Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Counter-Intelligence Officer) in Captain’s Quarters - Dancing On Toes, Losing The Rhythm

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Captain’s Quarters - Dancing On Toes, Losing The Rhythm

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Counter-Intelligence Officer) in Captain’s Quarters - Dancing On Toes, Losing The Rhythm
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

There was a long silence, and Alex didn’t move. “That’s the thing that bothers me the most, I think. I’m heartbroken, yes. I love her, Faye. I really do. But… I don’t know… some part of me is saying that no matter how I feel… she and I just… well… we simply had our time together, and now… now we ran out of that time. It isn’t the fault of either one of us. It’s just… timing.”

Alex

A part of Faye wanted to shake her head and say no. That it could have been different. But she knew how deeply Alex had been shaken by how things had unfolded recently and she knew her friend well enough that he was the sort to face things head on. “Sometimes love isn’t enough,” she said softly, knowing how true it had been for her at times.

“That is very true, Faye… very, very true.” and he took a large drink.

Taking a large swallow, she set down her glass and got to her feet, offering her hand. “Come with me,” she said simply.

~Faye

Alex looked up at her and was tempted to simply say ‘No.’, but he knew she would simply keep standing there so, draining the glass, he took her hand and stood up. “I swear to everything you consider holy, if you take me to the holodeck I will punch you, Faye.” he said with a small hint of amusement.

Alex

“Nah, no beach this time,” she said she squeezed his hand and let go, walking out the door.

She silently led him to the turbolift and down to Deck Four and she was sure he knew exactly where she was taking him. So when she walked through the double doors that were the entrance to the Garden, Faye didn’t make a comment. Turning left, she walked with him along the main path and over to the wall between the raised beds and the greenhouse, pulling up the allotments chart. Shifting her gaze to Alex for a moment she pondered and then when back to her searching. She tapped on the screen a little and then turned back to him.

“I’m leaving soon Alex, you made sure of that. But I’m still here for now. I made this place to be a sanctuary for whomever needed it. And your mom said that I had taught you as much as you taught me. I’m not sure what that is exactly some days, but I do know this: there is something healing about sinking your fingers down in the dirt. In giving some seeds or plants the things they need, you get to watch life slowly unfold. Because seeds want to grow Alex. And you can always call me, but we both know how Starfleet and life on a ship is. And maybe this is one other thing I can teach you that you don’t already know, Mr. Skilled Hobbies,” she said with a smirk. “And as Captain you get the best spot in the house,” she said, turning at the hips and pointing to the corner bed by the path that was right next to the greenhouse. Her bed. “All that work? Someone has to keep an eye on it for me. Promise me you won’t let it go to waste.”

~Faye

Ralph Alexander Cochrane was a decorated Star Fleet Officer. The Captain of one of if not the most advanced vessels in Star Fleet history. He had stood against the Borg. Finalized treaties concerning entire systems of planets. Stared down Romulan war birds and intimidated Klingons.

He was speechless.

He knew how much Faye loved her garden… her plot specifically. He knew how much time… how much of her she put into it. Alex stared at the plot open-mouthed for a long moment… and then his eyes filled with tears and he looked at her.

“I know you have to… but I don’t want you to go.” and he took her in an embrace that conveyed more love for his friend than he could possibly put into words.

Alex

And that did it. She had thought earlier when he had flagged her for transfer had made her emotional, but it was nothing compared to this moment. Holding him tight, she didn’t care about the tears or who might see them. He had given her the gift of seeing the difference between loving someone and being in love with them. And it was one of the many thing he had done for her. She wasn’t sure she could fully repay him for everything he’d done for her, but Faye also knew there was no score being kept here. “I don’t want to go either!” she said through her tears as she pulled back enough to look at him. “But if I have to I like that this is on our own terms, ya know? Not because of some transfer, but because it’s the right thing. It’s gonna suck, Alex! But even if Zef is gone, you’re not alone here. Promise me you’ll not pull a Faye Calloway and rogue solo. It’s a bad life- I highly recommend against it,” she said, trying to grin.

~Faye

Alex looked at her and said “Lesson nine-hundred-and-six… as Captain, you are rarely if ever alone. Even when you want to be.” and he laughed. He let go of her and looked at the plot. “Okay… let’s get dirty together.” and he looked at her and grinned.

Alex