A Long-Overdue Conversation (part 3)

Posted on Tue Jul 23rd, 2019 @ 12:09am by Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde & Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak
Edited on on Tue Jul 23rd, 2019 @ 12:18am

1,924 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Ghost of a Chance: Epilogue

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]


Jayde shook her head. "Did you learn anything?" she asked Bodrin.

"You had to ask?" Jason said knowing where this would lead.

[NEW]

"Yes... I did, actually." Bodrin replied, putting his hands behind his back, before continuing. "That the both of you need to chill out. Enjoy what you have because it could be a whole lot worse. Coming from a half Bajorian half Cardassian I should know about worse." He said with a smile before adding. "Just kiss and make-up because the past is exactly that. In the past. That's why its history and the future in a mystery. So, enjoy the moment, because it is a Gift. That's why its call the present." Bodrin leaned forward, tapping their shoulders, before leaning back and giving them a pleased smile. "I only just met you and I already can tell you and Jay are a great pair." He said to Jayde with a nod.

She could relate to his heritage, being half Bajoran herself. But right now, she had to lay down before she fell down, so she said nothing.

"Bodrin..." Jason said with slight reluctance. "Man the Office while I am gone."

"No problem, Brother." Bodrin replied, smiling slightly, before walking around.

"He really does mean well. Even when he is being a jackass." Jason said softly before helping her out of his office, and soon, out of the Security Office itself. Eventually, he walked with her the entire way from the office to her quarters, stopping just outside her door.

"Could you please..." She hesitated. "Help me inside?"

"Sure." Jason said before adding. "As soon as you open the door or do you want me to use my security codes?"

She raised a hand and slapped the plate outside her door. Fortunately, it opened. She only got a few feet into the room before she collapsed.

Jason stepped into the quarters only a few stepped before seeing her collapse. "What the hell?" He said as he rushed to her and rolled her over, onto her back, before lifting her from the ground and walking her over to the couch. He gently laid her down before tapping his combadge. "Smoak to Sickbay. Please send a medical officer to the XO's Quarters."

"This is Zhara, the doctor is out. I'll be right there," the counselor said.

Several minutes later, she rang the door chime.

Jason sat with Jayde until the chime rang. Once it did, he got up and walked toward the door, opening it once he got there.

"Sorry it's just me. What happened?"

"I walked her home and, once she got inside, she collapsed." Jason said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest, before continuing. "Earlier she was saying she hadn't eaten and, before we walked here, she stumbled after standing up."

Zhara nodded, running a medical tricorder over Jayde. "Yes. Vulcans can go for several days with little food or sleep, but it looks like she's been pushing it and her body can't keep up." She looked up at Jason. "Has she been under a lot of stress lately?"

"She's the XO. When is that not stressful?" Jason replied with a smile before clearing his throat. "Her and I... have a history. It can best be described as a roller coaster as far as emotions go so it might have contributed to her stress as of late."

Zhara considered him for a long moment. "I've noticed." She prepared a hypospray and injected the Vulcan. "Does the fact that you brought her here mean that you've called a truce?"

"Depends..." Jason asked, raising a brow, before adding. "Are you on the clock?"

"I can be." She looked up at Jason. "Do you need to talk?" She checked Jayde again and nodded. "She'll need to sleep for a few hours. And be watched. I don't trust her not to get up and go back to work."

She put the hypospray and tricorder bck in the medkit. "Have a seat and tell me what's going on."

"I wasn't asking for my benefit, Doctor." Jason replied softly as he sat down on a nearby seat. "I'll keep an eye on her. You can go. I am sure you might be pretty busy being the only one in Sickbay." He said as he leaned back and looked to Jayde.

'Not so much, but if you're okay staying with her, I'll go back and wait for whoever is coming on duty next." She stood. "When she wakes, make her eat something and rest. I don't want her on duty tomorrow." She nodded to Jason and left.

Jason nodded his head and said "Thank you, Doctor." before she left. He never looked away from Jayde, he just watched her, making sure she was alright. If he needed to stay there the whole night, he would, or even the whole week. As long as she was okay.

Jayde woke several hours later and sat up, looking around to see where she was.

"Good. You're up." Jason said as he walked into the living area from the kitchen. "You collapsed. I had to call a medical officer down here. She said that you needed sleep and to make you eat when you woke up. So, feel free to argue, but doctors orders." He said firmly as he walked back to her with a plate and glass in his hand. "Here. I replicated you some food and juice." He placed it on the table in front of her. "So, eat up, before I get a funnel." He added before sitting back down.

She chuckled softly. "Yes, sir." She wasn't going to argue with him tonight. She'd had enough of arguing.

She slowly began to eat, occasionally looking up at Jason to wonder why he was still there. When she sat back, she asked. "Why did you not leave me here?"

"Why would I?" Jason said softly, leaning back in the chair, before nodding his head. "I wanted to make sure you were okay, and even before the Doctor mentioned it, I wasn't going to leave your side until I knew you were alright."

"Thank you. For staying, and for the food," she said quietly. It was nice knowing he was here and watching out for her. It had been a long time since she had anyone to do that.

"No problem." He replied with a smile before leaning forward a bit. "The Doctor also said something about not wanting you to work tomorrow. So... I was thinking... instead of dinner, what about breakfast?"

She frowned when she heard she had to take the day off, but Jason's question went a long way towards alleviating her displeasure at having to take the day off. "I would like breakfast. But do you not need to work tomorrow?" Or perhaps Bodrin could cover for him as punishment for eavesdropping. The protective walls she'd build around herself over the years were down, due to her level of fatigue and to waking to find Jason still here. It allowed the feelings she kept at bay to surge like Jason's wave. She wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

"I'm sure they will manage, one day, without me. Worse comes to worse I'll leave Mac in charge. He's an old friend who has a lot of experience running a team. He'll be fine. Now one messes with the old man." Jason laughed softly, smiling at her, as he stood up. He walked over to the couch and sat down next to her. "Besides, he will keep Bodrin in line."

"Good." Her heart began to beat faster. It had nothing to do with their talk of the past, but everything to do with the man sitting beside her. She was feeling a little flushed, so she unzipped her uniform jacket and stripped down to her undershirt.

Jason sat there watching her, until she began to remove her uniform, then he found something else to focus on. He didn't want to watch her, even though he had back when they were together, but he wasn't going to cross any lines this second time around. "So... How's your sister? Heard from her lately?"

Jayde smiled. "Yes. Jayna and I joined Starfleet together. She chose intelligence. She is serving on a starship and is happily living with a Caitian.

"Never mentioned she was a cat person." Jason replied with a smirk.

What had the doctor given her? She couldn't gather her rigid control and the loneliness she'd felt since Jason came on board was eating away at her. She wanted him to hold her, to kiss her and make the loneliness go away. But she couldn't do that, not after the conversation they had earlier. Not when her own emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She stood suddenly, swaying a bit as she got her balance. "I need a shower," she said, taking a step toward her bedroom.

"Sure." Jason replied quickly, looking around, before clearing his throat slightly in an almost awkward way. "It's your quarters. I'll be here... finding something to do."

She wasn't paying attention to what he said. She came out of the bedroom dressed in a towel and went into the bathroom. A minute later, the sound of water could be heard. She stayed there longer than was necessary, letting the water help her regain some of her equilibrium. She was still on an emotional rollercoaster and had no idea why. Maybe later she'd talk to Liang about it. She'd spent the better part of a decade controlling her emotions and now they were going haywire.

She emerged a few minutes later, still in a towel. Her eyes were red and puffy. Still saying nothing, she went over to Jason, curled up on his lap, and began to cry.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Jason said softly, looking down at her, as he placed his hand on her head. He ran his hand through her hair before whispering softly. "What's all this about, Jayde? What's going on? I don't think the I'm fine response is gonna cut if to this one." He moved some strands of hair away from her face. "You know you can talk to me."

She nodded. She did know she could trust him. "I don't know what's wrong. I can't seem to control my emotions."

"Yeah." He replied, running his hand through her hair, trying to keep her from getting any worse. "I'm pretty sure, this whole thing wih you and me, didn't help any and just added fuel to your emotional fire. But, its okay, Jayde. I'm here now and I'll help you through it, but its okay to lose if from time to time. It's better then keeping it all up inside you and letting it explode where it shouldn't. As long as its here, right here with you and me, it's nothing you should be afraid of. I'm right here with you. We'll pick up the pieces and figure things out together. Remember? I'm your partner. Just like before."

She nodded again and hugged Jason tightly while she slowly regained some of her control. When the tears stopped, she still held on to him.

"I got you, Elf." He whispered softly, holding onto he tightly.

She made a soft, contented sound and made herself more comfortable. Then she closed her eyes asleep.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde
Executive Officer

 

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