The Reunion Part 1: First meeting

Posted on 19 Dec 2016 @ 1:42am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant JG Stephanie Fraiser (KIA) & Senior Chief Petty Officer Martin Caine (KIA)

2,256 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: Earth - Starfleet rehab services
Timeline: MD -130 1420 hrs

On:

Stephanie groaned glaring at the physical therapist putting her through agony before Glancing sideways at her now three month old daughter burbling happily beside her before sighing "how many more leg lifts again?"

Martin was walking around the facility when he thought he heard a voice, it was a long time ago, but yes it sounded very familiar. *Stephanie, Sorry Lieutenant Fraiser?* if it was who he thought it was he would be fine.

"Martin?" Stephanie thought she was going mad she was sure she heard a voice she hadn't heard since before the accident *Martin? Why so formal? It's Stephanie or Steph to you always*

He smiled and said "l'm going to be fine." *Steph where are you?* He sent to her, the good thing about being Betazoid is once your locked onto someone you can talk to them from anywhere.

*In the gym being tortured by the physiotherapist.* she gave up any pretence of completing the last lifts her body aching and exhausted.

*I'll be there in a few minutes.* Martin smiled and started jogging down to the gym, he walked in and saw the baby playing in the corner. "Hello Steph who's that. He said and pointed over at the young girl.

"That's Jamie ... your neice." She smiled as Jamie tried to roll over to get a look at him while making cooing sounds.

"Oh that's the little rapscallion that my mother was talking about. I guess born just after the crash." He placed a hand on his back and strewed he back gently.

Jamie snuggled into her soft blanket as Steph nodded "Your mother always blamed me for your fall and back injury at school. She tried to take Jamie away from me."

"I am so sick of her fifth house nobility. She annoys me so much. You weren't even there I don't blame you Steph and I never have. She tried to do my counselling would you believe." Martin said as he turned red with anger.

"Unfortunately I would. No offense but your mother is a nutcase." Steph had to take a restraining order out on the woman. "I dont suppose you would consider being Jamie's guardian should anything happen to me?"

Martin looked over at the blanket spread on the Floor. Then said "She was bad enough before James died. I think she snapped when that happened. She has been working on peoples mental abilities for so long I think his death broke her worse than it did my father. Could have something to do with their retirement too." He saw Jamie trying to roll over and then after giving up on that trying to stick a blanket wrapped fist in her mouth. He went over and picked her up and said out loud "I suppose if I am to be her guardian I should get to know her. then mentally he sent to her *Hello Jamie, I am your fathers brother. Uncle Marty.*

Gurgling up at him Jaimie waved a soggy fist at him happily sending happy content feelings at him *Ma-ma ...* she giggled mentally.

"Yes okay Jamie Granny Caine is not getting close to you. I don't think she would actually hurt you but Uncle won't let her try." he smile at Steph, "Yes I will be her guardian, but lets work on nothing happening to you!"

Steph grinned back "That definitely sounds like a good plan. How is your dad doing?" His dad was a good man even if his wife was harriden. "Dont suppose you know of a way to let him have some time with his grand daughter without her finding out?"

"Not here I can't cause Mum knows all the nurses here having worked here long term before her retirement but I think I might be able to do just that." Martin said with a smile.

Jaimie yawned and snuggled in his arms as her eyes closed after her busy morning. Smiling at her Stephanie got herself back into the chair she was using to move around in. "Have they given you somewhere to stay? I have a spare bedroom if they havent."

"Well I had only just travelled back from Risa. I was doing my treatment there cause it was only counselling and psychiatric treatment and grief management. I wasn't Physically injured like you were. Though I suppose that it would give me free access to my Jamie. So was the little one brought on by the accident?" Martin asked.

"I went into shock and it brought on the labour ... she was roughly three months early. Its only thanks to the artificial wombs they created that she was able to come out of it without any issues."

"Good cause I plan on helping you for as long as I can to make her a healthy young lady." Martin said steadily giving Jamie loving energy before he said "Yes I like to take the extra room at home. I am sure I will find a good counsellor and Psychiatrist to finish off the grief management and maybe I could help you get used to you physical pain too."

Stephanie finally relaxed tears coming to her eyes "Thanks Marty ... I mean it ... I just didnt know how I was going to do this on my own." Honestly she wasnt sure she COULD do it on her own.

"It's okay Steph, to be honest I didn't know if I would get over it myself. I am thinking of get my Scar from the back surgery covered with a Phoenix to show I can rise from anything. I think having a little family contact might help me recover too." Martin said.

She gave him a surprised look "You too? I was thinking of doing the same thing!"

"I think someone is cheating, James loved the story of the Phoenix and how it rose from the ashes of it's death. Some of his school results were Phoenix like." Martin winked at Steph knowing the reason for the improvement in his science results. "You got him to Cadet levels for science."

Chuckling sadly she admitted "He always liked to have the last say didnt he... He did the work... I just gave him incentives."

"I think I can undertstand the incentives you are a really pretty lady Ma'am." Martin said as an officer went past the door. "But yes if James thought he was right he would argue the ears off even mother. I really think that is what she has missed. Dad gives in to easy. Are you done here standing still for long periods still hurts a little!"

Blushing at his compliment she started the chair out the door heading towards the two bedroom cottage she shard with her daughter and now Martin as well. "You can sit and relax at home... Let me know if JJ gets too heavy for you to carry." The gravity in the cottage had been decreased so that she was comfortable.

That was one of the things that Martin missed about Steph. Even though growing up he had been five years older than either of them it was like Steph loved both brothers equally. "Okay I'll let you know but, but she's no heavier than small bag of grain and I did plenty of shifting those from place to place in my junior years." He smiled gently as JJ blew a fairly damp raspberry at her mother. Which brought a laugh to his chest.

Opening the door to the cottage Steph chuckled at the raspberry. "Just like her daddy... Needs the last word."

"Yes I'd agree with that." Martin said. "It is a good reminder. Mother would find a way of blaming it on you."

Steph laughed "She needs new material."

"Oh this nice." Martin said as he entered the cottage and felt the lightening of Gravity and felt the pain lessen. "Mother needs to shut her mouth I mean as a psychiatrist you would think she would have a nicer personality."

Relaxing as the reduced gravity kicked in Steph smiled seeing his relief "She really needs to turn from transmit to listening to people."

"Yeah I think she probably missed that lecture at the academy. Probably thought I'm Betazoid Nobility what can Fleet teach that I don't already know." Martin then looked at Stephanie and said "Least you only had to put up with her for the last few years of high school and the Academy rest of the time has been at a distance. I've had it all my life!"

She made a face at that before smiling at a finally sleepingJJ. "You have the magic touch with your niece."

"I think the fresh air had a lot to do with it. It will be interesting to see how she handles the fully recycled air of a ship. I expect you will have a few teething problems in trying to get her settled at night but remember Uncle is only a phone call away he said and tapped the side of his head."

"She is growing fast in understanding ... she already recognises her name and some instructions." Steph gave a look that was proud of her daughter.

"Well that is something to be proud of. I can see she is going to pretty like her mum, so I guess she got the best of both her parents. Right now we have to concentrate on getting you better." Martin said to Steph with a smile. "Or my mother will win."

Steph nodded with a sigh "The physio thinks it will take 6 more months.... and I will still need a chair at times or decreased gravity. They have it decreased in here by 20%."

"Good that would coincide with me returning to the fleet. After that I am off to Starbase 234 and the Galileo. The psychology department say I should be ready abouthen. The gravity can slowly be adjusted up as you get stronger." Martin said with a smile.

"The Galileo has been mentioned as a possible ship for me too given the joint medical and science. They want me to go into research or the other option is medical retirement."

"Well either way I am sure the Nova class have family rooms. It will help keep mum off your tail." Martin said with a smile as he finished with "Fair repayment for the cottage."

"Works for me... Though you don't have to pay me back. Honestly I miss the company, and the adult talk." She smiled as he lay JJ down in her bassinet.

"I mean that's if they discharge you, I think I woukd like to be close, and I think the psychology department might say having friends out there might be good to start with." Martin said.

"I think they would say that. And it would be good to have a metaphorical hand being held. I have nightmares about the shuttle and being trapped. "

"So long as it is only metaphorically speaking I can do it. Your an officer and not in the command department but you were almost my sister, Steph." Martin said. "Though having a daddy near by would be good for Jamie too."

"It would ... there are things only a daddy figure can teach a child. I would rather you in her dad's place then some stranger." She moved over to the replicator "Can I get you a drink? Or food?"

Martin was a little stunned, but at the same time he say a very simple logic there so after he thought about it he did too. "For some reason I am finding cold green tea with ginger soothing for the time being. I'd give it an hour and then just have a light lunch. I feel like playing with Jamie over having to much heavy. Are you expressing or formula for Jamie. *If its is otherwise I can let you do that.* OOC: I expect it would be formula for her because of the transference of medication issues otherwise.

Formula was my plan*

Steph shook her head as she handed him his tea. "I'm using formula ad many of the pain meds and drugs pass into the breast milk."

"Yeah dad liked to drill that thought of thing to us too. I think he hoped his brilliant science guy might take after him. But alas robotics and holographics took him. Though I don't think it took much leading." Martin smiled as he took his cup of tea at the blush rising in Stephanie's cheeks then said "That looks good on you."

She grinned "And yet James made me do medical and science."

"Oh Steph He made Suggestion, Okay suggestions that were likely difficult to resist but you still accepted the challenge." Martin smiled at her before he continued by saying, "It was still your decision to do Science and medicine. And look at your achievements in both fields by the way one of the brains behind the first permanent solid form EMH." Martin took a sip of his tea. "Oh you remembered the right amount of sugar, it was sugar not that saccharin stuff you used to tout was it?"

She giggled "I wouldn't do that to you."

"If mum was there probably just to annoy her." Martin said with a smile enjoying the cooing baby in the main bedroom from the lounge as he enjoyed the conversation and reminiscence about James.

"Well there is that." She laughed as he knew her well.

OFF:

SCPO Martin Caine
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo
NCC 80010

Lt jg Stephanie Fraiser
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo
NCC 80010

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