Fic: Saying "Thank You"
Title: Saying "Thank You"
Author: Kay
Fandom: TOS
Rating: UK12A
Pairings: Scotty/Uhura
Warnings: Mild sexual content
Summary: Follow-up to 'The Changeling'. What do you say to a man who died for you?
“What I don’t understand,” said Uhura, as Doctor McCoy looked over her shoulder at the Starfleet Academy course work she had just completed, “Is how come I remember so much? Christine told me that Nomad had wiped my memory? But I know how to speak Swahili - and eat - and work control panels…” - she gestured at the screen - “… and I have this familiar feeling when I relearn all this stuff.”
McCoy nodded, aiming his Feinberger at her yet again, though she suspected it was more from habit than because he really needed to take more medical readings. “Yeah, I’ve discussed that with Spock and Doctor M’Benga. It’s just a theory, but we think the likeliest explanation is that Scotty drew enough power from Nomad to prevent the damn thing erasing your memory completely.” He switched off the Feinberger, glanced at it, and chuckled. “Must remember to let Scotty know that he didn’t die in vain!”
“He didn’t what?” Uhura stared at McCoy, unsure that she had heard him correctly. “Doctor, what on earth is that supposed to mean?”
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Scotty was sitting on his bunk, a glass of Scotch on the table beside him, and a datapadd full of technical schematics on his knee, when the door-chime to his quarters sounded. “Oh, God - please don’t let that be McCoy with another of his bloody ‘are you really alright’ tests,” he groaned, as he threw the padd onto the table and rolled off the bed. “Come in if you must, then, you…” He stopped mid-sentence, mentally back-pedalling as Uhura stepped into the room. “Uh… Lieutenant. Sorry. I thought you were Doctor McCoy,” he said.
Uhura had halted beside his desk, and seemed to be looking at him as though she’d never seen him before. Maybe she should still be in sickbay, Scotty thought, noticing that she was still wearing a blue medical robe - though he couldn’t help but notice too that the colour suited her. And she filled it really well. “Are you alright, lass?” he asked, as he took the few steps necessary to put a friendly hand on her shoulder.
She nodded, and rested a hand on his arm as she looked up at him. “I’ll be back on duty in a couple of days. I’m just not quite sure what a woman is supposed to say to a man who… who gave his life to try to save her,” she said. “Doctor McCoy explained - and they showed me the Bridge recording. Scotty - you died for me!”
“Aye, well…” He rubbed his neck, embarrassed. After all, it wasn’t as though he’d intended to sacrifice himself. On the other hand, he only had to look at her to know that he’d do the same thing again, willingly - even if Nomad wasn’t on hand to bring him back. “Seemed like a good idea at the time,” he said.
“Scotty…” She put her free hand on his chest as though reassuring herself that his heart was beating, and Scotty wondered if she’d felt his pulse rate quicken as she touched him. “They think that what you did distracted Nomad enough to save some of my long-term memories,” she said, “But I haven’t relearned all the rules and regulations yet. So you’ll have to tell me…” She had moved closer, both her hands were on his chest now, and he knew he really ought to pull away before her perfume and warmth and beautiful dark eyes fooled him into believing that she actually wanted him to…
She kissed him, and Scotty stopped thinking and kissed back, feeling Uhura’s lips part under his and her body press against him, as he slid his arms around her.
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“Nyota - what was it you wanted me to tell you?” Scotty asked, later, as she lay on top of him in the narrow bunk and nuzzled his neck, “You know - earlier?”
“Earlier? Oh yes…” He felt her lips whisper across his jaw till they reached his mouth, and he slid his hands down her back as she kissed him again. “I was going to ask you… if this is… against regulations?” she murmured.
Scotty grinned, and rolled onto his side, taking her with him and letting his hands drift lower as she sighed encouragement. “D’you know, lass,” he said, “I really don’t remember….”