Musical Courage

Posted on 20 Jul 2016 @ 9:11pm by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Commodore Harvey Geisler

4,358 words; about a 22 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Timeline: MD 6 || 0800 hours

Harvey hadn't been left alone in the Ready Room for very long. In fact, he was the furthest thing from alone. Though, with Rico sitting beside the door, waiting for his handler who wouldn't be coming in the near future, Harvey was as close to alone as he would get.

And, he didn't know why he kept instructing the computer to replay the song Mila left behind. He'd heard the song a long time ago. In fact, Aerosmith had been a favorite band of his sister's. Harvey never really cared for the group, but as he sat in his chair in his tired state, he couldn't help but allow the lyrics to marinate in his soul. He'd been through so much in the last couple of months.

Captured. Faced twice with his own mortality. It was enough to break any man. Harvey was not just any man... he was Harvey Elmer Geisler. A man who hollowed himself to survive. With that hollowness beginning to fill after fifteen years, these words from a forgotten era touched parts of his soul none other on this ship had done before.

He had to do something. Never before had he had an urge like this, at least not since...

Harvey rose from his chair. "Come on," he told Rico as he started to move towards the ramp access behind the head. In all his months aboard, Harvey had used the service entrance only once, and that was to see where it led when he first came aboard. It was a convenient access port to the deck below, a heavily shielded tunnel to take him elsewhere into the belly of the whale should an emergency ever require it. As he did, he asked the computer, "Computer, locate Lieutenant Corwin."

"Lieutenant Corwin is in the Security training facility," the computer replied.

Harvey paused in the open doorway, surprised and not surprised at Joey's location. That just meant that this could only get interesting. Still, it was not enough to deter him. "C'mon, Rico," Harvey said. "Let's go find Joey."

Down in the training facility, Joey stood in a corner away from others that were presently training so she could go over the equipment she planned to take with her once it was time to make the journey over to the enemy ship. She was exhausted, but with a surprise wake up call like the entire crew got in the very early morning hours, it came as no surprise. For now, she was going to continue pushing forward, then sleep for a couple of days once all of it was over.

She reached for the rope Camila suggested and smiled. At first she didn't want it because of some foolish notion about not wanting to be caught in a tight space, but the more she thought about it, the more she knew the Chief was right. There was a grappling hook not too far away to go with it. If she was lucky, she wouldn't have to use anything she planned on bringing, but even she knew that a perfect plan wouldn't go off without a hitch. Anyone would be delusional to think otherwise.

Harvey and Rico entered the complex. He could tell the K-9 had livened up more and more as they walked down the corridor. The Captain, on the other hand, grew increasingly nervous with every step. What was he going to say? What was he going to do? What if members of the crew were there?

Another voice entered his head: Why are you worried about it? The tone was gentle and soothing, just like all of the voices of reason he'd experienced over his life.

Still, nothing else. His heartbeat began to race even faster the moment he spotted the door to Security. Harvey inhaled deeply, a vain attempt to calm his nerves. He reached both hands inward, and they found the hem of his uniform jacket. They gripped and pulled down, straightening the uniform of one Captain Harvey Geisler. There were surely going to be others on the opposite side of the door, and he could trust the scuttlebutt to race across the ship just as fast as his time with the doctor. Captain Geisler would enter security first, and then decide if Harvey could follow.

He arrived at the doors. They parted to reveal a team of five reviewing something on a table, likely a patrol plan of some sort. One of the security officers spotted the Captain, prompting Harvey to immediately declare, "As you were."

When she was satisfied she had everything she could think of, Joey began to put everything into the two thigh packs she planned to wear instead of her belt. It just made more sense to her, and everything was accessible without having to spend precious seconds digging through something larger. The easier she could make things for herself, the better off she'd be... not that any of what she was going to be doing would be easy. In fact, she knew it was going to be one of the hardest things she'd ever done in her entire career, and that was saying something.

Once everything was packed away, she unzipped the jacket part of her uniform and slipped out of it, draping it over the table next to her gear. It didn't matter to her that there were a few others present. She took a deep breath and raised the gold shirt she wore to reveal a deep purple bruise she got when she smacked into the floor. If this is the worst that happens to me, I consider myself lucky, she mused, lowering her shirt back down before tucking it back into her pants. If she could find the time, she'd have that taken care of, but it wasn't high on her list of priorities.

It didn't take long for Harvey to spot Joey, and he'd happened to come walking in at the moment she'd pulled her shirt up to examine a bruise. It only served to remind Harvey the reality of this situation. There was still part of him that ranked to utilize his rank and privilege to replace Joey on the mission. Yet, he knew there was no one else who could do the job like her. Harvey had to accept that.

Now, there was the matter of making himself known. He'd had plenty of opportunities when her midriff was bare, especially since it was part of her he had yet to see. Part of him wanted to do something playful, but the four pips on his collar and the five crewmen behind him quickly reminded him this was not the time or place. Before he knew it, he heard himself say, "You should have that looked at." A thought then struck him. He was once upon a time a doctor. He was perfectly qualified to handle a situation such as this. "Actually, is there a medkit around here?"

Joey wasn't expecting to see Harvey, or Rico, before she left, and for the first time it was her turn to be surprised. It was obvious the canine was, too, because when he saw her, he took off in her direction unexpectedly. They were in the presence of the Captain, so she gave him a German command that had him sitting next to her quicker than anyone could blink.

Clearing her throat, she grabbed the one she had inside of a pack. "I have one here, Captain" she said, gesturing for him to follow her into one of the side rooms. "It's really not as bad as it looks." Of course she would say that considering what she was going to be doing when the ships were spotted.

As she moved into the room with Rico in tow, she moved side so he could follow her in. Along with surprise, she was a bit confused. They weren't supposed to see one another until everything was over, but it was likely he was there in an official capacity. It was nice to see him, though. Forty-eight plus hours proved to be a long time, and she actually found herself missing him on more than one occasion.

Following her, Harvey couldn't help but chuckle at Joey's remark, having heard that statement many a time from many a security officer over the years. He opened the medpack and removed the regenerator. "I think, in this case, we better be safe than sorry." He gestured for her to sit so that he could kneel beside her for a better angle in which to work. "Is that, um, from training or last night?"

Joey settled down on one of the few chairs in the room as instructed. "It happened last night. Training has been rough, but not rough enough to do anything like this to myself." She lifted the side of her shirt once again so he could see what she was talking about. The deep purple bruise spanned beyond what he saw when he walked in to see her checking on it. It continued on in both directions, tucked inside the waistband of her pants and going slightly past her raised shirt. "I suppose it does look pretty bad, but it's only mildly uncomfortable."

She found herself looking toward him. It was still a surprise seeing him and Rico, but a pleasant one. "I'm sorry I didn't bring Rico to you myself. I know the ships haven't been found yet, but I felt guilty with Rico being stuck in his kennel while I was making preparations. Plus... not seeing you for over forty-eight hours, then showing up to drop him off with a quick hi and bye... it just didn't seem right."

Harvey thumbed the power switch on the regenerator and set to work, waving it slowly over her skin. "It's all right," he said, not even believing his vain attempt at reassurance. As he watched the healing beam work on torso, Harvey could easily see the bruise begin to disappear. Part of him wished he had a medical tricorder to do a full examination, but this would work just as well.

His unbelief caught up with him after a moment or two. Harvey shut off the regenerator, bowed his head and sighed. "I should have picked him up a long time ago. You shouldn't have had to wait two days or keep him in a kennel. I'm sorry."

"He wasn't kenneled the entire time. Only when I was training, so you don't have anything to be sorry for," Joey said before she looked down at him. They were alone now, so she found herself crooking a finger under his chin so he'd look at her. "Harvey? What's wrong?"

He abandoned the kneeling position and sat beside Joey. "Nothing," he said, having used the opportunity to break the gently forced gaze on her. "And everything." Harvey looked back at her as the same anxious feelings he had in the corridor returned. Where were these coming from? "I just... I just had to see you," he confessed. "If meeting the Chimera and Cochrane the morning after you and Mila ballooned my quarters, it'd be one thing. But waiting two whole days and for who knows how much longer... We're torturing ourselves. We can't do that to each other."

Joey swallowed back a lump in her throat as she tucked her shirt back in, turning her attention over to him as she did so. "There were a few times I almost went to see you, but I made myself stop. I wanted to give you some space. Last time we saw each other, things got a bit... I don't know," she said softly, still trying to make sense of it. "I missed you, and I'm glad you had to see me, because I wanted to see you, too. I just... didn't want to torture either of us, but it seems that was happening anyway."

"I think space is something we've had too much of," Harvey remarked. He'd thought about Joey quite a bit since their last chat, and with uncertainty on the horizon, he felt himself emboldened much like she was both the first night they met and the last time they spoke. Harvey couldn't expect Joey to make the next move, after all, what good was it if he was prompted to reciprocate every time. This was why, without a second thought, he leaned in and kissed her.

If there was even the slightest bit of doubt in her about how he could possibly feel about her, it melted away the second his lips touched hers. Without hesitation, she returned the kiss, thinking back to the promise she'd made him. It was a promise left unbroken, though, she'd found herself wanting to the last time they'd seen one another. One of the many things she prided herself on was her word, and he was one of a small handful of people she never wanted to disappoint.

For the moment, it was just the two of them. Before they knew it, reality would come crashing down around them. For now, she planned to savor every second they had to be Harvey and Joey.

Harvey did not keep track of the time. It wouldn't have mattered how long or how brief it lasted for the moment itself did not need to be tainted by such measurements. Still, the kiss came all too soon to an end. Harvey looked into Joey's brown eyes, simultaneously proud that he'd taken this step and realizing that he was more anxious than ever. He wasn't sorry, but he also knew there was no turning back now. "I think being friends is out the airlock now."

Joey reached over to slip her hand into his. "I think you might be right, but I don't see that as a bad thing," she said softly. "You've brought a brightness to my life. Before I met you... actually spent time with you... I just went through the motions. I honestly didn't care if I lived or died as long as I did my job. But, now... I do care. I do want to live. I want to do right by you as Harvey and Captain Geisler. I want to do right by the ship and the crew."

He smiled, still in awe of how much she'd thought of him while he regarded himself as an empty shell. He gently gripped her hand, holding it tight as a measure of his newfound affection. "And you are," he said. "You are doing right. Just as I hope I'm doing right by you." A small part of Harvey still wanted to call this off. He did have the power to do that, and as of the last couple of minutes, his desire to do so was even stronger than before. Harvey knew he couldn't. Ordering her to stay behind now was an insult, a sign he didn't trust her. Joey had to go through with it now more than ever.

"You are, too. It may not seem like it considering what I'm going to be doing, but I volunteered to go. You have to remember that. No matter what happens," Joey said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She wished there was a way to assure him she'd return, but the only way that was going to happen was when she did make it back to the ship in one piece. "But, revisiting being friends is out of the airlock now... what do you want us to be?"

Never before had he been asked such a difficult yet simple question. This tension, these feelings that he'd developed over the last few days of being separated from her had prompted him, propelled him to kiss her. His mind had yet to sort out how exactly to describe this, but so far in his life, these feelings only had one parallel. "I don't know what to call it," he admitted. "All I know is that I don't want to miss a thing." With that, he squeezed her hand again. Someway, somehow, he'd make sure she'd return to the ship alive and well.

It was no secret that Joey was forward a great deal of the time. She'd proven that to be the case on more than one occasion, and she was sure if he truly minded it, he'd let her know it. But, for some reason, she was quite nervous right now, much like she was the very first time she showed up at his quarters. "Since friends doesn't seem to be much of an option anymore, how about if I officially ask you to be with me as my boyfriend?" There was no taking it back now, and the nerves she felt increased. She wasn't sure why she felt like she did. The worst that could happen was he'd tell her no, but that was exactly it. A huge part of her was afraid he would, then where would that leave them?

Boyfriend. Nine simple letters joined together to form a very powerful word. It was more than a friend, it signified a relationship. An actual relationship, not a fling or anything else of the sort. This was real. This was moving on. Harvey did not hesitate with his reply, and it certainly was not his subconscious answering. It was his soul, heart and mind all speaking in unison. Bearing a playful smirk, he replied, "Only if that means you will be my girlfriend."

"Absolutely," she said with a smile as relief flooded through her. Joey knew this was a huge step for him, and she was beyond honored he'd chosen her to take that step with. Unable to help herself, she leaned forward to kiss him softly, and since he'd kissed her first, she still stuck to her promise. After all... it didn't mean she would never kiss him.

Harvey returned the kiss with gentle passion. With each caress of her lips, he could feel his anxiety evaporate. In this moment, he didn't feel pressure. He didn't feel the past. He felt affection and tenderness. And, if this day would unfold like the last two, Harvey could sleep tonight knowing he made one good decision.

After a moment, Joey broke the kiss and laid her head against his forehead with her eyes closed. She felt like a new woman, and that was because of him. "When I come back, we should do something to celebrate the second we're able to."

He fought a frown, momentarily saddened that he could not look into her brown eyes from this close. It was probably for the best. There was still much to do, and there was always the possibility that something could happen in any instant. Now was not the time. "Agreed," Harvey confirmed. "Something special," he said. Specifics would be left for later. After all, having a reason -- having each other -- to make it through this would be enough for now.

"And we'll be able to do that, too," Joey said with a smile. "I'll be okay. I'm bringing all sorts of things that should work to my advantage. An exographic targeting sensor, EMP grenades, stun grenades, anesthizine grenades... just to name a few. Hopefully, I won't have to get close to anyone until it's time to use the LRAD."

"And hopefully the transporter is accurate," Harvey muttered. Beaming her over would be easy if the range was right. But where she'd wind up remained to be seen. "Don't forget this," Harvey said, holding up the regenerator that he amazingly still held. Not that she'd have time to use if it were needed, and hopefully the charge hadn't been wasted on his using it on her abdomen.

"Oh!" Harvey said, remembering the reason why they'd come in here in the first place. "I, uh, I should finish patching you up." What kind of boyfriend would he be if she left while her body was not in prime condition?

"To be honest... that's the scariest part to me. Beaming over, that is, and where I end up. I should recognize it easily enough, though. I memorized the deck listings of the Intrepid class." She said, lifting her shirt once again so he could see where she still required patching up. "And thank you. For patching me up. For coming to see me. For making me want to kick ass even more than before. For everything."

Harvey smiled, reactivating the regenerator and starting to work on erasing the bruise. "You're welcome. And, thank you for being patient with me."

"I'll continue to be, too. I'm patient when I think someone is worth it, and you are," she said, watching as the bruising disappeared. "Will you promise me one thing?"

He smiled, continuing to manipulate the regenerator. "What's that?" he asked.

"That we never have to go days without seeing one another if we can help it," Joey said, as more discomfort faded away to a distant memory.

Harvey looked up to meet her gaze. In place of an immediate verbal response, he lifted his free hand, closing his fingers into a fist with the exception of his pinkie. "I promise."

Joey smiled when she glanced down at his extended pinkie, then looked back to him. He remembered. She made a fist minus the smaller digit, then slipped it around his. "I promise, too. I also promise not to mix personal and professional matters. So, if for some reason, you have to reprimand me as Captain Geisler..." Of course, she didn't think he would, but it made her feel better to actually say it. "I won't take offense or hold it against you afterward. Duty is duty. Personal is personal." There were some who had a hard time differentiating the two, but she wasn't one of them.

He held her finger throughout the additional promise and replied, "As will I. Besides, as long as you're under Camila, there won't be much conflict of interest. I'll make sure she understands that."

"Not that it bothers me, but do you plan to tell her?" she asked. He already knew how she felt about people and their desire to spread rumors about others, but she knew Camila was not one of those types. The Security Chief had far better things to do with her time. "It may not be such a bad idea if you did. I know she pays attention to the rumor mill in case anything worth looking into is mentioned, and so do I."

Harvey finished with the regenerator and shut it off. "Perhaps after the mission," he said as he checked the charge on the device. It was lower than he'd thought it would have been and would definitely need recharging before being returned to its nook. "The rumor mill is too wild around here. The crew knew about Jayla and I before the first day was over. Not that rumors won't fly, but it's better to be open with those we trust."

"I agree, and you already know how I feel about those who start them. They likely don't have enough going on in their own life, so they feel the need to get their excitement at the expense of others. It's actually rather sad," she said, lowering her shirt once again to tuck it back in. "I only trust a very small group of people. You, Mila and Camila. I've met a few others, but I'm not so sure I would say that I trust them. Time will tell, though."

"Indeed it will," Harvey agreed. He had several others he trusted, but he felt it best that he didn't use his influence to help with that. Harvey knew that by using his leverage, it would only serve to undermine Joey in the future.

Harvey also knew that there was much to be done and he should take his leave. Even though he doubted the real possibility, there was always a chance that they'd be interrupted by the announcement that their targets had been sighted. He leaned in for one more kiss, a brief one this time. "If nothing happens, dinner tonight, my quarters." It wasn't special, but they would save that for after this mission had ended.

Joey returned the kiss. "I'll be there if nothing happens, and make sure you stay safe, too," she said, gesturing to the biomonitor he was currently wearing. After their last conversation about the game over plan for the Black Hawk, she knew exactly what him wearing one meant, and assumed that the XO would likely be wearing one as well even if she hadn't seen it. "We're going to beat them." And, this time she was sure of her own words.

Captain Geisler smiled, both because of the kiss and her parting words. "Give 'em hell," he told Joey. "And that is an order." He rose from the chair and kissed her forehead. "Let's go, Rico," he said, encouraging the canine to follow. "I've got a sock with your name on it."

Rico lifted his head when Harvey called his name. He'd been content lying on the floor next to Joey, but he definitely understood the word 'sock', and that made him get up. Of course, he still had his hanging out of his mouth, but the thought of adding to his growing collection was almost too good to pass up. Dropping the sock, the white German Shepherd gave his handler's hand a lick before grabbing it again and heading for the door with Harvey. If he didn't like the man, he never would have followed.

Joey swallowed a lump in her throat as she watched the two men in her life depart. Oh, she planned to give them many shades of hell, but this time... her last resort plan was no longer an option. One of the many other plans would work. She would be coming back. There was just too much she'd be leaving behind if she didn't, and that was not okay.

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