"Men!" Elanore Troi muttered angrily before plonking down next to Uhura on one of the couch's in Rec Room 5, pulling her feet up beneath her and sighing tiredly.

"Has Ensign Murphy been hitting on you again?" Uhura queried, her expression amused as a small smile played across her lips. Elanore let a soft chuckle escape her mouth before replying, "Definitely not. I ended up resorting to telling him he wasn't my type before proceeding to check out the nearest female crew member. I think he got the point."

Uhura let out a boisterous giggle, grasping her friend's arm and doubling over with laughter which only made Elanore start laughing as well.

"I can't believe you made Ensign Murphy think you were a lesbian!" She said in between giggles.

"It was my last resort! That man just wouldn't take no for an answer. Or was too oblivious to realise I was saying no." Elanore explained, watching as Uhura wiped a few tears from her eyes, finally able to compose herself before she sat back in the couch again and sighed contentedly.

"So what man troubles are you having now?" Uhura addressed her friend, watching as Elanore grimaced steadily.

"I'm Yeoman to the most infuriating man in the Universe." She stated simply, sighing and rubbing her temples steadily. Uhura groaned and rolled her eyes.

"What has our Captain done now?" She asked, obviously not at all surprised that Captain Kirk had done something to annoy or offend his Yeoman. It had only been a matter of time. The fact that it had now been almost five months was a testament to his growing restraint.

"He just doesn't know when to leave well enough alone! He wanted to know more about me but there are some things I'm not willing to tell him. He's the Captain of the Enterprise and I'm his Yeoman. It's my prerogative not to get too close!" Elanore vented, pulling her knees up to her chest protectively.

"Do you want to get close?" Uhura asked in a quiet voice.

"Of course not! I mean-it isn't possible. He's the Captain, I'm his Yeoman. It has to stay professional, no matter what." Elanore continued, confusion evident in her eyes.

"And what if it didn't? What if you ended up getting your science rank and he was no longer your immediate commanding officer?" Uhura wondered and Elanore shot her friend a glare before kicking her lightly with her foot.

"Ny, don't. Even if I felt anything for him, you really think he's going to settle for just one woman? I may have never run into Jim Kirk at the Academy but I heard enough stories to know to stay away."

"As much as I hate to say it, El, he's not the same obnoxious, pig headed cadet I knew back in the Academy. Maybe you should give him a chance. I'm not saying you should get close but is it so bad if you become friends with him?" Uhura stated in a concerned tone, her voice hushed so no one would overhear their conversation.

"It's too hard to be around him when he's not being the Captain. I never know what to say or what to think. If I let us become friends, I don't know how it will affect my job or my work. I can't afford to be distracted, especially not by him." Elanore finally stated resolutely, knowing her emotions always clouded her judgement at the worst of times and she couldn't afford to lose control, not even for a moment. It was hard enough just surviving day to day and acting professional all of the time. Sometimes Elanore just wished she could be herself, like how it had been with Spock and Sarek on New Vulcan. She found it hard being two different people, one afraid of taking over, afraid that her emotions would ruin everything. The other cool and collected, never phased but continually wanting more.

"Evening ladies." Elanore looked up at the soft greeting and almost groaned audibly. The one man she had wanted to see the least, Captain Jim Kirk, was standing before herself and Uhura, hands behind his back casually and dressed in fitting black pants and his olive green shirt with the gold braids on his shoulders. Elanore had to admit she enjoyed it when he wore his dress uniform. It was appealing with its low overlaid front and fitted fashion.

Professional! Yeoman's prerogative, remember!

"Sir." Elanore finally greeted in a small voice, hoping beyond hope that her Captain hadn't caught any of the conversation herself and Uhura had been immersed in moments before.

"Yeoman Troi, Lieutenant Uhura." Captain Kirk said simply with a dip of his head and Uhura smiled warmly and nudged her friend's shoulder. Elanore only turned and glared hotly at her friend.

"Evening sir." Uhura greeted in kind, rising from her position on the couch beside Elanore.

"I just realised I left something on the Bridge. I'll see you later, El. Goodnight sir." Uhura managed all at once, passing her Captain before turning around and winking at Elanore who was still staring up at her angrily.

"Goodnight Uhura." Jim replied in a friendly manner and Uhura waved and kept walking. They both were silent for a couple of minutes, Elanore focusing all her attention on a small fray in the couch cushion she was sitting on and Jim casually observing the crew around him playing card games and chess or strumming instruments. Some chatting over coffee and others enjoying the solitude and down time with a good book.

"Is there something you needed, sir?" Elanore finally piped up, lifting her head to look into his ice blue eyes. He finally took in the appearance of the woman before him. She was dressed in faded jeans and a lose pink singlet, her hair hanging loose around her face and her feet bare and pulled up underneath her. Elanore looked naturally beautiful, sitting comfortably back in the worn chair in Rec Room 5, her eyes tired and her fingernails bitten short with habit but to Jim that only added to her appeal.

Must remain professional! You're the damn Captain and this is your Yeoman!

"I was wondering whether I could speak with you for a moment." Jim explained and Elanore bit her lip in thought.

"I was actually going to turn in for the night." She stated, her voice small but her tone cool and clipped. It was clear she was just as resistant to conversing with him outside of his Ready Room as she was of telling him anything about herself.

"Then I'll walk you there." Jim appeased and finally Elanore nodded and got to her feet before replying with a soft, "Okay."

They walked in silence, Elanore's bare feet making soft padding sounds against the floor and Jim's shoes clicking quietly.

"I wanted to apologise for earlier. I shouldn't have pushed you to tell me anything about yourself. Our relationship is professional and I can understand you wanting to keep it that way." Jim finally said, turning to observe the woman walking beside him. She looked up at him with a strange expression on her face, as if deciding something in her mind before sighing deeply in defeat.

"Sir-" -

"We're off duty, Yeoman. Call me Jim, please." -

"Then call me Elanore, Jim." Jim smiled and nodded, turning his attention back to the hall in front of him before another silence settled over them.

"Jim..." Elanore finally began and he turned to look down at Elanore again.

"I'm sorry that I lost my temper at you when you were only trying to be friendly. It's just that there are some things...I really don't like to talk about my family." She explained, finally opening up to Jim just slightly. It was hard for Elanore to decide who she could and couldn't trust. The fact that he was affiliated entirely with the Federation just made things all the harder to explain.

"I'm sorry, Elanore. I really am. I didn't want to hurt you." -

"You didn't Jim, really. I'm just finding it hard to decide whether it's easier to become friends with you or for this to remain entirely professional." Jim nodded in understanding.

"Well, I'd certainly like us to be friends, Elanore but the decision is entirely yours." He responded, finally stopping in front of Elanore's door and turning to face her.

"Thank you, Jim. Goodnight." She responded.

"Goodnight Elanore."