"Who are you? And what have you done with our old XO?"

[DrDMatthews 0]

She didn't have to ask him twice about lunch. Aidan immediately accepted her invitation and quickly turned the bridge over to 1st Lt. O’Halloran A moment later, Deb and her husband were safely ensconced in the privacy of the turbolift. She ordered it to a remote deck where there were a couple of small, seldom used mess halls.

 

Leaning against one side of the car, she grinned at the handsome Irishman standing across from her. "So," she started, her tone anything but serious. "Who are you? And what have you done with our old XO?"

 

He arches an eyebrow and smiles faintly. "I’m not sure what you mean. All I was saying was that I could field promote Mr. Lexi to my position and then I would retire. If that marks any change in me, perhaps its reflective of certain...desires I have regarding the future."

 

"I've never known you to express....private opinions in public," she replied coyly. "I thought this change might have been due to age or experience. But I'm not too sure about that." She pushed herself away from the wall and took a couple of steps toward him. "Another thing......what's all this talk about....pleasure planets?"

 

She'd been so engrossed in teasing her spouse, Deb didn't notice the lift had glided to a stop. The doors quietly swished open to reveal three junior officers standing in the corridor. They clearly heard her questioning her husband about his sudden interest in "pleasure planets."

 

Aidan manages to quash enough of his embarrassment at the sudden arrival of witnesses to Deb’s teasing long enough to glare the junior officers into silence. Though he’s sure it will be a topic of conversation for them later, knowing the way junior officers loved to gossip about their superiors. He slips an arm through Deb’s and guides her out of the turbolift and down the corridor. Once they're out of earshot, he relaxes and chuckles softly. Softly he murmurs to her "Well...at least they didn't catch us kissing, I suppose." He stops in mid stride after that as it occurs to him that he doesn't know where she was intending to go for lunch.

 

"Did you see the looks on their faces, " laughed Deb. "They probably think we're too old for pleasure planets." She stood beside him in the corridor for a moment then took his hand in hers. "Come on," she continued, nodding toward a room several doors down. "There's a small mess on this deck. Not many people use it. I thought we might find a little more privacy there." As she stared down the hall, she glanced at her husband and grinned. "At least I hope we'll have a little privacy. I want to know why you're suddenly dreaming about pleasure planets."

 

He lets her lead him to the mess hall which they find empty. As the door closes behind them he kisses her on the cheek and murmurs "Too old? I think my wife is forgetting that she is a young thirty year old and that I’m not too much older. And are you forgetting Gedi Prime or Risa, love? As for my interest in such planets, I’m sure you can figure out why. Since your presence would be rather required." He smirks "Not like I was intending it to be a solo idea, its much more..pleasant with the right company."

 

"I remember," replied Deb, her voice muted. She would never forget their honeymoon on Gedi Prime or their leave on Risa....but especially their stay on Gedi Prime. It was a wonderful few weeks and very.....educational. "I also assumed you weren't planning to go alone. Can't have much fun by yourself on a pleasure planet."

 

She stood in front of one of the replicators and took a moment to review the menu before ordering a small chef's salad. Once it appeared in front of her, she again focused on Aidan who was still deciding what he wanted. "So," she quipped, stepping past him on her way to one of the three tables in the small room. "Can't find enough pleasure aboard ship to suit you?"

 

He covers a cough at what she says. As he figures out how to respond he orders a hamburger and salad along with a glass of water. He follows her to the table and sits down. Coyly he replies, "It’s more like here there are distractions from its pursuit." He takes a bite from his hamburger and swallows. "You know..the pleasure of sleeping in late, sharing a meal with someone, taking that person dancing. Things along those lines and some others perhaps. One has to be a bit too mindful of time here." He arches an eyebrow and then asks mischievously "And have you heard me register any complaints regarding what you just asked?"

 

Debbie couldn't resist smiling. "No," she retorted. "You haven't complained, at least, not to me. And I seriously doubt you would voice such complaints to anyone else." She paused long enough to take a bite of her salad and swallow it. "And don't worry," she continued, jabbing her fork in Aidan's direction. "I have no complaints either. It just seems out of character for you to make such casual remarks in a public forum." Deb grinned mischievously. "As I said before, what's happened to our old XO?"

 

He smiles "I was assuming you had no complaints. As for anything I did being out of character, perhaps it’s a certain lady’s influence on me. But if she wishes I can go back to how I used to be?" He shrugs and adds teasingly "But speaking for myself, I’d much prefer not. Your..influence has been much more entertaining." He reaches across and picks a slice of carrot from her salad and eats it."

 

She quickly swallowed another bite of the salad and again poked her fork at her husband. "Entertaining?" she sputtered in mock dismay. "Is that what you think? I'm entertaining......like putting on a show?" She withdrew the fork and stabbed at her salad with it. "Okay, I'll accept that," she added with a grin. "It would seem you rather enjoy my performances so I'll consider that a compliment."

 

He smiles "I’m thinking that I wasn’t the only one acting a bit out of character. You’re being awfully coy and flirtatious." His smile broadens "Not that I’m complaining mind you but probably a good thing that we’re alone in here."

 

"That's why we're here," quipped Debbie, finishing off her salad. She had barely closed her mouth around the fork when the distinctive swishing sound of the door echoed through the small mess. Four junior officers, all engineers, breezed into the room, talking and laughing about some silly incident they had all recently witnessed. It took a moment for them to realize they weren't alone.

 

Deb was facing the door and had a clear view of their stunned expressions when they finally noticed the room was already occupied. The chatter and giggling stopped instantly as they huddled together wondering what to do next. It was clear they would have preferred to bolt out the door but were concerned how that might look to the XO and CMO.

 

Taking pity on them, Deb swallowed her salad and pushed back her chair. Standing, she smiled at the hapless ensigns and waved them into the room. "Relax ladies and gentlemen," she announced. "The Commander and I were just leaving." Aidan got up from the table as Deb walked toward the recycle unit. She waited for him after dropping her plate and utensils into it. "So much for privacy," she whispered with a chuckle and headed toward the door.

 

After they enter the hall he reaches for her hand and squeezes it gently. He smiles wryly "Perhaps we should see about some privacy later? Someplace where we won’t be having junior officers walking in and interrupting?"

 

Debbie smiled mischievously. "Oh," she whispered, leaning closer to him as they approached the lift. "I know just the place!"

 

He smiles wryly. "Oh? You'll have to tell me about it sometime." He follows her into the turbolift and as the door closes. He purrs "But I think I did mention something about a kiss before. I think I'll take that now." He leans down and kisses her warmly for a few seconds.