The first two days the Captain stayed in sickbay. Buffy took over Porthos' care, then let the crew volunteer. It was good for them to feel like they were helping and Porthos loved the attention. Buffy was grateful, it let her spend more time with Jon without worrying that Porthos was being neglected. When Dr. Phlox released Jon from sickbay it was with the caveat he wouldn't overdo.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "I'm his girlfriend, not the Admiral."

            Jon was wearing baggy sweatpants low on his hips and a raggedy t-shirt from Stanford. He was bent over and swearing viciously, "I hate this! It hurts to stand!"  Buffy ducked under his arm to stand between him and the desk he was leaning on, their faces close together. His amber eyes were bright with annoyance and pain.

Buffy shook her head, "Be careful, I really don't want you to bleed all over in here."

His head ducked down, "I just want to hold you." He muttered, looking at his bare feet.

            She raised his chin with a fingertip, meeting his eyes, "How about I hold you?"

            "Will you be naked?" he asked hopefully.

Buffy laughed, "One track mind."  She moved away and undressed slowly, delighted in the power she had over him and using it shamelessly, aware he was watching her hungrily. She lay down on the bed and patted the spot beside her, "Come here my Captain."

            He carefully pulled off his shirt, wincing as the wound stretched and burned, then walked over, a light in his eyes that had Buffy shaking her head, "Rest only, Doctors orders."

She smiled as he pouted, "I want a second opinion." He lay down carefully between her legs, his head resting on her chest. "Ahh." He sighed. His eyes closed as she ran her gentle fingers through his hair.

He was sound asleep when the door chimed. "Rats." Buffy whispered.

Buffy carefully slid from under Jon, covering him and grabbed a robe to cover herself. She eyed him carefully and walked out to answer the door, "T'pol." Buffy said quietly.

"Admiral Forrest desires to speak with the Captain."

Buffy sighed and ran fingers through her hair, "Damn, he just fell asleep." Buffy frowned for a moment, "Can I take it in the ready room?" she asked and T'pol nodded. "Let me get some clothes on, have a seat." She gestured and dashed into the sleeping area for sweats and Jon's Stanford t-shirt. She came back wrapping her hair in a ponytail and the two women walked out.

"How is the Captain? " T'pol asked politely and Buffy smiled.

"Like all men when they're injured, cranky and wanting to feel better right away." T'pol nodded and led them onto the bridge. Buffy waved at Hoshi and Travis and T'pol led her into the ready room.

"Do I need a code?" Buffy asked and T'pol inputted her own. "Thanks." Buffy smiled and watched T'pol step out.

Buffy sat up straight and pushed the button. An older man came on screen, "Jon, I heard…oh. You must be Buffy." The Admiral said.

Buffy nodded, "I'm sorry Admiral. Jon just fell asleep and Dr. Phlox wants him to get as much rest as possible for the next couple of days." She said firmly, hoping she wasn't screwing up Jon's career.

The Admiral's face was unreadable. He looked the little blond over carefully, noting how young she was and the Stanford water polo t-shirt she was wearing that he was sure belonged to Jon. He smiled slightly, "I understand. Do you know when I can contact him?"

Buffy nodded, "In the morning?"

The Admiral checked, "That'll work. Take care of him Ms. Summers. Oh, and while I have you on, can you answer me a question?"

Buffy cocked her head, "Sir?" Eyes innocent, she thought she knew what this was about.

She was a hell of a bluffer, the Admiral thought admiringly. "The Slayer and Watchers Chronicles were stolen out a state of the art, high security storage facility."

"Is that a fact?"

"I don't suppose you know what happened to them?" He asked, knowing perfectly well that she instigated the theft.

"Gee Admiral, can't say that I do. However, I didn't approve of the military having them." She said seriously.

The Admiral sighed, "It's a good way to make enemies Ms. Summers." He smiled at her carefully blank face.

 "Comes with the territory."

He barked a laugh, "Take care of Jon, he works too hard."

She smiled softly, "Yes Sir. I'm keeping him in bed." Her face flamed, "For sleep! I'm making sure he's sleeping. In a bed." She finished this a little lamely and he smothered a smile. "Good, Forrest out."

Buffy sighed and terminated the connection, wandered back through the bridge and back to Jon.

Buffy woke up to the shower starting and Jon gone from the bed. She groaned and pulled herself up, checking the time. She walked into the bathroom, "Watcha doin'?" she asked and yawned.

"Waiting for you?" He said hopefully.

"Not even likely. After you see Dr. Phlox and he says you can do the horizontal mambo." Jon chuckled and soaped himself. He glanced up and saw Buffy watching him. Teasingly he began to slowly soap up his cock, making it hard.

Buffy was aroused and mentally slapped her head for walking into the bathroom while he was naked, swallowed hard and left saying, "Hurry up, I need a shower too."  Smiling to himself he finished up his shower and dried off. Buffy had underclothes and his uniform laid out and was sitting in the window, staring at the stars.

He watched her as he dressed and she turned to smile at him. "You're looking better." She said in satisfaction.

"I feel better." He rubbed the wound thoughtfully. "It's not pulling so much anymore." She got up and walked over to him, placing a gentle finger on his bandage. "We'll have matching scars." She lifted up her shirt and took his fingers so he could feel the faint scar on the side of her stomach. She turned and could see the exit wound.

"What did that?" he asked curiously, indulging his need to feel her skin by gently running his hands over her back.

"A sword." She shrugged.

He turned her around, "What?"

She grinned brightly, "You heard me." She glanced at the clock. "Oh damn, get dressed. Admiral Forrest is about to call."

An exasperated "What?!" he pulled on his t-shirt and quickly zipped up his uniform, and she handed him a brush.

"Captain Archer?"  Buffy smiled as he walked over to the comm., "Go ahead Hoshi."

"Admiral Forrest Sir."

"Send it through." He ordered.

 "I'm in the shower. Tell him hi for me." Buffy said and the bathroom door closed.

Jon was puzzled but sat down and activated the viewer. "Jon, you look pretty good. Buffy taking care of you?" The Admiral asked jovially.

            "Sir?" Jon asked, floored by the question.

            "She didn't tell you? We had a little chat while you were asleep last night. No, don't worry; it wasn't anything that wouldn't keep. She said your Doctor ordered you to rest, and I understood."

            Jon nodded dumbly, "I'm sorry Sir. I…"

            The Admiral frowned, "Don't apologize. She was doing what she's supposed to do. Your first line of defense. Amanda does the same, though I don't know if she would take a shot from a phaser for me." He looked up at his ceiling thoughtfully.

            Jon chuckled at that. He was familiar with the Admiral's formidable wife. "Aye Sir. What did you need?"

            The Admiral settled down, "To business then. First, you and the ship are getting a commendation for the Ferengi trade agreement."

            Jon nodded, "The crew enjoyed Risa, but the commendation will be nice too. Thank you Sir."

            "As a side note Ambassador Soval is very curious about the blond woman who saved his life." The Admiral's eyes were carefully blank.

Jon shrugged, "Some Risan woman I guess."

            The Admiral nodded, pleased. "That's what I thought. Take care of yourself Captain. Forrest out." Jon sat back with a sigh and Buffy came in, a little shamefaced, "I was going to tell you but you got up first." He looked at her and patted his lap, "Come here."

            She went over and sat and he pulled her closer, "Thanks." He said.

 "Why?"

            He kissed her, "For being my first line of defense."

            "You bet. Oh, there's one other thing." She said. His eyebrows raised, "What?"

            "I had the Watchers and Slayers Chronicles stolen."

            He closed his eyes and groaned, "Can they pin it on you?"

Buffy shrugged, " How? I was here."

            "A point. Do I want to know how?"

Buffy shook her head, "Probably not."

He sighed, "Can I ask why?"

            "I don't want the military to have it." She said simply.

            "Why?" he asked, taken aback.

Buffy snuggled into him and sighed, "There was a top secret military organization that found they couldn't control me." There was a chuckle from Jon at this understatement. "They made a monster, literally, to kill me. I won, so now I'm more cautious."

            "Ok, I understand." And that was that.