A well kept secret
Leonard and Montgomery had always been quite good at keeping their relationship a secret, unlike Spock and Kirk as Kirk shamelessly kissed Spock whenever he could or Chekov and Sulu because the pure adoration that was in their eyes when they looked at each other gave it away. To all the crew, the doctor and the engineer were friends, drinking buddies and each other's shoulder to cry on, but not lovers. And it would have stayed that way, if it were not for the fated diplomatic mission to Cartion 3. They had been sat in a bar, drinking casually with Kirk and the other crew members, when a Cartion male slid into the seat next to Montgomery and smirked. Now, the engineer was rather drunk and so he just grinned at the Cartion and carried on drinking his Scotch. In heavily accented English, the Cartion said,
"Would you like come room with me?" Leonard's eyes narrowed; he was still sober, deciding that someone had to clean up whatever mess Kirk made. The Scotsman waved his hand.
"Ahm fine, ta. Go' me drink." The Cartion scowled and grabbed Montgomery's arm.
"Come. Now." The doctor scowled and put his hand on the Cartion's.
"He's spoken for actually. You should leave." The Cartion raised an eyebrow and punched Leonard straight in the face, causing him reel back and splutter. The engineer leapt to his side with a cry of,
"Leo!" Montgomery helped him to his feet, eyes blazing with rage.
"There er two things ye oughta know, pal. One, dinnae insult mah ship an' two, ne'er lay a hand on mah boyfriend." And then the Scotsman's fist met the Cartion's face with a sickening crunch. Before long, two other Cartion's had arrived and Kirk and the others got involved, turning it into a full-scale brawl. Leonard punched until his knuckles were dripping with blood but then a Cartion smashed a bottle over his head. The last thing the doctor heard was Montgomery's anguished cry before everything went black.
When he came to, Nurse Chapel was fussing over him and his head was throbbing.
"M'alright, Chapel, enough," grumbled Leonard gruffly.
"But sir-"
"I said enough! How are the others?"
"Bruised and battered, sir, but nothing terrible. Mister Scott is waiting to talk to you in your office." The doctor grabbed an ice pack and held it to his head as he stumbled into his office.
"Leo!" Montgomery was at his side instantly, grumbling in Gaelic.
"Shush, Monty. You threw yourself in there."
"He punched ye in th' face! Ah couldne le' tha' go!" To shut him up, Leonard kissed him hard and the Scotsman melted. When he pulled back, the doctor traced his fingers across the purple bruise on the other's cheek.
"It's okay, Monty. We're okay."
"Ah know. Ah love ye.
"And I love you." Before they could kiss again, Kirk burst in and pointed accusingly at them.
"I knew it! I knew it." The engineer and his lover blushed as the rest of the bridge crew, who had been dragged along by Kirk, clapped and laughed.
"Ebout teeme," muttered Chekov and they all looked at him.
"Wha'?!" asked the Scotsman.
"I hef knovn for eges! Tees obweeous reallee..." giggled the Russian.
"Obvious, eh?" said Leonard, approaching with a mock-stern look. "Your next vaccination will be obvious!" The navigator squeaked in fear and hid behind his pilot. Montgomery chuckled.
"He dinnae mean i', kid. Ye er alrigh'."
"Didn't mean it, my ass," mumbled the doctor and the engineer kissed him soundly.
"Hush." And the crew erupted into cheers and applause.