Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Isabel Delaney (Security Officer) in A Call to Her Family - Izzy’s Quarters
She sighed and straightened her dark forest green cable knit jumper and brushed her fingers through her curly red hair. Before she could finish, her mother appeared on her screen, smiling wide with her own matching auburn curls. “Izzy, A stóirín! I did no’ expect t’ hear from you for another two weeks. Wha’ a pleasant surprise. Did you get my latest care package?”

“Yes Mam I did. I wore th’ jumper yesterday. It’s class. Thanks a million. How’s Da?”

“Oh he’s grand, out securin’ down the paddock walls as its spittin’ out but soon th’ weather is goin’ t’ turn nasty. Hugh and Liam are up from service and will be here for two full weeks though. It’s nice to have them home but their first night here and your da had them at the pub. They came home banjaxed and are feelin it today I mind. Still, they are out helpin your da and will just have to suffer for it.” She said with a grin.

Izzy matched her mother’s grin with one of her own. They looked so alike. Her brothers were a mix, some looking more like their father and some looking more like their mother. Between them though, there wasn’t a question who the parents were of all 9 children. She propped her chin on her elbow, watching as her mother’s attention was drawn away from something off screen. Within moments, she saw why, though she heard before she saw.

“Oh yeah. My head is in bits.”
“Well, we were eejits so....”
“I think I’ll go for a kip and....”

Her brothers both, came into the screen view grinning like the idiots they were as they realized who their mother was talking to.

“OH! How ya gettin’ on sis?”
“Yeah, Howsagoin? Kickin’ main fleet arse yeah?”
“HUGH!”
Together both men said “Sorry Mam” in the way that was definitely an oft repeated recitation.

“It was a rough mission last yeah, but I am recoverin’ well enough.” She couldn’t tell them that she had met her mirror self, even seen the mirror of their dead brother Aiden alive and well. It sat in her heart like a stone but she couldn’t talk about it with them. “I have been given the lead of beta squad.”

Both men erupted in congratulations and excitement. For all their banter, they loved their little sister and knew better than most, the struggles she had. Her mother couldn’t get any words in edgewise since they were so rambunctious at the news. She looked exasperated for a good long minute before finally shutting them down with a “BOYS!”

They quieted instantly, though there were thumbs up and gestures behind their mother’s back that had Izzy laughing. Their mother, used to this type of behavior simply soldiered on. “Fair play darling. We are very proud of you.... if you couldn’t tell.” She turned back to look at her sons behind her and they quickly stopped gesturing until she turned back around to face the screen.

“Thank you Mam. Its so good to see all of you.” She said with a happy sigh.

.. tbc

Delaney, Sec

“Oi! Iz, Hugh got himself a girl.” Liam teased. Hugh looked right proud of himself and preened.

“She is a looker, that one. Blonde and with curves…” He made a gesture that had their mother shouting “HUGH!” again.

“Sorry Mam.” Came his reply before he continued unflustered by her admonition. “Anyway her da was also a Marine though he retired early to farm, so she knows what Marines are like. She has a bit o’ sass about her and I think you will love her. Make sure to visit soon yeah?”

Izzy could see the hope and happiness in his eyes. She loved seeing it. Hugh was a shy sort around women but he was a good man and would make anyone a fine partner. “Bit o’ sass? Means she is a firecracker and I am sure I will love her if you do. Now, Liam you have to tell me about Picot. Has he graduated yet? I know he was struggling with his last year.”

“He graduated last week an’ thank the god above. He did it with flying colors. All that worry over nothin’. Like he could ever fail at anythin’ the man puts his mind to? I mean, obviously it was somethin’ since we dinnae see each other for damned near 6 months but I suppose I could give him a lil slack you know with him being a student an’ all an’ he does still send me messages an’ we chat over the wire you know.... bu’ it hurt not to spend time with him an’ I sort of resent his school a bit an’ ....”

“Liam take a breath or you are going to fall over for pete’s sake.” Her mother waved wildly to get him to stop the run on. For Liam, it was one of his lighter ones. The man could go on for ages and never take a breath. She turned back to her only daughter. “Picot is comin’ back here to spend the summer while he looks for work in his field. I imagine Liam will have a much harder time making choices around that than holding out patience for Picot to finish school a thousand miles away.” She gave him another look out of the corner of her eye. Izzy’s mother was the master at keeping her children in tow.

Picot had been Liam’s partner for almost a decade. Being away from each other must have been hard and Izzy suspected her brother would be leaving the Marines in order to follow Picot where ever his research took him. He hadn’t said as much yet, but Izzy could see it in his face as well as read between the lines of her mother’s words.

“A stóirín, are you coming home for Christmas?”

“Actually, I think I might be able to get some time off. It’s only for a few days before I take over Beta Squad, but I should take it now since I can.”

Her mother brightened considerably. Christmas was particularly crazy in her household when all her children were home, but she wouldn’t waste a minute. “Fine fine. Oh, your Da will be so excited. Now, you will let me know what day to come get you from the shuttleport. I can’t wait.” Suddenly, her mother’s gaze turned inward as she started making herself a list, mumbling things while ticking them off with her fingers. “Yes yes, and we will need to decorate the mantles and the front porch and oh we will need to bring down some greens from the forest for wreaths and garland and Oh! I wonder how the holly bushes are doing on the east side…”

Liam stopped her by kissing her head. “I think she is going to be at this for a while Iz. So, we will talk to you soon yeah?”
“Yeah bye sis! Give ‘em hell.” Hugh leapt in the background to get her attention.

She laughed and nodded, signing off. As always, time spent with her family had a grounding effect. Whereas she had felt unsure and adrift after the last mission, she now felt at peace and comfortable. She smiled at her screen as it rotated the Star Fleet logo. Christmas in Ireland was going to be grand.

Delaney, Sec