Other People's Sandboxes

Title:
 Tiny Pushes
Author: velvetmouse

Recipient: cakeordeath44
 in the 2010-11 where_no_woman New Years Exchange.
Fandom: ST AOS

Characters: Janice Rand

Rating:
 PG
Warnings: Occasional snark? People being jerks? Umm...

Word Count: ~5500

Summary: Being a yeoman often means an awful lot of work without very much respect or appreciation. But sometimes, just sometimes, people surprise you. Five notable events in the life of Janice Rand.

Notes: CakeorDeath requested (among other possibilities) Janice Rand & "yeoman's position being thought of as being just a secretary/waitress, and why that is total bollocks." I hope this is what you were looking for!

The title is taken from the following quote, which I felt Janice would approve of:
The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~Helen Keller
Many thanks to Seren for the beta!



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( Tiny Pushes )

H is for Harrowing
Characters: Janice Rand, Jim Kirk
Word Count: 300
Rating: G
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Jim and Janice sit back to back in the warm sun, gulping down air as their lungs valiantly try to take in enough oxygen.

"Well that was certainly bracing," Jim says between gasps.

"That's not the word I'd use for it," Janice retorts, wondering if her chest will ever stop feeling like it's on fire.

"Invigorating? Exciting? Heart-pounding?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of terrifying, harrowing, and exhausting."

"Spoilsport," Jim says, and Janice can just imagine his lower lip pouting out. "We won, didn't we?"

"We did," she concedes. "But Captain?"

"Hmm?"

"I am never ever agreeing to do another Yeoman/Captain Amazing Race with you. I don't care how much money we just raised for Vulcan orphans. I'll just write them a damned check."

"Awww. But Janny," Jim whines. He's the only one who can get away with calling her that without getting a kick in the balls for his trouble. "Next year they're holding it on Nimbus III. It'll be great!"

Janice twists around so that she can look back over her shoulder and peers at him incredulously. "Captain, you're aware that Nimbus III is over 80% desert, and is such a harsh environment that even Vulcans have a hard time living there?"

Her reasonable, rational, logical arguments have no effect, and Jim simply turns up the puppy-dog eyes another notch. Janice can feel her resolve crumbling.

"We'll have to ask Commander Spock for training tips. I know he lead a few cadet groups through the Forge. He'll know what we need to do."

Jim beams at her, and despite herself, Janice smiles back.

"Pike and Colt won this three years in a row. Think we can beat them?"

Janice merely laughs and shakes her head in disbelief. Arguing with Jim Kirk is an exercise in futility.