Victoria's Challenge (20 page)

“Yeah.
” He dips back down for another kiss, breaking it off while he still can. “Secure the hatch,” he orders walking out.

“So we’re going to Emans for a drink, you two want to join us?” Dodge looks at Lucas and Victoria, he and Lorre had joined them for third meal. Lucas looks to Victoria, sees the slight shadow cross her eyes before it’s gone, and realizes she’s nervous about it. About how he’ll be treated, when it’s known they’re a couple. Time to work on calming those fears.

“Sounds good to me,
Victoria?”

“Sure.”

With a hand on the small of her
back, Lucas feels her slight tensing as they enter Emans and heads turn.

“Ale?
” Lucas looks at Victoria when everyone is seated.

“Sounds good
.” Victoria turns to Lorre as the men leave to get the drinks. She can do this, she knows how to make small talk, and these are Lucas’ friends. It’ll be fine.

“Dodge tells me he’s known you since the Regulian attack on Earth.
” Lorre’s eyes are curious. This isn’t what Victoria had thought they’d be discussing.

“He was one of the pilot’s on the Raptor, yes.
” She says neutrally.

“You were trapped in a burning meadow
,” Lorre continues.

“Yes.
” Her eyes close up.

“He says it was quite an experience,
flying in to rescue Hawk with the High Admiral on board. Well he wasn’t the High Admiral then but still. Then to find out he’d helped rescue the future Queen of the House of Knowledge. I was still in the Academy at the time and missed out on all the fun.”

“Fun…
” Victoria’s frigid tone finally gets through to Lorre, who cringes.

“Oh shit
! I’m sorry, that was totally wrong and insensitive and not what I meant at all. Crap! I was just…” Lorre stops, giving her a pleading look. “I’m sorry, I’m nervous. Dodge and I haven’t been out together as a couple before. We’ve been keeping it quiet. Then he decides we should go out with the Major, of all people.”

“They’ve been friends a long time.”

“I know that’s why…” Lorre stops as the men return.

“Here we go ladies.
” Handing Victoria her drink, Lucas slides in next to her, immediately noticing her tension. Shooting a glance at Lorre, he finds she’s looking uncomfortable. Crap! What happened? Dodge notices the silence between them too.

“Thanks.
” Victoria forces a smile as she takes a sip her ale. “So Lorre, are you back on duty yet?”

“Light duty on
ly.” She sends her a grateful look. “Hopefully soon.”

T
he conversation begins to flow, with Dodge and Lucas doing the most of the talking, the women commenting now and again but mostly listening. Laughing at a story Dodge is telling, Lucas puts his arm behind Victoria, his fingers absently playing with her hair.

“Ready for another drink?
” Dodge looks around the table.

“I am.
” Lorre speaks first.

“Victoria?
” While she’s lost some of her tension, Lucas knows she still isn’t totally relaxed. He can see it in the eyes that turn to him.

“Sure.
” Under the table, she gives his thigh a slight squeeze. Letting him know she’s okay. Nodding, he rises to follow Dodge.

Watching him
move across the room, Victoria realizes Emans gotten busy while they’d talked. The music louder, with couples moving to the dance floor.

“I
didn’t know. Dodge never said a word.”

Victoria looks back at Lorre.

“About?”

“
You and the Major. That it is more than just you getting him back in a Blade. I thought you and Jager… crap I’m doing it again. I tend to babble when I’m nervous. Dodge is going to kill me.”

“What are you digging for Lorre?”

“Digging...You think…” Her eyes are aghast.

“You wouldn’t be the first.
” Victoria’s eyes go hard.

“Nothing
! Fuck, I’m screwing this up. I’m just trying to find my way. Dodge talks about you. About how brave you were as a child. What you did for his brother. What you’re doing for his friend. He thinks you’re
great
! How do I compete with that?”

“Compete?
” Victoria doesn’t hide her shock. “Why would you think you had to?”

“Oh
, I don’t know. You’re young, smart and amazingly beautiful. You teach kids, save lives, mine being one, can protect yourself, oh and your Uncle is the High Admiral, and your Aunt the most powerful Queen Carina has ever seen.”

“So?
”

“
I'm a deck hand.” Lorre states it as if that it explains it.

“Lorre, Dodge loves
you
.” She stresses.

“I
… I know he does. At least he says he does.”

“You don’t believe him?”

“I’m trying too, but shit! He’s a decorated pilot.”

“
You’re
a member of the best flight crew in the fleet. You wouldn’t be, if you weren’t one of the best. You make sure the best of the best are out there protecting the Coalition every day. If you don’t do your job, people die. Dodge knows that. You can believe he respects what you do.” Sitting back, Victoria is amazed that Lorre could be this insecure, she thought she was the only one, maybe the two of them had more in common than their men.

“I
… I never thought about it like that. Dodge wanted to keep it quiet and then when he invited you…” Lorre trails off.

“He didn’t invite
me
, he invited Lucas. My guess is; he wants you to get to know Lucas, as his friend, not as the Major. There’s a difference. As for keeping it quiet, there are few secrets on a Battle Star.”

“There was until tonight
, before you walked in here with the Major… Lucas, no one knew about you two.” Before Victoria can reply, the men are back.

“Do you want to dance?
” Dodge asks Lorre. Victoria, in the process of taking a drink, chokes, her eyes shooting to Dodge.

“Victoria
! Are you okay?” Lucas thumps her on the back.

“Yeah…
” The eyes that meet his are full of laughter. “I just had this visual… of Dodge… dancing.” She can’t help herself, she bursts out laughing then presses her face into his chest, trying to control herself. Lucas’ arms go around her.

“What?
” Lorre is confused as Dodge suddenly frowns.

“It’s nothing.
” Dodge starts to stand. “You are so dead, Zafar!”

“You didn’t tell Lorre?
” Victoria’s green eyes are sparkling as she looks from Dodge to Lorre. “You don’t know? Oh god!” She erupts in another fit of laughter that has heads turning all around the room.

“Lucas, control your woman!
” However, there’s not much heat in the demand. Grabbing Lorre’s hand, Dodge is smiling as he leads her to the dance floor.

“Oh, I have to stop, my stomach hurts.
” Pushing against Lucas’ chest, she sits back, wiping tears from her eyes. Picking up her drink, she sips, still shaking her head. “There wouldn’t happen to be any recorded visuals of that dance would there?” Her eyes still sparkling.

“No.
” Look at her. She’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Some of the ache leaves his heart. She can still laugh like that. After all the crap that’s happened to her, she can still enjoy the little things.

“Lucas?”

“You’re beautiful.” He pulls her back under his arm. “Do you want to dance?” He watches her eyes go from him to the jumping mass on the dance floor then back.

“Not unless you want to.
” He sees the reluctance in her eyes.

“I don’t but why don’t you
? You love to dance.”

“I do
. But that… is that dancing?” Her green eyes are honestly questioning. “I’d valsa with you anytime, a really slow, close valsa.” She runs a hand up his inner thigh.

“Really?
” Lucas tenses at her touch.

“Really
. Lucas…” Her talented fingers stop just shy of touching him.

“Yeah?
” His voice is gruff, eyes darkening.

“Can we go home
, yet?”

"What?"

“I want to
be
your woman.”

Does she know
? Can she possibly know what it does to a man, to be desired like this? To be
told
. Knowing he will be her first and her last.

“Soon.
” He whispers in her ear, feeling her nod. Reaching for his drink, it sloshes over as someone bumps into the table. Looking up to find a very drunk Reymont glaring at them.

“What the fuck are you doing here
!” He slurs. “You bitch! You killed Jager, you killed my son!” Lucas stands, blocking Reymont as he lurches for Victoria. Suddenly, Dodge is there, pulling Reymont away from the table as others grab at him.

“You don’t want to be here
, Reymont.” Dodge’s voice is deadly cold. “I’d get him out of here.” He looks to those restraining him. Reymont shakes them off and with one last hate filled look at Victoria, storms out of Emans, knocking tables over as he goes.

“Victoria.” Lucas looks into eyes that only moments ago were playful and full of desire. Now they’re flat and shuttered. “That wasn’t your fault. None of it.”

“Victori
a…” Lorre grasps her hand, surprised at how chilled it is. “Reymont is an asshole. Always has been, always will be. He should have been out of the fleet a long time ago.”

“Sit down, finish your drinks
. Please.” Victoria’s voice is cool.

“Victoria…
” Lucas tips her face to his.

“I’m okay.
” The eyes that meet his are furious but also filled with determination. “I am not letting him drive me out Lucas. I’m not giving him that power.”

“Okay.
” He tells her. “We’ll finish our drinks, then call it a night.”

Nodding
, she turns to Lorre.

“So did he tell you?”

“Tell me?” Lorre isn’t following.

“About dancing on the Rodham.”

“That was
you
?” Lorre’s eyes widen as she looks at Dodge. “I’ve heard all about it. My cousin was there, but he’d never give up the name.” Her eyes take on a considering look as she assesses Dodge. “He said you…”

Dodge quickly covers her mouth.

“Not a word, not another goddamn word! And you,” He points at Lucas. “Are going to pay. Big time!”

“When he tells you, I want full details.
” Victoria tells Lorre conspiratorially.

“You’re on.
” As the two women smile, the men look at each other uneasily.

“That’s enough of
that
.” Lucas tries to make his eyes hard but in reality is relieved Victoria is handling this so well. “You two are not ganging up on us.”

“
Wanna bet?” Sliding closer to him, she feels him put a protective arm around her. It doesn’t go unnoticed in Emans.

Victoria listens as the other three arg
ue about small everyday things, schedules, meetings and inventory. Smiling, she finishes her drink.

“Ready to go?
” Lucas leans down, looking at her.

“Yeah
, I am. Dodge, Lorre, thanks for inviting us. I enjoyed it.” At Lorre’s look, she amends. “Okay, most of it, but I’d like to do it again.”

“You’re on
,” Lorre tells her.

“
See you tomorrow, Dodge, night Lorre.” Standing he helps Victoria out of the booth. With goodbyes made, they head for quarters.

They’re both silent during the walk. Lucas is thinking about Reymont. He’s out of control. Worse than Jager and he’s blaming Victoria for the death of his son. He’s a threat. Something needs done. Seeing the Admiral approaching, he takes it as a sign.

“Admiral
,” Lucas calls out before Tar makes the turn to his quarters.

“Lucas, Victoria.
” He says nothing at seeing them together.

“I would like a meeting with you tomorrow if possible.”

“Concerning?”

“A problem that has come to my attention.”

“1400. My ready room.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Victoria, I’m sorry about Cade. I know you did everything you could.”

“Thank you
, Admiral.”

“Have a good night, both of you.”

With sound and lighting
adjusted, Lucas walks towards Victoria, her slight smile and raised eyebrow questioning him. He watches the wonder and joy fill her emerald eyes as the music starts, taking her in his arms, they valsa.