Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Enduring Correspondence

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Enduring Correspondence

(snip)
Alexis had a message from Hannah. It came a sooner than their normal correspondence, which made her curious. She sat at the desk and opened the message…

Hannah was playing with the dog tags that were hanging around her neck again. They were a heavy weight. She signed quietly into the recording. =/\= Hey Nugget. How are things? You figure out everything? You get married? Did your mom go over board? Did your dad cry? I wish I could have been there..” Hannah paused and lifted the chain. “Look what I got back. I don’t know what to tell you, Alexis. It’s one of those things your dad always says only your heart can understand. Right now mine doesn’t. Only that I am grateful I found him, and angry that he was taken away again.” Hannah sat back and her hands started and stopped a few times. “I wish we had gotten married. I wish we had broached the subject at least. I am lonely in a way I can’t explain to you. We were so content to just be together, it all passed us by. I’m glad that hasn’t happened to you. Don’t waste time over thinking your life with Solomon, just do it.“

“I took a new position, but I think I may go home for a visit first. I’ll contact you when I get settled. =/\=

Alexis stared at the screen for a long moment. She turned the console off and got up from the desk. She had things to do.

Bonner

It had almost been a month and Hannah still had not contacted Alexis again. Alexis had sent her several messages and no reply. She opened her comms one more time and started a recording:

HANNAH LORI ASIMINA ANSWER YOUR COMMS!!!! Alexis was worried. It was all over her face as she signed in the most agitated way possible. That was something. Alexis never got worked up…well not before she met Kane anyway. The sound of Alexis slamming her hands on the desk and rattling the screen so it went fuzzy, made Hannah feel bad. Alexis was really worried. Hannah, really. You aren’t like me, so don’t tell me you got lost in your work. I saw when I had to actually look you up that you are the AMO for Oed V now. You will do great, I know. But ANSWER YOUR COMMS. Alexis huffed. A note that you are alive and okay will suffice. Twelve hours. If you don’t, I swear I will leave my Honeymoon and travel to Oed to find you.

There was another note sent 20 hours later with Alexis’ travel itinerary to get to Oed. Hannah had sent a very quick note back then. Alexis, calm down. I’m alive and on Oed. I am not okay but I am. I have my first shift at the hospital in an hour. I will call today or tomorrow morning. Promise.

Finally almost a day later the comms chirped with an incoming live call. The Star Fleet symbol rotated around and around and then the screen flashed to Hannah as Alexis sat. Alezis wanted to laugh as Solomon shouted. “Damnit it’s our Honeymoon!”

“It’s Hannah.”

“Oh, well that’s different. Tell her I said to stop avoiding you. It makes you cranky.” And then his masculine laughter carried to her from the other room.

Hannah! Are you okay? I mean it! You can’t send me a message like that and not answer for almost a month!

Hannah sighed and nodded. You’re right, Alexis. I am sorry. I just…I can’t even blame it on the work. I… It was one thing to tell Jason, and how easy that was.

You what? What is it? Alexis waved her hand at the screen to get Hannah’s attention. Hannah turned to look back at her. I think I’m crazy Alexis. I…well I met this guy like two days ago…and he left me this letter… Hannah pulled it out of her pocket and waved it to show. He…signed it ‘love’. I mean…what?

Alexis sat back and gave Hannah the most neutral and typical ‘Alexis is thinking’ look ever. Wait, two days and you…spent the night with him? Hannah, that’s not like you. Hannah shrugged and made a motion to get Alexis talking. Well lots of cultures sign off letters with such statements. Maybe he did it out of habit?

No I don’t think so, listen, and Hannah read the letter to Alexis. What do you think?

I don’t know; I have never gotten a love letter.

Hannah looked at her like she was lying, Never? Kane has never written you a letter or a note or anything? Come on Alexis, help me.

Alexis tapped her finger against her knee, Well…yeah once on the back of a picture. He draws me pictures, he doesn’t write letters. Alexis shrugged, Come on Hannah. Why are you freaking out over this? You are always the one telling me that time doesn’t matter, circumstances don’t matter. That if it’s right it is. Then Alexis started to laugh, OMG Hannah. You are OVERTHINKING this aren’t you?!

Hannah glared at her best friend. Oh Alexis was enjoying this too much. Well I have to, Alexis. It’s not simple anymore.

Why not?

Hannah looked down and Alexis could see the sigh, it was so big, before Hannah looked at her again. He used to be with SFI and…well I just don’t know if I should trust him. I feel like I can but what if it’s just because I’m scared, and even if I can trust him, that’s not fair to him. He seems like a really nice guy. And this is such a messed up situation. I can’t just fall in love with him. There is so much to consider…

“Hannah!” Hannah stopped and looked at her at the noise. Hannah, what are you talking about? What situation?

Alexis…I’m pregnant. Alexis’ mouth dropped open and then snapped shut. It’s…Daniel’s.

Okay well, that is a tough situation. Alexis was so out of her depth. What was she supposed to say to Hannah. Give her statistics about how single parents do just fine on their own? Alexis had no idea. That wasn’t the issue though. Umm…have you told this…?

Jason…Jason Reilly. Yeah he knows. He said he had never thought about kids or a long term relationship, EVER. But then he told me had been in love once….SONUVA- IT WAS ME! HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ME! What the hell am I doing?!

Alexis was still for a long minute. How did one run a background check? Because if this guy was screwing with Hannah she wanted to know and she’d do something worse to him than they did to Soulis. Hannah…you don’t act like this, so I am going to take a guess and I might be wrong, but I think you have already fallen in love with him or you wouldn’t be over thinking this at all and you wouldn’t be staying overnight in his house talking about being in love. So no, I have no idea what you are doing because even I know where you should be and what you should be doing Hannah. Of course that was assuming this guy was who he said he was. Look Hannah, all you can do is try, and if it doesn’t work then no regrets right? And take care of yourself, both of you okay?

Hannah sighed, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear but she wasn’t sure that made her feel better. Though Alexis turning the table on her was funny. Yeah you’re right. I…I have to get to work. Bye Nugget. I’ll call soon.

The comms closed and Alexis stared at the screen. “Solomon! How do I do that crazy background check that will tell me everything? I know you can do that. Show me how.”

Bonner