A glassful of wine helps the medicine go down...

Posted on 08 Sep 2018 @ 9:23am by Commander Luke Wyatt & Commander Scarlet Blake

2,881 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: USS Galileo-A, Deck 1, Section 13, Room 03, Scarlet's Quarters
Timeline: MD 140 - 2100

[ON]

Luke pressed the door chime to Scarlets and Lily’s room, for once he was actually here on business and not just to either relax with Scarlet or Child mind Lily. Though all work and no play was no fun so it was no surprise Luke had brought a bottle of red wine with him, which he held in one hand and in the other his interdepartmental reports. He didn’t want to ring the chime a second time knowing that Lily would have just gone to bed or already be sleeping so instead he waited patiently.

It took a few more moments before Scarlet opened the door, dressed in a simple jumpsuit, but she was barefoot. "Sorry," she moved aside, motioning him inside with a slight chuckle. "I tried to sneak in a shower after Lily went to bed, you caught me just on my way out."

Luke let out a small laugh keeping it low and quiet, "Then I am the one who should apologise for arriving early, How are you both doing?" He asked standing in the middle of the room with the bottle of wine in hand.

"Fine, fine," she assured with a small smile, moving to get them glasses. "I hope you plan to get me drunk," she joked lightly, arching an eyebrow to him as she set the glasses onto the table. "It's the best way to get things done quickly," she teased.

Luke undone the bottle, uncorking it easily with the modernised screw top cork. “I hadn't been planning on getting you drunk if I’m honest, I planned on getting myself drunk” he replied light heatedly with a chuckle. Picking up her glass and handing it to her Luke then placed down the bottle and picked up his own. “I guess this will be the quickest department report yet”

"You won't hear me complaining," she assured with a soft chuckle as she settled to sit with him, tapping her glass to his. "Thanks," she cast him a small smile before sipping her wine, giving a slight sigh as she lowered the glass. "You have good taste."

Sipping his own drink he shrugged with a smile. “What can I say I’m a wine connoisseur” Luke set his glass down and picked up his PaDD “So I’m thinking if we get this over and done with sooner rather than later we can rescue the night relaxing and it means we’ll still be slightly sober and our reports won’t be a garbled mess”

She gave a mock sigh before giving a serious nod. "I can't argue with your logic. I knew there was a reason we kept you around."

Sipping his drink he chuckled "And I always thought it was my looks!" Luke put his glass down and quickly switched it with his PaDD. "So the first thing I guess would be Manning, right now we're doing pretty well in all officer positions but I would like to get some more non-commisioned officers, mainly for armoury duties and the like. To that end then I'd like to put in a request for 6 more a team essentially from crewman to warrant officer, I've checked the quartermaster and there's going to be enough room, Thoughts?"

Scarlet's facial expression took on the more usual cool and focused look as she leant in to look over the crew list he held. She nodded slowly, going through each member of the list in her mind before tapping the edge of the padd. "I think it could be a good idea. Some specialists could be valuable on the new ship, to cover all bases. They'd also bring a lot to training exercises," she gave him a small, wry smile at that.

Luke was glad she agreed so continued, "That they would, I've also spoken to our Boatswain and she'd be happy to take on the extra training, one which I'll supervise but not control." He finished speaking to take a sip of his wine, picking it up and placing it down in one fluid motion.

"Now this time about and with the extra hands it should mean we can actually be more political about how we approach things, I'm a little more cautious in our approach towards security and emergency matters and will object heavily towards the captain leaving this ship on away missions unless it's absolutely necessary. Furthermore whenever at any readiness state I wish there to be a security presence on the bridge, in the background but monitoring. This role isn't included in the normal on-duty security personnel manning at our temporary tactical and the role is only there to provide a safety net for the bridge crew during critical moments" He paused allowing her to counter any thoughts.

"I could see that working at red and yellow alert," Scarlet nodded gently as she thought it over. "As for the Captain, you won't find any argument here. However...the Captain may have other ideas..." she added the last with a half smile.

He nodded taking a mental note of her comment to put in his report "Red and Yellow alert, I can work with that. You are right though it may be a struggle keeping the captain to adhere to protocol that's where I'll need the support of yourself and Ban" Luke let out a heavy sigh "The rest of this I think is pretty self-explanatory, it's my general department reports manning, resources and current readiness states I could leave it with you to gloss over its pretty boring stuff. Any come back?"

"I'll have a read over it when I'm at my desk tomorrow. Save you the boredom of having to just stare at me in silence," she assured with a slight shake of her head. "I would like to see your training programme though, when you have it ready."

"Of course, at a glance, I'm starting from the basics. I and Chief Ghoc decided that with the number of new crew it was wise. Those like I and you, the old dogs that have been around for a while will probably benefit in one way or another." Luke paused, "A sort of remind and revise so to speak. It'll be weekly with two different classes a week which will progress in difficulty depending on how each class pick up their lessons but if we do get any stragglers ill to have the lessons staggered so that if they fall back they can attend the other class or get a one to one with myself or the chief. Open to all, of course, no point keeping it to just security"

"So long as it doesn't become too much for you," she replied with genuine concern. He had a department to run after all, she didn't want him to become overwhelmed with requests to work individually with people. She also knew the last months hadn't been easy on him.

He appreciated her words and said “I’ll make sure I keep on top of things and besides the chief will also be helping so between the two of us I’m sure we’ll be able to manage” Luke drank again from his glass and noticed it empty. “Top up?” He asked brandishing the glass.

She nodded with a small smile, offering her glass to him with a slight chuckle. "Is there anything you can't do?" she teased lightly.

Luke tipped the bottle towards her glass filling it up slowly. “I can think of a few things.” Least of which is capturing your heart he thought before knocking the motion out mind. He’d accepted that he might never be at that stage with Scarlet. Finishing the top up he placed the bottle. Luke observes Scarlet for a moment taking in her face and smiled “So.” He said plainly before adding “I think that’s covers mostly everything?”

"Yes, for now, that's good," she nodded gently, sipping her drink carefully, resting her elbow on the back of the sofa and her head in her hand, remaining silent for a long moment. "Do you ever miss it?" she suddenly asked, meeting his eyes. "The Marines, I mean. Do you ever..." she shook her head, shrugging.

“Yes, and No.” He said thinking more deeply about his response and his time in the marines. “It was a difficult time to be a marine, I mean the likely hood of us talking here, now after the war alone is short of a miracle” he shrugged, “But I do miss it, the thrill of battle the comradeship, its not quite the same on a starship, not quite as gritty”

Scarlet nodded slowly as he spoke, taking his words in, understanding them easily enough. "The counsellor in me should probably be concerned that I sometimes miss it," she chuckled softly. "I mean, this is a more...peaceful life. Less...violent. But sometimes..." she shrugged again, letting out a soft breath. "Oh I don't know, maybe I don't. Maybe it's just hindsight and nostalgia playing tricks on me."

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing to miss it, after all it shaped you for who you are. It gave you lily and made you the mum you are today. You turned out alright, and lily well she’s just a star you’re both lucky to have one another.” he smiled reassuringly.

Scarlet smiled with clear gratitude at the words, sipping her drink before giving a soft sigh. "Is that how you met Lillian?" she asked gently. She'd never asked about how he'd met his ex before, knowing it was a tender subject. But he'd been through a lot recently. Maybe talking about Lillian and Abby would give him some solace.

He nodded slowly his face turning grey at the mention of Lilian, “Yes we went during a training exercise during basic. She was something else. Resilient, independent, funny and intelligent so much like Abbey, we just had different paths to take and when she died I realised then I should have done more as a boyfriend and father” Luke drank from his wine glass before adding, “You’ve never told me, and I’ve never asked but... Lily’s father? Just tell me if I’m overstepping your boundaries but is he why we... I can’t ever get to close?” Luke hoped he wouldn’t upset her, but he did need to understand, and since they were talking about their pasts maybe it was a good thing to get it all out in the open.

The question took Scarlet slightly off guard, having been prepared to continue down the path of Lillian and Abby. She was silent for a long moment, looking into her wine, frowning as she swallowed hard. It wasn't something she had really talked about. Even back when she'd had counselling, she'd often skirted around the issue with Lake, even if he was sharp enough to have gotten beneath the skin of it. Perhaps it was childish of her. If she didn't speak about it, then it wasn't real. "No," she finally replied, wanting to at least be honest with him after his unconditional friendship that he had offered. "No, he's nothing," she said quietly. "He's no one. No, it was Christopher who really hurt more," she shrugged as if it didn't really matter, but she was looking into her drink rather than at him. "Christopher was my...boyfriend, I suppose you'd call him. I haven't heard from him in years though, so..." she shrugged with a cool expression.

“I’ve made you few uncomfortable,” he said sadly, seeing that she refused to look at him “I’m sorry, I just... For a counsellor you don’t really listen to your own advice, beg me if I’m wrong I’m only a grunt but im always here for you Scarlet you know that I won’t hold any judgement you’ve earned that.” He sighed “We should change the topic and finish this bottle no?” He said trying to lighten the mood.

She gave a small but grateful smile to that, holding her glass out to him with a nod. "You're right, of course. As a counsellor, perhaps there is an element of 'do as I say, not as I do'," she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Still, most therapists are much better at playing doctor than patient," she pointed out with an almost playful gleam.

“I can't argue with that; well except for more wine.” Luke teased. “I’m looking forward to departing it should be quiet the experience this time around, new ship and a new crew. How’s Lily taking to living on a ship again?”

"Over the moon," Scarlet had to admit, shaking her head with a wry smile over how excited the girl had been. "She enjoyed earth for a while, but it wasn't 'home' to her. She's used to a ship and crew. Being on the move. She just thinks it's one big adventure."

Luke couldn’t help but chuckle, “That’s what it is, isn’t it? One big adventure going from one unknown thing to another, I mean that’s why we joined Starfleet right? Adventure and discovery? She’ll make a great captain one day!”

"Bloody hell, don't say that," Scarlet chuckled, covering her face with her hands. "I don't think my heart can take her joining up."

Luke laughed “Oh come on Scarlet! She’s every bit like her mother, asks a lot of questions about loves being in space, I get it though! I think I had a heart attack when Lillian told me Abbey was applying for the academy!”

Scarlet nodded to him with warmth, enjoying talking to someone who understood. There weren't many around who knew what it was like. "She's so fearless," she said softly, with a fond smile. "Part of me loves it. The other part of me is terrified of it."

“Take it from a father who has already been through it. All you can do is prepare her for whatever path she takes, I had hoped Abbey would want to just remain on Earth as a teacher” Luke paused sipped his drink and added with a cheesy grin “Wait till she brings back her first boyfriend!” He teased looking over the rim of his glass.

"No, no, no..." Scarlet waved a hand at him, her head shaking in the same rhythm. "House rule number 1 shall be no dating until she's 32..."

“Not all the house rules in the world can stop the inevitable, one day you’ll be cooking a lovey meal for two and she walks in and introduces you to little old Johnny the college football player 2 years above her and suddenly you’re cooking for three!” Luke went on laughing as he spoke.

She shook her head with a soft laugh, rolling her eyes as she rubbed her face at the prospect. "Yes, and he can be introduced to my rifle. I might even give him a ten seconds head start, if he's lucky."

Luke laugh began to dwindle until he too was wiping away the tears he had somehow coaxed from his eyes "They grow up too fast don't they, One minute they're out catching dragons and the next they're graduating from the academy or some other institute." He let out a long sigh his eyes refocusing on Scarlet. "Drinks gone" he said not sure where to take their conversation from now.

"Is that why you're crying?" she teased, but good naturedly, shaking her head. "If you need to be off, don't feel you have to be polite and stay. I'm a big girl, I'm sure I'll be okay."

"Yes" He said smiling thanking her silently for always knowing the right thing to say. "Big enough perhaps for another bottle or do you need to go to bed?" Luke asked almost like a challenge.

Scarlet chuckled softly, shaking her head with a gentle sigh. "Oh in other circumstances, most definitely another bottle, but..." she motioned to Lily's room, shaking her head with a fond smile.

"I don't think Lily would want a glass of wine" He said saddened that their night was coming to and end. "I guess it is getting late and I should get myself to bed. I had a good time and it gave us the opportunity to get some work done."

"Well, now we know we're working together, we should make it a routine," she said firmly, nodding for good measure. It was nice, to be this comfortable with him again.

Luke stood, tugging at his shirt to pull the creases that had formed from sitting down and brushed his sleeves down. "Well until next time Commander," he said using her rank rather than her name.

Scarlet shook her head, chuckling softly as she pushed herself up, stretching out. "Don't leave it too long, 'Commander," she half teased in return.

Turning he walked from where they were sat and into the doorway, only turning to say "Goodnight Scarlet." He said before yawning as he walked out of her room and down the corridor towards his own quarters.

[END]

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Chief of Ministry of Magic
USS Galileo-A

Commander Scarlet Blake
Second Officer
USS Galileo-A

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