Chapter 15

Bud finally allowed what she'd been saying to process through his brain and reached out for her hand as she started to get up from her chair. "Please Harriett! I'm sorry! I guess I was so focused on my mistake that I didn't hear the rest of what you were saying to me. I like you too! And I would love to go out with you whenever you say!"

She settled back in her seat and picked up her napkin, fiddling with it she said, "Okay then, let's see if we can get to the bottom of your dreams. I was concerned because you seemed so upset this morning. I was really hoping that we could talk about that."

"I was more than just upset…my wife and I had just buried our stillborn baby girl," he told her sadly.

"Oh Buddy! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed and then after a moment of silence added, "You hadn't mentioned you were married when we talked about your other dreams."

He all of a sudden realized that he'd revealed something he hadn't intended to, "I ummmm didn't?" he hedged.

"No, and there was something else that I found odd, but hadn't wanted to say anything for fear you might take it the wrong way…"

"What would that be Harriett?" Bud asked, very grateful for anything that would distract her from his mistakenly mentioned wife.

"Well…it seems that almost all the people you know on the ship with more than just a passing acquaintance, has shown up in your dream world. There's Captain Rabb and his wife Jen. Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie, the transporter officer Tiner, Dr. Webb, Lieutenant Galindez, Commander Turner, Lieutenants Mattoni and Singer, and even a passenger on the ship, Vice President Chegwidden!"

"Yes?" he questioned very afraid that they weren't going to avoid the 'wife' question after all.

"Well, I didn't want to sound narcissistic, but it seems like you dreamed about everyone that you know except…me," she couldn't keep the slightly hurt tone out of her voice as she said the last word.

"Oh Harriett! I have dreamed of you…practically every night in fact! I just didn't tell you about those parts of the dreams."

"Why not? Am I a bad person in your dreams?"

"NO! Not at all!" Bud hung his head, knowing he was going to have to tell her what her part in his dreams was, and knowing that he would probably lose any chance with her because of it. "I didn't tell you because I thought to do so would reveal my true feelings about you. With you being a counselor and all, you'd know…" he trailed off.

"Buddy how bad could it be? You said I wasn't a bad person…why won't you just tell me?" she encouraged.

Bud knew he had to say it, but maybe if he said it fast and quietly she wouldn't ask him to repeat it, so he muttered, "You're my wife."

From the look on her face he knew she wouldn't be asking him to repeat it, because she had heard!

"Oh," she said softly.

"You see why I didn't want to tell you?!" he protested.

"Yes, I understand…"

AJ and Mac had finished dinner and were leaving Ten Forward when she asked, "Did you have any plans for the rest of the evening?"

"Other than spending it with you, I didn't have anything special in mind. Was there something you wanted to do?"

"Yes there is. With your interest in the language of flowers, I thought you might enjoy a walk through our botanical garden."

"I'd like that very much! Please lead the way," he said linking his arm with hers as they walked down the corridor.

This was actually her first visit to the garden, but she knew the layout of the ship very well. Their walk was very informative. AJ didn't need the little signs posted near each plant and flower for most of them. He could also tell her what many of them meant in this language of flowers that she didn't understand.

They stopped often to talk about one thing or another and even took a few breaks on the benches scattered throughout the large area. Mac found herself thinking at one point that his voice was like rich dark chocolate. She knew that she could sit and listen to him talk for hours, it didn't even matter what he was saying.

They had been in the garden over three hours when he suggested that he see her back to her quarters. With a gentle smile she reminded him that they needed to contact his night guard no matter whose door they said good night at.

"Sarah, it's been three days now and no hint of any trouble, surely I don't still need a round the clock guard!"

To be continued…..