Jayme stopped at the reception desk at Marine barracks to sign in that she was going to be available for 24hrs then returning to Thermoplyea. She headed around the rim to her quarters. There she showered and put on her SFMC uniform, instead of her fatigues she'd been living in while on assignment. While in her quarters she checked her mail buffer and signed off on four weeks worth memo's from the Colonel, a few from the NCO's desk and medical. She glanced at the highlights of the stations news, and several letters from her father.
She glanced at the time. She knew that unless the Colonel had changed his office hours, he wouldn't be in. Kassia wouldn't be available until later, so she touched her combadge, <Captain Alcon for DR. Cherrin, Please.>
<Dr. Cherrin, here.>
<It's Jayme Alcon. I'm on station for 24hrs and have some assignments to turn in. I probably won't be here to take the tests for another six weeks.>
<I'm just going off duty. You can drop them off at the triage desk and I'll get back to you after reviewing them to set up a testing schedule. Okay?>
<Sure.> Jayme sat back at her desk in quarters and decided breakfast in the chow hall would kill some time, before trying to meet up with the Colonel.
She entered to find the 'chow hall' in full swing. She grabbed a tray an added a ladle full of this and that; and spotted Major Jackson off to one side. After drawing a cup of coffee she headed in that direction. "Major, may I join you?"
"Hey, when did you get in?" he asked between bites.
"About two hours ago and it's only temporary-24hrs max."
He nodded and then asked, "Have you seen the Colonel yet?"
"No." She said after taking a bite of her hot cereal, then asked, "Anything new, that I should know about?"
"Nothing that hasn't already been forwarded to your mail buffer. Have to run, take care."
Jayme finished her meal, tossed the tray, and headed out to the 'Gunny's' desk to check Colonel Tarik's schedule.
Jayme reported to Hartman's office and found the Staff NCO at his desk, immaculately uniformed and groomed. She knew that Gunny Hartman was no pansy by any means but still gave him a look of disgust. Hartman, in his turn, gave her a sidewise glance that was anything but approval.
"You look like crap, ma'am," Hartman said.
" Uh, yes," Jayme replied, not really feeling up to a confrontation. "Could you tell me when the Colonel is available?"
"He should be available right about now. I believe he's already expecting you."
"Thanks." She headed to Tarik's office. Tarik was already waiting for her, two large cups of coffee sitting on his desk, he indicated, she take a cup.
"Welcome back, Captain. Have a seat--you look like you've been dragged by your toes through the nether realms."
"Uh, yes, sir. I'm sorry for my appearance--"
"Never apologize, Captain. Especially not after being in the field for as long as you've been. I like what I've been hearing about you from Mer'an and the La'kon Legion. He says you've helped make it into the equal of any of the regular G'kar military legions."
"Thank you, sir. Here's my report on the recent boarding mission."
Tarik took the offered PADD and read it over. Jayme was astonished at his reading pace. "Very good. We have a delegation from the Federation
Senate due here on the station. I intend to make your report part of my presentation to them. At the minimum you may have bought us a major equipment upgrade."
"And at the most?"
"A freer hand in dealing with this problem. We thought we'd wiped out the slave trade when we neutralized the Orions five years ago. But where there's a willing market, there's a product. And Francona's in desperate need of slaves to run his factories. We stop the slave trade and we can shut down his production capacity."
"We're doing all we can. Some of the irregulars are still pretty raw and we could use a lot more than we've got in the way of equipment and specialists," Jayme replied.
"You're doing more than anyone else expected, and it shows," Tarik responded. "Just do me and yourself a favor."
"Sir?"
"Make sure you eat regularly. You really don't look well," Tarik said. "Don't ever pass up an opportunity for sleep or food if you can get it. Trust me here." As he spoke, haunted memories of a year in a Cardassian
POW camp came unbidden to the forefront of his mind.
"Understood. I've also got some requisitions here."
"Talk to the quartermaster--but not until you've had at least eight hours' sleep and two good meals. That's an order. Now, get to it!"
"Yes, sir," Jayme said as she left the office, not quite sure how to take all of this.
Jayme, had been given her orders from the Colonel, but wasn't ready to settle down and sleep. She thought about calling Lt.'s Vansen and Tigre, but decided she wasn't in the mood to party, if they were on station and not on patrol.
She wandered the promenade and saw the sign for Holo Pursuits which gave her an idea. She entered and established an account and looked through the list of places and things to do. After about thirty minutes, she didn't really find much that grabbed her attention, about ready to leave she remembered the "beach" that Kassia had taken her and the kids for a picnic just after she arrived on base... "Lt. Kassia has a 'Beach' program," she said to the young man at the counter, "I would like to visit it. She said the last time we were there, that she'd make it available." Jayme waited while the young man looked up the program in Lt. Kassia's file.
"I'm sorry that program isn't available. But if you'll give me a minute, I can call and get you access."
Jayme sighed and thought about it and really hated to disturb Kassia. "Sure I'll wait while you call her." Jayme walked around the small lobby and looked at some still pictures from other simulations.
"Captain, Lt. Kassia said you are welcome to use that program. I'll set it up enter area 3, when ready."
Not having packed for the trip she requested a small blanket and a large bottle of icy water from the replicator. A moment later the items appeared and Jayme stepped through the door onto the beach. It was mid day, warm and sunny. She walked down the beach always and found a tree that produced some shade and spread the blanket down.
She took her uniform jacket off and laid it to one side and then sat cross legged on the blanket. After a long sip of water she rested her hands palms up on her knees, closed her eyes and pealed layer by layer of her shields down until just the lightest one remained basically as a wall to keep the emotions and exhaustion from being released and overwhelming her.
She sat and soaked up the sun and listened to the surf. She then started working through the garbage she had stored and fought against. After awhile she started on the healing touch techniques to help balance her system.
Jayme sat in the sun meditating and working on resetting her chakra points and was on number five when she felt the touch of another mind, and recognized that it belonged to Kassia. Not surprised, since it is her program. Jayme kept her shields low, eyes closed, and waited.
Kassia entered the holosuite and walked up to Jayme. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "Am I disturbing anything?" she asked. "No. " Jayme said as she rolled her head on her shoulders and opened her eyes. She motioned for Kassia to have a seat on the other half of the blanket, and said, "I thought you might stop by since this is your program that I requested access to."
Kassia smirked. "Well, it certainly gave me the inspiration to stop by and say hello," she replied. "How are you doing?" she asked suddenly very serious. She took in Jayme's appearance and wasn't too pleased with what she saw. Her friend didn't look as good as when she had left and the mission wasn't over.
Jayme shrugged and decided to just say it, "This assignments been tough both mentally and physically." Jayme said, and then continued, "I've been spending a lot of energy to get the job done. And live up to the Colonel's expectations." Jayme smiled, then said, "at least he says he's happy with the job I've done". Then with a frown, she continued, "then there is the strange foods--some of it is great and the rest is like weird and on those days I search out my MRE's. The G'kar keep the place way to hot and muggy for this girl." Kassia relaxed on the blanket and listened. Jayme continued, "the only way I have of relieving stress has been to study or work out a lot- fitness wise, I am probably in the best shape I can achieve."
Kassia shook her head. "No, you're not! We'll have to do something about this. Lose anymore weight and you'll be unfit for duty... You don't look well at all," Kassia replied. "Maybe we should have Dr. Cherrin take a look at you..."
Jayme looked out at the surf and then back to Kassia, "I comm'd him, as I wanted to talk to the Doctor about something else and he was going off duty." Jayme looked Kassia in the eyes. "I'm okay, Really."
When she saw the frown on the other woman's face, Jayme added, "I could use your help with some thing," Jayme spoke, " I got exposed to some dust' on the freighter we brought in...and I've had some flash backs and nightmares about the last month I was on Europa station."
"You know what 'Dust' is right? Kassia shrugged and so Jayme explained, "It's a hallucinogenic illicit drug that's manufactured and shipped as a pale pink powder'. It's not very expensive but very addictive."
"There are other Physicians in sickbay." She saw Jayme stiffen and shake her head. Kassia became very quiet and then asked, "Why don't you tell me what happened the last month on Europa station..." she replied, still being Jayme's friend, but also slipping into her counselor mode.
Jayme took a deep breath, "I've never told anyone about that night--not even the infirmary corpsmen or the security team that investigated why I had metabolites of dust' in my blood stream, the bruises, or the fractures." She looked at Kassia and started to say something but stopped, then tired again- -with closed eyes, "I was involved with my roommate on Europa. I was okay about it; but not convinced that it was what I wanted. Anyway, it was going okay until she learned that I was transferring to OCS." Jayme paused, then picked up again, "The night before I was to leave things turned ugly ...they wanted me to go off and party with them but I was packing and I guess it was then that they dosed my drink with 'dust'. I must have blacked out for awhile and came to with the squad was partying."
"What did you do?" Kassia asked as she observed Jayme carefully. She noticed how uncomfortable Jayme was talking about the incident and wasn't making eye contact. But Kassia knew that the other woman was usually uncomfortable talking about herself anyway... If this was one example as to why, Kassia was beginning to understand more fully what she had only suspected.
"I tried to leave... but my muscles wouldn't cooperate, the music was so loud, and they'd set up strobe lights which confused me even more." Jayme looked at Kassia. "I can't continue." Jayme tried to stand. Kassia grabbed her hands and pulled her back down onto the blanket , and held on until she was sure the other woman wouldn't bolt, then released her. Jayme covered her face with her hands. After a few minutes Kassia managed to nudge the other woman's hands lower so she could see her friends face, and noted the tears.
Jayme took a sobbing breath and squared her shoulders. "Maybe, I can show you..." With a deep breath she held out both hands palms up to Kassia.
The flashes of memory showed six women; and gang assault both physical and sexual in nature.
As Kassia felt the memory as well as saw it, she quickly distanced her emotions as best as she could. "Jayme... I am so sorry... It's no wonder you keep a wall up around yourself," she replied. "But this is serious! You can't ignore this forever... This will come up again if you don't start dealing with it now..."
Jayme shook her head violently, "And as for Europa station; what's there to deal with...it happened, it's over and done with. Why can't we just erase that from my memories...It doesn't affect who I am or what I'm doing here with the 28th MEF."
"Because erasing it from your memory probably isn't a real practical solution at this point," she replied. "And because it happened, it's going to affect everything you do and how you react to people. It will affect the very relationships you may want to have..." Kassia replied. "You're my friend, Jayme... I don't want to see you hurt over this for the rest of your life, and if you don't start dealing with and you continue to ignore it, that's what's going to happen..." Kassia was straightforward serious, and yet, gently as well. Concern was forefront in her mind. She knew what this kind of thing could do to a person and she just didn't want to see it happen to Jayme. "The 28th MEF puts you in danger and at risk; and you don't know what is going to happen every time you suit up or go on an away mission."
"It's NOT a big a deal?" She took a breath and added, "that memory hasn't bothered me until It got set off by the 'dust' I came into contact with!." She emphasized. She saw Kassia shake her head, very serious and very quietly order, "I want you in counseling!"
"All right!" Jayme let out a deep breath. "I'll try the counseling thing. But it will have to wait until after the Colonel recalls me from this assignment." Jayme took a breath and then added making direct eye contact with Kassia. "I have to complete this assignment, Kassia..."
"Then you have to start taking better care of yourself," Kassia replied.
"If your health is in danger at any point for any reason, you can be pulled from an assignment! You know that as well as I do," Kassia replied. "Maybe we can figure out something else for you to eat if you can't eat the stuff that's usually offered."
Jayme refused to meet Kassia's eyes, then admitted, "as a medical officer, I probably would have pulled someone else off assignment by now." Jayme drank some water and offered the bottle to Kassia. Jayme toyed with an idea. But it would mean letting down all of her shields and letting Kassia muck about in her head...
"Kassia...Personally and Career wise I have to complete this assignment!
I've been living on MRE's which are almost as bad as grubs or whatever they serve on that base. Can you hypnotise or plant compulsions--just temporary measures until I'm back here. I promise, it's just this assignment and when I'm back here everything will be back to normal." Jayme made eye contact, "Please?" Jayme knew Kassia wasn't convinced and was reluctant so she added, "I'll allow you to scan me... I can't hide anything or be untruthful...." Jayme maintained eye contact.
Kassia nodded. "The only way for me to do what you ask is for you to lower your shields. . . I wouldn't be able to do anything otherwise," Kassia explained. "But if I do this, it will only be a quick fix. The moment you are back on this station, I rescind it, and then you will start coming to counseling... Deal?"
"I have very few choices. It's a deal, Kassia." Jayme took a deep breath and with a great deal of effort collapsed the remaining shield... and took Kassia's offered hands, and felt the warm embrace of the other woman's mind.
Kassia concentrated her efforts as she felt the emotions that coursed through her friend. They were varied and mixed. She viewed the order from Tarik that morning. But as for the rest she'd have plenty of time to deal with the emotional scars and memories after Jayme's assignment, she thought, so she set to her task. Quickly, she implanted the messages to make the food that was offered appealing. She even placed in a sub- message that it would actually taste good. She then left comforting subliminal messages to help Jayme sleep peacefully once she settled in for bed. Last of all, she decided to give her something else to want to do besides working out. She placed a desire for her to read, instead. Before Jayme left, she would supply her with a PADD or two of reading materials. Things that would help her mind escape for awhile.
As she left Jayme's mind, she allowed a comforting presence to remain. It was a quick fix, and she knew it, but since there was nothing that could effectively be done at the moment, she decided to ease Jayme's discomfort, "Done," she replied, as she gently took her hands away. "You should do better for the rest of this assignment."
Jayme had felt her friends presence as she touch various memories here and there, but with some concentration she couldn't sense the compulsions she'd placed...damn! she's good. "Thanks."
Kassia sat waiting and smiled when Jayme's eyes opened and some of the tension was gone from mind and body.
Jayme looked out over the surf, then asked, "Are you free for dinner, and do you think the Colonel would be available to join us?"
"I think something could be arranged," Kassia smiled brightly as she joined Jayme in looking out at the water.
"Tyianna is welcome to join us." Jayme said with a smile.
"I'm sure she'll enjoy that," Kassia replied. "She loves to be included in the grown-up stuff, and I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you again."
"Just as I am at seeing her. There aren't a lot of children where I've been." Then silently she added, it will help keep Kassia and the Colonel off her back...
Kassia looked at her as if sensing something. Then she smirked. "Tiyanna can see through most adults better than I can, so you might want to be careful," she replied laughed a little bit.
Jayme smiled, and laughed along wIth Kassia. "What's Tiyanna's favorite place?" Jayme asked.
"To eat? Let me think... Probably Harry's, or the Italian eatery. She loves pizza!" Kassia laughed.
"Harry's...hmm that sounds good." Jayme looked at the computer and saw the clock read 0900hrs. "I have a few errands to run and would like to catch a nap in my own quarters while I'm here. What time is good for you?"
"Comm us at 1700 and we'll go from there," Kassia replied. "Sound good?"
"Great." Jayme turned and picked up the blanket and the bottle of water. "Thanks for letting me use this," as she gestured to the ocean, "the colors and the sounds are what drew me here today..."
"You're welcome to use it anytime... This is patterned off a beach from my home world."
"So you've learned that this is a memory from you're home. That is great, right?" both women walked to the exit.
"Well..." Kassia began, "It's wonderful to know who I am and where I came from... The downside, of course, is I remember how I ended up of Trayva. Not a pretty picture. But we all have things we need to work through."
"I'm not a counselor but if you need an ear or Chakra rebalancing ... call me. With a laugh, "Maybe we can trade services." They stepped onto the promenade.
"Not a bad idea!" Kassia laughed, her green eyes sparkling. "I might take you up on that."
"I'll call at 1700hrs. See ya!" Both women separated as Jayme needed to get some bands to pull her hair back with if she was going to let it grow, and she needed to stop by sickbay and drop off the learning modules she'd completed for Dr. Cherrin, stop by the infirmary and pick up some things, and requisition the stuff from the quartermaster, and wanted to try and sleep. Then it would be time to comm Kassia and Tiyanna about dinner plans.
Kassia walked back toward her office. She started making a mental list of the books she wanted to supply to Jayme while she was away. Books involving, but fun... Several leapt into her mind. She would make sure to gather them together. Suddenly, she decided to make a stop into her shop. As Danni saw her, she smiled.
"Hey, partner! I didn't expect to see you until later!" Danni said, her dark eyes shining brightly.
"Well, I decided I wanted to pick something up," she replied and immediately started looked through the shelves.
"What is it?"
"That calming stone from Kintinaria," Kassia replied, "Ah! There it is!"
From a shelve she pulled a stone no larger than a half dollar. It was a sky blue in color and shined with an irridecence. As she held it she felt a sense of calm enter her. She smiled. She would give it to Jayme as a going away gift, and if nothing else, it could be viewed as a good luck charm.
"I might be back later," she said. "But I'm not sure. Plans have come up..."
"Well, if not, I'll just see you tomorrow," Danni smiled.
Kassia's smile brightened. "Definitely! Bye!" With that, she left the store and headed to her office once again.
Jayme entered sickbay and found several new faces and many old. Her eyes lingered for a moment on a guy sitting with his feet on the edge of a desk wearing Commander insignia and a caduceus. "I just wanted to drop off these learning modules for Dr. Cherrin." Jayme said to Jameson-the clerk who she knew.
"No, problem Captain Alcon. "
The Commander perked up, "Captain Alcon?"
"Yes." Jayme stood back and looked at him. She took his extended hand "I'm Dr. Fletcher. I've wanted to meet you but everyone said you were on assignment."
"I'm am only back for 24hrs and have lots to do. Maybe next time I'm back on station we can get together for a drink. But right now, I have errands to finish running. Bye." With that Jayme turned and headed out and to the nearest lift.
She hesitated to go to the infirmary as it was just past the "gunny's desk" and around the corner...and if the Colonel discovered her still up and about she'd catch flack--justified but still. ... She stood tall and walked on past only stopping at the Infirmary. There she requisitioned several doses of Tranq's to take back with her to Thermopylae.
While killing time and giving her an alibi she talked with SGT.'s Kama and Marki who were surprised about the request for the tranquilizers but filled it. "While I'm waiting can you work my knee over and relieve some of the inflammation. I'm still having trouble with it.
Marki frowned and asked, "Since Swarva?"
"Yeah," Jayme sat on the biobed while Marki injected the knee
"Hhmmm!" Jayme said through gritted teeth, "That feels much better now, thank you," with a lot of sarcasm.
Marki shook her head, "Two more to go Captain. If you'd have followed up and then not abused it like Kama and I both know you are doing, then you wouldn't be here on this table."
Kama ran a full med scan while Jayme was distracted. Kama copied the scan results to the Captain's permanent file, and a copy to Dr. Cherrin just for his information. Then asked, "Hey, are you back for good?"
Jayme shook her head and bit her lip during the last injection, then said, "No, Just here for some meetings and to get some supplies restocked for my gear." Kama handed Jayme the packet of oral and hypospray tranq doses, a bottle of multivitamins, and an oral anti inflammatory agent.
Jayme took the packet and saw the prescriptions, "What's this?"
Marki sat on the bio bed as Jayme slid off. Kama leaned against the bed with her arms crossed and spoke up. "Sorry, Captain, but I ran a complete scan without your permission." The look she got didn't stop her, "It's my opinion that you need take both of those, unless you are deliberately trying to run your system into the ground. If you refuse here-and-now to take them; then we'll climb the chain of command and you will not be returning to your assignment."
"I'm fine!" The Captain said, then added, "But I'll take them." She thought just to keep anyone else from 'ragging' on me. "If you don't mind I am going to go to quarters and take a nap!" Jayme walked out of there and back to her quarters where she tucked the meds into a pocket of her pack, set her alarm for 1650hrs and laid down. After tossing and turning for what seemed forever she finally fell asleep. She didn't respond to her alarm shrieking in her ear.
Kassia looked at the chronometer as she finished the book she was reading to Tiyanna. "Computer, time," she said.
"It is 1700 hours and 3 minutes," it replied.
Kassia looked a bit puzzled. She tapped her commbadge.
"Lt. Kassia to Capt. Alcon," she stated, but there was no answer. She was definitely puzzled. "Computer, locate Capt. Alcon. Authorization Lt. Kassia 826-NOV-11."
"Capt. Alcon is in her quarters," the computer replied.
Kassia smiled and nodded. Tiyanna looked up at her. "Are we going to see Aunt Jayme?"
"I think a visit would be a very good idea," she replied. "Then we'll go meet Daddy and we'll all go to dinner, just like we talked about."
Tiyanna's eyes lit up. "I want a big cheeseburger! And a strawberry shake!"
Kassia laughed. "Okay," she replied, "But lets get Jayme first."
As they began to walk to the door, Tiyanna stopped and had a very serious look in her green eyes. "Is Aunt Jayme okay? I can feel that you're worried."
Kassia smiled reassuringly. "Nothing is wrong with her that some rest and a few good meals won't fix," she replied.
Tiyanna wasn't so sure, but continued to walk with her mother.
As Kassia and Tiyanna reached Jayme's quarters she tried the sensor, but there was no response. She tried it again and again, there was no response. Finally, she just entered the code and the door swished open. The lights were off as she and Tiyanna entered. She realized that Jayme was asleep and she half thought about leaving, but before she could do it, Tiyanna was out of her grasp and heading to the bedroom where Jayme was laying.
"Aunt Jayme!!" she sang as she went to the bed and launched herself at the sleeping form.
Jayme was confused first by the buzzing, then the shrieking, and then when she felt the body land on hers she tensed and woke in just the barest of time to keep from lashing out in full defense posture. Sitting up, she yelled, "lights 80%!" and realized that Tiyanna was wrapped around her like an earth monkey. Jayme exhaled and wrapped arms around the little girl and relaxed back on the bed. Her heart was pounding hard and was surprised Kassia standing in the doorway couldn't hear it! Jayme reached up and covered Tiyanna's ears.
"Damn It!" After a couple more breaths she heard Kassia laughing at her.
"WHAT THE SAM HILL! Are you trying to get her killed?" Tiyanna was sitting up and laughing too.
"We had to wake you up some how," Kassia smirked, with a twinkle in her green eyes. "But actually, Tiyanna took it upon herself to, uh, run and pounce you." She couldn't help but suppress another small laugh.
"I missed you, Jayme!!" Tiyanna said as she gave the woman another hug. But she was also giggling as she realized what had happened.
"I missed you too kiddo." Jayme sat up and pivoted so both her feet were on the ground. The nausea was fading and her heart rate was returning to normal. "The colonel isn't hiding in the living room is he?"
Tiyanna tilted her head, frowned in a very similar way to what Kassia does when pondering. It was Kassia who spoke, "No. I was going to call him when we were on our way to Harry's. But when you wouldn't answer your combadge and we entered with the alarm going off..."
Jayme nodded, and thought about what Kassia had said. "Okay, I'm awake now. Why don't you call him and take Tiyanna with you and get a table and I'll follow in a few minutes."
"Tiyanna, Can order for me."
Tiyanna brightened. "I can?" The spots on her face framing it beautifully as she gazed at Jayme.
Jayme smiled and kissed Tiyanna on the forehead, and said, "yes, you may. Whatever you want?"
Kassia looked on with a bright smile of her own. "Well, Tiyanna, let's go and let Jayme get ready."
Jayme heard the doors close, before she stood in the t-shirt she'd been using for sleep wear. After a brushing her teeth and a quick shower and a dose of meds for the ache in her knee. She faced her wardrobe and found a pull over knit shirt of cream and a pair of dark blue lycra stretch pants and slip on shoes, it was one of the outfits she'd bought shopping with Kassia. She added some jell she'd found and tried to do something with her hair...at least when she was done it was out of her face.
She thought about what the kid might order...then realized Kassia was there and would guarantee that it was at least healthy and not too obnoxious. Jayme walked out and past the reception station and headed to Harry's.
Tarik and Kassia sat next to each other in the booth at Harry's across from Jayme and a very happy Tiyanna. Tiyanna smiled as she and her Aunt Jayme both dined on cheese burgers and strawberry shakes.
"And then the teacher said that I was the best in the class!" Tiyanna gushed. "But I just learn things really fast!" She then took another bite of her cheeseburger.
"That's great!" Tarik said, patting the girl on the head. "So, how was your day, Kass?"
"Well, it was interesting," Kassia replied, with a smile. "But then, when aren't my days interesting." She looked at Jayme and for a moment their eyes met. She was glad to see her friend eating.
"She and I got together after our meeting, sir." Jayme took a sip of the shake and then added, "Then I ran errands, and slept until Tiyanna woke me up."
"Jayme, right now we're civilians. Call me Tarik while we're at dinner. It's all right!" Tarik reassured her. "I'm hoping you're getting plenty of rest, because you're going to need it!"
"I got some. I must have been dead to the world because I slept through the alarm and Kassia's call."
"Sounds like you needed it, then!"
"I guess."
Tiyanna began picking up some tension in the air. Especially from Jayme. And she was picking up concern from her dad and mom... she stopped eating for a moment and took a drink of her shake. As she did, she looked at her mom.
~Mom, is Aunt Jayme okay?~ she asked. ~I can feel you and dad are worried about her.~
~We talked about this earlier, Tiyanna. She's fine...~ Kassia tried to reassure her.
But Tiyanna wasn't satisfied with the answer and sighed. As she gently probed just the top essence of Jayme's mind, she looked at her mom. Their green eyes meeting. ~Mom! She's not okay! You told me that -~
~Tiyanna, you need to trust me. She's all right... She'll be all right... It will take time, but if I didn't think she was all right, I wouldn't let her go. Do you understand?~ Kassia asked.
Tiyanna gave a slight nod that only Kassia noticed. Kassia smiled softly. ~Love you, little one... Just trust me...~
Tenderly, Tiyanna leaned against Jayme.
"Hi Kiddo, how's your shake?"
Tarik smiled as he took Tiyanna's hand under the table and squeezed it. Then, hoping to break the tension, he took a bite from his sandwich. "I love these things! Don't get them often enough!"
She sighed. "I like strawberry shakes. They're my favorite," she replied.
"Maybe we'll have to try to get the recipe so I can replicate them for you," Kassia smiled as she tenderly kissed his cheek.
"My favorite is Banana. But strawberry is good too." Jayme said.
Again Tiyanna sighed. "I want to spend the night with you..." she said as she looked up at Aunt Jayme. Kassia and Tarik looked at each other.
"If it's okay with her, I have no objections," Tarik said with a smile. He hoped the young girl's enthusiasm would lift Jayme's spirits as well.
"What about my leaving for assignment, Tarik? And isn't tomorrow a school day?"
"But I really want to spend the night!" Tiyanna implored. "Can't I? I can get up really early if I have to!"
"That's true...hadn't thought of that," Tarik replied. "Sorry--maybe some other time. School has to come first, you know. Tiyanna looked dejected. "You can stay up an extra hour if you'd like, though."
"Tiyanna, I have to leave really early. But when I get back your mom and I will work out a schedule so that you can spend the whole weekend with me. Okay."
Though she had smiled a little at her dad's suggestions, her eyes brightened immediately at what she heard. "Really??" she asked excitedly. "A whole weekend??"
"We'll see. I've got no problem with it, but we'll just have to see what happens, honey."
Tarik didn't like hedging any commitment he made, especially to his daughter, but certain information he'd obtained recently made him very wary of making any long-term social plans.
"Well, this gives us some much needed time together," Kassia replied as she let her hand caress his leg under the table as she smiled, but as she picked up on his thoughts, she looked at him quizzically. However, she wasn't one to be put off and caressed him again with a devilish smile, daring him to object again.
Jayme looked him in the eyes, then said, "Kassia, could we go to the beach tonight to play and watch the sunset?"
~We'll talk about this later. This is something you need to be in on the loop for,~ Tarik thought back. ~As for the other, how could I possibly object?~
Jayme picked at her fries and looked from one to the other, and her anxiety level was rising and remembering Kassia's words of caution added another couple of layers to her shields until she felt the pressure back off and should have done so before the little girl had scanned her.
"Of course we can!" Kassia replied with a brilliant smile. "In fact, I think that would be the perfect way to end the evening!"
"Absolutely!" Tarik said, trying to help lighten the mood. Certainly his could use some lightening. "Let's finish up here and head on over!"
As they wrapped up dinner, they all headed to HoloPursuits where Kassia initiated her program that was kept on file. She had it start at Sunset and linger there for awhile. Tiyanna was particularly enthusiastic.
This was her favorite program as well. Tarik and Kassia walked on the sand hand in hand as Tiyanna dragged Jayme in.
"Come on, Jayme! Isn't it pretty?" Tiyanna said as she pointed to the colorful sky.
Kassia looked at Tarik and for the time being she let her mind forget the troubles she was feeling. She just rested her head on Tarik's shoulder as his arm went around her. "I love it here... "
"So do I. Sometimes I wish we could just stay here forever."
Jayme pulled her hand out of Tiyanna's and pulled off her slip on shoes and grabbed the girls hand and they ran toward the water edge where Tiyanna had to stop and pull off her shoes and they stood at the water line and let the surf tickle their toes before hunting for sea shells.
The waves lapped against the shore as Tarik watched a school of silver fish leaping out of the water and cavorting farther out to sea. He turned to Kassia, and tried to draw some of the tranquility she was feeling.
Kassia sighed contentedly as she rested against him. "Tiyanna is so happy right now," she smiled. Nothing made her quite as happy as when her daughter was happy.
"Execute subroutine Tarik-2014-Delta," Tarik commanded. Immediately a huge multicolored beach ball appeared. "Here! Catch!" he yelled to Tiyanna as he slapped it toward her position.
Jayme watched for a moment and then sat cross legged in the sand to their right to watch.
Tiyanna giggled and tossed the ball around. "Jayme! Jayme! Come play with me! Please?"
Kassia laughed as she looked at her friend. "She has definitely attached herself to you today!"
Jayme rebounded the ball from the sitting positions to Kassia. She laughed as the other woman had to lunge for it.
Soon Kassia had batted the ball back to Tarik, who wasn't expecting it. He fumbled a few times and then sent the ball sailing to Tiyanna again, but not before a seabird could land and participate in the festivities.
The bird tried to join the fun by pecking at the ball, and Tiyanna nearly had to fight to get the ball away from it.
The adults stifled laughs as Tiyanna managed to get her ball back, but she was getting tired and finally sat down next to Jayme. Kassia looked at Tarik and he traced the trail of spots around her face in a gentle caress.
Kassia smiled, realizing that was a perfect moment, she leaned toward him and kissed him tenderly. "What a way to end the day, right?" she asked.
"Absolutely!" he said with a very big smile. All that was truly important had recrystallized for him. Family and friends..beyond that, nothing else truly mattered.
Jayme' com badge beeped, <Dark Fury to Captain Alcon, we need you to re-board immediately.>
<Received.> Jayme turned to Tarik, "Sir."
"Oh, yes, it never ends, does it?" Tarik said with a chuckle. "You'd better see what they've broken this time. I'll be sending you information later on."
Jayme touched her combadge as Tiyanna started pouting. <Alcon, here and I will board in fifteen minutes.> Jayme stood brushing sand from her pants and figuring the fastest way to her quarters.
Tiyanna knew she had to leave so she didn't bother asking her if she had to. She just hugged her tightly. "I'm going to miss you..."
"We'll make plans when I return." Jayme squeezed Kassia's hand for a second and winked at Tarik. "I'll write soon." With that she headed for the exit.
~Take care of yourself~ Kassia projected to her telepathically.
"Definitely," Tarik said, very much surprised at how taken Tiyanna had been with Jayme. "We'll have to set up something again soon. I'm going to be recalling her in another couple of weeks."
"I'm glad to hear that," Kassia smiled softly.
"She's proven herself well. It's time to get someone else out there, but I need to get more people back here first!"
Kassia looked at Tiyanna. She had settled herself on the sand and was looked out over the water and to the colorful sunset. She was finally starting to get tired. Kassia then looked at Tarik and smiled. "She's getting tired," she said softly.
"I know," Tarik said, noting the dark circles under Tiyanna's eyes. "We might want to get her in bed."
"Mmmmm," Kassia replied, "That might be a good idea. That would also give us some time..." She smiled with a sparkle in her green eyes as her smile turned a bit wicked.
Jayme entered her quarters, pulled off her civvies and pulled on a clean set of fatigues not bothering to blouse the legs, dashed a quick note to Kassia about the plants and stuff. She then grabbed her duffle and headed to the bay for departure, not noticing the note, the blue stone, or the PADD Kassia had slipped into her bag earlier in the evening when they come to wake her.