Hey Sailor, Buy Me a Drink? "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Miranda, Lounge Manager, [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.25 0130

Silvio left sickbay in a hurry, having decided that he was finished working for the night, he went to Miranda's. Silvio made his way to the bar and sat down.

"What can I get you tonight," asked Miranda.

"I want some of that orange stuff, you gave me last time, the stuff that knocked me on my ass," Silvio searched the various bottles until he found what he was looking for, "that one right there," he pointed at the bottle.

The smile faded from Miranda's lips. She poured Silvio a glass of cherry cola and set it on the bar in front of him, "What's eating you," she asked.

Silvio explained the whole situation with Mason and what he saw in sickbay. "I do not understand."

Maranda chuckled, "You *are* really new to being in love aren't you?"

Silvio grunted, "I wish it was like it was before. I did not care about what any other the other women in my life did."

"Really, are you sure," asked Miranda.

"Yes."

Miranda put her hands on the top of the bar. "Ok, Silvio, I am due for a break, let's go back to my quarters and I will make you forget all about Patia Zoei." She moved towards to service entrance to the bar.

Silvio's jaw dropped, "What," said Silvio incredulously. "What about TJ...NO!", Silvio's voice was louder that normal.

"Don't think I can't do it either," said Miranda, "I will celebrate one hundred years of life next month. I have considerably more experience with these matters than she does. Let's go!"

"NO," said Silvio again.

"Why not," demanded Miranda.

"No offence Miranda, but you are not Patia," said Silvio.

"What difference does that make," replied Miranda.

"It makes a lot of difference to me," said Silvio.

"You are being very silly Silvio," said Miranda, "You need to talk to Patia before you go getting all worked up about this Mason fellow. She was probably just doing her job."

Silvio picked up his glass, "I think I will go watch the stars fly by for a while," Silvio stood and started to walk away. Turing suddenly, he said, "If I had taken you up on that offer would you have followed through with it."

"No offence Silvio," replied Miranda, "But you are not TJ."

Silvio gave her a smile and then found a booth next to the window. He watched the stars fly by one after another.

Patia paused in the doorway. Quickly she scanned the room. Spying Miranda first, she smiled grimly and nodded. In response, Miranda cocked her head toward a table near the back of the room. She nodded again, then winked. She drew herself up to her entire height, which wasn't much, but it would have to do. Confidently, she strutted across the room. "Hey, Sailor, buy me a drink?" she asked as she stood at the end of the table.

At the sound of Patia's voice he pulled his eyes form the stars and looked at her. "Hello," he said. He suddenly felt really foolish. He had hoped that she was still having difficulties reading his thoughts about her, however, the look on her face told him the truth. "How are you?"

"Other than a small problem keeping track of the many, many, many men I am involved with, I am doing just fine," she smiled, a touch too brightly to be believable. She eased into the booth. "You don't mind if I sit here while I wait for the next one to come along, do you?" Patia arched an eyebrow. Slowly, she leaned forward and perched her chin in the palm of her hand. "What was that all about in Sick Bay, Sailor? You 'forgot' a tool? Hate to tell you this, but even Mason knew you were full of it."

Silvio looked down at his drink and watched the ice melt for a few moments, "I needed to get out of there.", he paused, unsure what to say next, "I saw you holding his hand and I needed to get out of there."

"Care to tell me why?" Patia was frustrated by the entire situation. She felt questioned and doubted. It was not a comfortable position to be in.

"It was stupid, I know," said Silvio shoving his drink away from him. "You were holding his hand," Silvio's words faltered, "it was a knee jerk reaction and totally irrational." Silvio looked at her again, "I am sorry Patia."

"In the course of my job, Silvio, I touch a lot of people. Sometimes it is holding a hand, sometimes it is patting a shoulder or rubbing a back, and on rare occasions, I even hug them. I am sorry if this is an issue for you, it certainly wasn't my intention, but it is part of my job." Patia shook her head. "Your apology is accepted."

Silvio smiled, "It really is not an issue for me. I left because I did not want you to see how I felt, I needed to think it through," he paused, "The problem is you can listen to those thoughts. I could not hide them from you until I had worked them out."

"That is a minor disadvantage to being involved with a Betazoid. It could be worse, though. Imagine what it was like trying to get away with anything when I was a child. 'Patia, don't even think about that!'", Patia mimicked a female voice.

Silvio laughed, "I will just have to live with the hazards involved with caring for a Betazoid woman." Or loving them, he thought.

"Or that," Patia said with a half smile. "Now, I was called out of bed to see a patient, I chased you down, now I need to get back to bed." Patia's yawn was anything but ladylike as she stretched her arms over her head.

"Allow me to walk you home," said Silvio. Standing up, Silvio offered her a hand up.

Patia slipped her hand in his and gracefully rose from her seat. "That would be much appreciated."

The two of them strode hand in hand towards the door. Just before they got their the door opened and two of Silvio's engineers entered.

"Hey boss," they said.

"Hey guys," said Silvio, "have a good time."

Silvio and Patia left Miranda's.