Around The Maze Part 6

Posted on Thu Mar 5th, 2020 @ 7:49pm by Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers
Edited on on Thu Mar 5th, 2020 @ 7:49pm

Mission: Mission 11 - Prospecting
Location: Starbase 621, VIP quarters
Timeline: 2396
1345 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Ledeya wandered down the corridor wearing surgical scrubs, her hair tightly in a ponytail. She stopped dead and nearly burst out into laughter as she saw someone wandering the corridor looking more than a little confused. She was not sure she needed this after not having gone to sleep since they had been on the promenade.

“You took my advice on coffee then?” She called out softly.

Lake had been wandering about looking for some sign that he was even remotely close to anyplace that served coffee. He'd found nothing though and was just about to chalk it up to having heard Leydeya wrong when a voice rang out and he turned and raised his arms only to drop them again in slight frustration. "Well, I would have . . . if I could find the place. I give up. Where am I?"

“Deck 27. VIP quarters.” The woman indicated halfway down the corridor where her quarters were.

"Yeah, I guess I know where I am I just . . . . I can't quite believe you led me here." A smile was spreading over his face. A contagious one that wasn't going away anytime soon. "You actually invited me here for coffee." Lake had to stomp up and down on the urge to offer her his hand. He practically grabbed the side of his uniform in a ball to keep himself from reaching for her.

“Least I could do.” The woman shrugged and moved past him to where her quarters were and opened the door. The quarters were huge compared to normal quarters but it had everything she needed.

"Ed, you don't owe me anything," Lake said following her with a slight frown on his face. "My reasons for saving you were rather selfish." He felt guilty that he hadn't grabbed someone else. He'd gone for the woman who intrigued him from the moment they met.

"Selfish hmm?" She wondered if he was going to explain more or leave her in suspense over it all.

"Yeah well . . . saving beautiful women and all that," Lake blushed a bit. "I wanted to get to know you more and you passing out in sickbay or even dying from some horrible gas didn't seem like the way that was going to get done."

"It is a good point." Ledeya considered as she took off the jacket she was wearing and flung it near the replicator to get rid of later. "Well, I think you got to know me more than most people have."

"I'm sure that's true. You have a lot of walls." Lake glanced around as she let him enter. "Nice place. I'm fairly certain that no matter how high up I get in my profession, no one is going to give me quarters like these. Is it a bit . . . quiet here or do you like quiet?"

Ledeya was sure he would. Science was as good a department as any for large quarters. “This is not home.” She reminded softly. Cosmos was home and the place she usually went back to but she did not have the energy to that night.

"I know." Lake shrugged eying her carefully. She didn't seem quite as chipper as before. "Are you tired? Want me to skedaddle so you can sleep?"

“I’m tired but I promised you coffee and I s as m guessing you are on a shift break.” She mused a little as she looked as the replicator realising it was all she could offer.

"Actually I'm done for the day, not much going on in the lab and I've been helping out elsewhere until everything's back up to normal so they let me go. And as for coffee, it can wait for another day. I'm not demanding anything from someone who just saved lives." Lake approached her and reached up. "May I?" He asked reaching for a big of fuzz that had somehow found its way into her hair. Probably came off someone's clothing.

The woman nodded that he could do what he needed. It was with that movement that she realised how much of a mess she most likely looked. “You don’t need to demand.” She murmured. It was complicated what she was feeling.

"Uhuh," Lake said not really listening. "I think what you need is this." He took her hand and led her over to the couch, sat down, pulling her down with him. Then he gathered her up against him, her head resting on his chest. He hoped she didn't freak out, but he really thought she'd relax into him and fall asleep. No one had to know, they were safely in her quarters.

The woman froze as he gathered her close. She was pretty sure she smelt and that was not going to help at all. Muscle by muscle she allowed herself to relax.

It was actually working. Amazing what happened when one got locked in a room with a woman who always had her shields up. "Computer, increase the temperature by ten degrees." He should have thought of a blanket but hopefully, that would make things warm enough for her. There wasn't any need to say anything, if he could just get her to drift off he had a feeling she'd stay asleep for a while.

“Mmmm perfect.” She murmured snuggling in a little more. She was warm and feeling heavy. What was it about this man?

"Good," Lake whispered, the biggest grin plastered on his face. He moved one arm around her more tightly then closed his eyes as well and let himself sink into nothingness.

He woke, whether hours or minutes later, he wasn't sure. There were parts of his body that he couldn't feel from having the circulation slightly cut off but nothing was hurting too badly yet and he didn't dare move and disturb Ed. The woman needed a week's worth of sleep, he just had a feeling.

Ledeya was sound asleep against his chest. Her breathing steady and slow as she was curled against him. Slowly she stored as she felt the mans breathing change. “Mmm.”

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. But since you are awake," he picked her up a little bit and shifted his position before setting back down again. He hesitated to speak in case she was going to fall right back to sleep again so he waited.

The woman was too sleepy to argue when she was picked up easily against him allowing him to lie down on the giant sofa. It was a much better position. “Mmm do not apologise.”

Lake kissed her forehead without thinking too much about it. He was drawn to her in a way he had never experienced before. Put under some kind of spell if he didn't know any better. Enchanted, yes, that was the word. "Go back to sleep."

Ledeya glanced up at him before she nodded. It was such a good idea, but she had so much to do, so much that was needed from her. "I should get up." She said despite her eyes being closed.

He huffed out a laugh, "you can't even keep your eyes open. Go back to sleep Ledeya, things can wait." He wrapped both arms around her this time, giving her no choice but to settle against him again.

The woman agreed with him and her breathing resettled. She was far too tired to not agree at that stage. It had been far too long since she had been that comfortable, Ranav was never this comfortable and that was as close as she had ever come to a proper relationship.

Lake smiled as she slipped back under. He was so glad she trusted him. He'd never do anything to hurt her, even if it meant hurting himself because he was most definitely falling in love with her and fast. But things took time, especially with one so careful. He closed his eyes again and let her warmth overtake him.

OFF::

Lieutenant Lakeland Brown
Stellar Cartographer
SB 621
(PNPC Bowers)

Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri
Commanding Officer
USS Cosmos / TG 72-B
(PNPC Gregnol)