Goldilocks and the Threesome
Part Four:
When Jim, Bones, and Spock returned to the cabin several hours later, it was without a single fish – and most of their clothing. As Spock had so wisely pointed out, it was only logical to strip immediately upon reaching the shore, rather than walk home in soaking wet clothes. Everything that happened after they stripped off and hung their wet things on a nearby tree limb?
Well... that was logical too, if a bit sweaty and dirty.
The trio was in good spirits when they reached the cabin. Bones's temporary funk at having his fishing trip interrupted had faded quickly once Jim had gotten on his knees to beg forgiveness.
Jim could be very persuasive on his knees. And Bones enjoyed being persuaded. He really, really did.
The cabin's front door stood wide open. Upon seeing this, they all reached for their phasers which, of course, they didn't have. Instantly alert and ready to do battle, Jim bent to pick up a fallen branch and motioned for the others to follow as he slipped silently into the cabin.
Inside, Spock held up a hand for them to wait and crept into the kitchen. He returned a moment later and beckoned them in.
The kitchen was a mess. Dirty dishes were piled in the sink and empty food wrappers were strewn across the counter top.
"Did either of you do this?" Spock asked. When they both shook their heads "no," he said, "Then it would appear that someone has been eating our food."
The three men made their way down the hallway into what Bones and Jim referred to as the "living room." It was a mess.
The room's small wooden table held the remnants of whatever had been cooked in the kitchen and a few empty beer bottles. Jim made a noise of dismay when he saw that the beer that wasn't sitting at the bottom of the lake had already been drunk.
The ancient viewer on the wall had been left on. The image quality was rather poor but they could just make out men with a ball chasing each other around a wooden court.
"Looks like someone's been sitting on our sofa too," Bones said.
They looked toward the bedroom door. It was slightly ajar.
"Do you think someone has been sleeping in our bed too?" Jim asked, in a tone that spelled trouble for the intruder.
Together, they crept toward the bedroom. Jim reached out and pushed the door open. There, sleeping fully clothed upon the king-sized bed, was Pavel Chekov.
"What'd'ya know..." Bones drawled. "Looks like he has."
They stared in silence at the youngster for a moment before discussing his presence in hushed tones.
"Why do you think Ensign Chekov is doing here?"
"Never mind that! How the hell did he find us?"
"Jim!"
"What?"
"You were the only one who knew our destination..."
"How many times have I told you about getting drunk and blabbing-"
"I don't blab!"
Their bickering was cut short by a grunt from the bed. They froze, turning their attention back to the figure there. Chekov rolled onto his side, his back to the three older men. A soft snore told them he was still asleep.
Jim raised a finger to his lips and motioned for his lovers to join him in the living room.
"Never mind why he's here – or whose fault it is."
Bones looked as if he wanted to say that they all knew exactly who was to blame, but Jim didn't give him the chance to speak.
"The important question is: what are we going to do with him now that he's here?"
Bones suddenly let out a laugh, which made the others stare at him.
"I just had a thought. He ate our food, messed up our rooms, and is currently sleeping in our bed. But when I picture Goldilocks, Chekov just does NOT come to mind!"
Spock's eyebrows furrowed even more than usual. It took Jim just a moment to comprehend Bones before he burst out laughing, which he immediately muffled with his arm. Spock looked at him in consternation.
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears," Jim managed to get out. "It's an Earth folk tale. A child goes into a house without permission and eats the food and sleeps in the beds."
"Does it say what happened to the child as punishment for such an act?" Spock queried.
Jim shook his head, and then raised his eyebrow. "It only said she ran away. But I'm sure we could come up with something even better for our 'Goldilocks'."
The three men looked at each other and smiled.