Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: Good To Be Home, Part I
Lael Rosek
(( Docking Terminal, Star Station Esperance ))
::Lael was distracted. The hearing hadn’t ended even close to how she’d expected and those moments still played in her mind like a bad movie that people hated to watch, but couldn’t seem to tear themselves away from it. She was heading back without her ward and Jon had chosen to take another transport. The events that had transpired on Earth hadn’t helped their relationship, seeming to only create an even larger divide between them.::
((Flashback))
((The Grand River Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Earth))
{{Two days before the custody hearing}}
::To say Lael was stressed would be an understatement. The custody hearing was set to take place in two days and there was every chance that she’d lose Maddy. Even as wonderful as Jon had been the last several days, she couldn’t shake the bad mood that was gripping her. She was supposed to be happy.::
::She and Jon were engaged, they had a gorgeous room with a gorgeous view and an evening without Maddy that didn’t involve the stress of socializing with one another’s parents. It was just the two of them. Lael exhaled a shaky sigh as the communication from her father earlier that day had questions swirling in her mind. He’d found a group like of people like her: outcasts...exiles. She felt a desperate need to connect with them.::
::Was it possible she could be a part of her father’s people after all? And of course it held the guarantee that she wouldn’t die. It would be easier to find someone among them to give her what she needed without fear of the implications.::
Cumar: What’s wrong, love?
::The sound of his voice caused her to look up, but she felt none of the rush of emotions she’d felt both during the dinner and in the time before meeting with her father. She was so exhausted that she couldn’t muster more than a murmured response, a half truth in an attempt to avoid the confusing topic pervading her thoughts..::
Rosek: Just worried about the hearing.
Cumar: I know, love...and I wish I could do more to help.
Rosek: ::scowls:: Not much to be done, I guess.
::She rose from the bed and moved toward the single window in the room. She longed for the bay window of her childhood, a space just for her where she’d curled up many a day and night alternatively watching the rain and delving into her favorite books. It had been a peaceful space, one that afforded her an escape from the harsh realities of her life.::
::A light drizzle had started between her rising from the bed and making her way toward the window, the speed and heaviness seeming to pick up with each passing moment. It had been a saving grace to her as a child, giving her the strangest notion that God and the angels were crying for the lost souls of the world. And yet, that idea gave her little comfort now.::
Cumar: How was the chat with dad?
Rosek: ::stiffens:: Fine.
Cumar: If you were fine, you wouldn’t be stiff as a board right now.
::She turned toward him, her lips a thin line. This the last thing she wanted to talk about right now. It was just another in a series of unfortunate events that had shaped the majority of her life. She’d hoped that Chythar’s treatment would delay the inevitable long enough for her to get through this custody hearing, but the universe didn’t seem to be letting her forget it for one moment. There were constant reminders each day and when those didn’t put her in a sour mood, Jon’s insistence that she talk about why she was in a sour mood only made her more angry.::
Rosek: ::snaps:: Well, maybe I’m stiff as a board because you insist on continuing to bring up a topic I’ve made it clear to you that I don’t want to talk about.
Cumar: Sorry. I love you, and it hurts me to see you angry about anything.
Rosek: ::bitterly:: If that was true, you wouldn’t keep pushing it.
Cumar: Fine. I’ll go back to my book.
::As he crossed the room back to the small couch and picked up the PADD he’d been reading, she was overcome with the strongest sense of deja-vu as she crossed the room in three aggressive strides, jerking her leather jacket from the hook where it hung.::
::There was no Anjar this time to be her drinking buddy, so she was on her own. It meant she had to be responsible or she’d lose her commission quicker than she could say “But Captain”. A deep scowl formed on her lips. Worst case, she supposed, she could catch a hovercab. And at least she was close enough to her usual watering hole that it wouldn’t cost her a fortune in credits.::
::Jon moved with a sigh to retrieve his jacket, but she raised her hand to stop him, shaking her head.::
Rosek: No. I need some time to myself. ::murmurs:: I’ll be at Stella’s. I don’t plan on being gone longer than a couple hours.
::Without another word, she opened the door and exited the room, leaving Jon alone behind her. Tears threatened as she strode down the hallway, shoulders hunched and hands buried in her pockets. Her throat felt like someone was squeezing it, a burning ache settling there as she fought back the sobs that wanted so desperately to break free. At least he’d tried to go with her. That was a fair sight better than Jansen had done. She sighed, her mind focused on the glass of tequila that was calling her name rather than on the hell that was her life at the moment.::
((End Flashback))
::It hadn’t been their first argument, but it had certainly been one of the most intense ones they’d had. She was still so conflicted when it came to Jon. In so many ways, he was what she needed. He was calm and didn’t drive her to do stupid, impassioned things like Jansen had. Jon knew better than to fight her once she’d made up her mind and tolerated her snapping at him more than he really should. He loved her and because of that, he let so much of her poor behavior slide. That was what had been good about Jansen. He called her on her $%!#. He didn’t let it go. She sighed. If only she could find someone who had Jon’s patience, but wasn’t afraid to call her out when she crossed a line--::
Devlin: Raff?
Skyfire: No, Delvin. We’re not home yet.
::She smiled wanly as she looked down at the clearly eager canine. After the long trip to and from Earth, she suspected that Devlin wasn’t the kind of dog who was particularly keen on traveling though he often tried to be patient for his master’s sake. A little yowl from the carrier at her feet served to remind her of her newest friend, Junulina (Junu for short).::
::The dark-furred creature had the appearance of a cat-like creature crossed with a wolf-like creature, Katolupo as they were called on Leya-I. Her father had acquired one for her from a trader and had intended to give it to her as a gift even before they’d learned the verdict of the custody hearing.::
::Lael opened and reached into the carrier, gently lifting the small creature out, setting it in her lap and brushed the tips of her fingers gently down the little girl’s spine. Junu relaxed and began to purr softly, her tongue peaking out to lick the hand that cradled her safely, nuzzling against it.::
Rosek: ::murmurs:: It’s all right, Junu. We’ll be home soon and you can nap all day long if you want. ::to Skyfire:: Devlin is certainly more excitable than usual.
Skyfire: He just misses Alex, ah suspect. Me too, but ah’m patient.
Rosek: ::chuckles:: I’m surprised. You’re not exactly known for patience.
Skyfire: Eh, life happens. At least I got some coffee for the ride home.
::She was so busy scratching behind Junu’s ears that she almost missed the sight of two familiar faces entering her field of view. A smile crossed her lips. Seeing Captain Rahman and Commander Mei’konda was just another reminder of how much she’d missed the routine aboard the Veritas and she’d had no idea until that moment just how much she’d been looking forward to getting back.::
Rahman: Hitching a ride, I see?
Skyfire: Seemed like a good idea at the time. Good tae see you both again.
Mei’konda: Hello, Commanders. Good to see you both.
Skyfire: :: Nodding in greeting. :: Sirs.
Rosek: ::pets Junu:: It’s nice to see a couple of familiar faces. ::elbows Chythar teasingly:: As much as I love Chythar, it’s good to interact with other people every once in awhile. ::arches an eyebrow:: I hope you don’t mind.
Rahman: Not at all. Better use of the fuel, anyway. How have you two been?