Im so sorry this has took so long, i know the few followers i have have probably gave up on this syory from how long its taken me to update but i promise theres still fresh material on the way and in the making. Ive just not been able to type forever like i used to and have to do small snippets at a time.
Please review and feedback is more than welcome x
"Wait so we're going into a mind meld to help calm my mind to get me into meditative state, is this necessary? Plus i don't want to bombard you with all my thoughts, it's very disorganised in here-" she tapped her head with a nervous smile as she sat on a mat across from Spock in the middle of his quarters. "Like really messy, not ordered, chaotic jumble-"
"Alex, i am not here to judge you, i am here to help organise your thoughts, and calm your mind so you can enter a meditative state, without the mind meld i would not be able to show you how to clear your mind. All of this has to be done so in the future you can meditate on your own."
Alex sighed closing her eyes for a second before opening them again and looking at Spock with renewed determination. "Okay. Do it."
Spock breathed in and leaned forward pressing his fingers to the psi points on her head with a feather light touch. With both their eyes closed neither could see anything but their minds eye could feel the presence of another brushing past each others consciousness "My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts."
Alex gasped, the space in her mind suddenly changing from nothing too everything all at once, the feeling indescribable, like nothing she'd ever experienced before. Even when she'd melded with Torin it had never felt like this, spock's mind, his presence was like water. Cool refreshing water.
Indeed, oddly your mind is similar though i'd describe your presence akin to that of hot bath, not scolding but warm, a comfortable temperature one would soak and relax in. I was not expecting our minds to meld so well, on vulcan this level of compatibility is sought after.
So youre saying in another timeline we'd be a great match because of how well our minds mesh?
Essentially, i apologise, you cannot hide much when in a mind meld, especially when it comes to immediate thoughts and emotions.
Spock, don't apologise when you know fine well the statement didnt weird me out, you act like nobody would want to have anything to do with you in that respect, when in actual fact your a good looking guy with a kick ass personality too match, id absolutely consider-
Alex… why are you blocking me
I was about to say some really embarrasing stuff so i need to stop complimenting you-
Just speak your mind, i am not going to judge you it is difficult to keep complete control in a meld even the most experienced have slip ups, blocking at such an early stage will slow our progress.
Okay okay, im only saying this because i have no self control and because i know from the vibes youre giving off right now you dont hear nice things in regards to yourself enough so… i was saying if i hadn't had met Leonard or absolutely fallen head over heels for the bastard i would absolutely consider making vulcan babies with you. God that sounds like such a back handed compliment-
Thankyou, that is most definitely the largest compliment i have received from anyone in person, now we shall get off the this topic as i can tell you have a wandering mind and though it is amusing i would rather not have to cut our session short because of… Complications. Although i find your child like inability to properly communicate using the actions correct term endearing.
Im not gunna say it like that it'd make me sound like such a pest, and like i'm not happy with what i have, god it's really hard not to judge myself, what would Leonard think if he could hear all this.
It is not uncommon to find other people attractive whilst in a relationship nor is it uncommon to picture scenarios in your minds eye, though i have read research which indicates that the woman's mind is more active in this regard than in males, so you cannot be held completely accountable. It is a base instinct in many species to be constantly on the lookout for suited mates… Alex. You have somehow gotten us both wildey off topic and as this is something i know you wouldn't have trouble discussing with me in person rather than in your head i suggest we continue this discussion at a later date.
Yea you're right sorry i can get pretty easily distracted. So how do we properly calm my mind, im feeling pretty calm right now so I'm guessing we have to clear up the more suppressed stuff.
No, we don't need to filter through bad memories in order to calm you, in fact that would have the opposite effect of what we want, calming is induced by calming thoughts and memories and when we enter the true calm state is when we can view more hostile memories and filter through them in order to understand and accept them.
Ughh sounds boring, talking about life and sex is so much more entertaining but okay.
In this moment i feel as though im talking to a female version of Jim.
Spockkk thats so mean! Im not a pervert
Alex
Okay okay im sorry, i just can't focus or think of something that'd calming without my mind wandering it's so frustrating.
Try visualising
Would that work?
It is often a lot easier to picture memories rather than certain thoughts or feeling as memories come with both things. As Long as the memory is calming to you.
Alex sucked in a breath, taking in the cool lapping of the feeling of Spock around the corners of her mind and the entire range of emotions he had freely expressed with her through the link, she smiled fondly at their back and forth banter and Spock's subtle amusement with her, the way they'd been able to completely go off topic so easily with one another and he had not judged her one bit, or she'd have felt it. No judgement was rolling in the waves of their connection, only gentle amusement and encouragement, a protectiveness that had her flattered when she realised the reason behind it, until uncertainty kicked in.
Spock… you didn't have to do this just because I'm half Vulcan as well you know.
But spock could feel her hesitation, the way she recoiled slightly at the thought of help being offered just because of what she now was in Spock's eyes.
Alex, i did not offer my help just because we are both half of either race. I offered my help because i did not wish to see you struggle as i did, you are my friend. I could not enter into a mind meld so lightly with someone i did not know or trust, especially at this scale. But we are both stuck between species, and i will not allow you to go through this journey alone when i can provide assistance.
And all at once a wave of emotion hit him, a rocky wave of understanding crashed into him along with sympathy, empathy, and a surge of comfortable warmth that had to be happiness, it felt like the afternoon sun on his skin on a perfect day in spring. Or the warmth of a hug that had nothing to do with actual temperature. Though he realised the comparison was probably more closely related to that of one of Alex's memories but it described the emotion perfectly, as he realised his physical body was trapped in a gentle embrace, humans could be such pure beings.
Thankyou
This is what friends are for, Now please Alex, calm memories. The arms slipped away from their hold around his back as Alex shuffled back into position without so much as opening her eyes.
Spock could feel her struggling to ground herself on something to begin with as her memories flitted from brief glimpses of childhood alongside her brothers and father, to peaceful nights in bed reading a book before her mind truly locked onto something stable and grounding.
There was only darkness and the comforting warmth enveloping her as she breathed deep and let out a sigh. The smell stirring something deep down, a deep set calm that came with the feeling of safety as she finally felt the skin touching her own, wrapped around her back, fingertips tracing circles over the small of her back before tenderly playing with stray ringlets that cascaded on the pillowcase behind her. She pressed herself flush against that warm safe thing, never wanting to let it go as her hand glided over planes of skin till it rested among what felt like hairs. This is how she always wanted to feel, it was peaceful here.
Her eyes creaked open slightly, squinting at the time on the nightstand before she looked up past her hand carding through dark chest hair to meet warm brown eyes looking back at her, she could feel the smile pull at her face at the tender look she was receiving. No crease in his brow, just a thoughtful tug at his lips with those eyes that she couldn't quite read right now with their soft stare. He's so lovely.
"Go back to sleep Ace." Came the low hum, she could feel herself smiling again, as she buried her head a little further into his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" She felt herself half whisper.
"Sweetheart, I've never been better." The reply was gentle with a content sigh to match as she felt a hand wrap around her own as her eyes drifted closed again, the gentle pull as her hand finally met his lips and her knuckles were graced with a kiss.
"Me too Chief, me too…" she breathed feeling the chuckle from the rumble in his chest under her fingers as she slipped back into a hazy sleep.
She felt her mind humming as another memory seeped into her half conscious state, the blur of colours sharpening till she could see that familiar face again. She'd never seen memories this vividly before, maybe this was a vulcan trait. A part of the mind melds true capabilities, memories had always been hazy things, precious but hazy. This was Like watching a holo vid, it was like reliving the moments and god she hoped Spock would teach her how to do this on her own at some point. Spock. He was still here, a subtle presence barely scratching the surface, just glancing in.
"Why're you looking at me like that?" Leonards deep drawl snapped her back into the memory like a rubber band, and she could feel the sides of her mouth stretch into a smile and her eyes crinkle in happiness as she watched him watching her, his hand held his pen still on the page in his leather book. She could feel everything she felt from this moment all over again, so strongly it was entrancing.
"I'm just happy, that's all. What're you doing? Been sat there for a while when you could be over here, warm, probably not as dressed as you are now, being used as a teddy bear."
Leonard smiled at that while shaking his head and raising his brows. "Just appreciating the sight of a beautiful woman in my bed, even though i'm pretty sure you drooled on your pillow last night." he chuckled as she gasped at him in shock. Before she buried her face in his pillow as she stretched out of the sheets with an embarrassed grin on her face, the blue sheets cascading down the length of her back.
She peeked her eyes out from the rim of the pillow and looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Please tell me i didn't."
"I wish I'd took a photo, I'm surprised my laughing didn't wake you up." he smirked before raising a brow at her questioning glance at his book.
"Have you been drawing me again?" She asked coyly, she could feel the heat in her cheeks that was thankfully blocked by the pillow she was still holding hostage. She didn't know why she felt so flattered still, she knew he'd drawn her before from the first sketch she'd seen. Maybe it was because of how perfect he somehow made her look, or how honest they were, or the time and love he put into them, she didn't know. But she knew it made her feel a warm ache in her chest.
"if you saw yourself through my eyes you'd be doing the same, besides you're the only thing that inspired me to start drawing again in the first place so why would i change subject matter now?" He raised a brow at her with a cheeky smile and a bit of a side glance as he saw the adoring look she must have gave him at the time.
"Did you ever draw Georgia before you stopped? I've not visited that many states but i've heard it's beautiful out in the country."
"Yea damn right it is, i didn't do that many to be honest, got a couple of my house and of Jo but that's it. When we're back on earth, i can take you to georgia if you like, there's a gorgeous lake down the road from my place that's begging for a red head to go skinny dipping in-" Leonard howled with laughter as a pillow hit him in the face at full force and the whole moment seemed to slow down as she watched the corner of his eyes crinkle with his laughter and his grin made her suck in a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, she could feel her emotions welling in her chest as she felt wetness on her cheeks. Her heart ached as she laughed with him and she couldn't look away even as he came at her with the pillow shed thrown and she realised that was the moment she'd first known. When the rest of the room around her faded and it was just him laughing filling the space in the room with his contagious rumbling laughter. That exact moment is when she'd truly fell, and it hit her in a way she couldn't decipher at the time, on a random morning before they had to worry about getting ready for work.
"Hey hey, why are you crying, I'm pretty sure i managed to avoid landing on you when i jumped on here, what's wrong?" His voice soothed her quaking emotions as a hand cupped her face, thumb wiping away a stray tear as he hovered over her, pillow next to him completely forgotten.
"Im fine- im just, I'm so happy, its stupid i know, i hate you." She sputtered out while laughing, a smile still spread wide across her face as she looked up to see him smile back at her with a softness in his eyes that had her heart melting. He was happy. He's so happy. She could see the joy in his eyes as she looked up at the stubble ridden face with bed hair to match.
"God- i…" he shook his head and laughed before looking back at her, something sparkling in his eyes as he spoke, "I adore you, you soft bastard."
With a gasp everything seemed to snap back as reality flooded in and suddenly she could hear the intake of breath from spock and the air wisping past them as they pulled apart. Confusion flooded her senses as she looked up at spock with a frown. The trail of a tear halfway down his cheek before she realised as she patted her own face she was crying.
"Oh, oh I'm sorry i don't know why I'm crying." she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as she wiped the tears away hastily.
"Emotional transference is a common side effect of mind melds, no need to apologise." They sat there in silence for a while just taking in what had just transpired between them.
"Thanks for this Spock, kind of embarrassing for me but i appreciate your help." She laughed awkwardly as she started to stand up. Spock stood up with her and shook his head.
"There is nothing to be embarrassed about, infact i find it quite… i cannot find the word to describe my emotion, it is as i think Nyota would say 'heart warming' that Mccoy seems to elicit such a sense of calm in you, i almost feel as though i do not know the man as well as i had thought."
"It's nothing like that Spock you know him far better than me it's just understanding why he is the way he is, why he says and does what he does, it's hard to explain. He can still piss me off and irritate me, it's not calm like feeling relaxed. I don't know, we just fit together well, compliment eachother… Just like you and Jim."
Spock tilted his head in confusion. "I do not understand what you mean Alex."
"You and Jim are like two sides of the same coin, you're opposite in so many ways but youre alike in so many ways aswell Spock. And where it is that youre different you balance out each other. Your logic keeps Jim level headed when his neurotic side is telling him all the things that could go wrong. Jims argumentative side more often than not brings out your reassuring side do you know why that is Spock? Because you understand each other. There's always going to be times where either party didn't understand the other and it took longer for the right balance to be reached but thats okay. And not just because we're only human. Because we're living things with feelings. And sometimes even our own feelings are hard to understand."
"And what about traits that dont balance eachother out?"
"Those are the things that make people see if the relationship will stand the test of time, because if you love em Spock you learn to live with every little thing that you might dislike because in the grand scheme of things, those traits are nothing compared to keeping that person close. You want to know why Leonard isn't frowning as much anymore? Because i made him open that big ass bottle of emotions that he'd been storing over the past god knows how many years, because i knew as soon as i looked at him that the asshole was the type to think his feelings didn't mean jack and he'd be inconveniencing anyone who offered to listen. But i wasn't having that, they matter to me... Just like Jims matter to you more than anyone else's. You're in love with him Spock, and I'll be damned if he doesn't feel the same way about you."
"Doctor, i am not sure what warranted that lecture but thank you for the clarification it was most enlightening."
"See there you go again Spock i get on the brink of argumentative for no apparent reason and you reasure me it's alright, hope that little bit of liquid courage helped you out by the way." Alex winked at him before heading for the door a huge smile plastered on her face. Holding the image of Spocks ears and cheeks turning positively green in her mind as the door shut behind her and she let out a small laugh.
There was a groan and a slapping sound as Leonard hear the door to his quarters slide open and shut, he didn't even need to look up to see who it was as he carried on adding to the list on his data padd of additional stock they needed.
"So, how'd it go with Spock?" He asked finally looking up at her over the rims of his glasses a trademark brow raise aimed directly at her.
"Other than lecturing him about love on the way out the door it went good."
"Wha-"
"I know i just went off on a tangent trying to explain something else and i just ended up going full teacher mode, i could've done with your glasses to complete the look to be honest."
Leonard huffed out a laugh as he took his glasses off and handed them to her, pleasantly surprised when she put them on, feeling something starting to stir in his gut before he beat it back down. He still wanted to know more about whys shed been lecturing the hob goblin. " So what happened?"
"I ended up lecturing him about him and Jim being in love and how they balance eachother out and he just stood there and listened, then i watched him turn green when i said i hoped the hot chocolate gave him some liquid courage last night-."
"I meant in the mind meld but wait wait wait, liquid courage? Jim and Spock? No way?"
" i mean i don't think they did the deed but something definitely happened, he went so green in the face it was adorable, he was probably so nervous considering he's only ever been with women, but yea Nyota has been saying that they've been acting different somehow on the bridge today and apparently Jim has been 'giddy' so something definitely happened." She finished doing air quotes as she told him what Nyota had said about Jim and his behaviour before plonking herself on the sofa next to him with a smile.
"Virgin Spock needs rescuing from Jim." Leonard said with a hint of very real dread in his voice as he zoned out at the wall, why was he worried about Spock. Spock was a grown man he could handle himself. But Jim was so much more experienced it almost seems like jim would be taking advantage. He was pulled out of his daze by laughter and couldn't help but smile at the red head beside him grinning.
"He'll be fine, although i still don't have a clue who'll be limping around first."
"I don't even wanna think about that." Leonard winced feeling himself clench at the thought.
"What? Two grown men fucking and using that bundle of nerves for pleasure as well as their dicks? Yea it definately sounds like a bad deal."
Leonard raised a brow at her tone and smirked. "I never said there was anything wrong with it i was imagining the pain."
"There is no pain if you do it right… have you ever, you know-"
"What? With another guy?"
"No. I know you haven't done that. I meant have you ever tried it yourself when you-"
"Ohhhhh, yea no, which to be honest,-" leonard sucked in one side of his mouth in a comical expression before finishing. "Kinda suprised with myself considering I'd been alone for years before you."
"More surprised that it wasn't tried at all since you know you were married for a while…"
"Ha god knows anything slightly out of the box was off the books back then nah wouldn't have even crossed her mind or mine considering how early on i found out how she was with certain… Things…"
"Well I'm absolutely down for trying any things you may have missed out on." She winked suggestively. He smiled at her and shook his head.
"Why have i got the feeling you're obsessed with my ass?" He said standing up and giving her a hand with a smirk tugging at his lips absentmindedly.
"Good gut instincts?" She grabbed his hand and he guided her out of his room and into the halls of the ship. A frown formed on her face in slight confusion. "Where are we going?"
"To med bay, then to the holodeck." He spoke smoothly as his hand slipped out of hers and rested on the small of her back when she'd finally caught up to him. She didn't ask questions she just followed, it was probably best not to ask anything at all since she had an idea of why they were going to medbay already and thinking about it too much would just scare her out of it.
God he hoped the results from the tests were positive, he hoped she could still have kids, not just because she'd be a great mother one day but because if she couldn't, it'd make the whole holo deck plan he had after feel a lot more morbid with a sombre mood. He just wanted her to have this one thing, this one good pure thing, because he already knew shed miscarried and the absolute devastation she felt over it. He didn't want that to have been her only chance at having a kid, she deserved better.
"Also you should call your dad at some point soon, when you're ready. He's still worried even though he knows you're safe." Leonard took a shifty glance at her before staring forward as they weaved through corridors not wanting to see her reaction knowing he'd hear it in her tone either way. He just couldn't bare the look of betrayal he knew would spread over her features at the mention of her father. He didn't really blame her to be honest, he was civil with the man but telling his daughter she wasn't just human was long overdue. He could understand wanting to wait till she was old enough to understand it but it was long past that point now. He'd let his little girl live nearly half of her life as a lie. Drilled into her she should hide part of herself from the rest of the world so people didn't ask questions. He could have held off telling her till she was 18 or something but she was 28 now it was far too late for that. They walked through med bay to his office without turning to many heads and he heard her sigh as he shut the door and locked it.
"Alright, get your ass on the bed i need to take some blood, then you're getting a pelvic exam." His tone was friendly but firm and made it clear she wasn't going to win if she argued back so she just did as she was told. She hoped to god she could have kids in the future, she wasn't sure how leonard would feel if she couldn't. Not that it'd make a huge difference to him because he already had a little girl. But god she didn't know what shed do if she couldn't, shed always wanted a family at some point, a baby with someone she loved. She sucked in a breath as she lied down on the bio bed, yanking her shirt up a bit to give him easier access when he did the exam. "I won't bite you know, try and relax." He soothed as her pulled his gloves on and pulled up his chair with the three vials and the small hand held device they used to take blood, he slid the vile in like one would load a gun, with practised ease. Alex couldn't help but admire his hands as they danced gracefully around the equipment, practised precise movement carried out gracefully by such strong hands, she'd never in her life found hands attractive before but in this second she was obsessed with his, even with the horrible latex gloves on.
"Is that some of the good bedside manner they taught you shining through? I bet you talk like that to all the ladies." She jibed throwing him a playful smirk as he took the first vial and swapped it out with an empty one a smirk tugging at his lips eyes never leaving his task.
"Youd be suprised how many people are scared of needles, despite these things being designed to have a shorter needle, it still freaks people out."
"You're not the only doctor in the room babe, trust me i know. But i can kinda see now why you have so many of the women on board obsessed with you now."
Leonard scoffed as he put the final vial in. I haven't been called babe in a very long time. "I should hope you can see something you're the one thats dating me."
"Shut up you know what i mean." She huffed out some air through her nose in a half laugh as she leaned her head back against the back of the bed turning her head to watch him with fond eyes. "You've got a real soothing nature when youre treating a patient, it feels kind of weird to be on the receiving end of it."
Leonard looked up at her at that and shook his head a little with a small smile in place before raising an eyebrow in his signature look. "Difference being I'm not putting on a face right now, and you're not just a patient." He stood up setting up the vials in their respective holders keeping one separate to the side and letting the machinery go to work running the tests on the other two. Pulling off his gloves with a snap he threw them in the bin before strolling back over to her leaning down and planting a soft kiss on her lips, slow and tender as he brought a hand up to cup her face. When he pulled away he watched as her eyes fluttered open, captivated by the emerald green orbs and how they kept flickering from his eyes to his lips.
"You better not kiss any other patients like that." She breathed, voice barely a whisper from the kiss taking her breath away and how their breath was still mingling as he hovered over her, their noses practically brushing as Leonard breathed in deep, eyes fluttering closed briefly before looking back at her with a warm lingering gaze.
"Wouldn't dream of it sweetheart." He smirked lifting up and moving down to where her midriff was exposed ghosting a hand over the milky skin there. "You know the drill, tell me if anything hurts." He put his bare hands on her then working inwards from her hips, pressing and kneading her, feeling for any abnormalities and generally checking everything was in the right place, the blood test would tell him most of what he needed to know but it was always good to check physically as well. He couldn't feel any swelling and everything felt normal with no pain so that was definitely a good sign in his books. Looking down he noticed a slight purple mark just above her hips and his concern immediately sky rocketed as he prodded it.
"What's this. You've got bruising." He looked up at her before looking back at the small purple mark. Then looked up again slightly confused at why she was chuckling at him.
"I bruise easy in some places, there's one on the other side as well." She smirked at his quizzical frown as he looked at the other bruise almost parallel to the first.
"How.. What did you do?" He asked innocently, his concern apparent in his tone which Alex couldn't help but find adorable considering he's the one that had bruised her. He may be gentle during the day and with his patients on the job but he was something else entirely in the bedroom when he wanted to be.
"What did i do? What did you do, you have strong hands doc." She smirked as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up, legs either side of his frame as she looked up at him through thick lashes, he still looked somewhat bewildered, bless him.
"They were me?" He looked down at her hips again and pulled his hands down to where the bruises were putting his thumbs over the spots as he squeezed his hands shut lightly, feeling legs wrap around him and pull him flush against her his brain finally clicked and he looked up at her with a mischievous but guilty eyebrow raise. Feeling a tirade of recent memories flooding into his minds eye making him twitch to life against her. "Oh."
Alex laughed at him with a grin. "That took you a while."
"Shut up, i was in doctor mode not handsy mccoy mode. Besides you know if I'm hurting you you can tell me to stop?"
"Handsy Mccoy… i love it. And oh Leonard you dont hurt me like i said i just bruise easy in certain places, in fact if you ever wanted to be a bit rougher with me…" she trailed a fingertip down his chest all the way to his navel over his shirt, before stopping with a tug at his belt. "You'd hear no complaints from me." She batted her lashes for added effect and watched as he cocked a brow at her, renewed mischief dancing in his eyes as they darted down to her lips before snapping back up to meet her gaze, his tongue coming out to wet his lips subconsciously. Revelling in the fact that she could feel him harden slightly against her.
"I'll keep that in mind." He drawled out, hands unknowingly gripping her just a little bit tighter than before, the air around then hummed with electricity and Alex failed to suppress a shiver. Before the spell was broken by a loud beeping as the computer finished testing her bloods and the results popped up on screen. She unwrapped her legs immediately as Leonard frantically made a beeline for the computer, her stomach did a sickly flip as he leaned down to see the results on the screen. What was taking him so long? Was he that slow of a reader or was she just being impatient? No, the results couldn't be giving him that much information damn it Leonard just tell me what it says!
"Well miss Reid it says right here everything is working as it should be, quite a high fertility rate, he must have used something that didn't directly affect your womb or reproductive system-" he was pushed into the side of the counter as he turned to face her, her mouth crashing into his own with ferocity, nails scraping down his chest against his shirt, hands roaming, body pressed flush against his own pinning him to the counter. He answered just as hungrily as he flipped them both around pushing her against the counter before lifting her up onto it, legs wrapping around his waist instantaneously as he growled into the crook of her neck, biting down and sucking hard as his hands held her thighs in a vice like grip.
Pulling away from her he looked up to see her eyes watering but the biggest smile on her face and his heart melted. "I can have kids, Leonard, i can make little babies whenever i want-" she kissed him again a firm tenderness as she held his face in her shaky hands their lips moving together. Pulling away again her breath catching in her throat as she looked at him, really looked at him. Those chocolate brown eyes looking right into her soul with this pure unselfish happiness for her, that small smile tugging at his lips. "I love you."
There was a pause that felt like it lasted a lifetime as she held her breath, eyes flickering from his lips to those warm eyes. Before his forehead touched hers and he let out a breath as he leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, his own curving into a small smile as he pulled back, his forehead still pressed against hers. "I love you too."
"Am a interrupting something? Because i can come back later if this is like a bad time?" Scotty stood in the doorway to Leonards office with pink cheeks and an awkward smile as he waved his hands around haphazardly.
"Scotty!" Alex jumped off her spot on the counter and ran over to the man pulling him into a hug much to the shock of the engineer. "It's not a bad time, not at all."
Scotty smiled warmly as he laughed lightly a little confused at the red heads burst of happiness but delighted by her high spirits none the less, she kinda rubbed off on people in that regard. "Well what's got you so happy, a dont think ive seen ya grin quite so much in such a short space of time lass." He chuckled quietly as he pulled away from her hug holding her at arms length.
"I can have kids. Lyras had some involvement in something before the kidnapping and i didnt know if he'd ruined any chances i had of having a family. But he hasn't, i can have a baby right now if i wanted to-"
"You wha- that's great news I'm so happy for you- what a monster, agh a won't ask what exactly he did cuz i want ya to keep that smile on your face. And please don't pop a baby out right now or i may have nightmares for the rest of my life. I just came to ask how ya were doing but i can see youre doing alright-"
She laughed at the scotsman then, a melodic sound that had Leonard strangely feeling a sting of jealousy despite the warm feeling Scotties pure concern for her was giving him, he'd came up from engineering just to see how she was after everything which was really nice of the man if he was honest, something reserved for good friends, checking in even if it was just for a few minutes. "Honestly Scotty i'm good, im gunna be fine, thanks so much for checking in its really sweet of you. I appreciate it."
"Agh don't go getting all sentimental on me lass, you're one of me mates you know, i can always spare time for me mates. You know babies have like a pretty long incubation period though right? Now am no doctor but im just sayin if ya wanting a wee bearn' youre gunna have t' put mccoy to work if ya know what a mean." He mumbled the last part a little closer to her ear and punctuated the sentence with a wink which had her laughing again and Leonard couldn't help but laugh himself.
"I'm worked hard enough as is Scotty stop signing me up for extra shifts." He chuckled shaking his head earning a snort from Scotty with a little chuckle of his own, and a slap to the chest from Alex who was staring at him wide eyed and open mouthed in mock offence. Leonard raised his brows high right back at her. "I meant work work, like you know our job-" he absolutely did not mean work work.
"Uhuh, sureee you did, i can see right through you Mccoy. Anyway, Scotty im so glad you dropped in ill have to come down to engineering later to see you and Jaylah properly, but i gotta go. This whining ass wants to show me something so we gotta go."
Scotty raised a knowing eyebrow and looked between the pair with scepticism. "I know what that's code for."
Alex laughed. "It's not code i swear, we're headed to the holo deck, stop looking at me like that, you think i'd walk all the way over there when i could just stay here." She grabbed scottys shoulders shaking him lightly as they both let out stuttered huffs of laughter.
"Can you stop implying that we bang in my office." Leonard grumbled rolling his eyes with a mischievous smirk dancing on his lips and mirth in his eyes.
"Never. Anyway c'mon, we got a date. For the record we do not fuck in his office, bye scotty!" She called cheerily as Leonard dragged her out of med bay by her wrist before linking his fingers through hers as they walked towards the lift. "So what is it im getting dragged into here?" Alex asked with a cheeky smile as they stepped into the lift.
"You'll have to wait and see, all you need to know is we're getting off this damn ship for a couple of minutes." Leonard looked across at her with a fond look in his eyes before pulling her hand up to his mouth planting a kiss on her knuckles. Smiling as he dropped her hand back down at the adorable giddiness written on her face.
"Careful, don't want Jim to catch you being so loving he might get jealous, you know because im stealing his best friend." She let out a small giggle as Leonard pulled a lopsided grin with a chuckle of his own.
"Jim can kiss my ass, he's not losing anyone, he just needs to get used to this, it's not like I've changed." Leonard half shouted in exasperation making the woman next to him have to cover her mouth to try and not laugh.
"Leonard, you should talk to him, he misses you. Besides you haven't actually dated anyone until me in all the years he's known you right? To him it feels like you've changed like im changing you or something like that, its new and weird for him. Obviously i know you're being yourself, like i don't see little things like kissing my hand as overly soppy or anything, because it really isn't a huge deal but little things like that are a huge deal to him. To Jim its his best friend acting out of sorts and it makes him uncomfortable at times." She finished with a soft smile squeezing his hand a little tighter in hers.
Leonard sighed in defeat, knowing damn well she was right because he knew exactly what Jim was like and he could understand it being a completely new thing for him, especially with no past references to base Leonards behaviour off. "Fine, i'll talk to him. But im not changing the way I act around you for him, because one, thats horseshit and two, i barely change at all i practically treat you like one of the guys… God thats bad i'm so sorry."
Alex openly laughed at him then, thanking the gods, if there was any, that the lift was still in motion and nobody had gotten on with them. "No you dont you treat everyone as an equal you idiot, not like everyone's a guy. Besides, you always manage to be a gentlemen around women, just the ones that know you also get to see the more crude perverted side of you aswell- ow, hey! Its true though and you know it!" Alex laughed batting his hand away from where it had jabbed her in the side.
Leonard frowned comically with a small pout as his arms folded eyes glaring holes into the red head through his sideways glance as she continued to laugh at him. "Shut up." He stated pout wavering as a smile threatened his lips unable to keep a straight face at the cackling woman beside him. " i swear to god witch, ill put you on a sex ban, yeaa thats what i thought."
The red head looked mildly offended as she put a hand over her chest in mock horror. "You'd put me on a sex ban, how long do you think that'd last hmm?" She said raising her brows at him suggestively as she mirrored him and crossed her own arms over her chest. Leonard looked over at her suspiciously, noting the challenge in her stance and her eyes, even if the gaze was mixed with equal amounts of lust.
"Atleast a week." He could do a week. It wasn't a huge amount of time but it was enough to make a point if he ever needed to.
"Well id advise against that. Unless you want me to jump your bones. You can't expect me to be able to go cold turkey and quit when i've been getting it regularly." She huffed at him shuffling a little at the thought of him following through with it. Because she had to be honest with herself after not having anything in so long and then having him nearly every single night she might die. He cant expect me to be able to cope without his c- maybe i could if he'd still kiss me while his magic hands-
"So what would you do if i did put you on a ban? nd that means everything, only thing you'd be getting for a week is kisses, if im feeling generous."
"Honestly, id probably become the most insufferable person by the end of the week, and be wanting to bite peoples heads off. Please dont i dont want to be a dick to people, because it'll get to a point i won't even realise its because im frustrated." She was smiling but had a pleading look on her face as she looked up to Leonard with her hands clasped together in a sort of prayer.
"You'd turn into an asshole? And you'd try to jump my bones? Isn't that already a regular thing? Ha ow, im kidding, you know im kidding." Leonard chuckled as he received a tirade of slaps to his arm.
"I dont think youd last on a week ban either, youd miss my ass too much."
"Id do just fine-"
"Until it's the middle of the night and im pressed up against you pretending to just be shuffling in my sleep." She wiggled her eyebrows at him giving him a heated once over through thick lashes.
"You are one shady woman, Alex."
"And you wouldn't have me any other way." She winked at him just as the lift pinged and the doors opened. Stepping out ahead of him into the holodecks wide corridor she looked back to make sure he was following before skipping over to the doors that gave the entire deck its name, wondering just what leonard was going to input into the system and conjure up for them both to explore. I hope it's somewhere on earth. I miss home so much. And the lights in here god they're so bright and white it'd be nice to see the sun again. "Alright Horatio where are we headed?" She said bouncing up and down on her heels giddily, she wished she could stand still but if she was honest she was rather excited.
He looked down at her and shook his head with a smile as he typed in all the necessary inputs blocking her view from the screen beside the thick blue double doors with his back. "That's for me to know and you to find out, and don't call me Horatio, Witch." He couldn't help but find it endearing how excited she was, visibly trying to keep it cool but still bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation, his gut twisted at the thought maybe she wouldn't like where he was about to take her. What if she didn't like his home? Or the lake? What was she expecting to see behind these double doors? Its the only thing he had left of his dads and his gut twisted painfully at the thought of the man, before a smile tugged at his lips. If he were alive he'd be lecturing him for not bringing her home sooner, for not taking her to dinner yet, probably for taking so damn long to man up and realise she liked him, baggage and all. Alex's dad kinda reminded him of his own farther a bit, with his take no shit attitude, which his daughter had clearly inherited from him. He sucked in a breath as the doors opened and he heard her gasp as they both stepped into his living room.
"Leonard this is… this is not your house?" She asked in a half questioning half accusing tone as she spun on the spot taking in the huge open plan that was the ground floor, the walls and floor a stylish dark wood as well as the book shelves that lined the wall strategically hiding the staircase. The black leather corner sofa and arm chair surrounding a smart polished wooden coffee table in front of a log fire that was crackling gently, the flat screen tv hanging silently above the mantelpiece. Leave it to Leonard to have an insanely modern home while also having an old log fire place, she loved this room though. The bookcases lined with so many books behind the armchair, the perfect seat to just sit and read in and turning she saw the view outside and it was just too perfect, a full wall of glass rather than a normal window looking out onto an expanse of wooden decking, tall trees littering either side with none in the middle creating the perfect view of the sunset against the lake just a hundred meters or so away from the house itself. "Leonard this is...your home is beautiful. I kind of forget that american houses are a lot bigger than the standard ones in the uk." She all but whispered as she tried to take everything in. Almost embarrassed that her family home was probably half the size as she cautiously ventured deeper into the house, past the staircase to find the dining table and ahead of the dining table a breakfast bar that stretched out creating a divide from the dining room into the kitchen. No big wall just the breakfast bar and a meter wide gap where the floor went from wood to tiles. Stools with matching red leather seats littering the outer edge so the kitchen itself had more space for free movement.
"Thanks, are you okay you seem a bit shook up if im being honest."
" ive just never been in such a nice house before, i don't technically own my own place, and my dads house is nowhere near this fancy."
"Well my home is your home, if you ever need somewhere to stay if we get back to earth alive that is." Leonard chuckled sitting at one of the stools and prodding in a code into the built in replicator before a glass of golden brown liquid materialised.
"You have a built in replicator in your countertop can you stop showing off. Especially since I can literally see your cabinet of booze from here." She half laughed at him shaking her head as he chuckled at her because yes he was sometimes lazy but hey he wanted to save the real bottles for special occasions. "How many rooms is in this house?"
"Erm 5, 4 upstairs and then theres another floor with the last room. Don't look at me like that it hasn't always been this fancy, entire place was a mess for about 2 years when my old man decided he wanted that 2nd floor adding."
"Did he build it himself? Just that floor or the entire house?" Alex was in awe as she stared at Leonard with adorable curiosity.
"He didn't build it by himself he had help local builders that he knew and me when i was old enough, but this place was originally a bungalow if you can believe that." Leonard raised his brows with a soft smile, he didn't know why but he didn't feel the slightest bit of apprehension talking about his father with her. Hell, he'd barely talked about his dad to even Jim. Almost felt like his old man was giving him the nudge to spill the beans, to talk about his history a bit, his family. He knew it was impossible, his old man was long gone but he had a gut feeling if he was here in spirit somehow, he'd be giving leonard that lopsided smile he always did with a nod of his head. That smile that you could always see his eyes smiling along with him like he was the happiest guy in the world.
"I can believe that, being stubborn and determined must be a mccoy trait. He sounds like a great bloke."
Leonard couldnt help the snort that came out of him at the word 'bloke', sometimes he really adored the absurd british slang she threw into her sentences, stuff that gave away she didnt have a posh or overly uppity upbringing, she saw a told things how they were and he loved and admired her for it. "He was." He sighed putting his drink down on the table. He hadn't meant this conversation to get so heavy so quickly but he could see the apologetic look she'd adorned as she leaned on the breakfast bar from the kitchens side. Understanding immediately what he meant as soon as the word 'was' left his mouth.
"Oh Leonard." She sighed stretching her hand out to link her fingers through his. He didn't fight it, and he was damn glad she hadn't apolgised like everyone else did whenever you mentioned that you'd lost someone.
"He would have liked you." He said, and it was the truth. His dad would have loved her, He always this knack for seeing people for what they were but Leonard could just tell. If he was still here, and he'd brought her to meet him, he would have lit up. He could almost hear what the moment would have entailed, Alexs chime like laughter bouncing off the walls along with his dad's hearty chuckle.
"She's a keeper Leonard, thats the real thing right there my boy." He would have sighed as he leaned on the breakfast bar next to him, clasped him on the shoulder as they both watched Alex pottering around the kitchen singing to some old classical music she had playing through her padd. "you make sure you hold onto that girl with both hands son, because by god, if you let something this good slip through your fingers then you're a damn fool…" he gave Leonard a contemplating look and then there was that smile, that knowing smile cracking through the wrinkles on tanned skin, reaching his eyes as his crows feet crinkled and his eyes sparkled. His gray beard bristling as his skin stretched. "But you know what, I don't think you need me to tell you that, just remember, there ain't nothing a woman's love can't fix, and you can hold me to that." The hand left his shoulder and he saw him in the kitchen then, holding out a hand to Alex who let out a laugh taking it happily with this glorious smile. Some old 1950s song playing softly as his dad twirled her around the kitchen.
And then it was gone, the fake memory felt cold in his head and his heart ached that it couldn't ever happen, that it would never be real, not any resemblance of it could become reality. Because that was how it would have went, exactly like that. And he missed the man endlessly, his take no shit attitude paired alongside his always understanding heart. Always caring so deeply about everyone around him but never saying more than a couple of words, but Leonard could always tell. At every family gathering, those seemingly insignificant moments of life Leonard would catch him with this warm but distant look on his face, and if his dad caught him looking he'd always say the same thing without fail.
"If life was a lottery son, I've hit the jackpot hundreds of times over."
"If he was anything like you, then i would have loved him." Alex said matter of factly looking down at the distant sad eyes seeing them well before hazel eyes looked at her, a tear streaking down tanned skin with a slow blink.
"He would have gave you a speech on how you didn't have to take my shit by now, and would have smiled like a mad man when you told him to stop selling me short. Because you have this habit of telling people off for putting themselves or other people down, and let me tell you its a damn refreshing thing that would have had you in his good books straight away."
"I love and hate that you know I would have defended you." She smiled at him gently stealing the glass from his hands and taking a sip. She knew she wasn't actually drinking anything but it really did feel real as it burned comfortably on the way down and gave her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.
He smirked as he stole the glass back watching her satisfied sigh as she swallowed. "Your own fault for being a stand up human being who won't stand for anyone's bullshit, although sometimes I think you've got more balls than you do common sense." He chuckled as she mocked offence.
"I'll take that as a compliment for the most part, though i know there are times I should have kept my mouth shut." She looked down at the counter top with a hint of regret, could have saved herself a lot of pain if she'd had just kept her mouth shut in certain recent events, she knew that's what leonard was getting at. He didn't need to say it. Jacobs voice echoed in the back of her mind and she winced at the memories.
"Just next time you're stuck in a bad situation please try to think about you're own well being, i know you're made out of tough stuff Alex, but i don't want to see you in med bay in that state again if you can avoid it. You scared the hell out of me'." He looked over at her with this look she hadn't seen before, not like this, not while they were anything but half asleep or half awake. This deep pained frown of concern and that fear in his eyes. And she was so so saddened that her being hurt had caused this turmoil in him, this constant worry, over something he couldn't have helped. She hadn't thought at the time how it could hurt him, seeing her in the state she was, but that look she was receiving right now told her volumes about how much this wonderful man cared about her.
"I'm sorry, I just, I didn't want his attention switching to Nyota and id much rather the black eye than have took what he originally intended to do…" she trailed off seeing Leonards mouth immediately set in a tight straight line.
Leonard tensed up visibly as he came and stood next to her their arms touching as he leaned on the counter with her. "You don't mean-"
"He didn't get that far don't worry- but he shoved his hand up my dress. So I spat in his face."
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Leonard let out a defeated sigh as he put his drink down, the glass clinking off the marble worktop ever so gently.
"Because i knew you already wanted to strangle the guy, and I found out that they caught him, Jim told me this morning, starfleet sent a team down to the planet looking for Lyras's accomplices. They found jacobs, a couple of his crew, and security tapes of the room he was holding us hostage in. So it's all on video, bodes well for them going to prison. I just didn't want to give you another excuse to lose it when we got to new Vulcan."
Leonard let out a sinister chuckle as he tilted his head to the side with a click of his tongue. "I'll do my best not to lose it but i aint making no promises, Ace- i'm sorry i didn't mean to imply you should have taken that over a beating, I-" leonard sighed running a hand over his face in exasperation. "I just wish none of it happened in the first place, you didn't deserve to go through that shit."
"I know what you meant don't worry and hey, sometimes shit just happens, but I mean it Leonard. Don't you dare put your career in jeopardy over some low life, not over me." she leaned into him lightly and he sighed wrapping a hand around her shoulder and pulling her in close Till she was wrapped in his arms in a backwards hug, his chest pressed flush against her back as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I wont… I just don't like it alright, the thought of him having his hands on you just-" He shivered unable to finish the sentence as he held her a little tighter feeling some tension leave her as he squeezed.
"I know Leonard, I know. Trust me you're the only one I want touching me." and it was strange, the admission made him hum in appreciation yet there was nothing sexual in the way she said it and that somehow made it more real to him, more intimate than if this was just physical. he knew she meant in every sense, and he was so glad she did because this wasn't just physical. Never had been. He needed her fingers running through his hair when he was lied tucked into her side with his head on her chest half asleep. Needed the soft press of her lips against his forehead when he woke up during the middle of the night, the playful slaps on his arm and chest when he was winding her up. Those arms wrapping around his neck over his shoulders as she rubbed her nose against his with a soft smile before giving him a kiss. The way she rubbed small circles into his thighs when they were on the couch and he'd throw his legs across her lap stretching over the rest of the couch as he lazily filled reports. He just needed her. Her laugh lit up the med bay without fail, whether she was laughing at him or anyone else he didn't think he could be without that damn laugh in his life. This damn woman had touched something deep in his soul and laid him bare, ripped down nearly all his barriers just to heal the wounds that had caused them. But he couldn't possibly put all of those feelings into words. In a weird way he was pretty sure she understood already, not even through this buzzing link they shared whenever they touched, he was pretty sure she understood it because she felt the exact same way about him. And that in itself was astounding to him, he absolutely did not deserve her.
"Good, cuz ugh, you're the only one I wanna be touching aswell, in every sense of the word, because I'm gunna give it to you straight. Sometimes a guy wants to be little spoon and you always have my back." He couldn't help the immediate bubble of laughter that came up as Alex's wheezing laughter filled his ears. And they leaned against each other chuckling before Leonard threw his arm over her shoulder. "C'mon I wanna show you something."
"Theres more?" her eyebrows reached her hairline as he lead then back to the front door. He chuckled then, smirking at her as he pulled the door open.
"Theres more. Thought you'd appreciate a view that we haven't had the chance to see in a couple years." He did that rare show stopping smile as he lead her out over the decking, down the steps and onto the grass, arm wrapped around her waist. He heard her gasp as they walked, throwing both hands over her mouth, he couldn't help that the grin didn't move as he watched her face change from confused to sheer delight.
"Oh Leonard- I've never seen anything like this, It's so beautiful. I mean if you ever bring me here I'm definitely going for a swim but god-" She sighed in awe as they settled on the grass near the verge of the water, she couldn't take her eyes away from the sky the dark reds and pinks reflected in the oh so still water of the lake beneath it like a mirror image. "I wouldn't have guessed that your front garden would be the perfect place for a date but you just keep surprising me." She hummed as she brushed her hands through the grass beneath her fingers longingly. God I miss earth. his hand covered hers on the grass before their fingers wove together as natural as anything and her heart leapt in her chest.
I miss earth too.
He smiled at her then, that fond smile that always made her feel warm from the inside out, and she could feel the waves of affection rolling off him through their connected hands and she couldn't do anything but smile back in earnest.
You're beautiful. She thought at him, watching the slight pink flush creep onto his cheeks as an embarrassed smile graced his features and he looked back out at the sky. She wouldn't ever tire of seeing that blush and that bashful smile, especially when she was the one that had caused it.
Shut up.
I mean it.
Yea… I know.
Good.
And she watched him quietly then with an overwhelming affection as she watched the sunset in his eyes, it was like magic, his eyes glittering with maple and honey hues with splashes of yellow and orange from the southern sky. The specs of green melting into the chocolate brown orbs she loved so much. As she looked back at the sunset she realised she'd been holding her breath and let out a long content sigh, not releasing those lovely brown eyes were now trained on her face. Accompanied by a small smile beneath the dark moustache.
"You're not drinking fully caffeinated coffee before bed that's just asking for trouble." Alex laughed as she swatted Leonard away from the coffee machine, shaking her head as arms wrapped around her waist from behind and a clean shaven chin landed on her shoulder with a sulking look on his face.
"I won't cause any trouble, besides, its not like you can't handle any trouble I create." He chuckled into her neck, laughter bubbling up as he was elbowed in the ribs. He liked this, the few moments in between their days where they could get a moment alone together and not have to be just the enterprises doctors.
"You're getting decaf, you create enough trouble without caffeine."
"True, part of the reason i shaved as well, the mustache… it gets in the way of a certain hobby of mine." He mumbled into her shoulder as he continued watching her make his coffee.
Alex scoffed at him, if half the women on this ship knew what this man was like behind closed doors shed have had no chance. He'd have been snatched up in a heartbeat. "Maybe you can show me this hobby of yours after i've had a shower?" She hummed as he toyed with the waistband of her sweat pants.
"I was thinking maybe before the shower and then i can show you again after." He grumbled into her neck, dropping a feather light kiss on the exposed skin with a small smirk as she sighed into his touch.
A buzz at the door drew both their attention as they turned to look behind them with matching frowns. " You expecting anyone?"
"No. You?"
"No…"
Leonard trudged over to the door uncaring about the un ironed t shirt he had on or the sweat pants he was wearing as his bare feet hit the carpet. Hitting the open door button his eyebrows met his hairline. Not expecting the blonde science officer to be stood in his doorway.
"Carol, Hey, erm sorry, i just really wasn't expecting to see you stood outside my door." Leonard rubbed his eyes mildly embarrassed at just how obvious he made his shock, he didn't want to insult the poor woman. "What can I do for you anyhow?"
Carol let out a light laugh at the blatant surprise that had crossed his face before smiling and trying to not peer past him into his room. "Actually Leonard, i was looking for Dr Reid I tried her quarters but she wasn't there so my second guess was here-"
"Who is it?" There was a gasp as Alex peered around the edge of the kitchenette wall towards the door before she came padding on over with staggering speed. "Carol, are you okay? Is something wrong, you missed your last session and I thought maybe it was a one off, but if somethings bothering you i can-"
"Im fine, honest. I actually just wondered if i could talk to you… alone." She twiddled her thumbs as both women turned to look at Leonard, awkwardly stood on one side of the doorway, puffing his cheeks out he looked back between the pair before throwing up his hands and blowing out a puff of air, turning around making a bee line for his couch before flopping down on it.
Alex smiled as she stepped out into the corridor, letting the door slide shut behind her back. She gave Carol a small smile before she was pulled into a hard hug which she had no idea how to react to before Carol had pulled away again.
"Look i'm sorry i know this is weird, you're my psychiatrist and doctor, its just you've helped me with all that- shit- with my… My father and I know you didn't want your personal life spread around the ship as gossip, nobody would want that. But all that's happened to you, i just wanted to say im sorry... And i know it's not my place to say but if i was in your position id forgive my dad…" Carol paused looking at the red haired woman across from her expecting to be immediately interrupted only continuing when she made no show at stopping her speech. "I know it's wrong that he lied to you, but he did what he had to do to protect you from people like the son of a bitch we have in the brig. Even if the lie stretched out longer than it should have. Because I can never forgive my father for what he did and what he was going to do, but you can. You don't have to lose the man that raised you because of this." Carol had tears in her eyes as she finished her rant of sorts and looked up to see a pained frown staring right back at her, on a woman she'd never seen any other expressions that weren't happiness or understanding.
"I know." Alex croaked, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke and a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Oh my god Doctor Reid im so sorry i-"
"No. Don't apologise. I needed to hear that, needed someone to throw some perspective at me-" She sucked in a shaky breath as she slid down the corridor wall beside leonards door, holding her head in her hands as she hit the ground. "It's just shit that i found out like this and not from him, hell if he'd have told me when i was 18 id have been mad but i'd have got over it. Im twenty fucking 8 years old thats what?! One third of my life? If i make it to 90 ha." She scoffed pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I still love him, and i can see why he did what he did, hell I don't even know if it was just his idea, could have been my mothers as well? Whoever the hell she is. I just wish he had some kind of idea just how fucked up this is, im half Vulcan i have suppressed telepathic abilities its- its alot to take in."
"Don't get me wrong i completely disagree with how he handled it as well, he should have told you. You dont have to forgive him straight away just dont-"
"Don't cut ties and never speak to him again? I know what you're saying don't worry, it'll take a hell of a lot more than you telling me the truth to offend me Carol. You're right. What he did was out of order but i can't shut him out for good, hell im probably going to need him more over the next couple of weeks…" Alex went a little paler remembering the trail and how hard it was all going to be
"The trail starting as soon as we get to new Vulcan? Are they even going to prep you beforehand?" Carol shook her head in disbelief. "Trust Starfleet to want to get everything swept under the rug as fast as possible."
Alex nodded back with a light sigh. " I actually think it's better that way, i just want it over with so I can get back to doing what's important without the whole thing looming over my head. I mean if they think that our crew has kept quiet about it they're so wrong so unless they're paying out big bucks to keep it under wraps the media is going to be all over the entire thing. I'm surprised nothings got out yet. God, my dads going to be ripped apart." Alex put her head in her hands again at the realisation, she just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep this whole nightmare away.
"Thats a family affair it has nothing to do with what happened on Feryion, i know a few people that owe me some favours. I could put in a word about keeping the focus off your dad."
Alex blinked dumbfounded for a second, firstly that she'd only just learned the name of the planet her and nyota were taken too, and secondly at the insane offer Carol had just proposed. "You could do that?"
"I will do that, you stopped me from losing my mind when my dad was killed, even if they were just video sessions to start with before we finally met when we destroyed our ship and were marooned in yorktown. i owe you."
"Carol you don't owe me anything its-"
Carol stood infront of her offering out a hand smiling when Dr Reid grabbed it. "It's your job, i know. But consider it a step towards us being even." Alex didn't know what to say as the shorter woman stood with a hand on her shoulder giving it a squeeze. She held back tears as she pulled the blonde into a hug.
"Thankyou."