Truthful Discussion

Posted on Fri Feb 5th, 2021 @ 6:08pm by Commander Hades,MD & Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Skye

718 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 109 - The Dust Settles
Location: Starbase 400 | Turbo Lift
Timeline: MD 02 0915 hours

ON:

There was a long, awkward silence as the turbolift doors closed and they were spirited away into the lower levels of the Starbase. Arms clasped behind her back, Skye stood behind her father and sister in law, staring up at the ceiling. Given he had asked to walk with his successor as Chief Medical Officer, she had expected he had something he wanted- or needed - to say.

Yet so far there had been not a word - beyond Carolyn ordering the lift to the promenade, adding only one word of explanation for her choice of destination. Chocolate.

Skye had bit down on her lip at that to silence a laugh. While she didn’t know Harris’ wife that well, she had quickly learned of her fondness for chocolate. “How about I pick up the chocolate and you two can go somewhere and talk?” she suggested suddenly.

Because maybe neither of them were saying what they wanted to say because she was there.

"Halt lift." Hades said. "Okay. Listen." He turned to Carolyn. "I know this is... unexpected but there is so much to this and before you give me some crap about leaving you and my grandchild that's not happening. I just have to find a creative way to be a part of your lives." He looked at Skye. "I want Skye to know her people. To know her home and what her brother was like and her other siblings... I want to be there for them to mourn Kalani and Harris and to just be for a while. And it's dangerous here for Skye and for me at the moment."

Skye flashed him a small smile. She wasn't concerned by the danger. It had been a constant in her life and she had survived everything flung at her. Sure sometimes by the skin of her teeth... yet she also wanted to see her homeworld again. To connect the pictures Hades had shown her with a real place. Somewhere she could stand on solid ground, breath in the air...

"You don't have to justify wanting to go home, to keep your daughter safe," Carolyn told him simply, "and you don't have to be creative. Even you cannot be in two parts of the galaxy at once. I will be fine, the baby will be fine. Go and do what ever you need to do. Computer, resume lift."

"So it's that simple. Just give up on me."

"In what way am I giving up on you?" Carolyn demanded. "You gave your reasons and, Hades, they are damn good ones."

Halting the lift again she turned to face him, "do you want me to cry and beg you to stay when it would mean you and Skye are in danger? Because I could do both so easily but I wont. Harris would never forgive me. You are his family, he would never endanger you and Skye... I am so sure he would have given anything to see you again and he sure as hell would move heaven and earth to keep you safe."

Turning her gaze back to Hades she took a deep breath, her voice quieter, "I would give anything to keep you both here. You know that."

Hades pulled both women into a hug. And he did something he had never done. He cried.

“Now you started me,” Carolyn whispered as she held him tightly.

He pulled away after a long while. "Alright. No more tears." He took both Skye's and Carolyn's hand. "Shall we go?"

“Yep,” Skye said quickly as Carolyn nodded and called for the turbolift to restart. Again.

"Carolyn...I...have left something for you in my desk. It was Harris'. It was for you."

She nodded, biting on the edge of her lip so she didn’t risk shedding any more of the tears he didn’t want. “Thank you...” and then after a long silence, “When do you leave?”

"Soon, in a few hours." He looked at her. "Come with us?" He wanted to at least try.

“You want me to come?” Her surprise was palpable.

"Obviously," Skye piped up with a grin.

"I do. Tom's ship leaves later today." He gave her the details. "I would love you to come."

"I'll be there," she promised.

He smiled. "Alright then."

OFF:

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