She slowly sat down in her chair feeling even warmer than she had before. {Was it her or was her office getting hotter.} "Yes, I guess we should." She took the opportunity to change the subject as well. "How is your new job going? I heard your department was missing a few things a couple of days ago." Rob took a deep breath and his gaze traveled round the room before coming to settle on Athena. "The jobs fine!" he told her then realizing how impatient he sounded he gave her a small smile. "The job is fine..." he said in a calmer tone."..and yes we're not quite up to scratch yet...I don't think any department is..but we're getting there....slowly." She nodded and added a couple of more notes to a padd. Thoughtlessly she took her bad hand and wiped her brow, wincing just audibly at the contact. Rob frowned at her and got up from his chair crossing to hers in a couple of steps. "Enough!" he said looking down at her "get yourself to Sickbay and have that looked at...why say there's nothing wrong when there obviously is?" He ran his fingers to and fro at the neck of his uniform. "Are you going on your own or want me to take you there," he asked in a 'no nonsense' tone "I've already been to sickbay," she said without saying that it was before the accident. She stood not wanting to be trapped in her chair and just feeling too hot to sit against the leather of the chair anymore. She took her glass and took her last swallow of water, while a drop of condensation fell from the glass to her chest and rolled down into her shirt. "Really!" he said not believing one word, his eyes following the droplet of water. He looked away, a grin spreading across his face and wiped his forehead. "Either we're having a GREAT effect on one another.." he said grinning broadly "..or the heating is malfunctioning." "I vote for the heat is malfunctioning," she smiled back. She glanced at her desk noticing the bowl of melting ice, "But I think I can help." She picked up a handful of ice and dumped them down the inside of his collar. She put several steps between them to make sure she was out of arms length. "Better," she asked with an innocent look. She had not thought that he could move so quickly. Before she knew it he had reached for the bowl lifting dripping cubes from it and in a moment she could not follow had one hand around her waist while the other allowed the ice to slip down the back of her neck. "Completely!" he said laughing down at her stunned face." Athena didn't know if she was more surprised that he reach her so quick or by his carefree nature that he rarely showed. Taking his glass of untouched water from the desk behind him she carefully dumped it down the back of his shirt. As he released her as the cold water ran down his back, she stepped away from him and started to increase the space. He regained his composure and started coming after her again when the room was plunged into darkness. The blackout lasted just long enough for him to trip and fall. When the lights came back on the temperature in the room was cooling off to one that was comfortable. He was near to the sofa and got to his feet grinning at her "Touche!" he said flopping onto the soft seat regardless of the cold wetness of his shirt. As he looked at her the smile faded. It came to his mind that he couldn't remember the last time he had felt so...relaxed..he knew it had been a long time...too long a time. She walked over to him and sat down on the sofa beside him. "What's wrong," she asked as his smile began to fade. "Wrong?" he answered quizzically "Nothings wrong...I was just thinking that's all.." His mouth formed a small smile. "Well, what were you thinking then," she asked. She leaned forward and put her elbows on her knees and rolled her neck a bit before settling back on the sofa. Rob turned his head to look at her. "I was thinking about you...about how relaxed I am with you around..it surprised me that's all." "Oh," was all she said for several seconds and then asked, "why did that surprise you? Am I such a formidable figure that I strike fear into people's hearts?" "No" he answered simply looking at her. He reached out his hand and ran his fingers once lightly from her elbow to her wrist. "You're not formidable...you're very lovley..intrigueing.....different." She sat there digesting the information. She gave a small quiet sigh, "I'm sorry. We're a bit off topic." She hesitated for a bit and then continues, "I think I have all I need." Her hurt hand laid on the sofa between them. Rob continued to watch her saying nothing and still aware of a feeling he could only describe as 'peace'. After a while he gave a long sigh and sat forward. He looked down at the bruised hand and lifted it as though it were a precious thing. Glancing at her face he brought her fingers to his lips and laid a gentle kiss on them before placing her hand back on the seat. He stood up. "Please get that looked at," he said quietly. She nodded as she watched him walk towards the door, but she was already deep in thought. He waited for the door to open without looking back or saying anything to her. Once outside, the door safely closed, he stood for a long moment staring down at the floor. A half minute or so later he looked up took a deep breath and walked away along the corridor. =/\= End Log =/\= 1Lt. Rob Richards NPC apb. Ltjg. Rangi Summers & Lt. Athena Wellington Ship's Counselor USS Chimera