By Lt. February Grace
80209.20
Following Separation Anxiety and before the Alchemy's departure
-=Personal Quarters of Reece and Grace=-
80209.20
Following Separation Anxiety and before the Alchemy's departure
-=Personal Quarters of Reece and Grace=-
February emerged from the bathroom, fresh from the shower and pulling clean uniform tunic on over her head.
Dabin sat on the edge of the bed, playing the Stratocaster that had been a gift to him from her after her Zhian'tara, and before everything else.
He finished the song, strumming one last time with a flourish and smiled at her.
February applauded softly, and then bent and kissed him on the top of the head.
"I still can't believe I can do that." He chuckled, unstrapping the guitar and setting it aside. "I have you to thank for that."
He was speaking of course of the incident during the Zhian'tara during which his personality, and that of the host he was embodying, Deveral, had overlapped- leaving Dabin and February not only with their telepathic link after the ritual was over, but with him receiving her musical ability, and she, his talent for drawing.
"I can't believe I can do this." She moved to the desk and showed him the picture she'd been working on. It was a sketch of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
"Pretty." He nodded proudly. "Are you going to be hungry later? You barely got to touch your soup." He worried. Time he'd meant for them to spend eating had been spent doing something else entirely. "Maybe it was selfish, my wanting to bring you back here instead of actually eating at the cafe."
*No.* February thought to him as she smiled brightly. *This was better.*
She felt an overwhelming sense of sadness suddenly, and tilted her head. "Hey," She spoke audibly again to reinforce that she was concerned. "What's wrong?"
"I want to go with you."
"I know, I wish you were going too." She touched his face. "But we both know what Starfleet means. Just because we're assigned together doesn't mean. . ."
"That we're always going to be assigned together. I know." He walked to the closet and pulled out another tunic, to replace the one he'd hastily discarded earlier. "But it's the first time we'll be apart. It's harder than I thought it was going to be."
February thought this to be very interesting, especially considering he had been used to being apart from the woman who was his significant other for the better part of a decade at many points in their relationship- because of duty, and just whenever she felt like disappearing on him. She would have figured by now, Reece would be accustomed to spending time alone.
"You're nothing like her," Dabin protested aloud, after considering her thoughts. "You're so much more to miss."
She pulled on her boots and was ready to go. She had ten minutes before she was expected to be aboard the Alchemy, and at the helm, in control and ready to depart.
*Walk with me?* She thought, but she realized that would be too hard for him, and so she shook her head to dismiss the thought, and then nodded to tell him she understood. "I'll see you when I get back." She picked up her duffel and moved toward the door. "Don't forget to feed Sparrow."
*I won't,* he thought to her. *Wet food twice a day and dry food continuously available.*
*Remember, 675 is his favorite but please no more then twice a week or he gets an upset tummy. Never 132 after 1100, never 234 on a Wednesday,*
*. . .and 2455 only at night, never in the morning. I'll make sure his water and dry food bowls stay full.* He laughed. *I won't forget. If I do, he might eat me."
Dabin, who had a little more time before his shift was due to start, picked up the guitar again and strummed away, another of February's favorite songs.
*Keep Looking Up* She thought to him. It was the title, and major lyric of the song he was now playing, but it meant much more than that.
She moved toward him, reaching out and stilling his hand as it hovered above the strings, as she leaned in for a proper kiss goodbye.
"I love you."
*I love you, too.* Dabin thought back to her. *Remember, you're the driver. And that means I expect you to drive that monstrosity back here in one piece.*
"No worries. I am the driver, love." She winked at him, a wicked grin hovering over her lips. Deveral's grin.
Then she was gone, and the door seemed to sigh softly as it whooshed shut behind her.
As February moved down the hall, but was still within distance of his thoughts, she gave a moment's worry to the fact that it was going to be awfully hard to keep the requested 'safe distance' from Micah Samson, what with him being assigned to oversee Science on the Away Team.
"Wait just a damn minute," Dabin said aloud, setting the guitar aside again as he picked up on her retreating thoughts. "Micah Samson said WHAT to you?"
He rushed into the hallway after her, but she was already in the lift, and well on her way to the Alchemy.
----------
Lt. February Grace
Senior Flight Controller
USS Alchemy NX-53099
Lt. February Grace
Senior Flight Controller
USS Alchemy NX-53099