A/N: Shout out to all for the reviews. Thank you!
"As anticipated, Ms. Delano will be released from quarantine today," Phil reports as part of his daily briefing with Chris.
"You mean Lilly?"
Phil's eyes narrow slightly; he hesitates then decides to let it go. "Yes."
"Any relapses when the ship went to warp eight last night?"
"Not even a tremor."
"Permanent effects?" Chris asks.
"None. She'll be more than usually susceptible to minor illnesses like colds for the next three months while her immune system fully rebounds, we'll augment her immunizations as a precaution before Bob's team beams down to N'shara for treaty negotiations. But that is nothing to worry about."
Chris nods, his expression is briefly downcast with a creased brow, a slight tick in the corner of his mouth, and a faraway look. Phil notices but dismisses it as his imagination when Chris' face quickly morphs to imperturbable Captain. "Anything else?"
"A robust game of Parrises Squares left one of Spock's new crop of computer scientists with a sprained back. I released him to quarters this morning but he's off duty for the next three days. Otherwise it was a quiet night in Medical. Oh, Bob and Sarah are calling in that rain check for dinner. But I assume Sarah has already cornered you?"
"No. Not yet. Ah … I … I have … plans."
Phil harumphs. "Completing crew evaluations and reviewing maintenance schedules are not real plans. You need a little human to human interaction and are dining with me, Bob, and Sarah tonight. Any protests and I will log it as an order from your CMO."
ooooo
"Alright everyone, that's a wrap. We'll touch base again later this week," Bob ends the meeting. "Lilly, stay behind please." Once the others file out, he motions to the chair at his side. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. A little tired."
"Keep it light for the rest of the week. If more time for preparation is needed when we arrive at N'shara, so be it." He chuckles. "I see by your expression you understand arguing is pointless."
Lilly dips her head in acquiescence. "Very well. I surrender gracefully. I really am OK."
"Yes, but with your brother off-planet it falls to me to look after you. I don't understand why there is no one special and permanent in your life. If not for Sarah, I'd be camping on your doorstep."
"There are not enough Bobs to go around," Lilly replies with a fond smile. "Perhaps, if I am fortunate, one will find his way to my doorstep."
"Ah, that reminds me, Sarah is expecting you for dinner tonight in our quarters. 7:00 pm."
"That is kind … I … I have … plans."
Bob shakes his head. "Curling up with a pot of tea and a boring book are not plans. And I won't take no for an answer."
ooooo
"For heaven's sake, what is the matter with you? You are acting like a teenager getting ready for her first date," Lilly mutters to herself. Every piece of clothing she brought on this trip was tossed on her bed. Nothing looked or felt right. She went through the pile again pronouncing judgement before discarding, "Too dressy, too revealing why did you even bring that, too casual, wrong color under these lights, too clingy, too lawyery, oh good grief …"
After Bob's insistence, a conversation with Chris revealed they both were invited to dinner with the Aprils. Chris' solution was simple. "Afterwards we'll have a nightcap and push our original plans forward one day." She could picture his slight smile and sideways glance when he added quietly in a husky tone of voice, "When I'm going to make you forget all your other lovers."
Deciding on dark pants, a soft white cotton shirt with French cuffs, and high-heeled, ankle strap closed toed sandals for a bit of sexiness, she asks out loud before leaving her quarters, "How in the hell am I supposed to not spend the entire evening watching and appreciating his every movement?"
ooooo
"Tell me again, dear, why you invited Mark to dinner as well when your, our, intention is paving the way for Chris and Lilly to get together?" Bob asks for a second time. "You know Mark is attracted to Lilly."
Sarah walks through from the bedroom area. "Really, at times I despair of you. And question how one of the prides of Starfleet, a highly decorated officer, can be so … so … what is the word I am looking for?"
"Baffled? Befuddled?"
"Simple," Sarah pronounces.
"Perhaps that is because my gender tends to deal in a straightforward manner rather than subterfuge," Bob retorts in a tone of mock superiority.
"Un-huh. Which is why you need us to get things done," Sarah informs him. "Basic rules of attraction my dear. A man's desire for a woman is stoked when he senses competition. And I will make it up to Mark, I have other plans for him … hmmm, he really does work too hard and a little diversion while we are on board Enterprise wouldn't be amiss … now that's an intriguing possibility …"
"Sarah …" Bob starts in a firm tone.
"What? Oh, just thinking out loud." Sarah says innocently while moving to stand in front of her husband. She straightens his collar. "How do I look?"
He takes his hand in hers and raises it to his lips. "More beautiful than the day I first laid eyes on you."
Her emerald-colored eyes sparkle with pleasure and she favors Bob with a beaming smile full of affection before reminding, "Make sure Chris sits across from Lilly and Mark sits beside her."
ooooo
Chris tunes out Bob and Phil's conversation while he watches Mark subtlety maneuvering Lilly into a corner of the room. Lilly nods as Mark talks; Chris begins to wonder how close she and Bob's chief of staff are. As if reading his mind, Lilly flashes Chris what she believes is a discrete smile and shakes her head almost imperceptibly. He relaxes a bit, but his annoyance remains, and he thinks, every time I try to get close to Lilly, Mark is there before me, greeting her first when she arrived, fetching her a glass of wine, wrangling a private conversation with her.
And true to the evening's pattern, Mark is holding her chair out when they sit down to eat and then claims the open space at her side. Swallowing a huff, Chris takes a chair on the opposite side of the table.
"Mark is the youngest chief of staff in the ambassadorial corp," Sarah remarks. "And one of the best."
Lilly chuckles, "It's like herding cats, but Mark manages to keep us on task and mostly on time." She steals a peek at Chris.
"And Lilly is one of the most promising attorneys assigned to the Federation Council," Mark brags. "She'll be general counsel one day."
Chris flashes Lilly a ghost smile, one so quick and faint she believes it is imagined. "I am one of a couple of hundred," Lilly reminds all at the table.
Mark raises his glass, turns to Lilly, and says in a collegial tone which belies the seductive hints in his smile, "We are so pleased you are well once again."
"Here, here," the others chime in with their glasses raised.
Chris is last to join the chorus. Narrowing his eyes at the man who wants to be competition, even if it is unknowingly, Chris weighs his options and decides, Let it go. There is no need to mark your territory.
As if guessing Chris' thoughts, Lilly's cheeks pink and she discretely moves a hand over her mouth hiding her reaction. The others at the table label this as shyness after Mark's toast. She tilts her head and murmurs, "Thank you."
Mark fixes Chris with his laser focus and says in a pleasant complimentary voice, "Captain, this is an impressive ship. I understand now why it is one of the prides of the fleet. Running it must consume all your available time and attention and then some."
Maybe not unknowingly after all, Chris thinks before replying, "I have a lot of help." Chris returns Mark's steady gaze. "Enterprise is technologically advanced; my crew is impressive. It is the people who are important. They are the difference."
"Of course, my apologies," Mark replies with sincerity.
Sarah abruptly changes the subject. "I'm sure Lilly wants to see the bridge. You should give her a tour Chris. She is most likely unaware you have served on Enterprise longer than anyone else."
Lilly quickly points out, "That's not necessary. I'm certain the Captain has other, more important tasks." She risks flashing him a brief sympathetic smile.
"Yes, he's been on board since its maiden voyage, starting as my first officer then serving as its Captain," Bob adds helpfully. "I'll tell you the story of how I convinced him to accept the post …"
Chris clears his throat and interrupts, "Definitely not. Not tonight. And it would be my pleasure to give Ms. Delano a tour of the bridge. Tomorrow morning? 10:00am?"
Sara shoots her husband a triumphant look.
Lilly replies, "Yes, thank you."
Mark is quick to interject, "May I join that tour as well?"
"Of course," Chris agrees graciously.
Bob stares at his wife's sudden head movements in his and Mark's direction. "Sarah, darling is there a problem? You are jerking your neck."
She rolls her eyes heavenward. "No dear, I was working out a bit of stiffness. And I was going to remind you about that call tomorrow with the Federation Council subcommittee. For you and Mark."
"I don't remember seeing that on the schedule," Mark says with a confused expression as he pulls out his miniPADD and scrolls through the messages.
Bob looks equally perplexed.
Phil adds softly in an effort to help, "Bob, perhaps you arranged it yourself and forgot to tell Mark?"
"Perhaps …"
"Should I sit in as well?" Lilly inquires.
"No dear, Bob said it is a budget meeting," Sarah answers for her husband.
Catching on, Lilly pinches the bridge of her nose and mouths 'sorry' to Chris. Before she can protest to Sarah and the others, Chris shakes his head at her.
Phil leans in and has a quiet conversation with Bob who then bellows out, "OH … right … I see. Yes, I remember now. Tomorrow, 9:45 a.m. via subspace link."
Sarah beams. "Well then, that's all nicely settled. Chris, I hear Mr. Spock is standing in as temporary XO while Una is on leave."
"Yes, he is quite earnest and on top of everything," Phil answers. His gaze is drawn again and again to Mark who is good looking in a subtle classical way.
"Yes, there is little left for me to do," Chris adds and then realizes he has walked straight into Sarah's trap.
"Perfect. This run to N'shara is an excellent chance for a little shipboard R&R. It's just what the doctors ordered," Sarah replies with a grin.
"And before you protest, your CMO concurs," Phil adds with a stern expression.
OK, I'll deal with that later, Chris firmly decides not realizing he has already lost control of the situation.
As the evening ends and the others depart, Sarah puts the pieces together. Chris and Lilly glancing at each other when believing no one is looking, they deliberately avoiding those gestures otherwise. Both communicating silently across the table. Both smiling at the same time as if sharing a private joke or memory. Lilly brushing a hand across Chris' arm when she walked past, He placing his hand on the small of her back when they left. Sarah gleefully thinks, Sometimes the gods actually are on the ball and get it right. Chris and Lilly already have an intimate rapport. But is it chaste friendship; or … further along? Well, even deities need an assist now and then.
She turns to Phil and her husband. "Boys, stage one is complete. Strategy session tomorrow at breakfast."
ooooo
Once inside her quarters, Lilly turns to Chris and apologizes. "I'm so sorry. I think Sarah and Bob are trying to fix us up."
He steps closer and loosens her hair from its ponytail, letting the tresses cascade through his fingers as they fall to her shoulders. "My CMO is on it as well. But as we are already 'fixed-up' it doesn't matter."
"I never would have slept with you if I were involved with someone," Lilly's words came out in a rush.
Chris shushes her with a kiss. "I know."
"Mark really is a good guy, but I don't go out with coworkers, and I think he is more attracted to …"
"It doesn't matter," Chris assures as he trails kisses down her throat. He sighs and steps back. No, tomorrow.
"Don't stop," Lilly encourages as she runs her hands down his chest.
He cups her chin in his hand and tilts her head up gazing into her eyes. "Tomorrow. Now you need rest. After all, it's only your first day out of quarantine." He takes her hand in his. "I'll tuck you in."