When The Dieties Decide

Posted on Tue May 7th, 2019 @ 4:55pm by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Chief Petty Officer Nathan Kline

Mission: Cosmos
Location: USS Cosmos
Timeline: MD01 11:00
1927 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

The time with Nathan’s family had gone by too quickly before he had been whisked away on a temporary assignment. He hated to admit it but he actually like Sarah’s boyfriend. He was a smart man who obviously loved his sister. Despite his big brother reservations he had to admit that was all he really wanted for her. He was back in his temporary quarters, more specifically he was packing. When doing something as mundane as packing his mind often drifted but it always went to come place. The Betazoid who held his head. The thought of Lexie brought a curl to his lip.

This was not the ship she wanted to be on at all but the four months since she has left Cassiopeia has left her with not many options. The debrief and extended stay at medical to check she was mentally as well as physically fit left her with one Captain requesting her. Ledeya Esestri, She has never served with her but the woman wanted her as security chief.

It had been four months since he had seen her and while he had tried to keep her off his mind he couldn’t. He hadn’t managed to do that for the years prior to reuniting with her. He was a love sick puppy and it bordered on pathetic. “She is back with Liam, you dope” He repeated many time over the last few months. Before he knew it his bag was packed and he was ready to go. Throwing it over his shoulder he headed for the door.

As the woman who had been nervously waiting on the gangway for all new arrivals to check identities trying to will herself to not run off at the sight of him coming towards her. She stopped dead as he noticed her and felt self-conscious for a moment, she looked different she knew that slimmer if possible and her normally dark hair was bright shocking blue. “Don’t ask about the hair.” Was all she could muster to say. It was left over from an undercover security operation that she had just left that day and hadn’t had time to get rid of it yet.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Commander.” Nathan replied with a smile. He had had months to deal with not seeing her again. She hadn’t returned any of his attempts to contact her and he had finally stopped. If she needed time or space or even to be free of him, then that was what he was going to give her. He handed her his boarding orders and acted as if nothing was amiss.

“It is good to see you Chief.” The woman said taking the PaDD on autopilot. She didn’t really need to see it as she knew who he was and what he was doing there. The Security crewman who had been stuck with onboarding duty that day glance between the pair.

“I thought you had just come from Starfleet Security Sir. Weren’t you part of that…”

Alexis looked at the Crewman who promptly fell silent. “Me and the Chief go way back. He wasn’t involved in my last duties,” The woman said.

Nathan turned to the man who was standing there and gave him a grin. “Nope, sure wasn’t.” He said as he took back the padd. “The Commander here is too good for the likes of us enlisted folk.” He turned back to her. His anger towards her was a bit of a surprise but he went with it. “Likes to keep us in the dark.” He looked back at the Crewman. “Don’t take it personally, I never do.”

Alexis was stunned by the anger a second before it came out of his mouth. “I… excuse me.” Alexis shoved the mans information to the crewman as she disappeared down the corridor.

“Wow you mustn’t like her Chief.” The crewman said with a small wince. He had seen the woman pretty much make someone cry with a look in the last week but nothing like that.

Nathan watched her leave feeling a bit righteous. It wasn’t until the Crewman’s voice rang out that he realized what he had truly said. Looking at the other man he shook his head before hanging it in shame before he sprinted after her. “Commander, wait.” He started and wasn’t surprised when she didn’t stop or even acknowledge. “Lexie.” He said as he hooked her arm to stop her. “I’m sorry.” His tone wasn’t completely sincere.

The woman felt herself tugged to a stop and turned away tugging her arm free. “Don’t Lexie me. I’m Betazoid I can feel how much contempt you feel for me and I am glad you finally see how unhealthy I am for you.” The woman said wiping the tears that had escaped her steel grip on her emotions.

“See, that isn’t fair.” Nathan replied as he stepped in her way giving her little option. “You don’t get to judge me on how I feel when I don’t judge you for never knowing.” He let out a sigh. “I just spent the last four months trying to accept the fact that you don’t want me, and that you are happy with someone else and when I saw you” He paused. “I am sorry, Lexie.” He meant it that time.

“You think me and Liam?” The woman let out a hysterical laugh for a moment before soberly. “I haven’t seen him since I dumped his ass in the brig but I hear that he is on this ship. He has gotten his commission back…. it doesn’t matter. That’s not your concern. I’ve been undercover for three months when I got out of Starfleet Medical.” It wasn’t often she was asked to do something undercover as intelligence and Security were separate.

“Oh,” Nathan said solemnly as the confession poured out of her. How was he supposed to know? She had simply vanished out of his life. He hadn’t tried that hard to track her down but that had been out of respect for her, not out of a lack of desire to know. Looking over her face the vibrant cerulean locks strangely fit her and he couldn’t help but smile as he reached out and wrapped a lock around his finger. “I didn’t know.” He replied letting the lock drop. “I just assumed.” He looked at her sadly. “Told you I wasn’t good enough.” He had failed her by doubting her when he promised he wouldn’t.

“No.You’re very wrong. You’ve always been good enough.It is me that has never been good enough.” Alexis poked his chest to get her point across as he let the lock of hair go. It was far too vibrant but his own thoughts reflected her own in regards to it suiting her. She might keep it for a little big longer.

Nathan let out a sigh. “Is that what this is all about?” He asked incredulously. He let out an exasperated sigh.They were both acting like morons and it needed to end now. “Damnit woman you listen to me.” He dropped his bag to the ground and closed the distance between them nearly pressing her against the bulkhead. “I may have been stupid enough to believe that you were with Liam the last four months but if you think that I am going to let your broken view of yourself convince you that I am better off without you, you are wrong.”

Reaching his hand out and gently cupped her face. “I am sorry for my anger and for letting my emotional human ways get the better of me.” He was truly sorry he had hurt her. “But, you are the most stubborn, pig headed, infuriatingly gorgeous women with the biggest heart I have ever met and I love you dammit.” By the time he had stopped speaking they were mere breaths away from each other and he simply watched her reaction.

Alexis didn’t know how to react as the man moved closer and closer by the second stopping inches from her. “Why did I not pick you all those years ago?” The woman wondered softly. She had been thinking about it often recently, it had been playing on her mind so much.

“Because the deities wanted you in a place where you could learn to be loved.” He whispered back. “Really loved for all your cracks and imperfections.” He added before finally giving in and kissing her.

Alexis relinquished his grip on her, drawing away from the sweet kiss, although not in any real hurry despite knowing that anyone could wander into them. “And you couldn’t do that?” She loved Liam with all her heart but the man had spent four months not replying to her letter despite her trying desperately to at least communicate with him as she could despite the undercover investiation. He was still her still next of kin and he would know that she couldn’t reply to anything that he sent but she still tried.

“Lexie, I have loved you since the first day I met you.” He started as he moved towards her slightly. “But you were so in love with Liam and I would rather my heart break a thousand times over than cause you the pain you felt when he was gone.” He reached out and touched her face again. “I was never going to push you in any way that would have hurt you. I am just me, and not worth it. So when I thought you had your Liam back…” He left the implication hanging between them.

“He isn’t back. He ignored my attempts to contact him when I was undercover.” The woman shrugged slightly. “He was the only person I could contact and he didn’t want to know.” She added looking away. She didn’t even really know how he was other than he was getting better.

“Lexie,” Nathan started with such concern in his voice. “I can imagine what that was like.” He didn’t mean it in a mocking way, despite that fact that he could have. He knew exactly how she felt. He had tried for the better part of three months and had assumed she didn’t want him any more. “I am so sorry, babe.” He pulled her into a hug.

Alexis froze in the hug really wishing they were somewhere more quiet than a corridor. “Look I am gonna have to go back to the gangway. Can we talk tonight?” She wondered softly as she pulled back just in time to see the Executive Officer come down the corridor.

Nathan nodded, “Sure.” he replied. “I am sure you know where to find me.” He finished as he gripped the bag and put it back on his shoulder. “Have a good day, Sir.” He replied with a knowing grin as he finally remembered where they were.

“Chief.” The woman said simply with a nod as she turned back around and strode back the way she had come down in a moment of anger. It would take time and it would be awkward as hell but this situation would sort itself out eventually.

OFF::

Commander Alexis Agrax
Chief Of Security
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Gregnol)

Chief Petty Officer Nathan Kline
Sensor Specialist
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Belikov)