Happy Endings

Posted on Thu Jan 5th, 2023 @ 3:51pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Captain Dirk Taggart
Edited on on Thu Jan 5th, 2023 @ 3:51pm

Mission: The Koldaran Encounter
Location: Tabula Rasa
Timeline: After the Costume Party

Dirk was enjoying his time at the costume party, he had been serving food and drinks most of the night and doing his best to be a good host. He had spotted Abby mingling with some of the other captains and crew, but he hadn't had time to speak with her other than a passing hello. As the party wound down he looking for her, hoping to steal her away for a dance. He walked over to the edge of the area that was being used for a dance floor as he scanned the crowd.

Abigail had been trying to be as social as she could manage through the evening, but being 'on' had started to become tiring. With everything that had happened with the Koldaran, then the negotiations with the Dalacari, she was simply exhausted. Mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. She needed down time. As the crowd started to dissipate she picked up a cocktail in a fancy glass from a passing server and wandered to the pier, walking slowly over the planked walkway until she reached the end. Leaning forward, she rested against the rails, sipping the drink slowly as she watched the soft lights dance across the water.

Dirk saw Abby's exit and followed a few minutes later. The night air was cooler away from the dance floor and the light. He arrived at the dock and leaned on the rail beside Abby. Just being close to her in the stillness of the night was enough to remind him he wasn't alone in the universe. "Someone once said that the present is a gift and that's why it is called the present," he said softly. "Just standing beside you is a dream come true. I honestly thought one of us wouldn't survive that planet, now that we are here it's like waking from a nightmare."

Abigail turned to face him watching him in silence for a long moment before she stepped in next to him, pulling his arm around her and leaning into his shoulder. "I don't think I've relaxed since we got there," she said quietly. "I still haven't been able to wash the smell of death off me." She sighed softly, leaning back against him as she stared at the sparkle of the lights across the ocean. "It feels so senseless, so pointless."

Dirk wrapped his arm around her as she leaned into his shoulder, "I can't make it all better, or fix things. I keep asking myself if saving that planet was worth the lives that were spent defending it. I have to hope that somewhere out there there's a greater power that understands that we did our best to help save as many lives as we could. At the end of the day I feel like the blood of those crewmen are on my hands. It's hard to process Abby."

"It feels so pointless, so much loss of life, on both sides... but at the same time, it felt fundamentally right that we helped them, regardless. Without us they would have been annihilated. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, isn't that what they tell us?" she countered.

"That's what they say when we're trained, and after we face those situations we have counselors to help get our heads back in the game so to speak. Unfortunately, Counselors won't take away the nightmares or the cold sweats I wake up with." he replied. "I can say though this evening with you has been the best, even though we've only spoken less than 5 minutes all evening."

She turned, leaning against the rail, looking up at him. "The negotiations with the Dalacari went well. We have been granted access to Pathstone. Limited access, but access none the less," she said quietly. "I'm just glad it's all over now. I am looking forward to some down time. Under the stars, isn't that what you promised?" she asked quietly.

"The Pathstone? That's great, a little access is better than none. At least it's a start," Dirk wrapped both of his arms around her, "I did promise you an evening under the stars, our cabin is a 15 minute walk from here if you want to call it a night? This costume is hot."

There were no words, just a small nod, dark curls brushing her cheeks with the movement. Taking a step back, she slipped her heels off and picked them up, her other hand slipping into his as she offered a weary smile. "Let's walk along the sand," she finally said quietly.

Dirk smiled, "Sounds good to me, the party tonight was a good idea, I was kind of surprised to see the Thux playing guitar tonight, he played pretty well."

"The Thux?" There was a moment of confusion on Abigail's face as she tried to remember the Thux. "Oh, he was the blue guy? Not Ensign Jaqvarg, the other one. I think he's from the Wellington isn't he? I remember seeing him on Odraclite," her words were softly spoken but her confusion echoed her sheer exhaustion. They walked, hand in hand, the water brushing at her feet as they moved along the sand.

He enjoyed the feel of Abby's hand in his and the gentle lapping of the waves at their feet as they walked. The exhaustion had seemed to weigh heavy over both of them. "I'm going to cook you breakfast in the morning, do you have any special requests?"

She smiled up at him. It was such a simple gesture but it meant so very much. "Surprise me?" she said softly. "We could eat on the deck with a view of the water if you want?"

"As long as it contains a view of you, it will be the prettiest view in the Quadrant," he said as returned her smile. "I know our schedules have both been insane and will be for the foreseeable future, but is there anything specific you want to do while here other than some uninterrupted sleep?"

Just as Abigail was about to respond the sound of an explosion filled the night air, the sky lighting up in a vibrant display of colours and sparkles. At the first sound Abigail's steps faltered and she tensed visibly, her fingers tightening around Dirk's hand. Even in the darkness it was clear to see the colour drain from her face. "It's fireworks," she finally murmured softly before she looked back at him. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Dirk stiffened at the sound and tightness of Abigail's hand simultaneously. His pulse jumped as his fight-or-flight instinct was pushing adrenaline through his system. He chuckled a bit at the realization that it was just fireworks, "I guess we are both on edge still after the attack. It's hard to turn off those instincts and reactions after everything we faced."

"I don't think I'll ever turn them off," she said quietly. "Every sound, every smell, everything... it's all so deeply embedded in my soul." She sighed softly, leaning into him, her head resting against his shoulder for a moment. "I don't know if I want to, part of me feels like if I put this to rest then all the lives lost are gone as well." She fell silent for a moment. "I know that sounds ridiculous. We did the right thing, we did what was necessary to save an entire civilization, I know that..." She inhaled slowly and deeply. "But the cost was so high."

"The cost was high, but you can't lose yourself in the grief of it either," he said softly. "You will put it to rest in time, but don't rush yourself, grieving has it's own time table. You can talk to me about if you want, I'm here for you Abby," he said as he delicately brushed her cheek with his fingers.

She looked up at him again, a soft smile on her lips at his display of tenderness. "And for that, I am eternally grateful," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I know you're hurting and second guessing the decisions you made, and the casualties because of those decisions. We as Captains are trained for acceptable casualties, the Vulcans use the phrase the needs of the many, but it is still a large burden for the one to carry. I can help you, if you let me. I'm not gonna ask you to answer questions or anything like that, but I want you to know I'm here when you're ready," he said gently.

"And when I'm ready I'll tell you," she replied softly. "For tonight, let's just go home? Right now, I just want to be alone, in the quiet, with you."