Settling In (Part 1)

 Month 16 Day 14

23:14 Hours

Smitty

Smitty stopped as the darkness of his living room surrounded him. "Lights." Once he could see again, he went straight to his liquor cabinet and poured himself 2 fingers of gin. Sitting down on his sofa, he shucked his boots and left them where they landed. It was hard to drink slow and savor it; he had a giant urge to crash into bed and sleep the next day away. Can't do that, I've already told all those who spent a week on the St Elmo to take 2 days off, so engineering will be short-handed.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. Who knew I'd come back and still work 12 hours today—nearly 12—trying to sort out paperwork and seeing that those who are left can cover everything. I don't remember the last time I was this tired. I wish I could take a couple days off. Although I've never been a fan of days off aboard ship. Still, if I could take them, I think I'd sleep through them.

He frowned at his empty glass. Well, that didn't last long. I'd have another, but I don't want to sleep on my couch. Face it, Smitty, you'd better go to bed and get what sleep you can.

He forced himself up, placed his glass atop the cabinet and headed for his bedroom. "Bedroom lights, 20 per cent," he told the computer as he entered the other room. He pulled his uniform tunic over his head and tossed it in the general direction of the laundry chute, but didn't care when it landed on the floor. I'll deal with it in the morning. "Computer, turn off the living room lights."

He sat heavily on the edge of his bed and debated whether or not he had the energy to get any further undressed, or should he just sleep the way he was?

"You look mighty tired, lover."

Surprised by a woman's voice, he turned to see who was there. She was blond, and it took him time to realize she was the nurse who had tricked her way into his bed on Station B29. He didn't want her in his bed again, but he had the feeling she wasn't going to accept no. "I don't have the energy to deal with you tonight," he heard himself say.

"Don't be like that," she pouted. "You just lay down, and I'll chase your exhaustion away."

"No," he told her. "Get up, get out, and leave me alone."

"You're so tired and out of sorts," she purred as she leaned toward him, and raised a hand to stroke his face.

"Don't do that!" He forced himself to his feet, uncertain he would make it up that far. Now he could see that she was naked. He found the energy to find her clothes and toss them to her. "I don't want you here. I'm not interested. Now get up and go before I call security."

She rose up on her knees, her curvy body on full display. "Bart, you know you need rest and relaxation. Just let me take care of you."

I just want to sleep! Thoroughly pissed, he left his bedroom and made his way to his desk, where he toggled the intercom. "Security!"

He waited impatiently for a response. "Security here."

"This Lt Cmdr Smythe. I have an intruder in my quarters that I did not invite here! Please come escort her away!"

"Now, that's uncalled for!" the nurse stated, appearing naked in the doorway between the 2 rooms.

"It's exactly what's called for!" he shouted back "I've asked you to leave, and you won't, so now I'll let security handle it!"

"Smit?" He wasn't sure he'd heard a trembling voice, it had been so soft in the darkness. And the nurse was loudly insisting that she was there to take care of him, like a good girl friend would...

"Lights, one quarter," he requested, and caught his breath when the dim light revealed Colleen sitting on his sofa. "Colleen!"

The nurse stopped talking suddenly, and chortled. "Hello, Mac."

The redhead frowned at the floor and softly stated, "That's Lt MacDowell to you."

"You're too late," the nurse stated, and seemed to pose in her nakedness. "Smythe's already busy."

"I can see that," Colleen stated, and stood up.

Smitty pushed the nurse back into the bedroom. "You can get dressed now and leave, before security arrives."

“Darling,” Smitty greeted the redhead. The last thing he’d expected was to see her tonight. “I thought you were resting.”

“I have rested, mostly,” Colleen answered. “And I’ve eaten, too. I thought—"

Monroe emerged from the bedroom, still naked. “So this is why you want me to leave? Because you were already expecting her?" She made a face, then suggested, "Well, we can try a threesome. I guess.” She didn’t sound enthusiastic, despite having made the offer.

Turning, Smitty barked, “No! No threesome! I don’t want you! I've never wanted you. I strongly suggest you get dressed before security arrives, because I won’t stop them from dragging you out naked!”

“You don’t—“ Colleen started when the living room door opened and 2 security guards walked in, one of them Ingersol.

The other guard's head swiveled, from Colleen to Smitty and back again. “Mr Smythe, you wanted an intruder removed from your quarters?” asked Ingersol, who barely took his eyes off Mac to look at the chief engineer.

“Yes!” Smitty stated enthusiastically. “The sooner the better!”

The 2 security guards looked at each other, swallowed, and then visibly prepared themselves for the chore ahead of them. “You heard the man, MacDowell. It’s time for you to leave.”