A Rational Discussion

Month 17 Day 24

2144 Hours

Smitty

In the pleasant afterglow of sex, Smitty rolled off his beloved and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m never going to get tired of having sex with you,” he told her softly and kissed her cheek.

“I feel the same,” she told him, and her mouth formed a soft smile, though her emerald eyes looked rather bleak.

She hasn't been herself since she got back from sick bay this morning. “What’s got you upset?” He asked after a moment. She's been pensive and rather uncommunicative all afternoon. What did Drake say to her at her medical exam this morning? Is he still trying to replace me?

It took several long moments before she answered. “I’m not making enough progress in strengthening my internal muscles,” She finally said. “It looks like I need to return to Gaelund until after childbirth.”

“Oh.” He thought about that for a time. “I can ask for a leave of absence and go with you.”

Her face went white, and her eyes grew round in horror. “No, you can’t!” She shook her head emphatically. “Gaelund’s gravity would be too much for you. You wouldn’t die right away, but you would die at least 20 years earlier than you would under Earth gravity. I’m not willing to have that happen so soon.”

Hmm, even MacGregor has implied something like that, a time or two. There has to be a way we could make it work. “I could stay on one of the space stations, get a temporary job.”

She snuggled closer to him, but he could feel her trembling within their embrace. “I don’t see any purpose to it. You wouldn’t be able to come down to Gaelund to see me, and I wouldn’t be able to come up to see you. Plus… I wouldn’t want my family to make life miserable for you. Which they would do, sooner or later. All my brothers and my father, all with Gaelund strength.” She shuddered and pulled him closer. “They could easily kill you.”

He held her tight for several minutes, wondering what to say to ease her worries. It almost seems like she’s looking for excuses. Has she changed her mind about us? Could this be pre-ceremony jitters? “They wouldn’t have any reason for any of that. We’d be married.”

She was still quivering with fear, still slow to answer. “I don’t know,” she answered haltingly. “Papa probably still sees me as his little girl, not to be deflowered by anyone. And my brothers just fall right in line with whatever he says. When I came back for Matt’s funeral, Pa treated me just the same as he did before I left for the Academy, and I was long past the age of adulthood, even on Gaelund. Even if he did somehow get used to the idea of me being married and having my own kids, he didn’t choose you, so he’d hold that against you. Probably forever.”

He turned that over and over in his head, looking for any way forward that wouldn’t bring on more excuses. She got mad at me once for not asking for her input before making decisions that would effect both of us. Maybe that sort of thing is rearing up to upset her again, even though we have been discussing various options between us. Lots of options, but not her returning to Gaelund. “Well, do you have any suggestions?”

Her breath gently tickled the side of his neck and down his chest. She took a long time to answer; so long, he began to fear the personal alarm would go off before she responded, and she would have to leave the question unanswered. But eventually, she gave him a gentle kiss. “I think I have to go to Gaelund to have our child. That means I’ll have to leave the Fleet, of course, but I’ll have a pension to help me get through. Doing it that way will let you stay here, at a job you love, for another year. After that, I can meet you wherever you transfer to, and then we’ll be together.”

Her pension will be blasted small, no longer than she’s been in the Fleet. But that’s okay. I’ll send money to support them. “Is that what you want to do?”

“No,” she responded right away, and gave him another kiss. “I’d rather marry you and move with you wherever you transfer, and live happily ever after. Even if I have to consciously and consistently carry my Gaelund gravity with me everywhere I go. But I'm afraid I might mess that up. So it seems easier to go to Gaelund for a finite time and then live happily ever after.”

“A year is a long time to be without you.”

“We're facing that anyway,” she pointed out. “I have to go into strict Gaelund gravity as soon as I leave this ship. We won’t even have an hour a day for sex. Or just holding. Having you in the other half of the room, or of the apartment… I don’t know if I can do that, day after day, for an entire year.”

“You think it would be easier to be far from each other for a year?”

“Probably not,” she admitted. “But I wouldn’t be facing the temptation, the option of turning off the Gaelund gravity and climbing into bed with you. I would be on Gaelund. Doing what I have to do for the health of our baby. And knowing that I've also made the right choice in regards to you; you'll be too far away to ignore the danger of Gaelund gravity on your body.”

Maybe she’s right. Once we get married, I can have the Fleet send half my paycheck to her while she’s on Gaelund. That should get her through. I’ll miss her terribly, but giving up the sex and the holding is probably best done cold, and without the temptation of chucking it aside at a moment’s notice. He let his hand slide down her back to cup her derriere. “I shall miss you every minute that you are away from me.” If she needs Gaelund gravity, then she shall have Gaelund gravity, whatever I have to do.

“And I will yearn for you with every particle of my being,” she murmured sweetly, and moved her head to glance at the personal alarm. “Speaking of which, are you ready for more sex?”

“Absolutely.” And he kissed her passionately.

A Moment of Concern

Month 17 Day 21

10:48 Hours

Drake MacGregor

Drake closed his medical scanner, which hadn't revealed anything about the redhead was amiss. “I don’t find anything wrong,” he stated quietly to the young woman who sat in a chair in front of the captain’s desk. “You say you got dizzy. What were you doing?”

“Talking to the captain,” Mac answered, and her face flushed a bit. “If this is a normal part of being pregnant, then I’m sorry to have caused such commotion.”

“It can be a normal occurrence during pregnancy,” he told her. “But I’m glad to check you out whenever it happens, just to be sure.”

The door to the hall opened and Smitty hurried in. “Captain! Colleen! What happened? All I was told was that they sent for MacGregor and I should get here right away!”

The redhead turned a delicate pink. “MacG just gave me a clean bill of health, Smit.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Drake told her drily. “I’d still like some information on what you were doing just before you got dizzy.”

“I told you, I was talking to the captain.”

“We were talking,” Jane agreed. “I gave her a piece of news that got her excited, and she stood up quickly, talked eagerly, then suddenly stopped and turned absolutely white, looked ready to faint. I wonder if she got over-excited for her condition.”

Smitty squatted down to look beneath Mac’s chair, took one of her hands in his as he did so. “She got up quickly, did you say?”

“Yes,” Jane confirmed.

“Well, she’s got Gaelund gravity on her chair, so as she rose, she would have gone from Gaelund gravity to Earth gravity in short order. Would that have any bearing on it?”

“That definitely could have started the process, yes,” Drake stated. “And excitement could have complicated her reaction. Mac, you need to be a little more careful about going from one gravity level to another. I wouldn’t want you to fall because you lost your balance.”

“Is there some reason why it's necessary for her to install Gaelund gravity under every chair she sits in?” the captain asked.

“That's what I understand,” Smitty answered before Drake could. “She’s got to build up the strength in her internal muscles before the baby comes. She works out in Gaelund gravity, sleeps in Gaelund gravity, and now she sits in Gaelund gravity. We’ve been trying to work on gravity units to attach to her boots so that she can walk and stand in Gaelund gravity, but that hasn't been going so well.”

“What do you mean?” Jane asked. "What's the problem?"

Mac sighed, sat up straighter and answered. “If we put a small unit on each boot, I feel myself moving from Gaelund to Earth gravity every time I take a step. And if we enlarge the dimensions of the units’ area of effect, I move from Gaelund to higher-than-Gaelund gravity every time I take a step. Either way, it’s very disorientating.”

"That's not the effect I was hoping for," Drake stated. And I don't think either one is going to do her any good.

"I would find that terribly disorientating," Jane agreed. "Perhaps it would be better to reassign her to quarters where you could install Gaelund gravity in the whole thing."

Mac sighed. "There would still be all the time I'm not in my quarters. On duty or with my friends."

"So you've already considered that," Jane stated. "Of course you have."

“What was the news that got her so excited?” Smitty asked, his forehead wrinkled.

“Hold that thought a moment,” Jane told him, and moved to the door to the bridge. “Lt Bugalu, would you step in my office for a moment?” She moved back to her desk and waited for the helmsman to join them. He gave a quick glance around the office that was the only indication he was surprised by the occupants, and then stood slightly behind MacDowell. “Alright, now that you all are here. I pulled some strings at headquarters, with good results. All 3 of you have been approved to marry Lt MacDowell. Without her having to leave the Fleet. Obviously, you can’t all marry her, but I stand ready to perform the ceremony, once she decides who she wants. Now, Dr MacGregor, since she nearly fainted when I told her that news, what are your instructions for her at this time?”

Looking as surprised as the other men, Drake quickly pulled his thoughts together. “I’d like for her to go to her quarters and lay down for an hour,” he answered. “Then, so long as she feels okay, she can return to her usual schedule. If she doesn’t feel okay, I want her to summon me again.”

“Good. That should allow her to have lunch with Mr Smythe, or whoever. Whoever she picks, they have things to discuss, and time to do it is limited. How does that sound to you, Lt MacDowell?”

“I don’t feel like I need to lay down for an hour, but I will follow the doctor’s suggestion. And I appreciate having lunch with Smit. We do need to talk.”

“I’ll walk you back to your quarters on my way to engineering,” Smitty volunteered, and took hold of her arm to help her stand up. Bugalu bent over to grab the gravity unit and handed it to her as she turned toward the door.

After the couple left, Jane turned to face the remaining 2 men. “She seems to have made her choice.”

“Probably,” Drake agreed. "It may depend now on the possibility of finding a place that needs a pair of engineers, but can wait a year for the 2nd one.”

“And how does that make you 2 feel?”

“Whatever makes her happy,” Bugalu stated at once.

“And you, Duck?” The captain asked.

“Oh, I agree with Bugalu,” he said. “But if they can’t find appropriate positions, then maybe physician and engineer positions will be easier to find.”

“Well, yeah, with that caveat,” Bugalu added. "Helmsman and engineer."

The captain didn’t frown, but Drake had the feeling she wasn’t exactly happy with their answers. “Very well. We’ll see how things play out from here. Dismissed.”

Trying Hard

Month 17 Day 16

16:42 Hours

Bugalu

Bugalu chose a table and sat down. Most of the supper crowd had finished, but he and Mac had paused for a conversation before coming to the mess hall. “I imagine that didn’t sit well with Smythe,” Bugsy commented once Mac had also sat down with her meal.

“MacG thinks it’s terribly important,” Mac stated. “After today’s exam, he called Smit to sick bay to discuss it with both of us. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit more time in Gaelund gravity into my day. I sleep 8 hours, workout at least half an hour a day between Weight Station C and Treadmill C. Like I told Smit as we went back to engineering, I suppose I could just sit in Weight Station C for an hour or 2, but that seems like a waste of time.”

“Well, it’s for your health, Mac…”

“I know. But there’s so much to do! We still haven’t decided where Smit’s going to transfer! And we’re packing up Joe to take with us, leaving George for Abdulla and Wilson to work with.”

How come I don't remember her mentioning those guys before? “Who are Joe and George?”

“Oh, those are the names we gave our Yukoskian Transportation Devices. We built 2 to have one send while the other receives. That’s how the Yukosk began, and only later figured out how to make them work at a distance.”

So they aren't people at all. “How are you all going to continue to work on it?”

“Lots of technical communications, I imagine. Plus we’ll each build ourselves a second machine. Well, once Smit gets transferred and we get settled into our new home.”

“Are you looking forward to that?” Bugalu asked. “Settling into a new life with Smythe?”

She hesitated long enough to take a bite of her sandwich and get it down her throat. “To be absolutely truthful, I have so many mixed feelings, I don’t know how I feel. I am thrilled with the thought of spending the rest of my life with him. But what if it’s not idyllic? Maybe I'll get fat, or he'll get tired of me. Before I came here, I never imagined I would ever get married. And certainly, I never expected to become a mother. Despite Pa, I knew it took both a man and a woman to make babies, and that seemed pretty impossible. Plus, the Fleet gave me shots to keep me from getting pregnant, so I just didn’t think about it.”

“Yeah, most of us don’t,” Bugsy stated. Will people be more careful, at least for a time, now that pregnancy has actually happened aboard? “But if you think about it, your upbringing is what made motherhood possible, by negating the effects of that shot.”

“Yes, she agreed, and shuddered. “In a strange way, I’m rather grateful for pa's rules, now, because I would not give myself to a man. Until Smit.” She raised her iced tea to drink, lowered it again as she saw someone. “Oh. Here he comes.”

Bugalu turned his head and saw Smythe hurrying across the mess hall, headed right for them.

“Good, I found you,” he said with a smile, and placed a hand on Mac’s shoulder.

“Is something wrong?” She asked.

“No, nothing,” Smythe answered easily, and held out a small gravity unit, about half the size of an MR27 unit. “I just finished this gravity unit just before shift change, and I’ve been looking for you.”

“I didn’t think we had any that small,” Mac stated, and took the unit to look it over.

“We don’t keep them in stock,” Smythe answered. “I had fabrication make it. It’s set to produce a 2 foot column of Gaelund gravity, 6 feet tall. I’ve already tested the field, and it holds steady. The idea is to put it under your chair while you're sitting. It’s not voice controlled, you’ll have to flip the switch on and off. Completely portable, just don’t forget it when you get up and move away. Hook it up to the power grid to recharge when you go to bed at night.”

Mac stared at the small machine as tears started down her cheeks.

Smythe saw them, too. “Darling, what’s wrong?” he asked.

She dried her tears with her napkin and glanced up at him, shaking her head slightly. “I don’t want you to get into trouble over having equipment specially made and giving it to me like a present, all because I’m pregnant, when I wasn’t supposed to get that way!”

Smythe moved over to sit opposite Bugsy and took hold of Mac’s unoccupied hand. “I paid to have that unit made, so I own it, and I choose to give it to you. As for your condition, pregnancy within the Fleet isn’t completely unheard of; it does happen. And the Fleet will pay the medical bills. But, of course, you’ll be married to me, so you’ll both be covered as my dependents.” Another tear started down her face, and he gently wiped it away. “Colleen, everything’s going to be fine.”

“So you keep telling me,” she answered, and gave him a trembling smile. “And I believe you. I do. I think the tears must be caused by fluctuating hormones. MacG warned me about bouts of crying.” She dried her face again and managed a real smile. “There, I think I’m done.”

“Good. This gravity unit should give you a good dose of Gaelund gravity. I’ll put it under your chair, get you started with it.” He took the unit and bent over in his chair for a moment before sitting up again. “How does that feel?”

She gave a slow nod. “I never realized how much harder chairs feel under Gaelund gravity. Thank you, Smit, this should definitely get those stubborn muscles in shape faster than I’ve been able to so far.”

“Tomorrow, I'll work on units for your boots, for when you’re walking or standing,” he told her with a grin. “We’ll work together, since you’ll have to test them.”

Her smile was dazzling. “I look forward to that!”

“Good.” He picked up her closest hand and kissed it. “Then I’ll let you 2 get back to your evening.” He stood up.

“Feel free to get some food and join us,” Bugalu stated, then feared the older man would join them for the entire evening.

“I ate with the captain,” Smythe stated. “And I promised not to monopolize Colleen’s time. As the captain pointed out, I have years and years ahead with her. So, I leave you 2 to your fun. Just do me one favor, Lt Bugalu. Don’t let her forget her under-the-chair gravity unit!”

“I’ll do my best,” Bugsy promised.

Smythe turned away, and then turned back. “Don’t forget, Colleen, 21:30 hours!”

Mac grinned as her cheeks turned pink. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Smythe smiled at her. “I’ll see you then.”

After the Chief Engineer walked away, Bugalu turned back to his sister. “What's at 21:30? Exactly when will you sleep tonight, Mac?”

She took a drink of her tea. “At 22:30. We set an alarm every night to remind me it’s time to go home and go to sleep.”

“A reminder alarm? Every night?”

“Every night I have a date with him at 21:30 hours.” She picked up her sandwich. “Which is every night.”

“What kind of a date is only an hour long?”

Having taken a bite, she hurriedly chewed and swallowed. “Usually, it’s sex. But occasionally, we never get around to that.”

“Well. Look at you.”

She looked up in confusion. “What?”

“My little sister has definitely grown up.”

“It’s about time,” she muttered, and returned to her supper.

Living Together

Month 16 Day 24

20:32 Hours

Jane Burke

Jane entered Smitty’s living room and found him sitting at his desk, probably reading a technical manual. He looked up from his computer screen with surprise on his face, which changed to uneasiness as he recognized her. He sent a quick glance toward his bedroom. “Good evening, captain.”

Has he got a woman in his bedroom? And him out here reading? No, probably not. Well, there’s no easy way to say this. He is not going to be happy when he hears it. “Smitty, I’ve got a response from HQ about your request to be married.”

A guarded look took over his face as he looked at her. “It doesn’t look like good news.”

“Your request has been denied,” she stated bluntly.

His face took a moment to run through disbelief, headlong into anger. “For what reason?” he demanded.

Jane let out a long breath. “They reviewed MacDowell’s records, and decided she’s a trouble-maker. Admiral Longview spoke to me off the record, trying to ascertain whether or not MacDowell had trapped you into proposing by threatening to file some sort of charges against you.”

“Ridiculous!” Smitty snorted. “I hope you explained to him what an asinine idea that is!”

Easier said than done. “I tried to, but all the previous charges she brought against earlier supervisors didn’t work in her favor.”

“You did explain that once I realized how good she is at engineering, I made her my protégé, didn’t you?”

“He was aware of it, but felt that was also probably the product of blackmail.”

“Blackmail!” He swore under his breath and turned off his computer. “Where would he get an idea like that?”

“It turned out her former captain, Nash, admitted that the only reason he approved her for a transfer to the Fireball was because she blackmailed him into it by threatening to file sexual harassment charges against him. By the way, he's been demoted, and his wife has filed for divorce.”

“Every one of those charges true, most likely,” Smitty bit out. He got up, went to his alcohol cabinet and poured himself a stiff drink, tossed it down his throat. “You tell Admiral Longview that I’m not giving her up! If we can’t get married within the Fleet, then we’ll both resign and get married outside the Fleet.”

“You’re threatening to resign?” Jane asked, just to be sure she had understood what he said. It isn't necessary for them both to resign. If she's a civilian, he can marry her no matter what HQ says.

“It’s not a threat!” He declared. “It’s a promise!”

“No, that’s not necessary,” said a soft voice, and MacDowell appeared in the doorway from the bedroom. She wore a long robe and had her hair in a towel.

Guess I was wrong, Jane thought.

“I won’t be told I can’t marry you!” Smitty declared adamantly.

“But if I resign and become a civilian, then you can marry me, right?” The girl asked. "I mean, if you still want to."

“Yes, but… We wouldn’t be able to work together.” It was plain Smitty wanted to be with the woman every minute of the day. Jane had turned a blind eye to his ‘forgetting’ to take his days off this past week. He had spent them in engineering, where he could be close to his intended.

“Lots of married couples don’t work together,” she stated matter-of-factly. “We’d be together. Surely there’s a place you could transfer that would allow you to have a wife and, and family with you.” Smitty lowered his head to consider possibilities, and she went on. “It looks to be a year before I could work, anyway. By then, we’d figure something out.” She smiled and suggested, “Maybe Kolla and S’thyme would send us another technual, and once I got it translated, we could work on that new project together.”

Jane cleared her throat. “That gets a little tricky, Fleet personnel and civilians working on the same project together. You have to keep flawless records as to who works how much, so the correct amount of credit can be apportioned.”

“We can do that,” Smitty declared, his emotions having quieted somewhat. “Darling, we’ll have to go through those jobs we’ve been looking at and see what are still feasible, if I’m in the Fleet and you’re not.”

“Yes, but at the same time, it narrows down our options, so we have fewer to look through. Makes it more manageable,” she returned optimistically.

“So, recap what your plans are, if you don’t mind,” Jane requested. In any case, I lose 2 engineers. I wonder if Admiral Longview paused to think about that. Probably not.

MacDowell took a deep breath and let it out, walked over to sit on the sofa. “I’ll be resigning, or retiring, rather than accepting a transfer to… where ever they would send me, since I’m pregnant.”

“And I’ll be requesting a transfer to somewhere that will let me have a wife and family living with me,” Smitty stated. "Perhaps you can marry us once she’s resigned and before we leave. Or else we can get married on our way to my new assignment.” He hesitated, looking thoughtful. I’m sorry it’s come to this, captain, but I have to think of my wife and child.”

“I knew I’d be losing MacDowell, of course, as soon as I heard she was pregnant and planning to have the child. It’s only natural that you’d want to make a family. I hate to lose even one of you, but I will do my best to smooth your transition to your new lives.”

“Thank you, captain, that’s very good of you.” MacDowell’s voice trembled just a touch, and she rose to her feet to face her. "Captain, I did force Nash to approve my transfer here, but it wasn't my idea. His wife, who acted as the ship's legal council, had a long talk with me, and told me she'd get me a transfer. Asked if I could go anywhere I wanted, where would it be? Next thing I knew, I was transferred here. I couldn't believe it was real until I got here." Now she turned to Smitty, who stood only a few feet away. “Suddenly, I’m very tired, Smit.”

He walked forward to give her a gentle kiss. “You go to bed. I’ll only be a few minutes behind you, darling.”

Confused, Jane watched as the young woman returned to the bedroom. This is beginning to look like… “Smitty…”

“Colleen’s moved in with me, captain,” Smitty stated evenly, if apprehensively.

“I didn’t hear that,” Jane stated. “And I don’t want to hear it.” She turned to face the doorway. “I can’t condone it, so I can’t know about it. Just be as discreet about it as you can.”

“Frankly, I’m surprised you haven’t heard about it,” Smitty stated. “She’s been here since the St Elmo.”

“Enough! Don’t say any more! Good night, Smitty.” 

Settling In (Part 2)

 

Month 16 Day 14

23:14 Hours

Smitty

Previously:  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.”

Smitty stared in horror as the guards approached his fiancée. “Not her!” he managed to declare. “The blond in my bedroom!” The 2 men stopped, looking confused. They finally turned to approach the bedroom. “I don’t care if she’s dressed or not!” Smitty added. “Get her out! I’ll press charges against her!”

Monroe appeared, haphazardly dressed, her shoes clutched to her chest. “You can’t treat me like this, Bartholomew Smythe! After the good times we’ve had, to toss me aside like yesterday's status report! I’ll file a complaint!”

Smitty glared at her. “Madam, we have never had any good times! I have tried to make it plain that I have no interest in you!”

“Come on, Monroe, let’s go,” said a guard.

“I want to file a complaint, I tell you!” She declared shrilly.

“You’ll have to do that with your supervisor or the captain,” the guard told her. “The best I can do is get you a copy of the form to fill out. For that, we need to go to the security office.”

Monroe threw her shoes down and jammed her feet into them. “I know how to pull up a form on the computer!” She declared and stomped out of the bedroom through the door to the hallway.

The 2 guards hesitated. “Mr Smythe?”

“She’s gone,” he answered, feeling far less angry than he had been. His exhaustion came rushing back through him. “From now on, I’ll keep my doors locked.”

“Very good, sir,” they told him, and glanced at the redhead questioningly before they left the officer’s quarters.

Smitty took a deep breath, shook off the remainder of his anger, and took a step forward. Now to deal with this, when all I want to do is sleep! “That wasn’t what it looked like, Colleen.”

She cocked her head to one side. “Just because we’re together, doesn’t mean you have to give up your other girl friends.”

“Despite her efforts, that woman is not a girl friend. And never has been.”

“Smit,” she spoke softly. “I know men have girl friends, even after they’re married.”

It took a moment for the import of that statement to sink in. “I’m sorry, I... Who told you that?”

She shrugged. “A man has needs. On Gaelunde, it’s common knowledge.”

He stared at her for a long moment. If that's what she expects from marriage... “Colleen.” He surged forward and took hold of her shoulders. “Darling, this isn't Gaelunde. Maybe that’s normal there, but it’s frowned on most everyplace else. It's horribly disrespectful to the wife. Besides, I don’t want any other women. I want you. For the rest of my life.”

Green eyes looked up at him, her confusion obvious. One tear rolled down her cheek.

Smitty wiped the tear away, and kissed her lightly. A tired sigh escaped his lips. “To think, the only thought I had when I came to my quarters was to climb into bed and get some sleep.”

Colleen nodded, sighed, and turned to leave. “You want to be alone.”

For a second, as she stepped away from him, he knew a moment of panicked shock. Am I throwing an opportunity away? “I didn’t say that!” He protested.

She faced him, perplexed. “Isn’t that why you had Monroe escorted out?”

He fumbled for the right words. “She wanted sex. I didn’t want anything to do with her. She isn’t you. You’re the only woman I want in my bed. Whether or not we have sex.” He stepped forward and reached for her, changed his reach to take her hands. “How is your back?”

She flushed, and her eyes lowered to his chest, but a smile played with her lips. “All restrictions have been removed from my activities, I am fully recovered.” She took a small step toward him and looked up to study his face. “But you look tired, and you have to report to duty in the morning.” Of a sudden, she added, “I should let you sleep.”

He could feel her prepare to turn away, and he slipped his arms around her. “I wish you could sleep here tonight,” he murmured as he held her close. “Tomorrow, I’ll put variable gravity on my bed, then you can sleep over any night you like.”

She returned his embrace. “You don’t have to. I could sleep here, as long as we sleep together.”

“How?” he asked. “You need the extra gravity to avoid nightmares.”

“I have a theory,” she offered hesitantly. “Before you… installed variable gravity on my bed, Bugalu found I could sleep pretty decently for nearly 8 hours, as long as I had a… kind of anchor to make me feel safe. Feel… grounded, I guess you could say.”

Despite his efforts, his muscles tensed with jealousy. “He slept with you,” he guessed, his voice high-strung.

She hesitated, plunged forward. “Bugs spent his days off in my quarters, but he wasn’t sleeping. He was reading, and when I started to get restless, he would take my hand. Just holding my hand provided me with a sense of safety. I was thankful to him for giving up his days off to let me rest. So I figure if holding his hand was enough to let me sleep without Gaelund gravity, then having your arm around me would let me sleep deeply. After all, your hugs make me feel surrounded by safety.”

“Do they?” He asked in some surprise. It was the first inkling he’d had that she felt that way. “Will you stay, then? Oh, but you’ve already slept.”

“I’m not adverse to sleeping more,” she told him. “Another 4 or 5 hours, I suppose. Our helping the St Elmo was exhausting.”

“For me also,” he admitted, and regretted that he would not get 8 hours of sleep tonight. He expected he would have sex with Colleen tonight, if she stayed, and he did not want to rush that this time. He would just have to get through the next day somehow.

As if she knew his thoughts, she gently pulled away. “Since we're both tired, we should go to bed. It won’t bother you if I get up later and go check on my projects? I haven’t even given them a cursory glance.”

“I'll miss you,” he stated. “But I will not begrudge you time with your projects.” My bed will feel cold and lonely without her. But she can’t get all her needed rest at one time. It simply doesn’t work that way. “And since we're both tired, we should forego sex tonight.”

“Oh.” She seemed surprised, perhaps disappointed. “If you think that’s best.”

“Then let’s just go to bed and fall asleep,” he summed up. “Like an old married couple.” He led her to the bedroom, turning out the lights as they went.

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.”

On The Way Home

Month 16 Day 14

13:44 Hours

Capt Jane Burke

After a pleasant visit with Capt Valentine on the St Elmo, the emergency was declared over, and the 2 captains continued their conversation on the way to the shuttle bay. As they walked past med bay, they were joined by Drs MacGregor, Davis and Fong, and the Fireball nurses who had been helping. Further along, a lift door opened, and the Fireball's engineering team joined the back of the group. Smitty worked his way through the group to join Drake just behind the captains.

The Fireball personnel had been thanked by the departments they had assisted, and expected nothing further but a quiet shuttle ride home and a return to their regular duties. They were surprised when they entered the shuttle bay and found 3 shuttles waiting, while one section of the bay had been set up for a party, complete with cake and punch.

Jane turned to her host. "This wasn't necessary."

"A verbal thank you alone seemed insufficient," Capt Valentine returned. "My department heads would never have forgiven me. I realize we took you away from your regular assignment for over a week, so even this seems inadequate."

"It would be bad manners to leave in a hurry when you've gone to so much trouble." Jane turned to her 2 lieutenant commanders. "Mr Smythe, Dr MacGregor, would you be so kind as to cut and serve the cake and punch?"

Looking startled, they moved toward the table. "I'll serve the punch," Smitty decided.

"What makes you think I can cut cake?" Drake asked him.

"You know how to use a scalpel," Smitty pointed out.

"I've never used one on a cake," the doctor returned. But before long, cake and punch were being served.

Various members of the St Elmo's crew entered, to speak with the departing Fireball crew and enjoy the refreshments. But the St Elmo crew had their own duties to get to, so they didn't stay long.

Eventually, those coming to say good-bye slowed to a trickle. Most of the Fireball personnel had already opted to take one of the St Elmo shuttles home. Those were now jockeying into their parking spots. Most of the cake and all of the punch had been served. Jane decided it was enough, and said her final good-bye to Capt Valentine, then followed the few remaining of her personnel into the Fireball shuttle.

She found Smitty and MacDowell sitting together in the back of the shuttle, holding hands. Each sat up straight in their seat, but their eyes were closed. MacDowell had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted. Smitty looked tired, but not as bad.

Jane moved forward and sought out Drake, pulled him into another corner so the two of them could talk. "How's MacDowell?" she whispered.

Drake hesitated before answering. "She's at her rope's end," he admitted. "Between 12-hour days, recuperating, and starting a new life—in more ways than one."

"What do you mean, more ways than one?"

"She's been looking for a new job for when she has to leave the Fireball."

"I applaud her forethought, but where did she find the time?"

"During her meal breaks. She's been eating her meals in the St Elmo's library, using the computer. She's pretty worried about it."

"She has a right to be worried. Does she need some time off from her duties in engineering?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Two days, at least. Being able to sleep in her own bed should help. She is getting some help, looking for a new job, so that should give her time to catch up on her emails about that, too."

"Who's helping her?"

"Smitty. Bugalu. Myself. And Mr Facchini."

"The St Elmo chief engineer?"

"After her injury, they shared the St Elmo Intensive Care Unit. She seemed to impress him."

"Really? I understood his protégé was in the brig, because of her."

Drake sighed. "That's a story. Which you probably ought to get straight from Smitty. He's the one who sent him to the brig."

"Okay. You're sure 2 days will be enough?"

"No, but I don't feel like having a fight with her until I have to. I'll keep an eye on her during those 2 days, and then I'll re-evaluate."

"Sounds good." She let him return to his seat and made her way to the back, turned a seat around to face Smitty. Neither of them moved, but the girl's head was drooping now. Jane touched Smitty's knee and whispered, "Is she asleep?"

"Yes," he answered softly.

"No," MacDowell refuted, and took a deep breath before her eyes managed to open. "What can I do for you, captain?"

"You look exhausted," Jane told her. "It's to be expected; you've got a lot going on in your life, and a week of 12-hour days is grueling. I want you to take the next 2 days off."

"Okay," she agreed readily, a tiny smirk on her face.

Jane studied her suspiciously. "MacGregor didn't think you'd agree so easily."

"The next 2 days are my regular days off," MacDowell revealed. "I just need to get through until 1600 hrs to get to them."

"No, you don't," Smitty broke in. "You've already worked 12 hours today. You're off duty." She opened her mouth to say something, and he ended with, "No arguing."

She closed her eyes and stifled a yawn, or tried to. "Thank you, Smit."

"Does that suit you, captain?" he asked.

"Actually, no," she decided. "Since the next 2 days are your regular days off, I want you to take the next 2 days after that off, also. As sick days. Check in with Dr MacGregor on those days, so he can see how well you're recuperating."

"But—"

"I'll see that she does, captain," Smitty stated.

MacDowell sighed. "Looks like I have to."

"Good. Now, try to rest for the remainder of the trip." Jane got up and moved forward again to find a seat that would afford the lovebirds a tiny bit of privacy. When she glanced back, MacDowell's head was on Smitty's shoulder and her eyes were closed. She looked relaxed.