Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Calloway’s Quarters- Always Time for Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Calloway’s Quarters- Always Time for Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Calloway’s Quarters- Always Time for Dinner

(snips)

Tess nuzzled against Kiama, her whiskers skimming the CSO’s hand.

Faye grinned. “It’s so awesome,” she breathed. “Feel free to come on over to pet Tess anytime you need to.” She looked at Bethany. “Looks like Tess’ help will be larger than just me,” she said with a small laugh.

“I will! Thank you Faye,” Kiama replied, still smiling softly. She had wanted a pet as a young girl, but wasn’t allowed to. And then she never thought about it again. Yet here she was finding that she really liked having that little creature around her.

“It happens,” Bethany replied with a grin. “Do you have the list of supplies?”

Faye nodded. “In my bedroom. I’ll bring it all out in a bit.” Right now she was happy for them to just get to know each other.

Meanwhile, Tess, had moved on over to Shara and sat back on her haunches, gazing up at the often formidable woman. Shara snorted. “Yeah, you know the score, right?” she said, reaching out to scratch Tess’ cheek. She had been a small girl the one and only time she had had a pet, so this was a rather surreal experience. Tess let out a little chirp in reply.

“Ohhh, maybe you need a therapy pet too,” Faye said with a gleam, watching as Shara seemed to relax ever so slightly as she scratched Tess’ chin. The cat stretched her head upwards., exposing her neck.

“Hush you,” Shara said, though there was a tiny smile on her face.

Bethany shook her head. “Well, just let me know. But in the meantime, we should let you two get to know each other. If you have any questions, let me know, but we’ll do a bit of training over the next couple days. I just want you two to have a chance to bond. But don’t let that stop you from having friends around. Tess won’t get confused,” she said as she watched Tess return back to Faye and snuggle up against her leg. “Okay?”

Faye nodded and smiled. “Yeah. Thank you. I really appreciate it.

Shara rose to her feet. “Let me know how you get on in the morning.” She turned to Kiama. “It was nice to see you again.”

“Yes, it was nice seeing you again as well, Commander,” Kiama replied warmly. “I hope we’ll see each other again some time.”

The two older women bid their farewells and left Faye and Kiama with Tess, who had rather suddenly fallen sleep with her head resting on Faye’s socked foot. “I think ‘m stuck,” she deadpanned.

~Faye Calloway

“I hope you don’t need to relieve yourself anytime soon,” Kiama grinned and winked at Faye, before adding more seriously, “If you ever need someone to look after her, like during your vacation on the station, let me know. I’d be happy to take care of her while you’re gone. Unless you want to take her with you, of course.”

~Kiama Naim

Well that was a consideration, wasn’t it? Faye nodded. “I think that would be really helpful, thank you. I’ll ask my mom too and it’ll only be a week and we’ll be docked so I can check on her once or twice.” Faye blew out a breath as the thought of the week ‘away’ crept back into her mind. Yes, she was absolutely excited but the nervousness that had been there earlier swept over her rather suddenly. She swallowed it down but her dear friend was telepathic and the creature at her feet (whose head perked up immediately) was empathic and so Faye knew she wasn’t about to let it slide.

“You are most welcome,” Kiama replied gently as she looked at Faye rather intently. But she didn’t say or ask anything just yet and instead gave her friend some time and space first.

Tess let out a ‘mew’ and Faye stroked her as she inhaled deeply at looked at Kiama, uncertainty in her eyes. “You know how I told you before about having worked in kitchens and I told you that I had worked on freighters and stuff?”

~Faye Calloway

Kiama nodded and replied softly, “Yes, I do remember.” She also remembered that she got the feeling then that there had been more to it then Faye had been ready to share. She was still under that impression and it made her wonder if Faye was feeling ready to share a little more of her story. For her friend’s sake she hoped she would. Whether it was with her or someone else. “Do you want to talk about it?” she offered, hoping that Faye knew that saying no was okay.

~Kiama Naim