Present


Adea rolled to the edge of the bed, her eyes adjusting to the light of her PADD as she pulled it closer.

Notifications:

- Alarm set for 6:00 (14 minutes remaining)

- Report to Dock set for today at 08:00. Travel is light. It will take 1 hour to arrive.

- 3 new text notifications from Nyota NewNumber

- 4 new text notifications from Carol!

Adea frowned, waving her finger across the screen to open her texts as she sat up slowly.

Nyota NewNumber (9:27pm): I checked and they made an error on your assignment documents. I had them change it. It should be ready for when you board. You don't need to pick them up again. If they ask you about it, just tell them I handled it.

Nyota NewNumber (9:58pm): You can't be late tomorrow.

Nyota NewNumber (4:46am): Don't be late, Adea.

Adea let out a slow exhale, massaging her temples. No congratulations. No well wishes. No offer to help move. Just don't fuck something up. Adea had barely talked to her sister since she had joined at the Academy, their sole interactions limited to times Nyota single-handedly determined it was necessary to intervene on her sister's behalf. Like arguing to change Adea's term paper grade during her first year. Her sister's self-righteousness knew no bounds, no matter what it complicated or who it hurt.

Adea sighed, swiping her finger over the PADD to the next conversation.

CAROL! (10:21pm): Hey, I know you're busy, but if you want to talk I'm here for you. Can't wait to see you tomorrow. PS. The dream team will be reunited.

CAROL! (10:25pm): If you want to travel there together, we can meet beforehand?

CAROL! (5:45 am): Rise and shine gorgeous! Can't wait until launch.

CAROL! (5:52 am): Changed my mind. Couldn't wait until launch. Hot coffee arriving in 30.

Hot coffee, Adea smiled, shaking her hair out of its messy bun. At least there was that. Carol's last minute reassignment to Enterprise was a godsend. Lord knows how else she was supposed to remain sane whilst confined to flying metal container with Nyota and McCoy for a year.

Adea made her way to the shower, frowning slowly as she rolled up the sleeves of the oversized shirt she wore. She been aboard the USS Constitution when she'd refound his shirt in an unpacked box, the one he'd had given her ever time she'd complained about heating in his apartment. For a southern boy, Adea was amazed he could tolerate keeping his apartment so cold. Something about stimulating melatonin production while sleeping, he'd argued. She exhaled slowly through her nose, tossing it aside as she stepped into the shower. Maybe one day she'd have the nerve to get rid of it.


(Four years earlier, Stardate 2254)


"Good lord, Sweetheart," McCoy groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, "You know you can stop, right?"

Six months into her thesis and Adea had already found herself stuck in writer's block. She convinced herself that digging through the school's medical archives would give her a better insight into vaccination policies in the Omega Sagitarii system, but thus far, it had yielded nothing but rambling medical log entries. After nearly two weeks of pouring over old logs for material, she'd finally found something, only to mistakenly return the one entry worth citing to the library. Perhaps in the end, losing her journal entry wasn't the worse. She glanced up from work at McCoy, biting her tongue to suppress the smirk that tugged at corners of her mouth.

"I almost found it," Adea promised, flipping quickly through the old medical journal on his desk.

"You said that an hour ago," McCoy sighed, "You know there's a reason they close the archives at the school at on weekends."

"Well if you would like to help, it would go faster," Adea mused, "Isn't that why you offered to help me by supervising my thesis?"

"I have a better solution," McCoy proposed, standing slowly to rummage through a cabinet behind his desk.

Adea rolled her eyes, continuing to stare down at the journal, startling as an empty glass clinked onto the desk in front of her book. She glanced from the bottle to McCoy, taking in his mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Bourbon?" she mused, "Aren't you supposed to be the responsible one?"

"Like I said, a better solution," McCoy smirked filling their glasses.

She felt her cheeks growing hot as he settled into the chair besides her, his knee brushing hers. She knew she was better than school girl crushes. Especially on superior officers who worked closely with her sister. Though it wasn't the same sickening shock she'd felt piecing together that the Leonard she'd met was the very same that served aboard the USS Enterprise on her sister's crew, the fact still made her uneasy nearly a year later. The last thing Adea wanted was another reason for Nyota to get involved her life.

After she'd returned his jacket, Adea had spent the better half of a year avoiding him like the plague. It wasn't until months later, when McCoy caught her arguing with the staff over the medical library document access policy that they'd seen each other again. He'd intervened, claiming she was researching at his request to get her access to the medical library and archives. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as he'd offered to stay and help her, the conversation between them flowing easily. After weeks of helping her find material for her thesis research proposal, he'd offered to become her thesis advisor. She'd tried to convince herself it would be to the benefit of her research to work with him, hoping the added pressure of him becoming her supervisor would make the buzz in her chest every time she saw him go away. Nearly six months of research later, and it had only gotten worse...

"And?" McCoy mused, gauging her reaction slowly as she took a sip.

"I like it," Adea agreed, returning her glass to the table.

"See, Adi?" McCoy teased, "Good things happens when you take study breaks."

"Am I Adi now?" Adea questioned, raising her eyebrow slowly.

"A-de-a was a bit of a mouthful," McCoy sighed, faking a frown, "You can only ask "Are you done studying A-de-a?" so many times in one week."

"And Le-o-nard isn't?" Adea teased.

"Well, yes when you say like that it is," McCoy admitted, laughing, "Which is why no one does."

"It seems a bit unjust," Adea sighed.

"Unjust?" McCoy repeated.

"What do I call you?" Adea mused innocently, "You must have a nickname?"

"Nope, I'm not helping you there," McCoy affirmed, taking a sip from his glass.

"Surely throughout your lengthy career as a doctor and Starfleet officer, someone has given you a nickname?" Adea questioned.

"Did I mention bullshit flattery won't help either?" McCoy added.

"Len?" Adea tested.

"No."

"Lenny?"

"No."

"Leo?"

"Hell no."

"Lee?"

"So you and my sister can team up and use the same nickname?" McCoy teased, leaning towards her, "No."

"So you're admitting Lee is a nickname of yours?" Adea smirked.

"I'm not admitting anything," McCoy stated.

"Whatever you say, Lee," Adea replied innocently, her laugh falling silent as she caught the look in his eye, "What is it?"

"What?" McCoy replied quietly.

"I don't know," Adea replied slowly, her cheeks flushing pink, "You're just staring at me."

"Well, Adi, people typically look at the people they're talking to," he teased.

"Not like that," she mumbled quickly, the heat rising to her cheeks intensifying as she realized she'd said it out loud.

"Then how do I look at you?" He replied slowly, his voice low.

Adea swallowed, her heartbeat echoing in her ears as she stared back at him.

"I-"

She'd barely opened her mouth to respond when he leaned forward suddenly, his warm lips brushing hers. She responded slowly to the kiss, leaning into him as her bottom lip slipped between his. It wasn't until Adea felt his hand against her knee that she snapped painfully back to the present. She pulled away from him abruptly, her heart pounding in her ears as she stared back at him.

"I-I should go," Adea mumbled quickly, avoiding his eyes as stood, picking up her bag.

"Adi," McCoy started quietly, "I-"

"It was a mistake," Adea concluded shakily, "It should have never happened."


Present


"Do you see those over there?" Carol explained, gesturing out the window as they made their way from the shuttlebay to the ship, "Those phaser banks are the first of their kind to be integrated into a defense system of a Constitution-class Federation Starship."

There was something about Carol in her element that made Adea smile. They arrived without incident at the shuttlebay, making their way to officer's boarding patrol. The last days had been a blur of organization, stress, and flashbacks to a relationship Adea would rather forget. Yet as Carol continued on about the external weapons system, Adea could not ignore the buzz of anticipation building in her chest as they approached the ship. She was going to be an officer on the USS Enterprise. McCoy and Nyota be damned.

Adea was pulled from her thoughts as her name echoed through the corridor.

"Lieutenant Ele!" The voice called again, its owner's footsteps clanging against the gangway as he ran to catch up to them, "Dr. Wallace!"

The curly haired man stopped running, wiping his flushed face as he gestured hectically. He glanced between the images of Carol and Adea on his PADD screen, mumbling indecipherably before looking up at the two of them, extending his right hand in a greeting.

"I'm sorry, come again?" Carol questioned.

The man sighed loudly, repeating himself.

"Pavel Andreievich Chekov," he said, blushing slightly as they each shook his hand, "The Captain has requested zat I bring you, Lieutenant Ele and Dr. Wallace, directly ze Bridge."

Adea and Carol shared a glance and Adea nodded.

"Of course, Mr. Chekov," Adea replied, "Lead the way."

They turned back to the nearest entrance to the ship, Chekov pointing out various aspects of the ship as they walked. They walked for several minutes through a series of white panelled walls and elevators, arriving at the black sliding doors to the bridge. They entered slowly, the room buzzing loudly with activity as the crew members prepared the ship for launch. Adea glanced quickly around the room, taking in half-familiar faces as her mind honed onto a familiar disappointed tone.

"Adea! How did you get on the bridge?" Uhura questioned, shock tingeing the stern disapproval in her voice. She stood up from her post, concern drawing her lips into a tight line, "You supposed to report to Officers' quarters."

"Officers' quarters?" a loud voice repeated, "What type of welcome would that be to the newest and brightest members of the Enterprise? I mean, you expect own sister to get a boring standard welcome?"

Adea suppressed a smirk, enjoying a mention of their relation that make her sister squirm for once. She could have sworn the captain smirked back he stood up abruptly from his chair, a mischievous glint flickering in his blue eyes as he sauntered excitedly towards Adea. Captain James Tiberius Kirk. His reputation preceded him. As devilishly handsome as he was brilliant, they said. Went from drunk bar fight to the Academy overnight, and finished his studies in three years. First captain to pass the Kobayashi Maru, albeit by hacking it. At that point the legends varied, but nonetheless they all converged on the same truth. As captain of the USS Enterprise, he managed to save the lives the ship's crew, including her sister's and McCoy's.

"Now I don't believe we have had the pleasure, Lieutenant Ele," he drawled, his flirty smirk reaching his blue eyes, "Jim Kirk."

"And Lieutenant Wallace," he mused, his smile flashing, "Great to have you, Doctor."

Adea bit her tongue to avoid laughing as Carol blushed. Uhura exhaled loudly. Half the women at the Academy had warned him about him. Event Uhura had felt the need to tell her not to sleep with him, when she'd learned of Adea's assignment.

"Captain, shouldn't they-" Uhura asserted, her annoyance growing.

"Lieutenant Uhura, don't you have a dock report to finalize," Kirk mused "Or something?"

Uhura mumbled something under the breath, turning slowly to her post as Kirk flashed them another smile.

"I do believe Lieutenant Uhura is correct in her observation," the Vulcan first officer replied, standing now.

Adea frowned, recognizing Commander Spock from her diplomatic strategy course. Pompous asshole of a lecturer. If his attitude alone didn't drive her resentment, her sister's fondness for him certainly did. The Commander said this… Did you know the Commander did that…. Adea you should take this course with Commander Spock… If her sister wasn't so high strung, Adea would have thought she sleeping with the man. That'd be a pompous match made in heaven.

"I am simply welcoming new crew members and dear family members," Kirk offered innocently.

"Starfleet Protocol 41086, Regulation 4 states new officers should report to -" Spock continued but Kirk waved him off as the doors to the bridge reopened.

"Bones!" Kirk called out, clapping a frowning McCoy on the back, "Perfect Timing! Mr. Spock, you can go back to you launch duties now."

Mr. Spock frowned, turning back to his console. Adea exhaled steadily, steeling her gaze. At least this time she knew he'd be here. A brief look of concern and recognition flashed in his eyes before he looked away annoyed, focusing his confused attention on Kirk.

"You wanted me on the bridge?" he answered slowly.

"These beautiful, intelligent women here, Lieutenant Ele and Dr. Wallace, have been assigned to USS Enterprise by Vice-admiral Marcus himself," Kirk announced, "They will be assisting us as we explore and observe uncharted space, with the mission of assessing the planets' potential for establishing diplomatic ties."

Kirk smirked, a mischievous glint flickering in his eye as he turned his gaze to Carol.

"Dr. Wallace, would you be so kind as to escort me on my final walkthrough before launch?" he asked smoothly, his eyebrows raised, "You can get acquainted with the weapons systems of my ship."

My ship. Adea resisted a snort while McCoy rolled his eyes. Carol raised her eyebrows at Adea, before nodding slowly.

"While I do that," Kirk continued, "Please be a southern gentleman, and escort Lieutenant Ele to her station in Enterprise's lab. I'm sure the Vice-Admiral briefed you, but she'll be working closely with you over the duration of the trip."

McCoy glanced sideways at Adea, opening his mouth to speak before closing it, his brow furrowing.

"When you're done, report back to the bridge for launch," Kirk concluded.

McCoy nodded curtly before exiting the bridge. Adea trailed him quietly to the elevator, exhaling slowly as the doors closed behind them. They sat in silence at the elevator descended, counting off the floors before slowing to a stop.

"Shipwide scan has commenced. Please be patient. Requested floor will be reached upon completion of the scan."

McCoy swore under his breath, crossing his arms as he leaned against the door. Adea frowned. If he was going to be this hostile to her, she was going to be at her wit's end by the end of her first month on board.

"Look, I know the last place you want to be is assigned to a ship with me," Adea started slowly.

"Really Sweetheart? What makes you think that?" McCoy shot back sarcastically.

"Lee, I'm serious."

"Dr. McCoy," he correctly dryly.

"Are you serious right now?" she hissed, stepping towards him.

"Did you hear me laugh?" McCoy retorted

"Lee, I am sorry about what happened, but I cannot spend the next year stuck in this ship with you reliving this," Adea stated.

"Really?" he spat back, stepping towards her now, "I didn't realize it was so hard for you."

Adea's breath caught in her throat as she stared hard at him, her heart thudding heavily in her chest.

"I tried to talk to you," she breathed shakily, "But you didn't want to."

"Scan complete. Elevator will now arrive at your requested floor."

"I had better things to do than hear your sorry excuse," McCoy replied dryly.

"Damn it, Lee, then why the hell do you still care?" Adea snapped, taking a step towards him, "You wouldn't to talk me. You wouldn't answer me. When I went to your apartment, you slammed your door in my face. Two years of radio silence made it perfectly clear you didn't want anything to do with me. So what now ? You're just going to make my life miserable on this ship? Quips about fucking off without saying goodbye? Smart ass comments about sorry excuses? What do you want from me, Lee?"

"Exit here for the Enterprise Laboratory."

Adea stared back at McCoy panting as the elevator chimed loudly, the doors opening to the lab. For a moment he seemed to hesitate, an indiscernible expression flashing in his eyes as he took a step forward. As quickly as it had appeared, the emotion faded, his eyebrows furrowing in frustration as he turned methodically towards the door.

"The lab is this way," he stated coldly, pacing forward into the lab without a second glance.


Confession time

1. Third rewritten chapter is complete! More on the way soon!

2. More flashbacks to come. I wanted to build a stronger basis of the characters and their relationships, particularly Adea's and McCoy's.

3. Readers new and old, let me know what you think thus far. Input is always welcome.

Til next time,

live long and prosper - Case