USS PEGASUS: Learning to Dance 
 
Author: Susan-Chan
Email: echo@indy.net
Date: 1998/03/22
 
[Timeframe: The After-the-Mission Bash]
 
Once the PEGASUS was on its way, Mala found herself all dressed up with
nowhere to go.  She didn't want to go back to her quarters, but she needed
a way to unwind.  After she relinquished the conn, she decided to visit
the Lounge.  The mission was over, and all the command staff had been
promoted.  That was cerainly cause to celebrate.  <Besides,> she thought
to herself, <I'm First Officer now, and FOs have to know their people.>
 
She wandered in to the Lounge without really knowing if anyone else would
be there.  She was pleased to see that Query was there already with a
drink to unwind.  The two of then spoke for a while, enjoying the
camaraderie of two officers who have served on dangerous assignments for a
long time.  Mala gradually began to relax.  
 
After a while, Samantha and Pierce drifted in.  They were holding hands.
The simple gesture of affection gave Mala a pang of envy.  Would she ever
be able to do that, to be so at home touching the one she loved?  
 
Then Vaiko joined them, and the gathering really began to turn into a
party.  A band struck up in the Lounge, and all around officers began to
dance.  Mala realized that most of the crewmen that were not on duty had
come here.  In a few short hours, the place had gone from peaceful to
festive.  The danger was over, and they were going home.  That was more
than reason enough.
 
Mala stayed away from the dancing, contenting herself with conversation
with those taking a break.  Often this was Vaiko, since ke was often
overlooked as a dance partner by both sexes.  There was still an
awkwardness between them, but the mood of the moment helped them to break
down those walls to reassert the friendship that lay beneath.  Mala
thought of the awkwardness between her and Hower.  Was he not here because
he was avoiding her?  Would there ever be a way for them to see
eye-to-eye?
 
Eventually, Vaiko went off to dance with Query.  From the looks on thier
faces, they had a lot to talk about.  Mala sighed and sipped her drink.
 
"A lovely lady like you just shouldn't be decorating the wall like this.
It's just a crying shame."  Mala looked up to see Pierce grinning down on
her with his hands thrust in his pocket.
 
She smiled a little sadly at him.  "Oh, I don't mind.  It's pleasant just
watching everyone else."
 
"Nonsense.  Do me a favor and give me just one dance before Samantha comes
and whisks me away?"  He offered her a mock grimace with eyes dancing.
"We're not even married yet, and already she's running my life."
 
Mala laughed.  "I can't tell you how little sympathy I have.  It's all
right.  I won't try to steal your time.  Your jailkeeper is also in charge
of  my promotions."
 
Pierce shook his head.  "Hadn't thought of that," he admitted.  "lf we
hurry, she won't notice."  He held out his hand to her.  "Take pity on a
poor man in his last days of freedom."
 
Mala paled beneath her deep emerald skin.  "Really, I appreciate the
gesture, but I just can't..."
 
"It *won't* be that bad.  Trust me."
 
"You're not going to let me say no
Pierce winked.  "You know me too well.  Just relax and don't worry so
much."
 
Mala hesitantly took the former counselor's hand and let him draw her to
her feet.  The stepped together onto the dancefloor.  Pierce drew her
close -- but not too close -- and began a step that was familiar to her.
 
Mala knew how to dance, of course.  As a trophy slave, she'd had to
perform in all variety of ways.  She could dance the Earth waltz, the
Klingon dra'kal', the Romulan...
 
"Oh!  I'm so sorry!"
 
 Pierce yelped and staggered away from her, favoring his foot.   "That
hurt," he understated with a lopsided smile.  "One of us zigged when we
should have zagged."
 
"It's my fault," Mala said sadly.  "I appreciate what you're trying to do,
but I just can't."
 
"I'm not giving up that easily,"  Pierce replied.  He limped back to her.
"I've got one good foot left.  Why don't you lead this time."
 
She'd never had to lead before, not in all the time she'd...  But Pierce's
smile was determined.  She owed him at least a good-faith attempt.
Self-consciously, she took the other man's hands and began again.
 
He was feeling her pheremones, of course.  There was something in the back
of his eyes that betrayed his nonchalance as a determined exercise in
will.  But there was never anything more than that.  As they moved
together, the steps came back to Mala with more confidance.  Suddenly,
before she realized it, the music had stopped.
 
Pierce stepped away from her and offered a jovial bow.  "I've never danced
with a better partner," he said, "and I'm not the Counselor anymore, so
that can't be counselor-talk.
 
Mala was flushed.  She'd enjoyed herself.  She really had.  She'd avoided
dancing for years because of the memories.  What had been different?  She
eyed Pierce keenly.  "But you're still a counselor at heart, aren't you?
There was a point to all this."
 
"You saw through all my devious machinisations," Pierce admitted wryly.
He offered her his arm.  "Why don't we walk for a while and talk about
it?"
 
Mala slipped her hand through his arm and strolled with him.  She didn't
press, but she was bursting with curiosity.
 
"Look, I want you to know that I had a real battle with my impartiality
when I found out about Hower and Vaiko," he began thoughtfully.  "I don't
believe in the raging hormones
Mala flushed.  This wasn't what she'd been expecting at all.  "It's not--"
she began defensively, but Pierce waved his hand.
 
"I'm not finished.  I know what he means to you, Mala, and I'm willing to
forgive him if he makes it up to you by making you happy."
 
Mala said nothing this time.  She just looked down at their feet as they
walked.
 
Pierce squeezed her hand.  "With all the command shifts and the mission,"
he said gently, "we've never had a chance for another session.  I've been
regretting that.  What I wanted you to see and believe is that you *can*
let yourself be happy.  You're a wonderful dancer, *so long as you lead.*"
 
Mala stopped walking.  "That's what was different," she murmurred.  It was
so simple, and yet it had never occured to her.  It was like a weight
lifting from her heart, being given back something she hadn't realised
she'd lost.
 
Hope.
 
"Thank you," she whispered.  "You are still a counselor."
 
Something in Pierce's smile became more vulnerable.  "You don't know what
that means to me," he said.  "Thanks."
 
She beamed at him, and the smile set her face aglow.  A weaker man than
Pierce Harding could have lost his resolve, but the one-time First Officer
of the USS PEGASUS merely waved at his successor as she hurried back to
the group.  Hower had joined the party while they were gone, he noticed. 
 
He shoved his hands in his pockets and, with a grin that just wouldn't
wipe away, went off to find Samantha.  He could hear Mala's voice behind
him as he walked.
 
"Sure you can have this dance.   I'm leading."
 
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
Susan Rati
LtCmdr Mala Olvaerr
FO, USS PEGASUS
 
NRPG: This should fill in the gap before Mala and Hower's love scene.
That was a great post, Brian.  I wasn't expecting it, but it catered
exactly to what I'd been planning on doing.  Isn't it nice when things
work out that way? :)
 
I glossed over some interaction that I'd've given more attention if this
weren't such a backpost.  I'm not taking responsibility for details I got
wrong ;-P.
 
Gwen: I didn't think you'd mind me using Pierce <G>.