EXETERRPG: (1, 11:58) CO, Captain Trip Williams/Tristan Steele and Dir. R&SE Ash Williams/Gail Gardner

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Lights, Camera….Action?

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.01.01/2025.06.30

(Toronto, Canada - Women's College Hospital,  Family Way Obstetrical Group-
CO, Captain Trip Williams/Tristan Steele and Dir. R&SE Ash Williams/Gail
Gardner - 1158)

“Alright, lets do this.” Trip said to himself as he entered into the
waiting room.. “His” phone, which was actually the phone of Tristan Steele,
his doppleganger, gave this place as the address and a note to meet “Gail”
there. He entered the waiting area and looked around. He didn’t see this
Gail. He was early, he wanted to make sure he was early. Get intel. He
found a chair and sat down. He needed to see her, to see his Ash. His nap
didn’t snap him back. He was still stuck in the odd reality. But if anyone
could help him, he knew it was her,

Gail walked down the corridor at a steady pace. She was aware of one or two
stares as she passed, but she had long since got over that. Her situation
had been in every newspaper, magazine and gossip column for two months now,
and it had long since passed her by as a source of upset. The one thing
that she was still furious about was the loss of the lead for Wonder Woman,
sacked for being pregnant by a director who she privately wished would
forever burn in hell. Her lawyers had caved too, even though she had a
signature on the contract there was a single coverall sentence mentioning,
‘change of artistic direction’ and the studio had seen fit to use this as
an excuse to recast. She turned into the waiting room and sighed. It wasn’t
as though she precisely blamed Tristan, what had happened had happened, it
just made things difficult.

Making it to the reception desk she was instantly greeted by the
receptionist.

“Hi there. Welcome Ms Gardner,”

“Hi I have a twelve o’clock sonogram?” her gentle, warm tone carried over
the room slightly more than she’d probably intended.

“I have you Ma’am. Take a seat, we’re running right on schedule, so you
won’t have long.”

“Thank you.” Gail smiled and turned, glad to see that Tristan was already
here, she walked over and sat on a chair next but one to him, leaving a
chair in between them, where she put her bag.

“Hey,” Trip said weakly, not knowing what to say. It was here, his Ash. But
at the same time, he knew, in his gut, she wasn’t. It was something in her
eyes. Ash’s twinkle wasn’t there. He tried to read her, but he could tell
that whatever brought him here, whatever took away his scars and his
tattoos, had also taken away his empathic skills. “I thought I’d get here
early...because well you know.” He said, trying to play the part.

“Hey there.” Gail answered with a nod. Her manner wasn’t cold, just
reserved. “I appreciate you being here. I know how busy you are.”

“Yeah, well, I mean kinda my fault right.” He laughed awkwardly. “I
just...kid deserves two parents, right? Even if the mom hates the dad.” He
was fishing, fishing for a reaction. He wasn’t Trip the Captain or Tristan
the actor, he was Trip the flight squadron CO, the strategist, getting
intel for a battle plan.

“I know.” she said. “Takes two to tango though.” she opened her bag and
pulled out her perinatal notes. “I don’t hate you, she said, “Not exactly.”
She half smiled. “We always got on well, and you stood up for me when I
needed help. I’ll always appreciate that.”

“But…” he said sensing a but.

“It’s just not the way I wanted this moment in my life to be going that’s
all, whoever I’d be with. No-one as it happens.” She shrugged and half
smiled, an empty gesture.

 “And instead here I am, knock you up during break up sex and you get fired
for it. And I’ve moved on and you’re…” he paused. He didn’t know how to
frame the question. He wanted intel, but he also wanted to hold her, kiss
her, tell her it was ok. She was his kryptonite, even if she didn’t know it.

“...playing Ashlyn. Who I admit has become a bigger role than I first
thought.” She leant forward with a sigh. “Another Vogue International cover
for Gabbie...gorgeous picture to be fair.”  she tilted the magazine for him
to see.

Trip looked at the picture. ~Ailynn! That’s Ailynn!~ He thought to himself
as he read the tagline. Gabrielle Knight give her top tips to for taking
names and kicking butt on the screen. ~Gabrielle Knight, so that’s her. Ok.
Ok.~

“I mean, yeah, but…..who wants to be on the cover of a magazine?”

“You kidding?” Gail looked at him oddly. “Take a look at your wrestling
quarterlies and say that again.” she smiled. “You’re being a goof today.”

Footsteps came across toward them. “Ms Gardner, If you want to come through
to room one?” The nurses voice was gentle, but probing and firm. “Is the
Gentleman with you?”

Gail nodded. “Yeah he is.” she smiled and nodded at Tristan.

“Yeah umm… yeah.” He said waiting for “Gail’s” cue.

She followed the nurse into the room, and sat on the bed when directed, the
door closed behind them all.

“Thank you Ms Gardner. If you can lie back and lift your top, and lower
your waistband, I’m going to proceed with the scan.” The Doctor was already
in the room, and his pleasant smile put Gail at ease.

“Of course.” She did as she was asked.

“Now the purpose of the scan is to check everything is all going well, I
might be silent as I make some measurements, don’t take my silence as
anything other than concentration. Now. If we are able to and if we have
time, are you wanting to know the sex of your baby today?”

“It’s a boy.” Trip said without thinking. Just a hypothesis. A feeling. A
hope

Gail shook her head but smiled, and spoke to the Doctor. “He has four
brothers. His mother I think had this crazy theory about some families only
ever making boys or girls.”

The Doctor smiled. “I know of your family Mr Steele. My brother’s a big
fan.” He turned to the Screen, and then picked up a probe from the front of
the terminal, and applied the gel. “Cold I’m afraid.” pressing it against
Gail’s lower abdomen, he moved it gently.


Gail turned to Tristan. “You okay?” she asked. “You’ve been here before,
why are you looking so strangely at the Ultrasound machine?” the Doctor
moved the probe around as she spoke. Clicks and beeps from the machine as
he made measurements. And the occasional whir of paper coming out the
printer at the bottom of the device.

Trip wanted to say that it was all so retro. But he didn’t...didn’t want to
sound like a lunatic. There were many approaches to dealing with a scenario
like the one he found himself in, but he decided that he’d do his best to
play the game for awhile. All he knew, is looking at Ash and the way she
looked at him, he knew something was off. She didn’t look at him with love
in her eyes. It was something else. It was a look of respect, but like she
tolerated his being there out of convenience.

“Sorry, just, a lot on my mind. Like I’m in a bad dream or something.”

“You’re keyed up again.” She said. “New season and all that. You eating
well or is Faith making you go out to her favourite restaurants all too
often?” She smiled.

“Umm…. yeah, I uh, I’m good. Just off. Maybe need to hit the gym, clear my
head,”

Gail nodded. “Get an early night too.”

“Can I ask a silly question, is this world right or real to you. Like you
know, maybe you woke up and felt like yesterday you were in another place?”

Looking at him, Gail frowned. “No...sorry Tris, totally real.” drawing a
breath, she continued. “Maybe you do need to blow off some steam, or take a
couple of months vacation. A nice beach, maybe a cabin with a view. That’s
what you need.”

~Guess she doesn’t know. Yeah, she’s not my Ash. If she was my
Ash….I’d….I’d know.~ Trip thought to himself. “I’m ok.”

“So Ms Gardner. Happy to say all is well. Lovely and healthy, as you know
you’re 20..21 weeks along. Now the nitty-gritty. The baby is long, going on
age and leg length, you’re looking at 9.5lb at birth.”

Trip nodded.

“So the sex?” The Doctor asked.

“Was pretty good...Oooh you didn’t mean that did you…?” Gail said without
thinking.


“Not the first time I’ve heard that. “Of the baby...yeah.” The Doctor
looked over at the pair of them.

“Only pretty good,” Trip whispered to “Gail”.

Gail laughed warmly. “Shut up I really need a wee, I’ve been holding it.”

The Doctor smiled at them. “Maybe there’s something to mama Steele’s
theory...It’s a boy.”

~Drew!~ Trip thought to himself ~….maybe….kind of….what if? What if….no….I
don’t know….too many questions.~

“Called it!” Trip said playing a part.

Gail shook her head and smiled once more as she wiped the gel off her
abdomen. “You ass.” she said, good naturedly. She regarded him, in a
friendly manner. “Look...Tris?”

“Yes Ash.” he said on instinct.

Gail turned to him and looked at him really strangely. “What?
Tristan...It’s Gail...Have you got a concussion again?”

“Sorry,” he said with a laugh. “I was being silly,” ~Can’t say it was
bourbon, because apparently, according to the interview I listened to.
Tristan is apparently a teetotal, no alcohol, no smoking, no drugs. Would
be a dead give away I’m not Tristan if I said I was hungover.~

Gail sighed, “Look, I know that it didn’t work between us, but you stood by
me and took a lot of ‘bad guy’ hits that you didn’t need to. You’ve been a
good friend, and I respect you so much for that. I don’t completely hate
your guts.”

“I appreciate that. I mean, what sort of father doesn’t show up for his
kid. Even if he and the mother aren’t together. Even if he apparently has
someone else. A man’s responsibility is to his duty and my duty is to our
son. Means I’m here for you. No matter what.”

"I know" Gail said as she turned and slipped off the bed. "And seriously,
thank you. I know that you get messages that I hate you, but a lot of that
is hormonal, you know." She paused "season two tomorrow then...I heard
rumours…"

“As for me not returning for season 3, the leak was to rework my contract
for other projects. I’m staying, I know some of your fans on something
called twitter said my leaving was gonna screw you out of another job.”
Trip paused, he should never have searched Tristan’s name on Twitter. He
was now convinced twitter was the metaphorical devil. “But I’m locked in
for three more years. So at least your job is safe.”

"Seiously...the studio need to improve. I get more details off screenrant
than from them. I don't know who their 'inside source is but they're always
on the money." She said.

“Well, I leaked I wasn’t coming back for season 3. One of my business
advisors said it would be a good, ploy. A dick move for sure. But I have to
ask, am I really as much a tool as the “Gail Army” says I am.

"You like this? no. You know you're not. Some fans are...a little more
zealous than others is all. The you that is "the real deal" persona
is...harder to live with." She smiled. "At least you don't pour beer over
yourself like that other idiot."

“Well yeah. I guess,” ~The Real Deal persona? Must ask questions later.~
Trip thought to himself.

"Tris...are you okay? You seem really jittery today. Less...and you should
take this as a compliment…less 'full on.' All okay at home?" She asked, her
voice had a tone of respectful concern in it.

“Yeah, umm…it’s all good.” He paused, “Besides you don’t want to hear about
your, umm ex’s homelife. And all its….naked….” Trip stopped himself from
saying something stupider. “Truths.”

"No…" she smiled "probs not."

“What about you, surely another guy has entered into your picture.”

Gail sighed."no one. If anyone is interested they are keeping silent.
Besides…" she drew a breath and thought carefully, then carried on. "Man
with a child elsewhere can still settle down and carry on fairly well. Girl
with a child, even in showbiz its a lot harder, double standard you know
that."

“Oh….yeah….ummm...sorry.” He said awkwardly, “What about umm work?” he said
trying to change the subject.

"Work? Well…I have a couple of voice things, an audio book reading,
then..." she placed a hand on her abdomen, after this guy joins the world,
I'll have some time, but a couple of things are being greenlit for filming
next year. One is a cert. Should be fun. Just got to get back into fighting
shape.”

“Oh that's umm good.” he said, not really sure what anything she said
meant. “So doc, we almost done here?” Trip said turning to the doctor. He
wanted to get “Gail” into a more private situation to ask more personal
questions

"You're both good to go." He handed over some pictures to Gail. "With your
permission?" He looked at her, and after she nodded handed a couple over to
Tristan too. "Don't get those hot it's thermal paper. The amount of people
who try and laminate these is Unreal."

“Uh sure.” ~Paper? Oh yeah. That stuff.~ “Thanks doc.”

Gail thanked the Doctor and left the room, then turned to Tristan. "You
sure you're okay?"

“Can I tell you something, and promise not to laugh?” Trip looked at her.
She looked back at him, but her eyes, the love in Ash’s eyes were gone. But
he just hoped maybe if he told her the truth, maybe he’d wake up. Maybe
she’d wake up. He just...he wanted his Ash, but this wasn’t her.

She looked at him. There was an expression that she'd never seen before in
his eyes...uncertainty. "Sure. I mean...yeah of course." Gail looked at
him, concerned, and she rubbed his upper arm amiably.

“My name is Captain Trip Williams, I am 23 years old. I woke up this
morning in this world, where I am supposedly a 33 year old man, where I am
an actor and a pro wrestler, dating a model, and apparently still smart
enough to try and date you. I don’t know who Tristan Steele or Romanowski
or whatever my name is, is. I am Trip. And I’m lost, and I need help.”

Gail sighed. "Tristan...seriously what's wrong? If you're trying to woo me
over like that silly pick up scene on Risa, that ship has sailed. I like
you as the father of my child and a supportive friend. I do...but
please...this "I'm Trip" is pushing it a little too far towards crazyville.
I'm sorry to be blunt."

Trip looked at her, sadness in his heart. It wasn’t his Ash. His Ash, even
if she thought someone was crazy, would at least take them as they were and
work her way from there. Gail, dismissed him outright. Whatever happened,
it was clear. While Gail tolerated him and cared for him due to their,
connection, that was it. She wasn’t going to be the ally he needed.

“Yeah, sorry….my brother bet my to try it. Looks like he owes me
some…...currency.” ~Need to brush up on my slang.~

"Look...take care of yourself. You have things full on I know.
Just...remember to have some you time and recentre yeah?"

“Yeah, later.” Trip said, giving Gail a hug. “Take care.”


"Hey!" She hugged back and lifted her head. Kissing him gently on the
cheek. "Thank you so much for coming. It does mean a lot to me...really it
does." She smiled.

“Always.” He nodded. He looked her in the eyes one last time. She wasn’t
Ash.

Trip then made his way to the parking garage. He was defeated, dejected,
down. He had hoped seeing Gail might fix things, make him feel better. But
it didn’t, rather than have his spirits lifted, he was more deflated than
he had been in awhile. What if he had hit his head. What if he was Tristan.
Who was he?



(reply none)

(posted by Will and Mark)
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