by TC Blane and Zanh Liis
80705.18
Following Two Lights Part Two
-=USS Serendipity=-
80705.18
Following Two Lights Part Two
-=USS Serendipity=-
"Now now, Captain, not only is that a lot more profanity than a country boy like myself ever likes to hear comin' out of the mouth of a lady, but that's just physically impossible."
Zanh Liis had, apparently, just given a 'helpful' suggestion to the LMH as to what he could do with his idea that she needed mandatory counseling in addition to physical rest and relaxation before he would allow her to retake command- of either the Alchemy, or the Serendipity.
As she and the photonic doctor exited the holodeck, they practically stepped into TC Blane. He was standing directly across from the arch at his typical parade rest stance, his feet squared to his shoulders and his hands comfortably held behind his back. A standard issue Starfleet duffle was slung over his shoulder.
The doctor was continuing to berate the Captain while scanning her with his tricorder. The look of Liis’ face told TC that she'd had quite enough of the doctor for one day.
“Thank you doctor for your assistance. I’ll take it from here.” TC broke the doctors rant. The holographic physician was about to protest but was cut off by Blane.
“Captain, Commander Salvek requested that I escort you directly to your quarters and then to the Alchemy for departure.” He stepped to the side to allow her to pass while purposely blocking the doctor.
“Fine.” McKay folded his arms before beginning to fade away."I'm warnin' you, though, girl I will hunt you down like a dog until you give in and get some rest. I will be on the Alchemy too, ya know...I will be your worst nightmare."
"Already are," Liis grumbled after McKay had gone.
TC fell into step at the Captain's right shoulder. They walked in silence for a short way before he broke the silence.
“Welcome home.” Was all he said.
"Thanks." She replied flatly.
The Captain was usually such an emotional woman- passionate. For good, or ill this was just the way that she was and TC knew she never did anything half way. When she was 'up', she was on the moon; when she was angry you had better stay out of her way, and apparently, when she was sad...she somehow just shut off.
*Perhaps this is a side effect of her childhood,* TC thought. He had seen the orphanage at Altaan himself where she'd grown up, and he knew that sorrow was something there was little time for, and even less tolerance for on behalf of the adults who oversaw the place.
"I can't talk about it, you know." She volunteered a moment later.
"Didn’t ask," TC hadn't expected her to start volunteering information about her time at TI, but he had thought she might have something to say about O'Sullivan's fate.
"You don't have to worry about the Chief of Security gig anymore though, Thomas. Thank you for stepping into that role so quickly and with such grace, but you can return to your regular double-duty as Chief of Ops and SO now."
"Oh?" Blane scratched his chin thoughtfully. "The burly Irishman returns?"
Liis looked at him with dead eyes. "No."
TC paused as he contemplated quietly. “Very well. Who is getting the promotion?” He paused before taking a guess. “Blakeslee?”
"Zander is qualified, and he's dependable," Zanh waited a moment before going on. "Why, did you have another suggestion? Or did you want the job? Say the word and it's yours."
“I like it where I am.” He thought for a second. “I feel I belong there.” He nodded. “Zander would be my choice also.” He shifted he bag to his other shoulder as they reached the captain’s quarters. “I’ll be waiting here.”
He gave a small smile. “I hope you don’t pack like every other woman I’ve ever known 'cause then I’ll be needing a chair while I wait.”
Liis showed a glimmer of emotion for the first time since he'd seen her exit the holodeck- just the slightest hint of a smirk. Goodnaturedly, she teased him.
"Stuff it, Thomas."
He saluted. "Consider it stuffed, Captain."
She disappeared into her quarters, and Blane was surprised when not sixty seconds later she returned with a small suitcase in her hands.
"New worlds' record for either gender..."
"I didn't pack it," Liis explained, shrugging. "Apparently the Vedek took care of it for me."
She had found their quarters empty, but the bag had a note attached saying that he would see her on the Alchemy. Apparently, he was in no more a hurry for the awkward reunion to come than she was. *And he doesn't know the half of it,* Liis thought.
"Ready, Captain?"
"As I'll ever be. Tell me, Thomas, what the hell are we going to do on Betazed? Believe it or not, I have never spent any real time there."
TC thought for a moment. He had never been there either. “Well I do know one thing, we have a wedding to attend.” He patted his belly. “So I’ll be laying off the high calorie meals for a while, got to look sharp you know.”
"You know that you clean up well enough." Liis teased once again, "...with a little elbow grease...and some sandpaper..." Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks. "Damn, I didn't check to see if Jariel packed my dress uniform."
"Sir, are you forgetting...Betazoid weddings..."
Zanh's eyes widened. "Well the rest of the crew can do what they want as far as that tradition goes, but this Bajoran woman goes naked in public for no one."
Blane laughed.
“Other then that I cannot speak to the site seeing, I’ve never been there. I doubt I will be going planet side anyway.” He continued to walk. “I might have some things here that need my attention.”
Zanh stopped walking again and twisted her earring chain a moment. "Oh? Anything I need to know about?"
TC shook his head. “Not yet.” He glanced at her sideways. “I’ll let you know something when I know something. Until then I’ll ask that you trust me.”
She knew at this point it should go without saying. Still, she said it. "Of course. I have complete faith in your judgment."
As they reached the Alchemy bay, TC eyed Zanh warily again. He knew she had much on her mind; he just wondered who she would eventually talk to about it all to begin to sort it out. If he knew her at all, he believed that keeping things bottled up would only be a detrimental to her in the long run.
"You know, Captain,"
"Thomas," her raised hand begged his attention a moment, "I'm suspended. You can call me Liis, you know."
"Captain," TC insisted, a grin flashing his perfectly straight, white teeth. The grin softened a little as he thought once again about how far they had come in their professional relationship, and as crewmates, since they first met.
"If you need a pair of ears, mine work just fine and they are not attached to my mouth. You know where to find them."
Liis smiled gently, knowing that not only was he entirely sincere but that he did indeed know how and when to keep his mouth shut.
"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind." He held up a step, allowing her to ascend the ramp to board ahead of him. Liis turned back. "It's really good to know that even with all the changes going on around here, there are still some things, and people, I can really count on."
TC stepped onto the ramp following his Captain. “Yeah, like a good toaster.” He continued striding up the ramp. “You just can’t beat a good piece of toast.”
"Or a Pop Tart. Ever had one?"
Blane's expression told her that he had not.
"Reece got me addicted to them, damn him. The chocolate fudge are the worst. Or the best, depending on your perspective."
"Whether something is for the best or the worst always depends on one's perspective, Captain." Blane offered thoughtfully, and he hoped, helpfully.
Liis stopped her progress, the expression on her face once again going completely blank. She blinked and nearly said something, but once again trudged onward.
"Chocolate fudge." She mumbled, moving forward down the corridor. "Definitely the way to go."
---------------------------
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012