A Dinner Celebration

Posted on Tue Feb 16th, 2010 @ 8:56am by Commodore Samantha York & Colonel Damon Raine

1,490 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: A New Home
Location: Starbase Typhon
Timeline: Current

ON

Damon and Sam left the meeting with Commodore James a little bemused. It has been... interesting.

Sam wasn't quite ready to head back to the Orion after the events on Tiberius X and the promotion. "Do you want to stay on the Starbase and have dinner?"

Damon smiled and turned to his companion. "Sound's good, especially since the lounge is still a ruin on the Orion. Besides,†He nudged her with his shoulder "I've never gone on a date with a Captain before."

Sam gave him a cheeky grin. "Neither have I. I hear there are some interesting restaurants here. What are you in the mood for, Captain Raine?"

He grinned before giving way to a thoughtful look. "I'm thinking something nice, classy. As for food, I could go for some fresh pasta. What do you think?"

"I think fresh pasta sounds wonderful."

They got a guest room where they could clean up and change into more appropriate clothes, then headed back to the promenade to find a classy Italian restaurant that had fresh pasta. It didn't take long before they found Alfonso's.

It was a slow night for the restaurant and a table was quickly found for them. The waiter made great show of seating the couple. "What can I get for you to drink this evening?" He asked them while he stood patiently.

Damon took up the wine list and quickly scanned it until he found a god bottle of white wine. "Could we get an '82 bottle of Briér please?"

"Very good." The man nodded and left their company to retrieve the bottle of wine.

Damon looked down again at the list. "Surprising number of excellent wines here. I will have to see if Ted minds picking up a few of the like."

"I'm sure he'd welcome some suggestions," she replied. "Maybe we can buy some to take back ourselves? For special occasions." She looked over the menu while Damon poured the wine.

She only got halfway through the menu before she found one of her favorite dishes. She set the menu aside and picked up her wine glass. "A toast. To Captain Damon Raine. A fine officer and a wonderful man."

He likewise raised his glass. "And, to Captain Samantha York. A talented Commander and a woman whose company I wouldn't trade anything for."

Sam touched her glass lightly to his and took a sip. It had been a while since she'd tasted real wine. It was a nice change from the synthehol in the replicators. "Okay, I'm definitely taking a bottle back with me." She giggled at the thought of going back to the Orion as the temporary CO carrying a bottle of wine with her.

Just then the waiter returned. "Have you decided what you would like for dinner?" he asked, looking at the two.

"I would like the penne Rosa and a house salad with orange vinaigrette," Sam replied.

The waiter then turned to Damon. "And for the gentleman?"

"I'll have the Puttanesca over angel hair pasta with a Caesar salad please."

The waiter nodded without taking notes. The menus were cleared from the table a moment later before he took his leave.

"So," Damon said after taking another sip of wine "Who are you going to call first?"

"Well, you're already here..." she grinned cheekily. "Next would be my parents back on Earth. Although it's only a temporary assignment, I should let them know. They'll tell my brothers." She shrugged. "I don't know how big a deal temporary command is. I mean, how long with Captain Montgomery be on Earth anyway? It may only be a few weeks."

Damon nodded. "True, the command may be provisional, but the new pip on your uniform isn't. I've noticed that Starfleet tends to fast track Commanders especially since the fleet is still expanding. I think it won't be long before you are given your own ship." He smiled warmly "Hopefully that ship will be big enough to support a Marine element."

Sam placed her hand on top of Damon's. "I won't accept if it doesn't. I can't imagine being on any ship if you weren't there as well."

Just then the waiter brought their food and placed it before them. Sam let go of Damon's hand so she could put her napkin on her lap and began to eat.

Sam took a bite and smiled. The food was excellent.

Damon had to agree. The sauce was perfect, needing nothing to bring out the flavours. The wine went a long way to compliment the meal as well.

“So, what happens to your department for the duration of the new assignment?†He said before dipping his fork back into the pasta.

"I've been thinking about that. I don't want to give up my position as Chief Science Officer, as I don't want to find myself out of two jobs when Captain Montgomery returns. But I do need a good assistant to do the majority of the work for now." She took another bite of her pasta. "I'll be relying on you and Sheridan a lot over the next little while I learn the ropes."

"Understandable. I'll try not to be the typical pain in the ass I normally would be to a Fleeter." He gave her a sly smile. "No promises, though."

"I've already had one pain in the butt recently," she said facetiously, referring to the fish bite. She took another bite of her pasta and a swallow of her drink. "For the other I expect nothing less."

Damon chuckled lightly and shook his head. After a moment his tone changed to a more serious one. "Honestly, though, anything you need, I'll be there."

"I'm glad," she said sincerely. "I'm afraid I'll probably take advantage of that." His support meant a lot to her. More than she wanted to admit.

"Any idea's on what your first official act will be once we return to the Orion?"

"My first official act was giving out a well-deserved promotion," she teased. "Beyond that, I don't know. Just changing command is going to be a task. They all know me as the scientist. Now I have to hope they'll work with me as the Commander. Maybe I'll just stay on the Starbase tonight and put that off until tomorrow." Technically, she had a room for the night. The one they used to freshen up.

"Understandable," He said after sipping some wine "Although I might challenge the 'well deserved' part. As for the rest, the Orion's crew hasn’t been together for long and the shakedown cruise went less than prime. Right now they all understand that we are in a state of flux, they will adapt to the change."

"Thank you," she replied as she finished her pasta. "As for the 'well deserved,' you are welcome to argue the point in private." Sam grinned. "Although I reserve the right to argue back." She finished her wine and set her glass down.

Damon laughed merrily and drained the contents of his glass as well. "I don't know why, but I am looking forward to that."

"You know, I am, too," Sam admitted, laughing along with Damon.

The waiter returned a moment later to retrieve the dishes and deposit the bill that was enclosed in a small black folder. Damon opened it up and looked it over before fishing an ID card out of his pocket and flashed it across the folders card reader. Seconds later the device blinked indicating that the transaction was approved.

With a smile he looked over at Samantha. "Ready to go?" he asked.

Sam nodded and stood. "Yes, I am."

Together they walked out of the restaurant and back onto the promenade. They window-shopped as they walked towards the room where they'd stored their backpacks.

Finally, they arrived at the room. "You know what?" Sam said, turning to face Damon. "I think I'm going to stay here tonight. I've got the room anyway, Might as well take advantage of it."

Damon looked over her shoulder at the room as if to scrutinise the space. He looked back at her with a concerned look on his face. "Will you be okay alone?"

She gave him a speculative look. "If I say no, will you stay?" She looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. "Never mind. I'm not going to use coercion."

He laughed softly as he looked down at his feet and shook his head. "It isn't coercion if I don't want to leave." He looked back up to meet her eyes "I want to stay."

"I want you to stay, too," Sam admitted with a shy smile. "Very much."

Damon stepped closer to Sam and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You are rapidly becoming my favorite dessert," she whispered just before she kissed him.

OFF

Commander Samantha York
Chief Science Officer
Acting CO

Marine Captain Damon Raine
Marine CO

 

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