Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Side sim: Faced Fears and… Wrecked Quarters

After things had calmed down, Marceau excused himself from the bridge and left the Commander in charge. He stepped off the bridge and onto the lift with shaky legs. He looked as though he’d been on a rollercoaster far too intense for him. He stepped off the lift and went to his own quarters.

The door opened, and… His things were a mess. Strewn about the room. The room was no longer decompressed, but it clearly had been. Parts of the room, and his belongings, were charred and burnt, including the bed.

He stood in the doorway for several moments, and then leaned on the wall nearby.

~ Capt Renault

Helena had left the bridge long before, but she had been piloting shuttle’s back and forth from the criminal cargo ships and the planet. After docking the and securing the shuttle, she had stopped in the galley for tea and a meal bar.

She stepped off the lift on C deck and noticed the light from an open cabin door, further down the corridor. She turned to see who it might be. It had been a rough go, and they needed to look out for each other.

It was Marceau’s door. She walked down the corridor and stepped just in the door. She blew out a breath. “You know what my mom would say. Chamomile and lavender tea. Then toss us rubber gloves and cleaning solution.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau turned and looked relieved to see it was Helena. “There was a fire, Helena, what is cleaning solution going to fix?” He asked, shaking his head. He looked shaky and pale and upset. “I think some of my things were sucked out while it was decompressed.”

~ Capt Renault

Helena shrugged, “Not sure, but you know my mom. When in doubt, tea and cleaning. Come on, I’ll help you collect your things, take inventory. I can send a message ahead to mom for anything you lost, okay?” Helena moved further into the room and began picking up things from the floor. Items what were not damaged were put back in place. Those that were she set on his desk to be looked at later.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau wanted to help. It wasn’t her job to clean up his quarters. But he’d come down here needing to relax and rest and… this was not a restful place to be right now. Instead he paced around, then ended up sitting on the floor, knees to his chest, face tucked down against himself.

~ Capt Renault

Helena paused and looked at him. She stopped and closed the door and sat down across from him and took his hands. “You did good, Captain. You saved people from torment and slavery. But I think you need sleep. Come on, you can bed down in my Quarters until they get yours repaired.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau squeezed her hands and took a shaky breath. “But Helena, the flying! And the loops, and the shooting and the ship…” He shuddered. “I want off but I can’t get off and I can’t be a captain if I can’t…” He looked up at her desperately.

~ Capt Renault

Helena stood and pulled him up with her. She grabbed a bag and tossed in a change of clothes and his shower things. “Come on, put on your poker face Renault.” She put the bag over his shoulder and then they left and went to the opposite end of the deck to her quarters. When the door closed, she pulled him to her and kissed him. He needed a distraction.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Helena dragged the Captain down the hall, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The door closed as they entered her quarters and then he was pulled against her. Then she kissed him. He put his arms around her. She could tell he was nervous and panicky by his jolty movements and he was sweaty. When it ended, he leaned against her and smiled. “Est-ce que c’est ainsi que vous allez toujours gérer la situation à partir de maintenant ?”

~ Capt Renault

Helen’s gaze was soft and slightly flushed. “If that was ‘Thank you, Helena. That helped very much, I feel better,’ then you are very welcome. If that was, ‘I still feel stressed out,’ then…” she leaned in and kissed him again.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

He kissed back, still stressed but he felt floaty and distracted. When that kiss ended, he looked at her and smiled. “I said, are you going to kiss me until I forget my own name?” That wasn’t exactly what he said, but it was close enough.

~ Capt Renault

Helena flushed, but she managed to move closer, “I wasn’t aiming for that, but I certainly can try if you like.” She kissed him again, leaving no doubt she was attempting to do just that.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau’s body relaxed a little and he leaned against her. The kiss ended and he sighed deeply. Then he said something under his breath in French, “Mon dieu, Helena.” Then he looked up at Helena, looking exhausted and drained. “At this rate, I won’t have time to breathe.”

~ Capt Renault

“Ah, no. Now you can breathe. Go take a shower, wash off the day, then you can have my bunk to sleep.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her nose against his. “Unless you would rather keep kissing me.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau pressed up against her. “Let’s do both at the same time. I think that will help me forget the day.” He said, looking at her with one of his looks.

~ Capt Renault

Helena felt warm and her heart raced when he looked like. If that would help (she knew how much he hated crazy flight maneuvers), then they could take… her face turned bright red and she looked around the room and then back at him. “Yeah. Okay.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau smiled and gave her a soft look. “Does it make you that nervous?” He grinned playfully, “I thought nakedness was no big deal to Icelandic people?”

~ Capt Renault

Helena turned even redder. “It’s not.” She spluttered for a moment. “It’s not the same thing.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“No?” Marceau went on, grin widening. “You have seen me that way before. The only difference is, now you are allowed to touch what you see.”

~ Capt Renault

Helena could melt through the floor. “Yes, exactly, totally different.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau laughed. “Well, we could not do that if you are so uncomfortable with it. Perhaps we have not reached that stage of this relationship yet?”

~ Capt Renault

“I’m not uncomfortable. Just surprised.” Helena gave him one of her looks. “No, not there yet, but we’re about to be.” She walked backwards, slowly, toward the door to the shower.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau followed her into the bathroom. Some time later, he emerged wrapped in a towel and grinning. “I think I do feel a little better.” He said, sitting on the bed.

~ Capt Renault

Helena tossed the towel she was drying her hair with at him, “Rake,” she teased. She walked over, wrapped in her own towel and hugged him before looking at him. She looked guilty. “I’m sorry, Marceau. I’m so sorry. I hated doing it. I know how you feel about flying.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau caught it and set it aside. He hugged her back. “You might have saved the crew doing that. My stupid fear isn’t worth more than that.” He said, looking at her. He shuddered though, “It was terrifying.”

~ Capt Renault

“It’s not stupid.” She sighed heavily, “I know I had to, but I hate knowing how scared you are.” She had hoped for his sake that it would get easier for him as time went on.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

It never did. He shook his head and closed his eyes. “All I can see is crashing, crashing into an asteroid somewhere…” Marceau hugged her tightly.

~ Capt Renault

They had crashed that one horrible time. Helena still lived with the guilt. The crash hadn’t been her fault. She had even been given a commendation for her skill that saved their lives. She looked at him. “Sojourner is a lot bigger and stronger than that shuttle. I won’t let anything happen, I promise. I can’t prevent any damage to the ship, but we will be okay.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau shook his head. “You can’t promise that.” He pulled away and hugged himself and sighed. “I’m a pathetic captain, aren’t I?”

~ Capt Renault

She gave him that look that made Cadets wince. “You are not. You didn’t run from the bridge, you didn’t start screaming, and you didn’t lose your last meal. You continued to give orders and remained calm. Admiral Stokes throws up during combat maneuvers. They keep bags on the bridge stored under his chair.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau smiled a little. “He’s an Admiral though, I’m a new Captain.” He looked at her, “You helped me calm down some but I still feel like throwing up or panicking.” He raised a hand to show her how shaky it was.

~ Capt Renault

“He is, but he was a commodore before that, a captain before that, a commander, all the way back to cadet. And he made it despite that. And so have you.” She took his hand and held it over her heart. “Why don’t you try to sleep? I will run to the mess and get some ginger tea… oh wait.” She turned for her desk and opened a drawer. “Here,” it was one of his ginger candies. “I can still get you tea. Chamomile might help you sleep. Or do you want to ask Grey for something?”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau let his hand rest against her, then slipped it around her. He took the candy when offered it, unwrapped it, and popped it in his mouth. Then shook his head. “Let’s try the tea. I don’t want Grey to think I can’t handle the job.”

~ Capt Renault

“You lay down. I’ll go get something and bring it back. Or would a trip to the galley help? Distract you? It would let the crew see you.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“I’ll go. I want the crew to see me.” He felt lightheaded from panic and sick. He didn’t want to go. But he did want to seem normal and okay for the sake of the crew. “Allons-y.” He said, getting up from the edge of the bed. “Well, let’s finish getting dressed first.”

~ Capt Renault

Helena dressed in a tank and cargo pants. She slipped into her shoes. She hung the damp towels up to dry and tossed the dirty clothes into a hamper. “Alright,” she kissed him for a long moment. “Needed something to hold me over.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau put on a regular shirt and a pair of pants out of the bag from his quarters. He laughed as she kissed him. “Helena!” He said, smiling. “Okay, let’s go before you get any more ideas.”

~ Capt Renault

“Me?” she asked innocently, “come up with ideas? Why Captain, I’m just a pilot.” She winked at him and then opened the door and left. He was laughing, even just a bit, that was all she cared about.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

They walked down to the galley and Marceau got a chamomile tea. “I hope this helps.” He said with a small sigh.

~ Capt Renault

Helena also got a tea and then a toasted bagel with cream cheese for Marceau and jelly for herself. They sat at a table. “It always has. You’re a doctor, you know how the power of the mind works. The tea has always helped and it will today.” She slid the bagel over to him. “Eat, you haven’t all day, I know.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau picked at the bagel. “You know?” He said, trying to be coy and not feeling hungry. “Maybe I ate before I went on the bridge?”

~ Capt Renault

She looked at him, “Yeah, same. But do you realize how long ago that was? Before the away mission. Eat, even if you aren’t hungry.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Oh, yeah, there was an away mission. With all the other chaos and terrifying things, he’d forgotten. He took a little bite of the bagel. He liked it, he liked bagels with cream cheese, but his appetite just wasn’t there. “Okay, fine.”

~ Capt Renault

Eyes narrowed, lips pursed, she watched him. “Stop acting like I am torturing you.” She took a bit of hers. “You know how chef is about wasted food. If you don’t eat that, then I will have to.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau crouched like a child in trouble. “I know, but… I’m so not hungry, eating will make me feel sicker.” He said, and took another small bite of it.

~ Capt Renault

Oh this was bad. He didn’t even get that doctor look and tell her to stay away from the cheese. “Come on, we’ll take it with us. You need sleep.” Helena stood, grabbed her bagel and tea and went out the door.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau stood with her. “Oh, okay.” He said as he followed her. “I’m okay, Helena, don’t worry too much.” He commented as they walked, watching her.

~ Capt Renault

She just gave him a look. Even before this, Helena worried. They were best friends. She really watched him for a minute. “I don’t think you are. You don’t look okay. Did you get hurt and not notice when the ship was hit?” It could just be fatigue, she guessed. Doing battle with pirates wasn’t a great shake down mission for a new captain.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“No, I don’t think so.” Marceau said. “We can do a quick scan… oh.” His medical scanner had been damaged in the fire in his quarters. “I don’t think so,” he said again.

~ Capt Renault

“Okay.” Helena would keep an eye on him though. They got back to her quarters. “Finish your tea and try to sleep. It’s been somewhere just past 24 hours. You are no good to make decisions if you are exhausted and I’m no good to pilot. We won’t be going anywhere until the damage to the deflector dish is repaired. Sleep while we can.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau sat down and drank the tea. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” He said, and pointed to the small futon style sofa in the room. “I’m not taking your bunk when you need it.”

~ Capt Renault

“That thing doesn’t even fold out and is barely big enough to sit in.” She looked at him. “I don’t know what you are talking about taking my bunk. You’ve never minded sharing.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau smiled. “I guess I’m just… Too tired to think straight.” He finished off the tea and set the mug aside. He sat on the edge of her bunk. “The last thing I want is a poorly rested pilot doing crazy stunts that scare the life out of me.”

~ Capt Renault

Helena lowered the lights before sitting down next to him. “No crazy stunts. The Vulcans are in route to pick up the cargo ships and crews. And an alert went out about the last one. They will be hiding. Simply set course and in two months we’ll be home. We’ll go see my parents, okay?” She stretched put on her side, folded her arm under her head, and pressed as close to the wall as she could.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

He lay on the side of the bed, as close to the edge without falling off as he could. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. While they’re repairing our weapons systems.” He sighed and turned so he could look at her. “I will get over it. I will be fine.”

~ Capt Renault

She reached out and took his hand and tugged. “Come on. There is plenty of room. And neither of us moves around a lot.” She ran her hand over his arm soothingly. “We both know you will be, and a few hours of solid sleep will make a difference.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau moved over a little. He took a deep, slow breath. “I know it will.” Then he lay quietly, trying to sleep.

~ Capt Renault

Helena began to sing softly. She didn’t have the best voice, but she wasn’t bad either. It was a lullaby her mother had always sung to her..little did she know that her mother had sang it to Marceau when they had been in the hospital after Mars. She sang until he was asleep and then quickly nodded off herself.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau thought her voice was beautiful. He was soon asleep next to her, his breaths deep and even. He was unable to stay asleep the entire night. He woke two or three hours later and unable to quiet his mind, it took him hours to fall back to sleep.

~ Capt Renault

Helena rolled closer in her sleep once. She curled close to him, one arm wrapping over him, and her head tucked against his shoulder.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau rested his head against her, cuddling into her as she tucked herself against him in her sleep.

~ Capt Renault

Marceau was asleep when Helena woke up. She carefully got up and took a fresh uniform into the bathroom. She took her time, being as quiet as possible. Her hair was braided and she zipped up her jumpsuit as she came out. She sat at her desk and slipped her boots on and tied them.

She wasn’t due for duty for awhile, so she pulled a book down and leaned back, feet propped on her desk, and read.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

When he woke up, he still felt tired. He noticed that Helena wasn’t next to him and looked around, spotting her reading. “How long have you been up?”

~ Capt Renault

She looked up and smiled while she closed the book. “About an hour. I’m not due on the bridge for awhile, and didn’t want to wake you. How are you feeling?”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Marceau shrugged. “Tired. Not well. It’s just the stress.” He sat up and stretched. “I am due on the bridge when you are.”

~ Capt Renault

Helena nodded, “You have to try and eat and maintain a semblance of normalcy. Not just for the crew, Marceau, but for yourself. I’ve heard you lecture enough people about it. What is that old saying? ‘Physician, Heal Thyself.’ But on a more practical note. I’m going to head down to the galley. It’s no secret that we are friends, nor that your quarters aren’t fit for occupation. But better to not cause tongues to wag. Right now people will look for anything to distract from what happened.” She dropped her feet and moved to sit next to him. She didn’t care if people knew, and she knew Marceau didn’t either, and there were no rules against it, but there was such a thing as discretion, privacy, and professionalism. “So get another shower if you like, get ready and then come have breakfast with me.” She leaned in and kissed him. “I hate to go.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer