Chapter 3: The Invitation
The rest of the away team had seen that something had been going on with the captain and the prince and that she'd called the doctor over. They'd heard a few words from afar, but didn't believe their eyes. The captain and the doctor kissing? And a blue sparkle at the captain's right hand?
Uhura and Sulu exchanged a gaze.
"Sulu..."
"Yeah..." he just replied. "It's real. We're not dreaming."
"But that's some kind of act, right? Because the prince tries to get her into bed?" Uhura still stared at the kissing couple and wondered how long that kiss was going to last.
Sulu chuckled. "At least at first. But I don't think it will stay an act."
"What?... No..." Uhura shook her head. "You mean they could really become a couple?"
Sulu shrugged. "Come on, Ny. They're behaving like one since the academy. They just lack the sex." He laughed. "Well, I guess soon not anymore."
Uhura averted her eyes from the captain and the doctor and made an indefinable noise. "Oh, no, I'm never getting that picture out of my mind now. Did you have to say that?"
Sulu laughed again. "I think they're a great couple. I'm definitely Team McKirk."
"Team what?" Uhura replied confused.
"McCoy and Kirk - McKirk. They belong together. Some crew members think she and Spock would make a nice couple, but don't worry - I told them they better don't say that when you're around."
Uhura snorted, made an face and sighed. "Okay, fine. They really are perfect for each other."
Sulu grinned. "Now it just has to stick. I bet they still think the other one isn't in love. I think they're in denial for, well, since they know each other. But if they don't get it now - when else?"
He looked over to them again. The kiss had ended. Jamie and Leonard were looking mesmerized at each other and talking.
"Hm. No panic reaction. That's a good sign", Sulu commented.
Uhura sighed. "Come on, we need to keep working."
Sulu slowly nodded. They turned around and walked away towards the palace.
Jamie and Leonard were both a little flushed from kissing.
"Okay..." she finally whispered, still having her hands in his neck, gently caressing his skin and playing with his hair a little. "I changed my mind - I'm not sorry anymore."
Leonard chuckled. "I hate to admit it, but I think that idiot of a prince did us a favor... didn't he?"
She nodded.
He circled one of his hands on her back. "I need to go back to Ogawa and Walker. The local healers want to show us how they work."
She nodded again. "We should talk tonight. My quarters around eight?"
"I'll be there." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and left.
Jamie looked after him and replayed in her mind what just happened.
Making sure the prince was really gone and no one was watching her, she slowly raised her right hand and studied the ring. She trailed with the fingers of her left hand over the silver metal and the blue stone.
She'd seen that ring so often on Leonard's hand. She knew it was from his Grandmother and he missed her very much since she'd passed away in his first year at the academy.
But...
Seeing the ring on her own hand now was so unreal.
And then she startled. What was she supposed to write in her mission report? How to describe the behavior of the prince and the necessity to lie to him?
On the other hand - she couldn't be the first female Starfleet captain running into a situation like that. And something like this surely must have also happened to male captains.
Now that she thought about it she wondered why they didn't teach anything about problems like that in diplomacy or command classes.
Perhaps she should just be completely blunt in the report and add a suggestion to incorporate this particular situation in diplomacy 101.
Jamie's eyes widened at a sudden thought. Quickly she took her communicator and sent a text message to everyone on the away team. It explained that there was a situation and that they needed to pretend she was married to Leonard McCoy.
Sulu sent her back a grinning smiley. Uhura just confirmed her message as did the medical personal. They probably knew already from Leonard McCoy what was going on.
Jamie sighed and pressed a button to get a connection with the Enterprise. "Kirk to Spock."
"This is Spock."
"We've got a slight complication down here", she slowly said.
"Are you alright, Captain?"
"Yeah, don't worry. I just had to come up with a quick way to keep that annoying prince at a distance. He thought he could get me into bed."
"Did he assault you?" Spock asked, worry actually showing in his voice.
"No, no. But if anyone asks - I'm married to Bones."
Silence.
"I beg your pardon, Captain. Did you say, you told the prince you were married to Doctor McCoy?" he finally replied a few moments later.
Jamie grinned. "Yep. The away team already knows about that little white lie. I hope everything works out alright and we get over with these negotiations without any incidents."
"Do you expect something to happen?`"
The captain sighed. "I don't know. I have a bad feeling. Devhon had backed off, but we suspect him to try something. Bones and I think he might now try to seduce a married woman." She shrugged, even if he couldn't see it. "Maybe I worry too much."
"Shall we keep transporter locks on the away team?"
"No", Jamie answered instantly. "We'll manage. If we were to be beamed up suddenly that might damaged the relations between Draka and the Federation. Not that I would let that arrogant prince touch me, but I also don't want to mess up that treaty. Starfleet emphasized how important it is. We need these minerals from the mines of the Drakan moon. I just want to get over with this and return to the ship."
"Understood, Captain."
"Kirk out." She closed the communicator and moved to look for the ambassador of Draka and the prince. After some sightseeing, small talk and tries of seduction it was now really, really time to get the treaty negotiations on the road.
"Ah, Captain Kirk." Ambassador Kreyal headed towards her and smiled.
Jamie was getting a weird feeling again. "Ambassador." She slightly bowed to greet him and he did the same.
"His Highness had a marvelous idea", he said.
The captain suppressed a sigh. "Did he now?"
"We never had the honor to host a delegation of the Federation for more than a few hours. We would like to invite you to spend the night at the palace. His Highness is already planning a dinner in honor of the Federation, our treaty and you and your husband. The king and queen would like to meet you and Doctor McCoy."
A slight groan escaped Jamie's throat. "How... nice." She put on a smile and tried to think of a away to avoid staying overnight on Draka. But nothing came to her mind that would not offend the royal family.
The Ambassador smiled again. "We have already prepared our most beautiful guest suite for you and your husband. The members of your team are also welcome to stay."
"I will tell them about the generous invitation", she replied politely. "This is a little unexpected. We didn't bring a change of clothes, for example."
"Oh, this is no problem at all. We will provide you with some garments for the night and the servants will tend to your uniform", he said. "Or you could let send some clothes down from the Enterprise."
Jamie sighed. "Well, uhm... I think I'll contact my ship then and let them bring us a change of uniforms."
"Very well. We will wait for you in the council chambers until you made all the preparations." He waved a female servant over. "She will lead you to us." The ambassador left.
Jamie looked after him and made a few steps away from the Drakan woman. She opened her communicator again. "Kirk to Spock."
"Captain?" Spock's voice sounded. "Did something happen?"
Jamie sighed. "Yes. They want us to stay the night and attend some formal dinner. I think this is because the prince is up to something."
"But you are going to stay?" Spock assumed.
"Yeah... At least they'll put me in a room with Bones. Which is weird if the prince still thinks he might still have a chance. Please tell Yeoman Rand that the entire away team needs a change of clothes. Let her contact Uhura when everything's ready."
"Yes, Captain."
"Kirk out." Jamie immediately touched a button. "Kirk to McCoy."
"This is McCoy", the doctor answered formally.
"We've got an invitation and are staying on the planet for the night."
"We what?" he snapped.
There he was. Grumpy and exasperated Bones. Jamie had wondered when he would show up again. He was over the calmness now. Having to stay overnight was obviously too much.
An yet she couldn't resist teasing him. "Relax, Bones. We'll get a beautiful suite. Maybe it's as nice as the one we had on our honeymoon", she replied loud enough the servant could hear her.
Leonard mumbles some curses Jamie didn't understand. But she grinned. "See you at dinner. Love you." She snapped the communicator closed.
A moment later her eyes widened when she realized her last two words.
Okay, so, no big deal. That was just part of the act.
Right?
Jamie followed the servant to the council room, but felt a strange flutter in her stomach.
Fine, yes, she had said it and meant it. It just took her by surprise how easily - and early - those words came over her lips. Now she badly wished to hear those words from him. She hoped they would have time to talk and figure out this change in their relationship despite the dinner and - more or less - being forced to spend the night on Draka.
