SIM:Sun-JP-Jaxx-WorthDestination

((Lake, Izar))

::With the two of them settled on the lake, it was shaping up to be a great evening. The day had not gone quite according to plan. When Jaxx was at the lake with Sundassa earlier in the day, he never would have dreamed he would have been taken hostage, or that he would end up back at the lake when it was all over. In the end, he was happy he found her when it was all over. It was not quite the date at the art gallery they had planned, but in his eyes she was much better to look at.::

::Jaxx was prepared for anything. It was in his nature to look ahead at what might happen and then try to plan for it. He had a friend transport a cargo container with some items that anyone would typically take on a camping trip. He even managed to get chocolate cake. It was his experience that women loved chocolate, and he aimed to please. He turned to Sun, curious what she had originally planned when she fled the area near the hotel. Now that he was with her, it did not really need to change, he was just curious what she had in mind.::

Jaxx: So I assume your plans were just to lay here and look at the sky?

Faranster: Yes, actually, that had been my initial plans.

:: She would have laid on the blanket, and looked at the sky, wondering when she'd be back on the Apollo, or when she would see him again. She leaned against him for a moment while looking at the stars. ::

Jaxx: And if it rains, what would you have done?

::Jaxx smirked like he knew something she didn't. In fact, he did. It was storm season for New Seattle, and they came and went quite often. He was expecting to see some sort of rain, the only question was, when? At least they would be prepared for any storms. Though if it did storm, there was a change it would mess up the sunrise. Finishing his salad, he placed the fork in the box and set it to the side. Next time he got up, he would place it in the container. The salad was delicious, and even though there was a piece of cake for him, he was not really in the mood for anything sweet.::

:: She hadn't thought about rain, but it would be summer rain, right? Wasn't that warmer? She wasn't prepared for the rain, and would probably have gotten soaked before she could get out of it, and ended up heading back prematurely. But was it supposed to rain? She should have checked a report before leaving. But when it came down to it, she would have just dealt with what decided to throw itself at her nature wise. There weren't very many times to be connected to nature, good or bad, for someone who wants to live on a space ship. ::

Faranster: I didn't think there was going to be rain... but I guess I'd have had to deal with it, if it happened.

:: Looking at him, she wondered what he was smirking about. The sudden questions about rain, and her lack of preparedness made her curious about what he was getting at. She thought about what she would do at this moment if the skies decided to open and dump on them, and the only thing she could think of, is closing the box for her cake before watching the water fall on the lake. Then thoughts of thunderstorms went through her head, and while they could be dangerous, they were also beautiful. ::

Faranster: I won't melt if I get a little rained on. :: She turned and smiled at him. :: After the way we spent the evening, a little rain is a minor thing.

::It had been a crazy day, and she was right. A little water would not hurt them. They had gone cliff diving in that very lake earlier in the day, and Jaxx loved to swim. Having a little water on him was not a horrible thing.::

Jaxx: Very true.

Faranster: You know, it was tough putting on a brave face for the rest of the crew. It helped a lot with you reaching out to my mind like that, was able to worry less knowing at any minute you could be there talking to me again.

::It was something that Jaxx felt he needed to do in the situation. He checked in a couple times, making sure everything was on track and she was okay. Being in command of a hostage situation was not an easy task, and even more difficult for a Lieutenant. It was his way of being part of the solution, and at the same time he liked to think it prevented Sun from cracking under the pressure.::

:: As the evening's crazy events got further away, she realized there were certain factors she didn't mind talking about. She had been curious about his abilities, and finding that he could communicate with her without being next to her, was helpful. ::

Jaxx: I felt it was important for you to know that I was there, even though I was not.

Faranster: Glad you didn't go rummaging around too much though, or you mighta thought that I willed your shirt to get destroyed... :: She let out a slight giggle. :: But seriously, are you at odds with the elements? So far two of them took your shirt...

::Forming his trademark cocky grin, he turned slightly toward her grinning face. The Betazoid was happy to see and sense the return of her sense of humor. When he first encountered her on Main Street, she did not appear happy at all. It was like she was running from a demon that knew where she was going. Getting away from the scene was a necessity for her and part of him could not blame her. This was their shore leave and here they were, having to deal with terrorists. The thoughts of the lake were part of what kept him from getting irritated. The shirt he had on earlier became wet when he jumped from the cliff on a whim. He hated the feeling of wet clothing, so it had to come off. But her comment was noted.::

:: She turned just enough to look at his expression, while she grinned at him, she wasn't being too serious right then either. While she did enjoy him having to take off his wet shirt earlier, and then was reminded of that when she was touching his skin examining one of the spots he was shot, she wanted to keep the mood light, not wanting to be back where she had been mood wise.::

Jaxx: You know...I am not quite sure. Spontaneity got the first one wet, and an overzealous new officer put a couple holes in the other one. Maybe I should just stop wearing them?  ::laughing::

::There were quite a few things that would not look good on a starship, and the captain running around shirtless was one of them. He was just glad he did not go through uniforms like that. As a moment of silence fell over them, he kept looking into her eyes. Her hair was in a braid, pretty much the same way she wore it when she was on duty. Stuffing it into a hat was not the best thing for it, as there were a few strands out of place, but he didn’t mind at all. Taking his hand, he tucked some of the loose hair behind her ear.::

:: Sun thought about the suggestion, and wondered how distracting that would be. Least her job was in sickbay, where the image would just be in her mind and not walking around in front of everyone. She must have gotten lost in the thought for a moment, because as she refocused his hand was moving towards her face, brushing some loose hairs behind her ear. ::

Faranster: It certainly would allow you to go through less... Although I can't really talk much, this is my third outfit too, and I was prepared for second outfit change when I went to dinner...

::While she was talking, he remembered she had comment about being tossed about by the explosion on the street. Nobody had told him that she was injured at all. His smile dissipated and turned to a look of seriousness.::

Jaxx: I was not informed you were injured in the explosion.

:: Sun realized she had let that information slip, it was bound to be found out at some point. If that medic had anything to say about it, he probably would have made sure it was known that she refused treatment until she took care of the worst off team members. Jaxx would have known about her injuries sooner if he wasn't shot, or if she had been able to handle taking care of his wounds. ::

Faranster: It was no worse than childhood injuries of skinned legs and arms, was a little inconvenient at worst, but I was still able to do my job, and took care of the scratches myself.

::As she described what had happened to her, he glanced down to her knees. The modern marvels of advanced medicine were amazing. At the same time, she was a doctor and it was her area of expertise. If she required serious medical attention, she would have gotten it...or at least that is what he wanted to believe. The fact that she was okay was all he cared about.::

::Looking back up at the moons, he watched as they disappeared behind the clouds. It caused their area to get a bit dark. The lake had no outside light pollution since it was outside of the city. He found it interesting just how much the moon, or moons in this case, could light up a dark area. Just as a smiled formed on his face he saw a flash of light in the distance. It was one of the summer storms he had expected. Part of him was surprised that it did not storm at all during the day. He pointed off in the distance and continued.::

:: While she was talking to and looking at Jaxx, Sun noticed that the light had been fading. When she looked toward the lake, she noticed it was no longer reflecting any sign of the moons. Perhaps Jaxx was right about being prepared for rain. ::

Jaxx: If you have anything you do not want wet...I would toss it in the tent.

Faranster: I guess so.

::Hopping to his feet, he grabbed the empty containers that their food was in. Moving over to the cargo crate, he tossed them inside, but kept his water bottle out. Everything else was pretty much in the tent already, the only thing left was the blanket they had been sitting on, and a small light for the tent. Not wanting to get his shoes wet, he kicked them off and set them just inside the tent at the foot of his sleeping bag, along with the light. Now he was just left with a pair of shorts and a button down, collared shirt. It was the only clothes he had with him. If he did get wet, he could hang it up and pray for an early morning sun to help dry it before heading back to the ship. Once everything was set, he glanced to Sun.::

:: Sun was glad her backpack was in the tent already. When Jaxx got up and started clearing the blanket of their food containers, she picked up the blanket and shook it gently before folding it up and putting it in the tent on top of her backpack. She followed his lead on the shoes, because she didn't mind feeling the ground barefoot. ::

Jaxx: Want to walk along the shore for a bit? With the cloud cover, watching the stars will be a trick.

Faranster: Sure, but without the moonlight, might want to be careful how far we go, would want to lose our camp.

:: As she spoke, she closed the few steps between them, and reached for his hand. While she didn't want to be thought of as clingy, she was enjoying his touch. Now that she was feeling more herself, and more comfortable, it was easier to stay close. ::

Jaxx: I am sure we will find our way. And if we did get lost, at least I have good company.

:: She was quiet for a few minutes as they walked, part of her was there, and another part was thinking about the evening before. She had been too preoccupied with the situation most of it to think about him, but she kept him in her sight as much as she could while she worked. She was also relieved every time he popped into her mind to give or get an update. Once everything came to it's conclusion, she melted down on Vincent, because she was worried about Jaxx and wasn't courageous enough in the moment to tend to his wounds. Now, she was spending some quality time alone with him. He seemed to be prepared for the unexpected, but she wasn't always prepared for what life threw at her. ::

::With her hand in his, they began walking along the shore. He was not too worried about losing their way, as he had been there before and had a pretty good sense of direction. As they walked along, he started thinking of his past. He had been someone that was unsuccessful in their personal life, but extremely successful in their career. Jaxx had earned a command before he was thirty and promoted to flag rank before thirty-five. He was climbing the ladder rather quickly and his goal was Rear Admiral before he was forty. However, his personal life was a shuttle crash. He remembered being so in love with Saraa and carefree, but that was before Starleet, and he was still a boy. Since then, he had never been able to make one work over a long period of time. Marriage was close a couple times, but things seemed to fall apart before it could even happen. Jaxx was aware of his deficiencies, and the last thing he wanted to do was break Sun’s heart. The silence was finally neutralized when Sun spoke.::

Faranster: So, Mr Tour guide, since you know the place better than me, it seems like you are expecting rain...

:: Maybe it was all his talk of rain and her imagination was tricking her, but she thought she felt something wet hit her face. ::

Jaxx:  ::smirking:: That is because it is going to rain.

Faranster: Is that just from experience from being on this planet, or do you have a crystal ball? :: She joked, as she felt another drop hit her unattached hand. ::

::He had no idea what a ‘crystal ball’ was, but he had been on the planet a few times and each time was the same time of year. It was unusual for a day to go by without at least one storm, and since it had not stormed all day, he ventured a guess that they were in for rain all night. At the same time, he didn’t care. He had never been in the holodeck and made it rain. Making a mental note to try it one day, he continued to walk along the shore as he felt the drops start to trickle down.::

Jaxx: Past experience. This is their stormy season along the coast. But like you said, you will not melt. oO At least not from the rain. Oo

:: As the water drops fell, she could feel them soaking up in her hair, and on her uncovered skin, but as she had dressed a bit more warmly for the cooler night, she didn't feel them on her arms or legs, yet. She had packed two extra sets of clothes in her bag, and a couple towels, but she thought she might have wanted to take a swim in the morning, not that she was going to end up taking a late evening walk in the rain. But, as she told him, and he restated, she wouldn't melt from a little... or a lot of rain. ::

Faranster: Nope, but water might win against your shirt, again...

:: She giggled, he was not having very much luck with those shirts, and she was wondering if his joking suggestion would hold more true now that they were getting soaked. She had been glancing over at him every few steps to see how much progress the rain was making. ::

::The trickle that had started was steadily getting faster. He could now feel the raindrops all over. The sound of the rain hitting the water was now loud enough for his ears to pick up. He looked out over the lake and saw a flash in the sky, followed by a low rumble. Storms were known to roll in and last for a bit, late at night. Smiling, he turned to Sun.::

Jaxx: We do not get to really experience this much on a starship...unless Dade screws up the environmental controls. ::laughs::

Faranster: :: She was amused at that thought. :: Think he'd do that? We could have rain in some corridors, and snow in others. It might take some cleaning up afterward, but it would be pretty fun.

::Jaxx thought of the rain, and then to the world she called home. He had learned quite a bit about her species and her planet from their lunch. Now he was interested in more. There was something about being around her that put his mind at ease. Sundassa made him want to seize life’s little moments and hold onto them. The feeling she gave him was addictive and he wanted more. In his mind, he knew they would return to the ship and have duties to perform. In his past he was not always great at making time for someone he was seeing, but he felt as if he needed to try and not hold anything back. It still did not change the fact that he was not very verbal about his emotions. It was hard for someone that had grown up with people always knowing how he felt without having to convey it in words. He would have to rely on body language and actions.::

Jaxx: Does it rain much on Antosia?

Faranster: Enough to keep the crops coming in, and the trees from dehydrating. I guess weather patterns might be similar, except in my town it doesn't get as cool as it is tonight, very often.

:: It was a way for him to learn more about her planet and the people on it. He knew that Antosia was not a member world, and they had their own fleet. Years ago, he recalled their ship classes were on an exam he had to take at the Academy. It was important to be able to identify enemies as well as neutral and allied forces. As far as their weather was concerned, he was still in the dark. It was unlikely that it was like Ferenginar and rained constantly.::

Jaxx: We have varied season on Betazed, so it rained often during the spring and summer.

::Briefly, he thought of home and the fact that he had not gone back much at all. Since leaving for the academy he had only been back twice. Once for a short visit, and the second time he was only in orbit and did not speak to anyone. He spoke to his father often, as he was the only one in the family he really connected to. Leton would call or send messages from time to time, but they both had jobs to do. His mother, Bjenta, was too stubborn and stuck in her ways to even appreciate the work Jaxx did. It had been like that since he left for the academy. She never missed a chance to make snide comments about how he should be on Betazed preparing to take over the duties as leader of the 8th House. In his eyes, Leton could have the job. His little brother never left Betazed as it was, so he would have been a perfect match for the duties. For Jaxx, there was just too much family drama there and he did what he could to avoid it, and exploring space was the best way he knew how.::

:: She noticed him getting quiet after the statement about his home world. It made her curious, what was he thinking. All she knew about Betazoids she learned in the academy, and the little bit he told her. And what she knew about him, was limited to what he told her, or what she observed. ::

Faranster: I noticed, that almost everyone calls you Jaxx, do you prefer going by your last name?

:: She liked his last name, so she didn't mind, if that's what he preferred. She also referred to him by Jaxx when talking to others, that or Captain. The thought of calling him Captain or Sir, while on a date, didn't sit well in her mind. While she liked her last name, it was definitely more cumbersome a burden to be called it, so she preferred her first name, or Sun. ::

::He pondered the preference in name. It was something that he never really thought about. At the academy is was natural to be referred to by your last name, when you had one. Many of his friends continued the tradition. Though, before attending the academy, everyone referred to him as Andrus. There were a few other people that called him Andrus from time to time and he never stopped them. The fact was, he knew when someone was talking to him, so that was enough.::

Jaxx: I think the preference lies with the person talking to me. Believe it or not, very few people get close enough to call me anything but Captain, or sir. But those that do find their way into my inner circle, use both. So when we are not on duty, whatever works for you works for me. ::smiling::

Faranster: I am not sure what everyone calls me behind my back... But, I know my dad likes calling me his Sunny Star Traveller. :: She smiled. Even though she preferred to be out in space, she missed her parents. ::

:: As the rain continued to beat on them, she wiped her eyes clear with her free hand and realized her sleeve was sticking to her arm. The sand was now saturated with water, and her feet made a different sound walking on it. She was sure that she'd be even colder with the wet clothes clinging to her, but she was enjoying the walk, and again positioned herself closer to him, hoping to feel more warmth. ::

::Jaxx smirked at the nickname. It never occurred to him that she could be called Sunny, and wondered if she preferred it, or if it was just one of those things reserved for her father. The fact was, until recently he had just referred to her by rank, or doctor, and occasionally Sun. As the rain continued, he watched as she wiped her eyes. The cool evening air, combined with the rain made it even cooler. He did not mind for himself, he kept his quarters fairly cool. As she moved closer to him, he began to wonder if she was getting cold.::

Jaxx: You okay?

Faranster: It's just a little cool...

:: She didn't want him to worry about her, she wasn't shivering yet, but she was developing goosebumps on her arms, just under sleeves, so she was able to hide the visible signs of her being cold. ::

::Glancing around he noticed a large tree not far from them. Nodding in that direction, he kept her close to him as they continued to walk. They would still get wet a bit, but the tree would give them some cover from the rain.::

Jaxx: We will go over here under the tree for a minute. It will give us a little cover, and then we can head back to the tent. The rain does make it a bit cold.

::He threw the last part in so that she would think he was cold too. Though it was not the case, he wanted her to think it was okay to get back to the tent and into some dry clothes. Of course, he did not have any dry clothes, but he would think of something.::

:: She normally enjoyed watching thunderstorms over water, but she was more focused on his company and was enjoying it. She almost felt like digging her heels in and insisting on staying out here with him, but she resisted the urge and agreed. ::

Faranster: If you think that's best...

::As they made their way under the tree, there was a large flash in the distance, this time the crack of thunder was much louder. It made the ground beneath them vibrate. The storms were a beautiful thing to him and he loved hearing them. The flashes and thunder against the backdrop of the sound of the rain falling made for a nice experience, and it was even nicer with Sun. Once they were under the tree, the water did not get them as much. Turning to face her, he rubbed her arms up and down, trying to warm her up.::

:: She stayed close to him as she let him lead the way to the tree. Once under it, she noticed that the downpour had been blocked for the most part, only letting what amounted to a drizzle through. When he turned towards her and rubbed her arms, the friction warmed them up enough get rid of the goose bumps. ::

Jaxx: There, that should take a bit of the chill off.

Faranster: It does help.

:: She smiled, enjoying every touch to help her warm up, trying not to visibly shiver. As he wrapped his arms around her, she put her arms around him, just under his arms eagerly for the warmth, not realizing how the closeness was affecting her. She leaned her head onto her shoulder, with her nose just an inch away from his neck. ::

::After he finished rubbing her arms, he wrapped his around her. Figuring the his body heat would help a bit more, he remained holding her for a minute. Sun was rather tall, at least for the women he had dated in the past. They ranged from 5’1’’ to 5’9’’ in height, so Sun was a couple inches taller than Sidney was, but still a few inches shorter than he was. Jaxx was not quite sure if he would be able to date anyone taller than he was. It was just something he never considered.::

Jaxx: Better?

Faranster: Much.

::Another crack of thunder rumbled after the flash. He found himself looking into her eyes, what he could see of them in the night sky. It was quite interesting, in his mind, that Antosians had the same color eyes as they did hair. It was a bright lilac and he could feel himself getting lost in them. Bringing his hand up, he brushed the now wet hair behind her ear and softly grazed her cheek with the backside of his fingers. He could not stop the smile that was on his face. Even though the day had been rough, and the weather was not the greatest...it was one of those moments he talked about earlier. They were the kind that he could carry around with him always.::

:: After a moment of leaning her head on his shoulder, she wanted to look at his handsome face. She noticed that his hair was also heavy with water, and no longer held it's spiky form. Then, she as her eyes examined his face, she saw that he was looking straight at her, and now into her eyes. She couldn't tell where his iris ended and his pupil began, and as his hand once again pushed her hair out of the way, touching her cheek, she felt herself lean towards the light warm touch. ::

::As the rain fell, he thought about what was going on around them. He found it difficult to focus on much else than the Antosian in front of him. As the rain continued to fall around them, things seemed so perfect. Her skin was soft and he could smell whatever she washed her hair with. Caught up in the moment, he no longer cared about moving too fast, or saying and doing something wrong. He leaned in most of the way, closing the distance between their lips. It gave her plenty of room to turn her head if he was misreading things.::

:: Her mind got lost for a moment when his hand touched her cheek, and her heart started beating faster. She felt, more than saw, his face getting closer to hers, not knowing which of them was moving, maybe it was both of them. Every time he touched her, she wanted him to touch her again, and his lips looked so inviting. She lifted her heels barely off the ground to finish the distance, closing her eyes and when their lips touched, she could feel the goosebumps reassert themselves, but she just pressed her lips more firmly against his. ::

::The atmosphere was not the only thing electrically charged. After closing the rest of the distance, her lips pressed against him. Jaxx felt as if an charge was running through his body. There was a lot that could be told by a first kiss, and as far as they went it was among the best. Getting lost in the moment, he did not immediately pull back, and neither did Sun. Remaining in the romantic embrace, it eventually had to end. As they moved away, she was the first to speak.::

:: As they kissed, she felt her arms tighten, her head was spinning slightly, and was becoming light headed. Her arms tightened around him, not sure if she could let go at the moment if she wanted to. But the thought came to her mind that eventually they would have to breath, and they could always have their lips lock again if they wanted. She slowly let her heels touch the ground again. ::

Faranster: I guess I was wrong...

Jaxx: About?

Faranster: I think rain is going to melt me from now on... :: She grinned at him before resting her head again on his shoulder, her heart beat starting to steady. ::

:: He smiled as he held her once again. She was pressed against him enough for him to almost feel her heartbeat. After that kiss, his was now beating just as fast. The last few moments were enough to make him completely forget about the rest of the day, and focus on the future. It was too soon to consider them exclusively seeing each other, but as far as he was concerned, he only had eyes for her. There would probably come a day when things fell apart, but he did not want to focus on that, instead he found a little confidence in himself and his ability to make relationships work. Perhaps he was not as broken as he thought he was?::

Jaxx:  ::whispering:: You and me both.  ::pausing:: You ready to get out of this rain?

Faranster: Give me a moment to recover. :: She giggled, if he wanted to go back now, there would be no dragging of her heels, but at the same time, she didn't mind needing more time to recover. ::

:: Continuing to hold her in his arms, the moment was perfect. It was as close as he could get to pure happiness. After a few minutes of silence under the tree, he turned her around and wrapped his arm around her once more, allowing them the room to walk. As they started to make the short walk back to the tent, the downpour continued to drench them. The entire trip back to the tent, he wore a stupid grin that made him look like he was up to no good. In fact, it was just the joy of the evening. Once they made it back to the tent, he stopped at the door.::

:: She just continued to hug him, for a couple moments, making sure her legs were going to be steady enough to get her back to the tent. Just as she was not feeling light headed anymore, his arms were turning her around. She didn't want to be out of his arms, and was satisfied when his arm was back around her, she reached for the hand of the arm around her as they headed back. ::

Jaxx: Did you by any chance pack towels?

Faranster: Yes, two. :: They were the same towels she had this morning, she had let them dry on the balcony during the afternoon. :: As well as a change of clothes...

::Jaxx thought again of his lack of clothing. For him it was not that big of a deal. He was quite sure his boxers were dry and it was just like wearing a pair of shorts. Besides, the Betazoid was not sensitive about his body at all, it was not in their culture to really care about such things. Instead, he came up with a gameplan that would put her in dry clothes.::

Jaxx: Okay...you go inside and dry off and change clothes. When you are done, just let me know and I will come in and dry off.

:: Even though she was shivering slightly, she wasn't anxious to leave his sight, almost suggesting he get out of the rain too. He was also soaked, and it wasn't fair to keep in out in the rain to satisfy a sense of decency. ::

Faranster: What about you? You're soaked too...

Jaxx: As far as my clothes, I will just hang them in a corner. They may not be dry by morning, but I can deal...we are just going back to the ship.

:: She thought about that, they were going to be back on the ship in the morning, and he was going to be the Captain again, she was going to be stuck in sickbay while he was on the bridge, as if that was worlds away. She'd have to worry about that tomorrow, but for now she wasn't letting him stand in the rain while he waited for her to change. ::

::It seemed like an easy plan to him. Once his clothes were off, he could dry off and they had sleeping bags to keep them warm during the night. But for him, it was not really that cold out, but for smaller women, it would be rather chilly. He did not mind waiting around outside while she changed, it was the chivalrous thing to do.::

Faranster: You shouldn't be in the rain either, there should be plenty of room for us to get changed. I'll just take one corner, and you can take the other... :: She looked at him, part of her concerned, part of her not wanting him out of her sight. ::

::The thought of him being in the room while she changed had never been considered in his mind. Sure, they were both adults and on top of that she was a doctor. Though, he was not worried about her seeing him, it was him trying not to look at her that he was worried about. At the same time, her undergarments were no different than the bikini she had on earlier. It was just a different setting.::

Jaxx: It is only water and I have been in the rain this long, a few more minutes will not kill me.

:: She had come to the lake with only a backpack, a blanket, some towels, and a couple changes of clothes, knowing she would change at least once. But at the time she hadn't put together where she would be changing, and probably wouldn't have cared at the time, since no one was around. Now, she had a tent, but it was here because of him, and she wasn't going to let any modesty issues she might have prevent him from drying off. ::

Faranster: I insist... :: She paused. :: I'm sure I don't want to be too far from you right now.

::Looking into her lilac eyes once more, he simply nodded. There was just enough room for them to change and he could stand in a corner or something. He was not sure why he let her win, and did not stand his ground more. While he wanted to do the right thing, he did not want her uncomfortable, and from the look of things she would have been more uncomfortable with him standing in the rain.::

Jaxx: Alright, I will let you win this one.

:: She opened the tent door, entering, before moving the blanket off the backpack and tossing it on one of the sleeping bags. Then she knelt next to the back and reached in for the two towels, handing one to Jaxx, and putting the other next to her while she pulled out the next outfit, a pair of denim shorts and a yellow v-neck t-shirt. She wasn't expecting to change out of her warmer clothing this evening, so it'd have to do. ::

:: He watched as she opened the door to the tent and stepped in. He followed behind her and closed the flap. As he turned around, she handed him a towel and then went on sifting through her backpack. He moved over to the corner near one of the sleeping bags he turned on the light and began drying off his hair. The towel was over his face when he heard her speak.::

Faranster: If you just turn your back to me, I'll get changed...

Jaxx: Of course.

::Turning around, he made sure his back was kept to her. To stand his ground, he made sure he did not try to peek as she changed clothes. That was his way of doing the right thing, when faced with temptation. Once his hair was dry, he peeled his shirt off and set it to the side, and then removed his shorts. He was down to a pair of silky black boxers. Picking up the towel, he began to dry off his shoulders and chest. Looking down, he saw the slight discoloration from where he had been stunned earlier. He knew that it would be fine and his natural color would come back after a few days. Feeling a slight itch, he could not help but scratch where the phasers had hit him. Not wanting to think about it too much, he tossed the towel around his neck and continued to face the corner like a child in time out.::

:: Sun stood where she was and grabbed the sleeve of her shirt, tugging on it, trying to release the suction of the wet fabric to her skin. Once she was freed of the damp shirt, she dried her torso, the pants were easier to remove, and once she was dry, she twisted her braid over the towel, letting as much excess water out as possible before putting on the dry clothing. The air was still a bit cool, but any wind was not bothering her since she was in the tent, and even though she was a little chilled, she didn't mind the lighter clothes. Her feelings might have been different if she didn't take care of her injuries. She undid her braid as she turned and saw him in his boxers turned towards the corner. ::

Faranster: You can turn around now.

:: Jaxx turned around to find her in a pair of denim shorts and a yellow t-shirt. Of course, one of the first things he noticed was how the collar of the shirt was designed. It was a far cry from the warmer clothes she had on, and he assumed she would need to use the extra blanket they had sat on earlier in the night. The sleeping bags were thinner than some of the ones Starfleet used. They were meant for warmer climates. But with her bringing an extra blanket, he was not too worried that she would be cold.::

Jaxx: Not as warm and cozy as the wet clothes, I guess? Well...when they were dry, that is.

Faranster: They will do... Although, your arms were warmer. :: She admitted as she picked up the towel and started drying her now loose hair. ::

:: It was the only way he could think to comment on her outfit. Though he realized in the morning he would likely have to put on some wet clothes to return to the ship. It was not a huge concern, because after he was back aboard, he could go straight to his quarters, shower and change. There would not be much for Sun to do, as far as he knew. If any of the crew were injured while on the surface, they would need a physical by Jalana or Sun before they were cleared for duty. The last thing Jaxx wanted was someone pushing themselves before they were ready, unless it was him pushing himself. There were quite a few times that he waited until it was absolutely necessary for him to see a doctor, a lesson he should have learned nearly a year ago.::

Jaxx: ::pointing to the sleeping bags:: How do you want to do this?

:: Sun thought about the question, but she wasn't entirely sure what the question was. He brought the sleeping bags, did they have different configurations? Did they have special features or something, besides the bags joining at the side. Or was he meaning something else? Right now she just wanted to be close to him, and if there was a way these bags would do that, and allowed them to be comfortable, she'd be alright with it. ::

Faranster: I'm not sure. :: She paused. :: They're your bags, Jaxx... But, I wouldn't mind being close...

:: Letting out a slight laugh, he realized he had not been that specific. The question was rather vague in nature. In his mind, he was really asking if she had preferred a side. Though his subconscious was asking if she wanted the bags closer together. He began unzipping the two sleeping bags. His idea was that they could open one up to lay on, and then share the other one to cover up with. As he started setting them up, he continued talking.::

:: She wanted to stay as close to him for as long as she could, especially now that she knew they would be returning to the Apollo in the morning. She wanted to see him more once they got back. ::

Jaxx: I will set it up so we can lay on one, and cover up with the other one.

:: There was a slight pause as he finished setting things up, and he could sense some mixed emotions. He could tell she was not looking forward to waking up, as they would need to return to their duties. It was the same feeling he had sensed from a few women, and was now able to identify it. Dating the captain was not an easy task. They had to worry about rumors, favoritism, and most of all time to spend with each other. It was not always as easy as it had been on Izar. At the same time, the way the Apollo was configured, his quarters were on a deck that only had the XO’s Quarters and VIP Quarters for when they had visitors. There were very few people that would see her on that deck if she came to visit him. Usually, it was the way he liked things. It was much easier for someone to come to his quarters and not be noticed, than it was for him to walk through the ship and go to hers.::

Faranster: Tomorrow?

:: Sun didn't know what she was asking entirely. She wanted to know if she'd still be able to hold his hand, have his arms wrapped around her, and kiss him. If they were going to find moments to see each other, or not? She wanted to see his art collection, and find out more about him, and share more about herself. She knew as Captain, he'd be busy, busier than her with Sickbay, and she could deal with that. ::

Jaxx: We will find time to see each other. I will make sure you have access to my quarters, just in case you wanted to stop by.

Faranster: I can handle that.

:: She smiled, and stepped towards him, draping her arms over his shoulders like she did when she first hugged him, now able to feel more of his skin against hers. ::

:: As she made her way over to him, he placed his arms around her waist and looked into her lilac eyes once more. He felt as if he was lifted into the clouds. Part of him was worried, and almost scared. Looking into the near future, he could see himself quickly falling for her. Every moment with her was like an eternity of happiness, and he never wanted the feeling to disappear.::

Jaxx: This seems like a perfect end to a rough day.

Faranster: When those men walked into the hotel and took over, did you expect this to be the end of your day?

:: She thought that the journey was disastrous, with the hostage situation, and their injuries, but the destination was worth it. She was curious about his thoughts. ::

::Pausing for a minute, he was not quite sure how to answer her question. If he disclosed his true thoughts, the answer was likely to make her worry more about him in dangerous situations. The fact was, death did not scare him at all. In his mind, he should have died on Betazed during the occupation. He should have died when telepathically linked with the Guli scientist, and he should have died when a Hirogen caught him off guard. There were countless other times that it appeared that he was cheating death, so in those moments he told himself he was on borrowed time anyway. When they took over the hotel, he was ready to die once again. But each time he was faced with it, he would fight, not for himself, but for others around him. People depended on him, and that brought a certain level of clarity. During the situation, for him there was no end of the day. He had to earn it.::

Jaxx: No, I do not think I imagined anything like this. Even without them terrorizing everyone, I would have never imagined the day would end quite like this.

:: She noticed his expression serious for a moment, like he had been deep in thought before he answered. When he answered she nodded, wanting to hear more to the answer. ::

Faranster: What did you envision?

Jaxx: We would have had our date at the gallery, maybe one of those fruity drinks, a walk on the beach. But I do not think we would have ended up here, or waking up together for that matter.

::The spontaneous trip to the lake had given them a chance to stay close to each other all night, something he was sure would not have happened at the hotel. It was almost as if they needed the events of the night to lead to that moment. It was a blessing as well as a tragedy.::

Faranster: Guess the universe knows better.

:: She put her chin on his shoulder as he hugged her, feeling his lips touch her cheek. When he let go, she watched him pull back one of the bags. When he smirked at her, she couldn't help smiling back. ::

::Pulling her in tight for a hug, he kissed her cheek. He held the embrace for a minute, just keeping her close to him. After he let go, he moved over and pulled the top sleeping up, so they could climb into the bed he had set up for them. Looking at Sun, he smirked.::

Jaxx: You get in, I will turn off the light and join you. Do you have a preference, right side, or left?

Faranster: I suppose I'll take the left.

::Once she was settled in place, he moved over and deactivated the light source. It had not been too bright, but he had trouble sleeping if it was not dark. As he moved back over to the sleeping bags, he lowered himself into his spot for the night, and got situated. Once there, he extended his arm so that she could cuddle closely to him. The whole point of laying them out was that she wanted to be close to him. It was something he was looking forward to as well. For a Betazoid, there was just something comforting about having another consciousness so close when sleeping. He always enjoyed the closeness, the feeling of his skin brushing up against parts of someone else’s. He remained slightly still, taking in the scent of her hair and the soft touch of her skin.::

:: She sat down on the exposed sleeping bag, that was put down as the bed, waiting for him to join her. When he laid down next to her, and laid out his arm, she had to make a decision, which way did she want to sleep. Did she want to sleep with her back against him, or did she want to see his face right when she woke up. It was a difficult choice for her, one giving him more of an ability to wrap his arms around her, the other letting him be the last thing she saw as she drifted off to the dreaming world, and the first thing upon waking. She laid down next to him, letting her leg touch his, staring at the ceiling trying to figure out the answer to her question, before he asked his. ::

Jaxx: Is this comfy enough?

::The question was to check on their positioning. There was always a chance that she would have rather been on her side, and he could have made that work too. In the end, he wanted her to be comfortable and could accommodate any position she wanted to lay in.::

:: Sun took a moment on his question, and decided on the answer to her own in the process. She rolled over to face him, looking at the shadow of his face, moving her head further onto his arm, wrapping her left arm around him. As she wanted to be close to him, she was clinging for the moment, but she realized that in addition to her being captivated by him, there was a part of her that saw being on planets dangerous now, especially for the people she was with, when split ways. It was irrational, but for now she couldn't help but think that as long as he was with her, he was safe. ::

Faranster: Comfy. You?

Jaxx: ::smiling:: Yep.

:: She closed her eyes, ready for the dream world she would join, hoping that they were as pleasant as her time with Jaxx. ::

:: Once they were settled, Jaxx watched her eyes close. Leaving his open for a moment, he continued to look at her. She looked so peaceful in that moment and he could sense the same thing. For them, in that moment, there was no uniform, duty, or crisis. All that was left in the tent were two people, taking cover after the sparks started flying beneath the storm above them. After watching her long enough to know she was sleeping, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes to join her, not wanting her to be alone anywhere.::

TBC

Lieutenant(Commander) Sundassa “Bright Hair” Faranster

Assistant Chief Medical Officer(First Officer)

USS Apollo, NCC-71669

&

Fleet Captain Andrus Jaxx

Commanding Officer

USS Apollo, NCC-71669