Damn it, Bones thought as he was awakened from his rest by the knocks at the door. Don't they know knocking is the worst sound to wake up to? Why not just use the comm.? He pulled himself out of his bed, groaning at how stiff he felt. He picked up a pair of pants and pulled them on, not bothering to find a shirt.

Dragged himself to the door, he turned on the lights only to hiss in disgust. He liked that his computer had been programmed to dim the lights when he hissed, and thanked Kirk for his birthday present.

"What do ya want?" he snapped as the door flew open.

He quickly became quiet as he saw who was there. A very sad and wet Ta'kel stood in his doorway. He knew her face would've been streaked with tears if she hadn't been soaking wet. Her bottom lip quivered as she looked him in the eyes before she launched herself at him. He wrapped his arms around the woman, not caring that he was getting wet too. Pressed against his bare chest she felt safe and secure, as if everything was always going to be all right. He began backing up, pulling her into the room with him. Leading her to the couch, he wrapped her in a blanket to dry her off.

"How did you get soaked?" he questioned.

"I was in the sonic-shower," she explained through chattering teeth.

"In your clothes?"

"I was feeling really sad, so I thought I'd take a shower. It only took longer to take clothes off."

Bones scoffed. "Your logic is baffling."

"I'm sorry…" Ta'kel sounded sad around the shivers that ran through her.

"No need to be. Your freezing." Bones got up and walked back to his bed. He pulled the duvet off and proceeded to wrap it around the shivering Vulcan on his couch. "What's wrong?"

"Nightmares… horrible ones. And every time I close my eyes I see the same thing." Bones wiped a tear off her cheek as it streaked down her face. "I feel helpless and vulnerable."

"I'm here for you," Bones cooed softly. He stroked her red hair and shushed her. "Why'd you come to me?" He was curious why she didn't go to Uhura or someone she knew better than him.

"Because you were there… and I don't want others to know." Sighing, she snuggled into his chest, breathing in his sweet scent. "You smell good," she commented.

"That's an odd thing to tell a man."

She scowled at him, even if it was a weak one. She knew she'd never have as good a scowl as Bones had. He was the master. As the thought crossed her mind she chuckled, a smile lighting up her face.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked, a smile threatening on his mouth. Somehow, just seeing her smile made him happy, and he wanted to know what had caused that happiness.

"I was just thinking, you're the master of scowling. I could never be as great as you."

"No one will ever be as great as me," he replied. She laughed, her beautiful laugh, the one that the world had been deprived of for a while now. The two fell silent for a moment. Not the tense type of silent, the kind that no one likes, but the kind where both were content just to be in each other's presence.

"Can I sleep here tonight?" Ta'kel asked, startling Bones a little. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face as he thought, then smiled at her.

"Of course you can," he said, unconsciously pulling her closer. Her warm body close to him felt so natural, he never wanted to let go, although he knew he would have to. Despite knowing that, he would make the most of this.

Guess what... Bones sleeps naked! XD

Sorry for the long wait, I had this done for a while but was lazy... oh well.

Please review!