(Penultimate Chapter)

Bones had never run so fast in his life. He raced across the Enterprise, tailed by a medical assistant. He burst through the doors of the bridge.

"GOD DAMMIT!"

Lena was on the floor of the bridge, decomposing in front of him. Carol was next to her, her hand on Lena's neck. "She still has a slight pulse!" she cried.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Spock restraining Jim.

Bones dropped to his knees and whipped out a scanner. The tissue damage was extensive, but the poison hadn't seemed to have left her wings? How the hell? "Her circulatory system and nervous system are shutting down...I don't understand...the poison should have blown through 200,000 miles of blood vessels by now?"

"She has 260,000 in her wings alone!" Jim shouted.

"What?!"

Bones looked up at Jim; Spock let him go and Jim rushed to his side. "260,000." he repeated.

"Shit…. you know this would have been really USEFUL information about 2 hours ago!" Bones rolled her onto her stomach. Years of experience in the medical field had taught him to work through the stench of rotting flesh. He pulled on a pair of gloves. "I didn't give her enough", he continued, "I based it off of her weight… Jim, I think I can stop the poison."

Jim stared at him wide-eyed.

"Get me a laser scalpel…" he said to the assistant. "Jim...I need to amputate her wings…"

"What?"

"You KNOW how this poison works! I can't stop it. It hasn't reached her organs yet… I need your permission."

"I don't...I...she wouldn't… I don't know if she would want that?!"

"Jim, you have thirty seconds to make this decision! You're her fiance or betrothed or whatever! You won't have this choice for long!"

Jim didn't know what to do - Lena and the sky in intrinsically linked in his mind...What would she want?

"Do it", he said.

Bones nodded and began cutting.

"Doctor… her organs will kick back - she won't live through the separation!" the aid said in terror.

"I'll deal with that AFTER I get the poison to stop spreading!" Her left wing was sheared off, her purple blood was spewing everywhere. He started on the right wing.

"Doctor, she's crashing!"

Both wings were detached. "Jim - get her, bring her to sick bay!"

Without thinking Jim scooped her up off the ground. She was so light, so small and fragile without her wings. Her blood was running down his uniform from the gaping wounds in her back. He ran to sick bay, barely seeing the facing of the crew in the hallways. He heard someone scream, but it was muted compared to the deafening sound of the blood pounding in his ears. He made it to sick bay and dropped her on the table. He felt a hand trying to pull him away, but he shrugged it off.

"Get him outta here!" Bones screamed from somewhere in the distance.

Jim felt a hand on his shoulder, and suddenly everything went dark.


Jim opened his eyes with a gasp, "Lena!" he called out.

"Shhhhhhhh shhh shhhh, lay back down", a woman said to him. She flicked on a light...it was Nyota.

"Where am I?"

""Your bedroom, you've been out for hours… Spock, Carol and I have been taking turns watching over you."

Jim sat up and shook his head, "How long have I been asleep for?"

"About 20 hours."

Jim rubbed the drowsiness from his eyes, "Fucking nerve pinch thing…"

"Jim, you were hysterical...Bones needed you out of the way."

His heart started racing again, "Oh my God, Lena?"

"Still in surgery… but… she's out of danger. Jim, she's alive. She's gonna make it."

The gravity of Nyota's words hit him like a punch to his solar plexus. She was alive; safe; against all odds. He suddenly started crying again, and felt Nyota pull him into her shoulder. "You know, you two might be the MOST dramatic couple I've ever met. You guys are gonna have to cut that out." She was crying too.

"I wanna see her…"

Nyota released him. "Soon…we shouldn't distract Bones. Go shower...you're still covered in blood, then we'll go see her."


A week later Lena was still unconscious. Bones had made the decision to keep her in an induced coma while she healed. She spent 23 hours in surgery while he meticulously rewired her nervous and circulatory systems to run smoothly without her wings. He was also forced to depress her organs, as they we accustomed to having to support 60% more body mass. Her wings had been frozen. Bones had initially hoped to re-attached them should they ever discover a cure for the poison, but the damage was too extensive.

Jim was a wreck. He sat by her bedside all day - he tried to stay there all night too, but was kicked out at the end of each day. Finally, Bones gave him a small device that monitored her vitals in real time, small enough to keep in his pocket, and told him to find something else to do.

Bones heard his door open. Jim was here for his daily status report. Fortunately Bones actually had something to report today.

"I'm gonna wake her up", he said before Jim could say anything.

"She's ready?"

"No...but I think I've gotten the hang of controlling her organs...I can treat her better if she can give me actual feedback."

"Will she be in any pain?"

"No more than usual", Bones sighed. "I did a few scans of her. Her internal damage from over the course of the year was pretty extensive. I've been working on it, but she's too fragile right now for another surgery. I'd like to go back in in a few weeks… She is healing, though… I think a week's sleep was exactly what she needed."

"Her wings?"

"Gone. There's nothing I can do about that."

Jim put his face in his hands, "She's never going to forgive me."

Bones frowned, "For what? Telling me to save her life. Jim...I've been a doctor a long time. Since before you joined Starfleet - let me tell you, if you're ever given the choice between life and death...pick life. Death is always gonna be there waiting for you."

"She might not want to live without her wings…"

"Then she can chug a vial of that poison. I did the scans - I can give her a proper dosage this time."

"But she won't have her wings…"

"Jim...corpses can't fly. You did the right thing."

Jim nodded, and looked through the glass where he could see Lena lying on the sick bay bed. "She just looks so small...so weak...I hate seeing her like this."

Bones actually laughed, "She may be smaller, but rest assured, she'll still be able to kick your ass eight ways to Sunday once she's recovered. Spock's too, actually. Let me show you something."

Bones pulled out a scan of Lena's body. Such information was forbidden in Virosa culture, but Bones hadn't bothered with the culture briefing either.

"Look at this. This is her muscle tissue - it's 400% denser than a human's. That how those teeny little girls were capable of destroying everything they came across. Her bones, Jim, they're harder than diamonds, but flexible! Can you imagine a flexible diamond?!"

"That's pretty amazing…" Jim said.

"Pretty amazing? Seriously? Honestly, from a medical standpoint, I might start worshiping them."

"So she'll be OK?"

"I'd be lying if I said she didn't need some serious rehab. She's even going to have to train herself to do simple things, like walking, again. Her center of gravity is totally different now...but, yeah. She'll be back to the perky, impulsive, sarcastic princess we all know and love in a few months."

"You're amazing Bones…"

"Now don't get all gooey on me...Though, if she does flip out about the wings - please remind her how important I am to you."

"Noted."

Bones opened the door. "Let's go wake her up, then."

Jim approached her. She looked...better. He had overheard an assistant say that Bones had been over-feeding her; she looked as though she'd gained a few pounds. Her pale face had color in it again, and the bags under her eyes were gone. He sat down in a chair beside her, and took her hand. He nodded to Bones who injected her neck with something to bring her back, and stepped out of the room.

Lena's eyes fluttered open, and she looked around the room confused. That last thing she remembered was fainting in the Zezian shuttle craft. She hadn't even made it to the Vaa. She felt something warm holding her hand, and turned to see Jim. She gasped.

"Oh no!"

Jim frowned, "Not what I was expecting..but good morning to you too."

"Where am I...oh god are you dead, too?"

He smiled, "No...and neither are you...you're on the Enterprise."

Lena's confusing increased, "That's not possible…"

He kept holding her hand. "You're alive, Lena…" he whispered.

Lena looked around. It did look a lot like sick bay. They had only stopped here briefly on their tour of the ship. She looked down and saw herself in a white robe, a blanket covering her up to her waist. She could feel her toes, and a dull ache at the base of her wings. She tried to move them.

"I can't feel my wings…" she said. She looked to the side… she didn't see them either. Shaking she turned back to him…. "What happened to me?"

Jim pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. He told her everything.

When he finished she was in shock. He had spared no detail - they decided long ago not to sugar coat things with each other. Her wings were gone...she would never fly again. The sky was lost to her forever. The finality of it sent her into a weak fit of tears. Jim quickly moved to sit beside her on her bed, wrapped his arms around her, and let her sob into his chest.

"I'm sorry", he whispered, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."

She moved her head to the crook of his neck, and nuzzled him slightly. She had always loved the smell of his skin. His arms were so warm around her. From this close she could hear his heart beat. She shifted her head, and pressed her lips to his neck. "No...it's OK. You did what I would have wanted."

They heard a door open. "Lena!" Nyota cried out. Spock was following her.

"Nyota, we should leave them -"

"It's OK, Spock." Lena said, still snuggled safely in Jim's arms. She untangled herself and let Nyota embrace her.

"Welcome back", she said.


Three weeks later

Spock called a meeting of all senior officers, except the Captain, to the briefing room - Jim was far too involved with Lena to be a part of this conversation. Bones had given them the OK to move her into Jim's quarters a few days ago. He still kept his monitoring device on him at all times, but, there wasn't a need for her to actually sleep in sick bay. She could sort of walk again. She had a weight on her back to simulate the weight of her wings, but she was incredibly klutzy without them to balance herself.

She appeared in the doorway to the briefing room, alone. She must have slipped Jim a sedative to sneak away. He hated letting her out of his sight for even a second. They had actually gotten into quite a few fights over it. She was wearing a regulation black t-shirt, and her flight suit pants; Spock noted that, despite the lack of wings, she actually looked quite well. She had gained more weight - after a lifetime of not eating dairy or carbs, her body had taken to them with a vengeance - and she had also asked Bones to heal most of her scars, including the one across her face.

She sat down next to Nyota at the table. She knew why she was here.

Spock outlined the current situation for Lena and the officers. After Lena had been beamed back aboard the Enterprise, the Vaa, in his anger, had broken the treaty and attacked. Or, at least he had given the order to attack. Many of his ships, upon their realization that he was re-starting the war, had mutinied. The Zezians themselves drove the Vaa's ships out of Virosa space. On the Zezian homeworld a full-scale revolution had broken out: the Vaa and his supporters, against the insurgents. Even there, Lena was being hailed as a hero - a martyr who saved two races with one selfless action.

Though it looked like the Virosa were not getting the fuel they were promised, the Zezians were certainly not coming back.

The Virosa were in the process of rebuilding. Suria had recalled the Conclave and reformed it, including, for the first time in history, a small number of non-winged females - those who had risen to roles of leadership during the war. Brok had gone home to his betrothed, and they had finally mated.

Lena smiled, "It seems like everything came together without me."

Spock turned to her, "On the contrary...because of you. Queen Suria is the undisputed Queen, a war hero. She is now able to implement the long lasting changes your government so desperately needs. The Zezians are in full revolt, in the process of overthrowing an oppressive regime. Your people are safe from the Zezians...possibly forever."

Lena nodded, and Spock continued, "What we have come together today to discuss is what to do going forward. Your alleged death was a powerful blow against the Vaa, and is the source of Suria's power, as she only had one witness to her Queenship. Should it become apparent to either the Virosa or the Zezians that you are alive...much of the progress will crumble."

Lena closed her eyes, realizing what he was saying, "You're right…", she said. "Everything depends on me being dead. I will...end my life, to ensure the safety of my people...and yours."

Everyone at the table gasped, and started to cry out in protest.

Spock shook his head, "You are free to do as you will, but that was not what I had in mind."

"It's the only way...I guess I could...go into hiding back on the homeworld?"

"It is true that Queen Suria would gladly hide you - perhaps even restore you to your Queenship, but, should the Zezians figure out that you are living while the Vaa still has any measure of power, your sacrifice would seem like a clever trick, and he would pull support back to his side. You would be back where you started."

"I have relinquished...I can't be restored. It's one of our laws that actually makes sense."

"Then there is one less reason for you to return to Virosa space."

Lena frowned, "Then what am I supposed to do?"

Spock looked at his fiance, who smiled at him, "As you aptly noted during our time on your home world, our crew is practically defenseless against boarding parties. Additionally we have fewer than 20 members of the crew who are qualified to be sent on an away team. This is, and has been for some time, completely unacceptable."

"I don't understand."

"Princess Lena...you cannot go home. You would be exposing your people to unnecessary risk should you be discovered. You have given your life for your people. Whether by fate, a miracle, or, as I believe, sheer luck, it has been given back to you. It is yours now, and I do not think it fair for the Virosa to demand it a second time, whether by ending it yourself, or spending it hiding. The Federation has been permanently banned from Zezian space, and will likely refuse to make an alliance once they read my report. The Zezians are also tied up in a massive revolution that will take them decades to recover from. All parties believe you to be dead. You ARE dead, effectively. I am recommending you stay that way. The best thing you can do for everyone is to just disappear."

"Agreed", she said.

"Do you know where we are, Princess?"

"No."

"We are two months away from the Falian Galaxy...where no one has ever heard of a Virosa or a Zezian…"

"Princess Lena, after much deliberation with my senior officers, I would like to offer you a position on this ship. I will make you an acting Lieutenant, and you will be responsible for training to crew to be proficient in hand to hand combat situations, and organizing and leading the away teams. I believe your prior experience will make you significantly more capable of such endeavors than either the Captain or myself. You will have to report directly to Jim, but, I have found it to be quite easy to separate my work life from my personal life. I am sure you will find it similarly seamless."

Lena was speechless for once. But no, her mind raced to a million different reasons why she couldn't.

"Spock, someone will realize. Even if no one does while you're in space, once you're back on Earth…"

"Once we're back on Earth, we will...figure it out...to use an human expression. The Vaa may be dead by then, in which case there will no longer be any reason to hide. The Federation has many provisions to allow for refugees. This is allowed. Additionally, I need to start compiling a case in Jim's defense for that download he gave to you...I am certain having you as a sympathetic witness would be helpful."

"I…"

"Princess Lena", Spock said, "This will mean essentially restarting your life. It is likely you will never return to Virosa space, or see your friends and family again. Everything will change. It already has. I have experienced this, though not to the same degree, when I left Vulcan society and joined Starfleet. I can personally guarantee, if you are brave enough to do this, you will adjust."

Lena's couldn't breathe, she could scarcely believe what she was even hearing.

"Princess…?"

Lena looked up, "Lena now… Haven't you heard Spock, the Princess is dead."

Spock leaned back,"I take it to mean you accept my proposal, then?"

She broke into her mischievous smile, the one she had thrown to Jim right before she pulled him off a balcony, and shrugged, "Yep", she said, "I'm in."

"I am ...happy...to hear that", Spock said, "happy" being a gross understatement. The rest of his senior officers were beaming.

"Soooo, how does this work?" she asked.

"Dr. McCoy has advised me that you need several more weeks to complete your rehabilitation. I suggest you use the time to become familiar with Starfleet regulations. Then you may run your training program as you see fit. We will not have an away team for several months, but when we encounter a planet, you will be expected to coordinate the mission. When you are cleared for active duty, you will begin leading them. In the meantime I will assign you to Jim's quarters in our log."

"Lieutenants don't get their own quarters?" she asked.

Spock frowned, "They do… I just assumed…" Suddenly something dawned on him, much to his delight, "I do happen to have vacant Lieutenant quarters available…" Nyota suppressed a giggle.

"I'll take those", Lena said flippantly.

"Excellent, then you are dismissed...Lieutenant."


Jim was pissed when he woke up. She had actually slipped him a sedative. NOT OK. Admittedly, he'd been sort of "mother hen"-like for the last few weeks, which he knew was driving her crazy, but he couldn't help himself. He kept waking up in the middle of the night to check to make sure she was still there, still alive, still breathing. They couldn't have sex yet. Bones had made that explicitly clear when he let Jim bring her back to his quarters. She needed to keep her heart rate down.

He sat down on his couch and poured himself a glass of scotch. As he poured himself his second he heard her key into his quarters. He knew it was her because Spock always knocked. Lena still didn't understand the concept.

"Hi", she said brightly, clearly smug that she slipped away.

He glared at her. She walked over and stood behind the couch, leaning on it's back "I thought you weren't supposed to mix alcohol and sedatives."

Sometimes, he couldn't handle her. "See that's funny, because I don't actually remember taking a sedative."

She feigned shock, "Maybe we need to talk about your drinking, then", she said worriedly.

"Where were you?"

"At a meeting"

"A meeting?"

"Um hmm".

Jim was reminded of how exasperated Suria used to get with her, but he took the bait.

"Who were you meeting with, Lena?"

"All of the senior officers."

"Except me, I guess."

"Yeah...you must have missed it … you know it's kind of unprofessional of you to get drunk and take naps in the middle of the day."

"I WASN'T TAKING A NAP, YOU SLIPPED ME A SEDATIVE!"

She burst out laughing, but otherwise ignored his outburst. She walk around the couch and settled into his lap, kissing his forehead.

"Do you want to hear what the meeting was about?" she said. Clearly, apologizing for drugging him wasn't on her agenda.

He sighed, "Why not?"

She quickly filled him in on the Zezian revolution and the Virosa developments. He hadn't kept up - neither of them had. They had deliberately avoided potential stressors for her, per Bones' orders.

"Wow", Jim said, his anger forgotten.

"Yes… Spock and I decided it was best for me to 'stay dead'".

"Stay dead?"

"Go into hiding, start a new life. Princess Lena is officially dead."

"That's too bad, I liked her. She had a pretty fuckable body, and she was down for anal."

Lena whacked him on the shoulder. He winced...apparently her strength was returning. "You and I are operating under different definitions of 'down for', Captain!"

"OOOOoooh, I'm Captain again, am I now? You know, I should be mad at YOU!"

"I am not mad", she said, "I'm just getting used to it."

"Getting used to what?"

"Calling you 'Captain'. I just said I have to go into hiding...don't you want to ask me where?"

"I figured you'd tell me when you were done tormenting me, but OK...where?"

"Two floors down."

Jim pulled away from her, "What?"

"Lt. Uhura's old quarters - Spock reassigned them to me. He… offered me a position on the Enterprise...I'm your new acting Lieutenant. Apparently your away team missions have been utter shit shows, and he wants me to fix that."

Jim felt his heart leap to his throat, she couldn't mean that. "What?" he breathed.

Lena wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly, "I'm coming with you. For the next three years, then back to Earth."

He kissed her, sliding his arms around her, and holding her tight. She was alive, safe, and staying with him. He didn't even know what to say. She started kissing him back, and he laid her down on the couch, but when he started kissing her neck a little alarm went off, and Bones paged him a moment later.

"Jim - is Lena with you? Her heart just accelerated!"

"Ugh! Yeah Bones...sorry."

Jim sat back up and looked at down at her - she was giggling and smiling. "To be continued", he said darkly.

She winked at him.

"But ...wait..why are you moving to Uhura's old quarters...why don't you just stay here?"

Lena rolled her eyes and bit her lip, "Actually, now that I'm staying...officially...can I talk to you about something?"

"Is this bad?"

"No! But...I don't know how to say this...I need my betrothal pendant back?"

Jim's heart sank. "You're dumping me? After all that...you don't want to be betrothed to me anymore? I mean, I know we've sort of gotten on each other's nerves the last few days but…"

"Jim! Look, I love you. I do! It's just...for the first time in my life, I am free from all my obligations. I have to chose my own path. I am starting a brand new life….I can't be betrothed right now...to anyone. I have to redefine myself - I can't do it through you."

She looked into his sad eyes, "I need to be my own person, for ONCE!"

He exhaled and pulled the pendant off from around his neck, and handed it to back her; she was right of course, she was always right. Now wasn't a good time for her to start a betrothal. At least she was safe. He would take Lena being safe and not with him, over Lena being dead any day. But his felt his lungs constrict, "I just thought we could finally be together", he said, crestfallen.

Lena looked confused, obviously she had not said this correctly. She jumped off his lap and turned to face him, frustrated that he wasn't getting it. "See, this is what I mean! Jim, we BARELY know each other. We have been together in paradise, and in a war. And yes, we do connect on larger issues; we do understand each other, but it's stupid shit like this we should really take time to learn."

Jim looked up at her, "Would you please stop talking in circles then."

"Jim, do want to try to have a baby? Right now?"

"Ummm no, thank you?" he said, startled.

"See - one thing we agree on. That's what Virosa betrothal means - it's semi-permanent - it usually implies that you are actively trying to conceive. Betrothal is really serious, Jim. And I already have TWO botched ones under my belt from just throwing myself into them without stopping to think about it: You AND Bay-Lou. When I am betrothed again...I would like it to be for real, or not at all."

"We don't have to …"

"But why rush, Jim? Like it or not, you're stuck with me on this ship for THREE years. Then we are BOTH going back to Earth. We have spent all of 45 days together, most of those days being in extreme situations." She settled into his lap again. "I would like to know what a normal day, a normal month, a normal year, is like before we jump in. I want to get to know you with some...breathing room."

Jim shook his head, "I still have NO IDEA what you are saying…"

Lena rolled her eyes, "So, I remembered something...something Veelia mentioned when she returned from the Enterprise, a human thing. Since I am to integrate myself into Earth's culture, I thought we could give it a whirl."

"What?" Jim asked, still totally clueless.

"I am not ready for betrothal, but...Jim Kirk, would you maybe wanna...be my boyfriend?"

Jim blinked, "You want me to be your boyfriend?"

"Yes - is that the correct etiquette to request the arrangement? It wasn't in the culture briefing…"

"So you want to do the dating, boyfriend-girlfriend thing?"

"Yes!"

He smiled, "You know...I don't know...reading culture briefings is something only nerds do. You might not be cool enough to be my girlfriend."

"I do not know what a "nerd" is."

"Ah-HA, so you DIDN'T read the culture briefing!"

She whacked him again, lighter this time - she had noticed his wince before, "That wasn't in there!"

Jim kissed her lips, "I would love to be your boyfriend", he said.

She started kissing him again, and changed positions to straddle his lap. She let his lips wander down her neck, and started feeling the heat between her legs build. Sleeping next to him at night, unable to touch him, was almost torturous. Impulsively she grabbed his hands and moved them over her breasts, which were starting to re-emerge with her weight gain. He nipped her lip and slide them under her shirt and around her back. He undid her bra with his right hand and moved it back in her breast, and started circling her nipple with his finger tips.

Suddenly the little beeper went off again.

"JIM!" Bones cried over the com.

"Sorry!" Jim and Lena called back in unison. She scowled and got off of him, reaching around to re-hook her bra. This was really annoying! She looked over at Jim, her new boyfriend. Oh well, at least she didn't have a raging erection to deal with. "You gonna be OK?" she asked.

He rolled his eyes, "I'll take care of it later, I guess," he said and went back to his scotch. Lena suddenly had an idea. "What are you doing?", he asked, as she slid to the floor.

She shrugged coyly, licking her lips, "Maybe I can take care of it for you? That's something girlfriends do, right?"

"YES!" he said before she could even finish her sentence. She smiled, and eagerly started unbuttoning his pants.

"Whoops!" Lena, in her haste, had sent his scotch flying, landing on the cushion, "I'm sorry!"

"Don't worry about it - it's fine just flip it!" he said quickly. Stopping now was NOT an option.

"Flip what?"

"Ugh!"she really needed to get better acquainted with human things. Jim pulled out the cushion and flipped it over for her. "The cushion - you just flip it."

Lena stared at it, horrified, "Is that what I THINK it is?!" she screeched.

Jim looked down - Oh God… Standing out starkly against the dark blue fabric of his couch cushion was a fairly disgusting, yellowish-white stain.

"Ummm, yeah…" Jim said. Upon seeing her face he quickly added, "Don't worry, it's fine...it's from you! From...from… you know, the night I 'showed you my ship.'"

She looked at him like he'd lost his mind, "This has been here for a year?!"

Now that she said it, it did seem a little icky. "It's FINE… no one can see it...the couch is still perfectly good."

"People have been SITTING on this?!"

Clearly the conversation was not going in a productive direction. "You know what...let's just take this to the bedroom, shall we?" He extended his hand. Lena ignored him and got up, shaking her head.

"Ummm - I think I'm good here."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Yep...I think I'm gonna go."

She had to be kidding, it wasn't THAT gross...OK maybe it was a little gross.

He changed tactics "Where are you going?"

"I think I'm going to check out my new quarters."

"And just leave me hanging?'

"I think I'll leave you to continue your couch re-decoration in private."

"I am NOT… I don't do that!"

"Sure", she said.

"Lena, I DO NOT JERK OFF ON COUCHES!"

"I'm not judging you! Everyone has their thing. I'm just gonna go...now."

Jim sighed, "Do you want me to come with you?"

"NO WAY! You're not jerking off on my couch!"

"You don't have any couches in a Lieutenant's quarters!"

"Oh, thank god, the furniture is safe, then...you're not into chairs too, are you?"

"Oh my GOD! I DO NOT MASTURBATE ONTO FURNITURE!"

Just as Jim was finishing his sentence, Spock keyed into his quarters. Neither Jim, nor Lena had heard his customary knock. He stared at Jim, visibly perturbed.

"Should I return another time?" he asked.

"No, Spock...that was way out of context!"

Spock nodded and turned to Lena, "Lena, I have your files and access codes on the PADD. I respectfully request that you use them instead of hacking into our system. You will be measured for a uniform, though, I will have to remove the Starfleet insignia. Do you have any questions?"

"Nope, all good."

"Very well - Captain, I will see you…" Spock stopped his speech, having noticed a crusted white stain on Jim's couch cushion. "Jim, what is that?" he asked before he could stop himself…

Lena burst out laughing as Spock face went from one of curiosity, to disgust.

"You know what?" Jim said, trying to regain a shred of his dignity. "Get out. Both of you. That's an order. You are dismissed Commander….Lieutenant!"

"Yes Captain", Spock said, and turned on his heel and left.

"Sure thing, Captain", Lena said brightly.

As she turned to leave, Jim called after her, "Lieutenant!"

"Yes…" she said in her bright sing-song voice.

"I'm gonna get that pendant back from you...you know that right?"

Instead of making fun of him further she smiled, ear to ear - he had only seen it a few times...her "I love you"smile.

"I know…" she said. "I'm counting on it."