<snip>

Taking a sip of her now sweet coffee, Molly relished in its warmth. Now that was coffee. Shaking her head, she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you shared it.” She smiled softly. The truth was, as Reed spoke, Holloway’s mind had stayed behind at the mention of the Jem’Hadar, her own train of thought lost in the memories of their recent encounter with them.

“I was nine years old when the war ended… I don’t remember any of it. I had my own problems to deal with.” Molly shrugged taking her mug to her lips for another sip. “But I know how vicious the Jem’Hadar can be.” A shadow grew on her expression, as the sound of a depressurizing shuttlecraft cabin filled her mind. The crash, the torture… How close her and Cal’s lives had been to ending…

The coffee mug slipped through Molly’s loosening fingers as her mind travelled to unwanted memories. Startled, and reacting instantly, she managed to grab hold of it, preventing it from falling to the floor and shattering in a million pieces. The dark liquid inside it sloshed around, sprinkling a few droplets here and there.

“I’m sorry. I spaced out for a moment.” Holloway gave Reed an apologetic smile. “It seems like you caused a good impression with the right people then. Which begs the question, why did they put you working cargo and not regular engineering?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Easy there lady, No shame in seeing ghosts.” Stores gently reaching out to steady her hand. “Looks like you have walked threw hell too”

Smiling and holding the Captains gaze. “To answere your question, Klienholffer has me working main shift with her but I sneak down here anytime I can. I find it relaxing.” Stores devil may care grin in place,”besides some one has to show your peaple what’s what. Cargo handlers deck apes are not” relaxing and finding his cup, “show what dose a ships intelegence officer do to relax?”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Molly chuckled softly before taking a sip of her coffee through slightly shaky hands. “Hell… I can assure you… Hell is tame compared to what I’ve walked through.”

“Ah, I’m glad Lieutenant Kleinhoffer has put you to work then.” Holloway smiled. “And well… I guess someone has to do cargo duty, so it might as well be someone that enjoys it.” Taking another sip, it took a few moments for Molly to answer Reed’s last question. “Not much to be honest… I mostly spend my free time in my training program, and recently I have found some time to replicate some old books I have been wanting to read. What do you, Mr. Reed, do to relax? When you’re not stuck in one of the Cargo Bays, that is.”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Honestly I am a tinker. I work on little problems and gifts. I certainly try to stretch the capabilities of the replicators,” Stores smile was all mischievous school boy” I have to keep busy or my demons get restless, truth be told.”

“Best bit of advice I ever got was from an old Master Cheif. He told me that I wasn’t crazy, he said you can’t see the kind of shit we do out here with out growing eyes in the back of your head.” After a momentary pause to push the sight of blood floating black in the emergency lighting and the smell of three day old suit air from his mind. “ something the Docs forget to tell you, PTSD is a natural reaction.”

“You ever need to talk, Cap come find me. I’ll scrape up somthing intended to quaff, not sip.” Lifting the caraf and nodding tord the Captain’s cup.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Molly smiled softly, before taking another sip from her cup. “Thank you, Mr. Reed, but I don’t drink.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. She related too strongly with Reed’s words but she felt that anything she could possibly say would reveal things she wasn’t sure she was ready to admit.

Holloway took another sip to buy some time without making it look like she was taking too long to speak. “I always thought I was too young to even contemplate having PTSD.” It was a stupid opinion, but one Molly believed in. “But I know what it feels like to have to keep yourself busy so your mind doesn’t wonder to places you don’t want it to be.” She paused for another moment. “Especially at night when you’re trying to sleep…”

She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. “So, besides the coffee, what other capabiliites have you improved on the replicators? I am worthless when it comes to Engineering…”

Capt. Holloway, CIO