Chapter Five: Dinner in DC
I woke up two hours later at 5:00AM, and went to my closet to get changed. I decided on a short black pleated skirt, a shot sleeved, light grey polo shirt, and a pair of matching grey flip-flops. Uncle Ducky had promised to take me on a tour of DC sometime this weekend, and I had decided to go today. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. How on earth can I be so perky at 5:00AM on a Saturday in the middle of the summer? Well, it’s just another side effect of the mutation. You see, during the summer, I only need eighteen hours of sleep per week, thirty three in the spring and fall, and forty eight in the winter. I know, it’s weird, but I like to think of it as my version of being nocturnal, diurnal, and hibernating all wrapped up into one. Anyway, after I got dressed, I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to make breakfast.
By ten, Uncle Ducky and I had eaten our breakfasts and were now being driven around uptown DC by means of limousine. It was nearing ninety degrees in temperature when we had left, but Uncle Ducky assured me that it would get cooler in the late afternoon. “Ah, I guess this is quite a change from the moderate temperatures of London,” said Uncle Ducky. “Yeah…” I trailed off, the scenery out the limo window changing from the lush greens of DC to the dull grays that I was so accustomed to back in England. I remembered how I used to trace the patterns that the raindrops made as they slid down the tinted windows. How I used to pretend that it was sunny outside. How I longed for the rain to end, looking forward to the small amount of time I could go outside before the rain clouded the skies once more. I smiled lightly to myself. “Are you alright, deary?” asked Uncle Ducky from his seat across from me. “Hmm?” I said, snapping out of my fantasy, “oh, yes, I’m fine, just reminiscing is all.” He gave me a look of speculation before smiling back at me.
We drove all over DC, stopping at a few Smithsonians’, a small café, and finally stopping for dinner at The Source, a fine dining restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington DC. “Welcome to The Source, the finest restaurant in the whole capital,” said our waiter, a young man with bright blue eyes, tan skin, and short dark blond hair. “My name is Alex,” he motioned to him name tag, “and I’ll be your waiter for tonight,” he finished, leading us to our table on the second floor balcony, his eyes twinkling under the stars. After giving the menu a once over, Uncle Ducky announced his drink selection. “Well, my boy, could you get me a tonic and lime?” “Excellent choice, sir,” said Alex, “and for you, ma’am?” “I’ll take a cabernet sauvignon and a tall glass of water, please,” I smiled up at him. He smiled back, “right away, miss,” he said before disappearing through frosted glass doors.
Once I diverted my attention back to the menu, Uncle Ducky decided to strike up a conversation. “So, Madison,” he said, folding his hands on the table, “how are you enjoying your stay in the states so far?” “I love it here,” I smiled, “everything is so pretty and colorful, and everyone at NCIS is so nice and friendly. Thank you so much for allowing me to stay with you, Uncle Ducky!” He merely smiled, waving off the thank you.
My smile grew as Alex came back to the table, drinks in hand. “Tonic and lime for the gentleman,” he said, giving Uncle Ducky his drink, “and a cabernet sauvignon and water for the lady.” He smiled at me once more before taking out his notepad. “Now, if you’re ready, I can take your orders.” I looked across the booth at Uncle Ducky, who nodded his head in affirmation before opening his mouth to give his order. Could I have the Lacquered Chinese Duckling, Lo Mein Noodles, Star Anise Infused Bing Cherries?” “Certainly,” Alex replied, writing the order down on his notepad, “and for you, Miss?” “I’ll take the Szechuan Filet “Au Poivre” with Wild Mushrooms and Caramelized Shallot Sauce, please,” I said, my eyes never leaving his. “Of course, I’ll have your food out shortly,” he said, before retreating back into the kitchen. “Oh, I almost forgot,” said Uncle Ducky, as he folded his hands on the table, “Director Sheppard called for you while we were at the Air and Space Smithsonian.” I furrowed my brow in question. “She’s out of the hospital and would like to meet with you first thing Monday morning,” he paused and looked at me curiously, “is there something I should know about Madison?” A smile lit up my tanned features, extending all the way up to my violet eyes. “You’ll know as soon as I do,” I reassured him. We smiled at each other for a moment longer before Alex came back with our food.
“For you, Sir,” he said, giving Uncle Ducky his duck, “and for you, Miss,” He said, setting down my food as well. “Enjoy,” he said with a smile, before retreating back to the front desk, just a few tables behind Uncle Ducky. He turned around with a smile and winked at me. I felt my face heat up ever so slightly as a barely-there-blush tinted my cheeks. I smiled to myself and looked down at my food.
Dinner went smoothly; Uncle Ducky and I talked about NCIS, mainly Gibbs and his team. One name, however, stuck out in my mind. “Uncle Ducky, whatever happened to Mr. Palmer?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. “Oh, Mr. Palmer had a mild food poisoning issue that he had to attend to,” he leaned in closer and whispered, “his girlfriend isn’t the best cook in DC, if you know what I mean.” He sat back and we both shared a good laugh. It went on like that until Alex came back with our bill. Without looking at it, I fished out my credit card and handed it to Alex. Uncle Ducky gave me a stern look after Alex had walked off. I quickly put my hands up in defense. “You paid for everything else today,” I told him, “this is my way of thanking you.” He smiled and stepped out of the booth. “Well, thank you, Madison.”
Just then, Alex came back with my card. Uncle Ducky looked between the two of us. “If you’d excuse me,” Uncle Ducky said walking off towards the men’s room, leaving me with Alex. Alex started walking back to the desk when I called after him. “Hey, Alex?” He turned around. “When does your shift end?” I asked, resting my elbows on the table and my chin on my folded hands. “Well, that depends,” he walked back, “are you free tonight?” I smirked at him, quickly writing my cell phone number on a napkin. “I’ll meet you back here at nine,” I said standing up and tucking the paper napkin into his shirt pocket. “I’ll see you then, Madison,” he said, kissing my hand. I smiled as we went our separate ways.
I found Uncle Ducky in the back seat of the limo, striking up a conversation with Charlie. I listened to them talk the whole way home, it was something about a dead marine that was murdered then stuffed into a chimney and smoked like jerky.
Once we were home, Uncle Ducky informed me that some of his friends were coming over to play bridge, and, in turn, I told him that I would be out late and not to wait up for me. “I’ll see you in the morning,” I called over my shoulder as I walked the short distance to the limousine. “Where to, Miss. Redmond?” asked Charlie once he took his place up front. “Back to the restaurant,” I said as we drove off into the night.
