#seaquest 2032 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

summersnow82 · 1 year

Text

Late Night Conversations - Part 7

Summary: A late night conversation in the laundry room leads to interesting confessions.

Author’s Notes: I had to fight Tim for a happy ending to this chapter. I swear, the man overthinks, over analyzes, and basically is just determined to be difficult. He’s lucky I adore him.

.......

The damage to the SeaQuest was far more severe than Bridger or Wendy alluded to; it wasn’t until they were dry docked Annabelle got the whole story. An experimental war vessel had attacked them, and no one had taken responsibility for the attack. It had been enough to rattle some nerves at the UEO, and the SeaQuest crew members were still seeing ghosts in the water.

It was perhaps because of that sense of fear or caution that Wendy insisted Annabelle visit the military base hospital before finally clearing her for light duty. “It’s just a concussion, Wendy,” Annabelle had stressed. “I’m fine.”

“Humor us,” Bridger said, giving her a wry smile. It reminded her of her father when he was being overprotective, and thought she didn’t notice. “Most of the crew is getting shore leave or time off. Light duty isn’t such a bad thing.”

Annabelle sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing, which is how she found herself in the laundry room at eleven o’clock on a Friday night. Bridger wasn’t kidding – the SeaQuest was practically deserted. She’d finished her assignments early that afternoon, and now she was taking care of a necessary evil.

“Can’t sleep either?” She jumped at Tim’s voice, a hand fluttering to her heart.

“This place is too quiet, too empty,” she complained, catching his broad smile and chuckle at her expense. He leaned against the door jamb, arms crossed over his chest.

“Yeah, well, unfortunately they’re having to pull in specialists for some of the repairs. Some of it’s even too sophisticated for Lonnie, if you can believe that.”

“I can’t,” Annabelle said, picking up her laundry basket. “You look nice,” she said, nodding at his blue button down. “Did you go out with the guys?”

Tim pursed his lips, nodding slowly. “Yeah, yeah, I did. I just,” he paused, smiling at a thought, “I realized there was somewhere I’d rather be.”

“Oh yeah?” Annabelle flashed him a smile as she unloaded the dryer. “And where’s that?” She asked, moving to the table in the middle of the room.

“Here,” he replied softly.

Her brow furrowed and her tone conveyed her disbelief. “Here? On the SeaQuest? What’s here?” She paused her pursuit of pairing socks, and looked up because Tim hadn’t answered her yet. He was looking at her that same way he had when she’d talked about the second-hand bookstore, a small smile curling his lips, and it made her breath catch.

She loved that smile.

“You are,” he replied simply, that same sweet smile gracing his features. “It’s the funniest thing,” he said, pushing away from the door jamb, and moving to face her across from the laundry room table. “I just realized you’re where I want to be, and once I realized that I didn’t want to waste any more time.”

Annabelle’s mouth opened, but she couldn’t think of an intelligent reply. All she could manage was a soft, “Tim.”

This was the first time since her stay in Med Bay they’d been alone, and the air was palpable with possibilities. After she’d woken up, he’d come to visit, or read to her, and talk when he was off shift. There was the occasional touch – a brush of their hands, him pushing her hair back off her forehead, or a gentle swipe of her knuckles, similar to the chaste kiss he’d left when she’d first woken.

And of course, there were his smiles; Annabelle loved them all. The cocky, almost arrogant grin when he was feeling confident or snarky; his sweet, innocent smile when he was feeling hesitant or hopeful; the sudden, surprised smile always accompanied with a laugh, and a twinkle to his eyes. Her favorite, though, was the one he was giving her right now: genuine, soft, charmed.

“Tim,” she repeated, turning to face him as he moved around the table towards her. She wondered if he could see her trembling; she placed a hand on the table to steady herself, and tried to calm her breathing.

“We never talked about what happened in the Mag Lev,” he said softly, sliding his hand across the table, brushing the tips of her fingers with his own. “And if you want to forget it…,” he trailed off, but his dark eyes never left hers.

She shook her hair, loose tendrils from her ponytail framing her face. “I don’t want to forget it. I think about it all the time.” Her voice sounded breathy to her ears, and she would’ve felt pathetic if it weren’t for the way he was staring at her right that moment.

“So do I,” he murmured, reaching up to push a lock of hair behind her ear. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she let out a shaky sigh, unintentionally nuzzling against his hand. “Belle,” he breathed the word out like a sigh, his breath tickling her lips.

Annabelle had wanted to kiss Tim O’Neill since she landed on top of him, flying out of a time wormhole. She knew his face – she’d seen it before in other men, other men she cared for, perhaps even loved, and she found each of them desperately handsome. But something was different with the Lieutenant. They meshed in a way she never had with the others; their values aligned, they challenged one another, and over time a deep friendship had developed which made her feelings for the linguist more intense. It was overwhelming, terrifying, and elating.

“Truth or dare, Annabelle,” he murmured, his lips so close to her own she could feel them move. His hand remained on the side of her face, cupping her cheek, and she was certain he could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

The sound of their Captain’s voice had the two of them rocketing away from the other, turning wide eyed to face him standing in the laundry room door. Annabelle’s face burned with embarrassment, and a quick glance to Tim indicated the same. Both officers stood stock still, beet red in the face while their commanding officer looked on with bemusement.

“Captain!”

“Sir!”

Nathan Bridger chuckled, shaking his head. “At ease, you two.” Neither Annabelle nor Tim relaxed, and Bridger took the same position Tim previously had in the door jamb. “I’ve been wondering how long it would take for the two of you to get together.”

“Sir?” Tim asked, and he and Annabelle both exchanged curious looks before returning their eyes back to their Captain.

“I thought it was obvious. Was I wrong?” Annabelle chewed on her lip, and Tim remained silent. “How long has this been going on?” He asked, motioning between the two of them with a finger. Again, the two exchanged a questioning look with each other before turning back to look at Nathan. “You two are together, right?” He asked, his brow furrowing as if he’d misread the scene he’d walked in on.

“Ummm….,” Annabelle said unintelligently, still chewing her bottom lip.

“We’re uh… not officially together, sir,” Tim replied. He glanced over at Annabelle nervously before continuing, “But I was hoping to change that.”

Annabelle blinked, stunned. “You were?” She asked, turning to him with big eyes. She couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips.

Tim blushed, glancing back at Captain Bridger before turning to face Annabelle. “Well...I mean, yeah,” he said, that nervous grin gracing his features. “Unless… unless you…,” he hesitated, his smile faltering.

Her grin spread. “No, I… I’d love that. I mean, if you’re sure that’s what you want.” Her words offered doubt, but her grin remained intact.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” he said softly. His smile had disappeared, and the look on his face was one of deep conviction. She’d seen it before, and she knew he meant exactly what he said.

Nathan averted his eyes, ducking his head to hide his growing smile. He and Wendy Smith had debated the whens and ifs of Harris and O’Neill getting together for quite some time now, and while they both knew the risks an on-board romance entailed they also believed the two officers could make it work. He cleared his throat, jarring them out of their intense stare, and bringing the attention back to himself. “Two bridge officers in a relationship isn’t against any Naval or UEO policy, but it should be handled with care and discretion. I trust both of you are capable of that.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement, and Annabelle and Tim both nodding with an affirming, “Yes, sir.”

Nathan nodded, moving to leave, then thought better of it, and turned back once again. “Maybe don’t make out in the laundry room. Regardless of the time.” Tim blushed a deep red, and Annabelle ducked her head to hide her smile. “Oh, and Ensign? You’re on shore leave effective immediately.”

“Thank you, sir,” Annabelle said, offering her captain a broad smile.

“Good night, you two.”

Annabelle and Tim stood frozen in place, listening to Bridger’s retreating steps. After a few minutes of straining to hear him, they turned to each other, exhaling loudly. Annabelle dissolved into giggles, while Tim raked a hand through his dark hair. “Well, that was humiliating,” he complained.

“It’s like being caught by your dad,” she laughed, struggling to compose herself.

“Did you mean what you said?” He asked, his nervous tone sobering her up quickly. “About being… with me?” Annabelle blinked up at him. How one man could go from certain and self-assured to anxious and insecure astonished her. Tim O’Neill knew his capabilities in the field, but in his personal life he often seemed to waiver in his confidence.

“Why does it sound like it surprises you?” She asked, careful to keep her tone low and even. Annabelle knew Tim tended to overthink, and if he started now he might torpedo their relationship before it even began.

Tim motioned in her direction. “Look at you, and look at me.” There it was – that flicker of self-doubt in his eyes. Bridger’s interruption had given Tim too much time to think. She needed to get him back to his confident, flirtatious self.

“I am looking at you, Tim,” she assured him, taking a step forward. “And I like what I see.”

“But you’re…,” he trailed off as she slowly, but confidently closed the distance between them, placing a gentle finger to his lips. His eyes widened a touch, and she smiled.

“If you’re not ready for this I will wait. Happily. But I want this,” she said softly, reaching for one of his hands, and drawing it between them. She withdrew her finger, cupping his hand with her two. “I know it’s risky and scary, but I want this. I want you.” Tim’s eyes were locked on her, but he’d lost that conviction she’d seen earlier. She could see him mentally asking a hundred questions as he gulped nervously. Annabelle lowered her eyes, trying to subdue her sigh. She really didn’t know how she could be any clearer with him. Her grip on his hand relaxed, and she began to pull away when she felt both his large hands grasp her own. She looked up, surprised, and saw his jaw set and his eyes steady.

“I want you, too,” he said softly but firmly, “and I don’t want to waste anymore time.” A mischievous smirk curled his lips, and he lowered his voice, repeating the earlier question, “Truth or dare, Annabelle?”

#late night conversations #lt tim o’neill #tim o'neill #annabelle harris #tim x oc #seaquest dsv #seaquest 2032 #seaquest #seaquest fan fiction #captain nathan bridger #nathan bridger #read on ao3 #ao3 writer #ao3fic #ted raimi #travis hackett

20 notes · View notes