Chapter 24

As the men had been talking, Mac had thrown on enough clothes to cover herself and she handed AJ his pants as she walked by him towards the other man.

Stepping into his pants, AJ still kept a close eye on Galindez. He was worried Vic might be planning something.

Mac took the computer pad from him, glanced it over quickly, signed it, and handed it back to him. "That could have waited," she snapped.

"Sorry MA'AM! Next time I'll remember to knock," his voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Don't bother, from now on the door will be locked!"

"So this isn't a one-time thing?" Vic snarled.

"Hardly," she replied. "In fact, it's the start of our new life together. AJ just asked me to marry him and I accepted."

Victor's composure visibly slipped. The stricken look that replaced the defiant one from seconds earlier made his feelings clear. "Mac you can't marry him!"

"I most certainly can," she informed him.

"But I love you!"

"I know, and I'm sorry about that Vic, but I love AJ and we are going to be married. Maybe it will be easier on you once I'm off the ship."

"Off the ship?!"

"Yes, I'll be living on Earth with AJ."

He just stood there staring at her and his very lack of reaction was what made AJ uncomfortable. Walking up to Sarah, AJ put his arm around her shoulders to remind both her and Victor that he was there to lend her any support she needed.

Without a word, Victor spun on his heel and left the holodeck.

Mac let out the breath she'd been unaware she was holding and allowed AJ to pull her even closer into his arms.

"Are you alright darling?"

"Yes, I think so. He actually took our news better than I had hoped," she answered.

AJ had been thinking the same thing, but with much less charitable feelings. He was sure they hadn't heard the last of this from Victor. "I hope that's so Sarah."

"But you don't think so?"

"I just know that if it were me in his position I wouldn't be able to give you up without a fight."

"Even if you knew my happiness was at stake?"

After pausing a moment to think AJ admitted, "You're right, if I knew your happiness rested with someone else, I would have respected your choice."

"I'm sure that Vic has come to that conclusion too," she offered, internally hoping that she was right.

"Well then, would you like to go for another swim?" he suggested.

"Actually I'd like something a bit more aggressive if you don't mind…"

"I'm open to anything you desire Sarah."

"How about handball or laser tag?"

"I play a mean game of handball. We should probably stick to laser tag."

"Oh no you don't! After a brag like that, you need to prove yourself!"

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"I'm not so bad myself, maybe we should have a wager on the game…"

"What kind of wager did you have in mind?" he questioned with an evil grin. He usually wasn't a gambling man, but the stakes in this wager could very well be worth going against his normal behavior.

Several different options were discussed, thrown out, and laughed over until they finally hit upon a proper payment that both of them agreed on. The game ensued and both of them were surprised to discover just how skilled the other was. It had started with them testing the water to access the other's ability, but before the game was over it was all out war!

They were evenly matched even though they relied on a different skill set. AJ was a careful and deliberate player. He would evaluate his opponent and then focus his attack on the weakness in their game. On the other hand, Mac was a wild and instinctive player. She preferred to be on the attack and was almost able to sense her opponent's next move.

The two combatants were sweating and gasping for breath halfway though the game. Nearing the end, they fought out the tie-breaking-point in a single volley that lasted nearly five minutes.

Mac finally won the point when after hitting the ball, she performed a full body stretch that distracted AJ so much that he not only missed hitting the ball in return, but the silly thing hit him in the middle of his back. That however, was what snapped him out of the distraction she had caused. "That's hardly fair of you, you know," he scolded her.

To be continued…..