A long talk

Posted on Sat Jun 17th, 2017 @ 2:35pm by Tom Vercetti & Splendora Sage

2,153 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 94 - Return to Rashanar
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD2, 1630hrs

ON:

Splendor said goodbye to her brother. He'd risked a lot coming to see her but it was nice to have the one family member she could stand be there. Her fears had come true, her family knew where she was. It was only a matter of time.

The days she'd spent helping in Sickbay and in her practice and then with her brother had passed in a whirl. She walked along the corridor and found herself in front of Tom's place. She had missed seeing him. She thought of their dinner. She headed inside.

Elsewhere on Starbase 400. Vercetti made his way toward the the Promenade. He'd had a meeting with an old friend, but he had other things on his mind.

Once he arrived on the Promenade he walked though but instead of acknowledging other shop and restaurant owners he slowly walked to Good Fellas.

Splendora looked around at the crowed gathered. She smiled at how full it was. Finding a seat by the bar she smiled at the Bartender. "Hi! Long time no see." Her eyes shifted around the restaurant trying to find the man she was seeking. She hadn't seen him in days and was kind of disappointed that he wasn't greeting his patrons.

Vercetti walked into his restaurant and looked around for a moment but his eyes quickly saw someone he hadn't seen in days...and who frankly he was thinking he wouldn't seen again.

He walked passed on his way to his office.

Splendora was in conversation with the bar tender when Tom walked by. He walked by so fast that she had to get up and jog a bit to catch up with him. "Tom!" she said as she reached him and reached out to take his arm. "Tom wait."

Vercetti glanced back and at first he didn't stop but after she had called his named the second time he did and turned back to face her.

"Miss Sage?"

Something about his tone caught her attention, "Are you mad at me?" She knew that they hadn't seen one another since their date a few days ago. With her brother being here and all that they'd discussed she hadn't contacted him but then neither had he contacted her.

Tom shook his head, "Why should I be mad?" He cocked his head to one side but had a blank stare on his face. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you around here again."

"What? Why on Earth not?" She was genuinely curious.

Tom took a breath then turned to face her, "We went out and I didn't hear from you again for days. If I hadn't spoken to you for days, you'd be angry too." He crossed his arms.

She sighed, "First of all, you're right, I didn't call for days, but two things. One my brother came on the station to warn me about something, and two you didn't even try to contact me either."

Tom stood there for a moment, "I didn't want to press." He waited a moment before adding, "You had a lot going on, you didn't need someone smothering you so I figured you'd stop in the next day."

She smiled, "And when I didn't I figured that you'd call me but you didn't and I figured you were busy and that we'd catch up in a few days. But you are right I should have at least sent a message I think we were both bad at communicating." She looked over at Tom for a moment. She studied him, seemed to be lost in thought.

Tom let out a breath and nodded. "You said he came to warn you?"

She looked down. "It's complicated..." She looked around to see if anyone was around. Seeing that nobody was she continued. "Tom can we talk in your office?"

Tom gave a nod then motioned for her to proceed. Tom then walked over to Vito at the bar and let him know he'd be in the office and to take care of things.

Once they were in the office and had taken seats he rested his elbows on his chair's arm rests and then rested his chin on his finger tips. "What's going on?"

She sighed. It was a part of her self that she never shared with anyone and she'd hoped not to share it with him.

"I don't usually talk about this with anyone," she said. "I never had a good childhood. I always felt ... well that's not important."

Splendor heaved a great sigh, "I ran away from home when I was sixteen. My father was not pleased, he tried everything to find me, to bring me back into the fold, to marry me off to whom he wanted. I managed to sneak aboard a Romulan ship that was there for trade negotiations. I got to one of the Romulan colonies and I lived on the street for a while until a kind woman took me in."

Splendora continued, "Ever since then my family has tried to find me. I ran away from my betrothed from the man that they set me to marry to benefit the family, in their eyes...well it was a dishonour that I ran away. They have been searching for me for a long time and now they know I'm here. Not only is my sister a worry now but so are they. My brother came to warn me to leave the station."

Tom thought for a moment, then asked seriously. "Is your brother a threat?" He didn't wait for her to answer, "You'll be safe here."

"He's not a threat at all but he's the only one that cares." She thought about it. "I'm through running away from my family." She studied him for a moment. "I guess now is the time for truth. Look Tom...I like you, not just as a good friend but as a woman would like a man. I'm not used to having these...feelings. I just wanted you to know..in case.. well in case my sister or something..." She left it open.

Tom relaxed his expression. "I know." He stood up and grabbed a PADD from the shelf behind him. If you want, I can have someone keep an eye on your quarters if you don't want to involve station security."

She smiled and stood. She walked over to him and took one of his hands in hers. "It's okay Tom. I don't want you or Vito or any of your friends hurt. I couldn't bare that." She really couldn't. She smiled at him as she brushed back a stray lock that had fallen over his brow. "I'll be okay but if I'm not I just want you to know that you are an amazing man and I'm very lucky to know you."

Tom gazed into her eyes for a moment. "We wouldn't get hurt. We handle things like this more often than people know." He pulled award and set the PADD on the desk as he leaned against it. "During the Dominion War, I was apart of what used to be called 'Shadow Ops' in Starfleet. Vito was apart of my unit, as a matter of fact most of my key staff were. We were stationed aboard the Pegasus, Fleet Admiral Bremer's ship. Infiltration, assassination, intel gathering, and sabotage were all apart of the job, as well as general combat as needed. Now, in the businesses that I run, those skills come in handy when dealing with less trustworthy business associates." He smirked, "We've even been called 'members of the modern day mob' but some. I guess that why we have little issues with Zark and Mar'g compared to some business on the Promenade and the planet below.

"It's not us you'd have to worry about." Tom added as he stood up tall and stepped back toward Sage.

She smiled, "But I still worry." She had heard all he'd said. That didn't make her feelings change towards him. She understood a bit better when he kept people at a distance. "I've heard of Shadow Ops. I treated a client who was a part of it as well." She walked over to the window area and looked out at the stars.

"It must have been so hard for you. What you saw, did." She shook her head and turned back. She tilted her head to the side looked as if she was going to say something and then changed her mind.

Splendora walked over to Tom. She reached out to touch him then thought better of it. Perhaps he didn't see her as she saw him an odd thought when her mind was turning as to what her family knowing where she is would mean. "I should go." The truth was she didn't want to go but maybe it was for the best. She couldn't get him hurt. She turned and smiled well aware of the fact that she'd spoken her heart about her feelings and he hadn't really reciprocated. Maybe she'd made a fool of herself and he was just being nice but she couldn't hold that against him. Maybe it was better that he didn't share her feelings, less chance of getting hurt if something was to happen to her.

As Splendore turned, Tom grabbed her arm and pulled her back, kissing her. "You have nothing to worry about." He let her go and picked up the PADD again, typing in a few commands.

"I want you to go about your normal routine. Don't let on you're worried about anything. I'll have eyes on you twenty-six hours a day.

The kiss had caught her off guard. She was just processing that when his words sunk in. She would have tried to convince him that she'd be okay but she knew that he wouldn't care. Tom was a protector. He had a unique way about him, a soul and heart that were kind that he didn't often show. She walked up to him and pulled the PADD out of his hand sliding it on his desk, not looking at it. She took his hands in hers. "Tom Vercetti, you have the kindest heart I know. Since I was a child I knew that I could only depend on myself, I have never felt safe, into my adulthood I have never felt truly safe accept when I am with you." She kissed his palm and held it to her cheek.

Tom smirked. He had his flaws, could be an ass, would be the worst nightmare of someone that did him wrong... he'd broken laws, killed... but he was also loyal to his friends and family, maybe even loyal to a fault.

"Go ahead, do what you typically do. I'll have eyes on you, and I won't be far away." Tom added as he gently pulled away and sent a message from his PADD.

Splendora smiled, "Okay. I should go. There is a psychology seminar in one of the auditoriums... Oh," she said. "I just remembered. I have something for you."

Tom raised an eyebrown in a Vulcan-like manner. "Oh?"

She pulled out a small box and handed it to him. It had taken her a while to find the right gift. She remembered seeing him in a very snazzy suite once at an opening on the promenade of a new business. She wanted to get him something he could use and enjoy. Inside the light green velvety box was a pair of platinum and gold cufflinks. They were engraved with his initials and a note sat on the inside. "Don't open it yet." She said her goodbye and left him to open the box to discover the gift and the note. It had taken her a while to find the words. The sun shines bright from your eyes and I know the true goodness in your heart that you try and hide. Remember that in all you do you are a wonderful man and I'm so grateful to know you. --Splendora She had used her favourite fountain pen to write it.

Tom smiled, an actual smile and not a smirk. He grabbed the suit jacket he had left hanging on the coat rack from the night before. It was clean, he hadn't worn it...and it matched what he had on today...so he took the cufflinks off that had come with it and put the new ones on. He then put the jacket on, stretched his arms out with a snap, then buttoned the cuffs. He took a look and smiled, then walked out of his office to greet his customers.

On the way, he stopped by one of his employees. "Gabe, keep an eye on Ms Sage." Tom gave a look that said what he really meant.

"I'll get my stuff." Gabe replied as he walked off.

Tom turned and walked out to see his customers.


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