Stardrifter - by Dolarabee & Fatey
NX-01 Enterprise
Stardate: 23.12.2162
"Well now, I'd like to have given you this in front of your men and all, Colonel," Charles Tucker smiled, leaning in the doorway of Lt. Colonel Hayes office on Deck E. "It would seem only right and a bit overdue, so I hope you don't mind at all this news coming from me."
He had been sitting at his desk, going over the ratio success rate of his men on Gaia, or rather, their lack of success when compared to those men directly under his command. Gabriel Loman Hayes almost looked annoyed when first disturbed, and Tucker had been half expecting that so the Captain of the Enterprise kept it short and sweet. How Hayes seemed to like things best. "I'm fine, Sir." Gabriel added, trying to relax as he was pulled out of his work.
A letter was in his hand, and passing it onto the Lt. Colonel, Tucker smiled. "I'd read it to you, but its best if you have a look there yourself." Watching the MACO CO's eyes scan the letter, Charles added, "So if you don't mind me saying so, Congratulations, Colonel. From Admiral Mesu on down to me." When Hayes looked up at him, Tucker added, "I'm sure your men will think it's an honour best deserved." Charles had been Captain of the Enterprise for over seven years and tended to make semi-formal events of this types of news. Somehow, knowing the Colonel, he thought it best for the news to be delivered without the hoopla. Lt. Colonel Hayes seemed to like it that way.
When Hayes looked up at the Captain, he stood and saluted Tucker. "Thank you, Sir. I will live up to the honour." A broad smile, Charles returned the salute. "If you don't mind, I'll make a general announcement on the padds, unless you'd prefer the intercoms."
Tucker knew the quiet man too well, for Hayes shook his head. "Padd will be fine." The newly appointed Colonel looked pleased.
"See you around then, Colonel." The Captain smirked, looking at Hayes. Once he left, Tucker said aloud to himself, "Well, glad that went well." He wasn't sure why he expected something more, but for some reason, he did. Back inside Hayes' office, he tapped his comm.
"Colonel Hayes to Major McRae, come in McRae." The look on his face was proud, and he awaited her reply.
What were the odds the man would contact her the moment she put shampoo in her hair? Sloane didn't even bother answering that and turned the shower off to hit the comm panel next to the little piddly bathroom door. "McRae. What's up, Colonel?"
"I'd like to see you in my office Major." The voice was steady, not urgent, but with a hint of something going on. Hayes was excited and wanted to share the news immediately with Sloane, before Captain Tucker announced it over the mail system.
Her forehead hit the wall with a slight thud. "On my way. ETA, five minutes."
A smile crossed his faces and he added, "Make it in four. Hayes out." Disconnecting the link, Gabriel couldn't help but snicker to himself as he was busting the balls of his Major. God, how he loved to tease Sloane.
Ah-ah, Sloane thought as she turned to rinse her hair, double time. A few minutes later, she was buzzing his office door, smirking at the thought that one of these days she would show up for duty in a dressing gown with her hair all wrapped up in a towel. As it was, the braid was soaking the back of her uniform, she could feel it. This better be good.
Hailing the door open, Gabriel sat in his chair, leaning back slightly, and playing with the piece of paper granted to him by Tucker. "You're late." Hayes barked, but his face betrayed the real reprimand or anger. She'd made it in time, but Gabriel simply enjoyed being an ass to her. This was the friendship the two had formed. This was pure MacHayes.
"Just for you, sir," she quipped, studying his face and relaxed demeanour. The bugger was up to something, she could feel it. "So, what was so urgent you had to get me out of my shower?" she asked, as she started walking around his museum collection, feigning tremendous interest for one piece or another. Tanks. And more tanks.
"Did I disturb your shower? Too bad. I should have come to your quarters personally." Giving her a smirk, he announced, "We have some celebrating to do." Tucker was right, unless he had come up with some elaborate plan, Hayes wasn't much of one for small talk, "I've been promoted." Fanning the letter, he more or less was offering his orders to her.
"Promoted, Gabe?" Sloane dropped the front and approached him in three long strides. One beat and her hand snatched the letter from his fingers.
"Someone decided I've been doing such a good job up here, they felt I was no longer worthy of the Lieutenant title of Lt. Colonel." Gabriel was proud and it showed on his face, sharing the news with his best friend and right hand man.
"Who in their right mind would ever think that? I'm gonna have to make a call down there.. set them straight." Of course, her face told a totally different stories as her gaze moved from the letter to him. "Come here," she let out, grabbing his arm to pull him up in a hug. "Congratulations, Full Blown Pain in the Ass Colonel!"
Taking the embrace, Gabriel pulled her back to her in turn, a hearty laugh. "Yes. Can you believe it? Tucker most recently brought these orders down here and is going to announce it to everyone on the padds." Moving back slightly, he gazed down at her, his arm slightly cool where her wet hair had dripped against it.
"What? No big announcement? That won't do, Gabe. I'm going to rally the boys now and we'll give you a hazing you'll remember." Looking at him she grinned. "What? I forgot to shave my moustache?"
He smiled, still looking at her. "Nothing. Simply thought that you and I could celebrate here and the boys and you can haze me down at Beasts next time we dock." A light touch on her arm.
Oh. Her eyes met his and her smile widened. "Okay. Though celebrations onboard are always somewhat limited... what's your pleasure then?" She was so excited and glad for him. And it touched her immensely that he wanted to share this with her. Alone. She hoped Tucker would have told her first. She could have gotten her CO something as a gift.
"What if," Gabriel thought, "I had a special dinner made? Something different from the usual galley food." This was a right reserved for the highest ranking officers on the ship, more specifically the Captain and his bridge, but Hayes felt he'd now taken a step closer to their brat pack. Mod Squad. Whatever label fit specifically for the Fleeter Elite club. "I do know they carry thick steaks from time to time. Those potatoes that are cooked twice with the real cheese on top." Glancing over at his desk drawer, Hayes added, "We can break out the bottle I've been saving for special occasions. Year 2090 brandy, earthen brew."
"Sounds like a fab idea. But let me splurge for the drink, huh? That should certainly come from someone other than the man being celebrated." Sloane cocked her head, waiting for his response. Besides, Hayes should indulge in something other than brandy from time to time.
A little confused, because he rather liked his caramel coloured brandy, Gabriel lifted his hands. "Alright. Alright. You have a stash somewhere you haven't shared with your CO, McRae, or you need some time to order it?" Looking at her, wondering if she was going to fully take the lead on this, the new Colonel raised a brow and studied her face.
"You said dinner, right? So you don't worry about a thing. And should I fail you miserably, we can always crack that bottle of yours open. How's that?" Sloane wasn't about to tell him she had a stash. And of what. Amused, she raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"So. Fine. I'll find out how long it takes." Tapping his comm, he called out, "Colonel Hayes to special galley. Come in Chef." A glance to Sloane, there was a silly smile on his face, having never done this before.
"Colonel Hayes? I don't believe I've ever heard you call here before. Is everything alright?" Chef's voice boomed on the comms.
"Nope. I don't believe you have, Chef." A smirk to Sloane, Hayes continued, "I'd like to take advantage of higher officer special accommodations." Not knowing the man received his padd messages, Gabriel simply sat there playing his games. "Dinner for two tonight at six sharp. What will you be able to serve? I was hoping for some of your best steaks."
Chef chuckled, maybe thinking Hayes an all or nothing man. Not a word from the man in over five years and now an order that would rob Capt. Tucker of his best meal. "I'm sure that can be arranged, Colonel. Will there be anything else? Dessert, perhaps?"
"Yes." A nod at Sloane, Gabriel added, "Yes. Dessert would be perfect. We're celebrating a promotion." The man was practically beaming. "When could I expect it to arrive in my office?" Hayes thought about his quarters, but knew that was walking on thin ice. No matter how great this promotion, he couldn't put his Major in such a position.
"You did say six sharp, did you not?" Chef's voice sounded puzzled and wounded.
Sloane shifted from one foot to the other. Oops. They might have to check their food now since pissing off a cook was the last thing someone should do if they were about to eat from that hand. Or maybe use tasters? Did Chef have access to poisons? Sloane cracked a smile at how Hayes could handle people.
"Oh, yes. I suppose I did already." He was checking his request more than ordering, not ever having had to deal with Chef before. "Thank you Chef. That will do. Yes. That will do nicely." Unsure if he should stay on or cut the link, Gabriel let the line go live while mouthing to Sloane, 'Now what?' and giving a shrug of his shoulders accompanied by a confused look.
Sounding like Chef had been giving his attention to something else for a moment, he soon came back. "Ah, promotion. I see. Congratulations, Colonel. You shall have your meal at your door, office door, that is, at six on the dot. Will that be all?"
Sloane chuckled, guessing the announcement from Tucker to the padds must have just been made.
"That will be great. Thank you Chef." The man did not report to him, but Hayes could be nobody else but himself, "Hayes out." Cutting the line, he looked over at Sloane. "Our meal will be at our door, my office door, promptly at six. On the dot." He was slightly poking fun at Chef and smirked at Sloane. "Remind me next time not to repeat myself. The man apparently takes offence."
Shaking her head, Sloane was grinning. "I think he thought you thought he couldn't do his job... like follow the clear instructions you gave him..." Sloane knew the feeling well. Once upon a time.
"That wasn't what I meant." Gabriel grumbled in protest. "I happened to repeat myself. So what?" He glanced at Sloane. "It's not like I do it all the time."
"Of course not, Colonel" Sloane smirked. "Come on, lighten up. We'll get tasters and all will be fine." She was actually quite looking forward to this, not recalling Hayes ever doing this before.
Not outwardly amused, he grunted and sat before his padd. "You're a load of supporting help. Go start your day or something, will you McRae? Before I report you're lolligagging to your boss." A smirk on his face, Gabriel looked at Sloane. He was in great spirits today.
"Oh, but my boss knows all about it and for reasons unknown puts up with it. A fab boss he is," she said, with just enough sarcasm in her voice to leave him wonder if it was all teasing or not. "See you later, Colonel. Maybe try and do lunch or something?" Sloane felt like sticking by his side but knew they had too much to do for that, but lunch could work.
"We each have drills in the maco area and the armoury, so for now, hail me when you have a break. We'll have to see." Slowly slipping back into work mode, Gabriel turned his attention back to the padd. If her jab bothered him, the dead pan face never gave hint.
See, she was tempted to tell him, that's exactly what I meant about Chef's reaction. But Sloane didn't, guessing it would fly over his head anyway. These remarks, like she didn't already know what her day's schedule was made up of, she had gotten accustomed to and had stopped getting riled up over. It was just, well, Hayes.
"Sure." With that, she left his office, not letting his parting shot put a damper on how happy and proud of him she felt.
As luck would have it, the day grabbed a hold of the new Colonel and despite a few of his men daring to congratulate him without clearing it first through McRae, he seemed unaffected. Always the focus on the job prevailed. When their Major was around, she usually encouraged them to face the man, or they could read his receptiveness based on the usual verbal jabs given by the softer side of the MacHayes. She had tried him a few times, but he'd been right in the middle of judging proper stow away of explosives, so he was short. The one time he tried her, she was in the armoury and unable to meet him. When five-thirty rolled around, as the day's schedule began to unwind, Gabriel cursed silently. "McRae?" His voice called on her comm.
"Colonel?" Sloane didn't even bother with answering the call properly for what had she been about to do when the call came in? Yep, taking a shower. She would have to check for surveilling equipment, she decided. That was the only way she could explain the man's uncanny timing.
"Where are you?" He left the MACO training room, shutting it down and glanced down at his watch again to see that a whole five seconds passed by.
"Can I choose to not answer that?" Sloane replied but started the water going anyway. She only wanted a quick shower. Was it so bad after the kind of day she'd had?
Hearing the water in the background, Gabriel had to be an ass. "Brushing your teeth?"
"Ah-ah. If that's what you'd rather picture, sir, go for it," she quipped back as she started to shed her clothes.
His hearty laugh filled her comm. "Actually, I'm picturing you exactly where I'm going to be in two minutes." On purpose, he let the double entendre fill her ears. "So picture that."
For an instant, Sloane thought he meant he'd be joining her in *her*shower in two minutes. Hell, woman. She could picture that. Had done so in the past more often than she could count. "Oh, I am, boss. I am. McRae out." Without waiting for an answer, she killed the link and entered the shower, changing the settings from hot to cold.
Ten minutes later, the Colonel was out of his own shower, walking around his quarters in nothing but a towel. His wardrobe choice was easy to make when it contained mostly dress uniforms, standard uniforms and jumpsuits. Slipping into a black T-shirt and a pair of khaki greens, Gabriel headed to his office, his hair having the luxury of air drying. Arriving before six, it was an unhappy Chef that stood outside his office. "Am I late?" Gabriel looked at his watch and no, he was five minutes early.
"No, Colonel," Sloane replied from behind him. "Early, as usual."
Leaning to see around Hayes, she waved at the NX-01 head chef. "Chef. Smells delicious."
She too had opted for civvie clothes, as they were off duty. She had actually put on a dress but changed - five times - in fear people would read things into it. A shame really, as she really wanted to make her CO feel special. And if seeing McRae in a dress wasn't a special event, nothing was. If anything, it would have given him endless ammo for teasing her. But she had chickened out, thinking having chef prepare them a meal for two was enough in unusual happenings to get the rumour-mill rolling again. So black slacks and a form-fitting dark-blue shirt it was.
"Yes. It smells great. Thank you, Chef." Gabriel looked over his shoulder at McRae, a smile to his lips. "Don't we look nice?" he added, noting her hair down and flowing across her shoulders.
Dammit.
"Yes, we do," Sloane replied, clearing her throat while she made a point of looking him up and down to hide that she spoke the truth. Him and his damn tight black tees.
A long suffering sigh was let out by Chef. "Yes, you two do look pretty, and thank you for noting that the food smell nice, but will one of you going to let me in so that food can be served before its used by date, hmm?"
Breaking his gaze, Gabriel picked up his stride towards the office. "Oh. Right. Sorry Chef." Typing in the code, he looked to the man with a bit of a grin. "I'm a little new to this, you know?" Allowing Chef to go in first, Gabriel gestured for Sloane to follow in a very gentlemanly way.
Chef moved the food in, setting a tablecloth down the wooden table Gabriel liked to used for his chess games. Fortunately, there wasn't an ongoing one right now and so the space was free. He didn't even ask if it was the right spot for it, as in his book, Chef had already wasted enough time as it was, and started setting the silverware. Why the Colonel couldn't have booked the Captain's dining room (it's got a proper name for it I can't think of it right now) for this, Chef didn't know, but it wasn't facilitating his job one bit.
"Thank you, Colonel," Sloane said, nearly curtsying as she passed. And boy, did she put the emphasis on the title too. Her hands had held a velvet bag behind her back so as she preceded him in, she moved them, and the bag, to her front.
Gabriel beamed, hearing Sloane call him that. She had called him that throughout his Lt. Colonel standing, but somehow, today, it felt like a little more meaningful. Special. At least, it was said with purpose for his benefit and Hayes appreciated that. Not seeing her slip something out of his view, for he was watching Chef go to ensure the door was closed, Gabriel added, "That man sure does not like me."
"Hey, he's always been peculiar..." Sloane let trail, remembering her Popcorn Incident with the man. "Whether he likes you or not, he really seems to have risen to the occasion," she said, approaching the table. The way the cook had been fussing, Sloane had thought he would lit up candles too, if that was allowed aboard a starship.
Coming near, he noted the set up. "The man certainly take pride in his work." A smirk to his face, Gabriel quickened his pace slightly so he was almost circling her. The man could tell when his right hand man was hiding something, usually, and she had promised to bring the beverage. "Whatcha got there?" A playful phrase rarely heard by the now ranked Colonel.
"What I said I would bring..." Sloane turned to face him, her hands switching to her back. "Colonel." She met his sparkling eyes and her heart clenched in response. Why she had never said a thing to him, about how she felt... hell, that would plague her for the rest of her life. But this wasn't about her, it was about his promotion. A joyous event that came not often enough in the harsh reality of MACO life. She locked on that ghost of a grin on his lips before smiling herself. She raised an eyebrow, daring him to come and get it.
"And?" He stood there, smiling still down at her. "Do I get a hint?" Hayes lifted a hand to his chin and rubbed it in play, eyeballing her with a cocky look about him. "Or does the Colonel have to play a guessing game?" It was a long day and being here, with a status he often questioned if he'd ever see, had the man feeling great.
"A hint? The Smarty Pants Colonel wants a hint?" Sloane teased, her fingers playing with the soft fabric. "Do you remember Aftinus VI?" That was a big hint. A huge one if Gabriel ever remembered anything from that night. He claimed he didn't but Sloane's impression was that the jury was still out on that one.
He thought for a moment with a smile but it soon smeared on his face into something almost painful. A good memory. But painful. "You. Didn't." Hayes looked at her. "Tell me you didn't." Gabriel shook his head slowly, his eyes widening a bit at Sloane.
Oh, this was priceless and, as she looked at the play of emotion on his face, Sloane wanted to commit each and everyone to memory. "Well, I can always return it..."
Busting out into laughter, Gabriel accused, "What were you saving it for? My next birthday?" Hayes wondered if she even knew what day that fell on, as the man didn't celebrate it with anyone as the years grew on. "Stardrifter." He looked at her, knowing there could be no other choice with that hint.
"When's that?" she dead-panned before she smiled, now playing coy, and handed him the velvet bag that held the bottle of this accursed concoction first introduced to them by some Ferengi bandits. "Congratulations, Gabe."
His fingers took hold of the bag, opening it up and looking inside. "Jesus Christ Sloane." Gabriel started laughing, reaching in and taking out the bottle. "You're insane! Where did you get this?" Putting the bottle down, it was a good thing Chef was no longer around because the Stardrifter stole the show of the evening. "I wouldn't ever have thought of getting some of this in a million years." Marvelling over the bottle, he added, "Not in a million years."
"Been keeping my eyes peeled, that's all," she said, nearly blushing now as she had guessed he would be pleased, but not that inclined to show it. "So you're okay if we give your brandy a miss?" Another dig as she ran a finger over the gold and dark-green label. She had had to pull some strings for that one
"I think I'll somehow manage." Gabriel looked at where her fingers traced and smiled at her. "Thank you, Sloane. Really." He stood there, not exactly sure what else he could say to express the gratitude.
"Hey, don't mention it. This is a special occasion that needed some special drink, right?" And what a drink that was. She winked, genuinely pleased she had nearly rendered him speechless. There were other things she would have liked to tell him but they weren't appropriate. At least not unless she drank that whole bottle to herself. "Come on, let's eat before Chef finds out we let his hard work cool down."
A chuckle, Gabriel gestured for her to sit, taking a seat opposite. "Alright. I don't need the man cutting me off from decent food." Used to the galley, as he liked to eat with his men, Hayes waited until she were seated before proceeding. "Shall I?" A gesture to the unopened bottle and empty glasses.
"Please." Come on, Gabe. This is me, she wanted to say. He was just so... gentleman-like this evening, it was making her nervous. She removed the covers from their plates and picked up her napkin. Boy, that didn't happen often and frankly, she couldn't remember ever doing this with him. Sharing meal somewhere other than the Beasts or the galley. "So what is it you remember from that night?"
"I remember drinking so much that I had no idea how I got to bed that night. I remember that I was four years into being a Major and vowed I could never again act like a god damn enlisted man with my men. Getting drunk is fun, but in front of all the men....." He let the sentence die, allowing her to fill in the blanks based on what she knew of him. A smile to her, he poured the drinks and lifted his glass, "Well. Here's to getting drunk." Since that time, while he still drank with his men, Gabriel never allowed himself to lose that much control.
With the exception of the time he was with her for her promotion at Beasts. A memory that he cursed especially now.
Sloane remembered that night. Remembered the effects of the drink very well too. It wasn't so much a drunken feeling as something akin to getting high. They weren't exactly 'close' then and so McRae had kept her distances that night but she always wondered how her CO was when truly letting go - as he had that night. "To you, Colonel. And to getting drunk."
A light laughter to his lips, Gabriel clinked the glasses and tasted the off-world wine in a healthy manner. Wine or whiskey. Moonshine or hard proof alcohol. What label it really held a better versed man than he would be needed. All Hayes knew was that the drink was strong. He was with Sloane. A great meal was before them. Setting the glass down, he began to cut into his meat, glancing up at her every now and then. Falling into that famous Hayes silence.
The way the liquid spread around in her mouth and felt on her tongue was exactly how she remembered it. Oh, it was worth all the teasing and questions Seth Yuskovski had pestered her with when she asked him for that particular acquisition. She also remembered how it numbed the face so after another nice sip, she put her glass down to get on with the meal while she could still taste and enjoy it. Not phased by the colonel's silence, Sloane stole glances his way too and when their eyes met one too many times, she chuckled. "What?" Her fork balanced between index and middle-finger while she waited for him to say something.
"Nothing." A smirk as he took in a bit more drink. "The meat's really good, isn't it?" Making small conversation, it was a true statement for Chef had outdone himself with the meal. "I can't say I've ever eaten anything so good in over my entire decade aboard here. Tucker and Archer have been holding out on us."
"Well, I don't know about Jonathan Archer, but yeah, Trip has certainly been keeping this quiet..." She went for another bite and smiled around her mouthful, before swallowing it with a hmm-hmm look on her face. "Thanks for doing this, Gabe... for inviting me."
A genuine smile to his face, Gabriel gave her an almost regal nod and smiled. "You're welcome. I can't imagine spending my promotion celebrating with anyone else." Everything tasted just how he remembered it being back on Earth. A delightful memory of his youth.
"Thank you. It's an honour." She drank more of the Stardrifter, a rare find in these parts, and recalled their rocky start as colleagues. There were no talks of team or MacHayes some five years ago. In fact, wasn't it about the same time of the year, six years ago, that hell took shape for them both when they were trapped underground, sharing their body heat on some frosty ledge? It had turned out to be an odd hell, granted, but if someone had foreseen this picture of Hayes and her celebrating the man's promotion over a meal like this of few years later, she would have called them crazed and that it was likely to happen over her dead body only. It just went to show how you never knew what the future held.
A raised brow, the man now known as Colonel studied Sloane, wondering if she was pulling his leg, being sincere or simply trying to trip him up. Given their past history, anything was possible. Staring at her, not eating and not drinking, Hayes waited. When the expectation didn't come, Gabriel finally broke, "Well. Where's the rest of it?" A smile, he helped himself to put a large chunk of meat on his fork, keeping the cooked flesh on the plate. "I'm expecting you to bust out laughing at any time Sloane, so please. Don't keep an old fart waiting." A small reminder to himself, more than anything, that he was practically ten years her senior.
Another reminder to himself, if anything, that he had his chance the last promotion and she flatly turned him down. 'You don't want this?' The answer couldn't have been made any more clear.
'No.'
"It's a funny joke though." Appreciative of the digs he always received from her, Gabriel ate the meat, letting the red juices of the inside flow down his throat. An odd thought, not having eaten meat like this in over a decade, a small flavour of the savannah came through. Sitting around a campfire. Eating freshly killed game.
Sloane blinked and carried on eating for a moment, a sigh of appreciation escaping while she mostly kept her eyes on the china. "I meant that," she finally said, a glance at his face.
"Oh." Gabriel blinked, a bit of a smirk forming. "All these years, and sometimes, I still can't tell when you're serious and when you're busting my balls." A shake and the man continued eating. After a while, he added, "I suppose overall it's best that I don't know exactly what you're thinking most of the time." Hayes teased his right hand man. "I'm sure what I get is the clean version."
Hell yeah, Sloane thought. Censored and stripped bare of... well, anything an XO shouldn't be feeling for her CO. Especially when that CO was all proper like and by the book. "I could say the same thing about you, you know?" She raised her head and gave him a smile. You could guess many things about Hayes, and Sloane had become pretty good at that, but you never knew for sure because he wasn't the type of man to come out and say it. After all this time, she still didn't know where on Earth he was born. Or how many siblings, if any.
"Nope." He finished his meal and poured them both another glass of Stardrifter. "I think you hear all my insults, disappointments and ill-approving looks first hand." A grin, Gabriel put the glass to his lips and drank a little heavier now that the main meal was over. "Mmm. This is good, Sloane. I definitely owe you for this one."
"You don't owe me anything, Gabe." She shook her head, pushing her plate away a bit. "And as for your insults, you're right; I get those loud and clear. That doesn't mean I know what's going on in that head of yours..."
"You wouldn't want to know what goes around in there," he teased. "It's a messy place."
"Hard to believe..." She drank from her glass, her eyes blinking close as the liquor was tasted quite heavenly. "Given how tidy you keep this place." Her gaze went from him to around his office and back on him. Then again, maybe she liked messy places.
"It's all part of my plan to keep you guessing." There was dessert from Chef too, but Hayes had something else pop into his mind. "Would you like to dance, McRae?" Gabriel took another drink of the Stardrifter, finding her gaze likable.
Dance? Her eyes must have popped out in surprise but she found herself nodding. "Sure."
Feeling really good, Gabriel stood and moved over to the wall unit that had his pre-programmed music. Finding one of his favourites from the Rat Pack, he turned and smiled. "This is really old, but like classical music, I like it." Dean Martin began to sing and Hayes moved near her, offering a hand to help her up.
Sloane couldn't say she recognised the track but the musician in her couldn't deny its appeal either. Grinning, she grabbed his hand and followed him. The alien drink was working its magic and the major was already tapping to the beat, her hand on her thigh. "Didn't know you liked to dance, Colonel..."
"I have my moments." And usually they were on dates that were arranged. They were never with military MACOs and he glanced over at the Stardrifter, remembering how it effected him last time. Not exactly drunk. More of a feeling that he wasn't in control. Gabriel decided he rather liked that right now. Taking her hand, placing his other safely on her waist, he led Sloane in a simple dance. Keeping his distance as her reminder of his title demanded.
"You certainly have," she agreed with a nod. Her free hand settled first on his shoulder but as Gabriel moved graciously and she quite happily followed his lead, it moved to the back of his neck. Not that it was in any conscious move on her part.
A slowish dance, Gabriel cocked his head to one side, and looked at her. How often did he want to dance with his woman? Be with this woman? Tell her how beautiful her eyes looked when she was angry or fighting hard out on the field? That he nearly died when he took her in his arms after Ganges. How at the time he could have court-martialled Merrick for allowing her to get hurt at all.
Her eyes on him, Sloane studied his face lazily before meeting his gaze. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but as always, she could discern much going on behind his eyes, beneath the surface. Not that she was privy to much or any of it. Her fingers flexed in his hand and at his neck as she positively warmed beneath his stare.
"What are you thinking?" He couldn't hold the gaze and remain the silence. Or rather, if he did, Hayes would be violating about three codes of a superior officer and all laws on the frat rules.
"That this is real nice." She smiled softly, tilting her head to mirror him. Damn the Ferengis and their booze, Sloane was almost feeling... giddy. "You're obviously thinking about something too. Care to share?" She liked that warm hand at her waist.. could feel it as if it was on her bare skin.
He almost hesitated saying it, but Gabriel's tongue was looser than the tight hold he usually held on his mind. "Ganges." Hayes meant it as a term of endearment, like finding her gun. Every time she was hurt and he stood silent over her bedside.
Sloane blinked, wondering why he would cling to painful moments when this here was so pleasant. She gave him a tentative smile, guessing it could be because of those moments that this might not be taking place at all. It had been a close call; she didn't kid herself. And on a bad day, she still felt that rod poking through her leg. "We pulled through. And you found my sling..."
"You didn't give me much choice but to find it." A warm smile, looking down at her. Like the cat that brought back the dead mouse at the door step, so had the CO found her gun and presented to her, expecting a grand reward. What that reward was and to whom it went to, he never knew. All Gabriel knew was that he had for a long time loved Sloane McRae and under different rules, he would be kissing her tonight instead of minding his distance.
It was bad enough he was dancing with her, and that was a guilty pleasure he allowed himself.
"I didn't?" Sloane met his gaze. "It's not like I was in any shape to go after you if you hadn't found it..." she teased, her hand squeezing his to let him know his attentions were never lost on her and that particular one meant a lot to her.
Something in his eyes caught her attention. Something she had seen before. Something that always made her question if the feelings she harboured for him were really one way. But Sloane had been down that road before and only pain waited for her at the end. She had come to think that she saw what she wanted to see. Given his actions, Gabriel felt nothing more than what good friends and work colleagues felt for each other. Yeah, but he's got you alone in his office... nothing out of the ordinary there. What about the wine and dine... we're celebrating his promotion. The dancing... well... Sloane was a little dumbfounded about that but she would enjoy it no matter what it really meant for her dance partner.
The smile on his face was genuine when she squeezed his hand. Damn. He wanted to kiss her. Even if it had to be a chaste kiss on the cheek or forehead. The kind he stole when she was unconscious and no one else was around. This was his Sloane. His. Gabriel knew it and he spoke in his usual manner, "Had I not gotten that gun, Sloane, you would have been out of that bed, wrestling with the doctors until they forced me to put you in the brig." It was a light joke on his part, and the music died down and changed to something a little faster. More upbeat.
"Possible," she conceded with no remorse, a bright smile in answer to his. "Would you have locked me up?"
"Possible," the man echoed and slowed the dance. "How about another round?" Gabriel was feeling good and he did not want that to end with the music changing. She wasn't interested in return, he knew that. He was ten years her senior and her CO. Had there been any locking up going on, it would have been under his watch in a very intimate setting.
Gabriel couldn't tell her all that of course so he slowly withdrew from the dance and made his way back to the table. "Chef will tan my hide if he sends someone to clear this and the dessert hadn't been touched." Picking up a plate, he offered her the cake like substance.
"Of course. Got it to drink not to look at it," she quipped, unable to not tease him even if she knew it was that smart mouth he hated about her. "Thanks," she said, taking the serving of cake. She picked up the fork, twirling it in her fingers while she waited for him to get his share of cake.
Pouring the drinks, he put them near where they stood at the table, picking up his plate and giving Sloane a wink as she waited for him. "Dive in because this looks so good, I may finish mine quick in order to have yours." Moist. The cake was moist and firm in his mouth. The dark chocolate melting instantly as his tongue made contact. The man was quick to wash it down with some Stardrifter, not allowing a moment to pass and not be savoured.
"Here then," Sloane offered, hovering a forkful near his mouth. The near-orgasmic look on his face as he tasted the cake was worth giving up some of her cake to see it again.
The different dynamic took an instant to register in his mind. Gabriel looked at her, down to the fork and leaned in to take the cake. His lips wrapped around her fork and slid back, his mind wandering elsewhere as he knew what else had touched the fork. 'You're a bad man, Hayes,' the silent thought came and plundered his thoughts as Gabriel stood upright once more, swallowing the dessert. "Delicious."
"Yeah..." Held captive by those lips, her voice nearly broke on that one syllable and her eyes fell to her plate as she brought her fork down for another morsel. That man would be the death of her.
Watching Sloane, Gabriel could see his tries for advancement failing yet again. Why he still tried after all this time had passed, the man couldn't tell or he wasn't honest with himself. He had always loved McRae and seeing Sloane in his quarters like this. "How about that drink?" Hayes took the Stardrifter and emptied his glass. When in doubt, go on auto pilot and do what MACOs did best. "You're behind, McRae." The bottle would be empty after he poured himself and her another, so he eyed her full glass before challenging her. "Catch up."
She looked up, shaking herself from the grip of her desire for him. She had promised herself to let go of that so many times, why could he still get to her like this? "You doubt that I can?" She put on a brave face to hide her disappointment. Would one kiss had been too much to ask? Too much from that man as it was wholly against the rules. She grabbed her drink and eyes locking with his, she downed it. Air Force or Marine, they could all drink when it came down to it.
"That's better. I thought perhaps you were wanting to see me get silly solo over here." Taking the glass from her hand, Gabriel poured them both the last of the Stardrifter and set the bottle next to the empty dessert plates. "Cheers, McRae."
There were a few things she would want to see Gabriel Loman Hayes do, but getting silly wasn't one of them. At least not solo. "Cheers, Gabe." She lifted her glass and took a small sip for the taste of it before downing this one as well. The cake had been moorish, the liquor a wonderful hot trail down her throat and his company, well, she would have him dance her around his office again if only to be touched and held by him.
"Now I have to catch up." Downing the last drop of the Stardrifter, the Ferengi liquor warmed his stomach and began to travel in a slow manner to his brain. A very loose feeling overcame the new Colonel and he smiled at Sloane. "No more." He almost seemed disappointed as if he were a child with his toy taken.
"That's where you're wrong. Told you I'd take care of the drinks." She nodded towards the table. Or actually underneath it. There, under the tablecloth near one of the legs, sat another velvet satchel, thanks to Chef. Sloane had given it to the man to smuggle it in without the Colonel's knowledge. She figured if they were still standing after the one bottle she would offer him, a second would come handy. His promotion deserved no less than satisfaction, not having him left wanting more.
Gabriel's eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he stared at Sloane. "You've got to be joking." Moving over, sure enough, he pulled up a corner and there was another waiting for him and her to polish off. Glancing up over the table at Sloane, Gabriel inquired, "What do we have on our schedule tomorrow morning?" The last time he did this, he was throwing up all hours of the morning because he was talking to all his men instead of eating. Now that he thought about it, he did a little more than throw up.
"Nothing that can't wait." Sloane had made sure of it. "But you can always keep this one for later. For another occasion..." She was amused she had managed to surprise him so. A rare thing.
"Do we want to do that?" He was on the border of feeling good and loose, going with it. Then the talk of responsibility kicked in and the idea of spending the night worshiping the ship's head.
Well, she certainly hadn't expected that much dawdling on his part. A bubble burst, Sloane just shrugged. It was his day, not hers. She wouldn't push him to get piss drunk with her if he had other plans.
That shrug certainly didn't help. He was all ready to drink this with her, but then she had to bring up saving it for another time. Shit. Standing, his body felt good and his mind wanted to open the bottle and see just how far they could push themselves. Acting sober when it was clear to him, he was not. Hayes stood there, his hazel eyes looking right at her.
"Gabe, you just made Colonel. If you ask me, we should see the bottom of this bottle if not the next, alright?" She cracked a smile, trying to read him. Why could it be so easy between them and then shift to this in the next breath. After all, they could all die tomorrow and Colonel wasn't something she ever thought she would make herself. Best celebrate the man who could. Yes, let's give this promotion its due. They could always go see Phlox come morning if the hangover was too horrid. "And putting up with you certainly means this woman deserves another dance."
Those were words he needed to hear and now his mind was wondering what she really meant. Did she really mean she wanted to dance in general or dance with him. God. Why was he her CO? This would be so much easier if she worked maintenance. Then he could have a nice, good old fashion affair and enjoy it. "Alright." Gabriel did smile and opened the new bottle, pouring in a generous amounts.
"Great." She nodded and lifted her glass once more. "To you making Colonel and to me for putting up with you," she quipped, her eyes merry and softening her words.
"Fuck you, McRae." Gabriel laughed, toasting her back and drinking from the glass. He had every intention of shooting it, but figured it might be wise to remember a little bit of this evening. "You should be so lucky to have another CO."
Lucky if that meant they would be on different ships, not under direct line of command. Lucky if she knew the man before her felt like she did, that her transferring to another ship would mean they could have a future together of another kind... but even then, not working alongside him, watching his back and having him watching hers, would be a lot to give up. No, 'so lucky' would be if they could hit it off *and* stay right here, doing what they did best. As that would never be allowed, Sloane settled with being lucky, which was to have him as CO.
"I'm perfectly happy with the one I have right now. What's the saying? Better the devil you know?" She chuckled and downed her own glass. "Now how about that dance?" Alright, three shots in a row and she was really starting to feel them now.
He set his glass down as well, "The devil indeed." Moving over to the music, he forwarded a few songs ahead and let another classical slow piece come into play. "My dance card is full McRae, but I'll make an exception." Taking her raised hand, Gabriel began to slow dance with her once more. Careful with his distance and kept it proper for a CO and XO that interacted in this manner. Almost like a father dancing with his child.
She let him lead. Dancing was one area she would definitely not start picking at. Though how much came from the effect of the booze, she would probably never know, but Sloane thought him a wonderful dancer, intuitive and graceful. So odd for a soldier as stiff as he. Must be a matter of balance. He couldn't be all rigid all the time, he would break.
"So how does it feel?" she asked after a moment, one hand just above the collar of his t-shirt and her head beside his, slightly inclined towards his but not touching. Her eyes were closed and she was letting the music through her, following Gabriel's steps and sways.
Turning them to the slow rhythm of the music, Gabriel sighed, "Very good." A bit of a laugh, as the Stardrifter was leading this more than Hayes was. "Do you remember that time we were stuck in the fallen tunnel? On that ledge? I swear I was going to push you off." The memory was a good one, in hindsight, and Gabriel began to laugh. "I swear, for me, you finally decided you wanted to be a leader instead of play leader. So god damn independent, Sloane. I was beginning to wish I'd missed."
She had meant how it felt to have made it that far, but this would do. Grinning, she turned her head to look at him a bit. "You saying you wished you had never reached to catch me?" She chuckled. "I can't believe that... You'd miss me."
"Like a God. Damn. Hole in my head." Gabriel turned to look at her, the wolf stirring slightly, smelling the scents of her hair and clothes. Hayes had to force those feelings back down and he shook his head at her. "If I could go back and do it again, I might simply shoot you and push you overboard. No one would have been able to get the body." A devilish grin to his face as he turned their bodies around at an easy pace with the dance. "I would have rid myself of your torture for years. Scott. Free."
"Hmm," Sloane let out, contemplative. "Have I been riding you that hard?" Hell, if anything it was the other way around, though things had turned a lot easier with time.
It was a loaded question and the man couldn't help himself, thanks to the Stardrifter. "You. Riding me hard?" He started to laugh at the impossible thoughts that were now coursing through his veins. "Oh, I'd like to see that one, Sloane." It was a double entendre. On one hand, it could mean her being his boss. On the other... well. The man knew he was going to hell for these thoughts. Military hell, but hell all the same.
It was only when she heard him repeat it that she realised what she had just said, or at least how it could be taken. Joining in the laughter, she shook her head. Shit, she hadn't meant that but now that he was teasing her for it... she tilted her head and grinned at him mischievously. "You couldn't handle me, Gabe."
"Bull shit." The man laughed. "I can handle anyone." Giving her body a dip, because why not? Gabriel laughed, "You couldn't handle me."
Arching her back to follow his motion, her hair touched the ground before she looked up at him. Hazel eyes sparkling that sent a jolt through her. "I'm always willing to try anything once..."
God.
Damn.
It.
The Colonel looked at her, and held her like that. Looking to match her eyes and that look. Was he just high or drunk or both in reading into her words. Should he pick up where he left off outside of Beasts for their last promotional celebration? He was about to say something clever when his boot slipped, and he dropped her. Hayes too stumbled and caught himself on the ground. He looked at her with a shock and surprise element to his face, but soon, seeing she was alright, Gabriel started laughing. Put his forehead to the floor and began laughing as if this were the funniest thing ever in the world to have happen.
He couldn't stop.
Past the shock of him letting her fall, and of him cracking up over it, Sloane started giggling. Giggles that soon turned into a full blown belly laugh as she bent in two and rolled on her side. Oh god. Whatever moment they had been having then had truly evaporated now and with tears streaking down her cheeks, she struggled to get the words out. "Told... I told... you... couldn't, fuck.. told you... you couldn't handle... me... hell, Gabe...!"
Pounding on the ground, hearing her try to form a sentence, he would have been rolling if there was room enough in his office for it. "God. Dammit. McRae!" He almost couldn't breath. "You weigh. Too. Much!" For whatever reason, Gabriel thought that was the funniest thing he could have said, and he rolled so he was half on the wall and half on the floor. Tears down his face. "Can't handle your weight!"
What made it more funny is he on many training or mission situations carried her body, with an extra twenty pounds of equipment easily up flights of stairs or whatever the rough terrain. This made Gabriel laugh more.
"Oh, man..." She tried pushing herself to a sitting position while catching her breath. But she couldn't help being pulled back. His laughter was contagious. "You're one sick fuck," she managed between chuckles. Her hand shot out for the bottle on the table, her body precariously stretched out to reach. Bottle in hand, her fingers grabbed at the glasses. She fell back roughly against the wall, still snickering and panting. "Here..." She aimed the bottle to pour into the glasses but was more of less successful as she her body still shook with giggles. "Let's drink to you and your little feeble arms, shall we?" Wide smile that split her face, she offered him a glass.
Laughing, Gabriel left the glass in her hand and grabbed the bottle. "Fuck that, McRae. Marines drink!" He left her holding the glasses and put the Stardrifter bottle to his lips, drinking direct. A sideways glance, the man smiled, a bit of the liquid seeping out to trickle down. His tongue soon took care of it and he thrust the bottle towards her. "Fuck the glasses. Fuck the Air Force. Fuck the Fleet!" Hayes was laughing, insulting her but with the best intentions.
"Nah, nah, nah, nah..." She pulled back a bit, definitely looking sloshed. "I'm not wasting those!" With that, she downed one and blinking, a grimace on her face, aligned the next one with her mouth.
"Fuck you, McRae." Gabriel put the bottle near his lips and watched her out of the corner of his eye. "I'm going to race you." He decided, sloppily moving the bottle near the one empty glass and refilling it. Most of the liquid went into the glass, but a large portion slopped onto the floor. "You made me spill." He was laughing again, putting the bottle to his lips as he half spoke, half choked, "Go!"
Gabriel was determined to finish the bottle before she polished off her two glasses.
"No. Fuck you, Gabe," she returned, damned sure she hadn't made him spill a drop. "Hell," she slurred, throwing back the two glasses at an impressive speed for her current condition. She choked a bit, eyes watering. Her hand swatted the bottle away from his mouth. Stardrifter sloshed and spilled, the cat batting the mouse away from the hole. Gabriel felt his shirt become damp, but continued the tight hold, trying to keep her from taking away his present. The Ferengi drink was damn good and he was pissed that she was making him spill all over himself. Never mind the fact that it was a waste of good alcohol.
"Be damned if I'm gonna be beaten by a god damned Marine!" She grinned widely again, dropping her hands to the floor, the glasses, forgotten, rolled away, and she reached for the bottle. Oh, yeah. She was getting happily hammered. She nudged his shoulder as she studied the bottle held high near her face. "Any left? Them glasses are two fiddly..." she commented as she wiped her chin with the back of her hand. The liquor she'd dribbled transferred there and made it sticky. She eyed it with a funny look as she fisted her hand.
At first, Gabriel resisted, sucking and swallowing as much of the bottle he could. His firm grip fighting against hers until the spilling drink began to streak down his chin and was oozing down his neck. Drunk. High as an airborne shuttle, Gabriel gave in, the last of the bottle splashing in a soak against his chest. Pushed away, he started to laugh, his hands resting on his sides as she finally succeeded in her victory over possession of the bottle. Hayes' head was leaning on the wall while the rest of his was cramped up on the floor. Laughing. He couldn't stop laughing. There was a few swallows left in the bottle for McRae, but the marine couldn't quiet himself from her words.
"Fiddly."
The word sent him into another fit and despite being drenched from wasted drink, Gabriel was having the time of his life.
"Hey!" Sloane whined as she chuckled to see him in such a fit. He was making fun of her, damn it! She took a swig and looked at him. Yep. Room was spinning alright, and Gabriel was the only thing anchoring her, the only thing she was able to keep a focus on. Well, him and the booze. As she fought him for the bottle, her eyes had lingered on all that sweet liquor spilling down his chin and along his throat. And now that he had his head thrown back, leaning against the wall, her eyes strayed there once more. Her hand unsteady, like only someone totally shitfaced had, she reached for his cheek. She wiped it with the pad of her thumb and then moved to his chin. She pulled back her hand, bringing her thumb to her mouth, sucking the Stardrifter it had gathered.
Sweet Jesus.
Her brain well passed any sense of what she was doing, only her body kicked in. She tasted the alcohol but she also tasted him. A frustrated moan passing her throat, her gaze lifted to his eyes before she struggled to push herself from the floor to her knees to climb on him. Noting she still held the bottle in one hand, she cracked up in his direction, a surprised look on her face and took another swig before handing him his gift back. "Here..."
He took a hold of the bottle, putting it to his lips but watching her. Sloane McRae had his full and undivided attention. When she touched him like she did, crawled over him in such a manner, there was little Gabriel could do but be aware. The older man's head swam and he felt dizzy but forced himself to keep watch. She was touching him and it was all he could do to remain still. The wolf in the night guarding a doorway that was howling to be opened.
Hands grabbing hold of Gabriel to keep her balance, Sloane valiantly tried to carry herself enough to manage to straddle his legs. Her eyes were back on his neck and the hollow of his throat where she could spy more of the spilt drink. The fact she had just been holding the bottle and could have drunk from it was lost on her. No, her mind, such as it was, held only one thought. The intoxicating mix of the liquor on his skin.
Finally settled on him, as well as she ever would in their current state, what her lips were about to do and to whom - the enormity of it considering their rank and position in the chain of command and the fact this was Tight Arse Hayes - didn't register one bit. She was flying. He was with her. That was all that mattered. She saw what she wanted and went for it.
Leaning her head forward, she kissed his neck before pulling back. "There's more here," she said, as if it explained everything. Along with her accelerated heart rate and breathing, and the charge in the room her body now seemed to hum with. Her mouth went back to his throat, lips parting to lick the alcohol off, to taste his skin as her senses were drowning in him. Hands clenching on his shoulders, she could feel him react to her and damn it all to hell if she didn't feel light-headed and totally off her nut.
Jesus.
Fucking.
Hell.
Those were the words that went through his mind as Gabriel gulped and tilted his throat back to expose it to her wants. She was kissing him. Fuck in hell, she was kissing, touching, licking and straddling him. Was this right? Was this correct? He was drunk off his ass and the alien alcohol proved that he was out of his right senses as well. Sloane McRae was many things, but returning affection as he liked to deliver it was not ever in the cards. 'She must really be drunk.' It was the only explanation the older man could come up with.
Her tongue traced a path up to his chin and just short of reaching his mouth, Sloane blinked her eyes open, meeting his hazel gaze. Captive in that stormy look, she swore everything around them was moving, rippling-like, except for them. Even the god damned floor felt like a distended rubber membrane beneath them.
Somewhere in his chest, Gabriel's breath was hitched. Stuck. Unable to part or release for the free breathing the human body desired on a normal basis. Caught in her gaze, he began to worry if she could tell he liked this. That he was enjoying her as a male could only understand when having a beautiful, tough as nails, female straddling him. He was aroused and letting her touch him and more or less giving himself to her for the taking as she performed some ritual he was familiar with but couldn't quite place through the cloudiness of the alien liquid. Hayes was high off the stuff and if asked to recite the regs, he would be unable to do it.
Which meant she must be also jumping without a rip cord.
"You're drunk." The words came from his lips as true as any other habitual Hayes behaviour might. In his mind, he was drunk. He was fucked in the mind, body and soul. He was the one who was about to lift his hands and grab her, jerking her against his body so she could understand what power she had over him as she drove him thick. His fantasy was remaining but responsibility managed to change the look in his eye. He was her superior. She was his right hand man. God. Damn. Him. For. Letting. Thoughts. Interrupt. This. Moment.
Gabriel parted his lips and looked to say something else as serious. What. Was. He. Doing?
Transfixed on his mouth, it took Sloane a moment to react. Somewhere between arousal and fun, she smiled. An obvious and open 'come on' one Maj. Sloane McRae wasn't known to bestow on anyone. "Aren't you?" She felt good. He felt even better under her like this and she wasn't even thinking on how much better he could feel in another position. There were no plan or ulterior motive in the woman's mind. Sloane was in the 'now'. Relaxed. Happy. Amused. Thrilled. Excited. High... and attracted.
Gabriel admitted, "Yes." A continuation to watch her, stare, Hayes wasn't sure what to do and the more he tried to figure it out, the more he was sobering up. And fast. "Perhaps we drank too much."
"Nonsense..." she slurred, going back for his throat. His scent and proximity assaulting her senses, Sloane closed her eyes. Her cheek laid against his shoulder, her lips brushed his skin as she spoke against the side of his neck. "Besides, that was the idea..." She grinned before sighing loudly, relaxing against him.
A hand went up to rest on her arm as she lay more kisses on his neck. Gabriel was hard as a rock and lay there, fighting an internal battle that rendered him more or less useless. On on hand, he wanted what she was doing so bad, he was actually in a little pain below the waistline. The other hand, the one he didn't want to think on but due to his rank, had no choice, told him he was a fucking, dirty old man and that he best stop this and fast.
He was going to hell.
"Alright." Gabriel's breath hitched and he more or less froze underneath her. The things he could do to Sloane were marching across his head but she was giving him an out. She was lying atop him and resting. Rest. Something the Colonel decided they both needed. It was a light touch that stroked his fingers on her shoulder, careful not to touch exposed skin from her T-shirt. Like a father consulting a daughter, Hayes lay there and let her rest, praying that he'd pass out soon.
Another wave of meandered through her, fuzzy and warm, effects from the drink and sensations heightened and dulled all at once. It took the edge off her arousal and left her even more languid. In fact, it took the edge off many things. If Sloane hadn't been so high, she would have noticed the mixed signals Hayes was sending her. She would have been able to feel his hardness between her legs for what it was, but also how suddenly still he was with that weird look in his eyes... she would have understood it and taken it as a rejection - so damn typically by the book of Hayes for she had proof he desired her yet wouldn't fess up - and she would have been hurt. Deeply. So mixed blessings really this Stardrifter offered, as in her current state, her analytical capacity gone out the window, all she felt was him. Gabriel. His chest against hers, his thighs cushioning her. Nothing really defined, just this heat and comfort. She missed the other clues his body was giving her for he was holding her and she could hear his heart, her ear near collarbone and breast. That was all she needed.
Why had she waited so long to do this? To tell him?
Another slow, relaxing exhale and Sloane was no longer aware of the room. Just him and the buzz, and that she was where she wanted to be. Reflexively her arms tightened around his neck, fingers digging in his hair and skin, before she let go. One arm stayed perched on his shoulder while the other slowly fell along his arm to land near his hip.
Love you.
Had she kissed him on the lips, Gabriel would have thrown it all away and given in. He was that close to diving and that close to pushing her off him. Instead, Sloane gave Hayes an out and for that he was thankful and cursing the Almighty. Why could he not take her as he had lusted? Who was he to deny himself the pleasure of the flesh.
The bottom line was Gabriel Loman Hayes was her boss and he could not bring himself to cross the line he vowed long ago: As the commander and leader of the MACOs, Colonel Hayes would not abuse his position. He respected Sloane McRae far too much.
As she passed out on him, Gabriel closed his eyes and hoped for the same. Sloane felt good against him and for as long as he could, Hayes would keep her near him.
"Gabe..." she murmured, eyelids fluttering but losing the fight. How many times had she fallen asleep, wishing he was right there next to her in bed? As she shifted slightly against him, her face nuzzled his neck. In her stupor, she didn't remember ever being able to feel him so close... his smell all around her, and she couldn't explain why she could now. And though her body knew exactly where it was, her mind, had it been in a state to care, would have embarrassingly cringed and have her body backpeddle something crazy. But hey, maybe her subconscious knew her heart better than she - or was braver - and was giving her what she was too afraid to ask... was taking what Gabriel would be too tight-ass to give. It was a treat. She craved it and wouldn't budge.
'Sloane.' His mind thought in love but soon joined McRae in their too professional to chance it way. It was easier to pretend to sleep, praying for real slumber to take over. If he tried, he could force his mind to slip into the numm for their bodies were warm and comforting against one another. A Colonel he may now be, but deep inside Gabriel was no super human or so devout in belief that he would not cabbage from this scenario as much as he could. Robbing Sloane of what was available for his taking. True, he did not engage her like he wished, but for Hayes, remaining under her and keeping contact through touch was a large undertaking. It went against every safety check he had ever put into place for himself.
Consciousness came in waves. Little bit at a time. Little things. Like how her hip felt bruised on the hard floor. How she couldn't quite feel her arm because she and Gabe were kind of lying on it. How foggy and filled with a mean and loud baseline and drums her head felt... hang on. She and Gabe? Whoa. Fighting her survival instincts telling her to keep her eyes shut, Sloane cracked one open. Oh, yeah. She and Gabe. On the floor of his office, by the looks of things. He was asleep and so she allowed herself a grin. A silly grin. One she'd regret in the morning maybe but right now she didn't care. Not when she was the only one aware of it. Of this.
Why after all this time she still held a candle for him? Even after deciding not to. After managing to let go?
Sloane remembered food. She remembered dancing. Dancing and drinking. A one-upmanship that had obviously led to this. She certainly didn't recall snuggling up to him or passing out, but they obviously had. Snuggled up. Passed out. Hmm. Idly she wondered how he would react seeing them like this and that nearly garnered a chuckle. The newly appointed Colonel. In this position. With his Major. The MacHayes but not as usual. The smile faded quick when her clouded mind reminded her of what was and what couldn't be.
They were lying on their side, Gabe's back to the wall, his arms... she tried hard to remember the sensation for later - for she guessed Gabe would never allow this to happen again - but she could still feel the Stardrifter still slushing in her system so she figured she may not... his arms were holding her close. One forearm pillowed her head much like one of hers pillowed his, and in the soft light coming from his desk lamp on the other side of the room, she gazed upon his relaxed face a little longer, even shifted her head to brush her lips against his before she drifted off again.
Guilty pleasures. Cowardly in fact. But no one could see, would know or remember. That way no one got hurt, right?
In his dreams, he kissed and made love to Sloane McRae. It wasn't the first time he fantasized or mentally masturbated to this image, and now, with her smell in his nostrils, Gabriel never felt closer to the woman he loved.
The minutes of pleasure grew into hours of sleep and when the clocked passed his usual wake up call of four am, Gabriel's body fought and resisted becoming awake. It was a full hour after when he stirred, hung over as his head told him he was on the edge of still being drunk. Sloane McRae felt good against him, but his pounding head and uncooperative body had other ideas. Careful was Hayes as he slid out from underneath her and soon the man crawled his way to the small bathroom where, for her sake, he kept his retching noises to a minimum. When those waves ceased, Gabriel rested on the floor after reaching for a hand towel to cover his shoulder and face.
It was going to be a long day.
Sloane groaned as she was awakened by the lack of warmth and hard floor beneath her. She could hear - hell, feel - the rumble of Tucker's engines through the plating now, thumping in time with the Marimba percussionists in her head and wondered how the hell she had been able to sleep at all. Blinking her eyes open, she at least knew where she was. The NX-01. The sight of tank and some other museum looking thing narrowed it down a bit further too. Hayes' office.
"Oh, hell," she muttered as she tried to sit up. Where the hell was Hayes?
"Colonel?" She called out, her voice roughened by sleep and too much alcohol but the teasing she felt at calling him that wasn't lost in those syllables. If he half felt like she did, then her work at hazing him into his new rank was done. And in true MacHayes fashion, any undertones as to how the two had spend the night were left out of it.
"Don't tell me you're already disgracing the uniform, sir..."
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