Is It Really Over? Part 1

Posted on 14 Apr 2016 @ 5:23am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin & Ensign Aidan Crehan

3,892 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: New Risa
Timeline: MD 6

The sunlight came streaming through the window once again. It caught Aidan in the face and started waking him up. He stretched his legs out and his arms toward the ceiling. Once he was finished, he rubbed his face with his hands and rolled over, laying an arm across Mila. He instantly opened his eyes and saw her on the bed. That meant that he had fallen asleep in the bed next to Mila when he came back to check on her the last time and lay down next to her. Aidan checked. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday.

Mila awoke when she felt movement next to her and started to chastise Chow for waking her so early. When she looked over and saw Aidan waking up next to her, she blinked and peeked under the blankets. It was a sigh of both relief and amazement that her clothes were still on, then she frowned at how little sleep she felt she had gotten despite having gone to bed early. "Good morning," she said, her voice a little raspy from the sore throat which hadn't gone away.

Aidan removed his arm from across Mila. “Good morning,” he replied. “Your voice does not sound that much better after sleeping. Is there anything I can do for you?” He had hoped she would feel better. He wanted her to feel better. He began rubbing her arm for comfort, both for Mila and for himself.

She sighed and smiled. "I will be fine once I get back to the ship and visit sickbay," she assured him. "Thank you for spending the night with me, Sir Knight. I have been blessed with a wonderful protector in you as well as Chow." At the mention of his name, Chow looked up and gave a soft hoot. "I think some tea would be in order this morning if it is not too much trouble."

Aidan smiled and pushed himself up on his elbows. “It was my pleasure, Printsessa. And always will be, for that matter.” He finished pushing himself up to a sitting position and picked up her hand. He kissed the back of it. “What kind of tea would you like this morning…beautiful?”

Mila sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Something with a lot of caffeine in it," she said and smiled when he kissed the back of her hand. She felt her stomach flutter and raised her other hand to lift his chin up a bit so she could give him a kiss. "Thank you, Aidan. Could you also get a bowl of grapes and yogurt for Chow while I freshen up?"

Aidan’s heart seemed to skip a beat as she kissed him. He hoped he would never get over that. “Of course, tea with lots of caffeine and a bowl of grapes and yogurt for Chow,” he said. He slid off the bed and went into the kitchenette while Mila freshened up.

She got out of bed and headed into the bathroom and frowned when she saw the slightly haggard look on her face. She splashed water on her face and took care of her morning routine before she changed into a robe and headed to the kitchenette. "I think that I must learn to have more fun. I did not know it was so exhausting."

Aidan chuckled a bit as he put the bowl of grapes and yogurt down for Chow. “I can help with that if you would like, learning to have more fun.” He brought two cups of tea over to the table, one for Mila and one for him. “I remember you saying that you liked Russian tea. I hope this is one has enough caffeine for you. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go change into something that I did not wear yesterday.”

"Certainly, Sir Knight," Mila said as she took the tea and took a grateful sip as she sat down at the table. "I will be here awaiting your return with anticipation."

Aidan made his way back to the bedroom and found a pair of green cargo shorts in his bag. He put them on and washed his face with some warm water. After sticking his head under the faucet for a minute, he ran his hands through his hair. It was sufficiently wet for him to run a brush through and head back out.

“There, much better,” he said. Instead of taking a seat across from Mila, he moved his chair over next to her. Then he sat down and took a sip of his Russian tea.

She smiled when he returned as she took another sip of tea. "I have never asked, but are you a morning person or do you prefer sleeping in if you can?"

“The only reason I have woken up when I have here is because the sun comes through that window,” he said. “Otherwise, I would still have been asleep. I like to sleep in when possible. I have always been more of a late night person.” He took another sip of his tea. “How about you?”

"I was not originally a morning person," Mila said and took another sip of tea. "But to serve a Captain, one must be alert in the mornings before they even take to the bridge. Yeomans are relied upon very heavily to let the Captain what his or her schedule is for the day and to handle any thing which doesn't require their direction attention." She rested her elbows on the table with the mug cupped in her hands and her robe parted a bit to reveal soft, white skin with a curve which disappeared into the shadows of the robe.

Aidan nodded. “I can understand that. A Captain would keep you pretty busy pretty early.” Taking another sip of his tea, Aidan noticed that Mila seemed to be warming her hands around her cup. She must be cold, he thought. Then he looked beyond her cup to her robe, or rather where it had parted. He let his head fall slightly to the side and then he smiled. No, she certainly not cold, he thought. She is hot.

She nodded. "Da. I usually get up at zero five hundred to review what I must remind the Captain of and what can be shunted aside to take care of myself." She paused and took another drink of her tea, giving a sigh of pleasure as the hot liquid seemed to soothe her throat. "Then there is a million and one other things which come up during the day to keep track of to be scheduled. It is mainly administrative."

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry, mainly administrative?” It had happened again. She had caught him off guard and distracted him, though perhaps unwittingly. He knew she had been talking, but…. Aidan began to blush. How was he ever going to explain this one.

Mila stopped and looked at him when he seemed a bit dazed, then she followed his line of sight and looked down. With a blush, she set her tea down and drew her robe closed. "I am sorry, Sir Rogue," she said with a laugh which tickled her throat. "I did not mean to distract you. Da, I handle administrative duties which the Captain often does not have time for."

Aidan cleared his throat. “There is absolutely no reason to apologize,” he said, smiling. “If anyone should be doing that, it is me, Printsessa. So you actually handle of some of the ship’s business, then? Well, the administrative business?”

"Da," she said as she picked up her tea and took another drink. "It is mainly day to day stuff which most people are not aware of but it is still important. I see to it that the Captain gets the requests in the order of importance, which communiques must be answered first, reports filed by the Executive Officer and more."

Aidan took another sip of the tea. “Hmm, I did not realize that a Yeoman knew so much about what was happening on board a ship. Does that require you to spend a lot of time around the Captain and Executive Officer?”

"Only long enough to give them what the require before I head back to my office and begin to filter out the rest of what they need or do not need to authorize," Mila said. "I have been doing this for eleven years on several ships and every one of them has a different desire as to how they want things done and presented to them."

Aidan put his cup down for minute. “So you really do have your finger on the pulse of the ship.” A more serious expression fell across his face. “I know what the rumors in the Cadet quarters are like. But, in your professional opinion, is everything recovering well from the recent fiasco?”

She hesitated on what she should say to him, but he wasn't some stripling fresh from the Academy even if he was fresh from the Academy. He was a grown man who had lost a world and more. She was quiet for a moment to give a grace period to that fact before she answered him. "Nyet," she said. "There are added Security patrols, more protocols in place to prevent such a thing from happening again and people fear to go out of their quarters alone. You can see it in their eyes and their body language. It will be a while before a full recovery is made."

He sat back and sighed. “I wondered. I can understand the fear, in a different sort of way. It will take some time before everyone is settled. And even then, they may never be completely so.” He picked up his cup and took another sip of the tea. “On a brighter note, it seems that you got your wish after all. I did end up sleeping in the bed.”

Mila took another sip of her tea and gave him a smile. "You did and neither of us tore each others clothes off. I am glad that you did not have to sleep on the divan another night."

“Me too,” he said. “I will admit, when I rolled over and laid my arm on you, I immediately checked to see if I was wearing anything. I believe that was the quickest I have ever woken up. But as far as the divan goes, I am glad as well. Though I did miss your massage this morning.”

"It is still morning, is it not?" she asked him with a laugh that made her wince as her throat reminded her that it was still sore.

He reached out and touched her arm. “Be careful, Printsessa. And yes, it is still morning. If you are offering, I am accepting.” A thought entered his mind that, had he voiced it, would certainly earn him a ‘Sir Rogue’ from Mila. He found it very difficult to keep from grinning.

"What has you grinning like the cat that ate the proverbial canary?" Mila asked him as she finished her tea.

“Heh, well…if you wish to know…” Might as well put the cards on the table, as one of his Academy classmates once said. Aidan took a deep breath and prepared for what might come. “When you perform this morning’s massage, will you do so robed as you are?”

Well," she said as she came to her feet. "If I took the robe off, then I would have nothing on, so da. I will leave the robe on."

Aidan blinked as his imagination momentarily took flight. Then he blushed. “Nothing? Well then…um, here or somewhere else?” Nothing, she had nothing on under that robe. Not even purple. Then he could feel his entire face quickly warming up.

"Look down," Mila said as she came around to his side of the table. On the toe next to her big one was a silver ring with a purple stone set on it.

“Oh, there,” he said. “It is beautiful, Mila. Would you tell me where you got it as you enhance your masseuse skills?” he asked. He had been spoiled in so many ways these two days, one of which was Mila’s massages. They were something that he was certain to miss when they got back to the ship.

"The ring?" she asked. "I picked it up on the Promenade at DS9 before I came to the Gamma Quadrant and was assigned to Black Hawk." She wiggled her toes as she began to massage his shoulders.

“Oh, okaaayyyyy.” He watched her wiggle her toes and chuckled. He wanted to reach down there and see if she was ticklish, but he was relaxing. “Oh Mila, you’re so good with your hands.” Then it dawned on him what he said in the moment. But there was no taking it back now.

"I got good with them by beating holograms of Captain's to death with them," Mila joked as she worked on his neck muscles. "That, and.." She leaned in to whisper in his ear with her hands on his neck. "...strangling them."

His eyes widened, his breaths deepened and slowed, and heart echoed in his chest. Mila’s touch was soft and her words warm in his ear. But some there was something…he didn’t know…something about her words, something about where hands were that was…intriguing. “Strangling them?” he said. “To death or...”

"Mmhmm," she said quietly before she nipped his earlobe gently while she continued to massage his neck. "To the last breath."

His breaths were coming in short gasps now, as if he anticipated her tightening grip any second. He twitched his head as she nipped his earlobe. But, curiously enough, not away from her. What she was doing and what he was…feeling…was something he had never experienced before. He could feel every muscle constrict with the tension.

"And then," Mila whispered as she moved her hands to his shoulders and begin to work them slowly before she traced the edge of his ear with her tongue. "I wake up."

He relaxed when she moved her hands to shoulders. But he jumped a little as he felt her tongue touch his ear’s edge. This was more than intriguing, it was pleasurable. Intensely pleasurable. “What? Wake up? You mean it’s a dream?” He could not wait to see what came next, after his ear.

"Da," Mila breathed the word into his ear. "I wake up and realize that I am strangling my pillow." She gave a chuckle and began to work on either side of his spine.

Chills swept down his arms. He wasn’t sure if it was her hands on his back or her breathing into his ear. This was something he could get used to, quickly. “Well, it seems that I learn something new and fun about you every day. Interesting dreams you have, Mila. Any waking basis?”

She smiled as she finished his massage and moved around to sit on his lap. "I think it used to be frustration at how some Captains are, but now that I have you...I haven't had that dream once. Nor did I attempt to strangle you last night."

He put his arms around her waist as she sat down. “I am glad I could help you forget that dream. And that you did not attempt to strangle me last night. I hope I did not startle you this morning.” He began rubbing her back with his hand. “That was a wonderful massage, by the way. What can I do for you?”

"Keep being who you are," Mila said softly as she leaned in and kissed him. "That is all I asked for, Sir Knight."

He smiled. “I had forgotten. But I will try to remember, Printsessa.” He leaned in and returned her kiss. “I will keep being who I am. Now, what shall we do next?” He winked and then kissed her again. “Retire to the couch for a few minutes? I am not looking forward to packing for the return trip to the ship at this point.”

"Let us order room service and enjoy each other until then," she said as she slipped off his lap and took his hand. "I wish to spend as much time in private with you as I can." She brought her free hand to her throat. "I just wish that my throat would clear up."

“I’m sure it will,” he said, standing. “And I wish to spend as much private time with you as I can, as well.” They walked, hand in hand to the living room. “What would you like from room service?” he asked.

Mila settled down on the couch after she made sure her robe was secure and drew her feet up under her. "I think that I would like eggs, fruit, toast, juice and steak," she said. "I know we had it yesterday, but I am very much a creature of habit on some things. You do not have to order the same thing, though."

“Okay,” he replied. Aidan walked over to the comm panel and pulled up the hotel’s menu. He tapped in their order, Mila’s eggs, fruit, toast, juice and steak and his extra crispy hashbrowns, orange juice, and pork tenderloin. After he received his notification that the order was being cooked, he went back to the couch and sat down next to Mila. “It should be fifteen to twenty minutes. Now, with this private time that was mentioned, what do you wish to know? Or do?”

"Be with you," she said. "I want to know all about you, but not all at once. Where is the most exciting place that you have ever been to?"

He smiled and scooted up against her, putting his arm around her. “The most exciting place I have ever been? That is a difficult question.” Then he smiled and looked down at her. “So far, with you is the most exciting place I have ever been. But as far as a planet, I would have to say under the waters of Pacifica, for one. Most people do not realize it, but that underwater world is magnificent. But that is more from a scientific viewpoint, I guess.”

Mila smiled at his response. "Pacifica is a very beautiful world," she said. "The closest I came to it was in orbit above it. We were only there long enough to drop off an Admiral who thought my only function was to get him coffee and listen to him complain. I loved Betazoid when I was there, though. I had two weeks of shore leave and spent many hours exploring and absorbing the culture. It is a beautiful planet."

“I would like to go there sometime,” he said. “Perhaps you could show me around.” He pulled her in tight and leaned down for a kiss. “But honestly, spending time with you has been the most fun and enjoyable time I have had in a very long time.”

She returned the kiss. "I feel the same way at spending time with you, Aidan. You make me realize how much I have missed, but at the same time, I feel that I was waiting for you to come along and sweep me off my feet. You are a wonderful man."

“Did I?” he asked. “Did I sweep you off your feet, Mila? Because if I did, I do not want to ever put you back down.” There was more he could go into, but he wanted to see where this went.

"You did," Mila said. "And I do not want you to put me down. I want to see where things go between us, Aidan. I am enjoying getting to know you and knowing that you will not push me to do what I do not wish to do."

He rubbed her shoulder, or rather the robe where her shoulder was, and dipped his head. “I want to see that as well, Mila. I like what we have and I want to see what’s on the horizon. But the timing is up to you, my Printsessa,. I would never push you in a direction you do not wish to go. I would not want to damage what we are building by doing such. And neither would I want to hurt you by doing such. You are a rare and delicate flower. Shame on the man who would crush you instead of care for you.” He hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go, ever.

She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head against his chest. "Woe be the being who dare to step between us," she said softly. "Let neither woman nor omnipotent being set their sights upon you, Sir Knight, for my desire to stop them would be unmatched, Sir Knight."

Aidan liked moments like this, very much. He put his free hand on the side of her head and ran his fingers through her hair. “I cannot picture you on a rampage,” he said softly. “But I would imagine that you have many other ways about you, Printsessa. And if anyone ever hurt you in any way whatsoever, or any man set his sights upon you, my Printsessa, I would hunt him for the rest of his natural life. I would stand next to him on his deathbed and smile, waiting for his last breath. The last words he would hear are these, ‘Fear for your children and grandchildren.’ Though I would most likely not harm them. But he would never know that.” Aidan continued playing with Mila’s hair. "And I do not care how far across the galaxy I would need to chase him. Because you are my Printsessa."

Mila smiled and looked up at him. "I would help you find him. The arms of a Captain's Yeoman goes very far and the fingers have access to many, many things," she told him. "I would not go after children and grandchildren, though, but the fear is more than enough for many."

“Indeed it is. And that is all it would be, fear. Whoever harms you would live in fear for a very long time. At any rate, that is how special you are to me, Mila.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. He hadn’t said anything, but he had noticed how soft the robes were in this hotel. Or maybe that was Mila’s softness moving through. He grinned. “So, what do you have to look forward to when we get back to the ship? Catching up on PADD-work? Things for the Captain? I imagine that work piles up for you as much as anyone else.”

She sighed. "Odds are I will have a lot to catch up on," she said. "I have assistants, but I am the one who has to authorize everything. I do have to go to sickbay, though. My throat is still sore and I do not like it at all because I am hoping that you do not get it, Sir Knight." She felt like she could fall asleep on his chest and listen to the beating of his heart, but forced herself not to.

TBC

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