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Una opened her eyes to see that soft smile of her Captain. She knew him well enough to know that she was about to get a severe talking to. The relief was evident on his face, but the eyes showed a glint of anger.
He sighed deeply, and moved closer to her med bunk. “As usual,” he said, taking her hand, “You put the crew's needs above your own, giving the last plasma to Lieutenant May, but…”
“You’d have done the same,” Una interrupted weakly. She groaned in pain as she tried instinctively to move closer to him.
“Uh, uh,” he chided, gently pushing her back by her shoulders. “You’re under orders not to move.”
“Your orders or M’Benga’s?”
“Both. “ He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “Una, you could have died. Without the good doctor’s blood, you would have.”
She knew the grief lines in his forehead and around his eyes were because of the lives lost, because she almost added another number to the total. “He did his job,” she said, squeezing his hand back, “as you did, as I did. We all did our best to save as many as we could.”
He sighed. She knew him well. Her words were meant to address the losses that would lay heavily in his heart, probably forever. He still had her. He smiled in gratefulness. “I hear lieutenant May is crocheting you a blanket.”
She laughed, but groaned in pain as he grimaced. “I’d say she owes me nothing, but her needlework is exemplary.”
“I’m a little envious. She hasn’t made me one yet and I’m the captain.”
“I’ll put in a good word for you.” She looked at their hands, still entwined, then back up into his eyes. “I’m glad she’s able to still do what she loves. Chris, because of you, lots of people are still doing what they love.”
“It was a team effort, which includes you. You put yourself last, making sure everyone else had medical attention first, even those not as badly hurt. That’s noble, but not smart.”
Her eyebrows did a Spock imitation. “And ricocheting off a black hole is?”
He chuckled, “Touche.” He leaned closer. “Next time, you alert Medical that you’re seriously hurt. That’s an order. Are we clear?”
She sighed. She was thinking of responding, ‘only if it applies to you too,” but instead she just said, “Yes, Sir.”
He nodded. “Good, I need my Number One.”
“You have a backup. I’m so proud of La’an.”
“So am I. You were right, what you saw in her so long ago. She’s an excellent officer and someday she may even be the second best first officer in Starfleet, but she’s not you.” He watched as Una did that soft, slightly embarrassed smile that he could sometimes coax out of her. “You hear me, Una? You’re special to me. I need you.”
Una tried to stop the tears welling up. “I need you too.”
Chris smiled, feeling some of the stress leaving his body. He straightened up. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Something he had done before. “Get some rest. I’ll be back to check on you soon.”
He started to walk away but stopped. “It was too close, Una.”
“I know.”
He hesitated then went back and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
Una tried not to gasp. Was this really happening? Chris pulled away and smiled.
Her heart was beating fast. Then she smiled, with elation. “Damn, I hate these kinds of dreams,” she said, making the captain’s eyebrows rise. “I always have to wake up and it’s annoying.”
“So you dream about me?” he asked with that boyish smile, mixed with mischief.
She laughed, grabbing her side. The pain was worth it. “No comment.”
He leaned over and gave her another gentle kiss. “You’re not dreaming,” he whispered.
She smiled. “I’m glad.”