Ground cars never fell out of fashion on Earth. Old models are lovingly restored, new models are constantly in production. Earthers craved the feel of the wind in their hair, the sound of squealing of rubber on the pavement, the simplicity of navigating in two dimensions instead of three, and a slower pace of travel.
Though, not all choose a slower pace.
Christopher Pike braced a hand against the convertible's front panel and once again checked the security of his restraint. "Maybe you should slow down," he suggested calmly feeling anything but tranquil.
All the years of courtship and marriage were spent on board Enterprise. This leave was the first time Chris and his partner were not balancing duty and personal, the first time their multiple roles in each other lives were reduced to the most important one. With Starfleet personas cast aside they were both discovering new facets in the other. Today he had learned his quiet, sometimes shy darling wife is a speed demon.
Aalin took one hand off the wheel and waved at the road in front of them, "It's fine. I've driven here every summer since I was licensed. I learned to drive on this road. It has great visibility and little traffic."
Chris reached over and guided her hand back to the steering wheel. He checked the display to make sure the safety shields were engaged while thinking, Klingons on their way to battle go slower than this. "You said we were going to take a leisurely drive along Maine's scenic coastal highway on the way to meeting your family. All I see is a streak of blue that I assume is the ocean." He looked at the speedometer. "And we are well beyond leisurely."
"The car is built for this. You were a test pilot for goodness's sake."
"That is a completely different," Chris protested. "One, it's in three dimensions. Two, that means there are more ways to recover if something unexpected happens. Three, I was trained. Four …" When did I start numbering my points, he thought, it's odd, the habits you absorb when living in a small space with another.
"Hmmm. Sounds like a double standard to me. And besides, do I backseat drive your spaceship?" She glanced at him, "or rather passenger seat drive?"
"Eyes on the road please. I don't helm Enterprise. And no one, including I, have the balls to comment on Una's piloting skills while she is flying."
Aalin flashed him a brilliant smile.
A few minutes later the unmistakable sound of a siren came closer and closer. Aalin checked her rear mirror and muttered, "Oh, damn." In a louder tone she asked, "Did we cross the town line into Damariscotta?"
"Two miles ago," Chris answered. "Is that significant?
"Possibly," she replied absentmindedly as she pulled off the road. While the policeman was parking behind them and preparing to exit his vehicle, Aalin quickly pulled off her wedding ring and shoved it into Chris' hand. "Keep this out of sight. And try to act brotherly." She freed her hair from its ponytail fluffing it, and unfastened the top two buttons of her blouse, muttering "this would be so much easier if I were as well-endowed as my sisters," as she parted the sides of her blouse and resettled them leaving a shoulder slightly bare.
Chris chuckled and said, emphasizing the key words, "Seriously, you are going to try and flirt your way out of a ticket with your husband in the car?"
"Not very successfully if you broadcast it," she scolded. "Quiet, here he comes."
"Ma'am, do you know how fast you were driving?"
Aalin tilted her head slightly to the side and looked up at the officer with a smile that was a mixture of innocence and surprise with a faint hint of seduction. "Hmmm …" she wet her lips, "I guess not." She leaned forward just enough for her blouse to gap in all the right places, "perhaps the instruments are not calibrated correctly …"
Chris just shook his head.
"May I have your license please and the car's registration?" the officer asked politely.
"Of course. But don't look too closely, my picture is not at all flattering …" Her hand lingered an extra second as she offered the documents.
Chris rolled his eyes heavenward.
"Ms. Matthews. Please wait here." The policeman walked back to his car.
"Aalin, he's, at most, twenty-two," Chris observed, "and you are …"
"Do you really think it is wise to finish that sentence?"
"Ah … no, I do not."
"Smart man. And may I point out your head movements and eye rolls are not that of a concerned sibling."
"I didn't realize acting would be required on our way to the daunting tasks of my meeting your family for the first time. Just pay the ticket."
"Don't worry, they are thrilled to have such an overachiever in the family, it makes up for all my shortcomings … he's coming back, if you can't do brother try cousin."
"Why are you so concerned about getting a ticket?" Chris asked.
"Shush," Aalin said to him before turning to the policeman, "Is there a problem?"
"Maybe. Sir, how do you know Ms. Matthews?"
Chris looked up. "Oh is that her name? She picked me up at a bar last night."
Aalin silently called for patience from any deity listening. When he is not playing captain, Chris has a devilishly mischievous side, she thought before asking, "Will that be all? I promise to pay more attention to my speed …" A loud beep emanating from the police car interrupted her.
"Please remain here ma'am."
Under her breath Aalin said, "Oh, this can't be good." She turned to Chris who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "That wasn't exactly cousinly behavior."
"I improvised."
"Don't lose yourself in the part, DiCaprio," she responded dryly. "Try and look authoritative when he returns. Do you think you can manage that?"
A second police car joined them. The young officer and his Sargent talked for several minutes. Both approached the car.
"Aalin," the Sargent said in greeting.
"Bobby. How's the new baby?" Aalin said in return.
"Five years old now," Bobby reminded her.
"Oh, yeah. I've been gone awhile," she replied.
"I see you are up to your usual tricks."
"It always worked on you," she reminded Bobby.
Bobby smiled faintly, "That it did. And it almost worked this time, until he ran your license. I believe you know what this is about."
"Really? After all this time?" Aalin asked disbelievingly. She held out her hand to Chris and slipped her wedding ring back on.
The younger officer spoke up, "You married her the morning after a one-night stand?" Didn't quite know what you were in for did you sir."
Chris nodded in agreement. "Apparently not."
"But we've been married for over three … oh never mind. Can we just get this over with?" Aalin asked impatiently.
"It almost worked, except every Friday night during the summer Judge Newell says before leaving his chambers, "Under no circumstances, for no reason, am I to be bothered this weekend," Bobby paused for effect, "unless Aalin Matthews blows into town."
That caught Chris' attention and he sat up straighter.
"Figures. That incident wasn't my fault …" Aalin protested.
"Exactly what is going on?" Chris asked his tone of voice edging towards ship's captain.
"Well, it wasn't all my fault," Aalin continued quietly, "OK, most of it was my fault but I had help."
"I'm waiting," Chris reminded the group.
"And besides, I was provoked!" Aalin finished loudly and indignant.
ooooo
Aalin sat in a windowed office watching her husband and Bobby chatting. Chris sat in a chair with legs crossed, Bobby's feet were propped on his desk, and he and Chris were sipping coffee. Periodically one or both would chuckle and look back at her.
She was grateful not to be waiting arraignment in a jail cell but watching the two of them only fueled her imagination. What can they be talking about for all this time? Then realization dawned. Oh, how many tales is Bobby sharing?
Finally both men stood and shook hands before joining her.
Bobby spoke first, "You're free to go. And all the charges have been dropped."
Aalin looked surprised and asked warily, "Really?"
"Even Judge Newel isn't cantankerous enough to say no to a Starfleet captain. At least not this Captain," Bobby explained.
She turned to Chris and mouthed, "Thank you."
Bobby continued, "Since Chris is your commanding officer, Newel has agreed to leave disciplinary action to his discretion."
Chris flashed her one of his unreadable smiles.
"Wait," Aalin protested, "you mean … no …"
"Yes. To begin with your driving privileges are revoked." Chris answered as he put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the room. "You did, after all, drive the judge's new Porsche into a pond."
Bobby could hear Aalin's protest as they left the building, "That was years and years ago. And he insulted my father. Besides I'm on leave, here you are not my commander."
"A technicality. And a condition of your parole." Chris paused. "If you check Starfleet regs you will discover as long as you are posted to a ship under my command you are subject to my orders whether on leave or on duty."
"I really should have read the fine print before joining your ship," Aalin muttered.
Once they were out of earshot and hidden from view by trees, Chris stopped them and put his hands on her waist. He leaned down and brushed her lips with a light kiss. "Or you could flirt your way out of this …"