Back from the Dead
Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 11:29pm by Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick & Eva Griffin
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:12pm
Mission:
Divided We Fall
Location: Crew Quarters
Timeline: After AU Timeline
A Mission Post by Lieutenant Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick & Aoife Brennan
Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Crew Quarters
Timeline: After AU Timeline
Wed Sep 26th, 2018 @ 11:51pm
After his revival, Cailus had had many things on his priority list. Number 1, hugging Aoife again, was accomplished in short order, and while the little one still missed her mother terribly, she and her Papa were at least back together. The second item on Cailus’ priority list, ensuring Shae’s safety, was an ongoing issue as she lingered in the Bubble, her fate still unknown. The third item, however, was something that Cailus attended to as soon as he finished his first shift back on duty. Thus, early that evening after collecting Aoife from her speech lesson with Nurse Davies, Cailus strode down the corridor with his soon-to-be daughter perched in her usual position in his arm.
“We’ll be going home soon, Aoife,” he said to her as they walked, passing by their own quarters. “We’re just going to see Fick first. Do you remember Fick?”
“Fick!” Aoife said cheerfully, pointing to the little embroidered fish on her dress, the same fish she had watched her mother sew, same as she had watched Shae sew something for Fick.
Cailus chuckled quietly. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said with amusement. It would’ve perhaps been easier to go see Fick alone, but since his awakening, he’d been spending every spare moment with Aoife. In any case, it would be good for her to meet more people, and to Cailus’ eyes, despite everything, Fick was still little more than a child with his adorable innocence and purity of spirit. It felt strangely appropriate to bring Aoife along.
Soon enough they reached the quarters that were the home of Fick and K’Laus. Knowing that K’Laus was on duty, Cailus tapped the chime.
“Hey! Yeah!” Fick called from inside and then still came to the door and opened it for them. “Heya, Chief… heya kiddo.” Fick sort of stood in the doorway looking awkward and then stepped back out of the way so they could come in the room. “So… uh… what’s up?”
Without an ounce of hesitation, even with the awkwardness of Aoife, Cailus stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Fick, hugging the smaller man tightly. “I’m sorry, Fick,” he said quietly. “I’ve been waiting to say that for eighteen years. I should’ve seen the signs, and I’m sorry.”
Fick was caught off guard by the unexpected hug. For a moment he stiffened, not sure what to do with the normally stoic security chief hugging him. Then he hugged Cailus back. It was Cailus after all. “Uh yeah… I don’t know why you’re sorry. I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have ever had to deal with that. I wish I had known. I guess I’m just glad it didn’t stick.”
“As am I, my friend,” Cailus replied sincerely as he released Fick.
“I haven’t really told anyone…” Fick said.
“Fick sad!” Aoife said, proudly showing off her new verbal skills. Then to cheer him up, she reached out to give Fick a friendly little pat on the shoulder.
Fick chuckled. “Yeah, you’re right, kiddo. Fick was sad, but Fick was also in a situation that was sad.” He cocked his head to one side, looking at Aoife, his brows furrowed. “Hey, you didn’t used to talk… just… peeping…” he looked at Cailus for an explanation, even though one wasn’t really necessary. Children do actually learn to talk.
“She learned a lot while we were gone,” Cailus said with quiet pride, smiling at Aoife. His smile sobered quickly, however, as he looked back at Fick. “Fick, we all went through some hard times in that Bubble, but you went through more than most. I know that you have the Klingon...K’Laus, but I hope that you have other places to turn to. Myself included. Shae may still be gone, but I am here if you require help, or merely friendship.”
Fick shifted his stance from side to side awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head, with a little, sort of hopeful grin. “I don’t think I’ll be feeling that way out here… but thanks. I mean part of the problem was that there wasn’t any potential there. I felt like things would never change. I guess I just couldn’t deal with spending the rest of my life with only the people trapped in there with me.” He shrugged. “No offense… I’m really sorry I did that to you.”
“Stop apologising,” Cailus said sternly. “Consider that an order if it helps. Your situation was in no way, shape or form your responsibility. You hold no blame for what happened and were subject to circumstances outside your control. Am I clear?”
“Well, yeah… but now you’ve said two things that I have an issue with… and since we are still adjusting to being back I feel like I can still say what I want to you.” Fick chuckled. “So… first off. We ALL had it hard. Not just me and I don’t really feel like I had it any harder than anyone else. It wasn’t a contest. I simply could not deal and that’s my failing. And secondly, no one was to blame for what happened. No one. Am I clear?” He grinned at Cailus’ stoicness.
Cailus’ eyebrow shot up in surprise, even as the corners of his mouth struggled not to twitch into a smile. “Very well. And if you persist with an attitude like that, Lieutenant, I have much more faith in your capacity to rise to command in the future.”
Fick stood at attention and saluted him. “Yes, Sir.” With a big grin on his face, then he relaxed again and chuckled. “Look, I know I screwed up, but does everyone have to know? I just… please don’t make me talk to that counselor.”
At that, Cailus paused, assessing the man solemnly for a moment. “I have no intention of telling anyone, but given how many people were trapped in there, the secret will come out eventually. Such things are inevitable. You do, however, have the ability to control when and how that information comes to light, should you choose it. Captain Temple doesn’t know the full events that transpired after his murder, for instance. As for the counselor...Fick, you know as well as I do that meeting the counselor is both necessary and helpful. I already have an appointment, and when she wakes up, I shall be encouraging Shae to do the same.”
Fick nodded. “Yeah, I know. I just… I want to tell K’Laus myself. Mostly, I just feel stupid for giving up.”
Cailus grunted in irritation. Feeling Aoife start to get a bit angsty at staying still for so long, he shifted her to his other arm as he paced to the expansive viewport. Fick and K’Laus’ quarters were quite lovely, he realised. Both men’s effects were spread about equally, intermingled with each other, the product of several different cultures coexisting easily, suggesting two lovers who were entirely comfortable with one another. It wasn’t what Cailus had expected given what he’d seen of the Klingon in the past, but evidentally Fick saw something else in the man.
“I could repeat myself until I’m blue in the face,” Cailus said contemplatively as he glanced back at Fick while offering Aoife a view of the stars out the window, “but I suspect that only your Klingon will truly get the message across. I know little of him, but he does appear blunt in such matters.”
Fick nodded. “Uh yeah. I’m sort of afraid to tell him and sort of not… I’m worried that he’s going to think I’m a coward. I don’t know why I’m worried. I’m not a Klingon, so he’s just going to have to get over it. Right now I’m just glad to see him. I know you guys don’t really see eye to eye on some stuff… but… I mean… he’s kinda just like you.”
That prompted a sardonic, skeptical look from Cailus. “Really, Fick? Really?”
Fick laughed hard for several moments, even going so far as to bend over and hold his middle while he laughed. “Yes, really,” he said, once he’d gotten a handle on himself again. “Perhaps… the reason you don’t get along is because of that.”
Aoife didn’t know what was so funny, but Fick’s laughter made her laugh as well, and she even clapped in amusement.
Outnumbered, Cailus huffed in disgruntlement as he glanced down at Aoife. “Laugh it up, girl,” he grumbled. “Fick gets to stay here, but you still have to come home with me tonight.”
Aoife giggled, then reached up to pull Cailus’ features into a scowl, then she clapped with glee.
Fick clapped with her, laughing. “Yay!” he encouraged Aoife. “It’s gonna be okay, Chief… I won’t tell anyone.”
“Quite right you won’t,” Cailus said with a threatening glare that was completely undermined by the giggling toddler in his arms. Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Cailus walked back to the door. “Okay little one, since you’re so full of laughs, let’s get you home before you ruin my professional reputation even further.” Pausing near the door where Fick stood, Cailus caught Fick’s eyes with his own, sharing an intense look. “Remember what I’ve said, Fick. You have friends and loved ones here. Moreover, please do not tell K’Laus that he and I are alike. That man will surely dislike the concept just as much as I do.”
“Oh I’m sure he would too, but you guys are like overgrown kids about that stuff between you. Anyway, I know I do… here. Where people are the people they are and the sheer number of people I could meet in the rest of my lifetime is relatively endless. Really Chief… I’m okay.” Fick’s gaze was serious. Cailus had seen that look on his face often in the bubble. He really did mean what he was saying.
Pausing at the door, Cailus took a long moment to assess Fick, utterly silent as he examined the man's features. "Yes, you are, Lieutenant," he said finally, nodding. "Yes you are."
END
