"Diamond in the Rough"
Star date: 1120.6
The bridge was filled with the usual hustle and bustle of the crew of the USS Enterprise. They would feel a bit of turbulence once in a while, but it was minimal. The Enterprise was in her second five year mission in space with the very same Captain James T. Kirk at command.
His crew was busy at work relaying updates and monitoring the ship's systems when Lieutenant Jeanine Simmons, the ship's Astro-Geographer, abruptly got the Captain's attention alarmingly, "Captain!"
"Yes, Simmons?" Kirk spun his chair to face her.
"Sir, this area of the galaxy has the tendency to produce high force ion storms very quickly. In other words, Captain, we could be headed right for one before we could even detect it."
Mister Spock also chimed in as the Captain stared at the Lieutenant with confusion, "Yes, Captain, I can confirm that the Lieutenant's logic is sound. It would be wise to act on it."
"Very well, thank you Mister Spock, Lieutenant," Kirk replied before turning to the ship's helmsman, Ensign Pavel Chekov, "Mister Chekov, shields up. Lieutenant Uhura, have the ship go to Yellow Alert. Inform the crew."
Lieutenant Uhura replied, "Yes, sir," before turning her attention to the ship's speaker system, "All decks, go to Yellow Alert. I repeat, all decks Yellow Alert."
The ship started to jerk harder every few seconds now and the Captain turned his attention back to Chekov, "Chekov, status report."
Pavel Chekov, in his usual Russian accent stared at the console in surprise and replied to the Captain with worry in his voice, "Captain, it appears that vee are headed right into a wery large ion storm that just appeared on our radar." He waited a few seconds before turning his chair to face Kirk adding, "This may be the strongest von that vee have ever faced."
At this, the storm rocked the ship violently. The doors to the turbo lift opened to reveal a very flustered Doctor McCoy racing through them shouting, "What in blazes is going on! What's all this nonsense about a Yellow Alert?"
He was at the right hand side of the Captain's chair now when he asked in a normal worried tone, "Jim, what's happening?"
Kirk ignored him for a moment while he turned his attention to the helm again, "Mister Sulu, now would be the time for some of your fancy navigating."
"Aye, sir," Sulu replied while turning over the controls to manual.
Then Mister Spock said while looking at the monitor, "Shields are holding steady, Captain."
"Excellent," Kirk replied while finally turning his attention back to McCoy, "Bones, we are in the midst of possibly the biggest ion storm that we've ever encountered."
Doctor McCoy, the ship's senior medical officer, and Kirk's good friend, looked bewildered with his eyebrow raised when the Captain added, "Now if you would please head back to Sick Bay, we may need your services."
Without protest he nodded and began to head back toward the turbo lift, but he only got a few feet from the doors when the ship jerked fiercely. Everyone tried to hold onto something just to stay in their seats. Lieutenant Simmons was nearest the doors at the controls on the wall when her clipboard fell to the ground and she struggled to steady herself. McCoy tried to help and hold onto her while they both were clinging to the wall.
The controls around the bridge started to randomly spark and explode which sent the helmsmen flying from their seats. Kirk kept shouting orders but no one could hear him until he was finally thrown from his chair as well.
They were being tossed back and forth from wall to wall like it was a tennis match. McCoy lost his footing when they finally toppled to the ground with a thud, and he landed on top of Simmons with a grunt. A few more screams and final sparks echoed around the bridge when all was quiet a moment later.
The Enterprise was silent and the sparks kept spurting when the Captain and the rest of the crew got back up to their stations to check on the ship's systems.
Kirk yelled out, "Everyone alright?"
Doctor McCoy finally realized that he was on top of Lieutenant Simmons. He stared at her asking, "Are you alright?"
"I feel dizzy," was all she could say as she put one hand to her head hoping it would stop the room from spinning when she also noticed that the Doctor McCoy was in fact on top of her. She didn't think it actually happened. All she could think of now was of how much he must have thought she was a cluts for falling and bringing him with her.
He immediately put one hand underneath her head gently while he looked her over, "It's alright, just lie still." She did as she was told and she couldn't help but look into his bright blue eyes which all of a sudden sent a wave of calmness over her.
Captain Kirk walked around the room to make sure everyone else was okay. Once all the rest of the officers checked in, he went over to check on McCoy.
After about a minute, McCoy spoke to the Lieutenant again, "Yep, just as I suspected. You have a concussion. I'll need to get you down to Sick Bay. Do you feel alright to stand up?" He was still kind of on top of her; close.
"Well, I don't think I'm in any position to get up," she said as she smirked.
"You don't? Is anything broken?" He looked alarmed as he kept his hand underneath her head when he finally looked down noticing the same thing. He also smiled and then he moved to the side to help her stand. "I'm at least glad to see your sense of humor seems to be undamaged."
He held both of her arms to gently bring her up, but she started to collapse when she clutched onto his arms to steady herself and he also held onto her, "Whoa, now. I don't think you should be walking then."
"Perhaps not," she laughed to herself, "I guess I'm not quite used to the dizzy thing."
"Here." He picked her up to carry her and then looked at the captain, "I'm going to take her to Sick Bay," he said as he headed for the turbo lift. She just clung to his neck while the Captain nodded in approval.
The doors closed and Kirk went back to his chair, "Helm, status report."
"Navigation is intact, sir. But our shields took a beating," Sulu reported as he switched back from manual.
Chekov chimed in, "They are down eighty-two percent, Captain."
"Lieutenant Uhura?"
"Communications barely operable, sir. I should have them fixed within a few hours, but it could have been worse."
"Yes, Captain," Spock said as he came over to Kirk's left side holding his hands behind his back, "All of our damages could have definitely been worse off, if not the Enterprise herself could have been destroyed. If it weren't for Lieutenant Simmons' warning of the ion storm, we might not be here now."
Sulu agreed, "Yes, Captain. Our shields, navigation, and weapons could have been completely destroyed. Maybe even our life support systems."
"Or maybe us," Chekov added quietly.
"Then I guess I'll have to go and visit Sick Bay later to thank a certain Lieutenant for saving all our lives," Captain Kirk said smiling and the rest of the crew agreed.
In Sick Bay, Doctor McCoy had a busy job. Quite a few people came in with injuries, so he was hustling around back and forth. It seemed that Nurse Chapel wasn't much more help because it was only the two of them.
Since there were a lot of patients, he put Lieutenant Simmons in a back room just off of his office because it was quiet. He couldn't help but feel more worry for her welfare. But he didn't understand why.
She slept as he ran around Sick Bay attending to everyone else, and he had given her enough hypos to help her sleep. He'd stop in every hour to check her vitals and he would just smile slightly to himself because she looked so peaceful.
Once, he stood over her writing down her progress in his log when Nurse Chapel came over to his side and said, "Doctor, Lieutenant Hadley is asking for you. He's due for another hypo."
It took him a moment to collect himself back to reality, "Oh, yes of course, Nurse. I'm on my way now."
Christine could tell that he was distracted, but she just smiled and followed him.
The next morning, about twenty one hours after she had been brought in to Sick Bay, Doctor McCoy came in to check on Lieutenant Simmons. He looked absolutely haggard and exhausted. He stood in the doorway again just watching over her. She started to stir, and she all of a sudden opened her eyes.
He started to walk into the room then, "Well now! Nice to have you back, Lieutenant," he said smiling as he stood by the side of her bed with his arms crossed in front of him.
"How long was I out for, Doctor?" She seemed tired.
"Oh, almost a day now," he answered smiling checking her vitals again, "And it's McCoy."
"Right. Of course," she laughed at herself, but then realized how long she'd been there, "Wait, what! A day! Oh I have to get back to my post!"
She started to pull back the covers of her bed when Doctor McCoy stopped her by grabbing her shoulders, "Oh no you don't. You aren't going anywhere, and you are certainly not fit to leave this bed. Now, I'm the Senior Medical Officer on this ship, and my patients don't just get up and walk out when they please."
She reluctantly gave in and laid back down when he continued, "Now I'll be back in to check on you in an hour again, just like I've been doing ever since you were brought in," he said as he started to walk toward the door.
But she started laughing, so he stopped and turned around puzzled, scrunching his eyebrows together.
She chuckled as she said, "Is that all there is to you, Doctor McCoy? I'm awake now, and it seems there isn't anyone needing you at the moment. Would you like to have a real conversation? Or do you not do that with patients?"
He chuckled a little to himself as he slowly gave in and walked back pulling a chair up next to her bed. She was actually right; he never did do this with patients. But he proceeded to talk to her to take her mind off of worrying about what was happening on the bridge. "I would assume that the Captain will be along to come pay you a visit sometime today."
"Why?" She was confused.
"Because of your warning. The ship could have been worse off or even destroyed… But you saved us all." He touched her hand. "I personally thank you, too," and he winked at her.
"Oh, I was just doing my job. That's what I'm here for, isn't it? That's what we're all here for. But I would like to thank you for being there to help me." She smiled staring right into his blue eyes. They got her every time, just reeling her in. She could almost see right into his soul. She thought they were the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen.
He got a little nervous and laughed it off, "Oh, well…" He stumbled for the words and he cleared his throat before repeating back what she had said to him, "That's what I'm here for." They both laughed.
She noticed that he hadn't shaved and thought that he seemed very tired, "Doctor McCoy, have you really been checking on me every hour since I got here?"
He simply nodded while rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Oh! You're kidding! You haven't gotten any sleep at all! And on my behalf! You really must get some slee—"
"Now hold on there, dear girl. Calm down." He waved his arm in the air so that she'd calm herself, "I'm not the one who needs sleep around here. It's my patients. And speaking of sleep, it's about time for you to get some more yourself."
"But, Doctor McCoy, I'm not tired." She really resisted sleep so she could talk to him some more. She had always admired him because of his determination and his loyalty. She always thought 'What a wonderful man.' Although, he never knew she existed.
"Now wait just one minute. I'm a Doctor… not a babysitter," he wouldn't give in this time, but he saw how sad she looked, "Alright, I'll make you a deal, Lieutenant. I'll sleep, if you sleep. Whattya say?"
She gave him a defeated but stern look and finally nodded in agreement, "Alright, deal. And it's Jeanine by the way."
"Hm? Oh, right. Of course," he smiled and left the room to go get her another hypo to help her sleep. There was only one word on his mind right now, and it was 'Jeanine.'
He returned about two minutes later with a hypo ready to go, "Now, this will help you sl—"
He looked up and saw she was already out. He just stood in the doorway and crossed his arms. He watched her for a few minutes laughing to himself and smiled saying, "Well, you are most definitely unlike any woman I have ever met."
He wanted to add that she was also the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. But then he caught himself, "I must be out of my head today. I think I'm more tired than I thought."
At this, he grabbed his desk chair from his office and set it at the foot of her bed. He then closed the door and walked over to sit in his chair. He got one last look at her before he smiled to himself, crossed his arms, and fell asleep with his feet up on the bed. He did make her a deal after all, which he intended to keep.
About a week later, Lieutenant Simmons was back at her post on the bridge. Her job is very important for she is the one that the Captain consults about the vicinity in which the Enterprise is headed. She had just visited her best friend, Lieutenant Natalie Hurst the ship's historian, when she was on her way back up to the bridge carrying a large stack of papers of information on the solar system they were headed for.
Doctor McCoy was on his way down from the bridge when the doors of the turbo lift opened and he saw Simmons. But as soon as they made eye contact, she had bumped into him and spilled all her papers. He knelt down to help her pick them up, "Here, let me help you."
"Oh," she looked at the man who was picking up each piece of paper for her and she couldn't help but be smitten. So she smiled while continuing, "Thank you, Doctor McCoy. I guess that bump on my head didn't help with my coordination."
They both laughed. While they were scrounging up the stack of papers, they accidentally brushed hands. Doctor McCoy cleared his throat and then said awkwardly, "Jeanine, I… was wondering if… if you would like to talk some more later?" He delayed looking up, but slowly got sight of her deep brown eyes.
It was unexpected, but she was excited, "I'd be delighted to, Doctor McCoy," she smiled, "And you remembered to call me Jeanine," they both laughed again.
"My dear girl, I'm a doctor. I always remember what my patients tell me in confidence," and he winked at her.
"I'll stop by later," she smiled and he did as well.
He helped her up by holding her hand while she clutched her papers in the other. But he didn't let go… He finally realized, "Oh," and let it go gently. "Later, then." She simply nodded.
He watched her get into the lift and once inside, she couldn't help but smile and she put her hand over her mouth in excited shock. She had heard rumors that Doctor McCoy was hard to break, that he wouldn't show his real feelings unless you were pretty much Captain Kirk.
But what she didn't know was that Doctor McCoy had to know everything about every officer on the Enterprise, but no one was there to get to know him.
Even though she was as giddy as a young girl, she did, however, have a horrible feeling that something was about to happen. She just brushed it off and ignored it, all the while thinking about the charming, handsome Doctor down in Sick Bay.
"Well?" Natalie, asked.
"Well, what?"
Jeanine's friend, Natalie Hurst kept pressing her about details on Doctor McCoy, "It's been a month since you and Doctor McCoy started talking. Has he kissed you yet?"
Jeanine felt taken aback, but then she thought about it, "Well, no. Who knows if he's even interested in me like that anyway. He may just want someone to talk to."
"Nonsense! I know he likes you. The entire ship knows he likes you, too," she giggled.
"Well Natalie, if that's true, we'll see then won't we?" Jeanine then said goodbye and headed back up to the bridge.
Jeanine had no idea what was going on inside Doctor McCoy's head but she was hoping that it would come out into the open soon.
Star date: 1123.8
For the next few weeks, Jeanine would stop in to Sick Bay to see Doctor McCoy and they would talk. They always had a good time together and she saw the real him.
For about a week or so, Jeanine was busy on the bridge and couldn't come visit. But this day, she had some free time. So she walked into Sick Bay while Doctor McCoy was reading over some paper work and said, "Keeping busy Doctor?"
He was startled and jumped a little, but he smiled when he looked up and saw her in the doorway, "Well, now where have you been stranger?" he joked.
"Well, the bridge always has its down sides. Any good action in here?"
"Now you know that's no joking matter, Jeanine." He looked serious.
"I understand. I was just starting conversation, Doctor," she walked over to look at his collection of antique surgeon's tools from the twentieth century hanging on the wall.
He came over and turned her around. He held one of her hands and said, "Yes, I know. Don't worry about it."
They smiled at each other for a minute and started to lean in slowly. But all of a sudden, the red alert sounded with the loudest siren and Lieutenant Uhura came on the sound system, "All decks, we are at a Red Alert! I repeat, Red Alert! Mister Spock, Doctor McCoy, and a Security team are to report to the Transporter room immediately! This is not a drill!"
Doctor McCoy's face went right to concern as he took her by the hand and they started running out of Sick Bay down the hall at the speed of light.
Jeanine was disappointed that they missed their chance at their first kiss, but she knew it would have to wait.
They pushed through a bustle of officers crowding the hallway, and many people were shoved into the wall. They finally burst through the transporter room doors with the landing party standing by on their pads waiting for his arrival. He let go of her hand as he went to the transporter control where an officer handed him his medical kit. He was getting briefed when Jeanine went up to Captain Kirk.
"Captain, what's going on?" She looked concerned.
"We've spotted a Klingon vessel and have received a distress call from the planet, Darren 5 below us. The Klingons are attacking those people. They've started a war on a perfectly peaceful planet! They have no right!" He paused for a second, then realized, "Wait a minute… Simmons, you're not supposed to be down here. Please report back up to the bridge."
"But sir, you may need some help."
"That was not a request, Lieutenant!"
"Yes, sir." She was worried that the Klingons wouldn't listen and that she may not even see her 'new-found reason for living' again. She couldn't let this happen because of the feelings she had for Doctor McCoy. But she also knew that he's the medic, and there are innocent people getting hurt down there. They need him more.
Everyone was ready on the transporter when Doctor McCoy went right up onto the platform next to Mister Spock. He then suddenly realized the same thing when he took one look at Jeanine who stared back standing there with the most worried face he'd ever seen. He didn't like seeing it.
A lot of things from the past month rushed through his head and he knew that she was the only good thing in it. He finally really looked at her; her beautiful caramel brown hair that looked like silk flowing over her shoulders; to the sultry red uniform that hugged every curve of her body. He never knew he could feel like this before, like he had just opened his eyes for the first time in his life. She was what he wanted.
A hundred flashes of what their future could be also rushed through his mind: Late night conversations drinking wine; a beautiful wedding with her in the most gorgeous white flowing gown; the birth of their first child. He suddenly wished he wasn't the ship's chief surgeon.
He finally realized that it was possible they may not be coming back to the Enterprise. So before he even realized what he was doing, he rushed off the platform right over in front of her. He grabbed her and kissed her so long like he had never done it before. She was taken aback by this, but embraced the situation by wrapping her arms around him while he held her head with one hand and the small of her back with the other.
"Bones! We have to go now!" the Captain shouted.
Doctor McCoy released, took one more look at the face held in his hand, and turned to go back to the platform. She slowly walked over to stand by Mister Scott at the controls. Then Captain Kirk shouted, "Energize!"
Doctor McCoy looked at her with longing. But a moment later, he was gone. She looked more worried than ever knowing that Doctor McCoy had finally shown his feelings toward her and right then she knew she loved him and couldn't lose him.
Mister Scott put his arm around her for comfort, "They'll be alright, Las. Don't you worry."
"I really hope you're right, Scotty."
She and Mister Scott had only known each other that year. Since she had come aboard the Enterprise and with her station being right next to the engineer's station on the bridge, they had talked before. They became quick friends, along with Natalie. With her being one of Jeanine's best friends, Natalie also had gotten to know Mister Scott as well. The three of them were like three peas in a pod. Because not just anyone calls him Scotty.
He took one more look at the controls and worry definitely came across his face, "Oh no…"
"Scotty, what is it?" She became frightened at his expression.
"I'm going to kill those Klingons meself if I have to! They've rigged our power supply! We have no transporter ability! The landing party's on their own now…" He looked frightened out of his mind.
Her worry turned immediately into determination as she barked out, "Scotty! Follow me!" and they sprinted through the doors and down the hallway with him confused. He didn't ask questions because he's known her long enough to know that she means business.
Jeanine didn't slow even once, almost running into other officers, until she came to the door 'History Section' with Scotty right behind her.
"Natalie! Come with me! It's urgent!"
"Jeanine, what's going on?"
"Just follow us, and bring your navigating with you," she had a stern look for she knew she wasn't going to lose the best thing in her life.
The three of them sprinted through the doors that read 'Hanger Deck' and headed right for the Galileo 5 shuttle craft.
"Jeanine, what are we doing?" Natalie was still unsure of the plan.
Jeanine just looked at the both of them seriously and said, "We're going to rescue the landing party."
What they didn't know was that on the surface, there were so many more Klingons than Kirk had anticipated. So the landing party was taken hostage and was going to be shown no mercy.
The Klingons and the federation had not yet formed a peace treaty so they were still at each other's throats. The Klingon general had them all lined up kneeling in the dirt. They were surrounded by Klingon guards.
Captain Kirk pretty much assumed that they were about to be killed and he had no way of contacting the Enterprise to warn them and order them to get out while they still could. For the first time, he was out of ideas.
"Captain, the statistical likelihood that we will survive is less than 2 percent," Mister Spock said.
Doctor McCoy replied, "Oh, shut up you green-blooded hobgoblin! Don't you understand that we're about to die! And you don't even have anything to live for, unlike the rest of us…" He looked up to the sky and got quiet, "I have something to live for up there… someone," he couldn't stop thinking about Jeanine.
"You two never give it up do you?" Kirk said. "We have to go like men," he scolded them.
The wind started picking up and the Klingon first officer said, "It's time!" So he started walking around to pick the first victim when he came to Captain Kirk, "Well Captain, anything you'd like to say?"
"Yeah… Go to hell!"
The Klingon lifted his weapon in anger and had it pointed at the Captain's forehead. Kirk clenched his eyes shut when they heard a noise. The Captain opened his eyes to find the Klingon in front of him to have an empty facial expression as he fell backwards with pink blood gushing from his mid-section. Kirk and his landing party looked around to see what had done it or who, but they couldn't see anything. They were shocked and confused.
But then all of a sudden, each Klingon standing behind them were getting shot with large phasers one by one right down the row.
Captain Kirk said, "Who's doing this?"
And Doctor McCoy replied, "I don't know, Jim. But whoever it is is on our side… I like 'em already."
"That can't be from any regular hand-held phaser. Those are from a vessel of some sort," The Captain concluded.
The wind picked up more and more when Mister Spock said, "I believe that it is headed right for us, Captain." They were being hit with wind and sand. The noise was almost deafening.
They all looked straight ahead straining to keep their eyes open through the sand as the Galileo 5 suddenly shot out from inside the clouds at a really fast speed. They all were ecstatic to see that NCC 1701 Shuttle Craft headed right for them. It came down and landed softly as Jeanine and Scotty sprinted out of the shuttle doors heading toward the landing party.
Doctor McCoy grinned from ear to ear just seeing the woman he knew he loved running to him when he shouted, "Jeanine!" And he ran to her when she shouted back, "Leonard!" and then she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"What are you doing here?" McCoy asked while shocked and pleased all at once.
"You're not getting rid of me that easily, Doctor," she added while smiling as he also grinned and kissed her quickly.
"Lieutenant, I thought I told you to report to the bridge," Captain Kirk said to Jeanine sternly.
"I'm sorry, sir. We had transporter issues, so I thought I would assist. Mister Scott will elaborate," she smiled and he laughed back saying, "Well I'm glad you defied my orders, Simmons."
"Yes, sir," she replied laughing.
Then Scotty chimed in, "Captain, we lost all transporter ability because those ruddy Klingons jammed our systems!"
"Well, then I guess we need to get back up there and fix the darn thing, right Scotty?"
"You're damn right sir! — Uh, I mean, you're right," he had a big grin on his face after catching himself.
Kirk then asked, "Wait, who flew the shuttle craft?"
Jeanine just smiled as Doctor McCoy went from having his arm around her to holding her hand as they walked back to the shuttle craft when she replied, "Why, that would be Lieutenant Natalie Hurst, sir."
"Isn't she a historian?" McCoy asked.
"Yes, but she was also trained in navigation," Jeanine replied.
"Interesting," Spock said.
"Alright Spock… What is it that you want to say?" Doctor McCoy looked annoyed at this frequent occurrence.
"It is highly illogical for an officer studying to be a historian to also train to be a navigator," Mister Spock said puzzled.
Jeanine answered him, "Yes Mister Spock, but it did come in handy since Mister Sulu had his hands full on the bridge, didn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose that is true."
"What?" Doctor McCoy was surprised, "Jeanine! You actually disproved Spock!" He was ecstatic. "There really is no one like you is there?" He smiled and tightened his grip around her hand when they caught each other's eye contact.
Captain Kirk interjected, "Yes that's quite magnificent. But we have more problems to fix up there," he looked and pointed toward the sky.
"Right! Back on the shuttle!" Scotty shouted.
They all ran to the shuttle craft door while Scotty helped everyone in. Natalie was sitting in the navigation seat getting it ready again for launch. Captain Kirk came in first and went over to her, "Well Lieutenant, I see you are a multi-talented officer." He smiled.
"Yes sir, it's one of my hobbies as well," she still kept busy readying the craft.
Once everyone was inside, Scotty took his seat next to Lieutenant Hurst's and they started up the engine. They lifted and shot back out to space toward the Enterprise. Natalie opened communications with the Enterprise, "Galileo to Enterprise, this is Lieutenant Hurst. We have the Captain and landing party, do you read?"
Lieutenant Uhura answered back, "We read you loud and clear Galileo, the shuttle hanger deck is ready and waiting for your return. Captain Kirk?"
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"The Klingons have become aware of the deaths of their comrades and general, and are turning around, sir."
"Very well, thank you Uhura. Let's go home." Kirk and the rest of the landing party smiled.
The next day, Jeanine was in her quarters putting some things away when she heard the buzz at her door. She kept doing what she was doing and yelled, "Come in!"
She heard the doors swoosh open and a familiar voice saying, "What? No Hello?"
She knew the voice so she smiled and turned around to find Doctor McCoy standing by the door with his hands behind his back with a smug look on his face like he knew something that she didn't. "Is that really all there is to you, Lieutenant Simmons?" He winked at her.
"Oh really, are you going to pull that card again?" She laughed and he smiled as she folded her arms.
He came over to her with a serious look on his face. Jeanine's smile faded knowing something was wrong. Her mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that he knew she wasn't right for him. She couldn't believe it. He was getting rid of her. "What's wrong?"
He took both of her hands in his as he started to speak seriously, "I realized yesterday that for the first time, I didn't want to go with the Captain down to that planet. I had the feeling that I wasn't coming home, and normally I'm okay with that because there wasn't anything in this world that I needed. But this time, I almost couldn't do it because there is something here that I need or I wouldn't be able to function anymore." He turned his look to her eyes, "I need you, Jeanine. You are the only thing that means something in my life. And I was wondering if you would like to share the rest of it with me. We can share the galaxy together." He held up a small, silver ring with two fingers in front of her with a smirk on his face and eyebrow raised.
Her eyes lit up and started to tear. "Oh, Doctor!"
He romantically corrected her, "Leonard."
"Yes," she smiled before continuing, "Leonard.
He slid the ring on her finger and wrapped his arms around her while they kissed passionately. They released, still close, when she said, "Leonard, you have no idea how special you are. You are the most human person I have ever met. You're smart, loyal, a gentleman, and you can get down to business when you have to. You're not afraid to show what you're feeling. Your emotion is what makes you. And you are the most dedicated person I've ever seen. You are truly a diamond in the rough. And I would be proud to have that in my life."
"I love you, Jeanine Simmons," she could hear the smile in his voice.
"You better," she immediately came back with while winking at him.
He kissed her again and they just stared at each other smiling while in their tight embrace.