May 21

A dirty book is rarely dusty. ~ Author Unknown

"Hi," Christine said in bright greeting when her door slid open to admit Scotty. They were going to watch their second Bond movie together, neither of them going so far as calling it a date but that's what it really was, really.

"'lo Lassie," Scotty said with a smile. He thought she looked especially pretty in her casual clothes, a pink sweater over faded jeans. He was similarly attired, sporting jeans and a denim shirt, the sleeves rolled up half way. "I brought you some liquid refreshment."

She laughed as she accepted the mason jar full of his infamous spirits. "Thank you. I got ahold of some Pepsi that I'll be putting mine into."

"Ah," Scotty said with a nod. "I understand ya. Prefer mine straight up."

"So I've heard," she said with a smile. "Come and sit down. I have the movie all queued up."

He accepted her invitation, entering further into her cozy quarters, settling next to her on the loveseat when she had sat down, a bowl of potato chips on her coffee table waiting for them. He reached for a chip, searching his mind for the right thing to say. It'd been so long since he'd been on anything that remotely resembled 'a date' he wasn't quite sure what he was expected to say. He breathed a silent sigh of relief when she took the responsibility from him.

"Are you staying on board the entire time we're at VanHalen?" she asked, glancing over at him.

"Chances are good that all personnel will need to be evacuated at some point," Scotty said. "I don't fancy leaving my lady to the ministrations of those experts."

"I understand," Chris said with a nod. "But surely the Captain won't authorize any repairs or modifications without your approval."

"He's very good about protecting her from meddling. Starfleet sometimes they think they know what is best," Scotty said, scoffing at the mere idea that anyone could possibly know better than he did what the Enterprise did or did not need. That was outrageous and utterly untrue.

"Dr. McCoy says the same," she said in sympathy. "Why they can't leave us alone to do our jobs I'll never understand."

"You be sayin' it right, lassie," Scotty replied, warming up to his favorite topic. Before he knew what had come over him, he found himself telling her about some of the idiotic communiqués HQ had sent him and the Captain, mandating updates and recalibrations, and general meddling of the most troublesome kind. Some part of his brain knew he was monopolizing the conversation but she was such an excellent listener, interested, asking the right questions at the right time, he couldn't stop himself from going on and on about his favorite subject.

"Surely they didn't think it was a good idea?" she said when he had told her about a re-fit that had been ordered, one he had informed the Captain would make it impossible to achieve warp.

"They never factored in the inertia of space. Not until Commander Spock told them they were wrong would they listen," he said, shaking his head.

"Because you couldn't possibly understand the physics of warp drive in space," she said.

"Apparently. Damn bureaucrats. Thank the heavens for Admiral Pike. He's at least seen the inside of a starship for more than an inspection tour," Scotty said.

"That's been our experience as well," she agreed, frowning when her intercom buzzed. "I'm sorry."

"Na to worry, lassie," he said.

"Chapel here," she said in response.

"I don't mean to bother you, Chris. But Erick's wakin' up and doesn't quite know where he is. Can you run down and talk to him?" McCoy's voice asked. It sounded guilty and worried in equal parts.

"Of course, Doctor. I'm in jeans and can get there quicker if I don't change."

"Darlin' I don't care if you're in your skivvies. If you can get him to finish wakin' up without hurtin' him or me, you will once more deserve your title as saint."

Scotty liked the laugh that Chris gave in response to McCoy's mild rant.

"Alright. I'll be there as quick as I can."

"I appreciate it, darlin'."

Chris disconnected and turned to Scotty with an apologetic expression. "I shouldn't be long, Scotty. Will you wait?"

"I most certainly will," he agreed, standing to walk her to her door. "Might I browse through some of your books? You have an impressive collection."

"Of course," she agreed. "If you see one that interests you, I hope you'll feel free to borrow it."

"That's kind of you, lassie," he said.

She smiled at that before leaving him alone in her quarters. He squatted before her low bookcase, reading the titles of the volumes she had collected. Some were familiar and some were brand new to him. One that lay horizontally on top of the others caught his attention, the cover deep burgundy with no title visible. Curious, he picked it up to casually flip through it. To his surprise, it turned out to be a copy of the Salagsställnemgar, a collection considered by many as the definitive guide to the pleasures of the flesh. He had never before encountered an actual printed copy of the book and could not help but flip through it. From his brief glimpses, he could see that its reputation was well earned.

He had stopped to study the position entitled tumbling eagle when Christine's voice called him over the intercom.

"Yes lassie?" Scotty answered in what he hoped was his usual voice.

"I'm going to be here longer than I had hoped. I better take a raincheck on Bond."

"Is Erick alright?" Scotty asked in concern for his engineer.

"He's fine, Scotty," she said, her tone easing his worry. "It's complicated and I'll explain it all tomorrow."

"I understand," he said, not bothering to try and figure it out. As long as she and Erick were okay, that's all that was important. "I found a couple of your books I've a fancy to read, iffn you don't object."

"Of course. Enjoy them," she said, signing off with her wishes that he have a good night.

He took the Salagsställnemgar with him as well as a couple of novel he was also interested in reading and left Chris' quarters. Maybe by reviewing the information in between those burgundy covers, he'd be ready for the next time they were planning to watch a movie together.