"That doesn't really--"
Chuck uncharacteristically cut her off. "So, what I decided to do was call in some friends of mine who work over at NASA. My brother is an engineer over at Lockheed Martin, and he's got some contacts on the team who did the Hubble. "
Kerry peered at the phone with renewed interest. "Never thought of that," she murmured. "When in doubt call a rocket scientist."
"All right," Dar answered. "Do you think they'll help?"
"I don't know," Chuck answered honestly. "It beats sitting in this room watching everyone scratch their heads and shrug their shoulders. We can't do beans with this Dar. Maybe they got some bright ideas. It's optics. If anyone can come up with some hair brained idea to make duct tape and mirrors work, it'll be those guys."
"I appreciate it, Chuck," Dar said. "We're at our wit's end here too. The nearest spool of the right stuff is 2,000 miles away and I can't get it there before Tuesday."
'"Ouch," he responded "Well, I have no idea if anything will come of it, but I didn't want to just drop it," Chuck said. "I'll let you know if we find out anything, okay?"
"Thanks," Dar responded. "Later, Chuck." She closed the phone and studied it. "That's not going to happen. We don't have the time."
"You having that cable sent?" Kerry asked.
"Yeah."
"I'm glad he took the initiative without you having to ask." She reached over and patted Dar's leg. "Come with me to get some lunch? It's getting pretty late and we got up pretty early."
Dar sighed.
"Hon, you're doing the best you can," Kerry said, gently. "You engaged the right people, they brought in the right people, and if this doesn't happen, it won't be because we didn't try." She leaned close and captured Dar's eyes. "We can only do what we can do."
"Yeah, I know." Dar picked up Kerry's hand and brought it to her lips, kissing the knuckles. Then she turned it palm up and kissed that."We have to keep going and see where it takes us." She got up and hauled Kerry up with her pausing to kiss her palm again as they stood.
"Keep doing that and I'll tell you where it's going to take us. Right back to our hotel room, that's where." She slapped her partner on the butt and nudged her toward the door. "Scoot."
Instead of scooting, Dar turned and let Kerry's forward momentum bring them together. She wrapped both arms around her and tilted her head, kissing her on the lips.
Far from protesting, Kerry returned the hug and kiss with enthusiasm. They parted a little after a minute, and she looked up into Dar's eyes, enjoying the frank passion she saw there. "What were we about to do?"
"Go back to the hotel," Dar promptly supplied. "You mentioned something about lunch."
"Hm."
"They have room service."
"Heck with that." Kerry smiled. "We can stop for a hot dog on the way back." She stretched up and stole another kiss, then she firmly took Dar's hands and started leading her toward the door. "C'mon. I need a break. Chances are we're going to end up in some dusty wiring room tonight."
"Hm." Dar sighed regretfully. "Unfortunately I think Alastair scheduled a board conference call. We may only have time to get that hot dog."
"Grr." Kerry thumped her head against Dar's shoulder. "Why can't the board watch CNN?"
"Easy, hon." Dar scrubbed the back of her neck and gave her a hug."We'll take a break after that. Let's skip the group dinner tonight and chill, okay?"
Kerry kept her head resting against her partner. "I've wanted to do that for days," she admitted. "I know it's anti--social, but my nerves are getting rubbed raw in all this."
Dar leaned against her and kept up her gentle rubbing along Kerry's spine. "We're going home Monday," she said, after a long moment. "I sent Maria a note to make our reservations."
Kerry shifted her head and looked up. "Good," she replied. "That's the best news I've heard all week. I was going to ask you later if we could."
Dar smiled briefly. "So there's a light ahead in our tunnel, Ker.We'll do what we can until then, so hang in there."
"Hanging." Kerry wrapped her arms around Dar and hugged her tightly. Then she let go, and pointed to the door. "So now that my libido is going to be thwarted, I'll settle for lunch. Lead on, Magellan."
Dar did, opening the door and heading out into the hallway.
They, almost literally, bumped into Alastair as the doors to the lift opened."Ah." Dar stepped back out of the way. "You see our friends off?"
"I did,"Alastair said. "Not bad folks, really. I thought that went pretty well. Didn't you?"
Dar nodded. "Far as that sort of thing goes, yeah." She agreed. "Seemed pretty innocuous. I'm willing to bet they were glad to get a soft story for a change after what they've been covering the last few days."
"You got it." Alastair agreed. "Dar, I set the conference call for forty-five minutes. Can I buy you ladies lunch?"
"Absolutely." Dar indicated the door. "We were just heading out for that ourselves. I need to let you in on some technical issues that have cropped up."
"Uh oh."
"I'll translate." Kerry promised. "I've also got some major customer complaints you probably should know about."
Alastair sighed, as he punched the button for the lobby. "Fair trade. The FBI is after us again."
"Great."
"WHY DID I let you talk me into this?" Alastair studied the sushi menu wryly. "Don't tell me you don't eat hamburgers, Dar."
"I do," she replied. "I love cheesburgers. I also love sushi. Relax,Alastair. It's good for you."
"I even got my mother to go to a sushi restaurant." Kerry added, "She liked it."
"Your mother isn't from Texas." Alastair grumbled. "They have anything barbeque here?"
"Barbeque eel."
Alastair looked up over his glasses at Dar, as stern an expression on his face as Kerry had ever seen.
"I got Dar's father to try it and he liked it." Kerry informed him."Honest."
"Is that why he turned down going to lunch with us?" Alastair asked, dryly. "I was wondering about that."
Dar chuckled. "He doesn't really like sushi. He eats it to humor Kerry." She explained. "But here, Alastair, just order the beef teriyaki. You'll be fine, unless you're allergic to soy sauce."
"Hm? Ah. I see." Her boss looked moderately pacified. "Well, that looks all right. At least I know what it is."
"Does he really?" Kerry inquired, peering at her partner. "Do that to humor me?"
"Sure." Dar went back to the menu. "Just like you tried sushi to humor me back in the day." She studied her choices. "That worked out a little better though."
"It did." Kerry agreed. "I love sushi." Her eyes flicked up to Dar's profile. "Not as much as I love you, of course, but still..." She watched the pink blush color her ears and smiled. "And really, Alastair, California rolls are pretty innocuous. Rice, crab stick, some cucumber and a little seaweed."
"Seaweed?"
"Seaweed." Dar set her menu down. "So..." She leaned back in her chair. "Here's the mess we're in." She paused as a young waitress stopped at the table, her eyebrows lifting slightly and a pad in her hand. "Everyone ready?"
"Yup." Kerry put her menu down. "Dragon roll for me, please, and some miso soup."
The waitress looked at Dar. "Same for me, and a glass of ice tea, please."
"Of course." The girl turned to Alastair. "Sir?"
Alastair took his glasses off and handed her the menu. "I'll have the same." He announced. "What the hell. You only live once." He settled back in his chair. "And I'll have a glass of wine with that, if you don't mind."
"Certainly sir." The waitress took their menus and disappeared.
Dar folded her arms and exhaled. She felt as tired as Kerry and Alastair looked. They could have stayed at the office and had lunch there, but the noise and the constant questions had driven all of them out into the streets in search of a few minutes peace.