Tracy was sitting on the bed anxiously waiting to see Bob.  She had already eaten breakfast and doc said that she was cleared to head back to her own berthing now.  All she had to do now was find out from Bob what he wanted from her.  Then she could have an idea of what she would be doing for the rest of the trip back.  And right now, she was ready to do anything.  Just as long as she didn't have to lay in bed all day.

She knew that they were still several days away from Altissia.  But based on what Doc told her, that could be a lot sooner than she might think. Which gave her the feeling that they weren't exactly going slow on this return trip. Even though she secretly wished that they would slow it down. For she wasn't exactly looking forward to leaving the ship. Not after everything that had happened. Or was trying to happen.

Suddenly Tracy could hear his voice faintly coming down the passageway as he approached the medical ward. Her heart started pounding. She couldn't help but to smile to herself.  As she knew that she could pick up on his voice no matter where he was, or what was going on around her.

".........just don't over work them.  We don't want them to break completely just trying to get there. Because once we arrive, we will be able to take our time in Altissia so that you can properly replace those parts."  Tracy heard him saying to someone as he stopped outside of the door.

"Yes sir."  She heard, what sounded like Mike, reply in the passageway.

Then in the next breath, Bob stepped into the medical ward.  Tracy beamed up at him as he walked in.  He looked at her and gave her a smile before he turned to Doc, who was sitting at his desk.  Doc looked up and smiled at him.

"How's the patient?"  Bob asked Doc.

"She's cleared to leave medical for now."  Doc returned with a smile.

"Good."  He returned to doc before he turned and looked at her.

"And I see someone is ready to leave."  He said as she grinned broadly at him.

"Yes sir."  She replied loud and strong.

He slightly laughed.  "Well good.  Because I wanted to talk to you in my stateroom."

Tracy then slid off of the bed and walked over to him.  She felt only a dull pain in her side now as the skin was quickly healing.  The painkillers that Doc had given her to take, had been helping a lot, even with the sharp pain of her ribs.  Which even that was starting to be more bearable.  Much to her relief.  But she had been known to heal pretty quickly from her injuries.

"Let's go then."  She said as she beamed up at him.

He then gestured for her to leave the room first.  "See you at lunch Doc."

"See you then."  Doc called after them as they both disappeared through the door.   

~~~~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~~~~

They didn't talk to each other as they made their way to his stateroom. But it wasn't because they didn't want to. They just weren't given the chance to.  Since it seemed that everyone that they walked past wanted to greet her.  Whether it was to thank her for saving someone.  Or to simply say good morning and/or shake her hand.

Tracy was feeling almost completely overwhelmed by time he closed his door behind them.  She had actually forgotten that there was a fairly large crew that ran the ship.  Sure the Admin side may consisted of only a few other people beside Misty, Jen and Faith.  Who were actually the supervisors within those offices.  They each had at least one person under them.  Which was Jen's case at the moment with only having one other person, a young quiet guy, working with her.  Faith, on the other hand, had four and Misty had three.  

But then there were departments that Tracy had never even met that seemed to have a lot more than that.  Then she remembered that she had overheard Jen talking over the phone with Alex once about the total number on board of being around one-hundred and ten.   Which as she sat down in the chair in front of his desk, she felt like she had just met all one-hundred and ten of them.

"Would you like a drink?"  He asked as he walked over to his mini fridge that was behind his desk.

"A water would be great.  Thank you."  She replied.

After she got comfortable in the chair, he handed her a bottle of water before he leaned up against his desk and sat his bottle down on his desk.  Then he simply smiled at her as she took a long drink.

"I'm sorry about the trip up.  Apparently, the entire crew has heard about what had happened on the cargo ship."  Bob started to explain as she continued to drink,  "They haven't stopped talking about it since yesterday. And based on what we just saw, I don't think their going to stop any time soon."

Tracy tilted her head back as she drained the water bottle before she looked at him.  

"Would you like another one?"  He said with an amused look.

"I'm sorry." She said as she put the lid back on.  "I just can't seem to drink enough lately."

"No worries."  He said as he handed her the one that he had grabbed for himself, but had never opened.

"Thank you."  She said as she quickly opened up this one and started to drink again.

He watched her drain it about half way before she put it down.  When she looked up she saw that he had a worried look on his face. She gave him a curious look.  That was greeted back with him taking in a deep breath as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I had mentioned yesterday that you had put me in a bit of a predicament." He began as she looked back up at him.  "You see, when we had first pulled away from the pier.  I had everything that I needed to effectively run this ship.  Well since then, I have lost something critical to how I operate.  And because of that, it is now starting to affect the very operation of this ship."

Tracy gave him a very concerned look.  "What did you lose?  It's not an engine or anything right"

"It has nothing to do with the mechanical function of the ship.  Although, we will be in Altissia for a  while for repairs.  Based on what Mike just told me."  He said as he dropped his hands down as he tightly gripped the edge of his desk.

"Then what is it?" She asked as she sat up in concern.

"Do you remember when you were talking about your typing speed that first time I saw you in the personnel office?"  He asked as he slightly dropped his gaze as he seemed to get nervous.

"Yes. What about it?"  She asked with a smile.

"Well," he started as he reached up with one hand and began to rub the back of his neck. "I can't seem to get my log done."

Tracy stared at him in surprise for a moment. Until she remembered his thoughts to paper issue. She couldn't help but to smile at him. Then she smirked at him. If that's what he was worried about. Then it was going to cost him. After all. She was a highly trained professional.

"Are you asking me to be your secretary again?" She asked with a smirk as she sat back and crossed her arms in front of herself.

He slowly looked back up at her with his gorgeous dark green eyes that seemed to look like the best cut emeralds that she had ever seen.  Her heart seemed to instantly melt as she fell under his hypnotic spell. Then as if his eyes weren't bad enough, the pleading look on his face made her think that puppies were ugly compared to him.

Hold it steady girl. She thought to herself.  Perhaps there could be a bargain made here.

"I think that I might be able to help you out." She said with a simple smile.

He straightened back up at her words.

"But," she continued, "it'll cost you this time. I am a trained professional after all."

He seemed to relax as he smiled back. "You name it and I'll make it happen."

"Good." She said with a satisfied smile.  "I want to use your shower whenever I please."

He paused and gave her a confused look. "My shower? You want to use my shower?"

"Yes." She confirmed with a strong voice.

"And why my shower, of all things?" He asked as he gave her a curious look.

"Have you ever had to share a shower with about thirty other people?  It's quite gross.  And very crowded.  And I don't like it."  She said firmly.

Bob chuckled at her.  "I see that you were one of those in basic weren't you?"

"Huh?" She asked back in confusion at his reaction.

"But I think that I can handle that." He returned with a smile. "But is that all you want?"

"Yes, please. I haven't had a chance to get a good long hot shower since I stepped on board." She said in exasperation.

"Then the shower is all yours.  Whenever you want it." He said with a smile.

Tracy then sat back with a satisfied smile. "Great. Then you have yourself a secretary."

"Good."  He replied before he slowly dropped his head as he got quiet again for a moment.

"Of course this will only be until we reach Altissia of course." Bob said with a slightly sad tone. "Sara should be waiting on the pier when we arrive."

"Oh.  Of course." She replied as she dropped her gaze.

She had actually forgotten about her for a moment. She slightly slumped in the chair as she remembered what she had done to the poor girl.  Bob watched her whole body language change and knew what she was thinking. He dropped his head as he walked over to her.

"If your worried about how she's going to react to you.  Don't."  He said quietly as he stopped in front of her.  "You have more then taken good care of her.  What with a free hotel room and a free flight."

He then stood quietly in front of her for a moment. She slowly looked up at him as she tried to read his face. But he didn't smile. Although he didn't frown either. Instead he simply reached down and grabbed her hand.  Then he slowly pulled her up so that she was standing within inches of touching him.

Immediately she heart was racing as she could smell his musky cologne mixed with his own personal smell of sea salt and ebony coffee. The combination was intoxicating and took her breath away as she tried to steady herself. She was only vaguely aware that he was still holding her hand as he slowly lowered it back down by her side. All she knew was that her body seemed to take on a mind of its own as her lose hand reached up and touched his chest.  She could feel the heat rising up between them as her breath started to get heavy and short. 

"Perhaps you would like to use it this morning before we begin?" She heard him say in a deep voice as he slightly dropped his head down to hers.

"Yes.  Please." She whispered back as she lifted her head up to meet his.

"Okay. I'll be on watch on the bridge this morning.  So you will have full use of my stateroom and to anything you need." He whispered back as his lips lightly grazed her cheek.

"Okay."  She whispered back as her fingers brushed across his shirt.

Then he suddenly stepped back and released her hand as he turned and headed for the door. The rush of cold air from him walking away, sent a chill down her back. She watched him as if in a daze as he approached his door.

"I'll see you here after lunch."  He said without looking back at her as he opened back up his door.  "And be prepared to type.  We have a lot of work to get caught up on." 

"Yes sir." She said more out of habit then anything else as she watched him disappear out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~~~~

She let the hot water gently run down her skin as she stood there for a few minutes, relishing in the silence and calming sound of the water hitting the floor under her feet.  She had her eyes closed as she practically purred at the water as it gently massaged her sore back and tender skin with it's gentle touch.  She had forgotten how much she loved long hot showers.  Hell, this was the first one that she had had since leaving Insomnia for the failed rescue mission in Graela.  And she was enjoying every minute of it.

And after she finally felt fully relaxed and cleaned of the layers of dirt that she swore were caked permanently to her, she finally got out.  That was when she noticed the skin cream on the sink by her clothes.  She stopped short for a moment and got really nervous when she saw it.  But then as she got closer, she notice the note.  It looked like it was his handwriting, just based on the color of the ink being green.  So after wrapping one towel around her head and another one around her body, she walked over and picked up the note to read it.

Tracy,

Doc had brought this to the bridge for you and told me that this should be put on after you get out of the shower.  I was worried about leaving it on my desk, in case one of my crew members came into my stateroom while you were getting dressed.  And I didn't want you to miss it.  So I brought it in here myself.  I hope you don't mind.

I should be getting off watch by time your done eating lunch.  So if you could, I have a few papers on my desk that I need typed up and sent to the lab that you can do while I'm eating lunch.  Let me know if you have any questions though.  Otherwise, I'll see you when I get done.  I hope that you enjoyed your shower.  You seemed to be when I saw you.

                                                                                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                        Bob

Tracy slightly blush at his last sentence as she got a bit turned on that he had been in the room with her while she was naked.  Perhaps he had even snuck a peek.  She thought as she bit her bottom lip.  The thought brought a mischievous look to her face as she started picturing what they might had done if she had pushed the curtains open and showed him her naked body.

But then she quickly shook her head.  She couldn't get caught up in him.  She had to get back.  She had to get home.  Back to Insomnia.  Not hang out on a ship that sailed around researching marine life and rescuing stranded ships.

But despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to stop thinking about him as she dried off and got dressed.  Every thought kept coming back to him.  From his gentle look with those gorgeous emerald eyes of his.  To the firm but tender touch of his callused hands. To the solidness of his chest and body.  And ending in the deep seductive tone of his voice that he had used when she was within inches of, touch his lips.

Her whole body started to yearn to feel him against her again like when he had held her so she could cry away her pain.  But the yearn was now accompanied by the tingle in her hands to feel his bare chest.  And to kiss his lips as they tasted each other with each deep longing kiss.  She had to stop again and shake her head as now she felt herself starting to get hot and bothered by him and he wasn't even in the room.

Perhaps agreeing to be his secretary was a bad idea.  She thought to herself as she applied the cream before pulling her shirt back over her head.  I know better then to get attached to someone I just met.  But then again, I've never felt like this for anyone before.  Well no one other that Paul that is. 

~~~~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm just saying that you could use a bit of fun yourself every once in awhile."  Alex was saying to Bob as they stood on the bridge wing as they talked.  "And hell.  Don't you think that it's time to let her go?  It's been six years now man.  Don't you think that it's been more than enough time?  Besides, I don't think Jessica would like to see you alone like this."

"And what do you think that she's going to do once we hit port?  She has a home.  She has a whole other life away from here.  And I won't keep her from it if she wants to go back.  I can't and I won't force her to stay.  If she wants to stay.  It will be totally her choice."  Bob said as looked around through the ship's deck mounted oversized binoculars.

"Then you admit that you do have feelings for her."  Alex said with a slight smirk.  "Why not tell her?  Or should I make it happen in the wardroom for the two of you?"

"That won't be necessary."  Bob said as he stood back up and gazed out over the water.  "It will happen if its meant to be.  You and I both know that time has a ways of working things out on their own.  And I, for one, don't want to tip faith away from me right now." 

Bob then turned away from his brother and walked back onto the bridge.

"I just hope that you're right this time.  I would hate to see you get hurt again because you didn't say something and take that chance."  Alex said more to himself then to his brother.

******Author Note******

Okay.  So I couldn't help but to put on a love twist to this one.  But then again, if you have read Growing Pains , you already know that things can change very quickly in the world of Eoas.

So with things back to where they were when the trip began. Tracy starts to enjoy the trip again.  But this time, she is enjoying the trip a bit more as she starts to realize that there is something on board that she doesn't want to leave behind.  But after making a tough decision, disaster strikes as she has to fight to try and survive again as she tries to save a life. Only this time the enemy is her own body.

Thanks for reading.  :)

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