Checking up on a friend

Posted on Monday, 12 April 2021 - 5:04pm by Lieutenant Haru Hernandez & Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Peace or P'Jem
Location: Personal Quarters | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394

ON:

Haru sat on the sofa reading his favourite Manga. He was home for a couple of days to recover and Mac was working a double shift to cover his and he was upset about that. Mac was exhausted. When he'd come home they'd talked things out and had reached a good place. He didn't want to admit it but he needed Mac with him now but duty came first. They both knew that.

He turned the page and then went back realizing he'd not remembered what he'd read. It was as if he was reading blindly because he was worried at how angry Mac was at Vali. He'd never seen him like this.

Not far away, Lieutenant Kingsley stood in the middle of Lieutenant Vali's quarters, cradling a sleeping Jayce in her arms as she attempted to coax his mother into crossing the threshold. Technically she was attempting to coax her into crossing a particular threshold, although she could understand the psychologist's reluctance. Not only was she grieving but she was no doubt still very much thinking of Mac's reaction to recent events.

"Mac is on a double shift, he wont be there and one way to help rebuild relationships with the crew is to be out there. Haru can get through to Mac in ways nobody else can, if he accepts your apology, can see that this whole incident was driven by grief... believe me, Haru knows what it is like to be in that kind of pain. I can't make promises but there is a fair to high chance he will hear you out and not just throw us out. And the sooner you speak to people, start being out there, the less time you are sitting in here imagining the worse case scenario."

T’Lanna was hovering mid living room, she wanted to apologise to Haru but she was imagining the worst especially after what she’d done. Perhaps she was paranoid, she wasn’t used to long periods without her senses. “Alex I ...” She was about to make another set of excuses before stopping herself. “Alright I’ll do it! Now ... before I change my mind.”

“Perfect,” Alex grinned. “Can I carry Jayce?”

T’Lanna nodded. “Sure. It looks like you’re enjoying having cuddles.”

“Just enjoying the novelty,” Alex admitted as they headed for the door. “Which must sound weird when we now have four children...”

The walk was short and thankfully T’Lanna didn’t have cold feet. Pressing the door chime, Alex flashed her a reassuring smile just as the doors opened. “Haru,” Alex began as she stepped inside, offering him a bright smile. “I brought visitors. Jayce heard the cool kids came here, but he’s a baby an easily confused. He wanted to visit anyway, and his mum. If that is okay? We won’t stay long, promise.”

T’Lanna hovered behind Alex, not wanting to cross too far over the threshold before Haru accepted her presence.

Haru smiled. "Of course. Come in. Please help yourselves to the replicator. Stay as long as you like." He studied the baby. "Are you practicing for number five?"

Alex stuck her tongue out at him, “Jayce this is Haru. He likes to think he’s funny but we know the truth, don’t we?”

Haru laughed. He noted T'Lanna staying back. "Why are you hanging back so much?"

T’Lanna looked at Haru in surprise. “I ... wasn’t sure if you’d appreciate my being here” She stepped forward and offered a brief smile. “I am so sorry Haru! I never meant to hurt you! I never meant to hurt anyone.”

He waved his hand. "Of course not. You're Vulcan and Betazoid it's probably an ability you did not know you had. Please have a seat and relax. This is not your fault. How are you doing...I understand your father passed away."

Alex flashed Haru a grateful smile as she walked a little way to the side. It was important for her two friends to talk.

T’Lanna sat wiping away a few emotional tears at Haru’s acceptance of her. “He was aboard his ship when Andorians attacked.” She paused. “I just ... exploded. I’ve always been so controlled, I’ve never lost it like that before.” She looked towards Alex and Jayce. “I dread to think what kind of damage I could have done to my son.”

He waved a hand. "None. Mother's instinct. Trust me it's the Vulcan side of you even in a rage or pain your instinct is to protect him." He smiled. "Now go get something to drink and relax. I'm not Mac." He sighed. "I should apologize for him."

“Mac can man up and apologise himself,” Alex quipped.

“Mac isnit going to forgive me anytime soon, if ever” T’Lanna sighed. “I may not have my senses but I know rage when I see it, that kind of rage doesn’t give way quickly.”

Haru sighed. "I'm afraid your right. He's...not himself. I'm afraid that's partially my fault. He tries to help but there are times I just push him away. I'll talk to him."

“And I can slap him round the back of the head,” Alex offered as she made faces at Jayce.

Haru studied her. "You look good with a baby Alex. Are you trying to tell us something?"

“No,” she said with a finality that made it clear she not going down that topic of conversation.

Haru grinned. "You are touchy today."

“What can I say, you have this affect on women...”

Haru laughed. He always seemed to be in good spirits when Alex was around. "Miss Vali you are too quiet. Join us in the fun."

“I’m sorry Haru” T’Lanna offered an apologetic glance. “You know he’s right Alex” She offered the first smile she’d smiled since recent events as she looked at Alex. “You’re a natural mother.”

Haru laughed. "Counselor you are a brave woman to say that while not standing behind a forcefield."

T’Lanna grinned, it felt good to smile again after everything that had happened. “I’m just being honest.”

Haru smiled. "How has it been having the little one home?"

“Wonderful” T’Lanna smiled a warmer smile as she looked at Jayce. “I missed him so much when he was in Sickbay all that time, I couldn’t sleep properly without him. Now he’s home I feel more complete.”

"Good. I'm glad he is doing well. He seems to be growing." He looked at T'Lanna. "May I hold him?"

“Of course!” T’Lanna nodded. “He’s very good, he doesn’t usually cry.”

Alex walked back towards them, leaning over to carefully place Jayce in Haru’s arms.

Haru smiled. "Well hello!" He grinned. "He is a very handsome child. He will grow to be strong. I can sense he has telepathic abilities."

“He’s not old enough to have developed them yet” T’Lanna looked at Haru curiously. “How are you picking up on that when I haven’t? Or did my cry have an effect on Jayce too?”

"It may have awakened his senses a little."

The door slid open. Mac had been sent home early since he was to leave on this mission soon. He stopped as his eyes locked on Haru holding the child. He felt something in his heart that he didn't want to name. Then he noticed Alex. "Another child? How are you doing this?" He smiled as he entered deeper and then he noted a third guest and froze.

“I’m collecting a football team,” Alex informed Mac, more to take away the awkward and sudden silence. “Haru and T’Lanna have been talking and someone had to steal cuddles. But Haru got jealous.”

T'Lanna immediately froze, she didn't want to see the look on Mac's face at her presence in the room.

Haru saw the lightening in Mac's eyes.

"What is she doing here? She could have killed you!"

Haru sighed. "Enough! It was not her fault. Come sit with us."

T'Lanna, looked to Haru, "Perhaps I should be going, let the two of you have your space."

“Mac?” Alex fixed him with a questioning look. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand his anger, yet this was a small ship and crew. They needed to have each other’s backs. Would the fact Haru had forgiven her, sway Mac’s feelings. She honestly did not know.

Haru sighed. "No, you can't go. We just started our visit. Maximus come in here and sit down."

Mac balled his hands into fists. "I have to be back at work I just came to check on you." It was a lie. He didn't understand how Haru could forgive her this easily. He turned and left.

Haru sighed. "T'Lanna I'm really sorry I don't know what he's thinking."

“He’s thinking he’d like to see me pummelled into little bits” T’Lanna sighed. “I’m getting used to reading body language instead of emotions. Those fists of his were balled so tight he’ll probably go smack something else now instead.”

“He just needs time,” Alex told her.

“I know” T’Lanna nodded. “I’m sorry! I’m being exceedingly negative, and I know that’s not how my father would want me to behave. He’d want me to be strong.” She looked towards Jayce. “I have to be strong for Jayce.”

“You need time too,” Alex pointed out. “And Jayce is a baby, he won’t remember much besides how many hugs and love he got.”

“That’s true” T’Lanna nodded. “I spent a long time not bothering about my relationship with my father, it’s only since I came onboard ship that I’ve been spurred to contact him, and to mend our relationship. We’ve become so close, and now ...” She paused. “He’s gone!”

“I know it’s hard,” Alex said, moving to sit beside her. She was acutely aware that her own father’s death was a great source of needless guilt in Haru’s mind. “But it will get easier. Not today, or tomorrow or weeks from now. It doesn’t go away but you learn to live with it, remember the good times and maybe get a fake ID so you can live in the student union for a week. Okay so the last two are unlikely, but the point stands.”

T’Lanna offered a smile. “Have you ever thought of becoming a Counsellor Alex? You’d be good at it.”

Haru smiled, “I agree." He paused. He studied the two. "Again, ladies I'm sorry about what happened."

“There’s no need to apologise Haru. Nothing is your fault.” She gently held her hand out to Jayce to let him play with her fingers.

He smiled. "I remember when my sister was this small." He grinned. He handed Jayce to Alex. "Listen T'Lanna be careful out there. The Andorians are not to be played with."

“I know” T’Lanna nodded. “They had Andorian drones when I was Borg, they put up quite the fight from what I recall from the shared link with the other Borg. I don’t plan on encountering them, I just want to find my father’s ship ... at least what’s left of it.”

Haru reached out and put his hand on hers. "I'm so sorry you lost him."

T’Lanna nodded. “Thank you. I wish he was out there ... somewhere, but I know he’s gone, I felt it when it happened. Call it a sense of ... passing, a release of energy. I don’t know but I felt it.”

"Release of energy. All Vulcan kids are tied to their parents." He held out his arms for a hug. "Come on then?"

T’Lanna was surprised but she didn’t refuse, she sat beside Haru and gave him a gentle yet welcome hug.

"it's all going to be alright. Just remember you are strong and you can get through this." He said.

T’Lanna wiped away a few tears as she leant back. “I’ll remember Haru, that I promise you!”

He smiled. "Alright. Now you just get ready for the mission and don't worry about Mac, he's just all bark and no bite. I'll speak to him. I promise."

T’Lanna nodded. “I’ll try” She looked towards Alex. “Thank you for bringing me here Alex, I appreciate all your help.”

“Are you kidding, looking out for Mac and Haru is like my full time job these days,” Alex grinned.

OFF: