To the Victor

Posted on Thu Feb 28, 2019 @ 11:25am by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Major Victor Crowe

1,281 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Victor's Quarters

Vic was glad the day from hell was done. The damn security detail was in sorry shape and his exchange officers and NCO's were looking for his blood after being given a "shit detail", in their opinion. The only things I want are a meal, some booze, and thirteen hours of sleep., he said to himself as he neared his quarters. He had left strict orders with the OOD not to disturb him; hell, that's why Cavanaugh was there! Let him deal with the day-to-day-cluster-fuck that was his unit.

Vic tabbed his keypad and entered his place, and his tired face broke into a smile.

"I know, I'm early," Nicole said. "I didn't mean to break into you quarters, but I assumed after overworking--despite my suggestions otherwise--you'd need food." She gestured towards the table. "Something I picked up from a Terran restaurant. They call it 'stir fry.'"

She dropped into a chair, putting her feet up on one of the other chairs, yawning. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day."

Vic crossed the room to put his arms around her shoulders, kissing her cheek as he did so. "Thank you for the food, sweetie!" he smiled as he went to his chair and sat. "Smells good, looks good.." he quickly ate a forkful.... "tastes awesome!" He chewed, swallowed, then continued. "As to the reason I am working late, the security department on this ship needs some shoring up. I've been liaising all day with Lt. Tanaka's underlings, trying to better the charlie-fox situation it's devolved into." Vic took another bite and swallowed. "They took a green kid fresh out of the Academy and stuck him on a starship as department head, in hostile territory! I mean, weeping Jesus on the cross, if we ever have a security incident on board and my guys are not around, it's gonna be bad! I know the kid is doing his best, but he is green as goose shit and doesn't know the first thing about running a department!"

Vic held up his hand as he chewed another mouthful. "I've talked with Commander Hunter and I agreed to take the lad under my wing and give him a crash course in how we do things on the pointy end of the stick! But, it's a work in progress, for sure!"

"Give him some slack," Nicole said, chewing thoughtfully. "Arashi's been through a lot lately." She swallowed and put her plate down, sighing a bit. "We all have. Personally I can't wait for our next chance to get some R&R. I may run all the way back to Rigel."

"Quite a trip!" Vic said as he took a drink of water. "All the way back to the Alpha Quadrant. I would miss you, and have to track you down and rescue you from boredom!" Vic smiled as he took another bite of his delicious meal.

Nicole blushed, but stuck her tongue out. "What boredom? I'd be busy with my friends, my mother, my hospital. A simple life isn't necessarily a boring one," she said, somewhat defensively.

"I don't think I have ever had a simple day since I left the Academy on Mars. There's a bias in the Corps against stationary objects. The brass tend to think something at rest is lacking in motivation." Vic shifted gears. "What was med school like for you?"

"Fun, generally," Nicole said. "I knew most of the doctors there from when I was a patient. My best friend and I had an apartment in the city close enough that I got to classes without much trouble...usually, and my mother was close enough that when I wanted to see her, or she wanted to see me, we could get together for tea or dinner."

She gave him a small smile. "Calling me 'sweetie' and now asking about home? You're getting sentimental on me."

Vic looked at her and gave a half-grin. "Could be! I mean, it's not often a man comes home and finds someone making a hot dinner for him after a trying day." Vic filled a glass with the table wine and refilled Nicole's glass. "To unexpected surprises!"

"Ki'muhl'es," Nicole said, clinking her glass. "Truth be told, I thought perhaps getting here at dinner would give us a chance to talk rather than a rushed tumble." She blushed again. "I've had a few unexpected surprises, myself, lately."

Vic swallowed a mouthful of rice. "Don't keep me in suspense, tell me!" he smiled, reaching for his glass.

Nicole put her own glass down and folded her hands in her lap. "You remember when this started, I told you there was someone else I was seeing?" she said. "I think...things are getting more serious." She bit her lip and looked up at him, worried.

Vic put his glass down. "Okay," he breathed. "I wasn't expecting this, and I won't say I am not disappointed." Vic held out his hand. "I won't try to blow sunshine up your ass about why you should choose me. It's not my style. All I will say is you need to do what your heart tells you to do, and whatever decision you come to I will support it 100%," Vic finished softly, looking into her eyes with his.

"I appreciate your candor," Nicole said. "And I don't want to hurt you," she said. "I'll be honest...the first time we were together, my heart wasn't exactly what was guiding me. I think of you as more than just a friend, but I don't know if sex is a good basis for a relationship." She sat back and crossed her legs, thinking. "What...do you want in life, Victor? What do you want your future to be?"

Vic pulled his hand back, stung a little bit, but keeping his face neutral. "Up until the night we first encountered each other, I wanted a career and was willing to sacrifice anything to get it. then we had our night together and after that I got to thinking about the future. I want to serve in the Corps for as long as I can because it is what I am good at. For better or worse, I am a soldier."

Vic paused then continued. "That being said; I think my old CO, General Abernathy said it best 'Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family. Having both is a blessing.' for the longest time I thought it was the corniest line I had ever heard." Vic looked down at the table and sighed. "I will admit that I was hoping this would grow into something special."

"Please don't think it hasn't," she said earnestly. "This means a lot to me. And I agree having a family is important. But there are certain things I can't provide and if those are things you now want, I want you to have them too and I want you to be with someone who can help you have them."

"I'm a long way from that, Nicole," Vic said in an even softer, defeated-sounding voice.

"You're so much closer than you think," she said. "And for now, yes, you're a soldier, and you're on this ship, but you are strong and you are brave and you are not alone." She put her hand on his and squeezed it.

Vic returned the squeeze. "Now what do we do?"

Nicole threw herself at him and held him tight. "That is a great question to hear," she said, hugging him hard enough to crack a rib. Finally she sat back and held his hand. "For now, we keep going forward. Soldier on."

 

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