JP: Cmdr. Alex Blair & LtCmdr. Chythar Skyfire: The Leaving Paradox
Jeremy Shaffer
(( Skyfire & Blair’s Quarters ))
:: Chythar finished his shower and came out clad in a pair of Starfleet Academy gym shorts and a t-shirt, ready to head to the gym for his workout. When he entered the living area, he saw Alex seated at the desk with a rather bleak look on his face. The sort of look that said something was wrong. ::
Skyfire: What’s wrong, handsome?
::Alex looked up from the terminal which he had just closed after rereading the same document for probably the fifteenth time. As he looked up at his showered partner, Alex’s heart sank.::
Blair: oO How am I going to tell him? Oo
::As he contemplated how to break the news to Chythar, Alex chose to try and play coy.::
Blair: Ah, nothing. Just catching up on some intel reports.
Skyfire: Alex...C’mon. Intel reports would nae have you staring at the console like it smacked yeh in the face. ::
::Alex shook his head. Why he ever though he could convince Chythar that nothing was bothering him was beyond Alex and he honestly didn’t know why he had tried.::
Blair: You know me too well Chythar.
Skyfire: Response?
::Alex pressed the button to turn off the terminal and then moved across the room to the couch.::
Blair: I really don’t know how to say this Chythar…::pause:: but it looks like I’m leaving the Veritas.
:: Chythar stopped dead in his tracks, deja-vu flooding his mind as he remembered his own transfer to the Garuda from the Excalibur...but this was more reminiscent of his own transfer from Columbia to Gorkon as the first officer. ::
Skyfire: But we agreed nobody was gonna leave for a month…
::For a moment, all Alex could do was stare at his partner. Just the thought of being apart from the man for more than a few days made him sick, but the orders he had received meant that they would be apart for much longer.::
Blair: I know, we did. ::pause:: If I had say in the matter it wouldn’t be happening at all, but I don’t have much of a choice. Command is transferring me to the Constitution to be her First Officer.
Skyfire: I hate transfers… :: He crossed the room to the couch and joined Alex on it, hugging him tightly. :: I’ll miss you…
::Alex sat enjoying the hug for a moment without saying anything.::
Blair: And I’ll miss you, more than I can possibly convey.
::As he talked, Alex’s sadness started to turn to anger.::
Blair: I just can’t believe this. It feels like things have been going so smoothly and now they’re tearing us apart.
Skyfire: I agree...when you get a command of your own, we’ll have a big spiffy Starfleet wedding. How’s that sound?
::Alex forced a smile. Not that he didn’t like the idea, he just wasn’t so sure how well things would go maintaining a long distance relationship.::
Blair: That sounds nice, ::Alex grinned:: especially the part about my own command. ::pause:: Are we strong enough to endure the distance though?
:: Chythar paused for a long moment. He didn’t know how to answer that, honestly; but he felt he’d developed the strength to endure. ::
Skyfire: We’ve endured it this long, with your classified mission and my being unexpectedly called home for stuff with Chris...We’ll make it. We’ll be here for each other. :: He reached a hand to Alex’s wrist to caress the bracelet, then placed Alex’s hand on the marine tags that CD wore around his neck. ::
::Feeling the love between them, Alex pulled Chythar in for a kiss.::
Blair: You’re right, every part of my mind is saying that you are right. It’s just going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
Skyfire: Hardest thing ah’ve done to date was 12 hour surgery marathon. We’ll get through this.
::Alex genuinely laughed at Chythar. It was just another one of the reasons he loved the man, being together just had a way of making everything seem easier.::
Blair: Ok then. If you’re confident, so am I. So now what? I’ve got a little bit of time before I have to leave.
:: He didn’t know what to do for a minute. They still hadn’t celebrated his promotion properly, but Lael was already depressed from losing Maddy and likely wouldn’t be up for a party only to learn that Alex was leaving. He swallowed hard for a minute as he tried to think. ::
Skyfire: Movie night here with Devlin? Walk on the beach with candle light dinner of your favorite comfort food?
Blair: Oh, so many choices!
::Alex’s initial thought was all of them, but he knew that they simply didn’t have time.::
Blair: I can eat anytime, how about one last walk down at Skyfire beach? Think we can get some time slotted of us on the holodeck on such short notice?
Skyfire: Maybe. Given the circumstances, ah’m sure whomever we need t’ swap with will be understanding.
::Alex grinned.::
Blair: Sounds like a plan. You ready to head out now?
Skyfire: Sure. Let me grab Devlin’s leash real quick. :: He got up and retrieved the canine’s leash, then patted his leg. :: C’mon, Devlin. Walkies!
Devlin: Raff! :: The beagle looked up from his kibble and bounded over to Chythar and Alex. ::
::Alex looked down at the little dog.::
Blair: Yeah, you get to come too Devlin.
:: Chythar clipped the beagle’s leash to the collar, and nodded to Alex. ::
Skyfire: Ready when you are.
::Alex grabbed his partner’s hand and led him into the corridor.::
=============================
Commander Alex Blair
First Officer
USS Constitution-B
T238906AB0
&
Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Veritas NCC-95035
O239002CS0