Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes
Posted by… suppressed (51) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman returned her kiss, still slipping back into his uniform. “I’m sure the Captain would understand.” He kissed her again, a quick peck this time. “She seems very forgiving.” Another kiss as he slipped his own shoes on. “If I didn’t have to get back myself I think I’d have to tell her you’re needed urgently elsewhere.”

~ Roman

“I … I am???” Rand stood there, unable to figure out what was going on. Roman kept kissing her, which she didn’t object to at all, but he was talking about … about fibbing to the captain? Rand understood exactly what he was implying; she just wasn’t sure how she was supposed to respond. She stood there giving him the most confused, shy, and flushed look possible. To the point that when they left, she forgot her PaDD and had to go back and get it.

Rand

Roman didn’t want to go back. He didn’t know why, but he did not want to work. He smiled down at her one last time before he went back to the labs. For the rest of his shift his sudden improvement in mood has officers sharing looks, silently speculating where he’d been on his very long lunch.

~ Roman

Rand was distracted the whole time. She was in the middle of talking to Gorshin about getting some special spices for a dish when she heard Roman talking in the corridor. She stopped talking mid sentence, flushing bright red as she stared out the door. Gorshin had never seen Rand lose her train of thought that way, not even after her head injury. He had the kind ess not to chuckle until after she left.

Picking up reports from the labs was a disaster. Rand hadn’t been that clumsy and tongue tied in months. Leaving the cargo bay she heard Roman walking down the hall. She stopped to wait for him, for long enough people noticed before she realized he had gone into another bay. She hurried away embarrassed. She decided to work in the conference room. That was where the captain liked to meet and there were no distracting memories.

Rand

Roman’s good mood persisted for the rest of his shift. He was heading past the conference room, looking for the CoS, and he saw Rand in there, by herself, working in preparation for her meeting with the Captain. He smiled for a moment, considering going in, but decided not to disrupt her. He could talk to her later. He kept walking.

~ Roman

Rende entered the conference room to find her yeoman staring blankly at a PaDD. She stood cleared her throat slightly not wanting to startle the girl. Years of training made Rende light of foot and rarely did she make a sound unless she wished to. Rand jumped slightly anyway. “Cap…ptain. I’m so sorry. Is it time already? I’m almost done. I have the briefing reports from command already pulled up for you.”

Rende nodded. Rand’s voice carried with it a hint of embarrassment and giddiness. Or at least Rende thought so. It wasn’t until a few years ago she started paying attention to her empathy. “It’s alright, ensign. Some times things take longer. I appreciate you moving to the conference room. I like to spread out when I do paperwork. And though my quarters has enough room for us both, the desk doesn’t really let me do that.” She smiled slightly and sat down to read the correspondence.

Rand worked quickly to finish the reports. Asam was pretty laid back so far, if Rand needed extra time, but she shouldn’t have. She was distracted and day dreaming. That was unacceptable. She finished quickly and found that Asam liked everything laid out side-by-side. So each report was on a separate PaDD so she could see each officers report and then the final department report. She didn’t like to flip back and forth between forms if she didn’t have to. Rand agreed that the conference table was much better suited for that.

Rende was quite amused when Rand was in the middle of explaining an issue with some spare parts shipped to Sentinel that were wrong and the yeoman just trailed off to nothing. There were notes of deep affection, delightful nerves, and something much more intimate. Rende was sure to not show she noticed, but she did hear two men talking down the corridor. She couldn’t place the voices yet, but one of them obviously intrigued her yeoman quite a bit. Rende was nosey enough wonder if she could figure out who it was. They finished soon after. She had a couple of corrections and requests or clarification and told Rand she would check them in the morning.

Rende

By the time Roman finished the conversation he was having in the corridor with another officer, he’d seen Rende leave the conference room and so he assumed Rand was done. He waited until Rende disappeared down the other end of the corridor and then went into the conference room. He leaned against the inside of the door way and gave Rand his best robin hood mischievous look. “Is this when you’re usually done by?”

~ Roman

Rand stopped what she was doing and stared at him, well towards him. Her eyes flicked from his face to just behind him and back. Like she couldn’t decide where her eyes should focus. His look made her flush instantly and brought a sweet and nervous smile to her face that only Roman ever saw. She stammered for a moment before she realized what he asked. She glanced at the chronometer. “Umm, usually a little earlier.” He knew what time she usually got done. What was he up to?

Rand

Roman loved that flushed, sweet, shy look she gave him. He grinned. “I saw you working in here earlier. Didn’t want to work in our quarters?” He didn’t care where she worked, he was just teasing and clearly enjoying teasing her.

~ Roman

Rand fumbled her stylus as she tried to finalize what she was working on. She turned even redder. “Umm..it…uh was di distracting.”

Rand

Roman’s grin widened. “It was, was it? Too much thinking of me?” He asked, teasingly. He watched her reaction, not wanting to take it too far. But it was clear he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

~ Roman

Rand glanced up at him through her lashes, bitting her lower lip. The only word she could think of to describe Roman in this type of mood was Hot. The look on her face made it quite clear what about Roman she had been thinking. “Tha,” she whispered quietly glancing at the open door, praying no one was walking by to overhear.

Rand

Roman’s grin grew, his look turning more mischievous at her answer. His hand slipped down from his hip, to the door frame where the door control was. He pressed ‘lock’.

Tand watched him lock the door. She looked at him with confusion and breathlessness. “Ròmanach, dè tha thu a’ dèanamh?”

Then he moved over by Rand, took her in his arms, and kissed her, a long, lingering, deep kiss. When it broke off, he spoke in that low, husky voice of his. “Now you’ll think of me in here, too.” He wasn’t letting her go, in fact, he looked like he was going to go for another kiss.

~ Roman

Whatever Rand had expected him to say, that wasn’t it. The flush that had faded as he kissed her returned as a slow creep as the dazed look left. “Oh…” Her hands tightened slightly where they rested on his arms. “Will,” she glanced at his mouth and then back to his eyes, “will you think of me too?” she asked softly.

Rand

Roman gave her that mischievous, robin hood look again, pressing his hand to her back, pressing her closer to him. “Every. Single. Time I’m in here.” He said, voice still low. “I’ll think of nothing but you.”

~ Roman

Rand reached up, lacing her fingers behind his neck as he pressed her closer. She liked the way she fit in his arms, the sparks that raced over her back where his hand touched, and the that low husky tone in his voice made her stomach flutter. His words gave her a heady feeling. She leaned in to him as she kissed, tentative and gentle at first. Then she sighed with contentment as the kiss grew deeper.

Rand

Roman loved when she laced her fingers behind him, like she was preventing him from pulling away at all. The kiss was gentle, a little tentative at first, but grew deeper and Roman grinned gently against her, leaning down ever so slightly to make it easier to reach each other, letting the kiss get more passionate. There was a solid, locked door between them and anyone else, and no one really used the conference room outside of meetings unless Rand used it for her meeting with the Captain. Soon he was largely unaware of where they happened to be.

~ Roman

This was Rand’s favorite place, alone with Roman with his arms around her. His hugs always made her feel warm and safe and calm. She felt him smile and it made her heart race. Roman was rarely like this recently, and she was totally enthralled and oblivious to anything else.

Rand

The letter from the Calianos had shifted Roman’s mood from irritated and stressed to guilty and sad and being with Rand served as an excellent distraction they both liked. He could tell when she was totally enthralled and she was there now, like for either of them there was nothing else in the world. It was his favorite feeling. Carried away by his feelings and wants he let the moment continue, one hand braced against her back to keep her pressed towards him, the other resting near her waist.

~ Roman

Rand was oblivious to anything else but Roman as time passed and work forgotten. She pressed in close, allowing his hand to hold her tighter. Rand’s hands pulled him closer as another sigh escaped. It was apparent Rand’s thoughts were similar in nature to Roman’s and that she had completely forgot where they were. Quite evident by the fact she was unphased by the voices of two crewman that had paused to talk just down the corridor outside the conference room.

Rand

Roman didn’t hear or care about the voices of other crewman. He was too into the moment. The crewmen must have not heard them in there, because before long they were walking away, still talking about whatever it was they were talking about.

---

A while later, Roman was sitting next to Rand, grinning and looking at Rand. No one had come for the room, or looking for them. The idea of what they’d done had not yet caught up with him.

~ Roman

Rand had her head on his shoulder, and she smiled softly up at him. It was quiet and calm … until Rand suddenly dropped back into reality, and panic set in. They were in the conference room. Her breath hitched and then she couldn’t quite catch it. “W..wha…” What if someone heard them? What if someone saw them leave? They weren’t supposed to be here. “R rrr Roman…”

Rand

Roman was still hugging her with one arm, smiling and still not landed in reality. Rand’s anxious tone made him look down at her, concerned. “What?”

~ Roman

She couldn’t get the words out. Her hand fluttered about (shaking too) indicating the whole room. “Con … con … conference … ro … room.”

Rand

What? Roman furrowed his brow at her… And then realization dawned. “Oh.” He hugged her into him, knowing that might help her. “No one will know, we’ll be fine.” He said, though his own face was flushed slightly red.

~ Roman

Rand looked at him like he had grown three more heads and was exhaling poisonous gas. Fine? It was not fine! “N nnn no.” She was up very suddenly, doing a very poor job of setting herself to rights and trying to gather her work from the table. “Wwwwhat if someone heard or…Sees us?” She was starting to hyperventilate.

Rand

Roman gathered up her work, stacked it neatly, and then grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “I don’t think anyone did hear us. And if they see us leave, they won’t know we weren’t working. It’s not like we’re leaving in our knickers.” He was talking quietly, soothingly, trying to calm her.

~ Roman

Her face was pressed into his chest. She tried to make herself breathe slow and evenly as he held her tightly. His voice was soothing and despite being anxious and past the point of embarrassment, she did grin at the image as he made his point. “Are … are you sure?”

Rand

“Positively certain.” Roman said, smiling down at her. There was the matter of security feeds… He’d deal with that later. He was not going to tell Rand. He kept her in a tight hug. “It was a little bit fun, though, wasn’t it?”

~ Roman

Rand didn’t look up, but her ears turned red. “Tha,” whispered out quietly. Her hands fidgeted in his shirt for a few moments longer. She wanted to leave, but was stressing over everything.

Rand

Roman smiled a little bit. “Want to go to our quarters?” He asked softly, gently rubbing her back as he hugged her. “No one will know,” he reassured her again.

~ Roman

A deep breath in and then as she exhaled, Rand tried to make herself relax. She nodded, “Yeah.” She didn’t let go of him right away. When she did, she looked up at him, still blushing, “Okay.”

She gathered her things and made sure everything was orderly and her uniform was neat. She followed him out and toward their quarters.

Rand

Roman led her out with him and to their own quarters. When he got there, he sat her on the bed and then sat next to her. “Do you feel a little better?” He asked, still keeping his voice soft and calm.

~ Roman

She was supposed to say yes, so she nodded her head. She did feel just slightly better. Well more relieved they were here now instead of there. She was extremely embarrassed to have been so distracted by him. It was wonderful to have stolen those extra moments together, away from duty, throughout the day though. They were engaged to be married, and the crew knew that. But still…

Rand reached for his hand while shyly tucking her hair behind her ear with the other. “Yeah, a little.”

Rand

Roman squeezed her hand gently and then hugged her. “Good.” He let her go, his arms still loosely around her and smiled, “I love you.” He’d deal with the security feeds later, but he wasn’t going to tell Rand. She was too worked up without remembering that. He checked the time and then asked, “Do you want something to eat?”

~ Roman

Rand shook her head. “Not really. I’m more umm tired than hungry.” She knew her anxiousness was probably unfounded, but if she went out now she would get worse. She’d rather skip a meal. “Are you?”

Rand

Roman shook his head. “I’m okay. I’d rather stay with you.” He was actually somewhat hungry, but he could eat later. He just wanted to be with Rand right now.

~ Roman

That made her smile and lean against him. “We probably have something in the pantry drawers if we need it later.” Rand stared at the stack of work. She was going to have to get up earlier to finish it. She was too tired to get it done now. “Do you want tea or coff…” she yawned, “ee?”

Rand

Roman shook his head again. “Even if I did, I think you’re about ready to sleep.” He set an arm around her, pulling her in close to him. “You look exhausted.”

~ Roman

Rand nodded as he pulled her closer. She stiffled another yawn. She hated to admit, but she was. The meds were working just fine. When she slept, it was restful. Her sleep cycle seemed to be a bit out of whack though. With all the extra hours and work before Asam came she had gotten less sleep. Now it was better, but her body didn’t seem to realize it could catch up on all that sleep. “I am, but I don’t mind making it. If I just sit here, I’ll fall asleep.” The day had been unexpectedly but wonderfully surprising.

Rand

“That’s okay, too. You need the sleep.” Roman was avoiding himself again, but instead of using work to do it, he was using her to do it. “Don’t forget your meds before you fall asleep,” he reminded her.

~ Roman

Rand gave him a disgruntled look..she hated needing meds everyday, but she couldn’t deny the positive effect they had. Her aversion had more to do with it reminding her of all that time in sickbay being so lost and confused rather than an aversion to medication. “Don’t forget yours either.” She sighed deeply. “Do you want to watch a movie or put music on? You don’t look tired. If you want to stay up the light won’t bother me.” Rand had shared a room all her life, so she could sleep through the habits of someone else.

Rand

Roman nodded and stood to get water to take his before he forgot. When he had first started taking them he’d been somewhat resistant. Now he usually took them without argument. They were a huge positive for him. And of course, it helped that Elbbirt had been able to arrange for them to be pills rather than a hypo. “I’m not exhausted, but I am tired. I’ll just lay down with you,” he said with a shrug as he took his pills.

~ Roman

“That sounds good to me.” Rand reached into his bedside table and took out her hypo and waited for him. Ever since she had bungled giving it to herself, she preferred to let Roman do it. She set it on the pillow and then got ready for bed. She slipped beneath the blanket, not even trying to hide the yawn that slipped out.

Rand

Roman sat down by her and gave her the hypo. He hated using them, even on someone else, but he wanted to make sure she got her meds so he always did it anyway. He set it back in the drawer and then settled in next to her.

~ Roman

Rand was asleep rather quickly, curled up against his side.

She was awake warrior than normal. She had to get the previous day’s reports done before she got started. She slipped quietly into the bathroom to get ready, careful not to wake Roman. She moved about in the dim light, prepping the kettle, cup, and tea, so he could easily make it when he got up. She made sure Pipkin had food and water and then tiptoes on bare feet with her things out of their quarters.

She slipped her boots on in the corridor and then headed for the conference room, changed her mind and went to the galley. She told herself it was because she had skipped dinner and not because it would be hard to concentrate.

Rand

It had taken Roman a while to fall asleep. Longer than it had in months. So when it was finally time for him to wake up, he was tired. Rand was already gone. Quietly grateful for the meds that took his dreams away, he got up and ready and headed straight for the lab. If Rand was gone, that meant she was busy.

~ Roman

Rand was busy and determined to be at her most professional and efficient. She appeared in the labs, as usual, right on time with fresh tea for Roman. Much to Nibbles’ disappointment, Rand did not go to her first. She sat on her stool and keyed up the console and began compiling reports and notes. She seemed to be working faster than normal. When she had set all the reports on his desk for review she hoped up and made her way over to Nibbles. She had missed the mouse the day before and the feeling was obviously mutual.

“She missed you yesterday, Rand,” Franks said from across the table. “Is everything okay?”

Rand paused, mind racing, trying to figure an answer. “Oh…umm…I was needed urgently elsewhere.” Franks seemed to accept that. Rand practiced a commendable amount of discretion in her position.

Rand

Roman on the other hand, immediately dribbled his nice, hot black tea, out his mouth and down his shirt. Then blushed ever so slightly as he realized he might give away what exactly Rand was ‘needed urgently’ for. Quickly dabbling it up with a napkin from inside his desk he grabbed his PaDD and started reviewing the reports she left for him.

~ Roman

Rand didn’t notice as her back was to Roman’s desk. Only Franks did. He suppressed a chuckle. Good for them. They had been working non-stop for weeks, keeping the ship and mission going. If they found some down time together, Franks thought it was a good thing.

Rand spent the next half hour feeding and playing with Nibbles. The mouse seemed more energetic that morning, and when Rand closed the cage she started rummaging around in the foliage rather than going into her den. She paused at Mushu’s cage as she passed when he set his little foot on the glass, looking for food and attention. She looked at Roman, silently asking if she should feed him.

Rand

Roman looked between Rand and the lizard. It was adorable when he did the foot on glass thing. He nodded to Rand, giving her permission to feed Mushu. Then he waved Franks over to supervise.

~ Roman

Museum was Roman’s animal and he let her help often, but it was always a treat when she got to. She snagged some live flies and attached the container to a feeding door that had been installed. It made sure they flew into the cage and not out and about the lab. She let three out and watched as Mushu spun around on his log and his eyes wobbled and waved about before snatching them out of the air. Franks was content to watch and not talk. He found watching the animals’ interactions as fascinating as studying the animals themselves. They all responded differently to Rand, but respond they did.

Rand

Roman watched Rand and his lizard for a moment, then went back to doing his paperwork. The animals liked her and she liked helping with them, so he didn’t mind letting her help with the safe ones. He finished the stack of reports, leaving two stacks, sendoffs and finished reports. “Rand, when you’re finished, the reports are ready for you.” He said, not wanting her to stop what she was doing.

~ Roman

Rand looked up with a grin, “Yes Sir.” She turned back to Mushu, letting four more flies into the terrarium. “Duilich fear beag. Thig mi air ais nas fhaide air adhart.” Mushu’s eyes spun away fro. The flies and looked at Rand and then turned back to his prey. Franks chuckled, “I swear they understand you.” He made sure the cage was secure and then went back to his work. Rand finished scribbling notes and then picked up the reports. She hurried out to have the unacceptable ones fixed so she could finish compiling her own set of reports. 20 minutes later she was back and set them down for Roman to review again as she started.on the completed ones.

Rand

Roman rereviewed and accepted the reports. Then he spent some time playing with studying Mushu. He took lunch to his office that day and the rest of his shift was uneventful but long and busy. When he was finally done for the day he went to their quarters to see if Rand was there.

~ Roman

Rand was laying on her stomach, red hair long and loose down her back, knees bent, feet in the air and crossed at the ankles. She had a stylus in her hand but chewing on the end, a PaDD in front of her. The desk was littered with data disks. Pipkin was curled up in the small of her back seemingly asleep. When the door opened, the small rabbit popped up and scampered down the bed to get to him for what she thought was overdue attention.

Rand

Roman stepped in so the door would close and gave Pipkin a little attention. “You working?” He asked Rand as he sat on the edge of the bed next to her, careful of Pipkin.

~ Roman