Coming Back Together

Posted on Sun Jul 29th, 2018 @ 5:09pm by Major Hailey Weston & Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Siobahn's Quarters

After spending the better part of an hour under the shower trying to scrub the dust, dirt and grime from the marine sickbay from her hair and skin, Siobahn finally returned to the main living area of her quarters, her hair wrapped in a towel, a thick fluffy robe wrapped around her as she padded softly across to the replicator and ordered herself a tall hot chocolate. She was exhausted to the point that she hadn't even bothered with any of the hand to hand training she was supposed to be doing, or going to the range like Nyx had insisted. She was still aching from the mornings sessions and had opted instead to just return to her quarters and spend a quiet night with her text books, but now even they seemed like too much effort.

With a sigh, she sank down onto the couch and tucked her feet up under her, closing her eyes as she sipped at the hot chocolate, savouring the warm sweetness of the liquid.

Four days. It had been four days since she'd hurriedly said goodbye to Siobahn, thirty-two hours since she'd returned to the ship and had been on duty in one way or another for that entire time. Whether on the bridge, prepping her escort team for Commander Honn, then back on the bridge, even eating something while on duty at her station. She'd only had one brief moment within eye's sight of Siobahn, one that was in the rush of the chaos in sickbay. Duty had taken precedence over her personal life. Again.

So she'd been staring at the door for five minutes, having confirmed with the computer the presence of Siobahn in her quarters, barely having even spoken with any of her troops since she'd gotten back on board. Too many demands on her time, especially in a crisis as this was now. She stood there, wanting to press the chime, to walk in, to do SOMETHING, but couldn't. She'd seen the hatred in Siobahn's eyes at that meeting in sickbay, hatred was what it HAD to be, for not even telling her she was back. And here, Hailey Weston, one of the best of the best special operations troops in the Federation and terrified to announce herself. She leaned forward, head clunking against the door as she tried to think.

Siobahn heard the dull thunk and clambered slowly to her feet, wincing slightly at the movement as she made her way across the small room and opened the door. "Hailey!?" Siobahn gasped slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. "Are you alright?" The concern in her voice as she spoke was obvious.

"No." Hailey said simply, "Yes." Again, it was quietly, "Wondering how long I was going to stand here before finding out just how much you hate me. I haven't been here, even when I've been on board, I haven't been here for you. Things have just been getting in the way." She couldn't bring herself to reach up to touch Siobahn, to do anything.

"I don't hate you," Siobahn replied quietly before sighing. "At least come in, I'm not exactly appropriately dressed to be standing in the doorway," she finished, taking a step back and pulling her robe tighter around her. "I just made myself a hot chocolate, did you want something?"

"that sounds good right now... I need to get some sleep soon, I've basically been going for thirty something hours, so definitely no caffeine." Hailey stepped in so that the door closed, didn't make any move to sit or get comfortable like she would have before she'd left to rescue the Commander.

Siobahn nodded, walking across to the replicator and ordering another hot chocolate for Hailey, handing the mug to her carefully. "The caffeine count is minimal, and personally I find hot chocolate rather calming." She retrieved her own mug and returned to the couch, tucking her feet up under her again, wincing slightly at the movement. "Are you going to sit?" she asked quietly. "You don't have to worry, I don't bite, at least, not hard." She smiled, her smile faltering with the realization that Hailey was still standing near the door.

Hailey chuckled very softly, "No, you really don't." She said quietly, moving over to the couch to sit near to her, but not touching, "I saw the look in sickbay..." She said quietly, "I don't blame you, I really don't."

Siobahn sighed softly, setting her mug aside and reaching out, her hand resting on Hailey's leg gently. "I don't hate you," she said quietly. "I was excited to see you, then I realised it was business, and then..." her voice broke off momentarily. "With that whole situation with Lieutenant Soran, I got angry, especially when Eries and I got sent away after she was a complete jackass. I was angry, maybe even a little angry at you, but I don't hate you, I couldn't."

"I can't tell you what I was thinking at that moment... It was all I could do to not just rip her to shreds out there in front of everyone." Hailey started to relax, "And I sent you down to do make-work to keep you out of her way. She didn't know what was going on, what to do besides give random directions and look like an idiot." She laughed for a moment, "Then I really did lecture her after everyone was out of there."

"She held me back after work tonight..." Siobahn said softly. "I may or may not have called her a bitch..." She caught the slightly change in Hailey's expression and fought back a laugh. "Well, maybe it was more along the lines of an arrogant, self centered, egotistical bitch... among other things..." She sighed and leaned back against the arm rest of the couch, still facing toward Hailey, reaching out and grabbing her mug of hot chocolate again. "She made me so, so angry."

"Frustrated me, she did. She should have been in sickbay before I even got there, with a red alert going on! She was doing paperwork in the ass end of the ship." Hailey sighed, "Hell, I screwed up by doing what I did, giving those orders. I'm not in any way shape or form in that line of command anymore.. Not since the Captain put me back with the soldiers.."

"You did what you thought was best," Siobahn replied softly. "No one will ever hold that against you." She stopped for a moment, contemplating before speaking again. "So are you not doing all the bridge stuff any more?" she finally asked, clearly confused.

"Oh, I am, but now that I have half a clue what to do, it's not going to be as intense." Hailey shook her head, "I'll still get some of the crappier shifts, but more of the second watch as well to relieve Rostra on some days and of course, on call for third watch crises. Still, I should actually get a bit more free time, finally."

"Well, I guess that's a good thing at least," Siobahn replied, standing up and walking across to the replicator to recycle her almost full mug. "You need a lot more sleep than what you have been getting."

"Sleep? Meh, overrated." Hailey grimaced, "Okay, important, but less of an issue than spending more time with you, if you're up for it? "

Returning to the couch, Siobahn sighed softly before she sat back down. "I told you from the very beginnin' that I knew who you were and I would never try to change that," she said quietly. "Would I have been happier to know you were back on the ship, yes... knowin' you were alive and home would have taken a weight off my mind... but I also know you had other responsibilities, and I accept that... I always have. I went into this knowin' I would never be first and foremost in your mind, and you know what? That's okay with me... that hasn't changed for me. I guess the big question now is... has it changed for you?" She stopped speaking, her hands dropping to her lap as she watched Hailey, just waiting for a response.

Hailey shook her head, "No, it hasn't changed for me, not one bit." She leaned forward and reached for Siobahn's hands and clenched them in her own, "I was wrong, though, I can't just get out of what I was doing.. It's dangerous, it's important, though, and someone has to do it... And I'd want the best to do the job if it were me needing them to do it. And we don't have that here in the Delta Quadrant yet. I have to do it."

Scootching in closer to Hailey, Siobahn rested her head on Hailey's shoulder and sighed softly. "I know," she said simply.

"I'll always come back to you." Hailey promised, "No matter what I have to go through, I will always find you and come back to you."

"Good, because I'll hold you to that," Siobahn replied with a light laugh. "Always."

Hailey kissed the top of Siobahn's head, "Now I gotta ask.. How have you been doing with Ami and your training?"

"Trainin'? With Ami?" Siobahn's mind immediately turned over everything that had happened since Hailey had left the ship. Had it really only been a few days? It felt like it had been so, so much longer. A look of realisation crossed her face as she realised what Hailey was referring to. "You mean the self defence stuff? It's goin'... it's been a little crazy the last few days... what with this and that..." She was trying to not be deliberately vague but was also well aware there wasn't a whole lot she could easily say without giving everything away.

The Marine nodded, catching something there behind the words, but willing to let it sit until Siobahn was willing to tell her about it, "I understand completely. Hell, I don't have enough hours in the day myself! And I'm able to squeeze out of some things just because of my seniority and experience."

Siobahn laughed and shook her head. "Thankfully I don't have to worry about that. I'm unimportant enough that no one cares."

"Oh, I don't think you're unimportant at all!" Hailey gently rubbed the back of Siobahn's hand, "So yes, someone cares, that's for sure."

"That's because you're the exception to the rule," Siobahn replied with a smile. "I heard tonight we should be arrivin' at New Earth soon, the markets there are supposed to be amazin', great shoppin', great food... do you want to come down with me for a few hours? I'm sure your duties can spare you for a little bit while we're on shore leave..." There was a tone of hopefulness to her voice as she spoke.

"Of course!" Hailey grinned, "Especially the great food bit. Tell you what, you do the shopping, I do the carrying?" Despite her looks, Hailey was never one to be concerned about anything other than uniforms or outright comfort like her sweats. She took a deep breath, "I'll even leave the gun here."

Siobahn raised one eyebrow slightly and then finally laughed. "You lack credibility darlin', but it's okay. Besides, I can't buy much, with the size of these quarters I'm surprised we both fit. You might be used to officers luxury but us lowly first year ensigns, well, I'm just lucky to not have a room mate!"

"It was long after I got my promotion to Captain that I finally got my own set." Hailey chuckled, "And even then it was only once I got here to the Wellington, so it's only been about nine months?" She shook her head, "Now my quarters are luxury themselves, especially with that hot tub in there."

"Honestly, I'm surprised half the crew didn't move in there while you were gone! Renee would have been leading the crowd!" Siobahn shook her head and grinned. "Actually, I should try and see her before we go down to New Earth, she had a few store recommendations for me... and I haven't seen her since we had drinks in the lounge the night you left."

"You should ask her if I could borrow something." Hailey teased her, inwardly blanching at the thought even with the chuckle that came out of her, "After all, I've just got sweat-stuff outside my uniform. No, really, I like them, they're really comfortable!"

"Sure, I'll ask her for you, I imagine she'll have a whole new wardrobe prepared for you about 5 minutes later." Siobahn laughed as she replied. "Every time I see her she's pushing more stuff my way... though even I have to admit, the boots she gave me are crazy comfortable!"

"No, no, that's not what I meant!" Hailey laughed, "That was a joke! I'm rather quite happy with what I have right now, as I said, really comfortable and worn in." She squeezed Siobahn's hand, "I'm good."

Siobahn grinned lasciviously. "Mmmmm... no comment," was her only reply.

"Really?" Hailey raised her eyebrows, "That's all you have to say about it? I really must be losing my touch, aren't I?"

"I guess that depends on exactly which touch it is that you're talkin' about?" Siobahn countered teasingly.

Hailey flopped back on the couch, dragging Siobahn on top of her, "We'll have to see about all this touching then, won't we?"

With a laugh, Siobahn leaned down, brushing a soft kiss across Hailey's lips. "Now this kind of touch I definitely won't object to, just no tickling!"

Siobahn was squeezed tight in a hug, "I'll take you up on that."


OFF:

Major Hailey Weston
Marine CO/2nd Officer
USS Wellington

Ensign Siobahn Fallon
Medical Officer
USS Wellington