The One With The Discussion

Posted on Mon Nov 14th, 2022 @ 5:30am by Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton & Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Sickbay/Milton’s quarters

Diane, wearing her ‘command red’ uniform, strode into sickbay confidently. She timed her entrance to coincide with the end of Rutherford’s duty shift. Once inside she looked around until one of the nurses on duty asked, “Can I help you?”

“Yes, thank you, I’m looking for Doctor Milton,” Diane replied pleasantly.

The nurse pointed towards the CMO’s office. Diane headed that way and was not entirely surprised that the door was open. She quietly leaned against the door jamb and watched for a moment. She watched him work and wondered if he knew he was being watched.

Milton glanced up from his final reports to see Diane in the doorway. Rising he closed the reports, he did not need to go over them again. Moving to meet her where she stood and smiled as he had almost stopped nose to nose with her.

"Hello beautiful." He took her hand and kissed it, then with a flurry of his hand he brought forth a red rosebud for her. "Twice at my doorway, when did I become so special?"

She took a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching as she accepted the rosebud from him. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve always been special,” Diane purred back with a grin. “Your duty shift is almost over… I’d like to talk to you…” a wistful sigh escaped her and she finished with, “…there’s an explanation I owe you… and I’ve been wanting to tell you but… the timing lately as been… less than optimal.” Her expression was as warm as it was serious.

"I could offer my quarters, as my office is not as secluded as yours." He winked. "Pix is taking care of something and I am to understand she will be a while." Grinning he looked Diane in the eyes. "What say I show you my place this time, less chance of interruptions?" He offered an arm. "I have tea and crumpets with a Purculator on stand by if you like soothing coffee. SO how long before we need you to pick up Toby?" He asked casually. "I don't want to be any more trouble?"

She slid her arm through his, "Oh, You're no trouble at all, believe me," she she smiled back at him. "Sure, your place is fine but I have to pick up Toby by 1800. He's at a friend's place after school today." Diane was confident Rutherford would be okay with what she had to tell him. He was so patient and understanding. At the same time she was a little nervous because one never knew about these things. "So, um... lead the way."

"Right this way." He informed her as they went to the right. "I actually had my quarters reassigned because of Pix, she has her own room. I said I wanted to make room for her and, well, they thought I meant a 'room' for her." He explained as they walked in. "She has her little Castle in the closet of the room.

They moved along the corridor past labs while he spoke.

"It really is a cute set up, but I rarely go in there as it is a haven for her, she has a bed in my room and it is not uncommon for me to find her in my room upon occasion, not sure if it is homesick or just lonely." He grinned. "The reason I am telling you is that Pix has little spaces throughout my quarters set up for her. Don't laugh if it seems I have doll furniture and such in the place."

“How could I ever laugh at something set up for such an adorable little person?” She replied with mirth.

They came to his door that opened automatically with lights already activated.

"Ladies always first." He offer as he usher her into his place.

The main living area was a family quarters with sofa and sitting area nearer the door, a small bar like set up with replicator, coffee machine and some wines in the back side of the bar that had two stools in front of it. At the end of the bar was a small doll table about the right size for Pix and a small cabinet with drawer and cupboard under it.

"I have a kitchenette, not a lot of room but enough for a small family I suppose, I use it a bit." He gestured to the two doors in the rear. Left one is a master and Pix the other door." He gestured towards the couch. "Get you some coffee, tea maybe a glass of Chardonnet?" Offering while he let her sit on the couch. "I am not sure what to get for this?" He seemed a little uneasy but not yet nervous.

“A chai tea would be nice,” Diane suggested easily. She noted his body language was off. Had Pix talked to him after their discussion in the intelligence office? She knew Rutherford has some Betazoid ancestry, did he sense her unease? Best to forge ahead, she thought.

"Nice choice." Milton went to the hot water and made a couple of cups, the older style percaline cups had been purchased a long time ago. Bringing them he simply sat on the sofa with her and passed the cup to her. He was fighting the Gut feeling that had him a bit in a knot. It was not a bad feeling but one that he could not read well. "Everything is a bit better with tea my Grandmother used to say."

Giving her the best grin that he could considering the look on her face.

Diane cleared her throat. “I… well, I have something to tell you. I’m not… crap… “ she became flustered at not finding the right words straight away, then with some resolve she continued, “Ya know what? I’ll just tell you the way I told Pix earlier.”

She accepted the steaming tea cup with a polite ‘thank you’. “First of all, RJ, you know I like you a lot? Right? I mean a lot. There’s… well, there’s one little aspect of my past that’s needling me and I don’t think it would be fair to you to keep it hidden. All right, here it goes.” She took a sip of the tea and started again. “It’s about Rick, Toby’s father… and I think this is happening because Rick is Toby’s father… see, there’s still a bit of my heart given over to him. I can’t make it stop. I thought I could. I thought I could leave the past in the past… but no, it’s not working out that way… but what I want you know, and have no doubts about, is that right now, right here, you’re the one I want to be with… I’ve been thinking a lot lately about us. You’ve made me want to get on with living again instead of just the drudgery of work. We seem to get along together so well… and I want that to continue, I really do.”

Her monologue finished she sipped her tea again keeping her eyes on Rutherford’s reaction. Diane hoped she just didn’t ruin the best things that’s happened to her since Toby’s birth.

Putting his tea on the small coffee table. "oh." He said simple before taking her cup and placing near his. "That could promote a problem of sorts." His smile was followed by a wink. "You loved him dearly and he was taken from the two of you. You have to live on and take care of Toby." He said slowly. "That is what a good woman does."

Taking her hands, he thought he might have felt a little tremble in them but it could be his as well, he need to be very gentle and specific in his next statements.

"Diane..." He looked her in the eyes. "Do you think I want to be the only thing you could love?" He took a breath. "Having someone that 'Is' your heart no words can describe the loss. I don't want to make you forget or Love the memory of Rick any less." Looking her in the eyes deeply for a second. "I just want to have some space in that big heart of yours, I'll even take a small corner of it means you might feel better having me around." Nodding he continued. "But Rick's memory might not be all that is here; my gut tells me there are others that make you 'feel' guilty?"

He was going out on a limb and knew if it broke for too much weight he was going to be in trouble.

"I saw the look Rick's mother gave at our moment." He admitted. "Do they not forgive you; I mean, they can't know more than what you tell them and I get a gut feeling you cannot tell anyone much and that might be part of the pain?" He tried to make it easier. "I-I could be wrong here just a feeling I get. You can tell me I am over thinking if you like. I just feel that Rick might want you to get some ... closure before you accept me with all you can And I am not scared off, I can understand a bit, just know that I am here long as you might have me."

"Rick's mom," Diane said with a trifle of annoyance. "They kept Toby from me for a long time. Xavier heard about this from Captain Drex. So Xavier, trying to help, invited Rick's parents aboard. They brought Toby, of course, and we had a nice reunion," she was smiling again talking about her son. "And they do help take care of him when I'm busy with work but I don't think they enjoy it here. I don't think they think a starship is a proper place to raise my son despite we're pretty much on a flying city in space with anything anyone could want. Emil, I think understands. Martha, on the other hand, it's hard to decipher her most of the time. So yeah, at times I'm sure they wanted me to feel guilty. I don't think so much any more though. Now I think they just want the best for Toby and that I understand... I want the best for him too." She let out a somewhat exasperated sigh, "That is what they think I can't do."

She looked around the room as she spoke and now looked Rutherford in the eyes, "I know I'm a good mom to him. They just don't see it."

"You know bringing another man into the picture might add to that?" Milton admitted. "If we do not..." He had to think. "No, I am not going to be gracious and back off for sake of 'how' they might take it. I thought about slowing down .. even questioned if it is the right time. "He smiled as he kept eye contact. "But as I said you are irresistible Milton . I do not want to make it awkward and I do not want to be without you closer. So you are kind of stuck with me." He nodded. "But I will follow your lead and not make it strange for Toby, I want him to get used to the idea." He chuckled. "SO he might not freak out if I am caught kissing his mother or something?"

"NO, no, don't misunderstand. I don't intend any backing off of anything. Martha is NOT going dictate how things between us progress. You hear me?" She flashed a determined smile at him. "And as for Toby, well, he likes you. I have not had a date since, well, since Rick... I mean, he'll be fine. He's a curious boy. He'll eventually ask me about us and I'll simply tell him. It's going to be fine. There may be some bumps in the road but Martha will come around...” and here a bit of defiance crept into her voice, “If she doesn't, too bad for her."

Diane settled herself back down after working herself up a bit, "I just want us to keep going as we are. We don't need to change a thing. I want us to keep going. You do get that, don't you?"

Milton gave her a smile and nod, then leaned to kiss her lightly.

"I think Toby likes Pix more than me; I am just the Doc who has a pretty fae hanging around me like Peter Pan." His face was a little more serious; or more like sincere. "I will take whatever small corner of your heart you will give me; I will set up camp there, being in there at all is the best news I have had for a while so I am not going to do anything but try for some ... more."

“How did I get so lucky… to meet someone like you RJ?” She slid over a few centimeters to be closer to him.

Milton leaned back on the sofa and put his shoulder out between them so she could move closer should she like. "How about a little bit of you over here where I can just have you close?" He waggled his eyebrows. “Just relax a bit until you need to go." That sly grin. "I will even try to be a Gentleman if you like?"

She flipped a leg over straddling Rutherford sitting on his thighs then put her arms around his neck pulling his face mere centimeters from hers and purred, “You can have me close… and you don’t have to be too much of a gentleman.

Milton gently guide her as close to him as he met her lips for a very long and intensive kiss that may; or may not, have been of the Gentleman sort as he also caressed her back in way he recalled from his massage training that would relax and perhaps stimulate a lady. Holding the kiss so long as it would allow before having to breath independently.

She felt the heat building up inside her as he caressed. It was heat she hadn’t felt in far too long. Diane's lips disengaged his and she kissed him along his jaw to his right ear and let her tongue run around the edge.

"Would I be able to keep a gentleman status if I made Love to you?" He asked with a sly grin.

She stopped for a moment and replied in the smallest of whispers. "Since you asked so politely... yes, you could... I take it this means you’ll put up with my little… idiosyncrasies?" Diane knew she wasn’t perfect but if Rutherford could put up with her shortcomings that would be all right.

"I am a magician with a Fae on a starship." Milton chuckled as he kept playing with her lower back. "I have a desire to make love to the woman I am holding; I hope that includes all of her in the deal... " He lowered his hands a little as he played. "I truly believe you are worth it all." He moved to kiss her most soundly again to relay his being 'All or nothing kind of vibe."

She let her actions do the talking. At this moment she felt an immense passion for the man she was with and it was backed up by the warmth welling up inside her starting between her legs and rising. Diane snaked one arm around his neck and held their mouths together while her other hand started unfastening his uniform top.

Milton is going to enjoy this like unwrapping a present before playing.

~~Later on…~~

Uniforms were strewn about the place, hair was disheveled, and two people were sprawled on the couch beginning to catch their breath. Diane held one of Rutherford’s hands and slowly kissed each finger tip… “It’s true what they say… about doctors and their hands like a surgeon.” Diane’s mouth wore a content smile she hadn’t put on in a very long time.

Gently playing at the small of Diane's back with soft circular motions he met her look with a smile of his own. "And that you are definitely irresistible to me." He liked having her so close. "But you know what might be the next thing we should do?" He had that sly grin.

"I can only imagine," Diane purred back.

"Maybe I can wash your back before you go and get Toby, clean up our act a bit?" His eyes a bit of a sparkle like a kid in mischief.

Diane's head tilted a bit perhaps with a slight degree of disappointment. "You're right. We should clean up a little bit... but we can't take too long you know," this time she offered him a mischievous wink of her eye.

"I think we can clean up the act before too long occurrs." He added his own grin. "I will have to offer more of the Surgical hands to make sure you are 'Squeaky' Clean."

“Oh RJ,” she purred again, “You devil you.” She gave his thumb a playful bite.

Milton gently ran his hand down her back from neck to lowest point with a little 'scratching a long itch type playful motion. "I prefer the term ... Roguish." He gave her a wink as they should get to the shower for a little extra time to assure she was clean top to bottom if they wanted to have Diane to get Toby on time.

“You rrrogue you,” she repeated rolling the R and giggling all the way to the shower stall. Once inside she held him tight as the water washed over them, “How in the galaxy did I get so lucky… to find a man like you?”

"We are lucky..." He reached for the soap and a special Scrubbing sponge and soap to tantalize a bit on her bare skin. "You are one Beatifully Special woman, that is for sure." He began to assure she would squeak and be clean.

Diane let out a pleasurable sigh as Rutherford gave her a thorough scrubbing. “Do you think we have time for me to scrub you down?”

"I always curb to the desires of a lady." He handed her the sponge and soap. "Especially this lady." He wiggled his eyebrows with mischief.

“You…” she began caressing more than scrubbing his chest with the sponge, “… are irresistible to me to you know… and more than just physically. You realize that don’t you?” She took some suds and placed them playfully on the end of his nose.

Milton turned and rubbed noses with Diane to get the suds shared. "Mind, body and whole heartedly." Then he kissed soundly her for just a moment.

When they came up for air she said, "I'm glad to know this isn't one of those two-ships-passing-in-the-night things." Then her face brightened a bit, "Good heavens, are we... dating now? Are we a thing?"

"We are a very good thing." Making eye contact to be sure she read him right. "Girlfriend..."

Diane covered her mouth and giggled. Then, suddenly serious, she looked back into his eyes, “Definitely a good thing… boyfriend.” She grinned and couldn’t help but laugh some more. It sounded childish at first but it was true. They were a couple, or as the younger folks would say they’ve been ‘shipped’. Diane emanated elation as they stood together in the shower with the warm water streaming all over them.

Then the gravity came back to her expression, “As mush as I’d love to keep consummating this new endeavor of ours… I still need to pick up Toby. Perhaps you could join us for dinner?”

Shutting off the shower Milton winked.

"I could make some burgers and fries," He offered. "Let Pix show her house to Toby and you would not have to worry about cooking. I might even be talked into putting cheese on them?" He tilted his head. "Pix is in her habitat, she could use the company."

Diane was toweling off and tempted to snap the towel at Rutherford's behind, "That idea certainly has merit. Toby is not hard to talk into burgers and fries... and you know he adores Pix."

Side stepping he moved closer and with a flick of his arm he poked her in the exposed side to get her to jump and maybe squeak?

“EEK” she squeaked, “Trying to tickle me again?” Diane covered herself with the towel defensively.

"Action and reaction." He quoted.

Her head tilted with a cheeky grin, “Oh, I know all about actions and reactions we can play with those thoughts more later. We need to get dressed now though.” She ran back into the living area to pick up her underwear and uniform.

Milton did not interfere as he knew how little time they had, the fact she started it was secondary as he quickly threw on some casual slacks and a missionary collared shirt with long billowing sleeves. Giving Diane the time she needed to dress, taking a brush from the replicator he went out be be of 'help' this time. collecting her uniform jacket and holding it for her to put it on.

"You mind some company, I could tag along or start the cooking while you get Toby?" Asking while handing her a brush. "No more horsing around, your choice..."

“I will always welcome your company RJ,” she smiled at him accepting the brush, “and we will horse around more... soon” Her smile took on a sultry quality as she gave him a quick kiss on his chin while she buttoned up her uniform tunic.

"Since you know where we are going ..." Milton began to say.

Pix darted out of her room and landed on his opposite shoulder to Diane, Milton only hesitated a second. "Ladies always first he offered as the door opened.

"You know Pix would not miss seeing Toby. " He added with a chuckle.

Diane wondered if Pix was in the other room the whole time while she gave her hair a quick brushing. “I know, I’ll be back with him shortly.” She mimicked his wink and set the brush down.

OFF