Caught in the Act (Part 2)

Month 10 Day 25

1944 Hours

Smitty

Previously:

No doubt. And if I hadn’t shown up, they would have been in bed by now! “Colleen, this is a blatant disregard of orders. The same disregard for orders that got you confined in the first place! I have half a mind to throw you in the brig!”

She blinked, then reached over and flipped the intercom on her desk. “Security?”

“Security. Ingersol,” came the prompt reply.

“Ingersol, please send a guard to Quarters 42 to escort a prisoner to the brig.” She turned to Smythe. “You do want me escorted, right? I obviously can’t be trusted to go there on my own.”

Space, she’s calling my bluff. And it has to be a bluff, because sending her to the brig would put her right within Winthrop’s reach! Smitty felt his face go red as his anger grew even more. “Never mind, Ingersol!” He slapped the intercom closed and took another step closer to her. “Don’t push me! Or you’ll find yourself in more trouble than you know what to do with!”

“I often do, with you around,” she stated softly. “But - I know it’s hard to believe - but I don’t try to push you, dear. I try to do whatever would please you. Anything that would please you.”

“Just tell me what it will take to stay on the Fireball.” She’d said that, way back on that 3-day shore leave, just after she had arrived.

He glared at her at the memory. “By kissing Bugalu?” Black space, did I just say-

“Well, you weren’t here,” she breathed, and lowered her suddenly white face.

If I had been, would she have kissed me? Invited me to bed? The sweet taste of her under the mistletoe. And right after I’d confined her-- He snatched that thought from the air and held it close in order to regain some of his anger. That’s right, she’s confined! She’s in trouble, she knows she’s in trouble, and she’s trying every trick in the book to get out of it! This is exactly the same as offering sex for a passing score on her probational test! He finally found his voice again. “You’re confined to your quarters, MacDowell, for one week. The only people allowed in this room are you and your roommate. You will leave only to report for duty and after duty, you will immediately return. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”

“Yes, sir,” she agreed.

Yeah, it’s clear. But as soon as I’m out of sight - that’s what she meant. As long as I don’t catch her disobeying orders, she’ll do whatever she wants.

He turned angrily to face Bugalu, was surprised to find how far away he was, though he couldn’t remember the man moving. “As for you, lieutenant, you’re on the brink of being confined to your quarters as well! In fact, if I catch you- Or hear of you- If you so much as speak to Lt MacDowell during the next week, I will confine you! Do you understand?”

The negro looked pale. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now you find Harris, and you tell her there are to be no visitors in these quarters for the next week! Tell her that if there are any visitors, she’ll be confined, and Colleen will be in the brig! Dismissed!”

Bugalu’s eyes slid past him to regard Colleen bleakly for a moment before he turned and left. Smythe stood where he was, relishing a feeling of triumph. Then he wondered at that feeling. Well, he’s been seeing so much of her, no one else has a chance to- He frowned, starting for the door. I won’t be made a fool of! They’ll obey orders, same as everyone else! He stopped, realizing Drake was not with him, and turned back. “Come along, doctor.”

“Just a minute,” Drake answered absently, his eyes on the redhead. “Mac?”

“You’d better go,” the redhead answered quietly, her arms wrapped around her torso in a self-hug.

Still Drake didn’t move. Him too? Do I have to bring this to the captain’s attention? How does she do it to so many normally-intelligent men?

Drake forced a smile. “Well, my only reason for coming was to give you a Christmas gift. You left the messhall in such a hurry, I didn’t have a chance...” His voice died away as he held out the small gaily-wrapped package.

“Thank you,” she responded as she accepted it. “Yours is in your quarters.”

What? “How did you get into MacGregor’s quarters?” Smitty demanded.

She gave him a fiery glance. “I didn’t say I did.”

“Never mind!” Drake declared, holding up a hand towards each ready contestant in what seemed to be another imminent fight. “Smitty, I don’t always lock my quarters. She could have dropped it off anytime today. Mac, keep your cool. A week is only 8 days.”

She took a deep breath. “Yes, but this puts me on the sidelines again for the holidays. Just when I’d decided to be a part of them. At least somewhat. That mistletoe was getting...” She shook her head and turned to put the present on her desk. “See you in a week, Mac.”

Drake sighed. “Right.” He glared at Smythe as he walked out.

Smythe turned to follow. “Smit.”

He turned back again in trepidation. Now what?

“I didn’t make those mistletoe units, Smit. I don’t know who did. You don’t believe me, obviously. So, as long as I’m taking the blame, place it all on me. Blame me for the party, not Della, because she thought she was doing me a favor. And don’t blame Bugalu for...” she hesitated, looking confused, “...whatever he did, because he was doing me a favor, too. It all comes back to me.”

Doesn’t it always? “If you don’t know what Bugalu did, how do you know he was doing you a favor?”

“Because everything Bugalu does is a favor. Even when I don’t like it, or don’t understand, it’s for my own good.”

She can’t truly believe that! Black space, what a carte blanche! He’s got her completely brainwashed! “He’s controlling you, woman.”

She blinked in surprise. “Woman?” she repeated breathlessly. “You see me as a woman?”

Well, of course I-

“Because I definitely see you as a man!”

Why did she pick that slip of the tongue to hear? Why does conversation with her always lead to the subject of sex? “Good night.” He turned and left, before the conversation could get any more... intimate.