Reboot Fic: Four Square 6/7 (Draws X)

[syredronning]

Codes: Pike/Dael/Kirk/McCoy, various OCs and other pairings in passing
Rating: NC-17; warnings: kinky, queer, mixed poly relationship with large age difference
Word count: this part 10.000, complete 60.000 words

Direct links to part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 7



The news of Barnett's death, when Pike at last informs his lovers over breakfast an hour later, weighs on everyone but Dael who had never met the admiral in person. When Pike suggests that she could stay away from the funeral, though, Kirk is clearly annoyed, despite the fact that Dael herself would rather keep away from the official event.

It drives home the point once more that while McCoy might protect Dael due to his inbred Southern gentleman ideal and caretaker leanings, Kirk feels protective of Dael on a completely different level, in a strange mix of fraternal and erotic love. If Pike fucked up his relationship with Dael, it would be Kirk who'd give him hell, and after having seen enough of his lover's protective streak during this vacation, Pike really doesn't want to be on the receptive end of Kirk's full wrath.

The emotionally intense morning had taken its toll on all of them, and Pike isn't unhappy when Kirk and McCoy decide to spend the day with each other. Although he's officially on vacation, thanks to the unplanned trip to Utopia Planitia for the new Borg technology his work is suddenly catching up with him. People call him, asking for input and information, and he can't avoid coming in for two meetings at the admiralty. Dael seems to be happy to come with him and hit the academy for a few hours, catching up with class work and upcoming projects.

When she's done, she comes to his office and curls on his couch with a PADD in her hands, and it brings an intense feeling of relief and peace to him that she's still here with him despite all the subconscious problems he has with accepting the relationship. He's not too sure that Kirk's intervention had been necessary; he knows that Dael doesn't like others to interfere with her life, and Kirk had done that, outright and with verve. But while she's taken over the discussion and stirred it into the direction that's been really important to her, she hadn't stopped him.

Maybe this intervention had been covered by fraternal love too.

It's already after nine in the evening when McCoy calls the office.

"Everything okay?" McCoy asks, and Pike can see his concern over the screen, underlying the simple question.

"I think so," Pike says and looks over at Dael, who'd fallen to the side in slumber, her head on the armrest. He'd put a blanket over her, like in old times - a silly expression, as old times mostly translates to before this vacation, and had watched her for the better part of the last hour.

"You'll be coming home tonight?"

"Sure, just need to wrap up here and wake up Dael."

"Good." The doc's relief is practically dripping from the word. "We cooked something. Hope you'll like it."

"I'm sure we will. Give us fifteen minutes." Pike smiles at McCoy. "Looking forward to seeing you. Both of you," he adds with emphasis.

"We do too." McCoy brushes two fingers over the cam, wordlessly reaching out before the connection closes.

Pike shuts down his work and gets up from his chair. He feels better than the day before - he'd eaten regularly, had had a satisfying work day, and had enjoyed the silent company of his partner - okay, girlfriend, whatever, it's just a word, he can deal with it. Going down on one knee in front of the couch near her face, he gently says, "Hey, darling, ready to go home?"

There's a sigh on her lips. "Do we have to?"

"Yes." He's not going to let a perhaps necessary confrontation get in the way of their foursome that had worked damn well so far.

With effort Dael sits up, stretching her thin limbs before putting her legs left and right of him. He rubs along her thighs as she's looking into his eyes in thoughts. "I don't feel mistreated by you," she says quietly after a moment.

"I hope so. But that doesn't mean I couldn't do better."

"I've known that our relationship would cause talk."

"Sounds more like bullying from the way Jim said it. Is he right?"

"A little, maybe." She briefly avoids his gaze. "But I'm used to that."

"Nobody should be used to getting bullied," Pike states.

She shrugs. "It takes many different forms. Sometimes it's just the way tea is offered in a ceremony." Her right hand forms an imaginary cup, drawing a circle in thin air before she lets it sink down and covers his hand on her leg. "I didn't feel wanted in a very long time. I feel wanted by you."

"I want you," Pike agrees. Too much, his inner voice inevitably chimes in, but maybe that's just the degree she needs. How had Doctor Will put it? The secret of good relationships are two people with compatible weaknesses.

If that's true, they have one hell of a great relationship.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks, drawing one finger over the smirk that had formed on his lips over the idea.

"Just a memory." He smiles at her, then gets up and captures her hand. "Let's go home, our men are waiting."

She walks with him into the middle of the room for beaming, and minutes later, they're joining Kirk and McCoy on a lovingly decorated dinner table.

*

There's more tension than there had been over the last days, their interaction and dinner talk less easy than before, especially between Pike and Kirk. Considering that Pike had been much more concerned about McCoy's behavior in this vacation, it's almost amusing that Kirk is the major - challenge, Pike thinks, unwilling to call it anything else. They don't have a problem, only some minor disagreements, and they'd iron it out again.

He's still glad when Dael drags Jim away for a talk, leaving him and the doc alone in the kitchen. Knowing his own kitchen best, Pike takes over most of the duty, cleaning away the dishes and leftovers.

"I'm sorry," McCoy says once the dishes are in the washer. "I knew he'd become quite protective when it comes to her but I didn't realize how far it went."

"It's not a bad thing in itself," Pike says calmly; he'd had the day to think over their vacation and everything Kirk had said and done so far, and has a clearer opinion on certain aspects by now.

"He's got a case of over-identification," McCoy chatters along. "They both belong to that unspoken brotherhood of abused kids, so he just can't help identifying with her and her losses. He couldn't help Sam but now he likes to think he can help her."

"I'm sure he can, and as I said, it's nothing bad in itself," Pike repeats. "Many of his accusations were correct, and on another day, I would probably have dealt better with them. But after yesterday, I've been more than ready to interpret everything coming from him as a personal attack."

"Yesterday?" McCoy asks with a frown. "Jim didn't say much about it but he didn't give the impression that there'd been any problem between the two of you."

"Not from his side. For him, all was fine." Pike puts the last bowl with food into the fridge. "Let's just say that there were intense discussion about important subjects, and Jim and I often differed in opinion. It's all been professional disagreement, and he's brought up many valid points - but it did feel like a confrontation at times. It's been all in my head, I know, but it has felt like that and I'm not yet completely over that feeling."

"Oh." McCoy rubs his forefinger over his bottom lip in thoughts. "You lost the discussion," he concludes.

"Yes." Grabbing a towel, Pike cleans some droplets of water from his sink.

"You almost had a breakdown and then tumbled over Jim fucking Dael in the shower this morning, right before Nogura called to inform you about Barnett's death. And after that Jim cornered you about your relationship with Dael."

"Yes."

"Whoa," McCoy says with clear, true admiration. "If I had been in your place, I would've had the fight of all fights with him. How could you stay so calm through all of it?"

"I'm not the type to shout around," Pike says.

McCoy shakes his head. "And here I thought Dael's obvious tendency to swallow everything down is unhealthy. You're a lot worse than her."

"Better, doc, better, because I trained that all my life," Pike replies, not feeling insulted at all. "Dael and I work because we can live with things unsaid. It might not be optimal at times, but the alternatives aren't necessarily better. We speak enough, and when I fuck up big time, trust me, she tells me - did that already once."

"I believe you," McCoy says simply. "You know I've had a lot of concerns. I still think she's got a pile of issues and you might have been better off with someone better fitting. But hell, here I am, the man who never wanted to work on a ship but does it anyway because he's with Jim Kirk, who's a pile of issues extraordinaire himself. So I'm not going to throw stones in a glass house."

"Thanks, doc," Pike says, moved. "I've always tried to keep my concerns in check but I had moments in which I wondered whether you'd make me choose, and I had no idea what I should do then."

McCoy's gaze sinks to the floor. "I almost did make you choose," he says quietly.

"Not like that, doc. You thought about staying with me because you felt you were running out of options, but even then you didn't want me to force to leave Dael." Pike inhales deeply.

"Truth to be told, I wouldn't let you walk away from Jim. It's never been clearer to me than after this vacation." Pike might love McCoy more than it's good for any of them, but the limit of that love is the moment when it hurts somebody else he loves, and overblown feelings of competition back or forth aside, he loves Jim - otherwise, he wouldn't have these issues at all.

McCoy frowns. "Any special reason for bringing that up now?"

"Just had to think about something Jim told me lately. You know Jim's philosophy? That everyone would walk away from him in the end?"

McCoy looks at him strangely. "You mean his we live alone, we die alone, yadda yadda? Sure."

"I hated to hear that's what he thinks."

"We all have our philosophy to bring us through life," McCoy replies.

"What's yours?" Pike asks.

McCoy looks away.

Pike touches his arm, suddenly concerned. "Please - Leonard. I'd love to know."

"While I understand Jim's take on life, and it sure works for him, in my world view, nobody's supposed to live alone." McCoy moves out of Pike's grasp, starting to wipe the table. "I want to live my life as good as possible, hurt no one, be happy at no one else's expense. And I want to belong somewhere, have my place in the universe."

"That's so bad?" Pike asks a little confused by the pain that lingers in the words.

"It's a philosophy that gets me a lot more hurt than Jim's would."

Pike reaches out. "Come to me," he says, adding a whispered please when McCoy doesn't move right away.

At last McCoy gives in, returning to him. They clasp hands.

"I thought I knew where I belong. I still know - I can't imagine living without Jim - but it got a lot more complicated," McCoy says roughly. "Because I can't imagine living without you either anymore."

"I know." Pike rubs McCoy's fingers. "It's similar for me; I can't imagine living without any of you. When Jim brought up his idea of a farm for us all -"

"That harebrained idea," McCoy states darkly.

"- when he brought it up, I knew he was right. It may sound harebrained and it's not something we can have right now, but we can plan for it in the future."

"You really think we could have that?"

Pike pulls him closer. "I've never been one to make big plans for my personal life, and the few times I tried, they fizzled on me. But this is a dream I can go with, something I can imagine to come true."

"With Dael?"

"If she wants to," Pike says. "It will be solely her choice. If one day she's got enough of me, I'll accept it. I won't tie her down."

"And if we ever moved on?"

"I'd accept it just the same."

McCoy frees one hand to put it against Pike's neck. "And you're complaining about Jim's philosophy?" he asks almost disbelieving.

"I'm only a realist," Pike says. "That's all there is. Hard facts, hard decisions. The universe is unfair and unpredictable, shit happens every day. You eat it up, you move along."

McCoy looks at him wide-eyed, his hand sinking down. "I thought life was a game to you."

"Only regarding the idea that every decision is like a move on a chess board. You never know whether it was the right one until the game is over. If you were lucky, you managed to make a difference to some people. Most likely you won't."

"Whoa, fuck." McCoy stares at him. "Compared to you, I'm the greatest optimist in the quadrant."

They are torn out of the discussion as the kitchen door opens, Dael appearing in it. "Sorry," she quickly states and turns to leave, but McCoy calls after her. "Come on in," he says, and she joins them with a cautious gaze.

"We were only just exchanging philosophies," McCoy says. "The way we see the world. What's your point of view?"

Dael looks back and forth between them.

"Chris is a brutal realist, I want the happy ending, Jim is all about living and dying alone - what about you?"

Her growing frown shifts the tattoos, increasing their naturally intimidating effect.

"This isn't a joke," she states coolly.

"No, it isn't," McCoy agrees. "It's… ah, dammit. Sorry, Dael." He moves away from them and all but flees from the kitchen.

When Dael meets Pike's gaze with profound confusion, Pike can only shrug. "I have no clue what that was about."

She nods, though visibly disbelieving.

He beckons her closer and takes her into an embrace, wordlessly caressing her back in long strokes.

"You seem sad," she says, her voice muffled against his shoulder, her hands loosely on his hips.

"Just wondering if my take on life isn't worth some redefining," he says. Maybe developing a more positive outlook on the future - aside of his concerns about the Borg and his health - would make both their lives easier.

"Sometimes I think life is just something to suffer through," she murmurs.

"Not always, but probably too often," he agrees. He strokes up to her neck, massaging it with his fingertips. "Missed this."

"What?"

"Just being with you. Having a few quiet minutes together." He brushes through her spiky hair. "I'm glad you are with me."

"Really?"

"Yes." He runs his hands under the collar of her shirt, stroking her shoulders. "I need you."

Her arms close around his waistline. "I know," she says and looks up at him at last. "It's okay." She smiles a little.

He lifts her up on the table, stepping between her legs and pulling the shirt over her head. She cradles his head, combing through his hair as he cups her tiny breasts, then runs his fingers down her tattoos. With a soft sigh he bends his head and kisses along the patterns, pushing her back on her elbows in the process. She giggles a little as he hits a ticklish spot, and it makes him spend some extra time there, until there's a small hickey next to the one there already is, and he only feels a little guilty that he's been so dumb at times. She makes him happy, and he's glad that Jim managed to make her happier too - he'd have to do some catching up. Not glossing over any smoldering problems, but still getting better at putting more emphasis on the good aspects of life, the things that make life worth living.

Definitely room for improvement.

She's flat on her back when he's finally bending over her groin, licking over shaved skin. His stupid brain still doesn't want to get over the difference in smell, so he quickly grabs the honey from the cupboard and squirts some onto her labia. She tilts her head and smiles as he distributes the sticky sweetness all over her sex, gasping when his fingers find her clit. Wiggling upwards, she puts her feet on the table to make it more comfortable to him when he bows to lick her now literally sweet spot, and she arches against his mouth as he establishes an effective rhythm.

His face is all sticky and wet when she's finally done, and she kisses it a little away before they go for a shower together.

*

He's hard through all of the shower, but when he tries to encourage her to take care of him, Dael is playfully keeping him at a distance. Or worse, is kissing and touching him in all the ways that turn him on, but then doesn't deliver.

"Trust me," she says amused and gently pushes his arm away when he and his needy dick corner her against the wall once more, wet and glistening not just from water.

"I don't think I trust you when you've got that gleam in your eyes," he mutters under his breath while he rubs himself dry.

She smiles and captures his hand to pull him towards the living room.

"Sit down," she says - no, orders, and he follows, sitting down in the middle of the white couch. "Close your eyes."

"Fine." He closes his eyes, hands loosely on his knees. Two could play the game; he just hopes that her surprise will be a nice one, he's not up for anything edgy right now.

Her steps move around and out of the room, and for a while there's nothing. His body shivers a little in what suddenly feels like a cool room, and he orders the heat up to a decadent twenty-five degree Celsius. His mind is drifting, with nothing special in focus, mostly a white blur of relaxation. He must have missed the steps because the touch on his legs startles him - he'd expected Dael, so the weight in the touch and the mouth that goes down on him takes him by surprise. She's as reluctant about active oral sex as he is, which is a little frustrating in certain moments but fine all in all because it means they are balanced at that point, but he really misses this once in a while - tight lips, a tad of stubble, a strong tongue wrapping around his dick.

His body leaps into the touch with a tilt of his hips and a hearty grown, but then his mind catches up. His eyes snap open, and he looks down on his lover - on Jim in front of him on his knees. Impulsively, he puts one hand on Kirk's shoulder in a vague motion of pushing away. "You don't have to do that -"

Kirk pulls back, giving him a pleading gaze. "But I want to, Chris. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you look bad in front of your colleagues." He clasps his hand around Pike's upper thighs, his expression decidedly nervous. "I knew that a lot of people were looking at us, not the least Nogura himself, and the only thing I had in mind was that I wanted to be at my very best. I wanted you to be proud of me. I wanted to give the best possible input. I'm sorry that I didn't support you better -"

"Captain Kirk had an opinion, I had mine," Pike interrupts him. "That's got nothing to do with supporting me."

"Please, let me finish," Kirk says. "I had all day to think about this, and when Bones came to me half an hour ago, telling me how you felt about yesterday, it all clicked. I was so angry with myself. I want you to stand by Dael, but I can't do the same for you. Last vacation, I was annoyed about you outing our relationship to Nogura and Barnett. This time, some people know and many suspect, just like with Dael, and there's still a part of me who doesn't want to make it official. I kept away from you all day, as if we hadn't just arrived together from our joined breakfast table. I don't know why, I don't understand myself somehow. Maybe I don't want it to look as if I've earned my career on my knees. I don't know. But I'm sorry if I made you feel bad yesterday. I thought you were fabulous." Kirk runs his hands along Pike's skin with a small sigh. "You wouldn't believe what it did to me, seeing you sitting there at the top of the round, listening to your voice reciting all the details, the pros and cons. You're on the way to become one of the most powerful men of Starfleet, and it turns me on like crazy." Kirk leans forward to place a kiss on the slightly deflated erection. "I'm sorry, sir. Please, let me make it up to you."

Pike laces one hand into Kirk's hair. They could just have make-up sex, or they could do something that would burn off all left-over bad feelings. Considering the decidedly sub touch of Kirk's current attitude, he decides to test the water for more. "Well, cadet - usually, such subordination would warrant a disciplinary action."

When Kirk sweeps very bright blue eyes at him, Pike doesn't really need to hear the instantly forthcoming, "yes, sir, at your discretion, sir" to know that they both could use a little scene.

"Go to the bedroom and get the wooden paddle out of my nightstand, middle drawer."

His lover leaps out of the room, returning instantly with the described tool in his hand. He sinks onto his knees and offers it to Pike.

"Thanks. Now, get up here on the couch and crawl over me so that your ass is ready for punishment."

Kirk's enchanting buttocks all within his and the paddle's reach, the man's head bowed between folded arms on the one side of his legs, knees on the other… the view is so good, makes him feel so good. Letting the paddle dance over the flesh with sweet, luscious sounds causes Pike's dick to bloom between his thighs and Kirk's stomach, a deep heat spreading in his groin. That his victim wiggles once the slaps start hurting a little, the skin turning to deeper shades of red, does nothing to tone down Pike's arousal. He works on the ass until Kirk's moans get that slight edge of real pain and his own arm starts to tire, then he stops, playfully nudging the paddle's side between the cheeks. "I have the impression you like your punishment, cadet," Pike asks, his authority slightly diminished by his own heavy breathing.

"Yes, sir," the captain's voice resounds muffled.

"Then I guess I need to up the disciplinary measures." Pike reaches for one of the lube bottles that are placed strategically all over the apartment and quickly coats the paddle's handle. Then he draws it through Kirk's crack. "Misbehaving boys need to be taught a lesson. Need to learn to take things up the ass." He's never been big in dirty talk, not like this, and he's not completely sure it will work out, but a quiet moan and the way Kirk's ass shifts into his teasing are definitely a positive answer. The wooden handle slips in easily, and he smoothly fucks the hole with it, in and out under the sound layer of whimpers that his action evokes.

"Like it, cadet?"

"Yes, sir. More, please, sir." What a plea in every word, going right into Pike's dick. He'd love to get his lover on all fours and screw his brain out, but he's got that feeling of weakness spreading in his legs again, probably from Kirk's weight on them, and he wouldn't be able to sustain active fucking for long enough. So when he draws out the handle with a slightly popping sound, he orders instead, "Get up on your knees, eyes down." Briefly supporting Kirk's move up, he throws away the paddle and then brings his hands to his own erection, lubing it up under Kirk's heated gaze.

"You're going to sit down on me, ride me."

Kirk hums in acknowledgment, licking his lips.

Jim finally lost his voice, Pike thinks amused, but the second his lover kneels over him and takes his dick up the ass in one swift move right to the hilt, Pike is rather out of articulate words himself. With his hands on Pike's shoulders, Kirk rides him in a powerful, energetic rhythm, putting every damn muscle in his well-trained body to good use. Yesterday, Pike would mostly have thought of his own currently lost ability to ride anyone like this but damn it, as long as he gets it up at all, he's not complaining anymore.

"You're so hot," he rasps, his hands stroking up and down Kirk's chest. "Fucking hottest cadet I ever had."

Kirk gasps and laughs. "Until Dael, at least."

Pike runs his hands lower, around the moving hips. "No. Even before I ever thought about fucking you, I could appreciate the way your body radiates sexuality. You're really something special."

"Hmmm, thanks for the compliment from the hottest admiral in the fleet." Kirk sinks down and pauses to lean forward into a kiss, capturing Pike's mouth to slip his tongue deep inside. Heat sweeps from Pike's head down to his toes, and all the pent-up arousal of the evening is unleashed - with only a few more pushes of Kirk's ass down his length he comes, arching and thrashing with a drawn-out growl that dies to a whimper when Kirk milks him down to the last drop with that gorgeous ass.

When Pike can think again, he puts his hand to work, tightening his hold on Kirk's leaking erection that's heavily resting against his groin. It doesn't need much - one circled sweep of his thumb, a few strokes - before Kirk follows Pike's lead, loudly riding out his orgasm that splashes hot come all over Pike's chest. With a deep sigh, Kirk sags forward at last, cradling Pike into another kiss before running gentle hands down his chest and distributing the sticky wetness all over his skin.

"And there I need to take yet another shower," Pike mutters in a fake complaint and combs his fingers through his lover's sweat-dampened hair.

"Love you, Chris," Kirk says quietly.

"I love you too, Jim."

"Not like you love them, but it's okay."

"When I'm with you, I love you the most," Pike says simply.

Kirk shudders tangibly. "Shit, Chris, that's the nicest thing you ever said to me."

"I thought that was the line about being proud. And I still am proud of you."

"Even after all my fuckups, the Borg and stealing your woman and almost getting Bones killed?"

Pike playfully tugs one earlobe. "Idiot." He draws a finger over Kirk's lips, keeping the man from replying with some shit. "Come on, let's shower together and then see where the others are."

Once again he needs a little support to walk, Kirk's arm around his waistline more than just a decorative touch, and the unease he'd felt upon similar moments within the last days returns with verve - there's no way around speaking with the doc about it tomorrow. But tonight, he finds their lovers are quite out of order, already sleeping side by side in the shady bedroom, PADDs slipped out of their hands.

The two newcomers shut off the quiet music from the console, get the technical gadgets out of the way and join them, climbing into the middle. Pike eases himself between Dael and Kirk, unwilling to keep his hands completely off the younger man right now. McCoy is on Kirk's other side, sleepily curling around his husband when he feels the mattress moving.

"Good night, lover-boy," Pike whispers and captures Kirk's mouth for a final, sweet kiss.

"That's not fair," Kirk says under his breath, rubbing a renewed erection against Pike's leg.

Pike smirks. "Tomorrow again." He puts his arm around Kirk's hips, cradling the ass cheek within his reach with his fingers. A deep-felt happiness mingled with profound relief fills his sense as he drifts into sleep, a smile on his lips.

*

When Pike wakes up on the next morning, it's to McCoy kneeling over him and kissing him awake like in some romance movie - not that Pike would ever watch one on his own free will.

"Huh?" is what consequently leaves Pike's lips.

"I'm just damn happy, that's all," McCoy mutters, sinking down next to Pike with one warm arm over his chest, nuzzling his nose against Pike's shoulder. "Dael's gone to the academy, said she left a note for you in your inbox. Jim's gone to a meeting with Nogura regarding the funeral that's going to take place tomorrow afternoon, he'll inform us later about the details."

"So that leaves the two of us," Pike says, drawing a line with his forefinger along McCoy's eyebrow.

"Yes." McCoy places a kiss on Pike's skin. "And we've got an appointment with Naaz at Starfleet Medical."

"Really?" Pike says stiffly, although he'd seen it coming - hell, he's been ready to ask for a check himself, but it feels differently to be kind of ordered to it.

"Yes. She called me because your signals were a little strange lately. She might be onto something, I just scanned you and the numbers are slightly over the place. Did you experience any discomfort lately?"

"Aside from feeling a lot more unstable on my legs than I've felt for a while? No." Pike sighs. "Can I have some coffee first?"

"Sorry, no," McCoy says apologizing. "We'd like to have you free of any chemicals aside from medication you're on."

"All right." Pike wants to get up, but McCoy's arm keeps him firmly in place.

"We've got an hour left," his lover mutters. "Let's enjoy ourselves for a moment."

"No sex before my first coffee," Pike states.

"Liar - but I don't want sex, I just want to enjoy being here with you," the doc says and tightens his hold. Pike gives in and relaxes into the embrace, almost instantly drifting back into a light sleep.

*

It's worse than usual, and considering that Pike is really used to getting poked and prodded at SFM, that's got to count for something. It feels as if the doctors launch every physical examination method within their reach at him, and he tries switching off because it makes him nervous. Just from the sheer amount of checks he realizes that Anumanchi and McCoy are taking his current problems damn seriously, and whenever he sees them at a distance, discussing some data with each other and further doctors he only knows by sight, they've got their eyebrows furrowed in thought. Now he's been sitting in an empty waiting corner for ten minutes, and doesn't like the expression on their faces at all when they finally join him, sitting down opposite to him.

"Chris -" McCoy clears his throat, then starts again. "Your data is inconclusive. That's not necessarily a bad sign, but it's not necessarily a good sign either. We're through with most tests, so there's only one thing left to try - we'd like to put you into the neural stabilizer."

Pike feels his blood draining from his face. It's one thing to land on the table when his life is in acute danger, but he's not that bad off - is he?

"Just for two or three hours," Anumanchi chimes in, her dark eyes resting on him in quiet sympathy. "It's a test, not a treatment."

"Three hours at most?" Pike repeats a little sharply, wishing he could walk away if he doesn't like their answer; but who is he kidding, he's got two of the best experts on his case and when they want to subject him to yet another treatment, he doesn't have many options aside of sucking up worse problems in the future, and he enjoys his life right now. Walking on his own legs, having good sex - he's not ready for a permanent place in nursery care yet. He wipes his hand over his face, feeling sweat breaking.

"Three hours, I promise," Anumanchi says, McCoy nodding at her side in confirmation. "Then you're free to get as much coffee as you need." She twinkles.

Pike inhales deeply, preparing himself for the upcoming challenge. "Okay, fine. I'm all yours." He bites his lip when they put him down on the sadly familiar table twenty minutes later, easing him into the apparatus.

"Anything you need?" McCoy asks him softly once he's all locked in, and Pike replies without thinking, "I wish Dael were here," instantly regretting it because it makes it sound as if he doesn't appreciate McCoy's presence. But right now they're doctor and patient, and he could badly use Dael for creature comfort - he's practically conditioned to crave her, considering that she's been with him through both treatment rounds in the past.

The expected frown on McCoy's face doesn't appear - if anything, his gaze softens some more. "I'll see what I can do." Then he leans down for a kiss. "We're busy but you're being monitored; if anything feels wrong, just speak up and we'll be here in a minute. Or would you rather be sedated? It wouldn't be optimal for the scan but if you want to -"

"No, thanks, I'm fine," Pike states. For very relative values of fine.

They clasp hands for another moment, then McCoy is gone and Pike tries to relax his body. He sighs as he stares up at the ceiling, determinedly setting his jaw. He'll survive.

*

He must have dozed off after a while, because the next time he opens his eyes, there's an instant movement close to him and then Dael leans over him, her patterns taking him by shocked surprise for a tiny moment before he exhales with a sigh, welcoming her kiss.

"Darling," he rasps, throat dry.

"Christopher…" she whispers, kissing him again. It's almost good enough to make him forget his uncomfortable position. "You're almost done, they should be here any second."

"Music to my ears," he mutters. True to her words, the doctors are on him minutes later, checking the panels before freeing him out of the torturous device. Once they're sure that he's fine, they leave him alone with Dael in an empty office, claiming they need another half an hour to have a closer look at the data. There's water on the table and some cookies, but he can't bring himself to have more than a glass of the fluid.

Pike clasps Dael's hand - too hard, too needy, he thinks, but he doesn't like the growing feeling of foreboding, the tension that's been rising all through the procedures. When the doctors join them, drawing two chairs close, the expression on their faces tells him enough.

Anumanchi is the first to speak, and he focuses on her. "We've had a close look at all the examination results. I won't bother you with details, you can always ask Leonard for them. By normal medical standards, your data doesn't show significant changes, nothing out of ordinary fluctuations. On the other hand, in a case like yours even the smallest changes could be important, and the blackouts and your latest moments of failing control seem to indicate a decline of your health." She pauses for a moment, giving him the space to say something.

"So what do you want to do now?"

"We'd like to include another specialist team in the analysis, a research group in Australia. We'd make your data anonymous, so that nobody would know it's about you."

"Okay." Giving out his data surely doesn't hurt.

"And you'll have to come in for an extensive scan soon."

"Means what?"

"A full four days in SFM, at the very least. We'll try to cause a blackout and see whether we could improve your medication."

Pike's heart sinks as the feared procedure he'd escaped for a while finally seems to catch up with him. Dael tightens her hold on his hand, and it's an incredibly comforting gesture, a promise of support he badly needs right now. "Am I able to work during these days?"

"Maybe, but nothing promised," Anumanchi says a little evasively.

"Doc?" Pike looks at McCoy.

"It would be better to take medical leave for a week or two," McCoy says openly. "I'm sorry. Wish we had a clear answer for you, one way or the other, but we just don't have one yet. I know I joked about having worn you out at last, but there seems to be more behind your repeated moments of weakness, and we'd like to find out the reason rather sooner than later."

"I understand," Pike replies with a calm he doesn't feel. "Do we need to settle a date right now?" he asks Anumanchi.

"Not right now - I've got to see when we've got the capacity for it, and you'll have to settle your responsibilities, no doubt. For today, I'll leave you to the care of your partners." They all get up, and Anumanchi pulls him into a light embrace as they say good-bye. "Enjoy your leftover vacation, and don't worry too much, Chris."

"That's a little hard, considering your news," Pike mutters.

"As far as we can see, there's no immediate danger," she says soothingly. "So have a good time."

"Thanks." He pulls away, lacing his hand with Dael's again as they walk out of the office, leaving McCoy behind who wants to spend some more hours with Anumanchi and her research team.

"Do you want to go home?" Dael asks once they're out of the building, but Pike shakes his head. "Let's walk a little." As long as he still could walk.

The weather is sunny but a little cool as they walk down the street together. He still holds her hand, her touch grounding his inner self that is shaken from the news.

"Did you even have breakfast?" she asks after a while.

"No, the doc wanted me to fast and right now I'm really not hungry."

"Well, I am hungry, so let's have something," Dael says and steers him into one of the fashionable cafés and up to the second floor. The windows offer a great view over the street, and they have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake together on her insistence. It does him some good, but his mood is still largely in the gutter, only beginning to improve when they're at home and in bed again. He curls around her, drifting asleep to her fingertips drawing circles on his forehead.

*

It's already early evening when Pike wakes up again to a lonely bed, and after a brief detour to the restroom, he dresses in protectors and slacks and goes to find the others. In the kitchen, the doc is stirring in a pot, charmingly underdressed in boxer shorts only.

"Chris - how are you?" McCoy asks him lightly, though hidden concern colors the question.

"Could be worse," Pike settles with, and takes a spoon to taste from the food. McCoy growls a little but then moves closer to him, comfortingly pressing his body against Pike's back. Lips find his neck, grazing over his skin.

"You know I'll do anything in my power to help you," the doc whispers in his ear.

"I know. Let it rest for tonight, please." Pike turns and presses his mouth on the full lips of his lover, sweeping his tongue between them. His hands run down McCoy's chest, reveling in the warm, naked skin.

They freeze as the door bell rings.

"Your apartment has become quite a popular place," McCoy says with a low chuckle.

Pike shakes his head in disbelief and walks to the main door to open it.

"John!" He gapes when he recognizes his friend, then tenses when he remembers their last meeting. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize." Farnham is dressed for going out, fashionable in blue and orange under a dark long coat, but he's also stiff and standing overly straight.

"In that case - come on in," Pike says and lets him pass. He'd thought about Farnham's scene once in a while but had never found the time to contact him, at last deciding to call him after the departure of the Enterprise men. It's actually a lot better, though, to get the thing cleared while they are still here.

"Let's talk," he says and leads Farnham out to the terrace, given that most rooms are occupied and the bedroom would be suggesting the wrong things.

"I'm so damn sorry, Chris," Farnham says. "I know I fucked up big time." He smiles crookedly. "Not that I even remember most of what I said but people relayed some of it back to me so I know it must have been really bad."

"What was eating you that night?" Pike asks. "Because your behavior was completely unusual for you. I heard it had to do with Eric -?"

"Not really." Farnham shrugs. "Okay, a little maybe."

"Come on, tell me."

Farnham's gaze drifts out into the evening sky. "You remember when you asked me about the biggest disaster I've ever experienced on a mission? Planet going all downhill in civil war because of my mistakes?" He looks back at Pike. "I was on a mission recently, similar to it, and this time I thought I'd be a little more inventive in my solutions."

"Oh." Pike can only guess what inventive might mean here, but Farnham's words imply that he strongly bent the rules, probably in rather illegal ways. "Let me guess - it backfired?"

"Well." Farnham laughs roughly. "Peace is restored, most people are happy. The government, though, needed a scapegoat for certain events that didn't look good in the headlines, and as I was the one warping the original orders, my superiors readily delivered my ass. So I'm grounded right now, while an internal commission is combing through my life's work and trying to find enough material to get me booted."

"Shit. And I stabbed right into that wound with my statement that night," Pike says ruefully.

Farnham nods. "But at least I've got a good conscience," he says ironically.

"You didn't sound like a man with a good conscience back in the club."

"That was before Eric gave me a piece of his mind." Farnham combs through his hair. "Hell, Chris, just like you I basically lived for my work. Losing it all of a sudden - I really didn't know how to deal with that. Treated Eric so badly that he walked out on me, which only made it worse. So when I saw you sitting there, looking so happy and relaxed with Kirk, it just killed me."

"Why didn't you call me for a talk?" Pike asks.

"I tried a few times but never got through, so I guessed you were busy."

Pike nods, remembering his secluded state before the arrival of his lovers with a slightly bad conscience. "Yes, I was. Sorry about that."

Farnham shakes his head. "I'm the only one who's got to be sorry for anything. But getting kicked out of the club threw me out of my loop of self-misery. Eric and I are together again, and as for the job - well, there are more jobs in the world. We'll see how it ends."

"If you need anything…" Pike says.

"Thanks. Right now, I mostly want to apologize to Kirk. Wouldn't want him or any of your tribe think that I'm just a big asshole."

"You're not, John," Pike says, and draws his friend into a hug. "I'm really glad you came here tonight. Let's go in and see the others."

When they walk inside, McCoy is lingering in the corridor. Pike introduces him to Farnham and they shake hands, the touch brief and their eyes cautious.

"Jim - a visitor for you," Pike says as they walk into the office. Kirk gets up with an alert gaze.

"Captain, I wanted to apologize to you," Farnham says. "I've behaved unacceptably back in the club, and I'm sorry for that. I promise that I won't cause another uproar."

From behind, Dael joins them, and Pike turns a little to put one arm around her hip. Farnham sweeps his gaze over the couple, then looks back at the Enterprise men.

"Actually, I guess you all should receive an apology from me. I don't know whether Chris told you much about me, but we've been friends for most of our lives. To be frank, I've been interested in him since our academy time but never managed to capture his interest to the depth you did. I regret that this caused some tension between us lately. I promise that this won't happen in the future."

"Well - what can I say?" Kirk takes Farnham's hand to shake it. "We all have bad times once in a while. Apology accepted."

"Thank you." Farnham looks decidedly relieved.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Pike offers. "It will be ready in a moment."

"Thanks Chris, but no thanks. I'm on my way to a party with Eric. He's waiting in the car."

"Okay." Pike walks Farnham to the door. "Give him my regards - and next time, bring him up. I really like him."

"I know." Farnham captures his hand. "When they're gone, maybe we could go out together, the four of us. If Dael would like to join in…"

"I'll ask her," Pike agrees, not too sure whether it would be a good combination but willing to accept the inherent peace offer.

"Fine. Have a good evening." Farnham nods and leaves.

When Pike returns to the office, all three are still standing there, falling into a suspicious silence upon his entry. They don't say anything else about Farnham as they walk over to the kitchen, but much later in bed, in a quiet minute, Kirk leans over to Pike and whispers, "I like John when he's not drunk. In fact, he's hot. Think I could borrow him next time we're here?"

"Over my dead body," Pike states under his breath, and it's not really a joke.

"Just kidding," Kirk murmurs soothingly but still grins. "Just wanted to test what happened to nothing exclusive and no rules attached."

"Ass."

Next to them, McCoy grunts. "Get quiet, guys, I need my beauty sleep."

"We're talking about serious things," Kirk says admonishingly.

"We're all too sleepy for that," McCoy mutters but turns his gaze towards them.

"If you want to hear it, I'm damn exclusive with the three of you right now and I've currently no intention to change that," Pike says. "However, that doesn't mean that you've got to see it the same." At his other side, Dael shifts a little but from her breathing, she's truly asleep.

"Good. Because I couldn't promise any exclusivity." Kirk curls against him.

"I know." Pike strokes through the blond hair. Above Kirk's body, the doc's eyes meets Pike's, and they say so fucking much regarding McCoy's emotional involvement with them that words are unnecessary. With his other hand, Pike reaches out, and McCoy takes it to press a kiss on his palm.

*

Nothing like a funeral day to remind one of how close life and death really are.

For Pike, life on this day means spending the morning in the city with his lovers. Kirk and McCoy had finally decided to go furniture shopping for their room, and although Pike and Dael hadn't been too keen on joining them for the task, Kirk had talked them into it.

It turns out to be a surprisingly funny experience, with lots of McCoy's trademark eye rolling when Kirk jumps onto yet another bed to test its fuckability. And of course, basically all sales personnel is confused about their constellation so they end up walking in couples, Pike keeping a little in the background with his arm around Dael's shoulder in an unambiguous claim. They find a few things too, including one interestingly formed, rather flexible chair that by common vote is absolutely made for sex, so they buy it for the living room. The furniture wouldn't be delivered before the men's departure, but Pike would make sure that next time they'd be on Earth, everything would be ready for them.

The reminder of death comes in the afternoon, when Admiral Barnett is buried on Starfleet Cemetery Central in a large, official ceremony. The men are in full dress uniforms, and Dael wears a fitting dress cadet uniform for once, which showcases her overly thin body. Pike definitely prefers her usual looks, and state as much to Kirk when they walk to the grave.

The captain eyes him thoughtfully. "Your uniform had a better fit in the past too."

"Lost a little weight over the last weeks," Pike says under his breath, wishing he'd never commented on Dael's figure. "Nothing serious." It's been mostly muscles, which actually is a little serious, but he'd deal with it after the vacation and he doesn't need Kirk to play doctor with him.

Once they reach the first line of people, Dael swiftly says, "See you later" and takes position in the back row among some junior officers and a few cadets. The men move forward, Pike joining the second row behind the family and the highest representatives, while Kirk and McCoy take a place among the guard of honor. They are well in time, the places still filling; but everyone is silent.

The ceremony goes smoothly, although it's a little overblown and pathetic in Pike's opinion, and he wonders if he should note in his last will that he'd prefer it a little more down-to-Earth style. Or maybe a wild sex orgy - would definitely be more fun for all participants. After the closing, he takes his time to wait until the largest crowd has passed the widow.

"Suzanne, my deepest condolences," Pike says quietly as he takes her into a heartfelt embrace, repeating the words he'd already said to her in a call. Then he looks at her, adding, "You seem to be taking it well. I'm glad."

"His death came as a release," she answers sadly, pressing his hand. "I know you still had hope, but I'd given up already two months ago."

"I hoped for a miracle," Pike replies with a fatalistic shrug. "I only wish it had taken place." He sees Dael drawing close and waves her to join him, wondering for a moment how to introduce her.

"You've got to be Cadet Dael," Suzanne Barnett says without ado, catching them both by surprise, and shakes her hand. "I've heard about you - Richard was really curious but Chris never wanted to share. Thank you so much for coming. My husband would've been delighted to see you."

From behind her shoulder, Pike can see Kirk's gaze, a slightly daring smirk saying "see, it's not as complicated as you make it". But he can also see Barnett's daughter, at least ten years older than Dael, frowning at them out of the corner of his eyes. It may not be as hard as he sometimes thinks, but it's far from being normal by Earth standards, and he's obviously far too attuned to criticism when it comes to anything he considers private.

Hell, Pike thinks as he has a sudden realization right there on the green. That's the damn point, and the solution is simple and straightforward - once he'd see his relationship as the public affair it'd already become, he'd probably stop feeling weird. Like Farnham once said, he'd never had a problem with making hard decisions and living with them in his professional career, and while it's a strange thought that a loving relationship should be considered a "hard decision", if that's what his brain needs, so be it.

"And of course -" he waves at Kirk and McCoy, deciding to go straight ahead with his new-found epiphany - "you know my other partners, Captain Jim Kirk of the Enterprise and his husband Leonard McCoy."

Kirk stares at him with wide blue eyes, and for the fraction of the second Pike wonders if this had been too much of a gamble - but then the captain smoothly makes that extra step forward and shakes Mrs. Barnett's hand, exchanging the fitting words of commiseration.

McCoy is still frozen in barely hidden disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, and it needs Kirk's elbow in his ribs to bring him out of the stupor and follow through with his own handshake.

"We'll move to the reception soon," Suzanne says. "I hope you'll join us."

"Of course," Pike replies, dying of amusement when his lovers gape at him again, because they'd actually decided beforehand that they'd bow out as soon as possible.

"I can't believe you did that," McCoy rasps when they walk to the ground transportation spot.

"You better believe it, because I'm going to go through with that today," Pike says challengingly. "You're coming, darling?" he asks Dael, offering his arm, and while her gaze definitely wavers between shock and awe, she doesn't hesitate to join his side.

"You're okay with that?" McCoy asks Kirk in disbelief.

"I think it's the best idea Chris ever had," the captain says and laces his arm into McCoy's.

*

"You know -" McCoy drawls from his position in the arm chair some hours later, out of jacket with his expensive shirt half unbuttoned, "the moment you said that to Mrs. Barnett, you could've knocked me out with a feather, to borrow a Scotty catchphrase. But I almost got used to it after the fifth time you presented us like that. Almost! Jesus, I've never been ogled like that on any Starfleet reception, not even the one for the heroes back then."

"Richard would have loved it," Pike states, a glass of bourbon in his hand, filled by the doc himself, his other arm lazily wrapped around Dael. "He always told me that an old guy hooking up with a young girl is rather normal, and he's been sadly right. Whenever I introduced Dael as my partner, people looked a little strange for a moment but then took it in a stride. Most seemed to have heard about the cadet with the Romulan tattoos anyway, so seeing her with me seemed to be weird, but acceptable."

Pike is bending the truth a little; there had been a few statements - not into his face but in a way he couldn't avoid hearing them - where people had sourly commented on his obvious leaning for teenagers, wondering whether he'd hooked up with other cadets in the past. In an unspoken agreement, the three men also had made sure that Dael wouldn't be cornered by certain people. Not that they think a woman needs extra protection, but Dael lacks their experience in dealing with the fineries of 'fleet asshattery, and they'd wanted her to have a safe, successful start in their circle, now that Pike had laid their relationship out on a plate.

Pike focuses back on the assembled listeners. "But when I introduced you all…"

"Yes, you could practically pick up people's jaw from the floor," Kirk says amused. "That was really shocking news. I overheard a couple of people muttering something about Andorian mores. Guess they meant it insulting, but after my experience with the fuming Andorian ambassador when I wed a couple of just two persons, they're taking their mores as important as humans do. One planet's good taste is still another planet's deadly sin." Kirk takes a gulp from his second glass of bourbon. "But there were also others, who looked more amused than surprised. That former CMO of yours -"

"Philip Boyce," Pike helps out.

"He congratulated me, said we obviously did a good job in making you a man at last." Kirk giggles, waving his glass around.

McCoy rolls his eyes. "Commodore Decker pulled me aside to tell me about the foursome relationship he and his wife had with a Betazoid Ambassador and his male partner a few years ago. He was wallowing in memories for the better quarter of an hour, and I really didn't want to know that many details!"

Dael lifts her head, looking at Pike. "A lieutenant I shall not name told me confidentially that she had a rather unsatisfying affair with a married admiral all through the academy. Now she wishes it had been you instead."

"Hear, hear." Kirk laughs at Pike's sour expression. "Our mighty savior of cadets."

Pike shakes his head. "A lieutenant commander that shall not be named either told me about his complex relationship arrangement which includes six people and associated others that serve on various ships, and how they manage to keep up the relationship anyway."

"Six, phew. Guess that means we could still raise the quota." Kirk pours another drink. "Maybe we should invite Spock and Uhura in." At McCoy's glare, Kirk laughs again. "Just kidding, Bones. If anyone, I'd rather want Sulu and Chekov, but they're ridiculously mono."

"Watch your words, Jim," Pike says in playful admonishment. "I've been mono, as you call it, for the longest time."

"You'd want to get back to that?" Kirk asks, suddenly serious, and all eyes turn towards Pike.

"I had moments in which I thought it would be easier - more manageable," Pike admits. "But it would also mean denying myself many wonderful moments with wonderful people." He smiles at them all. "We've got a marvelous relationship going, and it's worth a little heartbreak once in a while."

McCoy raises his glass. "Truer words were never spoken," he drawls and downs the golden liquor.

"And now," Pike states and unlaces from Dael to get up, "I think it's time."

"Yes, I think so too," Kirk agrees and stands up to join him in the middle of the room.

"What?" McCoy looks up from his empty glass, his eyes moving back and forth between the two men.

"I've got enough of that empty field in my personal profile," Pike states. "I think it's time we fill it."

McCoy looks warily, and Pike moves over to him, bending low to whisper in his ear, "Despite what you said to me a few days ago, and you were quite right about the possible problems, this is the best thing to do." He draws back a little to meet the doc's eyes. "I want it really badly. I want to see all your names in it, because everything else would be a lie. After today, I'm done with hiding our relationship."

Pike turns towards Dael. "You're in, darling?"

She looks up from the couch, her tattoos dancing a little while she chews over her answer, arms tightly clutched around one leg folded against her chest.

"All or nobody," Pike says. "That also means that everyone is free to say no. But I really would love doing it."

Kirk offers her his hand. "What Chris says. Please, say yes."

"I didn't expect this at all." She doesn't look convinced. "You are inebriated."

"I only had one sip," Pike replies. "The doc can testify."

She looks over to McCoy. "Leonard…?"

McCoy waves his hand. "What can I say? They're not drunk, they're just as nuts as always! I should never have hooked up with command track, you give them your little finger and next thing you know, you're getting hitched at gun point." He knocks back his glass.

"Problem is, I could never really say no to either." With a suffering sigh, McCoy gets up. "So let's do it." Then he pulls Dael up from the couch, who's too surprised to resist.

"I know you want it," the doc quietly says to her.

"Do I?" she replies challengingly.

"Yes." McCoy smiles, then turns to his men. "Come on," he says and walks out of the room.

"You could still say no," Pike says as he captures her hand.

Dael stares after McCoy. "Why does Leonard think I want to do this?"

Kirk puts his hands on her shoulders from behind. "It doesn't matter why he thinks it. It only matters whether he's right. You're probably the one on which this has the most impact, so it's logical that your vote is going to be the final vote."

"It's not fair to say all or nobody and then push the responsibility into my lap," she sourly accuses Pike.

"No, it's not," Pike admits. "But I've told myself for long enough that my relationship with Jim and Leonard won't last, and later on, that our relationship couldn't possibly last either. I'm tired of my own negative attitude. I want the four of us to stay together for a long time, and because of that, putting you all in as my partners has become really important to me." He takes her in his arms, cradling the back of her head as he looks into her eyes.

"All or nobody, I mean it. You've got to be in it, because I love you and I need you."

"That's not fair either," she mutters but yields to his embrace at last.

Pike smiles. "What?"

"Appealing to my… "

"Your what?"

"Ah, lluadh-nis." With verve, she draws out of his arms and stomps out of the room.

Shit.

"Guess it was the wrong move," Pike says flatly. Not that he'd understood her expression, but a swearword sounds like a swearword in almost any language in the universe.

Kirk supportively touches his upper arm. "Can't blame you for trying, Chris. I still think it's a wonderful idea."

"Seems you're the only one." Pike sighs, his mood rapidly sobering. He really should have learned by now that relationships don't simply work on command but it seems to be a lesson he needs to repeat every so often. "Let's find the doc and go to bed."

They walk to the office together, completely baffled by the view that opens to them when they're over the threshold.

"We're done - your turn," McCoy says from the chair, with Dael sitting in his lap and just saving her updated data. "Come on."

Dael slips off him, making room for Kirk who sits down on his husband, quickly opening his own profile.

"I don't -" Pike starts with a frown but she draws him into a deep kiss. When she releases him, he tries again.

"I really -" She kisses him again, and he gives up asking for an explanation.

Kirk just saves his data, three neat names in the field "partner(s)". As the one official partnership, McCoy's name is prominently formatted, and for a fleeting moment, Pike wishes they'd all have that status.

Next time, maybe.

When Kirk vacates his place, Pike looks down on the seated man. "Come on," the doc repeats and invitingly raps his thighs. Pike shrugs and takes a seat, opening his own profile.

Dael, James T. Kirk, Leonard H. McCoy he types in, adding an apologizing, "It's sorted alphabetically."

"I try not to feel insulted now," the doc mutters, turning the chair a little to look at the input. Warm hands slip under Pike's shirt, stroking his sides. With suddenly trembling fingers, Pike saves the update, then looks at the other two.

"Thank you," he says, his voice a little unsteady. "That means more to me than I can put into words."

"Jesus, this evening's been schmaltzy enough to give me a cholesterol shock," McCoy groans. "Let's go get the bourbon and a bed and have a party."

"That's a plan," Kirk cheers, and lifts Dael into his arms, carrying her off under her subdued squeals.

"Don't even think of it," Pike says amused as he gets up from the chair, the doc swiftly following him.

"Nay, you're not a lightweight like her," McCoy replies with a smirk and drags him to bed on his own two legs, where they almost find the perfect position for a mixed foursome to blow their brains away.

*
Onto part 7