Concerns

Posted on 29 Sep 2019 @ 3:31am by Lieutenant Commander True Keading & Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Mission 2 - The Agora crossroads
Location: Trues quarters
Timeline: MD1 08:00
2700 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

He had said to himself repeatably he was being stupid. This was part and parcel of command. Yet the he still found himself outside Trues quarters early in the morning. He didn't even think about what it would look like if someone saw him, he just pressed the chime.

"Come in," True called but decided to get up off her sofa and greet her guest. "Hi," she smiled when she saw it was Jon. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked.

"No, I was just thinking about breakfast, do you want to join me here?" He didn't look happy. "Obviously you've got something on your mind. You look like you're about to tell me someone died. What's wrong Jon?" She gestured for him to enter.

He stepped in, let the door shut behind him and kissed her on the cheek before saying, "No nothing like that. I just wanted to … no I needed to see you, before you get on that shuttle," he said honestly.

This was such a different dynamic to him. When had had been married to Charlotte, the majority of his career she was on Betazed and the rest of the time he knew her and Eddie were safe in their quarters on his last posting. True, he was falling for her fast and this was unsettling him. He was going to miss her and worry about her. That was the crux of it.

"Aww, that's sweet." She pulled him down on the sofa next to her. But that really didn't seem like all to her so she waited patiently for him to get it out.

"Its stupid. It really is. I ….. its just the closer we get to sending the away team to this place the more I keep worrying I guess. And I know I shouldn't. I need to park it to one side as your a Starfleet officer and can hold your own in any situation. I'm just struggling a little. I never realised how difficult it was letting someone you have such strong feelings about go off into an unknown situation," he tried to verbalise it.

"You're crazy," True said teasing him. "If it makes you feel any better, I've never been injured on an away mission. I survived a space battle and starship imploding. I'm starting to think I'm invincible. But seriously, you just said everything a counselor would tell you. I'm sorry though, I don't want to worry you and I will be extremely careful. But I'm not one to take risks with lives anyway, mine or anyone else's."

Jon fished in his pocket and pulled out a small knife. “I know .... it’s just this place ... there’s going to be unfriendlies. I hope you are invincible but would feel a whole lot better if you took this with you. I already suspect Aidan and Amelia will be unofficially arming themselves but if for any reason you got separated or there was danger .....” He pressed it into her hand. It was his grandfathers knife, and had been his before he got it. And another generation before. Small enough to be concealed upon her person fairly easily.

True nodded feeling the weight on her hand but she wasn't looking down at the knife. "All right, I'll take it." It would mean she'd need to wear something where she could conceal it because she was trying to appear friendly to the natives, at least as long as she could. Violence after all was a failure of diplomacy in her mind. Her weapon was her ability to understand and sympathize.

Jon kissed her, his demeanour relaxing a little. He put his forehead to hers for a moment saying quietly, “thank you.”

Pulling back again he added, “we should definitely get some breakfast in you. Who knows what you might end up eating in this place. Might be alien insects for all we know.”

"Yes, that sounds really appetizing, thanks for reminding me right before I eat something," she chuckled but let him guide her to the table. "What are you making me. I like this idea of getting waited on before I leave."

“Well obviously tea,” he smiled pulling a chair out for her, then letting her sit down his hands settled on her shoulders for a moment. He gave them a light squeeze. “Hmmmm maybe I should replicate you some teabags to take with you. You might be able to barter with them or swap for interesting alien tea or something.

What would mademoiselle like for breakfast?” he asked subconsciously running a thumb tracing her neck. By the goddess he was going to miss her. “Pancakes? Porridge? Omelette? Steak and eggs?”

True's mind had gone all fuzzy at his touch but she made herself reply. "My aunt used to make the greatest oatmeal. Had little bits of fruit in it like apples and dates and we always put a spoon of brown sugar. I haven't thought about that in ages. We basically grew up on the stuff. But don't move, keep doing that."

Jon noticed what he was doing and his empathic senses realised she was enjoying it. And she had told him not to stop after all. He was definitely feeling better now since she had agreed to take the knife and let him unload his worries.

He ran his thumbs in small circles lightly pressing her neck. "Will this help with the breakfast selection?" he asked trying not to think about the idea of massaging other areas of his new girlfriend. A couple of hours before she went off on an away mission was not the appropriate time as much as he wished it was.

"Or are you settling on porridge?" he asked finding a small knot in her shoulder muscle and working it gently.

True closed her eyes and sighed. She hadn't had a massage in ages, at least not from someone who had feelings for her. Suddenly he hit a tender spot and she jumped a bit. "Yeah, porridge it is. Maybe we should focus on breakfast after all. But thank you." She reached up and squeezed his arm.

"We could pick that up again when you get back?" Jon suggested sensing she had been enjoying it before he made her jump.

He walked over to the replicator. "Porridge with apples and dates and brown sugar. Enough for two," he told the replicator, "And English breakfast tea." Two bowls of thick porridge and a teapot and two mugs of tea appeared and he ferried them over to the table.

"Hmm . . . yeah, I guess we could." True said thinking about it and what barriers, if any, she still wanted to keep up. "Thank you," she smiled at him as he set breakfast down.

"No problem," he returned the smile sitting down opposite. "Enjoy breakfast. Its the last bit of time we will get together for a few days."

"Oh I'll be back before you know it. You won't even miss me, I'm sure." She was trying to lighten the mood, but knew that he would miss her. It was one of the enduring things about him, how excited he was about being with her. She'd never been with anyone like that before. "How long have you known Amelia?"

“About a day longer than I have known you,” Jon answered. “All my senior staff are new colleagues to me. Why?” He asked curiously taking a sip of tea.

"Oh you want me to analyze you?" True chuckled. "I think this applies to both of us," she said more quietly. "I think we've both been going through the motions of living without any real enthusiasm. We've been telling ourselves that we're fine and that if we just put on a brave face, things will be okay. Deep down we were really hurting and we weren't letting anyone else in on that. And then when we saw each other we both recognized what we were seeing. Kindred spirits? I can't explain all of our connection, I don't have the words."

"Well," Jon said thinking about that, "I agree with some of it but that's not the sole of our connection. You're beautiful, intelligent, kind, brave, funny and many other things that attract me to you and I must have some positive stuff you like about me." Jon tried the porridge. It was somewhat sweet for him.

He actually had another thought on what their "connection" could be. A betazoid connection. It did seem to happen more between two full Betazoids but there was examples of half Betazoids and other races having that connection. They wouldn't know really though until they took their relationship to a more physical level. He decided it was probably best not to comment on it as he didn't want True to feel pressured to take things faster in any way or freak her out with the idea of that. Him, it was slightly different. For a full human that level of intimacy was a big change.

True noticed that he didn't continue the train of thought. "Sure there is. I've never met anyone so open towards me. It's like you're determined to love me. Which is amazing in my opinion. You're a nerd when around me and it's adorable. But I would say the same things you said about me in addition to that." She took a few bites and watched him. "What is your theory then? About this connection between us?"

"Oh I think that Astraea is weaving her magic. Bringing us together," he said simply. Whether they were Imzadi or not True was the most wonderful thing to happen to him. One of the goddesses had to be part of it.

"Why do I feel like you're not being completely honest with me?" She was usually a pretty good judge of character and this was not the way he typically reacted. He seemed to enjoy explaining things to her when it came to their relationship.

"I thought I was the empath," Jon quipped. "Look I do believe Astraea is involved. She's the goddess of Relationships, romance … but … " he could sense she knew there was something more, "theres a thing … a connection with Betazeds. It might be that. It's rare that's all. What we have feels right. Amazing. Why keep trying to understand it? Lets enjoy it," he suggested.

She'd actually heard of something like this before but couldn't think of the word. And besides, she was Human so she didn't even think it applied to her. True smiled. "I like explaining things. That's one thing about my brain that never shuts off, it's curiosity." But she did let the subject drop.

"Well," Jon said shuffling his chair round so he was closer to her. "I will have to do more of this then," he kissed her gently at first and carefully cupped her cheek deepening the kiss. After a moment he pulled back again and smiled. "Give that beautiful brain of yours a chance for some down time on occasion. Although I do love your curiosity. Its endearing. I however .. am not a nerd," he said simply. "Can't have you flitting off to this market place with that idea in your head."

True giggled, "And was that kiss to distract my brain or to convince me you're not a nerd? Because you totally are. But I won't tell anyone. I'm very good at keeping secrets."

"Hush," Jon said jokingly making a shocked face at her. He thought about it for a moment remembering a quote.

"Actually its fine, as Posey said "“All the geniuses and greats are really just nerds with experience.” I can live with that."

She grinned. "Good, there are worse things to be called." True went back to eating but she was kind of marveling at how well they seemed to fit together and how much she liked him. "Would you ever get married again?" she suddenly said out of the blue.

"I wouldn't rule it out," Jon said after a moment. "My last marriage I was young and didn't get a lot of say in things. Eddie came along and I had to do right by my son, his mother, my mother and well ….. the house …. Betazoid society is fun. It kind of happened a little quick …. but we managed a decade and I have a wonderful son. It wasn't a perfect marriage but it doesn't put me off being someone's husband again. Assuming someone would have me of course."

"You're a starship captain plus because of your status on Betazed I'm sure there are a lot of women who would marry you. Would you like me to place a personal ad in the ships newsletter?" She was finding this way too amusing but was a tad surprised he hadn't balked more at the idea. She thought it would at least ruffle his feathers that she was asking this early.

"I wouldn't want anyone to want to marry me for those reasons," Jon said firmly. That one did hit a little nerve. Especially as he suspected his ex wife had liked the idea of the later more than him as a husband.

"I have tried to keep my status on Betazed out of my Starfleet career as much as possible so that people judge me on my own merits. Not because of my families status. If I get married again I want it to be because I found the one person I can imagine myself happy with for the rest of my life. And visa versa for her."

That sobered True up. "I know that." She reached for him. "I'm not even sure what made me ask, I guess I was curious, given what you'd already been through." She shrugged. "Forget I brought it up."

“Perhaps you asked because you want to get married one day and as fast as things seem to be happening with us, it makes sense to check that possibility is there,” Jon said. “Or you could be wasting a lot of energy, time and investment in me as a partner just to be let down. So let me reassure you, if that’s the case, we are on the same page if things get that serious between us,” he squeezed her hand.

He thought for a minute there could be another thing. He had asked how she felt about children in regards to his as they came with the package. True might want kids if things got to that level between them. Perhaps he needed to clarify a position there too. “I’m also open to more children if we did get that serious and at some point I was lucky enough to put a ring on your finger. If that’s what you wanted ......”

"Well . . ." True said, trying to come up with words that made sense in the moment. She was surprised that his words had not frightened her. "I appreciate your honesty and I've thought about having children with the right person so it's something to think about at some point in the future maybe. But we're not getting married at the moment," she grinned. "So I guess we can just go back to having fun and figuring things out between us."

“Sounds a good plan,” Jon agreed. His padd started buzzing, he looked at her apologetically. “But not now it seems. I have,” he picked it up and read the screen, “an incoming message from an admiral,” he said his face surprised. “Better get up to my ready room and not keep them waiting ehh.” He stuffed his padd in his pocket and placed his hands on her shoulders for a moment.

“Stay safe True. I am going to miss you,” he said honestly placing another kiss on her lips.

"I'll be fine, don't worry." True said, placing a hand on his cheek for a moment and then pulling back to let him leave. She finished up her breakfast and put the bowels back in the replicator. All she had left to do was change and make sure her appearance was presentable.

OFF:

Commander Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding officer
USS Andromeda

Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda