Reiv quickly finished putting on his clothing. As he slipped on his boots, he felt a hand grip his arm. Before he knew it Falinn's lips were touching his with a light kiss. "Have a good day," she said simply, after a minute. "I'll see you later."
Reiv flashed her a quick smile and ran out of the room. Unaccustomed to running off to duty from the guest quarters on deck eleven, he turned the wrong way and ended up having to jog four extra lengths of corridor before arriving at a turbolift to take him to the Bridge. He arrived and exited the Bridge's aft-starboard turbolift, jogging across the front of the Bridge to relieve Ensign Hammond.
Captain Freeman, who was going over a report with one of his officers at Science Station Two at the back of the Bridge, noted the arrival of his bedraggled helmsman, but didn't interrupt what he was doing. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Reiv caught his breath and tried to smooth his uniform and his hair, both of which were hopelessly a mess.
Captain Freeman finished his business at Science Station Two, and strolled slowly and deliberately around the Tactical Station where Lieutenant Ivanovna was standing, towards his command chair. Upon reaching his chair, the captain made as if he was going to sit down. Instead he stopped himself, glancing at his helmsman, "Lieutenant Reiv, may I see you in my Ready Room?"
Reiv stood, groaning quietly to himself, fully aware of the reprimand he had due. He followed his captain into the Ready Room and spoke just as the doors closed behind him, "Captain, I'm sorry, I can explain . . ."
"Explain?" Freeman interrupted. "You were negligent in your duty, Lieutenant. When your shift starts at 0900 hours, I expect you to be present at 0900 hours, not whenever it is you feel like strolling by. Do I make myself clear?" the captain asked, his voice dangerously level the entire time.
"Yes sir. I'm sorry. It won't happen again, I swear."
"Good enough then," the captain said, easing the tension of the moment. "That isn't the reason I asked you in here in any event."
"Sir?" Reiv asked, dumbfounded.
"I understand that the Bajorans are very nearly our allies, and that Commander Falinn is someone you obviously know well, but it would be prudent not to show her any more of the sensitive areas of the ship. I understand your tour of such was limited to Engineering yesterday, but it shouldn't go any further."
"Aye captain. Again my apologies, I should've inquired as to what was appropriate before making assumptions. It's just that, well, I've been a little distracted lately," Reiv replied.
"Oh really? I hadn't noticed," Freeman teased. "And how is our guest enjoying her stay here?"
Reiv smiled warmly as thoughts of her drifted into his mind, "Very well sir."
"Glad to hear it," Freeman said, his tone becoming more business-like as he picked up a nearby portable document holder to glance at its contents. "Well, I think that is all. Dismissed."
Reiv nodded and said, "Aye sir. Thank you." He turned to leave as the captain sat down.
"Oh, and Lieutenant?" Freeman said, causing Reiv to pause and turn.
"Yes sir?"
"Leave your distractions in your quarters. We're in a war zone and the ship is constantly on yellow alert. I won't say this again," Freeman ordered.
Reiv's posture stiffened, "As you say sir." The young Lieutenant then left the captain's Ready Room and resumed his station.
Despite the captain's warnings, the day passed uneventfully. Good progress was made by the repair crews of both the Bristol and the Drexler on the latter ship's damage. It was on this topic that a briefing turned social dinner was engaged in the observation lounge.
"Okay now everyone has to try something of each," Doctor Giovanni instructed, as she dished out a variety of spaghetti, spiced breads, and vegetables to her assembled guests. "The recipes for these foods have been passed down to me through generations of Giovannis." Around the large table gathered Falinn Ehlara and several of the Bristol's Bridge officers; Captain Freeman, Commander Yilaan, Lieutenant Ivanovna, Commander Jevor, Ensign Gates, and of course Lieutenant Reiv. Lieutenant Timothy O'Shea was left in charge of the Bridge.
Each officer did as they were asked, and all were surprised at the results. "This is splendid!" Freeman exclaimed, as others echoed the sentiment. "You say these are family recipes?"
Giovanni smiled radiantly at them all. "Yes Captain; my father taught these to me. Just the right ingredients, and just the right spices. Now, admittedly all would be better if I didn't have to use replicated ingredients, but one does what one can with the tools one has."
"Why haven't you cooked before this?" Ivanovna asked between chews of bread.
"Well, I cook for myself all the time, Lieutenant. Never had the occasion to cook a larger course I guess," Giovanni shrugged as a couple of the officers glanced at each other. "So tell me, Commander Falinn; how did you and Lieutenant Reiv first meet?" she asked, changing the subject.
Falinn put her fork down and sat back in her chair, smiling at the recollection. "Reiv Garon was nineteen years old, and I was eighteen. We were in the central marketplace of our town and we were both haggling over the same bolt of imported silk. Now as you may or may not be aware, with the Cardassians, things like that are even rarer than they might otherwise be; it was quite a prize to be had, to say the least. Reiv wanted it for his aunt, and I wanted it for my niece for her D'yumarat; her passage into adulthood on her sixteenth birthday. Well we haggled and cursed and spat at each other; but in the end Garon had more money than I did, and he bought the silk. As a last ditch attempt to get the fabric, I tried to make him feel bad for me by bursting into tears. All he did was shrug his shoulders and leave. I couldn't believe it." Falinn paused to take a drink while Reiv's fellow crew members gave him some flack for his cold-heartedness. "At any rate," Falinn continued once the ribbing had subsided, "the next day, early in the morning, a package came for me; it was the bolt of silk, lying in a bed of flowers. I couldn't believe it. Attached was a note telling me how I deserved it more than he, for anyone who had such passion about living life; not the war with the Cardassians, not death, but life, deserved to be happy. The rest, as they say, is history."
Jevor busied himself with eating so as not to intrude upon the moment; he had little taste for such stories of gooey romanticism, which threatened to spoil a good meal by turning his stomach. The rest, on the other hand, let out a collective, "Awwww!" and patted Reiv on the back while smiling and laughing.
"That was the most beautiful story I've ever heard," Doctor Giovanni sighed, her hands on her chin; she hadn't touched a bite during the entire tale.
"Yes well it went straight down hill after that," Reiv replied, mocking seriousness. He then yelped with surprise and pain as Falinn drove her right elbow into his ribs. "Er, what I meant to say is, we fell in love and everything's been wonderful ever since." Everyone laughed.
The meal continued amidst light hearted banter. When it was finished, the captain nodded to Jevor, who stood and walked in front of one of the observation lounge's display screens. "Sorry to interrupt the revelry, but I thought it appropriate to report to you, Commander Falinn, on your ship's repairs."
"By all means Commander," she replied, turning her attention to his report.
"As you can see by these diagrams and charts, our repair teams should be done within the hour. After a pre-flight check, I'd say your ship would be ready for travel. We repaired the breaches in your hull and replaced your gravity generators. Parts of your computer was damaged, and we replaced it with parts we had in storage; declassified parts of course," Jevor said, with a nod to Lieutenant Ivanovna.
"You've accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time; thank you Commander!" Falinn said with appreciation.
"Well, having both the Bristol's crew and the Drexler's crew working on it helped quite a bit," Jevor replied.
The mood in the room grew considerably more somber. "I guess that means I should probably prepare my crew for departure; as it is we're overdue for our next assignment," Falinn said quietly. "Well, thank you for dinner Doctor; it was delicious," she continued, standing, forcing a smile. "Captain, thank you also for your hospitality. If you'll excuse me?"
"Of course," Freeman replied, half standing, as she nodded and left the room. At that point, the gathering ended, and the Bristol's officers went about their business.
An hour and a half later, the last of Bristol's crew had left the Drexler, and those among the Drexler's crew in the Bristol's Sickbay were returned to their ship. The captain escorted Commander Falinn to Transporter Room One, while Reiv followed sullenly behind. The trio entered the Transporter Room and the captain extended his hand, "Good luck to you Commander; I wish you well."
Falinn shook the captain's hand, "Thank you again Captain; you've done my crew and I a great service."
The captain nodded and smiled, and, turning to leave, he said to the transporter officer, "Chief, I think Commander Jevor was looking for you."
"Yes sir," she said simply.
The captain stopped in his tracks. "Now, Chief," he said simply.
"But . . .," McClellan started to object before getting the hint. "Aye sir." The two then left Reiv and Falinn alone.
"Ehlara, I . . ," Reiv started to say, before Falinn Ehlara silenced him, putting a finger to his lips.
"No good-byes this time Reiv Garon. Only until our paths cross again," she said, her voice barely a whisper. They embraced and held each other for what seemed to each like an eternity.
"I just wish we had more time," Reiv said quietly into her ear.
"As do I."
"You could stay . . ," Reiv offered, though he knew what her answer would be even as he posed the hasty idea.
She squeezed him tightly. "Don't. You know I can't." Ehlara then broke the hug and kissed Garon full on the lips before backing onto the transporter platform, her eyes never leaving his. "I love you Garon," she said, smiling and fighting back tears.
"I love you too Ehlara," Reiv replied. "Until our paths cross again." He then activated the transporter and she was gone.
Reiv stared at the empty transporter pad for along time before finally exiting the Transporter Room. Chief McClellan was standing outside against the wall, waiting for him to come out; they nodded to each other, and she resumed her post. Reiv took a walk and found himself in Deck Nine, Starboard. He went and sat by himself at a table in the far corner and put his feet up as he stared into space.
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