew her out for staying late in the library, not like he never did. The emerald green bike flew over the last bump before she rode into the driveway. Murphy was momentarily confused by the other car seated in the driveway before she made her way around the side, not daring to go through the front door in case she was going to be lectured. Placing her bike in the shed under her window, she continued to the outer wall climbing up branches and railing to her second story bedroom. Precariously balanced on a branch and pole from the verandah Murphy pushed her bedroom window open before falling through it to her bedroom floor, in a pile of limbs. Stretching out onto the hardwood floor unceremoniously, she huffed and then looked up and around. The two men standing in her room were unfamiliar and surprising, so much so it prompted to her so speak or rather yell. "What the fuck!" she said leaping up her backpack still on her back.

A loud thump and yelling pulled Jim out of making dinner; he knew the voice that was yelling. So, he ran up the stairs to the centre of the commotion, the lasagne could wait, however not before yelling "Language." Standing in the doorway of his daughter's room, Jim had to stop himself from laughing at Murphy's expression. Her mouth was dropped open, her eyes were squinted, and her eyebrows furrowed; the rest of her didn't look any better, her bag was hanging off one shoulder, coat barely on and the rest of Murphy's clothes were ruffled. Jim turned to the other men in the room, and then spoke, "I thought you were going to the bathroom, or the study. Not here," Jim's surprised at how calm he sounds, on the inside he's not. On the inside he was getting ready to fight, annoyed by their inability to understand that he didn't want them here. Jim turns to Murphy once more, watching her smile and then raise an eyebrow.

Leonard is surprised by how much Jim reminds him of Admiral Pike, no longer the reckless young man he once knew. The teenage girl standing in the corner of the room confuses him even more. Her posture and actions make him remember his days with the cadet version of the man stood in the other corner of the room. Her eyes are the same as Jim's once were, so blue and alive with curiosity to help the universe. Jim's eyes aren't as alive anymore, now full of soft curiosity underplayed by his current emotions, the hurt and anger that should surprise him even more, if he didn't feel the same for Jim. Watching as the man who was once his best friend and a young girl smiled at each other, their smiles were the same. Leonard knew it was his turn to leave, their shared look was to sacred for their next conversation, and Spock looked like he was going to have a stroke if he stayed any longer. Turning to Spock, he nodded as they turned to Jim. "We have to go," was all he could say, Jim nodded in turn, leaving the room after the pair. The teen moved to follow Jim, leaning into his side as they walked to the front door. As they walked, he noticed the family photos that were placed along the wall. A particular one caught his eye, Jim with Admiral Pike, Doctor Boyce and the teen, however along with them was a sandy haired boy in cadet reds, he was stood behind the girl holding on to her and Jim. This confused Leonard even more.

Jim turned to them once more when the stood just outside the front door, "It was nice to see you once more, Doctor, Commander," he was obviously lying through his teeth, and addressed them once more as Starfleet officers to imply they weren't friends to his daughter who was pressed into his side.

"Who were they?" Murphy asked once their hover car had left their driveway, she had an idea but knew it was better to ask than assume. "They were once friends of mine from the enterprise, they were sent by Starfleet," Her father's expression said all that he didn't, they wanted to recruit him, again. "That's fun," Murphy replied before moving to walk down the hall, pulled back into her father's arms seconds later. "You were late kiddo," Jim said wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a tight hug. "Sorry" Murphy squeaked before fighting her way out of his arms. The sixteen year old, who failed in her escape attempts, gave up and rested back against her father's chest. "You have to come home at a good time Murph, you'll over work otherwise," he says as he moves them down the hall. "Okay," Murphy's smile makes her dad laugh, "But we're still going surfing tomorrow?" the pure excitement in her next question is contagious; it makes Jim's grip tighten and his smile to grow larger.

Dinner is a quiet affair later, the father and daughter pair sit on the couch to watch old holo re-runs and detective shows that make them laugh further. A pause in the laughter lets Murphy turn to her dad, "What did Starfleet want?" the question makes Jim pause, before he sighs and turns to Murphy. "They wanted my advice on some star system they were going to investigate, but that would mean I would have to travel on the Enterprise to the system and then study it. Which would take six months, and another six if I agreed to look at something they wanted help with at HQ. Which I didn't," Jim explains looking towards Murphy's furrowing brow. "Also from what I understand the Enterprise has a very similar crew to when I was on it, and I don't want to even think about going there again," Jim's final statement makes Murphy even more confused. "Why send the Doctor and Commander to ask if you have such a bad history together?" Murphy's question makes Jim think. "Maybe they don't want me to go?" he tries, shrugging before returning his attention to the holo show playing before him.