Dinner is served...

Posted on Wed Nov 4th, 2015 @ 5:04pm by Captain Jack Solomon & Admiral Deela T'Lar

2,727 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 90 - The Great Relink
Location: T'Lars Quarters
Timeline: MD3 2000hrs

Jack was coming off his first shift as Asst Chief Engineer and he was happy to get home and to relax after a hard days work that had seen him on duty around the starbase.

He dropped his workbag on the sofa and unzipped his tunic as he headed over to the replicator. "Computer, Orange Juice, cold," he ordered. As he picked up the drink and took a sip, he noticed a waiting message for him on his desk PADD. Jack read the message and was pleasantly surprised that it was message from Deela inviting him to dinner.

He was a little surprised by this but responded back explaining he would be over soon that evening. Jack got himself freshened up and then on the way to her quarters, he stopped off on the promenade to pick up a bottle of red wine and white wine, not knowing which one she would prefer.

Moments later, Jack was stood outside her quarters, pressing the door chime...

Brandon excitedly ran to the door before Deela could stop him. When the door opened, he sighed, hung his head and walked away. Deela ruffled his hair a little as he passed by her, "Sorry. He thought you were someone else. Come in."

Jack looked a little confused as Della explained. "Oh, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything... I could always come back if the young man would prefer it?" He offered. He hadn't had a chance to meet her children but he also knew how disruptive new visitors were to children.

Jack looked at the young man and smiled at him. "You know, I don't bite. I'm quite a nice person really as your mum will happily confirm," he explained to him.

Brandon looked over at his mom. Deela pointed towards Jack as she mouthed the words, "go on". He walked up to him and looked up, "Hi."

Deela was working on her son's shyness but it was a slow process, "Paul Harrison is taking him to the holodeck for the first time. That is who he thought was at the door." Seconds later, the door chime rang again and Paul entered, "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that you had company." Paul gave Jack a nod.

Deela smiled, "Don't worry about it." Brandon was already waiting in outside the door, "Paul, Paul, come on." Paul sighed, "I'd better go before he takes off without me. I'll bring him back in the morning. Enjoy your evening." With that, Paul said his goodbyes and left.

Deela smiled at Jack then took the wine bottles from him, "Thank you." She set them down and moved towards the couch, and motioning to Jack to have a seat.

Jack took the seat offered and sat down on the couch next to Deela. "I'm sorry, I didn't bring any glasses with me, I wasn't sure which wine you would prefer... Or if you just wanted to talk," Jack inquired as he noticed Paul leave with Brandon. "So, what did you have you in mind for dinner? Its been a since I had dinner with company," he admitted.

Deep down Jack was happy to be spending the evening with some company. It made a nice change from his usual routine.

Deela got two glasses and brought them over and sat down, "Me too. I actually have dinner being delivered. Unfortunately, my cooking is not very good. I hope you like Italian."

Jack smiled as she mentioned ordering dinner and her cooking skills. "Don't worry, mine own cooking is as good as the nearest replicator," he offered, "I love Italian, its a good choice." After she set the glasses down, Jack decided to be a little forward and went ahead and opened a bottle of wine and poured them both a glass each.

"So, whats on your mind? I admit I thought you've looked a bit down of late, as if there's something bothering you, but then with the recent two missions back to back its been good to catch a breather," he commented.

"Am I that transparent?" She took a sip of her wine, "I have always been able to bounce back immediately when things go awry but lately, I've had problems doing it. Ever since Vincent died, I cannot seem to pull my emotions together. It is very unsettling to say the least." She drank some more of her wine, "Truth is, I just wanted to spend time with a familiar face. There is not many of those around anymore."

Jack nodded in agreement as he listened to her speak. The both of them had suffered a lot through loss and it was evident it was taking its toll. Jack took a sip from his glass.

"Its difficult trying to move on from the loss of a loved one and there comes a time where everybody needs a rock to anchor themselves so they can steady themselves," he explained, taking a further sip.

Jack thought about all of the friends and family he had lost over the years during his time on the Wildcat and The Essex and felt a tinge in him "I admit it seems that more and more we're losing good friends and close loved ones and these are times now that we should cherish and enjoy the company of those friends and family we have left," he explained, "After all, some of us aren't immortal... Although I'd like to think I'm going to live forever, this isn't the best job for that to happen," he chuckled to Deela.

Jack put his glass down for a moment and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm always happy to listen and talk."

Deela smiled, "I know you are and I thank you." She sat her glass down and sat back comfortably in her seat, "This last mission especially hit me hard. After the mission, when I came home, my kids were sleeping in my bed. I watched them for a while and I started thinking about those who died and it hit me. I don't even know if they had spouses or kids. I get to come home to my kids but they never will." She felt anger, "I hate the Borg as much as Gorn."

Jack could feel the pain and anguish falling from Deela and he could feel her point hit home. Lives were lost in the recent Borg mission and it was never easy recovering. "Take comfort in the fact that your children didnt have to suffer or endure that pain. They get to see you come home, thats true, but we're Starfleet officers and this is part of the job we do," Jack explained.

His own experience suffering at the hands of the Borg a few years back was always at the back of his mind but he was glad to be in one piece and having a second chance at life.

"What we can do is help and support those who have suffered by being supportive and ready to help or listen in any way we can. But take heart in the fact you have a reason to live in your two wonderful children," Jack admitted, "Your the lucky one in this as well, you have a legacy to look after and be proud of...that's something I don't think I'll ever see."

She didn't expect to hear that coming from him. He was a good looking man with a nice physique. Any woman would be lucky to have him, "Why would you say that? It is never too late to get married and have kids." That's what her and Vincent were planning to do before he died...have more kids.

Jack smiled at Deela before taking a sip of more wine. "My track record with women doesn't bode well. Two failed relationships on the Wildcat and watching my last lover being assimilated before my eyes sort of sets a precedent for me," he explained.

"I'm not looking for carefree fun anymore, I guess that my time has been more focused on getting my career back on track than looking for a partner... I don't know, maybe one day there could be but I just feel doomed," he finished with a chuckle.

"Doom, I know that feeling. My luck with husbands has not been any better. I think next time, I will live with the person instead." The chime rang, "Hmm, must be our dinner." Deela picked up her glass and answered the door and pointed them to the dinner table that was set up. She thanked him as he walked out. She then turned back to Jack, "I hope you're hungry." Deela stood next to the table and waited for him to join her.

"Mmmm, starving, this looks great!" he said. Jack walked over to Deela's chair and pulled it out for her, allowing her to sit. He then topped up her glass of wine and dished out some food onto her plate before going to his own seat, pouring a glass of wine and getting stuck into the wonderful dinner before them

"So from the sounds of things, you would prefer to a normal domestic relationship instead of marriage again, based on your previous experience and loss?" He asked. It seemed a safer option all round and one that he agreed with, but Jack could understand the doom feeling, sympathising with Deela on that. "Or maybe just some regular, comfortable company?"

"I want more than that but I am a little gun shy as they say. I suppose I have become superstitious. When both spouses die, it is hard not to. I never understood the concept until now." She dished herself some food and set it before her, "I would be open to exploring a relationship with someone." Deela took a bite of her food.

Jack took a bite from his meal and understood her point. It wasn't easy to move on when life had proven so difficult before for her to lose her last two husbands in such a way to death. But that hadn't stopped him trying to sort out his career and Deela was soneone he cared about, not just his senior officer or colleague.

"Thats fair enough. Baby steps are often the best way to find a way to regain your trust and feeling again. Doing something regular with friends," he paused, " or a friend can often help you regain a lost balance," he suggested before having an idea.

"How about we have dinner together on a regular basis? It could help the both of us unwind easier and get to spend some time together and also help you to rebuild that confidence over the shyness," he offered, "I'm not going anywhere..."

Deela smiled, "I would like that as long as you do not mind eating with kids too. It could help Brandon as well. He is not very social when it comes to adults. I would like to change that." Her position on the base didn't leave much time to do things with the kids or friends.

Jack smiled at her answer. "That's no problem for me, I love kids and I'm happy to have dinner here with you alone or with the children," he answered and then took a sip from his wineglass. He felt a sudden shining light inside of himself, a sudden strike of happiness within himself.

"Who knows, maybe we can work that shyness out of you as well... Stick with me, I'll work with you."

Deela chuckled, "And maybe I can help get you over your feeling of doom. After all, my first position in Starfleet was Counselor." She didn't like the position so she went for command. She realized that it sounded like she implied he needed that kind of help although she wasn't sensing any negative emotional response. She tried to quickly rectify it as she grabbed her glass of wine, "Not that you need one." She took a large sip.

Jack stepped up from the table and poured her some more wine as well as topping up his own glass before leaning in close to Deela. "Although as Counselors go, Im pretty lucky I have such a good looking one to talk to," he whispered to her before returning to his seat. Jack took another mouthful of food and savoured the taste.

"You can also cook again as well! This is amazing," He added.

He made her smile more, "I wish I could take the credit. This is so much better than replicated food. But I have to admit that having the right company makes the food taste better as well."

Jack walked over with his glass and plate and then moved his chair closer to hers. "Good food, Good company... Who knows, this could be the beginning of something wonderful eh?" He said, raising his glass to Deela's. He was beginning to relax a little now and the evening was becoming more enjoyable.

She touched her glass to him, "I believe so." She took another sip of her wine, "I must admit that I was worried when Toral nabbed you. If we had not been successful in our rescue attempt, we would not be having this wonderful dinner and conversation. And I would be sitting here having a conversation with two kids and a tiger." Deela knew that she would be kicking herself for the rest of her life if he had been killed.

"I have to admit that I'm rather thankful that you and the others were able to rescue me from Toral," he admitted to her. "Because of that, we're both lucky to be here together, having this chance to talk and share each others company," he said. He took a sip of his wine and smiled. "I will also admit that during my time as Toral's prisoner... I... missed you..." He paused for a moment.

"I might have been there with Talia as his prisoner, looking to clear my name, but I also missed you more than the others during that time... I hope thats not too forward, its something I've kept to myself and despite the lovely wine we're sharing, please don't think of that as a drunken admission," Jack said. That final admission took a lot for him to speak about.

Deela took a deep breath and exhaled before speaking, "Why do you think I asked you here? Being part Vulcan and part Betazoid, there are perks." She had felt a connection that day he joined her on the Essex after Vincent had died.

"I wanted to make sure that it was not wishful thinking." It was more than that. She wasn't sure of anything as of late. There weren't many, if at all, Vulcan/Betazoid people and not much is known when it comes to her physiology.

Jack felt an instant rush of comfort as she explained why she'd invited him over and let a small sigh of relief go. He then put his glass down and then took Deela's hand in his gently. "Okay, so what do your Vulcan/Betazoid senses suggest we do from here then? There's a similar level of feeling for each other from each of us... How do you suggest we proceed?" He asked gently.

Knowing that she felt something for him helped his confidence a great deal. It had been a long time since Jack had been in a relationship and he was beginning to find his feet again. Being with Deela had made him feel all the more comfortable.

"We should get to know each other on a more personal level first. Like tonight, we discovered a few things but there are a great deal of things we do not know. For example, what activities you like to do on your time off, what your favorite foods are or if you are a morning person or a night owl. Things like that." She added, "You know, the little things."

Jack nodded in agreement with Deela. "I completely agree and I can't wait to find out more about...and to share more about me," he agreed.

Deela smiled, "Good. I'm looking forward to it." She stood up, "Shall we move to the couch then?" She still had a few hours before the everyone got home. Jack nodded and helped clear away dinner before moving over to the couch. "So, where were we..."

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