A minute or two later, she stepped out in the jumpsuit which was tight in all the right places according to her way of thinking and all the wrong places, according to his. Ben raised his eyes heavenward in supplication. With none coming, he merely headed to the kitchen to grab the dishes from the stove and oven.
"Hope you're hungry. I didn't know what you liked, so I just kind of…made a little bit of everything." He set the dishes down and made for the cupboard. She followed behind him.
"Please, I can set the table. It's the---the least I can do to help. After all you've done for me so far."
He was about to argue with her but the determined look in her eyes told him it would not be a winnable thing. Ben nodded and pointed towards the cupboard, "Plates and glasses are in there, silverware in the drawer under that cabinet. Okay, Liz?" He had remembered her preference for what to be called and it did seem to suit her better than Elizabeth.
He stood by the table, watching as she somewhat clumsily, more due to a natural lack of coordination than any remaining nerves, set the table for two. He didn't offer to help for he had a feeling she might view such an offer as an insult to her. After she had finished she sat down and he started to serve up the food.
"It all looks delicious. Um…what should I call you?" She finally asked now that the urgency had passed and left them quietly eating dinner together.
"Oh, um, Ben would be fine." He took a seat across from her after the plates were filled. Glancing over at her, she saw she looked at the food with wonder. He guessed things were a lot simpler with her father. Probably simple TKEs. That stuff would make even gagh palatable. And he'd had gagh. It took a lot. This simple fare must seem like a gastronomical wonderland in comparison to that gruel.
"Well, eat up." He said, noting her hesitancy.
She started to tuck into the meal with gusto. He smiled at that for it meant her shaky nerves had been calmed, her adrenaline had stopped pumping and her body was remembering it needed fuel. This was good.
He remembered he hadn't eaten either since arriving on Earth nearly… he glanced at the chronometer on the wall and wasn't entirely shocked to find twelve hours had passed since he'd set foot back on terra firma.
They sat there together for awhile like this, just eating, enjoying the peace and quiet. Ben had to admit it was nice to be in the company of a beautiful woman for a change. In certain circles, he supposed his first officer would be called cute but… he smiled to himself at that thought, but he was no substitute for a beautiful cool blue-eyed blonde.
It was that happy thought which was his last as the wall next to them exploded, throwing him back against the opposite wall into blissful unconsciousness.