Toasty Tub Time

Posted on Sun Feb 18th, 2018 @ 4:06pm by Major Hailey Weston & Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Hailey's Expanded Quarters
Timeline: Night Before SpecOpsWarning

Hailey settled into the bubbling tub of hot water and sighed in relief. She was off this night, no bridge watch, just some actual free time to spend with Siobahn, once of course, the young doctor arrived. When that engineer had left the quarters earlier that day and flashed a thumbs up at Hailey working out with the troops, Hailey KNEW she had to enjoy what had been put in. She'd sent a message to the senior doctor about ten minutes before, requesting Siobahn be relieved of duty for the day in order to attend a 'trauma seminar' that she herself was running for the brightest young doctors in order to support security or the marines in a crisis. On a one-on-one basis. She took a breath and dunked under the water for a handful of seconds before coming back up and clearing her eyes of the water.

Siobahn had left sickbay, thoroughly confused, but simultaneously extremely relieved that she didn't have to finish out her shift. She had briefly contemplated returning to her own quarters first to shower and get out of her uniform and indulge in a cup of very, very strong coffee, but in the end the summons to attend a one on one trauma seminar with Hailey proved to be too intriguing.

Keying in the access code and stepping through the door, Siobahn stopped half way through shrugging out of her jacket, her eyes drawn to the hot tub now off to one side of the larger room. The sight of Hailey instantly brought a smile to her face as she dropped her jacket on the couch and pulled off her boots, walking across the room and leaning in to kiss Hailey softly. "Colour me crazy," she said quietly, "but this wasn't here this mornin' was it?"

"Nope, that engineer said she could have it put in and everything else dealt with in a few hours and she pulled it off." Hailey smiled up at Siobahn from the water, "This was finished about an hour ago, but I wanted to make sure it was nice and warm first. And if you don't get in this water very quickly, it's going to come after you!"

Siobahn laughed as she straightened up. "So this is the one on one trauma seminar I'm supposed to be attendin'?" she asked, her voice light with laughter. "But I don't have my swimmers, I didn't realise they were goin' to be a course requirement."

"Who needs swimmers?" Hailey asked coyly, eyes glittering, "Mine are still in my bedroom, after all, this isn't a public party or seminar." She slid down slightly, "And you wouldn't want me to drown, would you?"

"No... I definitely wouldn't want that..." she replied with a mischievous smile. "Though, the whole mouth to mouth thing could be fun..." Pulling her hair back and securing it with an elastic, Siobahn slipped out of her uniform, consciously aware of the fact that Hailey was still watching her. Moments later she slid into the hot tub, savouring the feel of the warm water around her. "Oh Gods, this is heaven..." she breathed softly.

"And that's what I was saying." Hailey smiled, sinking down further into the water, "Really helps with the muscles that just get all tensed up during the day. And we don't even need masseurs. I owe that Renee chickie a favor, that's for sure."

Siobahn laughed again. "I should have known Renee had a hand in this," she replied. "Remind me to thank her later..." She grinned as she took a breath and ducked under the water. As she came back up, she ran her hands over her face, clearing water away and sighed contentedly. "There's still somethin' to be said for a nice massage though... Even water this lovely can't replace physical touch."

"But it can sure come close!" Hailey laughed, "And it's not one of those little tubs as you can see, but a nice sized one that if you're not careful, you really could drown in. But neither of us will."

"The only problem I foresee now... is that the replicator is far too far away and we'd have to get OUT of the tub to get anything..." Siobahn replied with a smile, "And that you're too far away from me..."

"I can fix one, but only one of those two things." Hailey stood up in the tub, "Choose wisely."

"Mmmmm.... Is that even a choice?" Siobahn asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Of course I'm going to choose food!" With a laugh she held her hands out toward Hailey, "Get over here, I choose you any time..."

Hailey grabbed both of Siobahn's hands and pulled herself over to the other woman, wrapping an arm around her and sitting down next to her, "We'll deal with the food pat later." She nuzzled behind Siobahn's ear, "But, how was your day?"

"Long," she replied quietly. "So very long... but definitely better now that I'm home with you." Siobahn sighed contentedly. "Sickbay was pretty busy all day, lots of mundane stuff, broken bones, bumps, bruises, colds, a phase burn... I did get to spend a little time hanging out with the most adorable little baby though, his poor momma has been down with the flu and he's teething, so I let her take a nap in one of the isolation rooms while he chilled in sickbay with me. How about your day? Any happier with the marines today?"

"I beat Nyx in a match shoot." Hailey laughed, "Somehow she missed a shot, but I didn't. You know, it's a bit frustrating to lose match after match with someone then find that they need a lot of work on situational awareness in combat shooting situations." She shook her head, "But give her any weapon and she'll find a way to beat you with it. Sniper? She's the best. Pistol shooting? Rifle at any range? I know, it literally IS a religion for her, but I have to count on a mistake to come up ahead of her on the range."

"But from what you've said, it's literally all she ever does," Siobahn replied gently. "I'm sure if you did nothin' but train twenty hours a day you would be unbeatable too... but look at everythin' that you're doin'... you keep up in medical, you do the bridge shifts, you help run the ship, you train the marines... besides, darlin', do you really want to be the kind of person who feels compelled to dislocate their own shoulder just to win?" She shuddered at the memory.

"And suffer the almost inevitable joint damage it'll cause in the end? Hell no." Hailey stated, "Whenever I've pointed that out to her, she just shrugs. I have no doubt that when we need her for something critical, she'll come through and if we're ever going into some sort of gladiator arena, I'll be the first to shove her onto the arena floor and yell out that there's no quarter! Then sit back and watch the show."

Siobahn laughed softly and reached for Hailey's hand, squeezing it gently. "See, there you go... silver lining for everythin'," she replied. "She's a good person to have on your side, and at the end of the day, when you need it to count she's goin' to be with you, not against you."

Hailey turned to face Siobahn "But more important, you're going to be with me, not against me." She smiled brightly, "But this isn't why I requested your presence, Ensign Fallon." Hailey's voice went all mock-serious, "This is a seminar and have to sign off on what happened her to your senior officer."

With a giggle, Siobahn turned toward Hailey, moving her legs so they were across Hailey's lap. "Now this should be interestin'," she said mischievously. "I would LOVE to know how you plan on passin' this off as an educational experience that I can actually explain to my shift supervisor... because somehow I don't think 'we were naked in a hot tub' is goin' to pass muster!"

That forced Hailey to stop and think for a moment, "How heat and submersion can aid in the recuperation of a severe strain or sprain of a muscle?" She asked, "Or, you know, I could just tell them that it was a lecture on the sorts of injuries a Marine can obtain in practice and training and how to treat them."

Siobahn laughed and leaned forward slightly. "Well, I guess maybe you should lecture me then... Tell me, Hailey, what kind of injuries should I be aware of?" she asked teasingly. "I wouldn't want to be dishonest when they asked me what the lecture involved..."

"Shooty shooty, stabby stabby, pulled muscles, sprains, scrapes," Hailey said in rote, "They'll hobble around and make sure you know they're fine when it comes to strains and sprains, but it's when there are accidents and mistakes that you need to know how to stitch and plug. Just imagine what a human body can do in the wrong way, and those are the possibilities."

With a grimace, Siobahn stuck out her tongue. "Well, that's very bleurgh..." she replied with a pout.

"But very accurate and hey, you WANTED the lecture, so don't blame me!" She laughed, "But I figured snacks, drinks and stories about each other during our maiden voyage in here."

“I would definitely rather hear stories about you than be lectured on trauma and injuries,” Siobahn replied with a smile.

"Whoa whoa whoa, not JUST about me! You gotta spill as well!" Hailey stood in the water and shivered slightly from the newfound chill, "What can I grab us to snack and drink?"

"Sparkling water for me please and I don't mind what snacks, I'll let you choose." Siobahn sighed as she slipped down until the water was covering her shoulders. "And you already know pretty much everything there is to know about me, my life is boring!"

"I doubt that. Or at least, that it's as boring as you make it out to be!" Hailey stepped out of the water and dripped all the way over to the replicator and punched in a few buttons, then padded back again, handing the sparkling water to Siobahn before placing the platter on the side of the tub and getting back in, another slight shiver, "Nachos!" She gestured to the plate of individual chips that came loaded individually with beans, chicken or steak, onions and jalapenos, a cup of orange soda next to it for Hailey.

"Now we'll need to get Renee to install a second replicator right above the hot tub," Siobahn stated with a laugh as she reached for a nacho chip and popped it into her mouth.

"Let's find something to bribe her with, then." Hailey sat back against the wall of the tub, grabbing a nacho of her own, "But let's see... What about me do you not know?" Hailey chuckled, "Well... Did you know that I was adopted? My original last name was actually Hooker."

Siobahn shook her head. "That one I did NOT know," she said, stifling a giggle. "Hailey Hooker... it's... well... different."

Hailey bit her lip, biting back laughter, "Actually, my father, may he rot in hell, had a really, really sick sense of humor. My MIDDLE name, given to me by him, was Hailey. My first name? Ima."

"Noooooo..." Siobahn gasped. "Ima Hooker? Seriously? That's just cruel... Why would any parent do that to their daughter?" She shook her head, again trying not to giggle, pausing before she asked, "So what happened to your biological parents?"

"Dead, the both." Hailey half-smiled, "My father OD'd on drugs, cocaine I think it was. Mother? She drank herself to death, no great loss. The hell that they put me through with my entire childhood made the rest of it worth living. Dad, General Weston and Mom were far better parents. Hell, I got really lucky with them, just gave me the push to turn things around."

"Oh darlin'..." Siobahn sighed softly. "I'm sorry..." she paused for a moment before speaking again. "So I guess you were adopted after you ran away?"

"Yeaaaah, I tried joining the Marines when I was fifteen." Hailey left out the rest of what had happened, Siobahn wouldn't want to know about the horror the intervening few years had been, "Got found out and Dad did something completely unselfish."

Siobahn smiled, pulling Hailey into her arms and kissed the back of her neck. "I don't know what to say," she said softly. "But I'm glad your Dad found you..." She sighed. "Is he the reason you went back to the marines?"

Interpreted literally, "Yes, and I'm glad I did. I wouldn't have been able to go to the Fleet. Not that I would have made it as a Science or Engineering officer." Hailey laughed, "Could you imagine?"

"No..." Siobahn replied with a laugh. "No, that I can't imagine.. Security maybe... but definitely not science or engineerin'. So where are your parents now?"

"Mom's with dad and dad has command of the Third Marine Division as a three-star General. He's up for his fourth star and potentially command of the Fourth Corps if things go well." Hailey smiled, "Mom's just a military wife, goes with dad wherever he goes."

Siobahn smiled warmly. "You know, your voice changes when you talk about them, you sound happier... Has it been long since you last saw them?" she asked softly.

"I saw them after I got out of the Academy, but not since then." Hailey shrugged, "Talked to them a few times, but I've been floating around a lot since then."

"Next time you're back there you should take some leave and spend some time with them," Siobahn replied with a smile. "I'm sure they would love to see you again. They will be proud of you with everythin' you've achieved."

"I HAVE received a couple messages, yeah, but he doesn't have much of a clue what I've been doing. At least that I'm aware of." Hailey chuckled, "I don't think he'd be too surprised though."

Siobahn laughed softly. "Don't be argumentative," she chided teasingly. "A message is not the same as actually spendin' some quality time with them. Life is short, don't take things for granted. And of course he won't be surprised, I have no doubt he's well aware of how stubborn you are, not to mention how determined."

"And he does get to see my file and the medals I've gotten." Hailey took a drink of her soda, "I do need to go see them at some point, maybe drag someone along I think they would love to meet, too."

"Oh?" Siobahn asked coyly. "Anyone I know? I'm sure your parents would love Renee? Or are you planning on taking Nyx? Or Ami?"

Hailey splashed some water at Siobahn as a response, "I think you know VERY well who I'd bring along! And don't even START with the whole age difference thing like I'm sure you would!"

With a slight shriek Siobahn tried to dodge the water, unsuccessfully, and laughed. "You know I'd love to meet your parents," she replied. "I just hope they approve..."

"If they don't, bugger 'em." Hailey laughed, "But they're pretty good people. I don't think there will be ANY sort of problem, as long as you make me happy."

Siobahn grinned. "So what else don't I know about you?" she asked, raising one eyebrow. "I'm learnin' an awful lot tonight..."

It was sealed, that part of her file that had come before her adoption, in part to protect her from others. It wasn't important. "What else is there to know about me? In boot camp, I got 'volunteered' to become a medic, pretty much they pointed at me and said, 'Congratulations Recruit Weston, you're the designated medic for this sack of losers. They break themselves, it's on you to fix 'em.'"

"And now you're the best of the best..." Siobahn replied with a smile. "How long were you with the marines before you went to the Academy?"

"About five years, made Staff Sergeant before they volunteered me for their little project. Twenty-three years old, good combat medic, and they pull me outta my team and send me to the bars and balls school." Hailey chuckled, "Five rather interesting years."

"Interesting?" Siobahn questioned with a laugh. "Interesting as in... oh, that's a nice way to pass time? Or interesting as in, Oh my God! How did anyone survive that?"

"Interesting as in the Chinese sense of the word." Hailey admitted, "You know that ancient Chinese curse; 'May you live in interesting times'? It kinda is the whole Oh My God bit."

"I can't even begin to imagine..." Siobahn shook her head slightly. "Wasn't it ever scary? Didn't you ever just want to walk away?"

"After the first five missions? Yes. But you get desensitized after a while. That's where people make mistakes, then die." Hailey shook her head as well, "Until now, no it hasn't been. Fear was something to be ignored, but now I fear not returning."

Pulling Hailey close and hugging her tightly for a moment, Siobahn sighed softly. "I don't know what I would do if you didn't come back," she finally said quietly.

"You'd survive, somehow." Hailey said softly, hugging back, loving the skin on skin contact, "But it won't happen. I won't let it happen."

“Surviving is not living,” Siobahn replied quietly. “Surviving is like existing... it’s just being here. Living is different.”

"Then I'll come back, no matter what. No matter who or what I might have to kill to make sure I come back, all right?" Hailey kissed the crook of Siobahn's neck.

“Mmmmm” Siobahn murmured softly, tilting her head slightly to one side as her hands moved, holding Hailey close against her with soft gentle strokes along her back. “Promise?”

"Promise."

OFF:
Major Hailey Weston
Doer-Of-Everything
USS Wellington

Ensign Siobahn Fallon
Medical Officer
USS Wellington