More Than Exposed

Posted on 20 Jan 2023 @ 4:14pm by Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Lieutenant JG Oliver Stevens

Mission: Through the looking glass
Location: USS Andromeda - Counsellor's Quarters
Timeline: After away teams return to the ship
1358 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

It had been a day to say the least. Cassie was aching from head to foot, bruised from her tussle with one of the Mirror Haistro Brothers, something many a person in her home universe would be more than happy about, sadly this one had been less than fun. Her neck was obviously bruised and she had every intention of heading to sickbay to have them looked at. For the moment though she just wanted to get out of this collection of barley modesty cover belts she was wearing, slide into a hot bath for a soak and then get some sleep.

As soon as the doors to her quarters had closed she had started to pull of the ridiculous heels she had been wearing, discarding the shoes by the sofa as she reached the decanter on the sideboard. It wasn't often she partook but she felt a real whiskey could really help at the moment. She was pouring into a tumble, rubbing the back of her neck trying to work a knot out when the door chimed.

"Come in!"

Ollie was in and kissing her within seconds. The door had barely closed. "I was so worried," he said coming up for air. "And Im so glad your home again."

She had returned the kiss hungrily but at the same time her ribs were sore from the scuffle, not to mention the bruising on her neck.

"I'm fine I promise... Just a little knocked about is all"

She continued to disrobe, finally wearing nothing more than the ridiculous costume that had been under the long coat. A simple assemblage of straps designed to show of her curves and physical form leaving little to the imagination. She wanted nothing more than to be out of it and back into a duty unform.

"What did we miss on the ship?"

"Everyone's been bored stupid as we had nothing to do but wait and then worried as we had no news," Oliver said walking round her and giving her a once over. He wasn't sure if he should be aroused or incensed. Or was he allowed to be both?

Incensed won out when he laid eyes on her bruising. "What happened?" he asked trying as gently as he could to start undoing straps. "Lets get you out of .... this .... Is it a dress?"

"Its an overly elaborate belt... I had a run in with a burly Betazoid assassin... I won!" wincing as she spoke from the bruised ribs but enjoying Oliver's gentle touch for the first time in what seemed far to long.

"I hope it wasn't Jon or his brother," Oliver said working as quickly as he could to undo all the straps so she could step out of the "belt." He spotted the poured whiskey and knowing she rarely drank didn't need to do any math. He passed it to her letting her step out of the "clothing" and went to throw it to be absorbed in the replicator.

Then he replicated her a soft dressing gown and held it open for her. "We should get you to sick bay you know." A thought then flashed through his head. He had to tell her about Xu.

"I plan on stopping by sickbay but I'm going to be needed on the bridge first... You know what these Starship Captains are like. Needy, pushy and utterly lost without a therapist on hand" she chuckled and instantly regretted it as her ribs started to ache. She did notice his hesitation though. The briefest of moments, something in his eyes telling her he was contemplating something and that she likely wouldn't like it.

"Spit it out!" she said as she stepped into the gown and pulled it around herself before collecting her whisky from the sideboard and gently padding across her quarters so she could sit down on one of the over stuffed sofa's.

"I know the ships Captain very well. Hes lost without even coffee some days .... yes okay," he took a seat next to her. "Xu came out of her coma."

"Oh!"

She brought her legs from the sofa so she was sitting on the edge instead, placing the tumbler down on the glass table top infront of her. She was looking directly at Oliver, trying to read him. He had been in love with Xu, deeply in love just as she was deeply in love with him now. She knew this would be an impossible situation for him and she felt more than a little guilty that she had presented herself in such a provocative manner only minutes before.

"How does that make you feel?"

"I feel bad but I moved on. She doesn't remember anything either, so I feel horrible for her. Loosing all her memories and I want to help her the best I can but .... truthfully I'm scared your going to run or end things," he looked at her seriously.

"Or worse agree with the docs suggestion of both of you being with me which is far too weird an idea. It might work for Caitians perhaps but Im a one woman guy ...." He pulled her hands in his. "I love you Cassie. I want this to continue."

Internally she couldn't help but allowing a sigh of relief but as Ships Counsellor she also had to consider his feelings and what he may really need to allow his own healing to really happen.

"I'm always going to be here for you Ollie" she squeezed his hand a little. "But if you need time to come to terms with this then I would understand and support you. Xu is going to need someone familiar to help her adjust and" as much as it pained her to say it, "It could mean that you two rekindle what you once felt for each other. You are the parents of a Goddess after all!"

"I think if that was the path meant to happen, you wouldn't have shown up in my life and this developed in the first place. Yes I have a goddess daughter ..." he said pausing for a moment. It never got any easier or made any more sense that fact.

"But if I was meant to be with Xu still I think she would likely have popped back and had words you know. Considering what we have been doing ... oh and thanks for on the bridge earlier ............." he joked. He swallowed serious again going by her face, "Well she's a goddess. She's going to know and intervene if its not meant too be isn't she? What I know of goddesses and daughters ..... daughters don't exactly hold back with their opinions ....

Cassie - I didn't feel those feelings. Not anymore. Those feelings are for you. And there stronger. For you. Don't go all counselor on me, and do the right thing up here," he touched her forehead gently. "Go from here," he then touched her heart, "Don't say your always going to be here for me and I could rekindle things. I don't want that. Say you're with me. This, us. You are still half of that right?"

"Of course I am with you... Always!" she was moving towards him before she realised she was even in motion. Pushing him down into a chair so she could then sit in his lap and kissing him. Pouring her emotions into the one kiss. If anything she wanted to stay right here with him, curled up on the sofa enjoying each others company but she knew she couldn't. The situation was still tense and she had to make a move for the bridge.

"I have to get to the bridge... Once this situation is resolved how about dinner here in my quarters?" already moving towards the bedroom to collect a uniform.

He got up and followed her to the door nodded. "Don't let him be too needy or pushy," he said placing a last kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you later. I really am glad to have you back,"

END

Lieutenant Oliver Stevens
Transporter Chief - USS Andromeda
PNPC - Reynolds

Lieutenant JG Cassandra Higgins
Ships Counsellor
USS Andromeda