Secrets

"Hey, Kat," Boom greets as he enters the lab. When it seems empty he frowns; "Kat?"

"Hey, Boom, sorry I'm late!" Kat rushes as she dashes through the door. She straightens a few curls around her ears and smooths her still impeccable appearance.

"Late?—I thought you lived in here," Boom mutters to himself. "Where were you?"

"Just, um, got a late start," Kat offers a dazzling smile in his direction, positively glowing.

"Sure, cool," Boom nods at his mentor. It's strange to see her frazzled like this, plus, as beautiful as she is normally, she's luminescent at the moment. "Something good happen? You look like you just won the lottery."

Kat lets out a small, uncharacteristic giggle before composing herself. She cannot force the beaming smile from her face. "Just got a good start to the day, I guess."

Boom is thoroughly confused and just a little worried some jerk put catnip in her lab coat again. He doesn't get a chance to ask, though, as Commander Cruger comes in. Boom nods, "Commander Cruger."

"Boom, good morning," Cruger replies in a shockingly bright voice. He also seems on top of the world. "How are things going here?"

"Good," Boom replies sheepishly, scared that the Commander's happiness is due to loss of sanity.

"Excellent, excellent, and," Cruger saunters – yes, saunters – over to Kat with a smile even Boom can see on his scaly face. "Miss Manx, I see things are going perfectly on your end, as always."

"Hello, Commander," Kat greets, though her smile is larger and her tone is more playful than normal. "I am making progress, thank you."

"I have no doubt regarding any of your skills," Cruger drops his voice a little as he leans closer to her pointed ear; "Doctor Manx."

Kat's cheeks turn a delectable red and she turns her sparkling eyes to him shyly. "Well, Commander, I'm happy to give you another trial demonstration of my newest techniques."

"Very well, Kat, I'll be waiting in my office," Cruger smirks and walks out, large chest puffed more than normal. "Good day, Boom."

"G–good day, sir," Boom nods, flustered at how many entendres he has just heard from his superior officers. When he looks up again Kat is biting her lip, looking at the door anxiously. "Seriously, Kat?"

"What?" she asks, having forgotten completely of Boom's presence.

"You two," Boom points his pencil between her and the door and watches her blush vibrantly. "You weren't exactly subtle about it. Besides, I have never seen you this happy, let alone Cruger. I'm just saying, I'll keep your secret but," Boom pauses and looks deeply into Kat's vaguely anxious but curious face; "he better be good to you."

Kat smiles sweetly, heart melted at the words of her bumbling assistant. As he turns his back to her, embarrassed, she goes and hugs him. "Thank you, Boom, and not just for keeping the secret."

"No problem, Kat," he smiles. He looks at the woman who took him under her wing and has been like a sister to him since. "I just want to be sure...that he's as good as you deserve."

"Believe me, Boom, he's the best any woman could hope for," she smiles and leaves.

Boom smiles at first, but then considers the double meaning of her words and cringes.