Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be
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Charles brought in all the bags and crates and put them in Yavia’s private bedroom. Once the car was unloaded, he yelled up the stairs and said “I’m really sweaty, so I’m gonna take a shower. Not an invitation, but also not not an invitation!” He didn’t want Sharah to be overwhelmed any more than she was as she tried to get her equilibrium back.

Tenkiller

Sharah looked up laughed. She stood and returned Hope to the table. She shooed Yavia down the stairs. “Go.”

“Come with me. Or I can stay with you.” Yavia offered.

“Really, Go. You two have done nothing but fuss over me all day. I love you for it, but go give each other some attention. And I will take care of dinner.”

Yavia put her arms around her, watching her eyes. She was worried.

She looked into her bright blue eyes, “I know you’re worried, but we’re home, right? Nothing will happen. Go. And if you two aren’t up here when I’m finished, I will come find you. Go.” And she gave her a gentle shove toward the stairs.

Sharah made her way into the kitchen and began to pull out various items.

Sharah

Sharah turned on the stove to medium low heat and dropped the butter into the pan. She swirled until the pan was coated and placed the first in the pan. She checked and flipped and watched carefully.

Her telepathy had returned enough that Sharah could feel their presences in the house with her, was aware of them, their thoughts, and how they were feeling. Mostly worry and exhaustion.

She removed the first and placed the second. Repeating the process and then rummaging through the kitchen adding snacks to the tray to go along with. Glasses were filled and set on the tray as well.

Sharah was aware of the neighborhood around them, she had been when they drove through and now alone in the house she was acutely aware. It was between removing the second and dropping the third into the pan the noise became significantly louder as her awareness expanded. She had expected it and was working carefully, but again there was that light headedness. She reached out a hand to steady herself and hit hot stove instead of counter.

Sharah ground her teeth to keep from crying, and stuck her hand under the water. After long moments where the last burned in the pan, and some of the lightheadedness subsided, Sharah made her way to her room and her med kit, fixing the burn herself. Returning to the kitchen she threw out the burned food and started the last one again.

Yavia slipped into their bedroom and into the bathroom, slipping her hands around him from behind and placing kisses on his shoulder and neck.

Yavia

A low moan escaped Tenkiller as he let the hot water cascade down on him. He knew it was V from the sound of her footsteps, and he knew that there was only one set of footsteps. He took her hands in his and held her close to him and said “Hey you… she doing ok?”

“She insisted we take time for us instead of worrying about her all day. Said she would take care of dinner.” Yavia sighed, her breath feathering over his skin. “She’s scared, and the anticipation of it is worse. She’s not in pain right now, so that’s good.”

He let the water fall on them in silence for a long time, her arms around him and him holding her hands to his chest. “You make me really happy, V. I wouldn’t change this for all the latinum in the universe.” and he turned in her arms and took her in his. “I love you, V.” and he kissed her.

Tenkiller

Yavia tightened her arms around him, pressed close against his back, warm mental caresses soothed over him, calming and cherishing. He turned and she looked up at him. She kissed him back while the water poured over them. “TK you are the most incredible man I have ever known. I want to always make you happy. I am not sure how we got here so fast but I wouldn’t change it.” Then she kissed him again. “I love you too. Now turn around.” She grabbed the soap and lathered her hands and began to work at his shoulders and neck and then slowly down his back working at soothing tired muscles.

Yavia

His muscles were knotted together, a result of the exerertion of moving and the stress of worrying about Sharah. He put his hands on the wall to keep himself steady as V’s fingers aworked knot after knot. It was as if all of the emotional turmoil of the past two days finally caught up with him, and he suddenly became absolutely exhausted.

“V… you gotta stop or I’m gonna pass out.” he said softly and stood up and turned around. It was clearly visible on his face… he was spent. He smiled a tired smile at her and said “I feel like ten miles ‘a bad road all of a sudden.”

Tenkiller

Yavia stilled her hands and looked up at him. She kissed him softly, “Let me…let me show you how Deltans say ‘I love you.’” She placed both hands over his heart and stared up into his eyes, holding his gaze.

Mere words cannot do justice for the feeling that spread through him. It was warmth and happiness and the pleasure of being where one belongs the feeling of being yourself and knowing the other person is only themselves and the way those in love can wrap and twine about each other. Unique alone but uniquely greater together. It filled and spread to not just him but filled and spread through her as well. There were no words, just the feeling.

Tenkiller closed his eyes and lost himself in the feeling… in her. It was as if he had come after a long trip. It was as if everything simply became the way it was supposed to be.

Then she kissed him softly. “Come on. You need food and sleep.”

Yavia

“I… ya know, I don’t even have a sarcastic retort ta that. I must be tired.” he said and then grinned. “C’mon, let’s go find Sharah.” and he turned off the water and pulled two thick and luxurious towels from the shelves opposite the shower. They were warm. He looked at her and grinned. “If you’re good, I’ll tell you how to turn on the towel warmer.” and he laughed.

Tenkiller

Sharah set the tray on the bedside table and stared at the door. She could feel them in there, and what she felt didn’t bring happiness. They were worried, soul deep tired, spent, haggard even…because of her, for her. Sharah stood perfectly still as it hit her, she let it wash over her. What else could she do. It chipped and stole tiny pieces of her soul. This wasn’t right. They were so easy together, so bright, they were just peace. It was beautiful. They were amazing and she loved them deeply. She was hurting them, and it wasn’t right.

She took a breath and tried to hide it, put it away where they wouldn’t notice and not try to convince her it was okay. So they wouldn’t worry more because it was getting worse. She knew she wouldn’t sleep much, there was no reason for them not to.

There was a slight pressure on her right shoulder. Fleeting… caring… supportive… feminine. Like a hand laid gently on her shoulder telling her You will be okay. Trust them as they trust you. And then it was gone.

Sharah turned quickly looking over her shoulder, the contact had been quite real. There was no one there. At first she thought it might have been Yavia, but then who was the them? Plus Yavia needed line of sight. Sharah listened but the only people in the house were the three of them. Sharah thought maybe is she was just tired. Any other possibilities were unnerving.

Sharah put down three plates with grilled cheese sandwiches on them. Perfectly melted and toasted with the right amount of butter on crsipy bread. And that perfect amount of pull apart melty goodness. Sharah shrugged. “It’s all I know how to make.”

Sharah

With towel wrapped around his waist, Charles came into the room. He looked tired, but the smile on his face was genuine when he saw the tray. “Hell yeah! I love me some grilled cheese!” He walked up to Sharah and put an arm around her waist, pulling her to him and grinning. “But not as much as I love me some you.” and gave her a kiss that rivaled those in the trashy romance novels.

He pulled her in so fast and so tight her breath left her in a rush, and Sharah had absolutely no chance to catch it. All she could do was hold onto him and enjoy it.

Pulling back, he said “If there weren’t fresh grilled cheese, I’d probably be losing this towel right about now.” with a cheeky grin. He sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up a drink and took a healthy sip.

Tenkiller

Sharah blinked at him as her brain started to work again. She was surprised he still had the towel.

Yavia chuckled knowingly at the look on Sharah’s face. “I think she likes it.” She sat down on the bed, tucking her legs under her and took a bite of the sandwich. She closed her eyes with a happy sigh. It was decadent.

Sharah took a small bottle off the tray and then sat down, legs crossed, behind Yavia. She opened it and poured a small amount of fragrant earthy scented oil into her palm and set the bottle aside. Sharah began at the base of her skull where there was a slight headache. Her thumbs gently worked the sore spots and her fingers trailed lazily over the back of Yavia’s scalp. Sharah closed her eyes, feeling where V hurt, where she was tired and exhausted. The oil heated under her hands and soaked deep into the tissue. She worked her way down to Yavia’s left shoulder and using her Empathy and Yavia’s response Sharah knew exactly what touch helped and brought relief and what brought pleasure. Sharah wasn’t interested in the later, not then. She was focused on easing the strain she had caused.

“You didn’t cause anything of the sort. Its been an emotional and intense coupel ‘a days, is all.” Charles said as if Sharah had told him what she was thinking and feeling.

Sharah paused for half a heart beat, her eyes snapping up and watching him for a long moment as she resumed working on Yavia’s shoulders. She’d been thinking it and she was certain she hadn’t spoken into his mind. After that morning she’d promised herself she would do nothing of the sort. “I didn’t say anything.”

Around a bite of sandwich he said “Sure you did. I heard you, love. Plain as day. You said you think that you caused me and V to feel strained. And thats not true. Its all of this. Its… emotional. And I think we all are smart enough ta know that that can take a toll. It just is. Itss not you, hun.”

Yavia sat up a bit and looked at him. Sharah hadn’t said anything. She turned her head to look at Sharah. Sharah shook her head and kept working. She stared at him a long moment, not sure what to say or do. Yavia laughed, “TK she didn’t say anything. We both know she’s thinking it and she’s wrong, and you’re right. But she didn’t say it.”

He looked from one woman to another and said “Uh… huh?”

Something was wrong. Sharah wasn’t sure what to make of it, or what to do. Except get out her tricorder or drag him off to the hospital....

He looked at her, seeing her lips not move and just said “Go ahead. Get your tricorder.”

Sharah pulled the towel up over Yavia’s back to keep the oil from soaking in and drying completely and did just that. She left the room and returned with her tricorder. She had to stay objective. There were many reason that this could be happening. Humans did, after all, contain great potential for psychic talents. Most could form deep telepathic and empathic connections with Betazoids, Haliians, Cairn, Vulcans, and apparently Deltans. They could learn over time…but could two days be enough time? Or was it a combination of her own exponential talents and Yavia’s, or had she done something to fundamentally affect him that morning? She didn’t say a word, she just pulled out the hand scanner and passed it over him watching the readings.

Yavia moaned quietly as Sharah chased the tension out of her muscles. Sharah seemed to know exactly where she hurt and what felt the best to work it out. Yavia was in awe of the use and skill of Sharah’s gift. She didn’t know many Deltans that were that intense.

Sharah worked her way down between her shoulders, and pushing the towel out of the way she moved down her spine and the tension there. After long moments, Sharah lifted the towel back over and around Yavia’s shoulders to keep the warmth in. Yavia leaned back against her with a deep relaxed sigh. Sharah hugged her lightly. “Eat, luv. Then you can lay down and sleep.”

Yavia sighed and sat up. If the food wasn’t so good she would just fall onto the pillows and sleep.

Yavia

Then taking the bottle she moved over and sat behind Charles, intending to do the same for him.

Sharah

As she reached for him, Charles caught sight of her hand. The burn was gone of course, but the redness from the dermal regenerator remained. He caught her wrist gently and looked at her hand, now covered in oil. He looked up at her and smiled softly. He then leaned in and whispered “No secrets. Remember.” and kissed her cheek softly before turning back to his sandwich.

Tenkiller

He grabbed her wrist and she almost told him she wasn’t going to hurt him, but it wasn’t himself he was worried about. He was staring at her hand where she’d burned it. She started to tell him she wasn’t keeping secrets, but that wasn’t true. It was a minor burn, and she was able to take care of it herself. Nothing to get worried about. It wasn’t the burn, by why she’d gotten burned that she didn’t’ want to tell them. It was like he knew. It was official, Charles was unnerving her. Sharah was really still and her voice, if possible, quieter than his, “I remember.”

He let go of her wrist, but not before kissing the red skin very softly. “When you’re ready…”

She stared at his back a long moment and then picked up the bottle, poured more oil into her palms. Unlike Yavia who was working towards a general overall sense of relaxation, Sharah was precise. Each touch was exactly what was needed for each spot where he held tension, and despite or because of her touch was loving and comforting. She worked slowly and completely, her whole focus on him. When finally the last of the tension left him, she ran the palms of her hands gently over his back. She kissed his shoulder before getting up.

Sharah

“Thats it. Its official. Sharah is the house masseuse.” Charles said as he stretched and then finished his sandwich and laid down on the bed. “This time it is an invitation. Let’s all go to bed.” He stood up, dropped the towel, turned and winked at Sharah and V, and then grabbed some shorts from a drawer and pulled them on.

Tenkiller

Having finished her food, Yavia had laid back against the pillows and fallen asleep in nothing but her towel.

Yavia

Sharah looked over at Yavia and grinned. She grabbed plates and cups and placed them on the tray before pulling the blanket over the sleeping woman. She kissed him, “Go to sleep. I’m going to clean up first.” She picked up the tray and slipped out of the room. Other people’s clutter didn’t bother Sharah, but she was neat, very neat. Her counselors told her it was because she was compensating for the utter chaos in her head that she needed a very neat physical space. Sharah didn’t disagree with them. So she returned to the kitchen to clean up and put away the mess she had made. It wasn’t quite distraction enough for what was bothering her.

Sharah

Arms wrapped around her from behind and Charles said “Later, love. Right now we all need to be together. C’mon.” and he took her hand and led her down the stairs.

Tenkiller

Sharah closed her eyes as his arms wrapped around her and she leaned back into him. She was....troubled and deeply worried, and felt like the moment she put a foot on solid ground it began to crumble again. She followed him back down the stairs, accepting of the fact he was going to get her way, but realizing she needed to let him, not for him, but for herself. She needed to trust them since she couldn’t trust hersel.f

Sharah