Pike and the Reminder

The cadets all filed in, Jim in the front chatting with Bones. He settled them down and got to the day's demo. He was teaching them the fundamentals of combat training. Something kept making his Godchild look at him.

Jim was pretty in there with everything involving his family. He'd forgiven his mom, found Sam after ten years and even managed to live in the hearts of his father's teachers and best friends.

"Uncle Chris, what's the matter?" he found his Godfather during a break, and they sat together on the steps.

` "Nothing, angel I'm fine," Jim was not at all convinced. He looked at his Godfather in shock, and shook his head.

"No… no, you aren't, please don't lie to me…"

"Listen to me, everything is OK. Mom's gonna come with auntie and we'll all go for drinks tonight,"

"Uncle Archer was crying before class, I saw him… please, tell me…" Jim was on the verge of tears, he hated seeing his Godfather, any of the Admirals hurting. Pike relented.

"Come here, baby," he slipped his strong arms around his Godchild, and they watched the gulls fly over the Bay.

"He told me when he got back, we would all go for baby clothes, and a drink with Nona Pike… Then he said goodbye to your uncle Archer twice, I didn't want him to leave Jim…" Jim held his Godfather tighter, resting his head on Pike's shoulder like when he was a toddler. The bell sounded to change classes.

"Go on, go give Uncle Archer a hug for me and your mama," Jim hugged him again; Pike smiled through tears and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

Archer was in the middle of his first years taking their midterm. Jim didn't want to interrupt. He quietly knocked.

"Hey, whats up little one," Archer smiled; Jim just hugged his uncle close.

"I wish Daddy was here with you, me, uncle Chris, and Mommy…" Jim whispered, Archer tightened his hold on him.

"I know baby, we all do…" Archer put his hands on either side of his face, gently stroking the tanned, gorgeous flesh.

"Come on, come proctor with me, I need my Jimmy where I can see him." Jim knew they'd give him a note for engineering.

They went back to Archer's office, and uncle told him stories of when the three were Jim's age. Jim loved hearig the story of when he and his Mom had come home, and Chris and Archer had watched the newborn. Pike, ever the quick to detail had preselected lullabies for th baby. They took turns putting him on each others chest in the officers lounge, singing to him, and telling him stories. Archer had been looking after a scared Sam, and they snuggled with both until everyone was asleep.

"And that... my angel, is how we vowed everyday to care for you and your brother. It is an honour to have such a charge, James, Your Godfather takes his role very seriously, an God help anyone that tried to kill you..." Jim just curled hi fingers around Archers uniform, the scratchy material so familar and safe.