Somewhat Distracted

Posted on Sun Dec 13th, 2020 @ 4:24pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,807 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Deck 2 - Captains Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 3 @ 0950 Hours

ON

It had been rare that Keiben had been granted leave to spend time in his quarters over the last few weeks. It had been a little full on trying to get Copernicus up to speed ready for her launch window but today he had very little on his diary so decided to take a day off and finish sorting out his quarters, enjoy a nice hot bath and just kick back with no one pulling at his time to himself. He was under no illusion it would last all day, such was the life of a Commanding Officer as he was finding out, but right now he could forget about his worries and his responsibilities for a time.

Steam was rising from the bathroom adjacent to his bedroom, the door left open as he padded through his quarters having retrieved a book, Ulysses, to read while he was soaking. He was just about to enter the bathroom, glad non of the worker bee's were still fluttering around the hull as the pilot would have had an eye full, but it was this moment the chime sounded at his door. He dropped the book down on the bed and snatched up the towel besides it, wrapping it around his waist as he walked over to the door.

Mel stood outside not quite believing she was here and wearing red underwear. But she had to come see him. They had a staff meeting in the morning. It might be more awkward not doing so before then.

“Liar, ” Kaal laughed at her. ”You know why you really want to be here and the excuse you came up with is completely flimsy.”

”yup he will see right through that. He’ll see right through anything. Betaziod remember..”

”I dated a betaziod once” Leiko chimed. ”Glad you saw sense and prepared for any eventually, ” she chuckled.

Oh God what had she been thinking. Throw herself at him?... And they had a friendship what if she blew that up? She was about ready to turn back again, make an excuse but couldn't as there was a constant reminder behind her.

The door opened and there was a collective sigh within her head. ”Totally worth risking anything over, ” drooled someone. Mel took a deep breath sure her face resembled someone potentially having a stroke right now. Come on she told herself get some words out... Get it together.

”Mum... Mum come on what you waiting for .... Oh... Oh oh, ” Charlie burst out laughing. ”Sorry, ” she finally calmed down. ”please don't fire me from captains assistant.” she added quickly turning around.

"Actually, I need to speak to you about that... Come see me on the bridge later on!" Keiben brought a hand down to the towel to clasp the fold holding it in place, not wanting it to fall while he was stood almost in the corridor. "Yes Doctor, what can I do for you?"

”I needed to talk to you about something but....” Mel finally got out. She hadn't been able to find a good excuse to get rid of her daughter either. Yup this was a total disaster.

”when I saw she was coming to see you I decided to tag along so I could come convince you to keep me on. I’ll only be five minutes...”

”Charlie I think we best to come back later, ” Mel suggested.

”Why? It's still Keiben.. He's just going to put clothes on and you have practically see everyone on board naked. Doctor remember....”

"As I said Charlie, see me on the bridge a little later... Don't worry, I still need an assistant though!" He looked down for a brief moment realising how inappropriate it was for him to be stood as he was. "Charlie, would you mind giving your mother and I a moment to talk, she can come find you later..." he indicated the steam billowing from the bathroom and really did not want to put on some clothing just to then have to take them off again.

”Fine, ” the teen said. ”I mean yes sir.” she spun on her heels and disappeared,

Mel breathed not sure what she was supposed to do now. she hadn't expected this turn of events. Was she supposed to come in?

”She did you a presentation, ” she found herself telling him. ”Said she wanted you to know she was serious.

Look your clearly having a bath. Talk about bad timing, ” she added trying not to look him directly in the eyes.

”bad timing. I’d disagree there. Look at him, just look at him ...” Leikos voice chimed in her head again.

"Its ok Mel, come on in" Keiben stepped back into his quarters, out of sight of the technician that had just come round the corner... It may have been Stoun given the size, or possibly L'ojhk their resident half Human half Klingon mammoth of a man but also one of the happiest individuals Keiben had ever met... and a bit of a gossip.

"You only ever knock on my door when you have something important on your mind!"

”Not strictly true. I've brought you baking in the past and home visited to administer drugs when necessary, ” she retorted. She stepped in as requested. The door shut, now she really couldn't leave.

"Well, in that case, what is it the sickbay poisoner needs me for today?" a huge wolfish and playful smile spread across his face as he took a playful dig at her attempts at baking, lighting up his dark Betazoid eyes trying to ignore the fact that he was leaning against the back of a chair wearing nothing but a towel. He motioned for her to take a seat with his free hand but remained leaning himself so as not to expose himself by accident.

She took the seat... ”poisoner. No more cake for you then. I'll have you know my blueberry crumble cake. People have been known to fight over....”

She bit her lip he was joking of course, ”i thought perhaps we ought to..... talk or something. I didn't anticipate Charlie finding me and insisting she come .... Sorry about that. And her laughing.”

And now he really did feel uncomfortable but he didn't show it, played his poker face to perfection.

"I didn't know how to broach it with you... I was going to come find you in a day or so but you do know that L'johk just saw you coming into my quarters while I'm dressed like this... You know the ship will know about this as gossip spreads at warp speed!"

He chuckled appreciating the fact you couldn't keep secrets on a ship this small but also worried that it could undermine his position as a new commanding officer.

”Oh well to be honest, Lifes to short to worry about gossip Keiben, ” she said simply. That much she did know. ”And you did choose to open the door like that. Not that I'm complaining,”

Wow did those words really come out of her mouth. She couldn't believe she had just said that.

"Doctor!" Keibens eyebrows shot up, surprised but but still playful and not in the least offended by this bold new version of the fiery women he had called friend for so long, a title that seemed to be falling away rapidly.

Mel smiled. She knew straight off he was joking around this time. She felt a little more confident. If he didn't want her here, he wouldn't have insisted she come in.

”He’d put on pants if he wasn't enjoying this, ” Kaal told her. That was a good point except we'll he was betaziod. Didnt they marry naked?

”Look I kissed you. I think it's fairly obvious you shouldn't be surprised by that statement.” She ignored Leikos suggestion of just jumping on him and shuffled up closer to him instead. ”The question is what happens now?”

"I have a better question... I am your Commanding Officer so it is highly inappropriate that this has happened in one regard so I need to ask you this... What would you like to have happen".

He kept his own voice level, forced his emotions into check simply because he did not want to force her hand either way despite his own feelings and what he wanted. He just wished the other hosts were a little more quiet so he had a chance to read Mel and only Mel so he knew what she really did feel.

Mel looked him directly in his eyes. ”I’ll tell them to be quiet.” She understood he wanted to see and sense only her.

She took a deep breathe and asked herself the same thing. After a moment she answered much more confident on things.

”I think I've always liked you more than our relationship is now but it took losing nearly everything to really see what I was never brave enough to go for. Also I lost a good husband and it also took a while to get to a point where I was ready too be open to the idea of loving someone again.

I Would like to explore this, see where it goes discreetly of course. I'm aware that your new position does cause you concerns and would never wish to jeopardise that as I know it's something you always we're aspiring towards.

But Im also aware that I come with Charlie and that's another consideration. I don't know where you stand on your feelings around that, ” she answered truthfully.

Might as well lay it all out now she was seeing clearly. She had too much respect for him not too.

"You don't need to be a telepath to know how I feel about Charlie" he said in a slightly chastising way, and it was a fraction hurtful that she had even thought that would be a problem for him.

There was another collective sigh in Mels head followed by Leiko pretty much yelling at her.

”And I want in on that bath, ” Mel suddenly declared. She had made this too serious. He was just going to see her as a chain round his neck. Leiko was right. Suggesting more Han friends then highlighting she was a single mother. Idiot.

Unziping her dress she stepped out of it and headed to his bathroom. ”If this is too inappropriate for you Captain your going to have to fire me,”

He watched her disappear into the steam, nothing but her silhouette could be seen. She was right, he needed to protect his new position and in that regard this would be seen as highly inappropriate but at the same time, given enough time he was certain this would have happened anyway. He stood and followed her, allowing the towel to drop to the floor as he himself became nothing but a silhouette.

END

 

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