I.O.U.

Posted on 17 Jan 2016 @ 10:18pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Pieter Van Zyl Ph.D.

820 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo, Deck , Pieter/Tyrion quarters
Timeline: MD29

ON:

There was no way around it, and Tyrion felt he had only one person to turn to with this. Only one person he trusted to do this. "Piet?" Carrying the small wrapped up bundle in his arms, Tyrion entered the room he shared with his best friend. "Are you in?"

Coming out of the bedroom, Pieter slowly took the gloves off his hands before reaching for his discarded VOICE from the nearby coffee table. Settling it into place and activating it, he smiled at Tyrion as he made his way over to him. Noticing the bundle, his smile widened considerable as he stepped next to Tyrion to look down at the baby.

The baby looked up at the man and waved tiny fists in the air, seemingly smiling at him. Tyrion smiled too. "I need a favour Piet," he started, as he resettled Dania on his arm. "It's a huge favour and I know I made you a promise and you know I'll keep it...but this will make me owe you. Bigtime.... "

Pieter's smile disappeared from his face as he got a pretty good idea of what exactly Tyrion might need. He needed what his siblings always needed when their children were this small.

Seeing the smile disappear, Tyrion sighed. "It's not a must Piet, I can take no for an answer but I've got no-one else....Me and Gray are going to Betazed to have our bond fixed because as it is it might kill Gray. He's suffering bad headaches and we need help. We'll be gone about two weeks....please Piet...can you look after Dania? I'll owe you...and I mean really owe you...but I'd be extremely grateful."

Pieter didn't look too happy, but he did have the look of a man resigned to his fate. After all, he wasn't going to let some random person take care of Tyrion's child. "Of course, I'll take her," he told him.

"Oh thank you!" Relief flooded the Betazoid's face. "She's very easy...set times for bottle, you know..." He resisted offering a hug, then hugged his best friend anyway. "Thank you." He offered the baby for him to hold. "We're leaving in the morning...."

Pieter nodded an affirmative before reaching out and taking the baby into his arms. The movement came naturally to him, the motion practiced with his various nieces, nephews and younger cousins.

"I know she'll be in good hands," Tyrion offered, seeing the motions as if he were a pro. "If you've any trips planned though please don't let her stop you... I don't want to ruin any of your plans."

Pieter gave a look, unimpressed with him. After all, it wasn't exactly fair to just barge in and shove the newborn into his hands, desperate, and then talk about not wanting to be intrusive. He set the baby down on the nearby couch to be able to sign back.

"Tyrion, it's fine. I don't have plans to go anywhere," Pieter assured him.

But the Betazoid did feel guilty about doing this. "I'll make it up to you," he promised, "I owe you, big time."

"You do," Pieter agreed.

"Can I give you a hug?" Pleading black eyes looked up at Pieter.

But Pieter just shook his head. He wasn't a physically affectionate person on the best of days, and he certainly wasn't feeling it now. "Just give me Dania's feeding schedule and tell me if she has anything she needs that I should know."

"She has no special requirements that I'm aware of. Her schedule's on a PADD in her bag. If you need anything just request it from the replicator, I trust you. Completely, or I wouldn't ask this." Tyrion managed a grateful smile. "I'll just tell her goodbye for now because I really have to go now." He knelt before the couch and hugged the baby girl, tears forming in his eyes. He barely knew her, and yet he already missed her terribly.

Pieter took the opportunity to look through Dania's bag to fish out the paDD there and give it a good look through, allowing Tyrion some time.

Giving her a final hug and kiss and quiet assurances and promises he would return to her, Tyrion straightened. HIs black eyes were filled with tears. "Take care of her," he murmured, then turned to walk away. "I'll be back in a few weeks."

"Don't bother saying goodbye to me," Pieter said, waving him off with a roll of his eyes.

But he did anyway, despite knowing Piet wasn't the huggy sort. He got up, gave Piet a quick kiss on his cheek then got out of range. "Bye," he choked out, before ducking out of the room they shared.

OFF:

Ensign Tyrion Faye
CIO
USS Galileo

Dania Faye
Tyrion's daughter
npc Tyrion
USS Galileo

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

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