Seri had spent the second half of Alpha shift finishing her reports. As much as she loved her job, she hated the paperwork just as much. The lights flashed once, shift over. The PADD was tossed into one of Len's drawers, and her back was stretched. She opened the door to the office and was hit with the flurry of activity in the medbay. Len was still working; he felt secure and in charge. It was 17:00 hours and she needed to go to the brig. She stood next to Len and smiled at the girl to which he was hooking the osteogenerator. The kid couldn't have been much older than Jo. When did they start getting so young? "Doctor, may I speak with you when you are finished? Don't worry Imzadi, there is nothing wrong."

Len finished hooking up the machine and set it to finish knitting the broken tibia in half an hour. "Don't worry Jean, this won't hurt."

"Thank you, Dr. McCoy." She laid back on the pillow and drifted off to sleep. The pain medication he gave her was mild, but it was enough to keep her calm and sedated while the bone mended. Not as simple as a skinned knee, but not difficult either. He had adhered to Seri's conditions regarding his return to work. As much as he wanted to work on the more extreme cases, he appreciated that he wasn't ready yet. If he pushed this part of his recovery, it could cause a major setback.

Len joined Seri outside his office door. "What is it Peaches? I feel great, and I have been following your instructions. Nothing worse than a few moderate lacerations."

"I know you do. I have to go to the brig. I doubt I'll be long. Mr. Hendel is waiting for me."

"Please keep him close."

"I'm not reckless Len." Her hand touched his cheek. "Let me know what we are doing for dinner when you decide." She kissed his cheek and left for the brig. Len knew she was right. Seri was never reckless. He went back to his job; chances were, he would be done around the same time she was. They would be at the station tomorrow, but tonight was just for them. A relaxing dinner, a long hot bath, then a night of just them, slow and desperately needed.

Seri approached the brig. Jim was outside the door. He motioned for her to join him in the meeting room they had occupied the previous day. As soon as the door closed Jim picked her up and spun her around. "Congratulations Kiddo!"

"You've been talking to Len." She smoothed out her skirt as soon as he put her down.

"I did. Seri, I needed a little good news. Just the fact that you two are moving forward is more than enough to keep me smiling the rest of the night. I won't get to see Cal until after Jupiter; I needed something to get me through the horror of that day."

"Horror?"

"I don't care what they ask me, but you understand what they will put Bones through. You know what I'm saying? They are going to make him all but relive it. I wish I could make them stop, but I can't."

"No, but I can. As his therapist I can end the secession. I hope I don't have to do that. If I do, they will have the right to revisit the questioning at a later date. None of us want that. I will stay in his head. If we are communicating not only can I block other telepaths from our thoughts, I can keep him calm and grounded. It might be a rough night after, but he will get through the debriefing." Her eyes never left his.

"I'll wait in my cabin until you are done with the prisoner."

"Yes Captain. I shouldn't be long." With that the therapist left the meeting room and entered the brig. Handel stood next to the cell forcefield. "Good evening Mr. Hendel."

"Good evening Commander Targan. The prisoner is ready for you."

"Thank you." She walked to the front of the "Please drop the force field. Hello Dr. Dardrok."

"Dr. Targan." The Mylan looked exhausted. She knew he hadn't slept, and his thoughts were scattered. She wasn't going to get any further information, but she could plant a seed.

"I am here to make sure you are well. The Captain wanted me to prepare you for your departure. He also wanted to thank you for all of your help. I'm sure your family will be proud of you. You have helped Starfleet and the Federation capture and detain all of the Mylan agents and double agents. Thank you for that. Is there anything we can do for you to show our appreciation?"

Dardrok had gone pale. He looked as if he had been hit. "I didn't do that. I told him nothing! He knows nothing."

"Who said you told him?" Seri's smile was predatory, almost evil.

"I didn't tell you anything. We talked about nothing. You are a woman. No woman could ever out think me. If you think I am going to tell you anything you are as dumb as every other member of your species and sex."

"You have already told me everything we need to know. Oh, I'm not a woman. I'm a Betazoid female." His face fell. In one moment his world came crashing down around him. Seri did what she had set out to do. For the rest of his life he would live with the knowledge that he was the sole cause of his planet's failure; that his family would be disgraced if his culpability was ever discovered. "Goodbye Dardrok. Kiss Kainill for me." She stepped out of the cell and left Dardrok to his pain.

As soon as Seri stepped out of the cell, Hendel turned the force field on. They walked to the door. Hendel left his subordinate at the controls as he exited with her. He gently took her arm and guided her down the corridor. "Seri," He rarely called her by her nickname. "are you alright? I heard you in there. I didn't think you were capable of that." He released her arm as they continued their walk to the Captain's quarters.

Seri looked up; the security chief towered over her. "That and a lot worse. I didn't do anything any other interrogator couldn't have done. I didn't do what I wanted to do. I wanted to have him live in a psychotic nightmare. But I didn't do that. I promised those I love that I wouldn't destroy him. So, I didn't. Cup… Chief Hendel I hope this doesn't make you think any less of me. I really want your good opinion."

"Don't you mean Cupcake?" He smiled down at her as she took the arm he now offered. "It's alright. I like it. Only the Captain uses that name. Did you think I didn't know? It means he likes me. We got off to a rough start, but now I think we have a lot more respect for each other. I was with him on Kronos. He showed me who he was. I hoped I have shown him who I am. I want his respect as well as his friendship."

"You have it. Trust me. He looks to you to keep me safe. I doubt he trusts anyone else to do that. Adam, will you be at your home while we are on leave?"

"Yes. Jen wants me home. Why?"

"I just want to know where to get in contact with you. We want you both at the wedding."

"We would love to be there. Seri, you both deserve happiness. I'll let Jenn know."

"Also let her know that there is a good chance the Enterprise will be fitted for families to stay together. Do you think she would consider coming on as a therapist if that happens?"

"I think she might. She has been doing a lot of work with the crews coming back after long deployments. I'll talk to her. Let me know what they say."

"I will let you know as soon as I get the word." They arrived at the Captain's cabin. Hendel stepped in with Seri. "Jim, it's done."

"Good evening Mr. Hendel. That was fast."

"Jim, he knows."

"Knows what?" She smiled the smile she used when she teased him. "Oh." Jim looked nervous.

"It's alright Captain. I like it. It reminds me of how far we have come."

"It's Jim when we are off duty. I just said to Nyota we have come a long way since Iowa, I guess the same can be said for us."

"Thank you. Call me Adam. I wanted to make sue she was safe until she got here. I know you can be feisty, but still Seri, after everything…"

"Thanks Adam, I appreciate it." He left to go to the mess. Adam wanted to eat and get a good night's rest. Tomorrow they docked at the station and he was in charge of the prisoner transfer. It was well coordinated between the two ships and the station, but he needed to be sure that the Mylans would be transported quickly. They would have initial problems when the first security teams transported on board, but after that he doubted there would be much of a fight. Once they were on the station they became that security chief's responsibility.

Seri sat next to Jim. "Len is wrapping things up. I know he can feel that I am here. He'll come here when he's done. Jim, I'm sorry, there was nothing I could find out from Dardrok. His thoughts were too disjointed."

"I know what you did."

Her nervous chatter ceased. "Are you angry?"

"No. I probably would have done the same thing. But you are going to hear something from Len."

"I can deal with that. I didn't destroy him, just gave him something that will haunt him."

"As long as that doesn't haunt you."

"It won't, but what he did to those I love will. It will be with me for the rest of my life."

"It will be with all of us." It wasn't long until Len came in.

"Hi. Seri why did you do it?"

"Because it was the only thing I could do to make me feel useful. If we have to live with this, then so does he."

Len securitized her. It wasn't Betazed. She was calm and completely in control. She didn't destroy Dardrok. "Alright, I understand. So, what do you think, should we all go get dinner?"

The three went to the mess. The young enlisted and junior officers moved to the tables as far from the group as possible. Jim thought it was amusing, Len didn't seem to notice. "Bones, what would you like? I'll grab it."

"Just a salad I guess. We'll have real food soon. I'm looking forward to it, probably more than I should."

"No, I am too. I keep thinking about real eggs. Seri let's go." They grabbed dinner quickly and returned to their table. "Scotty said the refit may take a little over a year. He is excited about a new water reclamation unit."

Seri seemed confused. "A water reclamation unit? I thought we had one."

Len was enjoying his salad. It was nice to listen to mundane conversation. No one talking about Mylus or what will happen with the prisoners, just talking about the refit. This was as close to normal as he had felt since he sat in the cell.

"It is better than the one we have Kiddo. If what Mr. Scott says is correct there will be no need for restrictions on water usage."

"You mean hot showers and hot baths with a completely filled tub?" At that moment Scotty walked into the mess. Seri jumped up and ran across the room to him, throwing her arms around his neck and squealing, "Thank you! Thank you!" as she kissed his cheeks over and over.

"I don't know what I did to deserve this, but I'll try to do it again." He pulled back a little so he could see her.

"Hot water, endless hot water!"

"Aye lassie, endless hot water." He looked at the captain. "I see you told her about the refit."

"Yes. Want to join us?"

Scotty walked over to the table as Seri bounced behind him. "I would love to, but Jayla is calling in a few minutes. She has some questions about her classes."

"Sure she does." Jim smiled at his chief engineer. "Have fun."

"Jim, I…oh, nevermind." With that Scotty left to grab dinner and go to his cabin.

"You know you shouldn't tease him too much about Jayla." Seri was concerned Scotty would lose confidence and stop calling the beautiful engineering major.

"I don't, just enough so he knows I noticed. We should get some rest tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. What do you say Bones?"

"I have to go to sickbay. I forgot something in my office. After that. I promise, we'll go to bed."

Jim knew what that meant. "Just promise me you both will sleep for at least seven hours."

Len left the table as he winked at Jim. He would grab the goodie bag from his desk and meet Seri in their room. "Good night Jimbo. Seri, I'll meet you back in the cabin."

"I'll see you there. I promise we will both be well rested for tomorrow. Now go call Cal. I know you are dying to talk to her." With that Seri left the mess.

Jim grabbed their trays and placed them in the replicator. They disappeared quickly. It was too bad nightmares couldn't be vanquished as easily. She was right, he wanted to talk to Cal. It would be two more days and then he would be in her arms.

Jim entered his cabin. He loved the new quarters. Hopefully Cal would want to join him on the Enterprise. He had another year left on his enlistment, but if she wanted when the year was up, he would leave it all for her. He took a quick shower and threw on shorts. He played with his necklace as he punched her number into the comm. It only took seconds for it to buzz into life.

"Hi Honey. I hope I didn't wake you."

"No. I've been waiting for your call. How are you baby? Please tell me the truth, don't just say okay."

"I need you. Last night was rough. Len and Seri got me through it, but all I wanted was you." He had been fingering his necklace, using it to keep him calm and grounded.

"I'm here Jim. Don't ever doubt that I am always with you. Please look at me."

Jim hadn't realized his eyes had drifted down to his left hand as it rested on the PADD. He looked up at her without raising his chin. "Will you be in San Francisco?"

"I will be wherever you need me. Do you need me on the station?" Jim's heart began to race. He wanted to tell her yes. He desperately needed her. But, Captain Kirk couldn't be seen as weak, especially not by those under his command. He wasn't sure it was a good idea for them to see him lean on his lover.

"It's okay. I'll have a debriefing that will take awhile."

"I'll be there. You can't lie to me. I know you."

"Yes, you do. Thank you."

"For?"

"Understanding…everything. I love you. You know that, right?"

"Even before you first told me. I love you too. I'll be there as soon as you dock."

Jim did the math for the travel time in his head. "You're there already, aren't you?"

She smiled softly. "See, you know me too. I do love you Jim. Do you think the captain of the Enterprise will let me hitch a ride back to Earth? I hear he can be an ass sometimes."

"He can be, but I think I can talk him into letting you come on board." She could always make him smile. She always knew what he needed, even if he didn't.

"Jim, do you want me to talk to you until you fall asleep?" She had done that a few times since Kahn. He would fall asleep to her telling him about her day, or what they needed to do when they got home. It was all beautifully banal.

"Please." He brought the comm into the bedroom. "Tell me about what we are going to do when we get home." Cal talked to him about the extension to the main house and how the bedrooms may be ready by the time they got home, how Jake had hired a new manager for the seasonal workers, how the pond was getting dredged over the spring, how Maggie was going to foal soon. As she talked his breathing began to change. It wasn't long before he was asleep.

Callie turned off the comm. Her room on the station was relatively comfortable, but she couldn't wait to be on board ship. She wanted to talk to Seri about the rumors that the Enterprise would be getting a couple more counselors. The ship was set to dock at 9:00. She was glad she had decided to meet them there. San Francisco would be too crowded, and she didn't want the universe to know what Captain Kirk's girlfriend looked like. Everyone thought he was unattached and they both wanted to keep it that way as long as possible, though she doubted their relationship would remain a secret after this week. She turned off the light the faster she fell asleep, the faster 9:00 would come.

Len entered their cabin with the goodie bag. Seri had candles burning and he could smell the bubble bath she loved as it wafted in from the bathroom. "I'm here Peaches, and I brought the toys." He walked to the bathroom. She was in the shower and had begun to lather herself with the bubble bath gel.

"Good. Would you like to join me?"

"May I assume that was a rhetorical question?" It took less than a minute for Len to be naked and in the shower. She turned to him as he wrapped her in his arms. No words, no thoughts, just love. Tomorrow would be the inquest, but tonight was theirs.

The water washed the soap from her as she took the bar and began to rub it on the washcloth. It was a soap she had picked up on Yorktown after the birthday party. It had bergamot and sandalwood in it, there were even slight essences of tobacco layered into the complex fragrance. It was a decidedly masculine fragrance. She took her time washing him, she wanted him to feel that he was safe and taken care of by the person who adored him.

The shower ended with them kissing passionately under the warm fall of water. Seri was completely enveloped in Len's arms until they stepped out of the stall. He dried them both and led her to the couch next to the table that held the bag. It was bigger than the one in his old quarters, and softer. A condom was snatched and placed on the couch before he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. Her knees fell on either side of his hips. He wasn't hard and she wasn't wet, not yet. Len pulled her to him and buried his face into the crook of her neck; drank in her fragrance. She smelled like home.

Seri tangled her fingers into his hair. She pulled herself closer till they were completely flush with one another. She was lost in the moment. All of her nerves were turning on. It was as if she could feel every touch through to her soul. The feeling was soft, but intense. All the love they had felt over the years seemed to culminate in this moment. This was truth, love in its purest form. "I love you Leonard." Was all she could say, it came out as a whisper.

"I love you too Seriana." The simplicity of the words held the truth of the statements. All they felt, all they were in those moments was love. They could both feel it in every cell. He had become as hard as she was wet. She took the condom from its resting place on the couch, removed it from its wrapper and rolled it down his shaft. Slowly she rose onto her knees and guided him into her. Their eyes locked as he was enveloped by her walls, warm and throbbing with every heartbeat. His fingers ghosted up her spine. She traced his forehead and hairline with the tips of her fingers.

Slowly she moved in his lap, rocking back and forth at times, sliding up and down at others. Her head rested on his shoulder as she tried to get even closer. Len was completely lost in the feeling. He wanted it to last as long as possible. Why was this time different? What about this night made him feel her in him even though she didn't join with him the way she usually did? Carefully she leaned back until her back arched and her breast stood completely erect. Len buried his head between them, licking, tasting.

She had never tasted like this before, sweet and savory all at once. As she sat up she let her fingers explore his arms and shoulders. Before they were too close her hands trailed down his chest to his abdomen. She traced where the lacerations and burns had been; willing their memory to disappear as easily as the scars. He removed her hands and brought her fingers to his mouth. As her fingers were sucked one by one, she began to rock again.

She took one of her hands from him and began to rub her clit, slowly at first, then increasingly fast. He could feel her walls begin to spasm, without warning she clamped onto him as her orgasm hit hard. Seri screamed his name into his shoulder as the wave continued to come. Len held her until she came down. His hands continued to run slowly up and down her back, his release hadn't come yet. It was taking all of his control not to fall over the edge. It couldn't be over yet. This feeling needed to last.

"Seri, wrap your legs around my waist." She did as she was told. He picked her up and carried her until he back was against the common wall to the bathroom. With her braced against the wall he began to move in and out of her.

"Take us into the bathroom. I want to watch you fuck me. Please Len I want to see everything." With that she wrapped her legs tighter. He took her into the bathroom. There were mirrors on three of the four walls. He pushed her against the stone outside wall of the shower. The smooth wall felt cold on her back, but this gave the best view in the room. Her insides twitched as she could see them joined at every angle. As he began to push in and out of her she watched him in the mirrors. His ass tightened every time his slammed into her.

His moans joined hers as he put his forehead on her shoulder. He could see his dick as it moved in and out of her, wet and dark pink. He felt as if he would explode, but he wasn't quite ready to cum yet. He stopped thrusting and moved his right hand to her clit. She had moved her hands to the top of the shower wall. Now she understood the advantage of the walls not being more than six and a half feet tall. The top made the perfect handle for sex. He wanted to feel her clamp down on his dick again. He rubbed her clit as her moans became louder with each stroke. He felt the gush of her juices before he felt her clamp onto him. "Fuck me Seri. Goddamn, fuck me as hard as you want." With that she used her leverage to push herself onto him as he slammed forward. Her scream mixed with his as the came together.

It took a while before they stopped their thrusts. Both felt as if it would never end. Finally, they came down. Len carefully lowered the both of them to the floor. He knew he had to pull out quickly, he wished it wasn't necessary. He wanted to stay in her until he was too soft and fell out naturally. But if he did that the condom would be pointless, and he didn't want to risk a pregnancy until after her body adjusted to the new hormonal levels. He didn't want her to experience a miscarriage if it could be avoided.

"Imzadi, I think we need to lay down. I don't know about you, but I don't think I could stand long enough to take a shower."

"No, I am with you. We can get cleaned up later." He kissed her nose as he helped her up. The condom was removed, flushed, and his dick wiped off before he followed her to the bed. The sheets felt soft and inviting as he laid down and pulled her gently into his arms. His head rested on hers as he went over the past day in his head. It hadn't been the easiest day, but it had been a good one. "Len, I was proud of you today." She snuggled in closer, buried her nose in his chest.

"Why? I fixed a broken leg and a few lacerations. Scotty could have done it."

"You said goodbye. I know how hard that was. Then you started the process of moving forward. You'll get past this. Not over it, that is impossible, but you will get past it."

"I won't ever forget him. I want our children to know all about him. Baby, what do I say to his mother. I know what you told me before, but I don't want to mess it up."

"You can't mess it up. Mama is with her, and she wants to see you. Mrs. Chekov is worried about you. Jim told her you would be alright, but she still needs to see you."

"I killed her son."

"Stop that. She doesn't need to know the details. Give her the kindness of that."

"I shall. She is so sweet. She doesn't deserve any of this."

"No, none of you do. Christine is going with his body to the mortician. Jim picked out the coffin. His mother doesn't want him cremated. Sulu got his uniform ready. Christine won't have to do much." As she told him what was going to happen Len pulled her in tighter. She was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"I'm glad she will be with him. Seri, I can't do it."

"No one expects you to."

"They will do a good job. I know she'll make sure of that. I'll stay with his mom when she views him. Please don't tell me no. I know Jim and Sulu will be there, but I need to be there as well. I need to take care of his mother for him."

"I won't tell you no. I know you need to do this. If you want me there, I will stay with you."

"That would help. I know her, she'll lean on me. She called me once a week the first two years we were at the Academy. Remember that second summer when he came to stay at the farm for the two weeks we had off? She had asked me to take him because she had to be off planet and she didn't want him to be alone."

"That was a fun two weeks. I remember Cal trying to teach him to milk a cow. I think I learned all of the Russian curse words when 42 kicked him. That was the end of the milking lesson. Len,"

"Hmmm."

"these are the things you want to tell his mother if she wants to talk."

"I know. I guess I am just scared of the unknown. But you and Jim will be there. I know I'll get through it. Do we have to take a shower tonight? I am relaxed and this feels comfortable."

"Nope. I feel comfortable. We need to get up by 7:00 to get cleaned up and ready for docking. Lights off. Good night Imzadi. I love you with all of my heart."

"Good night Peaches. I love you more than I think you could possibly know."

When they got back to the farm Seri wanted to talk to Len about having a bonfire the night before their wedding. Not as wild as the first one she had been to, but one that would give the crew and their close friends and time to come together and simply enjoy each other's company. It would all begin to get better when they got to the farm. They both slept soundly with the knowledge that soon they would all be home.