Teagan lounged in her bed two hours longer than she normally did, but since it was Saturday, that was all right. The personnel reports still hung over her head though, so her dragged herself from her warm and comfortable bed, showered and dressed. In her office four hours later she felt as though a thought was nagging at her in the back of her mind, but had not had time to let it advance forward enough to really know what it was.
She paused a moment and took a deep breath. "Computer, what time is it?" she called.
"The exact time is 1412 and twenty three seconds mark," the mechanical female voice responded promptly. Just after two o'clock and no surprise visit from a tall, dark haired commanding officer. It was Saturday; maybe he had other plans. Maybe he had decided that he had seen her enough this week or after the ruckus of last night, maybe he thought she was too wild.
No, he had seemed down when he'd left, but not insulted or like he had seen distasteful behavior from her other guests that had embarrassed him. Still, something had been on his mind.
Well, if he could come here and invite her to dinner, it wouldn't be improper for her to call him and invite him to join her this evening if he were free, would it? She laughed at her own uncertainty. Well, what exactly were the rules when one had a crush on one's captain and wanted to ask him out?
"Doctor Shayza to Counselor Braccon," she said after touching her communicator.
"Braccon here, Doctor Shayza. How can I help you?" came his immediate response.
"I hope I am not bothering you, Counselor."
"Not at all, I know it's Saturday, but the ship's counselor is always on call. Kind of like the captain, Doctor." Teagan had to choke back laughter at his choice of comparison.
"Great, I was wondering if I could ask you about something, Counselor. It wouldn't take but a moment. I could come to your office anytime in the next two hours if that's convenient."
"Actually, I think I'm very close to your lab, if you wouldn't mind meeting with the counselor on your turf, Doctor?" Teagan smiled at this.
"Wonderful. I don't worry about my staff thinking that I'm a little off balance, Counselor. They've known that for years. Shayza out."
The counselor arrived a few minutes later and shook hands with the attractive redhead in her office before taking the seat she offered him.
"Before I ask you what I want to ask you, Counselor. I need to ask a preamble question," she began.
"You want to know if this is confidential." It was not really a question.
She grinned. "Yes."
"Completely," he assured her.
"Even the captain couldn't order you to repeat what I'm about to say?" she asked hesitantly.
"He could ask me to assess your mental state based on behavior I have witnessed or have had related to me, but no, he can't order me to break professional confidence and tell him of conversations I've had with you."
The woman smiled and sighed heavily. "Good, because it's the captain that I wish to discuss," she said pushing back her chair and getting to her feet. Braccon's eyes went wide briefly, but he hoped she didn't notice. She turned and began to pace slowly about the small room as she related her tale. After a few moments of listening to her replay the events of the last few days and the time she'd spent in their commanding officers company, he put two and two together. It was obvious this was the woman that had caused the captain to call Braccon to his ready room a few days ago.
The captain had good taste in women, the counselor thought privately. Teagan Shayza was a beautiful woman. Her manner was quite charming and though she was very unsure of her standing with their captain, the counselor doubted this state would last for long. While the captain had been careful not to name names or give away more than he had to, the counselor was good at his job and could tell these two people were headed for a long involvement. He saw no reason not to help it along a little. Within his ethical limits.
"If I understand you, Doctor, you want to know if it's appropriate for you to now invite the captain to dinner. Now, you must understand, I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, but I can say that I see no reason why you cannot deliver your invitation. You have both invited and accepted prior invitations from each other," he reminded her.
"True, but I've never called him while he was on duty. But if I wait much longer he may make other plans and...well," she looked helpless.
"You want to keep the pattern going?" he finished for her. She nodded gratefully.
"Too forward? I mean, he is the captain," she asked looking like she was expecting to be scolded for brashness.
"No, I don't think so. If it's truly what you want, I see nothing to ethically prevent you from proceeding." Tray got to his feet, sensing that she was now in a hurry to place the call before she lost her nerve. She shook his hand again with warmth and thanked him for his time. He told her not to hesitate if he could ever be of further assistance and wished her good luck.
So, this was the Captain's woman, he thought as he made his way back to his own office. Not bad at all...
Sitting back behind her desk, Teagan steeled herself. Wait, better find out where he is first, she realized. "Computer what is the current location of Captain Data?"
"That information is restricted to command crew only. Authorization is required."
"Of course, silly me. Wait, computer, is the captain's ready room vacant?"
"Negative," was the reply.
"Ok, now we're getting somewhere. Computer, is there more that one occupant in the captain's ready room?"
"Negative,"
"Great!" she exclaimed and tapped her communicator. "Doctor Shayza to Captain Data."
"Data here, what can I do for you, Doctor?" he did not sound too busy, but he did sound very formal.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Captain."
"No Doctor, did you need something?" he asked, just as formally.
She suddenly felt a wave of uncertainty. "Well, I was just wondering if you...umm...if you had plans for this evening? Dinner that is?" There was a pause and she wished she had used the computer monitor to contact him so she could at least see his face, but it was too late now.
"I have made no plans for dinner, Doctor," he said simply.
And you're not going to make this easy for me, are you? She sighed silently. She was committed now, might as well jump in the deep end. "Would you be free to meet with me for dinner then, sir?" she asked closing her eyes and grimacing.
"You do not have other plans this evening, Doctor?" he asked.
What did that mean? Why would she be calling him if she had other plans? "No, sir."
He paused again. "Seventeen thirty hours in the lounge, Doctor?" he asked.
"Aye, sir," she responded feeling like it was suddenly his invitation and not hers. "I promise not to be late this time, Captain," she added before he could sign off.
"I will hold you to that, Doctor," he replied. She could almost hear the smile creeping over his gentle features. "Captain out."
Heaving a great sigh of relief, Teagan laughed at herself. "Well, that was a lot like pulling teeth. What is he doing? Playing hard to get?"
The lounge was not as crowded as it was during the week, but it was still rather noisy when Teagan arrived. She made sure she was early this time so she even beat the captain. She was not sure whether to be flattered when the server saw her and escorted her directly to the captain's table or insulted that the man was assuming again. He was assuming correctly, Teagan reminded herself and she had already had enough trouble with getting hot under the collar about this, so she decided to be gracious and thanked the man. Doubting that the captain would be late, knowing his nature and dislike of disorder, she ordered a glass of wine for both of them.
She kept her seat when she saw him enter at the stroke of seventeen thirty, since he knew where the table was and she was still hoping that he was not going to look upset at replaying this scene with her, again.
"Greeting, Doctor. I hope you fare well this evening," he said once he reached the table. She answered as he took his seat.
"I would have to say that that depends on you, Captain," she said firmly, but with a pleasant smile.
"How is that, Doctor? I assume this wine is for me?" he asked indicating the glass before him. She nodded. Who else would it be for? she thought to herself. He took a sip and nodded his approval as she had ordered a red for them this evening. "A good choice, Doctor. Thank you."
She sighed in frustration. His formality could only point to there being something very wrong here.
"I'm not going to let you sidetrack me with flattery over my wine selection, sir. You were upset about something last night when you left my quarters. You also left suddenly. Today you did not call me and it may be a five-day pattern, but it was a pattern none the less. You are also acting strange now and what did you mean by asking me if I had other plans for tonight?" This all came out in a rush and she worried that she was over reacting. But something in his eyes was...different.
The captain looked at his wineglass. He took another sip and wished that it had the same effect on him as it did on her. "In what order do you wish your questions answered, Doctor."
"I also think I preferred "Teagan" to your stiff lipped "Doctor", Captain Data. Answer them alphabetically, in the order asked or backwards. But answer this first. Are you angry with me? Have I done something to offend you? If you don't tell me I can't stop doing it." He met her eyes as she spoke, but when she finished, he looked back at his wine.
"I am not certain I can ask you to stop. It may not be appropriate," he admitted reluctantly. She sighed, not knowing if this was progress or not. Unfortunately, their server chose this moment to make his appearance.
"Please, give us a few more minutes. We'll signal you when we're ready. Thank you," she told the man before the captain had a chance to say a word. The server raced off nervously. "What did I do?" she prodded, turning her attention back to the captain.
He could not meet her eyes. "If you and Mr. Uker are...involved you need not feel that you are obligated to spend your dinner hour with your captain. I-" she stopped him there.
"Wait, you think Ashton and I are seeing each other? Like dating?"
"He did...kiss you last night. I could not help but see it," he said, defending what he thought could be seen as voyeurism. She laughed, but she blushed too.
"Everyone in the room saw it, Captain. Ashton fully intended for everyone to see. But for more reasons than one," Teagan looked at the ceiling for a moment. "How does one explain Ashton?" She thought for a moment and then looked back at the man seated across from her.
"Ashton is very...physical. His charm is the stuff of legends on this ship and so is the list of women he has used it on. I am what you might call his fall back position. No, that doesn't sound good. Let's see, umm, when he is between women he likes to practice his charm on me, but that's all he's practicing. He flirts and teases, but it has never gone any further, Captain. And I choose to keep it that way."
The captain still looked doubtful. "You kissed him as well, Doctor," he reminded her.
She sighed again. "I had an argument with him Thursday night. I lost my temper and said some things I shouldn't have. That was just a...make up kiss. We're close, but not that close. I've known Ashton for over three years now and I know how his mind works. Words are not his strong suit. I have dinner with you because I want to...sir." She told her captain firmly. Her eyes were locked with his. Teagan wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding. How could he not realize that seeing him at dinner time for five nights, now six in a row meant that she found him appealing and not Ashton? Kissing someone else in front of him is definitely out, she thought, as she watched the captain struggle to accept her assurance that nothing serious was going on with her and Ashton Uker.
"Then I would like to ask you a question, Miss Teagan," he said, his eyes alight with purpose.
Teagan put her wine down and leaned back in her chair, preparing herself. "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"Will you join me for dinner tomorrow evening?"
Relief flowed through Teagan. She had to give him credit for a quick recovery and refocusing. Maybe he did have an interest in more than just dinner.
"We have not even ordered tonight's dinner, Captain. Are you certain you won't change your mind about that before the evening is through?" she asked him, playful amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Your friend Mr. Uker may have prior claim to most of your evening on Thursdays, and all of your friends take up your evenings on Friday. Are there any other days that you have prior arrangements with other members of the ship's compliment?" Teagan shook her head, but looked confused. "Since taking command of this vessel, I have had the pleasure of your company for the duration of my evening meal. Unless you have reservations in this matter, I would like to continue the trend and to consider it...prearranged." Teagan just looked at him, stunned into silence for a moment. He was asking her to have dinner with him every night except for Fridays?
"People are going to wonder if there's something going on between us, sir," she cautioned him. He nodded.
"I have considered that possibility. As the captain of this vessel, my rank and fear of reprisal may shield me from some of the rumors that could begin. However, you shall have no such shielding, therefore you may receive the brunt of the gossip that we assume will flow. I do not know how to protect you from something I may never hear personally. If, however I can help in a manner that you believe appropriate, I would ask you to inform me at once. If at any time you find that you no longer wish to continue sitting at the captain's table, you should tell him this as soon as possible." His last words almost sounded funny, but his expression showed them to be intensely serious.
"It will be as you say, Captain," Teagan said so softly that were it anyone else sitting across from her, they would not have heard her.