"Honky Tonk" By: Oridian Starfire and Jenny Bartlett "Relax, everything will be fine buddy." Oridian strode down the hallway, trying to get as relaxed as possible as he talked to himself. He did this rather often, both in engineering and out. Dressed relatively nicely, a polo shirt and long pants, he had planned out a date with Jenny, and if all things went well, then it will be a good follow up for the last night. However, right now the best plan was for Oridian to be as much of himself as possible. Sick bay had been a buzz for the last couple of days. Sara wanted everything perfect for the ever looming expectation by the visiting ambassador, which was all well and good for her. She was after the all the head of the department, but that was in itâs self an issue. There was no mistaking that the tiny little redhead chief new the meaning of âdelegation of responsibilitiesâ very well. Jenny sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. She no longer looked tired, but looks could be deceiving. She was rather glad that Oridian had asked her out, she needed a evening of down time and he was a pleasure to spend time with. A door was probably one of the biggest fears someone could face, especially in a situation like this. As he stood infront of the door, Oridian thought to himself weither or not this is even a good idea. He had so much that needed to get done back in the department. Things just needed to get tidied up, but with his staff anything could happen. He heard the chime almost before he had pressed the call button, but all of that business in main engineering didn't matter tonight. Jenny smiled at the sound of the door chime. She looked at her reflection one last time, fussed with her hair, and then went to the door and opened it. â Evening Mister Starfire.â "Good evening Miss Head Nurse Jenny" He smiled at her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Are we ready to go? I've got something planned I think you'll really enjoy." He smiled again, he wasn't entirely sure wither the kiss was appropriate or not, but he decided to take the risk. âLets go.â Jenny replied as she stepped out of her cabin. âIâm sure what ever you have planned itâll be nice, just as long as it doesnât involve cleaning and or updating anything.â He smiled as they started walking down towards the holodecks. "Oh? I thought for our date we'd go organize the medical cargo bay."After a few minutes of walking they arrived at the holodeck and Oridian checked to make the program was still ready to go. He felt more relaxed now, so was looking so amazing tonight too... "After you." He motioned to the holodeck door after checking to make sure everything was ok. Jenny looked over at Oridian with a not funny look. âItâs a good thing your cute.â Her features softened when she smiled at him. She liked how he allowed her to enter the lift or holodeck first, and how he opened doors for her. Little details like that had been long forgotten by most men. The scene that appeared before her as she walked into the holodeck made her smile. It was a nice little restaurant with what looked like a county band setting up on the stage in the corner. âNice touch.â He chuckled as they walked over to an empty table. "I got the idea from an old academy friend of mine who grew up in Tennessee. Wrote it myself, even practiced dancing a little, though I can't guarantee anything spectacular." He held out her chair for her before sitting down himself. It should be a fun night, nervousness was starting to go away, slowly though, very very slowly. âItâs been a long time since Iâve been dancing so I canât guarantee anything either.â Jenny replied with a warm smile. "Well then I guess it will be an educational experience for both of us." He laughed as the waitress walked over and took their drink orders. Sitting there idly for a moment, Oridian almost started to graph the new circuit system he was planning on using until he suddenly broke out of it. "So Sara has been keeping you guys busy over there in Sickbay? I know we've been working like mad in engineering." Jenny nodded as the waitress put her drink in front of her. âYeah, sheâs uptight about this tour thing. Iâve worked with my share of CMOs in my days and they all have a certain degree of pride that causes them to be anal about their sick bays, but itâs more with her.â Jenny paused to take a sip from her beer. âMust be the whole âfamily legacyâ thing.â "True, though with her name change I wonder if our visitors will know of her heritage." He nodded as he took a sip from his drink. "I just hope nothing goes terribly wrong in engineering, though with folks like Wallace onboard it will be tough." Conversation Oridian, think of something worth talking about. "So did you enjoy our extra free leave at the starbase?" âThey may not know but she does and thatâs driving force.â Jenny said before moving on to his next question. âThe only time I really took off was when we went with Tel and Bruce and Cam to the arcade. I pretty much kept to my normal shift. I did get to make some calls home which was nice. What about you?â "Nothing really aside from little medical arcade fun. I had to go onto the starbase to pick up some new supplies for engineering and chatted with the starbase crew for a bit. Other then that nothing, just keeping things operational onboard." He smiled and turned again as the waitress returned and took their food orders. "Yeah, I'm glad we have Cam and Tel onboard with us. Always fun to have a child onboard." âMust be kind of lonely for Cam though.â It was nice to just relax and talk to someone about something non-medical related. âTelâs a good kid. Been under a lot of stress though.â Oridian nodded. "I could only imagine though whenever I talk to she seems to be alright." He looked over suddenly as the band was tuning up. "Well, they should be ready to go soon, but first we'll eat." He laughed as the waitress came with the meals. Somehow a nice holographic setting seemed to make replicated food taste better. They ate slowly and continued their conversation. âSo what kind of dances did you practice?â "A couple, mostly line dances though. Something about a shuffle, maybe a blue shuffle or something like that. I think another one was called square dancing. Very confusing if you ask me." He laughed at himself when he was practicing with the holograms, he could have sworn that they were laughing at him too. Jenny laughed lightly. âI guess if you tried to remember what they were all called you could get confused. We normally just do what the other folks are doinâ no need to know the names.â "Yeah, well lets just hope I remember them that well." Oridian smiled again, the band was starting up their first tune. "Well, if your finished with dinner then would you care to dance the night away?" Jenny forgot all about being tired as she started dancing with Oridian. They line danced, two steeped, and boot scooted, and she had to admit that Oridian wasnât to bad. âNot bad for a novice.â He laughed as the band took a short break. "Yeah, well I guess I can learn quickly. Those last 2 I had no idea what I was doing, just kinda went with the flow. You were out there like a pro though, I'm very impressed." âWhen we were little my parents would dance in the living room on Saturday nights and when we were big enough they taught us how.â Jenny told him as they walked back to the table. Oridian nodded and looked at his watch for a moment. "Well then, its getting mightly late, and by that I mean if we were on a planet the sun would be rising soon. That plus the fact that I'm beat from trying to keep up with your amazing moves" and amazing looks he thought. "Ready to head on home?" Overall this night had gone wonderfully well he thought, and it seemed as though Jenny was having a good time, couldn't have been better. âI think thatâs a good idea. I need to be in early.â Jenny replied as she stood up. She walked along wide Oridian as they made theyâre way back to her quarters. âI had a nice time, Oridian.â He smiled as he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. "I had a nice time too, and I just hope that we can find more in the future for nights like these." âMe too, Oridian.â Jenny returned his kiss before opening her door and stepping inside. âGood night.â She said with a smile just before the doors closed between them.