Gaila woke up but didn't want to open her eyes. She held onto the pillow turning into it to inhale Leo's scent. She finally opened her eyes to take in the full experience but saw only rumpled sheets and a blank wall. She turned over but only saw the rest of his room was empty too. She sat straight up in bed gripping the sheet around her. Was she really surprised he was gone? She laid back down and thought it over. She was used to guys leaving while she slept to avoid the conversation. She had thought Bones was different but she was clearly wrong.

She looked down to the floor to start gathering her clothes. As she fastened her bra and pulled her underwear back on then and saw a page from a yellow legal pad folded on top of the rest of her clothes which were neatly piled by the side of the bed. She saw her name scribbled across the outside and unfolded it.

Gaila, Had to go to an officers meeting on the bridge. Please wait here until I get back. Should be there by 8:15-Leo

She swung her feet to the side rereading the note biting the smile in the corner of her mouth. She glanced at the clock by the side of his bed. It showed he would be back in about ten minutes. She laid back down bother getting up when she'd be back in the bed as soon as he got back. She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes letting her mind wander. She relished memory after memory of his hands on her waist, in her hair. Then she felt a pair of strong rough hands close around her neck, press her back into a wall. SHe sat straight up raising her hands to her throat protectively. She looked around and saw Bones sitting at the foot of the bed looking shocked.

"Sorry," he said still looking surprised. "I just reached over to brush your hair back and you just shot up. Do you always wake up like that or do I just freak you out?"

"No, I was just thinking about you and-"

"Wow tough break."

"No let me finish. I was thinking about you and I drifted of to sleep and I just had this triply nightmare and I think the two merged or something." She shook her head to shake it off. "I'm sorry I shot up like that. I just-"

"Gaila can I ask you something?" he said cutting her off by putting a hand on her knee.

'Sure," she said smiling and looking up at him.

"Feel free to cross me if I cross the line."

"I think we crossed a couple lines last night," she said leaning into him. She kissed him softly brushing her hands though his soft hair. He out his hands on her waist pulling her in. She climbed over him straddling his waist. He wrapped around her kissing her neck and collarbone. She crawled over him in a way that placed them in the middle of the bed. His hands wrapped around her back and he rolled on top of her. She felt the hands around her throat and she couldn't help but cringe.

"Ok this is what I'm talking about," he said lifting himself off her. He rolled to the side and went to stand up.

"No," she said sitting up and pulling him back to sit down in front of her. "It's not you I swear," She said getting onto her knees so she could wrap her arms around his shoulder as she kissed the back of his neck.

"This is what I wanted to ask you about," he said reaching up to grip her hands looking up at her. "What did you do before Starfleet?" Gaila let go of him and slid back to sit her back against the wall. "Gaila?" She remained silent. "Mint Julep?" He said smiling.

"Sorry," she said looking down at her knees as she pulled them onto her chest. "Starfleet was really… a stepping stone for me. I was in a bad place, a really bad place physically and mentally before I came here and I kind of pushed it aside."

"If you don't want to-"

"I do." Gaila looked up from her knees. "I do, just its kind of hard." She inhaled and exhaled slowly then finally looked directly into his eyes. "Do you know what Orions are most known for? Apart from our ridiculous sex appeal?" She said finally cracking a half smile.

"I don't," he said.

"Human trafficking," she said the smile dropping. "Mostly of women, like me and my sister."

"You have a sister?" he said.

"We were mostly traded together because guys have a thing for twins," she looked back down again.

"Wow you have a twin?"

"Yeah," she said still not looking at him. "I haven't seen her since…" She trailed off looking to the side.

"SInce?" he said gently urging her forward.

"We got separated four years before I came to Starfleet. A member of the Orion Syndicate favored only me and refused to take my sister. I tried to persuade him to but it was stupid to think he'd listen to me."

"You were trying to protect your sister that's not stupid."

"Well, he seemed to think I was overstepping my bounds and gave me this. She turned her back on him and placed a hand on her lower back. There was a large oblique burn with a triangular shape inside it.

"What is that?" he said gently brushing it with his fingers. It was only the size of a nickel which is how he hadn't noticed it before.

"A brand. Of his family crest. When he gave it to me he told me it was so I would knowI belonged to him. That my life was no longer my own." She turned back to hide it. "And it was true. I was his possession, his slave."

"Gaila I'm so sorry-"

"You don't need to apologize I just want you to know why I don't let myself lose control. That's why I don't let guys into my life. I'm just afraid to. The way he treated me…" She closed her eyes and looked down. "I don't trust them or myself. That's why when you get on top of me I freak out. I just think about him and I panic."

"Gaila I would never hurt you or consider you anything less then what you are. You are a beautiful, sexy clever woman who deserves respect. I would never want you to be anything less then that."

"I know you'd never hurt me. In my rational mind I know that just sometimes I panic," she said looking at him "And I forget."

"I will do whatever I can to keep you from feeling like that again." he said wrapping his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head and she leaned into him. He lifted her chin and kissed her gently. She smiled and kissed him back her hands resting on his chest to absorb his strength.

He stood up. "Why don't we get you something to eat. You may want to go back to your room and change though. I don't know how well the two of us showing up with you dressed like that would bode well with the other officers." He offered a hand to her. She took it smiling and stood. He turned to open the door and let go of her hand. She wavered slightly and fell forward. He turned and caught her. "Whats wrong?"

"I don't know I just felt dizzy all of a sudden." She tried to stand again but was unsteady on her feet.

"I should probably recheck your vitals and make sure the concussion isn't more serious then I thought." He picked her up and carried her to a bed in the sick bay. "I'll be right back."

Gaila leaned back into the bed smiling. She hadn't told anyone it Starfleet about her past but Uhura and it had taken her months before she felt ready. There was something about Leo that made him so easy to talk to. She felt like she could finally trust someone, a guy for that matter like she hadn't before. She only hoped he felt the same way. She turned onto her side and watched the door.

I will try to update as soon as possible but I have no idea when I will! Reviews are always a good motivator! I don't know how accurate my Star Trek info is but I try!