[locked to notaphysicst] Dinner Date

[rightawaydoctor]

Going out to dinner with her boss wasn't a big deal. There had been times they had eaten at the same table at the mess hall, but on many of those occasions the Captain had been there too. What made things different was that this was shore leave, and it wouldn't be just dinner on the ship

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[notaphysicst]

It's just dinner. That's all it was. An apology dinner of sorts, for him being an ass and scaring (what he guessed) was the ever living shit out of her in the pool. Since his divorce, he'd had dinner with other women, so what difference was there with this? Besides the whole 'she's my Head Nurse and if I mess this up, it'll be awkward to work with her' scenario that kept playing out in his head. If they were pretty much friends at this point, why was he so worried?

When she'd left him at his hotel room, Leonard had made use of the hotel shower - with real water washing over his skin - before taking a quick nap. If he hadn't been so damn nervous, it probably would've been refreshing. The doctor had tried to take his mind off of it by getting ready, picking an outfit that was casual at least. Nothing to fancy looking, it was just dinner. Leonard made sure to save, maybe even flick a few drops of sandalwood cologne to his collar because friend or not, he at least wanted to smell nice

[notaphysicst]

Leonard raised his brows a little. "You danced? No wonder y'work around Medical so well. Y'dodge this way and that around the others. I should've guessed, really."

He stepped out behind her - ladies first, always - and moved to go in step with her to the entrance. "We'll go left at the doors he said, before going back to their topic of conversation.

"If Mardi Gras is anythin' like it was way back in the 21st century, I might have t'pass up. I'm all for cake and beads, but not so much about the stupidity levels when people are drunk and flashin' their chests." Yes, he'd seen those holovids from way back then, but he'd forgotten by now why he'd been researching it in the first place.

[rightawaydoctor]

"Mmm hmm. Ballet." She smirked at the way he noticed her moving around the med bay. Maybe she just had one of those walks that caught peoples' attention.

"Aww, but those are part of the tradition!" She wasn't about to reveal if she'd taken part in the chest flashing, though.

[notaphysicst]

"Never seen a ballet performance. Maybe y'could show me one of those since Mardi Gras might be out of the question until the 5 year mission is over. He led them out into the cool air, taking a left onto the sidewalk towards their intended destination.

"Tradition? I thought Mardi Gras was a Catholic celebration? Not a beer n' breasts celebration."

[rightawaydoctor]

"Really?" She beamed at him as they stepped outside, then shivered a bit at the change in temperature. "Most guys don't ask to see ballet. They get dragged there."

She laughed and shook her head. "It used to be, but over time, the meaning shifted."

[notaphysicst]

He figured it'd be nice to at least show some interest in what she brought up. He'd never really watched any dancing, hell, Leonard had never really listened to classical music. At her beaming, the good doctor shrugged a little and gave a little smile. "I've never watched or listened t'anythin' related t'dancin' really. Not ballet related anyways."

"Sounds like the Saint Patrick's thing they had in Georgia. Suppose' t'be celebratin' somethin' important and it ended up bein' about booze. Sometimes our race is a damn shame." He chuckled.

[rightawaydoctor]

"Well I'll do some research and then we'll go see a performance. It can be really beautiful and moving." She smiled wistfully to herself. There were times she wished she hadn't quit, but nursing was something she loved doing, and she hoped to be a doctor one day, so she couldn't regret leaving ballet too much.

"True. But I can understand wanting to grasp onto something to give us an excuse to celebrate."

[notaphysicst]

"We don't have to go and sit and watch one if a holovid would be easier." Leonard didn't want her to go through all the trouble of finding something, especially if she couldn't find something in time, since they'd have to go back to the Enterprise. The ship wouldn't take off without her top two Medical personnel with her.

"Seems like we use everything as an excuse to celebrate." He chuckled a little. "You're planning t'take me t'go see ballet, we should celebrate!" He said with a laugh as they walked, crossing the street after making sure it was clear.

[rightawaydoctor]

"We could do that. Seeing it live is better, but you gotta go with what you can get." Following him across the street, she smiled.

"It's human nature. We feel like we can't gather together or drink without asking 'What's the occasion?' And if there's no occasion, people find it strange. So we make ones up out of existing celebrations."

[notaphysicst]

"Live is generally better." He agreed, brushing a hand through his hair as the wind messed it up.

"I guess y're right. Must be different when y'come from a town that has a ginormous party once a year instead of some small backwood town like I did." Leonard's walking slowed as they reached the restaurant he'd picked out - a quiet little cafe that looked like it served soups and sandwiches. "Figured this would be filling and healthy."

He wasn't up for getting sick again on the ship. Too much to do on there, and no time to become one of his own patients. He stepped forward to pull the door open for her, letting the smell of fresh baked bread and spices come out as they would go in.

[rightawaydoctor]

"Yeah, it is. Guess I can't really see it from your point of view." She walked through the door with a "Thank you," said over her shoulder.

The smell of the cafe was intoxicating and she soon made her way over to a glass display case near the register showing off breads, muffins, and pies.

"I like the looks of this place," she commented, before a server approached them.

[notaphysicst]

"Smells good. Dad told me t'get the best food someplace, ask a local. I dunno if the receptionist was a local or not, but this place is promising." A little bell clinged over the door as he stepped in and shut it, going over to where she was looking at the display.

The server approached while she was looking, so Leonard slightly held up two fingers to indicate that it was just him and Christine. "Hey, c'mon, we gotta eat before we can have desert."

Now who was mother henning?

The server led them over to a booth seat, with a view from the window of the street they had just been walking on. "May I get you two anything to drink?"

Leonard looked at him, not even having to think about what he wanted. "Do y'all have sweet tea?" He smiled when the server nodded. "I'll take a glass of it."

[rightawaydoctor]

"Says who?" she replied, but she straightened up and came beside him, clearly joking. Once seated at their table, she placed her elbows on the surface and rubbed her hands together to warm them after the walk in the cold.

"Same for me, thank you."

[notaphysicst]

"Told y'it was gonna get chillier." He said, watching her hands rub together for warmth. Leonard didn't have anything to offer her and the first thing that came to mind...

'You ain't ready for that. Just leave it alone. Ask for a cup of hot water for her.' His brain told him. The doctor was lost in space for a moment until the waiter returned with the beverages, setting them down with some sugar packets. He set a couple of menus down for them

[rightawaydoctor]

"Well it's not like I didn't believe you." She watched with interest as he ordered hot water and took a hold of her straw to sip at her tea as the server went crashing around in the background.

"Whoa, sounds like he's having a bad day." When he returned, she gave him a gentle smile and the server looked less frazzled.

After hearing Leonard's plan, she looked quite impressed. "Oh," she exclaimed, wrapping her hands around the mug. "Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks, Boss."

[notaphysicst]

"Eh, we all have them. Remember the last time Nurse Hall had one? Knocked damn near everything in the supply closet over?"

Leonard picked up the menu, relaxing in his seat as he took a look over it. Since it was getting a little colder, eating soup would be good. Would tide him over with warmth until they got back to the hotel.

"Dad taught me that trick. I'd come in complainin' 'bout bein' cold after walkin' home from school in the rain and he'd make me hold his coffee cup while he made me some soup." He didn't get those doctor instincts from anywhere apparently.

"I think the French onion soup sounds good, with a sandwich on the side."