SIM:Lael Rosek - A Family Reunion of Sorts Part II (Gorkon)

Previous sim "A Family Reunion of Sorts, Part I"	Lieutenant Lael Rosek HCO Officer Starbase 118 USS Gorkon NCC 82293	Next sim "The Surgery, Part I"
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OOC: Takes place after Lael’s “*That* Conversation, Part III”
OOC2: For CD in order: The News > Depressive Rage > Making Progress >*That* Conversation > Reflections > Now

((Holodeck 2, USS Gorkon))

:: He sighed internally and resumed eating his food, not willing to risk going after her at the moment. He felt that he’d just made tonight worse than it had to be. ::

Skyfire: :: to himself :: oO This was a terrible idea… Oo

Alexander: :: murmurs :: It’s not your fault. She’s been like this since we set the surgery. She’s scared out of her mind, Chythar, even if she won’t admit it. ::swallows roughly:: She’s convinced she’s not going to come out of that room alive.

:: He didn’t know how to respond to that. He only nodded, a grim line forming where his otherwise chipper smile would be. Not only did he not have words, he didn’t have a response to what drove her away from the table. ::

Alexander: :: sighs :: She’s feeling isolated and alone. She’s so used to feeling me there. ::grimaces:: But I’ve had to shut her out completely so I don’t accidentally overwhelm her. ::shakes her head:: I’m barely holding onto my control. She doesn’t need that right now. ::Her gaze locked with Chythar’s.:: She needs you, Chythar. I know that you’re barely holding on, too. But I just can’t. ::tears spill over:: ::hoarsely:: I can’t lose her. I can’t even face the possibility.

:: Despite his raised shields, now he was feeling extremely guilty about lowering them in the first place. Tonight was definitely his fault, and he had a sip of water before wiping his mouth and politely excusing himself, heading off in the direction Lael wandered into. ::

(( The Forest ))

:: Chythar came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, attempting to project his own comforting presence. He was weak at it, and with his shields up he didn’t know how effective it was. Hybrids still messed with his gifts in ways he didn’t understand, but hopefully he’d at least be able to help somehow. ::

:: Lael jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, tensing to attack until she felt Chythar touch her mind. Relaxing, she remained turned away from him, embarrassed at the tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. ::

:: He didn’t know what to say, so he pulled her into a gentle hug. He had no words for what happened, for the mood, any of it. He just wanted to help, and the only way he could think to right now was healing hugs. ::

:: The warmth of him against her broke the dam. She turned, crumbling into him, sobs tearing from her tight throat. ::

:: He maintained the embrace for as long as he could get away with. Somehow, he had reduced two ladies to tears in the same night and felt extremely guilty about it. Even though he felt that he needed to be around people, this experience made him crave the solitude of his own quarters tonight. ::

Rosek: ::chokes:: I don’t want to die, Chythar.

Skyfire: You won’t. Dassa and ah will do everything we can to prevent it.

:: Lael exhaled shakily, trying to bring herself under control. But the tears only came faster and in greater volume. Her entire body shook with the force of her cries, her legs beginning to buckle under her. ::

:: He brought her over to the bench and sat down alongside her, doing what he could to calm her down. Really, healing hugs were his specialty. While this wasn’t exactly the same as losing one’s significant other as Ris had, it was similar in one respect. Reassurance. ::

:: Gradually, she began to calm. But she still felt vulnerable. ::

Rosek: :: rasps :: You should...you should go back to the party before I do something stupid. ::her gaze flickered to his lips, but she shook her head vehemently:: I’ll--I’ll be back in a minute. I just need to pull myself together.

:: He nodded faintly and gave her another reassuring squeeze before he went back inside. ::

(( Back at the table ))

:: As he returned to the group, he kept his face an impassive mask. He felt terrible, craving the solitude of his jetty. He absently reached back into his pocket for the rock and started rubbing it again, not willing to share. ::

:: Dassa fought back a grimace when Chythar rejoined them. By the lack of expression on his face, it hadn’t gone well. ::

Alexander: ::murmurs:: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you to go. I could tell she was in a mood and… ::exhales shakily and whispers into his ear:: I couldn’t risk it. Not with Tobian and I-- ::shivers:: I’ve always been weak when it comes to her.

Skyfire: Perhaps ah’d better take my leave.

Alexander: ::gaze drops to her lap and murmurs:: You’re welcome to meet us back at my quarters. Maddy wants to spend the night with Rebecca and Elina. ::gaze meets his:: It’ll just be Lael and I.

Skyfire: Alright...

Alexander: I know that you’re feeling miserable right now, but she needs us. We’re all that’s anchoring her and I can’t do it alone.

:: Oh, boy was he feeling miserable. He didn’t have the heart to refuse a friend in need, especially when it was his fault that the shielding thing had gone as it did. Right now, he was at the borderline between self-loathing and guilt-ridden. It was annoying, and this time he held it within him. ::

Skyfire: See you there. :: and took his leave from the holodeck. He wanted to head back to his quarters for a few minutes, needing the silence before he could rejoin them. ::

((Mini Time Warp, Corridor, USS Gorkon))

:: Lael stumbled toward Dassa’s quarters, feeling a migraine coming on. She only hoped that between the alcohol and her visit to Anjar’s quarters that she would be too exhausted to even consider anything that would destroy two of the best friendships she’d ever had. She squinted as she struggled to remember the code to Dassa’s quarters, hoping to sneak in without waking her friend. Her hopes were dashed when the doors opened and she came face to face with Dassa, who looked utterly livid. ::

Alexander: Where in the bloody hell have you been?! Chythar and I have been up for hours waiting for you! ::sniffs:: Have you been drinking? ::exasperated:: Bloody hell, woman! What didn’t you understand about no food or liquids after a certain hour?! And certainly no alcohol within three weeks of a major surgery!

Rosek: :: scowls and slurs :: Leave me alone. I’m a big girl and I can do what I want.

:: Chythar was on the couch, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he heard the door slide open and Dassa start yelling. The headache he had was now worsening. More than ever, he wished he had taken solace in his own quarters for the night. Leaving now would be a terrible idea, because chances were good it was his fault she was plastered. Despite his best judgement, he said the words anyway. ::

Skyfire: Ah’m willing to stay, if it’ll help.

Rosek: :: slurs :: Why now? You were awful damn anxious to get away from me earlier.

:: He listened to the accusation, and said nothing. It was false -- he wanted to get away from the crowd, not her. Besides, she advised he return to the party before she did something dumb. He complied, if only to save face. Now, he was just depressed, even more than he was at dinner. ::

Alexander: ::frowns:: ::to Chythar:: Don’t listen to her. She’s drunk. She has no bloody idea what she’s saying.

:: He nodded and wrapped a hand around the tags he wore around his neck, his other hand still pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to concentrate. It wasn’t working as well as he’d hoped, but at least it was making him think a little clearer. ::

Rosek: ::slurs:: Well, no need to worry. I got laid and I’m so drunk and exhausted, I couldn’t do anything if I wanted to.

:: Again, he didn’t have a reaction except silence. He wanted to stay and be an anchor for her, but if she didn’t need it he’d be happy to return to his own quarters. Devlin was now asleep in the corner, and didn’t wake up to the raised voices. ::

Alexander: :: scowls :: Lay off, Lael. It’s not his fault you’ll have sex with anything that moves.

:: Lael’s lips formed a thin line. ::

Rosek: :: slurs :: I don’t need either of you. I’m going back to my own quarters. Some damn friends.

:: Without waiting for a response, Lael stumbled out the door. ::

:: As Lael left, CD just felt drained. The exhaustion of the evening coupled with stupidity the night before surgery was weighing on him. Perhaps he needed to be in his own quarters after all. ::

Alexander: :: gaze drops to her hands and murmurs :: Go ahead. :: sighs :: I’m going to bed.

:: She entered the bedroom, allowing the door to close behind her. ::

:: Chythar picked up his dozing beagle and headed back to his room, wishing more than anything Alex was here now. ::

===
Lieutenant Lael Rosek
Engineering Officer
USS Gorkon
I238110RH0

&

Lieutenant Junior Grade Dassa Alexander, PD, PDS
Medical Officer
USS Gorkon
I238110RH0

&

Lieutenant Chythar Skyfire
Chief Medical Officer
USS Gorkon, NCC-82293
O239002CS0