I've decided that I'm gonna make the time that Khan is on the Enterprise longer than two days. That is not long enough for two people to get to know each other and fall in love. It took me a couple of weeks to fall in love with Benedict, so we'll go with one or two weeks. Good? Good.

--------------------------

Khan...that was a name Charlotte was still getting used to. It had been a few days since he came onto the Enterprise and she had been nothing but kind to him. She was currently watching him sleep. She felt bad for him. How would it feel to be taken from everything you've ever known, be given minimal food and water, barely have any human contact (and the only people who you did talk to were angry at or afraid of you), and not have any proper bedding materials? The tempature in the holding cell was also turned down, making it practically freezing. Khan seemed to be fine. His arms were wrapped around himself and his legs were bunched up, but he wasn't shaking or anything. He looked like a little, dark ball of soulessness. Charlotte sighed. She went to her room and got a fleece wolf blanket she'd had since she was young. She enlarged the metalic hole so she could get through. She then draped it around Khan. He relaxed a little. His eyes opened. Charlotte scuttled away. Khan looked over at her.

"Is this your blanket, Doctor?" He asked.

"Yes." Charlotte nodded. "You don't have to use it if you don't want to. I just thought it was just really cold so you might want something to keep you warm."

"I really don't understand why you're being so nice to me." Khan said. "I am a criminal, in case you've forgotten."

"No, I understand that very clearly." Charlotte said. "I've told you, it's how I am."

"Thank you, I suppose. It's a little too small for me, though." Khan said. "You should get some sleep, Doctor. Rest that injured shoulder of yours."

"I'm not sleepy." Charlotte said. She yawned right after she said it, though.

"Oh, yes you are." Khan said.

"No, I'm not." Charlotte lied.

"I would suggest you do get your rest." Khan said, laying back down. "The next few days are going to be long for you."

"I have orders to stay awake and watch you." Charlotte said.

"I'll be asleep. I'm assuming that's going to be boring to watch." Khan said as he closed his eyes. Charlotte huffed.

Khan fell asleep soon, curled up underneath the blanket Charlotte had gotten for him. Her eyes started to get heavy. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. This would only be a quick catnap. Her eyes closed and she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep. When she awoke, she was greeted by Khan's eyes watching her. She screamed and punched the glass. Khan wasn't even fazed by it.

"Good morning, Doctor." He said.

"What the heck, Khan?!" She said.

"I got bored and had nothing else to do." Khan shrugged. "If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer we keep my true name between us, Doctor."

"Okay." Charlotte nodded.

She went and got a book. It was the old kind, with pages and that kind of thing. Most books were on tablets or computers, so this kind of thing was rare. Khan looked at it with intrest.

"What is that?" He asked.

"It's a book." Charlotte said.

"That's a book?" Khan said.

"Yes. It's the old kind." Charlotte said.

"What are you reading?" Khan asked.

"Waggit's Tale. It's about a pack of dogs who are trying to survive in a park." Charlotte said.

Charlotte continued to read. Khan was watching her. He was bored out of his mind so he had nothing else to do. He started pacing again. Charlotte finally looked up at him.

"I'm bored." He whined.

"What do you want me to do about it?" Charlotte asked. "I'm just here to watch you."

Khan huffed and started pacing again. Charlotte stretched and then decided to go get something to eat. When she came back, Khan was banging his head on the glass. Charlotte took a bundle out of her pocket and then enlarged the metal hole. Khan's head snapped up as she handed him the bundle.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Your lunch." Charlotte said. "Kirk, Spock, and Bones almost caught me, so you better eat it."

"Thank you, Doctor." Khan said. "Although next time, remember that I don't like raisens."

Charlotte sighed. It didn't seem like Khan could resist complaining about or critisizing everything she did for him. She ignored him, deciding not to give him a reaction. Khan seemed to forget about his complaint as he wolfed his food down. It seemed like the first time he'd had a proper meal in a long time. When he was finished, he sighed contently.

"I haven't tasted meat in a long time." He said.

"You haven't?" Charlotte tilted her head.

"No." Khan shook his head.

"What did you eat? It doesn't look like Kronos has any farms or anything." Khan said.

"I ate what I could, which was mostly plants." Khan said. "They may be good to the Klingons, but not to me. But they kept me alive."

"I'm a picky eater, so I probably would have died." Charlotte said. Khan laughed. Charlotte tilted her head. "What was that?"

"I laughed." Khan said. "Is it news to you that I can laugh?"

"I just expected it to be...I don't know, more phycotic." Charlotte said. Khan laughed again.

Charlotte and Khan talked a little more after that, but not much. When Charlotte returned after dinner, Khan looked a little hopeful for more scraps. He sort of looked like a dog who was begging. His handler gave him a sympathetic look.

"Sorry. I didn't get you anything." She said.

"Didn't get me any what?" Khan said.

"Food." Charlotte said. "I can see it in your eyes. You were hoping I brought you something to eat."

"I was not." Khan said.

"Yes, you were." Charlotte said.

Khan huffed and turned his back. Charlotte rolled her eyes. She was getting sick of Khan's attitude towards everyone here. He was only stable when he was with her. He would snap at anyone else who tried to talk to him. He had refused to talk to Kirk or Spock and he wouldn't even look at Bones or Uhura. Khan finally turned in for the night under the blanket Charlotte had given to him. After he had fallen asleep, Charlotte began to get tired herself. She laid down on the floor, since she really had no where else to sleep. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. She dreamt of Khan again. When she woke up, Khan was still sleeping peacefully. His face actually looked peaceful, not brooding like it usually did. Charlotte enlarged the metalic hole and crept in once again. She studied Khan. He was so handsome. If things were different and Khan wasn't a criminal, they might be able to fall in love and have a normal marriage. But that would never happen. She couldn't be with a criminal. She would be viewed as a traitor. She brushed her hand across Khan's hair. He didn't stir. It had to be the softest hair she'd ever touched. Khan's eyelids suddenly fluttered. Charlotte's heart wanted to move, but her legs didn't want to listen. The criminal's eyes opened.

"Doctor?" He said. "Why are you in here?"

"I was just...giving you another examine! Yes, much easier when you're at peace in your sleep." Charlotte said. Khan narrowed his eyes.

"That's a lie." He said. "You remind me of someone. She was horrible liar too."

"Who? And I'm not lying." Charlotte said, still pretending to examine Khan.

"Firstly, yes you are. Secondly, she was...an old friend of mine." Khan said. He sounded sad.

"Oh...she was your lover." Charlotte said.

"Yes." Khan nodded. "She looked sort of like you too. But she was not as kind."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Charlotte asked.

"I'm still trying to figure it out." Khan said. "Do you happen to know what time it is, Doctor?"

"It's...around four in the morning?! Dear Lord, I should probably get some sleep." Charlotte said. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes." Khan nodded. "Thank you for your concern."

"I think that's the first time you haven't complained." Charlotte said. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm just fine." Khan said. He laid back down on the cot. "Goodnight, Doctor."

Charlotte took that as the cue to leave. She left the cell and curled up on the uncomfortable bench. Khan was a prisoner and he had something more comfortable than her. She sighed. She would just have to get used to it.

Charlotte wasn't able to get any sleep. She was much too uncomfortable. She spent a few agonizing hours just laying in the dark. Kirk and Bones came to check up on her.

"How is Harrison? Not giving you too much trouble?" Kirk said.

They don't know his name is Khan...yet. I have to keep it to myself. Charlotte thought.

"Yes, sir." She nodded. "He's just fine. He's actually kind of nice."

Kirk gave her a suspicious look, but nodded. "All right. I'm trusting you, Charlie. If he does anything that puts anyone on this ship in danger, give me a call."

"All right." Charlotte nodded.

Kirk and Bones left. Charlotte decided to go get some breakfast for both herself and Khan. As she left with the food for Khan, Spock stopped her.

"What are you doing with that food, Doctor?" He asked.

"I'm taking it for myself." Charlotte lied.

"You are lying. I suspect that you are bringing it to the prisoner." Spock said. "Would I be correct on that account?"

"No." Charlotte answered a little too quickly.

"I would advise you not to get friendly with him. He is a criminal, Charlotte." Spock said.

"I know that, Mr. Spock." Charlotte nodded.

She strode past the first officer and went back to Khan's cell. His head snapped up when he saw her bringing him food. He looked relieved.

"Finally." He said as Charlotte slipped the bundle in.

"You could say 'thank you' you know." Charlotte said.

"Thank you, precious." Khan said.

"You're welcome, cupcake." Charlotte sneered.

Things were tense between them once again while Khan ate his breakfast. She put her hand in to collect the plate she'd gotten the food for him on, and he refused to give it to her.

"Khan, give me the plate." She said.

"No." Khan said, acting like a huge baby.

"Give it." Charlotte said, starting to lose her paitience.

"No." Khan said, more firmly.

"Khan, give it to me." Charlotte said.

"Come in here and get it if you're so keen." Khan said.

Charlotte stormed into the cell. She grabbed the plate and hit Khan on the head with it. Khan didn't even act like it hurt (since it didn't) and just stared at her with his head tilted to the side. Charlotte was fuming. She hated getting annoyed because it made both sides angry. She thought that maybe Khan had been growing to like her, but he was just behaving like a huge baby.

"You look a little tense, Doctor." Khan said.

"Ya think?" Charlotte said.

"Allow me to help." Khan said.

With that, Khan pressed his lips to hers. Charlotte's eyes widened, then shut as she melted into the contact. When they broke away, Khan brushed Charlotte's hair out of her face.

"Feeling better?" He asked.

"I have to go." Charlotte said, her face flushing red.

Charlotte shut the metal hole so Khan couldn't follow her and ran to her room. She paced for what seemed like ages. She had just kissed a criminal who had killed innocent people. He seemed to like her. Questions raced through her mind. Had he stopped kissing her because he had gotten bored with her? Did she kiss him back? She shook her head.

"Easy, Charlotte, easy girl." She said. "I could try dating him just for a little while...it couldn't hurt to try. But he already has a lover."

Charlotte went back to Khan's cell. He was sitting on the cot. He looked up at her arrival. He grinned at her.

"You never answered my question, my darling." He said. "Feeling better?"

"Do you really love me, Khan, or are you just going to use me?" Charlotte asked.

"I think I do, truly love you, Charlotte." Khan said. Charlotte blinked. That was the first time she'd heard Khan use her real name. "I've also made my decision. You are much better than my previous lover. I love you and only you."

"Can we just take things slow?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course, my darling." Khan nodded.

Charlotte enlarged the hole and held Khan's hand through it. They would have to keep this a secret, but they just smiled at each other. Khan finally seemed to be relaxed. That night, they slept with the hole open and held each other's hands. Charlotte fell asleep before Khan. He studied her. She was so beautiful. He did truly love her. She would make an excellent First Officer if he ever got hold of ship. That was his plan, anyway.