"Chris… Chris!" She landed on her knees next to the admiral, the glass digging into her skin as she did. "No no no no… Chris. Stay with me… don't leave me. You can't leave me too."

"Jamie. Babe, wake up."

Jamie's eyes flew open and she looked at him, "Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize to me, but I wish you'd talk about it," Hikaru said as he caressed her face. He pulled her against his chest as Jamie shook her head.

"Nothing to tell."

He sighed, "You can lie to everyone else to your heart's content but not to me. Just tell me what it is, maybe I can help." She sighed against his chest, his heart beating in her ear.

"It's Chris. I keep watching him die over and over again. Every time I close my eyes. I just want to get some sleep. You can't fix that," she mumbled.

"The mats or the bed?"

Jamie couldn't stop the smirk that crossed her face, "Huh?" He chuckled,

"You're right, I can't fix your nightmares but you do need to sleep and I know you don't want McCoy to sedate you, so I'm gonna wear you out. We can hit the mats and go a couple rounds or we can stay in bed and go a couple rounds, up to you."

"You know what I'll pick," Jamie smiled.

"Both," Hiri said before he hopped out of bed –with a lot more energy than her- and grabbed his sweats; Jamie did the same.

It was middle of Gamma shift, the Enterprise's night shift. Most of the crew was sleeping like the Captain and Chief Helm Officer should be. The thing that bothered Jamie most about her nightmares wasn't that they kept her awake, it was that they kept her boyfriend awake too. She was still trying to figure out how she got so fucking lucky and ended up with the awesomeness that is Hikaru. Of course, he says that he's the lucky one.

"Standard rules of engagement?" he asked. She nodded as she tossed her hoodie on the bench.

"Thanks for this, Hiri."

He chuckled, "You know, the next time you thank me, I'm gonna kick your ass." She looked at him and he smiled, "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you… and you know it. Now, we talking or fighting."

Jamie smirked, "Bring it on, flyboy."

"I told you I like that one, Astronaut Barbie," he smirked.

A year after they dubbed each other 'Space Ninja' and 'G.I. Jane' they started tossing nicknames at each other. Some were random, some were fluffy couple nicknames and others had meaning. Bones, Chekov, Carol and Scotty would usually laugh at them while Spock and Uhura watched with indifference and amusement, respectively.

The pair faced each other and Jamie smirked, "Ladies first, Princess." He laughed,

"Oh, we'll see who the princess is."

Jamie was quickly learning that there was no such thing as a standard mission. They were pulling diplomatic duties on a prospective planet when she found herself with blades at her throat. The locals had this thing about listening to women who weren't married, Jamie, Bones, Spock, Hendorff and Jackson didn't know because it's not in any of the research that they were given from the brass.

"Can't we just tell 'em that I'm married?" she asked her first officer. Spock nodded and spoke with the locals in their language.

"They do not believe you as we cannot produce your mate," he told her. Yes, it was a lie but she knew that Hikaru would play along.

She rolled her eyes, "If they let us comm the ship, I could."

Until they were married, the women on this planet didn't have the same rights or influence as other members of their race. Being a Captain should have been enough but the intel got crossed somewhere. She really didn't want to be promised to some random person on this planet out in the middle of nowhere. She would've brought Hiri along if she knew about this ahead of time.

Jamie doesn't know how her First Officer did it, but they agreed to let Spock contact the Enterprise. Uhura laughed over the comm until she realized that they weren't kidding. It took a few minutes before more guards entered the room with Hikaru. He commanded attention as strode into the room, ignoring everything and everyone else, went straight to Jamie and pulled her into a soul-searing kiss.

"You alright?" he touched his forehead to hers and whispered against her lips.

"Better now," she told him with a smile.

Usually, they kept the displays of affection to themselves but, in this case, they were making an exception. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips before turning to face the praetor with her slightly behind him, his left hand sliding into her right. Spock –who doesn't usually lie- explained that the two command officers were married to each other. Though, in some cultures, they could be considered married, so it wasn't too much of a lie.

Spock listened closely to the locals before looking at them, "There has been a challenge to your union."

"Seriously?" Jamie's grip on Hikaru's hand tightened.

"Yes, Captain," Spock nodded. She knew she was gonna regret what she was about ask.

"What does that mean?" Hiri asked. Spock looked at them.

"What it means, Lieutenant Sulu, is that you will have to fight to keep Jamie. If you do not, a suitor has made his interest known to the praetor and she will be given to him."

Jamie sighed, "What? Like a koon-ut-kal-if-fee?"

"That is an accurate comparison, Captain," Spock nodded.

"Do I even what to know what that koon ut kal… thing is?" Hikaru asked her.

"It's a Vulcan mating ritual that means marriage or challenge," Jamie told him. "It's basically a wedding, with or without a fight to the death, depending. The difference is that Vulcan women have a choice and the option of fighting for themselves. I'm not gonna ask or order you to do that."

"Who says you need to?" Hikaru chuckled. "If I don't fight for you, they'll try to keep you here and it'll be a fight anyway… on top of being an interstellar diplomatic incident…"

"And if you get killed?" she asked.

Hiri smiled, "Like I would let that happen. Have some faith, Buttercup." She couldn't stop the snicker that passed her lips.

"You and that movie. The book is better," Jamie teased.

"Maybe, but I still prefer the movie even though my princess is prettier. In either case, just call me the Dread Pirate Roberts." He sighed, "I'll be fine, Jamie, as long as you don't go offering yourself up to Prince Humperdinck for me." She –reluctantly- agreed to let him fight the alien that wanted to keep her as a wife.

"Don't die on me, Westley."

He smiled, "As you wish."

The whole group was led to another area of this government building and into what looked like a cross between a gym and an arena. The praetor said something to them and Spock translated.

"They must separate you from him," her first officer told them. "Someone will be permitted to go with each of you."

Jamie nodded, "You and Bones stay with Sulu. Cupcake and Jacks are with me." Spock notified the praetor of her decision and he nodded his agreement. Hiri pressed a quick kiss to her lips before the guards separated the group into two.

"At least it's not the Pit of Despair," her boyfriend muttered.

It took them a fucking year to get together and she had to die before they stopped being stubborn about it, now this; Jamie wasn't happy at all. The challenger walked in and looked over at her with a leer; she knew a power play when she saw one. She was torn between wanting to watch and wanting to hide. She couldn't hear what was being said –not that she understood- but she could tell the locals were offering Hikaru a weapon. He shook his head and motioned to his retractable katana. She loved that thing so much that he got her one and taught her how to fight with it. Jamie kinda wished that she brought it with her; not like it mattered since they took her phaser and the knife in her boot when she arrived on planet.

She watched as Hiri pulled his command gold tunic and black undershirt over his head and handed both to Bones. Her best friend looked equal parts pissed off and worried. He kept glancing over to where she was standing with the security officers near the praetor.

"I don't know what this proves. Anyone who looks at you two can tell you're together," the tall officer next to her said under his breath.

She looked up at the officer she calls Cupcake, "Really?"

"Yes, ma'am. You guys aren't overt about it or anything but all someone had to do was pay attention. You love each other." Before she could reply to the burly security officer, the fight started. Jamie covered her face with her hands and watched through her fingers.

"Come on, Hiri," she whispered.

Apparently, Hendorff was thinking the same thing because she heard him mutter, "You got this, Sulu."

Like Uhura, her relationship with the security officer started badly. Like they-were-in-a-bar-fight-that-Chris-broke-up bad. After she got the Enterprise, Jamie and Hendorff sat down and talked it out. At first, it was just a civil work relationship, then, she died for the crew. That's when the security officer she dubbed Cupcake in that dingy bar in Riverside all those years ago appointed himself her protector.

"I can't watch," Jamie cringed as the blade barely missed Hiri's neck. She knew that Hikaru could fight, it was one of their mutual loves, but she didn't like watching him get hurt.

"It's over, Captain," Hendorff told her.

She knew from the gasps and silence that followed but she wasn't sure if she wanted to look in either case. The young Captain took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Bones was holding Hikaru up but he was mostly okay. She pushed past the guards and ran until she slammed into him.

"'Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.'" She laughed as he quoted The Princess Bride.

Jamie decided to play along, "'I will never doubt again.'"

"'There will never be a need.' You okay?"

She nodded as she checked him over, "Better than you."

"I'm awesome," he gave her a snort. "I don't know what you're talking 'bout."

"So why are you bleeding?" Jamie asked with a chuckle.

He shrugged, "Occupational hazard. I love you."

"Love you too."

Bones must've realized that she wasn't gonna let Hiri go because he handed her a bandage, "Put pressure on his side." She nodded and did as he asked before she looked over at Spock.

"Are they done with this mess, now?" Jamie asked.

He talked with the praetor for a few moments before answering her. "It is finished. As far as they are concerned, you and the Lieutenant are married and our business can proceed." Jamie rolled her eyes as a bunch of choice words crossed her mind.

"No," she said.

Spock raised an eyebrow, "Captain?"

"We were invited here. They tried to force me to stay as someone's wife and they almost killed one of my senior officers. I have enough for my recommendation. We don't need to talk about anything else." Spock shocked the shit out of her when he agreed and relayed a diplomatic answer to the praetor while Bones commed the ship to beam himself, Jim and Sulu to sickbay.

A short while later, Spock showed up. Vulcans generally don't lie, so she was curious as to what he told them. "The truth, that you made the necessary observations for your report."

"Hey, Maverick."

He glanced at her as she walked into her quarters, "Does that make you Goose or the hot teacher?"

Jamie thought about it as she leaned in to kiss him, "The teacher. What are you working on?"

"My astrophysics thesis." He gave her one of those sexy ass smiles, "Wanna read it?" Jamie nodded and he pulled her onto his lap. "It's not the final draft." She shrugged and he scrolled to the top of his paper, 'Experimental Subparticle Physics and Their Application to Warp Drive', on the console. Jamie was grateful that she understood what he was talking about.

"You're gonna get your PhD before me."

He kissed her neck, "Only because I don't have a ship to worry about. You'll get there. If you want my help, I'm more than willing."

"Ha, you are more than willing to be a distraction."

"Actually, I think you're the distraction, right now. A very welcome distraction," he chuckled against her neck. She shivered as he ran his fingers along her bare legs and kissed behind her ear.

Jamie sucked in a breath, "Hikaru."

She felt him smile against her neck, "Yes?"

"You're playing with fire," Jamie warned.

He chuckled, "Am I?" She nodded as his fingers on her skin drove her crazy. "I'll take my chances."

He wrapped a strong arm around her waist and stood from the chair, she had no choice but to stand up too; he pinned her between his body and the desk. Hikaru pulled her into a kiss and her brain disappeared. She sat on the desk and wrapped her legs around him, she was rewarded with a groan. Jamie slid her hands under his black undershirt and pushed it off. Her communicator buzzed and cut the atmosphere in the room. Hiri dropped a kiss to the top of her head and handed her the device.

"This better be good." He chuckled as she opened it, "Kirk."

It was Spock; Admiral Barnett needed to talk to her.

"Back to work, Captain," he sighed.

"We're gonna finish this, LT," Jamie said.

"Yes, we are," Hiri smirked. "Go, before I forget that the Admiral is waiting." She kissed him before sliding off the desk and leaving her quarters.

"Ready, set, go!"

Jamie, Hiri, Scotty and Chekov all sprinted to the edge of the cliff and jumped into the clear Risan waters. Bones grumbled at them as soon as they swam back to the shallow water. Jamie swam over to him and pulled her friend under.

"Dammit, Jim," her best friend grumbled.

She chuckled, "It's a break, Bones, enjoy it. If you're gonna be a grouch, don't." They all chuckled.

"She's got a point, laddie," Scotty said. "Ye could use a break from keeping this lot in one piece. Even Spock's relaxin'."

Her First Officer was sitting in the sand, reading. The fact that they got him out here with the rest of the group was a feat in itself. He even jumped with them a few times thanks to Uhura. The master communicator was relaxing in the water a few feet away from Jamie.

"Relax, Leonard. We all know her boyfriend won't let her do anything too crazy," Uhura muttered.

Bones wasn't having it, "He's crazy too."

Hikaru chuckled and whispered in her ear, "Maybe we should just go back to our room. Give Jamaharon a try." That was an idea that she could get behind.

"You know what, Bones is right," Jamie smiled. They all looked at her. "I'm crazy, the Space Ninja is crazy. We're gonna go do something safer."

Scotty chuckled, "Like what, lass?"

"Like each other," she smirked. "See ya, later… or not."

The guys all groaned while Uhura laughed, "You guys set yourselves up for that. I think Spock and I might take a page from their book." Jamie laughed when she heard the guys groan again.

They had to pass Spock to get back to the hotel, he looked up at them when they got close. Hiri looked at the half-Vulcan, "Your girlfriend is headed in this direction and I'm pretty sure she intends to have her way with you." Spock nodded as he watched Uhura exit the water behind the pair. Hikaru snickered, "Come on, babe."

Jamie sighed as they walked into her room. She could feel his eyes on her as she slowly pulled the strings that held up her bikini top and let it drop to the floor. Jamie smiled as Hiri walked over and stood behind her. She could feel the heat of his body against her back.

She sucked in a breath when he gently ran his fingers down her spine and to her hip, pulling her back against him. "You want to know the best part about shore leave?" Jamie nodded at the question he just whispered against her ear. Hikaru chuckled, "Time. We get to take our time." Her head leaned back against his shoulder as he kissed and nipped the skin behind her ear, down her neck and over her shoulder.

Jamie felt like lava was running though her blood; he just has that affect on her. She turned in his arms and pressed kisses along his collarbone as she ran her hands over his chest. She pushed his shorts down his legs, "They gotta go."

He chuckled, "You too." Jamie shrugged and slid the rest of her bikini off. Hikaru pulled her against him and kissed her like there was nothing else in the world. "You have no idea how much I love you, Jamie."

"I think I do, sweetheart."

"That so?" he asked with a smile.

She smiled back, "It's one of the only things I know for sure." Hiri chuckled as he scooped her up and gently tossed her on the bed. For a minute, he just stood there. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just admiring my very beautiful girlfriend," he smiled.

Jamie smiled, "If you don't get over here, I might hurt you." He leveled a look at her that was so intense it took her breath away.

He climbed onto the bed over her, caressing her skin as he did. "Hiri," she whispered. Jamie was rewarded with a smile before Hikaru kissed her as he slid into her, she gasped into his mouth. She relished in the delicious sensation of their bodies together. No one has ever made her feel like he does; loved and treasured as if she held the secrets of the universe.

Nothing felt more right than the movement of his body against hers. Jamie closed her eyes and held him tighter, letting herself get lost in this moment with him. He moved with slow and measured strokes, watching her as the tension built.

She knew what was coming when the smirk crossed his lips. He pulled her into a bruising kiss before he moved deeper and faster, giving her everything. "Oh, God."

He chuckled, "Is that going on the nickname list?"

"Maybe." She hooked her ankles together and pulled him even closer. He kissed her neck, her face and anywhere else he could reach as he continued to move. Her body responded to him of its own volition and Jamie clung to him as she shuddered, her world shattering into a million pieces. She watched as Hiri tensed and he followed her over.

He closed his eyes and sighed against her shoulder. He pressed at soft kiss to her skin, then her lips and pulled away. "I'm gonna take a shower. And you are coming with me."

She chuckled, "I'm pretty sure my legs don't work at the moment."

"Okay, a bath in that ridiculously large tub, then. I'll even carry you," Hikaru offered with a smirk.

Jamie smiled and nodded, "Sounds good."

AN: I don't know Star Trek, Top Gun, Barbie or The Princess Bride.