Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis and Lt Alex Storm- Rooted in Hope - Part 2

[Charlotte Brexis]

((The Latinum Backed Leaf Emporium Greenhouse, Ferenginar))

Brexis: What about you? ::Looking back at Alex over her shoulder:: You seem well put together. That usually means a supportive family. 

She knew it was somewhat of a bold assumption to make, but she felt a kindred sense with Alex. 

Alex’s step faltered, but only momentarily, picking right back up.  oO Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Oo  Her exhale held weight.  oO That is an existential crisis for another day.  Stay focused, Alex. Oo

Storm:  Supportive?  Yes, but only to a point.

Brexis: Is that what has you so tense and worried? ::grimacing a bit:: It’s uh.. Radiating off of you pretty strongly. I can feel it. 

Damn Betazoids … never mind that she was one.  

Alex turned around, crossed her arms, and walked toward a stone fountain off to the side of the greenhouse.  Her jaw off-set and she fought to maintain her regular breaths.  When her breath found its rhythm, she took a sideways seat on the edge of the fountain.  Tilting her head toward Charlotte, she said…

Storm:  I’m thirty-five.  My parents don’t play a large part in my life anymore, so whether or not they are supportive now is really a moot point.

Brexis: I mean. Fair enough. ::Taking a step closer to Alex:: That can’t be what’s eating you up so badly though. 

Alex’s fingers clasped the edge of the stone upon which she sat.  Her tongue played about her upper lip, until she managed…

Storm:  What I say can go no further than you.

She angled her head down and looked up at Charlotte, as if looking over glasses.  Her teeth pressed together, clamping her jaw as she waited.  This was her secret - not easily shared, but how do you even keep secrets around another Betazoid.

Brexis: Your secrets are safe with me.

She said it, firm and soft. Any secret shared with her was safe. It really was one of her better qualities.

Charlotte lowered herself to sit next to Alex, the intensity of her fellow officers' feelings radiating off of her like an overworked warp core. 

Storm:  I’m trying to find my daughter.

The ache settled into Charlotte's chest as she felt the weight of the words.

Brexis: ::Softly:: What happened to her?

Storm:  Her father - my …

Alex’s throat squeezed tight.  A slow breath managed to ease the tension.

Storm:  My … husband took her and left about two years ago.

The two Betazoids sat in silence for a moment. The air felt heavier.

Brexis: Do you have a plan to get her back?

Storm: Pray for a break?  I’ve done everything I know to do.  

Charlotte didn’t have kids. She never even thought of what life would be like to have any. She couldn’t imagine the internal turmoil that came with such a delicate and complicated situation. But damn if she couldn’t feel it through her empathic sense like salt in an open wound. 

Brexis: What can I do to help? ::Placing her hand on top of Alex’s and giving it a small squeeze:: I’ve got your back. 

Alex took in another gradual breath and let it out even more slowly.  She felt the gentle pressure of the hand, the third to know her secret.  Alex’s gaze unfocused, and answers eluded her.  Her vision focused and she raised her eyes to meet the black ones opposite her.  

Storm:  I …  

Alex sighed softly.  Her black locks shook as if searching for words.

Storm:  I really don’t know.  I would tell you if I knew.  There’s already someone helping me look for them.  

Brexis:  So far no luck I’m assuming?

Alex fought the invisible cord keeping her lungs from expanding.

Storm:  I just missed them … by minutes.

Charlotte openly grimaced. Being so close with no results had to be eating at Alex even more than Charlotte could feel. 

Brexis: Just like missions. Not everything can go perfect. Mistakes happen. We recalculate, we adjust and we keep moving. 

Alex sat up straight.  Her eyes focused in on Brexis, and her tone grew more confident.

Storm:  But I’m getting closer.  Soon  ::Alex nodded with the word:: I’ll find them.  And when I do, I may need some help, especially another with a tactical mind.

Without meaning to, Charlotte's eyes lit up. 

Brexis: I will do whatever you need. ::Lowering her voice just enough:: I don’t want to brag, but I am pretty damn good at my job. ::Lowering it even more:: Even if I have to be undiplomatic about it.

Finally, she let her hand fall away from Alex’s but the connection between the two was still strong enough to feel deep in her chest. The ache, the pain and the eventual surge of confidence. 

Storm: When the time comes, I’ll let you know.

Brexis: I know situations like this can wear someone thin pretty quickly. You’ve been getting enough sleep right? Still eating and all that? You can’t stay sharp if you aren’t taking care of yourself. 

She gave Alex a knowing look. There was no point in trying to hide it. 

Alex rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.  

Storm:  I’m … doing what I can.  Sleep is sometimes elusive.  I’ve been told to lay off hard exercise.  I eat when I’m hungry.

Brexis: Well, I’m sure that cute doctor with the mustache can help you with the sleep thing. ::beat, then laughing realizing the implication:: You know in a doctorly way. 

Again she laughed, hoping to help break up some more of the somber tension. Nothing could take away the pain of missing her daughter, but Charlotte could sure try with her impeccable humor. 

At the mention of Roy, Alex felt a warmth glow on her cheeks.  She stood and walked to a nearby plant, lowering her nose to it and smelling it.  She picked up the plant and turned to Brexis.

Storm:  Here smell.  Isn’t it beautiful.

Charlotte raised her eyebrow and smelled the flower, while keeping her eye curiously on Alex.

Brexis: Yeah. Smells great. ::beat:: Why are you being weird though?

Immediately following Brexis’s question, without hesitation, Alex responded.

Storm:  I’m being weird? 

She shook her head for emphasis.

Brexis: I thought we’d already gone over this. ::holding out her arms to her sides:: I can tell there’s something you aren’t saying. ::beat, then a grin:: Something about that little mustached man gets you all twitterpated?

She patiently waited for Alex to respond. Letting the question settle.

Storm:  I never said or implied that I was twitterpated.  The whole situation is … complicated.  oO Simple answer is best, Alex. Oo  I went easy on him during his phaser qualifications, but I didn’t mean to …  it got me caught off guard, and someone else took advantage of it.

Brexis: Oh. Complicated is never fun. I won’t push further if you don’t want to talk about it. ::smelling the flower again:: Roy is a good guy. Just be careful with his feelings. And yours. 

Storm: Seriously … I really don’t know what you’re talking about.  I’m not … Roy? … I’m married, Charlotte.

Charlotte clasped her hands on Alex’s shoulders, tight and affirming. Maybe she was completely missing the mark on how Alex felt about Roy, or maybe even she wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about him. 

Brexis: It’s all going to be okay. ::Shaking her a little:: Say it with me. ::slowly:: It’s going to be okay.

Alex wasn’t quite following Brexis. oO  What does Roy have to do with it being okay?  Oo

Storm: It will.  It’s going to be okay.

She took a few deep breaths, hoping Alex would follow along and do the same. She slowly released her fellow Betazoids' shoulders and gave her a warm smile.

Brexis: Alright. Are you ready to watch me make a Ferengi cry? ::beat:: I’m kidding. They probably won’t cry. But I am about to take as many of these glowing flowers as I can get my hands on. 

Now that, Alex could get on board with.  

Storm: I don’t blame you at all.  They are fabulously beautiful.  And this, I’ve gotta see.

Holding out her arms, palms up.

Storm:  Show me your magic.

Charlotte didn’t take long “haggling” with the Ferengi. She told them she knew the flowers had been unethically taken from a destroyed greenhouse on the Melfi Islands years ago. Explaining that looting was against the law. If they gave her the flowers for a very low 5 stripes of latinum, she wouldn’t turn them in and she would let them continue to grow the flowers. 

She smiled widely as she walked out of the greenhouse with a crate that contained all the mature hybrid betazoid flowers. Once they were back outside, Charlotte pulled out one small pot that had two of the glowing blooms on it. 

Brexis: Here. This is for you. ::beat:: And your daughter when you get her back. 

She gave Alex a lopsided smile.

Alex took the precious gift in both of her hands.   A soft spread across her lips. 

Storm:  Thank you!  You honor me with this.  I’ll make sure Cassie knows about this when I … when we find her.

Brexis: I know it’s not much, but maybe it’ll bring you some kind of comfort in the meantime. I’ve got to get these back to my quarters and into the right light. Let me know when you need my help. I’ll be ready.

Storm:  I will.  We will find her.  I won’t give up hope.  I can’t.

END

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2

Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis

Strategic Operations

USS ARTEMIS-A

A240103SR3