Hints At A Deeper Connection

Posted on Tue Jan 12th, 2021 @ 8:54pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,669 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: D’BrooNi Quarters
Timeline: MD7 20:00

ON:

The door opened to reveal Charlie with purple streaks in her hair.

“Keiben, ” she beamed. “Come in.

Mums having a bath. She came in muttering something about a meld thing not working and having a headache. So I ran her a bath and sorted out some music for her to relax too. Don’t worry nothing as fabulous as SKUL, ” she grinned letting him inside. “Brownie daughter points though, ” she said seriously. She had a fair bit to make up for after all.

“What do you think? I have a new friend showed me how, ” she smiled flipping her hair so he could admire the masterpiece.

"Its not exactly in keeping with being a Yeoman... But more importantly, I need to speak to your mum... in private. Could you let her know I'm here or ask her when would be a better time to speak to her!"

He stepped into the quarters, not moving much beyond the door, unsure if he would be greeted warmly or given the cold shoulder, he also instantly regretted his words to Charlie feeling they were a little blunt, something she didn't need right now.

"Well I will make sure its gone by my next yeoman shift," Charlie said simply shrugging. "Alright I'll get her but after you have spoken to her you need to speak with me and Paddy. We want to know your intentions with our mother," she pointed a finger at him walking into their quarters bathroom.

A couple of minutes later Mel walked out in the same dressing gown he had seen before, her hair all damp. "Are you coming in properly?" she asked. He was just kind of stood there looking like he could bolt at any moment.

"I wasn't sure how I would have been greeted... Wanted to make sure I had an escape route should I be followed by heavy projectiles!" He offered a weak smile. "Can I stand down from red alert?"

"Does there look to be any baking around anywhere?" Mel joked. "Shields are safe to go down." She sat down and patted the couch. "Charlie knows. Paddy knows. I told them everything. You might be getting a subspace call though I do hope Paddy was joking."

"I don't think he was... Charlie has already said she and Paddy want to know my intentions!"

He smiled properly this time as he moved across to the sofa and sat down next to her. "I'm sorry... I can't say anymore than that. I have spoken to Commander Horn, hes aware of our entanglement, most of what I said came from hurt for a number of different reason which I won't go into now... all I can say is I am truly sorry!"

She pulled him into a hug relaxing a little. "I spoke to Peter too. I'm sorry too. I realised I was being selfish wanting you all to myself."

He returned the hug, wrapping Mel in his muscular arms, pulling her close enough to feel her heart beat against his chest through his uniform. He was about to kiss her when he heard the doors part once again on the other side of the room and the pitter patter of tiny little teenage feet in combat boots approach... "Something tells me we are not alone!"

"Look I'm glad you made up but I'm not happy you didn't like my hair," Charlie sniffed. She figured she might have to get used to these PDAs. "Your not allowed to ground me by the way," she added swiftly heading to the replicator. "Hot chocolate times ... 3?"

Keiben gave Mel the quickest of kisses, gentle and intense hoping she would understand his intention and so wishing she was able to ready him... perhaps in time she would be able to which had been known to happen. The Betazoid culture referred to this as Imzadi.

"So out with it Charlie... What do you want to know!"

"How long?" she asked bringing them a mug of nice smelling liquid. "I mean I knew you liked each other. That was bloo..."

"Charlie," Mel said cutting off her curse.

"Obvious," she rolled her eyes. "But how long has this been going on really and what is it? I mean are you dating now? Is Keiben like my step dad now? It has to be discreet right? Can he give me chores that are ... ermm not of a yeoman type of nature?"

Mel looked at him. She wasn't sure on this either. They hadn't exactly had that talk.

"I don't know is all I can say. I'm enjoying spending time with you mother" not wanting to say the love word openly yet after all it had only been a few days at the very least. "As for being your step dad, lets just take it one day at a time before you go getting us married, yes we need to remain discreet given our positions on the ship and beyond giving you orders and duties the answer is no I cannot give you chores"

Without even realising it he had reached out and taken hold of Mel's hand, squeezing it slightly as he spoke to Charlie.

"Well ...." Charlie said seriously. "Make sure you make her happy. As long as she's happy, I'm happy. And Paddy won't have to come down here."

Keiben couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself. This slight girl talking down and threatening a Starship Captain... She really was her mothers daughter.
"Yes ma'am" he teased the teenager adding a comical salute before turning back to Mel. "It all depends if you want me back... I heard a rumour that you had replaced me with Ensign Yojar, you know the new Cardassian Officer... you may want to steer clear of his wife, I hear she can be a touch feisty!"

"Oh no. It really is a small ship isn't it?" Mel said her free hand going to her forehead while she squeezed his back. She knew he was teasing her but still she felt so bad about all this business and the mans wife.

"Actually erm ... Keiben," Charlie said looking sheepish. "That rumour. That's my fault. Mums not replaced you with anyone. It was a little misunderstanding."

"It was a horrible misunderstanding young lady," Mel said. "I was brushing up my flight skills, I didn't tell anyone in case I kept failing. Charlie put ....

"I put 2 and 2 together and got it completely wrong," the teen answered. "I really messed up."

"Yes ... and you, " Mel said playfully knowing the last time he had been holding on for dear life, "I'm definitely taking you back mister as I'm going to prove to you I can now land a shuttle."

"You landing or crashing a shuttle is the least of my worries... I've just come from the holodeck where I was killed half a dozen times as our Chief Flight Control Officer ploughed a simulated Copernicus into a planet surface".

The two women went white and he couldn't help but laugh gently. "Don't worry. The mistake she was making was trying to land a Starship on her own. Its actually a team effort."

He purposfully ignored her comment about taking him back, not sure if open displays of affection were appropriate in front of Charlie.

Mel felt a little disappointed that he didn't seem to offer up a positive word on her landing that shuttle. She had put so much time and effort in to bringing her skill set back up to speed.

“So what's the eta till we land on the planet then?” she asked pulling her hand back to hold her hot chocolate with both. Surprisingly all her hosts were still quiet. Probably punishing her for that mind meld.

He looked around in surprise, he felt her disapointment, could hear her voice in his head, however faintly and he wondered if she was able to read him so he gently send a single word to her telepathically... Imzadi to see if she reacted.

Outwardly he looked at her, smiled and shifted just a little closer to her. "Shouldn't be that long. Lieutenant Jun has the bridge so we have a few hours to kill... maybe a walk a round lake Kataria on Betazed?"

Mel sat up a little almost spilling her hot chocolate. Had she just heard Keiben in her head or was it one of her male hosts saying something really faintly? She cocking her head confused but it had gone quiet again.

What was he saying now? Focus. Lake Kataria.

“Yes...” she said standing up and brightening at some alone time with him. “That sounds wonderful. I’ll just get dressed.”

“No skinny dipping, ” Charlie said pointing her finger at both of them before heading back to her room.

"No promises!" Keiben held his hands up in the I surrender pose, a wolfish grin on his lips as he turned his mirthful expression on the teenager. "I am Betazoid after all... We even get married naked!"

"Eeeeew," the teen said stomping into her own abode.

Mel laughed from the door having quickly pulled on a t-shirt and some jeans. She had no idea what Lake Kataria was like but figured trainers were likely safe.

"I don't mind you naked," she grinned. "She will change her tune if you invited all the senior staff. I think she's nursing a crush on your science chief. I have never seen her so interested in Math suddenly."

"Do I need to step in as proxy Dad... i can rough him up for you if you want?"

Again he teased before pulling her towards him for a kiss, passion spilling from him, his hands roving up her back as he tasted her lips deeply. He allowed it to linger for a moment before pulling back slightly, "Come on, I only have the holodeck for an hour... and that skinny dipping is sounding oh so very tempting at the moment!"

Mel smiled. "Only if there's a rope swing."

"I think that could be arranged!"

END

 

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