EXETERRPG: (2 1345) Lieutenant Greta Smith & CFO Lieutenant Ire Williams

[Robbie Gray]

Mission: A new day dawns

Day: 2

Stardate: 2446.01.28


(Earth - San Francisco - Starfleet Medical - Lieutenant Greta Smith & CFO Lieutenant Ire Williams - 1345)


Standing in the gardens outside Starfleet Medical, Greta sighed heavily but happily. Since getting back to Earth, she had been under intense counselling and medical evaluation. As Keira had told her, not many had survived to the same extent, a vulcan mind meld. Lots of tests and talking had been done but, since being there and away from the ship, Greta had felt a lot calmer. 


There had been talk of her returning to duty at some point. She knew that was coming and, whilst part of her was scared to do so, she wanted to return to some semblance of normality. Looking up at the bright blue sky, she closed her eyes and allowed the warm sun to soothe her soul.


Ire had finished his check up from the fight at the baseball field and wanted to see Greta, to find out how she was doing. He spotted her as he walked across the gardens and walked over her. She was standing looking up at the sky with her eyes closed. 


“Enjoying the sunshine?”


"It's soothing. Spent too much time in the dark." She replied honestly. Opening her eyes, she looked and saw Ire. Feeling herself blush a little, she looked down for a moment, "I'm sorry for how I was when you last saw me."


“It's not a problem. You had gone through a lot. I am not surprised you were not yourself.”


"I'm better. Not all the way but at least I can speak properly now." She replied with a smile.


“It's going to be a long recovery for the both of us.”


"That is true." She replied simply.


“Do you mind if I sit here with you for a bit?”


"Not at all."


He sat down and lay on the grass.


Sitting next to him, Greta glanced at him and then looked away. "Ire, can I ask you something?"


“Of course you can.”


"When you were… bad… when did that happen?"


Ire looked up into the sky letting sun warm his face before he turned and looked at her.


“It was in the holodeck when me and the others had been taken and put on those trials when they killed David Clarke and put us through hell. I was forced to fight a holodeck version of you. I think it happened when she stabbed me with her knife. The nanites must have gotten into my system from that wound because from that point I was no longer in control of myself.”


"So… when we broke up, that wasn't you? When I slapped you, that was him?" She asked quietly,  still ashamed at the thought of what she had done.


“Yes but you did not know that.”


"I knew it wasn't you that fought with me. I knew. I don’t see him when I look at you." She said and smiled softly. Turning her gaze away, she looked at the nearby flower bed and sighed.


Ire nodded as he looked at her. He fought the sadness and pain out of his voice as he spoke but the flashes of her wounded and bloodied being left in the isolation chamber flashed through his mind. 


“He may not be there but his ramifications are.”


He picked up a blade of grass and began to rub it between his fingers.


"You see what he did, don't you?" She asked. 


He sighed deeply.


“Yes all the time.”


"It's the same for me. I see what he showed me. Even now, talking about everything with the counsellor here. I see it, at night."


“You can talk to me about it if you want to.”



Grrta looked at him, "it was bad, Ire. Your worst nightmares are nothing compared to what he showed me. A vulcan bad dream. Think about all the emotion they suppress… " she began and stopped. Closing her eyes, a flash of images filtered into her mind. 


Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked at him, "Still see them sometimes.  Not as much now."


He reached out and held her hand reassuringly.


“It will be okay. Not today and probably not tomorrow but it will get easier.”


Gripping his hand in hers, she sighed, “I hope so.” Looking at his hand in hers, she smiled, “Still think there’s hope for us?”


He nodded and smiled back.


“Yes I do. It may take some time but I totally do.”


 "Time is good. Ire, I should be honest with you. If it's one thing that counselling has taught me, it's the need for honesty."


“Honesty is good.”


"I remember it all. Every part of it."


“All of it?”


"But… I don't blame you. I don't hate you. What happened was not you. It was her. All her."


He took a deep breath as he screwed his eyes shut and then breathed out slowly. 


“You may not blame me for what I did but I do.”


She kept silent, knowing he needed to talk.


“I know it was her but it was done with my body. I also remember everything that I did to you and everyone else.”


"This will take time. But we have each other. Just promise me something?"


“Anything.”


"Don’t shut me out. I couldn't do that again."


Ire nodded.


“I lost you once. I am not losing you again.”


She smiled weakly,  "Been lost… don't want to be that again. "


He looked over at her.


“You are the most important person in my life. I never want to put you through that again.”


"We go slow. We don't rush. Learn to trust again. "


“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.


Sitting next to him, she sighed and looked at him for a brief moment, leant forward,  kissed his cheek gently and lay her head on his shoulder.


“Thanks.”


"I have to stay. For a little while longer. I should be able to come back on the Exeter though. If that is okay with you?"


“Of course it is. Just as long as you feel ready for it.”


"I need normal. They have been talking about helping me sleep. But I think I might be ready to go back soon. Will you be there?'


“Of course I will. I will be here for as long as you want me to be.”


Greta smiled and closed her eyes, her head still resting on his shoulder. "I want to start again. From the beginning. No messing about this time."


Ire smiled.


"If that's okay?"


“I really like the idea of a second chance and a fresh start.”


Looking up at him, she smiled, "this does not count as a first date."


He smiled back at her.


“I think we can work out a better first date than this.”



He gave her hand a squeeze and he looked back into the sky.


(Reply None)


(Posted by Jackie and Robbie)


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