"Sometimes"

[Ritah Lowen 0]

"Tell me something...."

 

 

Ritah looked up at the sound of his voice. Capricious shadows danced along the walls and ceiling of the darkened bed chamber but even in the dim candle light, Stefan Reid was an impressive figure....almost two meters tall, with wide shoulders and a broad chest....in exquisite physical condition....and extremely well endowed. She smiled seductively as he approached.

 

He grinned, pleased that she approved of his physique as well as his sexual prowess. He stood beside the bed and offered her one of the pewter goblets he carried. She sat up, allowing the linens to fall to her waist as she accepted the wine. "Tell you what?" she asked softly as he took his place beside her.

 

"Tell me how your family became Champions of the Empire," he replied evenly, slipping an arm over her shoulders and taking a sip of wine.

 

Ritah paused and considered the question a bit apprehensively. Could it be Stefan found it difficult to believe her family held such a prominent place of honor in the Empire?

 

She lifted the goblet without looking at him and slowly tasted the dark, aromatic beverage. She raised a brow, clearly surprised by the quality of the vintage. "Where did you get this?" she demanded with a note of concern. "I realize you have contacts, but this is an extremely fine wine. Well beyond anything available to all but the command staff....maybe not even to them."

 

Stefan grinned mischievously. "Don't worry," he quipped, his hand drifting toward her waist. "I didn't steal it. You can purchase almost anything you want on the black market. It was expensive but...." He raised his goblet and tapping it against her's, smiled coyly. "We deserve it."

 

His explanation was both a relief and a cause for mild distress. She would have been sorely disappointed had he stolen the wine. Such behavior was not only illegal but highly dangerous, especially aboard a ship of the line. To do such a thing would have demonstrated grossly poor judgement and would have permanently altered her opinion of him. Only a fool would incur such a risk for something so inconsequential.

 

But she found herself mildly disturbed that he actually purchased it. There was nothing wrong with buying a bottle of good wine but this was more than good...it was a superior vintage. It must have cost him a fortune, especially on the black market. That he was willing to spend that kind of money to impress her was a bit concerning.

 

She decided not to pursue the matter further choosing instead to address his question about her family with one of her own. "Do you doubt my family deserves the honor bestowed on us by the Emperor?"

 

"No," came the prompt reply. "I was merely curious as to how......"

 

"A family of farmers and herdsmen could attain such status?" Ritah shifted slightly to face him. She didn't care for his tone. His attitude bordered on condescending and her demeanor clearly reflected her annoyance. "Do you think only warriors and politicians are capable of outstanding service to the Empire?"

 

Stefan's expression hardened as he reached over to set his goblet on the bedside table. "No," he answered firmly. "I never doubted your family deserved the honor."

 

"You implied it," snapped Ritah, her eyes blazing.

 

His expression toughened even more as he grabbed her firmly by both shoulders, "I .... did ... no ... such ... thing!" "

 

In the short time she'd known him, Ritah had never seen Stefan angry.....until now. But there was something else in his eyes...something other than righteous indignation. He seemed genuinely offended. He tried to camouflage it behind his fury but he wasn't quick enough. She caught a glimpse of it, albeit for only a moment. She was stunned as something akin to regret suddenly pierced her heart. She'd expected his outrage...that didn't surprise her at all. But his pain and her reaction to it left her feeling unnerved.

 

He released her with a slight shove causing a small amount of the burgundy liquid in her goblet to spill onto the crisp, white linen. Ritah studied him closely as he watched the dark stain expand. "Forgive me," he mumbled, rising from the bed. He gathered the soiled linen and walked away leaving her exposed in the most literal sense of the term.

 

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply trying to calm her rattled nerves. After a couple of minutes, when Stefan failed to return, Ritah carefully placed her goblet beside his on the night table. She slipped out of the bed and started collecting her clothing. It was time to leave.

 

Ritah had just started putting on her clothes when he returned. She glanced at him as he walked in then quickly looked away, fearful he would again notice how pleasing she found him. "Where are you going?" he demanded. "To my quarters," replied the young physician curtly. She continued dressing taking care not to look at him. "I think not." Stefan picked up the garments she had stacked on the foot of the bed and tossed them onto a chair across the room. Standing in front of her, he took her hands in his and scrutinized her.

 

He towered over her and for a moment, Ritah considered how simple it would be for him to kill her. It would have required nothing more than one carefully placed blow from his impressive fists. But even in the Empire, gratuitous murder was frowned upon. Stefan Reid had no legitimate excuse for doing away with her. She was nothing more than a low ranking physician who posed no threat to him. Granted, she was female. He could easily claim she slighted him. But even outright rejection would not be accepted as a viable excuse for murder...especially on a starship, far out in space where replacement physicians were hard to come by.

 

"No," she reasoned. "He would not resort to murder. That would certainly result in discipline, possibly even execution." Besides, he held her hands lightly. She could have easily pulled away, yet she chose not to. For almost a full minute, they simply stood there, staring at each other.

 

"I meant no disrespect to you or your family," he said calmly, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. "I was merely curious as to how your family achieved such a great honor." He dropped her right hand while tightening his grip on her left and slowly pulling her back toward the bed. Once there, he released her and motioned for her to sit. He retrieved the goblets from the small bedside table and handed one to her. "You must admit," he added nonchalantly. "There can't be many farmers and ranchers who belong to the Order of the Champions of the Empire.

 

Ritah raised the goblet to her lips and took a sip of the robust wine. "No," she replied quietly. "There is only one family."

 

Stefan sat down beside her and placed a hand on her bare thigh. "All the more reason for you to take great pride in your family's accomplishments. Yet, you seem.....defensive."

 

He was right. She was defensive. He wasn't the first to make that charge. But, in the past, whenever she was accused of such behavior, she always dismissed it. "I know," she whispered and then quickly took another sip of wine, not exactly sure why she chose to be so honest with him.

 

"Why?"

 

"Because," she began with a shrug. "There are many who were...and still are.... highly critical of the fact my family received the citation in the first place. They would never dream of expressing their reservations to the Emperor. But they are quick to point out to us that we really didn't deserve the honor."

 

Stefan leaned over and kissed her above the ear while wrapping his heavily muscled arm around her shoulders. "Tell me, Ritah," he murmured. "Tell me about your family's great deeds."

 

She was about to share the story with him when her comm badge interrupted. It was Dr. Mele ordering her back to Sickbay....immediately. Stefan grudgingly released her and Ritah quickly made her way to the chair where he'd tossed her clothes just moments earlier. She hastily rummaged through the garments until she located her comm badge. "This is Dr. Lowen," she replied calmly, casting a quick glance at Stefan. "I will be there momentarily."

 

"What does he want with you at this hour" growled Stefan, clearly annoyed. He was on his feet even before she acknowledged the comm. Ritah was grateful he'd managed to hold his tongue until the channel was closed.

 

"We are working on a...project," answered Ritah, quickly pulling on her clothes. "The final test results must be in. It is my responsibility to review them and help ascertain whether or not they meet the Admiral's requirements."

 

Stefan followed her as she stepped in front of his full length mirror and carefully scrutinized her reflection. "And what are the Admiral's requirements," he purred, resting his hands on her shoulders while he leaned in to kiss the back of her neck.

 

"A slow and painful death," she replied quickly, trying to ignore his warm breath against her sensitive skin. She cast a cursory glance at his image in the mirror while straightening her uniform blouse. He was looking down at her. A peculiar smile had formed on his lips and .... was that a sparkle in his eye? Was he anticipating the thrill of the hunt? Did he enjoy watching as the insidious poison seeped into the victim's bloodstream and slowly....painfully....disrupted biological functions at the cellular level? Did he crave the screams of the women as they held their dying children in their arms only to follow them to the grave within a few days? Was he just like all of the others...bloodthirsty and cold...immune to the suffering?

 

And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. As he bent down to kiss her again, that peculiar expression had been replaced by a his familiar, nonchalant yet confident demeanor.

 

A ripple of disappointment washed over her. She promptly looked away, hoping the incident was nothing more than a figment of her imagination. She tried to stay on guard whenever they were together. But now, she would have to be even more cautious. She turned to face him, lifting her hands to rest on the warm, bare skin of his chest. "I must go now," she whispered sensuously, endeavoring to mask her heightened concern.

 

Stefan nodded and clasped her hands in his as he stepped back. "You look quite presentable," he remarked lightheartedly. "Your superior should not suspect where you've spent these past two hours."

 

"There are few secrets on this ship," she quipped, pulling away and walking toward the door. "I'm sure he already knows where I am." She proceeded into the small living area and was about to leave when she caught sight of Stefan, standing in bedroom doorway, his hands planted on his bare hips.

 

He stared at her intently, so much so that she paused and turned to face him. "Is something wrong?" she asked placidly.

 

Stefan shook his head slightly, never breaking eye contact. "I need to ask you a question," he replied after a moments hesitation. He didn't wait for her to inquire about what was on his mind. "Do you consider yourself a....healer?"

 

The question pierced her heart but she never flinched. She maintained a passive expression as she shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes," she replied and then immediately took her leave, not wanting anyone, especially Stefan, to see how conflicted she was about her role in Manticore's very dirty business.

Edited February 24, 2008 by Ritah Lowen