Leaver

Posted on 22 Oct 2023 @ 6:47pm by Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: R&R - Styx Outpost 2
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD3 14:00
1332 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

The next stop Cassie needed to make was the Captain. With the personnel shuffle the Captains... was girlfriend the right term... Had the pair even labelled what they had? Cassie wasn't sure. Still, she knew it would be having an impact on him as this would be the second time someone he cared for deeply had been reassigned or left abruptly.

The turbolift deposited her forward of the bridge, right next to the Captains ready room. She nodded greeting to the Command Officer before pressing the chime on the ready room door.

"Come," Jon said in the direction of the door. "Counselor," he nodded at Cassie as she entered. "What can I do for you?"

"Actually sir" she took a few steps into the room, allowing the door to close. "Its what I can do for you!"

"You have come to check I'm not a quivering mess because Harper left?" he asked.

Cassie crossed the room, stopping behind one of the chairs on her side of the desk, regarding the Captain with a quiet but analytic eye. He was tough and shielding himself from the realities of what had happened but for it to have happened a second time... It would be taking a toll on him.

"Harper and before that Commander Keading. Both have left with little to no notice and both you had a very close, personal relationship with... It’s bound to be hurtful and no man is an island sir. That's why I'm here!"

Jon looked at her holding her eyes for a moment then looked away. “Okay yes Counsellor,” he said after a further long quiet moment. “It stings somewhat. The worst part, both of them I thought it was forever. Marriage, well second marriage. Happy marriage and more kids.”

"And how did them leaving you make you feel... Not what you had hoped for in the future. I mean right here and now", she put a palm to her heart. "You have a tendancy to bottle things up here" she patted her chest gently above her heart "and you hold it here. Who though, can you talk to on the crew?"

"Well I talk to you and a punch bag lets me get any undercurrent feelings out along with my exercise," Jon said. "I've been through the divorce from hell Counsellor. I can navigate breaking up with a girlfriend. As I said it stings."

She wasn't a telepath, or even an Empath but she could sense he was closing down on her. Shutting out the unwanted emotions of anger, hurt, longing... A plethora of others one would expect to feel at some point or another given what had happened with Commander Keading, leaving the Captain with a son to care for on his own. Now the same had happened just as the man had started to feel settled again thankfully without any children this time.

She sighed, dropping her hands back into her lap as she regarded the man before her with a discerning eye. A deep probing stare as she took him in. He was strong and he was maintaining that stoney exterior, fending off how he felt but she wondered how long he could hold up under that pressure.

"Very well" she said, standing and turning for the door but stopped to look back at him before she left. "Please remember what I have said sir. I am here for you as much as you are here for me. I lost both of my closest friends with the recent departures so in many ways I know exactly what you are feeling".

"Okay counselor have it your way. Sit back down," he called after her.

"I feel betrayed. Like the rug has been pulled from under my feet. I had no idea any of it was coming. I feel like I will be judged unfairly by many and already have been. That people believe my life has a pattern and will try hit me with that. And worse how do I explain it to Eddie?" he said frustrated. "A second time."

"You tell him the truth" Cassie retorted without even thinking about her reply. "He needs to understand that the life you lead can bring with it a level of uncertainty, as can life in general. You can help protect him from that to a certain degree but at some point he needs to be introduced to the trials life can throw at you. It may be painful but it will shape him into the man he is supposed to be... Look at your life, your experiences. Did anyone shield you from them completely and did those same experiences shape you into the man you are today?"

"The man I am today. Divorced, two kids from 2 different mothers, two lovers upped and left me," Jon reeled off. "I do not want that reporter starting spinning that. Eddie, yes he will be okay I'm sure. But no matter what you always try shield your kids."

"You are only seeing the aspects that spin a negative connotation... What about this. You are a confident single parent, you have raised a wonderful young man who is intelligent, independent, resilient, charming and caring. You have instilled in him a sense of right and wrong as well as honour. He is evidently proud of you and what you have achieved. You have a strong bond with with him that is unshakable... Despite the negatives you still have so much more to be thankful for. He won't care about any of that, all he cares about is that you have been there for him through all of the turbulent times!"

Uttering the words made her swell with pride at both Jon, her Captain and she hoped friend and the young man he was raising.

Jon smiled sensing her emotions. It was nice to see he was valued as a Captain. "Thank you. Sometimes you need perspective. Its easy to wallow when your hurting. Harper and True. They clearly didn't love, trust and respect me as much as I loved them. I will move forward and eventually find someone who does. But your right I have an amazing son already. And daughter who I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know.

What about you Cassie. You know your husband wants eight kids right?" he teased. Ollie had never really said anything about kids until he suddenly was the dad of a goddess.

"Please don't tell me you've been reading my mind... I was planning to tell him tonight!" Cassie blurted out in a panic which gave way to embarrassment when she saw the Captains expression was one of being utterly dumbfounded and surprised. "You can't tell him... Please!"

“I can’t read your mind. Only half betaziod. empathic only …” Jon started then her words permeated his brain properly. “Wait, what … your? ….. pregnant?”

Cassie flushed, rosy cheeks as a beaming smile blossomed. "Doctor Syvar confirmed it this morning for me!"

"Well congratulations Counselor. How wonderful. Ollie will be over the moon. So does this mean I get a shot at godfather?" he asked.

"I'm sure you are in with a shout" she broke into a smile feeling as if she had in fact made a friend. Who would have guessed that the ships Counsellor and ships Captain, several ranks difference, could have entered this sort of professional and personal camaraderie.

"I had best leave you in peace... Think on what I said though."

"Aye I will," he nodded. "Okay off with you. Go make Oliver the happiest man in the universe twice over." He waved her out smiling. At least things were working out for other couples.

Then he smiled again as a communique came in. They had a new science chief impending. And he was joining them via a shuttle before they reached this new area of space.

Things were perhaps starting to look up!

OFF:

Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda

Lieutenant Cassandra Stevens-Higgins
Ships Counsellor
USS Andromeda