The Speed Of Life

Posted on Thu Jul 27th, 2017 @ 9:18am by

Mission: Mission 4 - Combustion
Location: Out and About
Timeline: MD 03 1930
4082 words - 8.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

The little fiasco in the mess hall had been entertaining to say the least, but now that it was over Bettina wanted to make sure that Braden was all right. Not that she thought he wasn't, he'd been walking, after all, when he'd scraped her off the back of that Ardanan goon, but well, she just wanted an excuse to see him and this was a good one, not that she really thought she needed one, after all, she was fairly certain that he was as twitterpated with her as she was with him, at least she hoped so...she'd hate to find out he wasn't, but...

She'd actually felt a bit frustrated, their earlier dinner date had had to be cancelled when there had been an influx of wedding-party passengers suffering from food poisoning, and since then it seemed like the Fates were trying to keep them apart. But Bettina was determined...

It turned out to be a bit of a scavenger hunt, but she finally tracked him down to the gym, unable to keep from breaking into a huge smile as she spotted him attacking a punching bag across the room.

Grinning, she moved quietly up behind him, then muttered, "You can only avoid me for so long, you know. You owe me dinner, but if you want to fight for it, I guess we can."

Braden shifted smoothly so he could face her as he caught the bag easily in one hand. "Fight you? I can think of a few things I would like to do with you Bettina but none really involve fighting. Although the last few days I have been considering risking a slap in the face to kiss you and make you realize I am interested." Braden winked "if you are willing to wait maybe forty-five minutes I can make us dinner?" He smiled warmly, "I think I might be able to entetain you while we wait for the food?" His eyes popped wide as he realized he had said that out loud, damn she was going to slug him before he even tried to kiss her!

"Entertain me?" She raised an eyebrow, giving him a cheeky grin. "Well, now I'm curious...interested! I take it you mean more than mess-hall brawls?" She was trying to think of what sorts of 'entertainment' he might provide, although she'd never entertain the idea that his entertainment might lean toward the untoward!

"You have a deal!" She stuck out her hand to him. "You can kiss that...for now." Smiling shyly, she looked into his eyes.

Braden chuckled as he took her hand in both of his and made an elaborate bow kissing the back of her hand. Then he sucked the three fingers in the middle into his mouth and licked her fingers. Straightening he looped his hand over the arm and took her hand. "Right this way Bettina. Hopefully the cowboy will stay on the passenger deck and my quarters will remain intact." He headed for the turbolift "tell me do you prefer pork, chicken, or beef as a basic meat for a meal?"

"Chicken?" Bettina's tone was uncertain as she looked at him a bit oddly. No one had ever done that to her, nibbling on her fingers like that, and she wasn't really sure how to take it. Part of her had wanted to pull away, but another -- the stronger of the two -- was aching to see what was next.

"Yes, chicken, please...and...what cowboy?" She hadn't noticed anyone in that kind of hat, or chaps or anything, so she wasn't really sure what he meant by that.

"We can stop by the messhall and get some chicken then." He frowned "The guy with the gun. We used to call people who shot wild and loose like that cowboys. I never seen him before, cowboy, or nutcase? Either fits the personality. He escalated a bad situation needlessly in a show of bravado. People like him get a lot of innocent folks killed but somehow they feel justified as they end up unscathed." Braden shrugged "not my command, not my problem, I never saw him before so I think he is a passenger. Hopefully he will leave soon."

"It didn't seem that bad, except for the guy who wanted to bash you with that chair." She beamed proudly. "But I took care of him!" Then she shrugged and shook her head. "Doesn't seem like a good idea to shoot the ship, Amelia was pretty mad, and yeah, I think he's a passenger..." Which actually made it worse, she thought, since a passenger shouldn't even be armed in her opinion.

Braden had been walking with her arm in his and reached the turbolift as he finished talking. "Okay Bettina a short stop at the messhall and then my place for dinner." The other subject over his smile was warm and touched his eyes as he looked into her eyes. "Ready for an adventure?"

"Yeah, sure." Her heart raced a bit as she looked up at him. "Um...depends on what you mean by 'adventure'." Her nose wrinkled up. "I'm pretty open to just about anything, but, um...I do like my food dead."

"So do I, if I have to kill it I can but before I eat it I want it properly prepared and thoroughly cooked. I don't even like sushi. although in a pinch I have eaten things i normally would not even consider. Survival makes some decisions mute." he shrugged "here and now though is not survival mode. We have time and all we need." He had weaved back into the kitchen as they spoke and now stopped "Might I have those two half chickens I requested before?" He had paid the one crewmen a bottle of decent wine for the food he requested and the fellow nodded then went to fetch it. "Red skinned potatoes and asparagus tips cooked in foil with the chicken and some seasonings. A half hour to finish up and we can eat." Braden winked at her "I would not let you down my friend."

"It all sounds wonderful!" Something special, and all things she liked. "So I guess this is where the 'entertainment' comes in?" Yes, the food sounded good, but Bettina was finding that she was much more interested in the company and seeing if he had any surprises in mind, although she was happy just to have a chance to get to know him better.

"I do magic tricks if things get too dull," she suggested.

"Really. Maybe you can show me a few of your tricks after we eat." Braden faced her as he replied but the food was delivered so he accepted it from the fellow and "thanks, I appreciate this." Leading Bettina back out to the hall he went back to the turbolift and within a few minutes they were back at his quarters. He released her arm long enough to fold down the table from the wall and offered her a seat on the couch. "We can talk or watch a movie as we eat. The unit is for camping but it stores a few thousand movies and has its own battery power supply." He put the packaged food on the hot plate to heat up before he slipped in beside her. He left a space so she could lean into him if she wished but was not crowded if she did not. "Twenty minutes and we eat."

Bettina flopped down on the couch, looking around the place for the second time, thinking that he was pretty lucky to have quarters like this, although she knew that she was fortunate for the time being to have a cabin to herself -- it was cramped as it was, two people would have to be pretty intimate, they'd be crawling all over each other.

"We can talk and watch a movie!" Bettina suggested, "You just need the right kind of movie...something old and silly...like that one about the whales in space."

"Dune? That is a classic." Braden began checking the storage base to see if the movie was there. It was pretty old so it was a 50/50 chance it was there. "I liked the spoof GalaxyQuest as well." He found Dune and started the movie. "Anything you want to talk about or just be cozy and watch?" He moved his arm over her shoulder to draw her in to his side. "If you want to talk that is, like what is a nice girl like you on a ship like this?"

Dune had whales in it? Well, to be honest, she'd never seen it, she'd been thinking about something that had something to do with 'Homecoming' or something, but it really didn't matter. It didn't take a lot of imagination to make fun of just about any movie, and that was the point.

"Nice?" She crossed her eyes quickly, then shifted so that she was snuggled into the crook of his arm, then kicked her boots off and put her feet on the couch, knees bent. "Anyway, I dunno, got tired of being stuck in one place, there's a whole lot of planets and places out there and I want to see as many as I can, meet people..." She shrugged. "Just that. What about you?"

"I was born on a ship and I think the three years I spent on earth were the longest time I ever spent in one place in my life. My parents were Scientist and we never stayed anywhere more then that two but less then three year period." Braden shifted looking her in the eyes before continuing. "The last dig they were on, the one they were killed at, they were not being Scientist. They had accepted a contract to find a weapon's cache for the Cardassians." He stopped as he controlled his emotions. "I just finished my degree work at college when I found that out. I was angry and joined the marines the same day." A tear formed in his eyes, while I was off dealing with my aggression my kid brother died at a dig, he had followed our parents footsteps. I was far away keeping Romulans from killing each other."

Braden took a deep breath. "His death ate all the anger away I guess. So I resigned and went back to Science, historical records and a sort of forensic research field. Gregnol hired me and here I am." He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Now you know my entire life story Bettina." The timer went off and Braden pushed her up gently "that is out food. Be right back." He extricated himself asking "water or fruit juice or soda to drink?"

She had been comfortable there, in the crook of his arm, and then he'd told his tale, tugging at her heart, making her want to comfort him, but as he finished he was up and moving away from her.

"Lemonade if you have it?" Getting to her feet, she followed after him. "My folks were archeologists, too," she commented as she came up behind him. They got sick while they were on a dig and died." It had been hard on her, not having that chance to 'say goodbye', in fact it had been weeks since she'd seen them, but she had come to terms with it.

"I always wanted to fly, to be out in the stars, that's why I'm here. Of course," she grinned, "I can't actually fly anything."

"That is tough not being able to say goodbye." He rubbed her shoulder "So we both come from scientist. Odd how things put people together with similar backgrounds."

"Yeah, it is." She smiled as she nodded, finding that she felt a little closer to him, like a kindred spirit of sorts.

He got lemonade from his cooler and a coke for himself. He handed Bettina her plate, utensils and the bottle of lemonade. "You know if you want to be a pilot and the Captain here agrees to it I could teach you. It is no harder then putting people back together, you do that for a living so would be fine." He pointed to the couch "ready to eat?"

"Might want to talk to Starfleet Academy about that." Bettina chuckled as she sat on the couch with her plate of food, setting the drink on the small table in front of them. "I hold the record for the most simulated shuttle crashes...and loop-de-loops...ever."

Laughing, she shrugged. "Just never seemed to get the hang of it, put all the pieces together." Another laugh. "And believe me, there were plenty of pieces!"

"We shall see, there are methods to curb wild pilots and you would have me as a coach. You should never underestimate an marine after all." He opened his food and the aroma of herbs and spices permeated the room. The potatoes and veggies soaked in the oil from the chicken. "This is the way to eat. I love this method of cooking everything blends together for a crunch and chewy taste." He raised his eyebrows as he dug in.

"Smells good." Even so, Bettina was cautious as she took her first bite, in case it was bad she didn't want to make a face. But that didn't matter, the food was really tasty, and she gave a genuine smile. "This is great! I wish the grunt quarters had room to cook, but once I get a roommate it's going to be pretty crowded. Best I can manage is a coffee pot."

"Well you can always hang out here if you want." Braden suggested between bites. He ate slowly savoring his food, but spoke little as he ate. His hip against hers as he ate and watched the movie was a point of contact. The movie was a bit serious with the vying for power struggle of great houses, betrayals, and ended with an heroic victory of the power structure. Braden finished eating and smiled "I can dispose of that when you are done."

"Oh, sure." She didn't want to impose, but Bettina didn't want to take away his opportunity to take care of her. Besides, she was content for now to just sit here. "It was really good, I think you're going to spoil me!"

As he took her plate, she stifled a yawn, not particularly tired, but the movie had been...bleh without even a good chance to make fun of it, but she wasn't going to point that out, she was having fun in the big picture. "You know this means you'll have to come over to my place some time so I can return the favor, right?"

Braden shrugged "If you want? If your place is as small as Reessem's though we would likely have to sit on the bed or the floor? If you feel the need to cook for us we could still eat here." She was on deck-5 with Reessem and he had been in her quarters briefly, he had not actually been inside Bettina's as yet. "Unless there is some hidden agenda that you are trying to work on to lure into your domain?" He sat on the couch and put his arm on the back of the couch welcoming her to lean against him once more.

"Aye, I want to lure you into my lair!" Bettina laughed, then shrugged as she settled into the crook of his arm, where it felt like the most natural place in the world for her. But then, she was feeling sort of awkward about having asked him to her crappy little quarters, that was something she'd never bring up again.

"Actually, that's why I don't have a roomie," she continued, looking up at him sort of upside-down backward from her odd angle, her tone dropped to a whisper, "there's bodies in there! I hide 'em under the decking!" She giggled again, then asked, "Tell me your dark secrets now!"

Braden froze and his smile faded to a much more serious expression. He kissed her cheek before making eye contact "you jest about bodies hidden in your quarters. I have killed more then a few people as a marine. I killed raiders before I was a marine. I killed the Raiders who murdered my family with their own weapons." He sat up straighter and his voice was fairly lifeless as he continued "that is my darkest secret Bettina." His smile was meek as it returned, his eyes sad, "I guess you will want to go now. I would walk you home but.. Well most people when they find out do not wish to be around me any more. Still I tell the truth and you asked. Not many I guess have such darkness to confess."

"Leave?" Was he just expecting it, or did he want it? Bettina's chest constricted, making it hard to breathe, but not at the perceived evil he had done, but that she had unwittingly dredged up his bad memories and that he seemed to want to wrap up their evening so quickly.

"Braden.." Shifting around, she turned to face him, "I'll go if you want, but...I don't want..." She shrugged miserably, not wanting to force him into allowing her to stay just because she was whining. "I mean, you did what you had to, I can't think of a Marine that hadn't...killed, but it's not like that's murder...and if they did something to get in your sights, well, they shouldn't have."

Sighing, she took his hands in hers, running her thumbs over his knuckles. "I'll go, you can chase me off, but I'll be back in ten minutes begging to be let back in." Leaning forward, she kissed him on the nose. "I know where you live..."

He caressed her cheek, his fingers in her hair. "You want to stay?" He searched her eyes and did not see any pity or falsehood.

"If you want." She met his eyes, shrugging. She was really getting to like him and wanted to see where things would lead, and certainly didn't want to just cut things off so soon.

"I would like you to stay of course, I just.. No one ever wanted to stay before. Well there were a few but they were just feeling like pity. I did what I did and I feel no real guilt. I do understand the morale outrage I normally receive when I tell people. I am glad you are staying Bettina."

"Me, too?" Well, she had never been very confident at this sort of thing, but she wanted to be this time.

His hand moved up more into her head supporting her as he leaned forward "I am going to kiss you."

Oh, good heavens, yes! Her heart started to flutter madly at his touch, spiking even higher as he moved in.

"All righ...." The rest was caught up in his kiss.

He pressed his lips against hers gently at first till her lips parted. The kiss became more passionate as he supported her head. The support was not tight, she could wiggle away easily but the support was more part of the passion in his show of affection. After the kiss he raised his head but kept his eyes close awaiting her to slap his face.

Oh, no wiggling! Her breath caught as she let him lead her into territory that, until now, had been merely conjecture, and it was territory that she was finding that she wanted to explore more.

Her eyes had slipped closed as he kissed her, but when he pulled back, she opened them, smiling softly, a little confused that his were still shut.

Still, she saw it as an invitation, and pushed up to place fluttery little kisses on his eyelids, then down his cheeks and back to his lips...

Delighted she was actually responding Braden kissed her several times. When he let her come up for air he kissed her neck as he shifted her hair with his hand. He licked below and behind her ear before nibbling her ear lobe softly. He was just enjoying the experience hoping it was not a dream more then once.

Now that was where she was ticklish, not her feet, and as soon as he started on her ear the passion melted away as she fell into a fit of hysterical giggles, her shoulder scrunching up to try to protect her ear!

Braden helped her to sit up watching her face. When he realized her fit was giggles he smiled "so you have a tickle spot."

"No, nuh uh..." Of course, the continued giggling didn't lend any credence to that denial!

His smile grew naughty "I so own you now my Pretty!"

"No!" Grinning, she covered her ears, protecting them.

Then Braden laughed as well. "Okay not ears unless you are being naughty.. Agreed?"

"But I'm never naught..."

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back over top of him to peck kiss her lips a few times before squeezing her into a rather powerful kiss. After the kiss he laid his forehead on hers "I fear I am not ticklish anywhere? It does give me an advantage."

"So I can't take advantage?" She smiled up at him, then reached up and grasped an errant chest-hair that was peeking over the top of his shirt and gave it a sharp tug, plucking it.

"Advantage Bett, methinks!" she giggled as she held up her prize.

"Ouch! Hey? You do know that hurts right?" Braden narrowed his eyes "I could pinch you, and regain the advantage." He rubbed his hands across her back and realized she was wearing a sports bra. So no counter there.

"But you're a gentleman," she countered with a confident smile, squirming a little as he went for her bra, then grinning in triumph.

"Look I am not into playing real rough. So I do not want to like spank you. So you think maybe we can leave my chest hair where it is?"

"Well..." Looking up at him, she wrinkled up her nose in contemplation, then took the hair still clutched between her fingers and put it against his chest, patting the area lightly. "There, all better." Her grin widened as she giggled, then kissed the corner of his mouth. "Am I forgiven?"

"For a smile and a kiss I could forgive you about anything Bettina." Braden laughed "a few more kisses and we should call it a night. Otherwise you might end up waking up here in the morning?" His question was not phrased as if he wanted her to leave but it did convey a sort of possible outcome they were moving toward.

"Would that be so bad?" She shifted so that her head was resting in his lap as she looked up at him. "We could, like have a slumber party, stay up all night and talk about the boys at school and paint each other's toenails." Of course, her head hadn't gone where his had, likely, she hadn't been thinking along those lines, she just wanted to be around him and learn more about him.

Not that the kissing part was bad...

Making a sort of fishy-froggy face at him, she giggled. "Kiss me again!"

"Not bad at all, although I won't be having my toenails painted or be talking about boys. I am not a teenage girl after all." Braden looked down into her face "I was thinking a bit of other entertainment possibly like between a man and a woman." She made a sort of silly face then asked to be kissed. He lifted his knees to raise her face then pulled her into an embrace and kissed her deeply. The sort of kiss that made the toes curl and breathing forgotten.

His intentions became quite clear as he pressed his lips over hers, and by the time she could breathe again, her intentions matched his! Blinking up at him, she couldn't help but smile in a giddy sort of way, her heart pounding in her ears.

"So, um...yeah, I guess I don't mind spending the night." She smiled, thinking that this was the worst time to be wearing her frumpy coveralls!

OFF:

Bettina Davies
Field Medic
S.S. Mary Rose

Braden MacCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose