After the Storm: Part 2

Posted on 01 Oct 2014 @ 10:11pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar & Commander Scarlet Blake

1,567 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 1 - First Officer's Quarters
Timeline: MD 07: 2100

ON:

Jeroen smiled as he sipped the tea, watching Scarlet for a moment. Lily had been tucked into bed with a story...and he had really missed that. Spending those minutes talking to the girl reminded him of...well. How much he had missed this aspect to his life. Being Uncle Jeroen meant so much to him. He looked down, the silence stretching for a moment before he reached out, taking Scarlet's hand to just hold.

Scarlet looked to him with a warm smile at that, squeezing his hand as she sighed comfortably, shifting to curl up on the sofa with him. "I missed you," she shook her head with a slight shrug. "So call me a weak and feeble woman," she teased.

"You? Hardly," he said as he smiled gently. "But it makes you human, Scarlet. You are allowed to need people, to want people. No one would think less of you. But...as I have always said, never sell yourself cheap either. Time is precious, spend it with those you care about."

Scarlet looked down with a frown at the words, taking a deep breath that was more like a sigh as she held onto his hand. "Things got...difficult with Luke. He wants more. It got rather...tense. It was difficult to be honest when he was so upset. And I was the one causing the upset. I think there must be something wrong with me, to not want a relationship."

He watched her before looking down, with a weak smile. "Scarlet. With what you've seen in your life, I am not surprised you find it difficult. You've never had great examples around you. Many of the men have been..." he stopped and met her eyes, searching them. "Bastards. Myself one of them. I should have put you on the first shuttle away from there the moment your parents weren't around. It was no place for a girl...even so though, I think you've always known what you've wanted in your heart. And if he isn't it, then you are doing a kindness by being honest. So there is nothing wrong with you. Not in any way I can see, girl."

Scarlet smiled fondly at the words, rubbing his arm firmly. "Jeroen, you're not a bastard. You never have been. You probably saved me, more than once. When my parents took me into the Maquis with them, they didn't care what was happening to me. They were off on their little sabotage games with the Cardassians. They just left me with all those strangers in the Maquis cell whenever they went off on their missions. You were the only one who made sure I was okay. And I mean...really okay. Not just out of trouble, but out of sight from the more unpleasant members of the Maquis who had just joined as an excuse for a fight, you taught me to look after myself. You made sure I learnt things that I was missing from school. You taught me to stand on my own two feet, and not need them," she glanced down with a frown, shaking her head, her breath catching for a moment. "I would never have had it in me to join the marines without all that."

He smiled weakly, touching her cheek. "You always had it in you. You, Scarlet Blake, are a survivor. Nothing can stop that. Nothing. Even without me, you would have gone down this path. You have the best of hearts...and you're the strongest, smartest woman I have ever know known," he whispered, stroking gently before pulling her close to hug. "And I love you."

She held him tightly, her breath aching in her chest as she closed her eyes with his words. She took a moment, just taking warmth from the embrace of the man who had, whatever he said, pretty much looked after her as a teenager. "Love you too, Jeroen, and so does that little girl in there, so you can't be taking off," she warned, but with a soft laugh, returning to better spirits.

He smiled gently, nodding as he touched her hair, stroking it. "I will always be there for you and her. No matter what, you have my unconditional love and support," he whispered, with a weak smile. He did love her. So, so much. And Lily too.

Scarlet searched his eyes for a long moment. She wasn't sure if it was the strain and exhaustion of the last couple of weeks, but she suddenly let words slip out that would never usually pass her lips. "I wish she had a father, someone like you, to help her through everything that will happen," she whispered, her voice breaking just for a moment with it.

He watched her, swallowing as he stroked over her hair. He pulled her close, kissing her forehead before kissing her cheeks. "Scarlet..." he met her eyes, holding them firmly. "She has me. She is never going to be alone...I might not be her father by blood, but...I love her like she was my daughter. It might not be right. It might very well be the last thing you'd want...but I do. That little girl...I'd do anything for her. Just like I'd do anything for you."

Scarlet searched his eyes, taking a long moment to know he meant it, but also getting herself back under control, clearing her throat and nodding softly, pressing her lips together. "She kind of does that to you," she whispered, finally smiling gently again.

He nodded, watching her for a long moment. Lily wasn't the only one. He let out a breath, looking away. "She does. She's a good girl, that one. Cut from the same cloth as her mother."

Scarlet laughed softly, shaking her head as she watched her hands. "I'm not always good, Roen," she glanced back to him with a small, teasing smile, much more like herself again after getting it all out.

Jeroen smiled at the words, shaking his head as he watched her. "You're good where it counts. In your heart. Sometimes, good means you have to be a bit naughty and creative."

"I like your take on life," Scarlet laughed softly, shifting up to him so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Jeroen."

"It is good to be back," he said, turning his face to kiss her hair. "You will never lose me, Scarlet. Or my love." He smiled as he reached for the small box, offering it to her. "Don't think Lily was the only person who should get a present."

Scarlet laughed softly with disbelief, shaking her head as she took it from him. "Jeroen, you didn't have to get me a gift," she said with surprise, and no small amount of embarrassment...yet she was also eager to see what it was.

He smiled as he held her eyes, taking a deeper breath. "I wanted to. I wanted to get you something."

Opening the box carefully, Scarlet smiled with awe at the contents. She reached down, touching the natural shard of jade that was set as a pendant on a white gold chain. She ran her fingertips over it, just feeling it with a warm smile before looking to him with gratitude. "This is beautiful, Roen, it's too much!" she laughed gently with pleasure all the same, kissing his cheek before turning to let him put it on her.

He smiled as he put it on her, taking his time as he let out a soft breath, brushing her hair from her shoulder. "It made me think of you. Something...strong. But elegant."

Scarlet smiled brightly at the words, turning her head enough to see him. "You charmer, I love it, thank you."

He smiled as he touched her cheek, watching her. "How are you feeling anyway? Your head injury?"

"Still getting headaches," she admitted with a slight shrug, giving a half smile. "But that's probably just all the crap that's been going on."

He frowned with concern before kissing her hair. "Should see a doctor," he said quietly. But he would not pressurise her either. It wasn't in him.

"I will if they carry on once things have settled down, when work's slowed up and when Sickbay is empty again," Scarlet nodded, slapping his thigh gently. "So no more worrying."

He nodded, a small smile on his lips as he took her hand. "I worry because I love you. I can't and won't turn that off..." he said gently, relaxing as he watched her.

"You're a stubborn bastard," she teased, but with an obvious fondness for the man who had seen her through a lot in her life, even back as a kid.

He held her eyes, smiling gently at the words. "I am," he admitted quietly. "You know that more than anyone."

"I also appreciate it more than anyone," Scarlet replied seriously. There was room in life for stubbornness. Especially with so much uncertainty.

"You appreciate everything about me more than anyone," Jeroen said teasingly before kissing her cheek. "But you are okay now."

Scarlet took a deep breath before nodding, watching him with bright eyes. "Yes. You know me. Takes a lot to knock me down."

OFF:

PO2 Jeroen Adlar
Geoengineer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Rice]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

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