"Din Lugh"
A Star Trek-the Original Series (TOS) fan-fic/Alternate Universe (set mainly after "Wrath of Khan").
A/N: This story is Scotty-centric, and I do not own any rights to these "Star Trek" characters and tales. I am using a timeline of my own design that runs with movies II-V, more or less (notice that I ignore ST-"The Motion Picture"). I started writing this fan-fic more than 30 years ago and only recently decided to dust it off a bit to see where it takes me.
Summary: Scotty has family members elsewhere in Starfleet and the Klingons would love to capture one or any of them.
Rating: T for now; may change in later chapters.
Pairings: MS/NU, LM/CC, others as needed.
I am yours
Chapter 21/?
Commander Montgomery Scott leaned back against the warm tile wall in the shower and exhaled a deeply contented sigh. It felt like a month had passed since he'd last taken a long, hot shower because the bathing facilities in Sickbay were exclusively sonic units or rarely, walk-in tub baths (in truth though, it had only been nine days). The first thing he did when he got back to his own quarters on the senior officer's deck was to strip naked and step carefully into the stall, running the water as close to scalding as he could stand it. His hastily discarded clothes were still lying in a rumpled pile on the floor by the bathroom door.
"Computer," he said, speaking clearly in the steaming room as the stream of water stopped abruptly. "Fifteen more minutes." Scotty fought down the tiny—but loud, officious voice in his head that was reprimanding him for the luxurious over-use of freshwater; he knew full well that the Enterprise's "gray water" recyclers were working better than the designers had originally intended them because he had been the engineer to recalibrate said recyclers light years beyond the manufacturer's specs, thank you very much.
"Specify temperature," inquired the computerized but pleasantly feminine voice.
"Forty-one point three, please."
"Affirmative, fifteen minutes at forty-one point three degrees Celsius." The flow of water from the twin showerheads immediately resumed and he relished the feel of it on the back of his neck and shoulders. His pale skin was getting pink from the heat but he really didn't care.
With another uncharacteristically hedonistic sigh and soft chuckle at himself, he reached for the bottle of citrus-scented shampoo/shower gel and lathered a handful of it into his hair as he closed his eyes. On an impulse, he'd stopped by the barber as soon as he'd been released from Sickbay. He knew the medical computer would continue monitoring his status and he wanted to get cleaned up and presentable before Commander Uhura got off duty. His request of "short back and sides" had gotten a friendly sardonic comment from the long-time ship's barber, Chief Lionel Rusco since Scott habitually wore his hair quite a bit longer than that. Perhaps a newly repaired heart meant that he had the opportunity to try a few other new things as well even if his bare neckline really itched just then. Old dog, new tricks and all of that rubbish, he thought, rinsing the soap from his eyes.
As he lathered the fragrant sudsy foam along his chest and shoulders, one hand came across the adhesive patch of the Holter monitor on the upper left side. Dr. McCoy had insisted in no uncertain terms that he should continue wearing the patch for at least another month as a precaution. The open-heart and bypass surgery had been a total success and Bones was a careful physician. Scotty let his fingertips brush across the white patch again, an oddly smooth square of waterproof medical tape amidst the thick hair of his torso, and he gave a decisive grunt.
"Aye-aye McCoy, doctor's orders it is then," he said softly to the droplets on the wall, watching a thin line of water beading downwards. The burly engineer lingered just a few minutes longer under the relaxing spray and he rinsed thoroughly before he stepped out and onto a thick bathmat. The shower automatically shut itself off when he exited.
Scotty dried himself briskly and draped the large towel securely around his waist, tucking the free end under the wrap. He looked in the mirror and shook his head as he eyed the broad expanse of his middle, hearing the good doctor's oft-repeated admonition to lose at least ten kilos of the extra cargo he was carrying around. For the sake of his health and happiness with Nyota, he would do so. With his young cousin temporarily back aboard, and until they started their long journey back to the Sol system to return Connor to Starfleet Academy, Scotty knew that he had several enthusiastic workout partners to call upon. The next day in fact, he would begin long sessions of walking and stationary biking with one of McCoy's physical therapists. His post-op dietary restrictions had changed for the better and he was actually getting used to eating more roasted chicken and fresh salad greens. Giving up his beloved Scotch whiskey had been the most difficult change so far.
He had just finished trimming his mustache neatly above his upper lip when the door chime sounded softly throughout his quarters. "Computer, who is it?" Scotty checked the freshly shaved smoothness of his cheeks between his sideburns and the bristly mustache.
"Commander Nyota Uhura is requesting entry," came the crisp reply.
"Let her in please," he told the computer, waiting a beat or two before he called out to her from the nearby bathroom: "I'm in here, darlin'. Just getting cleaned up after they finally cut me loose from Sickbay, thank God."
Uhura had stopped by her quarters on the way to change into more comfortable off-duty attire and to pick up a small overnight bag. She grinned when she saw him standing there in front of the brightly polished mirror wearing nothing but a Starfleet-issue white and blue cotton bath towel, taking in his attractive new haircut.
"You should have waited for me… I was just coming by to borrow a clean towel from you," she quipped as her gaze wandered down to his bare knees and feet.
Scotty's eyes twinkled warmly as she stepped into the humid bathroom with him and he laughed. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet, lassie, but I would certainly die a very happy man."
The woman started to laugh in reply but her vision suddenly blurred when she took in what he had said aloud and she brought one hand to her mouth to stifle an escaping sob. Scotty quickly gathered her into his arms, kissing her cheek and stroking her hair as the tears streamed down her face.
"Oh here now, hush, love, hush," he murmured to comfort her. "No, honey, I'm sorry, that was a really bad joke." Scotty held her even tighter as she wept into his shoulder, clinging to him. He knew the huge amount of stress she had been under and so he simply held her and let her cry for as long as she needed.
"I'm so sorry, love," he said softly with a kiss upon her earlobe. "Shh, I know it was hard on you and I know I didnae help matters much." Scotty felt her nod in silent agreement against his chest and could tell that her slender fingers had found the heart monitor patch. Gradually her sobs subsided and her breathing steadied as he rubbed her back in soothing circular motions.
"I am here and I am all yours, Nyota." He leaned back slightly and held her face in his hands for a long moment. Scotty couldn't help kissing her cheek again, tasting the saltiness of her tears. "I promise. I am yours for as long as you'll have me."
"Goodness gracious. I guess I needed that," she said shyly and with a sigh, cautiously dabbing at her face with the back of one hand; Scotty handed her a clean and dry washcloth from the shelf above the vanity. "Thank you."
He leaned down and looked up into her eyes, both brows raised in a question. "Better?"
Uhura smiled warmly at his concern for her and she really did feel better having given release at long last to her pent-up emotional stress. "Much better, my love." The woman took a deep breath and looked as if a large, burdensome weight had dropped away from her shoulders.
"So what is our plan for the evening?" She asked as she folded the washcloth and left it beside the sink.
Scotty bent and kissed her on the lips. He gave her a wink. "Well, first I'm going to go get mah knickers in the other room while you freshen up in here or whatever it is you need to do. And then we are going to sit ourselves down on that settee over there and do nothing but cuddle all the way until bedtime, if that suits you. There shall be no beeping and bleeping of medical devices in this cabin tonight. Nearly drove me daft with all of that damned noise; och, I'm not sure how Leonard can stand it, day in and day out."
She laughed at the way he teased Dr. McCoy (and her), happy to see that his former amusing, bemused and rather romantic self was back. "I do believe that sounds like a wonderful plan."
He took up a comb and ran it through his hair, straightening a few strands of salt-and-pepper from the part on the left. "And because I am allowed to have a wee one, I think I'll share a glass of heart-healthy red wine with the most beautiful woman in the galaxy."
Uhura was looking in the mirror to retie her headscarf and she cocked a snarky eyebrow at his reflection. "Galaxy?"
Scotty laughed loudly as he turned and stepped to his bedroom to get dressed. "Universe—universe, lassie… yah know what I mean!" The sound of her laughter echoing in the bathroom was music to his ears.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Warm in his embrace, Uhura felt her eyelids drooping as they sat together on the sofa, listening to the soft instrumental jazz music playing in the background. Scotty rested his cheek on her hair and he too, relaxed. Every so often, his fingers gently smoothed the soft, looping wool of her shawl. The door chime sounded quietly throughout the room and Nyota sat up, blinking sleepily as the brightness of the overhead lights increased by two notches. She reached over to rest her wineglass on the end table and stretched both arms over her head.
"That'll be Connor," Scotty stated, getting agilely to his feet and moving to answer the door. "He said he'd be stopping by after his workout this evening."
"Oh, heya Monty," Connor said with a slight grimace of apology as the door whisked open. "Och, sorry mate, you're both on your way to bed… I can come by in the morning." He discretely checked his wrist chronometer and it was only a little after 2100 hours. Sometimes he forgot that others didn't keep his "student hours" on board the starship.
"Nonsense," Scott told him, grasping him by the elbow and ushering him inside. "We're just having a quiet night without all of those medics bustling and blathering about." Connor saw Uhura sitting comfortably with her legs drawn up underneath a beautiful woven shawl and he smiled a greeting. It was the warp and weft of the familiar muted red tartan of clan Scott.
"Sorry, ma'am," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "I feel like I'm interrupting something." He wore a Starfleet Academy hooded sweatshirt over his karate pants and the shirt strings tickled her shoulder.
She patted his arm and then reached for her wineglass to finish the last couple of sips. "Not at all, in fact you can catch us up on your big news from earlier today."
Scotty rejoined them from the sideboard, pressed a full glass of merlot into the tall young man's hand and gestured to the nearby armchair. "Here laddie, get this doon yer neck and tell me about your upcoming TDY. I feel like you left out all of the pertinent details, cheeky bugger!"
Connor blushed slightly and sat, barking a slight laugh of surprise. "Aye, but I'm gonna get sweat and mank all over your chair here, Cousin." He leaned over to clink the fragile stemware with Scott's glass. "Cheers."
Scotty chuckled, raised his glass and waved the other hand dismissively. "Och, bollocks. Nevermind about the chair. Tell us about our trip to Vulcan. You know I haven't been on active duty for ages. This sounds like good stuff."
"Yes, we are going to Vulcan, due to arrive about a month from now," he replied, taking a sip of the wine. "I sure hope I have enough time to get ready for the mission though."
"You'll be fine and I know that Mr. Spock has already sent a handful of documents to your PADD," Uhura commented, tucking herself close to Scotty's side when he put his right arm over the back of the sofa. "His mother and father still live on Vulcan, I believe in the house where he grew up. You wouldn't know it to look at him but I get the sense he is happy that we'll be there."
"Aye, that's the part I'm looking forward to as well," said Connor, his voice muffled momentarily when he pulled the sweat-dampened hoodie up and over his head. "Let me know if I start smellin' too badly over here. Where was I? Some sort of gathering of the clans at the Vulcan Science Academy… uh, stellar cartography and the Nimbley system here in Beta quadrant."
"Nimbus," corrected both senior officers, and in the same breath. Connor smiled at the way they looked at each other just then.
"Yep, that's the bugger. So apparently some guy contacted Commodore Kittman at the Academy, askin' about me to hire on as a translator for him. An old school-mate of his, I guess."
Scotty made a slight noise of interest. "What was the name?"
"Larson, Dr. Kurtwood Larson," Connor replied and Scotty gave a half shrug indicating that he didn't know the man. "Thankfully, Commander Spock had heard of him and knew of his publications in the field, so that's good."
Uhura chuckled fondly. The Communications officer was well aware that Connor was extremely modest and she had to keep reminding herself that he was but seventeen years old. "You could do a lot worse than having Mr. Spock as a mentor right now, honey."
Connor grinned and nodded. "Aye, that's true. It sounds like this Professor Larson fella is some kind of a bigwig in stellar cartography, or whatever it is. We won't even get to that curriculum until third year."
Scotty finished his wine and looked satisfied as he set the empty glass aside. "Eh, so you'll be a fancy translator for a few days—yah have those skills in spades, laddie. We've not been by there in some time now but Vulcan is an interesting place to visit, bloody hot, but interesting nonetheless. Old archaeological sites, volcanic fields and gardens; things like that."
"And the Commodore wants dress uniforms for the opening and closing," the young man added with a grumble of resignation. "Even Captain Kirk didnae sound too happy about that part."
Scotty waved a hand dismissively. "Costumes, boyo, just silly wee costumes. I'm happy for you though. This is one hell of an adventure."
"You could come with me, right?"
"Nope. Dr. McCoy has me on a PT regimen starting in the morning and I'll follow it even if it k…" he paused and thought. "Gets rough."
Uhura tsked softly, catching his turn of a phrase. "Indeed."
Scotty smiled sheepishly. He leaned over and kissed the side of her forehead. "Don't worry, lass. I gave yah my word."
Nyota turned, smiling at him. "Yes, you did. What will this do for our work at the Communications station, honey?"
Connor set his empty wineglass aside and rubbed at his eyes. "I'm not sure. I think Lieutenant Berger and I will meet in the afternoons for protocol tutorials and such, so mornings on the Bridge, it looks like. Commander Spock suggested working lunches would be sufficient for my Vulcan preps. He offered to find references on Efros and Efrosian culture as well."
Uhura's smile grew sly. She gripped Scotty's knee, jostling it slightly and teasing him with a sideways glance. "I could easily steal you away from the Engineering division if you'd let me, Connor."
Connor laughed and got to his feet. "You two will have to fight that battle without me, sir and ma'am. I'm going to sleep so I can get up early to finish that Xenolinguistics assignment first thing tomorrow. Homework doesn't wait either." He shrugged back into his Starfleet hoodie. Scotty rose from the couch to embrace the young man and Uhura couldn't help noticing yet again how much they resembled each other, especially with the new haircut that Scotty wore.
"Good idea, lad. Keep us posted?"
"Aye, of course I will," he said, leaning down to accept a kiss on the cheek from the Communications chief.
TBC