Dinner Date
Posted on March 17th, 2000 by Chloe Tiernee and Allen Zinthys

After his shift had ended, Allen Zinthys stood in the turbolift, heading to Sickbay to meet up with Chloe. It seemed there was always some big thing going on the ship and there was never time to spend time with each other. It was important, especially since he got back, to get the relationship that had the potential of taking place, on the right track. He stepped off the turbolift and into sickbay, glancing around, his eyes searching for Chloe.

Chloe Tiernee sat in her office, sifting through what seemed like endless piles of reports. PADDs covered her desk and was almost acting like a fort, to which Chloe was a prisoner. She let out a heavy sigh. She loved her work, but the desk stuff could be pretty dry.

Allen saw her through the clear window of her office and walked in, resting his hands heavily on her desk, “Don’t sigh like that. It’s very unbecoming of you.”

She blinked, glancing up. An instant smile crossed her face as she looked up, “Sorry, I can’t help it. I’ve been doin’ these blasted things for hours.”

Allen smiled at her thick Irish accent, “Care for a break, then?”

“Yes .., ” she said, glancing at her chronometer, “I only have a few more minutes of official duty anyway. I’m sure no one will mind if I leave a bit early. Did you have something in mind?” she stood up, stretching a bit.

Allen watched her, his mind wandering to her body, “Uhhh … ummm … no?”

“Alright, how about …,” she lifted her hand, letting her long blondish hair flow down free, cascading down her back, “… dinner at my place? Replicated. If that’s okay with you.”

“I’ve got no problem with that. Replicator food is almost as good as the real thing. Besides, I’m used to it at this point. And I think it’ll taste better with you around.”

Chloe chuckled, moving over to him and taking his hand, “Well, let’s go then.”

They walked out of her office, out of sickbay and towards the turbolift. She glanced at him as they walked, “How was your shift?”

“Oh, it was more interesting than yours. We found some odd ship, apparently really old, but that’s for the Captain and historians aboard this ship.”

“Not much into history, are you?” she asked, as they stepped into the lift, then murmured her deck number.

He laughed lightly, “No, I’m much more into the here and now. Bunch of old stuff … it doesn’t thrill me, ” he looked at her closely, ” No .. I’m much more into the new stuff.”

Her gazed fixed on him, subtly looking him over, “So am I. The present is much more interesting.”

He felt like little needles were going all over his body when she gazed at him, “Aye, it is.”

The lift stopped, and they stood there a moment, looking at each other. Chloe blinked, noticing that it had stopped and the door was sitting open, “Oh! We are here, ” she left his hand go and stepped out, so he could follow her to her quarters, “It’s just down this way.”

Allen followed right behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at him, flashing a smile and then stopped in front of a door, punching the security code in on the panel. He grinned at her, and leaned against the wall next to the door, waiting. The computer bleeped and the doors slid open, “C’mon in, ” she said, stepping in, “Computer, lights to 70%.”

Allen followed in after her, noting her quarters decor only briefly, before the light brought his eyes back to her. Chloe turned to face him, standing in the middle of her living space, “Well … here it is. My quarters.”

“It is nice, ” he answered, looking at her sparkling eyes and having a mischievous glint in his own, “So, what’s for dinner?”

“Hmm, ” she walked over to the replicator, “..what do you feel like having? What’s your favorite food?”

“I’m feeling something … Irish.”

She laughed a little, “Alright, I can definitely deal with that. You would love my mother’s cooking, ” she stated, pressing the panel’s buttons to program the menu.

“Yeah, I probably would. She seems to have done pretty well with what I’ve seen so far.”

She smiled, a slight blush on her face, picking up a plate. She brought the plate of bread-like things over to him and handed it to him, “Thank you … here’s an appetizer.”

He looked at the bread curiously, “Oh … might I ask what it is?”

“It’s soda bread. It’s like .. sweet bread. It’s very good. Try some, ” she encouraged, walking back over to the replicator to fetch the rest of their meal, “You can just sit at the table over there. It’s small, but it works.”

He took a bite of the soda bread and took the plate over to the small table, taking a seat, thinking how intimate the area was, he grinned wickedly, “Small spaces are fine with me.”

“I hope you like this, ” she said, lifting up two steaming plates of food and walked over, placing one in front of him.

“Well, if you pushed those buttons, I’m sure I will.”

Laughing, she retrieved two glasses of water and took a seat next to him, “You are so humorous, Allen. I really love that about you, ” she paused, ” ..anyway, your dinner is lamb stew and stuffed marrow squash. It’s delicious. My mother’s own recipe. As best as a replicator can imitate it at least.” She rested her chin on her hand, and gazed at him, to see his reaction to the food.

Allen watched her, dipping his spoon into the thick stew and brought the spoon to his mouth the sip the hot broth. His eyes, however, were focused on the woman next to him and he missed, managing to get it all over the top half of his uniform, “AHH! [TOS], that’s HOT!”

Chloe blinked and started laughing hysterically, though she was desperately trying to sound concerned at the same time, Are you … are you ..” she was having a hard time talking due to her laughter, ” okay?” She grabbed her napkin and moved to wipe at his chest, to clean him up. Allen took his own napkin and began wiping off.

“Thanks for your concern.”

With a big grin on her face, “I’m sorry .. it was just, I guess your first impression of Irish food won’t be … pleasurable.”

“Well, I don’t know. You’ll be a part of it, so, that will help …. Could we lower the temperature in here a little? I’m really hot now, ” he grinned.

She gently wiped some stew off his chin, gazing at him, “Sure .. computer, lower temperature 8 degrees.”

He looked up at her looking at him, and realized what was going on, “Uhh .. thanks.”

Giving his chin another gentle wipe, she leaned back in her chair, smiling lightly, “Your welcome … want you give your stew another try? I’m sure it’s not as hot anymore.”

“No .. no it probably isn’t, ” he looked at the stew and took another small spoonful and got it to his lips successfully, “This is very good ..”

I’m glad you like it, ” she said, taking a bite of her own with no incident, “I wanted to have a pleasant evening with you ..”

He settled into his chair more, smiling, “It is nice .. I just … messed it up a little. But it’s fixable.”

Shaking her head, Chloe rested her hand on his knee and patted it softly, You didn’t mess it up at all. I’m having a wonderful time with you.”

“Really, I didn’t?” he asked, smiling at the touch.

“Of course not, so you had a little spill. Could’ve happened to anyone.” She gave him a reassuring look. He smiled at her.

“Thanks.”

She brought another spoonful to her lips and took a breath, “I’m … I’m very glad you are back. I really am.”

He rested his hand on hers, “And I’m glad to be back.”

She leaned over, looking into his eyes a moment, then placing a kiss on his lips. His eyes opened wide in shock, not expecting the sudden movement. Chloe reached her other hand to his cheek, kissing very softly. Allen reached his hand up and stroked her wrist, just beginning to return the kiss. She pulled back, just a little, breathing softly, but close enough for him to feel her breath and gazed at him. He stared back, unsure of how to react. Her finger brushed his cheek, “You know, ” she whispered, “I care for you. I care for you deeply. I think more than I have for anyone.”

He smiled and nodded, not wanting to interrupt her.

She laughed a little nervously, “It’s a little .. scary. But, I like the feeling. I feeling of … you. The idea of you, us … does this make any sense to you?”

“Yes. Strangely enough, it does. I’m not entirely sure of what I’m feeling. But I know that it’s something special for you.”

She moved from her seat, and slipped onto his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she settled, “I feel something special for you too, very special. And maybe I can … we can … figure it all out.”

Allen hugged her neck, laying his arms on her shoulders, “Think that would be a very good thing to do.”

Chloe gave his nose a rub with hers and closed her eyes, feeling very comfortable in his arms and wanting to stay there for a long time. The stayed in each others arms, enjoying the silence and enjoying each other.