Nobody shoots Soral but me...

Posted on Friday, 18 December 2020 - 3:28pm by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros
Location: Jupiter Station | Medical Bay
Timeline: 2393, MD4

ON:

The first chance she had, Lieutenant Kingsley had made a detour. Entering Sickbay she quickly found her husband, although at first she was sure he was asleep and turned to leave.

Soral turned his head at the hiss of the door. "Alex?"

She stopped in mid stride. Taking a deep breath she turned back to face him, uncertain of herself now she was actually here. Perhaps he had not wanted her here at all. Was that why nobody had tracked her down? While she had not been in her quarters she had been on the ship. She could have been here. Should have been.

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I can come back...”

At that the door behind her opened. "Commander Soral, it is agreeable to see you are awake," Lt. JG T'Paris offered as she slipped into the room, carrying a small wooden box. Without another word she placed it on the small table at Soral's side, her gaze now fixed on the science officer as she added, "Lieutenant. Apologies, I did not know you intended to visit or I would have waited. The Vulcan Healers have recommended some rest and some meditations. I brought some of the candles from the shrine in my home village, Commander, which I trust will aide you.

Nevertheless," the tactical officer added, her eyes cold as the fixed on Alex, "you must avoid stress. But if you will both excuse me, it has been a long night. I should retire before my shift. Myself and Petty Officer Grol were, as he called it, 'keeping watch' over you until the doctors were confident you were out of danger."

Alex could have murdered her. Instead she offered a smile and an overly sweet, "very kind of you both."

Soral's brow furrowed in confusion. Had Alex not wanted to be there with him....he'd asked T'Paris to personally track down Alex. He watched her go then turned to Alex. "I was not certain you wished to come." He said when they were alone.

"I didn't know there was anywhere to come, until our acting Captain told me," Alex replied, remaining by the door. "And then I figured maybe you just didn't want me to know and to stay away..."

Stay away? "I asked Grol to find you. He said you were not in our quarters on your return. He stayed with me during surgery and we asked T'Paris to find you. She came back after and told Grol that you were occupied. Did not think you wished to come."

“Neither looked very hard,” she quipped before she frowned. “Why would I not come? Soral you were shot! Of course I would have been here. Nobody shoots you but me. And Mac, if I let him.”

He raised an eyebrow. "You wish to shoot me?"

“It had crossed my mind,” she muttered drily. “But no, of course not.”

She had still not fully come into the room. The doors parted again and a tall Vulcan walked in carrying a sleeping baby. "My apologies. I can come back."

Alex shook her head as she stepped aside, something about the man striking her. It was the way he stood, she realised. A way she had seen Soral do, as if using willpower alone to stay in one piece. As if one slip would shatter him. Her gaze shifted to the tiny newborn in his hands, looking so impossibly small.

"Nonetheless I shall not stay long. I just wished to thank the commander for his assistance." He walked over to Soral. "My daughter and I are well because of you. I am in your debt."

"You are not. I am thankful I was there. Your wife?"

There was a pause. "The injuries they inflicted were too severe."

Soral sighed. "I grieve with thee."

He gave a nod.

Soral studied the child. She had been delivered prematurely. "Have you named her?"

The man shook his head. "No. That is why I am here. As the man who saved our lives I wish to invoke a Vulcan custom of naming." He handed the child to Soral who held her with the utmost care. He was rendered speechless a moment "Seleya. After mount Seleya."

The man nodded. "Seleya." He took he child back and turned to Alex. "Again my apologies for interrupting."

"No apologies needed," she said quickly. "My condolences for the loss of your wife."

He gave a nod and left. Soral sighed and leaned back closing his eyes. "Where are we Alexandra?"

"In a medical bay," she pointed out, although she knew that was not what he meant. "Do you remember, that first day, in the holodeck? At the forge?"

"I do." He said. "It is the day that I knew I loved you."

A smile played at her lips. "You said it was... unwise. For us to be together," she reminded him as she moved closer to the bed, for one thing to try and gauge for herself how truly hurt he was. "You asked me if our difference in rank bothered me. Or our age gap. You made me this..."

She reached under her uniform to fish out the necklace and, dangling from it, the star pendent. "Lets be honest, any skill involved in making it was all you. I was probably a liability just being there," she admitted with a rueful smile. She unclipped it and silencing him with a look, she leaned over him to fix it around his neck. "To keep safe until you come home."

"I don't want to fight, Soral. What you did, what you kept from me," she whispered as she sat carefully on the edge of the bed. "It hurt. And the only reason it hurt so much, I think, is because I love you. Mac thinks I should make you take some sort of vow or something but I wont do that. The vows we made to each other should be enough. I need you not just love me, but respect me. To trust me. And for us to make crazy big decisions together."

"I agree to that." He took her hand. "I wish you to know I did not do this to hurt you. I did it to protect you, well the keeping my medical condition from you. The wanting a child...I have never wanted children, to be honest. Then I had two and I love them more then my life. I wish us to have a child. But when you are ready." He sighed. "I guess the reason I did this was that I never believed that I deserved you and if you left ..." He shook his head. "I am sorry I kept this from you. I am sorry I did not consult you. Seeing what he lost..." He gestured to the man that had left. "I must change and while you did not ask it I give you my vow to he honest no matter what. A vow of absolute candor."

"I would propose an experiment," she began after a long silence, glancing down at their intertwined fingers, "but that day in the holodeck I recall it failing. Twice. And you have been in surgery and had cardiac episodes..."

"What experiment?"

“First, we need to work on this. On us. One day, we will have so many children, I promise. Just ... not today. We need to find us first. Second, when you are better you are taking me to dinner, with so much chocolate desert.”

"Agreed," He said.

“In that case,” she paused before leaning in and kissing him.

His heart soared. They would have another chance. "Things will be better, I will be better." He said leaning his forehead against hers.

“Seems your heart rate is getting a little out of control,” Alex teased. “Careful, or I’ll be kicked out of here.”

He wrapped his arm around her. "I do not wish you to go anywhere."

"Well, this bed is not big enough for two," she reminded him as she rested her head on his chest. "Soral... you could have been killed."

"They were in danger...and I failed still. His wife should have been alive. If I had been faster, left the tactical office sooner."

"Of course you didn't fail," she assured him, kissing him softly. "What those animals did was ... horrific. Her child survived because you helped."

"When they pushed her, she fell. I saw her head...it hit the bulkhead. I ran but I couldn't get there. By the time I laid them out she was in labour." He sighed. "I called for medical but.." Clearly the incident was traumatic, it had left its mark.

"You did everything you could," she whispered, her hand resting on his cheek.

"Medical was delayed." He shook his head. He'd delivered the child himself. He'd kept her conscious and she'd pushed and pushed and medical arrived just as the baby was delivered. "They transported her right away..."

Alex rested her head on his forehead, wishing she could take the pain away from him. ~Oh, Soral...~

"Still, the child is well and her husband survived. That is something to be thankful for." He sighed. "You do realize what his allowing me to name the child means on Vulcan right?"

"No," she admitted.

"She is the equivalent of a god-daughter to us." He sighed "I now have two god-children."

"Guess it is a good thing you have a castle back home," she quipped.

He cupped her face and kissed her gently. "I hear you met the mother of my god-son."

"Oh," Alex said slowly. "So that's why she calls you Sorki?"

"Yes...there is a story behind that. She loves telling it."

"Actually, it reminds me. Of something else I need," Alex said quietly.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Our Intelligence Officer is in the Brig," Alex admitted. "Some things were said, its a whole big misunderstanding and clash of personalities... but still, right now she's in the Brig until you or Commander Stillwater deal with her. And I want to go get her out of the Brig. Like now. We need her to help us find whoever is behind all of this. And it would be easier to get her out of the Brig with your permission."

"That depends. I take it Ella sent her there?"

“Yes...” She admitted.

"What are the charges?"

“Something about insubordination? She was just... being herself. She just could have maybe worded it better...”

Soral scrubbed his hand down his face. "That is a bit more difficult." He sighed. "Alright. I'll contact Ella to find out what happened and what was said. We shall go from there. Ella rarely disciplines people when she does she does it for serious reasons so if she's done this then it is with good reason. I will contact her right away."

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

He held her hand and was just about to say something when the door parted and the very subject of there conversation walked in. "Sorki! I am honoured that went the read headed route." She grinned.

Soral supressed a groan. "Hello Ella."

With her back to her, Alex rolled her eyes. “I’ll let you two speak, then rest.”

"No don't worry just dropping off the report. You," She pointed to Soral. "Come and see your Godson when you're out of here." She dropped the PaDD.

Alex winced as the PaDD dropped with a thud.

She bent and picked it up. "Sorry." She walked over handing it to Soral. "I've been on edge since this started. Starfleet...is not what it once was. That's why this will be my last two weeks. I've handed in my resignation."

Soral raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Tarok and I move to Vulcan. He's about as traditional as you so he can't wait to resume life on Vulcan."

Soral gave a nod. "Indeed. You must take Jonathan to meet Severine and Soval, they are similar in age."

She smiled. "I will. Stop by when your better and watch your crew. I wrote it all there if it was anyone but me your PO's outburst would have finished you and Stillwater."

He sighed. "Indeed. I will review this and have a talk with her. My deep apologies for her outburst. I take the fault as I should have taken more time to instruct her in proper procedure."

Ella gave a nod and then said bye to Alex and left.

Soral sighed and leaned back. "I guess I am leaving the bay early." He shook his head. "No rest for the wicked."

Having stayed silent during the brief silence, Alex fixed him with a look. "Absolutely not, not until the doctors clear you," she insisted. "Soral, you cannot keep pushing yourself like this. Eventually it will break you if you don't allow yourself time to heal. For once, please, do what the doctors order you to do. If something needs done on the ship, just tell me and I'll make sure it is done."

He studied her. "You speak with wisdom." He sighed. "You also bring up another point."

"I did?"

"Since you are back, and are second officer, Demi can be on her way. The ship is now yours."

"I walked into that one, didn't I?" she said with a rueful smile. "In that case, I order you to rest."

"Indeed." He paused. "Since you are in command I will let you make a decision as to keep Adrianna in the brig or not but the charges will stand and she will need to see me and Stillwater."

“Agreed,” Alex nodded. “Now, will you please rest? We can talk when you feel better.”

As she spoke she stood, fussing over the bedsheets just to feel like she could do something productive. “I will check in on Mac and Haru too,” she added, at least I imagine that’s where Mac will be. Although maybe it’s not a good idea. I fear I made it worse being there before.”

She shook off the memory of what Haru had seen, her father giving up his own chance at survival to save someone else. It was so him. And yet she couldn’t help but think... had he thought of them at all? What losing him would do? She took a deep breath, turning and cursing as her arm knocked something off the edge of the bedside table. She saw a glimpse of wrapping paper, remembering the captain had mentioned a wedding gift.

She grabbed for it, yet gravity was not on her side and it slipped through her fingers on a one way trip to the deck. “Please don’t be fragile...” she whispered in a sort of prayer as she waited for the thud and sound of something breaking. Neither sound came and after a long second she realised something was in her hand. She peered down and found the small box was in her grasp.

She almost threw it back down on the table, as if holding it burned her to the core just touching it.

Soral looked at Alex. "Alexandra?"

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “I thought I dropped it but maybe I’m just tired. It was right in my hand...”

He grasped her hand and pulled her down to sit by him. "Alexandra, what is wrong?"

She curled up against him, closing her eyes as she fought back the raging headache. She could hear the steady beating of his heart and it was like a soothing balm, lulling her towards sleep. “I thought it fell, the present... but it couldn’t have.”

His arms tightened around her. "It's alright." He held onto her for the first time worried. She'd been pulled into a mind meld...she'd told him that much but there was more to it.

She smiled, grateful for him being there. “Just tiredness,” she reasoned. “Maybe when this mess is fixed we can have a day or two on a beach. Just us.”

"I will like that." He paused. "When you are ready I trust you will tell me what is troubling you. Please know that I am there for you." He kissed her head. "Oh.... your mother may call."

“My mother? Why?” She grabbed the distraction his comment offered.

"I....purchased a pet for the children. It would have arrived from Earth by the time that they return."

“Oh.” It didn’t sound too terrible a thing. “As long as it wasn’t a cat. She’s terrified of them... Did you know Haru was serving on Utopia Planitia when it happened? The Synths.”

"It is not a cat." He was glad she'd changed the subject because when he told her what it was... "I was not aware....Your father was there."

“Haru’s memory or whatever that was... he was there as it fell. He helped get people to escape pods, he went back to try and save my dad...” she fell silent for a long moment. “They had one space left. I don’t know if my dad stunned him or his injury made him black out but suddenly Haru was sealed in the pod. My dad stayed behind so that he could take the last chance to escape. He had a chance to live and he sealed the door. And I guess I just... I’m proud of him for it and angry at him... and then we had that fight and ...”

She broke off, burying her face in his chest.

He held her. "Alexandra..I am sorry. I can understand how you feel but your father knew that you loved him. I know that he did." He paused. "Alexandra, I believe that the moment of choosing to stay must have been very difficult for your father."

She was quiet. He had been brave and selfless. And had broken her heart and that of her mother...

“I know.”

"He was selfless. He was in an impossible spot but he loved you. Never doubt that." He held her tight wanting more then ever to give her the comfort of his mind. To show her how much he loved her and how much he wanted to wipe her tears away.

Curled up beside him, Alex closed her eyes, her hand resting on his chest. The feeling that washed over her was so comforting she clung to it, because she knew it. It was both alien and familiar. “Soral?” His name was a whisper, as if she was afraid any noise might destroy whatever she was feeling ...

For a moment he could feel a grief wash over him and then a wonder as if their minds, for just an instant, touched. A word floated through his mind. ~Alexandra~ the one word that had pulled him from eternal darkness many times.

She stilled, her breath catching. She tried to focus on it, yet it seemed intangible, slipping from her grasp. It hurt, yet she wanted to keep it, the brief brush of contact.

“Soral... how?”

He looked as surprised as she did. "I...do not know." There was a pause. "It was as if ... the bond was back a moment." Now that it was gone he had the mother of all headaches.

She shook her head as she sat up slowly, feeling a wave of sickness, “how is that even possible...”

"Your mind is healing. What remains of our bond is still there. A strand, but still here." He sat up with her steading her. Before he could say anything further the door parted.

"There will be none of that!"

As he held Alex's gaze he sneered, "Hello Nurse Ratchet."

"That was soo funny when you Capellan friend said it and it's so funny now." She rolled her eyes.

She had a million questions, a headache worse than the aftermath of the grappa and a lot to do. Taking a deep breath she slid down from the bed, keeping hold of his hand. “How is he doing?” She asked, hoping to send the conversation down a different path. “Besides being a stubborn patient.”

"He should be out in a day, if he follows orders." She smiled at Alex. "Everything went well in surgery and he's been recovering quickly. The Vulcan doctors have been in and they say that a few more hours in that healing coma thing they do and he'll be right as rain." She none too gently administered a hypo.

"Your bedside manner leaves much to be desired."

She hypoed him again and he winced. "A vitamin ... or something to knock you out. We'll see in a few minutes. With that she was gone.

"She is a menace."

“Yes, well, you need someone to make sure you behave,” Alex pointed out, noticing his eyes beginning to close. She leaned in and kissed his forehead, “sleep.”

"Alex...the pet..."

“Yes?”

"It's... a little big. I got them...a llama." He said as he fell asleep.

"A what?!" Alex groaned, she was never going to hear the end of it from her mother, she was sure. Yet for now Soral was well and truly asleep. She watched over him for a few minutes before kissing his forehead and heading out of sickbay. Despite it all, they still had a mission and first thing on her agenda was a jail break.


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