Chapter Text
The room was dark. It was filled the the echoes of soft snores and grunts here and there as the occupant adjusted themselves as they slept. The occupant was on duty aboard the best vessel in the fleet, well the best vessel in his opinion, the USS Enterprise. His clothes were thrown about his room in a struggle to get prepared for the soft mattress he now laid on. Gentle dreams helped him into an easy ship, dreams filled of working aboard the ship with his buddy Keenser.
The soft snores and accompanying silence was then disturbed by the chime of a communicator buried in the discarded pants that were at the foot of his bed. He quickly woke up and stumbled out of bed, tripping on his sheets. Huffing, he felt self embarrassed. He knew a way around a ship better than his own sleeping quarters. He rummaged his pockets for the small beeping device and quickly opened it.
“‘Ello!” His sleepy voice answered.
“Montgomery Scotty!” A distressed voice responded.
The engineer sat up and concern washed over him. “Aye, what is it Lassie?”
“I need help.” Her tone lowered, an emotion he couldn't tell over the communicator.
Scotty stood up and began to gather his uniform. “I’m on my way Lassie.” He was about to close his communicator when she spoke up.
“No need. I'm on my way.” Then the line went dead.
He closed his own device and continued to pick up his uniform and put it back on. As he got dressed, butterflies in his stomach had formed. He smiled to himself as he used the restroom to finish looking presentable after his rock hard sleep. After he began to brew tea and set out his fanciest tea cups. He was having a guest, it was polite to prepare. As he waited for the water to boil, the chime at his door announced the arrival of his guest.
Brushing off any extra dirt off his uniform from work he looked himself over. He thought he looked decent, let alone the smell of oil he wished he could’ve gotten rid of. Shrugging the thought away, he answered the door.
There she stood. The amazing woman that saved his life back on Altamid. He moved aside and waved her in and offered her a seat. She graciously took it and crossed her legs as she sat, getting comfortable. He was surprised she arrived in a simple outfit, most likely her own sleeping outfit. Her long white hair was braided back, for easy sleeping. She seemed to relax the more the sat in the chair.
Scotty returned to his boiling water and poured it into the cups then placed the infusers inside the cups. He then set them on a small tray and brought them over to the small table that sat between the chairs.
“I got some tea if ya want to drink it. It's alright if ya don’t.” He offered. “Just be careful. It's a wee bit hot.”
She slowly blinked at him almost like a cat and thanked him. She took a cup and held it in her hands and then sipped it, unaffected by the heat.
“It is good. Thank you.”
Scotty nervously smiled, taking the compliment. For him, it was nice to see the warrior again. Since the rebuild of the Enterprise A, and her acceptance into the Academy, they both have been busy to just hang out. A month ago he ended the five year exploration mission and the Enterprise crew is taking a year of rest, but that doesn't stop him going back to his ship, helping the younger engineers, or older engineers keep up the maintenance on “his” ship. He would also get called to other ships for help and it kept him busy. It kept him in work.
His friend on the other hand is on summer break from the Academy before finishing up her last year. He was so proud of how far she has come. Since leaving Altamid, the two kept in touch and would almost communicate every night. She would tell him stories of the annoying cadets and he would tell her how the Enterprise was acting up. They would laugh and he would tell her jokes while she told him stories. But now seeing her was a reward in itself.
“So what is it you wanted to tell me?”
“I have bad sleep.” She quietly responded.
Scotty’s brow came together in confusion. “You mean like bad dreams?”
“Yes!” She finally identified. “They have come back. I had them on Altamid.”
“I see.” Scotty then took his own cup and began to sip. “Well you know I’m here if you need to talk about it, or just need the company.”
“Thank you. You always make me feel better.”
“I'm glad to help, Jaylah.” Scotty relaxed back into his chair.
He eyes were becoming heavy again and he wanted to go back to sleep. He looked back over at and was surprised at her tiger’s eye like gaze. It was brought out by her black markings and it was the best facial feature about her in his own mind. The butterflies stirred up and he nervously licked his lips from the left over tea that sat on there.
“Aye?” He struggled to say. He knew what the woman was capable of and was scared for the first time. But it wasn't just fright, he also felt excited.
“You are being kind. Not Montgomery Scotty I know.” She spoke, no emotion in it.
“I… I don't know what you mean, Lassie.”
“The Montgomery Scotty I know doesn't set out fancy drinks, offer so much kindness. He is a fighter!” She added.
“Lassie, I've always been like this. You have just never visited before. I always put out tea for my guests. I offer personal help all the time, nobody just ever seeks it.” He set his cup down and turned his whole body to face her.
“There is something different.” She cocked her head to the side, observing him.
Scotty looked around him and the room then back at her. “What is it?”
“Com.. Compassion.”
“Aye… I can be.” He began to sweat with nerves.
Maybe she knew. Maybe she found out. He really liked her but he just kept his feeling for himself in case the wasn't the romantic type. He didn't want to bombard her with affection. He knew that wasn't her. She was tough, fierce, loyal, and friendly. What more could he want in a woman? The engineer didn't say anything as she continued to look him over.
Jaylah then leaned back, almost in self defeat. She crossed her legs again and took another sip. She then looked away and exhaled.
“Is something bothering you?” Scotty dared to ask.
“I don't know. Bad sleep makes me feel sad.” She replied, looking back at him. “I have been thinking.”
“About?” Scotty raised a curious brow.
“At Academy people have these.. Connections… They are happy.”
Scotty knew what the warrior was talking about. “Those are called relationships.” He clarified. “It's where two beings care about each other that they form a… Well a sort of bond.”
Jaylah nodded, understanding. She didn't have many friends at the Academy and she only really talked to the man that sat across from her. “I got it.”
Scotty only nodded. He took another sip of his tea.
“I want a bond with you.”
Scotty spit out his tea, and most of it landed on his uniform. He cursed under his breath and it seemed it spook the guest.
“No! You are fine! I'm just surprised by the… And this was my last decent shirt of the week.”
He set his cup down and went to grab a plain t shirt and throwing his dirty one in the wash. Upon returning, he found Jaylah beginning to leave.
“Wait, Lassie!” He tried to stop her.
“I'm sorry. It is mistake. I need rest. In morning, I will be better.” She apologized, leaving.
“I like you too Jaylah!” Scotty shouted after her.
She stopped about halfway out of his quarters. She turned around and blinked at him.
“Like?” She was confused.
Scotty walked up to her and ran a hand in his hair. “Yes. I like you. A lot. I have for a while now.”
“How long?” Jaylah pushed for him to reveal further.
Scotty shuffled his feet in place and then rubbed his neck. “Since you’ve rescued me…” He confessed. “But I was unsure back then. After talking to you, and getting to know you personally, I know for sure that I like you.”
Jaylah seemed to blush as the confession. “Thank you Montgomery Scotty.”
“Look, this is probably too far, but usually when you have bad dreams and wake up from them, you are bound to have another one when you fall back asleep. I have space on my bed if you just want to sleep there. I can take the couch.” He offered kindly.
Jaylah though for a moment and accepted it. Scotty set up the bed for her and he grabbed extra sheets and pillows for himself to sleep out on his couch. He fell asleep right away and was out for about two more hours until he heard shouting coming from his bedroom. He knew what it was and threw back his sheets and dashed to his room. He found Jaylah sitting up and crying.
Scotty hesitated only for a second before climbing onto his bed to sit next to the woman. He wrapped a comforting arm around her and helped her to calm down.
“It's alright. Shh it's ok. I’m here Lassie.” He comforted.
Her cries soon subsided and he helped her lay back down. She fell back asleep in his arms and he was too scared to move in case she decided to use her fighting moves on him. So he just laid next to her for the rest of the night, hoping her bad dreams went away and gave her a good night’s sleep.
As he glanced over her every once in awhile, she looked at peace. Here and there she would mumble in her sleep but all in all she was fine. Scotty smiled and then returned to his own sleep, happy to have helped.