CHAPTER FIVE
Later that night Mike was sitting on the deck, his legs dangling over the ships edge. He leaned back, his arms stretched behind him holding his body at an angle so he could look up at the stars. He should be asleep, but his mind was racing with everything that had happened that day. He had looked for Andrea an hour ago, but she had been tied up in engineering and wasn't able to get away. Now he sat here wondering if Tom had calmed down after dinner.
"Hey, Sailor," Andrea's voice carried softly into his ear. He looked up over his shoulder and saw her coming towards him. She lowered herself down and took a seat next to him, dangling her legs over the edge in the same manner.
"Hey," he breathed out, reaching his arm out and tucking her into his side. He glanced around quickly to make sure they were alone on the deck. He gave her a quick squeeze then pulled his arm back.
"Did you hear the news?" Andrea asked. Mike glanced at her and saw the sparkle in her eyes. He wondered what he had missed.
"What news?"
"The captain and the good doctor are quarreling," she whispered. Mike groaned and closed his eyes tight. Andrea laughed lightly. Mike opened his eyes and sighed.
"What's the scuttlebutt," he said, his voice betraying his dread. Andrea's hand slipped over top of his in the dark. He rotated his so they were palm to palm and interlaced his fingers with hers.
"Not scuttlebutt this time. I heard it with my own ears," Andrea whispered. Mike's head snapped to the side, and he raised an eyebrow at her. It wasn't like Tom to argue with anyone in public. Especially in the view or ear shot of his crew.
"Oh no. What happened?" Mike asked. He wondered if he should find Tom.
"They got into it over her going ashore tomorrow," Andrea continued. Mike chuckled at that. He should have known that was what started it. He wasn't lying when he said he didn't envy Tom that job.
"And what happened?"
"She blew up at him and they got into a shouting match. Then he grabbed her wrist and dragged her down the p-way to his stateroom," Andrea replied. She waggled her eyebrows at the end. Mike laughed. "I don't know what happened after that." Mike made a note to have Jeter check the scuttlebutt around the ship. "So…are you willing to dish on the captain?"
"What?" Mike asked with a laugh.
"If anyone knows what's going on with those two…it's you, Mike. You're his best friend. I know he's the captain and you're XO, but everyone also knows that you two talk, too."
"He is my best friend," Mike said defensively. "We're not always on duty," he added with a shoulder shrug. Her cool fingers felt amazing wound with his. He stroked his thumb along the top of her hand.
"Maybe I can take that role," she said softly. When he looked at her, she smiled warmly up at him.
"You want to be Tom's best friend?" Mike asked a hint of laughter in his voice.
"You're such a goof," Garnett said with a shake of her head. A grin slid over Mike's features. "So, is that a, no?"
"I can't betray his confidence," Mike said. Andrea pouted and Mike almost caved in. His brain went back to her previous statement. He smiled.
"What?" she asked quietly.
"You really want to be my best friend?" Mike asked with a lopsided grin. Andrea smiled back at him.
"Would it be that bad?"
"Probably not," Mike sighed and then looked out over the wake of the ship. "I like it here."
"On the ship?"
"No here, in this moment. In the peace of it," Mike said, his focus still on the ocean trailing behind them. He finally turned his head and looked down at her, she smiled at him, then leaned in, laying her head on his arm briefly before putting space between them. Mike looked around. "Want to find somewhere a little more private?"
Her eyes widened slightly, and she cocked her head to the side. Mike thought about what he had just asked and what it could be interpreted as. He flushed hot, his cheeks flashing red all the way to the tips of his ears. He was thankful for the darkness of the night.
"To talk," he added hastily, but that wasn't the whole truth either. He wanted her to be openly able to cuddle into him without fear of someone seeing them. He was nowhere near ready for anything more intimate, but some cuddling sounded perfect after the high charged day. Garnett smiled and pushed herself up to a standing position. Mike sat for a moment longer, staring up at her. She tilted her head back towards the ship and he smiled, hopping to his feet. They turned and walked across the deck.
"I'll see you at your stateroom in fifteen minutes," she whispered as she pulled her hand free of his and walked off. Mike paused a moment and watched her go before he made his way below deck and to his room. He went in and sat down at his desk, nervously waiting.
She knocked on his door a short time later. He let her in. She even had a file of reports as if it were an official visit. Mike smiled and let her in then promptly shut the door. She stood in his room, not sure what to do. Mike stepped up to her, standing close, staring down into her eyes. They stood for a long moment, locked on each other, both unsure of what the next step was. Mike finally tilted his head towards his couch.
"Let's sit down," he mumbled, and she nodded. Mike sat at an angle, his back wedged into the corner of the back of the couch and the arm rest. Garnett sat next to him, then leaned into his side, laying her head on his chest. Mike's arm came around her and his hand settled on her shoulder. Garnett tucked her legs up on the couch and sighed contentedly. Mike smiled. She reached for his other hand and tangled her fingers with his.
"You make a good pillow," she whispered softly, and Mike watched her eyes flutter. "And you smell good."
Mike chuckled at that, his hand on her shoulder making lazy patterns. They sat like that for a long while, neither feeling the need to talk. Mike felt himself fully relaxing, holding her, feeling her breathe against him. He started to doze off and looked down to see her eyes closed as well. He shifted her and her eyes came open a little as she burrowed deeper into his chest, making a whining noise. Mike chuckled.
"I just want to get more comfortable," Mike whispered, and she pulled her head back a little. He smiled at her as he scooped his arm under her. He shifted his butt down the couch until he could lay down and then tucked her back into his side, her body sliding between his hip and the back of the couch. She draped her leg over his, her knee brushing softly against his groin. Her head settling on his shoulder, her arm laid lightly across his chest. Mike wrapped his arms around her and leaned down, stretching to kiss the stop of her head gently. He felt her push closer to his body. He looked around and spotted a throw blanket on the back of the couch and he reached for it. His fingers were barely able to grasp it, and he tugged it down. He felt her chuckle against him as he struggled to get the blanket spread out over them.
"What?" he asked as he finally managed to get the blanket to cooperate.
"Nothing, just…enjoying," she said, her voice thick with sleep. Mike smiled as he felt the exhaustion catching up with him. He watched as Andrea slowly fell asleep tucked into his side and something shifted inside of him. This wasn't just a friendship. Her words about being his new best friend floated around, and he wondered if that was going to be true…well maybe co-best friends, he thought. Tom would always be in that spot, but maybe there was a little spot next to him.
"Night, Shortie," he whispered as he leaned his head back against the arm of the couch and let sleep overtake him. She mumbled something against his chest that sounded something like, 'good night, Tower', but Mike slipped over the edge before his brain could comprehend.
There was a noise. Beeping? Mike's brain slowly climbed out of sleep. It sped up when he felt someone kissing his jaw. His eyes snapped open and there was a comforting weight on his chest, and a light pressure on his groin. His heart was beating hard in his chest as his eyes focused and Andrea's face was hovering just above his.
"Hey," she whispered and smiled brightly. Mike's breathing caught and his heart hammered.
"Hey," he croaked out, his voice feeling sticky. He attempted to clear his throat as she lowered her face. Her lips touched his, then slowly moved against him. He reacted, enjoying the feeling of her softness against him. She pulled back.
"Morning," she said, and Mike felt the pressure between his legs increase causing his body to react. Andrea's smile increased, a hint of playfulness in it. Mike attempted to speak but mostly just a groan came out. Her hand skittered across his chest, her fingers tracing fire in their wake.
"Morning," Mike said. He brought his hand up and traced his knuckles down the side of her face. "You're beautiful," he whispered, and he saw her blush. She laid her head against his chest and caressed him through his tee shirt. Mike's eyes slipped closed, and he felt her rub her knee along with groin. She had to have noticed what was happening down there, but Mike didn't think he was mentally ready for this stage. He forced his eyes open and cleared his throat. He looked at the clock on his wall and groaned.
"What?" she asked quietly.
"I need to get to the bridge," Mike sighed. "We have a mission brief in fifteen minutes."
"Going ashore today?"
"Not me," Mike said. "I'll have command on the ship. Tom's taking the team ashore."
"So, I should let you get up?" Mike really wanted to say no. He really wanted to stay here, with her, but he knew he needed to get to the bridge.
"Yes," he breathed out with a sadness to his voice. Andrea grinned and then pushed up and climbed off the couch. Mike sat up, holding still for a moment before pushing to his feet. She stepped up to him and he smiled down at her. He leaned down and captured her lips with his. It was slow and sexy, and he sighed as he pulled away.
"I'll see you later then," she said, and Mike just nodded. He watched as she left his room, feeling like he had just gotten the best sleep in a long time.
To Be Continued…
