Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Calloway’s Quarters - At Least We Aren’t Fighting About Money

Posted by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (Gamemaster) in Calloway’s Quarters - At Least We Aren’t Fighting About Money

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Calloway’s Quarters - At Least We Aren’t Fighting About Money
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Micah moved slowly around the desk and laid his flesh hand very gently on her shoulder. “You know how, hun… ya just don’t want to again. And if I’m being totally honest? I don’t either. If I had my druthers, I’d be back in Tennessee with you and the girls… fishin’ the creek… maybe showing Faye and the jolly green giant how to grow things in the dirt… and fallin’ asleep next to you every damn night. If only…” and he squeezed her shoulder before turning the chair so it faced him.

Right now she could imagine them sitting on the front porch of the cabin, coffees in hand, watching the sun rise up over the mountains their land was nestled amongst. Eyes still closed, she felt the fatigue even more than earlier when she had wandered into Sickbay hungover.

“But… if this don’t get done… and done right… there’s no tellin’ how bad shit’ll get before it gets better. And you and I are just awful about not letting other folks deal with the really bad stuff. So here we are.” and he touched under her chin and lifted her eyes to his.

Finally her foggy blue eyes opened again and met his and she knew he’d see that fear there, that terror that only people like them who had lived through the hells they had and promised to never again could feel. But he was right. They were too damn good at their jobs, too stubborn, too dedicated. It wasn’t about pride, it was about honour. Shara had known the moment Micah had walked into the ready room that despite her protests she would never flee this mission. It might damn her to hell, but she was here for the long haul.

“And there ain’t anyone else I want next to me when it gets rough. Because as long as you and are a team… ain’t no force in this universe gonna keep us from getting back home with as many of these folks as we can. And I’m damn sure ain’t no syndicate that has the sheer brass balls to try and manipulate our daughter and use her is gonna get away with it. And hun?” and he knelt in front of her and looked her in the eyes.

“That’s why I’m here. They used Faye… and I’m gonna make those f!#*ers pay for it. The rest is extra.”

Micah

Her jaw gritted even as tears pooled in her eyes. “If it was anything else, anyone else, you know I’d not be here.” Her words sounded strange to her, like the dangerous persona of Elaine she had adopted for this mission was not an act but something dredged up from somewhere darker. Because of course the best covers were based more on fact than fiction. The best were woven together so expertly not even loved ones fully knew what was real and what was an act.

Except Micah. He’d always know. He was the first person in decades she ever allowed herself to fully be seen by. He knew her heart, her darkness… and now he truly saw her fear. Her idle comments about not wanting to die in the Delta Quadrant were a fraction of what she was experiencing. Leaning forward, she let her forehead come to rest on his shoulder.

“I can’t sleep. The nightmares are worse than ever. It’s getting bad enough that I’m worried I won’t be on the ball. I’ll mess up and get someone killed. I always sleep better beside you, but this mission is so dangerous, Pickle. Anything can be used against us and it’s too big a risk for us being married, or even just a thing to be even gossip on the ship. The only people who know so far are the Captain and Bethy. But I miss you. Hell, you have the bigger quarters too. I know what I want, what I need, but tell me it’s stupid. Tell me it’s too big a risk. I know it, but I need to hear you say it.” Sleeping soundly beside her husband seemed like much better therapy than whatever nonsense the kid counsellor would dish out. She had had her fair share of therapy sessions and that one seemed out of his depth. Pity.

~Shara

Micah chuckled softly and kissed her cheek. He moved slightly, and a second later the sound of the comms activating was heard. =/\= Listen up you heathens. =/\= he said and his voice could be heard outside in the passageway. =/\= Just so everyone is on the same page. Calloway is my wife. For real. For the purpose of this op, she still is. Get your snickering done now. You have two hours to tease, gossip, and laugh all you want. After that, its done. Pikelsimer out. =/\=

Brows arched, Shara was clearly shocked and she didn’t know how she felt about any it. Relief, for sure, since keeping everything a secret was a non issue, but of course he had once again decided something for her, without considering her own feelings about it all. Did it solve a problem? Yes. But now it also created some more. It wasn’t the crew she was really worried about. It was external people who would exploit any and all weaknesses. All it took was one person to reveal the relationship and they were screwed.

Micah looked at Sha and grinned. “Risk? What risk? It was only risky if we kept it hidden. So there we go. Now pack your crap. You have quarters to change.” and he stood up and offered her his hand.

Pikelsimer

Some days she really wished they remembered the night they got married. It would be really nice to know how that conversation and decision had gone down. Reluctantly, Shara put her hand in his and rose to her feet, but it was clear by her expression she was not happy. “You know, I know we’re still trying to figure out this whole marriage thing and how it works for us, but just a tip, if you want to stay married, how about you stop making decisions for and maybe at some point we can damn well make them together? Just a thought,” she said tersely.

~Shara, Irritated Wife

Micah smiled and said “Noted. But also note for the record that if I had asked you, we would still be discussing it and not packing your things so I can take you home and let you get some much needed sleep. C’mon, woman. We’re losing daylight, and I need you on your toes.” and he winked at her mischievously. “Or, ya know, any other position that might be available after you get done bein’ pissed at me.” He moved away quickly and went to a closet door. Opening it, he pulled out the ever-present black bag each of them had and never mentioned to the other. He tossed it at her and said “Don’t forget your toothbrush, love-of-my-life.”

Pikelsimer