Be Safe

Posted on 12/30/2021 @ 1:56pm by Commander Aer Feshau-Patton & Colonel Jack Patton

1,881 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 22: The Other Side of the Mirror
Location: Aer & Jack Quarters
Timeline: MD001 0830 hrs

Aer felt as if she had been pacing the room for a long time. She had heard that she was not to accompany some of the crew on the mission to venture into the mirror universe. She felt as if she was being benched and it hurt.

There was not malice in it, just a decision that it made sense that not ALL senior staff went. Still, she felt it would be vital in gathering intelligence from another universe and helping out her friends, making sure they come home safe.

On that note, Jack was going and this filled her with dread. She had learnt to channel most of how she felt into positive things, after all he was a marine and they weren't the safest of sorts. There was a part of her that felt as if Jack had made a point of making sure she wasn't on the mission, his protective nature was always something he never hid behind.

Jack stepped out from the bedroom into the living room. He had just changed into his fatigues for field work. He smiled at his bride and joy as he affixed the beret to his head. "Listen I do not have much time. This piece of work Captain Thorrin wants to leave immediately. I know you want to go, and you probably think that I made it so you can stay here. But in actuality it was Cara's idea. She needs some seasoned officers to assist her in keeping this place in orbit. I don't like it any more than you do. But I can't let Neil go there alone, and Cara needs to mind the shop...." Jack stopped in the middle of the room and stroked his chin as he thought for a moment. "...You know it is not the Mirror Universe that I am afraid will harm us or the Captain. It is Thorrin himself. For an El Aurian he seems more Romulan."

"Did you practice that in the mirror before you came out?" Aer teased. The first half of what he had said sounded rather rehearsed. Almost like he was expecting Aer's pacing, she was almost as open as a book sometimes but they did know each other so well they could tell how their behaviour would be.

"Thorrin? Captain Thorrin?" She asked rhetorically. "I thought he was quite nice. In a strange way though, bit off an odd man but he told me he knew my grandfather. Told me he was my Uncle Thorrin." She said with a small smile.

Jack practically chocked on his coffee. "That misanthrope is related to you. The man seems to have a stick lodged so far up his rear he hopes. And the Vulcan that follows him everywhere. Gives me the creeps. Believe me when I say I would much rather be staying here with you then going there with him. You didn't feel like there was something off about him?" Jack asked as he leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"I felt he was holding a lot back. I tried to get see his ship and it was like he knew it. He appeared near me and started talking to me. Through that I learnt he was like family, I don't think there is any blood relation." She laughed softly as she gave him a napkin for his coffee face. "What if he was related? Are you scared when we have kids that you'll get a Thorrin child?" She asked nudging him with her arm. "He told me he'd want to get to know me better as well." Aer admitted.

"Actually now that you mention it yeah... I imagine Thorrin as a child gave everyone the creeps. I am going to assemble a detachment of the Kingsmen to go and Sherlock is going to be among them. If you could make sure that one of your people got on the team. I would just feel more comfortable with more people watching Thorrin's every move." Jack continued to prepare his gear. The thought of whether they would need the Suits crossed his mind.

"I can send T'ra with you. She is very competent, and I know she'll look out for you just as much as I would." Aer replied still still unhappy that she wouldn't be there to watch out for him herself. "I'm sure Thorrin isn't that bad." She almost defended the unknown man. "All Captain's have secrets. All El Aurians of that age more so because of what they've seen. I'm sure that is just the case. You worry too much, although I suppose I'm one to say that."

His mood and his look changed as he looked toward her. "You are tougher than you give yourself credit for. With most of the Kingsmen coming with me Cara is going to need you. She is not new to command but she is still new to this sector and doesn't know the ins and outs. She is going to rely on you."

A moment later Jack was holding an actual camera that he had retrieved from the replicator. "Smile and look pretty my love..." When Aer was ready he snapped the picture and had the computer develop it. Within minutes he held an actual small sized photograph of Aer. He slid the picture into a shirt pocket. "Old traditions die hard. Can't leave home without knowing what you're fighting for, without a picture of your sweetheart."

"Well we better hope there isn't a catastrophe of some sort that needs the marines here... although I suppose we have security here to help us from big bad men." she replied to Jack as she thought about potential dangers that may hit the station. Truth be told there were a great many, and not all that far from probable.

Posing for a picture was nothing strange, but the manner in which he did so and the device he used was quite cute if not peculiar. She had not had much time to make herself look presentable and she did give a 'you could have let me know' look before the image was taken. "I'd hope I would be so hard to forget that you wouldn't need a picture of me, you know, just in case." she teased.

"Forget you never..." Jack teased back. "As for the Marines Meatball is here and in charge of the rest of the Kingsmen. Brina and one platoon are coming with me. So no need to worry there." His voice turned serious and he embraced then kissed Aer. "Babe, listen... I don't know if you know what Thorrin does, but you're in Intelligence. So the way I figure it you will find out one way or the other. Thorrin's ship is a timeship and we are going through the mirror. I need you to know that I have always loved you. When one goes through time, one has no idea what could happen." He embraced her again one part to never let go, and the other to cover the uncertainty that he felt about this mission.

"Well I am glad you are leaving someone in charge with more sense than you." she teased once more as she felt Jack draw her close. Their embrace was strong, tight, almost as if they did not want to let each other go... and Aer didn't. It felt as if Jack let her go then she'd fall into an abyss and never get back out, that feeling did not waver once he put his serious face on.

"I knew he wasn't what he said he was." Aer admitted, but she wasn't really surprised. She was an intelligent woman and it didn't take a genius to figure out a fancy new ship with a crew wearing orange looking jumpsuits were up to secret things. "I have always loved you too Jack. You may be a danger magnet, you tease me A LOT, but I am yours now and always." she said squeezing him again. "The less we talk about going through time the better, you know how time affects me." she said nodding to her medication drawer next to their bed. "I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it."

"Right..." his voice trailed off as he looked at her he slung his bag of gear on his shoulder right after he affixed his beret back on his head. Jack had a briefing to conduct he had to bring the Kingsmen up to speed. Yet he did not want to leave, especially not knowing if he would be back. He looked at her, drank her in. There was a time when Jack would simply run off without so much as a thought when duty called. Now here he was wishing he could say no to a mission. Damn, you make things so complicated but gods I love you. he thought. "I will be back soon. Keep the homefires burning." He smiled as he realized this was the first time he was shipping out since meeting Aer.

Aer could feel Jack's hesitation. There was a lingering feeling in the air, his steps slow and measured and all Aer could do was watch. Sometimes she wondered who would have it harder... the one going away, or the one staying behind?

She took one half step forward as Jack spoke, almost as if to not let him leave. Aer knew she couldn't keep him, although the idea of tieing him up was interesting. "Just... be careful. Okay?" She asked as she moved in for a quick hug again. "Don't go being a hero or anything. You are already mine." She squeezed.

"And you're mine..." Jack whispered. He rather enjoyed having an equal, a partner for a wife. "...Don't worry, Songbird likes you too much to let me do anything fun." He added with a smile and then kissed her like he had never kissed her before. He made sure that she would not forget his lips on hers while he was away. When the kiss broke he whispered. "My soul, my everything is yours..."

The kiss was so strong, so full of passion and of feeling it made her toes curl... which was difficult given she was on her tip toes to reach him. Her eyes closed and remained that way as it felt like she hung in the air, stuck in a daydream of fantasy. She heard words but couldn't understand them and as she almost fell forward in her own delight she noticed Jack had slipped out.

It was probably better that way... she wasn't going to let him leave. The thought of throwing her clothes at him crossed her mind but she knew it would be a stop gap as he was a man of duty and he would do his towards Harrington and his team. She understood this well, now at least.

This was the first time she would be on her own since they'd been together and she wasn't going to lie... their quarters seemed a lot bigger now, a lot quieter and a little colder. She was already counting the minutes until he came back.

---

Lieutenant Colonel Jack Patton
Poseidon Strategic Command
Commanding Officer, The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant Commander Aer Feshau
Chief Intelligence Officer
Poseidon Station

 

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