Chapter 11: Pheromones

Leah was curious. She and Jim had already planned to meet for lunch in the mess hall, but he sent her a cryptic message that said to meet him half an hour earlier and that is was important.

When she got there she spotted him at a table waiting for her, but in that exact moment Anna Cole headed to the table with a tray of food.

Leah rolled her eyes. That woman had some nerve. She watched Jim suppressing the same reaction, when Anna sat down next to him with a broad smile, but without asking.

„Oh, Captain, isn't this funny? You're alone here and I am too. So let's eat together", Anna purred. „We still didn't get the chance to get to now each other better."

„You might wanna recount", Leah remarked sitting down at Jim's other side.

Anna kept smiling, but shot a glare towards Leah. She intentionally brushed along the captain's hand on the table, picking up a glass and taking a sip.

Jim pulled his hand back to get it out of her reach. He frowed for a moment, because he felt a strange tingle and thought for a moment he smelled some flower scent.

„Shouldn't you be packing your things and be finally on your way to Earth?" Anna gave Leah another glare.

„Funny", Jim said. „I was just about to suggest packing to you, Doctor Cole."

Both woman looked at him in confusion.

Jim smiled at Leah. „Surprise."

Anna shook her head and got a little angry. „What's that supposed to mean?"

„That your very short guest performance on this ship is over", he replied. „You tried and you failed. You will get your new orders soon, Doctor Cole."

„Jim…" Anna started, batting her eyelashes. „I think you're mistaken. You –"

„That's still Captain Kirk to you", he interrupted her.

„But…" She gave him another confused look and murmured: „Why isn't this working? This should be working by now…"

Leah watched her closely and started to get a notion. „What kind of agent did you use and what did you try to do?" she confronted her.

Anna glared at her. „I don't know what you mean."

„Sure you don't", Leah replied in a disbelieving tone.

Jim looked to Leah. „Did she give something to me?"

„Ask her. Maybe she won't lie if her captain orders her to tell the truth", Leah said, crossing her arms and leaning back in the chair.

Anna started to pout.

„Doctor Cole", Jim just said in a sharp voice.

Silence.

„Do I have to make it an order?" he asked.

Anna rolled her eyes. „It didn't work. I don't know why it didn't work. You should love me, not look at me like that and talk to me like that", she complained.

„What did you do?" he spelled it out in exasperation.

„Orion pheromones", Uhura's voice said, making their heads turn. The lieutenant stepped to the table.

Leah exhaled sharply. „Unbelievable. What kind of doctor are you with all this scheming and your behaviour and now this, Anna? How did you even get a degree?"

„Doctor Cole, I want you to pack your things and have the CMO's office empty in two hours. By then Admiral Pike will arrive and inform you about your reassignment", Jim explained in a dangerously quiet voice. „I won't press any charges, but you will never set a foot on this ship again."

Anna didn't reply. She glared to all three of them and slowly got up. She left the room with her lips pressed together and her head held high.

Uhura took the free chair and sat down. „Are you alright, Captain?"

He nodded. „I felt something when she touched me and I briefly smelled some flowers, but that's it."

Leah leant over, tried to feel his temperature on his forehead and took his pulse. „Seems to be normal, but we should get you to Medbay and check you. If you noticed that reaction you might have gotten quite a dose. I guess she manufactured some pheromones especially for you and they had to be transmitted through skin contact. Otherwise every man between Medbay and here would have been affected. It's almost a miracle you didn't fall for her and started making out with her right here."

Uhura giggled. „No, it's not."

They looked at her questioningly.

„You don't know, Doctor?"

Leah shook her head. „I don't follow. I learned about Orion pheromones, but I don't know what you're getting at."

„Immunity."

„Immunity?", Jim echoed, before Leah had a chance.

„You think Jim is immune?" Leah added.

Uhura smiled. „I know he is."

„Ah", Jim made. „Because of Gaila? But she took a suppressant to be able to attend the Academy."

Uhura shook her head and got up again. With the words „Orion pheromones won't work on a man who is truly and deeply in love" she left.

Leah and Jim stared after her, processing what she said.

„Uhm…" Jim finally began, his eyes finding Leah's. „You knew already that I love you."

„Yeah…" she whispered. „But this takes it on a whole new level. That proves it scientifically, Darlin'. That's real evidence."

He grinned. „I thought I already proved it several times in the last two nights. And days."

Leah rolled her eyes. „Why did I have to fall in love with you of all men, Jim Kirk?"

His grin got even bigger and she just leant over, grabbed the fabric of his uniform shirt with both hands and kissed him.

The crewmembers around them cheered, applauded and whistled.

Uhura looked at them from afar and headed to the bridge in order to send a message to Selek.

Author's Notes:

No quotes in this chapter.