by Zander Blakeslee
900707.1336
Days ago (after Home: Part Two)
-=The Blakeslee Family Homestead: Alaska, Earth=-
900707.1336
Days ago (after Home: Part Two)
-=The Blakeslee Family Homestead: Alaska, Earth=-
Samthia stood holding a hot cup of tea as she watched out of the living rooms large windows. She shook her head as she watched the tail lights disappear in the distance.
“What is the human’s fascination to travel at unsafe speeds?” She asked her mother-in-law as she turned away from the window.
Helva smiled. “I’ve asked that many times about his father and that truck of his. It has to be testosterone driven.” She put down her cup of tea and a serious look crossed her face.
"What is bothering my son?" She asked pointedly.
-=/\=-
Samthia sighed heavily and turned away from the window. Slowly she walked over to the plush couch that sat in front of the crackling fire and lowered herself into its warm cushions. She pulled her feet up and sat Indian style as she sipped her tea and gazed into the fire.
She did not immediately answer her mother in law’s question.
Helva moved toward the opposite end of the couch and sat down calmly, watching her daughter in law’s face. She know that this Deltan woman held a bond with her son deeper then even she might be capable of understanding.
Her son was changed from the accident on the Serendipity and she needed to know that he would be alright.
Still, she could tell that Samthia was wondering the same thing.
She was deeply bothered by Zander’s change in demeanor, his quiet, yet gentle, standoffishness. Helva could tell that even between her son and his wife a gap had formed. Not intentionally and not physically, but emotionally her son had pulled away from her.
Finally after a few long moments Samthia spoke.
“Mortality. He now knows that he is mortal and that he can die.” She said softly.
Helva thought for a moment before speaking. “He told you this?”
Sam shook her head slowly. “No.” She turned to face Helva. “I can feel it. He is afraid of it now. For the first time he truly understands that in an instant he could be gone.”
Helva nodded. “I thought that something like that might be the issue. Zander had always rushed into things swinging, with out any regard to his own safety like he was immortal.” She paused. “Eventually men like him will hit the wall of reality. I knew my son's day would eventually come.”
Sam looked up at her. “How?”
Helva smiled. “Because of you and the boys.”
Samthia looked stunned at the suggestion that she or her children might have something to do with Zander’s current emotional state. “I am afraid that I do not understand what you mean.”
The barbs in her voice clearly signaled to Helva that she mistook what she was trying to explain.
“I’m sorry dear. Don’t take it the wrong way.” She slid closer to Sam and took her hand into hers. “You see men who join Starfleet, especially the Blakeslees, tend to be rambunctious, foolhardy, and believe themselves to be near indestructible. You sort of have to be to do this kind of work. Throwing yourself into the maw of danger without any regard for your personal safety is the name of the game. Self sacrifice.”
Sam nodded understanding what Helva was relating.
“To die in the service of others is glorious to them. Knowing that you gave your life to save others, be it your crewmates or perfect strangers without hesitation is okay with them. It was their choice, their decision, their life to give.”
She squeezed Sam's hand. “But then they fall in love, get married, have children. No longer is it their life to give. They have committed their heart and soul to their wives and children.
“They are afraid that if they give their lives for someone else that they are not filling their commitment to their loved ones. They fear what would happen when they are gone. Who would care for them. Who would give their lives for them if the need be.”
Helva sighed. “I think that is why Tom held on for so long after his injuries. Even with out any capability to speak or possibly know what was going on around him. He refused to allow himself the rest that he so desperately deserved until he knew that his son would be alright.”
She wiped away a tear that had formed and leaned forward, hugging Sam tightly. “When you came into the picture, Tom instinctively knew that his son would be fine and that he was no longer needed. So he let go.”
She pulled away and looked at Sam with wet eyes. “Thank you for that. I never got a chance to thank you.”
Samthia’s eyes welled with tears at the Blakeslee matriarch's heartfelt admission.
Both women hugged again then pulled away and dried their eyes. The crackling of the fire was then only sound as they composed themselves. It was several moments before they spoke again.
“What shall I do?” Samthia asked.
Helva smiled despite her own deep motherly concerns. “There is nothing you can do. He has to find his own way this time.”
Sam shook her head. “I want to help. He is so quiet.” He put her hand to her chest. “He is quiet here.”
Helva understood that she meant their empathic bond. “He will figure it out. But he will never be the same. No one ever is.”
Sam inhaled deeply then let it out on a slow breath. “Shall I speak with him about it?”
Helva shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I went through this same thing with Tom not too long after Zander was born. He was gravely injured in a plasma leak. After he healed he was not the same. I confronted him and asked him to leave Starfleet because it was ruining our relationship.”
She sighed, and smiled. “It did not go well. He took it as an insult. It was only after he talked to a good friend one night that he finally came to me and we talked. He eventually found a way to deal with both his commitment to Starfleet and his family and to be happy with it.”
Helva looked at Samthia. “Is there anyone that he might talk to on the ship?”
Samthia thought for a moment and nodded. “There is only one person on the Sera that I can think of. When we return I shall ask if he would speak with Zander for me.”
Just then the lights of Zander’s Humvee flashed across the large windows of the house as the large truck pulled up the driveway and into the barn. The wheels could be heard grinding to a halt in a large cloud of dust.
Both women shook their heads and smiled. Helva squeezed Sam's hand gently.
No futher words were spoken between the two wives of Blakeslees. None were needed. All that it was necessary to say had been said, and Samthia knew what she must do to help her husband to find his way back to the confident person he should be.
**************************
Commander Zander Blakeslee
Chief Security Officer
USS Serendipity
(Currently on Medical leave on Earth)
Commander Zander Blakeslee
Chief Security Officer
USS Serendipity
(Currently on Medical leave on Earth)