Disclaimers: I don't own anything... yadda, yadda, yadda.
A quick word: For a friend whom I have never had the pleasure of hugging.
Enjoy. And feel free to tell me if you did. AK :)
She is so caught up in thought that she doesn't hear the chime go- doesn't realize that he is approaching her- doesn't hear him call her, first by title and then by name.
"Kathryn?" He places a hand on her shoulder, and she starts, whirling round to meet his gaze.
He sees the dried tear tracks on her cheeks.
He doesn't say anything.
Instead he simply pulls her to him, enveloping her delicate figure tightly against his robust frame. He is prepared for her to freeze, to protest, to push him away from her.
Again.
But she doesn't. She wraps her arms around his waist as his grip her back, sighing as she draws the strength she needs from him. He rests his chin on her head as she snuggles further against him.
She knew he was expecting her to push him away, but she just smiles into his chest and simply hugs him back.
Everything else melts away, protocol, the ship, all thoughts of duty. Fades into the background as white noise. In the foreground there is the sound of their breathing; a pair of heartbeats sounding as one. Just the two of them.
I've never felt so… free…