Final bow tie

Posted on Sun Dec 14th, 2025 @ 12:54am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Jennifer Baldric & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Ensign Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia'anKahr & Commander Rosa Coy & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Remal Kajun

1,556 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: For Bajor!
Location: Sunfire

The Captin and Remal departed the transporter room for sickbay, eager to see how the recovery of their three team mates was progressing. The doors whispered open before them, revealing Dean on a bio-bed with Bonnie hovering, Zio sitting quietly whilst someone measured her leg for a replacement prosthetic, and the sound of someone being violently ill in one of the back rooms. Rhenora winced at the sound as a nearby nurse rolled her eyes and headed back into the room where Baldric was. Dr Wilson emerged and ushered Rhenora and Remal into her office, allowing the door to close behind them before speaking.

"How bad is it?" Kaylen asked without hesitating.

"House? He's had some creative surgery and his augment abilities are taking care of the rest. He'll be up and around tomorrow." Wilson reported on the most critical of their patients.

"Zio will have her new leg replicated shortly, we're taking advantage of a new technology to enhance her natural movement." The CMO continued.

"And Jennifer?" Rhenora was almost hesitant to ask.

"Ahh yes...Jennifer. Did no one ever mention that direct transport of a symbiote at the best of times is ill advised. Makes them queasy. And directly into a new non Trill host? Never been done. We're trying to manage the nausea and allow both the host and symbiote some quiet time to recover. The new host should be here in a few days but we'll tackle that when they get here"

Remal settled a steadying hand on Rhenora’s back, his voice a low warmth against the cold weight of the report. “They’re here, they’re alive, and they’re getting the care they need. That’s what matters. The rest… we’ll walk with them through it, one step at a time.” He gave Wilson a grateful nod, the kind offered by someone who’d carried too many injured friends and knew the value of a healer’s calm.

Zio eyed the nurse fussing over the holo-model of her replacement limb, her tone dry as cracked desert clay but softened at the edges. “Lost the first one saving a friend. Lost this one saving another. At this rate you’re all gonna have to start issuing punch cards... ‘lose five, get one free.’” Her expression eased, sincerity threading through the humor. “Just... make sure this one lets me keep running, will you? I still owe the universe a few debts.”

Bonnie planted herself at Dean’s bedside like a guard dog who’d learned medicine through sheer stubborn force of will. The overhead lights washed his features in a sterile glow, turning the dried blood at his temple into a dark, accusing smear. He was unconscious, which spared him... for now... the well-deserved lecture forming in her chest like a storm front. She brushed a thumb across the biobed’s edge, the closest she could get to touching him without Dr. Wilson swatting her away.

“You absolute overbuilt idiot,” she muttered under her breath. It wasn’t anger, not really. More a brittle kind of fear that tried to disguise itself as irritation. Last time he’d pulled a stunt like this, she’d greeted him with a punch to the shoulder... reflexive, affectionate violence. He’d barely felt it. She, on the other hand, had spent the next hour cradling a bruised fist while he apologized through a grin that made her want to hit him again.

She leaned closer, her voice softening despite her best efforts. “You know I can’t keep punching you every time you jump in front of something sharp, right?” Her fingers flexed as if remembering the ache. “You’re going to have to start letting us save you, once in a while.”

Dean didn’t stir, but the biobed hummed a little more steadily beneath him, and Bonnie let that tiny improvement thread through her spine. Worry had its claws in her, but she’d stay right where she was until he woke... ready to punch him, or maybe this time just hold his hand, if it meant he’d stop scaring her so often.

Quarters

Rhenora and Remal left sickbay and headed back to their quarters, having checked in with Rosita who had beamed aboard a few minutes ago with Patina. The guilt tug at the Captain's heart reminded her of the time they had spent apart, and the toll it took on their small family. The door slid open and revealed their bouncing daughter who squealed and ran to to them both and tried to climb into their arms. Rosita nodded knowingly said retired to the living area, leaving them to their reunion.

"I have so missed you Patty" Rhenora used the nickname she held tightly reserved for their daughter, and buried her nose in the child's shock of hair. She felt present and grounded at that moment. There was nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. Just be.

Remal wrapped his large arms around the two most precious people in his life and gave a good squeeze, lingering just long enough to feel the warmth. As he pulled away he offered, "So, who's hungry for some Hasperat with a side of Larish Pie?"

SICKBAY

Dean took in a long breath and then opened one eye. Squeezing Bonnie's hand. Actually not whom he expected to be there but he was wholeheartedly happy it was her or Jennifer. "I'm a smart idiot, and if I don't save you, who will?" Giving a stretch for a moment, still keeping hold of Bonnie's hand, smiling. "I heard you, you know. The whole time. Thank you, and I love you Bonnie." She knew exactly what way he meant it. He knew they were both fine with their relationship to each other.

"Back to work, how is everyone else?" Dean pushed to sit up. "Dammit that hurts."

Bonnie stood with a fierce look on her face, started for the office, paused mid-stride, turned back just long enough to give Dean a quick, sharp tap to the shoulder with the side of her fist, a classic Bonnie warning shot. “That’s for sitting up when you’re not supposed to,” she muttered. The blow wouldn’t have bruised a fruit fly, but it still made her fingers sting. Enhanced anatomy was unfair.

She shook out her hand with a wince and added, “Stay down, dummy. I’ll go get the doctor.” She started toward Dr. Wilson’s office again, only to glance back over her shoulder. “Everyone else is fine… except Commander Baldric. She’s, um... still projectile vomiting and not quite herself.” And with that, she hurried off, cradling her offended hand and muttering under her breath about genetically overbuilt idiots.

"You're not suppose to keep punching me then," Dean rested back, even if he didn't want to. "You've been here the whole time I've been out haven't you." He did wonder why Jennifer wasn't there also, and he remembered what she did.

Dean wasn't going to stop Bonnie from running off, not exactly. He sat up again long enough to catch her, pulling her into a hug. "I love you too, clumsy cat," then letting her go to run if she wanted to.

~ Quarters ~

In their quarters Aurora turned to hug Savar, she’d been so worried about him being injured that she just needed to feel him close to her now. “Sorry! I was just so worried about you when I saw you were hurt.”

Savar wrapped his arms around Aurora and hugged her, holding her close. here in their quarters where he could let his emotional guards down to express his love for Aurora and his relief that she was unharmed. "My love. I was likewise worried for you. I would be lost without you." He replied as he leaned forward and tenderly kissed her.

Aurora returned her beloved’s kiss, giving him a smile as she leant back just a little. “Well we’re safe now, no need to worry anymore. Do you think the others will be okay? I have no doubt my calendar will be pretty full in the near future.”

Savar took a moment to consider Aurora's question. "I think all will make a full recovery, now that being said, such a recovery will undoubtedly be tied to their individual drive and desire to get better."

“That is very true” Aurora smiled warmly. “I’ll have to make a point of dropping in on people, but right now the only place I want to be is right here.”

"A most logical statement and one I fully agree with for I too wish only to remain with you and in your company. All else can be place on hold temporarily."

Aurora nodded. “That sounds wonderful to me Imzadi. Very wonderful indeed.”


Quarters

Ensign Kitiuas Thenis ie-Jia'anKahr stretched and put on clean shorts and T-Shirt. The room lighting set for maximum ultra-violet effects; warming and getting her bio-chemistry going. She sat at her terminal and typed in the command to connect with her family. Her mother appeared on screen and in a quick motherly fashion discerned something was wrong. And Kit divulged to her what she could.

And so the hum of daily life so resumed, until the next crisis.

OFF

 

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