Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

(snip)

Shara stepped in and nodded, spying the bottle of tolo she had left there. “Yeah, Micah and I are going to go take our R&R and we’re wrangled some for Faye and her husband. And we’re dragging Nadine out as well, though she’s on Earth, so it’s easier for her.” She turned to Bethy and her soft smile lit up her face. “We haven’t all been together since Faye’s wedding, so I’m really looking forward to it. I need it. We all do. Though… there will be a little bit of hell to pay given I promised m=both my girls I’d not disappear on them and I was going to be around.” Seven months of covert work had not been the agreement.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

“I think they will understand. At least Faye and her husband should.” Bethany sighed, “I wasn’t supposed to go out either. I was deemed unfit for covert work. Such things mean nothing when the brass wants what they want.” Bethany lmsat on the edge of her desk. “You’ll enjoy it. Make the best and don’t hurry back. Make them give you the time your due.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Shara snorted. “Oh they owe me. They’ll be owing me for a long time and I’m sure it galls them because I’ll remind them every chance I get,” she said, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “At least this time I only got into an argument with two Admirals, and neither of them was the one I was dealing with before. I think he had his fill of me last time.” She didn’t comment on her kids understanding. Yeah, Faye would but it was going to be a sore point, and there were going to be a lot of feelings all told, but they could work through them. Nadine was the harder one. The one she was less confident about.

She moved over and stooped to pick up the bottle from its resting spot on the floor by the couch. Shara considered Bethy for a long moment. “Look, Bethy, I’m sorry if I… pushed too much or overstepped. I’ve not had friends in a long while and I’m kind of adverse to possibly losing them, one way or another.”

~Shara Calloway, CIO

“Don’t apologize for caring about people, Shara.” Bethany sighed, “It’s just been a really long time since I’ve had anyone give a d@mn about me, just for me, and not how something wrong with me negatively affected them. I reacted badly, and for that I’m sorry.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“Apology accepted,” she said softly, a small smile touching her lips. “Just remember that we’re in a similar boat, even if we’re coming at it from different places. We both got used to living in the shadows to the point that the light is terrifying. But we’re in the light Bethy, as confusing and difficult as that is. And we both come from a place where our families of origins contained danger. That changes how you form connections. It took an incredibly generous hearted man to show me that I didn’t have to go it alone, that I could be a part of something. But it really wasn’t until I was on the Voyager that I truly understood the power of community, of found family. On Tracken I think I was playing at it, scared to be in one place for too long, but being stuck in the Delta Quadrant with the same crew for seven years, well, it changes you. I’m not saying I have it all figured out, but…”

She set the bottle down on the table and moved over to Bethy, opening her arms. “Your experiences are your own, but you are not alone, Bethany Gadi, and so help me if you try to do something that causes harm to yourself, I’m going to come over and kick your ass.” She said this straight-faced but there was a very tiny gleam in her foggy blue eyes.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Bethany flashed a sassy grin before hugging the older woman. She stepped back and looked her in the eye. “I’m not trying to harm myself, not even by accident,” she didn’t think she could at this point, “Promise.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS