Echo

Chapter 37: Kiss of Death

Author's Notes: Omg thanks for supporting this story, guys.

Enjoy!

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Leonard

The only aspect in which the doctor was awarded any quantum of fortune came in the form of everyone in the damn galaxy finding out that he was dating you one day prior to the Enterprise returning to earth. At least all of the staff members were too busy taking care of last-minute tasks to spend too much time gossiping, but gossip they did.

The story spread like a virus through the veterinary department that then infected the medical bay, the bridge, engineering, and every other corner of the ship. Leonard didn't linger in social circles that discussed such rumors, but he did get a lot of significant looks following the interruption of the kiss, and he discovered why when you approached him midday with a dead expression on your face to inform him that everyone and their mother knew about your relationship.

It wasn't as if he was embarrassed to be with you, but he had really wanted your courtship to go on a bit longer before people found out about it. He hadn't even officially asked you to be his girlfriend yet, which he was planning to do when you got back to your home planet, and already you were being teased in the halls about when the wedding was.

He knew that you could put on a brave face and endure, but you were probably itching to get the hell off the ship as soon as possible. He was the CMO, so nobody dared to tease him aside from the captain.

Somehow though, right as Jim came up next to him while he was moving down the hall, grinning like an idiot, he decided he would have taken everyone on the ship's snide remarks to avoid what he was about to endure.

"I've got to say, I didn't see that one coming," Jim stated as he coolly slithered up to his side.

"Shut up." Leonard retorted lamely.

Kirk laughed, clapped him on the shoulder, and asked, "So, please tell me, what's it like to bone someone who could literally kill you with their bare hands?"

He groaned, tilting his head back, and replied, "This must fall under the category of sexual harassment."

Plowing on, the captain continued, "I mean, she's hot, but she's also sort of terrifying, which I guess just adds to her hotness. Come on man, I haven't been laid in weeks, you need to give me details."

"I do not!" He shot back indignantly, sending him a contemptuous look, "I'm not telling you intimate things about my sex life with my girlfriend, Jim."

Raising his eyebrows, Kirk replied, "Ah, so she's your girlfriend."

"Damn it, man," he murmured. How had he managed to confess that when he was trying so hard to hold on to his privacy? He would need to make sure he spoke to you before the captain said anything in your presence.

Still looking highly pleased with himself, Jim let his voice dip down into a more subdued tone as he said, "You know Bones, I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me before telling everyone else."

"I didn't tell anyone," He snarled, glowering at him, "Some vet techs caught me kissing her and even Echo couldn't talk our way out of it. We asked them to keep it quiet, and they didn't. End of story."

The captain grinned and said, "Come on, it's not so bad, I never thought I'd see the day that you're actually having more sex than I am. Although, I do wonder how you find the time."

He was speaking so loudly that as people passed them upon their progression down the hall, they were starting to pick up on tidbits of the conversation, and were shooting them both perverted grins before whispering among themselves in little packs. It was high school all over again, Jim was the quarterback, and Leonard was the god damn science nerd.