Author's Note: This idea came to me out of pure randomness. And the fact that it's getting closer and closer to Christmas. I really wanted to add more to this, but alas, inspiration ran out at the time. And I'm not sure if it's worth continuing. If I do continue, I'll focus on more than just Rush and Young. (Even though at the moment, I really don't mind sticking with them.) And if I do focus on them in the next chapter, it'll be better than this.)

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It had been months since they were fated to be put on the Destiny. And here it was, people were chattering about, going on about goodness knows what. It was near what Earth would've considered the Holiday season. Two things annoyed Rush the most. One? The Holidays. He'd spend his time away from the crew, the other inhabitants of the ship for the quiet of just him and the blasted console for Christmas. Two? People who interrupted him. Asking him what he'd do for the holidays, what he would've done back on Earth and whatnot. That interrupted his work. That annoyed him.

All he wanted was to finish his work in peace? Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men? There was no peace. There was hardly a scrap of good will anywhere.

He walked the hallway, trying to make it back to his quarters. He paused, hearing the faint humming of some Christmas carol. Who was humming at a time like this? Turning the corner, he paused yet again. Eli was sitting at his desk, watching a Kino video over again. Research? Shouldn't he be asleep? He was about to turn, when a hand caught his shoulder. Rush took in a breath, unsure of this person. Turned to face them and sighed. "Colonel Young, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that. I'd hate for you to be out one scientist." He sighed, Col. Young merely rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you go rest? It's late. It's almost Christmas Eve. Just... take a break." He asked, genuine care in his eyes.

Rush sighed, ignore it all. Darn it! He just wanted to work! He'd do research from his quarters, he didn't care. Just please, he wanted to be left alone. 'I'll rest when I'm dead.' He thought, quickly thinking of a response. Is that what was left of his quick wits? Dwindled down for keeping life support going and snappy remarks? What a most wonderful scene in the life of Dr. Rush. He shook his head, looking to Young. "I'll rest later. I have something I need to do."

"No one else is working." Col. Young had replied. He suddenly stopped when he heard a sound come from Eli. He wasn't sure if it was a gasp or a snort of laughter. "What is it now, Eli?" He asked, sighing as he turned to face the young man.

"It's just you two are... ahem... sort of in my little trap." He laughed, watching them. It was humorous and quite a delight to see.

"What do you mean by that?" Dr. Rush asked, looking at him with a 'Seriously? You're here, why again?' look plastered all over his face.

"I set that up earlier for Chloe... Seems like you two fell under it. Look up." He pointed up with a grin. A paper cut out of Mistletoe was hanging by a small thread. Dr. Rush's mouth opened slightly and Col. Young just sighed even louder. "I'm not going to do anything you're thinking, Eli. Get those thoughts out of your head. And while you're at it, go to bed. It's late." He watched Eli as he walked off and went to bed without another word. He didn't want to anger them any further. But it was fitting that they both found themselves under the Mistletoe. Even if it was just a paper cutout.

"I'm not even going to. Don't think about it." Rush confirmed the statement with a small nod. "Aye. I wouldn't wish that for anyone to see." He laughed, mostly joking. Col. Young sort of looked taken aback, but didn't comment on it too much. "Very well. I'll see you tomorrow...." He sighed and went on his way. Going to his quarters, finally, he closed the door and chose to lie on his bed. Arm over his forehead, glasses to the side, he closed his eyes. Formulas and mathematical equations running around his head. He was asleep when the door quietly whirred open and then shut again.

Col. Young had come to discuss with Rush about possibilities of finding their way home, but seeing as he was asleep, he was going to turn and leave, although something had caught the man's eye. Dr. Rush had turned slightly over onto his side, his shirt was caught underneath him, thus when he had turned, it was tight against his body. Col. Young gasped without meaning to, making Rush slightly stir, although he left the room before Rush could fully awake.

Outside of the room, Col. Young shook his head. "Why on earth... I'd never do that... Gah. Have to get these thoughts out of my head." And that was the first moment of hating the dreaded cutout of the mistletoe. The next thing he was going to do would be to take that dratted thing down for the mere thoughts alone that it gave him. He'd burn it, if he could do so without injuring anything important. He had gone back to his quarters without hardly a word. Eli had slipped out of his to follow him.

"So, did you like what I did?" Eli grinned, wondering if he noticed.

"No." Young replied, watching the younger man with a look that would merely say 'Go away.', but to Eli that apparently meant 'Sit there and chatter away, by all means. I have nothing better to do.'

Yep, he had noticed. "Well I just thought it would be a good idea. I mean I know I said I set it up for Chloe, but seeing your faces was good enough to justify that." He laughed slightly before coming back to the realization that yes, Col. Young was his commanding officer and yes, he should probably watch what he was saying a bit better.

"I'd prefer it if you took the damn thing down. It's distracting. And it's right where people can't even see it. And by the way, don't do that again. It's not as though I have any inclination to spend my holidays with that...." He paused to try and think of a good word to describe Rush. "That complicated person that's known as Dr. Rush. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm quite tired, Eli." He nodded and Eli merely kept a grin to himself.

"Good night, Sir. I'll make sure to tell the others that their plan failed." With that, Eli resumed humming Christmas music and walked down the hallway, opposite of Col. Young.

'So it was planned? By whom?' If he ever found out who thought it'd be funny to do that to them, they had another thing coming. He wasn't going to give them the reaction they wanted, that was for sure. Being on a ship like Destiny could drive someone insane, but he wasn't desperate. Not yet, anyway...... As he got back to his room, got settled in bed, only then did his mind leave him to wonder just what was about to happen, if anything.

Meanwhile, Rush had fallen back asleep, his dreams quite unknown, but something seemed to trouble him. A bad dream, perhaps? He merely wanted a good way to get home like the rest of them, but who would believe a silly story like that? With the rumors that went around the ship, when would he have a moments peace from the questions that people wanted to ask, but were merely too scared to? The holidays would cause quite a buzz, especially if Eli wouldn't keep his mouth shut and there was already a good enough buzz of information around Destiny.

This would be a fun holiday season. And one thing's for sure. Military training couldn't prepare anything for what was going to happen next.