Posted by Lieutenant Corinne Dalton (Scientist) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It

Posted by Commander Dr. Royal Sinclair (Executive Officer) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It

Posted by Lieutenant Corinne Dalton (Scientist) in XO’s Quarters - Sleepover? Slumber Party? No Idea What To Call It

(snip)

Royal adjusted into his pillow so they faced each other evenly. The bed wasn’t small, but he was large and she was not exactly tiny, so the distance between them was perhaps a hand’s breadth. “Tell me what you thought about when you were gone. I know it wasn’t pleasant… but did anything bring you joy? Did any thought make you happy… even for a second?”

Royal

She sucked in a breath. “That’s just it, Royal, I didn’t have thoughts. Unlike when the Douwd trapped me this time I didn’t have thoughts. I didn’t even know I was anywhere else. Those two years don’t even exist to me. I don’t know how but clearly that cube they put me in effectively put me into a coma.” Cori forced herself to take a breath. “When I appeared in Kane’s lab, all I knew was I was someone I didn’t recognize and it was so painful, like my limbs had been ripped off. We know now that it was likely the memory gaps from my extraction approximating the sensation, but in that moment I all I knew was that there was this man causing me pain and asking me relentless questions and treating me like I was a threat. I understood it from an intellectual perspective but it felt like the Saracen all over again, having to prove my existence.” In the low lighting her lips curled into a smile. “But then he started asking me questions about you after I mentioned your first name. The thought of you brought me the first moment of joy on this ship. Since we met you had always been my defender, my supporter. With so little knowledge about anything going on, all I could hope was the the two years after I was taken from the Saracen had been kind to you. You deserved that.”

~Corinne Dalton

His reached up and set his fingers on her cheek, his eyes staring straight into hers. “The past two years have moved me all over, helped my career, made me new friends… and they were empty because I couldn’t share any of that with you.” He took a deep breath and then said “I thought of you every day, Cori. And I wished…” and he squeezed his eyes shut, “… I wished so hard that I would find you.” His eyes opened and were shining with new tears held back by willpower alone. “I know that you suffered when you taken out of that box. And had I known… If i could have helped.” and he closed his eyes and shook his head before looking back at her. “I don’t know which was worse. Having your limbs ripped off once or my heart torn out just a little more every day.”

Royal

Her eyes mirrored his own and Cori sucked in a breath. How to express the words escaped her so she did the only thing that seemed reasonable in the moment: she drew herself forward and kissed him. It wasn’t desirous but it was filled with care and compassion. She pulled back a fraction to whisper. “We’ll heal together then.”

~Corinne Dalton

He smiled at her and said “It’s a deal.” and then he kissed her back. That particular kiss was desirous… but it was a desire for her. The entirety of her. He poured all of him into her and she could feel his heart hammer against her. He held her close to him for several long minutes before pulling back and smiling. “There have been so many times I have dreamt of that, you have no idea.”

Royal

It was so easy to get swept up in the moment and the Cori from several years ago would have tried to keep going. But between his words and the boundaries they crafted together, she was okay stopping there. It didn’t mean that she didn’t reciprocate that desire. Even in the dimer light her blue eyes were still bright as she smiled at him. “Yeah, I agree that I have no idea. I never let myself go that far, to let myself think if you, of us that. I was too scared to lose you as a friend to even acknowledge what was between us.” She drew in a deep breath. “It does make me sad that you were… as stuck as I was, in your own way, but I guess I’m also grateful because you were able to wait for me.”

~Corinne Dalton

Royal smiled and said “Able to? Naw, lass… it was never a question of ability. It was just a question of time. I knew you’d come back. I just did’nae know when. But I never doubted we’d see one another again. Not once.”

Royal