Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Officer’s Mess - Congratualtions Faye!

Posted by Civilian Char’les Harv (Officer’s Mess Chef) in Officer’s Mess - Congratualtions Faye!

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Officer’s Mess - Congratualtions Faye!

(snip)

The most immediate thing that hit her brain was that it wasn’t a no! She had fully prepared herself for that and to slink out of the lounge, yes, embarrassed, but not in any way going to make him feel bad about it. Faye nodded. “That was the idea.” Did she know she was going to drop a bomb on him? Yes. But a part of her wondered how much of a bomb it really was. Thinking about it was different than feeling it. But she also had to remember that she had been doing both for some time now. He had not. She had to give him time.

Rising to her feet, she grabbed her empty cake plate. “Take your time, Alex, I’m not in any hurry. And I’m a big girl- I won’t hold it against you if the answer is no.” She reached for his plate, leaning in slightly. “But do remember that somehow, strangely, we actually have a lot in common. In this crazy galaxy, there is something to be said for finding someone you can be on the same wavelength with. At least some of the time. And thank you for this tonight. I know you don’t realize this yet but you made my achievement a special and important thing. And I’m grateful.” Having gotten the earlier words out, it somehow seemed easier to talk to him again. Not that her stomach still wasn’t doing flip-flops.

He caught the slightest aroma of something as she leaned in; soap or perfume or something that was not at all unpleasant. He looked up at her and smiled and said “I will keep that in mind, Faye. And you are most welcome. You deserved it.”

She couldn’t help but grin. “Well at least someone around here realizes it…” Had Faye been someone else, she might have winked, but while she was suddenly feeling emboldened it wasn’t like she had had a personality swap here.

Stepping away, she moved to the counter to return the dishes to Harv. “Thank you for the wonderful cake! It was amazing,” she said, practically beaming.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist

Harv waved as she dropped the dishes off. “Glad ya liked it. Take care, L-T.”

“I’ll see you later, Harv.” She moved away and headed for the doo. “Night, Alex,” she said casually, doing her best not to look back at him as the doors slipped open.

Once she had left, Harv walked out and looked at Cochrane.

Harv, Chef

Cochrane caught Harv’s look and said flatly “No. Don’t you f%$@ing start.”

Cochrane, CO

It was inevitable that Faye Calloway was going to replay the entirely of this evening over and over again in her mind until she felt certain it had happened, and in the way she had thought it had. This was not the way it was supposed to have gone. Sure, she would have gathered her confidence and set aside her nerves, but the gentle let down was the outcome, right? Except it hadn’t been. He had chosen his words carefully and that was perfectly fine! But it was in the tiny details, the way he said it wasn’t an unwelcome idea, the smile as she had leaned in to grab his plate. With the ever slight buzz left from the champagne, she all but floated back to her quarters, fully intending to enjoy this moment for as long as she could. Even if he later said no Alex had just granted her the most spectacular gift she’d ever received: hope. Not just resignation about the limitations of a situation, but the possibility that it could be anything. For someone like her, who had lived the life she had, it was no small deal.

~Faye Calloway, Data Specialist