Family First

Posted on 2025, Sun Sep 7th, @ 10:11am by Vice Admiral Jack Reacher Jr & Captain Kate Reacher & Cadet Junior Grade Tess Reacher & Civilian James Reacher & Civilian Katie Reacher
Edited on on 2025, Mon Sep 8th, @ 8:41am

4,082 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 "Demons of the Past, Friends of the Future" - USS Halo
Location: Reachers Family Quarters, Star Base 113
Timeline: 2 Days After Promotion And List Of To-Do's

Reacher entered the Families' Quarters at Starbase 113 and was immediately greeted by the familiar sound of claws tapping against the deck plating. Daisy and Poppy, the family’s two Australian Shepherds, bounded toward him with eager barks and wagging tails. They’d been restless while the family was divided between ship and station, but now that they were permanently allowed to live with everyone on the starbase, they had settled back into their playful, loyal selves. Reacher crouched down, rubbing their ears as they pressed against him in excitement.

With his new command and rank, life had changed. When he was Task Force 17 CO, there had been little room for pets or even the luxury of a steady family life. The USS Halo had been a warship first and foremost, and animals were not exactly on the crew manifest. Now, Starbase 113’s spacious family quarters offered the freedom and comfort they’d been missing.

The living space sprawled across two levels. Upstairs were the family’s bedrooms and Reacher’s personal office—a space he tried to balance between duty and family life. Downstairs, the kitchen, dining room, and living area stretched into an open floor plan that felt almost like a proper home. Most impressive was the small, private holodeck built into one corner of the lower level, designed specifically for family use. It wasn’t as advanced as the station’s main holodecks, but it was perfect for keeping Katie and Tess occupied when they weren’t in school.

The sound of faint voices and laughter echoed from the holodeck doors—Katie and Tess, no doubt still wrestling with their Vulcan puzzle simulation. Reacher smiled faintly at the thought. For once, things were beginning to feel…normal.

Tess and Katie were indeed missing from the common area, James was most likely napping in his room upstairs, and the faint aroma of spices hinted at where Kate could be found. He stepped into the kitchen to find her stirring a steaming pot on the stove.

“Hey Kate,” Reacher said, loosening his jacket as he leaned in the doorway. “How’s your day been?”

Kate turned, a warm smile crossing her face as she brushed a loose strand of hair back with the spoon. “Good. James hasn’t been quite as fussy today—he actually let me get a few things done. Tess just got back from her Academy classes, which reminds me—” she gave him a pointed look, “—the Academy’s Deputy Commandant wants to talk to you about her. Didn’t say why, but told me to pass it along.”

Reacher raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. I’ll make sure to see him tomorrow. So what’s Katie up to?”

“Tess dragged her into that Vulcan logic puzzle again,” Kate said with a chuckle. “Something with 3D blocks and shifting grids? I swear, they’ve been at it for three days straight. Stubbornness must run in the family.”

Reacher grinned. “Well, at least they’re keeping busy. Saves us from refereeing another one of their arguments.” He drifted closer, peering into the pot. “So, what type of chili are we talking about? Spicy? Sweet? Or both?”

Kate tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. “Spicy, if you can handle it. Tess and Katie have been on a kick lately. Not sure what Vulcan logic puzzles have to do with spicy food, but hey—if it gets them to eat more than rations bars, I’m not complaining.”

Reacher chuckled, reaching for a spoon on the counter. “Guess I’d better test it before the girls claim it all for themselves.” He dipped a taste, blew on it, and sampled the chili. His eyes widened slightly. “Whew. You weren’t kidding. That’s got some fire.”

Kate smirked. “Don’t worry, big Captain. I kept a milder batch on the back burner for you. I know how you pretend you like it hot, but I’ve seen you sweat after just one bite.”

Reacher laughed, setting the spoon down. “What can I say? Command comes with sacrifices. Including my taste buds.”

At that moment, a muffled cheer erupted from the holodeck, followed quickly by groans of frustration. The girls were still locked in their battle with Vulcan logic. Daisy’s ears perked at the sound, and she trotted toward the door, tail wagging, as though she too wanted to join in.

Reacher leaned against the counter again, watching Kate work, and for the first time in months, he felt the heavy weight of command ease just a little. Here, in these quarters, with chili simmering and laughter echoing from the next room, life felt almost…whole again.

The cheer and groans from the holodeck pulled Reacher’s attention. He set the spoon down and glanced at Kate.

“Think they’re winning or losing?” he asked.

Kate smirked without looking up from her cooking. “With Tess, there’s no such thing as losing. She’ll either win…or argue until the program crashes.”

Reacher chuckled, shaking his head as he started toward the holodeck. Daisy padded after him, tail wagging. The doors parted with their familiar hiss, and he stepped inside.

The holodeck shimmered into form around him. Black-and-gold gridlines faded into a glowing chamber of shifting translucent blocks, each levitating in patterns that seemed to rearrange themselves with maddening precision. It was the Vulcan “Vor’lath Puzzle,” a test of logic, patience, and—if the rumors were true—spiritual balance.

At the center stood Tess, her dark hair pulled back, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was half-kneeling on the ground, one hand raised in that careful Vulcan gesture of alignment, her other tapping at the air as if conducting the pieces into place. Her Romulan intensity made her every movement sharp and purposeful, but the Human side of her—especially her stubborn streak—showed through in the quiet muttering under her breath.

Katie, on the other hand, was sprawled on the floor nearby, chin resting on her palms. She had that look of exasperation that only a younger sibling could perfect.

“Tess, you’ve been staring at that block for ten minutes. Just move it already,” Katie complained.

Tess shot her a withering glance, the kind that seemed far older than her years. “If I move it incorrectly, the entire sequence collapses. Then we’d have to start from level one again. Do you want that?”

Katie groaned dramatically, rolling onto her back. “At this point, I don’t care! I’d rather face Klingons than Vulcan geometry.”

Reacher couldn’t help laughing. Both girls jumped slightly, looking over. Daisy trotted forward, barking once as if she too was ready to solve the puzzle.

“Daddy!” Katie scrambled up and hugged his leg. “Tess won’t let me touch anything!”

Tess straightened, folding her arms in that unmistakable Vulcan-Romulan hybrid posture of dignity and irritation. “Because she keeps pressing the wrong glyphs! This puzzle requires discipline, not random button-mashing.”

Reacher raised an eyebrow, amused. “Sounds like you two make a good team then—Tess with the logic, Katie with the improvisation.”

Katie stuck her tongue out at her sister. “See? Daddy thinks I help.”

Tess opened her mouth, clearly ready to argue, but stopped when Reacher knelt beside her. He studied the glowing blocks for a moment. They rotated and clicked in patterns he couldn’t even begin to predict.

“So,” he said carefully, “what happens if you actually finish this thing?”

Tess’s eyes lit up with that rare spark of excitement. “The program claims the solution unlocks a higher level of Vulcan meditation—a visualization of pure logic. But…” she hesitated, her voice softening, “…it’s more than that for me. It’s…connection. Like part of me understands it already, even though I’ve never studied this form.”

Reacher placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. He knew what she meant. Tess’s heritage was complicated, tangled between three worlds that didn’t always fit together neatly. She often threw herself into puzzles, philosophy, or strategy games—not just for fun, but because she was searching for balance within herself.

Katie, sensing the shift in mood, moved closer and leaned against her sister. “Well…you’re really smart, Tess. Smarter than me at this stuff. But maybe…we can do it together? You know, if you let me actually play.”

That cracked Tess’s stern expression. A faint smile touched her lips, and she sighed. “Fine. But you follow my lead.”

Katie grinned. “Deal!”

Reacher stood, satisfied. “That’s what I like to hear. Teamwork.” He nodded toward the door. “And when you’re done, your mom’s got chili waiting. Spicy chili.”

Katie cheered and immediately tried to drag Tess toward the exit. Tess resisted, laughing softly. “Katie! We haven’t finished!”

Reacher watched them bicker their way out, Daisy trotting happily behind. For a moment, he just stood in the glow of the shifting puzzle blocks, thinking how far they’d all come. In the chaos of Starfleet, the Borg, and war, somehow his family had built a little corner of stability here on Starbase 113.

And for Jack Reacher, that meant everything.

By the time everyone gathered in the dining room, the scent of chili had filled the entire living quarters. The long table was set simply—bowls, spoons, and a small basket of warm bread Kate had replicated to go with the meal.

Tess and Katie filed in from the holodeck, still in mid-argument about whether Katie’s “shortcuts” actually helped the puzzle or not. Daisy and Poppy circled the table hopefully, tails wagging, though both knew better than to beg too close when Kate was watching.

“Alright,” Reacher said as he took his seat at the head of the table, his voice carrying that mix of command and gentleness. “Everyone, sit. Let’s eat before your mom’s hard work gets cold.”

Katie plopped down eagerly, spoon already in hand. Tess sat more carefully, but Reacher caught the way her eyes flicked toward the steaming bowls—she wasn’t as immune to her Human side’s appetite as she liked to pretend.

Kate ladled generous portions of chili into each bowl, then finally sat down beside Reacher. He glanced at her with a quiet smile, then looked at his girls.

“So,” he started, resting his elbows lightly on the table, “let’s hear it. How was everyone’s day?”

Katie was first, of course. “We almost solved it, Daddy! Tess kept making me wait, but I figured out part of the pattern all on my own!”

Tess immediately bristled. “No, you didn’t. You guessed, and you got lucky.”

Katie shot her sister a look. “Guessing is part of solving!”

“Not on Vulcan,” Tess muttered, though her lips twitched, betraying her amusement.

Reacher chuckled and raised his hands. “Easy, you two. Sounds like you’re both learning something—that’s what counts. Tess, I’m proud of you for working so hard on that puzzle. And Katie…” He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “…sometimes guesswork wins the day when logic doesn’t. Trust me, I’ve been there.”

Katie grinned at him triumphantly while Tess just rolled her eyes, though the faintest smile tugged at her mouth.

Kate tapped her spoon lightly on the edge of her bowl. “Tess, your Academy instructor said you did well today. Want to share?”

Tess stiffened a little, her posture unconsciously going straight-backed as if she were already in uniform. “We had tactical drills. I placed second out of sixteen cadets. The Deputy Commandant requested to see me tomorrow. I assume it is a debrief.”

Reacher gave her a steady look. “And you’re not worried?”

Tess hesitated, then shook her head. “No. It is…probably an evaluation. Or…perhaps a concern.” Her voice softened a fraction. “I know some of them don’t understand what I am. Romulan. Vulcan. Human. Sometimes I don’t either.”

The table fell quiet for a heartbeat. Reacher reached across and squeezed her hand firmly. “What you are is *you.* That’s more than enough. Whatever the Deputy Commandant wants, we’ll face it together. Understand?”

Tess nodded, and for the first time since sitting down, she relaxed.

Before anyone else could speak, a wail cut through the room from upstairs. Baby James had woken up from his nap, his little cry carrying that sharp insistence only a month-old infant could manage.

Kate sighed, half-rising from her chair. “I’ll—”

Reacher held up a hand. “I’ve got him.” He pushed back his chair, the old habit of springing to his feet as fast as if a red alert klaxon had gone off. As he climbed the stairs, Daisy bounded after him but stopped halfway when Kate called her back.

Moments later, Reacher returned with James cradled in his arms. The infant’s cries had softened into soft hiccupping noises as he nestled against his father’s chest. Reacher adjusted him carefully and sat back down at the table, balancing the baby in one arm while reaching for his spoon with the other.

Katie leaned over, making silly faces at her little brother until he let out a tiny giggle. Tess, though more reserved, slid her bowl closer so Reacher didn’t have to juggle reaching across the table.

Kate looked at him with that warm, knowing smile. “You always did have a way of settling him.”

Reacher shrugged modestly. “Just a matter of tone and presence. Works on crewmen, too.”

That earned a round of laughter, even from Tess.

For a while, the only sounds were the clink of spoons against bowls, the hum of conversation, and the occasional soft gurgle from James. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t galaxy-shaking. But to Reacher, this—his family around a dinner table on Starbase 113—was more valuable than anything else he commanded.

Dinner wound down with a satisfying rhythm—Katie claiming she wanted seconds before realizing the chili really was spicier than she thought, Tess dutifully finishing her bowl in silence, and Reacher sneaking James a smile every time the infant made his little squeaks and coos.

When everyone was finished, Kate started gathering bowls, but before she could stand, Reacher raised his voice just enough to be heard.

“Alright, girls. You know the deal—dinner’s done, you’re on cleanup.”

Katie groaned dramatically, slumping in her chair. “But Dad, we didn’t cook!”

Tess, however, was already stacking her bowl neatly and lifting Katie’s. “It is only fair. Mother cooked, Father kept James calm. It is our turn.”

Katie shot her a betrayed look. “You’re supposed to back me up!”

Tess smirked faintly. “I am backing up logic.”

Reacher chuckled. “Exactly. That’s my cadet. Teamwork.”

Katie muttered under her breath but pushed herself up, dragging her chair back loudly. Daisy and Poppy trotted behind the girls toward the kitchen, hopeful for scraps.

That left the table quieter, the background noise now consisting of clattering dishes and the girls’ muffled argument about who was washing versus drying.

Kate leaned back in her chair, watching Reacher cradle James. “You’re spoiling them, you know.”

Reacher arched a brow. “By making them clean up?”

“No,” Kate teased, her eyes glinting, “by letting them think they can argue their way out of chores. You always give them that soft smile like you’re not really serious.”

He grinned, bouncing James lightly until the baby let out a soft coo. “Maybe. Or maybe I just know when to pick my battles.”

Kate laughed quietly, shaking her head. “Command strategies applied to parenting. You’d make Starfleet proud.”

For a few minutes, they sat in companionable silence. James yawned, his tiny fist curling into Reacher’s shirt. Kate leaned her head on her hand, her expression softening as she watched them.

“You’re good with him,” she said gently. “Sometimes I think he calms faster with you than with me.”

Reacher glanced down at the baby in his arms. “That’s not true. He knows your voice. He just…” He shifted James carefully, speaking in a softer tone. “…he just likes feeling secure. That’s all any of them want. Security. Stability. I didn’t always have that growing up. So I’ll be damned if they don’t.”

Kate reached across the table, resting her hand on his. “And they do. Jack, you’ve given them a home. More than that, you’ve given them you.”

Before Reacher could reply, a loud crash came from the kitchen, followed by Katie’s voice. “TESS! That was your fault!”

“Incorrect. You dropped the dish because you were holding it one-handed while talking,” Tess’s calm, matter-of-fact tone replied.

Reacher sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do I even want to know?” he called.

“No!” Katie shouted immediately.

“Yes,” Tess said at the same time.

Kate chuckled. “I’ll check before they flood the place with replicated water.”

She rose, disappearing into the kitchen with the dogs hot on her heels. Reacher remained, gently rocking James, who was already slipping back into half-sleep. He stared down at the boy’s small, peaceful face and felt that quiet warmth in his chest again. The galaxy could be chaos, Starfleet could throw him into the fire any day…but here, in this moment, life was simple.

A minute later, Kate reappeared, shaking her head in amusement. “Crisis averted. Katie dropped a spoon, Tess exaggerated.”

Reacher smirked. “Sounds about right.”

He stood carefully, handing James over to Kate. “I’ll put him down in his crib. You wrangle the girls into finishing the kitchen.”

Kate nodded, taking the baby into her arms. “Deal.”

Reacher headed upstairs, the sound of Katie and Tess’s bickering fading behind him. He stepped into James’s room—a softly lit, cozy space with a crib near the viewport. Setting his son gently down, he lingered a moment, resting a hand on the rail.

“Sleep tight, little man,” he murmured. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

As James’s breathing settled into the rhythm of sleep, Reacher turned and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. For the first time in a long time, he felt like everything was exactly where it needed to be.

The household had finally settled. James was down in his crib, his soft breathing carrying through the baby monitor. Kate had curled up on the couch with a pad, sipping tea, while Reacher made his way into the girls’ room for one last goodnight.

Katie was already under the blankets, but she kept glancing at the door as if waiting for him. Tess, as usual, was slower to get ready. She sat cross-legged on her bed, staring out the viewport at the stars streaking past as the station slowly rotated.

Reacher stepped inside quietly. “Lights down to night setting,” he ordered, and the room softened into a warm, dim glow. He crouched beside Katie first, tucking her in.

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” he said gently.

Katie bit her lip. “You’re not going away again, are you? Like on the Halo? You were gone all the time then.” Her small voice cracked a little.

Reacher’s heart tightened. He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I’m not going anywhere right now. Starbase 113 is our home for a while. That means I’ll be here most mornings when you wake up. And when I do have to leave, I’ll always come back.”

Katie frowned, as if trying to measure the weight of his promise, then finally nodded. “Okay… but you better. ‘Cause Daisy and Poppy don’t listen to me as much as they listen to you.”

That earned a quiet laugh. Reacher kissed her forehead. “I’ll remember that.”

He turned toward Tess. She hadn’t moved, her gaze still fixed on the stars. When he sat on the edge of her bed, she shifted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Do you think they’ll ever tell me?”

Reacher tilted his head. “Tell you what?”

“Where I came from.” Her blue eyes flicked up to his. “No one knows. Not even me. I remember pieces—being cold, being hungry, wandering. Then one day, I was just…here. With you. With Mom. But before that? Nothing.”

Reacher’s chest ached at the words. He reached out, resting a hand gently on her shoulder. “Tess, listen to me. Where you came from doesn’t define you. Who you are now does. And who you are is my daughter. Our daughter. That’s all that matters.”

Her lips pressed together, her Vulcan discipline warring with the emotions flickering beneath. “Even if I’m part Romulan? Even if I don’t always feel…Like I fit?”

Reacher squeezed her shoulder. “Especially then. Families aren’t about fitting—they’re about belonging. And you belong with us. Always.”

For a moment, Tess’s composure cracked. She leaned into him, just slightly, enough for him to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

Kate appeared in the doorway then, baby monitor in hand. “James is stirring again,” she said softly. “I’ll go settle him.” She caught Reacher’s eye, the quiet understanding between them passing without words.

As she disappeared down the hall, Reacher gave Tess one more squeeze before standing. “Get some sleep, both of you. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

“Goodnight, Daddy,” Katie mumbled sleepily, already half-gone.

“Goodnight, Father,” Tess said, her voice steadier now, but carrying just the faintest warmth.

Reacher lingered at the door, watching them settle. For all the unanswered questions, for all the uncertainty that lingered at the edges of their lives, this much was certain: here, in this room, his family was whole.

The quarters were quiet now. The girls were tucked in, James had finally settled again, and Daisy and Poppy had curled up in their usual spot near the door. Reacher slipped into the bedroom, loosening his uniform jacket and setting it aside. Kate was already there, propped against the headboard with a soft blanket around her shoulders, hair down, and a pad resting in her lap.

She glanced up with a small, tired smile. “Girls down?”

“Out like lights,” Reacher said as he sat on the edge of the bed, pulling off his boots. “Katie made me promise again that I’m not going anywhere. Tess…well, she’s still wrestling with where she comes from.”

Kate set the padd aside, her expression softening. “She asks you about that more than me.”

Reacher nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. I think she feels like I get it. The not knowing. The feeling like you’re dropped into a family that isn’t really yours.”

Kate reached out and squeezed his arm. “But she is ours. And she knows it. You remind her of that every day, whether you realize it or not.”

He leaned back against the headboard beside her, letting out a long breath. “Sometimes I worry I’m not enough. For any of them. Between duty, the command, all the hours…I’m afraid I’m just a shadow they see passing through the house.”

Kate rested her head on his shoulder, her voice quiet but firm. “Jack, you’re more than enough. Katie clings to your every word, Tess looks to you for grounding, and James…” She gave a faint laugh. “James stops crying when you hold him. You don’t see it because you’re you. But to them? You’re their anchor.”

Reacher turned his head and kissed her temple, lingering there for a moment. “And what about you?”

Kate looked up at him with a small smirk. “Me? I get the tired, cranky version of you who leaves boots in the wrong place and still thinks he can eat spicy chili without sweating.”

He chuckled, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Sounds like a fair trade.”

For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the hum of the station’s systems filling the background. Kate eventually curled against him, her breathing slowing as sleep tugged at her. Reacher reached over, dimmed the lights, and pressed another kiss to her hair.

Whatever tomorrow brought—meetings with the Academy, Tess’s questions, Katie’s worries, James’s midnight wakeups—tonight, he had this. His wife beside him, his children safe, and a rare peace in the heart of Starbase 113.

It was enough.

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