I think that's the most Josh has talked in one log. DrNellieCoyne@xxxxxxx wrote:"Timing" Josh & Zack Garrity, Patrick McEntire, N'Ellie Coyne, Vivie Lazzara The large crimson sun of Qo`noS was high in the sky above them. The warm lava heated waters of the Qam-Chee ocean washed against the heated black sands of the shoreline, as a warm topical breeze rolled in from the east. The day was hot, humid, and when the tide was out the gravity was slightly higher. It was the perfect setting to get Josh away from work and out of her corner of his and Mac's quarters, or at least N'Ellie was hoping he would enjoy the program. There were beach blankets, shade umbrellas, beach chairs, and coolers set up away from the water. That's were Josh was sitting working on the padd he kept at his hip. N'Ellie paused a moment in the football game she'd been playing with Zack and Mac to look over at the slim young man sitting cross legged on a beach towel. She smiled to herself just before feeling the impact of Zack's playful tackle which sent her crashing into the sand. The sound of Zachary's giggling echoed along the beach. Mac roared as N'Ellie and Zack went down, then called up to Josh. "You know, Bean, it's alot more fun if you actually stop working, change into the swim trunks we brought for you and join us." "Yeah, Josh," Zack added from where he lay sprawled on the sand, still giggling. "come on!" Josh glanced back at them from where he sat cross-legged on the towel, still in his uniform, and shook his head, which only made Mac laugh louder. He was actually enjoying himself quite a bit as it was. "Chicken," He called up to Josh, who actually smiled back. "What's the matter?" Mac chided. "Afraid of the water?" Josh shook his head. He actually really liked to swim. He'd just never done it when anyone else was around, or actually felt the need to undress to do it. "Come on Josh." N'Ellie added as she shook sand from her dark hair. "It's only us. No need to be self conscious." She stood up and tugged on the legs of the cut off jeans she had on over her swim suit. "I mean you can't be any more white then these capers." She teased as she pointed at Zack and Mac. Thanks to her Klingon genetics N'Ellie had a light perfect tan all year round, but after spending the day on the beach she'd be several shades darker. "Who you calling a caper?" Mac shot back,still laughing his bronzed skin glistening in the heat. N'Ellie eyed a bucket near their cooler and then winked at Zack as she made her way over to Josh. "At least take the jacket off. You making me all hot and sticky." Josh laughed at that, trying to pretend he didn't notice her gaze drift toward the bucket and shaking his head. Rolling his eyes, he removed his jacket and, after carefully folding it, placed it on the towel next to him. "That's better." N'Ellie smiled as she reached for the bucket. She picked it up and lifted it over Josh's head but in a quick turn about she ended up the one soaking wet. Josh looked down at her from where he stood, laying sprawled and soaked where he and his jacket had been only moments before. After a moment, he blushed, realizing he was staring. N'Ellie didn't mind the fact that Josh was staring at her, she was however glad that the water wasn't cold. She couldn't help but laugh as she sputtered out water. "Your gonna get it, Garrity." She got to her feet and moved forward to chase him. She could hear Mac and Zack laughing and she couldn't help but giggle. Josh let her get to her feet before he started running, staying just ahead of her until Mac and Zack decided to gang up on him as well. Deciding, though he couldn't explain why, that he'd rather be caught by her than them, he allowed her to chase him into the frothy waves then took her down with him when he went in at last. Breaking the surface of the water with Josh's hands on her hips, N'Ellie looked into his eyes as she sputtered water out of her mouth. She smiled, laughed, and then just stood there looking into his eyes. Had she ever seen anything that color blue before? Why did she suddenly want to lean in and kiss her best friend? Had she just took a step closer to him? Josh felt her move closer to him and for once felt no urge to back away. It seemed as though she somehow belonged there within his space as she was. He felt his arms go around her seemingly of their own volition. The heat and humidity rolled over them as soon as the holodeck doors opened. Vivie had never seen a place like this before. The sun was bright, the sky clear, yet the rocks and sands all around them were so dark. She stepped further into the holodeck, down onto the sand, flanked by two Marine MPs. She took in the scene before her and had to fight hard not to blush and turn away from what looked to be a private moment. "Ensign Joshua Garrity." Josh jumped, releasing N'Ellie and stepping back abruptly as he turned toward the authoratative sound of the voice that addressed him. Under normal circumstances Vivie would have been thrilled at seeing her friend happy, and looking at the young woman the way he was, but of course these weren't normal circumstances. "Ensign, you're going to need to come with us." N'Ellie's eyes narrowed at the redhead with the Southern accent. It was clear as crystal that she was security and her goons were MPs. "Why does he have to come with you?" Vivie looked at the hybrid woman who's dark eyes were slowly beginning to blaze. She knew that look, it was the look she'd have if she felt Alex was being threatened. Turning back to Josh she repeated, "Lets keep this easy, Josh." "Keep what easy? What is this?" Mac demanded, approaching fast. Zack, for as tiny as he was, wasn't far behind. "Go where?" The two large MPs behind her stepped forward a bit, but Vivie held her hand up to stop them. She continued to look at Josh as she spoke. "You need to come with me. There's some questions we need to ask you. Please don't make me do this in front of your friends, Josh." Something in Josh's __expression made it clear he didn't understand. What questions could she have that he couldn't answer here? "Do what?" He asked at last, the confusion clear in his quiet tones. "Hold on, Vivie, what is this? You're his friend, too, remember. What's with the goon squad?" Mac demanded, stepping between her and Josh and holding up a hand to halt his friend. "It's okay," Josh said quietly, as something in Vivie's eyes registered. "She has no choice. She's just...doing her job...." No, Zack thought, as he heard the resignation in his brother's tone, so like it used to be in the mines when he would lead the Keepers and G'Tal away. "No," he said again out loud, positioning himself between his brother and those who'd come to take him away. "Does this have anything to do with the questions you were asking me, Lieutenant?" N'Ellie asked as she moved protectively closer to Zack. She knew Josh wouldn't react unless it was to protect Zack, and something deep down told N'Ellie reacting wouldn't be in his best interest. Vivie looked at N'Ellie before turning to Mac. "I am his friend." She said it so softly that she wasn't sure she'd been heard. Then she took a deep breath and said louder. "I have my orders. Which are to bring Mister Garrity down to security. Please don't interfere." "But, like this, Viv? You couldn't just call him and ask him to come to you. You had to do it like this? That's how friends do it now?" Mac glared hard at her, certain that a real friend wouldn't have come to drag him off in front of his friend, his brother, and his girl like this. They'd have left him a little dignity if nothing else. "It's okay," Josh repeated, very quietly, stepping toward Vivie. As Josh stepped forward, Zack shouted, "No, you can't," and lunged at the nearest 'goon'. Vivie lowered her voice so only Mac could hear her. "I'm doing it the only way I can, Mac. If I were doing it by the book he'd be in cuffs and half way to the br...." Her sentence was cut off when the young one lunged for Miller. She stepped into the boy's path before Miller could react. She hoped that Josh knew she wouldn't hurt him. "Wait outside." She ordered the two lugs behind her. N'Ellie had reached out to grab hold of Zack but the kid was just as quick as Josh was. She did mange to get to him before he'd gotten to the redhead. She put an around over his shoulder, drawing him close to her, pressing her hand against his chest. All the while glaring at Vivie with a full blaze burning in her eyes. "I'm not going to hurt your brother." Vivie told Zack softly. "We'll clear this all up, but for now it's best he comes with me." "No," Zack plead pitifully until Josh reached out and placed a hand upon his arm. Zack shook his head emphatically. Josh shrugged, then glanced toward N'Ellie. At last, Zack quit struggling. Moving silently past N'Ellie and Mac, Josh followed Vivie toward the door without another word. N'Ellie kept her arm around Zack as they watched Josh leave with the redhead. Except for her crush on that redheaded Fedwire reporter out of Hong Kong, N'Ellie now disliked redheads with Southern accents. "It'll be ok, kid. We got your brother's back." She hugged Zack with the arm she had around him and then looked up at Mac. "Where's Hale?" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com