A Rough Start

Posted on 05 Oct 2016 @ 12:10am by Lieutenant Lucas Abrams M.D. & Ensign Aurilia Moretti

1,658 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Click Three Times
Location: Personal Quarter
Timeline: MD 8 || 0600 Hours

A soft groan came from under the blankets in the quarters of one Lieutenant Lucas Abrams and a pale arm reached from under the covers to bat at something that wasn't there. A muffled curse issued from under the same blankets and a sleepy-eyed redhead by the name of Aurilia Moretti peaked out and saw that her nightstand wasn't where it should have been.

She rolled over and discovered that her path out of bed was being blocked by a very large form and wondered who it was and how he had gotten there. Sitting up, she recalled the previous night when she and Luc had spend time in her quarters and he had invited her back to his. It hadn't been because of alcohol that she had accepted it and it hadn't been her desire to sleep with him, and by sleep she mean sex. Instead, she had actually slept in a bed with a man and no one had gotten any action.

Instead of trying to wake him to make her way to the bathroom, she moved the covers aside and quietly scooted down to the end of the bed until she could come to her feet. She groaned when she got up and placed a hand against the wall to steady herself before she grabbed her overnight bag and padded to the bathroom on bare feet. The large man who occupied the quarters didn't seem big on personalizing it and she wondered if that meant he didn't have plans to stay with the Black Hawk for long.

Aurilia didn't take long in the sonic shower, but it was enough to relax her a bit and she followed that by brushing her long red locks and her teeth. Once that was done, she put her uniform on and packed the rest of her clothes in the overnight bag before she went back into the bedroom.

Lucas felt the bed shift the second she moved, but decided to give her the chance to escape while pretending to be asleep. Since becoming a doctor, the large man developed the ability to wake up and the slightest of movements or the quietest of sounds. It was a requirement in the event he was needed for some reason. He'd had things like that happen to him many times during his career, and knew it would happen much more in the future.

When she went into his bathroom, he sat up and looked toward the closed door. Even though nothing happened between the two of them the night before, he couldn't help but wonder if she felt any regret. Regret with spending the night with him. Regret in giving up the one thing that seemed to give her comfort. Regret in trusting a man she'd only just met. He couldn't help but allow these things to mull through his mind. It was already in his nature to want to help others, but it went beyond that with Aurilia. There was no denying he was attracted to her, but he planned to never push her to a place she didn't want to be. That was just how he'd been raised.

Finally, she made her way back into the bedroom and a smile formed. She was beautiful. Far more beautiful than any other woman he'd ever laid eyes on. "Good morning," he said as he rose to his feet. "Are you heading out already?"

Aurilia was startled when the big man stood up like a statue come to life and put a hand on her chest. "I, uh, hope I didn't wake you," she managed after a moment, feeling her heart hammering against her rib cage as if it were trying to break free. "I just wanted to get my stuff together before you woke up, Luc." Now she wanted a drink to slow the engine in her chest and she knew she wasn't likely to get one while he was awake.

"I'm a light sleeper," Luc replied, offering her a smile. He settled back down on the bed as a means not to come across as too imposing to her. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable. "It comes from years of training once I became a doctor. I never know when I'm going to be needed. How are you feeling this morning? Any urges?" And with all her booze in his closet, there was no way to get to it, but that didn't mean she couldn't get it from other places. He just had to trust that she'd do the right thing and stick to what he thought it was she wanted.

Should I lie or tell him the truth? Aurilia wondered even as her mouth decided her brain didn't need to interfere. "I'm having an urge for a drink right now," she said before she realized what she said. She flushed and looked down. "You sort of startled me and my heart is racing and I usually have a drink to calm down." she finished quietly.

Now Lucas felt horrible, but he couldn't let her give in. Not so soon after deciding it was time to stop. "I'm sorry, Aurilia. I didn't mean to startle you. I probably should have let you know I was awake." He rose to his feet and moved over to her to wrap his arms around her in a reassuring hug.

She returned the hug and sighed as he enveloped her in his massive arms. "I'll get over it," she told him even as she laid her head against his broad chest. "It's going to take a while to learn new coping skills, but I'll be better in the long run, Luc. I still don't get why you're helping me other than the medical aspect."

Luc pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm helping you because you told me you want to live, and I want you to be around long enough so I can get to know you better."

Aurilia sighed. "I'm repeating myself just like I keep repeating history," she said before she backed out of his embrace. "Maybe you'd do better to just lay one of those boulder sized hands up against the side of my head. You'd get through to me faster."

The Behemoth shook his head. "That's not even an option, Aurilia, I'm sorry. You can do this. You're a lot stronger thank you think. I've already told you you can come to me if you need to."

"I know, Luc ,and I appreciate it," she said. "I feel so weak to even think about needing a drink just to calm down from being startled. It even sounds like a bullshit excuse to me. Is there any medications that can help suppress the urge?"

"You're not weak. As for something to suppress it, I'll see what I can find that might help when my shift starts. Hopefully, I'll be able to find something," he said.

"Thank you, Luc," Aurilia said with a smile. "I'd hate to become dependant on something else, but I just don't feel like I'd be able to...." She trailed off. "No. I won't become dependant on anything ever again. Forget that I asked for something. I'll manage one way or another."

"You need to find something to replace it... something positive," he said.

"Well," she said a bit shyly as she looked up at him. "You're positive...and I don't see any trace of anyone else that may have wanted to make their mark in here. Unless you prefer it that way," she added.

"If that's your way of asking if I'm single, then yes, I am. I've never been married, and I don't have any kids," Lucas stated as he pulled on a shirt. "I have been in relationships before, but most women don't want to stick with me because of my dedication to being a doctor. They just couldn't deal with the long hours."

"I know the feeling," Aurilia said. "Well, I can relate in a way. Most people don't want to be with a fighter pilot because we can be here today and gone tomorrow. It's one of the most dangerous things to do in space and most pilots don't even try to form lasting relationships because of it."

"Sadly, the same can be said for any of us. The last few days proved that. Pilots, though... you're all the line of defense between us and those who what to kill us," he pointed out.

"So does that mean we probably shouldn't make any real attempt at getting to know one another?" the petite redhead asked the behemoth doctor.

The Behemoth shook his head. "I want to get to know you. Besides... if anything did happen to you, I could fix you up, and I would, too. Do you think I'd let you get away that easy?"

"Luc," Aurilia said quietly. "The life expectancy of an Ensign in a combat situation is shorter than the length of time it takes to replicate a meal. We lost six pilots out of twenty going up against the Valdore alone."

"So... you're saying you'd rather be friends, then?" Lucas asked softly.

She looked up at him. "I'm just being honest with you, Luc," she said as she met his blue eyes. "I'm willing to put up with long hours if you're willing to take a chance I may not come back one day."

"Life is about taking chances, Aurilia, and I think you're worth it," he said simply.

"Then it's a chance we'll take, although you know I have issues," Aurilia responded.

"Everyone has those. I'll let you report for duty, and we'll talk more later. If you need me, call me," the doctor said.

"I will," she said as she went to get her overnight bag. "I'll see you later depending on what happens." With that, the red haired pilot headed for the door.

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