An Answer To A Question

Posted on Wed Dec 11th, 2019 @ 3:45pm by Splendora Sage & Tom Vercetti & Vito Russo & Crumm Widdy

1,620 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 101 - Peace During War
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD03 1700hrs

ON:

Tom stood at the entrance to his restaurant, "Good Fella's Bar and Grille'. Business was slow, not only because the majority of the Starfleet crew was involved in repairs or aboard the support ships, but because may of the Civilians that called Starbase 400 home had left since the Typhon Pact attack.

Tom's restaurant was open for business, but many others weren't. Most of the holo-suites were also offline. People just weren't interested in a home cooked meal or entertainment right now, they just had a job to do.

"When do you think they'll get power restored to the rest of the promenade?" Crumm asked.

Mar'g replied, "Um, well, Mister Blackthorne told me a week or more."

"That means I will need an all new supply of food, my auxiliary power supply will only keep my coolers working until tonight." Yoshi said.

"Bring what you have here, we'll keep it cold for you." Vito replied.

Yoshi smiled. "Thank you for the offer, but good sushi can't be frozen, and if it's not served soon it will go to waste."

"For a third of the profits, you can bring it to my bar and serve it there." Zark replied with a toothy grin.

Yoshi bowed, "Very well."

"It's all about profit with you isn't it?" Crumm asked.

"Latinum makes the world go round." Zark replied.

"You're been very quite lately, is everything okay?" Mar'g asked Tom.

"He has a lot on his mind." Vito replied before Tom blinked and looked back at the group.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just a, just a lot of my mind." Tom finally said.

"Well, maybe that'll help." Zark replied then motioned down the way.

Tom looked over to see Splendora walking by in the distance. "If you'll excuse me."

Tom didn't look back, he jogged to catch up with Splendora.

Splendora felt ten years younger. She'd come back looking and smelling like a Klingon. After a trip to Sickbay for a quick check up and to get a few things fixed she'd gone home showered and unpacked. She was bone tired but still her mind was working a mile a minute. She sniffed the air. She loved the smell of Lavender and Eucalyptus, the shower products that she always used.

She thought back to Hades. He'd given her hell for letting Kalani get hurt again. What he hadn't seen was his wife kick butt. She grinned. That woman was a born warrior. That got her thinking about all that was weighing heavy on her mind. She had ideas she had to think about, coffee to drink, as she hadn't had a decent cup in five days and most of all she was thinking about Tom. She'd missed him but in a way she hadn't wanted to come back. What if he'd figured out he was too good for her and said no?

She shook her thoughts away. She would get a coffee and then go and see him. Above all she missed him.

A sense of familiarity washed over her and she turned back to and saw Tom jogging to catch up to her. She turned to face him and hurried his way. Smiling at seeing him all doubts and fears melted away. She caught up to him and stood for a heartbeat taking in his face. "Tom," a whispered prayer perhaps? She threw her arms around him. "I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too. Are you alright?" Tom asked looking her over. He had some many questions, but all that mattered in that moment was that she was okay.

She smiled. "I'm alright. Hades fixed a few bumps and bruises but I'm all right and we accomplished our goal." She too had been looking him over. She'd been worried about leaving him here. She noted that he looked tired. "The question is are you alright?"

"I am now." He paused and rubbed his eyes. "It's been interesting around here since the attack. A lot of the civilians have left or are leaving. Some families of Starfleet personnel are too. So close to several Typhon Pact members, people just don't feel safe here right now. Business has been slow, but we've been busy. We, we also had a memorial service for Marco." Tom paused, "There's a make shift memorial to friends and family that were killed during the attacks and since in the old clothing shop a few doors down from Zark's bar."

The loses saddened. "Let's go there. I wan to pay my respects." She studied Tom. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you with the service for Marco."

"It's okay." Tom replied. "After we stop there, I'd like to talk with you about something in my office."

That sounded ominous. She didn't say it but she did think it. They walked the rest of the way in silence. She still held onto his arm worried about what he'd wished to speak with her about. She wondered if he could hear her heart hammering through her ribs.

The memorial was beautiful. There were images, flowers, holos. She stopped by the replicator and got enough using her code to place a flower at each of the little spots. She lingered on Jennings. Jennings was one of her own. She hadn't know about her death until now. She was the meditation teacher and a counselor. Adam must be beside himself! They'd just had a baby. She hastily wiped a tear as she promised herself to stop and see Adam.

An anger settled in her stomach at the attack. Her decision over the course of the last few days was driven home more then ever at seeing this injustice.

She saw Tom watching her. "Sorry, Jennings was one of mine. I didn't know she'd been killed." She stood up.

Tom gave a reassuring node and put his arm around her.

"Alright. Let's go and talk." She walked beside him feeling unsure of what he'd say. She prepared herself for the worst, hoped for the best. The fact that he'd wanted to speak in his office, a neutral place seemed to not be a good omen but she hoped she was wrong.

Several minutes later they arrived back at Tom's restaurant. They passed Vito who was standing near the door. Tom gave him a nod and Vito turned and walked away.

"Hey, I need to hit the head...sorry, go by the restroom. Wait right here." Tom said to Splendora.

He returned a few moments later, happy to see Splendora still in the same place by the bar. They walked on to the back. Tom's office was dark. There were two candles on a small table with a few other candles in the corners to give the room a soft flickering glow. The table was set for dinner for two. Chicken marsala with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, salad, bread, and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Tom allowed Splendora to walk in first. Vito was there with a chair pulled out for her.

"Miss Sage, please have a seat." Vito said in his deep voice.

Splendora walked into the room and stopped. Her eyes took in the soft glow, the wonderful smell wafted to her nose. The wine the smell of fresh bread. He turned to Tom. "This is...beautiful!" She took his hand and gave it a squeeze and then turned to Vito. "Vito!" She hugged him. "I missed you too." When he smiled and indicated the seat she sat down and watched as Tom approached. Her heart felt right for the first time in a long time.

Vito waited for Tom to also sit. "Enjoy your meal." He turned, left the room and shut the door.

"So, you asked me a question before you left." Tom said as he opened the wine bottle and started to pour.

She gave a nod. "I did. I asked you to marry me." She swore she could hear her heart pounding.

Tom smirked. "Well, I think there must be something in the water. Doctor Hades got married, now General Hurd, now us...I won't who'll be next." He smirked as he took a sip of the wine.

"Well Hades kind of had to and Hurd finally found some...wait was that a yes?!" Her eyes widened. She stood and walked over to Tom. "Are you saying yes?" Her eyes misted a little.

Tom smiled, "I kind of thought all of this would be better than three letters, but if you need those letters, then yes, the answer is yes."

Tom stood and dropped to a knee, "I already had this, and have been holding onto it while you were ill." He opened the box to show a two caret diamond ring with a gold band. "It's not as fancy as some, but it's from Earth, was in my family actually, was my grandmother's, and I'd like you to wear it." He looked up at Splendora.

Smiling she gave a nod, "I would be honoured to." She watched as he slid the rink on her finger happy tears gently rolling down her cheeks. He had barely stood when she launched herself into his arms. This was her fiancée. Life had taken so much from her yet being here, with him, it was all worth it. The road she'd travelled no matter how hard had led her to this wonderful man. She had her practice, a new business she'd be opening, and a fiancé that she adored. "I love you so much Tom. You are the best gift I could have ever asked for."

"And I love you." He said before kissing her, then he gently sat her down. "Now, let's eat. Tell me about what happened while you were gone."

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