Skyport Virgo 1 - Refuge (10 page)

"Quinn. You?"

"Laleh."

"Nice name," Quinn said, glancing down at her. "So what's a gorgeous civvie like you doing on this ship?"

"Spare me," Laleh muttered.

Quinn barked with laughter. "Can't blame me for trying."

They paused outside the elevator and waited for the car to arrive. Quinn helped her inside. Laleh shifted her weight off of him and used the wall for support, leaning back and lifting her pulsing foot.

"Sick bay," Quinn announced loudly. The elevator dinged and began to ascend. He stared intently in her direction.

Laleh frowned under his scrutiny. "What?"

Quinn shrugged. "Just trying to work out the odds of slamming into one of, what, a dozen civilians on board this ship. Can't be that high."

"I wouldn't have been prowling around the staff quarters if those navigational screens weren't worthless," Laleh grumbled. "I mean, seriously, what is the deal with those things?"

"They're pretty useless," Quinn agreed. "Spacefleet personnel have to memorize the schematics of the ships they're assigned to so I'm sure the barest amount of thought was put into designing the navigational screens for civilians. These ships aren't geared toward people like you. They're set up for people like me."

"Fair enough," Laleh said. She studied his patch again. "So what do you do?"

"Omega Force," he said, pride tingeing his voice. Apparently her cluelessness played out on her face. "Special forces," he explained. "We do the dirty work."

"Oh." Laleh was impressed. "Sounds dangerous."

"It is but it's more exhilarating than you could ever imagine."

"I'll take your word for it."

The elevator glided to a halt. Quinn was at her side in an instant, his arm around her waist as he helped her from the chrome box. They emerged into a hallway bustling with activity. Laleh recognized the green colored uniforms as those of the medical branch.

"You never said what it is that you do," Quinn said as they waited to be triaged.

"Sociocultural xeno-anthropologist," Laleh replied, her eyes scanning for a nurse or doctor.

"No shit?" Quinn's awe was evident.

Laleh shrugged casually. "It sounds a lot more interesting than it is."

"Sounds like brain trust territory," Quinn said. "Definitely not for the likes of me."

Laleh sized him up. "I'd hazard a guess you're much more intelligent than you let on since your chosen field favors brawn over brains. Of course," she added knowingly, "you and I both know a job like yours requires intense mental agility."

He smiled crookedly. "I think you and I are going to be good friends, Laleh."

She laughed. "We'll see."

A familiar face came into view as Dr. Karp, Pike's friend and the same doctor who had treated her bruised face and given her a physical, emerged from an exam room. His attention flicked from the touch screen tablet in his hand to her face and then down again.

As if suddenly recognizing her, Dr. Karp's head snapped up again. "Laleh?"

"Hi, Dr. Karp," she greeted, extending her hand.

He gripped it in a firm handshake. He appeared to notice she held her right foot awkwardly. "What happened to your toe?"

"Me." Quinn piped up from beside her. "We had a collision on Deck Twelve."

"I see," Dr. Karp murmured. "Well, let's get you into an exam room, Mrs. Grayson."

He gestured to a nearby door and walked away from them.

As Quinn stooped down to help her, he frowned. "You're married?"

Laleh remembered she wasn’t wearing a wedding band. "Yes. Just yesterday actually."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks." But Laleh could tell he was anything but happy for her and wondered why. And then it hit her. He'd been operating under the assumption she was single. Laleh quickly recalled their interaction to make sure she hadn't done anything to lead him on.

She couldn't remember anything vaguely improper.

"So who's the lucky man?"

"Pike Grayson."

Quinn stopped abruptly. "The admiral?"

Laleh nodded. "The very one."

"Well, I'll be damned."

She found that an odd reply but said nothing. Quinn helped her onto the exam table and left the small room while Dr. Karp and a nurse examined her purpling toe. It wasn't a bad enough injury to warrant any of the super therapies they carried on board the ship, so she had to do with a localized pain injection while they reset the bone. She received another dose of tingling anti-swelling, anti-bruise gel and a toe brace filled with a squishy pad soaked in a nail rejuvenating solution.

While the nurse searched out a pair of temporary shoes, Dr. Karp made notations in her chart. "You know, Laleh," he said, "I just realized I forgot to offer you a contraceptive at our visit the other day. I was so hurried to get your physical completed it slipped my mind."

"Oh," Laleh murmured, suddenly realizing she hadn't given the matter any thought.

Remembering Pike's promise about their upcoming evening, Laleh figured she should take care of business now. "What are my options?"

"Well," Dr. Karp sat back, "I can't for the life of me remember whether or not Pike has scrotal blocks."

Laleh's cheeks felt hot. "I wouldn't know. We haven't discussed his, um, well."

Dr. Karp chuckled. "I see. Well—you've got a few choices. If you want long-term protection, we could do an implant, but it wouldn't be effective for a week or so. For immediate protection and little to no inconvenience, you can opt between a pill, patch or a vaginal ring."

The idea of messing with a flexible ring didn't appeal to her. "Tell me about the pill and the patch."

"You apply the patch once a week for half an hour. You take the pill once a week.

Both are incredibly effective and provide complete protection within three hours of application or ingestion. They'll also allow you to skip your period for six months at a time. We'll send an automatic reminder to your transmitter so you won't forget take your dose," he added.

Laleh weighed her options. "I'll do the pill."

Dr. Karp nodded. "Wait right here and I'll bring you the prescription."

Fifteen minutes later, Laleh had taken her first dose of birth control. A courier would deliver the remainder of her six month prescription as well as a pain killer to her quarters.

She also wore the ugliest pair of orange orthopedic clogs imaginable. When she stepped out of the exam room, she hadn't expected to see Quinn waiting for her. He glanced at her feet and made a face. She sighed. "Yes. I know. They're hideous."

"Yeah. They are," Quinn agreed. "But, hey, at least you're walking without a limp."

"Small consolation," Laleh groused.

Quinn laughed and fell into step beside her. "So where to now?"

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" She didn't want to get him in any trouble.

"Not really," Quinn replied. "I'm something of an independent operator."

"Oh."

"Where were you headed before our crash?"

"Mess hall," Laleh said. "I'm starving."

"Want to join me for lunch?"

Laleh shrugged. "Sure."

Quinn laughed and punched the elevator button. "Gee, don't sound so excited."

Laleh couldn't help but chuckle. As they stepped into the elevator, she decided a broken toe was a small price to pay for a new friend.

* * * *

Anxious to see how her morning had gone, he'd sent a message to her transmitter hours ago arranging a lunch date in their quarters. He hadn't received a reply one way or the other but had gone ahead with his plans, hoping she'd simply been busy with the orientation. Staring at the two warming containers sitting on their dining table, Pike now had to wondering if she was ignoring him. That thought didn't sit well with him.

Hunger gnawed at his belly. He was expected back on the bridge in twenty minutes.

Even if Laleh flitted through the door in the next minute or so, they'd be hard pressed to enjoy their lunch in leisure. With a heavy sigh, Pike sat down and lifted the cover on his lunch. The tantalizing aroma of his traditional deployment lunch tickled his nose. A juicy ribeye steak, pile of steak fries, and steamed baby carrots. His stomach growled with anticipation.

Pike practically inhaled his meal. His plate clean, he tidied up the dining table and moved Laleh's lunch tray into the refrigerator, switching off the warming mechanism that kept her food hot. He finished his glass of iced tea and plunked it in the sink. For a moment, Pike considered leaving Laleh a note but his annoyance got the better of him. It was petty to be irked with her over something so small but he couldn't help it.

His mood dark, Pike left their quarters and headed to the elevator at the end of the hall. He stepped back when the doors opened, surprised to see Karp trying to exit. "Doc."

"Grayson!" Karp grinned as he stepped off the elevator. "I was just heading to your quarters."

"Oh?"

Karp held out a small box. "Your wife's prescriptions."

Pike frowned and accepted the box. "Is Laleh ill?"

"She came by the sick bay about an hour ago with a rather nasty broken toe. She was on her way to the mess hall, so I told her I'd send up her prescriptions."

Pike felt like a cad. "How did she break her toe?"

"Collided with an Omega on the crew deck apparently."

What the hell was she doing down there?

"You said she was headed to the mess hall?"

Karp nodded. "Probably still there, if you hurry."

Pike clapped his friend's arm and hopped into the elevator. It was a short trip down to the mess hall. Upon the entering the hall, he scanned for Laleh. The place was bustling with activity as hundreds of the ship's crew moved through the various lines in search of a meal to satisfy their tastes. He could barely hear over the raucous crowds and wondered how he would ever find her.

As he moved through the crowded aisles, crew members jumped up from their seats to salute. Pike quickly put them at ease and continued moving forward. His gaze flicked from table to table, face to face. Just as he began to despair of finding her, Pike spotted the cerulean blue and inky black fabric of her dress. Relief flooded him as he hurried to the corner table.

Pike frowned as he watched Laleh reach over and scoop her spoon through a bowl of pudding on another tray. His gaze snapped to the owner of the tray. Black uniform.

Omega patch. Young. Lean. Handsome.

Pike's stomach churned as Laleh laughed at something the Omega said. Jealousy surged through his veins at the sight of Laleh—his wife—giggling and sharing dessert with another man. His hand tightened around the box as he strode up to the table. It was all he could do not to knock the spoon out of the Omega officer's hand.

Sensing his presence, Laleh glanced up and smiled. "Pike!"

He couldn't understand it but that sweet smile pierced right through his angry shell.

The need to stake his claim, to kiss her right there in front of the entire mess hall, overwhelmed him. Pike mastered the urge and nodded in her direction instead. "Laleh."

Her lunch mate rose and saluted. "Admiral Pike, sir."

Pike glanced at the insignia on the man's patch. "Petty Officer."

Laleh seemed to notice the hard edge to his voice. She stood, shifting her weight to the left, and put a calming hand on his arm. "Quinn and I had a little run-in when I was lost earlier. He took me to the sick bay and then helped me find the mess hall." She turned to her companion and smiled. "He's been really helpful."

"I'm sure he was," Pike replied dryly. Understanding flashed in the other man's eyes.

"Pike." Laleh spoke softly, her expression on the verge of embarrassment.

Quinn met his steady gaze. "Just thought I'd step up to the plate, sir. It was obvious Laleh hadn't been adequately prepared for ship life."

Pike bristled at the insinuation he'd just dumped Laleh on the ship without any concern for her welfare. Not wanting to be drawn into a war of words, Pike turned his attention to Laleh. "Are you ready to head back to our quarters?"

Laleh nodded. "Just let me clean up my tray."

Quinn slid over and grabbed her tray. "I've got it."

"Thanks, Quinn."

"No problem, Laleh. I'll see you around?" Quinn shot a challenging gaze at Pike.

"Definitely," Laleh replied, her voice bright.

Pike gritted his teeth but said nothing. Laleh slipped her arm through his and allowed him to lead her away. As she rocked awkwardly against his side, he remembered her injury. He cast a glance at the orange clogs on her feet and slowed his pace as they crossed the mess hall toward the elevator bank.

"That must get so tiring," Laleh said as they stepped inside an elevator. "Having all those people standing up and saluting you," she clarified.

"I don't want you fraternizing with the crew," Pike stated as the doors closed.

Laleh stiffened and pulled away from him. Those bright blue eyes widened with surprise. "What?"

He knew he was being ridiculous but he couldn't stop himself. "I don't want you having lunch and hanging out with those guys."

"Those guys? I was having lunch with one man. A very nice one, I might add. We had a great discussion about my field of study."

"Nice?" Pike scoffed. "Trust me, Laleh. I know his type. All he cares about is finding the quickest way into your pants. If that means sitting around, listening to you talk about your thesis, he'll muscle through the boredom."

Laleh recoiled. "Wow, Pike, why don't you tell me how you really feel about my boring work."

He silently cursed his stupid remark. "That's not what I meant, Laleh."

"Funny because that's exactly what it sounded like."

Knowing he couldn't talk his way out this
faux pas
, Pike changed the subject. "He broke your toe."

"On accident," Laleh snapped back. "It's not like he was lurking in the shadows looking for a toe to stomp."

"What were you even doing down there?"

"I got lost. Those stupid navigational screens don't work."

"Why didn't you just ask someone for directions?"