The Art of War

Posted on Thu Jan 24, 2019 @ 3:07pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Major Victor Crowe

993 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Crowe's Quarters
Timeline: 1940 hours, after quarantine.

Nicole sat in the lone chair and table in Vic's quarters, her feet propped up next to a tall glass of pale green liquid, a mug in one hand a fork in the other. In her lap was a small serving of rokeg blood pie, and against her thigh was a padd with the latest from the medical lab. She'd put her shirt on without buttoning to somewhat ward off the chill in the room, and was enjoying the relative silence, save for the mild snoring from the bed.

She glanced over at him and sighed, shaking her head. Other than a few nicks and scratches on his person, he was probably feeling better than he had in some time. *Training with no safeties,* she thought. *What kind of--*

A groan from the bed interrupted her thoughts and as he stretched and rubbed his eyes, she looked his way. "Good evening," she said.

"What time is it?" he said, yawning.

"1940 hours," Nicole said. She stood up, placed her things on the table and grabbed the glass, coming around to the bed and handing it to him. "Drink this," she said.

"What is it?" he said, eyeing it.

"Something to replace the electrolytes you've lost," she said.

"What happened?" he said, drinking it down.

"You tried to 'sprint the marathon'," she said, smirking. "And roundabout the fifth hour in, your valiant effort to give it your all gave out and you collapsed from exhaustion." She sat down on the bed beside him.

Vic accepted the glass and drank. "Whew! Not much for taste, is it?" Vic finished the rest of the liquid and set the glass down. He looked admiringly. "I'm glad you are here, Nicole," he said in a quiet voice. "It's been awhile."

"I got that impression," Nicole said. "How long, if I may ask?"

"The last time I was intimate with anyone was with Stacy," he answered. "I have had ample opportunities, but none of them seemed right." Vic looked into her eyes. "Thank you."

Nicole whistled softly. *And I thought I had gone without,* she thought to herself. "You're welcome," she said. "And thank you as well," she said. "Sorry for the...battle scars."

Vic gingerly felt his left shoulder and his neck. "I didn't complain when I received them," he grinned. "You're welcome, as well." Vic pulled on a pair of sweats and peered at the doctor's padd. "How are things going with the virus?" he asked, rubbing his shoulder gingerly.

"Slowly," she said, noting his discomfort. She grabbed her dermal regenerator out of the medkit she'd used and pushed him back to the bed, kneeling behind him and running it over his marks. She was slightly embarrassed by the fact that her skin had no blemishes, despite his efforts, but she kept that to herself.

"It's a needle in a haystack, albeit a dwindling haystack," she said. "It's just a matter of time."

Vic looked at her, a playful smile on his face. "Thanks for that, but I wasn't complaining!" Vic shifted his hands to her hips, gently gripping her sides.

She slipped out of his hands and laid back on his bed. "Yes well, wouldn't want questions to arise the next time you're working out with the boys." She eyed him.

"I am their commanding officer. If they have the guts to ask me about my personal life, I guarantee you they won't have one for as long as I am command!" Vic replied. "I don't kiss and tell."

"Mmm," Nicole said, thoughtfully. "Well I do, so expect at least a few of the girls on board to start looking at you twice," she said, smirking.

"Let them look!" Vic grinned. "I'm not gonna brag, or say anything. Not even to my gunnery sergeant, and that man has been with me for nineteen years."

"Very gallant of you," Nicole said, sincerely. "I appreciate your discretion. I'm not sure I'm ready to go advertising that I'm enjoying companionship."

Vice pulled her into his arms. "I don't think either of us is ready for that, but I do know that I am enjoying every second of being here with you." Vic gave her a light kiss.

She kissed him back softly and pulled back a bit. "I owe you half an apology," she said finally.

Vic blinked, looking surprised. "For what?"

"Well, when I first met you, I thought you were boorish, crude, and that 90% of your vocabulary consisted of sexual innuendo."

Vic shrugged his shoulders. "It happens, and most people never get past our crusty exteriors. It's all good."

"Well I'm not wrong," she said, grinning. "But underneath that you can be sweet and genteel. I appreciate that."

Vic looked her in the eyes. "When I first met you I made a few snap judgments I am glad to see were dead wrong. You are kind, caring, and can be very sweet when you want to be. I am glad you let me in and showed me this side of you."

Nicole blushed enough that her skin looked normal, and looked down. "Several sides," she said, half-hearting a joke. "But there's something else," she said. "I'm...well I'm not seeing someone, more like this, really," she said then roped in her thoughts. "I have another friend I'm very close with, and I don't want to give you the wrong impression."

"I understand," Vic sighed and took her hand. "We needed each other, Nicole, and I wouldn't trade this past few hours for a promotion, my own ship, or anything. I hope in the future we can remain as close as we are now."

The relief that washed over Nicole was palpable. She hugged him tight and rolled him onto his back. "Well, I can't tell the future, that's Cass' job," she said, straddling him. "But, as for now, I'm not allowed into my lab for another five hours." She grinned and leaned down to kiss him.

 

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