Suddenly alone
Posted on 17 Jul 2021 @ 1:28am by Lieutenant Jeremy Ezio & Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Mission:
Picking up the pieces
Location: Counselling offices
Timeline: MD1
1225 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure
OCC - Aftermath of losing True
ON:
"Well she moved out last night and left an hour ago," Jon admitted to the other man.
"Do you know why she left?" Jeremy settled in his chair, having opted to use his own office, rather than that of the now departed chief counselor. He had, however, not been told why she had left. She had not given the counseling staff a departing briefing of any sort. In fact, her departure probably made him the acting chief counselor and he wasn't quite certain if he was happy with that.
"Not entirely," Jon said honestly. "Starfleet command recalled her back. She didn't or couldn't say much and well she broke up with me on top of that. I know she meant it as a kindness. Long distance never works does it just look at my marriage. The affair ... but oh it hurts. I mean I really thought I was going to marry her."
The Trill hybrid nodded in understanding. "I do know how that feels sir," he acknowledged. Not just from personal experience but also from Ezio's past hosts. "Have you considered going back with her?" he ventured carefully, though he knew that he was pretty much married to his command, like a great majority of commanding officers really were.
"The problem is .. counselor I worked so hard to get to be a commanding officer and ive spent half of the year getting things in place to get my daughter and her mother moved to starbase 308. Im trying to connect and be there for a child I have only recently been made aware of. And there's Eddie to consider too. I've already moved him around enough. She didn't seem to want to fight for us or open up ground at that idea," Jon said honestly.
"I guess I'm too selfish to throw my whole career away and well hopefully a better father than I have been for trying to put my kids first," Jon said not entirely sure.
"There's nothing selfish about that, you worked hard to get where you are," Jeremy countered, "and you do what you can for your children. Trust me captain I know what it is like to be a single parent. You're right, children do deserve to not be hauled around like cargo all the time, you do what you can to provide stability." He paused. "Are you going to bring your daughter aboard? How old is she?"
"Shes a couple months older than Eddie. Its a ... erm a unique situation. Like I said she's not really aware of me and Eddie. I .... Counselor I'm no angel," Jon said honestly.
"I don't judge captain," Jeremy smiled, "and this conversation is confidential. Tell me about her mother, how did you meet?"
"She was my twins fiancé at the academy. Liam got sent on a job after graduation on a bird of prey. And we ... Charlotte and I got pregnant and everyone was pushing for a wedding. No heir to our house could be out of wedlock. There was so much pressure .... And Sydney was in a bad place missing him. We slipped. Terribly. Horribly. And she got pregnant too. But didn't tell me. She just upped and left," Jon said.
"Would you rather have known sooner? What would you have done differently if you had?"
"I can't tell you. Most likely panicked. I mean yes I would like to have known sooner. I feel like I have let her down. Her whole life not knowing I was out here wanting to love her as my daughter."
"But that isn't on you, that's on your daughter's mother. She chose not to let you know, so you did nothing wrong in that aspect. Yes you slipped that's on you but not knowing about your daughter isn't your fault. But you do have the opportunity of getting to know her now, don't you? Maybe reconnect with her mother?"
"I already did," Jon said. "I've helped Sydney get from her colony to 308. She's opening a shop and starting a new life there. We are going to meet up next time we have shore leave and plan explaining to her who I am."
"You have not yet met your daughter then?" Jeremy arched a single eyebrow at the man in surprise.
"No not yet. Sydney thinks we need to do that bombshell together. And there's Eddie also. He knows about her and he's really wanting to be involved," Jon said.
"Of course he does, he gets to be the protective younger brother," Jeremy smiled encouragingly, "how do you plan on meeting her? What are you planning to tell her on not having known about her before?"
"Well I think we will just go to the shop I'm helping fund for them and just be blunt and tell her "I'm her father." I suspect if she's has the same abilities as Eddie she will have a sense of something familiar. Maybe even ability to sense truth."
"If she's half Betazoid then it's very likely that she'll sense who you are even before you say a word. Not that I claim to know much about Betazoids... Sydney's Human right, not Betazoid?"
"Yes she is human," Jon nodded. "Eddie and his sister are both the same in terms of Betaziod ability but they are quarter betaziod. I hope that she can sense that."
"Genetics can vary in hereditary terms. Though technically only quarter that does not mean they did not inherit your empathic skill. My son is one quarter Romulan, yet his ears are as pointed as mine even if his spots are more pronounced than mine. And are family bonds usually not strong between Betazoid family members?"
"Yes they are and we hail from a very powerful telepath. My mother is quite frightening her ability," Jon stated.
"There you go, and if your telepathic sense is hereditary, there's no doubt she'll recognize you. And as I said, you not knowing isn't on you, that's on her mother for not telling you sooner."
"Well I just hope when it happens its not too awkward. I mean we will all feel it on more than one count," Jon said.
"Have a little faith captain, she is your child. And Sydney no doubt has told her all about you." Jeremy smiled encouragingly. "Are you going alone, or are you taking Eddie with you as well?"
"I doubt Eddie would ever forgive me if I didn't take him," Jon said simply.
"Do you need his forgiveness?" Jeremy asked seriously. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to test the waters on your own first."
"Actually I want to take Eddie. Hes been very mature about the whole situation," Jon said.
"It's your call to make captain, if you feel it's best to take him, you should. I can only advise you, and this is something I don't really have experience with."
"Me either. I'm sure it will work out though," Jon said simply. "Am I allowed to escape now Lieutenant?"
"You came here of your own volition sir, and without appointment." The hybrid counselor grinned openly. "Besides, I doubt there's anything to stop you even if I did want to keep you."
“Excellent,” Jon said rising. “Carry on counselor. See you next time.”
Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda
Lieutenant j.g. Jeremy Ezio
acting Chief Counselor
