Maria Brightman, MD was a kind and compassionate soul. However she had a secret. A terribly dark secret that she refused to admit to anyone though she was sure people had guessed, but were too polite to mention. Colonel Chekov aka The Bear that Roared and Roared Some More scared the bejesus out of her. She was quite delighted when Janet Fraiser took on the Curmudgeonly Colonel on as her personal case.

Therefore when her supervisor asked her to if she would consider taking over The Russian Bear's care, Maria hesitated, but agreed only because Janet looked… hopeful.

"I'm asking you because treating him would violate my professional ethics," Janet added.

Long pause as Maria struggled to digest the idea that any woman in their right mind would want to date CHEKOV.

"Janet, are you really dating him?" Maria softly questioned. There had to be another reason. Please?

"We're exploring the possibilities," was all Janet would admit.

"Chekov?" Maria asked.

"Yes, Chekov," Janet admitted.

Maria just shook her head.

"He's really rather nice," offered Janet. Then after looking after Maria's face, she added, "I'll tell him to behave."

"Is that even possible?" Maria asked. She then covered her mouth with her hands, in a feeble attempt to prevent that thought from escaping.

"MARIA!"

She softly knocked on Chekov's door and then entered. First thing she noticed was that there was a new fruit basket with copious amounts of kiwis in his room. Secondly, he was behaving. Thirdly, his good behavior was only because he was asleep. Janet should have guessed that he'd only behave when he was unconscious, so she turned to leave.

"Hello, Doctor," he rumbled. "Leaving?"

"You pretending to be sleeping to avoid unwanted guests?" she asked as she turned to sit down next to his bed.

"Not I." He reached for his dark sunglasses and motioned for her to turn on the lights. "Better keep the door open."

"Please," she protested. "Do you really worry about my reputation that much?"

"I worry about mine. Proper Russian boy like me, in a room, alone, with one of you bold, audacious American women. My virtue will not remain intact, I fear," he mumbled. He groaned as he turned on his side so he could look at her. "My reputation left in shatters because of only possessing one working hand, I will be unable to properly perform. I have the legacy of all Russia to uphold."

Janet couldn't help herself. She snorted a very unladylike snort which caused Mishha's crooked smile to make an appearance.

"Good news, Brightman says that she'll take over your case," Janet explained. "You just need to be nice to her."

"I'm always nice to her," Chekov protested. "Really, among everyone here, I think I'm the nicest person."

Really, it was best to let Chekov believe his drugged induced delusions.

"So, what do you want to do for our first date?" was his question.

"Cassie will not be joining us," Janet stated.

"I believe you mentioned that previously," was his sly retort. "Do you think Brightman will let me return home soon?"

"No," Janet admitted.

"Even if I'm nice to her? I'll give her the fruit basket," Chekov asked, as he rolled onto his back. He winced and exhaled. "I worry as Svietla is taking care of Snezhok. Probably letting her sleep on the bed. She'll be a horror when I get home."

"Svietla? Snezhok?" Janet asked.

"Svietla is, as you Americans say, my sister-in-law as Irishka was her sister? Snezhok is my dog. Well, not really. She was Irishka's dog, she merely tolerated me. Svietla and I have joint custody due our schedules." Chekov snorted a laugh.

"You've never mentioned either of them," prompted Janet.

"I feared I was talking too much about Irina, so I didn't mention the other two ladies in my life." Chekov smiled and then exhaled. His smile was 100% Colonel Chekov, not Mishka's smile. All outward, lacking substance.

"Are you… really sure about having our first date?" Janet asked. "You seem…"

Pensive and introspective… were the first two words that came to her mind.

"I think a nice, quiet, uneventful date for the two of us would be … beneficial where we could freely talk," Chekov admitted. "I don't want you to fear that I am not interested in pursuing whatever this is between us."

"But recent event have …" Janet prompted then stopped, after Mishka said nothing for far too long.

"Rekindled my grief? Yes. Freshened remembrances of my wife? Yes. Balanced by how you intrigued me? Most assuredly. It won't be the most romantic date you've ever been on, however, it will be sincere. And private."

Two weeks later, after he had been medically cleared to fly home, by an obviously still terrified Brightman, Chekov knocked on Janet Fraiser's door. To his surprise (and disappointment) Cassandra opened the door.

"Hello, Misha. Come on in! I'll go get Mom!" She bubbled as she ran down the hallway to her mother's bedroom. After a few seconds, Chekov heard Cassandra singsong, "Mom, your DATE is here…"

Janet was blushing when she finally entered the living room. He stood when she entered and he presented her with a bouquet of seven pink roses.

"Sorry about Cassie, she's being … silly. I hoped that… Oh… those are lovely… let me get a vase," Janet stumbled when she saw the flowers. "You didn't drive here, did you? You better not have as you are still aren't cleared to drive."

"I didn't drive, as I'm still casted. Olga agreed to drop me off. She's circumspect, unlike Dima." He loved Dima like a brother but the chance for Dima to stick his nose into his love life would be too much of a temptation. Only because he cared and he wished Chekov happy.

"So, seven pink roses, what does that mean?" Janet asked as she arranged them.

"Even numbered bouquets are for funerals, pink means… a new beginning," he explained. "I'd like to introduce you to another fine Russian tradition, if I may?"

Janet nodded and he leaned down to her. Yes, she was wearing shoes that increased her height, but there was still a height difference. He kissed her. Mishka focused completely on her, felt her body slowly melt towards his, which he took as a very positive sign.

"Sorry I'm late, is Cassie ready to go? JANET?" and then a sharp inhalation of breathe which completely destroyed the mood as someone entered the living room.

He pulled back, stood between Janet and the unexpected arrival so Janet was blocked from sight. With a voice trained by far many encounters with O'Neill, he barked, "Major Carter! "