"It's good to see you back at work, Wash," Jim sat across from her. He hadn't seen her for two more days, but heard from Guzman she showed up the afternoon of her last discipline hearing and she and the Commander were working on something together at his desk.
Alicia put her plexpad down and turned it off, "I thought maybe I could milk another day off out of Taylor, but he told me injury or not, I was to stop goofing off."
"The Commander sent out a colony wide announcement for all department heads to meet within the hour. I take it you and he worked something out?"
Alicia studied Jim before answering. "We've changed my function within the colony, Shannon," she answered cautiously.
Jim gave his most winning smile, "Do I get a clue?"
"No, the Commander might change the details in his speech. You and I will have to wait and see what he really wants. You know he has a way of manipulating people."
Nathaniel strode in with Guzman at his heels. Guz gave her a questioning look and got a vague smile in return. "Alright, Washington, Shannon, join Guzman with me," he reached for his radio, "Bring them up, Reilly."
The room filled with department heads, all instructed to find a seat. Nathaniel opened the colony wide communications channel that hadn't been used since Washington instructed all her soldiers to lay down weapons and the entire colony to assemble in the plaza so the Phoenix Group could ID them.
"This is Commander Taylor. We've got a few changes at the top of the Command chain," Taylor began and people stopped where they were to listen to the loud speakers set around the colony.
Casey and Boylan were together in the market where Boylan migrated when the call came in for the department heads to go immediately to the Command Center. "Now we'll find out Wash's final judgment," Boylan spoke to a nodding Casey.
"My position is unchanged, except I'm designating Lieutenant Washington to a new position. She'll be Director of Civilian Services. What that fancy title means is she's the person who'll be coordinating supply requisitions and be in charge of procurement for the civilian population and most likely the military also. With supplies projected to run short in some areas very soon, she'll be working with departments responsible for certain items so hopefully rationing won't be needed, but we need to be cautious of supply usage on everything we use. Lieutenant Washington will be providing a list promptly of the most used supplies."
He paused and looked around, "Also, Second Lieutenant Washington is given a promotion to Lieutenant Commander and will still be addressed as Lieutenant. Her new position is independent of mine and her military duties will be restricted to personnel procurement for her projects. Other than that, she'll still be number two in the colony with Jim Shannon number three and Justus Guzman number four. Sergeant Guzman is hereby promoted to second Lieutenant," he glanced over to a surprised Guzman. "Lieutenant Guzman will assume Washington's military duties under hers and my commands. No other personnel changes are expected at this time. Thank you for your time," he closed the broadcast and looked at surprised department heads.
"What exactly is Lieutenant Washington's role in our departments?" Malcolm was first to ask the burning question as those in charge would fight anyone telling them how to run their departments.
"Her role is to make sure supplies are manufactured to keep the colony living the lifestyle we are accustomed to. You have a need, take it to her. She'll be making lists of every small detail from say nail clippers to medicine. We're ramping up your section, Malcolm, on bio studies. We need to know what medicines we can produce. Her job will be to find them. We have the quarry back under our control. All metal fabricating will…" and the meeting lasted for another three hours until the end of day.
"One other item and you're free to leave, and produce over the next few days a list of needed supplies for Washington to procure." He looked around the room and smiled. After his initial announcement, he sat behind his desk and asked Wash to pull a chair up beside him. He leaned over and wrapped an arm around the back of her chair, "Wash and I are in the initial steps of courtship," he noticed her eyes on him while the room burst out in applause and well wishes.
"I thought we were going to keep this between us for a while," she spoke softly so only he could hear.
He had a broad grin plastered on his face as he gazed at her, "Too many men on the prowl. You're mine, and now the men with nefarious ideas know not to pilfer what's mine."
"Interesting way to describe male suitors," she murmured back.
Nathaniel turned back to a cheerful room, "I hope nobody has an issue with me pursuing my second."
Elizabeth, who was sitting next to her husband, spoke for the group, "Both of you deserve happiness. I for one am delighted to see you two have each other."
"Thank you, Elizabeth," Nathaniel spoke for them. He looked around, "I don't have anything else, enjoy your evening," he stood and pulled Wash up by the hand and led her around his desk. Alicia looked around and caught Guz's eye only to see him scowling at the Commander's possessive arm around her waist. Her gaze drifted to Reilly who smiled broadly and gave a thumbs up. She saved the civilians for last and they crowded in with personal words of well wishes. Dr. Shannon was asking her something so she forced herself to listen.
"How long have you two been together?"
She thought, "A week," she looked up to Nathaniel, who was still possessively holding her to his side, "why did you think you had to divulge our relationship today?"
"It's like I told you, too many men were talking and your name came up repeatedly. I had to stop would be suitors before they got to you."
"Who?" she was aware the room emptied except for the Shannon's who were standing in a mirror position with Jim's arm around his wife's waist.
"Me," heads cranked as Guzman joined them. He focused on Alicia, "Wash, I thought we had an agreement?" he was aware the Commander started scowling at him, but pressed on. "You always said when you started dating again, I'd get first chance."
"I thought that was our running joke," she started feeling uncomfortable, "I didn't take it seriously and hope you didn't either."
"I was waiting for you to get over Christopher."
"I've been over him for ten years or more," Alicia didn't want to talk about her past with him or anyone and slipped her arm around Nathaniel's waist for comfort and support. "Look, Guz, I value you as a friend, but there was never an 'us' and I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."
"You and I have a close connection, Alicia," he purposely used her first name.
"I hope my changed relationship with Nathaniel hasn't ruined our friendship. I never came on to you with anything other than joking and fun. I'm sorry if you read more into it than that," she hated having this conversation in public, but he did start it.
"I do think you led me on," he took a step in her direction.
"That's enough, Guzman," Nathaniel spoke softly, but moved his arm around Alicia's shoulders that was previously on her waist, "there are plenty of women in the colony. This one's spoken for and if you want to fight me for her, I'm more than willing and ready."
The two men sized each other up like curs over a bitch in heat.
"You're not fighting him, Nathaniel," Alicia set her foot down and spun around to face him. "I can choose what man I want and I've chosen." She turned to Guzman, "If you're going to be working with us, I suggest you drop this nonsense."
Guzman nodded and stalked off leaving four silent people. "Wash," Elizabeth broke the uncomfortable silence as she saw Taylor was still fuming, "if you need to talk or have a problem, my door is always open to you."
"What she said, the same goes for me," Jim stated and followed his wife out leaving them alone.
Alicia moved away to put space between them, "Nathaniel, do you love me?"
"Of course," he covered the distance and took her in his arms, "don't let Guzman upset you."
"I like Guz, but I don't love him, but you didn't show interest until you thought Guz was making a move did you?" she looked up into his surprised blue eyes.
He shook his head, "Not so, Wash," he pulled her tightly against him, "I know I kept you at a distance far longer than I should have, years in fact. Why do you think I made you stay here on the eleventh? What did I tell you, huh? I told you I wanted to protect you. Oh, I made it sound like for you to sew me up. That was my cover." He sheepishly grinned, "I never was any good at making a move on someone I was interested in. Ayani had to propose to me."
"You're kidding?" he never told her much about his and Ayani's relationship.
"I used to tease her and one day she proposed and I said yes. I wanted to, but was too shy back then. I hope I've improved. I know I have."
"You didn't court Ayani?"
"Of course I did, in my own way. With you, I gave you extra work just so I could discuss it with you. Anyone could have done it, but it gave me an excuse to be near you."
"I hear you tell these young men how to properly court a woman and you are going to follow your teaching with me," she sobered, "I'm not an afterthought am I, now that we're cut off and I'm your consolation prize?"
"I overheard Guzman tell Reynolds he was going to ask you out and almost sent him to an outpost on the spot. You're mine and have been in my mind for a long time. Now everyone, including him knows you belong to me."
"And to think you walked off on me when you thought I was the jealous type."
"I never put it in perspective," he admitted, "until faced with the fear you might go to another man. I'm not stepping on another man's territory am I?"
She smiled at him, "No, you're the only man I've wanted for a long time," they exchanged a smile that led to a long kiss and for once he didn't care that it was in the Command Center.
She broke off, "I don't have to worry about another woman like Debora Tate?"
"Debora is a friend, like she's always been. She's not in any shape for romance, but is slowly getting better. I've kept myself above everyone including you as an example to the colony. I felt I had to set the best example as a person and leader I could. I never flirted with anyone including you."
"Don't I know it. You were always too proper and made me feel I had to be just like you. I never flirted with Guz, just so you know, just kidded around."
"You didn't have to for the men to get the wrong idea. You smile at them and they're in love."
"Do I do anything for you?" she relaxed enough to tease him.
"You can feel what you do to me," he pulled her tightly against him.
"I thought you took to carrying a flashlight in your front pock…." his lips cut off the rest.
"Excuse me, Commander," Nathaniel reluctantly broke off and looked over Wash's shoulder while keeping her between him and the door.
"What is it, Guz?"
"You kind of surprised me with that promotion. I really don't want to be promoted to office work. I like being in the field too much."
Nathaniel moved and sat at his desk leaving Wash to move aside as he motioned Guzman to take a seat across from him. He noticed she went to the wall out of the way, a place she preferred when listening in on conversations.
"The promotion stands. You'll do the training in the field and recruiting and training of new soldiers. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, Sir. I don't want to be stuck in here."
"I don't want to be stuck in here," Taylor mimicked looked at Wash, "that's why I had the best Lieutenant in the history of Lieutenant's in Washington. She could do my job as well as me and I could escape from here on a regular basis. Now she has a job we didn't need until now, and she can't do it all. I need someone in the office who's capable of doing the paperwork."
"Permission to make a suggestion, Sir?" Guzman knew who he wanted.
"Proceed."
"I think Jim Shannon could do the paperwork as he'll be in the office with his job anyway."
Nathaniel pulled his radio, "Taylor to Shannon."
"Go ahead, Commander."
"Come to the Command Center," he cut the link.
Within a minute Jim hurried in and looked around noticing Wash was leaning against the wall out of line sight of Guzman, but not the Commander.
"Jim, have a seat," he waited for the Sheriff to pull up a chair beside Guzman.
"Guz here doesn't want the duties that Wash did so I want you and Wash to split the administration responsibilities. You sign off on the military reports that were under Wash's domain and Wash will oversee you. I'll give you a field commission of second Lieutenant and you'll keep your title of sheriff."
Jim spun in his chair to look at Washington, "You okay with this, Wash?"
"Things are going to get tough, Shannon. My new position will hopefully ward off anarchy until we adjust to living without our lifeline," she replied
"How do you think the soldiers will take this new change?" Jim wanted to help if they needed him.
"Like soldiers. You've earned respect in their eyes with taking out Hope Plaza. They look up to you," Taylor assured him.
"That's all I had, Sir," Guz stood to leave.
"You know your job, Guz. I'll leave it to you," Nathaniel waved a dismissal.
Guz walked up to Wash and held his hand out, "Friends," he said in a low voice that only she could hear.
She took his offered hand, "I hope so, Guz."
He left and she joined the men at the desk, "I'm done for the day, Sir."
"You can call me, Nathaniel, Taylor, or Commander, when you're pissed at me, but I don't ever want to hear a Sir directed at me from you again."
Her lips twitched, "Yes, Commander."
Jim started laughing, "Wash, how's your memory? Elizabeth told me the swelling in your brain is down."
"Physically I'm fine, but I don't remember what happened, may never remember." She turned back to Nathaniel, "Supper's in an hour." Both men watched her leave.
"So you and Wash, wow," Jim grinned at the Commander.
"I was going to declare my intentions to her after the eleventh."
"So what's with Guzman?"
"He fancied her for a long time. I never got in the way years ago and figured they'd become a couple, but they never did. He wanted it, but she kept him at a distance, friends, nothing else."
"Who was that Christopher he mentioned?" Elizabeth asked him to find out.
"You know, I forgot about him. He dated Wash before Somalia and after she rejoined the unit he was missing and she never mentioned him, and I wasn't in any shape to care or ask and forgot about him until Guz brought him up."
Nathaniel rang her doorbell half an hour later. He stopped by his unit to get out of uniform and take a quick shower. He looked through his closet at the casual clothes he hadn't worn in years and pulled out a button down shirt of baby blue and looked through a dresser drawer until he found blue jeans. Black pull on boots completed his attire along with his holster on the hip. Grabbing his black leather jacket, he got into his rover he took to parking in front of his place. He zoomed across the colony and popped out near her home in record time. The sun was setting when she greeted him.
She had changed also and was wearing a tight pair of black jeans and white tank top. He noticed on her feet were a pair of sandals. He'd never seen her dressed like that before and liked what he saw. He followed her into the kitchen and grabbed the plates from the cupboard while she finished stirring the veggies and adding them to the plates while he scooped the dino steaks off the inside grill and carried their plates to the table while she followed with water.
"You know, you don't have to rush back into work," he stated around a mouthful. "I wanted to make your position formal and that's all for now."
"I'm ready to come out of hiding, but not ready to face the crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers. I don't know what to say to them or how to answer the questions like... 'you went from being suspended to the Commander's girlfriend, how did that happen?' I just want to be left alone."
"You'll do fine and you know how to blow people off with a look." He remembered what Guzman said, "What happened between you and Christopher?"
"I haven't given him much thought since coming here. It was not long before Somalia when Christopher proposed to me and we got engaged. After I got messed up, he came to see me in the hospital and asked for his ring back, said he moved on with someone else."
"I'm sure glad he did that, but am sorry I was so caught up in my own grief not to notice," he reached over and took her hand. "You don't have to worry about me dumping you, hell, half the time I can't breathe around you."
She stood and took their plates to the sink while he followed with the glasses, "I'm still amazed that you would want me," she stated and felt his arms circle her waist as she washed.
"I'm the lucky one," he nuzzled the side of her neck. "There are younger men like Guz who'd love your attentions."
"No, I'm content with you and your flashlight," she smiled at his chuckle as he ground into her back.
"Now that I have someone, I find my self-control is slipping and want to satisfy my baser lusts and finding this idea of waiting at our ages ridiculous."
"But they're your rules," she teased and dried as he showed no inclination to move or stop his gentle gyrations.
"And as such, I can change them."
They moved to the living room and snuggled on the couch. "I know what I want for a bed," she reached for the plexpad he brought and thumbed a design she'd been working on. "This beat writing my job description."
He took the pad and looked, "Really, you expect me to go get that material?"
"I expect us to get that material."
"When do you want to start?" he lay the pad on the coffee table and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close and started kissing her face as she tried to talk.
"Tomorrow," she finally got a word out before his lips found hers.
"Okay, we'll leave Shannon in charge, get an early start, and plan on being gone all week. I'm taking the fishing poles, since we're going to the ocean."
"You two are leaving….alone….together?" Jim was flabbergasted.
"Just for a few days. We need time alone, just us, you know how it is," Nathaniel was talking to Jim alone as Wash was off gathering supplies for the trip.
"Where are you two going?" Jim couldn't see the need to run off with an enemy army on the prowl.
"A couple places and we're taking a covered transport. Should be back by Friday unless we are having a good time."
"Most people who go off together like you two are married," Jim didn't want to explain this to his kids or give them the idea it was right to do.
"I knew there was something I forgot to do," Nathaniel smacked his forehead then grinned, "you're not worried about the example thing and all that are you?"
"I can't talk you out of it?" Jim looked glum.
"You'll do fine and we won't be out of radio range."
"What's so important the colony has to be left without number one and two?"
"Wash wants a special bed and we're off to find supplies. Lucas isn't in any shape to cause problems and the Phoenix and Sixers are being monitored and are still in the badlands and we're always going to be closer to the colony than them. If by some chance, they come back before Wash and I can get here, you are to take your family and the military and leave with as much supplies as you can carry. The civilians will have to fend for themselves. Don't forget to take Malcolm this time," as he was talking, he led the way downstairs to the waiting Rhino where Wash was sitting in the passenger seat.
Soon they were out of sight, leaving a fuming Jim Shannon in charge. He saw Mark Reynolds on his way to bed after night duty and waylaid him, "Just because two people of their age go off together, don't get any ideas."
"No Sir, I won't. I haven't seen much of Maddy lately."
"Good," Jim stalked off to the Command Center.
Nathaniel drove them to the ocean first where they set up camp along the bluffs. He fished until dark while Alicia climbed up and down the cliffs looking for her prize. He looked at the pile of abalone with their shinny surfaces of green, yellow and orange with hints of blue. Two were on rocks at the edge of the fire and cracked open from the heat.
"Get all you need?" he carefully pried the shell apart and took the fork she handed him and reached for his knife strapped on his calf.
"There's a huge one I need your help with, but didn't want to bother you during your fishing."
"I didn't catch anything so wish you had. Although I did enjoy watching you clamber over the rocks in your shorts and tank top. Maybe next time I'll put a hook on the line."
They shared a laugh and talked about everything as they ate, then snuggled close and watched the full moon rise in the east, exchanging kisses that progressively got deeper and hands wandering until both were moaning.
"I can't go back," he undid his pants and let her take care of him with her hand, then returned the favor. "I'm not having intercourse until we do it in our bed and am married and it better be soon," he grumbled in her neck.
"I want you in me so bad, you've got a deal. Do I get a proper proposal?" she redid her short shorts that she put on just for him after they parked.
He chuckled in her ear, "I've defiled you with my fingers; we have to get married now, not to mention what you just did to me."
She pushed him off and stood up, "In your courtship rules, I get a proper proposal or no marriage or marriage bed," she disappeared in the dark leaving him grinning after her.
A wind off the ocean was kicking up so he kicked the fire out and went in the opposite direction. They met at the rear of the transport and he opened the door and helped her inside. The sleeping bags were on opposite sides in the dim interior light.
"I don't like the distance in the bedding," Nathaniel complained while sitting on his and taking his boots off. He stripped his pants and socks off and crawled under his blanket and watched Wash strip her tank off down to her bra. Her boots and socks followed. Then she undid her shorts and slipped them off revealing a skimpy pair of panties and he was ready again. "Wash, this isn't going to work," he threw the cover back uncovering his bulge so she could see what she did to him.
"Hurry and get our bed made then," she smiled as she slid under her cover and dimmed the light.
"You're a wicked woman," he moved over until he was laying on her, "Wash, forget what I said a while ago, I don't want to wait. We're not kids with disapproving families."
Her fingers found his member sheathed in his shorts and started stroking, "But you are as horny as a teenager."
"Never had that problem until you stripped just now. We'll break the bed in as soon as it's fabricated. In the meantime I want to do you in many places, like my desk if the glass will hold," his fingers found the front clasp of her bra and freed her mounds for his pleasure and his mouth covered them until he heard her moaning and pushing up into his groin. Slipping her panties off, he shed his shorts and nudged her legs apart while she lost her bra.
"I might be able to stop," he gave her one last chance.
"No you can't," she gripped his buttocks and guided him inside for the first time. Vows of waiting for marriage long forgotten.
Jim heard the call to open the gate and hurried to the balcony to see the Commander drive at his usual frantic pace and slide to a stop near the market. Rushing to see what the problem was, Jim reached the driver's door the same time the Commander threw it open and climbed out with a huge grin.
"Shannon, all quiet here?"
"Yeah, I thought you two were going to be gone until Friday. You're back after one night out?" He looked to where Wash had exited her side and called for several vendors to come help her.
"We had to come back," Nathaniel walked to the rear of the transport where Wash had the doors open. In the back was a cooler and she ordered two burly soldiers to take it to the market before turning back to Jim and Nathaniel.
"While Nathaniel was fishing, I got abalone for the colony, but the shells are mine," she glared at several vendors eyeing them in the transport.
"What do you want for them?" a vendor figured she was holding out for terras.
"Not for sale, Jesse," she repeated, "I have uses for each and every one of them, besides I got all but the big one by myself."
The vendors wandered off, happy with the rare meat and sure time would make some of the shells theirs also.
"We couldn't stay out with fresh meat, so after getting the large shell," Nathaniel pointed to a massive colorful shell, "we stopped by a stand of ironwood and cut enough for a bed that Wash wants made. I was going to do the construction until she added the shells so I'm going to get Eric McKormick to stop his repairs long enough to create my fiancé a bed."
"You're engaged?" Jim thought they were moving awfully fast.
"Unofficially, I'll find a diamond and have it mounted. We have a selection of gems at Colony Financial for those who want to have jewelry made. I'll take Wash to the bank and let her design something."
"I have you know it's going to be expensive," Alicia smiled at him.
"Good, when do you want to go?" he braced an arm on the transport behind her head and zoned totally on her."
"Tomorrow will work for me, unless we have actual work to do now that we're back," her hand ran up his arm and he naturally leaned in for a kiss.
Breaking off, Nathaniel spoke and turned, "Shan….." they were alone behind the transport. "I knew I liked him. He knows when three's a crowd," he leaned in for another kiss.