Disclaimer: Star Trek is not mine. It belongs to Gene Roddenberry and Paramount. NuTrek is JJ's baby.

A/N: I finally got off my butt and decided to write the next chapter. I couldn't get in touch with my co-author, but I couldn't wait any longer!

.~.

Chapter 9: Quiet Celebration

.~.

Kirk was about to com Cochrane to discuss living arrangements when his door chimed. "What now?" He muttered under his breath. The door whooshed open to reveal… Scotty.

"Captain, did you hear the news?"

"Shhh!" Kirk glared at him. "Spock is his room, dumbass."

"Oh, right." The Scotsman reddened. Then he raised his voice for the Vulcan's benefit. "Captain, there is a slight problem with me wee bairns."

"I'd better get down to engineering right away. It could be serious," said Kirk, motioning for Scotty to leave his room.

They took the turbolift down to the bowels of the ship, where they could meet in the Chief Engineer's office. Well, to Kirk it looked more like a dump heap. Scotty's office could really use a woman's touch. There was the half-moldy sub sandwiches sitting out on the desk, the "secret" stash of hooch, and the tribble cage with Fluffy inside. The tribble broke at least ten regulations alone, but Kirk turned a blind eye to it because Scotty was so brilliant.

"I cannae believe she broke up with him!" Scotty exclaimed after the door shut behind him.

"I know. I was really relieved," Kirk admitted, grinning just a bit.

"Captain, I want to go visit her…" Scotty said dreamily. "Now that I have a shot…"

"Woah, lover boy," Kirk chuckled. "Snap out of it!"

"Err, right." Scotty blushed again. "I just-"

"I feel the same way about Spock, but we can't lose our heads now. We need a long term strategy – like in 3D chess."

"Nyota hates chess."

Kirk sighed. "So not what I meant and you know it."

"So do you have one? A strategy, I mean?" Scotty asked eagerly.

"Not yet!" Kirk exclaimed. "It practically just happened. Just please don't talk to Nyota for the next few days – she'll figure it out for sure that you want to date her."

"How?"

"Don't ask me how – women just know." Kirk grimaced, remembering the times he'd failed miserably with his come-ons when he went to pick up a woman at a bar.

"Fine, I won't talk to her for a week." Scotty crossed his arms. "Happy?"

"You don't have to get so defensive! I'm trying to help you."

"I know," Scotty sighed. "I'm just not very patient, I'm afraid."

Kirk glared at his Chief Engineer. "If you want Nyota, you'll have to be. That's the way it works."

Scotty nodded glumly.

"Okay, about a strategy-" Kirk began but was interrupted by the beep of his communicator. "Hold on, Scotty. I gotta take this."

It was Cochrane. "Captain. You wished to speak with me?"

Kirk inwardly cursed at the rotten timing. "Yes, I did. Can you meet me in my quarters in say, ten minutes?"

"Of course. See you then." Cochrane signed off.

Kirk turned back to Scotty. "Duty calls, man. We'll have to really put our heads together to get our men, but just lay low for a while. Gossip and flirt all you want with the nurses and ensigns, but please, for Nyota's sake and mine, keep it clean."

"Aye aye, sir." Scotty saluted at his captain.

"I gotta go meet Cochrane. We'll talk again tomorrow," Kirk promised.

"I'm looking forward to it," Scotty called after him.

Kirk returned to his quarters and tried to tidy his desk. A few minutes later, Cochrane arrived.

"Come in," Kirk called.

Cochrane did, and approached the desk. "Am I in trouble, Captain?"

Kirk laughed. "No. I just had a question. Would you be interested in rooming with me? We need to use the VIP suite to house more of your people and I didn't want to ask anyone else to room with me since I already know you pretty well."

Cochrane nodded. "That would be fine."

"Great!" Kirk enthused. "Do you need any help moving your stuff? I could send a yeoman…"

Cochrane coughed and made a big show of flexing his arm muscles.

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Kirk smiled genuinely at the dark haired man. "I'm sure you can more than handle it."

"Do you need me to be moved in by any particular time?" Cochrane asked.

Kirk shrugged. "Just before midnight ship's time. That's around when I go to bed."

"Very well, Jim."

"Thanks for being so cool with this," said Kirk. "I didn't know what I'd do if you'd say no."

"Why would I say no?" Cochrane frowned. "We are friends, are we not?"

"Yeah." Kirk grinned happily at him again. "Well, I'm just glad you agreed. It's much less of a headache for me with all the paperwork."

"It is not a problem," Cochrane said smoothly. "I shall go fetch my things."

"I'll be working on paperwork, and then I'll take a shower right before bed. You sure you're okay with sharing a bathroom with both me and Spock?"

"Yes," said Cochrane. "I will respect the Vulcan's privacy."

"Awesome." Kirk smiled approvingly. "Then it's settled."

Cochrane nodded and then took his leave.

Kirk started humming the main them to 'Star Wars' in celebration as he sifted through his paperwork. That was so much easier than I'd expected, he mused to himself. Perhaps Lady Luck was starting to smile upon him…

End Chapter 9

A/N: Reviews are great!