Ice Breaker part four
Summary: AU story, takes place after 'Homecoming' Series, also AU. I suggest reading it first - unless you WANT to be lost . . . :)
*emphasis*
[thoughts]
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Zack Allan was not asleep. He couldn't even hold still, no matter how comfortable the bed seemed or quiet the room was. Turning over onto his side - again - he rearranged the quilt.
He still could not fall asleep. He was tired, and he felt it, but all he could do was fidget in the dark. [Considering how bloody late their meeting went, I should be exhausted. Why can't I fall asleep?]
Rolling onto his other side and shoving the pillow into place, he sighed. There were probably three hundred reasons why he was still awake, but they all had to do with the occupant of the room next to the one he was in.
Zack Allan sat up in the darkness, rubbing his eyes to get them to focus faster on the clock. Oh-three-twelve hours.
[Almost a quarter after three, and I still can't zonk out. I never used to have a problem with falling asleep.]
"Yeah, but this is the first time I've only been a wall away from Lyta," he reminded himself in a raspy mumble. With another sigh, he stood up and located his housecoat to put over his shirt and shorts. If sleep was out of the question, perhaps Lesharr would be willing to talk. He was the decided third shift - and currently, the most likely candidate to stay awake with.
[Bit of a lousy way to start my first night. Evens out how well the evening went. Now where's - damn. He's meditating.]
His fellow guard was in a zenlike pose. It would be easy to get his attention - the minbari was undoubtedly aware of every molecule of air that existed about him. But Zack turned away, deciding instead to have a conversation with a sandwich. [And maybe some more real coffee - wait. All that caffeine is probably the reason why I'm unable to pass out. Duuuh!]
"No coffee then," he muttered, opening up the refrigerator and peering at the contents. "Just a whole lot of other goodies. Huh. Well, if it's all expenses paid . . . what's this? - no. Phew, No. Maybe - aha. This'll work. Perfect."
He began to put a small feast of assorted foods out on the counter, humming an ancient lullaby to soothe his stimulated mind.
"Hungry?" A soft voice interrupted his inner musings, causing a startled Zack to drop the container he'd opened up to sniff.
Lyta was leaned against the doorframe, wearing the same hotel-issue housecoat he had on - and probably the same size, too, judging from how big it was for her - ankles to chin, and the sleeves were rolled up several turns to let her hands peek out. Zack was about to wonder why she had such a large size on, then he noticed the collar was turned up - the fleece just about hid all of her scar. He also saw that her hair was down for the first time, long and loose and pressed just a bit flat near her face from being slept on, and she was rubbing her eyes with her fingers to clear them.
"Whu-oh-uh-miss-um - Hi Lyta. You up?" [Oh that was stupid. Of course she's up! You're bloody well talking to her!]
"Somewhat. After becoming accustomed to the time difference on Susan's ship, the lesser change to local time should be easier. But in the meantime, there's still no cure for jetlag." She shrugged wearily.
"Ah." [Think of something intelligent to say, nitwit! Your tongue doesn't tie itself in knots with anyone else!] "Um . . . hungry?"
[That was sooooo impressive,] Zack's brain sarcasted at him.
Lyta nodded. "I don't recommend that second container, however."
"What, this orange juice?"
"It's not orange juice. Catch the scent."
Eyebrows scrunched, Zack carefully uncapped the indicated lid. "Woah!" The lid was rapidly screwed back on. "God, that reeks. What *is* it?"
"You really don't want to know. Trust me."
"Deal," and Zack shoved it back into the fridge. "Anything else been strained through old gym socks?"
She tapped the little stickers on the dishes he's seen but not really considered. "It's all color coded for species. Green is safe for humans. No green, don't eat it." Lyta put two more containers away. "These are for minbari. Be very careful in the quarters for the others."
"Gotcha. So, what's your fancy for the midnight munchies?"
"Chocolate and cornbread. Oh, and pineapple juice." At Zack's bewildered expression, she added, "None of which I've had for a few years. I miss them, that's all."
"Okay, but if you ask for baby dill pickles with ketchup wrapped in swiss cheese slices, I'm not watching you eat."
"If I wanted *what*?!?"
"One of my little sister's stranger cravings. Here's a different juice-"
"Oh."
"-don't think there's any cornbread - cornmeal's in here - If I can find the other ingredients and a recipe I might be able to make some. Dunno how well - Ahh, some cocoa mix. Fancy a Hot Chocolate with me?" He was grinning at her by this time.
"I'd like that, thank you."
It only took a few seconds to heat the water, then stir in the mix. [Okay, not bad, you haven't made a total ass of yourself. Yet. She's got a bit of a smile on, that's good. Don't screw it up by saying something stupid to her.]
It was at this point when his own thoughts jinxed it and his brain finally short circuited, leaving him clueless as to what he should do next. Fortunately, Lyta wasn't watching him at the moment, her eyes carefully keeping the brimming mugs level as she moved them to the nearby table to sit. Zack took the seat next to hers, where she'd placed his drink.
Eyes closed as she inhaled the scented steam, she grinned after her first sip. "I definitely need to make cocoa plantings a top priority."
It tasted pretty darn good to Zack, too. [Could use a marshmallow or two, but it's great otherwise.]
"Mmmm." Another taste and Lyta's expression turned outright blissful - causing all remaining traces of intellect to flush clean out of Zack's head. Blocking techniques among them.
[Oh god, she's even more gorgeous than ever.]
! * !
Suddenly realizing what he'd thought and panicking, Zack swore mentally before he could manage to make himself stop. [imdead imdead imdead shesgonnakillme imsodead!] But it didn't appear that Lyta had noticed anything other than the hot chocolate she was savoring. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, umm, how's life been treating you?"
Lyta looked him in the eye with what he'd termed 'That Look' - the one that meant as a professional, he should worry. Quickly. But with a quick flicker of a smile, she replied, "So far, so good; I just hope our luck holds." Her face now looked quite enigmatic. "You?"
Zack knew better than to hope that she'd meant the two of them as the 'our' . . . but part of his mind refused to disbelieve that premise. "Oh, just fine - now that I know not to eat anything that's not green." He shared a laugh with her, and treasured it.
They continued their drinks quietly for a while, basking in the calm that they both knew wouldn't last, watching the lights of the city below them - thick and colorful in the river's valley, then thinning out to the pinpricks that were rural homes. Several main highways were just visible, the slender moving trails of lights of traffic which never really stopped in a major settlement. The suite was on the inland side of the hotel, unable to see the space or sea ports, but there was still an impressive view, especially with the interior lights dimmed down like they were. Enjoying her breather from the climbing stresses, Lyta was gradually becoming more relaxed. Zack was still familiar to her, even after their years apart, and he was more comforting now than the years before. Initial hangups fading with the legal liquid narcotic, she was genuinely relaxed for the first time since . . . since . . . she couldn't remember.
At it was letting her exhaustion make itself known - her eyelids were fast becoming unbearably heavy, just as her mug emptied. She excused herself, saying that she was going to try to sleep so that she won't miss the early morning meeting again. Lyta admitted she slept through it yesterday when the others decided that they didn't want to wake her. "Overprotective wimps," she shook her head and added fondly, "like some other friends I know."
Zack buried a smile in his mug.
"Oh, and Zack?" she added as she was going out the door.
"Yeah?"
[Thank you.]
"You're Wel-" His face suddenly went numb as the implication set in. . . "Hooooooo boy," he groaned, burying his face in his hands.
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next part of 'Ice Breaker'
Look to Here short fic set between parts 4 and 5 - related to 'Ice' but not required reading. Read it anyway!