Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in What If…

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…
Posted by… suppressed (20) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman had slipped over to her seat and when he saw her sway, put his hands out. He was relieved when Lori came to help her. Jay moved over and let Roman hold onto him while he got up. Then kept an arm around Roman to keep him upright. Roman smiled at Rand. “Thanks for trying, but you have to take care of yourself, too.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She nodded, “I’m alright, really.” She stared up at the front of the Caliano’s home. It was pretty, homey, Rand liked it. It was different from her family’s home, but had the same feel to it. She and Lori followed everyone else inside. Bys and Pater disappeared around the side of the house. They were very careful as they checked the property and then seemed to disappear, though Rand knew they were very close by.

Yeoman Rand

The Calianos led them all inside. “Lori, Rand, make yourselves at home. Jay, settle Roman in, in bed, and we’ll take dinner to him.” Jay had told his father what the doctor had said. “Right, come on big guy,” Jay said, leading Roman back to the back bedroom. Fifteen years ago, it was guest bedroom. When Roman moved in, it became his. It was pretty bare bones, he’d never really moved in, despite the Calianos urging him to.

Lori led Rand over to a chair and they sat. Rand watched as Jay led him away. “Jay is really nice. Looking out for him.” He reminded her of her brother.

Lori nodded with a silly grin. “He is. He’s really sweet. I like him a lot. He really loves his family.”

Jay helped him to the bed and made him sit down. Roman sat willingly and lay back on his bed. “I’m alright, Jay, there’s no need for all this.”

“Yes there is, now lay down, shut up, and wait for dinner.” Jay said. He sat next to Roman in an arm chair in the room.

In the main living area, Mrs Caliano smiled at Rand. “Do you need anything? If not, it’s the back bedroom on the left. That’s where Roman will be.” Mr Caliano chuckled, “He better be. For the next twenty four hours minimum. I’ll make it an order if I have to.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori laughed, “Jay said you would have to do that. Will it work?”

“He’ll listen to me. Always has,” Mr Caliano replied confidently.

Rand liked that. It didn’t sound arrogant, just certain. She always listened to her dad too.

Rand shook her head. “Oh, no ma’am. I’m fine, thank you,” she said quietly. She hadn’t thought about the fact Roman having to rest meant in his bedroom. She looked down the hall and told Lori very quietly. “I… I think I should go.”

Lori helped her stand, “Nonsense.” She turned toward the hall. She paused to look at Mrs. Caliano. “Maybe some chamomile tea if you have any?” She asked quietly.

Mrs Caliano smiled and nodded. “I’ll put some on straight away. I’ll bring it down the hall once it’s brewed.”

Lori smiled, “Thank you, Ma’am.”

She stopped at the back bedroom door and knocked on the frame. “Are you two up for some company?” Lori asked.

Yeoman Rand

Jay looked up and smiled. “Of course. Come in.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori had to propel Rand into the room. There were some things that Rand was very old fashioned about, and add her anxiety. Well, Lori had to prod a bit.

Rand could walk on her own if she took her time. Lori had propelled her through the door, and it would be rude to just stand in the doorway and block Lori. She moved just into the room and to the side. She was curious, but she tried not to stare around his room, or to stare at him too much. “How are you feeling?” She mentally kicked herself for that. He would say fine whether he was or not. Also, she had just seen him, so nothing had probably changed. Lori flashed Jay an amused look.

Yeoman Rand

Jay grinned back as Roman answered exactly how Rand guessed. “I’m fine.” Roman smiled at her. “Thanks… For coming. I can tell it’s hard for you.” He chuckled lightly. “This is probably a lot for a first date.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Of course, you asked me to come,” it was so innocently honest. Lori thought it was adorable too. Rand must really like him. Rand wished she wasn’t like this. She wished she could hide it. “No, it’s okay. I’m just sorry you got hurt.” She moved closer, leaning her hip against the footboard. “Are you still dizzy?”

Yeoman Rand

Roman nodded. “It’ll fade, once I’ve been still for a while.” He said. Jay looked like he was going to comment, but held his tongue and instead looked at Lori and shook his head.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Then you will just have to stay still. No more dancing,” she stopped herself from adding ‘with clumsy partners,’ “for a little while,” she said instead. That was sad, that was all Rand wanted to do. She wished this hadn’t happened. Dancing with Roman had been one of the best moments of her life so far. She’d always remember it.

Lori nodded. Their friends were in need of being taken care of. She started to say something when she saw Rand drop her hand onto the foot board. It seemed casual, but Lori could tell it was the lightheadedness caused by the medication. “Rand, you should sit down too,” she looked around for another chair because she knew Rand would never sit on the bed.

Yeoman Rand

“Daaaaad, can we get another chair in here?!” Jay shouted out to the other room. “I’ll get a camping chair!” Came the reply from his father. A few minutes later, Mr Caliano appeared in the doorway with a foldable chair. Jay took it and put it next to the bed, closest to Roman. Mr Caliano left after Jay thanked him, and then Jay looked at Rand. “Sit.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Well that left no room for Rand to wonder if she should let Jay or Lori have the chair. Jay meant it for her and expected her to use it. Rand wasn’t a follower, but navigating social niceties was always so confusing. “Thank you, Lt. Cal,” she stopped. He had said to call him Jay. “Thank you, Jay.” She waved Lori’s hand off and sat carefully in the chair. She set a hand on the edge of the mattress for just a little extra support as she sat. The chair didn’t exactly allow for perfect posture and she was forced to lean back in the chair.

Lori winked at Jay and mouthed a silent thank you.

Yeoman Rand

Jay smiled, at both of them. “You’re welcome.” He said. “Lori, if you like, next to me is always a seating option.” The trick was, there really was no next to him. It would be in the same chair as him. It was a big chair, but there would be overlap.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori grinned and swept over and sat, squeezed in next to him. “Why thank you, Jay. I can’t think of a better place to sit.” Rand watched out of the corner of her eye. She wished she could be so bold. She turned her attention back to Roman. He was why she was there after all. “Umm, how long has it been since you’ve been home?”

Yeoman Rand

“Ehhhm.... Jay?” He asked, looking over at his friend. “A year and a half,” Jay said. “We went home the Christmas before last, when I was still an Ensign. Then we got started on this project and… Just didn’t have time till now.” Roman nodded. “That’s right. A year and a half… But I promise you, I’ll try my best to see you before that much time goes by. It wouldn’t be fair to ask someone as kind and beautiful as yourself to wait for me when we’ve known each other so short.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

That hadn’t even occurred to Rand. It hadn’t been why she was asking. She was just trying to find something to talk about. Her next question died in her throat and she turned bright red. “Oh, um, it’s… I don’t mind. You don’t really have control of where you go.” He wanted her to wait for him? Her heart raced at the thought. It sounded hard to not see him, but wonderful to know she would eventually.

Yeoman Rand

That made Roman second guess himself. “Oh, I’m sorry. I… I thought you’d want to wait. But that was rash of me. You… You have a life here. I don’t.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand looked horrified, her face turned white. She didn’t say that. “No. Tha … that … I didn’t…”

Lori nudged Jay and tipped her head toward the door. She got up and made a quiet exit. Hopefully the lack of audience would ease Rand’s ability to speak.

Rand twisted her fingers in her skirt. “I don’t mind waiting.” It came out on a quiet breath barely audible.

Yeoman Rand

Jay followed Lori out, quickly and quietly. Roman noticed, and seemed like he wanted Jay to stay, but said nothing. He smiled at Rand when she managed an answer. “Good. I’m glad. I…” He took her hand gently again. “That means I’ll wait too.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand worried her lower lip. When he took her hand, her eyes dropped to them. She seemed to relax some when he did that. “I’m sorry I made you think that… well that I wasn’t um interested. I like you very much, Roman.” It was hard to get put, but at the same time it wasn’t. She felt comfortable with him. If she could just not think about their audience she would be okay.

Yeoman Rand

Roman smiled. “That makes me a very happy man.” He said. He rested his head on his pillow. “I’m getting a little less dizzy.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand smiled, looking up through her lashes. She was flattered. Something about her made him happy. No one had ever said that. Well her family, of course, but that didn’t count. They had to say that.

She squeezed his hand, “I’m glad.” For both things. “Do you need anything? A blanket or something to eat? You should drink a lot of water with a concussion.”

Yeoman Rand

“Jay can get me water,” Roman answered. “You are lightheaded. You should stay here, with me.” Yes, he’d picked up on that, from Lori’s reaction to her putting her hand on the bed. “My blanket is here, on the bed. But I am not sleeping and I don’t want to overheat being under it all day.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I’m okay. Really. The medication Dr Hammond gave me lowers blood pressure and makes me sleepy. I just have to be careful not moving to fast,” she reassured him. She hated taking it, but she’d let herself get worked up over everything. Then Roman got hurt and Bys wouldn’t take him because of that crazy maniac. It was scary knowing she couldn’t be alone.

Yeoman Rand

Even if he didn’t know her at all Roman would never let that person get near her. It was all the better knowing she had such a dedicated security team. He smiled. “Promise?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand smiled and nodded. “I promise.” She was relieved he didn’t ask how she knew or why she had to take it. She didn’t know Lori and Bys had said anything. Nor did she remember the things she had said to him as she fell asleep.

She wasn’t sure what to do. He said he wanted her there, he wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t know what to say. “Ummm… is there … anything you want to do while you’re home?”

Yeoman Rand