It's Growing On Me. I was Made To Feel.

“Well, I can tell that he wants ta be a part of everythin’ that’s goin’ on round here and I don’t think he’s lyin’ ta us at all Jim so I would trust him if I where ya but that’s just me.”

“Thank you. Sorry I can’t keep talking about this.” he said and smiled to everyone before moving to the office to collapse on the cot, out instantly.

“Thank you. Sorry I can’t keep talking about this.” he said and smiled to everyone before moving to the office to collapse on the cot, out instantly.

The sudden firing of pain sensors in his body jolted the man out of his sleep with a loud yelp of pain. He didn’t know what was going on, only that he was suddenly under attack from some unknown source. He twisted over as quick as he could, looking for the source of the assault.

John searched the room around him for the only one who could have attacked him. But without seeing his partner, he knew there was some other kind of treachery at work. “Damn it, Dorian!” Rolling over, he put his feet down on the ground, thankful he’d slept with the synthetic limb on. 

gunslinger-kennex:

John stopped when he was grabbed. He’d forgotten what it felt like to have a male’s presence behind him that wasn’t trying to hurt him. Though the threats were considerably less serious than the last time he’d had a boyfriend. He made no moves to get away, enjoying the sensation of lips on the back of his neck. 

He calmed down and rested his hands on the arms around him. With a sigh, he leaned back against Dorian’s chest, breathing in slowly to still the thump of his heart from the exertions earlier. “I didn’t forget. It was pretty cool.” John turned around finally, putting his arms beneath the android’s to force them up to his shoulders. “I’d like to see it again, if it comes up in one of our cases.” The man smirked, amused by what his partner could do. He leaned forward to press their lips together gently, his eyes closing while he did.

Dorian smiled, feeling the other’s pulse and breath slow as he held him in his arms, relaxing into John’s back happily. At the comment about the car he laughed softly. “Whenever it is needed I always will.” he mused.

His arms were moved easily by John’s subtle commands, he smiled at his human partner. At the sight of John’s eyes closing, his face lit up in a second, taking a snapshot of the moment before he closed his own and kissed back contently, gently cradling the back of John’s head with one hand.

John remained blissfully unaware of the recorded image of him with his eyes closed. Somehow it made the moment more magical. At least, that’s what he’d grown up believing. With their lips together, he could forget what was happening for a few minutes. Including the marshmallow attack on him. It was cute. But this was better.

When the waitress returned, Dorian looked up, eyes bright and sweet, toes of his shoes still pressed against John’s under the table. The woman flushed at the sight of the two, setting their glasses down and their complementary bread.

Had he been that transparent? Of course he had been. Dorian knew about his struggles with the dating scene, and had been watching him since they’d been paired up. It would have been written across everything that he was afraid to be betrayed again. But he trusted Dorian more than he possibly trusted anyone else in his life. “I know, Dee. Old habits die hard…”

John glanced up at the waitress bringing things to their table and noticed the blush. He chuckled under his breath, a smirk growing across his lips. He couldn’t help but be amused by the thought of someone being embarrassed by seeing affection between two people. Nevermind that he didn’t enjoy seeing it either. 

gunslinger-kennex:

John listened intently, filing the information away for later use. He glanced up when the charging station was mentioned. So a bot was there. Why would someone steal a bot, unless it was a high-dollar, limited edition one. Did they still make those? The things rich people could buy…

Standing up, John went next over to the charger. It wasn’t like the one he used with his leg, nor was it like the ones they used for the department’s androids. He doubted there was a way to see what kind of android was charged there. But there could be fingerprints on it from the victim, other suspects they could look into. “Great. Get his fingerprints, and facial rec, etc. Then let’s see what security cameras we can find. Let’s see who’s been hanging around where they shouldn’t be.”

Dorian crouched by the station and worked away. Ten minutes and he stood, a confused look on his features. “This is for a simple android, one you could find in any security wholesaler. It’s a bot built to protect.” he said and looked to John, a little confused as he once again looked over the perfectly untrashed room.

“So why didn’t it protect it’s owner?” he asked and looked to the dead body.

“All the other thin’s the two of ya brains are talkin’ bout is not somethin’ that I can talk bout cause I got no experience in that type of stuff, can’t even fix the computers in my own sickbay now somewhere in the universe that has got ta be a sad situation ta be in.”

“Aye, lad. Ye got a lot ‘a work. But ye ain’t gonna struggle much. Got a lot ‘a readin’.” he chirped and smiled to Dorian, linking to send the information quick to the PADD and Dorian blinked again, startled.

But Dorian felt his tells pulling at his features, looking to the sky like it might prevent the tears and he closed his eyes, taking a shuddering breath, tightening the hold on the PADD more out of a familiar sense of security.

“All the other thin’s the two of ya brains are talkin’ bout is not somethin’ that I can talk bout cause I got no experience in that type of stuff, can’t even fix the computers in my own sickbay now somewhere in the universe that has got ta be a sad situation ta be in.”

“Aye, lad. Ye got a lot ‘a work. But ye ain’t gonna struggle much. Got a lot ‘a readin’.” he chirped and smiled to Dorian, linking to send the information quick to the PADD and Dorian blinked again, startled.

Leonard scowls at the words coming from Dorian “Well, if it makes ya feel any better ‘ll go ta bat fer ya if anyone tries anythin’ hinkey with ya .” He shakes his head “Sometimes humans are afraid of what they don’t understand or of the thin’s they create that then go and learn on their own and droids that feel are one of those thin’s. They just kept thinkin’ of all the thin’s that could go wrong and none of the thin’s that were goin’ right.”

“The one in red is Scotty..he’s the one yer gonna be goin’ ta fer most thin’s cause damn it ‘m not a mechanic.” Leonard points at the man in gold and shakes his head “That one is Jim and he is way ta chipper and bright all the time..he’s also the one that gets in the most trouble.” He frowns and points at the man in blue “And that is Spock that will generally rain on anyones parade, he’s half Vulcan and he’s trained not ta let his emotions control him.”

So much like John, and yet, so different. he thoughts and nodded. “Thank you, Leonard. I appreciate it.” he spoke aloud before focusing again on the others.

Dorian listened to the introductions before the explanation had him filing the half-Vulcan away for research when he’s hooked up to the data banks. “Aliens. Cool.” he said before the words registered and he chuckled again. “Almost sounds like an MX-43.” he mused and Jim came closer.

“Thanks for the introduction, Bones. So, what’s your name?” Jim asked, smiling to Dorian who blinked in shock. “You have a name, right? I mean, you are a twenty forty’s model DRN unit, right? You have names and personalities, like we do?” Jim asked and Dorian slowly tilted his head. “That was rude, wasn’t it?” Jim asked nervously.

“Not at all. I just didn’t…” Dorian trailed off and shook his head, holding out his hand to the Captain with a brilliant smile of his own. “Dorian. A pleasure to meet you, Jim. Scotty. Spock.” Dorian nodded to the other two as he shook hands with Jim and Scotty stepped closer.

“Yes, Jim that was put in the most rude way possible and ya know better or at least I hope ya do cause if ya use somethin’ that rude ta introduce yerself out here the man or..thin’ on the other end of it might not be as forgivin’ as Dorian here. I know it’s hard ta think that someone could actually get mad at ya but they can and they will. Do ya wanna start a war just because ya where rude Jim?”

Leonard makes a huffing noise and frowns at Scotty when he looks up “Scotty, ya think that ya could be any more rude than what yer doin’? He is after all a person even if he is made of metal and a whole hell of a lot of circurity.” He shakes his head and walks toward his office door “Okay, every one who wants ta ask questions of Dorian come into my office with him and be nice or ‘ll throw ya out and take him ta my quarters.” Leonard cocks an eyebrow “If yer not here ta ask questions then get the hell outta my medbay.”

It was nice. He heard three sets of footsteps follow and he forced himself to relax. Enclosed space with three faces he’s never seen before made him a little antsy. He’d have freaked out if there wasn’t Leonard, feeling completely at ease with a familiar face here.

Even if it wasn’t John.

“Okay. So, what is it you think would best help Dorian here adapt? Dorian, do you have any preferences for your stay?” Jim asked, trying to be diplomatic and find the best courses, going to his Chief Engineer and the man in question.

“Well, beyond databanks to catch up on history and protocol for working on this ship, registration if that’s still needed and needed upgrades to allow me to work with any system with ease. Otherwise I’ll be going in blind.” Dorian said and Scotty nodded.

“Aye, the systems be the hardest, laddy. Ta git ya workin’ right an’ not on tha fritz is delicate. Ya’d ‘ave ta go through either one huge project which aye cannae guarantee yer sanity. Or several smaller steps allowin’ ye ta adapt as ye go.” Scotty said thoughtfully. “First ye chargin’ way an’ ye data bank storage. Software fer protectin’ ye too. Think of it as vaccinations.” Scotty said and hummed.

First thing’s first, disarming and acquiring weapons. At least, until they find their own. They don’t have long. Alarm likely triggered, hostile forces, Sulu knows, will be coming their way. 

Twelve seconds. 

It takes them  twelve seconds to come face to face with their first set of opponents, and Sulu’s thankful that reaction’s quick – enough for them to make the first strike. Sulu’s fierce, quick, uses skills unspoken of to duck, slip from distance and avoid fire. He manages to take a phaser, uses body as a shield.before one shot, two, then three. 

Four down. Three taking cover. 

He barely heard Sulu and groaned, tearing up his shirt and tied it roughly around the wound, hissing before collecting enough air to speak.

Leonard scowls at the words coming from Dorian “Well, if it makes ya feel any better ‘ll go ta bat fer ya if anyone tries anythin’ hinkey with ya .” He shakes his head “Sometimes humans are afraid of what they don’t understand or of the thin’s they create that then go and learn on their own and droids that feel are one of those thin’s. They just kept thinkin’ of all the thin’s that could go wrong and none of the thin’s that were goin’ right.”

“The one in red is Scotty..he’s the one yer gonna be goin’ ta fer most thin’s cause damn it ‘m not a mechanic.” Leonard points at the man in gold and shakes his head “That one is Jim and he is way ta chipper and bright all the time..he’s also the one that gets in the most trouble.” He frowns and points at the man in blue “And that is Spock that will generally rain on anyones parade, he’s half Vulcan and he’s trained not ta let his emotions control him.”

So much like John, and yet, so different. he thoughts and nodded. “Thank you, Leonard. I appreciate it.” he spoke aloud before focusing again on the others.

Dorian listened to the introductions before the explanation had him filing the half-Vulcan away for research when he’s hooked up to the data banks. “Aliens. Cool.” he said before the words registered and he chuckled again. “Almost sounds like an MX-43.” he mused and Jim came closer.

“Thanks for the introduction, Bones. So, what’s your name?” Jim asked, smiling to Dorian who blinked in shock. “You have a name, right? I mean, you are a twenty forty’s model DRN unit, right? You have names and personalities, like we do?” Jim asked and Dorian slowly tilted his head. “That was rude, wasn’t it?” Jim asked nervously.

“Not at all. I just didn’t...” Dorian trailed off and shook his head, holding out his hand to the Captain with a brilliant smile of his own. “Dorian. A pleasure to meet you, Jim. Scotty. Spock.” Dorian nodded to the other two as he shook hands with Jim and Scotty stepped closer.

“I-” he hesitated, flicking a look up at John and chewed his lip a moment. “I never properly got to thank you. F-for bringing me back like that.” Dorian said, hands shaking minutely.

“It still nags me… That place… It haunts me whenever I go to charge.” his voice was low, careful of everyone around him, but now that he’s started, he’s unsure if he could stop. “John, it was agony. Being torn apart like that, to kill Vaughn like that. To watch you almost die…” Dorian choked, one shaky hand coming up to cover his mouth.

“I can hardly charge soundly.” he whispered, shaking his head. “Rudy can only do so much, and with MX’s in there for repairs almost constantly, my nightmares are becoming an issue. If one of them hears me-” Dorian silenced himself, taking a shaky breath and forced a smile on his face.

How many nights had he awakened in a cold sweat, convinced he hadn’t brought Dorian back in time? How many nights had he shot up, looking around wildly, expecting to find one of those dog-bot things, ready to tear out his throat?

And how many nights had he awakened with Dorian’s name on his lips, and an overwhelming feeling of loss? Never having told the DRN just how much he meant to him?

John always knew what to say to calm his nerves. He pushed the other’s shoulder gently, relaxing marginally as he watched John. He was alive and well, that’s all that mattered. His charging problem will sort itself out.

Right?

“Look, we should... Get back to work, y’know? Waste not want not.” and by that he meant the meager charge he held, knowing that he’d barely make it through the car ride to Rudy’s place.

God knows he needs a good sleep, Rudy having sworn to secrecy about his terrified screams, constantly shrieking John’s name till his voice box turned to static. Writhing around and shaking like he had in his desperate attempt to flee Her mauling.

“Something on your mind, John?” he asked curiously, fighting back the urge to both hide from the world and take John with him.

“Nah, just.. thought I heard something. You okay?” He was careful how he asked, made sure his voice was pitched not to carry. Paul had been watching a little more closely of late, and John knew it was because he’d been making snide comments about Two Sugars.

“I-” he hesitated, flicking a look up at John and chewed his lip a moment. “I never properly got to thank you. F-for bringing me back like that.” Dorian said, hands shaking minutely.

“It still nags me... That place... It haunts me whenever I go to charge.” his voice was low, careful of everyone around him, but now that he’s started, he’s unsure if he could stop. “John, it was agony. Being torn apart like that, to kill Vaughn like that. To watch you almost die...” Dorian choked, one shaky hand coming up to cover his mouth.

“I can hardly charge soundly.” he whispered, shaking his head. “Rudy can only do so much, and with MX’s in there for repairs almost constantly, my nightmares are becoming an issue. If one of them hears me-” Dorian silenced himself, taking a shaky breath and forced a smile on his face.