Showing Him Around

*I am so glad to be back home !* Sierra thought while lying in her bed. *The Leviathan needs so much work. I am a Lieutenant Commander now.* Sierra was very excited. *I must be more observant with the crew. I should have known Rashad and Harris had feelings for each other. I am usually good at picking those things up.* Just then her thoughts were interrupted by a voice. It was Marc. He was getting dressed.

"Good morning sweetheart." Marc said softly.

"Good morning honey." Sierra replied.

"What were you thinking about?" He asked.

"Oh, just about the tour I gave Brayden yesterday." She answered. "I think he will make a good helmsman, don't you Marc."

"I think he has his hands full. He still is a child you know." Marc replied.

"Yes, he is still a teenager. He has a lot of responsibilities, but remember, he is still a teenager." She remarked.

"Sierra, I wasn't attacking him. I was just stating the obvious." He said in defence.

"I am sorry. So many of the crew don't like the fact that he is on board. But they just have to get used to it." She said.

*Why is she defending him so much* He wondered.

"I better go. See you at 1100 for lunch ?" He asked.

"I'll be there." She smiled

He left the room after giving her a soft kiss. Sierra then went back to her thoughts. She remembered his favour yesterday morning. . .

Previous Day...

"Sierra, do me a favour, make sure that Cadet Brayden is familiar with the ship. I don't want him to have to ask where anything is."

"Okay Marc, I will show Cadet McCaffee around the ship and then let him explore for himself. Does that sound okay to you ?" Sierra asked.

"Yes, that is fine. I will see you later." Marc said as he reached down and placed a soft kiss on Sierra's lips.

"Bye." She said.

Sierra touched her combadge. "Counsellor Devore to Cadet McCaffee ?" She said.

"Yes, Counsellor Devore ?" Brayden replied.

"Could we meet at 0900 for a tour of the ship ?" She asked

"No problem, Counsellor. Where should I meet you ?" He questioned.

"How about the Mess Hall ? I am hungry." She said with a small laugh.

"You know, I could use some food myself. Could I join you ?" He asked.

"I see you there in 30 minutes." She replied.

Counsellor Devore was ready in no time. She never did take long to get ready.

When she entered the Mess Hall, Cadet McCaffee was already seated at a table.

*It's so nice to have a young man on board* She thought. *He fits in here so well!*

"Counsellor Devore." He said as he stood."I thought that I would wait for you before getting my breakfast."

"Oh, you didn't have to do that !" She exclaimed.

"No, but I thought you could tell me of something unusual to have for breakfast that I wouldn't have had before.

"Okay, are you sure ?." She said mischievously.

"You bet !" He said.

"Let's go !" She said with excitement.

Breakfast was over and they were now touring the ship.

"This is Engineering, as you can tell." She pointed out.

"Here let me introduce you to Lieutenant Hansen." She said.

"Lieutenant Hansen ? May I introduce you to Cadet McCaffee. He is aboard the Leviathan to learn all he can first hand."

"Nice to meet you Cadet McCaffee." He said in a disapproving manner.

*That did not sound like Lieutenant Hansen.*

"Cadet McCaffee, may I also introduce you to Lieutenant JG Taline." She said hoping his remarks would be better.

"Glad to meet you." He said.

*At least he was a little more friendly. I wonder if this is going to be a trend ?*

While showing Cadet McCaffee the slipstream, Lieutenant Shaka entered. "Hello Lieutenant Shaka." Sierra said.

"Hello, Counsellor Devore." She said also glancing at the cadet.

"Lieutenant ? May I introduce you to Cadet McCaffee."

"Hello." She said plainly.

"Hello Lieutenant." He said."You must tell me more about your slipstream. I studied it in school and was very intrigued at how it works."

"When we are both available, it would be a pleasure." She said in amazement of his request.

Counsellor Devore and Cadet McCaffee turn to leave engineering, Brayden asked a question. "Counsellor, is it just me or is the crew not pleased with my arrival ?" He questioned.

"I noticed to. But you must understand, they are not used to a "child" on board a ship. It will take some getting used to. Please be patient." She said hoping to make him feel better.

"I understand what they are feeling. It isn't easy for me being here without all of my friends and not having people my own age, but I will just have to show them that I am not a little kid who knows nothing and has a admiral for a mother." He said "Counsellor, I want everyone to treat me as they would everyone else. I know that my mother asked you to take care of me. But if I am to work with the crew and have them accept me then I am going to have to "fall and scrap my knee". Okay ?"

"Okay." She said with a smile and a nod of approval. *All right ! A fighter ! He is going to do well here !*

"Shall we move on Cadet ?" She asked.

"Let's do." He said.

She continued to show him around. Introducing him to Lieutenant JG Baran, Lieutenant JG Savage, Ensign Mason, and Lieutenant Chu Barker.

They were now heading for the Bridge. When they reached the Bridge, Brayden stood with his mouth partly opened. The Bridge had taken a lot of damage, but he stood with the look of awe on his face.

"I have always wanted to be on a Bridge !" He said.

"Well, here you are Cadet !" Sierra replied.

From the other side of the Bridge, Lieutenant T'Kul watched as the Sierra showed Brayden around. Sierra saw her looking at them and begins to walk toward her.

"Good day Lieutenant Rashad." Sierra said.

"Good day Counsellor." T'Kul responds.

"Counsellor ? May I ask you a question ?" Asked Lieutenant Rashad.

"Of course, please do." Responded Sierra.

"Isn't he too young to be onboard as crew ?" Rashad asked, try real hard not show her feelings on the matter.

"Yes, he is a little young. He isn't in Starfleet Academy yet, but he had soared above all the rest in his class and was bored with the book work. Admiral Ross and his mother, as a mother, thought that he would benefit with hands on training." Sierra replied, as she watched him look over the Bridge.

"I see." Responded Rashad.

Sierra walked slowly toward Brayden and watched him as he looked over the Bridge with awe. She could tell that he couldn't wait to get his hands on the helm. *The helm must be the place he would enjoy the most.* She thought.

Ambassador Maul and Lieutenant Commander enter the Bridge across from Sierra, who wondered who they were and why they were on the Bridge. They walked over to speak to Lieutenant Rashad. She walked over to talk to them, but they left before she could. Sierra turned to look at Brayden. He looked as though he had died and gone to heaven.

*It must have been the young woman.* She thought as she smiled.

The thoughts of the days before were still fresh on Sierra's mind when the door chimed, awaking her from her sleep. Sierra jumped from bed. *How long had I laid there ?* She questioned herself.

"Just a moment." She said.

She ran to the closet to put on some clothes. When she finished she let the person on the other side of the door in. It was Cadet McCaffee.

"Hello !" Sierra said in excitement.

"Hello Counsellor." He replied, "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time ?"

"No, it was time for me to get up anyway for work." She said.

"Counsellor, I just wanted to thank you for the tour the other day. I've been so busy, that I forgot to say thanks. It has really helped me out." He stated.

"Your welcome. Remember I am the ship counsellor. If you need to talk about anything, let me know. Okay ?" She said.

"Okay. Thank you, again." He said as he turned to leave.

*What a nice kid.* Sierra thought. All day long, Sierra was in deep thought. She noticed Marc looking at her funny. *I must ask him what that look was for.*.