Subj: DARK FRONTIER pt 2
Date: 3/29/01 6:49:36 PM Central Standard Time
From: JM Lane

Barnabas smiled again and nodded in her direction, then was gone--almost too quickly, as if he had disappeared into thin air.

Just as his lips and hand had seemed almost unnaturally cool--even allowing for the night air and time of year, late fall, near Halloween. But there was no time for her to dwell on it now. She had to get back to the others.

"Coming, Captain!" she called back.

Again, the others all gave her a funny look when she rejoined them.

"That guy sure as hell was persistent," McCoy observed. "I noticed that he wouldn't take No for an answer."

"It is also illogical for you to accept a 'date' with a virtual stranger, Miss Chapel. For all we know, he could be the killer." Spock's voice was laced with disapproval.

"I agree," Dickerson concurred. "I don't think you should go with him."

She shook her head and laughed, though Spock was more right than any of them could possibly have known at the time. "I doubt that very much, Spock," Christine said, addressing herself to the Vulcan. "He wants me to accompany him to a movie and dinner. I admit he was persistent, but was also most charming and polite...and had the most *compelling* eyes! When he looked at me the last time, I couldn't turn him down."

"I don't think that would be wise, Miss Chapel--at least not without one Security officer along as a precaution," Kirk remarked, an almost protective tone to his voice as the party headed for their suites.

"That's what I told him," she replied. "He didn't seem to mind the idea."

"Who did he say he was?" the Captain asked. "I only caught his first name...Barnabas something."

"It's Collins," Christine supplied. "Seems like we've already met up with one of the illustrious Collins family."

"In that case, do you think he'd be willing to talk about his family background? We're going to need all the help we can get in
solving this mystery," McCoy pointed out.

"I don't know, Leonard. I'd have to ask him. I don't even know how he's related."

"Since you insist on meeting with him, it would be logical to find out all you can, Miss Chapel," Spock put in.

Not too long afterward, they reached their quarters. Christine would be sharing with the lady Security officer, while Dickerson would bunk with the senior officers. "I'll see what and how much I can find out, then let you know," Christine promised as Kirk and the other men prepared to enter their suite. Lani Davidson had opened the door to theirs and stood in
the open doorway, waiting.

"Please do," Kirk told her. "As Bones said, we need all the help we can get to accomplish this mission." He then stepped forward into the suite and everyone made their good-nights.

Christine's eyes met Spock's briefly, but neither of them spoke...and she could have sworn she saw a look in his eyes akin to jealousy at the idea of her going out with another man. She liked the idea, but knowing Spock, she couldn't afford to take it seriously--at least not at this point in time, when she was so unsure of him and how he felt about her.

Besides, it did him good to be reminded once in a while that if *he* didn't have sense enough to claim her, she wasn't about to sit home when she had the chance for some male company, to be with a man who could openly show his attraction to her. And all the better that it happened to be a man likely to be of considerable help to them, especially if he was willing to talk about his family to any extent.

"Coming, Christine?" Elaine Davidson asked, a touch of impatience in her voice.

"Yeah, Lani. Sorry to keep you waiting," the female Doctor apologized.

"No problem," the younger woman assured her superior. "At least not as long as we can get into our room right away." She smiled knowingly. "Besides, you've got a date tonight...and since the Captain's given you permission to go, you'll have to call and let him know when to come for you and have time to get ready."

Christine smiled, chuckled and walked past Elaine into their room; the latter carefully locked it behind them. A few minutes later, after the women had settled into the room, Christine called Barnabas--surprised when his comm showed an audio only signal. That was strange, since he'd looked okay to her when she saw him--but again, there was no time to dwell on it.

"Barnabas? It's Christine," she said when he answered. "I can go. When will you come for me?"

"Marvelous," came his reply. "It's six o'clock now--or 1800 hours, your time. Can you be ready in an hour?"

"Sure. My room number is 223," she told him. "We'll be waiting...both me and my chaperone," she teased. "See you at 1900 hours."

"I am very much looking forward to it," he replied warmly. "I'll see you soon. Farewell."

Again, she was both awed and intrigued by not only Barnabas' Old World charm but his indefinable air of mystery, as if he were hiding many secrets. With any luck, maybe she could learn a few of them tonight. She cut the connection and prepared herself for her unexpected but most welcome date--particularly if it happened to shake up a certain Vulcan, if only a little!