Rumble Between Teams

Lt. Sara Sidle lead the twenty-five marines under her charge in from the field where they'd been for the previous eighteen hours; participating in field manoeuvres and some urban assault training.  They'd also gone to the "bone yard" and practiced extrication people from shuttles, ground cars, and a mock up of the fighter that the new team was flying.  Everyone was cold, tired, and muddy.  They came around a Yurt in full packs double timing it when she all but stumbled into Captain Caid.

Caid Makan had to smile at the sight of a very tired and muddy Sara.  "Glad to see you survived that training exercise.  I'm needed a change of pace around here. Accident investigations are a pain in the behind. So how about a quiet evening and some friendly conversation for a change ?:"

"Ugh..."  Sara looked down at her muddy gear, blew a damp lock of hair away from her face, and said after waving her team on past, "Dismissed !"  She turned back to Caid, "Okay.  What time and where ?"

"I'll let you name the time...Place my quarters, sound ok?  Neither of us look like we're up for anything too taxing tonight." Caid responded.

She glanced at the time and said, how about 1900hrs.  "Want me to bring anything?"  She asked adjusting her pack on her back, gesturing that they walk toward the barracks.

As they walked toward the barracks he responded, ”Not necessary but if you feel like bringing something easy I won't stop you. This isn't supposed to be anything spectacular by any means."

"Fine," She said entering the building through the door he held for her.  "Let me get cleaned up and I'll be over."  They parted company on the lift and she entered her quarters, dropped her pack and ran to the sonic shower.  She found bruises, scratches, and numerous sore spots and said to herself, *why did I agree to this tonight?*  She pulled on a clean off duty uniform and after drying her hair she found the bruise over her left eye and the scratches on her hands.  She sat down with her dermal generator and tempted to repair the worst of the damage.  She finished and popped up and programmed her replicator for apple pie and a bottle of sweet desert wine.  She glanced at the time and grabbing the items rushed out of her quarters.

Caid returned to his quarters to prepare dinner.  It had been a long 18 hours and with Major Danar laid up he'd been super busy.  Even though he question the dinner invitation for a short time, the prospect of company made that doubt quickly fade.

Quickly he programmed in a tasty main dish with its accompanying side dishes.  Then he said down to wait for Sara.  Thankfully his daughter was off with his Ground Crew chief again at least for most of the evening.  She'd agreed to give Caid a much needed break.

Sara rang the buzzer and waited for the door to open .  She was greeted momentarily by Caid.  "hi, May I come in?"  She asked as she handed him the bottle of wine.

"Thanks and yes please come in and make yourself comfortable," Caid responded then moved to place the bottle of wine in an appropriate place.  "Would you like something to drink? I'll just put dinner on the table."

"Cup of coffee, if its not trouble and no rush...we had MRE's just before we marched in from the field."  She saw his grimace at the mention of field rations. "So you said you're having trouble with the investigation.  Wasn't it just weather related or is there something else?"

"Once cup of coffee coming up," Caid returned with the mug and a glass of juice for himself.  "Weather related and a mechanical failure it appears."  He handed the coffee to Sara.

"Have you had any chance to talk with the major about what happened?  or have you recovered the whatit...flight recorder. Is that correct ?" She took sip of the hot coffee and wish she'd popped a couple of acetaminophen before leaving her quarters.

"Yeah I've briefly talked with Storm about all this.  None of it’s her fault that’s for sure.  Flight data recorder is currently being worked on.  Those things are built to be indestructible but it suffered some damage," Caid noticed Sara's discomfort.  "I have some acetaminophen if you want some." 

Sara met his eyes and nodded, "yeah, I guess I'll accept couple if you have them handy--I took an elbow to the temple while running an extrication drill from one of the corporals."  She took them and washed them down with hot coffee.  She sat back with her eyes closed for a moment  and opened them when she found him standing close one hand under her chin and the other checking out her temple.

"Suffered something similar myself during a ground survival drill.  Hurts like hell." Caid smiled gently then continued,  "Thanks for coming tonight Sara.  I know you're tired but I really just needed a friendly face around."

"I wanted to come, and I'm glad you asked."  She said then smiled before taking another sip of her coffee.  She was a tall thin brunette with shoulder length bob.  "Take a load off and relax, Caid."

"I wanted to come, and I'm glad you asked."  She said then smiled before taking another sip of her coffee.  She was a tall thin brunette with shoulder length bob.  "Take a load off and relax, Caid."

"Yeah I have a bad habit of doing my job until it does me in some days," Caid replied as he took a seat. "Besides Major Danar isn't a happy camper after her last session with Dr Fletcher is seems."

"What has the good Dr. Fletcher done ... or do you mean Jayme ?"  Sara set her cup down and touched his arm in a friendly way, and added, "Doesn't mean you have to work yourself to death covering both your jobs."

"No I mean Jayme's husband and it probably serves Storm well though I know she doesn't make the same mistake twice.  Got a little too antsy and attended a marine company karate class...re-injured her leg so he has it in a brace that’s screwed into the bone so she can't remove it."

"Ouch, that sucks.  Sounds like something Nathan would do though--he's treating her like he'd treat Jayme."  She stood and started to help him set the table and then joined him for the meal.

"I can understand that, I'm expecting Jayme and Nathan to arriving back here tomorrow."  Sara took a bite of the casserole.  "When is Aidan expected back on base, any idea?"

"Not sure. She's being discharged back to Paladin for a short time so hopefully soon."

"She should be discharged back to us at this point...unless," Sara put her fork down and then added, "She isn't being held on 3rd floor is she?"

"3rd floor?" Caid asked,  "She indicated she passed her psych eval with Grissom.  Has to see Bentara but nothing that should keep her from being released that I know of.  I don't know why he's sending her back there to tell you the truth."

"Third floor is the area run by Dr. Bentara."  She shrugged and then added, "Nathan probably just wants to wrap her in padding so that she heals correctly and doesn't get into trouble...again."

"Yeah that’s my guess and I know Storm well enough to know she gets that way when laid up too long." Caid smiled.

"You can visit her on your time off.  I know that she'd appreciate seeing a friendly face."

Caid nodded,  "I intend to.  In may ways I think this is bothering her more than usual given the fact it occurred so soon after we arrived on Serenity."

"It was just poor timing.  It was no body’s fault and maybe that is why they are keeping her at Paladin to work with Dr Bentara on a guilt issue.  Especially if Nathan is returning here with Major Alcon tomorrow."

"More than likely.  Its what makes Major Danar a great commander but she does take mistakes or errors of any sort hard, " Caid replied.

"So, when will I get to meet your daughter? "  Sara said trying to change the subject.

"Well, my new found baby sitter wanted to give me some time to rest but I'll call her and have my daughter brought home early.  I think it is time you met her Sara."

"That would be great.  I'll start cleaning up the table if you want  to make the call."  She stood and started picking up stuff and taking it to the replicator for recycling.

Caid made the call and returned to the living room.  It wasn't long before his door chime rang.   With a quick thanks he cradled his daughter in his arms then sat back down on the couch.  "Well Sara this is the other female in my life."

"She's beautiful."  Sara took her coffee and moved over to sit on the couch next to him. 

The baby remained calm even with a stranger around.  "Yeah she is.  In fact she's my reason for carrying on and why I chose to accept this post even after I lost my wife. I often wonder what she'll grow up to be."

"Who can tell, my parents certainly didn't plan for me to be a Marine.  But I think it will be a while before you have to worry about her occupation.  Sara reached over and stroked her little hand and watched her eyes follow Sara's and she smiled.

His communicator chimed and he leaned his head back and sighed and he started to get up when Sara reached over and took his daughter from him while he answered the call.

"Yes, this is Makan.  What's up?"  Caid wasn't really expecting anyone to interrupt him at this hour.

Sara watched him carry on his conversation and she adjusted her position so that she could face the baby and giggle her on her knee and keep her distracted while Caid wandered into the kitchen.  Sara smiled and played with her until Caid walked back in.  "Trouble?"  Sara asked.

"Yeah sort of seems a fight broke out in the rec center some pilots and a medic or two were taken to the infirmary.  Base security just informed me of the brawl," Caid wasn't happy it had occurred at all.

Sara sat forward and said, "I have a team on duty plus there's the EMH.  Do you think we both need to go down there or do you think one of us would be sufficient and if so which of us...you're senior to me.  It's up to you?"

"Well I can take this if you wouldn't mind watching my daughter for a bit.  Its really getting close to her bed time anyway.  That mess with the pilots and medics should be shorted out shortly I hope.  Not sure how much one of my pilots will be able to say anyway right now, seems he was knocked out cold."

"Okay."   Sara looked at the little girl and asked, "Does she take a bottle before bed and where's she sleep?  Oh, If you need me give me a call and I'll come down to the infirmary with her and we can hand her off.  If you don't need me please pass on to my people involved to be in my office at 08:00!"" 

"Not a problem.  Bottle is in the fridge, her crib is in the master bedroom and I'll call you if  I need you otherwise expect the misfits in your office bright an early tomorrow morning.  Thanks Sara I owe you one for this."

"We'll be fine."  Sara watched him pull on his jacket and noticed the well developed muscles across his back.  They waved good bye to him.  Before long she started fussing and Sara tried walking the room but that wasn't working and the kiddo was rubbing her eyes and Sara fetched the bottle and made herself comfortable in an over stuffed chair and soon she was asleep.  Sara carefully moved and placed her in the crib.  She waited, cruised his book collection and finally turned on a vid but soon fell asleep.

Caid returned as soon as possible leaving orders for his pilots to be in his office at 0600.  With a smile he pulled an extra blanket from the closet and placed it over Sara's sleeping form after extra carefully making her more comfortable on the couch.  Quietly he stopped the vid and figured he'd let his guest sleep she needed it.   After a quick check on his daughter Caid too fell asleep on his bed.

 "Don't worry about breakfast for me.  I'll just run over to my quarters and have coffee and put on  a clean uniform before heading in to read the security reports.  When did you get in by the way?  and Thanks for the blanket."

"Oh I got in shortly after you went to sleep I guess.  Thanks for baby sitting. I'm going to feed my daughter, eat breakfast on the run and go yell at my pilots.  You'll get an eyeful when you read that report."  Caid was already preparing a bottle then he'd worry about getting dressed. He had more than enough time to make a planned 06:30 chewing out giving the pilots time to sweat it out a little before he actually read them the riot act.

What a thing to have happen on the morning Major Alcon is due back...shit!" Sara accepted a hot cup of coffee and took his daughter, and said, "I'll watch her while you go shower and change and then you'll be ready to head out  when I leave."

"Thanks I won't be long my pilots will be waiting in my office when I arrive at 06:30 but I wanted them to truly think it through before I get to them  Major Danar will have a big hissy fit when she finds out."  Quickly Caid proceeded to shower and change in to a clean uniform.  A short time later he emerged dressed and looking fresh even though he'd had very little sleep the night before.  "I appreciate this Sara.  My day time baby sitter will be here," then his door chime rang before he could finish.

Sara put the cup away and squeezed his arm as she left and the sitter entered.  "I have an hour before my problem children will arrive in my office.  Lets get together and compare notes at 10:00hrs."

Caid quickly kissed his daughter and handed her to the sitter with a few quick words then followed Sara out the door.. "Yeah I'll see you then.  As much as I'm going to try and delay telling Danar what happened she'll see the security reports eventually.  See you at 10:00 Sara.  Good luck with your problem children."