The crew for the away team that would assist in the evacuation was in the hangar deck preparing the equipment they needed. Ensign Kelly was near one of the shuttles checking and triple checking that she had all the things, they would need. It was a worrying feeling to know that the transporter wouldn't work, so that if anything happened there couldn't be a quick beam up to safety or help couldn't be beamed down. Kelly thought back to a time at Starfleet academy.

It was after a particularly gruelling series of tests that she and her friends had decided to go to one of the fairs they were having in San Francisco that summer. After they had tried nearly every ride, her friends in a fit of silliness had coaxed her into going with them to a fortune teller. The fortune teller was a small-red eyed alien woman, who had white tufts of hair, and long-yellow clawed fingers.

The woman had told the fortune of Kelly's two friends first. One would get married and never graduate from the academy; another would be promoted extremely quickly. The two cadet's had laughed as their fortune's were told, then it had been Kelly's turn. Kelly held her hand out for the woman to read, as the alien ran a clawed finger down Kelly's palm, the alien shuddered and pulled her hands away. "Are you sure you want to know your fate" the woman asked her face grave. Kelly's two friends laughed and one of them said" of course she does". Kelly wasn't sure that she wanted to know, but she felt she had to know or she would always be wondering. She nodded for the woman to continue. The alien picked up her hand again, and her eyes focused solely on Kelly told her fortune

You shall graduate and find the one you love,

And on a faraway planet, you both shall die,

You in his arms,

Kelly's two friends were shocked.

"Why would you say that?

"That's awful, come on Leah let's leave"

The two girls scowled at the fortune teller as they tugged Kelly away.

Kelly followed them out and laughed with them afterwards, she told herself it was stupid. But the woman's words had come true one of her friends was married now and had a child. In the second year she had dropped out of Starfleet and now worked on a cargo freighter near one of the Martian colonies. The other friend was already a lieutenant. The woman's predictions had come true. For Kelly she hoped that the last part of the woman's predictions wouldn't come true because the first part already had. And every time she went on an away mission she wondered would it be her last.

Stop thinking like that she chided herself everything will be fine. She took a deep breath to steady herself and went back to her equipment check. She had just finished checking her list for the 4th time when a voice interrupted.

"Hey, Kelly"

She looked up irritably recognizing Lieutenant Roth's voice.

he smiled at her, leaning against the shuttle, lazily, as he said " So their sending you down, huh?" He continued ignoring or maybe not recognizing her annoyed look "That's nice I'll be going down to" (Lieutenant Roth was security with a computer rating) "Somebody's got to keep your pretty little self safe" he said reaching out to pat her on the head.

"Drop dead Roth!" she said ducking underneath his hand and pushing it out the way.

"Ooh, not a nice way to talk, I'm wounded"

"I mean it Roth get the hell out my way and go somewhere" she said

"Getting a little mad aren't we, you and ensign Checkers still having problems" he said not moving. "He still wery mad at you" He added in a mocking stage whisper.

"His name is Chekov, and you know what? it's none of your business, okay, now leave me alone" She said angrily practically snarling at him.

"Feisty aren't you, just what I like in my women" Roth continued unperturbed

"I'm not your woman you idiot! Now why don't you go talk some of your lame lines with a girl who has nothing on her upper decks and maybe you'll actually get somebody who falls for it."

Roth turned a deep red at her words, he looked angry now.

"What's that dumb a- Russian got that I don't huh?"

"Don't talk about him like that"

"No, Kelly I want to know. Why do you want to be with that idiot who can't even talk right and just barely got out of diapers? When you could be with me?" He said furiously "what's he got Kelly, Huh?"

"How about this , he's not a stupid oaf , that can't take no for an answer, he cares more about me than how I look nude, and I love him okay, I love him."

Roth looked at her his face twisted in an angry scowl

"You know he's nothing right? He's nothing and anybody with him is nothing also." And with those words Roth stalked off.

Kelly looked after him thinking of what she had just said. She had just admitted to that oaf that she loved Chekov. He probably hadn't heard what she said and was to focused on the insults pertaining to himself, and although the words had been angry and impulsive they were true. She loved Chekov. She wasn't even sure exactly why, there was something about him that was sincere, and nice. He wasn't like the other males she had seen throughout the academy and Starfleet, always trying to show off or impress her so they could add her to their score card. And as much as she liked to think that she was prepared for anything and could handle herself, Chekov added that one extra note of security. she always felt when she was with him she was safe. I love him, the words had surprised her when she said them but they were true.

"Leah...Leah?" Kelly looked behind her and realized that somebody had called her name and more than once too. It was Chekov; she had forgotten that he was assigned to this mission also.

She saw him look at the angry look on her face, and then he looked at Lieutenant Roth, then back at her.

"He vas bothering you?"

"No, it's fine" she began

Chekov hadn't even waited for her to answer his question; he had already moved toward Roth a dark expression on his face. Kelly reached out and caught his arm, she grabbed it firmly. "Chekov its fine, I'm serious just – just let it go okay" She looked at him and could see he still wanted to go after Roth.

"Please Pavel"

He sighed "Okay I vill for you"

They stood there for a moment each looking at the other somewhat uncomfortably, unsure what to say next. Chekov broke the silence.

"Leah, I'm sorry for how I've been treating you lately"

"It's okay. Pavel it's fine, I'm-"

"No, eet's not" he said shaking his head "Lately, I've been really—" he broke off biting his lip, then continued "anyvay, vhat I'm saying is I shouldn't be taking out stuff on you, I don't vant to be like my fa-" he broke off again and glanced away then said quietly. "I don't vant to be like that; I don't vant to be that person"

"Pavel, it's okay, I understand you've been kind of stressed lately and I am somewhat pushy and annoying" She had been determined to remain mad at him , but the guilty expression on his face washed away her anger.

"You're not pushy and annoying" he said vehemently he paused, then asked ,his brow furrowed "so you're not still mad at me?"

Kelly almost laughed at his forlorn expression. "Chekov, I was mad at your for a few hours, it's been days now, I'm not still mad at you, I could never stay mad at you"

"Vell, in that case, ve could go for a holovid vhen ve get back" he said hopefully, his face brightening slightly.

"Is that a date Chekov?" she replied teasingly

He nodded.

"Then in that case, I'll be there, you're in charge of the snacks" she grinned. Chekov smiled back at her.
"Now come on and help me get this equipment loaded before we get in trouble." She grabbed some packs, he picked up a few and they walked off together.

A/N: That's all for now folks. Next Update will be January 9th. with a two day margin either way. I'd love reviews. I want to know in particular about my OC kelly. Is she Mary sue-ish? Does the memory that the fortune teller told her feel out of place? It was meant to show that her character is a tad superstitious, but maybe it was unecessary? There's Roth again , I like him even though he's a bit of an idiot. Concrit, opinions, all welcome.