Chapter 12

"Wow! With thinking like that you should have been in covert ops!" the doctor told him.

"Actually, I did spend almost a year in covert ops a while back, but you didn't hear that from me," Harm answered.

"Right…if you told me you'd have to kill me…right?"

"Something like that. Now, about the baby?"

"Well, if you're sure you want to know," he waited for the Captain's nod before continuing, "It's a boy Captain, congratulations."

"Thank you!" Harm exclaimed slapping Webb on the back.

"Don't thank me! I had nothing to do with it!"

"I know. I just meant thanks for the info. I have to get back to the Bridge now, but thanks again!" Harm said as he hurried out.

Webb hit his communicator as the door closed behind the Captain. When Jen Rabb answered he said, "I guess I owe you a meal Jen, your husband was just here."

"I told you he would come by!" she insisted.

"Yeah you did, but after you said you'd told him you didn't want to know I thought he'd respect your wishes."

"Did he say he planned on telling me?"

"No, only that if he couldn't change your mind he just wouldn't tell you what he found out."

"That's my sneaky Harm," she laughed.

"He did mention he'd been in covert ops just like you said he would."

"And remember I told you it was only in his mind!"

"Does he honestly think he was?" the doctor was suddenly concerned with his Captain's mental health.

"No, it's just a story he likes to tell because there is no way anyone can get it confirmed."

"Ah!" Webb replied.

"Anyway, I'll hold you to that dinner. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, bye Jen."

AJ had arrived at Sarah's door just as she finished changing out of her uniform. She had been running a bit late because she had wanted to finish the last of the yearly performance reviews on her security officers. Vic's had been the one she'd saved for last. It was so difficult to be completely objective on his. Partly because of their history and because of that, the way he had been behaving lately. She understood his feelings, she just didn't know what to do about them.

Her attraction to AJ was real and she honestly wanted to see where a relationship with him could go, but at every turn Vic was there, either glaring at them or just watching them. They planned to have dinner in Ten Forward that night, but Mac was almost dreading it now because she knew Vic would be there too. Mac had finally given up on Vic's review, hoping that she could come at it with a clear mind in the morning.

Answering the door chime, she found her date and his guard standing there. Dismissing Collins, Mac invited AJ into her quarters. She grinned glancing down at her feet and told him she just needed to get her shoes on.

He waited with a smile and when she was ready, brought a magenta colored Zinnia from behind his back.

"Oh this is lovely!" she exclaimed. "What does this flower mean?" she asked, thinking that this just reinforced her decision for their after dinner activity.

"It's a Zinnia and it means 'growing affection'," AJ told her.

With a sweet smile, she put the flower in a vase of water and said she was ready to go. They walked to Ten Forward arm in arm; greeting and talking to crewmembers they met on the way. They entered the room right behind Commander Roberts and Counselor Simms, after chatting with them for a few minutes, both couples found tables for two. It was clear neither couple wanted company for dinner.

Since they both served on the Bridge and had the same duty shift, when their replacements arrived, Bud and Harriett were able to leave at the same time. In the turbo-lift Bud suggested that they head to their cabins to change out of their uniforms. He knew that would make it feel more like a date.

Harriett was unaware he saw this as a date. She had only asked him to dinner to get to the bottom of why he'd been crying before arriving at their appointment that morning. Because of that, she said, "Our uniforms are fine, let's not waste the time."

To be continued…..