Taking Chances

Posted on 29 Mar 2012 @ 7:52pm by Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

3,811 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo, CO's Quarters
Timeline: MD 01 - 2030 Hours

[ON]

Dru bit down on her lip as she tried to resist the urge to turn and run back to her own quarters. She tried to push the thoughts of panic back to the back of her mind. She felt silly that she felt this way, how many counselling sessions had she given to people to help them when they felt this way, but yet..she couldn't help herself when she needed it.

The young counsellor looked down at her clothes one more, reaching out a hand to smooth out a crease in the dress over her stomach. She had picked the knee length navy dress as it flared out at her hips and made her legs look longer. Not wanting to look to formal, she had paired the dress with simple flat ballet shoes in a matching colour and left her hair down around her shoulders. Before she could do anything more, she forced her hand to the chime on Lirha's door and pressed.

"Enter." the captain called out as she hastily moved to the small kitchen in her quarters, returning to the dining room several moments later with a large pot roast in her hands. She delicately placed the hot dish down on a coaster, next to a bowl of roasted vegetables and a side dish of exotic fruit. The tight black leggings she wore led up to a light green dress shirt, open at the back and surrounded with gold trim across the loose collar. Her hair was down and flowed naturally to the top of her shoulders, and her ears were adorned with a variety of gold jewelry.

Lirha had spent the last hour scouring the ship's mess kitchen in search of several rare food items, and now found herself running late with the cooking. She hadn't had time to set up any decorations, and she hoped that her guest wouldn't mind the more casual appearance of her quarters.

Dru took another breath before stepping through the door, immediately she was hit by a wonderful smell before her eyes were drawn to Lihra who had her back to her. Dru watched Lirha's posture. She seemed a little tense which made Dru smile. Whatever Lirha's reason might be, at least she wasn't the only one feeling tense. Dru watched at Lirha swung around to look at her. "I hope I haven't mistimed this on you." Dru stepping forward, feeling more relaxed then she did earlier. In the past Lirha's quaters was where the young counsellor had been allowed to be herself with coaxing from Lirha.

"Hi! No, not at all," she said with a smile as she watched Dru come into the room. "I think I'm just about finished." she added as she disappeared once again into the back room. Several seconds passed and Lirha emerged with a bottle of Orion spiced rum in one hand, and a pitcher of thick, orange colored juice in the other. She placed them gently on the crowded table and turned back to the counselor. "You look nice." she said as she looked over Dru's blue dress.

Dru looked down of at her dress, subconsciously brushing a spec of dirt off of the skirt. Looking out Lirha's outfit for the first real time, Dru found herself smiling softly, wondering how Lirha managed to be such a beautiful woman. For some reason, the young counsellor wasn't finding herself as uncomfortable with Lirha's body as she had been before. As she watched, Lirha turned around to pour a drink, exposing her bare back. Before she knew what she was doing, Dru found herself stepping to Lirha's side, briefly brushing her hand against Lirha's back in a comforting motion, "What can I do to help?"

Feeling the Human woman's hand against her bare skin sent a warm feeling through her. Lirha briefly glanced around at the arrangements, making sure she hadn't forgot anything that they might need for dinner. "I think everything is all set..." she started, then suddenly forgot about the dessert she had been preparing. "Oh! There's a fudge cheesecake on the counter in the kitchen." she said, turning to Dru with a grin and hoping she wouldn't mind indulging herself for the evening.

Dru smiled at the eagerness Lirha was showing on her face, it was almost infectious, "I'll need to ensure I leave enough room for a sliece, it sounds delicious." Dru touched Lirha's arm briefly, "All of this looks really good, you didn't have to just do all of this for me Lirha." it was the first time Dru had actually said Lirha's name aloud, it was a strange sensation on her lips.

"I enjoy cooking, as well as your company." she replied as she moved to retrieve the cake, returning several seconds later and placing the confectious plate near the middle of the table in a small opening between the numerous dishes. Satisfied with her arrangements, she pulled a chair out for Dru to sit and walked around to the other side of the table, delicately sitting down and watching her guest.

As Dru took her seat and settled, she took a few moments to look at Lirha under her eyelashes. Tonight she had an almost glow to her. The Captain's cheeks had a slight flush to them which brought out an almost youth like quality to Lirha. Caught up in the moment, Dru reached across to take Lirha's hand, "Thank you for tonight Lirha."

The captain returned the squeeze, happy to have the counselor's company for the next hour. With skilled precision, she took an empty plate and piled on a large assortment of braised meat, vegetables and fruit. She took a small ladle and poured a generous serving of gravy over the meat, then handed the plate to Dru. "The meat is called Ormai, it's an Orion dish similar to a Human pot roast." she said as she began to explain the various foods to the counselor. "I've mixed it with a variety of Earth potatoes and spices, and the gravy is made from butter and flour. You probably know what most of these vegetables are, but I also added in mazza stalks which go quite nicely with the gravy." she said with a grin, then pointed to the fruit bowl. "These are moba fruits from Bajor, along with q'lavas and melon.". After Dru took her plate, Lirha poured them each a tall glass of rum, mixing it with a healthy portion of juice.

Dru moved to stop Lirha from pouring rum from her but then decided to hold back. She didn't wish to embarrass or upset Lirha, surely one or two drinks wouldn't do her any harm, it seemed that the Captain had added a goof measure of juice anyway. Looking down at the food on her plate, Dru waiting until Lirha was seated before picking up her drink to offer a toast, "To new adventures and new friendships." Dru smiled softly realizing the double meaning. Tonight she hoped to be able to figure out her feelings and in what direction her and Lirha would end up going.

Raising her glass, the Orion captain grinned at the counselor's toast, then brought the drink to her lips and took a long swig. "Mmm.." she commented to herself, happy with the juice recipe that she had spent the last half hour making. After piling a variety of food on her plate, she unwrapped her cutlery and placed her napkin in her lap, anxious to start eating. "Are you happy to be in space finally?" she asked, wanting to start the conversation on a more casual note.

As Dru took a drink she was surprised at how nice it tasted. The sweetness of the juice took away the taste of the alcohol, making it much easier on her pallet. Forking up a piece of the meat, Dru hesitated with the food in order to answer Lirha. "Hum....Would you hate me if I said I honestly hadn't noticed? I've been so busy wit the crew evaluations the ship could have hit a meteorite and I still wouldn't have noticed. I know you were stressed in the lead up to the launch, it's difficult to hide some emotions from your chief counsellor, no matter the situation involved." Dru smiled over at Lirha before forking the food into her mouth, hesitating after the first mouthful and grabbing her drink at the explosion of spiciness in her mouth.

"Yes, receiving this new command has been a bit taxing." the captain admitted, then loaded up a large forkful of meat and potatoes and brought them to her mouth, relishing in the first bite of her home-cooked meal. As she chewed away happily, she looked at Dru and noticed her face beginning to flush as she drank a large gulp of her juice. "Is the food okay?" she asked as she studied the counselor's face. "I hope it's not too spicy for you...I tried to use some of the more subdued peppers that we have in the mess hall." she added, now fearful that she had cooked the meal too spicy for her guest's liking.

Dru held up one finger, indicated for Lirha to give her a moment before taking another drink to try calm down the flames in her mouth. Feeling better, Dru shook her head. "It's fine. I just wasn't expecting that. I'll be fine now I'm prepared." Dru left out a breath before laughing and smiling over at the Captain. "Like a pot roast? I don't remember ever having a pot roast with that much spice in it."

Lirha returned the smile, grateful and relieved that Dru was able to manage the potent flavors. "I've noticed that Orions have a rather unique palate when it comes to taste and texture," she commented, "I was raised on my mother's cooking which was so spicy that it used to leave me in tears by the end of the meal." she said with a grin, recalling several fond childhood memories of sitting around the dinner table with her family.

Dru cut her food into much smaller bites in order to better distribute the spiciness, hoping she could better manage the food this way. She realised how much Lirha had put into cooking the food and she didn't wish to disappoint her. To be on the safe side, Dru leaned over to refill her glass, almost to the brim. She realised she might be having abit of this drink tonight and hoped it was well watered down. "Having met Nesh I realise you are both very similar, do you both take after your Mum?"

Taking another large bite of food, Lirha shrugged her shoulders in reply before she finally finished swallowing. "I suppose." she answered simply, "I personally think that Nesh is more like our mother than I am, but it's always good to get an outsider's perspective." she added. Lirha wondered in what way Dru saw herself and her sister as being similar, and decided to take a different approach to the question. "What did you think of my sister when she came to visit?" she asked. "You can be honest with me, I'm somewhat used to her misbehaving by now." she added with a smirk.

Having managed a few more mouthfuls of her food, Dru leaned forward again to refill her glass, having finished it again already."Hum....I think she's alot older and more mature then someone her age would usually be. She does have some elements of youth, her eagerness for wanting to see new things, experience new things is one aspect of this. Misbehaving?" Dru looked up at Lirha, unsuccessfully trying to hide a grin. "She didn't misbehave as much as you did when you were her age ReeHee."

The captain almost swallowed a chunk of vegetables down the wrong hole and put her hand up over her mouth as she recovered from the initial shock of the words Reehee and misbehave in the same sentence. It was a common theme throughout her youth, and one of the reasons her mother had decided to relocate to Earth, to give Lirha a more stable upbringing. "I assume she told you some stories?" she finally asked Dru, secretly not wanting to know the full extent to which Nesh had embarrassed her.

Dru laughed at the look on Lirha's face, reaching across to take her hand, stroking her fingers across the back of the Captain's hand. "I'm a counsellor, secrets are always safe with me. But we might need some counselling to sort out some of your old misdemeanour's. I'll be nice, I promise ReeHee."

"Oh is that so?" the Orion replied with a tilt of her head and a wry smile. Feeling the warm sensation of Dru's hand on hers, she turned her palm over and slipped her green fingers in between the Human's, holding her hand tight. "I suppose that might be fun...you seem to have a way with me." she said, looking caringly into Dru's blue eyes.

Dru blushed slightly as she locked eyes with Lirha, unable to pull her gaze away. The feel of Lirha's hand in her's felt right. Her fingers were long and soft as she felt the Captain's thumb rub against the juncture of her thumb and finger. Dru came here tonight realising this night would go one of two ways, she would finally open up to there being something between her and Lirha, or she would tell Lirha she couldn't do it. Parting her lips slightly, Dru found she couldn't get any words out.

Breaking their locked gaze, Dru kept their hands joined but looked down at her dinner."I seem to have a way with most of the crew." Dru laughed gently.

"I think you're a wonderful counselor from what I've seen. And you're also a lovely person to be around." Lirha replied as she smiled and slowly released the counselor's hand, picking up her glass of juice and taking a long drink to cool the spices in her mouth.

Dru looked back over at Lirha trying to figure out what to say. She knew she needed to be the one to make the first move. Lirha had placed the ball in her court because she knew how confused the counsellor was. Dru took another drink to wet her mouth which had suddenly gone dry. "I'm sorry I am this confused mess Lirha."

Dru sat back in her chair nervously laughing as she ran a hand through her hair to stop it shaking. She wondering why she could touch Lirha easily but couldn't speak properly. "You think as a counsellor I'd be able to express myself better. I keep my guard up around men...I never thought I would have to do it with women aswell."

Taking a few more bites of her food, Lirha listened to Dru as she struggled to diagnose herself. "I hope you don't feel that you need to keep your guard up around me." she said with an understanding look. "You know that I have feelings for you...but I also consider you my friend, and would never do anything to hurt you." she said in a soft voice.

Dru cupping her hand at the back of her neck as she tried to find the words. "It's not getting hurt that worries me. It's the letting someone in that worries me....let myself feel something for someone. I've never been able to work to the best of my capabilities...I'm scared that will follow me into a relationship...another person doesn't deserve to have to go through that." Dru got up and walked over the the window, looking out at the stars streaking by. "You deserve someone able to give you your every wish and desire."

Watching with concern as Dru left the table, Lirha folded her napkin and placed it on the table before getting to her feet and slowly walking next to her. Lirha waited quietly and patiently for several moments, staring out into the stars with her friend before breaking the silence. "I think I deserve someone like that as well." she said in a quiet voice, then turned to look at Dru. "And I think that person is you." she added. "I see so many good things about you whenever I look at you. I think we would be good for each other. It's not just about me....I want to make you happy, Dru." she finished, not knowing what else to say.

Dru leaned her forehead against the window, squeezing her eyes shut. "Your not making this easy to say no to."

Dru turned and looked at Lirha, lifting up her hand to trace her finger's across the Captain's cheek. "Your so beautiful. The way you stand, the way you walk. You have an elegance about you which make people stop and stare. Not because of your skin colour, but because of who you are. That's the first thing I noticed about you."

Lirha blushed at the compliment, her cheeks turning from olive green to a light gold color similar to her lips. She let her eyes travel to the ground as she felt Dru's finger run down the side of her face. The feeling was electric and it took all of her willpower to not reach up and kiss Dru. Swallowing several butterflies in her stomach, Lirha finally replied. "I think you're beautiful as well." she said quietly, finally looking back up at the counselor with bright green eyes.

Dru wasn't sure what was happening. She was never this bold or forward but with Lirha it seemed natural, the right thing to do. Allowing her fingers to drop from Lirha's face she took the Captain's hand, turning the hand so it was palm side up, Dru lifted it to her lips, placing a kiss in the centre of the palm and curling Lirha's fingers over it. "The crew will talk, I don't think this is something we can keep secret on such a small ship."

Lirha closed her eyes as she felt Dru's lips on her hand, struggling once again to resist the urge to kiss the beautiful woman in front of her. She took a deep breath and attempted to calm herself, which for an Orion was extremely difficult. "I don't want to keep this a secret." she replied in a whisper, finally opening her eyes to stare intently at Dru.

Dru looked at Lirha in slight shock. Of all the things she had expected the Captain to say, it hadn't been that. Dru knew Lirha's career meant everything to her, the risks she would take if it became publically know she was dating the counsellor was alot. Dru realised she was seeing another side of Lirha, one which wasn't afraid to take and have what she wanted and to be proud of it.

Stepping forward, Dru tentatively pressed her lips against Lirha's, keeping hold of the Captain's wrist.

Closing her eyes again, the captain gently returned the kiss, one which sent a flood of emotions surging through her body. Several long seconds passed before Lirha finally pulled back and let out a delightful sigh, one which expressed her emotions and release of tension. Not saying a word, Lirha put a hand on Dru's arm and stroked her bare skin affectionately.

Dru swayed slightly as she felt light headed, Lirha's touch on her arm the only thing keeping her from stumbling. Slowly she opened her eyes to look across at Lirha. Her lips still tingled from the sensation of being pressed against Lirha's. Slowly Dru lifted her fingers to her lips. "Aaaa...." Dru swallowed, trying to find words. "I think we need to take this slowly."

"I agree." she answered, though in reality she wanted nothing more than to take the counselor back to her bedroom for the evening. "We haven't even finished dinner." she said with a warm smile, then leaned forward to kiss Dru one last time before leading her back to the table.

Leaning into the second kiss, Dru softened her lips, becoming more accustomed to Lirha's feel and touch. This time around she felt a loss when Lirha pulled back and tugged her towards the table. Dru allowed herself to be lead while she tried to get her seances back.Slow and easy Dru...slow and easy

Lower herself back into her seat, Dru smiled shyly across at Lirha, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

For the next twenty minutes, the captain and counselor enjoyed each other's company as they finished their meals and drinks, even making it halfway through the sugar-laced cheesecake dessert. With her stomach full and a light buzz from the rum, Lirha placed her napkin on her plate to signal her surrender. "That was lovely, don't you think?" she asked Dru, wondering if she enjoyed the meal as much as she had.

Dru looked down at her plate in surprise, finding she had finished it all. She hadn't realised how much she was enjoying Lirha's company now that things were less strained between the two of them. They both realised they needed to take things slow and they had a long way to go yet but right now they were enjoying eachother's company. "It was extremely tasty, more so then I expected. I usually avoid spicy foods, I think you've converted me."

A big grin spread across Lirha's gold lips. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You should try some of the foods that Nesh cooks for herself. You wouldn't be able to taste or smell anything for days after taking a bite." she said, teasing Dru playfully. Standing up, she gathered empty plates from the table and brought them to the kitchen, depositing them in the sink to be cleaned later. When she was finished she returned to the dining room, this time taking a seat on the couch instead of the table and hoping that Dru would join her briefly before she left.

Dru tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, she hadn't realised how late it had gotten. Looking at Lirha on the couch, the counsellor bit her lip. Shrugging her shoulders slightly she figured she should use the time they have now as given the current mission, it might be difficult for them to find time to spend together soon. Dru tucked herself in against Lirha's side, just wanting to be close to her.

The taller Orion wrapped her arm around Dru's shoulder and pulled her close, resting her own head against hers. She sat quietly with the counselor, not saying a word but simply stroking her arm as they enjoyed each other's company.

[OFF]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

CMDR Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

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