Stars In Her Eyes

She shivered as she remembered his touch earlier, "Lets," she said to him breathlessly.

Galen walked up the steps and pulled the film out of the camera, "ok, now this goes back to my lab at the University to be developed."

She nodded. She was a little dissappointed that the night was over but she had to go home and get some sleep. She had to take Aida shopping the next day for a new swimsuit because the little girl was starting swimming classes the next week.

Galen led Channa back into the print room. "Ok, now we have to put the film back into the other holder. Can you hold this?"

She pressed her hands against her side for a brief instant because she knew the lights were probably going to out again but she didnt want to seem like a baby, even after the height incident, "Sure," she said sounding more confident that she felt.

Reaching up, he hit the lights. His hands brushed across hers as he lifted the film out in the darkness. "Sorry," he whispered as he put the film back into the other frame. "All done," he said as he closed the clasps and turned on the lights. Looking at his watch, he was surprised it was only nine thirty. "That didn't take as long as I thought it would."

She smiled and tured to go grab her things, "I'd better get home. Aida might wake up and wonder where i am."

"That's too bad. I was going to invite you for a late dinner. I usually take my research assistants out for a bite after a night at the telescope. But if you need to get home, that's ok. Aida, your daughter?"

"Yes," Channa grinned, "She's five and smarter than me sometimes...But I would like to take a rain check...do you have children Doc?"

"Children? No, never got around to it. My wife never wanted any, not that I have to worry about that now." He picked up the case and flipped out the light in the print room as they walked towards the main door.

"You know what," Channa spoke quietly, "I might be able to eat with you after all if the offer is still open and if it will be quick."

Closing the main door and locking up the observatory, Galen walked alongside Channa towards the parking lot. "Sure, I usually go over to the Stout in town. If that is ok with you."

"Sure," she said knowing full well that half of her late husband's friends hung out there but what does she care? Its been five years and she deserved to go out. The babysitter was with Aida so nothing else mattered.

"Alright, want to meet me there? Not that great of an idea leaving a car here since we'd just have to come back for it."

Nodding, she walked toward her car. Opening the back door, she checked the back seat like Richard had taught her to, then she dropped her things in. She still didnt know why he had taught her all those little things but she shrugged and moved into the driver's seat.

The drive back to town was as easy as the drive to the observatory, but this time Galen's mind kept wandering to the young woman he was following. She seemed very nice and she could charm the legs off a grasshopper, she did convince him to have pictures taken after all. But, there was something else, something about the way she acted around him. Maybe it was just a student/teacher relationship, he thought to himself and tried to push it from his mind. Unfortunately, the newly created void was filled with the meeting with Cathy's lawyer. He had said that 'at least there aren't kids involved' during the meeting. It didn't mean much to him at the time, but now Galen thought that if it hadn't been for Cathy not wanting one, he thought it would be nice to have a child.

**
Pulling into the parking lot Channa immediately recognized a few licenses plates... There's Vinny and Max she thought as she opened her car door and stepped out with her purse, "there's Charles and Sophia..." she muttered leaning against her car and frowning.

Galen got out of his car, making sure to lock it. The place wasn't seedy, but the film in the case in the back seat cost about $300 undeveloped. He looked over at Channa's car, but she had her back to him, leaning on the car. "Ready?" he asked, not wanting to walk up and startle her.

Channa whirled around and even though her heart was thumping she forced a smile, "yah," she said still not moving from leaning on the car, "Ready."

The Stout was an Irish Bar and Grill which seemed out of place this far west, but it had great food, both Irish and American. It also had two things that made Galen like it. He knew the owner, and he knew where the good wine was kept. He walked up to the door and held it open for Channa. "After you."

Smiling she nodded her thanks and walked in. Immediately Vinny zoned in on her. His smile disappeared though when Galen rested a hand on the small of her back leading her toward a table. Channa felt horrible. She sat down with Galen and tried her best not to look bothered. Hopefully she had managed to pull it off...

For his part, Galen had been talking to the hostess that was leading them to their table when he saw someone giving him, and more importantly Channa, the evil eye. As they sat down, he looked at Channa and saw the same look he had seen in Cathy's too many times when she was ashamed or worried about something. He almost didn't say anything, it wasn't his place after-all, but finally couldn't resist. "Are you ok?"

"Yah I'm fine..." she muttered, "I just hate my husband's friends."

Well, that cinched it. Galen had stepped into a minefield. Channa hadn't mentioned being married. "Well, they don't have anything to worry about. This is just a bite to eat. I'm not trying to put the moves on a married woman."

"Married woman?" Channa asked looking around then smiled as her cheeks heated up. She held up her ring finger, "I'm not married Doc...My husband died five years ago.... And I know you're not making the moves on me..its just that his friends think I should still be married to a dead man."

"Oh," Galen stammered. "Well, you said husband, and I well, I didn't mean you to think that I wouldn't put the moves on... I mean, you are very nice looking and a good student so far... That's not what I meant..." Galen began trying to cover what he said with the next sentence and it just turned into a babbling. Finally he just shut up for a moment. "Want something to drink?"

Channa smiled and nodded. He was falling over his words and it was only her. "Yes, thank you," she laughed then, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable Doc. Its alright."

"Ok. Sorry about that." The waitress walked over and Galen ordered a Guinness in a glass.

The waitress made a note and looked at Channa, "What can I get you miss?"

"I'll have a root beer please," Channa said and when the waitress left she turned back to Galen, "Besides, you're married too so there would be nothing to worry about." She picked up her menu and began looking through it to see what she wanted to eat or to just push around on her plate.

He smiled at the back of her menu. They both were having misunderstandings tonight. "Actually, I'm divorced. The closest I have to a relationship right now is going steady with an alimony check."

She smiled and a sigh of relief left her before she lowered her menu, "She's that kind huh?" she asked leaning forward to let her hand prop her head up via her chin.

"What kind?"

"The kind that leaves and then try to take very penny the man has," she lifted her menu again, "I never saw the point. If you're going to leave him then why do you still want things from him. Get a damn job... " she frowned then lowered the menu, "am sorry."

"It's ok. She wasn't bad at one time. The divorce was almost amicable. But then she met that lawyer," he said as if he was thinking out-loud. "I don't know if she is sleeping with him or not, but all of a sudden she started back in for everything she agreed to leave behind when we separated, including a higher alimony. Sorry I shouldn't ramble about my personal life. Not very professional."

"Its ok," she said and for some reason reached across and touched his hand then pulled back, "I knew something was bothering you. You weren't the same this class. When are these checks supposed to stop?"

His hand felt warm where she touched it and for a split second his mind threw up a picture of them kissing passionately. He was almost taken aback by the image and tried to make it go away; not that he didn't want it to stay but it was inappropriate. "I don't know. Originally after two years, but I doubt they ever will, not as long as she is making less than I am."

"I see," she said and looked up as the waitress came back with their drinks, "Are you ready to order?" Channa asked him.

"Yeah, I'll have the Ruben sandwich," he said as he put the menu on the edge of the table and pulled his drink over towards him.

"I'll have the chicken fingers with fries please," Channa spoke and as the waitress moved she saw Sophia making a beeline for their table. She moaned.

"Well hello there Channa," the younger woman spoke

"Thats miss Rayon to you," Channa hissed not really in the mood to argue with the little priss, "Cant you see I'm having dinner?"

"This must be the new boyfriend, Hi, I'm..." But she didn't get to finish because Channa spoke.

"not that it is any of your business but..." she stopped when Galen spoke..

He could see that it was upsetting Channa that this woman walked over. While it wasn't bothering Galen, he figured that he should try to shut this conversation down before it got nasty. "My name is Galen Karn, and while I'm not dating Miss , we are having a bite and I'd appreciate it if we could get back to it."

Sophia looked at Galen and licked her lips. She moved to his side of the table, "So ah," she started, "What's such an obviously educated man doing with something that like?" she pointed over her shoulder at Channa.

Channa got up from the table and walked out of the Stout, crashing into the owner who apologized but she ignored him and rushed to her car. She started the engine and before the car could warm up she began driving home, tears streaming down her face.

Galen tossed his napkin onto the table and looked at the woman who had just ruined his dinner. "I'm doing more than an educated man would do with a bitch like you." With that he got up, almost knocking the woman over who was just starting to react to what he said, and headed out the door. Walker O'Neil was just getting his bearings as Galen ran by. "I'll pay in a minute," he said as he hit the door.

By the time he made it to the parking lot, Channa's car was just pulling out and she didn't appear to be taking her time. "Fuck," he said as he watched her drive off. Defeated, he turned to walk back inside, but there was a rather large blonde haired man standing on the threshold of the Stout. Behind his left arm stood the woman who had so rudely interrupted his dinner. "Fuck," he repeated, with more of a defeated tone than he had used earlier, as the big man walked towards him.

Whatever the woman told the blonde man, it must not have painted Galen in a good light, and it didn't look like Galen would have a chance to apologize. The blonde man started his side of the conversation with a crack against the side of Galen's left eye-socket with a meaty hand.

Galen returned the hit with a blow of his own into the stomach of the blonde man. His second, and last blow, was a stiff kick to the man's genitals. It wasn't the most honorable fight but Galen was outmatched and if the other two men coming out of the door had anything to do about it, he was about to be out-manned. He didn't know how many of them it would take to kick his ass, but he knew how many they were going to use. It was time to go so he climbed into his car and took off out of the parking lot.

Channa sat in her car in the drive way and wiped her hands across her face. She knew she have let Sophia get to her but the woman just seem to know the right words to say to push her. She left everything but her camera in the car and walked in. She checked on Aida then walked into her darkroom and began developing the pictures. She knew she wouldn’t be getting any sleep that night.