One Week
Song: Barenaked Ladies.

It's been one week since she looked at me, cocked her head to the side and said, "I'm angry".

It's also been one week since I apologized, she didn't take it well and I stormed off.

I never realized how much color and excitement she brings into things. The walls are so drab and grey now that we're not talkin' to each other.

I think every one on the ship feels it too. The bridge is always quiet and tense when we're up there together. Jon's talked, or tried to talk to me 'bout things a few times and it's gotten to the point that I don't know what to tell him any more. I've forgotten where my mistakes began and hers took over, but pride is still in the way. Neither of us wants to admit that we're at fault.

Since I know I'm not gonna get any sleep tonight, again, I wander off to the mess hall in search of somethin' to eat and there she is, sittin' by a window with her knees pulled up to her chest.

I pause for a moment just to look at her; hair down, wearin' that sweat shirt I was looking for the other day as the starlight casts a soft glow over her. I sigh and feel my heart gettin' heavy at the pain she must be feelin'. I know I've been feelin' it and I'm feelin' it still.

"Hey," I say softly, trying not to startle her too much. She stiffens a little, but doesn't turn. "I, ah, I was wonderin' how yer doin'," I say as I walk over to her.

"I'm okay," she says quietly without turning to look at me.

"I'm sorry Hoshi, fer ignorin' ya and getting mad at ya," I say as I pull a chair over to sit on. She turns slowly to look at me.

"I'm sorry, too," she whispers.

"I'd like to try things again," I tell her, hopin' and prayin' she isn't gonna say no.

She smiles a little. "I think I'd like that, too."

I let out the breath I was holding and reach a hand out to brush away the hair that had fallen over her face. "Wanna join me in a midnight kitchen raid?" She unfolds herself and takes my hand.

"Let's go," she says. It always surprises me how quickly we slip back into bein' friends.

"We're not just gonna bounce back to the way things were, are we?" I ask.

She stops and stiffens again as she turns to look at me.

"Not right away," she says. "But they will. I've missed you, Charlie." I grin a little. She never calls me Charlie, but I think I could get used to it. I bring my hands up to cup her face as we study each other for a minute before I give in and kiss her. She pulls away, eventually.

"Are you sure it was only a week?" she asks quietly as I rest my forehead against hers and we catch our breaths.

"Yeah. One week since you said you were angry and one week since we both messed up what should have been simple apologies." She smiles.

"I'm sorry," she says.

"We're both sorry darlin', let's leave it at that," I say with a smile as I kiss her again before leading the way into the kitchen to find that midnight snack.