Second Date

Posted on Thu May 10, 2018 @ 4:28pm by Ensign Willow Riordan & Lieutenant JG Jacob Hartley

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: MD 33 || 1811 Hours

With the mission to the merc ship now complete, Jacob wanted to seriously relax, and do anything that didn't involve battle. He could almost feel the heat of the disruptor blast that had barely missed him, even though he knew there was no residual heat. Having finished his shift, he sat down in the chair in his quarters and activated the computer. "Hartley to Riordan." He said, sending the message to Willow.

Willow smiled when she saw who it was from and responded. I was wondering if I had to come hunting you down, Jake. Want to meet up somewhere?

"Oh, god yes. Anything that doesn't involve mercs or combat." Jacob said, with a smile of his own.

She laughed at the enthusiasm he had. "Name the place and I'll meet you there," she responded.

"How about dinner at the Cabin? It'll be replicated ingredients but I'll cook for you." He suggested.

"I think I'll take a pass on that for now," Willow responded. "I already had a bite to eat a while ago, but I'd be up for something on the holodeck if you want."

"Sounds good. Meet you in about fifteen minutes? Just need to change out of my uniform." He said.

"Which holodeck?" she asked.

Jacob quickly checked with the computer, to make sure which holodeck was clear. "Holodeck three is available, how about there?" He offered.

"See you then," Willow said and ended the communication. She got up and went to her wardrobe, pulling out a simple pair of black form-fitting stretch pants, a sleeveless black top and then added a pair of black running shoes. She tied her long hair back in a ponytail, then headed off to meet him.

Changing took Jacob all of two minutes, changing into what he wore for training, as well as a black tee shirt. Heading to the holodeck, he knew a program he wanted to run. It was something he had enjoyed when he was a teenager.

Reaching the holodeck, Jacob was able to program the holodeck, and smiled, waiting outside of the holodeck for her. He made sure to have a number of towels ready for them; they would definitely be needed.

Willow arrived shortly after he did and smiled. "What do you have planned, Jacob?" she asked.

"Well, when I was a child, I knew this great place on Earth, a water park, essentially, except part of it was a slingshot water park. Kinda exciting, very fun, definitely different." Jacob replied.

"I seem to have dressed wrong in that case," Willow said with a laugh. "But the holodeck can replicate swimwear for us. Shall we?"

"Definitely," Jacob said, smiling as he entered the holodeck, showing the water park. "I didn't add anyone else, but if you want the full experience, I can add random civilians, it's your choice." He said.

She walked in behind him and looked around, then back at him. "I think that may be for the best," she said. "It's eerily quiet and that's like the calm before a storm."

"Computer, add Civilians." He ordered, with a small smile. The computer complied, adding a variety of men, women and children, teenagers and even lifeguards. "Yeah, this is definitely more like it."

"Much better," Willow said before she noticed a room where people were going into and coming out wearing swimwear. "I'm assuming that's where we change, so I'll be back in a moment." She gave him a smile and headed towards the small building.

Jacob quickly made his way to the second small building, and changed into his outfit, before heading out and waiting for her. He had a scar on his chest, something he kept to remind him to be careful in the future. He looked around and could smell the chlorine from the pools, as well as food, drink, and barbecues being cooked. He smiled at the scent and waited for Willow.

She came out a minute later in a black two-piece bikini and headed over to where he was. "Ready for some fun?" she asked him as she stepped up beside of him.

"Definitely." He replied, with a grin. He looked at her outfit, liking it. "You look...amazing." He complimented. "What shall we start with?"

"Thank you," Willow said with a slight blush. "So do you. Want to go on a slide and get wet first?"

"Sounds good." He said, leading the way towards a large slide. "Ladies first." He offered, standing in front of the stairs for Willow to go up.

She turned to him as they arrived and the stairs and reached out to trace the line of the scar on his chest. "I'm willing to bet there's a story to that," she said before she started to climb.

Following her, Jacob nodded. "Long story, but possibly interesting. I keep it as a reminder of mistakes I've made." Jacob replied. "Not a pleasant story though."

"Anything that leaves a scar can't be pleasant unless you're s masochist," Willow said as she reached the top and stepped aside so he could join her. "Which I don't think you are."

"You know, I'm not even sure I know what that word means," Jacob replied, joining her at the top. "It was...rather a difficult moment for me. Not something I've talked about before, to be honest."

"It means someone who likes pain being inflicted on themselves," she said before she turned to study the two hundred meter slides with water rushing down it. "Raise you to the bottom?"

Jacob frowned. "Seriously? That's just...well, that doesn't make sense." He said. He then smiled at her, and at the slide. "You're on." He said, getting into position. "On your count."

Willow moved to the right side and got into position and smiled. "Three. Two. Go!" she shouted as she leapt headfirst onto the slide with her arms at her side and took off like a streamlined rocket.

Grinning, Jacob leapt into the slide, feet first, sliding down the chute, laughing as he did. It was a rush he hadn't felt for some time, and it was definitely the break he needed. It didn't take long to reach the bottom, and as he splashed into the pool at the bottom, he went under the water before surfacing, sending out a spray of water as he did, and looked for Willow.

She surfaced near him and shook her long wet red hair around, flinging droplets of water everywhere. "Now that was fun!" she shouted.

Jacob grinned. "Oh, that was just one of the easy ones. Got a bigger one, and wait until you try the slingshot." He told her.

"Is that a challenge?" Willow asked him.

"If you think you're ready for it." He replied, with a sly grin. "You haven't only just eaten, have you? I've seen people lose their lunch the first time they try it."

"I can eat gagh and not lose lunch," she said. "I have a cast iron stomach and a willpower to rise to any challenge."

"Alright then." Jacob said, swimming over to the edge of the pool. He climbed out, and waited for Willow. "You'll love it."

Willow climbed out after him. "Lead the way," she said as the water streamed off her lithe body.

Jacob smiled and led the way to another part of the park. This part, however, led to a very large water area, as well as a giant slingshot. "Used to be that this carried some risk, because you had to have the right area, the right size pool and so on. Some people made their own and got hurt. This water park made sure they accounted for everything, as well as having someone with a tractor beam and transporter, just in case. Safety rules and all that." He explained. They watched as someone got into the slingshot, walked backwards as far as they could assisted by a wench, before lifting their legs up and being shot forward quickly into the pool, landing in the water with a cheer.

"Oh...that looks like fun!" she said excitedly as a cadet that just got her first leave off campus. "I can't wait!"

Jacob smiled as he led her towards the slingshot. "It's easy enough. Once you take your position, just walk backwards as far as you can, and then lift your feet up with a jump, bringing your legs forward or backwards. Near the water, it's best to move into a dive position, or cannonball, whichever you prefer. Watch how I do it." He said. He took his place in the slingshot, and walked backwards until the sling wouldn't let him. With a grin, he leapt up, bringing his feet backwards behind his legs, and shot forward rapidly. "YEEEEEE-HAAAA!" He shouted as he flew forward towards the water. He moved into a forward dive, and struck the water. He went down a few feet, before swimming back up, and moving out of the way, waiting for Willow.

Willow watched him and laughed when he gave his cry, then headed up to take her place. She got into position and moved back as far as she could, tucked her knees, lifted her feet and launched. "For Starrrrrrrfleeeeet!" she cried out as she sailed through the air. At the apex of her flight, she did a mid air spin and knifed into the water at a forty-five degree angle. She swam underwater a few yards before she surfaced and shook her long wet red hair everywhere. "That was amazing!"

Jacob grinned. "Used to do this all the time when I was younger. Didn't appeal to everyone, but I always found it exciting." Jacob said. "You know, I've got to say, I'm really glad you came into my training program the other day. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun, and after today, I really needed to unwind." He told her.

She swam over to him and treaded water once she got to where he was. "Thank you for inviting me here, Jacob," she said. "I'm glad it's helping you unwind. You looked like you needed it. What happened?"

"Today's away mission. Succeeded at what needed to be done, but it was...intense. Came an inch away from not coming back. Not the first time I've been in danger, but never fun." Jacob replied.

"Danger is never fun," Willow said. "Unless you party with Klingons. Then it's always both. I'm glad you came back in one piece."

"Yeah, so am I. I'd had to have missed being here with you." Jacob said, with a small grin. "But that's the risk we take for the Federation. We do what's right, and we give everything we can." He added. He took her hand and kissed it. "But seeing you again was definitely a good motivation to come back."

She smiled and looked at her hand as she treaded water, then up at him. "You seem to like kissing my hand," she said. "Don't you want to kiss me?"

"I didn't want to presume by leaning in for a kiss." He said, smiling at her.

"Just shut up and kiss me, Jacob," Willow said.

"Yes ma'am." Jacob replied, before leaning in and gently pressing his lips against hers. As their lips touched, Jacob felt...a spark, for lack of a better word, run down his spine, something he hadn't felt before. He closed his eyes as he brought an arm around as the kiss began to intensify.

She nearly forgot to keep treading water and wrapped her arms around his neck. She returned the kiss with equal intensity before the demand for oxygen became too much and she broke it. "Now that is a kiss," she said breathlessly.

Jacob looked at her, and smiled. "Best kiss I've ever had." He told her. "I'm sorry I waited so long." He said. "Maybe we should move this to land, so we don't drown."

"That's a good idea," Willow said as she released him. "And don't be sorry. If you had tried sooner, I may have kneed you in your bits."

"Then it's a good thing I waited." Jacob said. "Computer, switch to beach setting." He ordered. The water around them shimmered out of existence and they appeared on a beach, with a sun setting, allowing the colors to reflect off of the ocean. "I hope this is okay." He said.

"It's beautiful," she said softly as she looked around at the new setting. "Just the kind of place I'd love to be if I had a choice. Do you bring all the girls here?"

"Only you." Jacob replied. "Although its beauty doesn't really compare to your own."

Willow smiled. "We could use a fire pit and some s'mores," she commented as she reached to take his hands.

Jacob returned the smile. "Computer, one fire pit and one tray of ingredients for s'mores." Jacob ordered. As the computer created the items, the smell of burning wood filled the air, with the wind gently blowing and causing Willow's hair to sway under its touch.

Just being with Willow on the beach...everything seemed so perfect to Jacob. He had never had a perfect moment in his life before, but this...this was the closest he had ever known. The crackling of the logs in the fire pit, the embers floating softly in the wind, but not going near them, the tray of marshmallows, chocolate and crackers and the wooshing sound the ocean made as it struck the shore. No one else around, but the two of them...

"Only in my dreams have I ever been this close to perfection." He said softly.

Another smile formed on her face as she went to sit near the fire and looked at the flames. "Perfection isn't perfect, Jacob," she said. "Perfection is what you perceive in your mind, not what's in front of you. It's not something that can be obtained and you'd never be happy with it. Still, this is very nice and I'm glad you shared it with me."

Sitting next to her, Jacob couldn't keep the smile off of his face. "So am I." He said, the heat of the flames drying them off from their swim. "There's a saying I heard once; A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory." He said.

"That's a very wise saying," Willow said. "And it's true, too, even if memory fades, the feeling will still be associated with it. I'm afraid that I'm too jaded to believe in true perfection, but I do like special moments. Like this one."

"Then let's make the most of it." He said, taking her hand. "And enjoy every second we have."

She gave his hand a squeeze and nodded. "I agree. For now, let's make s'mores and enjoy this wonderful sunset."

"Sounds good." He said, smiling at her. For the first time in a long time, he felt...happy, and he felt content. He wasn't sure he would feel that way again, but now...now he knew what happiness felt like.

*****

Jacob yawned as he slowly opened his eyes, smelling the ocean and hearing the waves crashing against the sand. He thought back to the evening, smiling as he recalled everything. Tilting his head, he saw Willow, smiling at how beautiful she looked.

The entrance to the holodeck chimed again and Willow opened her eyes. "What's that noise?" she asked with a yawn.

Jacob looked at her. "Noise?" He asked. He then heard the chime, and his eyes shot open. "Oh, crap. It's the holodeck entry chime." He said, sitting up.

"Where are our clothes?" She asked as she got up and looked around for them.

"Computer, end program." Jacob ordered. As the holodeck shimmered and the program ended, their clothes appeared near to them. Jacob passed Willow's clothes to her, and began to pull on his own.

Willow pulled hers on over her now dry bikini and ran her fingers through her hair. "This looks like a tribble glued itself to my head. Oh boy."

"You look as beautiful as always." Jacob replied, pulling his top on as the door chime rang again. "Ready?"

"Ready," she said with a sigh. "Reality awaits."

"Enter." Jacob said, facing the doors, ready to face whoever was there. He had enjoyed the evening with Willow, but it was the first time he had fallen asleep in the holodeck. Still, it had been worth it.

Two crewman, a male and female stood there. "Oh, we hope we didn't disturb you," the woman said. "It's just that we had the slot for this hour," the man added.

"Sorry about that," Willow said. "We were just leaving." She offered them a smile and stepped into the corridor.

Jacob followed Willow, smiling at her. "That was the best evening I've had in a very long time." He told her as they walked down the corridor.

"I had a lot of fun" she said. "Sadly, it's getting late and Alpha shift waits for no one."

"Tell me about it. How about another date sometime soon?" He asked.

"I'd like that," Willow said with a smile. "Say in a couple days once we know what's going on the planet we're going to?"

"Works for me." He said, as they reached the turbolift, and ordered it to take them to officer quarters. "You can pick the setting, unless you'd like another surprise?" He asked.

"No, but I have just the thing in mind," she said with a wink. "And take some Meclizine before you come."

"I'll be sure to stop by Sickbay." Jacob said, as the turbolift stopped. "I'm already looking forward to it."

Willow stepped out and turned to give him a quick kiss. "See you then, Jacob," she said before spun around again and headed off.