Pleasant Diversion

[Annabelle O'Halloran 0]

Still in the turbolift after their meeting with Commander Ridire in the Observation Lounge, and ostensibly heading back to their respective workdays, Anna suddenly called out, "Deck 22!"

 

She met Will's inquiring look with a happy shrug. "I don't feel like getting back to the lab, right away. Can you take a little time before heading back to the Flight Deck?" He was a lot busier these days since Angel had gone but she really wanted to spend a few minutes alone with him.

 

Will smiled and nodded to her, "If you want, the rest of the day is free. With no activity going on, I've already done what I needed to today." When the TL doors slid open, he took Anna's hand in his. "So where do you want to go since we are here on Deck 22?"

 

"Botanical Garden," Anna answered promptly, gently tugging his hand to steer him down the corridor to the left.

 

He laughed as he let Anna pull him along, like a child wanting to go on her favorite ride at an amusement park. "Ah yes, one of your favorite places on this ship, isn't it?" He deliberately kept his speed a little slower than hers so that she had to pull him along as if he were reluctant to go with her there.

 

"One of them," she agreed, turning her head, and looking up at him, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "Haven't you noticed there is never anyone in there?"

 

He smiled warmly at his love as they made it to the garden. "Well, there's someone here now, isn't there?" He looked at the great variety of plant life. "So if you had to choose, which one is your favorite plant here?"

 

Enjoying the rich, humid smell of soil and vegetation, Anna turned to face him, reaching her arms around his neck, her focus on a gorgeous pair of green eyes rather than any greenery. "My favorite plant? So hard to decide," she murmured, wondering absently if Will actually thought she brought him here because she was mad for a garden. "Not that I don't love gardens, I do," she told him earnestly, vocalizing the second half of her thought. She started to kiss him as she'd wanted to since Wade's comm had interrupted them in the turbolift, but stopped just shy of touching his lips. "Bromeliads! Bromeliads--definitely. They make their own ecosystem." You could find all kinds of things living in bromeliads. Beetles, snails, even salamanders. Anna smiled dreamily at him and finally reached her destination, thinking the fountain behind them sounded beautiful.

 

He kissed her softly as the sounds of the garden filled their ears. Once he broke the kiss, he moved with her and they sat on a nearby bench. He took a hold of her hand and interlaced their fingers, brushing a stray hair out of her face before looking around. "Well, it's not a star field going by at warp speed, but," he looked at her lovingly, "it is quite beautiful in here."

 

She started to laugh, lifting their linked fingers to brush a kiss over the knuckles on his hand. "Flyboy," she chided softly, leaning against him, letting her head drop against his shoulder. "I'm glad you have to refuel now and again or I'd probably never get you back."

 

He leaned his head so that it was gently resting on hers as he whispered, "Sure you would. Before this relationship, I was always disappointed when a flying sortie came to an end. At least now, I have something else to look forward to other than just waiting for my next flight." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they both watched the fountain gush water.

 

"Oh, at least," she teased gently, unconsciously relaxing against the strength in his arm as it held her. "Glad to know I help keep the boredom at bay."

 

For a long time, nothing more was said between the two. All there was to do was enjoy the peace and watch as the water continued to flow in the fountain. Will closed his eyes for a time, reveling in the sensations of the fountain on his ears and the feel of a wonderful woman against his body.

 

Anna enjoyed the companionable silence, feeling the tensions of the day fade away. It's not that they were any less important but a little time away from them offered some perspective. Time away and the man beside her. Will was an excellent sounding board and though normally very self-contained, she'd found him easy to confide in, appreciating that he listened with total objectivity. She could rely on his point of view. To that end she broke the comfortable silence. "Eric Ferguson blew up one of the labs this morning."

 

Since her tone didn't imply anything catastrophic, he spoke easily, "Any casualties? How much damage to the lab?"

 

Not taking her eyes off the fountain, Anna answered, "No casualties--Eric was at lunch and so missed the big event. Caroline Curtis and I happened on the scene just after the explosion. There's some damage to the surfaces, and though I can't say for sure at this point, I think that Engineering will just need to do some refinishing." She paused for a moment before adding. "When Commander Ridire commed and asked me to come immediately to the Lounge, I thought it might be about the accident."

 

Will chuckled, "Is that way you looked like a deer caught in the headlights when you came in?" He remembered how contrite she looked until she locked eyes with him and then immediately relaxed.

 

She nodded, able to laugh about it now. "Yes, and though there are many reasons why I'm always happy to see you, it was a huge relief today. It should have occurred to me that if I was getting called on the carpet it would be the one in his office, not the Observation Lounge."

 

"Well, it is the XO's privilege to choose the time and place to discipline people, but yeah you're probably right," Will replied as he hugged her a little closer, intoxicated by her nearness. "So, do you have any plans after we leave here today?"

 

Anna slid her arm around his waist as he pulled her closer, thinking work was the last thing on her mind. "I need to file a report before the end of the day regarding the lab incident and put in a repair order to Engineering." She turned a speculative eye towards him. "Of course, the end of the day is still quite some time away."

 

Will smiled, "Yes it is." Finally breaking the warm embrace, Will stood up and held his hand out to her, "I'm sure we can fill the intervening time with much more...pleasurable activities, hmmm?" He winked at her suggestively.

 

Taking his hand, Anna rose to her feet, his wink causing her to blush, as always. "I have all the confidence in the world in us," she assured him, as they walked to the exit. She'd been going to suggest they look at room configurations but his idea was better.