Quiet Time - Pt 2

Posted on Fri Jul 9th, 2021 @ 1:05am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: After the Battle

He appeared in the doorway many minutes later, a robe around his person, and a tired look upon his face. As he leaned on the doorframe he watched her in her deep thoughts. "First burnt coffee in the new place tells me you have something on your mind." He pried.

“Perceptive as always” She gave him a tired smile, kicking herself for letting the coffee burn but determined to salvage the second batch. She checked the pot before setting it back on the burner. Now he was up she cracked some eggs in the pan and added some herbs and small vegetables. Moving the mixture around the pan in lazy circles as her mind wouldn’t stop still for a nano second. “I apologise for the rough night”

He let out a mean roar for a yawn then moved over and hiked a leg over the bar stool unceremoniously. "It is what it is. I'm sure I've caused you many a rough sleep over the years." He looked at her with those knowing eyes. "Now, out with it. What's on your mind?"

She sighed heavily, gazing at the eggs in the pan as though it would speak for her in coherent sentences.

“I’m just questioning a judgement call from yesterday. I nearly blew up a ship full of Jem’Hadar that were in a critical state” She paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts to continue “It makes me no better than those who plundered our planet or the Dominion” She sighed, meeting his gaze with liquid eyes.

“Well, the fact that you can second guess yourself already puts you one step above those who can’t. That alone means you have a conscience. As far as nearly killing a ship full of Jem’Hadar, I suppose the only thing I can say that is comforting is, nearly.” He repeated her keyword. “The fact of the matter is you didn’t. What does that say about you versus them?”

“ I gave the order Remal, their ship was crippled and posed no threat and I was going to blow it up out of revenge for attacking a freighter full of Bajorans” She turned her eyes down again, mixing the eggs through the other ingredients and making sure they didn’t burn. Beside her the coffee pot started to bubble.

He could see she was beating herself up and taking what she deemed as a moment of weakness to heart. Picking up on her distraught nature, and the nature of her overcooked eggs, he concocted a way to turn her mood around. He stepped out from the doorway, around the cooktop next to her and motioned like he wanted to take over, which she gave up easily.

As he stirred the now dry eggs, he commented on her situation. “So. You gave the order. Did your crew back you up and follow your order like good little soldiers?”

“Circumstance and good luck gave us a different alternative” She relinquished control of the breakfast - knowing if it had any chance of being edible it would be under the expert hands of Remal.

“So suffice it to say, when your inner conscience failed you, your external conscience took over. That is the difference between us and them. We surround ourselves with free thinkers who each have a conscience while they are but soldiers, towing the line.” He added a bit of cream to the eggs, then a bit of oregano for flavor and continued to stir. This would soften the dryness.

“You think I’m beating myself up for no reason?” She cast him a questioning look as he attempted to salvage breakfast.

He scooped out the eggs onto two separate plates. “Oh no, I didn’t say that. There is most definitely a reason. What I’m saying is, there is a reason we surround ourselves with people who think as we do.” He handed her a plate. “For when we fail to live up to our own expectations, we have others to remind us that we are only Bajoran.” He took a bite of his doctored concoction.

“ I failed to make you a decent breakfast” She calmed somewhat, the pity party for one ebbing with her husband’s wise words. He was her compass, her north when she felt adrift in the sea of questions.

He swallowed the odd flavor, not quite sure where he would rate it on his best or worst scale. “I wouldn’t say you failed, so much as helped me to create something new. Besides, any morning I can wake up and see your wonderful soul on full display, is a morning worth waking up to.” He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek.

“ I am truly blessed to have you in my life” She melted at his touch, leaning in to maintain contact with the man she saw as her soul mate. “ You keep me sane, you find my soul when I’m lost” She whispered, resting her forehead against his.

“Two way street, I’d say.” He never really expressed his feelings for her in words so much as gestures. But that didn’t mean he didn’t reciprocate her affections. Pouring out a cup of coffee for himself, and choosing to also pour her one, he asked, “So, not that our first real battle is over in the Gamma Quadrant, what’s next for the Sunfire? What’s your day going to be like?” He sat down to eat his food, but not before handing her a cup of coffee, decaf.

“ Day off, doctor’s orders” Rhenora replied ruefully, taking a swig of the coffee. She swirled the bitter liquid around her palette, appreciating how close it was to the edge of being burnt - again. “ I was thinking of taking a walk, finding the arboretum maybe, heck I don't even know if we have one. Care to explore with me?”

“I would love to. And yes there is one, but it is tiny by comparison. More like a science lab really. A simple day, a bit of quiet time, would be good for both of us.” He smiled an uneasy smile, knowing that the battle would have left a few of his regular patients a bit traumatised and looking forward to seeing their man of comforting words.

“ If you have appointments, I don’t mind” She said hurriedly, not wanting him to rearrange his whole schedule on her whim.

“I don’t. Not yet anyway. Aside from this one. Constantly thinks she’s indestructible and solely responsible for the safety and care of others. Beats herself up all the time for every little decision she makes. Lots of pain and suffering that one. I’ve decided to devote a whole day to making sure she is well taken care of, I mean, if you don’t mind?”

She blushed at his humorous yet accurate representation of her personality. “ You wound me my dear, but only in the way I love to be wounded” a warm yet somewhat timid smile surfaced. “ A walk then?”

He nodded, "A walk." Then he looked down at his robe. "But first clothes."