The next morning it took Dr. Jewel two minutes to notice that something was wrong with Teagan, but three hours before he could get her alone an address the problem.
"You have not spoken to anyone who did not speak to you first, little love. You were in a fine mood yesterday before you left with our illustrious captain last night. Can I safely assume he has something to do with your sullen eyes today?" Sydney Jewel stood next to Teagan's workstation, staring pointedly at her so she could not just dismiss him.
"I don't want to talk about it, Jewely," she told him, but could not manage the firm tone she was trying for.
"What happened, Teagan. You know you can tell me anything," he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. She was still seated and would not meet his eyes.
"It was bad enough to live through once, I really don't want to dredge it up again!" Her head was still down, but her tone was sharp and commanding. She did not feel ready to talk about it yet, even though she had not been able to think of much of anything else and it would not stay eight hours from dinnertime forever.
"You may be able to get away with that with someone else, Missy, but not me. If he mistreated you-" Jewel began, a hard edge appearing in his normally smooth and soothing voice.
"No, he did nothing...inappropriate. He made it clear that he would not approve of anything that could be considered inappropriate ever happening," she finally confessed. Teagan swiveled her chair towards him, but was staring at the floor.
"I take it that means what I think it means?" Jewel asked, still relieved that the captain had not harassed her. She nodded.
"He wants me to call him by name when we have dinner in private, but after that he drew a little line in the sand," as she spoke she drew an imaginary line with her finger. "Never to be crossed." Dr. Jewel moved closer to embrace her and she rested her head against him.
"So he wants to have you to himself, but he is not willing to commit to you? Not much of an offer, is it?" He asked after a moment.
"He's a newly promoted captain. It may be all he can offer at this point," she said, hoping it was true, but then why had he used the word 'never'?
"Tell him no, love. You deserve better than that. Who does he think he is to treat you this way?" But Teagan was shaking her head.
"I can't," she said as though it took all the strength in the world to say the words.
"Why the hell not?"
"I agreed to his terms."
Dr. Jewel looked stunned. "And what exactly are his terms, Teagan?" he demanded.
"Dinner every night with him, with the exception of Fridays when we all get together. Thursdays I leave early or we get together earlier so I can meet with Ashton and the guys." Jewel shook his head in disbelief.
"It sounds medieval, Teagan. What are you then? The pretty woman on his arm?"
Now her temper flared. "You have no cause to be so incensed. He is not asking me to sleep with him; he just wants a friend. I'm the one who asked him to sit down the first time. I'm still glad he did!" Teagan had stood up, strengthened by sudden conviction. He searched her eyes.
"I love you, Teagan and that means I don't want to see you hurt. Can you honestly tell me this does not hurt you?"
"For now it does, but things may change. He may change his mind. I may change mine. The only thing I know is that when he comes to get me tonight I don't want you to say anything to him. Don't tell him anything, Jewely, I'm begging you." And she was.
His eyes narrowed. "I can't let him hurt you and just stand by doing nothing."
"Then help me. Help me wait. I thought about telling him no, I promise you. The thought of not being at his table for dinner tonight hurts much worse. I'm caught, Jewely. I understand your objections, but it is my life," she told him.
"Have you ever noticed that people always use that excuse when they are about to make the biggest mistake of their lives?" At his words, Teagan closed her eyes and turned away. He reached out and turned her back. "Alright, you win. I will remain silent...to him...for now, but I don't promise not to revisit this issue. I do love you, you foolish red head," he lifted her chin until she looked him in the eyes. A smile slowly lifted the sides of her mouth.
"I love you too, Jewely," she said, and collapsed into his warm arms.
The planetside lab was full when Teagan's communicator came to life with the voice of her captain. "Captain Data to Dr. Shayza." She tapped it.
"Dr. Shayza here, Captain," she answered.
"The discussions have ended for the day, Doctor. I should arrive in under twenty minutes," he left unsaid why he was coming, but then it wasn't necessary.
"Understood, Captain. I will be ready to depart upon your arrival," There was a pause and she could almost see him wanting to say something else, but deciding against it.
"Acknowledged, Doctor. Captain out."
Nineteen minutes later she could feel his entrance before she heard or saw him. She had already met with her relief and was just answering one final question as the captain's unique walk caught the attention of every person in the large room.
Noting that all eyes were on him, the captain smiled pleasantly at them all, since 90% were of his crew. "I would like to thank the members of my crew present for their diligence in the last two days. Your efforts have greatly eased the tensions that were building on this planet. The progress you have made in eradicating the damage done has made the job of the diplomats much easier." Turning to look at Teagan and Dr. Jewel, He nodded at each of them.
"I congratulate you Dr. Jewel and Dr. Shayza. You and your staffs have all but guaranteed the Repulse her first successful mission." Teagan found it difficult to tear her eyes away from the speaker, but she had to see the expression of Jewely's face. As she expected, it was tinged with pride. The captain's timing could not have been better. Looking over the rest of the faces in the room, she noted that they all wore similar expressions. Finally, she looked back at the captain, to see him looking expectantly at her. He gave her the briefest of nods and she moved to join him.
Dr. Jewel watched Teagan walk across the room and stand beside their captain, her eyes still aglow from the word of praise that he had just delivered to them all. Once she was in place the captain signaled the ship to beam the two of them up and in seconds, they were gone. As the shimmering of the transporter faded, Dr. Jewel looked at the faces that surrounded him. He was stunned to see the expressions that played across most of their faces regarding what they had just witnessed.
It was approval.
The pair arrived at the quarters belonging to Dr. Teagan Shayza and moved at once into her kitchen. She had used her authority to purloin the services of an available ensign to send him to a planet side market for the components of the meal she had planed. Realizing that the food would be used to prepare a dinner for his captain, the ensign had given the task his full attention and Teagan every respect. Not wanting to poison her captain or herself, she had taken every precaution to ensure that the food was not tainted.
She had only just pulled out the ingredients for the meal and the utensils that she would use to prepare them, when that captain asked her if she would excuse him for a few minutes.
"Is something wrong, sir?" she asked as he made for the door.
"No, I need to feed Stripes. She does not like being left alone for long periods of time. If I do not return soon she is liable to express her displeasure on the furniture," he explained with an apologetic shrug.
"Wait, if you don't think it would be...crossing the line...why don't you just bring her back with you. I am preparing fish tonight and I'm sure she would prefer eating with us to sitting in that room alone, as large and tastefully decorated as it is, sir," she added quickly, trying not to sound too disrespectful. Unexpectedly, he just shook his head at her. He came back to stand next to her, looking intensely into her eyes.
"I can see that this is going to be a point of contention between us," he said, with clear displeasure and yet still a hint of warmth in his yellow eyes.
"Sir?" she said, clearly confused as to what she had said or done wrong.
"What is my name, Teagan?" he asked her calmly. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again. Meeting his gaze, she replied. "Data," she answered simply.
"If you think it necessary, I could order you to call me by name." She now tilted her head to the side and gazed back at him with an amused glint in her golden eyes.
"Now, when you speak to me like that you cause me to want to reply with a quick 'yes, sir!'" she smiled even wider when he grimaced at her. With a slight flush to her cheek, something that he was noting happened with increasing frequency, and a small laugh, she promised to try harder.
He nodded and told her he would return promptly with a feline in his arms. Once he was gone, she instructed the computer to allow the captain entrance to her quarters upon his return. After a minute's consideration, she amended it to allow him permanent access. It was bold, she knew, but if she did not tell him, he would not guess. He would just assume that she had ordered it for the duration. It could mean that in the future it could mean that he would be able to catch her in the bath, but maybe that could work out to her advantage as well.
Oh, god. Listen to what you're thinking! Trying to trap and seduce your captain, she admonished herself. But she did not reverse the command to the computer.
Stripes was very pleased with her dinner, and made sure that Teagan knew this fact. Sitting in the living area after dinner the woman sat with the cat in her lap, scratching her behind the ear. Data smiled at the vision. The day had been difficult, and the only thing that had made it bearable was the knowledge that his evening would be spent here in the company of this woman.
He told her of how he was working towards improving his diplomatic skills and that with Starfleet's approval, had been asked to join the arbitration team in order to gain more experience. He had other experience in the past, but his new rank would grant him greater access and greater opportunities. Teagan listened intensely as he told her of his aspirations and what he had done thus far in pursuit of them.
As difficult as the day had been, the evening was perfect. She even called him by name three times before it ended. He was loathe to leave when it was over, and she seemed just as reluctant to surrender Stripes to him so that he could return with the feline to his quarters. Teagan followed him to the door and told him goodnight.
"Are we going to have dinner in the lounge tomorrow?" she asked before he could slip through the door.
"I am not certain. I think I will leave that decision for tomorrow. I will inform you when the session ends," he decided.
She smiled at this. "You looking to make sure no Romulans are sneaking up on me?" she asked, grinning. He returned her smile and nodded.
The Captain received some confused glances as he made his way back to his quarters, but he fairly certain it was because of the bundle in his arms, not because of where he had been. He had the strongest feeling that his crew did not disapprove of his dinner plans owing to a scene that had played out in the transporter room this morning.
Oddly, the same man that had beamed Teagan and himself up the previous evening had again been on duty this morning to beam the captain down to the planet. The man had greeted his captain with warmth when he had entered.
"Good morning to you, Chief Denton. I do not recall your name being on the transporter room schedule for this morning." The captain said questioningly.
"No, sir. I'm filling in for Ensign Grey. She was ill and I was happy to fill in for her," the man told him with a smile.
"Commendable chief. I intend to see that just that kind of attitude is recognized and rewarded on my ship." With this, the chief's eyes want wide with surprise.
"Oh, I wasn't blowing my own horn, Captain. Ensign Grey covered a shift for me not long before we went on leave for refit. I meant I was happy to get the chance to repay her." The captain smiled at the chief, but shook his head.
"You have not said anything to cause me to recant my original statement." The chief looked confused for only a moment before he realized the captain's meaning. Respect coloured the man's smile as he nodded his appreciation. Returning his nod, Data moved to climb the steps to the pad.
"May I ask how Miss Teagan fares this morning, sir?" the chief asked innocently assuming that the captain would know.
"I cannot tell you what I do not know, Chief. I can say that she was well when we parted after our dinner last evening." The captain was not sure if this was the best course of action, but he could not pretend that something he had only recently thought of was a reality. He also could not allow rumors to spread at a wrong word.
The chief's eyes went wide and he stammered out a quick apology, assuring the captain that he intended no offense.
"I am not offended, Chief. You simply made a mistaken assumption. However it should be noted that if I hear anyone malign Miss Teagan's character, I would be much more than offended. Is that clear, Chief?" Strangely, the man also gained an edge to his expression.
"Yes, sir. I know Miss Teagan, sir. I would not be happy to hear someone speak ill of her. My son told me about her coming to sing for his class, so I came once myself. She has an enchanting voice." The man smiled at the memory, and the captain was in that moment envious of him. The captain had yet to hear Teagan sing.
"Forgive me, chief, but I an overdue on the planet," Pulled out of his reverie, the chief apologized and promptly beamed his commanding officer down to the planet.
Arriving in his quarters, Captain Data sat down on his couch and looked at the cat now in his lap. "I believe Teagan overfed you, Stripes." The cat looked up at him and meowed her reply. He grinned. Sometimes her responses were so well timed; it appeared that she understood what he said. He had once believed that Spot understood him but after experimentation, he came to the conclusion that she knew her name, the words dinner, play and no, even though she tended to ignore the last. She also knew even without seeing whether or not is was Data that entered their quarters and if he entered alone.
Even though he knew that his beloved pets could not understand most of his words, he had long ago decided to disregard that fact and talk to them anyway.
"I wish to hear her sing, Stripes. Will you get her to sing for me? You are a good kitty; she would listen if you asked her. Will you ask her to sing for us?" He had lifted her seemingly boneless form to look her in the eyes. Now he just nuzzled her face lovingly. Stripes only purred in response.
As the next four days passed, Teagan noticed that her captain's emotional state seemed to be taking a decline. While he told her that progress was being made in bring the two factions back together, the other more practiced mediators were having problems keeping tempers from flaring and they themselves were showing signs of fatigue. Teagan tried to sympathize, but decided against telling him that while he was unaffected by many things, the stress of this mission was not one of them.
Instead, she talked him into walks in the arboretum, games of chess, playing with Stripes and anything else that she had the energy for after a long and tiring day herself. Dr. Jewel kept a close eye on her, but remained silent on the subject of the captain as he could see that Teagan was adjusting and seemed tired but happy.
After a total of nine days, the mission was finally completed. The factions had come together and had laid the groundwork for the reformation of their government. The mediators were thanked and dismissed. Teagan and Dr. Jewel had truly finished their major work days before, but had remained to help treat the sick with the cures that they had worked so hard to uncover.
The planet's doctors had copies of all the answers found by the Repulse's medical related teams and knew how to use them. Hopefully after all the damage was undone as best as could be now, the planet would never again have further need of those answers.
Teagan was very relieved to return to work in her own lab. She teased Apple of how lucky she had been to be able to remain aboard ship and coordinate with the planet instead of having to shuffle back and forth. Apple had just grinned and shot back with, "Sometimes lack of rank had its privileges, Doc.
"Quite true, Lor. Quite true," Not surprisingly the captain came to mind at Lauralee's mention of rank. Although Teagan tried not to kid herself by denying that it took very little to bring to mind the man with whom she spent every evening. Even when Friday had rolled around again, he had not allowed it to keep her from him and had joined the throng in her quarters. Yet he had left early claiming that he needed to check in with the bridge, but she had known better and had worried about him.
He had not recovered from the stress of the mission even now, and last night had sniped at her when she had forgotten and referred to him by rank. She had turned very quickly on her heels and stood firmly before him.
"I do not have an infallible memory, mister and if you are going to treat me in that manner, you will quickly find yourself dining alone." She had not raised her voice, or even waited for a response. She had simply gone to get the chess set, as she had been about to do when he had made his misstep. The evening had proceeded normally, albeit quieter.
Teagan sat in her office trying to decide what to do with him when Dr. Jewel rang for admittance. Once he had taken a seat Teagan sighed and closed her eyes.
"I take it there's trouble at the Captain's table?" Jewel asked, the edge instantly returning to his voice.
"Not between us, sort of, but something is eating at him and he won't tell me what it is. The captain is depressed, I think. He's sullen, quiet, less patient, and I have tried everything I can think of to jar him out of it, to no avail."
Her expression showed that the captain was not the only one being affected by this. Teagan's eyes normally glowed, but not today. She looked tired and drawn; worry lines darkened her lovely face.
"When did this start?" Dr. Jewel asked, gently, more worried about her than the man who held the center seat.
"I really noticed it about four days into our first mission, but I think it got worse once we left. I can't understand it either; we completed the mission successfully. He even told me about how pleased Starfleet Command was with the large part that the Repulse played in the mission. He wanted and worked for a great first mission, he got it but you'd think that Command had really told him that it was a failure and his command was on the line."
"Sounds like there is something he is not telling you. Of course it could be classified and he can't tell you," suggested Jewel.
She nodded, slumping in her chair. "What am I going to do? He is fine for everyone else. I'm the only one who really sees what's going on."
"Are you sure it's not you then?" he asked.
"Actually, I have thought of it, but I don't think that's it. Even if he won't go beyond friendship with me, he does trust me and I think I'm the only one who he relaxes with." She growled with frustration.
Jewel shook his head at her, "Not even two weeks and he has you taking care of him like you were his wife or something strangely resembling that but without the fringe benefits." Teagan blushed.
"I get some fringe," she objected.
"Like what?" Jewel asked, raising his eyebrows.
"We take walks arm in arm to the arboretum and I'm getting better at chess. I getting so close to his cat, it's almost like she belongs to both of us. I have the-"
"You know you're in love with him, Teagan?" Jewel broke in.
She tried to smile and not grimace.
"Yes. I know." Teagan looked Jewel squarely in the eyes. "I told you I was caught. That hasn't changed. I intend to do my best to stand with my toes up against the line that he's drawn for me until the day he decides to erase it. I know you think I'm letting him have whatever he wants and I get nothing, but that isn't true. He is very gentle with me. He's sweet, thoughtful, and funny. When we walk arm and arm through the corridors and pass people, he looks at them as though he's trying to find the smallest hint of disapproval aimed towards me. If he sees any, he narrows his eyes at them and they know never to do that again.
"I know that by now the whole ship knows who he is with every evening. We don't hide. We eat at least half the time in the lounge. I am not a fool, Jewely; I know that most if not all assume we're lovers. But no one harasses me. I guess since he's the captain, they're afraid of incurring his wrath," she grinned at the thought. After a silent moment, she looked back at Jewel.
"Yes, I am in love with him. Our relationship may not be all I want, but he is."
The older doctor considered this for a time, just staring at her. He had always hoped that she would find someone and eventually marry him. Jewel could see Teagan with five or six children trailing after her and a loving husband who knew just how lucky he was to have her. This was no where near what he had expected.
"Maybe he needs a bigger distraction, something to look forward to?" he said, resigning himself for the present. Her eyes found some of their former glow as she considered this.
"Yes, that could work. And I think this would be a good job for our party girl, Lauralee," she stood up and came to take hold of his hand. Giving it a squeeze, she smiled sweetly down at him. "Thanks for not saying it, Jewely," she told him. He sighed, but nodded.
Lauralee took to the subtle suggestion that the crew needed a distraction like a bee to honey. "A dance!" Lauralee exclaimed, as the women were enjoying a nice lunch in the lounge. Teagan nodded, thinking that that would be perfect.
"Yes, a formal ball. We could all dress in the old-time fashions. The fancy dresses and the men could-"
"Oh no, no, no Doc. I don't think anybody wants a formal shindig. They want to cut loose and have fun. We need movin' music and lots of wine, men and song,"
"I thought the saying was 'wine, women and song'?" Teagan corrected, but Lauralee just dissolved into laughter.
"Do I look like I want a woman? Funny, but I thought that the captain was a man, well male anyway...so does that leave anyone at this table wanting a woman?" Lauralee answered, heavy into sarcasm. Teagan just rolled her eyes at the outrageousness of the woman. "Hey, I know! You and Ashton can get with the guys and play. Will the captain let you come early, Doc? Surely he can eat one dinner by himself," Teagan looked aghast at her.
"What? I don't get to eat? He does not require the food, but I do. You should watch what you say, Lor. You make it sound as though I'm babysitting our captain, and it doesn't sound very respectful."
Lauralee frowned and shook her head at Teagan. "Sorry, I forgot who I was talking, will you be able to come and sing?"
Teagan sighed inwardly. This had not been what she wanted. She knew the captain would be more at ease with a more traditional selection of music. The music that she and her friends played was still called the same thing that it had been for hundreds of years...rock and roll. Now Lauralee was even suggesting that Teagan break their custom of dining together every evening!
Instead of calming him, this would tick him off! The captain preferred order. Aboard a starship, that was hard to come by. Teagan felt that for the captain, their time together was the only constant he had. Having taken command of a ship on which most of the crew already knew each other, and having brought no one with him, it had been more difficult for him to assimilate. He had no one to talk to, no one who knew him and understood how frustrating this could be.
This was the void that Teagan felt she filled, and why he had most likely taken to her so quickly. He had no one and she was better than being completely alone. Rumors and gossip surely had not been in his plan for taking on command for the first time. Romance had definitely not been what he wanted. He would allow her a certain closeness, but only to a point. There were evenings when they had been saying goodnight that she had been certain he was about to lean closer to kiss her. But at the last moment he would just smile and turn to go.
"I'll see if we can have dinner early on that evening, Lauralee. I would not want to upset the captain's routine," Teagan answered finally. This caused Lauralee to choke on laughter.
"Oh god no, we would not want to do that!" Sarcastic to the last.
Back in the lab, Teagan was disappointed that her maneuvering had not working out like she'd hoped. Lauralee however, was beside herself with energy and excitement. She had already contacted Ashton who had taken to the idea at once. Playing before their small intimate group each week was fun, but a crowd would be a blast for a change. An hour after lunch, Teagan was talking to one of her lieutenants when the door opened and Captain Data walked smoothly into the room. He greeted everyone in turn, but his eyes locked at once with hers and remained there.
"Captain," she greeted him with a nod as he stood before her. His eyes were warm and his gaze meaningful.
"Dr. Shayza. May I speak with you in your office for a moment?" he asked her, his voice soft and pleasant.
"Certainly, sir." She led the way and he followed just a step behind her. It seemed as though all of her staff were exchanging knowing glances as the door closed behind them.
"It has been a while since you've come to visit me here, sir. Is there a problem?" she stood in front of him, but before answering, he took a step closer to her and took hold of a single finger, holding it lightly between two of his.
"We are alone, Teagan, and nothing is wrong, I just wanted to see you." She looked into his shining yellow orbs and wanted so much for him to just hold her in his arms.
"I'm relieved. A visit from one's captain during one's shift could mean trouble. So why have you graced me with your presence?"
He raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Am I that much a nuisance to you, Teagan?" he asked, amusement in his eyes, but concern as well.
"Yes Captain, you are very high maintenance and I don't mean the kind of maintenance that would require a diagnostic afterwards. You require a large percentage of my energy and it seems as though the percentage increases on a daily basis. You cause me to fall into bed every night so exhausted that I sleep until only minutes before I'm due to report for duty. I believe I'm going to have to clone myself if you become any more demanding." She delivered this statement at first with such a serious expression on her face that he had fallen for it, and his eyes had gone wide with shock. As she had continued, he realized that she was teasing him and he began to shake his head at her.
"I think it would be easier to replicate me that to duplicate you," he said flatly.
Now her eyes when wide, "You are trying to kill me, aren't you. I was exaggerating, but only some," she said, amusement and playful teasing think in her words. "Why are you here? Is something going on?"
He shook his head. "No, I just wanted to see you." Suddenly the haunted shadow returned to his eyes. "Tell me truthfully, Teagan. Am I a bother to you?"
The look in his eyes pulled at her heart so hard, she had to do something to remove it. Reaching up, she put her hand flat on his chest, her eyes full of compassion. To her surprise, he put his own hand over hers. They stood there looking at each other for over a minute before she spoke.
"We are going to talk tonight, sir," she began, all trace of foolishness gone from her voice and expression.
He looked alarmed. "I am not sure I like the sound of that."
"Perhaps, but it is past time for you to tell me what's wrong. You've been brooding over something for a week now or more. I know there are things that a captain has to keep confidential and that I don't have anything nearing your clearance, but there has got to be some part of it you can tell me. I'm worried about you."
This had not been what Data expected, but it was not bad. She was correct. He was troubled and had apparently done a poor job of concealing it from her.
"I am sorry that I have been a-" he began
"No, stop. I just want you to be happy, I don't want to add to your reasons to be upset. Promise me you will talk to me tonight." Her eyes seemed to penetrate into him. The feel of her hand on his chest was having an odd effect on him. She had moved closer as she spoke and now stood with her chest almost touching his. His feelings for her had not changed and even though he was bothered by something he had not shared, these feelings had continued to grow stronger every day.
Slowly he pulled her hand down and with his other arm, reached around her, pulling her in the final inches to rest against him. She moved as he hoped and lay her head against him, her own arms hesitantly wrapping around him. He suppressed a gasp at the surge of emotion that overtook him. His other arm when around her and he closed his eyes, swept away by the feelings that flooded him.
"I will do as you ask Teagan," he promised her, his voice, a whisper. She did not reply. She did not move either and he was overjoyed by this. He never wanted to move from this embrace. When had it happened? When had she taken whatever he could call his heart, from him? All the words that were normally used to describe this feeling seemed vastly inadequate. At best, they seemed cliché, at the worst resembling an insult to the intensity and power of this feeling.
All at once Teagan seemed to remember herself and slowly she pulled herself from his embrace. Data was forced to return to reality and the fact that she did not seem comfortable if he treated her in a way that deviated greatly from the way he could treat her in public. He realized that as long as the embrace had signified a friend offering support to another friend, that she had been fine, but as he lingered, it had crossed over into something more. Here, Teagan would not go. The more time they spent together, the closer they became, but Data could see very clearly now that this closeness was to have it's limits. He had hoped that if he took their relationship slowly, he would not find a way to inadvertently ruin what he thought they shared.
As she moved slowly away, Teagan did not even look at him. Her uneasiness was obvious. She came to stand at the edge of her desk, reaching out for it as though in need of the support. For a moment, Data wondered if he had been mistaken when he had told her, days ago, that he could never feel cold. His emotions seemed to be affecting his entire body. His chest in particular was experiencing a disagreeable sensation that almost convinced him that some unknown force was siphoning all of his fluids out of him, starting with his chest. It was a horrible feeling.
"Remind me, will you? There is also something that I need to ask you tonight," she asked, her voice sounded odd, but he could not define what was different.
"If it is urgent, you can ask now," he assured her.
"No, not really important at all, just a request. It'll keep until later, Captain." She turned back now, but her progress was so gradual, it appeared as though she was fighting an opposing force in order to turn.
"Very well, Miss Teagan. I shall remind you," Data promised. She nodded, looking past him to the door.
"I should return to duty now, sir," she said, still avoiding his eyes.
"I take it I have been dismissed." His words sounded flat even to him, though it had been an attempt at levity.
"I would never knowingly overstep myself so, Captain," she began and finally met his eyes. "There are, after all, lines that must never be crossed." Something in her tone and words had an enigmatic quality, but he was not given the opportunity to question her, as she walked decisively past him and back into the lab. He had no choice but to follow.
All eyes were on them once they returned to view. Lieutenant Apple stood with Lieutenant Tulok and was surprised to see that even this Vulcan was now watching the captain and the Doc return from their private meeting in Doc's office. Lauralee found herself watching not the ship's most noted couple, but her Vulcan teammate.
"I thought Vulcan's didn't care about things as emotional as inner-ship romances?" she whispered to him. Tulok did not move or even look at her for a second. He continued to stare intensely at the interplay between Teagan and the captain as they said a public goodbye and parted. Tulok remained silent until the captain exited the room, and kept his gaze fixed on Doc.
"You are inaccurate in your statement, Lieutenant Apple. While Vulcan's long ago realized that purging ourselves of our emotions was the most logical course of action in order to survive, we nevertheless find the emotional tendencies of other races fascinating."
"So, what do you find fascinating about Doc's and the Captain's romance?" she asked, intrigued. Finally, he looked at her.
"While I give little or no credence to the rumors and gossip that has saturated conversation since the captain took command, my superior auditory sense has forced me to hear more that I would care to hear." His expression came so close to distaste, that Apple almost laughed.
"And?" she prodded.
"It seems to be the prevailing belief that the captain and Dr. Shayza are intimately involved."
She nodded. "Yeah, that's what everyone thinks with few exceptions, I guess. What's your point?" She was not sure she really wanted to talk about this, as Teagan was her best friend, but this was just too good to miss.
"In my observations of humanoid interpersonal relationships, if intimate contact has taken place and is successful, it continues. Is this normally correct?" he asked.
"If that mouth full meant that if they liked it, they keep doing it, yeah."
"It has also been my observation that if a couple is involved in this manner, when they come in contact with each other for a brief interval, they will indulge in some sort of contact if circumstances permit."
"Translation, they hold hands or kiss." She corrected, becoming impatient for the point.
"Correct," he said, and then remained silent.
"What is the point, Tulok?"
He turned to look at her as though she was missing the most obvious fact in existence. "The captain and Dr. Shayza were alone in her office for exactly twelve minutes and thirty nine seconds."
"Yes?"
"Observe Dr. Shayza. Her lips betray no signs that recent pressure has been applied. There is no discoloration of the surrounding tissue. Her cheeks are not flushed. I submit that Dr. Shayza has not been kissed," the Vulcan concluded, flatly.
With her jaw slightly dropped, Lauralee looked quickly back at Teagan. He was right! Lauralee knew what a woman looked like after a man kissed her passionately and it was just as Tulok had described. Her lips would be a little puffy, the area around them would be red or pink depending on how much, and how long the kissing had lasted.
She also knew Teagan. If she and the captain were in the habit of kissing, the redhead would not have let this opportunity pass without making the most of it. Did this mean that all of them were wrong? Teagan refused to discuss her time with the captain in any detail. He was nice, funny, enjoyable to be with, was all she would really say. She never insisted that they were just friends, but she never hinted that there was more than that between them either. Lauralee had no idea what this meant, but for some reason, it gave her a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.