First Steps

Posted on Tue Nov 12th, 2019 @ 11:08am by

Mission: Promenade
Location: Sickbay/SB50
Timeline: Shoreleave day 1
2197 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

By the time the Majestic docked with Starbase 50, Stef was already sufficiently recovered to have been moved from the tank he'd spent several days in, to a normal biobed. He had been allowed up and out of bed but so far he hadn't been allowed to leave sickbay.

It was terribly frustrating to the young Vulcan, to not be allowed to do much of anything. Yet the visits from his girlfriend, his son and his friends had been little moments of joy to him. Especially when at some point, someone had snuck one of his chickens into sickbay, much to the frustration of the medical staff.

He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling much better even if sudden movements were still tender to him. His eyes lit up as Beata walked up to him. "Hi..." he greeted, sitting up a little straighter.

"Hi there," She smiled. "I'm here to whisk you away to parts unknown." She said as she handed him a stack of clothing. "I have a gravity chair on standby if we need it and I've been told not to tire you out too much but you are mine for the day." She leaned closer to him, "I got the Captain's permission. Which is really saying something given everything I did earlier this year."

"Bee, we have been over that," Stef chided her while carefully getting dressed. "As for being yours for the day..." he smiled at her. "Í rather like that notion, being yours. I assume Alecx is with Razmi while we go out?" He wasn't looking forward to needing a chair, after being stuck for days he really wanted to use his own two feet.

"Yes, he's with Razmi. He adores her." Beata had turned around to allow him some privacy and seemed to focus her attention on the objects in the room. Thankfully she'd suffered no ill effects from their alien visitors on the ship and had just as much energy as always. "I thought we could take a walk on the starbase and maybe have some lunch, get lost in some secluded section of it. If you feel up to it of course."

"Razmi is practically family," Stef explained, "to him, she is his aunt." He smiled to himself as Beata turned, quietly shaking his head at the silliness of that. "I would get lost with you anywhere," he told her, reaching to turn her back towards him. "You have seen more of me than anyone else," he chuckled, "why act all shy now?" He sat on the bed again to pull on his boots. "And I do like the idea of having lunch, though the doctors have told me to take it easy with solid food since I have only had fluids for the past days." Yet despite it all, he seemed in very good spirits.

"It's just common courtesy to let someone dress without eyes on them. At least where I come from. And I'm sure we can find you something easy on the stomach. There should be lots of choices. Are you up for a walk or would you like me to get the chair? I don't want to undo any of your progress so far."

"I want to walk," Stef said, a look of determination on his face, "we can always use the transporter to the station, and go from there, and then transport back later. I need the exercise... perhaps we can find a holodeck program later with a nice beach or lake? Have a bit of a swim?"

Beata laughed, "You just spent days in a tank and you want to go back in the water? I don't know, I don't object to a holodeck program but I think we should just relax on the beach. We could enjoy the sunshine, sand and feel the breeze ruffle our hair." She was standing right next to him when he stood for the first time off of the biobed. "If you're sure. I'm sure you're tired of everyone babying you, but we care about you and don't want you pushing yourself too early."

"While I was suspended, I was mostly held unconscious," Stef told her, certain she was aware of that, "if anyone was babying me, I was barely aware of that. I was in a lot of pain, even the few times I was allowed to wake were painful." He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. "What I missed most was you and Alecx touching me. I felt so alone, bereft of contact." He paused, savouring the moment. "I do want to relax on the beach, feel the sunshine and just be with you. That is all that matters to me, you and Alecx, but for the moment just you."

"Well i couldn't have handled it, I can't even think about it too much," Beata shuddered. "I don't tell a lot of people this but I don't like enclosed spaces. Swimming in a pool or the ocean is fine, but a tank like that where you couldn't get out." She put her head down on Stef's shoulder briefly. "No thank you." Beata reached out and took his hand. "I shall lead the way if you trust me enough to follow?"

"I trust you completely," the young Vulcan told her, "have I not already proven that?"

"Yes," Beata said, planing a kiss on his cheek. "I was teasing you a little bit," she assured him. "So, is there someplace on the station that you want to see or shall we just stroll and see what we find?"

"Just stroll sounds good." Releasing her, he offered her his arm even if he was likely the one needing the support. "As long as we are together." He smiled as he took a few careful steps forward. "Transporter room first?" he asked sheepishly. "slowly though..."

"I will let you set the pace," Beata promised him. "You can lean on me if you need to as well." They set off toward a mini adventure but Beata was so pleased that she was able to share this with him, as close as she'd come to losing him.

Some time later, they finally found themselves on the station's promenade. Stef looked around in wonder. "It has been quite some time since I have been on a starbase," he admitted, "I feel so...small... compared to being on a ship." He leaned into her, resting a little against her. "And the smell of food makes me feel so hungry. Perhaps we could try a variety of places? Sample different food?"

"We could," Beata said, thinking about it. "I could sit you down at a table and go and order different plates from each restaurant and bring them to you? So you don't have to walk so much?"

"If they will allow it," Stef agreed, feeling a little unsteady after their short walk. "I really do like the feel if this place. It feels very diverse, though I do not think I could live on a station again. I like the smaller scale of a starship, and the ability to just up and go where you are needed to go." He allowed her to guide him to a nearby table and sat himself down. "How about you?"

"I've never lived on a starbase." Beata answered honestly. "I've only lived on Earth and the Majestic. But I'm so glad that Captain Saulitis let me stay on with you." She made sure he was settled. "Honestly, I don't think it would matter where I was stationed as long as I had people I cared about with me. I'll be right back. Any requests as to the food?"

"Vegetarian, and light on the stomach," Stef aswered, "and I am glad the captain let you stay too. I would be lost, without you." He paused. "I was lost, without you."

Beata let it go, she was determined not to mention what had happened on the planet ever again. "I will be right back," she assured him, then dashed off to gather a variety of foods. She would just share with Stef though she was not a vegetarian. It wouldn't hurt her to abstain from meat while eating with him today. She returned after a short time with her arms laden with dishes. "I didn't want you going hungry," she explained as she began sitting stuff down. "Still feeling all right?"

The Vulcan nodded, feeling bad about letting her carry it all. "I am fine," he answered, reaching up to retrieve some of the dishes from her arms. Noticing it was all without meat, he arched an eyebrow at her. "Surely, you brought something for yourself too?" he queried curiously, "I know you do eat meat..."

"I'll share with you, if that's okay? I can survive without meat, certainly for one meal." She sat down, placing utensils and napkins on the table. "I um, wanted to ask you . . . what are your thoughts on marriage. Not right now," she made that clear. "But would you ever get married again?"

Stef was about to tell her that he didn't mind sharing when she dropped that question on him. For a few seconds, he simply stared at her, hand frozen mid air as he'd been about to reach for something. Slowly, he dropped his hand, letting it come to rest on the table. "I would," he said after another few seconds, "provided it is a mutual agreement, and I would only with one specific person..." He wasn't quite sure where this was going, but he certainly was curious, if not a little nervous about it.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I don't want to get married right now. But I was curious if it was still something you would consider. I thought a lot about it when you were in that tank. At one point I really thought things weren't going to get any better."

"I promised you that I would not leave you," Stef answered slowly, "I promised you, I would always be here for you. That has not, nor will that change. If I ever were to marry again, the only woman I would, is you."

"You can't promise you won't die." Beata said softly. "But that's really not the point. Being there and wanting to marry me are two separate things. Now I know," she said simply with a small blush on her face.

"I will say it as many times as is needed," Stef told her, "I will go anywhere with you, and do anything for you. I love you, with all my being. I am yours, now, and forever."

"I know you do. I love you too." She just let the rest go and kissed him. "I never doubted that. Let's eat before it gets cold. How long before sickbay releases you back to quarters?"

Savouring the kiss, Stef closed his eyes for a moment. "I do not know, probably in a day or two?" He opened his eyes. "Will you come live with us? Permanently? We do not have to get married until we are ready to do so, but I do want you with me. Please?"

Beata opened her mouth to answer and then closed it again. She bit her lip. "Yes . . . but what about Alecx? How will he feel about it. And as much as I love you, I'm still not ready to be a mom, I don't think we should be physical because I'm not ready for children of my own."

"I am not asking you to be his mother Bee, not until you are ready to do so. He loves having you around. Everytime you leave, he asks when you are coming back." He smiled. "He tells me that when you are here, he can see I am happy. As far as being physical, I thought we had discussed this? Are you not on contraceptives?"

"I was going to, but then you didn't want to begin the process when we discussed it and then you ended up on the planet and then in that tank . . . . it just hasn't come up again."

"Do you still wish to?" It was an honest question, though his personal point of view wouldn't change. Still who was he to decide what someone else should or shouldn't do?

"Yes, I think so. I just don't want to take any chances." She didn't know if Stef would ever understand the trauma she had experienced as a child. It was going to take a while for her to adjust to the idea of being a family and a mother and she wanted to be absolutely sure that her child would never have to go through what she did.

"I will respect whatever choice you make," Stef told her, "I want you to be happy too." He studied her for a moment. "You will move in with me and Alecx then?" he asked her, anxious for her answer.

"Yes, I said I would." Beata smiled and then kissed him again. "I'll pack when we get back. But let's eat before this gets cold."

---

Ensign Beata Lauryl
Operations Officer

Crewman Apprentice Stef
Yeoman/animal caretaker