Meeting Up

Posted on Mon Jul 18th, 2022 @ 2:48pm by Lieutenant JG Gavin Ross

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Crew Quarters

[ON:]

Reagan sat on the floor of their new quarters with a cardboard box in front of her. Inside contained family photos, the fur blanket that Gavin had once replicated for her, and a small collection of ancient Earth movies that they both enjoyed. She carefully unpacked each and laid it all across the couch. She thought it best to unpack everything and then put it all away in its permanent location.

"Hey, Gav. Can you slide that next box over?" RJ smiled at the man that she had grown so close to over the past year. They had met on the Dreadnought over some science and medical logistics and although RJ had never been one for 'love at first sight', it was hard to deny that was how she felt the first time she laid eyes on him. Even more, he had gallantly stayed at her side through the rescue and months of recovery following her capture and torture on her last mission assigned to the Dreadnought.

"Ross popped a drink of coke and then handed it to RJ who was seated on their new quarter's floor." RJ was a light pack as he had come to learn from their past years of transfers. It only made sense to bring essentials and grounding objects to Family and Friends.

With his firm feet, Gavin lazily slid the personal cargo crate across the floor to RJ. He guided it while holding his coke can in his other hand.

When the box was nearby RJ, he took a seat, cross-legged on the floor beside RJ. Gav sat and looked over the objects. "I am glad. You brought the blanket. That means a lot to me to see." He forced a smile. Ross concerned. Overwhelmed with concern, feelings of helplessness over the months reared as RJ didn't have any psychological support, nothing since the disaster and subsequent transfer of flurries with the de-commissioning of the Dreadnought for the time being.

"RJ...." He paused. Holding his can to himself, seated close beside, not too close. RJ still needed her space. She dealt with these issues well..... If torture were an issue in itself, it was a war crime! His anger never left. Gavin wanted to help Quinn out of this and then review how she didn't receive the help she sorely needed after mission trauma. It was easy to sense Reagan was still dealing deep down, pushed down trauma. Her body was in tatters. That was RJ's way he felt. But it didn't make it right.

He gave his word to RJ's Father that he would take care of his daughter, at least date. And now moving in with each other. Feelings ever entrenching for her gracious love, generosity, caring, and... He wanted her back.

"I want you to know. I know." It was simple. It was all that needed to be said at that moment. "It's not what you want to talk about yet, do you?" Gavin had gently prodded RJ. She has been his everything since he met RJ. Before RJ, Ross didn't feel like he fit in. On any ship. Until he met RJ, it was love at first sight.

"No," she said, keeping her eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry, Gavin. I'm not sure I ever will." RJ knew how much he wanted to help, but at the same time, she felt as though uncapping the trauma would just be unfair to him. He had stayed by her side all this time, the least she could do was try to move on and be a good partner. "I'm ok though, really," she smiled at him.

"Now give me a hand with this box, it's the last one left. Then all we have to do is put everything away!" RJ chuckled. It felt good to be back on a ship, more than she thought it would. It felt even better to have Gavin there as well. Surely the nightmares would fade once they got settled in and readjusted to the rhythm of ship life again. Right? She wondered.

Gavin smiled. His first true smile in a long time. He was happy that RJ seemed ok. "Alright.." He flexed his biceps and then began to move a few of the large personnel boxes to get to the last one on the left. He then unlatched the box that RJ needed.

"What should we do about him?"

"Aww, Nanook!" She said as she spied the sleeping husky in the crate. He had been sedated for the long trip and still sat happily dozing

"What's this?" Ross exclaimed in excitement to catch Nanook's attention. Nanook comfortably snuggled up in the corner next to the two. "Ah hah!
Ross spied a bag of peanut butter treats inside the crate. He then reached in, handing it to RJ. "I think you should do the honor, Nanooks' first peanut butter treat onboard the USS Leto. This is... Paramount!" Gavin winked, as he watched RJ look at the bag of treats.

Just then Nanook lifted his heavy, tongue-hanging husky head from his furry slumber. The instant smell promoted him as he set himself upward, a swish of his tail and a thwap as it hit the side of the newly opened crate of RJ's treats.

"You want one?" RJ said, holding up a delicious treat, but she could only tease him for just a moment before she gave in and let him have the biscuit. As soon as he had devoured it, RJ put her arms around the fluffy creature in the biggest hug. "I missed you, Nan." She let go and then motioned around the room. "Well, these are the new digs. I guess you ought to run around and find all of the good spots to snuggle into," she chuckled.

The emptying of the final box was interrupted when RJ's stomach growled. "What do you say to some dinner before we put everything in its final spot?" She looked at Gavin. Her blue eyes were somehow simultaneously filled with hope and sorrow, signs that she was still recovering from what had happened on her last mission.

“What do you feel like for dinner?” Gavin pondered. He pulled up a restaurant agenda on the holodeck. “No reason for us to stay in our quarters.” He wanted RJ to get out, perhaps off the floor, and experience one of their first memories, together on the LETO.

“I know of a little Italian Place, it’s back on Earth. Well, it’s not Italian. But it has great food, and they serve the best Italian as well. It’s called the Cheesecake Factory.” He raised his brow up and down playfully, eliciting hopefully a smile from RJ. Ross excitedly proclaimed. “We can have our dinner and eat our Cheesecake too!”

“Have a look at some ideas I’ve wanted to try. There is a great place in Rome, a small place. The best fresh marinara sauce and freshly made pasta…. So good.” The science officer had food on his mind after having moved in and reports and reports since then.

“Besides, we can chat about your new assignment on the engineering team, you’re already posted to an away team…” He paused when he said that, not realizing what that had meant. “Sorry.”

"Gav, don't be sorry," RJ got up from the floor and squeezed him into a hug. "I'm excited about the away mission. Apprehensive too many, but mostly excited. I'm ready to get my feet back on the ground. Let me see those restaurants you have picked out," she smiled. Although she wasn't entirely sure if what she had said was true, the last thing she wanted was for Gavin to feel bad. He deserved better, so RJ would do whatever she could to make it seem like everything was ok.

"If we can snag time on the holodeck then I'd say we try this place," she pointed to a brochure for a small seaside Italian eatery. "Looks like they have great pasta and seafood. You can't go wrong with those. If the holodeck is booked though I would be fine with just going to the mess hall. It would be good to acquaint ourselves with the ship anyway, right?"

"Your right. Let's forget the photons and go with the flesh. I haven't had a chance to meet others except for the Doctor yet and Captain. My day has been slow!" He almost sounded bored. "I should get used of that astrometric department and sciences labs. I think they even have samples of Dread-X Type II pathogens to study.... Fascinating!"

"You're such a nerd," she laughed, "but that's just one of the things I love about you." RJ stood up and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "The mess hall it is then. Don't worry," she looked over at their fluffy husky, "I promise we'll bring a treat back for you too."

Nan flushed his tail back and forth in a knowing smile at RJ. He knew she would always greet him with some treat. Nanook had gruffed and held up a ‘good boy’ paw at RJ.

“You’ve turned him into a butter monster!” Ross feigned, placing his hands on his face and shaking it.

“M’Lady. Let me take you to a small place. Quiet. It’s around the corner up a few decks and such service. We will feel like kings and queens. The mess hall it is!” He chuckled. And he couldn’t help but blush when RJ kissed him. He always did.

LTJG Reagan Quinn
Engineer
USS Leto

&

Lt. Gavin Ross
Chief of Science
USS Leto