The Best Part of Waking Up

Posted on Sun Feb 26th, 2017 @ 12:02pm by Lady Catherine Waddington & Commander Andrew Knight

Mission: Another Day in Paradise
Location: Residential Complex: Lady Catherine's Suite
Timeline: MD2, 1100 hours

=====Waddington Residential Suite=====

The bottle of single malt sat on the kitchen counter along with a small note in Ferguson's neat script.

Poppet,
Took the liberty of setting this out. Thought considering the last 24 hours, this might hit the spot.
Ferguson

Catherine chuckled. She had never been a whiskey drinker but she got Ferguson's hint and rummaged through the boxes for the bottle of Sherry she was sure he had packed and poured herself a glass and sat reading a book.


=====Knight Residential Suite=====

Drew woke up from a deep slumber in a strange bed and place. He looked about the dimly lit room in confusion for a moment, then the events of the day before came rushing back to him. He sat up and vigorously rubbed his face. He rose and placed his feet into a pair of slippers on the floor beside the bed. He crossed to the door and went out into the common area. The monitor on the wall was flashing, indicating a message. He stepped over and activated the message board. He read a quck note from Ashley saying how she was spending the day at the medical complex helping Cara get things sorted out over there. He stepped over to the replicator and ordered up a coffee.

=A=Unable to process request. Replicator services for this residential unit have been temporarily deactivated.=A=

"Great!" He blinked trying to shake the lingering sleep from his eyes. He looked about, his eyes finally tracking to the suites' exit. He really did not want to impose on his neighbor, but he felt an overpowering need for a cup of coffee. Before he knew it he was across the hall ringing the chime to Catherine's door still clad in just a black t-shirt, black sweat pants and his slippers.


=====Waddington Residential Suite=====

Catherine placed War and Peace on the side and walked to the door. "Hey Drew. Fancy coffee or you gonna be of Ferguson's persuasion and prefer a single malt?" she asked.

"Coffee. Please."Drew cautiously stepped in to Catherine's suite. He bore an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry to impose upon you. I just woke up and the replicator in our suite is offline."

"Nonsense we are neighbors." she smiled as she padded to the kitchen area. "Not sure where Ferguson is. He was gone when I woke." She called

"Ashley was gone too. She went to help Dr. Nichols at the Medical Center." Drew looked down at the glass and book setting on the small end table. He realized he must have interrupted Catherine just having a quiet, relaxing moment. "I may not be imposing, but it does look like I did interrupt."

"Nonsense I was reading for want of something to do."

Drew noticed the books title. "Not sure I would call Tolstoy light reading Lady Catherine." He stepped over to a shelf and looked at titles of the score or so leather bound. He cautiously pulled down the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. "Shakespeare? Yours or Mister Price's?"

Catherine smiled and said nothing

Drew returned the book to the shelf and turned to Catherine as she returned. He gave a gracious nod of his head as he accepted the coffee mug. "Thank you." He took a sip and felt many times better. He smiled as he emphasized his appreciation again. "Thank you very much!"

"Your welcome. Would you like to come sit?"

"Love too." He stepped over to the couch and took a seat, expecting she would return to her chair.

She sat on the sofa, her legs tucked up under her and watched him.

Drew had closed his eyes and was just breathing in the heady aroma of his coffee, so distracted he didn't even register Catherine sitting down on the couch too. He took another sip and savored the taste. He finally opened his eyes and noticed Catherine on the end of the couch watching him. His cheeks flushed and he felt like a nervous school boy with the prettiest girl in class taking the desk next to him. "Uh..." He reached up to pat his hair. "Do I have bed head or something? I did just wake up."

Catherine shook her head with a smile.

Drew nervously shifted on the couch as he experienced both waves of heat and chills course through him. He knew he could be courageous in the most dire of combat situations, but sitting here with the stunningly beautiful Catherine, he felt all his courage fleeing out of him. He wasn't even sure what it was he should be afraid of. His voice wavered slightly as he spoke. "May I ask what it is then?"

"You look really rather adorable blushing. Would you like something to eat?" she asked rising with the grace of a mountain cat.

Drew's breath caught as he watched her rise from the couch and proceed to the small kitchen area. His face now turning a deep crimson as he found himself unable to look away from her.

"Is the heating on too high?" she asked sweetly. "You look awfully flushed"

Drew finally remembered to breathe again when she looked back at him. He blinked a couple of times as if his brain was doing a soft reboot. Then he swallowed hard as if that would help him find his voice. He could only nod his head at first, but then he set his coffee mug down on the table and found his voice. "Yes, thank you, uh...and I think I might like that single malt now too."

"Certainly." She smiled as she moved to pour the glass of malt whiskey. "It does help lower body temperature."

Drew looked down at his coffee mug and muttered to himself for a moment. "Hopefully heart rates too." His was beating at a highly elevated rate, or so it seemed, and in such a manner as to make him think it would break straight out of his rib cage. He rose from the couch, retrieving his coffee mug to return to the kitchen replicator for recycling.

"I could call the Doctor if you are experiencing heart palpitations." Catherine offered.

Drew placed the coffee mug in the replicator and pressed the recycle button. He then turned to the approaching Catherine and grasped the rock glass with the single malt whiskey, his fingers lingering over hers as he did. This isn't like you Drew. You are not one to hold back, so don't start now. He thought. He looked into Catherine's eyes and decided to be completely honest. "I can tell you with absolute certainty Cara doesn't have a cure for this. My flushed appearance, racing heart, and several other symptoms are not caused by a medical condition or reaction to environmental factors. Your grace and beauty are." There, it was out on the table so to speak. Whatever happened next, at least he was honest with Catherine.

"Grace and beauty are a gift of birth. I would suggest you get to know me myself before you make such statements. It has been a rather trying day Drew, why do we not simply see where things go and not rush into things?" She suggested with a smile.

Drew nodded, a sense of quiet relief from his school boy infatuation now transforming into a more mature desire to find out what lay beneath surface of one Lady Catherine Waddington, Federation Ambassador. "I agree. I would like that very much. If just to become friends if that is what you would prefer." The flush of his cheeks began to fade...somewhat...as did the the rapid beating of his heart to something more normal. He always did consider candor with those he interacted with to be the best tack to sail.

"Let time tell. Now have you eaten?"

Drew shook his head. "No, not since just before going to sleep earlier this afternoon."

"You mean yesterday afternoon it is now 1145 hours."

Drew just stared at her for a moment. "You mean as in the like the next morning?" I've been asleep for nearly 18 hours! He thought to himself.

"Oh a week last Thursday. So would you like Feta salad? I believe Ferguson made some up."

Drew just nodded his head, to stunned to believe he'd slept uninterrupted for 18 hours.

The door suddenly opened and two dark haired women stood in the doorway. One dead on six foot tall and the other about an inch and a half taller than Catherine.

"There you are Cat. We been looking all over for you and I think I pissed Fergie off... again." The taller of the two women stated with an irrepressible grin.

Catherine swallowed a chuckle. "Drew please permit me to introduce Tazanna Wilcox and Meredith Thompson. My securty detail and pilot...and the bane of dear Ferguson's life." She stated.

Drew stepped forward and shook hands with both of the ladies. "Pleasure to meet you both." He cast his eyes down at his attire; Starfleet issue undershirt and sweatpants, plus his civilian slippers and shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry, I woke up to find my replicator was out of service. Lady Catherine was kind enough to provide me with a much needed coffee."

"Well least you are covered." Tazanna grinned as Meredith walked in a circle around him.

"Hmm" the taller woman muttered as she looked up at her two female companions then grinned wickidly "O, ya byl prosto interesno, yesli eti ocharovatel'nyye yamochki na yego shchekakh byli zhe na yego prikladom." she said in fluent Russian causing Tazanna to chuckle and Catherin to blush red. Meredith enjoyed making Catherine blush. Even if the other party did not understand.

Drew figured Meredith had said something about Catherine and himself. He felt color return to his cheeks, but knew it was probably a good natured jibe. He let out a nervous laugh of his own and looked at Catherine. "Do I want to know what she just said?"

Tazanna shrugged "Wraith was simply wondering if those adorable dimples on your cheeks were the same on your butt?" she said. "Bilbo!" she called the four gathered waited a moment before they heard the sounds of the droid dog bounding in. "Heloboy." Tazanna chuckled and fussed the dog. Meredith, or Wraith as she was called grinned completely unremorsefully.

"Welcome to the terrible twosome." Catherine sighed. "The result of having a Russian, Maltese and Italian Godparents in a spec ops and intel family." She said as way of explanation.

Drew nodded slowly as he processed the new information regarding the new arrivals. He decided discretion was the better option at the moment and retreat was in order. "Ah, well, I should probably get cleaned up, dressed and check in with General Mitchell. Pleasure to meet you ladies." He glanced at Catherine. "Rain check on that lunch?"

"Sure." She smiled.

Drew nodded a final time and beat a hasty retreat back to the safety of his own suite across the hall.

"Lunch?" Wraith raised her eyebrow. "That was quick." She commented.

"He is simply being polite." Catherine defended

"Ahh don't sweat it." Tazanna grinned looking up "I'll check him out before then." she said with a clam air about her.

Catherine was shocked. "You'll do no such thing." she said boiling a kettle "He is the XO of this base. Therefore he must be a good person." Wraith chuckled as she sat on a bar stool "Cathy you are so innocent bless you."

"Co's and XO's are above reproach." she stated "Name any that were not."

"Teach" Tazanna remarked. Wraith moved her head from side to side. Then nodded

"Hey was obsessed with Jaydra Malone." Wraith allowed.

"And mentally compromised!" Catherine shot back.

"Kytach Delaxyn." Wraith remarked

"She was a coward and his retreat was more tactical good sense." Tazanna observed. "Jason bloody Tigan." she stated with a scowl

"No his an ass but that's personal not professional. Though he did train as a spook so asshole could be in the training." Catherine disagreed. "Anyone else?"

"Briker." the terrible twosome said in unison.

"So your candidates are from our parents days. absolutely not!" Catherine said. "What would Ferguson think of this?"

"That we saved him a job." Tazanna remarked as the door opened. "Lets ask him."

Ferguson stepped inside and placed several parcels on the table next to the entrance. He faced the trio of women as he pulled a hankerchief out the breast pocket of his suit and wiped his brow. "Ask me what?"

"Whether or not all CO's and XO's are above reproach. " Tazanna said looking up from the maintenance she was doing on Bilbo "Plus the fact he CLEARLY likes her."

Ferguson rose an eyebrow at Tazanna's comments and looked to Catherine. "If a Commanding Officer and his Second behave with honor and integrity than yes." He then addressed the second comment with one of his own. "I gather Luftenant Commander Knight paid you a visit Lady Catherine."

"His replicator did not work. He simply was after coffee." Catherine defended herself.

"Who had the Scotch?" Tazanna asked.

Catherine blushed hotly. "He did."

"In his jammies?" Wraith teased.

Tazanna was trying not to laugh.

Ferguson shook his head and cast a disapproving look at the terrible twosome. He gestured to the parcels. "I picked some things up for you two, but now I think I should take them back to distribution."

"No problem to me." Tazanna shrugged as she finished working on the droid. "Bilbo came out well of this adventure." she commented.

"Taz is stll right we should check the X out just in case your father would have conniptions if he turned out to be a Rommie lover." Wraith pointed out

Ferguson gestured for Tazanna and Meredith to join him next to the small table by the door. He handed each of them two parcels and then pointed to a door. "That room has two sets of beds and dressers. I suggest you unpack and leave Lady Catherine to rest. I will prepare luncheon for us all while you get settled."

The twosome nodded and vanished. One tall dark haired female and one short. Inseparable since childhood and always together.

Ferguson watched Tazanna and Meredith disappear into their new room. He crossed to the small kitchenette area and began using the replicator to prepare the noon meal. He did gaze at Catherine and sighed. "Those two will be the death of me yet, but...they too believe that Mister Knight does fancy you."

"They mean well and father was good friends with their parents." She smiled. "He did say that Death and Reaper were a little wild and well Taz grew up around spec ops so we shouldn't be surprised I guess."

Ferguson paused in his food prep and fixed Catherine with one of his fatherly gazes. "Question you need to answer for yourself Poppet.... Do you fancy him as well?"

"Oh Ferguson!" she said exasperated. "I barely know the man. He seems nice. but like I told him he needs to get to know me, not just how I look. The same goes for me. I need to get to know him it is not the 1800's after all."

Ferguson nodded approvingly and returned to his food prep. "So we are agreed no matchmaking?"