Dialogue taken from sims with Alison and Vickie

After spending a long morning, perodically 'checking on things', sitting outside Doc's room. Janson finally fell fast asleep in his bed.

Anreson woke up, in her hospital bed, an arm resting across Hobbie's stomach, her head pillowed on his bare chest. She smiled slightly at the sound of his heartbeat and even breathing of sleep. She sat up and looked over at the wall chrono. 1056. With a quiet sigh, she slipped out of the bed, and grabbed a robe from the closet to cover herself. Wrapping the belt around her small waist, she then headed to the nurses station.

"Can you tell me which room Major Janson is in?" She asked. Then, she heard heavy snoring. Tilting her head and listening for a moment, she told them, "Nevermind."

She followed the sound, and looked into the room of it's origin. Janson was snoring loudly, his curtains closed tightly. She entered the room, and tossed the curtains open. "Rise and shine!" she said as she turned around to face him.

"Sithspit... Go 'way," Janson groaned as he pulled the pillows over his head.

Anreson laughed, "Now, Why should I do as you ask, hmmm?" The only answer she got was some mumbling from beneath the pillows. She reached and picked them up. "I have a bone to pick with you, Major."

He groaned and tried to pull the covers up over his head. "Wha'd I do now?"

"You made fools out of Major Klivian and I last night," she frowned.

"You got your kiss... be happy," he huddled down and tried to hide under the blankets more.

"It's the principle of the thing," she told him as she pulled the covers down to his ankles.

"HEY!" he jumped up, and hit his head on the railing of the bed. "OW!"

"Hay is for nerfs," she shook her head. "Oh good. Give yourself another concussion," she snorted as she folded her arms.

"Yeah, I know... and corn is for clucks." He rubbed his head while trying to keep his gown straight.

"Wes," she sat down on the side of his bed. "You can't make people like each other, get together, it's not right."

He looked at her from beneath messy bangs. "You already liked each other. I was just making Hobbie finally let you know."

Anreson let out a heavy sigh. "I know... and I appreciate that, but you can't go around meddling in other people's affairs."

"After all that work on me, you'd think you could have taught me sooner."

She slapped her forehead, "Okay. Let me try this again. If you *ever* try to do something like that again, I'll break your neck. Got it?"

He smiled at her from beneath his bangs. "You're welcome, by the way."

The doctor shook her head. "If I spend any more time around you people, I am going to go crazy."

"Ouch... that's mean."

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

"No... it's true. I tend to drive people batty. I mean, look at Hobbie, he's had to deal with me for how long? Around ten years now."

"Wes," She turned on the bed to look at him. "It's not true."

He leaned back on the bed, "It is... but I'm used to it," he sighed.

"You don't have to be. Listen, you have a good heart. Sometimes you just..." she shrugged. "You try too hard."

"No one wants a joker like me."

"That's not true."

He shook his head. "There was a girl... a long time ago..." he sighed. "But she's gone now and..." he shook his head.

"What happened to her?" Anreson asked quietly while she stood, and pulled the blankets back up for him. Then she sat back on the bed to listen.

"She married, then got into a bad divorce, and just disappeared."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm over it," he shrugged.

No, you aren't... Imperceptibly, she shook her head.

"I just don't want Hobbie to find someone he cares about and gets too afraid to tell her, so she walks out of his life."

She looked over to him, "So you were trying to keep him from getting hurt by me?"

"Yeah," he told her seriously.

She smiled slightly, "Like I said, you have a good heart."

"Not a lot a good heart will get you these days," he grumbled as he threw off the covers and went to grab his pants from a chair nearby.

"You'd be surprised." Anreson stood and went over to him. "Thank you, Wes," she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I've gotta go check out now, and wake up that pilot in my room," she started heading for the door.

Janson lowered his head, "I'm sorry."

At the door, she turned. "For what?"

"I knew that Hobbie liked you... but I could only guess that you liked him. I'm sorry for presuming..." his voice trailed off.

Anreson smiled, "Just be glad you were right." She winked at him before she left.

Janson smiled and pulled on his pants.

* *

Anreson quietly returned from Janson's room and saw that Hobbie was still sound asleep on the hospital bed. She made her way to the 'fresher for a warm, muscle relaxing shower. Soon she was singing a folk-tune, from a Ralltiiri opera, to herself.

Hobbie rolled over with a groan. He knew there used to be someone else in the bed, but she was gone. He opened his eyes and frowned before hearing the lilting song and sounds of shower from the 'fresher. With a half-grin, he chuckled quietly and sneaked in.

She switched to humming as she bent to the side begin washing her long tresses. Suddenly, there was someone in the shower with her, and that someone kissed her neck. She yelped as she spun around, then smiiled embarrassedly. "Oh..."

"'Oh'? That's all I get?"

She stood on half-tiptoe and kissed his nose. "I'm trying to wash my hair."

"Can I help?" Hobbie grinned.

With a shrug, she turned back around. "Sure."

Slowly, he washed her hair, then ran his hands over her shoulders and down her sides. He leaned over to kiss her shoulder,and when she sighed happily and leaned back into him, he trailed his kisses along, while turning her around in his arms, up to her lips.

Anreson slid an arm up around his neck and leaned into him, their water-slicked bodies pressed together. "You know," she said as they broke for air. "I really need to finish up if I'm going to check out in time."

Hobbie sighed, "So, can I escort you home then?"

She stepped back a bit to rinse out her hair. "I really ought to go to work."

"Can't you take the day off?" he frowned.

"I already missed an appointment yesterday, and a few this morning. Not to mention all the other disc-work..." she sighed. "I wish I could."

He kissed her nose, "I love you, Amanda."

She stood there frozen, watching him dumbstruck.

He smiled as he rinsed himself off before stepping from the shower. He grabbed a towel and dried off on his way back to the main room to dress.

She finished cleaning up, her emotions in a turmoil, and stepped out from the shower. She grabbed a towel and dried off, then wrapped it around herself.

As she entered the main room to get her clothes, Hobbie was pulling on his boots, "Can I at least walk you to your office?"

"I don't see why not," she took her clothes from the day before out of the closet and went back to the 'fresher to dress. She would change into some clean ones at the office.

Hobbie stayed on the edge of the bed, waiting. "You know, I think Wes is completely better."

"Why's that?" She called from the 'fresher.

"Just from what he did last nite."

"How so?"

He walked over to the half-open 'fresher door. "Getting us together."

She finished buttoning her blouse, and towel-dried her hair. "Oh."

He moved into the room, and put his hands on her shoulders from behind. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek causing her to smile. "You have a beautiful smile," he whispered in her ear.

She shuddered at the husky tone to his voice. "Uhm... Thanks..." she pulled away slightly and went to grab the brush.

Hobbie sat on the counter, watching as she worked out the tangles. "So, Dinner?"

"Is usually the final meal of the day," she replied with a smirk.

He closed his eyes, smacked his forehead, and groaned, causing her to laugh.

"It sounds like a good idea."

"What time?" he asked as a smile returned to his face.

"I'm not sure when I'll get done.... How about 1830?"

"Okay, I'll show up at your office at 1830 and we'll see."

"Deal," she finally finished untangling her hair and braided it back for the walk to her office.

"Good."

"I need to check out now," Anreson placed the brush on the counter and looked at him.

He stood and swept a hand towards the dooraway. "Right this way, M'lady."

As she passed him, Hobbie patted her bum. She jumped and turned, "Derek!"

He gave her an innocent look, "What?"

She shook her head and laughed as she headed to the nurses station. Soon, she was checked out and they were on their way out of the medical hospital over to the psychiatric hospital. Hobbie went up with her to the office, and kissed her lightly. "See you for supper, 1830, don't forget."

"Never, Beautiful Lady. I would never forget that."

She looked away and smiled as she moved toward her private 'fresher and the clean clothes locked in the cabinet. "I'll see you then."

He smiled softly to her, and then turned to leave the office.

She soon returned to her desk wearing some clean clothing, and worked hard all day trying to catch up. She had a handful of patient appointments in the beginning, then spent the rest of the day going through the accounts of people needing to be notified for hospice work. Every time her hand fell on Colonel Celchu's disc, she set it back in the drawer in prefrence for another one.

Hobbie showed up promptly at 1830 and knocked on the door.

"Come," she answered without looking up from the datawork.

He walked in, "Not yet, but maybe later," he grinned.

Anreson looked up sharply in recognition of his voice and blushed deeply. She looked back to the disc in hand, "I'm nearly finished."

He went over and lay on the couchbed that was traditionally in her office. "Do your pateints actually lay on this thing?"

"Occasionally," she told him without looking up. "Mostly they sit there." She finished up the datapad and sighed, then locked everything into the drawers.

Hobbie lay back on the couch with his arms crossed beneath his head. "It's pretty comfy."

Anreson nodded and leaned back in the chair. "There are times when I finish up too late to head back to my apartment, so I just camp out here for the night. I keep a change in the cabinet underneath the 'fresher sink, along with a blanket."

He turned to see her leaning back in her chair. "Rough day?"

"Hospice work is never fun."

He nodded, "Ah." Getting up, he moved over to stand behind her and start massaging her shoulders.

She let her head fall forward as he did so. Especially when it's someone you dressed down....

"Wow, you are really stressed," he told her quietly as he kneaded the overly-tight muscles.

...And has left without word to anyone.... She sighed. "It happens."

He leaned down to kiss her neck lightly. "Maybe some dinner will help relax you?"

She nodded and pushed his hands away. "Let's went."

He held out a hand to help her up. Once she stood, he let go to allow her to get her jacket and briefcase. "Where to?" she asked.

"How about that little Ralltiiri place?"

"Two meals in a row?" she raised an eyebrow.

"That was lunch yesterday, Love. It's a different day and a different meal."

"Ah," she chuckled. "So it is. Alright then, Derek."

"This way, Amanda," he smiled.

* *

Hobbie led Anreson down the lift and across the street to the Ralltiiri cafe. They got a secluded table for two. He held her seat out for her to sit, then sat down across from her. He ordered a bottle of wine then looked at the menu.

She was quiet and he looked over the menu at her. He cleared his throat. "So, how was work?"

"It was work," she said quietly.

He frowned slightly, That didn't work....

With a sigh, she looked over her menu, "How was your day?"

"Well, I spent most of it going over datadiscs and missing you."

She blushed as she looked back down to the menu.

Hobbie grinned, "You know... you are so beautiful when you blush." Anreson was silent and, sensing tension, he continued. "Hmmm. I'm not sure what I'm going to have this time. What are you looking at getting?"

She was obviously relieved at the change of subject. "I don't know, perhaps the cluck-fried nerf?"

He leaned to look over the top of the menu, "Hm, that does sound good. Where is it?" he looked down, but not at the menu.

Anreson pointed to a place at the bottom of the menu, then looked up and followed his line of sight. She pulled the menu back and held it over her chest embarrasedly. "Uhm.... Yeah."

He sat back, "Sorry." He buried his nose in the menu, wondering if he'd ever get together with her again.... or had he just ruined everything.

The waiter returned with the wine, saving them both from embarrasment. "What can I get for you this evening lady, sir?"

"Cluck-fried nerf, please," she handed the waiter her menu.

"Very good madamme, and sir?"

"I'll have the same," he handed over his menu as well, and the waiter left.

Hobbie took a sip of his wine, trying to avoid looking at Anreson. She took up her glass for a sip as well. "So...."

He looked up at her a moment, then dropped his gaze again. "So...."

"Thanks for bringing me here again."

"It's my pleasure, I enjoy being with you."

"Likewise," she replied quietly.

Hobbie blinked, "Really?"

"Yes," she made a face. "Really."

He grinned, "Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?" he leaned forward on his elbows, listening intently.

"Just.... Because."

He sighed, "That's the only answer I'm going to get, isn't it?"

"Perhaps," she smirked.

"Perhaps, huh? Well.... How about you just tell me more about yourself?"

She tilted her head, "What is it you want to know? It's hardly fair I tell you about myself alone, why don't you tell me about yourself too? Swapping information."

"Okay. Let's start off with an easy one," he said. "Where did you go to school?"

"Grade or University?"

"University."

"Which time?" she laughed.

"Time? What do you mean by that?" Hobbie looked at her confusedly.

"Well, I went to one for medical training, one for psychiatric."

"Of course!" He slapped his forehead, "Medical."

"The Surgeons Academy at the University of Rudrig."

Hobbie let out a low whistle, "Wow. I've heard that's a hard place to get into."

She shrugged, "It's a good school."

"Okay," he nodded. "Your turn to ask me a question."

"Did you go to university?"

He shook his head, "No... went to the Academy... that is until..." he frowned as his voice trailed off.

"Oh yeah..." she was quiet then.

"I lost a lot of loved ones..." Hobbie looked down, a tear escaping from his eye.

Anreson scooted her chair around a little so they were closer, and put a hand on his arm as a tear of her own escaped. "I know.... So did I."

He looked up at her sadly. "I'm sorry," he said as he put a hand on top of hers.

With her free hand, she brushed his tear away, and then her own. "It's in the past.... Let's try to leave it there."

He took the hand on his arm in his, "Yes. Let's." He brought her hand up to kiss the back of it gently. She smiled shyly and blushed lightly. He lay her hand back down on the table, still holding it. "Let's see... Next question for you. What is your favourite colour?"

Anreson thought for a moment. "Green... you?"

"Most people think it's bacta pink, but actually, I like blue."

She nodded, "My turn now." After thinking a moment, she asked, "Do you have anything you won't let out of your sight?"

He brought his free hand up to pull his necklace from beneath his shirt. "Yes, this."

She tilted her head, "What is it?"

He leaned forward and held it out so she could see it.

Janson must not be the only one with a lucky charm... She thought as she cradled the charm in the fingers of her free hand. Turning the platinum shell over, she saw a script 'K' on the reverse. "It's lovely."

"So are you," he whispered. Then he cleared his throat, "It was a gift I gave one of my best friends on her sixteenth birthday."

She looked at him curiously.

"She gave it back when I left for the Academy.... To remember her by," Hobbie closed his eyes, willing the tears away.

"She's one of the people you lost, isn't she," Anreson spoke quietly.

"Yeah," he nodded. "And her husband. They were defending their six-month-old son."

"I'm sorry."

"My mom luckily got him out," he said softly. "They were the only two survivors.... That I know of."

She looked down at their hands held on the table. "That must have been rough."

"Considering I had graduated not four months before then from the Academy. I couldn't believe it."

"I was on Rudrig at the time," she dropped her hand and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. "I had just started my freshman term."

"Oh... How did you find out?"

"When my father called to tell me my older brothers had died in the attack."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry. I was on leave when I saw the attack on HNN. They were praising the Imperials for a job well done.... Yeah," he snorted. "Job well done."

She shook her head, "So, obviously you joined the alliance. I did as well, as soon as I had graduated," she shrugged in an attempt to let things fall off her shoulders. "Next question?"

He scratched at his chin with his free hand. "First boyfriend?"

Why did you have to ask that? she wondered. "A doctor I worked with on a medical frigate," she said evasively. "First girlfriend?"

"Never had one. First kiss?"

"The same," she clenched her jaw a little and looked toward the kitchens, almost willing for someone to come with the food before she had to think any more about Ton Phanan. He's in the past, you have to make him stay there....

She looked back to Hobbie, "You've never had a girlfriend?"

"No, not really."

"Okay. New line of questioning. First prank you ever pulled?"

"I'm not the prankster, that's Wes' job," he told her with a grin.

"Oh come now, you can't honestly say he hasn't brought you in on any of them."

"I didn't say that."

"So. First prank?"

He thought a moment, "Honestly, I don't remember."

"Favourite one then."

"Hmmm. I'd say the time Wedge got Wes back with Kettch."

Anreson laughed, "I'll have to hear about that sometime, but I meant one that *you* had pulled, or helped to pull, Major," she smirked.

Hobbie just shrugged and grinned, "Maybe I haven't pulled my favourite yet?"

He looked up as the food was brought over. "Ah, dinner. Could we get some more wine?"

"Of course sir," He fetched the wine bottle and refilled the glasses, leaving the bottle on the table.

She sighed in defeat. "Well parried," she muttered.

"Ah," Hobbie chuckled, "I am an expert at that. I live with Wes."

She frowned slightly as she took her glass up for a sip.

His brow furrowed, "What did I say?"

"Well," she put down her glass. "You've obviously played at least one prank, you must have a favourite of the ones, or even one you were in on... but you won't tell me."

"Okay," he sighed. "One time, a long while back, Wes and I... well.... We stole Wedge's clothes from the lockers. He chased after us in only a towel."

She giggled a little bit at the thought, "See? Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"No," he smiled. "Especially since it made you laugh." He paused a moment, "Want to laugh more?"

She smirked, "Sure."

"We were on Hoth at the time," he grinned broadly.

She just froze and looked at him a moment before she started laughing. She brought her hands up to cover her mouth as her eyes closed and her shoulders shook as she segued into silent laughter. "The... The poor General..." she shook her head as she was struck by a second wave.

"Poor us when he caught us."

It was almost a full minute before she finally calmed down enough to ask him, "What happened then?"

"KP for three months."

"Ouch..."

"Yeah, that's what I said.... As I constantly cut my hand while peeling tubers."

Anreson shook her head, "You must be accident prone, Derek."

He turned over his right hand and showed her a thin scar on his middle finger. "Yeah. I am."

"You really ought to be more careful," she said with a chuckle.

"Hey, I try. Really, I do," he took a bite of nerf. As they ate, he took another drink of the wine. "So, what would you like to do after dinner?"

She shrugged tiredly, "I hadn't given it any thought."

"We could rent a holoflick and watch it."

She chewed thoughtfully then swallowed. "Alright. I really shouldn't be out too late though, I have work tomorrow."

"We could take it back to your place, that way you won't be out at all."

She nodded, and they finished their meal in silence. Anreson looked concerned as she saw him finish his fifth glass of wine, to her not quite finished second. "Derek...."

He looked up after pouring the rest of the wine into his glass. "Yes?"

"You're getting yourself drunk." She frowned slightly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Do you usually drink this heavily?"

"No. I normally don' drink much at all," his speech was slightly slurred.

"If that's the case," she sighed. "Then this is going to hit you hard."

"I know," he looked at the empty bottle and frowned.

She stood, taking the three-quarters full glass of wine away from him, "No more." She set it down on the far end of the table from him then sat back down. "Now, what's wrong?"

He shrugged. "Not sure. I wanna jus' go home with you... and..." he blinked slowly. "And..." another blink.

He's gotten himself so drunk! She looked at him curiously, "And what, Derek? Spend the night emptying yourself of supper in my 'fresher?"

He shook his head slowly, "No.... Sith," he put his head in his hands. "Here I go again."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so flippant." She moved her chair closer beside him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Derek, what is it?"

He didn't turn to look at her. "Amanda... I like you... a lot. I don' wanna screw things up, but 'seems I always end up doing that anyway."

She shook her head, even though he wasn't likely to see. "I know exactly what you're doing."

"Yeah, 'course you do.... You're a shrink," he sighed.

She ignored the comment for the moment. "The question is, do you?"

He shrugged.

"Well, I don't know much about interpersonal psychology, mostly it's combat and PTSD ((Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)). But, those both deal with relationships between people. Friends, and comrades.... You're trying to push me away so you don't get hurt, whether you realize it or not. I'm not going to let you do that."

"Are you an'lyzing me?" he finally looked over to her.

"Not on purpose," she smiled.

"Good," he mumbled.

"Well, it looks like we're done eating.... Where are we watching the holo's, your place or mine? I seem to remember you saying you had a whole bunch, but we never did get to watch any."

"We c'n go to my 'partment, but Wes might be there. B'sides, you said you couldn't stay out late."

Anreson picked up her briefcase and, after dialing in the combination, opened it up and pulled out a small packet. She shut the briefcase then tore open the packet, dumping a light powdery substance into the water. She handed the glass to him, "Drink this."

His brow furrowed in confusion, "What is it?"

"You don't recognize it? You must be really drunk. It's called caf-boost, instant hangover-be-gone."

"Oh yeah," now he remembered the substance that kept he and his fellow pilots able to go to the bar and still be able to scramble at the drop of a hat. "Like I said, I don' normally drink much." He picked up the glass and drank the water quickly, "Gah, that's horrible!"

"Yes, but it's better than losing all you've eaten and spending your night worshiping the 'fresher," she smirked.

He chuckled, "Too true. Okay, now where?"

"We either rent a holo, or go get one from your place," she shrugged.

"We can go by my place."

She nodded, "Alright." Then her briefcase was locked again.

Hobbie stood and, after laying the credits on the table, held out his arm to Anreson. Case in hand, she took his arm, and he escorted her outside to hail a cab. He gave his address, and helped Amanda in, sliding into the speeder-taxi beside her.

"If Wes is passed out on the couch again, I'm going to vape him," she said a conversational tone.

"Not before I do," he looked down at her and smiled. She chuckled and sat back.

*******END*******