=/\= Begin Log =/\= She looked up at him and Nodded her head as her stomach growled at the thought of food. He grinned down at her "Your place or mine?" As he saw her expression alter he looked away along the corridor still smiling. he turned to her. "There's a nice little place I know called 'Mess Hall'...want to go?" "Well, I've just been dying to try that place," she replied and gave him a smile. She took her free hand and hid a yawn with it. He looked down at her, taking her hand. "You're tired," he told her, "we'll try it another time...I'll see you back to your room." He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them gently. "I'm sorry its Just been a long day. Maybe just something light and quiet in my quarters would be better. I haven't had dinner yet." She purposely didn't tell him that she hadn't had lunch. She looked at him to see if he would say anything. His smile faded away. He wasn't sure whether she meant for him to go with her for a meal or not. that was one of the things that intrigued him about her..he could never tell what she had in mind."I'll walk back with you then," he said simply. She smiled at him. "You could stay if you want?" She actually found herself wanting him to stay but she would leave the decision up to him. He held her gaze then looked away seeming to consider something. Remeeting her eyes he smiled a little and took her hand. He indicated that they move on but said nothing. It wasn't much longer before they were at her door. "Coming in," she asked. She entered a code and the door slide open. She gave him a questioning look and walked in. She was glad that the door between her office and her quarters was a bit more old-fashioned. She kept that door open unless there was someone in her office. She walked through the door and set the padd she had been carrying to her desk and then walked back into her living room. He watched her walk from room to room and smiled as she returned to where he stood. "I can manage a replicator ," he told her "What would you like?" "Maybe just a BLT," she replied. "Do you mind if a take a quick shower and change?" She looked at him inquisitively. He hid his surprise. "No...go right ahead." He said walking over to the replicator. He looked across at her and smiled "I'll have it all ready for you." She nodded as she left the room. She striped her uniform off and jumped into the shower. If she had been there by herself she might have stayed there a bit longer, but she wasn't. She wrapped a towel around her and then looked at her wardrobe. She decided to go for comfort and put on a pair of black shorts and an oversized silky blue shirt that reflected the blue in her eyes. She walked out of the bedroom with her hair drying in ringlets around her face. Rob prepared the modest meal and laid it on the table along with iced water for her and a beer for himself. As she came back in to the room he paused with his glass half way raised to take a drink. "You look fantastic," he told her. A smile crossed her face as she said, "I don't know about that but I'm comfortable." She continued, "You did a great job," and she sat down on the sofa near her plate on the coffee table. He took a place beside her and offered the plate. "You look tired," he said "Hard day?" "Sort of. It was different and long mostly." She took her plate from him and took a bite off her sandwich. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was until that moment and her sandwich tasted really good. She smiled at Rob as she licked the crumbs from her lips. She began softly, "Rob, how are you feeling," she paused, "really?" She took another bite of her sandwich as she waited for his reply. He chewed a mouthful of sandwich. " I feel fine" he told her and took a drink watching her over the glass rim. "I feel fine," he repeated "...really." She looked at him not sure whether to believe him or not. She took a couple more bites as they ate in silence for a few minutes. She licked the crumbs from her lips again and then took a drink of ice water. "Do you plan on doing a duty shift tomorrow or are you going to take it easy?" He took another bite. "No...I'll be on duty...I'm fine Athena..." he smiled at her quite touched at this apparent concern, and reached across and took her hand. Athena gave his hand a small squeeze. She finished the second half of her sandwich and took another swallow of her water. She picked up her empty plate and his beer mug and asked, "Would you like another?" She got from the sofa and went to the replicator. She began to get rid of the dirty dishes as she waited for his reply. "No..it's fine...come sit down here," and he patted the place she had just left. He put his arm around her shoulder when she returned to her place, as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do. "Its you who needs to relax..not me," he said smiling at her. "I'm fine. I knew it was going to be like this when I started the day." She put her head on his shoulder really unable to keep it up by herself now. She was almost as mentally drained as she was physically. "what do you think you'll be working on tomorrow," she asked as she hoped it wouldn't be close quarter drills. She felt him shrug. "I don't know..." he said "I missed two days..could be anything. "He gently pushed back her hair so he could see her face clearly. She was tired out he could tell. He leaned forward, grabbed a cushion and pushed it in place behind her, settling back in his place. Sleepily she replied, "I was just think that maybe paper work would be better than hand to hand combat practice for your first day back is all." She paused to give a small yawn and then continued, "you probably hate paper work though." "Its not the greatest of pleasures no!" he said running his hand across her soft hair. His fingers held a ringlet and twisted it gently. "I doubt they'd give me combat duty..might do...I'm fit enough!" He rested his head back on the sofa cushion and sighed. His fingers running through her hair was soothing and distracting at the same time. She was finding it more difficult to concentrate on what he was saying by the minute. Her one hand fell gently onto her leg brushing his leg in its decent. Her breathing had become soft and regular while he was talking and her eyes were now closed. He felt her relaxing against him and gently touched her hand."You're so tired..." he said quietly not expecting a reply. He tried to ease himself to one side to get her weight into a more comfortable position on his recently mended rib but he didn't want to disturb her too much. Hearing his sharp intake of breath, her eyes flew open and she sat up. "Oh, Rob, I'm so sorry." To look at her one could almost tell it was sheer adrenaline that was motivating her movements. She continued, "I didn't ... Did I..." She was try to say she didn't mean to hurt him or ask if she did but the two thoughts died on her lips as her small jolt of adrenaline had already ran its course through her body. She rubbed her hands over her face as all the energy of a moment ago flooded out of her body. Rob's arm tightened around her as she tried to sit up. "Sweetheart...lie down," he said not noticing the endearment he called her. "Go to sleep if you want," and he settled her down as she had been before and squeezed her shoulder gently. She took a deep breath and nodded her head as she laid it back down on his shoulder. "What did you say," she asked sleepily. However, she was asleep before he had the chance to answer. =/\= End Log =/\= Lt. Athena Wellington Counselor USS Chimera & 1Lt. Rob Richards NPC apb LtJg. Rangi Summers