Chapter Four

Bumi walked towards the door, turning to smile back at her one more time before he exited the room. Lin was slightly annoyed at the treatment she was getting, even if he was her husband, she hated being doted on. She pulled the blankets up over her legs, settling them up to her waist. She huffed, having mixed feelings about it all. There was a small voice deep inside her that spoke of her true feelings. As much as she'd hate to admit it, she found his dawdling sweet.

Bumi made his way into the kitchen, seeing that the timer had yet to go off for their meal. However, the pot with the rice had long since been ready and started to boil over. He sighed and took it off the heat, hoping to salvage at least some of it. He had made a roast that he bought for a special occasion and kept in the ice box for a couple days. It was supposed to be for the anniversary of their first official date – which was in two more days – but he figured she needed something special after a hard day. Then, for the day to have been worse than he had originally thought, it made him even happier with his decision.

It was a nice beef roast that he had picked out, using a wine reduction as well that he had learned from a friend while still in the service. Bumi frequented the kitchen when he was in command, having made friends with the chefs as his first matter of business even when he was a lowly ensign. One of them he had known nearly from the time he enlisted to the time he retired. He swapped tips and tricks back and forth, and this wine reduction was a fairly cheap but flavorful lesson he learned and immediately fell in love with.

He figured that Lin would like it, and that was why he chose to use that recipe for tonight's meal. He checked the roast, seeing that it was close to being done. He took it out of the oven before turning it down but not off, placing the roast on the stovetop and grabbing the aluminum foil. He tore off a generous sheet and tented it over the meat. He had a feeling that it was near medium rare, and definitely not past medium – exactly the way it should be.

He grabbed a couple plates and scooped a generous portion on one, and much less so on the other. He had made nearly the exact right amount for two, so the fact that it boiled over while he cared for Lin made the serving size off. He removed the foil sheet, sliced six pieces, and replaced it. He gave Lin the choicest looking cuts and the larger serving of rice, himself the less good and smaller. Bumi plated the food for her nicely, taking a spoon to get the juices from the pan and drizzling across the meat and rice.

He took his plate of food and set it in the oven along with the roast to keep warm. He took the rest of the wine which he hadn't used for the roast and poured a glass before putting the cork back. He didn't have a tray, he realized, and looked for something suitable. Apparently Lin had a small group of cutting boards and cookie sheets tucked in the back behind the heavier pots, and he grabbed a medium sized one and placed her plate, utensils, and wine on it.

Lin heard all the ruckus in the kitchen and had nearly gotten a headache from rolling her eyes over all the fuss Bumi made over feeding her. She preferred to bring home dinner after work because otherwise he always went over the top either trying to impress her or she didn't even know why. But when he walked into the room with – was that a cutting board? – her food she smiled softly.

"Bumi… what's with the tray?" she asked with a slight nod. He looked down at it briefly.

"Oh, this? I told you that you're on bed rest until further notice. That includes dinner." he smiled, walking carefully over to her and sitting on the edge of the bed. She wasn't expecting it, and her face showed her confusion and frustration towards being treated like a child with a broken limb.

"Bumi no, I'm fine. I can eat in the-" she began, only to have his finger softly placed on her lips.

"Shh. There's no arguing in Doctor Bumi's medical facility." He set the tray across her lap with care, handing her the utensils.

She smirked at first, but there was a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth; a smile that she quickly hid with a pretend yawn. She took the fork and knife from him, "I will admit…" she rolled her eyes, "Doctor Bumi, this does look delicious." Pressing the fork into the meat she moved to cut it, but the motion of sliding the knife across it pulled at her side and her face contorted in pain.

He sighed, placing his hands on hers momentarily. Bumi took the knife and fork from them, and she looked back pleadingly.

"Bumi seriously, I can feed myself!" she insisted to no avail. He didn't respond, instead slowly cutting the meat into small pieces for her. He took a piece onto the fork and brought it to her lips.

"I don't have to say 'Here comes the choo-choo' do I?" he teased from her not opening for the food. She grumbled but opened her mouth for the roast. What made it all worse for her was that it was indeed delicious, and she couldn't hide that she loved it from him. After she swallowed the food she immediately opened her mouth again, playing along with his little routine.

"But what about you? You need dinner too…" He smiled, continuing to feed her the meal. He picked up the wine glass and had her drink.

"I'm fine, I can eat later. You're more important than dinner by far."

"Bumi, I love you…" she said quietly into the glass.

"What was that, sweetheart?" his face beamed from the comment.

"I said, 'Bumi, this is really good…'" she lied, horribly.

"Oh? I thought you said, 'Bumi, you are the sweetest kindest most wonderful man in the world and I love you with all my heart and couldn't love you any more if I tried.'" he casually said as he set the glass down, picking the fork back up. She couldn't help but chuckle at his words, even if it caused her a little pain to.

"That was what I was going to say next." she smiled and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He picked up another piece of meat on the fork and had her eat it, followed shortly after with the last of her rice. The last piece he picked up and got the last of the sauce from the plate on before he offered it to her. She ate it, chewing slower than the other pieces, and looked into his eyes.

Bumi smiled, taking the tray and setting it on the nightstand. He took her glass of wine and held it for her but she lifted her hand for him to stop. "You sure?"

"Positive. It was great, Bumi. As usual." she put her hand on his arm as he took a swig of her wine to finish the glass off. He set it back on the tray and turned back to her.

"Glad it was up to spec." he grinned. "I'm going to put the tray back into the kitchen, want anything else?" he stood slowly so the bed didn't move too much.

"Don't go yet…" she said, placing a staying hand on his forearm.