Jack had reached Serenity City at sunset and quickly called to have his cargo off-loaded. As it was done, Treya looked at him and smiled gently.
"You know, when they're done, how about I take you to dinner?" she asked. "It's the least I can do for the man that saved my life." Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked at him, though the concern that had been with her since he had rescued her was still there as well.
Jack smirked and nodded. "I could go for some chow," he replied.
"Well I need some suggestions on where to go..."
"I know a few good places," he assured her.
It took some time, but the cargo was taken. He locked up the ship and together he and Treya had entered Serenity City. Treya wanted to take her time gazing at everything. Jack was a bit floored with her interest. To him, one big city was much like another. Eventually he steered her to the Galaxy Diner. It wasn't the fanciest of places, but had good food and a good atmosphere. As they entered the place, they were lead to a booth that looked much like something from Earth's 1950's. The decor was a bit eclectic as it contained objects from all over the Alpha Quadrant -- hence the name the Galaxy Diner. But their specialty was Earth food, though they served just about anything.
"It smells good in here," Treya smiled as a waitress came and took their drink orders.
"Yeah, I've eaten here a few times. Definitely not too bad," he smiled. "So... How did you and your brother get into archaeology?"
"Oh, that's easy," she smiled. "My brother got into it because of my parents. They were both Archaeologist. My brother is 20 years older than me, so he became one first. Then since he raised me at his dig sites and being that it's in my blood, all I ever wanted to do was become and Archaeologist."
"He raised you?" he asked curiously.
She nodded. "Our parents died when I was three," she replied softly. "I don't really remember them much. Just through photos."
"I'm sorry," he replied.
She could sense the pain that was within him. He had lost family too, but it was different. He remembered it clearly, unlike her. However, she wasn't about to ask.
"So you must be on your first dig," he replied, as she looked in her early 20's at the most.
She smirked. "Actually, I've been at the same dig site for the last 20 years and we probably have at least another 30 years of work to do."
"Wait, wait, wait... 20 years? That's not possible. You can't be more than 20 years old yourself," he replied.
"Actually, I'm 50," she replied. "In fact, I just turned 50 in August."
His brows knit together. "And just how is that possible?"
She smirked. "Because I'm Tanzaran," she replied.
"So you're basically as old as me, but you look like you're just a kid?" he replied.
She nodded as the waitress brought their drinks. She sipped at her cherry cola.
He couldn't believe it. She was quite attractive, looked so young and yet she was as old as he was... It was unbelievable, yet he had never met a Tanzaran before. At least he didn't think he had.
"So what about you?" she asked. "What made you a cargo ship Captain?"
He shrugged. "I've always been comfortable out in space. Worked a freighter for a few years. Then when my... father passed away... I took my inheritance and bought the Roanoke," he replied. "I've been flying every since."
"You have nowhere you call home?" she asked, her brown eyes gazing at him. As their eyes met, something unsaid, yet felt passed between them.
"I have family back on Earth," he replied. "My mother and my sister. I send messages home every-so-often."
"When was the last time you actually saw them?" she asked.
"Oh, uh..." he shrugged. "It's been awhile..."
Since she felt his discomfort, she decided to change the subject. "You know, I don't know what I'll do here," she said. "I don't even have a place to sleep tonight or clothes to wear. All the clothes I had with me are now stellar dust." She sighed.
He was quiet for a moment as he looked down into his glass, considering what he was about to say. "Well, you know... I have a spare room on my ship," he replied. "It's not much, but you can use it tonight. I even have a shirt you can sleep in. Tomorrow I can help you find some place more permanent since I'll be here for a couple of days, and there's plenty of shops to get some new clothes. It'll at least give you one night where you don't have to worry," he said.
"Thank you," she replied with a sincere smile.
There was something about her and about her smile that he couldn't seem to resist.
Finally the waitress returned and took their order.
That night, as he woke to get some water, he looked around his quarters. Charger wasn't there. He began walking through the ship and he had this irresistible urge to look in on Katreya, his guest. He didn't know why and knew she would be asleep, but there was a part of him that wanted to make sure she was all right. He supposed it was something to do with being her rescuer. It made him feel responsible.
As he crept to the other room, the door slid open. There he found Treya fast asleep with none other than Charger curled up beside her on the bed. For a moment, Charger lifted his head and gazed at his owner, but then just as quickly put his head back down. Jack knew that look. His dog wasn't about to budge from where he was.
With that, he smirked as he shook his head, heading again to get that glass of water.
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