Visiting Hours

Posted on 26 Oct 2020 @ 6:19pm by Lieutenant Xu Chang Lau & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari

Mission: R&R - after facing the Planet Killer
Location: Aidan and Emme's quarters
1010 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Today had been a quiet day with only checking on some experiments and making sure the leave rotation was available for those who wanted to visit the station. This meant that Aidan was home early, only to find Emme sound asleep. The Trill smiled, knowing she needed her rest. "Shh," he told Sherlock, who lifted his head up from the pillow where he lay coiled up and no doubt keeping faithful watch. "Go back to sleep."

He walked into the adjacent room, scooped up the cooing infant in the crib and cradled her to his chest. "Let's get you bathed and fed shall we," he murmured.

Xu had been busy with her studies but was aware she needed to come up for air. Her first instinct was to call Oliver and see if he was free but she realised he was on shift for the next couple of hours. Hawkins would be equally as snowed under with the same studies for the same examination she had on the cards. The only other person on the ship she could call friend at the moment was her superior officer, or the person who had been her superior officer before the Captain gave her the opportunity to progress. She hoped he wouldn't mind an unexpected visit especially as she had just pressed the chime on his door.

"Come in!" Aidan was trying to bathe his little girl, who seemed to be having so much fun splashing water everywhere. He grunted as a splash of soapy water caught him right in the eyes, earning him a teasing warble from his pet. "Yeah yeah, you try doing this....." He lifted the baby from the water and wrapped her in a towel so he could see who had come in.

"Ah... Lieutenant Lau." The Trill smiled, "what brings you here?"

"I needed a break from my studies and you are one of only three people I have really gotten to know on the ship... If now is inconvenient I can come back another time?"
She smiled apologetically noticing the infant wrapped in a towel looking over joyed with herself for some minor triumph she had landed against her father.

"Oh no, now's as good a time as any. I was just trying to bathe Saeri but I think she had more of a mind that I might need one instead?" He shifted the infant over to one arm and beckoned to the woman to come in. "So a break huh?"

Xu smiled as the infant and returned the half wave she offered in kind.
"Yes, my head is swimming with tec manuals, away team protocol, command strategy, tactical considerations... I'm starting to think leaving the science division may not have been the best idea for me!"
She followed Datari further into his quarters, stopping to lean on the door frame.

"Oh I know how you feel," Aidan smiled, "I'm a linguist by trade, and I've dabbled in intelligence as well. I don't think I'm the right person for chief of science either. A lot of talk is mighty alien to me, but I've learned to treat anything I don't understand as just another language to learn."

"My primary field is forensic anthropology, and like you I'm a linguist... it helps in the Anthropology gig. I could easily have been moved to medical, its as much medicine as science but to switch from a science field to a systems engineer... Its one hell of a leap!"
She fixed him with an intense gaze, almost pleading with him to help her figure it out but even she knew it would be way off base for him as well.
"I just hope I can do the Captain proud!"

"Of course you will," Aidan reassured her as he handed her the baby. "Here can you hold her for a minute while I get something dry?" He cast her an apologetic smile. "I'm sure you'll do great in OPS," he promised, "you're very intelligent, and I'm very sure you'll excell."

Xu shifted the toddler so she was sitting comfortably on her hip supported by her right hand leaving her left free to entertain the child with a toy she scooped up from the table near by.
"I hope so. In truth I just need a way to blow off some steam, force myself to forget about things for a time and help me relax!"

"Didn't you have this uhm.. exercise with a fan?" Aidan asked curiously. "Want to test them against my ushaan, or my sword?" He nodded towards the weapons that were displayed against one of the walls.

"I haven't even unpacked my Tessen yet but, a good sparring match could be just what I need!"
Xu turned her attention to the infant resting on her hip and with a big smile asked her "What do you think little one?"

The baby just waved a single fist around, seemingly unimpressed by any words.

"Well, let me make arrangements for her and we'll have a go," Aidan said, "I'd rather not take her to the gym, if you know what I mean?

"Completely understand. I should run back to my quarters and change into something more suitable for a workout!"
She shifted herself so she could easily hand the bundle of energy back to her father. "And find my Tessen!"

"Holodeck or gym?" Aidan asked as he cradled the baby to his chest, realising that in all the excitement, he still hadn't gotten changed.

"I'm happy with either. The gym may be less private so we may attract a bit of an audience!"
Her mind racing, trying to figure out where she had put her gym gear. Maybe it would be easier to just replicate something new.

"So we'll have a small audience," the Trill smiled, "and a good work out. I'll meet you in the gym in half an hour, is that good for you? Or do you need more time?"

"Half an hour will do fine. See you shortly", she remarked as she made a beeline for the door.