Chapter 3

"That's most appreciated Sir, and everyone calls me Mac."

"I'm sorry, here I go disappointing you yet again, but I find you much too beautiful to be called Mac," the Vice President told her.

With an unexpected blush, Mac lowered her eyes and said, "Thank you."

Not liking the flirtation going on right in front of him, Victor abruptly stated, "Don't you think it's time we were getting back to the ship Ma'am!?"

Mac shot Victor a glare recognizing the jealousy in his tone, but agreeing that if Vice President Chegwidden was ready they should be heading back to Earth as soon as possible.

AJ was also aware of the reaction from Victor. He was a man protecting what he considered his territory. However, Sarah hadn't seemed to mind his flirtation, so AJ had to consider if the Lieutenant's interest was one sided. Putting that aside for later investigation, AJ told them, "I know we need to be underway as quickly as possible, but before we leave orbit I'd like to meet with the Captain and your Science Officer."

"I'll be glad to arrange that for you Sir," Bud told him and then tapped his communicator to tell the transporter chief, "Tiner, four to beam up."

When they arrived on board Bud went off to arrange for the meeting that Vice President Chegwidden had requested. Mac smiled at AJ and told him that Victor would show him to his quarters and remain as his guard.

"Oh," AJ gave her a small frown, "I was hoping to persuade you to give me a tour of the ship followed by dinner."

"Why don't you get settled in, have your meeting, then when I'm off duty, we could have dinner and I could take you around the ship afterwards?" Mac offered.

"That sounds like a wonderful alternative," he said as Victor stood there glaring at both of them.

As the two men left, Mac headed to the bridge with a happy glow starting in her heart. She found AJ very attractive and could tell he felt the same way about her. However, she knew Vic would be a problem.

Having been a Starship Captain in his day, Chegwidden knew there was a couple of things that the Phoenix could do to cement the stabilization of the plates that the science vessel he'd arrived at the planet on last week had started. After consulting with Captain Rabb and his Science Officer, Commander Turner, AJ went back to his quarters to prepare for his date with Sarah.

It had been a long time since he'd felt this kind of attraction and was looking forward to seeing where it could lead. His daughter, Francesca, who was a fashion designer back on Earth, was always encouraging him to find someone. She was worried about him being alone. He'd had a few relationships since his divorce from her mother, but he refused to marry again until he found a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Ensign Carson had replaced Victor Galendiz at shift change and Vic made his way to Mac's cabin. He wanted to talk to her before her 'date' with Chegwidden. Victor remembered that look he'd seen in her eyes when Chegwidden was flirting with her. It was the same look she'd had when they started dating. He still wanted her back and knew he needed to plead his case before she met with the other man.

Victor wasn't the only one getting off duty then. Mac had finished her shift and hurried to change out of her uniform for her date. Captain Rabb left the bridge and raced to his quarters. Lieutenant JG Jennifer Rabb was also in a hurry to get home, having been married only a few months she and her husband were working hard on starting a family. The two of them had made a game out of it, the first one to their quarters, naked and in bed, got to be on top. That night, she won. Not that Harm really minded too much, most nights he got home first, even if he had to leave the bridge a little early because he really did prefer to be on top.

To be continued…..