A Dinner Date
Posted on Sat Oct 12th, 2019 @ 8:25pm by Dan & Colonel John Sheppard & Flight Lieutenant Sandra "Fanthom" Risa
2,049 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
[JM New Haven] S1 E2 A New Haven
Location: Dan & Rilog's Lounge
Timeline: MD002 1930
Sandra was getting dressed for her dinner date, or atleast she hoped the Colonel was not busy. There was something she saw in the Colonel that made her feel comfortable to be with.
"Colonel Shepherd this is Sandra Risa, do you have time for that pasta you were talking about?", she asked.
John looked up from his work and looked to the young lady in the beautiful dress standing at her desk. When He wasn't busy, he had an open door policy. He looked to his chronometer. "I think now is the perfect time, Risa." He got up. "I am very eager for you to meet Dan. He is one of the best chefs in Starfleet. He cooked for the admirals at Starfleet head quarters. And he is a hard chef to get. For he will only go where his wife T'San goes. And lucky for us, Commander T'San is the base's first officer, so we get to enjoy his cooking." He smiled at that.
"Oh, that is great Colonel, I would dearly.....no I would enjoy eating where he is the chef", Sandra said smiling. "And please Colonel, call me Sandra, we are not on duty", she added chuckling.
"I am not sure how you were trained in flight school, Sandra," John replied, "But us marines value the order of ranks and hierarchy, there for I either address you by rank or last name. Also, since we are off duty, I think you should call me John now. You have my permission." He grinned as he held out his arm, to lead her away.
Sandra slid her arm into his arm and allowed John to lead the way. "Thank you John it is better this way. I prefer a first name basis when not on duty", Sandra said smiling.
They walked towards the elevator and John took them down to the promenade. And then he made his way to the Bar and lounge. At this time of day is was busy. He looked around and then made way to table for the two of them. It wasn't to far away from the kitchen, but was perfectly situated to oversee the place and look out to the promenade.
As soon as they seated a Vulcan wearing a chef's uniform walked to them. He stopped at their table. "Hello, John, welcome back. Would you like a menu, or have you decided already?"
"Yes, Dan," John replied. "Myself and the lady would like to know what kind of pasta's you have available today?"
Dan turned to Sandra. "Hello, I am Dan, I am the Chef and one of the owners of this establishment. Right now I have salmon tagliatella salad with mushroom cream sauce. I got a bolognese spaghetti with meat balls and tomato sauce. And a spinach cream sauce and tortilla salad with ham and mushrooms. Either dish I would serve with a red wine, made on the french Colony new Bordeaux. For desert I would recommend a Dam blanche with chocolate and rum sauce." He didn't fail to pronounce the french names in flawless French and to top it off he smiled friendly at the young fighter pilot.
"I'll have the salmon tagilatella salad and for desert the Dam blanche and rum sauce and the red wine. It sounds wonderfully delicious", Sandra chuckled.
"I agree," John replied, "I'll have the same, Dan?"
"Excellent choice," Dan said, "I will get it for you now. It will be just a moment." He left smiling.
John chuckled. "I love that Vulcan. So emotional." He looked around. "So what do you think?"
"It is very quaint. It does bring out some of the Italian nuances. Even though he is Vulcan, he has captured the Italian spirit quite well", Sandra said, as she continued to admire the interior of the place.
He laughed again, "It's good that you noticed, it is actually a mix of French and Italian styles, which are almost undistinguished from each other, both being roman in style. You see, Dan isn't strictly Italian. He mastered numerous dishes from several kitchens. French, Italian, Asian, Mexican, I believe a few other Germanic dishes as well, not to mention he is non human dishes, such as of course the Vulcan dishes, he knows a few Klingon dishes. And most recently he mastered Bajoran dishes." He grinned as he leaned a bit to her. "But enough about our chef. Let's talk about you."
"Me......oh my....what can I say", Sandra said paling slightly. "Well where to begin...I grew up on Betazed and with both of my parents being fighter pilots I played with the boys and got a nick name of tomboy", she said laughing. "To this day I am still that tomboy but now I hang with the girls too!", she added.
Continuing, "I got sent to the best flight schools and learned how to fly with the best of the best", Sandra said as a tear fell silently and she stopped speaking. Obviously something she remembered hurt.
John noticed and leaned over to gently wipe it away. "Are you alright?" He asked as he kept his hand on her cheek. He smiled warmly to her.
Not pulling away from his gentle touch, "I am alright. It was one of our training flights and two of the fighters clipped each other's wing tips and spun out of control right into the station and exploded killing....", taking a moment to breathe, "both my best friends", Sandra finished as a few tears formed and fell. "I told them that they flying way to close to each other, but being hot dogs my words went unheeded", she finished. The memory of that incident was still fresh in her mind as if it happened yesterday. "Oh dear I am so sorry, I am ruining our date", she said softly.
"It's alright, Sandra. I lost friends in the past. Its interesting you chose to trust me to confide. I am your commanding officer," John replied. He smiled warmly at her. "And your tears couldn't ruin our date."
"I am sorry Colonel, I really am, usually I don't get emotional. It's just tomorrow is the anniversary of that accident", Sandra softly said. "I don't usually talk about that accident but Colonel, the sense I have from you is that you are a kind and understanding man. One that would go out of his way to help a friend", Sandra added.
John shook his head. "No need to apologize, Sandra." He said. "And you are right, I would go out of my way to help a friend. And tears of dinner and drinks, not while you fly a fighter, can we agree on that?" He smiled.
Just at that moment Dan walked to the table with their food and drinks on a trolley and began to set the table. He then looked at the two of them, after they waited patiently for him to finish. He said, "Bon apetit, mes amis." He said with a perfect accent and a smile. He then walked away.
John shook his head and said, "He could easily be my favorite Vuican."
"Agreed John, no tears while flying", she smiled trying to hide how she felt. "Oh my goodness! Look at all of this", she said, sniffing the robust aroma of the steaming food. It looks so delicious I almost hate to eat it, but it smells so irristablely good, I can't wait to dig in", Sandra exclaimed, momentarily forgetting how she felt.
John looked smiling at her. "Eat, captain." He then poured them both a glass of wine. He took a bite from his food and just kept smiling to her.
Sandra took a bite of food and savoured the flavor as she chewed it. It was totally out of this world. Swallowing it, "John, this is absolutely decilicious. It is wonderful, it is so Italian, how in the world does he get it to taste like this?", Sandra asked.
John smiled. "From my understand Dan lived on Earth and learned a lot of dishes while he was there. He even had a restaurant in Paris. I believe he also traveled a lot for his dishes. And he told me, he likes to work with the purest and freshest ingredients. He even set up an entire hydroponics bay on the base to achieve that and I believe they have started agriculture with the locals on the colony. And he continues to learn new dishes. Even dishes that aren't from Earth or Vulcan."
"Wow! That is amazing. I mean the food is great and that it is so fresh is the biggest news out here. He has a great establishment and he could become famous", Sandra said taking a sip of wine.
John took a sip from his wine. "Well, in certain circles he already is. He had a restaurant on Earth, which was quite frequently visited from my understanding. I believe his lounge manager here tried to keep it open, but from my understanding, she lacked his charisma even though people were still coming. He even was the main chef of the admiral's lounge at Starfleet Head quarters before Captain Anderson took his wife away for service and he followed her. Which is basically our gain right now, isn't it?" He laughed.
"Oh yes most definately. I swear I must have gained ten pounds just eating this delicious food. I am going to have to go on a diet just to fin in my cockpit", Sandra said laughing.
John chuckled. "I am sure you'll be fine. You can always come with me on a marine training." He winked to her.
"Seriously John? A Marine training stint?", Sandra said. "That would have me exhausted inside of one hpur. I've seen how the marines train....they are ruthless in their exercises. They don't play.....they hurt!", she said laughing.
John shrugged and then said, I didn't mean the marine drilling. Just the exercises. You can come join me. Bit of running on the promenade at 0500, or we could the marine training facilities.
We have some excellent facilities."
"Are you sure about this John? Back in the Academy I out ran the guys", Sandra chuckled. Sandra was feeling quite relaxed at this point. Absentmindedly, and without realizing it, she let her hand drop gently onto his hand and left it there. "0500 go running? Good lord John that is too early even for me!", she chuckled again.
"Well, how about 0600 then?" he offered. And I would love to see you run then?" He said grinning. I'll even make you breakfast."
"Oh my goodness John, you are the dashing gentlemen here. Is that an invitation to your quarter's in the morning Colonel?", Sandra asked.
"Well, we'll see how it goes," John said, "Maybe I invite you over for breakfast and a run or I invite you over for a sleepover and then breakfast. We'll just have to see." He shrugged.
"Oh blast, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. But I will take either way on your approval", Sandra laughed.
John felt he hooked her, now he needed to real her in. He smiled to her. "Either way, Sandra." He just nodded. And then said, "In that case, will you join me for a night cap in my quarters?"
Sandra's head spun for a sit second before she answered, "Of course my knight in shining armour. I shall join you gladly". Sandra looked into John's eyes then leaned in and kissed him gently.
A bit surprised by this sudden action, he kissed her back, hiding his surprise. When their lips parted he got up and then held out his arm. "Shall we, my lady?" A smile on his face.
Taking his arm, "Yes my handsome knight, lead the way for your lady in waiting", Sandra said laughng softly. This was indeed going to be an interesting evening for both. Sandra was thinking of tomorrow already smiling to herself as they walked towards his quarters.
Colonel John Sheppard
Task Force Marine Director
&
Flight Lieutenant Sandra "Fanthom" Risa
CAG USS Ottawa
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