Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II

(snip)

Taking the glass, Anthony drank from it for several moments. He didn’t quite smirk at Kane’s remark. His bluntness was rather refreshing, especially after the previous night. Anthony liked him. He rested the glass on the arm of his chair. “Allison wants a divorce.” His gaze flicked to Kane before returning to Alexis. Allison had been cruel and blamed everyone but herself for her u happiness. Especially Alexis and then Anthony. “Given normal circumstances I would be inclined to give her her way. I won’t make her stay with me if she is that unhappy.” Apparently Cmdr Forbes would be happy to take his place, according to Allison anyway. He didn’t buy it. “Allison thinks that threatening to make things difficult for Alexis and you will make me give her whatever she wants.”

Anthony

Kane listened and when Anthony finished, he looked at Alexis and gave her a small half-smile and wink with his hair-covered eye. He looked back at Anthony and said “Lex and I thought she might pull that card. Not a smart move on her part. Especially for someone so concerned with her social standing and image.” He looked at Lex and said “Wanna tell him?”

Kane

Alexis shared the look with him. There was no other possible outcome. Eventually it would come to this. The threats. She gave Solomon a quiet half nod. She didn’twant to tell her father, but it was her family and her responsibility. “We…added some entries into mom’s medical file.” Anthony started to open his mouth not quite sure he wanted to know, but Alexis continued anyway. “Nothing that will draw attention to her, nothing that will stop her from living her life the way she pictures it.” She explained the entries, the timing, the behavior.

Anthony sat back and stared at Alexis and then at Kane. “Well that’s going to be interesting. I set some stipulations for your mother. The first being she has to attend couples counseling with me for 6 months prior to filing the divorce to 6 months after it is finalized. I don’t expect to reconcile with her but it will insure she doesn’t turn this into a 3 ring soap opera.” Anthony turned his gaze on Kane, “One of the others is that she agrees to any stipulation or requirement you want concerning yourself and Alexis.”

Anthony

Kane looked at Anthony for a long time in silence. Unlike his usual glare, this was a look of deep thought, planning… and even concern.

“The problem with this-” he began, “- is that the longer it draws out the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong. And if you two go to counseling, those entries will be reviewed and your wife will absolutely deny it and try to blame you. Or Lex. Or me. So I want to ask you something… what is it that makes you want to do this? Because there is no good outcome for you. Just a year of bulls#!+ and pain. And take me and Alexis out if it. Now is when you think about you. No one else. Alexis and I hacked a trained Intelligence operative’s brain… we’ll be fine. No one messes with us… especially when we are together against them. We need your plan, Anthony. And if you want… you can be part of this-” and he gestured back and forth between him and Alexis, “- and we can all get out of this together. Same time. One and done.”

Kane

Anthony nodded, “Oh it is a problem but when I suggested it I didn’t know you were going to play with her Medical records.” Alexis was picking at the hem of her shirt and he reached over and squeezed her hand. “I can’t say I like it. I prefer to deal with things up front and honestly and fairly, but life doesn’t always work that way. I do think it’s a good preemptive plan.” Then he sat back. “I don’t want to do this. After the last 48 hours I would gladly walk away and never look back. However 1, I would rather Allison’s ire be focused in me and not Alexis, and 2…” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want Allison showing up at the Academy creating a scene. I have my career, and it’s important to me, my students. I know she will do it. When I signed the papers to let Alexis serve her final year ship side, Allison was on campus…or pitside campus every day creating problems. It was nasty.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

Anthony smirked, “Because you were 17.”

Bonner