DISCLAIMER: The Star Trek characters
are the property of Paramount Studios, Inc and Viacom. The story contents are the
creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2006 by Djinn. This story
is Rated PG-13.
Closing Time
by Djinn
Kirk sipped his drink, making
a face at how strong the bartender had made it. But that was why people came to
this club: they were liberal with the synthehol—and the real stuff, too, if you
were of a mind to indulge.
"What's your poison
tonight?"
He turned; Chapel was smiling
at him.
He'd seen her earlier, knew
she'd come over. "Vodka. The real thing."
"Ever the thrill seeker."
She bumped him, making both their drinks splash around a bit, although they
averted the disaster of a spilled drop. "Sorry, Jim."
"Feeling no pain?"
"I was jostled. It's too
early to be feeling no pain, and you know it."
"True." He moved
them out of the traffic pattern. "I looked for you today."
"Cartwright said you'd
stopped in. New ship still good?"
"Yep."
She studied him, blue eyes
probably missing nothing. After serving together so long she was very good at
knowing when he was leaving something out. "But...?"
"But nothing. It's good.
Hell, it's great. It would probably be great even if it were a garbage scow, so
long as I was in space and not chained to some desk."
"Now, that I
believe." She grinned at him, then surveyed the crowd. "Anyone catch
your eye?"
"Other than you? You're
wearing the hell out of that dress, by the way."
"I better be. It cost a
fortune." She frowned at him. "Get your mind on the game,
Captain." Suddenly, she smiled. "Isn't that the gal you left with
last time?"
He saw Felicia draping
herself over someone tall, dark, and handsome. "It is."
"Was she fun?"
He shrugged.
"Not an overwhelming
endorsement." She nodded a hello to someone in the corner of the room.
Kirk tried to see who it was.
"Past conquest?"
"I'm hoping my next
one."
"Someone nice to wake up
with?"
She laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"I don't let them stay. That
way lies madness." She gave him a questioning look. "So, no one for you?"
The blonde he'd been watching
all night suddenly made eye contact and held up her empty glass.
"As invites go, that's
pretty unmistakable." Chapel winked at him. "See you at tomorrow's
briefing."
"Emergency ops with a
hangover? Can't wait."
She dug into the little bag
that hung from her wrist. "Here."
He grinned; she was always
good for the antitox. "You're a goddess."
"Let's hope the Adonis
in the corner agrees." She leaned in, gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Have
fun with your Aphrodite."
"Roger that,
Commander." He touched her shoulder, smiling at the silky feel of her
skin. He always forgot how soft she was. "You do the same." Then he
turned and walked over to the blonde. "You seem to be out of liquid
goodness."
Her smile was brilliant. "I
do, don't I?"
"Let me help you with
that." He took her arm and led her to the bar.
The look in her eyes told him
that he could probably lead her anywhere he wanted.
##
Kirk took his drink from the
bartender, and looked around the room. He didn't see Chapel anywhere.
"Hi," a slinky
redhead said as she sidled up to him. She held out her hand, almond eyes
flashing green messages of lusty intent. "I'm Mona."
"Jim." He gave her
his best grin.
She grinned back. "I
know who you are, Captain. I'm a big fan of yours."
"Oh, I bet you say that
to all the—" Jim frowned as he saw Chapel come in. She had a bruise on her
cheek and wasn't dressed to kill. "Excuse me," he said, realizing
once he was halfway across the room that Mona had still been talking.
"Chris?"
She looked up and gave him an
odd smile. "I was hoping you'd be here. I knew the Enterprise was
back."
"Just got in. Hightailed
it down here." He touched her cheek. "Not the look I'm used to
seeing."
"Not the look I'm used
to wearing." She glanced down at her uniform. "And I'm severely
underdressed."
"Please tell me someone
you met here was not the source of that bruise."
She shook her head. "Big-ass
bulkhead. It turns out when you fall into one hard enough, it hurts like
hell."
"And you're all out of
regenerators at Ops?"
"This is after the
regenerator."
"Holy shit." He
turned her face gently and took in the shininess of the skin on her face, going
down her neck and onto her chest. They'd had to regenerate a whole lot of her. "You
really got hurt."
"I really did." She
reached for his drink, smiling as he pushed it into her hand. "Thanks,
don't mind if I do." She downed it. "I guess it goes without saying I'm
not in the mood for conquest." She glanced over to where he'd been
standing. "I think I'm interfering with your hunt, though."
He looked over and saw Mona
watching. He gave her a smile that he hoped was both sheepish and regretful. Then
he turned back to Chapel. "Are you hungry?"
"Oh, come on. She's
gorgeous, Jim."
"She is. But you're my
friend, and you look like you could use a nice meal and a willing ear." He
turned her toward the lift. "Did this happen on Droella?
I'd heard Ops was working with the relief effort."
She nodded. "Nasty
eddies in their atmosphere. Impossible to predict, apparently. Morrell and I
were on our way to our seats in the shuttle to strap in for the descent. Any
other planet, we'd have had plenty of time to do it."
"But not this one. Was
Morrell hurt as badly as you?"
"Morrell was
killed." Her eyes met his and he saw emotions raging before she looked
away.
He understood. It was never
easy being the survivor.
He put his arm around her
shoulder. "Come on. You can tell your buddy Jim all about it over a nice
steak."
"Really?" She
wrapped her arms around his waist and seemed to be holding on for dear life.
"Really.
##
"Scotch," Kirk told
the waitress. "Make it expensive."
"Yes, sir," the
waitress said with a smile.
Kirk didn't smile back. He'd
had a lousy day being grilled by administrators who'd never logged a single
star hour. He swore they put new policies in place just so they could bitch him
out for breaking them.
He saw Mona walking toward
him and met her eyes; she veered off sharply.
"In case you didn't get
the memo, that look is not the recommended way to attract women." Chapel
slid into the seat across from him. "So, Captain Scowlface,
what seems to be the trouble?"
He tried his chick-deterrent
look out on her. She just laughed, so he tried it out on the waitress as she
set his scotch down.
Chapel gave her a sweet
smile, as if attempting to make up for him. "Can I have champagne?"
The woman hurried off.
"Rough day at the
office, dear?" Chapel asked.
"You celebrating
something?" He stared at her, not bothering to look away from where her
low-cut dress was displaying her considerable assets.
"Can't a girl just like
champagne?" She cocked her head to the side as if trying to figure out
what kind of life form he was. Then she slowly leaned
in, letting the fabric slide away, giving him an even better view. "Like
what you see?"
At his startled look, she
laughed. "I have yet to meet the man these babies can't distract out of a
bad mood."
He fought a grin.
"Oh, come on. Give in. You
want to smile." She took the champagne from the waitress. "Now,
what's your problem, Jim?"
He exhaled loudly. "I
hate admin audits."
"Everyone does."
"I don't think everyone
gets quite the treatment I do."
"Well, no, but we're not
as good at pissing the admin staff off." She laughed. "How many
demerits did you get this time?"
"Very funny." He
pretended to pout.
"You're just doing that
so I'll lean forward again."
"You make me sound so
shallow." But he leaned in, as if intent on getting a better view of her.
"Here, I'll help you
out." She leaned in, looking up at the ceiling as if bored with the whole
process. "Seen enough?"
"I'm a guy. Those are
breasts. The question is idiotic."
She laughed, her eyes
sparkling. "True. Silly of me to ask."
"Very." He felt
lighter, his foul mood finally dissipating.
"So," Chapel said,
"that redhead is here again."
"Redheads are
overrated."
"Well, there are blondes
and brunettes, too."
"A lovely brunette found
me. I think I'll stick with her." He was surprised to see a pleased smile
light her face. "Unless she has other fish in mind?"
"No, she likes you,
strangely enough. She could go for salmon, though. There's a new restaurant on
the wharf that's getting rave reviews."
"Is there?"
She nodded.
"All right, then. Drink
up, Chris. I'm hungry."
Her answering smile was
amazingly shy for someone who'd just flashed him. He found it a charming
contradiction.
##
Kirk hurried into the club. He
did a quick look-see, didn't see Chapel.
"Something to
drink?" the bartender asked.
"Beer." His
briefings had been too draining for anything stronger. Normally he'd have
skipped the club, but he'd been hoping to apologize to Chris. He hadn't meant
to blow her off earlier at Starfleet Command, just hadn't expected to see her
outside the conference room. His mind had been on what he was going to pitch to
the brass, not on what he should say to her.
He scanned the bar again. He
saw someone brunette and awfully Chris-like in the back corner. Finding a
better vantage point, he saw that it was Chris and she was sitting close—very
damn close—to a man he'd seen her with before.
The man leaned in, kissing
her cheek, then working his way toward her ear. Kirk felt something deep in his
gut and realized he was clenching his glass.
He turned, stalking back to
the bar, knowing it was idiotic to be jealous—he was jealous? How the hell had
that happened?
"They say the third
time's a charm," a sultry voice sounded.
He turned; Mona looked wary.
"They do say that."
He tried to smile but could tell it was forced.
"You know, I'm giving
you my best stuff here. Why don't you just screw her and get it out of your
system." She turned and stormed off.
Kirk took a deep breath and realized
the bartender had caught everything. "Women," he said.
"Women," the
bartender said, but he shook his head as if Kirk was sort of stupid.
"You have something to
say?"
"No, sir. I just listen.
It's much safer that way." He moved off, leaving Kirk to nurse his drink—and
his wounds.
A champagne glass suddenly
slammed down next to him. "I'm out. Buy me more."
He wasn't sure he'd ever
heard Chris sound that bitchy. He turned to look at her. She wasn't looking at
him. She was staring straight ahead.
He nodded to the bartender
and waited till the man had brought her a fresh drink to say, "Nice
outfit."
"Thanks. I didn't buy it
for you." She downed half her drink.
"That's a waste of good
champagne. The shirt looks new."
"Maybe I bought it for
Tom. And this champagne isn't that good."
"Tom's your friend over
there? The one you were letting grope you?"
"He's actually not my
friend. I find one shouldn't get too interested in friends. They become unpredictable
and—" She finished the rest of her drink in another big gulp.
"And not very friendly
in the hall?"
"Something like
that." She looked at him, hurt showing.
Kirk glanced over to the
corner. The man she'd been sitting with was gone.
"I sent him away."
"Why?"
"I'm stupid." She
glared at him.
"You hungry?"
She nodded grudgingly.
"Let's go to
Paris." He held out his arm.
She finally took it.
"Friends again?"
"Ask me when the meal's
over." But she smiled at him.
##
Kirk handed Chris her drink
and looked around the club at the top of the Eiffel Tower. "Nice change of
pace."
She didn't answer.
"You don't like
it?"
"It's a club. It's only
different because it has a view." Her tone was brittle, and she glanced at
him, then walked to the window, not saying anything more. She'd been quiet as
they'd ridden up in the lift. Maybe they should have eaten first? Maybe the
ritual of dinner would have made it easier.
Why was this suddenly not
easy?
He joined her; Paris was
spread out before them. "It's beautiful."
"Yes, it is."
"I forget just how much
until I come back."
"I know. Me, too." She
was holding onto the windowsill with one hand, her fingers clenched, as if she
was in danger of falling if she let go.
"You okay?"
"No." She sipped at
her champagne. The good stuff this time—he was in the mood to indulge her.
"Are you going to tell
me why not?"
"You won't like
it."
"Won't I?" He moved
closer, so his arm was touching hers.
She leaned in, pressing
tightly against him.
"Chris, what's
wrong?"
"This was a game. We
used to hunt together. Not each other."
"I know."
"The game has changed
for me."
He smiled gently at her when
she turned to look at him. "For me, too. If that helps."
"It does. Sort of."
She took a long breath.
"Is it so bad if it
changes?" He was feeling a little off balance. He wanted this woman and
she wanted him, apparently. Why was that such a terrible thing? "Is it
because I'm not around?"
She laughed, a bitter little
sound. "I think I proved with Roger that I can endure long
separations."
Kirk decided not to point out
she'd endured it by falling for Spock. It was not a comforting thought.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She frowned. "Tell
me."
"You had someone else
while you were looking for Roger."
"I never had
Spock." She looked hurt he'd think that of her.
"But you were interested
in him."
"So
what if I was? How many women were you with?"
He could feel his face
tighten. "Is that suddenly a problem?"
"No, I just don't think
you should be throwing stones, is all."
"Ah." He threw his
drink back.
She put her drink down on the
windowsill, turned to face him. "Why were you so short with me
today?"
"I told you. I had other
things on my mind."
"Yeah, you said that,
but it seems out of character. You're usually the model of multitaskers if a
woman is involved."
"What the hell is your
problem tonight?" When she wouldn't answer, he said, "I think our
evening's done, don't you?"
"I think it's more than
done." Her voice was hard, but she looked like she was going to cry. "I
probably should have stuck with Tom."
"You probably should
have." Their return to San Francisco was filled with an icy silence.
##
Kirk looked around the club
as he stomped in. It had been a short walk from the transporter station. Chris
had gone one direction; he'd gone another. His route back to the temporary
quarters had taken him past the club, so he'd turned in.
He saw Mona. She was what he
needed, wasn't she? A beautiful woman for a night. Nothing lasting. Nothing
with ties. Nothing with a friend.
Mona turned away.
The bartender put a glass
down in front of him. "Looks like you could use this."
Kirk took a sip and realized
it was single malt scotch. "Thanks."
"No problem." The
bartender left him alone.
Alone. Why did alone sound
bad? He'd been enjoying himself in this place until Chris had come along. Damned
woman. What the hell was wrong with her?
He sensed someone sliding
onto the barstool next to him, but didn't look to see who it was. He didn't
need to, could just tell who it was. "I thought you were going home."
"I thought so,
too." Chris dropped her hand onto his knee, her touch warm even through
the fabric of his pants.
"Chris, I—"
"I don't know why you
scare me so."
Kirk didn't answer.
"I'm in love with
you."
He turned so he could look at
her. When she seemed about to pull her hand off his knee, he said, "Leave
it there."
"Why?"
"Because I like
it." He realized she'd been crying. Her makeup was a little smeared and
her eyes were red. "Because I'm in love with you, too."
She started to cry again.
"Not the reaction I was
going for." He pulled her close, kissing her for the first time other than
some quick goodnight pecks between friends.
She wrapped her arms around
him, kissing him back for all she was worth.
When they pulled away, the
bartender shook his head as if relieved they'd finally worked things out. Then
he glanced significantly in the direction of one of the secluded booths. Kirk
realized they were a bit conspicuous making out like two kids in the middle of
the club.
"The bartender wants us
to get a room. Actually, he nodded toward a booth, but I can think of better
places to go."
"Me, too." She
touched his cheek. "Your place is closer. But mine has food."
He realized he was very
hungry. For her and for other things. "Your place it is."
They walked to the lift arm
in arm, passing Mona who was hanging on Tom.
"Jealous?" Kirk
asked Chris.
"Not in the least."
She snuggled against him as they left the building. "I'm sorry for what I
said."
"Me, too. You scare me,
as well, you know?"
"Really?"
"Really."
She stopped walking, pulled
him into a shadowed alcove and kissed him. It was so sweet to kiss her, felt so
much more like home than being with one of his conquests.
"I'm staying the
night," he said softly.
Her smile was very tender. "I
know that."
FIN