Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Tenkiller’s House- Tipping Point, Day 2

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Tenkiller’s House- Tipping Point, Day 2

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Tenkiller’s House- Tipping Point, Day 2

(snip)

Eela nodded. “I think I’ll need it. Back feels off today.” She smirked at Sharah. “I read a message Cort sent me yesterday. Said they had the office, like you said. Also told me if it was the same day to get off the damn comms.” She broke into a light laugh and Eela shook her head. “I adore that man,” she said, full of gratitude.

Yavia sipped her coffee, “I like him already.”

“He’s very likeable,” Eela said with a grin. “I’m fortunate to have him in my team.”

Sharah nodded, “Yes you are. I like him, he’s very protective of you. So that is a plus in my book.” Yavia gave them a look that asked if there was more there. “No, Yavia. I swear you and Jessie.” Yavia shrugged, “What? I like people to be happy.”

Eela grinned. It was nice to be around other people who believed, like her, that the heart had infinite capacity for love in all its forms if you could let yourself be open to it.

A few moments later he came back in with a medium-sized crate. “Want it here? Or in your room?”

Tenkiller

Dasca set the mug down and moved to a free area of the counter. “Here,” she said softly, eager to hold that book. She knew it by memory and which crate she had put it in, but she hadn’t handled it since she had packed her things after the separation. She hoped Karilan hadn’t had too much trouble finding it.

~Eela

Charles set it down and opened it for her.

Inside was the book, but under it were packets and vials and jars and sealed envelopes. There was a handwritten note on top. The script was almost art, it was so eloquent and flowing.

‘Eela…’ it began.

‘I hope the night treated you more fairly than the day did. Per your request, here is the book you asked for. You friend Karilan was most helpful in locating it. I hope you don’t mind, but we perused the book and took it upon ourselves to collect an assortment of the materials mentioned in the tome. Use in good health.’

‘Kenzo’

Tenkiller

Eela was flooded with warmth and affection as she read the note. She really was very blessed to have such wonderful people in her life and with Kenzo it really did feel like it was them against the galaxy some days. But whatever battles might lay ahead for them she knew there was no other person’s side she’d rather be at. She also had found Karilan to be such an unexpected friend and one she was very much wanting to get to know better.

Setting the note to the side, she pulled out the book. It was hefty but still easily held in both hands. The cover was embossed with flower shapes into a pale blue paper with a title in Haliian script- a mixture of fluid and staccato lines and dots and dashes focused around a circular pattern for each word. She traced a finger over the word. “Sanctum,” she said softly. “My father was a herbalist, a healer who practiced it as much as an art as a science. It wasn’t just about healing wounds or illnesses, but about connecting yourself to, well, everything. He wrote down he most important recipes in this book and gave it to me when I left for the Academy. So I would remember where I came from and root myself wherever I am.”

She carefully flipped through the handmade paper pages that had Haliian script all over them, also handwritten. Eela looked at them. “Apparently I have some or maybe a lot of the ingredients I need.” She gave a fierce grin that was backed by a feeling of indignant righteousness. “Cory tainted my space and I can’t be in my home again until we do something about that. Who wants to help me banish some evil energy.”

~Eela

Sharah was fascinated by the book. It was the kind of thing she was going to need out about. “Not the weirdest thing I have ever done. I’ll help.”

Yavia grinned, “Just let Skip go in and glare at it. All that negative energy will take off with its tailntucked.” She laughed and blew him a kiss across the counter. “I’ll help. Sounds like something my grandma would do.”

Sharah

Yenkiller smiled and said “I have some sage for just such an occasion. You can use it.” He sipped his coffee and then said “But I have some reports to review and favor or two to call in back at Earth spacedock.” and he wiggled his eyebrows wickedly.

Tenkiller

Hands on the precious book, Eela looked up at Tenkiller, a frown on her face. Ah yes, reality, well… hello again. “I don’t know what it looks like, but I’ve come to a decision,” Eela said, the uncertainty and fear returning. She had known after Kenzo had made his comment that there was only one path forward and it gutted her. It would makes this whole thing easier.

“I could have this all buried and just try to move on with my life, but a part of me would always be on edge. More than that, I don’t know who that man is. He is most definitely not the man I married, that I raised my children with. And I don’t trust him.” She was hoping to be able to say this without crying but the tears blurred her vision. “They vary drastically between jurisdictions, but…” Eela swallowed. “I think I need a restraining order, even if it’s only for a short while. I don’t know that I can go farther than that though. My mind is muddled with that one.” It was hard. She rebelled against the idea of pressing charges, but once she involved the police and or the courts it was all potentially public. She had to trade some more of her privacy for her safety. Cory had proven to be a chameleon and she had never in a million years think he’d cross the line he had with her, so while she felt her children and grandchild were still safe with him, could she trust that? Could any of them?

~Eela

Tenkiller nodded his head and wordlessly walked away. He came back a moment later and handed her a PaDD. “Sign and date and it’s done.” he said,and set a hand on her shoulder briefly before returning to his coffee.

Eela took the PaDD and gazed at him with confusion before she looked down to read.

On the PaDD was a legally binding restraining order against one Cory Fletcher citing physical assault and mental anguish. It was deemed that no contact could be made by either party for a period of one standard year barring an emergency concerning their children or grandchildren. Cory Fletcher was barred from entering Oed space without the express written consent of rhe Oed V Police. That stipulation referenced an Executive Order from the Governor’s office, and it had no experation. Tenkiller said softly “I spoke to the police unofficially. Since this is a domestic abuse issue, the order is kept sealed. He will know. You will know. The court knows. Thats it. It won’t be in the public eye unless you press charges.”

Tenkiller

Sharah was making toast and Yavia was…who k ee what she was doing other than being a bright warm spot in the room. They ladies were quiet giving her the space to deal with that. Sharah’s comm chirped and she moved I to the den to answer.

Sharah

Eela’s eyes went wide. Domestic abuse. The words sat heavy over her, pressing into her chest. Yes, a logical part of her brain understood that this was the situation she was in, but the rest of her was confused and panicking. She set the PaDD on the counter and held her book of recipes tightly to her chest, as if she might be able to absorb their healing through the written pages alone.

The urge to flee was so great again that Eela had to mentally picture herself rooted to the floor. She hated this instinct of hers to run. It made it so hard to be rational about things when she needed to be clear-headed. She knew she couldn’t avoid anything too. Eela could delay dealing with it, but sooner or later it would require her time and energy, and more importantly her willpower.

Yavia could feel the distress and the sudden flight response. She knew Sharah could even from the other room. Yavia could and would help Eela if she needed it, but sometimes you had to manage on your own.

Her pocket buzzed once, and Eela frowned. She only vaguely remembered turning it on, though at least it wasn’t beeping at her. Setting the book down and pulling the unit out of her pocket, Eela glanced to see if it was anything urgent. No, it wasn’t, but it made her snort and grin.

|Dash: Here I was going to suggest I bring you coffee and we walk over to the Tower together, but alas I’ve heard you’re not in the office today. Such a terrible shame. Fortunately, there will be other mornings.|

It was such a contrast the way that man made her feel compared to how utterly wrecked Cory left her. Suddenly, the decision was so damn easy. She turned at the hips, eyed the PaDD and pressed her thumb to the box awaiting her approval. She handed it to Tenkiller rather defiantly. “The bastard can rot in Hell.”

~Eela

Tenkiller winked at her and said “That’s my girl.” and patted her shoulder as he left the room. As he walked down the stairs, he yelled back “And that last bit I’m working on!” and he laughed.

Tenkiller

Yavia smiled and gave Eela a reassuring squeeze and a wink. “F@mn straight.” At TK’s tossed back comment, Yavia’s eyes went wide in curiosity and she laughed. “That man is wickedly devious. I am curious what he comes up with.”

Eela’s anger only went so far though. It was hard to explain to others that she didn’t believe in retribution.

Sharah came out of the den and walked over to the door and peeked out. “Jal’na will be by in about 2 hours…yes yes Lady Jal’na to you. Let her in. Yes I know you have to clear it with the Major General. I am telling you she is expected.” Sharah shut the door and laughed. She looked at Yavia, “I think they like giving us a hard time,” and she laughed.

The comments about Jal’na reminded her about the hypo and Eela grabbed it off the counter and injected the dose of what was likely a combination of painkiller and anti-inflammatory, knowing the PT. She had been pushing the discomfort to the side since she had come back up into the house but actually dealing with it would be far preferable.

“Okay, Eela what else do you need? I probably have it, and if not I know where to get it.” Sharah clapped her hands once and rubbed them together.

Sharah

“We need to do inventory of what they sent over first and see what recipes they intuited I’d want to do. If you can help me unpack, I’ll be there in a second, just need to send a message,” Eela said, going back to her comm and the message from Dash. She didn’t need to reply, but she wanted to.

| Something unexpected happened and I needed to be away from everything. I’ll let you know when I’m home and then maybe you can come over? I can explain everything. |

The reply from Dashiel was immediate. | Just say when. |

She hadn’t planned on telling him all of this, but as the implications of the situation revealed themselves Eela knew it was’t fair. She believed in honesty and so if there was any hope of continuing this thing that was starting between them, then there needed to be disclosure. This was a lot of baggage to ignore and to do so would only be to their detriment.

Eela smiled, almost giddy and then realized too late that it was too late to keep any of that to herself. Shoving her comm in her pocket she adopted the most nonchalant expression she could and moved back over to the crate, book in hand. “Alright, what do we have, besides clearly more stuff than I even had,” she said eyeing the items from the crate as she pulled out an envelope and peeked in. “Ajballo leaves? Those must have been fun to find. More and more Eela was wishing she could have been a fly on the wall and witnessed Karilan and Kenzo interacting. They were such guarded people that she was fascinated how it all had gone.

~Eela