Candygram

Posted on 29 Sep 2016 @ 11:30pm by Captain Harvey Geisler & Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler

6,919 words; about a 35 minute read

Mission: Click Three Times
Location: Geisler's Quarters
Timeline: MD 7 || 2200 Hours

Once her shift was finally over, Joey made her way back to her quarters with Rico and Pequeno. She was actually dreading her return simply because she knew what was waiting for her, but... she just didn't want to deal with it. Not right now. Her brown eyed gaze took in the chaos around her as a frown formed on her lips. Her personal effects being tossed around once was bad enough, but the second time... that was adding insult to injury. Sadly, she just couldn't bring herself to care. Not after watching the Chimera explode. Her damage had been too great, and there was no way to tow her anywhere to get her fixed. Corwin understood that, but it felt like a slap to the face, and now she felt like it'd all been for nothing.

She moved over to the wooden figurine her grandfather carved for her, and as carefully as she could, Joey picked all of the pieces up and brought them into her bedroom where she slipped them into her closet. For now, she would be safe there until she could be fixed. That little trinket that held so much sentimental value to her was definitely beginning to express exactly how she felt on the inside. Broken. Of course, she'd deal with it the same way she dealt with all of the terrible situations she'd encountered over the years. She'd pour herself into her job. Right now, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and try to forget life for a while. She couldn't do that, though. Not yet, anyway. There was one last thing that needed to be done.

Joey pulled one of the blue trunks from her closet and brought it over to the bed to open it, staring at the vast amount of candy inside of it. Soon, this particular trunk would find a new home in the Captain's quarters, but not before she added more of the butterscotch discs he seemed to be so fond of. It didn't take long for that simple task to be completed before she closed the lid and fastened the latches. Thankfully, the trunk itself was on wheels so she wouldn't have to carry it, but would be able to pull it behind her as she went.

With that done, she made her way back out into the main living area to feed her two canine companions and give them water. Rico and Pequeno both moved to their dishes with happy tails wagging and began to eat. She watched them for a few minutes, but she couldn't smile. Neither of them really knew what was going on around them. Like children, they were innocent... oblivious.

After feeding the two canines, she moved into her bedroom once more to change. Her attire, a pair of black lounge pants and an older looking Academy t-shirt, was meant to be simple and functional so she'd be able to fall right into bed when the time came. After pulling her hair back into a ponytail, then slipping her feet into her shoes, she grabbed the trunk from the bed and made her way out to make sure the two canines had everything they needed. When she was satisfied they'd be okay until she got back, she grabbed the handle of the trunk and made her way up to Harvey's quarters where she pressed the chime to alert him of her presence.

Harvey sat at his desk, watching the warp trails zip by the window. Ever since returning to his quarters, he hadn't bothered to change out of his uniform, though the jacket was unzipped and the front pushed back so his red shirt displayed prominently. He remembered all too well the last time he'd been this emotionally and physically spent.

He was just thinking about retreating to the bedroom when he heard the chime sound. "Come," he muttered, not even possessing the strength to say a single word at full volume.

Joey walked inside, pulling the trunk behind her. It didn't take long for her to spot him sitting behind his desk. "Hey," she said softly, just a bit worried about how this was going to go, but she couldn't dwell on it. "How are you holding up?"

Harvey slowly exhaled a deep breath before answering. "Barely," he remarked. "I left a hundred and fifty people back there." He sighed again and closed his eyes. "And who knows what dimension we've entered."

Abandoning the trunk, Joey found herself moving toward him. "You made the right call, Harvey," she said softly. "If we would have gone back, we would have all died. Them... us... no one would have come back from it. Logically, I knew going back would have led to certain death, but the Close Protection Officer in me didn't want to leave them behind. I've been part of rescue missions before, granted none of them were people I was assigned to. We're going to get them back. No matter where they are... no matter who has them... we will get them back."

Harvey broke his stare at the window and looked at Joey. "We sure as hell will," he confirmed, his tone a bit stronger this time. "Trouble is, we don't even know what we're up against. Sure, there's Karemma here, but..." Harvey rose from his chair. Sighing and shaking his head as he met Joey beside the desk. "There's no telling what dangers await us, or what they're going to do to the Cochrane and so on. We need information, and hopefully we can get it where we're going."

"We'll get that information. We'll find out everything we need to know to get our people back. If me, or any other member of this crew, has to go through the process of making ourselves look like one of them and infiltrate their base of operations, then that's what will be done," she said, meeting his gaze. "This isn't a hopeless situation yet. It won't ever be hopeless until there is no hope left, and we've still got that."

"That you can count on," he told her, thinking hope was all they really had. He sighed again, but kept his gaze on her face. They'd been through a lot the last few days, and part of him wished their relationship had had a different start, rather than be formed in the midst of a crisis. "How about you? How's Joey?"

"I'm fine," Joey answered. Her concern wasn't for herself, but it was for him. Sure... the entire crew went through some pretty traumatic ordeals, and seemed to still be doing so, but he was the Captain of the ship and everyone depended on him for guidance, security... to know everything was going to be okay. "I had a few cups of coffee once the replicators came back online, so I'm not as tired as I was a few hours ago. Have you eaten anything?"

"You came onto the bridge," he said, thinking of that unforgettable moment, "and protested my decision. Not even the bridge crew said anything." He shook his head, his mind now thinking of food. "Just a ration bar around 1400 is all," he said. "What time is it anyway?"

"About twenty-two hundred... give or take a few minutes," Joey replied, thinking back to her appearance on the bridge. She didn't expect it to go the way it did. "I did come onto the bridge, and I did protest your decision. Logically, you made the right choice, and I knew that it was, but there have been times in my career where similar choices were made..." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's just say that those choices made me wish for different outcomes, while others were just right."

She moved over to the couch and settled down. "The Close Protection Officer part of me didn't... doesn't... want to waste any time. I do know your choice is the right one, though, so don't doubt yourself for a single second. And you need to eat something."

The doctor in him awakened for a moment. "And so do you," he replied, moving over to the replicator. "Coffee will only keep you going for so long." He replicated two grilled chicken sandwiches and two glasses of water. Carrying the sandwiches over to the couch, he said, "We're heading for what you'd call a long shot. A space station on the fringe of space, one that would make even the seediest Ferengi squirm."

"That should be interesting," Joey said, wondering what an away team would encounter if it would make even the seediest Ferengi squirm. "It also sounds like it's going to be extremely dangerous, too, so whoever ends up going... will need to be careful. Make sure you choose the party for the away team very carefully. Whoever you choose, could be the difference between them wanting to work with our people... or kill our people." Another chance to stare death in the face again. She tried not to be so morbid about it, but after everything, that's about all the Black Hawk and her crew seemed to find lately.

"Oh, I fully expect no one but the best to go with me," Harvey said, returning to the replicator for the waters. "And with your CPO background, you're the only person I'm personally drafting to go with us."

Joey blinked and looked over at him. When she was a CPO in the past, she'd encountered some pretty serious situations and felt she'd be able to keep anyone going safe, but he was putting a lot of trust in her. "I'm honored, and will do everything I can to make sure anyone else that goes remains safe." Of course, she purposely left out that part that her training meant keeping others safe by any means necessary... even if it meant self sacrifice.

Harvey returned with the two glasses. "Good," he simply replied. "Enough people have died in the last few days. I don't want to lose anyone else." He sat the glasses on the coffee table as he joined her on the couch. A free hand instantly reached over to cover her knee, silently emphasizing his point. He didn't want to lose her either.

"You're right, and I don't want anyone else to be lost, either. We will get our people back no matter what it takes," she said, slipping her hand over his and giving him a gentle squeeze. Once he was settled again, she turned her gaze back to him. "You know what you need to relax a bit. I know it may not seem possible all things considered, but you're going to be needed at the top of you game for however long all of this is going to last." The worry she felt for him wasn't exactly hard to hide. "You should take a shower and crawl into bed. I think you'll be able to sleep longer than a few hours tonight."

He nodded. "After dinner," he said, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite. As he chewed, he realized the last warm meal he'd had was lunch the day before. The meal before that had been dinner before the ship got caught in the gravimetric distortions. The chicken certainly hit the spot, but he resisted the urge to take an immediate second bite. He did notice she'd arrived alone. Both of the dogs had to have been either in her quarters or back in security. "I think I could use some company though," he told her. Truth be told, though he was used to being alone, he was afraid if was on his own tonight, he might not be able to get the sleep that he needed. He didn't expect her to stay though. With Rico and Pequeno absent, he was certain she wouldn't stay too much longer.

"I can stay if you want me to. I made sure Rico and Pequeno were taken care of before I left to come here, so they'll be fine until morning," Joey said, looking down at the chicken sandwich she still held. That was the moment she realized she was starving. She took a bite and savored the taste as she chewed, then swallowed before speaking again. "Maybe I might be able to sleep, too. Well, when the coffee finally wears off. I didn't bring anything with me this time, though, because I didn't want to assume anything. I suppose it's a good thing I wore something I wouldn't mind sleeping in... as much as I hate wearing pants to bed."

"I'm sure we can figure out something if it's going to be a bother," he told her before taking another bite of his sandwich. He figured he could use replicator credits to produce sleepwear if need be, but his mind was quickly distracted when he noticed his sandwich was nearly gone. He wasn't one to eat fast or in large bites. It seems his body was more in need of sustenance than he expected.

Joey shook her head. "It won't be a bother at all since I can take them off easily enough. You've seen me in less before," she pointed out, taking another bite of her own sandwich. When she noticed his was about gone, she tore hers in half and held the other half out to him. "I know you're going to try to protest, but I insist."

He looked at her, resisting the urge to raise an eyebrow in regards to her comment about less. How could he forget their first moments in the holodeck? Then he looked at the sandwich for a moment. Without a verbal protest he accepted the half with his free hand. "This isn't going to be one of those kind of relationships, is it?" he asked. "One of us always insisting so that the other doesn't argue?"

"I certainly hope not, though, I'm sure we'll be able to compromise on most things," she said as she finished off the rest of the half she still held in her hand. Sadly, Joey knew if she attempted to put anything more into her stomach after eating so little over the last couple of days, she'd end up getting sick, and that was definitely not something she wanted to happen. "The holodecks aren't back online yet, are they?"

Harvey paused, considering the matter. "I honestly don't know. If they're not working tonight, you can bet they will be tomorrow."

"If they are, I think we should make use of them. Take some aggression out on the waves for a little while. I haven't been surfing since the last time you and I went," she said, leaning back against the couch. "Are you ready to take a shower now?" Her question was purely innocent, and even her tone suggested that it was, too. "It'll help you relax a bit so you'll sleep better."

"It's worth a look for sure," Harvey said, finishing the rest of her sandwich. "But why take a shower when we're just going to get in the water? Let me change into something a little more comfortable. Captain Geisler shouldn't leave these quarters until tomorrow morning."

"Oh, if we're going now, I need to go down to my place and change, too," she said as she rose to her feet, stretching her arms above her head with a groan. "Do you want me to meet you at the holodecks? If they're not working yet, we can do something else to let off some steam."

Harvey rose at the same time she did and entered the bedroom to remove his uniform. "Oh?" he called out to her. "Did you have something in mind?" He was genuinely curious as to what she had in mind. If there was a queue for the holodecks, he would prefer to let the crew use them first.

"We could finally make use of those hula hoops we have, or..." she began, unable to hide the grin that crept up on her. "you can stand in the middle of the living room while I blast you with water guns. If they are running, I'm sure there are a great deal of people waiting to be able to use them."

Harvey looked down beside the bed where the hula hoop laid after the recent craziness. A brief chuckle escaped his throat as his mind ventured back to the water fight. Were they not on edge, he'd pull the small water gun he slipped into his dresser drawer and fire the first shot. No, shooting each other was not the best idea, even if they made each other moving targets. He changed into a white t-shirt and a pair of blue sleep pants.

He returned to the main room where she was still waiting. "I'll reserve time for tomorrow in Holodeck One," he told her. Harvey held up the hula hoop he brought with him. "I think it's time I learned how to use this."

Joey grinned when she saw him come out of his bedroom with the hula hoop, then started plotting his next surprise. She wasn't sure what it would be just yet, but there was a little time before she had to reveal it to him. "Do you want me to demonstrate first, or do you want to jump and give it a try? It's pretty easy once you get it in place. All you have to do is move your waist in a circular motion."

"I think a demonstration is in order," Harvey replied, spinning the hoop vertically in his hand. He remembered some of the motions from the days before, but he'd never been good with anything other than walking and running.

Since he was in possession of the only hula hoop present, she grinned and began to move her waist in a circular motion. "Like this, but it looks a lot different when there's a hula hoop involved." And, she looked absolutely foolish at the moment, but just didn't seem to care. In fact, she started laughing, only able to imagine what she looked like from his vantage point.

Her laughter was certainly infectious as Harvey was quick to join her. "It seems simple enough," Harvey said, still chuckling. "Like this?" he asked, raising the hoop over his head and holding it horizontally now. He carefully positioned a portion of the hoop over his hip, gave it a thought and started to swing his hips. The hoop quickly spun once as it feet, barely missing his feet.

Joey giggled and bent down to pick it up while he was still inside of it, then brought it up to his waist. "Close. Okay, start circling your waist, and I'll get the hula hoop going," she said, unable to keep the bright smile off of her face. This was what she needed. Something to help her forget about all of the horrible things that seemed to surround them all lately. "I think you'll pick this one up pretty quickly."

"This makes surfing look like a cake walk," he remarked. Looking down, Harvey started to circle his waist, wanting to observe how Joey would get the hoop going.

"You think so?" Joey asked, watching him begin the circular motion. When she felt he had a pretty good rhythm going, she gave the hoop a spin so it would circle around his hips, then willed his motions to keep it up as she backed away to give him room.

Realizing she had let go, Harvey did his best to keep his hips in motion. What he could not stop, however, was his mind from thinking what he was doing. The hoop must have gone around his hips two or three times before clattering to the floor.

She moved forward again and picked the hula hoop up once move, then straightened up so she could look at him with a grin. "I bet that you would have never pictured yourself doing something like this before," she observed. "I'm either a really bad influence, or a really good one. I'll leave that for you to decide." With a smile, she lifted the hula hoop over his head, then lowered it over her own, then began to spin it around using only her hips and waist.

He'd already decided what kind of influence she was, but he didn't say so as his eyes were fixated on her hips. And, there were many things he hadn't considered before. "How do you do that?" he asked, completely bewildered by how well she could keep that going. "It must be the genes," the doctor in him remarked.

"It takes practice just like anything else does," she answered as she started to walk a circle around him with the hula hoop still going. It didn't go unnoticed that he didn't tell her what kind of influence she was, though, and despite being curious, she'd leave it alone for now. "I don't know about it being in the genes, either. You'll get the hang of it, though." Finally, she stopped again and lifted the hula hoop once more, only this time, she lowered it down over both of them and held it at their waists.

"Just like surfing," he said with a smirk, enjoying the fact that she'd joined him inside the hoop. His eyes remained upward, focusing on her own eyes. His smirk slowly grew, but never quite became a full smile. "Good," he said, still staring at her. Before he could clarify what that was for, he kissed her.

Joey let go of the hula hoop, allowing it fall to the floor, then looped her arms around his as she returned the kiss. After a few moments, she pulled back, but held his gaze. "So... what would you say if I suggested we take practicing to the bedroom?" she asked softly. Part of her was prepared for him to say no, but another part of her hoped he would say yes.

The subject was bound to come up sooner or later. While he had planned for this relationship to move at a much slower pace than his previous one, Harvey found his subconscious feeling quite different. It was his subconscious that caused his arms to wrap around her body and pulled her close. What was he waiting for? If it were possible, he'd draw her closer.

Though his smile was still present, his head quickly took control. "I'm afraid I'd have to decline," he told her. "It's not that I don't want to. I... I enjoy this. The hula, the surfing, the adventures. When we do, I want it to be because we're ready, not because it's the result of how we've reacted to our trials."

While some might have felt rejected by hearing those words, Joey did not. In fact, a smile formed on her lips as she listened to him speak. He was right. When the time finally came, they both deserved for it to be special. Harvey didn't know it, but he held a very special place inside her heart... a place that no one occupied before him. Could it be the beginning of love? She didn't exactly know, but she planned to take her time finding out, and while she did, she got to enjoy his company as well. Those were all win-win scenarios to her.

With her arms still looped around his neck, and the smile still on her face, she leaned in to kiss him softly. "You're right, and I completely understand. I got caught up in the moment," she said softly. "There's no need for us to rush. Like you... I'm enjoying this, and I can't wait to see what other kinds of adventures we have together as time progresses. Thank you, Harvey... for caring enough to want to wait until we're ready." She knew most other men would have jumped on the opportunity, but he wasn't like other men. "I genuinely mean that."

He smiled at her remarks, grateful that he was making the right decision. Even now as he stood here with her, all he could feel was happiness. No regret, no wondering what may have been. Harvey Geisler was coming alive again, and though Joey had her fair share of contributions, Harvey also knew there were several other members of the crew who were instrumental in restoring his soul. He'd have to find a way to show his appreciation to them as well. "And thank you," he told her, "for helping me see what I've been blind to and ignoring these years."

"You're welcome, Harvey, but you don't have to thank me for that. Me... the others you're close with... we've only laid the ground work. Everything else... it's been you," Joey said softly, bringing her hands to cup either side of his face. She was so proud of the strides he made, and while she didn't exactly know Captain Harvey Geisler before, she had heard multiple stories from others. Still, though, Joey would have tried to break away at his shell, even if it would have taken her a lifetime to do so. "I'm so proud of you, Harvey. I know the last ten or so years haven't been easy for you, but you've come a long way. You may have me, Mila, and the others helping you along the way, but you're the one who is doing the hard part."

"And I appreciate it, probably more than any of you will ever know." Harvey's smile began to droop. "While I look forward to exploring more, right now, our focus has to be the crew. It's the best I've ever served with, but I don't know how much more any of us can take."

"Not much more, I don't think," she said quietly, lowering her arms to her sides as her own smile faded. There was nothing quite like harsh reality to kill a moment of happiness. Now, she wondered why she'd even allowed herself to feel that way when the Black Hawk's crew was on the verge of a mental breakdown, as well as dealing with the knowledge that more than a hundred people were enduring who knew what. Maybe her momentary lapse of selfishness earlier in the day wasn't so momentary at all.

Swallowing a lump back in her throat, she thought back to everything that happened over the last few days. Boarders, a fire fight, over-taking a ship that no longer existed, the Valdore with a super weapon, the many lives that were lost, and now... now they were... where were they? No one knew, and the Cochrane was taken because they were in no shape to take on the five vessels that were so kind enough to welcome them.

When she was on the bridge, her apology for speaking out of turn wasn't because she felt guilty, but now... that was one of many things she was feeling. Guilt. Remorse. Helplessness. Anger at herself. It was almost more than she could take at the moment. "I'm sor... sorry. I... I should go," she choked out, gesturing to the door behind her as she took a backward step toward it. "I'll... uh... I'll see you tomorrow." She turned around and made her to the door.

Harvey instantly regretted allowing reality back into his quarters. This was one of the times that he wished he could disconnect himself, but for the sake of over six hundred people, he could never do so. Seeing Joey abruptly turn for the door forced his own twinge of guilt. "Wait!" he quickly said, reaching out to grab her hand.

Joey stopped when she felt his hand grab hers, but she kept her gaze locked on the floor beneath her. She didn't know what to say. She didn't even know what to do aside from curl up in a little ball and damn herself for being happy when there was so much death and destruction around them.

Harvey approached her side and stepped between her and the door, never releasing her hand. "I'm the one who's sorry," he told her. "This will end," Harvey told her. "I do not care what I have to do, but I guarantee you that this will end." He reached and tenderly clutched her other hand before continuing. "We stick together," he said gently. "We can do it."

"You're a good Captain, and we're all incredibly lucky you're our Commanding Officer. Who knows where any of us would be without your guidance and encouragement," she said softly, turning her attention to their hands. "We can do it, and we will."

He nodded and presented a bold smile. "I couldn't do it without you," he told her.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then turned her gaze to him. Her eyes were red from holding back tears, but she didn't want to cry. "You could, Harvey. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, don't forget that," she said, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek.

There had to be something more to this. Everything was fine just a few minutes ago and she'd turned on a dime before his very eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked her, wanting to see if he could help solve it.

Joey pulled her hands from his and stepped forward to close what little distance remained between them. She slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder, grateful that he stopped her from leaving. "Just like everyone else, I'm trying to deal with everything that's been going on... still attempting to process all of it," she said softly. "The last few days have been hell, and the only thing I've had to look forward to is my time with you. We can all use a little downtime, Harvey... even when things seem bleak. Without it, you, me, the rest of the crew... we will crack. I just don't want to feel guilty for needing that, and because I do doesn't mean I've forgotten about what's going on."

"Thankfully, we have a few days before we get where we're going," Harvey assured her, embracing her gently yet firmly. "And then it'll be back to get the Cochrane. All in all, I'd say we have a week before the hard part. We've got plenty of time for some internal R and R. And, tomorrow, we'll go surfing in the holodeck. I've got to practice sometime."

"We can do that, but I also think I should get you into the training facility for a little hand to hand combat training since we're going to be going to space station that would make a Ferengi squirm," she commented, though she trusted her own ability to keep people safe. "It would make me feel better if you knew the basics at the very least."

"It's been a while for the hand to hand," he confessed. His eyes narrowed as he gave the matter some serious thought. Maybe a year or two." He chuckled, thinking about it. "I got into a fight with a Tzenkethi exchange officer when I was XO aboard the Schuster. He didn't like our security protocols and wanted to do something about it."

"I hope you kicked his ass for it, too. Sadly, not everyone is going to appreciate certain protocols that are put into place, and I've always got three words for them. Get over it," Joey stated as she pulled back. The Security side of her was starting to rear her head, and she began to pace the floor. "Three days isn't a lot of time, but I think I can make it work. Once there's a complete list of all personnel going to the station, I'd like to meet up with them to brush them up on the basics of combat training, too. Hopefully, no one will have to use it, though. I trust myself... as well as any other Security officers going... to keep everyone safe."

Finally, she stopped pacing and looked back to him. "I should probably get to Security and start making preparations," she said as her brow furrowed. "Do you wish to bring more Security personnel? I'll need to get with Camila after I go through personnel files to determine who would be the right fit." Now, her brain was set on overdrive.

Harvey couldn't help but smile, recognizing the woman who paced in front of him now. It was one of the many reasons why he admired her. "I'll have a list tomorrow," Harvey told her. "But so far, it's you, me, and Lieutenant Langston. As for the rest of the details... Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow... right. Normal people try to sleep," she commented offhandedly, but right now, she was wired for sound. It wasn't the coffee she drank earlier, but the fact that she had so much running through her mind at the moment. "Speaking of... you should try to get some sleep. I'm going to be up for a little while. I need to burn off some of my newfound energy. I think I can keep it down enough to work out a bit here."

"And I still need to shower," he told her. "Make yourself at home. What's mine is yours." With that, he smiled and backed into the bedroom.

Joey smiled. She recalled saying those same words to him earlier in the day, and she'd meant it. At some point during that time, she also remembered mentioning something about not all of their moments together being good ones. They'd already encountered one of those, but it was pretty minor, and they moved passed it rather well. Circumstances had everyone feeling a bit off, and neither of them were an exception. She watched him disappear into the bedroom, then waited a few minutes to make sure he was in the shower before she made her way into the bedroom.

Once inside, she moved over to Harvey's chest of drawers and pulled open one of the drawers. She wasn't digging through it to be nosy, but was looking for one of his t-shirts. Pulling one of the white ones she'd found out, Joey brought it over to the bed and sat it down. Hopefully, he wouldn't mind, but he did say what was his was hers. Smiling, she quickly shed her clothes and pulled the shirt on before settling down on the bed on the side without the nightstand. It didn't take long before she was lying on her side facing the bathroom door with her head resting on her hand. The t-shirt she wore did nothing to hide her long toned legs, but it was just enough to keep other parts of her concealed. Now... she planned to wait for him to rejoin her.

Harvey had leaned against the wall in the sonic shower. As he stood there, he realized how long it had been since he'd taken one. Even though he'd crawled into bed the past few nights, he hadn't cared about the grime and grease and blood he'd collected during the mission. He was almost certain that by taking so long in the shower, he was about to cause some sort of concern both between Joey and then operations for the lengthy power consumption.

Frankly, he didn't care. He'd hoped the sonic ripples would blast away the stress much like the soil on his skin. Unfortunately, even after fifteen minutes, it had little effect on his mind. Clean, he exited the shower and put on the same pajamas he'd put on just a bit ago. Ruffling his fingers through his hair, he exited the bathroom to find someone waiting for him on the bed. She looked quite different than when he'd left her a few minutes ago, with the white shirt offering very little to his imagination. He smiled as he took his soiled uniform to the recycler. "That shirt suits you," he remarked.

"I couldn't help myself after you use the 'what's mine is yours' line. I'll be honest... I didn't think it was going to fit." Joey said with a smile. She pushed the covers back on the bed and slipped under them. "For a second, I thought I was going to have to send out a search party. That idea was short lived." She tucked her arms behind her head and watched him.

No sooner did he insert the uniform into the recycler, did he turn around to see Joey under the covers. Harvey couldn't help but chuckle at both her comment about fitting and how quickly she'd slipped into the bed. Smiling and shaking his head, he joined her at the bed, sitting on top of the covers. It'd be easy to turn back on what he'd said just a few minutes ago in the other room, especially with her looking more attractive by the second. Still, he knew the best thing to do would be to stand on his word, which was why he did not immediately join her under the covers. "Seems overkill," he remarked, still smiling. "Having a search party invade the Captain's bathroom. Imagine the scuttlebutt that would generate."

Joey couldn't help but laugh. That was the second time he'd mentioned overkill where she was concerned, but the first time was well warranted in her mind all things considered. Still, it was amusing to her. From her spot on the bed, she turned her gaze to him. "I think I might have been the only member of that search party, but I can only imagine the look on your face if a bunch of Security personnel invaded your bathroom." she said, unable to keep herself from giggling as she pictured it. "The scuttlebutt... we'd never hear the end of that. You'd be an Admiral still hearing stories about it."

Smiling, he said, "There could be worse things, I suppose," he told Joey, shifting on the bed to pull closer to her. "I hear Mila's really good at killing rumors on the ship, though I doubt she can stop everything from spreading. Oh, and don't ever let me make Admiral. I've only been a captain for ten months now, and I don't think I can handle a desk."

"You don't want to sit behind a desk?" she asked with another smile, leaning in to kiss him when he was closer to her. "I think you'd make a good one someday, but it might take a while since you've only been a Captain for ten months. For the record, and I know I've said it before, you're a good Captain. The crew and I are very lucky. I just happen to be luckier for other reasons." She shifted around a bit herself and slipped an arm over him.

He leaned back and laid beside her. "No, no," he said. "If Starfleet decides they want me as brass, they'll get a resignation. I pushed PADDs for a while back at Starbase 211 and I hated every minute of it. If I'm going to get old doing this, then I want to retire happy. Maybe even go back into medicine and start a clinic. Who knows?"

Harvey leaned over and kissed her once more. "But the future's a long way off. It's best to leave it there for now. I'd rather enjoy these moments I have with you."

Joey returned the kiss. "I'm the same way. I'd rather retire out here as opposed to being behind a desk. There are horrible moments we have to deal with, but out here, we make a difference. Sitting behind a desk... you just can't get that." she said, slipping her hand into his. "I'm all for leaving the future in the future, too. I don't think I'd ever want to know what was going to happen before it happened. Besides... I have you here now, and that's more than I could have ever hoped for."

"I couldn't agree more," he said, tightening his grip on her hand. While he would have preferred to smile, a yawn boldly escaped his mouth. "I think that settles that," he said, letting go and slipping under the covers himself. He tapped a button beside the bed to kill the lights, letting the room be solely illuminated by the stars.

"Goodnight, Harvey," Joey said softy with a sleepy smile. She honestly felt like she could sleep for days if she was given half the chance to. Rolling over onto her side, she tucked an arm beneath her head and snuggled down farther under the covers. Harvey needed to get a good night's sleep, and she planned to give him his space to do just that. However, if he chose to pull her to him or move closer to her, there would be no complaining from her. Besides, she had a feeling she'd end up closer to him as the night progressed. "Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Joey," Harvey said. Before closing his eyes, he looked over to Joey. The room was dark, save for the starlight which barely illuminated her silhouette. A smile crept on his face and then his eyes closed. In spite of all of the hell they'd faced over the last couple of days, he was more than thankful for the small light in the darkness. That light, Joey, would keep him sane throughout all of this. He was confident that they'd rescue those they'd lost and return home. And, with her at his side, he almost felt invincible.

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