EXETERRPG: (1 - 1703) Bar manager Caity DuBois

[Jaclyn Smith]

Mission: Space Was Cool Before It Mattered

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.04.25



(USS Exeter - Shuttle bay - Caity Dubois - 1703)



Sitting in the shuttle that had brought her back home, back to the woman
she loved, Caity knew she should be happy but there was something else in
the back of her mind. Well, truth be told, there were two things but the
one that occupied her mind now was not the nice thing that was on her
thoughts.



The thought of being back in the vicinity of one of the most traumatic
experiences of her young life had filled her with some dread. She knew that
she had to face it and, with the help of Pops and a good team at Starfleet
Medical, she had made it this far. ~Just that last hurdle to go now~ she
thought to herself as she took a deep breath in, watching the others
disembark.



As the few who had been on the shuttle with her began to leave, a memory
flashed into her mind. One she hadn’t really told anyone about. Except
Pops. Ailynn’s grandfather had become something of a confident to her
whilst they were on Earth. The old man had let her talk, let her vent and
just listened to her.



Smiling to herself as she sat waiting for a moment for the others to leave,
the memory resurfaced again. Taking in a deep breath, Caity closed her eyes
gently and let it come.



-Flashback-



Walking through the counselling suite at Starfleet Medical, Caity avoided
the eyes of those that she passed. It had only been a week or so since the
incident on the Exeter and they had returned to Earth. Ailynn had been so
good and gentle with her, allowing her space to deal with things and making
sure that she knew that she was still there for her to talk or just be with.



As she turned a corner, Caity became aware of two things at the same time.
The sight of someone backing out of one of the long term patient rooms and
then the sound. She knew that sound, having heard it recently and it
stopped her in her tracks. She knew where she had heard the sound and why
she had heard it. As she walked towards the man that was stood in the
doorway of the room, she nodded an hello.



He saw her and there was that instant flash of recognition. The look as
Caity had seen a few times. He knew who she was and it told her who was in
the room and who was screaming. Taking in a deep sigh, Caity approached the
man and said, “How is she doing?”



“Not good. It’s amazing that she is still here in some fashion. She’s
getting better but today…. Today is a bad day.”



Caity nodded. They had both been through the same event but from differing
sides. Greta had been at the forefront of what had happened and Caity had
heard it. Heard the screams which still haunted her. Looking at the man
next to her, she said, softly, “Can i…?”



Regarding her for a second, he nodded and gestured for her to go in through
the door. “Just… be warned. She’s not good. Her poor man, Lieutenant
Williams, got a bit of a shock when he first saw her but he’s been here
everyday.”



Caity smiled, “He would be. He loves her so much.” She smiled at the man
and nodded again, taking a step into the darkened room. Looking around,
letting her eyes adjust to the dim light level, she spotted Greta curled up
in a corner.



Walking slowly towards her, Caity lowered her voice and said, “Hey girl.
How are you doing?”



Greta had heard the voice but it took her a second to place it. Looking up,
she saw the woman that she knew had been with her but, in her mind, she
hadn’t been there. Tilting her head to one side, she whispered, “Are you
real?”



Caity, crouching by her, said softly, “Yeah, hunny. I am.”



“That’s what they say… the ones that aren’t really here. They walk in here
and say things…. Sometimes they just stare and other times…” Greta trembled
and looked down.



Caity took a slight step towards her and then stopped as the young woman
flinched a little at the encroachment into her space. Sitting down nearby
with her back against the wall, Caity looked at her and sighed, “Greta… I
am so so sorry.”



“Not you…. Her. she did it, well he did but she asked him. He showed me the
bad things.”



“Hunny, i tried… i tried so hard to stop them but i couldn’t…”



“Not you….. You tried?”



“I tried….” Caity said as a tear fell down her face, “I couldn’t do
anything. When they brought you back in, i thought you were dead…”



Greta, uncurled herself and moved slowly towards Caity and looked at her,
directly into her eyes, “You’re not here. You aren’t real….. LIAR!” she
screamed the last into Caity’s face.



Caity backed away a little, surprised at the vehemence that the woman had
exclaimed. Standing, she looked at Greta who had begun to shake and yell at
her to get out. “I’m… I’m so sorry, hunny.”



~End of flashback~



Opening her eyes, Caity wiped away the small tear that had rolled onto her
cheek, stood and grabbed her bags from the nearby storage area. Taking a
breath, she left the shuttle and walked into the shuttle bay. Standing back
on the ship, she knew that she probably looked a little more nervous than
she had liked to have portrayed but she had passed the point of worrying
about it.



Looking around, she glanced the assembled crew for a familiar face, wanting
nothing more than to feel safe and secure.



(Reply Any)

(Posted by Jackie)
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