06-21-2024, 12:55 AM
Mara’s face was a mask but inside she was more than a little surprised. She had never expected Sydesh to back down. No part of what she’d heard about the firebrand doctor included making the sensible decision to step back when she was wrong, but she had.
Is this a stunt? ‘Cause if it is…
The Bandaran’s threatening aura was compromised by the fact that she was still eating as Beka spoke and then Aeryn interjected on her girlfriend’s behalf.
"You're two of the people that I care the most about, and I'd love for you both to get on and be comfortable around one another,” the Artemis’ newest scientist finished.
With the bowl now empty, the Security chief sighed and lowered it to her waist. Dark eyes pinned Sydesh to the spot.
“You can’t blame me for thinkin’ the worst,” Calleja said, her voice still low. “I saved your damn life. Yours and your family. And what did I get for it? Nothin’ but shit. I know you got hurt, but we both know why that was. All you had to do was what you were told, and even with all our lives at stake, you couldn’t even do that. Everyone tells me how good a doctor you are and how much you care. You better be an absolute machine with that scalpel, ‘cause from everythin’ else I see you’re a fuckin’ liability.”
Mara sighed again, her wide shoulders rising and falling.
“I didn’t mean to get personal,” she said. “It’s just been a really sore point for a while. Just a thank you would have done it. But hey, whatever. Aeryn’s vouchin’ for you, so if you really are sorry, then I’ll draw the line, call the truce and we can start again.”
The glare softened as she waited to see if the olive branch would be accepted.
== LtJG Beka Sydesh ==
Beka reached out to squeeze Aeryn’s hand as the CSO came to her defence. When Mara’s glare hit, the redhead flinched, and she looked away as the Security chief tore into her.
I wish I had a defence. I don’t.
Her stinging rebuke delivered, Calleja seemed to ease off.
“I didn’t mean to get personal,” the towering figure said. “It’s just been a really sore point for a while. Just a thank you would have done it. But hey, whatever. Aeryn’s vouchin’ for you, so if you really are sorry, then I’ll draw the line, call the truce and we can start again.”
The doctor looked back and managed to meet Mara’s gaze.
“I am sorry,” she said. “What you did for me, Daan, Ravenna and little Beka… I still haven’t quite come to terms with that yet.” Raw emotions were hanging from Sydesh’s voice. “I thought I was done for. I really did. I couldn’t see a way out. And you came barrelling into the middle of it and brought the cavalry. Thanks to you I have a family again and a life to enjoy with them. I just… Yeah. That a stranger would do that for me, it’s hard to get my head around. But I’ll try. And I’ll start with the thank you I should have given you months ago.”
Beka’s hand slipped from Aeryn’s, and she reached out towards Mara in an attempted embrace, hoping like anything that the Security officer would take it the right way.
== Lt Mara Calleja ==
As Beka spoke, Mara found herself believing every word the redhead said.
If she’s tryin’ to play me then she’s a way better actor than I gave her credit for. But I don’t think she is. This feels pretty genuine.
For a moment Calleja considered batting away the hug but she surprised herself and let it happen. It was awkward as she was still holding a noodle bowl in one hand, but as Sydesh wrapped her arms around the Bandaran, the COS curled her free arm around the smaller woman.
“You’re forgiven,” Mara said, squeezing gently before letting go and taking a half step back to subtly break it off. “But we ain’t strangers. You’re on my crew. That gets you my protection. Just don’t abuse it, OK?”
The doctor murmured something that sounded affirmative, but Mara couldn’t make it out.
“Then it’s done. We start again,” Calleja said. She looked over to Aeryn. “How’s that?” she asked with a wry smile. “Comfortable might take a little longer but it’s a start.”
== Back to you! ==
Is this a stunt? ‘Cause if it is…
The Bandaran’s threatening aura was compromised by the fact that she was still eating as Beka spoke and then Aeryn interjected on her girlfriend’s behalf.
"You're two of the people that I care the most about, and I'd love for you both to get on and be comfortable around one another,” the Artemis’ newest scientist finished.
With the bowl now empty, the Security chief sighed and lowered it to her waist. Dark eyes pinned Sydesh to the spot.
“You can’t blame me for thinkin’ the worst,” Calleja said, her voice still low. “I saved your damn life. Yours and your family. And what did I get for it? Nothin’ but shit. I know you got hurt, but we both know why that was. All you had to do was what you were told, and even with all our lives at stake, you couldn’t even do that. Everyone tells me how good a doctor you are and how much you care. You better be an absolute machine with that scalpel, ‘cause from everythin’ else I see you’re a fuckin’ liability.”
Mara sighed again, her wide shoulders rising and falling.
“I didn’t mean to get personal,” she said. “It’s just been a really sore point for a while. Just a thank you would have done it. But hey, whatever. Aeryn’s vouchin’ for you, so if you really are sorry, then I’ll draw the line, call the truce and we can start again.”
The glare softened as she waited to see if the olive branch would be accepted.
== LtJG Beka Sydesh ==
Beka reached out to squeeze Aeryn’s hand as the CSO came to her defence. When Mara’s glare hit, the redhead flinched, and she looked away as the Security chief tore into her.
I wish I had a defence. I don’t.
Her stinging rebuke delivered, Calleja seemed to ease off.
“I didn’t mean to get personal,” the towering figure said. “It’s just been a really sore point for a while. Just a thank you would have done it. But hey, whatever. Aeryn’s vouchin’ for you, so if you really are sorry, then I’ll draw the line, call the truce and we can start again.”
The doctor looked back and managed to meet Mara’s gaze.
“I am sorry,” she said. “What you did for me, Daan, Ravenna and little Beka… I still haven’t quite come to terms with that yet.” Raw emotions were hanging from Sydesh’s voice. “I thought I was done for. I really did. I couldn’t see a way out. And you came barrelling into the middle of it and brought the cavalry. Thanks to you I have a family again and a life to enjoy with them. I just… Yeah. That a stranger would do that for me, it’s hard to get my head around. But I’ll try. And I’ll start with the thank you I should have given you months ago.”
Beka’s hand slipped from Aeryn’s, and she reached out towards Mara in an attempted embrace, hoping like anything that the Security officer would take it the right way.
== Lt Mara Calleja ==
As Beka spoke, Mara found herself believing every word the redhead said.
If she’s tryin’ to play me then she’s a way better actor than I gave her credit for. But I don’t think she is. This feels pretty genuine.
For a moment Calleja considered batting away the hug but she surprised herself and let it happen. It was awkward as she was still holding a noodle bowl in one hand, but as Sydesh wrapped her arms around the Bandaran, the COS curled her free arm around the smaller woman.
“You’re forgiven,” Mara said, squeezing gently before letting go and taking a half step back to subtly break it off. “But we ain’t strangers. You’re on my crew. That gets you my protection. Just don’t abuse it, OK?”
The doctor murmured something that sounded affirmative, but Mara couldn’t make it out.
“Then it’s done. We start again,” Calleja said. She looked over to Aeryn. “How’s that?” she asked with a wry smile. “Comfortable might take a little longer but it’s a start.”
== Back to you! ==