Red Means Dead

A Change

My half-shift is much more uneventful than my first, mainly involving the sensory array and a skeleton crew of engineers. There's a buoyancy to my step, a near giddiness that's bubbling just below my skin and I feel like if I were in a darkened room, tiny little arcs of electricity would be sparking from my fingertips.

The other engineers seem to notice and engage me in more casual conversation than usual. Even Hunter, which I discover is his last name, jokes a bit with me and given that we just parted ways, I'm glad to know he wasn't that hung up on me.

I enter my room quietly, seeing from the light of the corridor there is a form already in bed and he appears to be sleeping. I'm slightly crestfallen but decide stretching the celebration to tomorrow will actually be a good thing and quickly pull the zipper on my uniform down my side to my hip before the door has a chance to close.

Someone hustles up behind me in the hall and I spin to greet them, holding my dress closed though I don't prove very successful. My black tunic is hardly scandalous but I still feel a need to keep covered.

"Hey, Sadie. How are you? Oh! I didn't mean to catch you...undressed."

"That's okay, Hunter," I breathe, slightly embarrassed by my haste. "What can I do for you?" I lean against the doorframe to block his view into the room. The last thing I need is for the other shoe to drop and squash my good mood.

"I noticed...There's something different about you."

"Yeah?"

He shuffles his feet and nods. "Yeah. I was trying to figure it out on shift. You're so much happier, I think."

"It feels that way," I murmur, smiling brightly.

"I'm really happy for you. I only wish..." He trails off and his ears go pink.

"What, Hunter?"

"I only wish I could have been the reason for it. Just if only to help you along to happiness sooner."

I offer an appreciative look and place a hand on his arm. "That's really sweet. I think there was really only one thing that could help me and I had to figure that out on my own."

"Did the Doctor end up giving you something?"

I chuckle, "You could say that."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

"Night, Sadie."

"Night, Hunter."

I step back and let the door close, sharing a private smile with myself.

"Can we start that little strip tease over again?"

I scoff as McCoy turns on a light. "You, sir, are supposed to be asleep."

"Why would I want to sleep when my life is so much better than my dreams?"

I chuckle as my cheeks warm, stepping into the lav and letting my uniform pool on the floor. I kick off my boots and notice the empty slot where my pajamas usually are.

"McCoy? Have you seen my shirt?"

"What? That ratty tent you wrap up in at night? I don't know what you're talking about."

I slip on my shorts and walk into the room, everything about my walk lets him know I don't believe him. I straighten one of the straps of my bra before resting my hands on my hips.

"Mmhmm. Seriously, where is it?"

He glances up but upon seeing my state of undress, he's quickly on his feet and standing in front of me, his hands grazing slowly down the backs of my arms as he lasers in on my eyes. "Did you check the laundry?"

I tsk. "What is this, the twenty-first century?"

Thinking for a moment, he asks, "Did we leave it in my room?"

His ownership of the problem makes me suck on my bottom lip as I puzzle over that but finally shake my head no. "We were here last night."

His next question is low and gravelly. "Did we rip it to shreds?"

"What exactly do you think we did last night?" I ask coyly, pulling back slightly to look aghast.

He licks his lips before finally murmuring, "Fulfilling my wildest dreams, as far as I'm concerned, ma'am."

I lean forward and press my lips to his. He's warm against my exposed skin and he feels just right as he wraps his arms around me, running his hands slowly up my shoulders and to my neck as he kisses me. He works the strap down my arm and I hum pleased as he places an open-mouthed kiss on my shoulder, leaving a hot, wet ring on my skin and sending a shiver through me.

Sliding my arms around his middle, I tug lightly at his shirt, enjoying how even the slightest stimulus encourages him to react. I love how he kisses me, always like it's the first and last time. He knows how to kiss me, too, making my knees weak and heart flutter. And the noises he elicits from me are not ones I'd ever choose to make in mixed company but I can't seem to help myself when it's just him and me.

After some time, I sigh, "It doesn't seem fair."

"What's that?" he asks as he presses his lips to the hollow of my throat.

I pull back enough to level him with my gaze as I state, "That you're fully clothed and I'm most certainly not."

With a very distinctive smirk, he reaches behind him and pulls his shirt up his back and over his head with some eager assistance from me.

The extra heat from our skin to skin contact is like the buzzy feeling I get standing just beside the antimatter relays. All the little hairs stand up all over my body, and I involuntarily pull away for fear of passing out.

"What's wrong, darlin'?"

A smile comes slowly to my lips as I hug the garment to my chest and slip from his arms. "Thanks. This'll do quite nicely."

He looks confused before realization lights his face. His jaw sets to the side as he shakes his head slowly.

"Was this your plan the whole time? To get my shirt from me?"

I shrug. "I got tired of everyone making fun of me for the other."

He pounces, pinning me to the wall, his hands pressed firmly on either side and I gasp in surprise.

"I don't care what you wear. Just as long as I'm the only one seeing it."

"I'll gladly make that promise."