A/N: Welcome to new followers and also Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! I love your comments ad they make me smile and I'm excited to say that we finally have all the characters in the Fanfiction selection to choose from! Yay! now my story is properly tagged :-) Anyway Enjoy!
Chapter 5
"I'm not sure about this. I'm not really a dress person." Larrin said as she smoothed her hands down the skirt of the dress for the one hundredth time in the hopes of making it longer. It was a black Elisabeth and James slinky and sexy jersey mini dress featured side cut outs with long sheer mesh raglan sleeves. Sure she was not showing any cleavage not that she had much going on in that area, her arms were covered and sure it sat a few inches above the knee but it was the fact it hugged every curve that made her feel a little uncomfortable as it was a sexy dress. Her style was more pant suits, jeans and anything that was comfortable and not completely fitted.
"I know, it's a little risqué for a ball. But sometimes you got to make do with what you got." Kara said as she pinned the stray hairs of her bun back in to give it a sleek finish. She was already dressed for dinner she just had to put on her jacket. Though she had to admit she was glad that she didn't have to wear the dress as she could hide in her uniform as the dress was like a open flame calling all the single men like moths. She had a feeling the dress her mother packed was the reason her mother was no longer eligible for a credit card besides her boozy habits not that she'd ever mention it.
"True." Larrin said blowing out a slow breath as she was psyching herself up to actually walk out Kara's hotel room in the dress.
"Look I know, my Mom has questionable taste in clothing but you do look gorgeous and Wolf will have a fit." Kara said with a smile.
"He already had a fit when I used his razor to shave my legs. I'm just happy I shaved my whole legs now." Larrin told her. Kara laughed as she might be a single child but she could only imagine Wolf's reaction.
"Shaving above the knees means you're expecting a little something something." Kara said teasingly, she had to admit that it was fun to see Larrin get all shy and girly about Miller. It was also unexpected as Kara figured the woman could date a guy from a GQ magazine cover. But the fact that Larrin seemed taken with Miller just endeared her more to Kara.
"No, it was like a forest down there. I don't want people mistaking me for being a Sasquatch." Larrin said with an exasperated sigh as she tugged the hem of the skirt down but it was futile as it rode up to it's original place.
"I think it might be something to do with a Seaman you were seen talking to in the bar this afternoon." Kara said in a light and teasing tone. "A certain tall, redheaded man." she added enjoying the blush gracing Larrin's cheeks as the woman tried to pretend she had no clue what Kara was saying.
Larrin pursed her lips and struggled not to say anything. She hadn't had a lot of female friends or well friends in general thanks to the age gap between her and her peers. That and the kids her age had been cruel just because she was a 'nerd'. But right now she wanted to blurt everything out to Kara like they were old friends and get some more information on Miller.
"He got me a club sandwich and fries to help dilute the beer Wolf and I had earlier." Larrin said giving away nothing as old habits died hard for her.
"Uhuh then why are you blushing over a sandwich?" Kara asked in an amused tone.
"We met in the park and he cured-well vaccinated me." Larrin shook her head. "That sounds so wrong." Larrin added as she covered her cheeks, she could swear she was coming down with a fever her face was so warm.
"It does but only a little." Kara agreed with a chuckle.
"You sure about this dress?" Larrin asked her yet again.
"Yes, I am. I also think you're going have Miller tongue tied when he sees you in that dress." Kara told her with a smile as Larrin gave her a 'give me a break' look while her cheeks grew red.
"Will you stop?" Larrin asked her as Kara kept bringing Miller up. Though Larrin actually didn't mind being teased by Kara at the woman wasn't like Wolf who seemed to think that Larrin needed the 'abstinence' talk.
"No, you blush every time I mention him. He must have really made an impression on you with that sandwich." Kara mused as she picked up her jacket and slipped it on. She had to pull hard on the front so as to button it over her baby bump.
"He's the first guy who's made me smile in a really long time." Larrin confessed, she looked to Kara expecting to see pity but notice the woman was a little occupied in trying to button her jacket. "Do you want a hand?" Larrin asked her as she could see Kara was struggling.
"Please, my dress uniform is just too tight. I had to let out the darts in my skirt but I have to button the jacket for the first half of tonight." Kara said as she gave up, Larrin moved to her and picked up the two halves of the jacket.
"How far along are you?" Larrin asked.
"15 weeks possibly 16? I'm healthy but I haven't had an ultrasound since Baltimore which was 6 weeks ago." Kara said, she felt herself deflate at the memory because after Baltimore there just never was enough time for anything but the mission.
"Well, you could get one tomorrow or whenever. I'd say there is one hospital that's open for business. You could find out if they can do a prenatal exam or at worst be directed to an open OB/GYN office." Larrin said she pulled hard on the jacket fabric as Kara sucked in her breath. Somehow miraculously the buttons slipped into place.
"There we go." Larrin said with a smile of success.
"Yeah, now I can't breathe properly." Kara said as she felt like her jacket was way too small for her.
"Well, I'd undo the buttons when you sit down otherwise they'll just ping off in several directions." Larrin advised her in a joking manner. Kara gave her a droll look.
"Thanks."
"Hey we can switch if you want." Larrin offered gesturing to the dress.
"Yeah, that is not going to happen." Kara assured her.
"It's stretchy-"
"And I would have looked like a whale unlike you. Anyway I'm looking forward to watching Wolf having a meltdown once the crew realises what a beauty you are." Kara said with a smile.
"Yeah, pass. I'm not interested in being a notch in some guy's belt." Larrin said with a sigh as her romantic life was none existant even before the pandemic. The few forays she had with romance left her feeling rather demoralised and keen to steer clear of men who were players and true academics as they tended to be more interested in her research or wanting her to be their personal assistant while they focussed on their research and arm candy at parties.
"You know Miller is not that kind of guy, right?" Kara asked her. Larrin looked at Kara through the reflection of the mirror she was standing in front of.
"I know, it's one of things I really like about him." Larrin said, she liked how he made her feel but also how he was so honest. There was no subterfuge with him, he was exactly as he appeared. All around good guy with old world manners that Larrin loved.
"What are the other things?" Kara asked as she was interested to know. She felt Larrin's pain as she knew what it was like to have baggage. Obviously whatever happened to Larrin in the past truly tainted her view of men.
"None of your business." Larrin said in a light tone.
"Ok, I'll just wait until you're drunk and get it out of you." Kara told her.
An hour later,
Miller and Cruz walked into the main ballroom where the inauguration ball was being held. It just like any other rubber chicken dinner event the military threw. Sure, Miller wasn't invited to many given his rank but he'd seen the places decked out and heard the stories.
The room was filled with Nathan James crew all in their formal dress uniforms and civilians who held some sort of rank in the city and their family members. They had already bumped into many familiar faces but Miller was trying to find Larrin. Wolf had pulled him aside after Larrin had left the bar earlier and warned him off trying anything with Larrin. Miller of course nodded and promised to be an absolute gentleman but he had not promised to give up pursuing her.
He really liked her, and while his ego reminded him that his chances of having more than a friendship with her were slim. He wasn't going to give up as she hadn't used any of the key phrases 'You're such a good friend' or anything along those lines.
"Bro, check it out. The chick talking with Lt Foster." Cruz said as he smacked Miller in the arm dragging him out of his thoughts. Miller scanned the ballroom and saw what had caught Cruz's attention.
Lt Foster was standing next Larrin, the two seemed to having a an amusing conversation as they dissolved into laughter. Larrin held onto a glass of beer while eating a burger slider. The sight of her made his heart skip a beat and his mouth go dry as she looked amazing, not that she hadn't before but now in her dress that hugged every curve, it made him weak.
"Hot, leggy, tall, likes to eat and drinks beer. That's my ticket. Dibs." Cruz told him, Miller opened his mouth to stop him but shut it as he figured it was better to just watch.
He picked up a beer as waiter went past with a tray loaded with drinks and took a sip as he watched Cruz insert himself into the conversation with Larrin and Lt Foster. Part of him was counting down the inevitable where Larrin would fall for Cruz's charm. The man had a natural talent for getting any woman he wanted. Another part him held out hope that
But after a few seconds, he couldn't help but notice as she crossed one arm across her body and stepped back from Cruz. It was usually at the point where the woman would smile and sway towards him. In fact she looked a little uncomfortable, something that surprised him but also made him walked towards them.
"I got to say you're not how Wolf described you." Cruz told Larrin with a smile as he looked her over.
"Ah thanks?" Larrin said uncomfortably as she inwardly cringed at what felt like a bad pick up line. She looked around the room trying to find Miller, wondering where he was in the mess of people as she wanted to talk to him and not Cruz. Sure the man had charm but his confidence and the way he looked at her made her feel more like a piece of meat than the beautiful woman he was implying her to be.
"Yeah but in saying that I can see why he's pretty closed lipped about you." Cruz told Larrin in a conversational manner.
"Or maybe you weren't paying attention like the rest of us." Lt Foster said smugly as she was enjoying the fact that she knew more about Larrin than all the men but also stepping in as she knew Larrin was not interested in Cruz.
"I'm paying attention now." Cruz assured them.
"Oh good, then can you get me another glass of water?" Kara asked him as she shoved her half full glass at him. Cruz frowned as he looked at the glass then at her. "Room temperature, no ice please." Kara added with a smile.
"I could go for some water too." Larrin said to him with a smile, Cruz smiled and nodded completely roped in by her smile and knowing that by getting her a drink he might be leaving but he'd be able to come back.
"No problem, my boy Miller can do that for you ladies." Cruz said smoothly as Miller came up to their group. "Miller, the-" Cruz stopped mid sentence as he watched in shock and frowned as Larrin smiled brightly at Miller.
"Eric. Hey." Larrin said to him.
"Hi," he said to her. He looked to Lt foster. "Ma'am. Cruz." He said greeting the other two. He looked back to Larrin with a closed lip smile before he pointed to Cruz. "I hope he's not bothering you." he said, using a line that his friends had used a million times before when they wanted him to get lost.
"He's ok. He was just getting us refreshments." Larrin said somewhat dismissively as she smiled at Miller like he were the only man in the room. Cruz looked at them incredulously before looking to Kara as if to ask 'What is that all about?' but the lieutenant rose her eyebrows at him with her own look of 'Where's my drink?'.
"Where's Wolfman?" Miller asked as he watched Cruz walk away to get drinks. He had to admit it was a role reversal for them as he was usually the one sent to fetch drinks. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous and out of sorts as Kara was watching them with avid interest. Not to mention the dress Larrin was wearing was even better up close.
"I may have accidentally pulled one of the buttons off his jacket. So he had to go fix it leaving Kara here as my protector. You clean up well." Larrin told him, Miller smiled and rubbed the back of his neck as he felt it go read from embarrassment. It was not everyday a woman as gorgeous as Larrin paid an average guy like him a compliment.
"You look beautiful." Miller told her, Larrin smiled warmly as she felt beautiful. It probably helped that he was looking at her face than his eyes glued to any other part of her body.
"Thank you." She said as she nervously smoothed a hand down the middle of the dress to soothe her nerves. She hadn't expected to feel nervous but she just didn't want to muck anything up with him.
"So, do you know where you're sitting?" Miller asked her.
"Table 9. What about you?" Larrin asked.
"Table 16." Miller said as he was stuck on the opposite side of the room. He saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes and couldn't help but feel the same way.
"Well, I'm sure after the meal service is finished we can all mingle." Larrin said finding the positive side of
"Yeah and we're going out afterwards if you want to join us." Cruz offered, reminding them all that he was there. Larrin gave a closed lip smile and shook her head.
"Thanks for the offer but I promised Wolf I would behave and frankly I've been on the road for the past 6 months. So I'm looking forward to sleeping on a mattress." Larrin told him.
"No, fun. Tonight's about celebrating." Cruz told her.
"That it is." Danny said as he appeared seamlessly out of no where.
"Lieutenant." Cruz and Miller said at nearly the same time acknowledging his rank and presence.
"Hey." Kara said with a smile to two shared a look that made Larrin envious as the two were clearly in love even though they were pretending to be casual and aloof by not touching one another.
"Miller, a word." Danny said to him, he tilted his head for them to move away. Miller gave a nod and followed him wondering if he was trouble as Danny wore a pretty serious expression.
"Sir," Miller said as they stepped away leaving Kara, Larrin and Cruz to talk among themselves.
"Doctor Scott has orders to head north into the field for the next four months to distribute the cure and do whatever she does. Jeter mentioned you wanted to go home for part of your R&R. Dr Scott requires an escort. I know it's not ideal but if you were willing to volunteer your time for the next four months, we can swing you a week to go home to Iowa as I know you lived pretty close to the border of Nebraska. It will also give you some good experience when it comes to land team work." Danny explained to him.
"Sir, I volunteer." Miller said caught up in the excitement and disbelief as he couldn't believe he'd be able to go home so quickly but also given the opportunity for more experience and field work as an operator.
"Ok, good. You'll fly out tomorrow at 1600 hours. Be packed and enjoy your night." Danny told him.
"Thank you Sir." Miller said.
