Adea exhaled loudly as she stuck her PADD stylus behind her ear, opting to manually type the remaining sentences of her report on the Archive screen. She'd spent rest of the afternoon trying to put her fight with Nyota out of her head, seeking refuge in the ship's Archive as she buried herself in the mission report for Ujaar. For years she'd held her tongue, biting back the truth in fight after fight with her sister. It had been so easy to convince herself Nyota deserved whatever hurt came the moment she managed to piece together the truth. But instead of relief, Adea just felt ill, her stomach twisting with guilt each time her mind wandered to the encounter. She looked up suddenly as she heard movement behind her, a relieved smirk tugging at the edge of her mouth as she recognized McCoy's reflection in the glass of the Archive screen.

"I know you said to wait, but I just wanted to quickly finish the report right now," Adea replied quickly, flashing a guilty smirk in McCoy's direction as she typed the end of her sentence.

"You should be resting," McCoy cautioned quietly, the agitated line between his brows growing more pronounced as she continued typing.

"I'm not going to faint," Adea promised, closing the open documents on her screen as she turned towards McCoy, "See?"

"I'm serious, Adi," McCoy sighed tiredly, crossing his arms as she brushed against his shoulder on her way to the desk.

"I know," Adea huffed quietly, her smirk fading as she relented, "I just needed a moment alone. I tried sitting in my room, but I can't make it an hour without someone checking in on me. Anywhere else I'm likely to run into Nyota. I swear the only quiet I had today was the half an hour you let me sit alone in your room."

Adea rearranged the contents of her bag as she placed her PADD inside, frowning slowly as McCoy remained silent.

"You're awfully quiet," Adea commented, setting her phone in her bag as she zipped it closed.

"Long day," McCoy replied simply.

"You can say that again," Adea replied slowly, resting her hands on the desk as she closed her eyes, hesitating for a moment before turning towards McCoy.

"I, uh, wanted to say thank you," Adea started softly, running a nervous hand through her hair.

"For what?" McCoy sighed slowly.

"For earlier," Adea continued slowly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, "Making sure I was ok. Letting me use your room and your shower, though lord knows how long you're going to spend disinfecting it."

"It's my job," McCoy shrugged.

"And standing up for me?" Adea asked softly.

"What else should I have done?" McCoy shrugged, a faint smirk briefly replacing his frown as she stepped towards him.

"You didn't have to and you know it," Adea replied slowly, the frustrated line between his brows faded as she stared up at him.

"Thank you, Lee," Adea smiled softly, pushing up onto her toes as she planted a small kiss on his cheek.

She hesitated for a moment, her face inches from his before she leaned in, her lips brushing against his. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he gave into the kiss slowly, the room around them beginning to slip away when McCoy pulled away suddenly, a pained expression burning in his green eyes.

"Lee, what wrong?" Adea questioned softly, her heart pounding in her chest as he shook his head slowly.

"Adi, I can't," McCoy started, clenching his jaw as he stepped away from her.

"What are you talking about?" Adea pressed, swallowing dryly as McCoy exhaled loudly, closing his eyes.

"I can't do this," McCoy repeated quietly, shaking his head.

"Lee, what is it?" Adea repeated, the cold panic in her chest growing sharper as he took another step back.

"This, Adi!" McCoy replied loudly, breathing heavily.

Adea stepped backwards sheepishly, her face flushing red as she bumped awkwardly into the desk behind her. She crossed her arms quickly, shutting her eyes as she exhaled through her teeth.

"I-I'm sorry," she mumbled quickly, her gaze flickering towards the ground as her pulse pounded wildly in her ears, "I shouldn't have kissed you. It was stupid."

"I'm not just talking about that," McCoy sighed, the line between his brows growing more pronounced as he stared back at her, "All of it, Adi."

"Lee, I don't understand," Adea replied softly, her lip beginning to tremble as he pinched the bridge his nose.

"Going back and forth like this!" McCoy huffed, his eyebrows raising as he stepped towards her, "One day, you're falling for me, then the next, you don't want anything to do with me? You know, you could have at least had the decency to tell me why you change your mind every few weeks! "

"I'm sorry," Adea mumbled quietly, exhaling shakily as he stepped away from her outstretched hand, "I tried to tell you—"

"You call a vague allusion to family problems telling me?" McCoy mused incredulously.

"That is the reason, Lee," Adea replied miserably, guilt twisting in her stomach as his pained expression grew darker.

"Is it?" McCoy replied quickly, his voice raising as he stepped towards Adea, "Two years ago you showed up at my doorstep and you wanted to say something to me. What did you want say?"

"What?" Adea mumbled quickly, the hot flush fading from her face as a cold weight began building in her chest. She swallowed as her throat ran dry, panic racing through her thoughts as she stared back as his measured gaze.

"When you came to my apartment before you left for the Adair fellowship," McCoy continued steadily, his voice low, "What did you want to say to me?"

"Why does that matter all of a sudden?" Adea countered weakly, stepping backwards as he moved closer to her.

"It's the same thing isn't it?" McCoy pressed on, emotion straining his steady tone, "What you were talking about a few weeks ago. Why you can't fall for me without hurting me? Why you're afraid to lose me? That day, before you left, that's what you were trying to tell me, wasn't it?"

"Why are you asking me this now?" Adea muttered miserably, her gaze flickering towards the floor as her panicked thoughts flickered back to her conversation with Nyota.

"It was, wasn't it?" McCoy repeated, his voice urgent as he stepped towards her again.

"Lee—"

"Adea, please," McCoy pleaded softly, his dark eyes boring into hers.

Adea stared back at him, her bottom lip trembling in horrified shock as she met the undeniable certainty burning behind his unwavering expression. He knew.

"Lee, it's complicated," Adea replied shakily, failing to control the panic constricting its way around her chest as a hot tear burned its way down her cheek.

"Complicated? McCoy repeated incredulously, his calm demeanor falling to the wayside as her stared back at her, "So kissing me is fine but talking to me is complicated?"

"I-I'm sorry," Adea mumbled quickly, another tear falling down her face as he stepped towards her, "I didn't mean it like—"

"Like what, Adi?" McCoy snapped back, "Like you're the only one who knows what complicated feels like?"

"Lee, it's different-"

"Is it?" McCoy retorted loudly, crossing his arms,

"Lee, I'm sorry. Please, just—"

"You know what, while we're on the subject, do you know what else is complicated?" McCoy snapped, stepping towards Adea as his voice shook, "Falling for someone and being told to act like it never happened. No explanation given. No chance to even try figure something out, because lord knows she's doesn't even need your opinion before she decides for you what's best. But you know what, Adea, that's not the complicated part. Complicated is standing on the fucking bridge the moment everyone thought you died, and not being able to say or do a goddamn thing, because to you and to everyone else, there is nothing between us! So don't give me some horseshit about things being complicated, when you don't even trust me enough to talk to me!"

Adea closed her eyes as her tears fell freely, the sickening pang in her chest threatening to tear her apart as his words seared through her mind. She reached forward to brush his arm, her breath catching in her throat as he shrugged away from her hastily as if he'd been burned.

"Lee, I'm sorry," Adea pleaded, her breath coming in short, rapid heaves as he backed away from her, shaking his head slowly, "I'm so sorry. Let me explain. Please."

"What the hell is there to say?" McCoy snapped coldly, brushing past Adea, "Whatever game is going on in your head, Adea, leave me the hell out of it. I can't do this anymore."

And with that he turned on his heel, leaving her alone in the room without another word.


Two Years Earlier (Stardate 2256)


Adea's fingers fumbled over her insignia pin as she struggled to fasten it to her jacket, giving up momentarily as she glanced down at the black screen of her phone.

"Don't worry about me, Sweetheart."

She swiped the screen on, opening the message as she read it for the hundredth time. She frowned, avidly eyeing the sent time as if staring alone would make a new message appear.

Eight Days.

Eight days since they'd received the distress signal from Vulcan, a planet which as of a week ago, had ceased to exist.

Eight days in which the very same Romulan ship that had destroyed Vulcan had attempted to destroy Earth, nearly taking the Enterprise, her sister, and McCoy along with it.

Eight days since he'd texted her not to worry.

Between questioning Carol and her mother's constant calls, she'd managed to remain more up-to-date on the Enterprise's whereabouts than a Starfleet captain. But the peace of mind the constant updates had provided paled in comparison to the moment she'd heard the Enterprise had safely arrived at the Spacedock. She'd barely read the message from her mother before she leapt out of bed, stumbling across her as she raced to the shower. It would likely be hours before the crew would arrive at Headquarters, but anything was better than hell of waiting and wondering this past week. Even if she risked seeing McCoy and her sister in the same place….

Adea returned her attention back to her Starfleet pin, swearing loudly as a knock sounded at her door, the needle pricking her thumb as her grip slipped. She sucked the tip of her finger as she set the pin down, glancing quickly at her watch. Was Carol back from London already? Adea frowned as she paced across the apartment, reformulating her plan as she sidestepped Carol's shoes, opening the door slowly. She barely recognized his lopsided grin before his hands cupped the side of her face, kissing her deeply as he walked her backwards into the apartment.

"Lee, you're here," Adea mumbled between kisses as McCoy closed the door, "Why are you here?"

"I missed you," McCoy replied simply, brushing her hair behind her ear as he kissed her again.

"I know," Adea started, breaking the kiss as she stared up at McCoy, "But I thought you had to report to Headquarters?"

"You're quoting protocol right now?" McCoy mused, smirking at her wide-eyed excitement.

"What? No!" Adea countered quickly, her cheeks flushing red, "I mean, yes. I mean, I thought you were supposed to report to headquarters first—"

"I spent the last few days being fired at Romulans, getting sucked into a black hole, and otherwise avoiding a miserable space death," McCoy smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer, "Did you honestly think headquarters was the first place I wanted to be when we touched down on Earth?"

"But—"

"I think headquarters can wait a damn minute, don't you?" McCoy mused, he smiled down at her.

Adea breathed heavily as she stared up at her, her worried resistance crumbling as he smiled wider. She threw her arms around his neck, burying her face against his chest as he pulled her closer.

"I was terrified something happened to you," Adea sighed, the rush of relief alleviating the panicked pressure in her chest as McCoy rested his chin against her head.

"You?" McCoy teased quietly, kissing the top of her head, "The great Adea Ele terrified of something?"

"I'm serious, Lee," Adea mumbled against his chest.

"I'm not sure what choice you really left me with," McCoy drawled teasingly, hugging her closer to him, "I couldn't've left you here on Earth by your lonesome. Did you see the reaction I got when you opened the door? Coulda sworn you got a bit teary eyed. You'd all but fall apart if I didn't come back."

"You're full of it, Lee," Adea smirked, raising an eyebrow at McCoy as she looked up at him.

"That very well may be," McCoy admitted, "But if I did know any better, I'd say you still missed me an awful lot."

Adea simply hummed in response, pushing up onto her toes as she kissed him again.

"Well, if it makes you feel better," McCoy drawled, "I missed you too."

"Did you now?" Adea teased, her teeth grazing his bottom lip as he kissed her again.

"A bit," McCoy winked, a devilish look flickering in his eyes as he backed her slowly against the wall.

"My roommate might comeback," Adea warned playfully as McCoy's hand found the hem of her dress.

"Do you honestly think I give a damn about that right now?" McCoy mused coyly, trailing his thumb over her cheek.

He leaned forward suddenly, his arm hooking behind her knees as he scooped her off the ground, his grin broadening as she squealed.

"What the hell are you doing, Lee?" Adea squeaked, her arms wrapping nervously around his neck as he began walking towards her room.

"Told you I didn't give damn," McCoy smirked, pausing as he tilted his head down to kiss her again.

And for a moment, neither did she.


Present


Adea glared tiredly at her door as someone knocked, slowly twirling her cadet pin between her fingers for the hundredth time. She hesitated, nearly feigning absence as she pulled herself off her sofa, crossing her room slowly to the door. She glanced through the peephole, frowning as she was met with darkness. She paused for a moment before opening the door slowly, sucking in sharply as she struggled the register the glass object that had been thrust into her face.

"What in the—"

"Red wine, Mini," Kirk explained simply, waltzing past her into her room.

"Now is not the time, Kirk," Adea huffed, her frown twitching with frustration as he searched through her cabinets.

"We both know that's a lie," Kirk countered calmly, setting two glasses on her counter as he fished a corkscrew out of his pocket, "Especially after the day you've had."

"I just want to sleep," Adea sighed miserably, frowning as the cork popped.

"That may be true, but I have a dilemma," Kirk sighed, pouring two glasses, "You see, in nearly a hundred years of existence, you would think the Federation would come up with a better gift idea for captains than red wine, but no, they don't. Can you imagine how many bottles I've been trying to get rid of since I started Starfleet? I'm practically drowning in the stuff."

"Kirk," Adea sighed tiredly, frowning as Kirk pushed a wine glass into her hands, "I want to sleep."

"But that's where you come in, Mini," Kirk continued, clinking her glass with his own.

"Kirk," Adea warned, pinching the bridge of her nose with her free hand.

"Rumor has it you love red wine. Practically collect the stuff," Kirk pressed on, "And a little birdie tells me that you are particularly fond of drinking it when you're stressed."

"Do you even like it?" Adea questioned, raising an eyebrow slowly as he grimaced.

"What?" Kirk replied quickly, his face scrunching as he attempted another sip, "Why would you think that?"

"Let me guess," Adea replied slowly, eyeing Kirk's expression, "You hate red wine but you're trying to cheer me up?"

"Fucking disgusting," Kirk scowled, flashing a relieved grin as he moved the glass from his mouth, "But is it working?"

Adea rolled her eyes, moving to stand next to Kirk as she took a sip from her own glass.

"This is really good, Kirk," Adea commented, swirling the glass once before taking another sip.

"Mm," Kirk grunted in response, handing her his glass.

Adea smirked, pouring Kirk's glass into hers as she sat the empty glass on the table, padding across the room to the kitchen,

"I take it this is more to your liking?" Adea smirked, holding up a whiskey bottle as Kirk smiled broadly.

"This is why I pay you the big bucks," Kirk winked, sitting heavily on her couch as he propped his feet up on her coffee table.

"You don't pay me shit," Adea commented dryly, pushing Kirk's feet of the table as she handed him a glass.

"Who knew you'd be a whisky girl," Kirk mused, raising his eyebrows as he took a sip, "And a good whisky too."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Adea sighed, smirking as she clinked her glass against Kirk's.

They sat there for a moment in silence, as Adea sipped her wine slowly, curling her feet under her as she leaned back against the couch.

"I suppose I should thank Carol?" Adea mused.

"For what?" Kirk replied.

"The wine?" Adea mused, raising her glass towards Kirk as he frowned at it.

"Not this time," Kirk answered, sipping his glass as an innocent smirk twitched at the edge of his face.

"No?" Adea mused, raising an eyebrow at Kirk's expression.

"Bones told me," Kirk stated simply.

"Oh," Adea mumbled quickly, heat rising to her face as her stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"You're surprised?" Kirk mused.

Adea shrugged, avoiding Kirk's eyes as she took another sip from her glass.

"He really likes you, you know," Kirk continued after a pause.

"Yeah, I doubt that," Adea muttered quietly, the wine suddenly tasting bitter as she sat her glass on the table.

"Are you kidding me?" Kirk mused, "Please, I haven't seen him this on the edge since Dock Girl."

"What?" Adea sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned back, resting her head against the sofa.

"Dock Girl, " Kirk repeated.

"Do you think I want to hear your conspiracy theories right now?" Adea groaned, pressing the tips of her fingers into her temples.

"How have you been on the ship this long and never heard of Dock Girl?" Kirk mused, playfully nudging Adea's leg.

"Why do I feel it doesn't matter what I say, you're going to tell me anyway?" Adea sighed, moving her hands from her face as she eyed Kirk tiredly.

"Dock Girl is McCoy's ex," Kirk stated.

"Good for him," Adea mumbled dryly.

"Or so we think," Kirk added.

"So, it is a conspiracy theory?" Adea mused.

"Well he never mentioned her," Kirk continued, "At least not directly. Always busy. Always on his phone. Half paying attention when he talked to him. Hell, he went from ranting about how relationships never work out to going on and on about how it was just about meeting the right person. Seriously, Mini, on and on and on—"

"You're trying to tell me how much he likes me by telling me how much he's in love with someone else?" Adea frowned, "Kirk, I honestly—"

"You see, I was starting to think it was just a sketchy hobby he was trying to hide," Kirk sighed, "But you know the cut through between Hangar 2 and the Academy plaza?"

"What?" Adea questioned, her face scrunching as she stared back at Kirk.

"You know it?" Kirk mused.

"What are you talking about now?" Adea frowned.

"Do you know it?" Kirk continued, "The walkway that runs past the Kensington apartment building?"

"Of course," Adea sighed, "I lived there for three years, but what the hell does that have to do with—"

"Because after we landed for the Romulan mission, I took that shortcut to get to Headquarters," Kirk continued, "And on the way to Headquarters, I'll be damned if I didn't see Bones kissing Lieutenant Uhura in front of her apartment."

"What?" Adea breathed, swallowing quickly as she met the knowing twinkle flashing in Kirk's eyes.

"You see that's what I thought," Kirk continued, "If they ran off together yes, but there's no way she could have gotten back to her apartment before us."

Adea stared wide eyed at Kirk, a slow burn creeping up her neck towards her cheeks.

"Now imagine my surprise, when I finally ran into Lieutenant Uhura again and learned she had a little sister," Kirk mused, taking a sip of his beer as he smirked slowly, "If seeing your file photo didn't give it away, you should've seen Bone's face when I'd told him you'd been assigned to the Enterprise. Didn't even need months of watching you two go back and forth on this ship to put it together."

Kirk winked as he leaned forward, pushing Adea's glass into her hand as clinked his bottle against it.

"You knew all this time?" Adea stated slowly.

"You think I don't know what goes on my own damn ship, Mini? The things I know about this crew would blow your mind, " Kirk mused, nudging her arm, "Besides why do you think I keep leaving you two alone? You two are perfect for each other."

"Yeah, I doubt he wants anything to do with me right now," Adea muttered miserably, leaning back against the arm of the couch.

"Why do you say that?" Kirk frowned, nudging Adea again as she rubbed her hands over her face.

"Because all I can ever seem to do is hurt him," Adea replied quietly.

"What?" Kirk questioned, "What happened?"

"You know everything, right?" Adea commented dryly, taking a large sip of her glass, "So I take it you know my mother?"

"The Admiral?" Kirk replied, raising an eyebrow as he caught the expression in her eyes, "What about her?"

"Seven years ago, she had a straight-A cadet specializing in weapons engineering transferred to a low-ranking ship on a 5-year botanical research mission on the edge of Federation space," Adea stated quietly, "That ship was the USS Constellation."

"The ship destroyed by the Romulans after they left the Klingon prison world," Kirk commented slowly, "Wait, how do you all know this?"

"That cadet proposed to me two weeks before," Adea continued distantly, "We were close friends growing up and ended up dating for several years. He was scared of losing me when he left the Academy so he tried to propose to keep up together. I said no to him, but Nyota, being Nyota, ran and told our mother and that's how she retaliated."

Kirk eyed her silently as she continued quietly, pulling her knees to her chest.

"Did you tell McCoy this?" Kirk replied after a pause.

"See that's the best part," Adea continued, finishing the second half of her glass, "I thought not telling him would somehow keep him out of all of this so he wouldn't get hurt. But turns out he already figured it out and all I did was just hurt him more. So unless you have any brilliant ideas in the genius-level brain of yours, Kirk, McCoy doesn't want anything to do with me anymore."

She stood up ploddingly, retrieving the wine bottle from her counter as she refilled her glass. She returned to the sofa, sitting the glass on the coffee table as she plopped down heavily on the cushion next to Kirk.

"You should talk to him," Kirk replied simply sitting up slowly.

"Talk to him?" Adea retorted dryly, "Did you not hear any of that?"

"I heard the part where you both are being too stubborn and closed off for your own good," Kirk commented, sipping from his whiskey as Adea glared at him.

"Stubborn?" Adea repeated, "Did you hear anything I just-"

"Weren't you the one who just said not talking just caused more hurt?" Kirk countered.

"Did you just hear the part about my mother destroying the life of the last ex she didn't approve of?" Adea snapped incredulously.

"You know, as much as you hate to hear this, Mini, no one, not even mother, could have known what would have happened to that ship," Kirk replied slowly.

"Let me guess your next advice: my mother will miraculously be fine with McCoy?" Adea retorted, "And Nyota, too. You forgot about her. I'm sure she's perfectly fine with it?"

"I didn't say that," Kirk replied, "I said you should talk to him."

"And discuss what exactly?" Adea hurled back, "He already knows everything. And he took that beautifully well."

"He's being stubborn," Kirk commented.

"You didn't see him today, Kirk," Adea shot back, standing abruptly, "He was livid."

"Stubborn," Kirk corrected.

"Goddammit, Kirk," Adea huffed, "What exactly do you expect me to say? That I messed up? That I actually fell for him and that's what makes this so damn hard?"

"Probably a good start," Kirk shrugged.

"And what the hell good will that do?" Adea retorted miserably, "He doesn't even like me, right now, Kirk!"

"Of course, he doesn't like you, Mini!" Kirk snapped back, exhaling through his nose as rotated on the couch to face her.

"Kirk, what the—"

"He's in love with you," Kirk stated, looking up at Adea.

Adea stared back at him panting, her eyes flickering towards the floor as Kirk walked towards her slowly.

"You may not want to admit it to yourself and you have more than enough reasons to continue denying it," Kirk started slowly, "But my best friend is in love with you, and he has been since he first met you."

Adea stared forward blankly, her eyes trailing Kirk's movements as he sat the whiskey glass on her table. He reached forward slowly, his hands brushing her shoulders.

"I know it's a lot but if, everything else be damned, you still feel the same way too, please talk to him. If that's what you both want, you two deserve to be happy," Kirk continued, a faint smirk twitching at the edge of his mouth.

"I'll let you sleep now, Mini," he concluded softly, offering her a final smirk as he made his way out of her room, the door closing softly behind him.


Adea exhaled shakily in the dark corridor, uncrossing her arms slowly as she stared back at the door. It seemed like an eternity since she first came to a stop in front of the door, but even that was mere minutes compared to the amount of time she'd spend pacing back and forth down the hall, her breath catching in her throat each time a noise echoed. She inhaled slowly through her nose, barely raising her hand to knock when the door opened suddenly. She swore as she startled, breathing heavily as she met McCoy's bewildered stare.

"Adi," McCoy breathed, his startled gaze softening as he looked down at her, "What are you—"

"Sorry," Adea mumbled quickly, her face burning as she glanced towards the floor, "I was going to knock—"

"No, it's fine," McCoy huffed quickly, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled quickly, "I mean, how could you have known I would open the door—"

"Yeah, sorry," Adea muttered, crossing her arms across her chest as she turned quickly to leave, "I-I, uh, wanted to talk to you, but if you're leaving now, I understand. I can come back, or not come back, if you don't want me to come back—I'm sorry, I'll just go."

"I was coming to find you," McCoy stated abruptly, taking a step towards her as she turned back to face him.

"What?" Adea breathed, her eyes widening slowly, "Why would you want to talk to me after—"

"Adi, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that," McCoy countered quickly.

"Lee, I'm so sorry," Adea started quietly, "I should have told you. I didn't know how to tell you."

"I don't think anyone could have found a good way and time to say that, " McCoy sighed quietly.

"Lee, I-" She trailed off slowly as he reached forward suddenly, holding out a small silver object to her, "What is this?"

"You dropped this," McCoy continued quickly, his brows knitting as she took the silver hair pin slowly, turning it over in her palm.

"What?" Adea mumbled quietly, dull recognition flickering as she eyed the silver star fleet crest at the tip of the bobby pin.

"You, uh, dropped it on the floor in my apartment," McCoy continued softly.

"What? When did I—?"

"You had it in your hair the day the Enterprise landed after the Romulan mission," McCoy stated quietly, "It must have fallen out when you came over later."

"H-how do you remember that?" Adea breathed, her lip trembling as he stepped towards her.

"It wasn't the first time I saw it," McCoy admitted quickly, running a hand through his hair, "You see, I left my friend Nick alone in a club because I needed some fresh air. It was nice being up on the rooftop, but then low and behold, someone had to come in ruin in it. Some pretty little thing in a tiny black dress, who threw off her heels the first chance she got. I think I nearly scared her senseless, but I had to talk to her. If I wasn't fumbling so hard for something to talk to her about, I probably wouldn't have even noticed the Starfleet pin in her hair. I'd never seen a woman quite like her, and goddammit if she didn't open her mouth and turn out to be brilliant too."

"Lee," Adea breathed quietly, looking up at him slowly as his hand trailed her arm, "Why are you saying this?"

"Your sister's wrath, whatever comments people have to say, dealing with whatever drama the crew wants to create, are infinitely better than standing on that rooftop wondering if I'm ever going to see you again," McCoy concluded, "And if your mother thinks she's going transfer one of Starfleet's top medical officers off its top ship, I'd damn well like to see her try. I want you, Adea."

"Lee, we...I-I don't want to lose you," Adea replied quickly, "What if something happens to you because of me?"

"If none of it mattered, the past, how we met, your mother, Nyota," McCoy continued softly, "What would you want, Adi?"

"It's not that simple," Adea replied, her voice barely higher than a whisper.

"Then why are you standing at my door?" McCoy replied quietly.

"It isn't...I just wanted... " Adea continued, "Lee, I-I can't live with myself if I was the reason something happened to you."

"You can't know that and neither can I," McCoy stated, his thumb trailing her cheek, "But I do know anything is better than ever having to stand around and wait, wondering if I lost you."

"You say that now," Adea countered quietly, her cheek resting against the palm of his hand.

"I don't give a damn about the rest," McCoy pressed, "Adea, what do you want?"

"Lee," Adea protested faintly.

"What do you want, Adi?" McCoy questioned, his eyes burning into hers as he stared down at her.

She stared back at him, her heart pounding in her chest as she leaned in suddenly, her lips crashing against his. She pushed onto her tiptoes, her arms trailing around his neck as he deepened the kiss. She barely registered following him into the room until she heard the door shut behind her, the residual worries tugging at her conscious faded away as her back pressed against the door.

He sucked her bottom lip softly, his hands snaking around her waist as lifted her, a low gasp escaping her lips as she wrapped her legs around her waist, her hips grinding against his as he pushed her harder against the door. His mouth released hers as he hands brushed underneath her sweatshirt to the bare skin of her waist, planting kisses along the sensitive skin below her ear. He smirked against her neck as her hands tangled into his hair, his grip tightening around her waist as he moved her away from the door, his lips refinding hers as he carried her towards his bed.

Her back had barely brushed the mattress before she'd found the hem of his shirt, breaking the kiss long enough to pull it over his head, tossing it to the edge of the bed. His hands trailed higher under her sweatshirt as his tongue continued to trail patterns along her neck, his thumb teasing back and forth across her skin as it brushed under the cup of her bra. She arched her back as his thumb flicked over her nipple, a low growl escaping his lips as her legs tightened around her waist.

McCoy gripped her breast as he kissed her lips again, pinching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger as she moaned in response. His fingers slid expertly over the hook of her bra, freeing the clasp as her hand trailing down his chest, her fingers hooking under the waistband of his pants.

"Oh, I'm not done with you yet," McCoy smirked against her mouth, his tongue slipping between her lips as he pulled her sweatshirt over her head.

He reached down slowly, his thumb catching the elastic band of her shorts as he pulled them off. His mouth left hers as he gripped her upper thigh, his thumb brushing against skin as trailed kisses down her neck. Adea whimpered quietly as his mouth found her breast, a shiver trailing down her spine as his teeth grazed against her nipple. His hand snaked slowly up her thigh as his mouth trailed lower, his lip and tongue burning across her skin as he began planting down her chest. His lips had barely reached her hip bone when she shuddered, her hand clasping over his as he gripped her thigh.

Adea groaned in response, a quick gasp escaping her lips as his fingers found the waistband of her underwear. He pulled her panties off slowly, his tongue trailing along her wet slit as his finger teased her entrance. He brushed his finger back and forth against her before pushing it into her slowly, pulling it out as his tongue flicked between the lips of her pussy. Adea threw her head back as he slid a second finger into her, biting her lip as his tongue slowly began to drag patterns over her clit.

Her hands tangled into his hair as the pulsing between her legs grew stronger as her mind ceased to focus on anything but the movement of his tongue against her. She arched her back as his fingers pulsed faster in and out of her, the sensation nearly overwhelming her as he slid out of her slowly, trailing quick kisses up her body as his mouth refound hers, his hands swiftly unfastening the button of his pants.

She barely registered his hands tangling into her hair as he pushed into her slowly, her bottom lip trembling as he groaned against her mouth. She arched her back, pushing him deeper as he thrust into her, her nails trailing down his back. Her groans faded to whimpers as the pulsating sensation between her legs grow stronger, his breathing becoming ragged as he moved faster. Her breath caught in her throat as the sensation finally peaked, the tingling numbness spreading through her body intensifying as she felt him shudder, pulsating inside her.

McCoy leaned forward as he kissed her again, shivering as her fingers trailed softly down his back again. He pulled away slowly, untangling the blankets on his bed as Adea curled against his chest. He pulled the covers over them as he switched of the light beside his bed, his arms wrapping around her shoulders as she rested her cheek against his collarbone.

"Goodnight, Adi," he murmured quietly, kissing the top of her head.

"Goodnight, Lee," Adea replied, soft waves of sleep rolling over her as she relaxed against his chest.

And for a moment, he didn't give a damn. And neither did she.