Plenty of fish...

Posted on Wed Aug 24th, 2016 @ 12:19pm by Commander Hades,MD & Lieutenant Shrivol Thr'elanon

1,261 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 92 - More Questions than Answers
Location: Gym --Pool
Timeline: MD 05 1630 hours

[ON]

Shrivol hadn't done this in a while and was happy there was a pool on board. He walked out of the locker room, in his old Starfleet Academy swim suit. "Gained a few pounds." He said outloud as he tugged in the areas that were a bit tight. He put his goggles over his eyes and dove into the clear water. Perfect temperature, he swam back and forth lap after lap. He loved this, the feeling of...well feeling young.

Hades decided to use the evening to relax a bit. He was feeling a bit sluggish so a swim was what he needed. He changed into his swim trucks and stored his clothing in the locker area. He saw a bunch of people at the pool. Rather then jump in he just used the ladder to slide into the shallow area. He leaned up against the wall his eyes closed just feeling the water as it envelope his body.

He was very much into elemental healing, a branch he was researching now as well.

Shrivol pushed his body further and further, trying to break his own records. He figured he swam for at least an hour and a half. He managed to get to the edge of the pool and he just leaned there catching his breath as he pulled off his swim cap and goggles. "I am getting old." he said out loud.

Hades was pulled from his meditative state by the voice. He smiled at the familiar voice and without opening his eyes said, "Nonsense doctor."

Shrivol looked around and saw Hades. 'Am I getting a stalker?' he thought to himself "With your life expectancy you are still a teenager I think." Shrivol smiled as he swam towards Hades.

Hades laughed and opened his eyes. "So I've been told but you never know with a mix like mine." His blue eyes settled on Shivol. "I thought I'd get a swim in before lab and Gamma. How was today?"

"It was good, it's nice having a pool with adequate temperature. On Cardassia or other stations it was either boiling hot or freezing." Shrivol glanced at Hades. "But for laps its a great pool." he said with a smile.

Hades grinned. "You will never catch me doing laps my friend. I just like to sit in the water and enjoy." He was just about to say something when he caught sight of two people, specifically two nurses, he was trying to avoid. "Crap!" He took a breath and dove bellow.

Nurse Lin, and Hanna walked by. They hadn't seen Hades but they waved at Shrivol before going into the locker room.

Hades stayed under the water. He hoped that they hadn't seen him. He could hold his breath long enough but eventually he would have to pop up and if they were there...

Shrivol waved before they left and then pulled Hades up. "What was that about?" he asked with a slight smile.

Hades gasped a bit for air. "Sorry it's just Lin I trying to set me up with Hanna and vice versa... I really want none of that now." He waved his hand "I'm surprised they haven't tried with you." He'd heard them speaking a while ago about the CMO too.

"They did, but they understood I am not into women." Shrivol laughed as he bobbed in the water. "I think they said something about a marine but I informed them if they wanted to remain they will leave me out of their matchmaking." Shrivol got out of the water and dangled his legs in the water, for his age and for being an Andorian Shrivol was muscular. His chest heaved up and down trying to catch his breath from the laps. "Just let them know you aren't interested."

Hades looked away from Shrivol quickly. "Yeah. I'll do that," he muttered. "So...do you want to race?"

"Can you keep up?" Shrivol said smiling. "One lap there and back?"

Hades grinned. "My dear doctor. I will not only keep up but I will whip your butt and look excellent doing it." He laughed. "Ready?"

Shrivol laughed "No doubt, ready...." Shrivol gave Hades a bit of a head start before diving back in and catching up. His arms and legs moved quicker and quicker.

Hades, when he was in top form, was fast, after the year he'd had he'd slowed a bit. He'd just started building his muscles back up and was determined to get his shape back but he wasn't there yet. Shrivol was already on his way back when Hades hit the other end and turned around. His muscles and lungs burned but he pushed himself. He'd be damned if he didn't finish.

Shrivol managed to get to the wall and looked back to Hades. "Damn it." He swam to him, watching Hades as his face turned colors it shouldn't be. He wrapped his arm around the back of Hades keeping him afloat but also slowing him down, until they both got to the wall.

Hades caught the edge of the pool feeling mortified he turned away from Shrivol. He just focused on getting air into his lungs. He was angry at himself. He kept his face averted.

"Don't do that, Hades." Shrivol said trying to be comforting. "I won the the swimming championships 20 years ago. I always was a good swimmer. You really did good." he said as he was rubbing his back to help him breath better.

Hades closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "I...I'm...okay." He still didn't turn towards Shrivol.

"Hades, it's okay, I am sorry I get competitive." His hand still rubbed his back. "What's really going on?"

"It's okay Shrivol. Competitive is good. And you don't want to ask me that." With agility he didn't know he was capable of he hopped out of the pool keeping his back to Shrivol. He shivered as he headed into the change rooms calling behind him. "I have to go."

Shrivol leaped from the edge of the pool as though he was that twenty something cadet and followed Hades and went to where his locker was. "Hey, I am not your confessor but I am a friend. You once told me not to shut you out but that goes both ways." Shrivols skin and suit was still soaked with water he felt slightly embarrassed wearing something that left little to the imagination.

Hades looked over his shoulder. "You are my friend." He closed the locker and leaned his forehead against the locker squeezing his eyes shut. "I just need a bit of time. I'm still getting my body up and running from the year shut down." His breathing was still ragged. It as the truth... but only partly. "I should go. I just got a bit embarrassed about not being top form." Also partly true.

Shrivol stood there for a moment "You never studied Aernarian's did you? I am telepathic you know. Maybe one day you will understand that I know when you are not telling me the full truth just like you understand when I am not." He let Hades think about that as he put on his sweats and left. There was a tinge of pain in Shrivol's voice.

"Fvadt!" He swore in Romulan and punched the locker. He quickly got dressed and left. He was going home. He needed a few minutes and then he needed to talk to someone. The first person that came to mind was T'Lar.

[OFF]


Dr. Shrivol Thr'elanon, CMO
&
Dr. Hades, ACMO

Starbase 400

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