Babysitting

Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2026 @ 12:48pm by Ka'see 'Cassie' McAvoy (*)

Mission: Veils
880 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Cassie was not sure what she had done to deserve the baby sleeping on her chest but there she was. Jeassaho had left the baby with her as she needed to help an engineering issue and Leiddem and Jaxx were both busy. She was the only slightly telepathic crew member available as she was still healing up from the shoulder.

“So your name is Caliea huh?” Cassie said looking down at the sleeping baby and shook her head. She had once upon a time gave up her Starfleet commission to have a child but it had ended in her nearly dying and going back to Starfleet. She had no idea what she was meant to do with her but sit there watching movies it was nice and relaxing even if it was peculiar to have a baby wrap themselves around her psyche so much. “It is a pretty name but aren’t you a powerful little thing.” She said as the door opened.

"Hey Cas. Just passing through, was on my way to-" Jake physically stopped mid-stride. His eyes turned first, then his head. Silence held in the air for a few seconds as he processed the sight of his girlfriend laying out on the couch with a small child asleep on her chest. His finger extended, indicating and also trying to ascertain if he was hallucinating. "That...that's a..." he managed.

Cassie raised an eyebrow as she took in the man’s confusion. "She is a baby. She is the baby whose mother died in sickbay. They needed a telepathic crew memeber to look after her, and I cannot do much so we are watching…” she indicated the screen and the earth movie she had found in the ships computer to watch to stem her growing boredom.

"Huh." Jake remained still. The conversation from a short while ago about family suddenly came to mind, but he didn't say anything. "I guess there aren't many of those on board. Telepaths, I mean. And...babies."

"Nope, just this one plus a handful of Romulans, betazoids and me." Cassie saw his reaction and slowly moved so she was sitting up instead of where she had been happily lying with Caliea. She winced as her shoulder and side protested but patted the couch. "She is quite telepathic. Can feel it constantly on the edge of my brain."

"Is that...safe?" he asked cautiously. "With a child, I mean? Surely there's risks or dangers when it comes to telepathic children of that age? Underdeveloped minds and emotions?" He slowly took a seat. "I guess they train you for that though..."

“It is safe. She is not a bomb about to go off.” Cassie said fondly looking at the man looking almost scared. “Would you like me to take myself and the bomb from your quarters?” She asked trying to not to laugh in amusement. It was happening more and more as she became more accustomed to emotions and not being afraid to show off her human side.

"No, no..." he waved a hand. That sounded even more ridiculous the more he thought about it. "You...well, you look nice. Like that. Peaceful and stuff."

“I am peaceful because we are both chilling as you humans put it. She’s resting from birth trauma and I am resting from being shot with an arrow.” She pointed out and slowly shifted the baby a little in her arms so she was not snuggled quite so much against her.

"Hm. I suppose if you were running around I would be telling you to slow down..." He admitted. "So, how long is this for then? Because if you're thinking of adoption then..."

“Then what Jake?” She wondered quietly as she slowly looked from the baby up at him trying to work out what was going on in his head. He was normally this hard to read but there she was struggling. “What is going on?”

"Nooooo...not having this conversation," he waved his hands quickly to ward off any suggestion of it. "We already talked about that. Let's not go there again." As much as the baby dozing away on her front was cute and peaceful right now, he knew there was a lot more that was involved in something like that, and as much as he hadn't dismissed the concept, the timing was definitely not right for it. "It's just babysitting."

Cassie’s flickered through several emotions before she slowly stood. “I am not starting anything.” She breathed. “I’m going to take us to my quarters.” Cassie said quietly not at all sure what was going on with Jake.

"Wait, no, that's not-" He winced, touching her arm. "Let's start again. Hi, I'm Jake, and I'm an idiot with his foot in his mouth." His lips curled affably, trying to re-set. "It was just unexpected. That's all."

The woman looked down at the hand on her arm before she looked up at him. “Hi Jake. I am Ka’see McAvoy who is very confused right now.” The woman said quietly trying to understand what was going on with him. She thought they had been through everything after the time jumps around children yet here they were causing confusion around babysitting an orphan who needed her.

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