Like Sand Through the Hourglass… - Part One

Posted on 05 Feb 2016 @ 12:10am by Lieutenant Wilhelm Von Haeften & Petty Officer 1st Class Rebecca Williams

3,843 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo: Von Haeften's Quarters
Timeline: MD88 1347hours

[ON]

Wilhelm Von Haeften sat contentedly in his chair, listening to some film noiresque jazz music. Sometimes, when the mood struck him, he would narrate what he was doing in a hard-boiled detective monologue to amuse himself. Some of his friends had tried several holosuite programs of detective novels and they highly recommended it. In fact, somewhere buried within Wil’s belongings, he had a copy of said friends provided him.

“The Teutonic scientist stared down at the PADD, as if expecting the answers to life within its cold, metallic exterior. The air was stale, of used cigarettes and used up hope. The rain outside was a hard rain, a bitter rain, like the tears from fallen angels.” Wil said in a deep voice.

The German laughed at the silliness of it all.

Reports, reports, and more reports. If someone had told him when he was 16 that Starfleet loved their reports, he might’ve become a doctor instead like Mom wanted. He was expecting a delivery from the Skipper’s Yeoman, the first time he had seen the young lady. Normally, as a Department Head, he and the Yeoman would’ve had at least a passing knowledge of each other, but, being the new kid on the block, allowed Lucero, his ACSO, and the CRO to do a lot of the lifting along with him and remain the public ‘face’ of SCIDEP. It was done that way deliberately; Wil wanted to demonstrate that he was a team player, and that he had no intention of becoming an autocrat or a martinet in how he lead the department.

From reports, she was quite the looker. Wil would’ve been tempted, but he was still fresh with memories of Rebecca.

Wil put down the PADD and let his head rest against the neck of the chair as he thought about the young lady who for too brief a time was his lover, his dancing companion. She ended up as the most graceful, charming, and beautiful woman he had ever known, his own personal Venus come to flesh. It wasn’t just the physical attraction that drew Wilhelm. In between their...physical expressions of passion, they had actually found time to talk..a little. Turns out she was smart as a whip. She enjoyed such things as ancient cultures and languages, same as Wil did. They differed primarily about music; Von Haeften enjoyed the classics, while Rebecca liked contemporary. She was what male officers in the Reserves called a Unicorn, that impossible combination of beauty, seduction, and intelligence. Yet she had it.

Wil also enjoyed playing ‘what if’ games in his head concerning those aspects about Rebecca she did not share, the mysterious parts. He liked to imagine she was the Chief Engineer, or maybe a fighter pilot. Heck, she could’ve been the Aide to one of the Admirals at the symposium. He shivered and laughed nervously, as he imagined explaining THAT ONE to an Admiral that he was planning on courting the flag officer’s Yeoman.

WIlhelm smirked one more time as he remembered that his abs still ached occasionally from their exertions. It did sadden him that their duties aboard different ships would keep them apart until the next shore leave, but Wil was fine with waiting. For such a lady, he would move the moon with his bare hands if it meant bringing them closer together.

Von Haeften lifted his head and went back to his music as he awaited the young ladies arrival, the smirk on his face not yet having left his face.

::Corridor::

Rebecca rubbed a hand across her forehead as she tried to ease the tension building within. The symposium was coming to an end today and with it the headache of the science ship’s involvement would finally finish. Although the worst of the work had been done on the symposium's first day, with various members of the crew giving presentations, there was still schedules to compile and people to account for in the days since. Least of all her Boss...his blasted disappearing acts weren’t helping on that account.

Letting out a sigh as she made a follow-up notation on her PADD, Rebecca noted the next item on her list. Meet new CSO. She was beginning to wonder if the man actually existed. Although his name was on the manifest, Lieutenant Von Haeften if memory served her right, he was proving to be a bit of an enigma to say the least. Were it not for the fact that the crew’s gossip was full of talk on how his presentation had centered around sex, she would think him a figment of the Federation’s imagination.

On which note...sex. She couldn't even think of the word lately without certain memories coming alive and replaying themselves in her mind. Who was she kidding...not a minute of the day passed without her thinking about that night and the man she had met. He haunted her every waking moment and at times even threatened to derail her work if she lingered too long.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Rebecca felt the headache behind her skull intensify. Since that night she’d made inquiries to see if she could track him down but with just a first name to go by and a station full of billions of people, her efforts hadn’t gotten her very far. It turned out that there was a number of people with the first name Wilhelm but she wasn’t quite certain they would appreciate receiving messages along the lines of ’Hi! I don’t suppose that you the Wilhelm who rocked my world in less than twelve hours on the night of stardate 65910.288? although she might be more worried about those who answered with the hope they could persuade her it was actually them.

A smile crossed the woman’s lips as she realised how silly her thought process was beginning to get. Ever since that night it seemed that everything in her life had taken on a different light and it was taking some adjusting to get used to.

Moving through the corridors of deck four, Rebecca knew the direction which she needed to take; how many times had she been down here in recent months. Being primarily a science vessel it meant that many of the reports across her desk were science oriented. While out on missions it had become more time saving to just hike down here herself with questions which needed to be asked instead of waiting for people to find the time to send her their replies. It also helped that the USS Galileo was so small. Running around her corridors took no time at all and helped to keep the yeoman fit.

During shore leave the pressure had been reduced and the woman hadn’t become lazy as such with the reduction in her workload, it was more so to do with with the fact that the scaled back ship’s activities had given her time more time to herself...to just come to terms with all that had happened when in the alternative universe. Good friends and colleagues had been lost and people she had long ago lost seemed to come back alive but they weren’t who she remembered them to be. Events such as what she experienced and witnessed left their scars.

As she felt the headache intensify further, Rebecca rubbed her forehead again as she came to her destination; unintentionally just continuing to walk through when she found the door open. “I’m looking for Lieutenant Junior Grade Von Haeften?”

Wilhelm had heard the footsteps of the lady in the hall, and presumed that it was the Yeoman, because he had heard she was punctual, and it was right on time for her scheduled arrival. He had decided to have some fun with the young woman. He turned his chair around so that no part of him was visible.

As they lady came in, she was interrupted by the melancholic trumpet that was accompanying a light drum beat, as if she had stepped into a crime novel where everyone would smoke and be in monochrome features.

Wilhelm deepened his voice and began to speak in very over dramatic fashion.

“She walked into my office like a bird of prey, her eyes like the hunter. Her hair was wet, whether from the rain outside or her hair spray I could not be sure. All I knew this dame looked like trouble. Her hair as black as pitch, which probably complemented her soul. Little did I realize, that this lady, this raven haired femme fatale, would be a blast…”

Wil turned his chair to face the new addition to his office.

“...from..the…past?”

His mouth hung open as he realized that she, the woman who he had fallen so madly head over heels with, was standing before him, like a vision from the heavens.

Rebecca felt her headache grow as she listened to the the man speak...his voice caused her momentary confusion as it tugged at a memory in the back of her mind but she found difficulty placing it.

About to interrupt him and put him in his place for wasting her time, Rebecca felt the PADD fall from her hand as she finally saw his face. All thoughts of her headache and annoyance went out the door as she tried to find some words to say. It seemed like a dream as tears filled her eyes, “Wil...Wilhelm?”

“Rebecca…” Was all Von Haeften could say, the melancholic trumpet punctuating his words.

But Wil had no more words. His mouth still open in astonishment, the German CSO slowly got up out of his seat, as if trying to ascertain whether or not the lovely creature before him was an apparition or a dream. She was even more beautiful than he remembered in every waking dream he had had of her, the uniform she wore complementing her natural curves and her loveliness, her hair completely pulled back in plait which started at the crown of her head until it reached the middle of her back, which only showed every lovely mark and crevice of her gorgeous face.

Wilhelm Von Haeften was usually a talkative man, but here, he was at a loss. He had promised himself that he would have a whole slew of things to say, poetic, serious, teasing. None of it came forth though. He was too shocked, too elated, to see her in the same room as him.

The CSO was so close, he could hear her now heavy breaths. He reached out his right hand, palm outward, to gently touch her cheek. Upon contact with that same, warm, smooth skin he had come to cherish with all his soul, his hopes were confirmed. She was real, and she was here with him. If this was a dream, Wilhelm hoped to stay within it forever, his duties be damned.

The German placed a gentle, loving kiss on Rebecca's lips, his hand remaining gently cradling her cheek.

It almost felt like slow motion, Rebecca couldn’t move as she felt cemented in place; unable to do anything beyond allowing her eyes to follow Wil’s progress across the room until he stopped in front of her. And even then, she tried to believe that it was really him standing there and not an hallucination brought on by too much work and the never ending headache. The touch of his hand set her skin on fire as a soft gasp released from between her lips. “Wilhelm….?”

Her words were quickly cut off as Rebecca felt the press of his lips against hers, the memories came flooding back. The laughter, the passion, the ecstasy, it was like the days had never passed and they were still where they had been then.

Beginning to feel overwhelmed, the woman placed her hands against Wil’s chest as she pushed him back. Her breathing came harder as she kept her hands against his chest and ensured that he stayed an arms length away. “Von Haeften? Wilhelm Von Haeften? Chief Science Officer?” Her words were disorientated but Rebecca was still trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

“At your service my lady.” Wil said, the smile on his face impossibly large.

Feeling him push against her hand, Rebecca kept her limb rigid as she forced him to give her some room. This didn’t make sense, he wasn’t meant to be here.

“What’s the matter Darling?” the German scientist inquired.

Rebecca wasn’t certain if she was going to cry or smile or laugh or just scream...her emotions right now felt overwhelming as she tried to understand. Awareness was seeking into her body that this was him…this was her Wilhelm. The feel of his chest was still the same, it didn’t matter that his uniform jacket bulked it up, she’d spent hours exploring the trunk of his body and knew it as well as her own. The kiss...his soft lips...his loving caress...it was all Wilhelm but still...it didn’t make sense. How was he here?

“Do you know how many Wilhelm exist within the federation registry of citizens, officers and enlisted personnel within the federation...seventy six thousand one hundred and six….Do you know how many of them were present on Jupiter Station for the symposium?

“Seven?” Wil answered sheepishly, his voice rising an octave as he attempted humor.

“Forty three. I recall you telling me you originated from New Berlin on the Lunar Colony, do you know how many people of the forty three are from the same location?” Rebecca tried to keep her voice even as she rattled off the facts, her own grey eyes darkening as they never left Wilhelm’s.

“Twelve?” Wil said, using the same octave.

As her hand began to fist in the material of Wil’s jacket, she pulled him just an ever so slight bit closer as she paused for just a moment before saying her last part. “Thirty five. Of those thirty five I reached a dead end as I didn’t know if you were a civilian or an officer or an enlisted or..or I don’t know what.” Using her leverage, Rebecca pulled Wilhelm so he lost his balance slightly before falling into her chest, “Damn you to hell Wilhelm Von blasted Haeften” And with that, the woman pulled Wilhelm in all the way until her lips could attack his in a hot, searing kiss; part passion, part punishment.

Wil responded eagerly to her attack, and pushed his lips against hers as well. Part of him wanted to make sweet, tender love with her right there in his office. But he had some questions that he needed to answer.

“Liebchen*, don’t misunderstand me, I’m thrilled to see you again, but what are you doing aboard Galileo?” he asked. “How did you find me if your search went as cold as you say it did?”

Rebecca unknotted her fingers from Wilhelm’s jacket before moving down to pick up the PADD she had dropped on the ground and slamming her hand against the door panel in order to close it behind her. She didn’t know why but anger was still simmering underneath her surface. The woman didn’t know why she was mad, after all of her searching here he was, in flesh and blood, standing in front of her, but still...after all the blasted work she’d done to try find him, he’d turned up here...on the USS Galileo...her ship...not his.

“Because it seems you are an enigma who enjoys playing hide and seek so although I get given all of the information I request, it never comes from you but from either Lieutenant Junior Grade Manuel Lucero or Lieutenant Junior Grade Oren Idris.”

Wil could sense her anger, and was confused by it. Still, she was the woman he cared about, and so wanted to reassure and comfort her.

“Liebling**, I had no idea you served aboard the same ship as me. I don’t listen to scuttlebutt***, you know that, and not many officers mention your name that I knew of.”

Wil put his arms around his love. “Believe me, that if I even had an inkling you were here, I would have sought you out faster than a Tarkalion Hawk. I tried my own search to find you as well love. I had no idea either if you were a civilian, a reporter, an aide, an officer, or enlisted. Do you have any idea how many Rebecca Williams turn up in a search of the Extranet or fleet mailing list? 425,000 give or take. Curse you for having such a common albeit suitably pretty name.” the scientist said his last part with mild laughter, trying to tone down the mood. “You know what my plan was, when I had shore leave next? To send out a message to each and every one of those 425,000, hoping that one of them would get to you and we could see each other again.”

Rebecca felt her anger begin to waver as she listened to Wilhelm speak...it make her feel a little better to know that she hadn’t been the only one to put in effort towards trying to find the other. She didn’t mind the time she had taken, she'd have spent the rest of her life trying to find him if she could, it was more so the thought that there had been a strong possibility that she wouldn’t have been able to find him. And if she was honest with herself, it was that which had scared her the most. “You’re lucky...at least you had a surname to go on. If I’d had your surname I might have tracked you down a lot quicker.”

“Darling, I did mention my last name, several times actually. When we first met, and later while escorting you back to your place. Granted, you may not remember since you were crying during one instance, and the other, you were only after me for my body.” Wilhelm teased.

Rebecca used the PADD in her hand to hit Wilhelm’s arm before finally offering him a smile. “It can think of a couple of things I was after and your body was only one of them.” Leaning in, she kissed him very softly on his lips, just an experimental taste to remind herself that he was really here, before brushing her own fingertips across his cheek in a gentle caress. “You weren’t such a bad kisser if my memory serves me correct.”

“Let’s see if I can prove your memory correct.” Wil said, before bringing her close for a deep kiss.

This was the kind of kiss that only lovers knew. A kiss that echoed through eternity as the kind of kiss that made old ladies blush and cover the eyes of young children. The kind of kiss that promises things to come, not only sex, but love, and tenderness, of warm fireplaces and whispered dirty jokes. Of holding hands, of professed love, of cuddles when it was cold. Of slow dancing and maybe, somewhere far down the line, of white dresses and formal attire in a church.

Rebecca responded to the gentle caress of Wil lips with tenderness that surprised even herself. This was different than before...so many kisses had been shared between the two, in the throngs of passion or just during those moments of post coitus where they just enjoyed being in each other's arms with the aura of their sexual interactions still hung heavy in their bodies and minds. This...this felt like a kiss of two long lost lover's, reunited when they never thought it would happen again.

The woman moved in closer as she wrapped her arms around her lover’s waist...allowing herself to just savour this moment.

Wil was enjoying the moment more than any other in his thirty years of life. The Skipper could have walked in right there and demanded to know what was going on, and Wilhelm would have locked the door in his face and faced the court-martial later.

Eventually though, he needed air, and he broke the kiss, albeit reluctantly. He smiled that infectious smile Rebecca enjoyed so much as he spoke.

“You have no idea how happy I am that you are on this ship with me my sweet.” he said. The German glanced at her rank insignia.

“So….you are not an Admiral....what will I tell my friends now?” he joked.

Rebecca rubbed her fingers across the hem of Wil’s jacket as she smiled at his comment. For some reason she was unwilling to let him go. For as long as she held onto him, he couldn’t disappear on her again. “I think that my friends might be more impressed...it’s quite a feat for an enlisted crewmember to land themselves an officer. Probably also gives you more authority to be able to boss me around.” The woman’s last words were said with a tease in her voice.

“Depends...will you call me sir? Will you...follow your orders?” Wil said, a mischievous smirk lighting his face.

Rebecca laughed, leaning her head over to gently nip at the side of Wil’s jaw before letting go of his jacket and pulling back to put some distance between their bodies. “Don’t go there...last time we went there I barely made it to my shift on time and had to sacrifice trying to style the mess of my hair to manage it. Needless to say, my boss wasn’t impressed. I’ll just count myself lucky that he didn't put two and two together and get four when he saw the bruises.”

“Ha! You want me to set him straight Schatze****?” Wil volunteered, cracking his knuckles for effect as he went towards his desk, fully prepared to write the NCO or junior officer in question an angry note.

Following behind, Rebecca winced a little at Wil’s question. “Um...I’m not sure that would be such a good idea. Firstly because he outranks you by about…” Mentally the yeoman counted before finishing, “...four ranks? And secondly because technically he is your superior officer and I’m pretty sure you could be court martialed for setting a superior officer straight.”

*Sweetheart
**Darling
***Naval Slang: Gossip, rumor, hearsay
****Sweetie

[TBC]

A JP by:

Lieutenant JG Wilhelm Von Haeften
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

&

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Yeoman to the Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

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