Fic: Not Your Typical Saturday Night (Pike/McCoy
Title: Not Your Typical Saturday Night
Characters/Pairings: Pike/McCoy, Joanna
Word Count: 4,132 (it was supposed to be a drabble, but it ran away from me.)
Rating: PG-13 (Lost of Fluff)
Summary: Chris has never spent a Saturday night like this or had to play the role of daddy like this either, and yet he finds he sort of loves it.
A/N: I couldn't find a beta, so all mistakes are mine. Written for the lovely skyblue_reverie to cheer her up, she asked for fluff, so this might induce cavities. Hope you enjoy it, bb. As always comment are cherished!
Chris adjusts his glasses, scratches absently at his belly, which is peaking out from under his faded academy t-shirt that’s rucked up a little for the occasion and absently contemplates whether it’s worth the energy expended to reach over the armrest of the couch to the beer that is sweating in the cool-warm air of the living room.
In the end he decides it is, and takes a sip while picking up his place in the term paper he’s been absently reading for the better part of an hour. His heart isn’t in it tonight. He and Len should be out having a nice leisurely dinner.
But instead Len is elbows deep in a chest cavity, or whatever the hell Star Fleets head of surgery does when he gets an urgent page as they are about to walk out the door. It’s never really bothered him, that Len goes dashing off at all hours, and after 8 years of marriage-much of that spent on opposite ends of space-he’s grown accustomed to expecting unexpected. Fuck twenty years of friendship with Phil Boyce had already prepared him for that long before he ever met Len.
Never the less there are days, like this one, when he’s less than fond of sharing his husband with Star Fleet. Though he really can’t talk since not even two weeks ago he himself was dragged out of bed at a quarter till 2 am to discipline cadets found in a bar fight. So while tonight he is annoyed, he and Len both understand that dinners get interrupted by work and neither will be angry or petulant about it.
He sets the padd aside and swigs from his beer again. He glances around the room, uninterestedly checking the chrono. It’s still fairly early, 9:30, so he doesn’t expect Jo to be back for another hour or so.
That makes him smile wanly. If anyone had told his younger self that he’d be at home, alone, waiting for his husband and step daughter to come home on a Saturday night and completely okay with it, well he’d have called them a liar. In his younger days he was a Jim Kirk sort of rabble rouser. But then again Jim’s about to be a father any day now himself, with a plum dirt side position at the academy and comes by on Sunday’s for brunch, so maybe he needs a new measure of youthful irresponsibility.
Pike snorts in amusement at his own thoughts, and wonders if Joanna might be that new measure. But he discounts that thought quickly, she’s far too good a kid, though he does pray that Len gets home before Joanna, especially if the she ends up breaking curfew.
Because while he loves her like a daughter and is as over the moon about her spending the summer with them as Len is, he really doesn’t feel comfortable being the disciplinarian. He secretly prays that she doesn’t talk about him behind his back the way she does Clay, because God she sure can rip her other step father a new one, and Clay’s been around a hell of a lot longer than he has. But on the whole, they have a fine, if somewhat formal relationship.
Chris’ internal dialogue is broken at the sound of squealing tires peeling away from the front of the house. He struggles to his feet, instantly on alert. His legs are stiff, a sign that he’s been sitting in one position too long, but he forces them to move, and he’s at the door ready to look out the window when Joanna bustles in tears streaming down her face. She slams the door with vigor and the homeowner in him cringes a little hoping she’s not broken the hinges.
But fatherly instinct takes over as she steps further into the light in the living room and he can see her face is red, her mascara is in tracks down her face, and her eyes widen a little in surprise at seeing Chris standing there.
Her voice quivers just a little when she speaks, “I thought. I assumed. You and daddy had dinner reservations?”
Chris reacts mostly on instinct and tentatively reaches out to wrap his arms around her, relieved when she curls into him, burying her face in his shirt the way she used to when she was little and scrapped her knee. He drops a kiss to the top of her head, before answering her question, “he got called into the hospital right as we were about to leave for dinner. What happened Jo Jo? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shakes her head, but doesn’t speak and Chris’ heart stops beating for a second. He slowly walks her over towards the couch, and drags her down to sit, and then he waits. He can feel her tears soaking his shirt and he grows concerned, but he also knows Jo. And she’ll cry herself out in a matter of minutes and then she’ll be ready to talk.
True to the pattern after a few more minutes Jo sniffles and then pulls back slightly, so that she can unwrap herself from Chris.
He digs in the pocket of his jeans and produces a handkerchief and offers it to her.
Jo smiles and folds her legs up Indian style before taking the hanky from his hands. She murmurs a “thanks” then blows her noise.
Chris tries not to laugh at her as he watches her because he knows it would not be well received, but she is so much like her father at times, her little ritual to compose herself is Len through and through. She glares at him like she knows what he is thinking anyway, and he does laugh.
She offers him a smile, before she speaks again, her voice serious. She pulls a throw pillow into her lap and starts talking, “You gotta promise you won’t get mad, won’t do something stupid, and definitely won’t tell daddy.”
Chris huffs out a sigh and settles deeper into the couch. He has the strong sense that this isn’t going to be a conversation he’ll enjoy. “I won’t get mad, and I never do stupid things that’s uncle Jim’s department. As for not telling your dad, well sorry kid, I can’t promise that. I’ll think about it and if I don’t think he has to know, then maybe I won’t say anything, but honey, we share most everything, that’s what being married is.”
Joanna huffs, and hugs her pillow tighter, “I knew you’d say that. Fine. He’s gonna flip out.”
“What makes you think I won’t flip out?”
She chuckles, “You’re an Admiral, it’s like officially your job not to flip out. ‘Sides you promised not to do anything stupid, and you don’t think of me like a little baby the way daddy does.”
Chris laughed, a deep chest rattling laugh. “Okay, we’ll just go with that, though I’m not sure I agree. So what happed Jo Jo?”
“Well, Alex and I went to the movie liked planned, but he was acting weird the whole time.”
“What kind of weird?” Chris’ suspicions were already starting to rise. He knew Joanna, and there was something she was hedging about, something she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to tell him.
Joanna rolled her eyes and Chris had to resist the urge to laugh. She was a teenager through and through. “He kept trying to touch me in the movie theatre okay. God. I was just trying to save your heart Chris, daddy is always bitching about how you’ll have a heart attack, and I don’t want to send you to an early grave.”
Chris grabbed the throw pillow from behind his back and threw it at her face, “oi. That’s harsh, McCoy. I think my heart can take it, ‘sides, it’s your daddy who’d be looking for his phaser rifle right about now, not me. So go on, he was getting fresh at the movie.”
“Ugh, Chris. No one says getting fresh anymore.”
“Well, excuse me.”
Joanna laughed before she continued, “anyway, so like instead of holding my hand he put his arm around me and then tried to grab my boob. I mean how tacky is that anyway? And I actually wanted to see the movie, you know. So he was annoyed when I moved away from him and then he acted weird the whole rest of the movie.”
Chris for his part only nods, and credits his command track training as the only thing that allows him to keep a straight unfazed face. Because inside his mind he’s already dreading where the story is going that results in how upset she was when she’s come in the door. He’s also contemplating which one of his students, current or former, he can bribe to orchestrate putting the fear of god into the little bastard she’d gone out with.
“After the movie though he apologized and I figured what the hell, might as well forgive him, right. I mean he’s a teen age boy, and it’s not like he thinks of much else. Besides, Elle says we have to have pity on them or they might explode, they just can’t help themselves.”
“What?” Chris’ mind stutters at that statement, and he’s pretty sure he and Len need to have a chat about Jo’s best friend back home being a terrible influence.
Jo just looks at him with an utterly confused expression that would be hilarious if he hadn’t just been scared out of his wits. “What do you mean, what?”
“I mean you know that’s utter bull shit right. Teenage boys are no less capable of keeping their hormones in check than teenage girls are. Elle’s been fed some utter crap from some boy who wants to get in her pants. Honestly, Jo. I don’t want you compromising yourself because you think some boy can’t help himself and you owe him something.”
Chris frowns when Jo laughs at his little speech. It’s not instilling him with confidence. But before he can say anything else she speaks again.
“I’m not an idiot Chris. That’s like the oldest line in the book and I told Elle that when she said it. And you don’t gotta worry about me ‘compromisin’ myself anytime soon. There are other things I wanna be before I’m someone’s momma.”
“And you’re father and I couldn’t be more over the moon about that.”
“Anyway, so after the movie he apologized and I figured it wasn’t the first time, won’t be the last time he’s gotten a little too friendly, might as well move on. It’s not like we haven’t talked about it and he doesn’t know how I feel about it.”
Chris feels the dread start to settle in again, because Joanna’s crossed her arms over her chest in a classic defensive posture. And it raises his hackles. But he tries to stay calm and lead her to the part of the story he really wants, why she was crying by the time she got home. He rubs a reassuring hand along her arm as he speaks, “so what happened then?”
“Well I figured we’d go get ice cream after like usual. But he drove out to Star Point, well, you know the place right?”
Chris sees red. Oh he knows the place. He and Len had spent a memorable evening with disposable packets of lube and a picnic dinner in the backseat of his restored convertible at Star Point. It was frequented by teenagers, academy students looking to get away from their roommates and anyone else who would have need for a good old fashioned lovers lane. And his step daughter is not one of those people.
“Chris, you still there? Stop imagining things in your head! We didn’t do nothing. That’s why he’s pissed.”
Chris sighs, not really sure what to say to that. It’s not like he got a parenting manual when he married Len, though God knows he could have used one. Joanna’s a great kid but sometimes she decides to have conversations like this with him and he’s lost.
He tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “I can’t help it Jo. You say things like that, and you come into the house crying, and I’m naturally going to assume he did something. You sure he didn’t hurt you?”
Jo sighs, “he did, but not like your thinking. I sort of freaked out at him when he pulled down the lane towards Star Point. I mean I ain’t never been out there before but everyone knows where it is. And I told Alex, again, that I want to wait and that I like him and all, but it’s only been two months, and I’m not ready for anything more than what we been doing.”
Chris nods, and offers her a smile, that he hopes shows his approval of her decision.
“Well he got all mad, and said that I’d been leading him on. And I ain’t been I swear! And he called me a,” Joanna’s voice drops to almost a whisper, “a cock tease.” She frowns, and then speaks up again, “and well a whole bunch of other stuff, that wasn’t very nice, or worth repeating.”
Chris frowns, “what did you say?”
“A lota things I’d get in trouble for repeating, that I learned from Miss Gaila and Mr. Scott. Then I slapped his face. He got pretty frosty towards me after that. I insisted he take me home. And then when we got here, you know what he said to me?”
“What?” Chris rubs her arm comfortingly again, because he can see the tears are threatening to spill again.
“That I’m a frigid bitch, and that we’re through until I come to my senses and learn how to appreciate having a boy friend.”
Joanna sniffles again, and Chris sighs inwardly, hating to see her this upset over a boy who clearly isn’t worth her time.
She’s crying by the time she speaks again, “I just don’t understand it. I thought he loved me. But how can he act like that if he loves me? What did I do, Chris?”
He shakes his head, and pulls the throw pillow out of her lap, tossing it on the floor and then pulling her into him, “Come hear baby.” He sighs as she curls into his chest, and sniffles against his shirt, letting her tears fall again.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes guys you’re age say they love you when they don’t mean it because they think it’ll get you into bed.”
Jo makes a whining noise, “Why?”
Chris chuckles and places a kiss on her head, “because boys are dumb. Trust me on this one, baby, I spent the better part of my life trying to figure out why they act the way they do. And at your age they act that way because they aren’t thinking with the head that’s attached to their shoulders. You get what I’m saying?”
Jo nodded against his shirt, a watery sound escaping her mouth as she starts to speak again, “so how do you know when they mean it when they say I love you?”
Chris sighs, “that’s a hard one Jo Jo. You’ll know. You’ll be able to trust it, and if he loves you he won’t push you further than you’re ready for, especially after you’ve talked about it.”
Jo made a rude noise, “you’re just saying that.”
Chris hugged her closer, “No I’m not. I was still in that damn chair, and couldn’t walk when I started dating you’re daddy. And he told me he loved me, and I wasn’t sure. But he waited, and he proved it. That’s the only way you can know Jo. Trust and then having someone meet that trust you put in them. Alex is not that guy. And it sucks right now, and I know it hurts to learn a lesson like this. But it will get better, and you’ll find someone who loves you and respects you and listens to what you want. I promise.”
Jo sniffles again and wipes her nose on his shirt. He makes a face and is happy that she is too oblivious to see it. This is the part about step-fatherhood he’s never been good with, he’s not a fan of the body fluids, it is firmly Len’s territory.
But when she presses a kiss to his cheek and murmurs, “thanks Chris.” He thinks maybe just maybe he doesn’t suck at the whole step dad thing after all.
“So you know what the cure is for dealing with dumb ass boys who can’t see what a good thing they had?”
Joanna pulls away and wipes her nose on the back of her hand. Chris cringes internally again, and is quite glad he missed her little girl years, she’s far too casual about snot for his liking.
“What?”
“Ice cream and cheesy vids. Come on Jo Jo, I’ve got a container of Rocky Road I’ve been hiding from your daddy. Let’s get the container and two spoons. I’ll even let you pick the vid.”
Jo smiles, “how did you get the ice cream past daddy, he’s been on his anti fat, watch your cholesterol, kick for weeks now.”
Chris laughs, “I could tell you, but then Starfleet would have to kill you, trade secret for Admirals only.”
Joann shoves Chris playfully as they headed towards the kitchen, “You’re such a goof, Chris.”
“Why thank you. After you, madam. Stick with me and I’ll fix you’re broken heart, no hypos necessary.”
Joanna rolls her eyes, but grins never the less and Chris smiles. It wasn’t how he ever dreamed he’d spend a Saturday night. But he could think of worse ways to occupy his time than sharing ice-cream and crappy movies with his step daughter. All in all he’s pretty sure he’s the luckiest damn Admiral in the Fleet.
-------------------------------
It’s 3 am when Len stumbles in, happy with the results of his evening, but dead on his feet. He sees the flickering light of the vid screen, and assumes he’ll find Chris asleep on the couch, his movie still running, but forgotten. He heads for the back of the couch, where Chris’ head is lulled, his lips tipped up in unknowing invitation. Len leans over and places a sweet gentle kiss on Chris’ lips, slightly startled when he sees that Joanna is laid out on the couch, her head rested in Chris’ lap.
Chris wakes when he feels Len’s kiss and returns it with, pulling away with a gentle nip to his bottom lip.
But Len had been startled by Jo’s presence and had rested his hand on Chris’ shoulder to steady himself, Chris had moved into the touch, and the combined shifting had woke Joanna up.
She sat up and rubbed at her eyes blearily. “Daddy you’re home.”
Len leaned over the couch again, and placed a kiss on her head. “Yep Jo Jo. What happened I thought you were going out tonight? You two decide to watch a vid when you got home?”
Joanna yawned and then shook her head. “sortta. I’ll let Chris fill you in. I’m going to bed.” She stood and stretched her limbs. Then leaned over and placed a kiss on Chris’ cheek.
“Night, papa.”
Len tried not to let his eyes bug out of his head. He could count on one hand the number of times she’d called Chris that, or anything that resembled a fatherly salutation. And before he could make a comment, Jo was standing next to him, hugging him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Night daddy.”
And then she was gone, moving down the hall to her bedroom, and Len started after her in bewilderment.
Chris laughed as he struggled to his feet, his legs stiff and almost unwilling to move after being stuck in their position for so long. Len had to hold out a steadying hand to help Chris stay on his feet. Chris kissed Len again.
“Come on, love. Let’s go to bed, and I’ll tell you about it. And close your mouth, you’ll catch flies like that.”
Chris and Len wonder into their bedroom, and start to prepare for bed as usual. Chris is in his sleep pants and slipping into his side of the bed, as Leonard emerges from their bathroom, teeth freshly brushed and in his pajamas. He slides into bed, and snuggles into Chris, who goes willingly into the doctors arms.
“Okay spill, darlin’. What happened while I was gone tonight?”
Chris chuckles, “I’m surprised you managed to hand on this long.”
Len, gently bites Chris’ shoulder, “I’m out of patients, good God man, tell me already.”
Chris laughs and settles into Len’s arms. In truth he’s glad it’s taken Len this long to ask because he’s still trying to figure out just how to tell him some boy tried to pressure his daughter into sex. He sighs.
“Well she came home, and I heard the car door slam and the little punk peel out of the driveway, and I figured something was up. She hit the door bawling. Apparently Alex’s been pressuring her to have sex and our little girl is too smart for his bull shit.
She told him no, several times, and he got pissed, said some nasty things and broke up with her. Naturally she was upset and felt as though it was her fault. I simply explained he’s an ass and that boys her age are all asses. We ended the evening with the most atrocious teenage comedy about several mean high school girls, who all seem to swear at each other and there was something called a burn book. God Len it was so ridiculous.”
Leonard makes the first noise that he’s made through Chris’ story and it’s a rather rude snort at Chris’ description of the movie. Chris chooses to ignore him and continue. “There was also ice cream, because ice cream is necessary for broken hearts, so you’ll just have to deal with it, love. She fell asleep during the movie and I fell asleep not long after. That’s all.”
Len drops kisses along Chris’ shoulder. “I’m glad you were here for her, though at the moment I can’t really get over the strong urge to kill him.”
Chris chuckles, “I know the feeling. Though I’m planning on talking to Jim tomorrow. I want to know if there is some way we can make this little bastard realize that pressuring Jo multiple times after she made her feelings clear on the subject is disrespectful.”
“Somehow I don’t think Jo will be happy with that plan. Or Janice. She’d probably like Jim to stay out of jail seein’ as how I’ll probably be deliverin’ her baby any day now.”
Chris chuckles, “I’ll keep him out of trouble. Sides, I only promised I wouldn’t do anything rash, never said I wouldn’t have someone else do it.”
Len stiffed a yawn and offered no response.
Chris pulls Len closer, pressing a kiss to his cheek, “You’re sleepy aren’t you baby?”
Len nuzzles Chris’ shoulder, “what makes ya’ say that, darlin’?”
“Oh, maybe the fact that it sounds like I’ve got an extra from Gone with the Wind in my bed all of a sudden.”
“Shut up. Can’t help it.” Len sighs and relaxes more into Chris’ arms. “Sorry I missed dinner tonight.”
“Don’t worry about it baby. It worked out for the best. I’m glad I was here for Jo. She was so upset.”
“You did so well with her. You’re such a great dad Chris.” Len yawns again, his words slurring a little as he speaks again, “sexy too. You looked so damn good asleep on the couch, being all daddy like.”
Chris chuckles, “yeah, yeah.”
Len huffs out a breath, “I’m serious. If I wasn’t so damn tired I’d fuck you into believing me.”
The ease with which Len speaks, all while his eyelids flutter open and shut, forces a deep laugh out of Chris. He kisses his husbands lips gently. “Go to sleep sweetheart.”
Len nods, “Alright. But I’m gonna blow you first thing tomorrow morning.”
Chris shakes his head. If there is one thing he’s learned since they’ve been married it’s that Len is far less inhibited when he’s exhausted. Also, he never remembers being so uninhibited or crude when he wakes up. Chris settles his head against the pillow and orders the lights out. “Sounds good. God I love you, Len.”
Len is almost asleep but he manages a muttered, “Love you too, Chris.”
Chris smiles, it’s been a long unexpected night but dammed if Chris Pike doesn’t feel like the luckiest men in the world.
Characters/Pairings: Pike/McCoy, Joanna
Word Count: 4,132 (it was supposed to be a drabble, but it ran away from me.)
Rating: PG-13 (Lost of Fluff)
Summary: Chris has never spent a Saturday night like this or had to play the role of daddy like this either, and yet he finds he sort of loves it.
A/N: I couldn't find a beta, so all mistakes are mine. Written for the lovely skyblue_reverie to cheer her up, she asked for fluff, so this might induce cavities. Hope you enjoy it, bb. As always comment are cherished!
Chris adjusts his glasses, scratches absently at his belly, which is peaking out from under his faded academy t-shirt that’s rucked up a little for the occasion and absently contemplates whether it’s worth the energy expended to reach over the armrest of the couch to the beer that is sweating in the cool-warm air of the living room.
In the end he decides it is, and takes a sip while picking up his place in the term paper he’s been absently reading for the better part of an hour. His heart isn’t in it tonight. He and Len should be out having a nice leisurely dinner.
But instead Len is elbows deep in a chest cavity, or whatever the hell Star Fleets head of surgery does when he gets an urgent page as they are about to walk out the door. It’s never really bothered him, that Len goes dashing off at all hours, and after 8 years of marriage-much of that spent on opposite ends of space-he’s grown accustomed to expecting unexpected. Fuck twenty years of friendship with Phil Boyce had already prepared him for that long before he ever met Len.
Never the less there are days, like this one, when he’s less than fond of sharing his husband with Star Fleet. Though he really can’t talk since not even two weeks ago he himself was dragged out of bed at a quarter till 2 am to discipline cadets found in a bar fight. So while tonight he is annoyed, he and Len both understand that dinners get interrupted by work and neither will be angry or petulant about it.
He sets the padd aside and swigs from his beer again. He glances around the room, uninterestedly checking the chrono. It’s still fairly early, 9:30, so he doesn’t expect Jo to be back for another hour or so.
That makes him smile wanly. If anyone had told his younger self that he’d be at home, alone, waiting for his husband and step daughter to come home on a Saturday night and completely okay with it, well he’d have called them a liar. In his younger days he was a Jim Kirk sort of rabble rouser. But then again Jim’s about to be a father any day now himself, with a plum dirt side position at the academy and comes by on Sunday’s for brunch, so maybe he needs a new measure of youthful irresponsibility.
Pike snorts in amusement at his own thoughts, and wonders if Joanna might be that new measure. But he discounts that thought quickly, she’s far too good a kid, though he does pray that Len gets home before Joanna, especially if the she ends up breaking curfew.
Because while he loves her like a daughter and is as over the moon about her spending the summer with them as Len is, he really doesn’t feel comfortable being the disciplinarian. He secretly prays that she doesn’t talk about him behind his back the way she does Clay, because God she sure can rip her other step father a new one, and Clay’s been around a hell of a lot longer than he has. But on the whole, they have a fine, if somewhat formal relationship.
Chris’ internal dialogue is broken at the sound of squealing tires peeling away from the front of the house. He struggles to his feet, instantly on alert. His legs are stiff, a sign that he’s been sitting in one position too long, but he forces them to move, and he’s at the door ready to look out the window when Joanna bustles in tears streaming down her face. She slams the door with vigor and the homeowner in him cringes a little hoping she’s not broken the hinges.
But fatherly instinct takes over as she steps further into the light in the living room and he can see her face is red, her mascara is in tracks down her face, and her eyes widen a little in surprise at seeing Chris standing there.
Her voice quivers just a little when she speaks, “I thought. I assumed. You and daddy had dinner reservations?”
Chris reacts mostly on instinct and tentatively reaches out to wrap his arms around her, relieved when she curls into him, burying her face in his shirt the way she used to when she was little and scrapped her knee. He drops a kiss to the top of her head, before answering her question, “he got called into the hospital right as we were about to leave for dinner. What happened Jo Jo? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shakes her head, but doesn’t speak and Chris’ heart stops beating for a second. He slowly walks her over towards the couch, and drags her down to sit, and then he waits. He can feel her tears soaking his shirt and he grows concerned, but he also knows Jo. And she’ll cry herself out in a matter of minutes and then she’ll be ready to talk.
True to the pattern after a few more minutes Jo sniffles and then pulls back slightly, so that she can unwrap herself from Chris.
He digs in the pocket of his jeans and produces a handkerchief and offers it to her.
Jo smiles and folds her legs up Indian style before taking the hanky from his hands. She murmurs a “thanks” then blows her noise.
Chris tries not to laugh at her as he watches her because he knows it would not be well received, but she is so much like her father at times, her little ritual to compose herself is Len through and through. She glares at him like she knows what he is thinking anyway, and he does laugh.
She offers him a smile, before she speaks again, her voice serious. She pulls a throw pillow into her lap and starts talking, “You gotta promise you won’t get mad, won’t do something stupid, and definitely won’t tell daddy.”
Chris huffs out a sigh and settles deeper into the couch. He has the strong sense that this isn’t going to be a conversation he’ll enjoy. “I won’t get mad, and I never do stupid things that’s uncle Jim’s department. As for not telling your dad, well sorry kid, I can’t promise that. I’ll think about it and if I don’t think he has to know, then maybe I won’t say anything, but honey, we share most everything, that’s what being married is.”
Joanna huffs, and hugs her pillow tighter, “I knew you’d say that. Fine. He’s gonna flip out.”
“What makes you think I won’t flip out?”
She chuckles, “You’re an Admiral, it’s like officially your job not to flip out. ‘Sides you promised not to do anything stupid, and you don’t think of me like a little baby the way daddy does.”
Chris laughed, a deep chest rattling laugh. “Okay, we’ll just go with that, though I’m not sure I agree. So what happed Jo Jo?”
“Well, Alex and I went to the movie liked planned, but he was acting weird the whole time.”
“What kind of weird?” Chris’ suspicions were already starting to rise. He knew Joanna, and there was something she was hedging about, something she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to tell him.
Joanna rolled her eyes and Chris had to resist the urge to laugh. She was a teenager through and through. “He kept trying to touch me in the movie theatre okay. God. I was just trying to save your heart Chris, daddy is always bitching about how you’ll have a heart attack, and I don’t want to send you to an early grave.”
Chris grabbed the throw pillow from behind his back and threw it at her face, “oi. That’s harsh, McCoy. I think my heart can take it, ‘sides, it’s your daddy who’d be looking for his phaser rifle right about now, not me. So go on, he was getting fresh at the movie.”
“Ugh, Chris. No one says getting fresh anymore.”
“Well, excuse me.”
Joanna laughed before she continued, “anyway, so like instead of holding my hand he put his arm around me and then tried to grab my boob. I mean how tacky is that anyway? And I actually wanted to see the movie, you know. So he was annoyed when I moved away from him and then he acted weird the whole rest of the movie.”
Chris for his part only nods, and credits his command track training as the only thing that allows him to keep a straight unfazed face. Because inside his mind he’s already dreading where the story is going that results in how upset she was when she’s come in the door. He’s also contemplating which one of his students, current or former, he can bribe to orchestrate putting the fear of god into the little bastard she’d gone out with.
“After the movie though he apologized and I figured what the hell, might as well forgive him, right. I mean he’s a teen age boy, and it’s not like he thinks of much else. Besides, Elle says we have to have pity on them or they might explode, they just can’t help themselves.”
“What?” Chris’ mind stutters at that statement, and he’s pretty sure he and Len need to have a chat about Jo’s best friend back home being a terrible influence.
Jo just looks at him with an utterly confused expression that would be hilarious if he hadn’t just been scared out of his wits. “What do you mean, what?”
“I mean you know that’s utter bull shit right. Teenage boys are no less capable of keeping their hormones in check than teenage girls are. Elle’s been fed some utter crap from some boy who wants to get in her pants. Honestly, Jo. I don’t want you compromising yourself because you think some boy can’t help himself and you owe him something.”
Chris frowns when Jo laughs at his little speech. It’s not instilling him with confidence. But before he can say anything else she speaks again.
“I’m not an idiot Chris. That’s like the oldest line in the book and I told Elle that when she said it. And you don’t gotta worry about me ‘compromisin’ myself anytime soon. There are other things I wanna be before I’m someone’s momma.”
“And you’re father and I couldn’t be more over the moon about that.”
“Anyway, so after the movie he apologized and I figured it wasn’t the first time, won’t be the last time he’s gotten a little too friendly, might as well move on. It’s not like we haven’t talked about it and he doesn’t know how I feel about it.”
Chris feels the dread start to settle in again, because Joanna’s crossed her arms over her chest in a classic defensive posture. And it raises his hackles. But he tries to stay calm and lead her to the part of the story he really wants, why she was crying by the time she got home. He rubs a reassuring hand along her arm as he speaks, “so what happened then?”
“Well I figured we’d go get ice cream after like usual. But he drove out to Star Point, well, you know the place right?”
Chris sees red. Oh he knows the place. He and Len had spent a memorable evening with disposable packets of lube and a picnic dinner in the backseat of his restored convertible at Star Point. It was frequented by teenagers, academy students looking to get away from their roommates and anyone else who would have need for a good old fashioned lovers lane. And his step daughter is not one of those people.
“Chris, you still there? Stop imagining things in your head! We didn’t do nothing. That’s why he’s pissed.”
Chris sighs, not really sure what to say to that. It’s not like he got a parenting manual when he married Len, though God knows he could have used one. Joanna’s a great kid but sometimes she decides to have conversations like this with him and he’s lost.
He tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “I can’t help it Jo. You say things like that, and you come into the house crying, and I’m naturally going to assume he did something. You sure he didn’t hurt you?”
Jo sighs, “he did, but not like your thinking. I sort of freaked out at him when he pulled down the lane towards Star Point. I mean I ain’t never been out there before but everyone knows where it is. And I told Alex, again, that I want to wait and that I like him and all, but it’s only been two months, and I’m not ready for anything more than what we been doing.”
Chris nods, and offers her a smile, that he hopes shows his approval of her decision.
“Well he got all mad, and said that I’d been leading him on. And I ain’t been I swear! And he called me a,” Joanna’s voice drops to almost a whisper, “a cock tease.” She frowns, and then speaks up again, “and well a whole bunch of other stuff, that wasn’t very nice, or worth repeating.”
Chris frowns, “what did you say?”
“A lota things I’d get in trouble for repeating, that I learned from Miss Gaila and Mr. Scott. Then I slapped his face. He got pretty frosty towards me after that. I insisted he take me home. And then when we got here, you know what he said to me?”
“What?” Chris rubs her arm comfortingly again, because he can see the tears are threatening to spill again.
“That I’m a frigid bitch, and that we’re through until I come to my senses and learn how to appreciate having a boy friend.”
Joanna sniffles again, and Chris sighs inwardly, hating to see her this upset over a boy who clearly isn’t worth her time.
She’s crying by the time she speaks again, “I just don’t understand it. I thought he loved me. But how can he act like that if he loves me? What did I do, Chris?”
He shakes his head, and pulls the throw pillow out of her lap, tossing it on the floor and then pulling her into him, “Come hear baby.” He sighs as she curls into his chest, and sniffles against his shirt, letting her tears fall again.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes guys you’re age say they love you when they don’t mean it because they think it’ll get you into bed.”
Jo makes a whining noise, “Why?”
Chris chuckles and places a kiss on her head, “because boys are dumb. Trust me on this one, baby, I spent the better part of my life trying to figure out why they act the way they do. And at your age they act that way because they aren’t thinking with the head that’s attached to their shoulders. You get what I’m saying?”
Jo nodded against his shirt, a watery sound escaping her mouth as she starts to speak again, “so how do you know when they mean it when they say I love you?”
Chris sighs, “that’s a hard one Jo Jo. You’ll know. You’ll be able to trust it, and if he loves you he won’t push you further than you’re ready for, especially after you’ve talked about it.”
Jo made a rude noise, “you’re just saying that.”
Chris hugged her closer, “No I’m not. I was still in that damn chair, and couldn’t walk when I started dating you’re daddy. And he told me he loved me, and I wasn’t sure. But he waited, and he proved it. That’s the only way you can know Jo. Trust and then having someone meet that trust you put in them. Alex is not that guy. And it sucks right now, and I know it hurts to learn a lesson like this. But it will get better, and you’ll find someone who loves you and respects you and listens to what you want. I promise.”
Jo sniffles again and wipes her nose on his shirt. He makes a face and is happy that she is too oblivious to see it. This is the part about step-fatherhood he’s never been good with, he’s not a fan of the body fluids, it is firmly Len’s territory.
But when she presses a kiss to his cheek and murmurs, “thanks Chris.” He thinks maybe just maybe he doesn’t suck at the whole step dad thing after all.
“So you know what the cure is for dealing with dumb ass boys who can’t see what a good thing they had?”
Joanna pulls away and wipes her nose on the back of her hand. Chris cringes internally again, and is quite glad he missed her little girl years, she’s far too casual about snot for his liking.
“What?”
“Ice cream and cheesy vids. Come on Jo Jo, I’ve got a container of Rocky Road I’ve been hiding from your daddy. Let’s get the container and two spoons. I’ll even let you pick the vid.”
Jo smiles, “how did you get the ice cream past daddy, he’s been on his anti fat, watch your cholesterol, kick for weeks now.”
Chris laughs, “I could tell you, but then Starfleet would have to kill you, trade secret for Admirals only.”
Joann shoves Chris playfully as they headed towards the kitchen, “You’re such a goof, Chris.”
“Why thank you. After you, madam. Stick with me and I’ll fix you’re broken heart, no hypos necessary.”
Joanna rolls her eyes, but grins never the less and Chris smiles. It wasn’t how he ever dreamed he’d spend a Saturday night. But he could think of worse ways to occupy his time than sharing ice-cream and crappy movies with his step daughter. All in all he’s pretty sure he’s the luckiest damn Admiral in the Fleet.
-------------------------------
It’s 3 am when Len stumbles in, happy with the results of his evening, but dead on his feet. He sees the flickering light of the vid screen, and assumes he’ll find Chris asleep on the couch, his movie still running, but forgotten. He heads for the back of the couch, where Chris’ head is lulled, his lips tipped up in unknowing invitation. Len leans over and places a sweet gentle kiss on Chris’ lips, slightly startled when he sees that Joanna is laid out on the couch, her head rested in Chris’ lap.
Chris wakes when he feels Len’s kiss and returns it with, pulling away with a gentle nip to his bottom lip.
But Len had been startled by Jo’s presence and had rested his hand on Chris’ shoulder to steady himself, Chris had moved into the touch, and the combined shifting had woke Joanna up.
She sat up and rubbed at her eyes blearily. “Daddy you’re home.”
Len leaned over the couch again, and placed a kiss on her head. “Yep Jo Jo. What happened I thought you were going out tonight? You two decide to watch a vid when you got home?”
Joanna yawned and then shook her head. “sortta. I’ll let Chris fill you in. I’m going to bed.” She stood and stretched her limbs. Then leaned over and placed a kiss on Chris’ cheek.
“Night, papa.”
Len tried not to let his eyes bug out of his head. He could count on one hand the number of times she’d called Chris that, or anything that resembled a fatherly salutation. And before he could make a comment, Jo was standing next to him, hugging him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Night daddy.”
And then she was gone, moving down the hall to her bedroom, and Len started after her in bewilderment.
Chris laughed as he struggled to his feet, his legs stiff and almost unwilling to move after being stuck in their position for so long. Len had to hold out a steadying hand to help Chris stay on his feet. Chris kissed Len again.
“Come on, love. Let’s go to bed, and I’ll tell you about it. And close your mouth, you’ll catch flies like that.”
Chris and Len wonder into their bedroom, and start to prepare for bed as usual. Chris is in his sleep pants and slipping into his side of the bed, as Leonard emerges from their bathroom, teeth freshly brushed and in his pajamas. He slides into bed, and snuggles into Chris, who goes willingly into the doctors arms.
“Okay spill, darlin’. What happened while I was gone tonight?”
Chris chuckles, “I’m surprised you managed to hand on this long.”
Len, gently bites Chris’ shoulder, “I’m out of patients, good God man, tell me already.”
Chris laughs and settles into Len’s arms. In truth he’s glad it’s taken Len this long to ask because he’s still trying to figure out just how to tell him some boy tried to pressure his daughter into sex. He sighs.
“Well she came home, and I heard the car door slam and the little punk peel out of the driveway, and I figured something was up. She hit the door bawling. Apparently Alex’s been pressuring her to have sex and our little girl is too smart for his bull shit.
She told him no, several times, and he got pissed, said some nasty things and broke up with her. Naturally she was upset and felt as though it was her fault. I simply explained he’s an ass and that boys her age are all asses. We ended the evening with the most atrocious teenage comedy about several mean high school girls, who all seem to swear at each other and there was something called a burn book. God Len it was so ridiculous.”
Leonard makes the first noise that he’s made through Chris’ story and it’s a rather rude snort at Chris’ description of the movie. Chris chooses to ignore him and continue. “There was also ice cream, because ice cream is necessary for broken hearts, so you’ll just have to deal with it, love. She fell asleep during the movie and I fell asleep not long after. That’s all.”
Len drops kisses along Chris’ shoulder. “I’m glad you were here for her, though at the moment I can’t really get over the strong urge to kill him.”
Chris chuckles, “I know the feeling. Though I’m planning on talking to Jim tomorrow. I want to know if there is some way we can make this little bastard realize that pressuring Jo multiple times after she made her feelings clear on the subject is disrespectful.”
“Somehow I don’t think Jo will be happy with that plan. Or Janice. She’d probably like Jim to stay out of jail seein’ as how I’ll probably be deliverin’ her baby any day now.”
Chris chuckles, “I’ll keep him out of trouble. Sides, I only promised I wouldn’t do anything rash, never said I wouldn’t have someone else do it.”
Len stiffed a yawn and offered no response.
Chris pulls Len closer, pressing a kiss to his cheek, “You’re sleepy aren’t you baby?”
Len nuzzles Chris’ shoulder, “what makes ya’ say that, darlin’?”
“Oh, maybe the fact that it sounds like I’ve got an extra from Gone with the Wind in my bed all of a sudden.”
“Shut up. Can’t help it.” Len sighs and relaxes more into Chris’ arms. “Sorry I missed dinner tonight.”
“Don’t worry about it baby. It worked out for the best. I’m glad I was here for Jo. She was so upset.”
“You did so well with her. You’re such a great dad Chris.” Len yawns again, his words slurring a little as he speaks again, “sexy too. You looked so damn good asleep on the couch, being all daddy like.”
Chris chuckles, “yeah, yeah.”
Len huffs out a breath, “I’m serious. If I wasn’t so damn tired I’d fuck you into believing me.”
The ease with which Len speaks, all while his eyelids flutter open and shut, forces a deep laugh out of Chris. He kisses his husbands lips gently. “Go to sleep sweetheart.”
Len nods, “Alright. But I’m gonna blow you first thing tomorrow morning.”
Chris shakes his head. If there is one thing he’s learned since they’ve been married it’s that Len is far less inhibited when he’s exhausted. Also, he never remembers being so uninhibited or crude when he wakes up. Chris settles his head against the pillow and orders the lights out. “Sounds good. God I love you, Len.”
Len is almost asleep but he manages a muttered, “Love you too, Chris.”
Chris smiles, it’s been a long unexpected night but dammed if Chris Pike doesn’t feel like the luckiest men in the world.