The One That Got Away

Posted on Fri Dec 3rd, 2021 @ 5:04am by Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom (*) & Commander Maxun Spello

Mission: Cosmos
Location: USS Cosmos
Timeline: 2397
1359 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Halla hated feeling weak or out of it like she did at the moment. The doctors were keeping her there for checks as she had lost her eye sight then got thrown by the force from the cube so she was a bit bruised and battered. She hated that as she looked in the mirror of the ward she was currently in that she looked so pale snd washed out, her spots were stark and solid against her skin. “Just a minute.” She called as she heard someone enter the main area of her cubicle and stepped out of the bathroom still wearing the hospital clothes as she had no clothes that were not covered in dirt. “Um. Hi?” She questioned surprised to see Maxun stood there.

Maxun had argued with himself for a while as to whether he should go see Halla, see how she was doing. Thaey weren't together any longer. She was in a happy relationship with another man, for goodness sake! However, he soon found himself standing by the cubical that the medical staff had put her to rest, following the away mission. "Hi," he said softly. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Halla was surprised by him being there but nodded as she pulled on the robe she had to wear over the sickbay gown clothing she was wearing. “I am okay I think. I am able to see and I think I am not more beat up than anyone else. You?” She wondered indicating he could come in and sit down if he wanted to.

He gave her a soft smile and slight tip of his head as he stepped inside and sat down. "Docs say I recieved a slight concussion and cracked two ribs, but, I'll live." He sat on the front edge of the chair, to keep his back as straight as possible, to help his sore ribs.

“All fixable though.” She decided despite that he still looked like he was in pain. “Not fixed yet?” She wondered leaning against the bio bed.

"Mostly fixed," he corrected. "While the ribs aren't cracked any more, they are still sore. I'll be fine in a couple days. Just need to meditate some and soak for a bit."

“Bath and ice. You’ll have those fancy quarters now got to have a bath in it.” Halla zoned off for a moment thinking on a long soak in the bath after the last day or so. “Should fort you out.” She prompted trying to not think on her own aches and pains.

Hearing her desire for the use of an actual tub, Maxun offered, "If you'd like...or want to, I mean..." he blushed slightly as he spoke. "You could use my tub, enjoy a long soaking." He raised his hands to stop her from reacting. "Don't worry! I'm..I'm not trying anything fresh here. I'll stay out in the living room while you are in there, alone. You have my word as a gentleman."

“Kind of you but I am not getting out of sickbay any time soon.” she said with wishing she could be as she knew she would recover much better in her own bed or at least not in sickbay with people wandering around at all hours. How anyone got better was beyond her with how just sickbay was.

A look of concern softened his features. "Why..? What happened that you're stuck here?"

“When the flash happened the first time I hurt my eyes and was flung. This time just flung. I am a bit beaten.” She admitted with a shrug. It was why the lighting was so low.

Maxun was silent for a few beats, then said, "I am so sorry, Halla." He was quiet again, then said, "I..um...I know you are seeing someone, and I'm told you are happy again. That being said, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"I am happy. It is not perfect but neither has any other relationship." Halla offered. "I will be fine. Just need a bit of time. Some things even with our current medicine things cannot be rushed." She explained not feeling great about it but what could she do?

Maxun nodded silently, again feeling a pang in his heart over messing things up so completely with this wonderful woman. He kept this off of his face, however. "Well, the offer stands. Anytime. Anywhere. You need anything, please call me."

The woman nodded. She would take him up on the offer as they would be serving with each other for the foreseeable future so things needed to be less full of tension. "Thank you. That is very kind." The woman assured with a smile. "What is going on with the investigation with the cube?" She wondered seeing no one had told her anything about it yet.

Shrugging, Maxun shook his head slightly. "Not much. There's nothing like it in the database. But..." he paused, unsure of his memories. "It does seem familiar. I think i read about something like it once, back in my Academy days, on El Auria."

“That would be a long time ago? Have you mentioned it to the commodore?” She demanded. If it was something that connected to El-Aurian culture it would be hard to track down.

Shaking his head, Maxun replied. "No, not yet. I need to check a few things before I have enough information to give her."

"I am sure she would appreciate anything you could give her right now. She grilled me over the littlest things to help the commander and myself." She did not want to add that Agrax had been even worse.

Maxun considered what Halla told him. Finally, he nodded. "Okay. I'll go see her and tell her what little I know. Hopefully, it'll help."

Halla was in no doubt that anything at the moment could help when they had so little to work with. Science and Intelligence investigations were not that different. Yoy worked with what you had no matter how small or big. "For the best. Any shred of intelligence helps." She teased slightly.

Arching an eyebrow, Maxun smirked playfully. "You know, it's a good thing that you are in a committed relationship with another man. If we were still together, I'd be forced to punish you for a comment like that."

Halla froze in her smile and shook her head. “For what?” She asked softly.

He gave her a rye grin. "For teasing that I only have a shred of intelligence." He winked playfully at her as he finished speaking.

"Well, you have not always used the brain you were born with a very long time ago well Maxun." She said bluntly with a small smile. She was very much in a committed relationship with Levi even if he was a bit hard to read sometimes, it never left her in doubt of his feelings.

Maxun turned quiet. "Yeah, you're right." He shook his head slowly. "So much time undercover, on different assignments, I'm suprised I didn't screw us up sooner." He raised his hand to stop her. "Don't worry. I respect you too much to try and get you back. I don't deserve you. Not after how things were left between us. Even if I left because of orders, I should have done more to tell you about that part of myself. I do hope that you believe me when I say that all of the personal, non-work things I shared with you...they were one hundred percent true." He shook his head again, disgusted with himself.

Standing, he said, "Levi is a very lucky man. And an honorable one. I can tell that he has never given you any reason to doubt him or how he feels. I wish nothing but the best for the both of you. Now, get better, so you can get outta here. I'll collect what information I can, about the object, and go straight to the Commodore with it. You have my word." With that said, he turned and waljed out, a man totally alone in a world of his own making.