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.

The Answer

Month 16 Day 12

11:57 Hours

Drake MacGregor

Drake hurried into engineering, and saw several officers leave the office, including Smitty's counterpart, Facchini. He barely reached them before they disbursed. "Where's Smitty and Mac?" he asked.

"In the office," Facchini answered. "But they want to be alone."

"They'll want to hear this," he responded, and opened the door. He caught the couple in mid-hug, and they instantly sprang apart. "I've got the answer!" he announced.

Smitty frowned at the interruption. "Can't this wait, Drake?"

"This is the answer you 2 have been pestering me about for a week."

"What answer?" Mac asked.

"The answer to—" It dawned on him that this was medical information, so he stepped inside and closed the door. "How you became pregnant."

"You know why our shots failed?" Smitty asked, turning to face him. His hand sought out Mac's.

"I had to go back to the original raw data, where people reported their side effects. It was hiding among headaches, chills and other such—"

"Spit it out, Drake!" Smitty snapped.

"Alcohol poisoning!"

The pair stared at him for half a beat, then Mac shook her head. "I've never had that."

"Yes, you have," Drake told her. "At least once since you came aboard the Fireball. You both have. I mean, since Mac came aboard."

"I think I would know," she protested.

"You felt extremely drunk," he told her. "And I de-toxed you before it became a problem. Again, both of you. But for a brief moment before the detox started to work, I considered slapping you into sick bay. Luckily, I gave you enough detox to avoid sick bay. But you drink so much, I'm surprised you haven't wound up in somebody's sick bay with alcohol poisoning."

Again, Mac shook her head. "I don't drink that much."

Smitty had been studying the floor thoughtfully. "Shore leave." He glanced at her. "Specifically, on Ulsess, where you suddenly decided to have a drinking contest."

No, that's not when—

She stiffened. "Men wanted to buy me a drink."

"Tell them no," he offered. "I've told you that.

She sighed. "It doesn't stop them. And I know why they offer, but I can out-drink them, so I do. It seems more civilized than beating them up, but sometimes I resort to that. Not in a long time, though."

"How can you possibly know you can out-drink them?" Smitty sounded miffed. "A lot of those who accepted your challenge were heavy drinkers. It's entirely possible one or more of them could have out-drunk you!"

Mac dismissed the idea. "Not likely. I've been drinking whiskey since I was 5. By the time I left Gaelund, I was as good at holding whiskey as my brothers. And they were known for it."

"That was Gaelund," Smitty answered, still irritable. "Out in the whole wide universe, there's no telling who might be able to hold their liquor better than you can!"

Mac got very still for a moment, and her hand removed itself from his grasp. "You think I'm lying?"

"No, I never said—"

"I out-drank all the men who agreed to that drinking contest! Every one of them!"

"Except me!" Smitty shot back.

Mac's face turned red. "It was a draw! So even you couldn't collect your 'winnings' when it was over!"

Wait a minute, haven't they figured out that—

"I might have, if you hadn't ducked out with Bugalu for a cuddle on the street corner!"

Her hands clenched, Mac retorted, "What you thought was a 'cuddle' was a crying jag, because... because..."

"Because you couldn't face that you might have been out-drunk?" Smitty demanded.

"No, because you didn't want me enough to manage to out-drink me!" she shot back.

After a moment of sudden silence, Smitty managed to ask, "What?"

Time to break in. Drake stepped forward. "Neither one of you were near alcohol poisoning when you... dropped out of the competition."

They turned to look at him, their anger turning to confusion. "What?" they both asked, more or less at the same time.

"To be honest, neither one of you actually passed out during that competition, either," Drake answered.

Smitty turned to her. "You faked passing out?"

"Well, I had to. Everybody else had lost. You were the only one left. I didn't know how much more you could handle, and—" Her face went pink and her voice lowered as the stronger emotions left her. "I wanted you to win. Though I'd never figured out how the winner is supposed to 'claim his prize'."

"You're right, I was the only one left who could win," Smitty agreed. "And then you passed out, or seemed to. And in that moment, I knew I didn't want to 'claim' you as a prize! I wanted you to be with me willingly. That was the way I wanted it, so I... I faked passing out, too. So I couldn't claim you; it was a draw."

Mac's hand claimed Smitty's again, and she stared at him with big green eyes. "You wanted me?"

"More than I've ever wanted anything," he stated softly. They moved closer, about to kiss, but Smitty suddenly took a step back and turned to Drake. "Wait a minute. If not during that contest, then when?"

"Oh, after Mac's first week, when you 2 returned to the Fireball after a short shore leave on Station B29. You 2 both arrived barely upright; you probably had more alcohol in your system than blood. I had a difficult time getting you detoxed enough to be fairly functional. Especially you, Smitty, since you were reporting straight to duty."

Mac's face drained of color. "As far back as that?"

"I don't even remember getting back to the Fireball," Smitty muttered. "I remember drinking heavily, and then you were giving me multiple shots and sending me off for duty."

The doorbell rang, and they all glanced at the clock on the wall. Mac muttered several words and turned to Smitty sadly. "Our time is up. Again."

"You'd better go," the engineer said and gave her a peck on the forehead.

She turned for the door. "Thank you, MacG, for letting us know." She opened the door and stepped outside.

Drake turned to leave, but Smitty stopped him with a hand on his arm, his face as white as Mac's had been. "Thanks, Drake," he whispered. "It's a good thing we're the only people whose shots failed. "

That we know of, Drake thought, then followed Mac out of the office.

"What were you lovebirds fighting about?" Facchini asked Mac.

"Oh, just about a stupid drinking game on our last shore leave," she answered. "Are you headed for lunch, Ben?"

"No, I want to talk to Smitty. It's about time to wrap up this rescue and send you guys back to the Fireball. Although I'll be sad to see you go."

"I'll go to the messhall with you, Mac," Drake volunteered, stepping up beside her as she walked for the exit. As they left engineering, Smitty's last comment to him made sense; Smitty may have been yearning for Mac, but he's had sex with others.