Fandom: Star Trek
Pairings/characters: Jim Kirk x female, mention of Leonard McCoy and Montgomery Scott
Words: 522

I missed Jim. It was a busy time, both working overtime and barely seeing each other. Maybe we passed each other in the hallways rushing from one place to the other with no time for more than a hello, or we saw each other long enough for a quick kiss as one came home from their shift and the other started theirs.

It was taking its toll on me. I longed to feel his arms around me, his lips on mine for more than a chaste kiss. I needed to talk to him, talk about work, about life. I needed to snuggle with him as I slept because the fact was, that I had grown accustomed to sleeping next to him and just didn't sleep as well without him anymore. I just... I needed to be with him.

It looked like he was suffering from it too, with increasingly darker circles beneath his eyes, his hair was less perfect every time I saw him. Occasionally, Bones was trailing after him, a tricorder at the ready and a dark scowl. Jim needed a break. I needed a break.

Last night I had heard a rumour that we would be off the clock around the same time, and I hoped I would be able to have a few minutes with him before falling asleep. But I was so exhausted. I managed to undress but never made it to the shower. Was just going to lie on the bed for a few minutes, but the next thing I knew, an alarm woke me, and it was morning.

With a groan from needing much more rest, I flung my arm over to Jim's side. It was still cold and empty. So I let loose another groan, of sadness this time, and got up to shower, praying I would have more than one minute with my boyfriend soon, or I would go crazy.

The warm water felt too good on my tired body, and I struggled to stay awake. A stone cold raktajino would be needed after the shower, or I wouldn't be able to even walk to engineering without falling asleep.

I had been standing under the spray of water too long, fighting to stay awake and trying to remember Jim's schedule, if there would be time for some quality time coming up. But my brain didn't work, and I would have to check my PADD if I got two minutes to spare for a break during the day.

I turned off the water while praying for a quieter day, and got out of the shower. Something red on the mirror caught my eye, and I looked up. On the mirror in red lip liner and Jim's handwriting were the words:

Observation deck 2 at 1900 hours. I made Scotty clear your schedule :*

And beneath it, he had added with his finger in the fog:

Love you!

I hadn't even heard him come in! With the towel around me and water dripping on the floor, I poked my head out of the door. And there he was on the bed, asleep with his uniform on.