Bond

[lepidopterologist]

About twenty minutes ago, Dr. House had left Harry's office, and he left behind something new for Harry to worry about: a wolf rampaging through his ship. Which of course he would worry about, despite House's assurances. And despite even his memory of his conversation with Aaron in which he'd promised that he would do everything he could to help Remus Lupin.

He was honestly thinking of pulling out the bottle of scotch when the door chimed. He sighed. "Come."

Comments

[0_0_7]

Bond walked in and gingerly sat down across from Harry.

"We have a problem," he said. "We've just taken on twenty three souls."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry's eyes went wide. "What?"

[0_0_7]

Bond took a calming breath and held up a hand.

"It's a rescue. The station has been using slave labor in food production and Dr. Lecter and his companion freed them. The woman who's been hiding in our greenhouse, they're all her kind. We'll have to get them back to her world."

Bond had not yet seen the report of absolute destruction of the station's greenhouses.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Where did we put them?"

[0_0_7]

"I put them in the military barracks since we don't have a detachment at this moment," he said. "I allotted them credits and gave them replicator permission/ I ordered more provisions from the station to accommodate them. It's just unexpected. No different than if we found a derelict and helped the crew. And the world is only a few weeks back the way we came."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry visibly relaxed.

"You're so sexy when you're solving problems for me."

[0_0_7]

"I do my best," he smiled serenely. "What's on your agenda?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Well, let's see." Harry leaned back in his chair. "You know the bloke in the brig? Apparently he transformed into a wolf last night."

[0_0_7]

Bond's brows rose high.

"The murderer?" Bond clarified.

[lepidopterologist]

"Yes. So I suppose he was telling the truth." Harry sighed again. "Dr. House is practically giddy. Insists he stay on the ship so he can study him, but is completely convinced he knows when he'll transform again. And meanwhile, Aaron... the counsellor, I think he's in love with him."

[0_0_7]

Bond's head dropped and he scrubbed his hand over his face.

"Fantastic," he said. "And what if Dr. House is wrong?"

[lepidopterologist]

"I know," Harry sighed. "I know, I know. I promised Aaron I'd do everything I could to help him, and I just... it's all your and Q's fault, you know. You turned me into a romantic." He shook his head. "In any case, I issued Aaron a phaser and made him swear that any time the man is out of his sight he'll be with a security officer instead."

[0_0_7]

"That sounds reasonable," he nodded, then paused. "It's hardly my fault, though," he added with a tiny grin.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry quirked a smile, too.

"And here I thought a werewolf on board would top anything, and you came to me with, hey you just saved two dozen slaves."

[0_0_7]

"It's not a competition, Harry," Bond replied, mildly amused. "It seems the new mission of the ship is to save all manner of souls. It's worthwhile work."

[lepidopterologist]

"I... think I'm all right with that," said Harry. "Who do you think we should save next? How's our stowaway?"

[0_0_7]

Bond's grin turned a bit cheeky.

"I think he's thawing out Dr. Lecter bit by bit," he said, dangerously close to gossiping.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry arched an eyebrow, and then said dryly, "I suppose love is in the air. I understand one of our other recent guests has also been spreading love, so to speak."

[0_0_7]

"Oh? Who else?" Bond asked, then followed, "Is there something in the air?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Just Robin Goodfellow handing out companion licenses," said Harry with a shrug. "But I'm perfectly happy to have my crewmembers getting laid as long as it's on the up and up."

[0_0_7]

"He can't be doing that, Harry. You need to talk to him. I can turn a blind eye to meats and liquor, but he's got his finger in too many pies," Bond said plainly.

He enjoyed these chats. Unofficial and candid, Bond was more open with Harry than most anyone.

[lepidopterologist]

"At least this is legal," Harry said. "Charging for sex is above board. Smuggling in exotic meat is not. Of course, neither is whatever Dr. Lecter and his friend did, I'm guessing."

[0_0_7]

"We are going to need to talk to her," he said quietly. "What she did...did you see the pictures? The bodies?"

[lepidopterologist]

"James, I didn't even know about this until ten minutes ago," Harry sighed.

[0_0_7]

Bond nodded and called up the destruction on his screen and handed it over. Bodies, and pieces of bodies, lay strewn among overgrown beds of plants. Equipment hung broken, and water soaked the floor.

"She's a witch," he said. "She's dangerous."