Pike didn't let up at all, not until that last strike and then he pulled James up into his lap and held him tightly, rocking him back and forth and trailing his fingers through the boy's hair.

"It's over, James," he whispered softly. "We're done and it's forgiven. It'll never be brought up again, I promise." He felt himself getting choked up and he had no clue why. He just knew he absolutely had to keep it together until he could get Jim up here to sit with James...