Is It Really Over? Part 2

Posted on 14 Apr 2016 @ 1:24am by Ensign Aidan Crehan & Master Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin

4,190 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: New Risa
Timeline: MD 6

At that time, the door chimed and room service announced that their orders had arrived. She reluctantly pulled herself away from him and got up. "Would you get it, please?" she asked him. "I need to change into something less comfortable."

Aidan laughed. “Less comfortable…” He watched her walk away and then went to the door. He took the order and nodded as the young man confirmed that it would be added to his bill at check-out. The young man closed the door for Aidan as he took their breakfast to the counter and began setting it out. He put Mila’s eggs and steak on a plate, her fruit into a small bowl, and her toast to a small plate. He then put his extra crispy hashbrowns and pork tenderloin on a plate. Aidan had put the juices on the table and was carrying the plates over, when he checked Chow’s food bowl. “Already finished with your grapes and yogurt, huh?”

Chow gave a hoot and patted his belly, then Aidan's leg before he went for a window seat to soak up some sun as Mila came out wearing a pair of white shorts and a purple t-shirt that had a pair of red lips with the bottom lip bitten by the teeth. Under it were the words Rocky Horror Picture Show in red letters. "I am hungry enough to eat a Targ. It smells delicious," she said as she went to give Chow a pet before heading to the table.

“Thank you. I worked so hard at getting it ready. The walk from the door was atrocious and the plates were so low in the cabinet that I nearly threw my back out getting to them.” Aidan laughed. “On the bright side, I think I have made progress at understanding Chow. I believe he told me that he was full and thanked me for getting his breakfast. At least that is how I interpreted his pat on his belly and my leg. I commented to him that he was already finished with his grapes and yogurt.”

She laughed despite her throat and took a sip of the juice. "I would have thought the same thing. Chow is getting very good at conveying how he feels, especially when it comes to food and his appreciation. As for you, I am going to have to make sure that I do not request you do such hard labor next time in getting a meal together. I do not wish to visit you in sickbay."

He started laughing again and walked over to Mila’s chair, pulling it out. “I shall try my best to not to end up in Sickbay then.” He looked over to her, “Printsessa?”

"Thank you, Sir Knight," Mila said as she sat down. "Then I shall make certain that no strange orders confining you to your quarters pop up in the ships computer."

Aidan pushed Mila and her chair in. “I would appreciate that.” Before he went to his chair, Aidan put his hands on Mila’s shoulders and began to gently massage the trapezius muscles. He slowly and gingerly made his way down to the Rhomboids with his thumbs. After a second, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. Rising up, he paused at Mila’s ear and breathed the words, “You…are…wonderful.” Then he moved to sit down.

She had just started to relax when he massaged her, then gave a little noise of disappointment when he stopped and went to his seat. "You....are a....tease, Sir Rogue," she chided him gently, but smiled to let him know she wasn't put off by him stopping. She reached for a piece of fresh fruit and took a bite.

Aidan cut a few pieces of his pork tenderloin and took a forkful of hasbrowns. Before putting it in his mouth, he said, “I will continue later. You will get the full treatment, I promise. However, it could be when you least expect it. And as far as teasing, you haven’t seen anything yet, Printsessa.” The hashbrowns were perfect.

"Ah," Mila said with a knowing smile. "So it was a preview of things to come, da?" she asked as she reached for a rasher of bacon and ate it delicately before taking another sip of juice. "I think I could look forward to such moments if that is how it will go."

“Yes, a preview,” he said taking a drink of his orange juice. “The best is yet to come. As a matter of fact, I could finish the massage after breakfast. It may not help your throat, but I am certain that it will help something.” He took a bite of the pre-cut pork.

"Is that so?" she asked as she ate a bite of her eggs and looked at him. "If I made be so bold, what do you have in mind?"

He swallowed his bite and matter-of-factly said, “Well, after breakfast, you should take a nice, long, relaxing, warm bath. During which time, I will be replicating a warm massage oil blend which I will use to finish the shoulder and neck massage to your satisfaction.” He took another drink of orange juice, and then winked at Mila. “And a back massage to follow, if you wish.”

"You are going to spoil me, Sir Knight," Mila said before she ate another piece of bacon. "Of course, I am not going to object. I am liking the way we seem to be spoiling each other and I do not want to go back to the ship."

“I like spoiling you,” admitted Aidan. “And going back to the ship will make these times of spoiling you more difficult to find. But not impossible, Printsessa.” Aidan took another drink and smiled at her. “And since you’re not objecting…I think….” Aidan was thinking back to what blend he would use. “I think I will use a blend that I learned when I lived on Risa for a while. I will use four drops of Clary Sage oil, four drops of Geranium oil, two drops of Lavender oil, and one ounce of Sweet Almond as carrier oil. Not too hot, but all perfectly warm. And that will hopefully relax you just enough to tackle whatever comes your way.” He grinned and took a bite of pork.

"Oh!" She said and gave a devious smile. "I forgot to tell you. Being a Captain's Yeoman has perks, Sir Knight. I have my own personal quarters on the ship, which means..." she paused. "You can spend the night if you are allowed to leave the cadet quarters. We will have plenty of private time to spoil each other."

He cleared his throat after he finished his orange juice. “Well, that is a very nice perk,” he said. Then he grinned from ear to ear. “I will need to check on whether or not I am allowed to do that, because I would not mind spending the night with you and spoiling you with another warm oil massage.” Aidan looked across the table at his purple-shirt-wearing companion and winked.

Mila finished her fruit and looked up at him. "Then I will be sure to make certain you are granted that access whenever you want."

He dipped his head to Mila. “Thank you,” he said. “Be assured that I will not take advantage of the access you grant to me, Printsessa.” Aidan placed his fork on the plate and sat back. He slowly brought his foot up to Mila’s leg and rubbed it. “Practice makes perfect, they say.”

"You are being naughty, Sir Rogue," she said, but made no effort to push his foot away. Instead, she moved her other foot to rub it against his leg. "But I am not displeased at all."

"I am glad to hear that," he said. Aidan sat there a few moments more, playing ‘footsie’ before he asked, “May I take your plate, Mila?”

"Certainly," Mila said. "I am afraid that my throat cannot handle much of anything solid, but I would very much like a cup of coffee."

Aidan smiled and nodded. He took her plate, sat it on his, and carried them to the recycler. Afterwards, he replicated her a cup of the Jamaica Blue Mountain dark roast. He sat it down in front of her, put his hand on her shoulder, and asked, “Is your throat feeling worse than last night?”

She took the cup with a smile and came to her feet. "About the same," she said. "It's like a constant tickle and I wish it would get better or worse. The way it feels now is more of an irritant than anything else and it's preventing me from having fun with you."

He removed his hand as she stood. “Just because your throat is irritating you does not mean that we cannot have fun,” he said. He gestured towards the living area and the couch. "But let me ask you, what fun do you think your sore throat is preventing you from having with me?"

"We cannot swim, shuttle surf or things like that," Mila said as she took a sip of her coffee and headed to the couch. "And we have so little time left on our shore leave."

“Oh yes, well, it would not be the same, but there is a swimming pool on the ship. We could go after you get better,” he said. Aidan followed Mila and took a seat on the couch. “But as far as fun things to do with such a short timeframe, who is to say that walking along the beach is not fun? Or walking through the marketplaces and looking in the shops? Perhaps you may even find something you like that I can purchase for you.”

"Do not spend your credits on me, Sir Knight," she said. "The rest is far more valuable and free, and I would love to go on a walk on the beach with you."

“It is settled then,” said Aidan. “A walk on the beach, it is.” Perhaps that would be the best, he thought. After all, that could take up quite a bit of time and then she can get to Sickbay.

"Shall we go after coffee?" Mila asked as she took another sip of her coffee with a sigh of contentment.

“Of course,” said Aidan. “Whatever you’d like, Printsessa.” He settled in for a few more minutes.

She curled up beside of him and laid her head on his chest. "I can honestly say that I have not had more fun in years than what I have had with you in the past day, Sir Knight, and I am very much looking forward to more with you in the time ahead."

Aidan smiled as she laid her head on his chest. Then he put his arm around her as she did so. It felt…comfortable. “I am glad for that, Printsessa. I am glad that you have had fun with me, because I have had the same with you.” He sighed. “And truth be told, it has been many years since I have had the pleasure of spending time with such a wonderful woman.”

Mila raised her head briefly and leaned in to kiss him. "That is because you are a wonderful man, Aidan and I would do anything for you."

He quickly brought his hand up and caught her cheek. You would do anything for me? he thought. Aidan swallowed hard and fought back a tear with a deep breath. He slowly spoke, “You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that to me. To hear you say it…and know that you mean it.” He leaned in to return her kiss, hand still cradling her cheek. “Know this, Mila Anastasiya, I would do anything for you, too.”

A flash of fear went through her eyes and she tensed for a moment before she smiled and forced herself to relax. "Then let us enjoy what we have, Aidan."

Aidan felt Mila slightly tense up. It was hard to miss, seeing as how her head was on his chest and his arm was around her. But then she relaxed. “Agreed. Enjoy it to its fullest,” he said. He waited a moment, unsure if he should even...but then again, if it was something he said, he wanted to correct it and make sure not to say it again. "Mila," he said quietly, "are you alright?"

"Da," Mila said, then shook her head. "Nyet, but it is not you, Aidan," she said quietly. "I have heard those words before and anything turned out to be a bad thing."

He held her close. “Mila, I am always here for you to talk to, to talk things over and help you. Know that you can trust me with whatever is on your heart and mind. But rest assured, I am not the one who uttered those words before. I would never do anything bad nor ask anything bad. Ever.”

"There was a man who I had dated about five years ago," she began softly. "He treated me like a lady and never did a bad thing to me. One day, I was unhappy with a crewman who had been giving me a hard time, but I said it was nothing. They later found the body in a Jeffries Tube and I knew he had done it. When I confronted him, he tried to kill me, but I managed to get away. Instead of letting himself be captured and treated, he got a phaser and killed himself after he blamed me for what he had done."

Aidan wrapped both arms around her and held her close. No amount of deep breathing could hold back the slight trickle that escaped the corner of his eye. “Mila, I am so very sorry that you had to experience that. I like you very much and you are my girlfriend. And I would do so very much for you. But Mila, murder is wrong. I would never do anything wrong, bad, or illegal. 'Anything' does not include that, my dear. I am also glad that you got away.” He hugged her tightly and didn’t want to let go. “He was wrong in trying to kill you and he was wrong in blaming you. Mila, my Mila, I will always do for you what is within my power and ability to do, but I will not do what that man did. You can always feel safe with me.”

"You are a very special and kind man, Aidan and I know that you would not do such a thing, but it still wakes me up at times and I am left feeling guilty at the death of a man that I dared complain about," Mila said as she nestled against him. "I spent two years in counseling before I was able to accept that it was not my fault, but I still see his face in my dreams."

“It takes time, Mila,” he said, feeling her nestle in. “It took time in counseling and it will take time for his face to go away. I wish there was something more I could do to help you forget that face, but the only thing that comes to mind right now is this, remember my face, Printsessa. When you see his face in your dreams, force yourself awake and remember me.”

She looked up at him and knew that, given time, she could easily fall in love with him, but she reminded herself that it would come in time. "How did you get to be so wonderful?" she asked him quietly.

He looked down at her. “Time,” he said. “And storing it all up during.” He smiled and leaned down to kiss her, gently, sweetly.

Mila returned the kiss and didn't think about how much time he had accumulated, but only that he was spending it with her now. "I promise that I will never take advantage of it," she said.

“I know you won’t,” he replied. “But even if you did, you need not worry about it.” Then he whispered, “And it is all for you as you want and need. Now, how about that walk on the beach?”

"Da," she said agreeably as she finished her coffee. "It time to soak up as much sun as we can before we have to return."

“Yes indeed, because ship lighting is just not the same.” He stood and offered her his hand, “M’lady?”

"Sir Knight," Mila inclined her head, took his hand and came to her feet. "Shall we?"

“We shall,” he replied. They walked hand-in-hand to the door. “You know, I…oh nevermind. It will be something which we can always smile about.” He cleared his throat, “After you.”

She laughed. "You just want to look at my behind," she said, but walked through the door ahead of him swaying her hips. "But I am okay with that, Sir Rogue."

Aidan watched, intently, as she swayed out the door. “Yes, I do. And I am glad you’re okay with it.” He chuckled, following her out the door. Once outside, he took her hand without even thinking about it. It was just as natural to him now as breathing. “And you have a nice behind to look at.”

"Thank you," Mila said as she gave his hand a squeeze. "Yours is quite nice as well from what I have seen." She led them out of the hotel and took a deep breath of the warm, tropical breeze. "I feel as if I could retire here."

“Why thank you,” he replied. “And I agree. I wish we could come back here with more than just a few days of shore leave. I have a feeling that there is so much more this place could offer. We could spend two weeks here and just barely scratch the surface.” They walked down the front walk until it gave way to nothing but white sand. They were still a little ways from the shoreline, though, when Aidan said, “Let’s try this direction since we walked down there the other night. How does that sound?”

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," she said as she turned in the direction he indicated without letting go of his hand. "How many worlds have you walked on?"

“Oh my goodness, Mila,” he said. “Let’s see, I have lived on and visited seven, eight if you count the anthropological expedition to Iconia. But those are only the ones I spent an extended period of time on. What I’ve walked on…I have lost count. When I lived on each of those worlds, I visited many others. And the trip from El-Auria to Earth took quite a while. We stopped at many worlds during that time to re-supply and such. Perhaps one day we shall be lucky enough to be in orbit around one of them long enough for me to show you around.”

"You are very lucky," Mila said. "I have only been to a dozen worlds personally, even though ships I have served on have had others tread on more. A Captain's Yeoman does not often get picked to go on away missions. I will help plan, delegate and coordinate, but that is about it."

“That is still a big part to play, though,” he replied. “So what are some of the worlds you have personally been to?”

"Betazed, as I have told you before," she started. "Vulcan, but only very briefly. It was incredibly hot there. Risa for a shore leave a long time ago, Earth, of course, Pacifica." She thought for a moment. "Qo'nos was very interesting but we were forced to leave suddenly and a few others not worth mentioning."

“Oh yes, that’s right. Betazed had slipped my mind. Well it seems we have two in common. I lived on Pacifica for a while, as I mentioned and the other is Risa. That was the first world I lived on after I began traveling,” he said.

Mila walked with him down the beach, hand in hand as she listened to him. "Oh, to live in paradise." She winced and brought her free hand up to her throat. "I do not want to go back to the ship, ever, but as long as I am with you, every place will be paradise."

Aidan squeezed her hand. “You say the sweetest things, Printsessa. But then, how could you not? For sweet things cannot but flow from sweetness herself.” He stopped, still holding her hand, and drew her in close. “For me, you are paradise.” He wrapped his arms around her, one at her waist and the other at her back, and kissed her.

She returned the kiss as she took him in her arms as well. "Keep that up, Sir Knight," she said. "And I may ask you to marry me."

Still holding Mila close, he winked at her and repeated himself, “For me, you are paradise.” And he kissed her again. This time when he pulled away, he gave her a half grin and another wink. "Shall we continue our walk or just stand here a while longer, holding each other?"

"Wherever you are, I will be happy," Mila said as she kissed back.

“Then let us stay here a moment. Let us be happy. Let us make a memory,” he said. He stood there, holding Mila, one arm around her waist and the other around her back. He stared into her hazel eyes. They were beautiful. She was beautiful. Yes, he could love her, but he must get to know her.

"Then that is what we shall do, Aidan," she said as she held him close.

After a couple of minutes, Aidan patted her back and said, “Let us continue our walk, Printsessa.” He slowly released her and took her hand once again. “So, as a Captain’s Yeoman, what has been the most difficult thing you have had to do?”

Mila laughed. "Translate diplomatic language into something understandable to them," she said. "Diplomacy is fine art of telling someone to go to hell while convincing them it is their idea and then selling them pocket warmers for while they are there."

Aidan began laughing and couldn’t stop, at least for few seconds. “That is a good definition of diplomacy,” he was finally able to say. “But I thought most Captain’s were already somewhat educated in diplomacy? Or is the diplomatic language specifically?”

"It's really the language," she said as she walked with him. "I had one Captain tell me that he was certain that the diplomat who had sent him a brief had no idea what he was actually talking about. It was a jumble of double talk which tied itself into a non-Euclidian knot and imploded."

Aidan shook his head, “That would drive me crazy. I am glad that I’m a scientist and not a diplomat. Or a Captain’s Yeoman, for that matter. You seem to do a much better job, anyway.” The shoreline took a turn inward and the beach started shrinking. It wasn't disappearing, just smaller than it was. Aidan noticed trees and other vegetation beginning to thicken.

Mila looked up and sighed. "It looks like we are running out of beach soon, Sir Knight," she said. "I could not do Science. You must work with some very complex formula where all I have to is remind a Captain what needs to be done and help them understand what some things mean."

“Then let us be glad that we are each a perfect fit for our specialties,” he said. Aidan smiled and squeezed her hand. “We could sit for a few minutes in the grassy areas?”

"Let's," she said agreeably and angled off the sand to head for the grass.

Aidan walked with her towards the grass. He had thoroughly enjoyed this shore leave and did not want it to end. But he knew that they both had responsibilities on the ship and Mila needed to have her sore throat checked out. He had noticed how she grabbed at it earlier and he was getting concerned for her.

It was only a short walk before they reached that lush, green grass. Aidan quickly kicked off his sandals and walked around a bit. “I think this section will do nicely,” he said, sitting down. He patted the ground next to him. “Join me,” he said.

No sooner had she sat down when both their combadges chirped to life. =^=Attention all Black Hawk personnel. There is an immediate recall to the ship. Repeat, all personnel are to return to the ship at once.=^=

Mila sighed and looked at him. "It looks like we will have to finish this on a holodeck, Sir Knight," she said. "We need to get back and pack, then take a transporter back to the ship."

Aidan sighed. "Yes, we will, Printsessa." Aidan stood and helped Mila back up. "Yes, we most certainly will."

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