The sun was beginning it's decent in the sky by the time Treya had finally gotten a residence at one of the towers in Serenity City and had managed to fill it with what she wanted and needed -- including new clothes, a PADD and several other things.
Considering the fact that she had lost everything she'd brought with her when her shuttle exploded, barring the satchel she'd slung around her shoulder and had been rescued along with her. It contained her brother's blood-stained journal and an artifact that had once belonged to their parents, who had been archaeologists as well.
And she knew she wouldn't even have her temporary home if it hadn't been for Jack. As he helped her put the last of her things away she smiled.
"Thanks," she replied. "You knew where to find everything I needed." Her smiled was warm and genuine.
He waved off her thanks. "Well, I'm here a lot. It makes sense I would know my way around."
Her smile brightened. "Well, I'd like to do something for you for a change," she replied. "Come back in a few hours and I'll have a home-cooked meal ready."
"You cook, do you?" he asked.
"Of course!" she smiled. "I'm actually considered pretty palatable." There was a twinkle in her brown eyes. "Besides, you have to come. I want to do this to thank you. I mean, you help me find this apartment. You help me find a place to get clothes and everything else I needed and not to mention, you did save my life."
For a moment, their eyes met and held, before Jack smiled and looked away. "Well, anyone would have done that," he said.
"But you did it," she replied. "Come on, it's just dinner. I'm not going to poison you!"
"I don't know, I've never had your cooking before," he said teasing her.
"Oh you!" she replied, playfully pushing him.
His smile grew and he almost laughed.
"So are you coming back?" she asked with more of a playful nagging in her voice.
"Well, let me think... Okay," he replied. "I can't pass up a home-cooked meal anyway. I haven't had one in a long time." His brown eyes were warm as they gazed at her.
"And tonight that will change," she smiled. "Oh and bring Charger too!"
"I'll do that," he replied before he left.
Treya's face was beaming when suddenly, her eyes widened. What was she going to fix for dinner?! Quickly, she dashed to the kitchen.
Jack had cleaned up, changed clothes and had even picked up a bottle of wine for dinner. He figured it was the least he could do since she was cooking. With a final look in the mirror, he whistled to Charger to follow and headed out of his ship once again and started across the space port and into the city.
Treya had just finished cooking dinner, but making sure it all stayed warm or cold that it took her a moment to recognize the sound of the door sensor. It wasn't a sound she was very use to hearing having spent most of her life in tents at various digs.
She hurried to the door and found Jack standing there, Charger sitting beside his owner's leg. She also noticed Jack holding the bottle of wine.
"Thought I would bring something to drink," he replied, holding up a bottle of Chablis.
"That'll be perfect with dinner," she smiled as she took it.
As he walked in, he could see the dinner table set with the new dishes she'd procured with his help and there were also candles lit. He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Why don't you make yourself comfortable and I'll get everything to the table," she smiled.
"All right," he replied, walking around her apartment again, pausing at the glass door that lead out to the balcony. He could see the night stars coming out in the sky.
After a few moments of clattering, he turned to see her at the table setting down what appeared to be the last of dinner. He had to admit it did smell good.
"Dinner's served," she smiled as she beckoned him over to her. As he approached she explained what she had made. "This is apricot-glazed chicken, with almond rice, and green beans. Also made soup -- its lemon chicken; learned it from a Greek archaeologist that worked at my dig site for awhile. She was completing a thesis on it. Very bright girl."
Jack laughed a little. "I keep forgetting you're as old as I am," he replied.
She doled out helping for him before she did for herself. "You shouldn't forget," she replied with a twinkle in her eyes. "I certainly wouldn't want you treating me like I was 20 years old!"
The smile on her face caused his smile to grow. "Yeah, well... looks and all..."
"But age..." she said playfully. "Oh, I almost forgot Charger!"
She immediately got up, went into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of food for him. "I think this is okay. I looked up something and this seemed to be the best choice. Has lots of meat in it, but balanced with other things since dogs are more omnivores than anything else."
"I'm sure it's fine," he replied, watching Charger going nuts from the smell already.
As soon as she put the dish down, Charger was there lapping it up as if he hadn't eaten in a week.
"I think it's safe to say he likes it," Jack replied.
Treya smiled and they began to eat. Jack opened and poured the wine.
After dinner, wine glasses in hand, Jack and Treya wandered out onto her balcony to stare out at the night sky. She sighed.
"I love the stars as they come out at night," she said. "On Timuck III the sky seems to be littered with stars. It makes the sky look like black velvet scattered with diamond dust."
As she finished her wine, she set the glass down on the table that was there.
"I've always enjoyed stargazing... though I don't often do it now, spending too much time actually in space for it," he replied.
"So when do you have to leave for your next run?" she asked, as her brown eyes gazed at him for a moment.
"Tomorrow," he replied. "I'm taking cargo to Bajor. Exports will always keep me in business." He smiled as he finished the wine in his glass and placed it beside hers.
"And this is all you ever do?" she asked curiously. "I mean, you spend most of your time just flying from place to place without anyone with you?"
He nodded. "Yep," he replied. "That's about right."
She was silent for a moment. "It must be a lonely life," she said softly.
He shrugged. "I have Charger. He keeps me company," Jack replied.
For a moment, Charger had raised his head from where he was laying nearby at the sound of his name, but then put it back down when no one looked his way.
She smiled as she saw the dog. But there were other thoughts in her head. He was the only one she knew here. "So will you be coming back here again?" she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
He smirked. "Well, yeah... This place is a boon for my business," he replied. "But if you're wondering, I should be back in five days or so."
"Will you come and see me?" she asked, averting her brown eyes from his as she asked. "I mean, I'm really all alone here. You're the only person I know. It's not because I'm scared; well... maybe just a little that I'm scared. I mean, I'm use to being at dig sites where there's always people talking. I just... feel... very alone."
As she looked at him he was drawn in by her warm brown eyes. He moved closer to her. She reacted to his nearness.
"And I'd really like to see you again," she finally admitted it softly.
"I'd like that too," he admitted, reaching out and caressing her face, letting his fingers roam into her hair. Suddenly, he bridged the short gap between them and took her lips in a kiss. For a time, nothing existed except for this moment... this kiss...
Finally as they drew apart, Jack looked at her. Her eyes were bright with excitement and happiness. But he sobered, as if suddenly jarred awake from a pleasant dream.
"Uh, yeah... Well, it's late. I'd better get going if I'm going to get any sleep tonight," he said beginning to head back inside and toward the door; though he seriously doubted if he would sleep. "Oh and great dinner!" he said whistling for Charger. Immediately, Charger jumped to his feet and followed Jack to the door. "Good night," he called as he turned to see Treya gazing at him. There was confusion in her eyes, but a smile still on her face.
As soon as Jack was back aboard his ship, he sat down and sighed, shaking his head. What had he just done? He'd kissed that young girl! He couldn't resist her. But he also reminded himself that she was actually 50 years old. She wasn't the 20 year old she looked like. However, it was still hard to reconcile it. But there was no doubt about their attraction for each other, he thought.
Suddenly, Charger was beside him, resting his head on Jack's knee. Jack looked down at his faithful friend.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked.
Charger lifted his head only a moment at the query, gazing into Jack's eyes, and then rested his head down once again.
back to TOC