fanfic_name = The Sit. Room Incident

chapter = 2

author = Dwparsnip

dedicate = Everyone who encouraged me to keep going.

Rating = AP15

Type = Romance

fanfic = Fleet Intelligence was housed in an immense cabin aboard ship, as luck would have it not far form the Situation Room. It was actually a modified cargo bay. The normal mechanical equipment one might find in a cargo bay was removed and replaced with the normal intelligence gathering and viewing equipment. After the engineers were finished, gone were the hydraulic lifts, anti-grav transport pads, shelves and storage bulkheads. In their places were rows of tables, computers, monitors and stellar maps.



And luck had nothing to do with its location relative to the Sit. Room either. It had to be near it. After a threat is given its initial designation by the Sit. Room, the first thing they do is to check with Fleet Intelligence to see if they know anything about it; what or who it is, or could be or where it's from and so on. So, by necessity and design, they were in close proximity to each other.



Of course, she knew that when she transferred three days ago.



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Admiral Lisa Hunter was in her office just off the bridge and looked at the latest progress reports with a frown upon her face. Delayed again was the test of the new Reflex Furnace. And that was just the preliminary test. After that there was supposed to be a second, more rigorous test and finally a full-power test. According to Lang, that pivotal third test was now months away. It wasn't the only problem plaguing the ship, or the fleet for that matter, but it was a big one.



'Poor Rick', she thought, and smiled as she inwardly spoke his name. 'I guess I can tell him to ease up on the Alpha crews. They don't have to rush now.'



She reached for the intercom system embedded in the surface of her desk, punched up her direct line to the Sit. Room and turned to face the monitor.



Rick's face came into view and her heart fluttered. It had always been that way of course, since she accidentally shot him down that day in the Pacific Ocean and Claudia made her realize she was in love with him.



She took a second to study his features to see if she could gauge what type of mood he was in.



'Let's see. Corners of his mouth are drawn down, his brow if furrowed, his ears are red and he hasn't even noticed that the teleconference monitor is on. In other words, the usual', she thought with amusement.



She could hear what he was saying to.'Who is that. Baker?', she asked herself.



'Baker, I'm getting really tired of hearing this from you. You're supposed to be one of the best pilots around here these days, show some responsibility and leadership. That's an order.'



Lisa softly laughed. 'This coming from a man who used to.'



But the thought was lost as she listened to him go on, '.and will someone please turn down the heat! The ordnance manifests for the new Alphas had better be in my hand by the end of shift or I'm going to know why!' he seemed to be saying to no one in particular.



'Or is it everyone', she mused.



Lisa could take it no more and cleared her throat as loudly as she could. Rick heard her and turned around to find her, wondering why no one announced that the Admiral had entered the Sit. Room.



'Lisa.?' she heard him say over the line.



She couldn't help but laugh. 'He's so wound up right now, he may actually hurt himself.'



"Down here Rick, on the monitor", she said, not even bothering to try keeping the laughter out of her voice.



He turned to look at the teleconference monitor and the red in his ears spread to his cheeks.



'Hey baby', he said. He had abandoned protocol in the last few days. Max's mascot theme was something they both thought about a lot since recent events and the more they thought about it the more they agreed with him. Besides, though she would never admit it to him, she loved it when he called her that.



"Hey yourself. How is it going down there?' she asked.



'You know', came his reply. 'The usual.'



Her smile broadened. She loved the fact that she could tell what was going on with him just by how he looked.



Rick noticed her expanding smile.



'Let me guess', he said in mock annoyance. 'You had that figured out already.' Then he laughed as her face betrayed her realization that he could figure her out just as easily as she could him.



"You rat", she said and noticing the surprised look on his face continued, "you handsome, lovable and very sexy rat."



'You better stop teasing me Admiral, or I'm going to have to come up there and put a stop to it myself.' He kept nearing the monitor as he spoke so that by the end of his sentence he was so close she could see him blow her a kiss without being noticed by anyone else. Good morale was nice, but the line had to be drawn somewhere.



"Threats Admiral Hunter", she said as she leaned back in her chair, lifted her arms over her head and stretched, "nothing but idle threats." She finished her stretch, taking a second to "adjust" her uniform. She waited a couple of seconds more and finally looked at the monitor to see the look on Rick's face, which she expected to be quite hilarious.



What she saw surprised her more than she thought. He was gone and the connection was broken.



She sat back, deflated that her little tease was wasted, when suddenly her door flew open and her husband came in like a man on a mission.



He had made record time.



"Rick..." she said, stunned.



He came to her chair, got down on one knee, took her delicate face in his strong hands and planted the most passionate kiss he could muster on her lips. She just sat there, kissing him, or more accurately being kissed by him, faintly noting that absolutely nothing mattered right now only the two of them.



Suddenly, cruelly she thought, he stopped, got up and walked towards the door. He went out and as he started to close the door behind him, she heard him say with a bemused voice, "Idle threats indeed!" followed by an almost maniacal laugh.



She just sat there, heart pounding and breathing heavily, knowing deep down that she deserved it, but thinking, 'I'm going to get him for that.'



She sat up straight and began looking over the report she had started on earlier, but after reading the first few words she brought her still trembling fingers up to touch her lips, remembering the feeling of his sweet lips there.



'Damn,' she thought, not really upset. 'So much for getting work done.' And with that she leaned back in her chair and thought of her husband.



------------------------------ ----



Rick reentered the Sit. Room and went to the console he was working at before Lisa had called. He still couldn't see straight, and the report on the screen in front of him could have been a recipe for haggis for all he knew. He felt the strong feelings of want, desire and love for Lisa course through his veins. He was, in a very real sense paying for the stunt he had just pulled, but kissing his wife and showing her how much he loved her was worth any price.



He felt a hand on his shoulder and heard someone say, "Are you okay, Rick?"



Rick turned to face his best friend and blinked to try to clear his vision. "Yeah Max, I'm fine. In fact I've never been better."



It had only been a few days since the Sit. Room Incident, and seeing Rick like this made Max worry that something had happened on that front.



Rick could see the doubt and worry on Sterling's face so he said, laughing, "I'll tell you about it later. What can I do for you, Max?" asked Rick.



"You can get me two more fully operational Alphas and I'd be happy", said Max smiling and rubbing his hands together eagerly.



Rick nodded. "I saw the Skull's mecha inventory yesterday afternoon and requisitioned four more Alphas for you. You can thank me later."



Max's face brightened considerably as he said," If there weren't so many people here right now Rick I'd give you a big hug."



Rick laughed and said, "You better clear that with Lisa first, Max. Miriya too for that matter."



"No kidding", said Max. "Thanks for the Alphas, Boss."



"Well", said Rick making sure nobody was within earshot, " don't let Clarkson know about this. He'll go ballistic."



Max nodded. Clarkson was Captain Sheldon Clarkson, leader of the Hawk squadron. He was a pompous martinet, a bit paranoid, and always thought that the Skull got the best of everything and his squad got what was left. It wasn't the case. usually.



"Well", said Max, "I'm heading to the mess for quick bite. Care to join me or do you have plans with Lisa?"



Rick smiled and said, "I'll join you if you don't mind. I don't think Lisa wants to see me right now."



Max's worried expression came back and made Rick laugh as he said, "Not to worry old buddy, it's not what you think. Let's go eat and I'll fill you in." And with that Rick was on his way out the Sit. Room door.



"Hey!' exclaimed Max, as he hurried to catch up to Rick.





The Officer's Mess was relatively quiet when they arrived. There were only two or three other people there that they could see.



They sat down and ordered. When the steward was gone Max looked at Rick and said, "All right Boss, time to come clean. What's going on?"



"Well", began Rick, "Lisa called just before you came in and started teasing me. I told her to watch out or I'd make her stop. She dismissed the idea and she.well .she did something that made me snap.in a good way. So I went up to her office, went in, kissed her as hard as I could and left." Rick shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal. Max knew better.



"Ohhhh, that's why you were out of it when I came in the Sit. Room", Max said, shaking his head at the idea of it all. Only a couple of weeks ago this sort of thing would have only been found in some romantic's imagination, not in the lives of his two best friends. He was truly happy for them. "You know Rick," he said slowly, "you're going to be in a big heap of trouble when Lisa starts plotting her revenge."



The steward came with their drinks and Rick said, with the confidence and arrogance of a fighter pilot, "Let her take her best shot, I'll be ready."



"Ah Rick", Max said, shaking his head at the ignorance of his friend. "In a battle of seduction and teasing between you and Lisa, well Boss, let's just say that you, sir, are severely outgunned. Cheers."



Max lifted his glass and took a swallow of his drink. He then looked at Rick and burst out laughing, for his commanding officer had just realized he was right.



Resigned, Rick took a gulp of his own drink and said, "That may be Max, but I gotta say, those are the battles I don't mind losing."



Just then the steward came with their food, which they ate in short order, both of them having a ton of work to get done.



"Better get going before they come looking for me", said Rick. "I'm surprised they haven't.." The paging whistle interrupted him.



'Admiral Rick Hunter, you're needed in the Situation Room. Admiral Rick Hunter to the Sit. Room', said the voice of the Sit. Room's communications officer.



"Must be nice to be needed", said Max, enjoying the look Rick gave him. "Come on, I'm headed that way too."



As they got up, Rick said to his friend with a grin, "Max, even though I know I'm going to lose those battles with Lisa, you won't mind if I put up a fight do you?"



"Rick," said Max putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, "I've lost every one of those battles with Miriya too, and I still keep fighting." And with that they both laughed heartily as they headed out of the room.



------------------------------ ----



Unknown to the two good friends, their conversation was being listened to by an interested third party. She was sitting in a corner booth, hidden from them by other tables and her own desire to stay undetected.



Her heart almost fell into her stomach when she heard his voice, and when she heard how he talked about his wife it almost exploded.



'It won't last', she thought as she put her long, black hair back up into a ponytail. When she was finished she got up from her table, left the Officer's Mess and headed towards Fleet Intelligence. 'It won't last, and when it all crashes down, I'll be there for you Rick.'



------------------------------ ----



Lisa was in a meeting with several officers, Miriya and Jean Grant among them. The meeting centered on emergency first-aid and evacuation procedures in the field under combat conditions. Several people had asked Lisa to authorize drills to practice and fine-tune these techniques, and she called this meeting to see if such drills were necessary and feasible. There weren't any problems with having the drills, and everyone, including her, thought they were a good idea.



"Okay Miriya, organize the drills in coordination with Jean and her staff. You have my authorization to use anything you need to make the drills as close as possible to combat conditions. Let me know when you're ready, I'd like to observe, if you don't mind."



Miriya nodded at her friend and said, "Yes, Admiral."



"Very well", she said. "Dismissed."



Lisa sat back, closed her eyes and let out a sigh.



"What did he do now Lisa?" asked a voice.



Her eyes flew open. She didn't even realize that Jean and Miriya had kept their seats when everyone else left.



She looked at them, trying to keep a surprised look off her face and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about Jean."



Jean and Miriya gave each other a knowing look.



The intercom whistle sounded and it announced, 'Dr. Grant report to the infirmary ASAP. Dr. Grant to the infirmary.'



"I'm going to want to know everything", she said as she ran towards the door.



Lisa laughed as she started to get up, but stopped when Miriya cleared her throat and looked at Lisa expectantly. She sat back down.



"It was nothing, Miriya. He just."



"'Got you good' was the way Max put it", Miriya said gleefully.



They laughed and Lisa said, realizing Miriya knew already, "Yes, he got me good. It was my own fault and I deserved it. And just between me and you Miriya, I loved it."



Miriya nodded and said, "I am glad that Sue Graham did not come between you two Lisa."



Lisa froze at the mere mention of her name. Miriya realized what she had done and began apologizing profusely for bringing Graham up to Lisa.



"Miriya", she said as Miriya kept apologizing. "Miriya, it's fine." She still kept apologizing and Lisa exclaimed, " Miriya!"



Miriya finally stopped, and Lisa looked at her sympathetically. "It's okay, Miriya. Really. I don't mind. I'm.I'm glad she didn't come between us too. But you know what, they say that every cloud has a silver lining. We were okay, and we were going to be fine, I have no doubt about that whatsoever. But looking back at the situation, her attempt to.seduce Rick. only strengthened us more. And you know what, I almost want to thank her for that."



Miriya looked at Lisa slyly and said, "Almost." Lisa smiled and Miriya said, "You are a very wise woman Lisa. I'm sure Rick counts his lucky stars every night."



Lisa leaned back in her chair again, closing her eyes for a second. When she looked at her friend again she said softly, "No Miriya, we count them together."



------------------------------ ----



She stood outside the office of Admiral Rick Hunter and tried to calm her breathing. She was to give Rick the end of day intelligence briefing. The regular briefing officer was off the ship, on an assignment that she had sent him on, which gave her the perfect opportunity to volunteer to do the briefing. 'I worked with Admiral Hunter for a long time, sir', was her argument to her CO, and he had agreed. She knew Rick wouldn't welcome her with open arms, she even knew that he wouldn't be happy to see her at all. But she knew that he was a dutiful officer, and she had no doubt that he would be professional.



'It's one of the things I admire about him', she thought, longing for the days when she would see him every day and be near him.

She shook herself out of her stupor and adjusted the shoulder strap of the pouch she was carrying, inside which was the classified materials she would use for the briefing. She then fixed her ponytail and smoothed her uniform over her attractive curves. She took a deep breath and knocked on his door. "Come in", she heard him say from the other side and she opened the door.



He was sitting behind his desk, a folder in one hand and pen in the other. He was reading something in the folder and hadn't yet looked up to see who had entered his office. She quickly looked him over and felt another wave of desire envelope her.



She was still tracing the contours of his face with her eyes when she heard someone say warily, "Good afternoon, Lieutenant Graham." It was Max Sterling, sitting off to Rick's left.



She felt the burn of embarrassment in her cheeks. She had been so wrapped up in Rick that she hadn't even noticed Sterling.



"Good afternoon Captain, " she replied, saluting him. She faced Rick, saluted, and said in an emotionless voice, "Admiral, I have been instructed by my commanding officer, Major Woods, to give you today's end of day intelligence briefing."



"Very well Lieutenant, please proceed", he said, keeping his tone neutral and indicating a chair for her to sit in.



"Yes sir." She sat down, putting the pouch on her lap and began her report, not even bothering to look at her notes, never taking her eyes off of him.



______________________________ ____



When Rick had asked Max to sit in on the EoD intelligence briefing it wasn't totally out of the ordinary. Not commonplace, but not a shock either. He liked to be kept informed of things and Rick knew that. The only surprise was the way Rick acted when he had asked him. He seemed worried, and when Max said he'd come Rick looked visibly relieved.



He had been expecting the usual briefing officer, Lt. Powell, to walk in through the door, but when Sue Graham came into Rick's office Max nearly fell out of his chair. There she was however, large as life and twice as real. She hadn't even noticed him sitting there; she was totally focused on Rick. He was reading yet another report from the chief of security regarding yet another incident involving Jack Baker, so he didn't notice. Max felt obligated to break her study of Rick and made his presence known. Max wasn't a vengeful or mean spirited person, but he did get a sense of satisfaction in her surprise and ruining whatever little schemes she may have been preparing to hatch.



'I just bet Woods had to order to do this briefing', Max thought with deepening suspicion. 'I'd bet Skull One that you weaseled your way into it somehow.'



He considered Rick to be the brother he never had, and he cared equally as much for Lisa. It had torn him up inside to see them have the hard times they had had. He was so happy when they seemed to get it right again. Lisa, the naval tradition burned into her soul, called it 'getting their second wind.' It looked good on them.



Graham was by now he figured about halfway through her briefing. She still hadn't taken her eyes off of Rick. 'She has a wonderful memory', thought Max with distaste. 'She hasn't taken her eyes off of him at all and she hasn't hesitated once with the briefing.'



He took a moment to study Graham. She was indeed attractive. Her eyes were bright, and the way she had her smooth looking, black hair put up revealed a striking neck. Her uniform fit snuggly over what looked to be an athletic body.  She was no Miriya or Lisa as far as Max was concerned, but she wasn't bad.



Then it finally dawned on Max. 'Rick didn't seem surprised when she walked in!'



Rick's question from a short while ago replayed in his mind:



'Hey, Max', Rick had said. 'I was hoping you were free to take in the EoD intelligence briefing today. I really think.well you know, there may be a few things in it that you might need to hear. You should be there.'



'Son of a gun, he knew she was doing the briefing!' thought Max.



Now a flood of thoughts came to him, as he watched her continue with the briefing. She still hadn't looked away from Rick.



'Rick knew that she was today's briefing officer, that's why he asked me to sit in. That's why he was so edgy.' He glanced over at his friend. Rick was still looking at the report about Baker as Graham continued, and he only occasionally looked up at her, and when he did it was only for the briefest of times.



His mind was racing over the possibilities. Finally he decided on the two most probable reasons that Rick wanted Max to be there.



One gave him only some cause for concern: Rick didn't trust her. All that showed was that he understood the danger that she could pose to him and his relationship with Lisa.



The second possibility gave him grave cause for concern: Rick didn't trust himself. That would be devastating.



"That concludes today's briefing Admiral", Graham said breaking Max out of his train of thought. The only part of the briefing he could remember hearing was Graham's preamble to the report.



"Thank you Lieutenant that will be all", said Rick. "Unless Captain Sterling has any questions. Max?"



"No Admiral, no questions. Thank you Lieutenant. Your briefing was.an eye opener for sure."



"You're welcome, Captain" she said as she stood up, ignoring his odd remark. She faced Rick, saluted and turned to leave. She hesitated at the door and said softly, "It was good to work with you again Admiral."



And she was gone.



Rick knew that Max had it figured out by now so he looked at him and said, "Thanks, Max."



Max stood up, shaking his head. "You could have told me Rick! I almost fell to the floor when she walked in!" he exclaimed.



"Well", said Rick rubbing his chin, "where was the fun in that. I figured the look on your face would be priceless. And it was." He laughed at the annoyed look on Max's face.

Max joined in his friend's laughter and said, "I bet it was."



Max looked at his friend and said with some seriousness in his tone, "I've only got one question Rick. Answer it and I'll never ask it again. Is it her you don't trust, or is it yourself?"



Rick never hesitated. "I totally trust myself, Max. More than that, I trust my love for Lisa. Completely", he said solemnly.



The sincerity in Rick's voice relieved Max, and he looked at Rick, nodding for him to go on.



"Vince told me a few rumors floating around Max, about Sue and how she may have the hots for a superior officer. Before you ask, the rumor mill apparently doesn't know which superior officer she's got it for. And then Woods called and told me that she was replacing Powell for today and I thought a little back up couldn't hurt, in case she got the idea to try something. Just got a little spooked I guess."



Max opened his mouth but he couldn't find the words to speak.



"Exactly", said Rick seeing his reaction. "And I noticed the way she looked at me Max, the way she focused on me. Lisa was right old buddy, she can't be trusted."



Max nodded his agreement and said with a glint in his eye, "You trust your love for Lisa, eh?"



"Even more than I trust you Max."



"That's a good answer Rick, a very good answer. Are you going to tell her about this?"



"As soon as I get rid of you," he said with a smile.



"Well then", said Max taking his cue, "consider me rid of. Good night Boss."



"Good night Max."



He looked down at the picture of Lisa on his desk. 'Why look at a picture, when I can go and be with the real deal?' he thought. He gathered the work he had left to do into a pile on his desk, looked at it, and left it there as he set off to find his wife.



------------------------------ ----



Sue Graham closed the door to Rick's office and smiled. He looked so good, so handsome.



She went to the Fleet Intelligence offices, secured her briefing materials and left to go to her quarters. When she got there she got undressed and headed into the shower. The hot water and steam massaged her toned muscles, and as she washed herself she imagined the hands were not hers, but his.



And for the millionth time since that night in the Sit. Room, she promised herself it wasn't the end for her and Rick Hunter. She was going to make sure it wasn't.



She already had an idea .



------------------------------ ----



Lisa was just getting ready to get a shower when Rick walked into their quarters. He didn't immediately notice her attire when he came into the bedroom and said, "How was your day, baby?"



Before she could answer, he finally noticed his gorgeous wife standing there wearing her snow-white bathrobe, its belt loosely tied around her elegant waist.  He almost had a coronary on the spot.



He went to hug her, but she put her hand out to stop him and said, "Easy there big guy. My day was fine. The usual meetings and briefings. Medical should be coming to you asking about resources for a medical evacuation drill. I'd appreciate it if you'd give them what they need." She kissed his nose with a small, tantalizing kiss. "How was your afternoon?" she asked, pleased with his reaction, which was to try to kiss her. But before he had the chance she moved away from him with cat like agility.



He figured it was just as well to dive in and get it over worth, the sooner the better, so he told her about his day. When he got to the briefing with Graham he hesitated, just for second, hoping not to upset her.



She listened with honest interest, as she always did when he told her of his day. When he was finished she looked at him, her emerald eyes shining, and said in her most loving voice, "I love you Rick." Her way of saying she trusted him, she believed him and believed in him.



In her heart of hearts though, she still couldn't shake the feeling that Sue Graham was far from being removed as a threat to her husband.



She put those thoughts out of her head and started heading for the bathroom. She had her long, shiny brown hair pulled around to the front of her right shoulder, so that when she let the back of her robe drop down just a couple of inches, he could see her beautiful shoulders.



She got to the bathroom door, and asked over her shoulder at him, "Care to join me?"



'Thank God', he thought and started to go to her.



"Make sure the door is locked Rick, please."



He went out and locked the door to their quarters. When he came back into the bedroom and approached the bathroom, he looked at her standing in the bathroom doorway, waving a little good-bye as she shut and locked the bathroom door.



He went to try and open the bathroom door. It wouldn't budge. He heard Lisa giggle and then say, imitating his bemused expression from this morning, "Idle threats indeed."



He turned and put his back against the bathroom door, leaned his head back and sighed. 'Another battle lost Hunter', he thought. "Hey Lisa", he said though the door, "You can use all the hot water. I'm going to need a cold shower when you're finished." He moved to lie down on their bed, undoing his uniform as he went.



He had taken off his shirt and was just about to fall onto the bed when he heard her melodious laugh as she unlocked and opened the door.  She came out, moving gracefully to where he was standing by the bed and gently kissed him. Then she looked at him with her loving eyes, held out her hand for him to take and said, "Come with me. you rat."



Instead of taking her hand he took her in his arms and said, after kissing her soft neck, "What did I tell you about teasing me?"



With that he kissed her succulent lips, letting loose all the desire and love that had been building in his soul since he kissed her this morning.



Three hours later, they finally made it to the shower.











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