<USS Avalon> "Reaquainting - Part 2" by Jr. Lt. Monroe and Marksbury

"Reaquainting - Part 2"

By Junior Lieutenant James Monroe and Junior Lieutnenant Elissabeth Marksbury

 

Monroe stopped in front of Lissi?s door and pressed the chime. He rubbed his 
hands together, feeling a certain nervousness that confused him. The doors 
opened and Lissi stood, not too far, but close enough that her eyes had made 
him stumble upon his words. He smiled, "You ready?"

Squinting at him almost suspiciously, she asked, "Monroe, right?"

"Yes.  James Monroe," he told her extending his hand, "Junior Lt., actually."

Lissi took his hand and felt a little flip-flop in her belly.  James liked the 
way her hand felt soft and warm in his.

"Did you wanna walk around for a bit or get something to eat maybe?"  James 
asked her.

"Yeah, I could eat, but I need to get a feel for this place.  Not a damn thing 
is familiar and it's about to drive me stir crazy," she confessed. James was 
struck with how soft and calm her voice always seemed to be.

"I can understand that.  So, you ready?"

"Yep," she said, smiling confidently, though she felt anything but.  

They began walking down the corridor and she slipped her arm through his.  The 
look of surprise on his face made her quickly withdraw.  "I'm sorry.  I 
thought...I mean, I assumed that we were...involved, I guess," she explained, a 
crimson rush quickly floating from her neck to her hairline.  "It just seemed 
like the thing to do - like maybe I'd done it before. Oh boy, I'm embarrassed 
now," she laughed nervously while fanning her warm cheeks, buying herself time 
to regain composure.

Monroe chuckled, for a woman who was having memory trouble, she was the same 
person he met on deck 5. "Don't worry about it too much, I suppose. If it's any 
reassurance, the way you act right now is pretty much the same as the first 
time we met."

"Where did we meet?" Lissi looked around. She knew only what she had seen, 
remembering nothing of how she had gotten to the Avalon.

"Deck five. You were on your way to the.. sickbay.. or was it getting out from? 
I couldn't really remember. We talked a lot." Monroe said simply as he gesutred 
toward the turbolift. "Deck six."

"Why are we headed there?" She looked at him.  He had nice lips.

Those same lips turned into a smile and she liked it. It was handsome. "That's 
where we had lunch - a cold one because neither of us wanted to eat really. We 
got around to talking, getting to know each other."

"I see.  You know, it's almost like I have fuzzy images on the edge of my mind, 
but when I concentrate on them, they disappear.  I guess that doesn't make much 
sense, does it?"

"Actually, it does.  Kinda like phantom images in your peripheral vision, but 
when you turn your head to see what's there..." James just let the analogy 
dangle.

"Yes, exactly!" Lissi exclaimed.

"Well, you seem to be taking this all rather well, I must say.  Not many people 
would have the fortitude to stay calm throughout such an ordeal."

Lissi just shrugged her shoulders.  "It's confusing and frustrating, but I know 
it will all work out eventually, so what is there to get upset about?" she 
smiled.  "I just feel completely useless at the moment.  I can't even remember 
what my job is, much less how to do it."

"It'll come to you.  Give it time," Monroe told her.  "In the meantime, just 
enjoy your tour and, hopefully, my company." 

"You've been very gracious, Mr. Monroe."

"James.  Just call me James," he told her as the lift opened onto deck 6.

They walked into the restaurant and James held Lissi's chair as she sat.  He 
also placed the order for both of them.

"I hope you don't mind, but you had told me before of some of the foods you 
liked.  I figured it would save you the headache of trying to remember."

"This is so ridiculous," she sighed.  "I have a feeling that I've been a rather 
independent woman.  It's just a hunch, of course, but I really dislike feeling 
so dependent."

"I can understand that."

"I wish I knew what my next step should be.  This is a puzzle which needs 
solved and I don't like unsolved mysteries."

Their food arrived and they ate mostly in silence, Monroe commenting 
occasionally on the ship and personnell.  After dinner they walked about the 
ship and there seemed to be a bit of a hub-bub about something or other.  
Monroe wondered what was going on, but figured he'd find out when he reported 
for duty.  They arrived back to her quarters half an hour before he was due to 
report.

"Thank you so much, James.  You've been a great help," she told him, stopping 
outside the door.

"I wish I could've done more."

"Nonsense," she laughed.  "You've fed me, entertained me, and kept my mind off 
of being scared and frustrated.  I couldn't have asked for a better companion.  
Not to mention that I really like your smile," she added, lowering her head and 
sneaking a glance at his reaction.

She was greeted with an even bigger smile.  "I wish I didn't have to go, but 
duty calls.  Can I see you again?" he asked, having a good idea of the answer 
already.

Blushing once more, she looked into his eyes.  The sincerity in them almost 
knocked Monroe off his feet.  Well, his knees felt awful weak anyway.  She 
rested her hand on his upper arm and said, "I'd really like that,"  before 
turning to enter her quarters.

James reached out to lightly grasp her arm, "Wait," he said, turning her back 
around.  He leaned over and lightly kissed her cheek, then whispered into her 
ear,  "Contact Lt. Maturin."

"Bye, Lissi," he said, as he walked away.



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