Heart to Heart

Posted on Friday, 4 December 2020 - 12:33pm by Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros
Location: Jupiter Station: Medical Bay
Timeline: 2393 Before Haru Woke

ON:

Mac sat holding Haru's hand. It had been a rough night. Haru had been unsettled and he'd barley eaten and slept. He had been so sleep deprived and food deprived that he didn't hear the door open nor did he hear anyone walk in. It was when he felt a hand on his shoulder that he turned. "Sir!" he said, standing.

Talarn snorted. "Sit down, Lieutenant. Relax. You look like shit..." the Cardassian stated simply. "Did you sleep at all?" He grabbed a chair that was closer to the wall and returned, putting it down next to Mac and sitting in it, his gaze on Haru. "How's he doing?"

"No, to the sleep and he's... stable. They won't know if there is brain damage until he wakes up." He sighed. "They think he may have amnesia, but they are, at this point, guessing." He looked at Talarn. "I feel... helpless. It is not a feeling I am used to."

"Well, stable is good and honestly, the only thing you have to ask yourself is if there is brain damage will you still love and take care of him. Other than that, I'm afraid it is a waiting game. When are they going to transfer him to the ship?"

"I would love him no matter what." He paused. "They haven't said yet, but soon. They want him to wake up first." He paused again and then admitted something he'd never admit to anyone. "What if he wakes up and doesn't want me in his life anymore?"

Talarn frowned and tipped his head at the Capellan. "Why would that be the case? Were you broken up when..." Talarn realized that he didn't really know what had happened to Haru exactly. "... he was injured?" He also didn't always understand Human-like species. They could come up with the weirdest things to be paranoid about.

"He was on an away team and there was a mine collapse. He was injured and he worked to assist those trapped with him. When they got them out he collapsed." Mac adjusted the blanket around Haru. "He had a skull fracture. They fixed most of the injuries, but they can't tell what will happen and if he'll remember anything or if there will be damage or if he'll walk or talk... I mean for the love of the creator we're supposed to be advanced enough."

"Okay... but that doesn't answer my question. Were you broken up when it happened?" Talarn looked from Haru to Mac and then back again. "And the brain is a mysterious thing. No matter how smart we all seem to get, its secrets still evade us. Did you know it's one of the only organs that people have had to admit that they know less and less about? Rather than more and more..." He chuckled. "Everything will be as it is, Mac. I know you are worried, but try and concentrate on what's actually happening and not focus so much on what could happen. Things are as they are, right now and that is all they are. Be with him... the no matter what happens you at least know you were here."

"Good advice." He sighed. "We were not broken up. We had just... created what Vulcans call a mind link." He was glad Talarn was here. The Cardassian had a calming effect. "May I ask you something personal?"

Talarn looked over at Mac and smiled a little. He had no idea what he would do if he were in Mac's position and it was Barret laying in that bed. He would probably be doing what Mac was doing. Sitting by his side faithfully. "Of course, I'm not here on official matters. You are welcome to ask me anything you wish. I will try and answer truthfully and to the best of my abilities."

"How do you do it? When it comes to risk, I do not mind it for myself, but I am... finding it difficult to deal with Haru's risk." He paused. "How do you deal with the worry over your husband?"

Talarn shrugged. "I'm not sure I worry at all. Barret is a grown man. I would prefer he not get himself killed... but death is inevitable. It's something we all have in common. Some species live longer than others, but die... we all do. I did not enter into a relationship thinking that both of us would live forever. I cannot hold him back or keep him prisoner to keep him safe. It would be an unreasonable way to behave and decidedly unfair. It also would be grossly incorrect. Even if I did attempt to keep him safe, that does not mean he would be. Safety is an illusion. Anything could happen at any time. You could lock him in a tower and not let anyone near him and he would still die naturally. There is no avoiding it." He took a deep breath. "You can also spend too much time worrying over what might be and miss what is. Enjoy what time you have. Don't focus on what could happen. It's rather pointless."

He smiled slightly. "Are you sure you're not a counselor?"

Talarn laughed softly. "Yes, I'm quite sure. I think most Starfleet would run from me if I was their counselor. I'm apparently still a scary Borg." He grinned rather roguishly. "No matter the outcome here, Lieutenant, it will be alright. Sometimes, when in tough situations you have to change your ideas about what you're okay with. It's a matter of perspective. My Uncle said to me once, "even if you're going through something really horrible, you learn. Learning is the most important, even if you come out the other side of the horrible thing learning that you never wanted that horrible thing to happen to you again. At least you learned"." He snorted. "Then there's always that "hope" and "faith" thing... but I'm not really one for putting a lot of stock into that, as fascinating as it is."

He gave a nod. "Makes sense." He sighed. "I swore I would never be in love, look at me now. I believe the humans have a saying about best laid plans of mice and men."

Talarn laughed. "It's alright. I never thought I would be in love either. Didn't even consider it an option. For one, the Borg don't put a lot of stock in mating or desire... So, when I was no longer part of the collective I honestly didn't think those wants or needs, depending on your view, would ever come back to me and not to overshare, but I wasn't even sure those parts of me would still work. I was Borg for fifty years... I was pretty sure my flesh was no longer going to respond to romantic aspirations and yet... here I am, with Barret." He shrugged. "Life is surprising."

Mac smiled a little, his first smile since this all started. "Yes. It can be." He looked at Talarn. "Sir, a work question if I may?"

“Of course, ask me anything you like. I will answer if I can and if I can’t I will find out,” he responded with a chuckle.

He liked his new department head. Talarn had a way about him. "I've heard rumours of Anti Romulan sentiments rising on Earth. How secure is Jupiter station from all this?" He looked at Haru. "He's Vulcan in part but...I worry that the tide could swing that way."

They talked a while longer and Mac was grateful for the Cardassian's company. When Talarn left Mac felt better then he had in days. He took Haru's hand. "You must come back to me." He whispered as he bent and kissed Haru's forehead.

OFF: