Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Creed Quarters Flashback Wicked Ballad

Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Creed Quarters Flashback Wicked Ballad

Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Creed Quarters Flashback Wicked Ballad Morning came fast for the pair, the quarters looked like a hurricane had hit them. Clothes thrown everywhere. The blanket covering the two as Jack cuddled tightly with Celina. As he sat there looking at her dark skin he leaned in to kiss down her neck slowly as he began to try and awaken her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Creed, XO : : : : : : : : : : : : “Jaaaaack,” Celina moaned patting his leg as his lips trailed down her neck. “I am sure you think seven is my lucky number but I can assure you I love six,” she murmured sleepily but opened her neck some for better access. This was the best way to wake up if she had to open her eyes. “Six is a great number,” she moaned and rolled from the spooned position to laying on her back. Running her fingers through his hair, Celina smiled up at him. “You know what else is great? Coffee, cream and sugar please,” Celina kissed him and rolled back over snuggling into the covers. : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Celina Rodgriquez : : : : : : : : : : “Really?” he said as as he smacked her ass as he got up. “You think you get to stay over and sleep in my bed and just get coffee?” he said as he slapped a pillow across her face. : : : : : : Celina let out a muffled laugh as the pillow landed on her. Pulling it off her face she tucked it behind her head as she watched Jack make his way towards his desk. “Ahhh yep,” she replied in a teasing tone while biting her bottom lip. She loved watching Jack like this. Yes, his current attire left nothing to the imagination but it was more than that. Celina always liked watching him do the mundane things: cooking, sitting on the couch engrossed in a show, or even playing that darn card game. She had missed this stuff the most when they had been separated. Seeing the glimpse of the man that was not always in control Commander Creed but simply Jack Creed semi-astute to a woman’s needs boyfriend made her feel amazing and loved. “Oh and make sure it is the big cup and not those thimble sized ceramic knockoffs you had back on Orion.” : : : : : : :: “If I am getting coffee you best get us breakfast or I am gonna drink it all.” he said as he moved over the gourmet coffee pot he had near his computer desk. It was a gift from her, but they both always knew it was a gift really for her. It was one of the few things intelligence took from his place after his death, he never knew why they took it. : : : : : : : : : : “You want that blonde brew Jasmine showed you?” he asked her, knowing she had been going over it so much that it seemed to be her new favorite flavor. : : : : : : : : : : Creed, XO : : : : : : : Moaning, Celina rolled from the bed taking the sheet with her and tucking it around like a towel. Men could get away with just boxers in the morning but she had a north and south forty to cover up and the white sheet worked perfectly. She might have been a bit more feisty but her own tummy growling had spurred her feed them. “American or Persian,” she asked looking at the replicator. : : : : : : Lt. Celina Rodgriquez : : : : “Oh we both know Persian makes it so you can’t sit still for five seconds and you start mumbling about seeing God. Partly cause you drink three liters of it but also mostly cause it’s strong as hell.” he said as he got to their machine and began brewing, it was always nice to have home made touches. : : “You know the problem with going to the land of milk and honey....you get sticky feet,” Celina said with a half grin. “I might be seeing God when I drink it but I am going to be in those stiletto boots you got me two Christmas’ ago. Some call them stripper heels, I call them,” she set a plate on the table piled high with all the elements of a Persian breakfast: eggs scrambled with fresh tomatoes, Sangak bread with fresh herbs and onions. : : Jack eyed the plate, eyes wide as he seemed to take in everything. He was hungry, she always knew how to make him work up an appetite. “You do know how to spoil me.” he said as he leaned across the table, kissing her deeply as he let her aroma fill his lungs. His hand found her check, turning to the back of her neck as he found himself kissing her so eagerly, like each kiss could be their last. Jack understand that thought more than many, and he wasn’t going to ever loose her again. : : “So…” he said as he looked back at her. “Where did that fifth wave come from last night? I thought you were tapped out then you rolled over flipped my on my back and decided you needed more… granted I feel like this is gonna come off as complaining and I want to do anything but complain trust me.” he said as the smells began to fill the room of crushed coffee beans. : : : : “I mean some of that stuff was new, and you said there was no one else so something tells me late night skinimax.” he said as he brought the coffee in a giant coffee pot and two mugs. His table already had all the creamer and sweeteners she may want. “Or yoga, maybe yoga.” : : : : Creed, XO :
“I have been doing calisthenics,” Celina said with a serious face. “I mean you know how competitive I am. I spent the past nine months working out not sure if it was to find a new you,” she propped her feet up on his leg under the table, “or ready to kick your arse if I found you,” she winked at him and then took a bite of her bagel. Jack liked this sort of breakfast but she was always tended to eat lighter waking up at least until she had a few cups of coffee down her first. =/\=Computer, turn on Wicked Games =/\= she said with a half grin. The song might have a more solemn set of lyrics but the melody and singer always seemed slightly erotic to her and after last night, Frank Sinatra would not do. She had always loved the song and so did he.
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: : : : : : : : : Lt. Celina Rodriguez, CTO
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: : : : : : : : As he looked at her his mouth couldn’t help but drop, the song’s soft start began as the first line echoed in his ears. They sent a shiver down his spine as he looked at her.
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: : : : : : : : “The world was on fire and no one could save me but you” could be heard as he looked softly at her, why on Earth would she choose this of all songs?
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: : : : : : : : “Moosh-am, why are you playing this? This song as been our curse since our first date… it haunts us.” he said, as he looked at her with such a perplexed look, his eyes searching her for an answer.
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: : : : : : : : Creed, XO
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: : : : : : : “Huh,” she gave him an equally perplexed look pulling her feet off his lap and leaning on the table with her arms crossed like she was about to school a nameless crewman who had lost their mind. “Haunts who,” she leaned in some like Jack was crazy. “Babe this is our song. I mean I heard it everywhere I went the night of our first official date without pizza and a six-pack,” she got a small smirk. Dinner at the cafe was technically not their first date. That was the night she bounced him from the hoosegow; however, if she was going to tell her grandkids about their first date it would be the cafe and Jack would swear on this to his dying breath.
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: : : : : : : Celina took a sip of her coffee as she remembered that day. Getting dressed in the tight red silk dress that clung in all the right places. The dress that made Jack sing his made up ditty about ‘She’s the lady in red. She’s the lady in red and gives such great,’. Celina cut the song off in her head sparing the nice memory from the end of the dirty limerick. The song was the last one she heard as she put on her perfume and pulled on her heels. As if the theme song for the night it was playing softly in the background as she hopped a transport outside her residence. The feel of the night air blowing softly in her hair made her dream of a deserted balcony with long billowing white curtains where she and Jack danced overlooking a garden or beach. It was also the song that came on as she first saw him enter the cafe after she was shown to a table. He looked so different, so handsome walking towards her across the room as the lyric sang ‘what a wicked thing to do…to make me dream of you.’ The look on his face was so determined to get to her. As if nothing in the world could have kept him away. It was almost a serious look the way his eyes locked on hers, his stride strong and purposeful, and his jaw tense as if he was fighting to hold back all the things he wanted to shout across the room. “I mean you came up to the table right at the song ended with ‘nobody loves no one’ and I silently added, “like I love you.”
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: : : : : : : Lt Celina Rodriguez, CTO
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: : : : : : “Baby… I remember that day… far different.” he said as he looked down and chuckled. Thinking back, he wasn’t sure he ever went through the horror that day ways to him. “The only thing that was good, was seeing your smile as I entered that cafe. It started, damn well it started as soon as I woke up.” he began as the memory seem to flood him.
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: : : : : : “I was late… you know how I hate to be late. Alarm didn’t go off in time, in fact it was 45 minutes off. My whole routine shot the first thing I hear panic droned is that song…”
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: : : : : : Three Years Ago, Their “First” Date
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: : : : : : “The world was on fire and no one could save me but you…” Jack looked at his alarm, he wasn’t shocked to hear the song but as his eyes focused the time, 9:45 shone red at him as the song kept going. As if bitten by a snake he jumped out of the bed, hitting his head on the shelf above him as pictures and knickknacks came falling down on top of him. “Son of a …!” could be heard from Jack as he came stumbling out of the bed slipping on his jeans he had laying at the head of his bed as he came crashing into his nightstand.
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: : : : : : Red rage could be all he felt, as his toe made full contact with the edge of the night stand. Slapping his alarm off mumbling under his breath he made to his closet.
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: : : : : : Twenty minutes later Jack had finished getting ready, Black dress pants with, dark red polo shirt with a black vest over. He looked both causal and dressed, it was a cafe after all they were going to so he felt the need to not go over the top. Looking outside he could see it was raining as he grabbed his umbrella. Determination set in, he was not going to be late if he could help it. As he left, opening the umbrella he made it quick to a taxi, only to have a hover car come flying by splashing the puddles directly on Jack.
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: : : : : : Fury and rage began to fill Jack, he looked down soaked and cold as he looked across the street. The only thing he could see was the thrift shop. He needed new clothes and had no choice but to go to them. As he entered he heard a familear tune fill his ears. “What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way. What a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you”
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: : : : : : “God, not that song again, what is it retro morning?” he said to himself as he found the lady in front. Explaining his rush she nodded, bringing him to the back Jack changed into a new outfit ready for himself. As he left the changing room he looked at the shop owner.
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: : : : : : “Really? This is the only size you have for me?” he asked her as he looked down, his shirt had been replaced by a powder pink button down shirt, tucked into what could only be called golf pants. Looking at the lady he couldn’t believe this was it, but he had 30 minutes to get to Celina.
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: : : : : : Getting to the cafe he could see Celina through the doors, he was late by ten minutes. Entering he heard that song, that damn song playing again. He looked at Celina, he wasn’t going to let this song ruin them as he came over to her as he walked, looking like as fool as he leaned in and kissed her. That was the only moment of the day he felt right as he sat down, the stress melting as he looked across the table at her.
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: : : : : : Back in the present Jack looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh, “You have no idea how much the urge was to just walk away, start fresh and new. You sat there, looking so beautiful. I couldn’t say no, that was my worst day, and my best. It fully cemented us, and things began to just get better from there. Despite that damn song trying to kill me.”
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: : : : : : Creed, XO
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: : : : : Celina let out a long laugh that shook her body. “That,” she emphasized the word, “was why you showed up looking like a caddy in a really bad golf tournament. I will say the pink and yellow plaid pants were almost a deal breaker. Almost,” she stopped for a second looking at him, “but you wore them with such confidence I thought it was just something I would have to tweak. You will be happy to know I was pleasantly surprised to see them in the Goodwill donation bag and not the hamper the next morning.” Celina took a long sip of her coffee staring at the drink as the song played in the background. She had never thought about his perspective on the song. For her, it was all good memories.
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: : : : : “So that time at the park when the kid lost their mom and you spent the next ten minutes holding him as I ran around looking for her did not fill you with warm fussy feelings?” She had never told him that seeing Jack holding the small, screaming child on his hip made her see him not as her boyfriend but as the possible father of her children.
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: : : : : Lt. Celina Rodriguez, CTO
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: : : : “I love children, my niece is the apple of my eye but that little brat bit me and then tried to kick me in my balls, half his tears were cause I pinched him hard enough to make him stop before I got arrested for child abuse” he said as he looked at her with such a glum look.
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“You did not,” she rolled her eyes. “And there were a million and one times that song played where times were perfect. I can name about twenty,” Celina boasted. : : : “That song almost followed me to the grave, I thought that was going to be the last thing I heard… I mean surely you could hear it that night too?” He said referring the night he “died” on Orion to Syndicate thugs who tried to kill him. : : : : : : Creed, XO : :
Instantly Celina’s mood went from flirty to withdrawn. Getting up she circled the table and sat on his lap. There she curled up in his arms looking for solace and not sensuality. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths trying to enjoy the moment and not live in a moment that was more nightmare than reality.

“That song did follow you to your grave,” she finally said toying with a button on his shirt as she spoke. It was more to do something with her hands than to get it off him. “The craziest part is that even though it was one of the last things I heard but not the last. I will never forget your last words to me on that night I still listened to it over and over when you were away.” It was time to move on and Celina could no longer bring herself to say death or died when remembering the event. The word away was not exactly accurate but she liked the meaning better. Away meant coming back and that is exactly what he did.

Lt. Celina Rodgriguez, CTO

“The day didn’t start all bad…” he said as he looked at her softly, leaning in he kissed her forehead as he pulled her in close. “I remember that pink little dress you were putting on in our place, irony is… you played the song that morning before we left, remember? It may have been the one perfect moment I ever heard that song.”

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Two Years Ago

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Two Years Ago : : : : : : ******** : : : : : : Jack could hear the hair dryer, Celina had been taking nearly an hour it felt and it wasn’t getting any closer to being done. In the background the music changed, it was somber as he let the sounds wash over him. : : : : : : Lord not this song again he thought, Jack couldn’t understand why she loved the song so much. Wicked Game indeed, the fact that he was so committed to her seemed to be in spite of the song, not because of it. Still, today was a great day and Jack knew it. In his pocket he felt that small little press against his breast of the rectangular shape. While Celina finished a small beep could be heard in the other room at the computer terminal. Jack had been expecting this call, ever since Starfleet Intelligence decided to remove some of the restrictions after catching the murderers and notorious Orion Syndicate hit men. : : : : : : Moving to the other room, Jack himself wearing a red suit with black shirt and tie he seemed to be almost devilish, but certainly refined all the same time Jack pulled back the chair as he slid in, pressing the access key as the monitor turned on. The screen flashed as he saw a familiar face, “Anahita, you are a sight for sore eyes.” he said, his face beaming at the visage of his sister before him. : : : : : : “Bout time we finally get to talk, it’s been insanity to only have coded messages for three years with my older brother. Your niece has been asking about you non stop… and you have some I hope very good news since I get permission to access this line. So, what did you find?” : : : : : : Jack smiled, telling his sister of the harrowing time. She knew the basics of his mission, to find their parents killers. Outside of this she knew little. There was one aspect though, Celina, it was obvious Anahita was far more interested in. : : : : : : “Yes, the ring came in. I’m going to tell her everything tonight, and ask her.” Jack answered his sister, who seemed impatient as she sat there. “Lord Maman Bozorg is going to be so excited, she has been trying to squeeze everything out of me. The family is waiting so long to hear from you. Brother, come home safe. Bring me home my future sister in law, I can’t wait to meet her.” Anahita said softly, he smile seeming to beam from her, making her darker skin seeming so much more vibrant. : : : : : : “I will, look I don’t have long. This line is open, I will get you as soon as the night is over.” Jack said, hearing the dryer end meant he had 10-15 minutes before Celina came in. “Doostat daram sister.” he said softly, as he closed down the terminals as he stood up, looking into the other room to see if Celina was on her way. The song, it was winding down but he heard the click. She put it on repeat, of course she did. : : : : : : Creed XO : : : : Celina groaned as she looked in the mirror. Typically she wasn’t as fussy with her appearance but tonight she wanted to look perfect. It had been too many days of sweatpants and ponytails. Jack claimed he loved the natural look but she knew all men liked to see the woman they loved dressed up and feminine. That is why she had spent two days shopping for this dress when he told her that he wanted to go out to dinner. She wanted him to not see her as a security officer but a girlfriend. Recently she had felt the lines between those two roles blurred. : : : : The dress was a soft baby pink that wrapped around her shoulders instead of being strapless. She liked that the material flowed around her legs when she walked instead of the form-fitting sheath dresses that dominated her wardrobe. She hoped Jack would like it. Fiddling with a stray curl that would not fall the way she wanted, Celina picked up the curling iron and tried again. After three minutes of fiddling with it and a slew of Spanish curses, she gave up. She still had to put her makeup on and did not want Jack barging into the bathroom reminding her that restaurants did not hold reservations any longer than fifteen minutes past the set time. She wanted a grand entrance to knock his socks off. : : : : Twenty minutes later, she exited the bathroom. “So Hero how do I look,” she fished for a compliment before Jack could even offer one. Seeing him in his suit, however, instantly made Celina want to cancel the plans and stay home. “Wow,” she let out a long low wolf whistle. “I am not sure I should let you out of this apartment. You look amazing Jack,” Celina eyed him up and down. “I think maybe you should hold my hand all night just so that the other women don’t get some crazy idea you are single or available,” she teased him taking his hand in hers. “Promise not to let go,” Celina asked entwining her fingers with him and giving it a squeeze. Celina knew she had nothing to worry about but everyone liked a little love and attention now and then and he did look hot as hell tonight. : : : : Lt. Celina Rodriguez, CTO : : Jack smiled at her, taking her hand she would feel his lips caress her skin. “I like this plan very much, and you… you look stunning.” he said as he stood up, pulling her close into the embrace. “And trust me, after tonight no one is ever going to think I am single ever again.” he said with a small smirk as he leaned in kissing her deeply, feeling himself melt in that moment of bliss and simplicity with her. : “Really,” she said with smirk of her own. “And how are you going to achieve that. Never take your eyes off me because I can make that happen.” Wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning back some she continued. “In fact I have my own plans tonight and it involves making you wanting to skip where we are going and, grabbing a few burgers at a local joint, and holing up in a room that even the Orion’s might raise and eyebrow too.” While her words were meant to tease him, there was a truth behind them. Celina didn’t need the fancy dress or the spa day Jack had given to her earlier this morning. All she ever needed and would need was him. The rest was just icing on a cake. : “Come on puppy, we have to make everyone jealous of us tonight.” he said with a wink as he began to leave their place, hearing the echo of the song ending as they left. Jack felt their lives would be changing, and he had a feeling it was going to be the beginning of his longest journey. : : Exiting the building Jack had already called for a lift, the hover car that had the driver waiting for them, looking over at her he smiled. He knew this was not something she had expected, but they had so much to celebrate he couldn’t help but want to make the day special. Between capturing his parents killers, and the plans he had for her later, today was going to be memorable he was certain. : “Phew wee,” Celina let out a long whistle seeing the car outside the building. “When you said you wanted to make people jealous I thought you mean because I was on your arm and not because we were arriving in that,” she grinned at him but stared at the car. Unlike many women, Celina appreciated fine vehicles. “Forget the seedy hotel room. I say we spend the night riding round in this,” she flashed him a huge grin as she ran her fingers lovingly over the door before she crawled inside. : The driver stopped as he pended the door for them, Jack paused as he let Celina enter first before following behind her. “Well? surprised yet?” he asked her, a small smile forming on his face. : : Creed, XO “Jack the first time I met you from behind a force field in my brig I was surprised. Since then it has been an emotional medley of shock, awe, anger, frustration, happiness, adventure, and laughs. Frankly I put nothing past you except for one thing. The one thing I know that is steady and unwavering is that you love me,” she said kissing him and caressing his check. “Now that is not to say I am not insanely curious as to what you have planned but everyday with you is fun and exciting. Guess I am just satisfied to spend the rest of my days with you doing everything and nothing,” she curled her arm in his and laid her head in his shoulder. “Now that is not to say you can’t give me a hint,” she said toying with a button on his coat. “I mean if you don’t I too ‘have vays to make you talk,” she put on a fake evil spy voice and bit his shoulder playfully. Not hard but just enough to make sure Jarbroni knew she was feisty and happy and excited for the night. Lt Celina Rodriguez. CTO.

“There is no big plan, just us, friends… I wanted us to look nice. We deserve that, after all we have been through, capturing the men hurting the syndicate. We made it out alive… whole. Not everyone can say that puppy. So this is just a celebration, of life, victory… and us.” he said softly as he leaned over and gave her a deep sensual kiss as the driver began to move.

Creed, XO

Celina let Jack kiss her. She let his cologne and touch take her far away from the moment. When he broke it off, Celina was not ready for it to end. Turning in her seat, she at Jack’s lap and looked into his eyes. Jack was right. The past few weeks and months had been hectic. Some days she had felt like her heart never would stop racing. Other days she could barely deal with the bordom. The fights, stakeouts, secret meetings, and endless hours sifting through paperwork had dominated her life. The only thing that was constant day after day during this time was Jack. “What will we do without a big plan,” she said softly. “I love you Jarbroni. I love everything about you.” Leaning forward she put her head on his shoulder and just let him hold her. Childish maybe but the need to be in his arms was so great. “I think I want you to meet my mother,” she said softly. “I know your family is gone and that you are alone but you don’t have to be. You can be part of my family assuming you pass the trial by fire to which my grandmothers will subject you to. It’s just next year I will be up for a transfer and I thought maybe…we could find a place be a dynamic duo again. I like the us I am with you. I just thought you should know.”

“Oh there is a trial? Well… I guess I can’t fail that now can I? That sounds amazing love, and I will spend every minute making your family love me.” Jack said, biting his lip ever so slightly. He had much to inform her. He knew tonight he could let her in on all his secrets, he wanted her to be just a part of her world as she made him a part of hers. She was worth the world to him and he knew he couldn’t ignore a chance to give her all that he was.

She had wanted to tell him this a thousand times. Yes they had had thier silly fantasies about meeting her parents and what they would do after Jarbroni found his parents killers but Jack’s words of this being a victory party had a sense of ending to it and Celina did not want it to end. Jack was on special assignment. He was tight lipped about anything regardling his past. They were both Starfleet personel and could be reassigned based on the Federations needs. She just wanted him to know that she did not want this partnership to end.

Lt. Celina Rodriguez, CTO

Jack looked at her softly, feeling her trepidation and her unease. Sliding her closer into his arms he kissed the top of her forehead. “I know what you are thinking puppy, don’t let those thoughts in your head. I am not going anywhere okay?” he said softly to her as he felt the car stop. He could see their stop, the old stomping ground as it where. “I figured I wanted to start the rest of my life with my friends, and loved ones.” he said as he looked at her, wondering if she had expected some fancy fine dining establishment or something far different than their old bar.

Creed, XO