3. Refining the Drawing

Up close, she was even more attractive. From her neatly trimmed bangs, that brought out her beautiful eyes, down to her immaculately polished fingernails, that seemed to sparkle in a million different colours and perfectly fit her artistic and mysterious personality.

Sitting across from her at the small corner table, already into their third drink – coffee for him, tea for her, since she'd turned out to be more of a tea person – McCoy's eyes were glued to her face, as she animatedly told him about a recent experiment gone wrong.

Less than two hours ago, she'd been this mysterious creature, more of an idea really, and now she was a real person, and even lovelier than he had imagined. He'd learned that she didn't live in San Diego, either, but was only here on vacation herself. And amazingly, she wasn't even a full-time artist but a fellow scientist, working in a chemical laboratory.

As it turned out, they had much more in common than he could ever have hoped for. And that wasn't even counting his own occasional dabbling in art, which he wasn't planning on mentioning, what with her incredible talent ranking so high above his own amateurish skills.

There hadn't been a moment's lull in their conversation. Sandra certainly knew how to tell an entertaining story while also being an interested and attentive listener. McCoy found that he wanted to know everything about her. Heck! He even wanted to tell her all about himself! She was certainly the easiest person to open up to.

He would have liked to stay at that café forever, but unfortunately, he had to show his face at the conference at least a couple of hours a day, and even had to give a speech that afternoon. However, by the time he was certain that she hadn't actually suffered a concussion or any other serious injuries, and he couldn't put off leaving any longer, there was no doubt about them wanting to meet again.

So, taking a deep breath, he worked up the nerve to ask her out to dinner that evening, at a restaurant of her choice, seeing as she knew San Diego so much better than him, and she readily agreed, sending him off to the AIMC with another heartfelt thanks and a gentle peck on the cheek that was all he could think about for the rest of the day.

x-x-x-x-x

Choosing a place for dinner had been easy. She wanted cosy and delicious, and there was only one place in San Diego she could think of that offered both. A small, welcoming restaurant serving mainly dishes from the Middle East – her favourite – that made you feel right at home the moment you entered.

Having been there many times before, she didn't need to look at the menu anymore, but could enjoy studying Leonard's expressive face instead, as he was browsing through all the different dishes.

She could hardly believe that she was actually sitting here with "her" gorgeous stranger, the man who'd inhabited all of her dreams, and most of her waking hours, for the past week. Their conversation over coffee and tea that morning had been so easy and interesting, she just hadn't wanted it to end.

And when there'd still been so much more to discuss and discover about each other by the time Leonard had had to leave for his conference, not before making sure that she was well again and would be all right without him, of course, she'd happily accepted his invitation for dinner.

Now here she was, unbelievably sitting in her favourite restaurant with the most attractive man in all of San Diego. Leonard was fun and had a brilliant mind. He was a devoted scientist, just like her. But he was also a dedicated healer, kind and warm. He had a quiet confidence about him, a comforting gentleness that she found immensely appealing.

Luckily, she hadn't been seriously injured that morning, but if she had, there was no one she'd rather have had around to help. For some reason, she found she trusted this man to treat and heal anything, no matter how severe. Leonard just had this air of capability about him that was so deeply reassuring. He seemed like a man who wasn't easily fazed, who knew what to do in any given situation.

Her head was still a little sore, but she felt like writing a thank you note to that villain biker, anyway. Because without meaning to, the bag thief had given her something of much greater value than anything he'd taken from her.

"So, how come you know San Diego so well?" Leonard's voice pulled her back to the present, as he put the menu aside, ready to order.

"I used to come here once or twice every year, with a very dear friend who was born and raised in this lovely city," she replied, fondly thinking back on all those wonderful vacations.

"But you're here on your own this time?" the quizzically raised eye-brow amused her. Was he trying to find out if she was seeing someone?

"Yes, my friend's working on a science vessel now. Has been for some years, actually."

"Oh! Are they Starfleet, too?" the eyebrow had almost reached Leonard's hairline now.

"No, he's with a private organisation, as their chief chemist. Doing research in space has been a lifelong dream of his. But I miss him."

It was true. She did miss him. Although she had her family and friends, life without Dan had been lonely and certainly less colourful.

"Are you two … uh … involved?" Leonard's eyes were darting around nervously now. Was that a hint of jealousy – or at least concern – that she detected there?

"Dan and me?" she asked, stalling for time, but then decided to stick to the truth. "We were, actually. A long time ago. But we found that we're better suited as friends."

Leonard nodded thoughtfully at that, and it briefly occurred to her that he might be in a relationship himself. But as if reading her thoughts, he started to tell her about his marriage and divorce years ago, and how he and his ex-wife, sadly, were not suited as friends at all.

After that, it felt as if the last protective wall between them had crumbled, and they talked about everything and anything, including very personal things, until late into the night. They'd both been hurt in love more than once, and comparing stories, talking to him about her deepest feelings, things she had shared with only very few people so far, had an immensely soothing, almost healing effect on her. Leonard was truly a born healer.

But it was only when he started to talk about his daughter, eyes shining with a doting father's love and pride, that she fully comprehended what a wonderful, loving, and deeply caring man he really was. The profound sadness on his face, when he told her about not getting to see "his little girl" nearly often enough, broke her heart and made her want to hug him. But of course, she was far too shy to do that.

Instead, she reached across the table to give his hand a comforting squeeze, the touch electric, and a thrill running through her, when he gratefully clasped her fingers and gently squeezed back, gazing at her with his kind, blue eyes that seemed to be looking straight into her soul.

After they'd practically been thrown out of the restaurant at closing time, Leonard quite naturally walked her to her hotel, neither of them seeming to mind that it wasn't really within "walking distance", just grateful for the extra time it gave them to talk and simply enjoy each other's company. And when it got a little chilly, he gallantly took off is jacket and put it around her shoulders, along with a gentle hug and a rub to her arms that didn't last nearly long enough.

They stopped a few times along the way, to look at something, or just gaze into each other's eyes as they talked. Sometimes he even put his arm around her shoulders or waist and brought his face close to hers, as he pointed something out to her. Those moments were magical. There was no other word to describe them.

And when they reached her hotel, far too soon for her liking, there was a moment when he leaned in as if to kiss her, but she panicked and turned her head so that his warm and gentle lips landed on her cheek. Leonard, ever the gentleman, though, didn't miss a beat, warmly thanking her for a lovely evening, wishing her a good night and asking if he would see her again in the park the next morning.

So, when she floated rather than walked to her room after returning his jacket and waving him off into the night, her full, racing heart was torn between excitement at seeing him again in only a few hours, and fear of having blown her chance of becoming more than just a shore leave acquaintance to him.