CHAPTER 22

Dinner of ration packs from the scout ship and water from the resequencer didn't start out as smoothly as Reed had hoped. First of all, he hadn't counted on Kleth being present.

"Bah!" the first officer said in disgust. "How can you eat such garbage?"

"Kleth, I told you before," Hoshi said, unable to keep the amusement out of her voice, "if you don't like it, go eat in the mess hall. Or have something brought here for you."

"This used to be a living creature?" he asked, pointing with his knife at the salmon fillet on his plate.

"Yes. A variety of fish from Earth," she said. "At one time in the past, there were fears that it would become extinct. It's still considered something of a delicacy."

"He'd probably like it better if the head and eyes were still on it," Tucker said, and didn't even flinch at the growl Kleth flung in his direction.

The engineer must be getting used to the big Klingon, Reed thought as he tried to hide his smile. His attention shifted to Hoshi, who seemed to be enjoying herself. She was eating spaghetti, twirling the noodles on her fork, as she bantered with Kleth and Tucker, and he was pleased to see she had eaten most of her meal.

Kleth finally gave up any pretense of liking the Human food, and stomped over to the comm panel at Hoshi's desk. "Mess hall! Bring food to me in the captain's quarters," he said, thumbing off the unit after a snarled reply came back over the comm.

"I'm glad we'll be done with our food before yours shows up," Tucker piped up. "It'll probably knock on the door by itself."

Kleth glared at Tucker as he walked back to the table from the comm panel. Reed hoped the engineer hadn't angered the Klingon with his smart mouth. But, as he was beginning to learn, Kleth's first fierce response was usually an automatic Klingon reaction, which would be followed by his own individual, more thoughtful response. This case was no exception.

Kleth sat back down in his chair, which was next to Tucker's. The engineer, Reed noted, kept a wary eye on Kleth, who eyed him back.

"If your fish walked up to the door and knocked, it would be worthy of being eaten by a Klingon," Kleth said with a straight face.

A smile slowly appeared on Tucker's face and he chuckled.

Kleth laughed in return and reached out to slap Tucker on the shoulder, but the engineer managed to dodge the blow. "Hey! I need that shoulder," he said, causing the Klingon to laugh again.

Reed caught Hoshi's eye and they exchanged a smile. It was good to see her so relaxed, especially after the emotional wringer she had gone through that afternoon. Maybe this impromptu dinner party was just the thing she needed. As long as she kept herself busy, running the ship and issuing orders, she seemed to be able to hold herself together. He had seen that it was only when she had time to think about her situation and everything that had led up to it that she began to question herself and would falter.

The chime announced the arrival of the meal for Kleth, who got up to take it from the crew member at the door.

"Ahhhhhh," Kleth rumbled in his soft bass as he brought the plate to the table. "Real food." The omni-present gagh was on the plate, Reed saw, as was some other concoction he couldn't begin to identify.

Tucker rolled his eyes, but there was a grin on his face. All that time he'd spent in engineering among the other Klingons must be giving him some confidence, or at least Reed hoped so.

Glancing over at Hoshi, he saw that she had put down her utensils, having finished her meal. He reached over to where he had earlier hidden something under an extra napkin.

"I have a surprise for you, Hoshi," he said.

Lifting up the square of cloth, he revealed a small foil-wrapped food packet.

"I thought you said there was no more cheesecake," she said, licking her lips in anticipation and gazing greedily at the packet.

"There isn't," he said. "This is even better."

He passed her the packet and her eyes lit up as she read the label.

"Turtles?" she asked, a gleam in her eyes when she looked back at him.

Reed nodded, pleased by her reaction. She opened the packet and tilted it, and four chocolate-covered confections tumbled out onto her plate.

"I suppose I should share," she said.

Picking up her plate, she held it out toward Reed, and he gave her a small smile before he took one of the turtles. She nodded toward Tucker, who also reached over and took one.

When her Klingon first officer looked at the remaining two turtles skeptically, she said, "Oh, come on, Kleth. Try one. You might like it."

His lip curling in disdain, he carefully picked up one of the remaining turtles and inspected it closely. "What is it?"

"Nuts covered in caramel and then dipped in chocolate," she said. "Its name comes from its resemblance to a creature on Earth, I think."

He tossed the tidbit into his mouth, chewed vigorously for a moment, and swallowed.

"Well?" Hoshi asked.

"It was small. Hardly worth the effort of eating it," he said. "And it will probably take an entire barrel of blood wine to get rid of the after-taste."

A small smile played around Hoshi's lips. "Among Humans, chocolate is considered an aphrodisiac," she teased him.

"Keep it for you and Ma'Com, then," the Klingon shot back at her.

"Uh, on that note," Tucker said, pushing back from the table and standing up, "I think I'll go take a quick look around engineering, then call it a night."

"Take Kleth with you," Hoshi said.

"Kleth?" the engineer asked uncertainly, glancing at the Klingon.

"Yes, I will go, too," he said, getting up from the table. "Let us stop by the mess hall on the way to engineering. I will show you some real Klingon food that will make you fill out that armor."

Tucker glanced helplessly at Reed and Hoshi as Kleth took him by the arm and led him out the cabin door. His lips silently formed the words "Help me!" before the door slid shut, cutting him off from view.

Reed glanced over at Hoshi, who had been chuckling as Tucker and Kleth left, and saw she had at last taken a tiny nibble of her turtle. Eyes closed, she had an expression of pure bliss on her face. He was going to have to make it a habit to bring her sweets more often if it always got that kind of reaction from her.

He felt his own reaction stir, and cleared his throat.

She opened her eyes a sliver and he was pinned by the sultry look she gave him as she took another nibble. "I know what you're doing," she purred.

"Oh?" he asked innocently. "What am I doing?"

Closing her eyes again as she delicately inserted the last of the turtle into her mouth, she gave a low moan of satisfaction. She didn't speak again until she had finished consuming the turtle, a task she dragged out and that kept him spellbound, especially when she daintily stuck her tongue out to caress her lips for the last smidgen of chocolate that rested there.

"Some men use sweet words. Some use flowers," she said. "You, however, have found my secret vice, and have used it shamelessly. Whatever am I going to do with you?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something," he said as she slowly stood up and walked over to him.

She very carefully sat on his lap, placing her arms around his neck. She leaned in close to him, her face nearing his, and he was drawn into her deep brown eyes staring into his. This time he let her take the lead, initiating the kiss, her hands tangling in his hair, and he brought his hands up to grasp her waist, holding her steady.

Eventually, the chair became uncomfortable. He stood up, holding her, and carried her to the bed. He made a mental note to check if there was more chocolate aboard the scout ship as he laid her down.