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La’an arrived in sickbay to find Una behind a force-field near the back bio bed. She was crouched on the floor underneath the bio bed with her arms wrapped around herself. Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel spoke in hushed tones. Her uniform jacket was off and her nails were digging into the skin of her arms. Small rivulets of blood snaked down from where fingernails met flesh, but La’an didn’t think Una noticed. Her eyes were closed, and she was rocking slightly.
Chapel entered the force-field for a moment and delivered a hypospray, but there didn’t appear to be any effect.
“Report. What the hell happened to her?!” La’an looked between Chapel and M’Benga.
“Lieutenant.” Nurse Chapel answered, looking uncomfortable. “You’re listed as Una’s next of kin, so we called you here to…”
“Don’t say anything.” Una spoke and La’an turned to look at her. Her gaze was intense and focused on La’an. Her eyes carried an intensity that La’an wasn’t used to.
“You can’t just…not do anything about this.” Nurse Chapel cocked her head sideways, looking at Una.
Una spoke through gritted teeth. “It’s my choice. I can make it through this.”
“There is a very high chance you will not.. This…” Dr. M’Benga cut in.
“Is private. I’d like to return to my quarters if possible.” Una tried to stand on shaky legs, clinging to the side of the biobed.
“I’m not comfortable with that at this time. I think we can help to manage things somewhat here. We can engage the privacy screens more fully.” Dr. M’Benga spoke in low, even tones.
Una nodded. “La’an needs to leave.”
La’an scrunched her eyebrows. “What do you mean, I need to leave? Una, what’s going on?” They had just mentioned Una not surviving. This was not acceptable.
Her eyes watered as she looked up at La’an. “Just go. At least until it’s more private.”
La’an walked out and counted to sixty, before turning around and walking back in. She couldn’t see Una or Dr. M’Benga anymore. Nurse Chapel was poring over a pad. La’an rounded on her, fixing her sternest glare in place.
“What is going on?” She crossed her arms, starting Nurse Chapel down.
“I’m sorry, but that is a matter of doctor patient confidentiality. I can’t tell you without her permission.” Christine shrugged.
La’an debated. She could be brought up on charges if she abused her authority to get private medical information, but there was a high chance of Una actually dying of…whatever was happening to her, so it seemed inconsequential.
“Una is essential to ship’s security. If she is incapacitated, then I need to know what’s going on. That is an order. If you have a problem with it, then you can take it up with the captain.
Nurse Chapel shifted her weight back and forth before taking a deep breath. “Una was exposed to an alien biological contaminant. It reacted to her Illyrian physiology and triggered a vestigial mating cycle.” She pulled something up on her pad. “It’s really fascinating actually. Illyrians have long engineered this out of themselves, but the contaminant reactivated markers that had been previously turned off.”
“Can you turn them back off?” La’an crossed her arms.
“I’m not sure. I’m looking into it. Even if I could this…is the natural Illyrian reproductive cycle. If I used genetic engineering to modify it…” She shrugged.
“You’d be in violation of federation law.” La’an let out a sigh.
“Exactly. I’ll do whatever is ordered of me, but it’s something to keep in mind.” She entered in a few more bits of data onto the pad.
“So…it’s a mating cycle? How is that deadly? What does she…uh…need?” La’an scratched the back of her neck. “Una never mentioned anyone, but I mean…it’s not like there wouldn’t be..uh…volunteers. She’s…beautiful. Una is beautiful.”
“It’s deadly because her body just…isn’t equipped to handle it and even for an Illyrian this amount of hormones being pumped into her system is not sustainable.” She wet her lips. “It’s very likely to kill her.”
La’an took a sharp bread and nodded at Christine to continue.
”As for..um…volunteers—it’s not quite that simple.” Nurse Chapel moved closer to La’an speaking in a whisper. “It’s…targeted. In Illyrian couplings, it would be mutually triggered. For her here…it’s locked onto one particular person.”
La’an scrunched her face. “Did they say no or something? We can’t lose Una. I know we can’t order someone to…but there has to be a way.”
“Una asked for us to not inform the person. She didn’t want to burden them with the requirement.” Nurse Chapel swallowed.
“That’s ridiculous. Who is it? I’ll go talk to them personally.” La’an shifted back and forth ready to go and convince whoever she needed to.
“It’s…you.” She gestured at La’an with her pad.
La’an blinked. “What?” The words crashed over her and there was a disconnect. Sex with Una. It wasn’t something that she ever let herself think about. There had been dreams, but this had to be one of them. She subtly pinched herself.
“It’s you. You’re the one that she…needs.” Chapel’s eyebrows raised and she gave a flate smile.
“Oh…okay. What do I need to do? I mean…I know how everything works! But I…just…do that and she’ll be okay?” This wasn’t a dream, and she wasn’t sure that the reality of what she needed to do even mattered. She’d do anything to make sure that Una was alive and alright.
“Pretty much. It’ll have to burn out of her system over the course of a few days or so.” Chapel shrugged.
Her voice raised an octave. “Days of that…with Una.” La’an nodded. She could do this. She had to do this.
Nurse Chapel reached out, laying a hand on La’an’s forearm. “She wouldn’t want you to force yourself to do something like this…”
“No.” La’an lowered the pitch of her voice and squared herself up to Nurse Chapel. “I’m happy to help however she needs me. It’s…she’s not some kind of hardship.” Her body began to feel on edge. It was anticipation mixing with something else. It felt foreign, but not unwelcome.
“I guess that’s consent as far as you’re concerned, but we’re going to have to talk to Una. It’s not like ethically we could force her to…”
“God no.” La’an cut her off. “But I’m sure she can be practical about it so she can live.”
Nurse Chapel moved forward with La’an and turned the force-field from a frosted white back to clear. Una was pacing back and forth with Dr. M’Benga monitoring her vitals, his brows furrowed.
“Una…” La’an started
“La’an. I don’t know what you were told…” She glared at Nurse Chapel. “but I’m going to be fine and I’d appreciate you leaving.” Her eyes raked over La’an and La’an could see it for what it was now, poorly disguised wanting.
“Could we have some privacy?” She looked at Nurse Chapel and Dr. M’Benga who exchanged a long look before nodding and moving to the far side of sickbay. “Una. You don’t have to do this. Nurse Chapel filled me in—after I ordered her to, so reprimand me if you need to reprimand someone—but I can help you.” She stepped forward, placing her hand on the mild force-field. “I don’t want to lose you, Chief.”
Una moved closer, her body shaking. “I know that, La’an. But I can’t…I know you don’t have a lot of experience with things like this and I can’t…take that from you.”
La’an could see the damp sweat on Una’s brow, her breath coming fast and shaky. “You couldn’t take anything from me.” La’an shook her head. “Whatever this is. Whatever happened to you. I know that you’ll take care of me. I trust you, and that’s so much more than I can say for anyone else.”
It was a risk, but La’an overrode the force-field, moving to Una. Una didn’t move away. La’an could see the war behind her eyes. She stopped directly in front of Una, looking up into her eyes, “I need you. Please. I can’t lose you.” She reached out and took Una’s hand, placing it over her heart and covering it with both her hands. “I want you to touch me.” She couldn’t really think about what this would mean or what was coming, but she needed Una. “Please.”
She saw the dam break in Una’s eyes as something shifted and Una’s body crashed into hers, pressing her against the sickbay wall. She couldn’t have pushed her away if she’d wanted to, but there was nothing frightening in Una’s hands beginning to roam over her. Una’s scent enveloped her. She always smelled so good, but this close it was heady and overwhelming. Soft lips pressed against hers and she forgot to breathe.
The next thing La’an knew, she was dissolving into nothing and coming back before falling backwards onto something soft. She opened her eyes, and she was in Una’s quarters. Concerned blue eyes looking down at her, “Are you alright?” Una pulled forward, straddling La’an.
La’an nodded, “I’m good.” Her body was thrumming, and she felt almost dizzy, but none of it was bad. “I think they must have beamed us out of sickbay. Or I’m hallucinating your quarters.”
Una pressed more fully against La’an, the weight comforting. “We’re definitely in my quarters.” La’an felt Una’s nose nuzzling against her neck, feeling as Una breathed in deeply before pressing kisses to the skin there.
“Good…that….oh…good.” Her legs pressed against each other, craving friction. This was supposed to be about Una, but everything was intoxicating and it was hard to think. She put her arms around Una’s back, moving her hands to explore.
There was a ripping sound and La’an felt air on her chest before a soft hand moved to touch her breast. She cried out as Una touched her, her back trying to lift off of the bed, but being held firmly in place by Una’s body. She cupped Una’s face and pulled her back to kiss her as Una’s touches sent electric shocks to her core.
La’an started to pull at Una’s skant. She wanted to touch. Finally Una took pity on her and moved backward, pulling the garment over her head and tossing her bra aside. “You’re beautiful” It spilled from La’an’s lips without thought. Una was always so perfect.
Una smiled at her before moving her face a hairsbreadth from La’an’s, her lips ghosting over La’an’s as she spoke, “You’re exquisite, La’an.” She kissed her deeply and returned her hands to La’an’s chest.
La’an’s own hands were free to move over Una now. Her skin was impossibly soft. For a brief moment, she felt like a child playing dress up. She’d never imagined Una would be someone she’d be allowed to touch like this. That Una would ever be looking at her this way and touching her so nicely. She cupped Una’s breast and matched her motions, and felt Una gasp against her mouth. It was a heady rush and La’an felt…powerful. Important.
It was hard to form coherent thoughts as Una moved down her body. Kissing and sucking along her neck before settling on her chest. La’an’s hands moved to her upper back, just trying to hold on as Una took La’an’s breast into her hot mouth.
La’an called out. Her core felt heavy and empty at the same time. Una was everywhere and yet she wanted more of her. The feeling was new, and it left her panting. She wasn’t certain how Una could do this to her so easily, but she could never be too concerned. She knew that Una had her —that everything would be alright if she didn’t fight what she was feeling. Una’s hand snaked down and undid the button on her pants. It slid under the band of her knickers and ghosted along soft curls before parting her and sliding a finger to massage her gently in soft circles.
Her legs fell apart, and Una shifted to make room for them to spread. Una’s mouth and hand worked together, leaving La’an crying out. She opens her eyes for a moment to look down. She saw Una completely fixated on her. Una looked up and their eyes locked. There was a grin in Una’s eyes as she sucked down harder. La’an’s eyelids fluttered shut again. The sensations were almost overwhelming.
La’an felt the start of an orgasm building, but it was so different than her own hand. She chased the feelings as Una moved. Una’s hand stilled and La’an protested with a small keening sound. Una silenced her with a kiss and moved down La’an’s body, pulling her bottoms off and finally sliding her ruined top off of her completely. Una stared at her exposed form. La’an felt self conscious for a moment before Una spoke.
“You are…everything.” It’s easier to see the desire in Una’s eyes after she says it out loud. Her pupils were blown and she slid her own bottoms off without ceremony before moving back up to kiss La’an.
La’an relaxed into the kiss and smiled against Una’s lips as Una’s fingers found her center again. There was something more intense this time as Una kissed her. She moaned softly into Una’s mouth, spreading her legs wider. She felt Una grind against her and…something found its way into her core. It felt like something small, but long with more of the small tendrils slowly unfurling into her and filling her. She opened her eyes and looked at Una who was looking back at her nervously, even as La’an could hear Una’s breath becoming ragged as more of her pushed into La’an.
“I can…I’m not human. I know it’s not…usual…I…you don’t have to. We can stop.” Una held herself still. Even in her current state she was state willing to stop the moment La’an would ask her to.
La’an wasn’t entirely sure what was happening exactly, but it didn’t feel bad. She felt Una filling her and it felt so good. “You don't have to be human. You’re perfect. Don’t stop. I want…you.”
Una smiled before kissing her again. She felt more pressure building in her core. Una pulled back, panting. “You feel so good. You’re so good.” Una pushed her hips into La’an adding a shoving sensation as she ground into her—the little tendrils combining into one force.
La’an didn’t think she could take anything more, but having Una inside of her…hearing the soft moans as Una pushed against her—knowing how that it was her making Una feel so good. Una kept a hand between them, focused on La’an’s pleasure as she rocked. There was so much intensely good sensation, but it was so new and hard to hold on to. She gripped onto Una’s shoulders, concentrating on taking anything that Una wanted to give her.
La’an saw a flash of light and felt a wave of pleasure move through her. She cried out. She opened her eyes and Una was glowing in soft waves. As they crested, they broke into La’an, electricity moving through her and igniting her further.
La’an held tighter onto Una’s shoulders for an anchor point as she felt herself being swept away. The waves came in time with the thrusts, crashing into her.
“Yes,” she cried out, wrapping her legs around Una and pushing her harder against her. Una took the cue and sped up.
“Oh god, La’an.” Una panted as she worked into La’an’s body.
Una was all around her and within her and it was all-consuming. She broke against Una, screaming her name. Una’s calls soon joined hers as an even brighter light and wave of rapture tore through her. Time ceased and her body spasmed, but Una fixed her in place. Steady. Constant.
La’an came back to herself tiny aftershocks of pleasure jolting through her core before stopping. Una pulled gently out of her. She felt Una’s hands cupping her face, and she opened her eyes. Concerned blue eyes looked down on her.
“Are you alright, darling?” Her thumb traced La’an’s cheekbone, and La’an nodded softly. La’an felt small. She curled into Una and Una held her close in her arms, rubbing her back gently. A thousand sweet nothings passed her lips telling La’an how good she felt and how beautiful she was. It helped. La’an drifted off to sleep in Una’s arms feeling whole.
Una’s ardor came in waves, and La’an met it in kind. There were so many ways to be with Una. So many things to explore. Una was unique and singularly wonderful. The more they came together, the more that La’an started to feel a sense of belonging.
La’an was certain on the third day that the mating fever had passed, but Una hadn’t said anything and La’an wasn’t ready to head back to a life without this. It would have to end eventually, but not yet. She smiled down at Una as she ground her core against Una’s, slowly enveloping her. La’an loved this as much as she loved Una pushing into her. She loved the faces and sounds that Una would make as she bounced up and down.
It wasn’t long before they came again, one taking the other along with them. Illyrian biology had some advantages. La’an collapsed down next to Una, tucking into her with her head on Una’s chest. Long fingers smoothed her hair gently as she caught her breath. It was late and La’an felt sleep pushing in. It was soft and gentle and she didn’t fight it as she began to doze.
She pulled back into consciousness as Una shifted underneath her. She frowned as she rolled off and onto her pillow. It wasn’t nearly as comfortable.
“I think we can go back to work tomorrow.” Una shifted up onto her arm, laying on her side.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to stop prematurely and have you get hurt.” La’an’s stomach dropped. It was time to stop playing dress up like this was something she could keep. She stayed on her back staring at the ceiling, not wanting Una to see how she felt. Una had very little choice in this, and La’an would never want to burden her.
“I’m sure.” There was a strain in Una’s voice that La’an couldn’t place.
“Oh…alright then.” It hurt more than she had imagined it would.
“You don’t have to stay now if you don’t want to.” The comment sounded offhand, but La’an took it as a dismissal.
“Oh.” She needed to start moving, but her body didn’t want to cooperate.
“You can stay if you want to. You just…you don’t have to. Nothing bad will happen to me if you leave.” Una was quick to reassure, but it felt hollow to La’an.
La’an didn’t want to stay like this—as some sort of pity measure. She took a deep breath and turned away from Una so she wouldn’t see the tears that filled La’an’s eyes. Unceremoniously, she rolled out of bed. La’an looked around for her clothes for a moment before remembering that the top was ripped apart. Luckily her bottoms were intact, and she pulled them on, facing away from Una and the bed.
“I’m…sorry for this. I know you wouldn’t…you hadn’t…I’m sorry.” Una’s voice quivered.
La’an couldn’t hear this. As soon as her pants were fastened, she pulled open Una drawers, finding an old Starfleet Academy t-shirt and tossing it over her head. She didn’t bother asking. She’d given Una plenty, and this was nothing.
“La’an…?” Worry crept into Una’s voice.
La’an said nothing. Her eyes stung, and it would be all that she could do to get back to her quarters before letting the tears fall. La’an didn’t want Una to see her cry. She agreed to do this and it wasn’t Una’s fault that it made her feel more than she ever expected to. She wiped her face clean, quickly.
Una got up off the bed, “La’an…hey…” Her tone was placating. She moved in front of La’an, but La’an swiftly moved around her.
“Please La’an…” Anxiety was clear in the strain of her voice. “I never meant to burden you with this…with me.” La’an was walking towards the door. “This…it should have been with someone you actually wanted. Not someone who couldn’t keep her feelings for you under control to the point you were forced to do all of that so adrenal stress wouldn’t kill her.” La’an paused just before the place on the floor where the door would swoosh open.
Una moved directly behind her, “I hope you’re still willing to be my friend, but I understand if you can’t now that you know. Now that you’ve had to…I’m so so sorry.”
La’an couldn’t move. Una seemed to be implying actual feelings were involved—that it wasn’t just a random selection. “Why did it have to be me? To fix you. Why me?” He couldn’t keep the slight quiver from her voice. Una was so close behind her that La’an could feel the heat radiating off of her, but she couldn’t turn around and look at her.
“I…you’re you. You’re the only person who I feel like I can be completely comfortable around. I always want you with me. When I reach out to you and touch you, I feel like I’m home. And you’re just…so beautiful.” La’an felt the puff of air as Una took a breath and exhaled. “You’re the only person who I want to be with.”
La’an whipped around, neck craned to look at Una this close. “What?,” she asked sharply. “You have actual feelings for me?” As Una looked down at her, the tears spilled over her cheeks, but she didn’t care at this point.
“Yes. I know it’s inappropriate and unwanted.” She reached up slowly to wipe La’an’s tears. “I didn’t mean for this to happen…for you to have to…”
La’an leaned into Una’s hand. “You’re an idiot.” She slapped Una’s unclothed shoulder, not moving her head from Una’s hand.
“Ow.” Una didn’t move away or stop wiping tears. “I deserve that. And more. I can’t give you back…”
“Shhhhhh. You don’t know why you’re an idiot yet.” La’an moved forward tucking into Una’s bare chest. Una moved her hands around La’an’s back, holding her close instinctively.
They stood like that for several minutes before Una broke the silence, “Do you care to fill me in on why I’m an idiot?”
Her voice was distinguishable, but slightly muffled, speaking against Una’s chest, “I liked it.”
“I know it was…nice. I tried to make sure you felt good. I wanted it to be good for you. As much as it could be.” She ran her thumbs in slow circles.
“I liked it, because it was you doing it. Not because of what you did, exactly, though that was also very nice.” La’an brought her hands around Una’s lower back.
There was a quick intake of breath above her. “You…me?” Una paused for a long second. “I AM an idiot.”
“That’s what I said.” She squeezed Una for emphasis.
They stood quickly for a few moments. “I hurt your feelings before, when I said you could go.” Una pulled back, cupping La’an’s face. “I didn’t want you to go. I never want you to go. I just didn’t want to trap you somewhere you didn’t want to be.”
La’an turned her head and kissed Una’s palm. “Well, you could have led with that instead of making me feel like I was only good for…you know.”
Una leaned down and kissed her gently before pulling back. “I should have. I love you. I loved being with you, but only because I love you…so much.”
La’an smiled and let out a soft chuckle despite the tears still falling. “I love you too. I hadn’t realized, but I do.”
“Even though I’m an idiot?” She kissed La’an’s forehead.
“Well, apparently, you’re my idiot.” She pushed forward again and into Una’s arms.
Una put her arms under La’an’s rear and picked her up. Carrying her carefully back to bed before laying her down and curling around her.
“Wanna call out one more day?” She tucked a strand of hair behind La’an’s ear.
“And do what?” La’an nuzzled Una’s neck.
Una pulled La’an closer. “Talk. Or anything else you want.”
“Anything?” La’an grinned and pressed a kiss to Una’s neck.
Una smiled softly. “Anything.”
“That sounds nice.” She nuzzled into the crook of Una’s neck and drifted off to sleep. She was oddly thankful for biological contaminants and strange Illyrian physiology.