Closed Doors

Posted on Tue Apr 7th, 2026 @ 5:42am by Commander Jennifer Baldric & Commander Dean House

1,085 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Beholder
Location: Baldric's Quarters
Timeline: Just after Batel dies.

Dean had finally finished in Sickbay. Given all that went on, and the fact that sometimes he and Jennifer would share quarters from time to time, that is where he went. Still upset over everything, he didn't know if she was off duty yet from the Bridge but he'd be there waiting for her. Stepping inside and leaving the lights dimmed for now. Going to check and see what kind of liquor she'd stocked back up.

Jen emerged from her work area in track pants and a tank top, curiosity in her expression. She was also reading the body language, the way he went for the liquor stash, the tension he held in his shoulders. She was aware that Batel had passed, and knew he had been been on the away team with her.

"Are you ok?" She asked gently, stopping just before him as he reached foe the harder alcohol.

There was a pause, curious why he didn't hear her come out of the workout room. Much less heard her when he came in. Before turning around, he broke the seal on a vintage bottle 2262 Romulan Ale. Tossing it back and that was at least 3 glasses worth.

Dean turned around, "No..not really."

She sat, inviting him to join her on the couch or to sit opposite in one of the lounge chairs if it suited him. She wasn't going to pry - but allow him to open up in his own time.

Next to him was more preferred at the moment. Though once Jennifer sat down, Dean didn't immediately curl up to her. Instead, he refilled the glass and this time sipped it. "I can figure out the loss and I don't feel near as much for..example the Ensign that was killed. I do, but not like this with Marie."

"You felt a connection with her? Kindred spirit or something?" Jennifer tried to understand, not knowing that Dean had been injected with Marie's DNA nor that he had shared some of her unique abilities. " You wanna talk about it?" She left the comment open, an invitation to talk, not a directive to do so.

"It's more than that." Dean made almost a cute face for a split second. "Kinda forgot to mention something. I've got even more altered DNA and I made a deal. While you were on the Bridge."

"More.. altered DNA. Who's?" Baldric asked cautiously, the glass now forgotten in her hand. The penny dropped. "Wait.. what... you have Batel's DNA?"

Dean didn't look away from her ashamed. He knew what he did, and why he did it. "Yes."

Jen dropped her head for a minute - understanding would come, right now he was hurting and needed support - not criticism. " Do that mean we're gonna have hybrid Gorn/Illyrian babies with Vulcan brains?" She quipped.

"What?" Dean leaned back a little, "Why would we have baby hybrid thingies? Rowen said it's all dormant now."

" Oh really? Well that's a relief. Can't they remove it? Or is it always gonna be like there, ready to mutate or something?" Baldric took a sip of her drink again - relieved that it wasn't all bad news.

Dean shrugged a little bit, "I don't know. I can still feel her, well the remnants. I could feel her when she died. When we were struggling with all of this. I could feel the pain and it pained me just as much."

Jen rested a hand on his knee, squeezing it and hoping it would provide him some respite from his grief. "It must have been terrible when she died. I'm so sorry I wasn't there with you"

He shifted slightly and back into her. Covering her hand with his, "You were there with me. Even if you had your job to do. You were there, Jennifer."

"Always looking out for others" It was a statement of fact - recognising that he was trying to ease her guilt. "Still - it must have been tough, after everything she.. you...went through..." She let the words linger in the space a little longer. "I just want to make sure you'll be ok - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually"

He meant in his heart, she was there with him in his heart. "It's still not good. It..." Dean looked down a moment and wiped his cheeks on her shoulder. "It felt like losing you. Just...stronger if that makes sense. I'm not comparing you two that way it's simply..comparable." As of course now Dean tried to push things into a better light. "What if we had little grawl grawl babies?"

Jen didn't fully understand the connection Dean had shared with Batel, but understood it had probably been necessary in order to ensure safe containment of the Vezda. "Did you...you know....pause time, create subspace time realities and the like?" She let the babies comment slide, for now.

"Did I know what?" A pause, "No, I didn't know what was going to happen, just I had to try and I was the only one; by happen stance, to be on board this might have worked with and we had to save her."

Jen mused on that for a few moments, taking in the massive leap of faith that Dean must have done - adding more mutations to his body in order to save another - or many.

"Sooooo can you pause time and space again and get us off the next duty shift?" There was a twinkling in her eye.

Dean shook his head, "I don't think it works that way. Though..I wouldn't mind getting off the next duty shift. That one we can swing." Following that twinkle.

Jen drained the rest of her glass - relishing the mild burn as it went down. She set the glass down and stood - extending a hand to him.

There was almost...a questioning look given, before he reached and took her hand. Standing up and letting her lead.

She tugged him to the bedroom, pushing the tunic from his shoulders and intent on making him forget the last few days - if only for a while.

Dean went with Jennifer. Working with her out of the tunic, and then the rest of the uniform. Those under it as well. It went to her turn, what she had on being slowly and sensually taken off also.

Once they both were sufficiently stimulated Dean called for the lights to be turned off.

**Fade to Black**

 

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