Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Posted on Thu Oct 8th, 2009 @ 10:48pm by Lieutenant JG Drew O'Connell & Lieutenant Commander Kaylis Kirana
1,815 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Shoreleave - Welcoming Old Friends and New
Location: Galway, Ireland, Earth
Timeline: Current
Yesterday
Drew rolled over and hiked the sheets up his waist. He and Shalie had had some time off and neither could think of a more constructive way to spend that time than carrying on their leisure activities. He smiled just a little, surprised at how much he enjoyed sharing time with her despite their otherwise spitfire relationship. Running his hand over her bare shoulder with just the slightest of pressure, he said, "You know you could come home with me. To Ireland."
He shrugged inwardly, not really understanding why he had extended the invite. Lying back down and placing his hands behind his head, he finished as he stared at the uninteresting ceiling, "If you get tired of hanging around on this tin can anyway."
Shalie lay with her back to Drew, biting her lip while she thought over the invite. It isn't like she had anything pressing to do around here and she had never been anywhere on Earth except San Francisco. She pulled the sheet up in a strange attempt of modesty as she rolled to face him. "Sure...I guess...I don't really have anything else to do...at least if you aren't around." She couldn't hide the knowing smile as she said that last bit.
Drew nodded before deciding it was time to get to packing. Getting Ian around to moving was going to be no small chore, but it was only a few weeks and most of the things they needed would be at his Aunt Ev's house anyway. As he headed to the shower, he stated, "Then it's settled. I'll have the coordinates sent to you this afternoon."
Today
Drew pointed his face to the sky, closing his eyes against the rare sunshine in the Irish town of Galway. Of course, they were a few miles outside of the town itself, walking among the older farms and houses on the outskirts of the outskirts of town. Here, where the scent of the ocean in the distance gave way to the earthy smells of grass and dirt, trees and flowers. Even the roads remained unpaved, dirt and stone paths to ancient family houses standing just back from the road itself. White fences and makeshift stone walls imbued the entire place with a sense of history.
It wasn't but a few more feet before Drew and Ian stood at the familiar white gate to their family's ancestral home. Records dated the O'Connells to Galway as far back as the 17th century and no one remembered how long they had lived in this particular house. Their Aunt Evelyn had inherited the house at their grandfather's passing. Drew wasn't sure, but he thought she might have added a new coat of paint to the place and she had certainly improved the landscaping with brilliant blue flowers in beds running alongside the cobblestone path to the door.
"It looks better than last time," Ian commented.
"Seems like Ev has been doing some work. Make sure you mention it to her," Drew responded.
Stepping up to the weathered door, Drew grabbed the silver knocker and beat it against the ancient wood three times. It was odd, that action, so rooted inhuman history and yet now one pressed a button if the door didn't automatically open for you to begin with.
"Aye, I'm comin'! Keep yer pants on," was the instant response which drew a laugh from both the O'Connell boys. Ev was still Ev, that combination of lighthearted old crank who would let you know when something wasn't quite right between you and her.
The door opened and Evelyn burst out. "Oh," she exclaimed, "It's me boys...now, let me look at'cha." Evelyn inspected them both momentarily before decreeing for the world, "Ya look good. I don' know 'bout Starfleet, but they seem ta be keepin' you healthy, at least. Come in, come in."
Drew placed his hand on Ian's shoulder and pushed the younger through first. As was her way, Evelyn wrapped her arms around the younger O'Connell and squeezed him in a bear hug, "Good to be home," Ian wheezed with a reddening face.
"And good ta have you home. Now," she said, looking at Drew. "You're turn."
Evelyn squeezed Drew in an equally tight hug, maybe even tighter for pushing Ian through to the wolves first. "We meant to get back last time, but with the trial and the speedy reassignment, there just wasn't time."
"Oh, I understand that," Ev responded kindly. As if contemplating something, her face screwed up for a moment before she declared. "And there'll be none of that, boy. Yer home now, you'll talk like yer home. Understand?"
Drew smirked just a little as he replied with that familiar Irish accent, "Aye, Aunt Ev. Whatever ya say."
Evelyn beamed. "Good, now that that's settled, go in the kitchen. It's time for a good home cooked breakfast...Bacon and eggs or pancakes?"
Drew looked at Ian and shrugged. His choice this morning. Evelyn hadn't changed a bit in the last two years since he'd seen her. He wondered if the same was true of him.
Later
Shalie arrived planet side dressed in her normal civilian clothing; t-shirt with jeans. She hadn't been sure whether or not to actually go with Drew but after the weird encounter with the Doc and all the hubbub with her arm, she decided to take the opportunity to at least spend some time in the fresh air. She looked down at the note of where exactly she was supposed to go and began the short walk to Drew's home.
She couldn't help but smile at the warm sun and the smell of being outside. It wasn't something she was used to but she cherished it just the same. She passed though the white gate and casually strolled up to the door. It wasn't often she had come across an actual door, one that didn't have a chime or opened when you approached. She rapped on the door with her knuckles three times and waited.
Evelyn opened the door and greeted Shalie with her customary bear hug. "Welcome to Ireland. You must be Shalie! Drew told me you'd be comin'. So nice ta meet a friend of his." Conspiratorially, she added with a whisper, "He doesn't have many."
"You don't say." Shalie replied sweetly. A large smile spreading across her lips.
Drew stepped out from behind his aunt with a chagrined look on his face. He imagined Ev would greet Shalie with as much effort, but hadn't really expected it. "Sorry, I didn't expect quite that warm a welcome."
Behind him, Ev smacked the back of his head. "What did I tell you about that accent?"
It wasn't surprising the Shalie was absolutely loving watching Drew with his family. To see that there was someone that could actually make him do something was amazing.
With a wince, Drew adopted the Irish accent he so easily slipped into. "Well, come on in. We'll get ya set up in yer room and then we can have some dinner." Turning to Evelyn, he said, "I'll take care of her room if you'll gather some dinner, Ev."
"Aye, I'll meet ya in the kitchen in a few minutes."
Shalie followed Drew to where she assumed she would be staying. Once she was in the room she carefully lowered her small ruck sack next to the bed. Her shoulder was still sensitive and sudden movements made it ache more. She turned to Drew, no longer able to stop herself from making some sort of comment. "I always wondered why Ian had an accent and you didn't...Apparently, I am not the only thing you can turn on and off." She gave a little cocky smile. She was amused to say the least.
"And just as easily too," he responded without the accent.
Shalie rolled her eyes as moved over towards the window. In the last few days she had gotten pretty used to Drew and his comments...that wasn't to say that he didn't still drive her crazy, but it took ever so slightly longer then when they had first met. She wrapped her arms around her waist before turning back towards Drew. "So...what do you do when you are home?"
"Me?" he asked. Shalie had not yet met Evelyn properly, so it would make sense that she had no idea what his plans were to be for the next few days. No doubt Evelyn had developed an entire regimen of farm work, painting, gutter cleaning, milking, and more for him to do on his 'vacation'. "I'll be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, probably chasing cows into their stanchions and pens before milking them, or collecting eggs, or painting the barn, or cleaning the gutters."
Shalie was actually somewhat surprised. There was this whole other not a complete pain in the ass side to Drew. Granted it was taking all of her willpower not to mock him but still.
"You, on the other hand, will be living the high life in Miss Evelyn McCree's estimation. I'm sure you'll be sitting with her in the rose garden and sipping tea or shopping in the retailer's district in town. Try not to seem too disappointed."
She bit her lip before responding. "Yeah...poor me what ever shall I do...wasting my whole vacation relaxing and enjoying Galway." She laughed as she walked around the bed moving closer to Drew. She stood close enough that the height difference forced her to look up. Without even thinking she lightly rested her hands on his waist. "mmmm...I like the accent by the way." She said softly with a smile.
"Right," he responded. "Don't get used to it." Looking down at Shalie's hands at his waist, he gently removed them. "And this," he tried diplomatically to explain, "Is a prosecutable offense in Evelyn's house...the only penalty for which is death." He chuckled slightly, hoping she understood that he was only half-joking.
Shalie smiled and took a step back. This was going to be a new experience for her. Not only was she somewhere she had never been before, but she was in a place that was nothing like she was used to. Everything was old fashion. But at least she had the next few weeks to push Drew's buttons with no repercussions.
"Anyway, Ev is making dinner. It won't be replicated and being a good Irish family, there's bound to be a good helping of meat and potatoes. I hope you brought an appetite, because no one can fill you like Evelyn McCree." With that Drew motioned to the stairs which led back down to the living area, dining room, and kitchen and his waiting family.
Lieutenant jg Andrew O'Connell
Chief Intelligence Officer
and
Lieutenant jg Shalie Montgomery
Chief Operations Officer
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