Chapter 10: Conversations

The next morning Leah woke up alone. She glanced at the chronometer.

0913 hours.

She blinked confused.

„Dammit, Jim…" She whispered half-heartedly, because he let her sleep in.

She was actually a little impressed and wondered how he'd managed to be so quiet. Also, she didn't remember the last time she slept that long.

Leah got out of bed and felt sore. She chuckled. Sore in all the right places. It had been quiet a while and since the gala she'd had more sex than in… well, years. Solo-action not included, of course.

While walking into the bathroom she not only noticed that she was a litte sad she couldn't wake up next to Jim – she was also sad not beeing able to put on her uniform and go to Medbay.

She walked around a little and finally sat down to check if she had messages. She did. A lot. Some nurses asked for advice, a few crewmembers inquired if she could see them in Medbay or somewhere else, the captain of the Archer sent her news about their departure and… she smiled… there was something that could be called a love letter from Jim KIrk.

Leah answered every message and decided to take a walk on the ship. With the outcome of her reassignment still unknown she wanted to take a good look around. There was still no message from Boyce or Pike and Scotty couldn't stall the supposedly necessary repairs for much longer.

Strolling through the hallways she started to weigh the options again…

…and found herself suddenly in Ten Forward.

Guinan smiled and pointed Leah towards a table at the window front. After pickung up two steaming cups she joined Leah.

„Tea again?" Leah commented.

„Too much caffeine is bad for you, Doctor McCoy."

Leah just pulled the cup closer and held it between her hands. „You can call me, Leah."

„Why so sad, Leah? I thought everything's working out?"

„What do you mean – everything?"

Guinan smiled. „You and the captain are a couple now, are you not?"

Leah rolled her eyes. „Doesn't mean we're getting married. That idea was never really on the table."

„Sure about that?"

Leah gave her a surprised look. Those were the exact words Guinan said two days earlier about beeing in a relationship.

Leah exhaled sharply. „Did you know that I was married before? Didn't work out."

„I heard." The El-Aurian smiled again. „Did you know that I was married 23 times?"

Leah's lips parted, but she was at a loss for words.

„Yes", Guinan confirmed. „Let's just say I'm older than I look. I think 23 is enough. But one… what's one? And not even with the right man. Are you really letting that stand in the way of your happiness?"

Leah sighed. „Guinan… this is… I…" Another sharp exhale. „I just don't want this whole mess about my reassignment be the reason for a marriage in haste. I want to sort this CMO thing out the right way and not through a back door."

Guinan slowly nodded.

„And if I were to get married to Jim, what about Anna? A marriage would keep me on the ship, but it wouldn't give me the position of CMO back. It's already playing with fire that I moved in with him."

„That is a problem", Guinan slowly admitted. „I didn't considered that."

„So, no wedding", Leah stated. "There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle. It's just a matter of finding it."

Guinan gave her an intense look.

Leah rolled her eyes. „Fine, not now. I won't exclude someday in the future."

The El-Aurian smiled. „I expect an invitation."

Leah chuckled. „I'll think about it."

„Captain, we're receiving a message from Starfleet Medical", Uhura announced.

Jim spun around with his chair. „Pike?" he asked hopefully.

„Doctor Boyce."

He smiled. „Close enough. Put him through to my ready room." He got up and walked to the door. „Spock, you've got the conn.

„Yes, Sir", Uhura said to his order, but he was already gone.

Spock sat down in the command chair.

Sulu turned and gave Uhura a curious look. „Do you think it's good news?"

She shrugged. „I hope so."

„What about Selek? Did he already message you as promised?"

„Not yet. Must be as he said. It'll take some time until he's talked to everybody about what Henderson did."

Spock raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.

„What if they don't listen or don't believe him?" Sulu asked.

„Don't be so negative all of the sudden. Why shouldn't they believe him?"

„Sorry, I don't know. I was hoping, we could help them faster. And I'm getting sick thinking about what Selekt told us about this Orion pheromones thing. Shouldn't we tell them?"

Uhura shook her head. „We don't have those pheromones in Medbay and Scotty's made sure the transporter's monitored closely. She can't get any."

„It would still be safer if the captain had an antidote."

She giggled. „No need for that. Remember Gaila?"

Sulu – and Spock - gave her a confused look. „Yes, why?"

„Because ze Keptin had something with her? Is he immune?" Chekov joined the conversation.

„No", Uhura answered. „He's not. At least not because of Gaila. She told me a funny little fact once." She showed them a big reassuring smile. „A man in love can't get affected by Orion pheromones."

Sulu's and Chekov's faced lit up.

„A very interesting fact", now Spock said.

„I vonder if Doctor Cole knows zis", Chekov added.

Sulu laughed. „I bet she's too arrogant and narcissistic to even consider that to be a problem. Have you seen how she behaves? And remember what Selek told us? She thinks she can win the captain. She doesn't believe he's really in love with Leah McCoy, but that he could fall in love with her or at least desire her." He shook his head. „That's insane."

„I vonder if she wants him to fall in love with her or if she only vants him to be hers, not matter how", Chekov said pensively.

„She wants everything, but it's pure ambition to be on top or have the hottest guy", Uhura confirmed.

„She wants prestige", Spock concluded.

„Exactly." Uhura nodded. „Like the female villan in old stories and fairy tales. She wants the prince and the crown, but she doesn't care about the man and the feelings. It's about power and possession."

„She vill fail", Chekov stated.

The others, even Spock, nodded.

„And we're sure she's got no pheromones and even if she does, they won't work?" Sulu asked.

„One hundred percent", Uhura answered in a firm voice.

Author's Notes:

This quote is from Jean-Luc Picard: "There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle. It's just a matter of finding it."

I'm excited that he'll be back in a new Star Trek show and wanted to work in at least one quote from him in this fic :)