They say that confession is good for the soul, but Alan had decided to keep this little tidbit to himself...for some reason, he couldn't see Denny understanding his love of something as silly as a TV show.
But love it, he did. He had ever since he was a kid, spending his summer afternoons lying in front of the TV, mesmerized by all the alien worlds and exciting adventures that the crew of the Starship Enterprise went on week after week. And now, it was 40 years to the day since he first set eyes on that wonderful crew. Kirk and Spock...especially Spock! They were quite a pair! Alan remembered thinking as a kid that the two of them were inseparable...and knowing, deep down in his soul, that no matter what they set out to do, they would always succeed, as long as they worked together.
A tap on his office door interrupted his thoughts, and Alan looked up to see Denny standing in the doorway. "I understand you're taking a couple of personal days. What are you doing, and why didn't you tell me about it?"
Alan sighed...how could he get out of this, without spilling his secret? After a moment, he decided to skirt around the issue, "I didn't tell you, because I assumed you wouldn't be interested...after all, you don't even own a television set," and then he realized he had said too much...
"You're a STAR TREK fan?" Denny said with a broad grin, which completely surprised Alan.
"Yes, but..." Alan started, then smiled himself as the reality of the situation set in, "you too?" he asked, incredulously.
"Sure am," Denny replied, then closed the door behind him as he stepped further into the room, adding, "I've had tickets to the 24-hour TREK marathon at the Copley Theatre for months! What about you?"
"Same here," Alan admitted, then shook his head slightly as he asked, "do you plan on 'dressing' for the event?"
Denny smiled broadly, as he replied, "Of course...I have my own, custom made, Captain's uniform, from the movies...not," he added with a wink, "the first movie, but the later ones. What about you?"
"Same era," he confessed, but said no more.
Denny moved to leave Alan's office once again, and as he placed his hand on the doorknob, he said, "I'll be in court the rest of the afternoon...come by my place for dinner, and we'll go together," and before Alan could say another word, Denny was gone.
*****
Alan had a friend who worked in theater, and had helped him with his makeup. The custom made ears were so much better than the mass-produced ones he had used for years, and after all was said and done, they really looked real. The thick makeup he used to cover his brows worked marvelously...the effect was breathtaking, if he did say so himself.
But now, as he drove to Denny's place, he felt himself getting nervous. What would Denny's reaction be? After all, Denny was going to be 'the Captain', and here Alan was, dressed as Spock. But then Alan relaxed a bit...after all, just because he was one of those fans who saw Kirk and Spock as 'lovers' it doesn't mean that Denny was.
Alan would just have to keep his fantasy world and his reality separate...something he's had to do with Denny since the day they met, in any case.
Suddenly, he was there, and knocking on Denny's door...and then his reality crumbled, as 'Captain Kirk' stood in the door, inviting him in. Alan stared, open-mouthed, for a second or two before he regained his composure, and simply said, "Fascinating," before passing his friend and closing the door behind him.
Denny apparently didn't notice Alan's reaction to him, as he crossed to the bar and poured drinks for them both. Handing one to Alan, he said, "I like the ears...they suit you well."
"Thank you," Alan replied, then after taking a drink, asked, "Denny, has anyone ever told you...?"
Denny interrupted, "Yes, I get that all the time...of course," and here, Denny winked, "he's a lot older than me."
Alan smiled. "Actually, you two are about the same age," he said, hating to burst his friends bubble, but he couldn't resist. Alan stared for a moment more, then whispered, "My god...the resemblance is...uncanny."
"You should have seen the look on his face, when I met him at a convention a few years back," Denny said with a smile, adding, "not to mention the confusion on the convention floor, as I walked around freely, shaking hands and signing autographs..."
"You didn't?" Alan said, although knowing Denny, he wouldn't put it past him.
"Well, not at first, but after a while...well, I couldn't help myself," and with that confession, Alan and Denny both laughed. After a moment, Denny said, "Laughter is highly illogical, my friend."
"The cause is sufficient," Alan replied with a slight smile, then continued in far more subdued tones, "I always thought that Spock hid away in his room, late at night, laughing his ass off over all the silly arguments he and 'Bones' got into."
"You're probably right," Denny agreed, and with a well practiced, Kirkian glare, he added, "and I always thought that Kirk was in there with him..." and he trailed off, sounding a bit uncertain.
But Alan reassured him with a smile, and a wink, "Denny, I like the way you think."
And as Denny served dinner, they talked about their collections...and the fanfic they read...and by the time dinner was done, Alan had even confessed that he had written his share of stories, and promised Denny that he could read them...later.
And as they made their way to the theatre, Alan smiled thinking that he really could live his fantasy life...even if only for the next 24 hours.