Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in Not So Lonely Adventure

Posted by Civilian Jason Reilly (Assistant Director - Colonial Intelligence) in Not So Lonely Adventure

Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in Not So Lonely Adventure
Posted by… suppressed (21) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Jason looked at her and said Want to go… shopping… with me? and he held his hand out to her with a smile. Or would you… want… to go somewhere… and talk?

Reilly

Yes, you said you need furniture and dishes if you want the company. She smiled and took his hand. Her head tipped to the side. Shop, then lunch and talk?

Asimina

Perfect. He held her hand as they crossed the park and went into the shopping district.

Several hours later, Jason had furniture, linens, dishware, a few rugs and art pieces- including one by some anonymous artist they saw in a gallery window- and he had made arrangements for his stored items to be moved to the new penthouse. He had been on his PaDD often, chalking it up to finalizing purchases and real estate paperwork; but he always turned his attention directly back to Hannah when he was done, and his hand was almost always in hers. And his signing was improving rapidly.

He learned fast, but he had told her he was good with languages. That skill didn’t always extend to non-verbal languages. He was even picking up some of the more technical signs. It was fun and such a pleasant exchange for Hannah. It didn’t happen often. Plenty of people were curious, but never stuck with it for long. And he was funny.

So it was they found themselves in a place called ‘Jul’thek’s Bistro’, a quiet little spot that was mostly empty as it was past the business lunch rush. Jason pulled out her chair and then took a seat opposite her. Shopping is done. Now we talk? Or now we talk around what is happening and pretend its not happening? he signed with a smile.

Reilly

Hannah shook her head. Talk. No reason not to. Avoiding or pretending only causes regrets. Time is too short for that. When the waiter came with menus she ordered ginger ale. Then she turned back to him. I am sure you have questions.

Asimina

Many. But no pressure. he signed. Share what you want, the rest can come later… if you there is going to be a later, which I hope is the case. When the waiter returned with their drinks, ginger ale for her and iced tea with lemon for him, he ordered some appetizers and asked them to take their time with them. He looked backat Hannah and said Why don’t you start at the beginning. Tell me all about Hannah. Where she is from, what took her to be a doctor in Star F-l-e-e-t… what her favorite color is. You know… the easy stuff. and he smiled as he took a drink.

Reilly

Would you prefer to talk than sign? He was picking it up quickly and was signingbwith a speed that indicated a few years of moderate use already. But he had been kind enough to sign most of the day with her, she could certainly wear her implants for him.

“Whatever is most comfortable for you.” he said to her, signing as he spoke.

Hannah sipped at her drink and then set it down. “I grew up on a small Colonial research world, Catawba. Developmentally it is the equivalent of Earth’s prehistoric Era. The city is a large hovering complex in the sky. There is a small nature preserve for camping, hiking, and such. Limited space, and usually booked out for a year. Our real economy comes from the scientific and medical research. There are multiple observation stations. We have some farming to harvest the plants for medical research and medicines. A lot we have to go out and harvest. That is how I learned to climb. We don’t use shuttles or ground vehicles. Disturbs the environment and scares the animals.”

“I was born deaf. The colony was young and my parents were not able to take me to a Starbase for the surgery until I was 8. Everyone in the colony learned sign for me. It became our primary language actually. Opting for visual comms rather than audio. My mom said they chose to do that so that everyone was fluent and I would never miss out because they didn’t know how to explain.”

“I was always fascinated by the work the visiting scientist did and bothered them non-stop. But it was getting my implants that decided me on medicine. I was fascinated by the idea of these tiny circles that I could wear and hear sound. That would fix my ears. Until they turned them on and I hated the doctors.” She smiled and shook her head at herself. “It was very overwhelming and I would go weeks, at first, refusing to wear them. I didn’t master speaking until I was almost 10. It is why my voice is so strange. I learned too late.”

Asimina

Reilly listened, truly engrossed in her story. Your voice isn’t strange.. its actually quite lovely. and he smiled. So tell me about your career. Or, ask me questions. But if you do, you will probably need your aides. I am not sure I could sign much in response. and he laughed.

Reilly

She grinned and shook her head. Her voice was strange and she knew it, but it was part of her and was part of her identity. She wouldn’t change it, just like she wouldn’tchange being deaf. You are doing very well. You learn fast. I am impressed. Hannah grinned as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the two round pieces and clipped them into place. There was that same momentary pause as the implants started working, and even with them on she still signed. “When I was in the hospital for my first surgery I met a lot of people with prosthetics and I was really fascinated by the concept of making people whole again. So when I entered the Academy that was my focus. I picked up search and rescue on my first ship, Fearless. It was a science and medical support ship. We were helping with a natural disaster relief and they needed someone to go down a cliff in some caves. I have more climbing experience than most. So I went, decided to do the certs after that.“

“What about you? Where did you grow up? You said you lived a lot of places?” She picked up her drink, sipping at it slowly.

Asimina

He smiled and said “I did.” He kept signing as he spoke, obviously both practicing and making an effort to make her more comfortable with him. “I was born on Terra, Earth, in a place called Annapolis on the east coast of North America. My father taught at the Academy. Diplomacy and Extra-Planetary Affairs. My mom was an officer in Star Fleet, a Captain. Between the two, we were always moving around and having different species over for parties and talks and the like. That’s where I got used to learning languages. So because of my mom and dad, Star Fleet was kind of a given. I went when I was seventeen, and my second year I was in the Science division learning sociology and some psychology. The Diplomatic Corps kept trying to recruit me, and I guess Cimmand got sick of it.” and he laughed. “When I graduated, I was made liason officer to them. Thats when I was asked to do some analysis for Intel. Seemed they liked my perspective, and I ended up working for both, but mostly the Diplomatic Corps. I liked Star Fleet, intended to make it my life-time career. But about a year ago a medical scan turned up an anomaly in my blood. Must have picked up something somewhere, and it was affecting my red blood cells ability to take in oxygen. Nothing fatal or anything serious, but it was enough that I couldn’t be on active duty anymore. So I was placed on reserve status… and here I am with you.” and he smiled.

She corrected a couple of the signs he used, mostly to make the detail of it more precise and not misunderstood, and gave him signs for words he finger spelled. Not really a lot. He seemed to have a grasp for how and why signs were chosen for words and concepts and was able to improvise naturally.

Hannah stared at him a moment, really stared as if peering through the windows that were his eyes. Too sick to be kept on active duty but reserves rather than retirement. That was…not SOP. If he was too sick to serve the. He couldn’t be pulled from reserves, because that only happened in an emergency. He wouldn’t be well enough. Unless they were waiting for him to recover, but then why not medical leave instead? Perhaps it had to do with his Intel or diplomatic work and he wasn’t allowed to discuss it, and that was the story. Or maybe Intel wanted to keep a leash on him like they had Daniel.

Then she blinked and the intensity was gone replaced by deep concern. “What type of treatments are you receiving? How are you feeling? Has anyone checked you since you came to Oed? Changes in environment can affect such things.” She paused, “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me any of that.“

He laughed and said “I don’t mind. As far as treatments go, I do a hyperbaric chamber therapy two to three times a week, and I carry a small O2 injector if I ever feel light headed or dizzy. Never had to use it.”

Hannah nodded, that was good. “Do you go to Sacred Heart or to the Fleet complex?” would she see him while she was working? Did the hospital have a current and up to date hyperbaric chamber? Fayth had told her they had done a lot of work to get the facilities up to date.

Private doctor, actually. They are very good, I promise. he signed with a smile.

The waiter broughtvthe appetizers and set them down and refilled the drinks. When he left, Jason looked at her and said “Ok, so do you feel like telling me about how you came here and the dad didn’t? Or is that not a first date kinda conversation?”

Reilly

“It is a story ling in the making but short in the telling. Complicated but not.” she grimaced. “Officially the story,” here instead of story she signed lie, “is he was transferred to a new command. But he’s not listed anywhere.” She switched to sign, her movements small and co tained. The truth…Guess that part depends on your security clearance and trust. She pulled a PaDD out of her pocket and stared at it. Daniel had left her with a little program, so she would know who she could talk to or not. A person could input their security clearance and it would simply say yes or no. As far as she knew it didn’t do anything else. Did security clearance matter at this point?

Asimina

He tilted his head to side and looked at her. He could see the device reflection in her eyes. It was an SFI clearance request program. Standard, but not something she should have. He cleared his throat and said “Hey… let’s put a pin in that, okay? We can talk about something else, but maybe peripheral to it, ok? Like… how far along are you? How long have you known you were pregnant?”

Reilly

Hannah stared back at him. The situation made her stomach churn a bit, but what didn’t these days? She locked eyes with him and then set the PaDD on the table closer to him than her. Will you let me tell you? You can say no and it’s okay.

Jason looked down as if he hadn’t seen it before. He looked back up and said “If that’s what you want… sure. If you can.” He picked it up and entered his clearance, oddly curious if SFI had revoked it yet. He slid it back to Hannah… with a green icon on it.

She merely glanced at it a d slid it back into her pocket.

“I am 14 weeks. I found out 2 weeks ago when I arrived on Oed. The father was Daniel Colter. I last saw him exactly 14 weeks ago.“

Asimina

Jason looked at her for a moment and then simply nodded. Colter… he knew the name, and the background, but had never met him. Reilly nodded and said “Tell me what you want to say. And I promise… I won’t judge.” He reached out and took one of her hands and gave it a squeeze before releasing it.

Reilly

“I met him 8 years ago. A year after we met he was sent on a deep undercover assignment. 5 years. 2 years ago we found each other on the Saracen. 14 weeks ago Col. Budrass Lirix,” the current Deputy Director of Starfleet Intelligence aboard Meridian Station, “sent him on an unsantioned mission to extract an agent who had been compromised. 3 weeks after that, ops was sent into my quarters, middle of the night, packed all his stuff up and said he was transferred to a new command.” That was the impersonal version, without all the details and heartache.

Asimina

Reilly’s eyes flashed at the name of the Deputy Director, but his face remained passive. Litigation was a piece of excrement, sending more than one agent to their ends trying to clean up messes he created. Jason leaned back and then switched to sign. That is what occurred. Now why don’t you tell me what happened. and he shrugged. Analyst, remember? I was meant to read between the lines.

Reilly

Hannah picked at the appetizers a moment before trying something. This sucked, it was all food she liked but she never knew what would agree with her or not. Daniel was ‘retired’ from active Intel work. His last op..that long one…ended bad I guess. He never talked much about it. But the circumstances meant he was out. Too much risk. Lirix pulled him back in. Said Daniel was the closet agent and there wasn’t time left. But....Saracen is in Meridian Fleet - Cardassian boarder. Lirix was sending him into Orion territory…that’s in a whole other quadrant. There is no way Daniel was the closest. Hannah picked up something else, chewing slowly, thinking. Her signs stayed small and concise. The agent missing was Daniel’s mentor and best friend. They knew he would go. They worked different ends of the same under cover op. I was supposed to go with him. He needed someone with emergency rescue medical training. The night before he left he got another comm. He told me I wasn’t going. She pulled a chain from under her shirt holding two flat pieces of metal, stamped with letters and numbers edged in worn rubber. He gave these back to me and told me not to wear them this time. She shook her head and looked away taking a couple forced breaths before looking back at him. He knew he wasn’t coming back.

Asimina

Reilly was seething inside. That. That right there was why he had left Intel. There was always some Director pulling strings and some schmuck who had drank the ‘Mission first before anything else!’ kool-aid. Reilly looked at Hannah… alone and now carrying the burden of a child by herself because some career-idiot chose the job over her.

Something inside Reilly snapped.

He looked at her and said simply “You are not going to be alone. Neither one of you is.” with a glance at her belly.

Reilly

Hannah TOTALLY missed his meaning. Understandable considering she was hormonal, and finally being able to tell someone, to get it off her chest and let it go a little bit, made her emotional. His words echoed the mantra she kept telling herself. She looked down at her still flat stomach, No we won’t be....baby and me…have each other. Then she crossed her arms over her stomach. The very first maternal gesture she’d made since she found out. Hannah wasn’t stoic she wasn’t blubbery or iver expressive either, but that seemed to start the tears, like it made it very real suddenly. And also deep down Hannah hated Daniel, she just wasn’t ready to realize that yet.

Asimina

Jason didn’t say anything, he simply stood up and walked tot the other side of the table and took a seat next to her. He took her hand, but gave her space otherwise. He remained silent, simply allowing her to feel what she felt

Reilly

Hannah hated hormones. She never cried at just the drop of a hat. Really this wasn’t that. It had been building for weeks. Even as her mind kicked in and thought rather than just feeling it didn’t stop. At least she wasn’t screaming and blubbering. She closed her eyes and just tried to breathe and be still until the ache stopped. She took a breath and it shuddered and then another and another until they were smooth and even.

That was when she realized he was holding her hand and she squeezed it. Thank you With her other hand she used the napkin to wipe her face. Sorry. “First absent minded then a nut case. Bet you wish your meeting showed.” She grinned, it was weak, but an honest attempt at humor. Excuse me. She let go of his hand and disappeared for the lady’s room. She splashed her face with water and set herself to rights or tried anyway. Then she returned to the table.

Asimina

When she came back, he was still sitting on her side of the table. As she came over, he stood and pulled out her chair. Welcome back. he signed and smiled. “Feel better?” and he slid a fresh ginger ale towards her. “And no. I don’t think I have ever been more happy to be stood up than I am today.”

Reilly

Thank you, she sat taking the drink and sipping. “Yes and no.” The ginger was settling, but the cold of the drink was welcome. Her eyes danced as her brows went up playfully, “Your job must be as boring as it sounds if today made you happy.” She almost laughed. It was right there, a hint of it on her voice.

She drank again and then sighed. “So…now you know why I,” she glanced down at herself, “we are here without the father.”

Asimina

Jason looked at her and then slowly set his hand on hers. “You are safe. You are healthy. And again… you are not alone. Things could be worse. But I think they will get better, too. You just need some time to adjust.” His communicator chirped and he said looked at it. “Fantastic. I officially have a place to live…” and he looked at her and smiled, “… thanks to you. Its only proper I take you to dinner to thank you. Tonight. I’d say my place, but I don’t have any actual food.” and he laughed. “But tonight. Anywhere you want to go. You and that one-” and he pointed at her belly “- decide what you want and we’ll go get it. And then you can help me move furniture. And you can’t say no. Soon you won’t be able to. I have use before you are just laying around.” and he grinned with a wink.

Reilly

She smiled at him, finally registering what he had said earlier and now about being alone. She turned her hand up under his and squeezed a little. He was really very sweet.

She didn’t need time to adjust, this was no different than before. Daniel wasn’t there before and he wasn’there now....that train of thought hurt and she pushed it away for now. I am glad I could help. That you now live here, rather than visit. She shrugged, “I don’t know where to go. First time out, remember.” Then she pressed her hand to her stomach before taking a drink. “What seems good right now may not later.”

“Oh no!” She grinned, “I don’t do lying around. I am going to be one of those crazy moms that are still rock climbing until my belly is too big I can’t reach the rock face.” Well maybe that was a bit extreme and risky. “Or maybe I’ll rock a belly dancing routine.” She grinned at the idea. Hannah loved life, and this wasn’t her plan, but that was okay.

Asimina

Jason’s eyebrows shot up and he grinned. “You… belly dancing? Oh, I am already a fan of this idea.” and he chuckled. ” Well, since you have no idea where you might want to go, why don’t you tell me your favorites and we will endeavor to find them… along with a plan B. Stands for ‘baby’, and in this case we know who will make the final choice.” and he smiled and held her hand a bit more… more.

Reilly

“Then I will have to try it at least,” Hannah blushed and there was that same hint of almost laughter. “Um nachos, Deltan gumbo, pizza, chili, oh! A Monty cristo. I haven’t had that since Academy.” She and Alexis used to make them. “Loaded baked potatoes.” She grinned, “I know great choices for a doctor.” She held his hand, it felt good, warm, calming and she was in no rush for him to let go. “Plan B is chicken soup and crackers.”

Asimina

Jason smiled and pulled out the small PaDD and did some very impressive one handed typing and was quiet for several minutes, but he never once let go of her hand. Finally he looked at her and said “8 o’clock tonight. My place. Come hungry, and be ready to work off what we eat.” His eyes glinted mischievously, and it wasn’t really clear if he had moving furniture in mind or… ‘other’ forms of exercise.

He looked at his chronometer and said “Look, I have to go back to my office. How about we adjourn for now and meet at my place tonight? Does that work for you?”

Reilly