From: Nai (naomi_lara_at_optusnet.com.au)
Date: Sat Mar 03 2007 - 20:50:42 PST
"Back to nature" (cont. from "Fitting it All Together") Location: ESPERION Stardate: 2.61231.1532 Scene: Somewhere in the Wildnerness Catherine fidded with the shoulder straps of the backpack as she eyed Daniel stepping into the transporter room. "Glad you decided to make it." She teased her husband with an impish smile as she bounced the pack higher on her shoulders and secured it there. "Well, it would only be half a party if I didn't make it." He replied as he slung his own packback over his shoulder. Their honeymoon was going to be a little unconventional. Instead of lazing around on a beach, drinking from coconuts and living the high life. They had instead chosen to go for a week-long hike through the wilderness. It would be a hard hike, but it promised that they would be alone, without interruptions or reality intruding into their solitude. They were both looking forward to the opportunity of roughing it, of getting close to nature once again, and away from the gleaming and claustrophobic confines of the ship Daniel cast an impish glance sideways at his wife as they stepped onto the transporter pad. "Besdies," he said. "Somebody had to make sure all the good rifles were out of Samuels' reach." Catherine smiled. "What will he do with himself for a week." She shook her head and glanced at Daniel. "Ready for our delayed honeymoon?" "It's about time. Go for it, ensign." The marine nodded towards the transport operator who promptly sent the pair on their way. They disappeared in a haze of blue light from the Patriot, and were instantaneously transported to the ground several thousand meters below. The first thing that struck them was the intense smell of trees, and damp. It was uplifting. They were surrounded by vegetation, thick and luxurious. "So where to?" Catherine asked Daniel. He, after all, had more experience then she did hiking through a forest. "Well," Daniel said, looking around. "Palthainon offered to give me a map of the whole place, but I declined. I hope you don't mind, but I figured we'd just go exploring and see what we find." "You know I'm game." She said as she lithely jumped up onto a mossy log, then off the other side. "Just as long as we're going to be left alone." The woman glanced over her shoulder towards her husband with a grin. She didn't want them to be interrupted for the whole week. She was very serious about that. "Should we head to higher ground?" Daniel nodded, "yeah, don't really want to make camp in a gully...unless you like sleeping in mud?" He suggested as he came up alongside of her. "No, not particularly." The couple slowly made their way upwards, stepping from rock to rock until they came to a hiking trail. They stepped onto it and continued upwards, eventually coming to a fork in the trail. By that point, the path had ceased its steep ascent and levelled out considerably. "I think I hear water in that direction," Catherine said, pointing down the left path in the fork. "Alright," Daniel said, smiling at her. "Left it is." They walked along the left path for about five minutes before coming to a point where the bushes cleared enough to afford them a view of a clear blue river rushing along its course. Large rocks were littered around the clearing, and it was apparently obvious to both of them that people used this area as a rest stop. "You know," Daniel said, ignoring the boulders and walking right up to the edge of the clearing so he could stare right down at the water rushing beneath. "This reminds me of a place back on EARTH." "Oh?" Catherine enquired, raising an eyebrow as she unslung her packback. They wouldn't make camp here, but it was good to get the weight off her back for a little bit. They had been walking for a few hours already. "Yeah," Daniel said, turning around and smiling as he walked back over to his wife, removing his pack and placing it next to hers as he took a seat on one of the boulders. "When my dad was still around we'd go camping every now and then, and one of the spots we went to was right next to a river with hiking trails just like this one." He grinned. "Marty and I used to have a contest to see who could go the closest to the edge of the cliff, and when mom and dad caught us we'd get a huge lecture. But we'd do it again the next time anyway, and get another lecture for it." "Slow learners, were you?" Catherine grinned and laughed as he rolled his eyes in exasperation at her. She raised her arms high overhead, stretching out her back and shoulders. "Lucky you didn't go over the cliff, I doubt they would have been impressed by that." She unclipped her water bottle and drank a couple of good gulps of water before passing it to Daniel who did likewise. Catherine glanced up at the sky overhead as the sunlight became shaded and diffuse. To the western mountain range, there were heavy grey clouds that were forming. "I think that we should find somewhere to bunker down relatively soon. We'll need to get the tent up, firewood and water organised before that storm hits. And I don't think this the best spot for a camp site. What do you think?" "Sounds like a plan," Daniel said agreeably, getting up. He re-donned his pack, before handing Catherine hers. They headed out back onto the trail, making their way along it. Soon after they started, the trail became thick with bushes and tree branches, making their going slow as they had to make their way through the overgrowth. They walked in silence for a while. The only sound was of their breathing, and the cracking of undergrowth as they pushed through it. It wasn't a race against time, they had hours to get themselves organised, but there wasn't much time for a dawdle either. Each person was lost in their own thoughts, just concentrating on placing one foot in front of the other. There was a low rumble of thunder that echoed off the mountains. Daniel whistled softly. "We're in for a storm tonight. Just as well we have marshmellows." "What are marshmellows?" "Oh man, you don't know what they are?" Clarkson glanced over his pack and laughed shortly. "You are missing out. Just wait until tonight, then you can try them." He promised her. "Marshmallows, hot chocolate, and spending time alone with the woman of my dreams," Clarkson murmured, as he snapped a few branches from the path in front of him. "Can a guy ask for anything more?" Catherine laughed. "Well, we know where your priorities lie." She reached out and caressed the back of his hair for a moment. "So what are you thinking about?" She asked him after a moment. "I'm thinking that we missed Valentine's day," Daniel replied, turning to smile at her before turning back to the hedge and hacking away. "You do like that stuff more then I do." Catherine laughed. "You are such a romantic." She jumped over several rocks, coated in thick, slippery moss. "But that's what's so sweet." She assured him. "So what would you have done for Valentine's day?" She couldn't help but be a little curious. "Well," Daniel said, as he hopped to a rock and swayed unsteadily for a moment before finding his balance and hopping to the next one. "I thought it might be nice to start off with a candlelight dinner, followed by dessert. I programmed a night version into that holodeck program you love, so we could've ended the evening with a nice romantic stroll through an open meadow under moonlight." Catherine smiled. It sounded like a nice idea. Pleasant, intimate and honest. "Can I ask you a question?" "Of course Cath," Daniel said, glancing in her direction briefly. By that point, the two had crossed the rocky portion they'd previously been walking over, and had resumed walking along a dirt hiking path. "Why are such romantic dates confined to Valentine's Day? Why not once a month, as opposed to once a year?" The young woman asked with an absolute devilish smirk on her features. It would be some sort of miracle for Clarkson to explain that away. She didn't set him up to get angry at him. She actually found it rather amusing. Daniel thought about it for a moment before replying. "They don't have to be," he replied with a grin of his own. "I just know you'll get sick of me if I do it too often." "Ah." The woman nodded and grinned. They broke out into a clearing as another rumble of thunder ominously signalled its intent. "So it's for my benefit." She winked at him as she unslung her backpack. "I think this is a good place to make camp? We're shelted by the trees, we're in a bit of a lea, and there's that river nearby. What do you think?" Catherine asked softly as she rotated her shoulders and neck, working the kink out of her neck. "Yep, I doubt we'll find much better," Daniel agreed, casting his eyes skyward. "Especially soon." Catherine opened her pack up and began pulling out some poles and material for the tent shell. "The storm won't be here for a while." She assured him as she drove the first peg into the ground. Daniel helped her and within short order they had the tent up and ready. "Now it's time for roasting marshmallows," he said, rubbing his hands together as he looked around for dead branches they could use for firewood. "You get the firewood, I'll get the water." Catherine leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Be back in a few minutes." She said as she picked up the container and left the clearing. She made her own track down the gully wall towards the bubbling sounds of water. When she reached the river bank, she crouched down by the water and watched for a few moments. It was quiet in the forest, most of the wildlife were settling in from the storm. Catherine reached her hands into the cold water and brought a handful up to her mouth where she sipped from it. The faint metallic tang told her that it was a little high in minerals, but it was safe to drink. Satisfied, she gulped down the rest of the water and splashed her face clean with it. It was refreshing and took of most of the dust and grime from their long hike. Clean up done, she unplugged the container and submerged it into the water to fill it. Mission accomplished, she rose onto her feet and began to head back to camp. Daniel for his part, walked back along the trail, picking up all the dead branches that had fallen off the trees. When he'd gathered a large enough amount that he had trouble carrying anymore, he turned and headed back into the clearing, taking half of the stock and getting to work on making a fire. He'd just finished with the fire when Catherine got back from her water run. She set down the container by the tent and went to sit next to her husband as he stoked the fire into merry life. It crackled and spat and smoked, but its effect was hypnotic. They would have to have an early dinner if they wanted to cook it. Once the rain came, it would douse it and they would have a cold dinner instead. Catherine linked her arm through Daniel's and rested her head on his shoulder. "This is nice." She murmured as there was another peel of thunder overhead. "It was a great idea," Daniel agreed, leaning his head against his wife's and feeling her soft blonde hair against his cheek. "I'm glad we did it." Catherine smiled. "Long overdue." She nodded in agreement. Daniel peeked skyward and smiled. "Looks like we've got just enough time to roast some marshmallows," he said. He rooted around for the bag he'd brought and placed it in front of them, taking the top off and exposing the tasty little white cylinders to the elements. That task accomplished, he grabbed the two longer sticks he'd grabbed at the same time as the firewood and handed one to Catherine. "You take a bunch and spear them on the end of the sticks like so," Daniel said, demonstrating as he talked. "And then roast them in the fire. Once they're all gooey and brown, they taste absolutely delicious." Catherine watched Daniel's actions as he set his marshmellows on the stick and emulated him. She wasn't too sure about these spongy confections but he was adamant that she would love them. He suggested that she keep turning the stick to rotate the mellows over the flame. Clarkson grinned as they slowly browned and began to sag on the stick. He was positively salivating. "They're done. Grab it and eat it." He pulled the stick back in and prised the crisped marshmallow from the stick and ate it. A smug, satisfied smile lit up on his face. Catherine followed suit and ate the marshmallow. It was slightly bitter, with the faint charring, then sweet and sticky. "How are they?" Daniel asked in between mouthfuls of marshmallow. The woman nodded and smile. "Yes, very good." She leaned forward and kissed him, tasting the sweetness from his lips. "Mmmm," Daniel murmured as the kiss lingered between the couple. He smiled at her as they pulled back, reaching out and gently tucking a few errant strands of hair behind her ear. "So how are you liking your honeymoon so far?" "Bitter sweet." Catherine laughed and ate another marshmallow, with a chuckle. "Very sweet, but they're nice." She noted. "A very good idea, Daniel. It was worth lugging them this far." Daniel looked at her for a few moments as she speared a few more marshmallows and started toasting them. She was always beautiful to him and he always felt at ease around her, like he never had a care in the world. It was a feeling he cherished and he loved her for being able to give him that feeling. There was something different about her, he noted, as he watched her toasting the marshmallows. She seemed to be laughing just a little bit louder, and just a little bit longer. Her smiles seemed just a little bit brighter and her step a little bit lighter. Maybe it was the outdoors, or the activity, or the fact that they were alone together. Maybe it was the fact that they were on their honeymoon, or maybe even just her being able to get away from the ship and the rest of the crew for a week, but Daniel sensed that she seemed less bogged down with life out here in the wilderness with him. He shook his head, smiling slightly. Or maybe it was just his imagination working overtime to try and make the perfect vacation with the perfect woman just a little bit more perfect. With another slight shake of the head, he grabbed another handfull of the white treats, spearing them on his stick and placing them out over the fire. "You remind me of Archer. You know that?" She asked, as she glanced at him sideways. Her hair fell down over her shoulder, providing a backdrop for her face. "No...you never told me." Daniel replied and watched as she tucked it behind her ear. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "I've always looked up to him. He always seemed so wise, knowledgeable about the world." She admitted with a faint smile. "He looked so comfortable living in it, like he knew all of its secrets and could navigate its waters without trouble. You have that same approach to it all." Daniel smiled. "One of the things growing up like I did taught me was that every day in life is precious," he said. "And that I have to go out and embrace things myself - nobody else is going to do it for me." He shrugged self-consciously. "I guess I'm just not afraid of jumping in and seeing what happens." "That's for sure." Catherine smiled and then glanced up as a bolt of lightening ripped across the darkened sky, followed by a deafening crash of thunder. "Looks like we're going to get interrupted soon enough." She observed. Even as she spoke, they could hear the first few splats of raindrop hitting the ground. She took a marshmallow off the stick and handed the cooked morsel to Daniel before helping herself to one. Daniel nodded silently, his mouth full of marshmallow. After swallowing, he cast a glance up to the sky before diverting his gaze over to his wife. "We still have time to cook dinner, and make a tin of hot chocolate," he said eagerly. "We can snuggle up under the sleeping bags in the tent when the storm hits and just gorge ourselves on hot chocolate." "Sounds like a wonderful idea. I just realised, however, that we have actually had dessert before our dinner." Catherine laughed softly as she found a small pot in her pack and dumped two rations into it. She quickly added a couple splashes of water and threw the mixture onto the fire. It wasn't gourmet, but at least it was food. It would take a good twenty minutes to warm through. If they were lucky, they would just get in ahead of the rain. Daniel laughed also. "Nothing wrong with that once in awhile," he said as he started putting together the mixture of hot chocolate and water that he would also put over the fire. Catherine glanced at him sideways before reaching forward and ruffling his hair. "Please, please, please tell me you're going to grow it out a little!" It was a long-standing source of contention between the two adults. Daniel had always flatly refused her pleas that he grow his hair even a few centimetres. Catherine hated the look on him; it made his face too severe, too angular. Daniel laughed, planting a quick kiss on her lips. "You just don't give up do you?" he asked good-naturedly. "I think someone once described me as a pit bull..." She smirked. "Whatever that means." Daniel shook his head, chuckling. "I'll grow it out when I'm Chief," he said innocently. Catherine huffed and rolled her eyes. "But you'll look so much more handsome." She pouted playfully. Daniel feigned a hurt expression back at her. "So I don't look handsome now?" he asked. "Yes, you do...you'll just look handsomer." She kissed him, knowing full well he was playing around a little. "So don't go all wounded puppy on me. I know that game all too well." "Yeah I know," Daniel said with a laugh. "You just tried it." She stuck her tongue out at him. "How about you go get some plates, and I'll get dinner off the fire." She offered as she grabbed a rag before reaching out to pick up the handle of the pot. Daniel chuckled and quickly offered up to plates as she started ladling the stew out into their bowls. "This isn't like what we make at home." Daniel nodded his agreement and just as Catherine had finished ladling the portions out, the rain started to come down heavier. "Looks like it's time to go inside," Daniel observed, grabbing the tin of hot chocolate in one hand and his plate in the other. Catherine left the fire and followed her husband inside. The rain would put it out in short order. She laughed girlishly as they hurriedly organised themselves on the floor, sitting crossed legged under the protection of the tent. "This is fun!" She proclaimed mischievously. Daniel grinned and nodded in agreement. "It sure is," he said. "Now let's just hope the tent doesn't get struck by lightning." "I doubt that." She cocked her head, listening to the patter of the rain on the tent. It was incredibly soothing. Thunder roared overhead, but in here, she felt safe and protected. With a contented smile, she sampled her meal. "A whole week of this...its utter bliss!" Daniel smiled at her. "No PATRIOT, no reports, no work. Just you, me, the tent and a roaring storm overhead." "Absolute serenity." She sighed happily as she dug into her meal. She was surprised at how hungry she was now that she had started eating. "We have to make a habit of this" "Definitely," Daniel agreed, finishing his meal and putting the plate down. "We run across a bunch of planets during missions, so the opportunity should present itself again." "I'll keep you to that, Daniel Clarkson." Catherine likewise finished her meal. She grabbed both plates and set them outside, under the tent eave. "Just as I'm going to keep you to this famous hot chocolate of yours. But first, I think that we should get under the covers. Hmmm?" She winked playfully as she began to unfasten her jacket. "You won't get any argument from me," Daniel said with a laugh. He started laying out the sheets and within a few moments a very cozy looking double sleeping bag had been laid out along the bottom of the tent. "I didn't think so." She grinned as she slipped a nightgown over her body and delightly slipped into the sleeping bag. She gestured for Daniel to join her. He was a little slower at getting himself ready for bed, but when he slid under the covers, Catherine handed him his mug of chocolate. They laid their backs against their packs, as she snuggled against him, and held her cup out in salute. "To our belated honeymoon." Daniel smiled at her as they clinked glasses together. "To our belated honeymoon," he echoed, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. "Mmmmm, not bad," he said, having sampled the drink's taste. Sterling smiled happily. She was in her husband's arms. Rain, sleet, and wind where howling outside, with the occasional interruption from the storm. She was snug, safe and warm. "It's wonderful." Daniel looked into her golden violet eyes and smiled. "You know," he said softly, gently stroking her cheek with his free hand. "I never thought I'd be so lucky as to fall in love with someone as wonderful as you." "Nor did I." She smiled shyly, "and that's what makes this so perfect. I never imagined that I would meet a person like you, so the sentiments are matched." Daniel smiled at her, leaning in and gently pressing his lips to hers. "I'm just glad we finally got that mission over with," he admitted, rubbing her cheek fondly. "For a while there I thought that we'd never get the time to ourselves." "You're lucky that blast didn't kill you." They smiled and kissed each other, enjoying the comfort and warmth, even as the outside environment stormed bitterly. "Come on, marine. We have an early start in the morning." She told him as she set the empty mug of chocolate down. Daniel rolled his eyes and followed suit, drawing the covers over their shoulders and drawing his wife close to him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` NRPG: yeha, yeah, yeah, another sappy post V. Rahul Chandra <vrccan_at_gmail.com> Playing... Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Gorman, MD Chief Medical Officer/2nd Officer GATEWAY STATION, GS-2 & Captain Daniel Clarkson, MD Executive Officer - Marine Contingent USS PATRIOT, NCC 5781-A & Lieutenant Sevlock Junior ACT Instructor Starfleet Academy, EARTH Naomi Lara Playing Lt. Tellah Cal Operations Officer USS PATRIOT And Lt. J.G. Catherine Sterling-Jade Intelligence Liason Officer USS PATRIOT From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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