By Jariel, Zanh and Blane
80629.23
Following Betrayed
-=Personal Quarters of the Captain=-
80629.23
Following Betrayed
-=Personal Quarters of the Captain=-
Camen jumped, startled at the sound of the door opening. He had been so lost in his own thoughts he completely forgot she might show up.
He didn't know why she hadn't wanted him to come to Sickbay, though he had theorized in his own mind.
The last time they had really had a chance to speak he had walked out on her, too hurt and jealous to look her in the eye. Perhaps she was angry with him, or thought he was angry with her, or perhaps she just didn't want anything to do with him anymore.
He saw her and nearly blurted out "I love you", but the words caught in his throat. He was too self-conscious suddenly to reveal that he could speak.
[[Do you want me to leave?]]
"No." She said simply. "I have to take care business on Earth. I can’t begin to discuss anything with you before then. I'll be back."
[[TI?]]
"Yeah."
He wanted so badly to go with her and see this place that had had such an effect on everything she was. That was neither possible nor appropriate right now, however. She needed her space to deal with whatever it was they wanted her for.
He didn't even know what she remembered at this point, and could not even stand to ask. She was obviously in a hurry to get this meeting over with, and he would wait till her mind was clear before speaking with her. She had promised she would be back, and that was all he could have ever asked her for right now.
Her hands shook for an instant as she reached into the closet and they brushed against all his shirts hanging neatly there, as they always did. She bit her lip and reached deeper inside, beyond them.
She needed to find her Temporal Compass. It wasn't where it was supposed to be.
"Camen, do you know where it is?" She did not have to specify what ‘it’ was.
[[Yes,]] He moved over to the coffee table and picked up what remained of the device, handing it to her. [[I found it on the floor when I came home.]] The word home was painful to sign, and he couldn’t even fathom speaking it. Did she still consider this his home?
Their home?
[[It’s broken,]] he warned.
Liis shrugged. ”Well that probably happened when I smashed it against the wall.”
He knew better than to ask.
Liis had gone around the corner and into the shower and Camen paced the room, waiting for her return. When she appeared again some time later, she was wearing her civilian clothing- dressed all in black with her favorite leather jacket and boots to match.
The biggest shock was that when she reappeared, her hair was several shades darker than it had been when she'd gone into the bathroom; restored to the pitch black he remembered from so many years before.
From childhood.
She noticed the expression on his face as she ran her hands through it to work out the knots and shrugged once more. "Black. Like my mood."
*Dark angel,* he thought. Her earring jingled softly as she walked, and Camen closed his eyes. *Steady, man...*
[[Liis, do you want me to throw a few things into a bag for you?]]
“No.” She blurted curtly, adding “Thank you.” She knew that if she were gone longer than a few hours, TI would take care of anything she had in the way of physical needs for food, clothing or shelter.
She tucked the broken halves of the compass into her jacket pocket, clipped a phaser to her belt where it could not be seen, and turned toward the door.
Camen knocked on the table to get her attention.
[[Are you certain you’ll be coming home?]] he signed weakly. It was a question about her heart, not her location.
Before she could form the words to try to answer, Salvek rang the bell.
“We’re not finished here.”
That sentence was all she had the energy to offer him as she walked past him without stopping and wordlessly followed Salvek down the hall.
“I hope not,” Camen said aloud to the empty room after she’d gone.
-=Transporter Room=-
O'Sullivan arrived ahead of schedule by a few minutes and was glad to find TC Blane standing by, chatting with the crewman at the controls.
Feeling he had something left he needed to say to Blane, Keiran asked the transporter op to step out for a moment.
The crewman looked to TC for approval, and Blane gave it in the form of a single nod.
Once they were alone, Keiran looked at Blane with a mixture of genuine respect and admiration. "You're a hell of a man, Thomas Blane. I'm honored to have served with you."
TC frowned. "You make it sound like a thing of the past."
"Only because it is." Keiran replied wistfully. He held his hand out toward the Sera's second officer.
"Next time you're good and hungry, you ought to know that a six course meal including Prime Rib, lobster, and a bottle of London's finest reserve is bought, paid for and waiting for you at Illusions. It's the least I could do. I owe you one, Blane. Thank you for all you did that unfortunate evening that I would like so much to forget."
TC accepted O'Sullivan's hand and shook it firmly.
“Next time I’ll be the one to get shit faced and silly.” He nodded. “May the wind keep your sails full and calm waters prevail for your future.”
"Same to ya, Blane."
Zanh Liis entered the room, a storm cloud in humanoid form as she blew past Blane without making eye contact with him. She stepped up onto the transporter and folded her arms impatiently.. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"I'll be right behind ya, Captain, please, wait for me at the other end? I just need a moment longer." Keiran asked.
Liis seemed unaffected by the request. "Whatever. Salvek, just send me already."
The three men watched as she vanished, then they were in the room alone.
"Salvek, Blane," Keiran locked eyes with each man in turn. "I'm chargin' ye with a very important duty. In my absence, just promise me that you'll look after her."
"Always have," TC reassured him, "Always will."
Salvek merely nodded.
Keiran took his place and looked around the Sera's transporter room for what he believed to be the last time. "My gratitude, to you both. Energize."
-------------------
Jariel Camen
Ship’s Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Jariel Camen
Ship’s Chaplain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012