Come Here Often?

Chapter 8: First, Sleep--Then, Forever

It felt like an eternity before Leonard McCoy stepped into his quarters aboard the Enterprise. Vulcan gone, Nero killed, Jim gone and back again. He was exhausted. But more than that—he was desperate to see Jess. Other than her one trip to Sickbay for comfort, and the few moments they'd seen each other on the bridge, they'd been apart since they'd stepped aboard the ship as a newly married couple.

He'd checked with Engineering and found out Scotty had relieved her from duty an hour earlier with orders to take a day off. She'd managed the engineering section remarkably well for being dropped in straight out of Academy. With Scotty on board, she'd get more rest, Leonard hoped. He also hoped he'd find her in what was now to be their shared quarters. He was still in a bit of shock, admittedly, that he was once again a married man. But what he knew for sure was that Jessica Patton was nothing like his ex-wife. He knew this marriage would be different, and he had no intention of letting this one end till one or both of them was dead—and his preference was for that to be a long time from now. However, life on the Enterprise was already shaping up to be a dangerous task. But at least he had her close, not off on another ship. He quietly moved through the outer room and looked into the bedroom.

Sure enough, laying there, facing him but on the opposite side of the bed from the door, was his wife. He smiled as he realized she wore a familiar grey t-shirt with "Starfleet Medical" emblazoned across the front. It was part of his things. He glanced and noticed only his luggage bag sitting across the room. Of course... if she'd been assigned to the Farragut before the last minute changes, he wondered where here bag had ended up. Hopefully it made it to the Enterprise but was lost somewhere along the way.

He gently sat down on what he assumed would be 'his' side of the bed and stroked her cheek. She inhaled a deep breath, but didn't open her eyes. "They finally let you off work, too?" she mumbled.

He smiled. "Mmhmm. Glad to see you finally getting some rest."

She patted at the bed. "You need it too. C'mon."

Normally he'd go through a little bit more of a bedtime routine, but he also normally didn't have a beautiful woman waiting. He quickly got out of his uniform, down to his boxers, and slid into the bed. He lay several inches away from her, not quite sure how to get comfortable and also allow her to be comfortable. "Just remember if I smell terrible that you're the one who ordered me to bed without a shower." He said in mock grumbling. She hummed out a tired chuckle.

He laid on his side facing her, adjusting his head on the pillow with one arm under his head. Gently he rested his other hand on her hip and relaxed as a small smile slipped onto her face at the touch.

After a few minutes she took a breath and whispered. "Hey, Len."

"Yeah, sweetheart?"

"Will you hold me?"

He scooted closer, pulling her towards him as he did so. "Of course I will," he whispered as he rolled to his back and pulled her to his side, wrapping both arms around her. "How's that."

She nodded into his chest. "Thanks."

"You alright, darlin'?"

After a few beats she finally spoke again. "I feel like I've been on a tilt-a-whirl and am finally stepping off. First Jim's trial, then suddenly being assigned to ship, and our quick little wedding ceremony, then the battle with Nero, and—it's just all so much. And here we are. Len, we're on a spaceship... flying faster than light through space. And when I think about what it would have been like to go through all those experiences and not know where you were. To end up in my quarters alone, without you there to share in the insanity of it all... I'm so glad you're here Len. I'm so glad we found each other. I'm so glad that Captain Pike was just desperate enough to have me on board that he thought up his crazy idea."

"You're strong, Jess. You would have made it through it all just fine.

Another shaky breath. "Yeah, well—I'm glad we're not testing that theory."

He rolled back towards her, keeping her in his arms, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I'm glad we found each other too, ya know. I'd never have made it through that last year of Academy without you. And stepping out into the vast cesspool of space is definitely more bearable with you by my side."

She took a deep, more confident breath. "This is nice, too, ya know... being here, in your arms."

"It is. And we're going to be doing this every night for the rest of our lives, so I'm glad you enjoy it."

She let out a tired chuckle. "You mean every night one of us doesn't have to work a night shift."

"We'll figure it all out."

"Yeah," she suddenly let a yawn escape. "We will."

"But first, we sleep."

She nodded and snuggled further into him. "Yes. First, sleep."

THE END