Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim: Harris’ Office

Posted by Captain Molly Wright (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Side Sim: Harris’ Office

Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim: Harris’ Office
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Molly remained silent as both Intelligence officers walked down the corridor from Transporter Room 1. Luckily, Wright’s quarters were in the same deck as the Transporter Room, making the walk a short one.

In her mind, thoughts raced about past and present. Their training together… Ashton and their destroyed relationship… Ryan and his fiancée… Cal…

As they approached the door to her quarters, Molly shook her head, dismissing the thoughts and realizing this to be the first time Ryan would be in her living space after the one they had shared together for a year.

“I’m sorry for the mess… my sister never stops sending me stuff…” Wright smiled apologetically before turning to the door and inputing her code on the keypad. As the doors opened, they revealed a spacious comfortable living room that was far less messy than what Molly had seemed to let through. One of the walls had a big stack of crates lined up against it. Inside some of them, blue, yellow and white objects could be seen. Other than that, the quarters didn’t seem very lived in. On the coffee table a picture of a happy couple sat — Molly and a man that Ryan might or not recognize as the Dresden’s CO.

Molly motioned for Ryan to enter.

Capt. Wright, CIO

The second the doors closed behind them, Ryan’s powerful arms gently swooped Molly into an intimate embrace and a long-absent, longing pair of lips found hers. For Ryan, their time apart washed away in an instant and the kiss deepened without a second thought. York’s normally roaming hands stayed gently on the small of Wright’s back as the kiss they shared lasted for what felt like an eternity.

Surprise washed over Molly as Ryan’s lips landed on hers. But as natural as it had become for them to share an intimate connection, Wright found herself diving into the deepening kiss. His hands, his embrace, bringing back a longing and desire she had forgotten she had. It felt like drinking water after a long thirst, or a deep breath after a long time underwater. Incredibly, it felt like… home…

When the Marine breathlessly broke the kiss, his glowing eyes beamed down into hers and after a slow… deep breath, his rugged yet warm voice rolled over Molly. “God Molly… you still taste as good as that first kiss. Oh how I’ve missed you.”

York

Molly heard her breath catch as his words left his lips, and her knees grew weaker than they already were. Her body wanting nothing but to be caught by his waiting arms. Wright’s eyes were still wide in surprise as they broke the kiss. “I’ve missed you too, Ryan…” She finally said. The love in her voice betraying her emotions. And then, remembering Jersey’s outburst, she sighed, sadly. “I… I can’t…” The pain in her words was unmistakable. “We… we can’t… Ryan… we can’t do this anymore…”

Capt. Wright, CIO

In his eyes, Molly could see the light dim as the heart of the man before her began to slowly break. Shoulders slowly slumped and Molly would see his eyes shift from hers to the picture on the table. After a moment, he stepped back… consolation radiating from him. “I guess you moved on… we…” The slight break in his voice would have been missed by anyone, anyone except Molly. “… we… moved on, huh?”

Molly’s eyes followed his to the table and the to the picture. Her heart breaking with his words. After the Farm, if Ryan had asked her to be with him… to stay with him… Molly would have done it in a heartbeat. But since the beginning that they both had known the consequences of the path they had chosen. They both had known the rules. They both had known what being partners had meant.

Molly opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She closed her lips again, trying her best to hold her own tears.

Carefully, he stepped around her and walked to the table, picking up the photo with a shaking hand. “I should’ve known better.” York’s breathing just slightly unsteady. “I should have known you’d find someone else. That hoping for you, aching for you, praying for you was not enough…” He looked down at the photo with pursed lips. “… you needed someone. Someone here… someone… that could take care of you. Not off running around the galaxy.”

“Ryan…” Molly moved to where he stood. “You know the rules… We both knew them… I… We never…” She sighed as she looked down at the picture of her and Cal. “We should have talked about this…” She paused for a second and then continued almost in a whisper. “I would have waited for you… Hell…” Wright couldn’t control the tears anymore. “Starfleet failed me enough, Ryan… Intelligence was my last shot… Had I known… Had you asked… I would have given it up… I would have given it up and followed you…”

With tear-rimmed eyes, the hurt in them clear… but there was also understanding in that pained gaze. “He…” The crack was more pronounced this time. “… he is good to you, isn’t he Molly? You two look… really happy.” It took all that was in the man not to smash the picture against her wall. To storm down the hall and finish off the man that had taken her from him… but… he couldn’t. This wasn’t a stolen love. This was a life moved on and he knew… knew if he ever truly loved her… which he always would… he had to let her go.

York

Molly nodded. “He is… We are…” She smiled slightly as she recalled the day the picture had been taken. “He’s an old friend.” Taking the picture off Ryan’s hands, Molly reached for them and held them tight in hers. “I’m sorry…” She looked down. Almost ashamed. “When I came back, my then relationship was over… but… I thought you had someone…”

Molly

“I did…” Ryan sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. “… but let’s just say, coming home, Andrea didn’t really care for another woman marking /her/ territory.” The slight smirk on York’s face was unmistakable. Slowly, a small smile grew on his face. “That said, ain’t like that girl could compete with you, Red.” This time it was a chuckle that quietly escaped the Intel Officer.

“Oh…” Molly gave Ryan an apologetic look as realization dawned on her. “Oh God… I am so sorry… I… I didn’t mean to… I am so sorry… I never meant to end things for you…” Molly blushed slightly at his last comment and at the old nickname that only Ryan seemed to use for her. “I’m nothing spectacular…” She looked down in embarrassment as her cheeks turned bright pink.

Closing his eyes, Ryan took one long slow breath… in and out… then his eyes found Molly’s once more. “I’m glad you found someone, Molly.... glad you have someone to look after you, and most importantly…” He wrapped her in his arms snugly. “… I’m glad you’re alright. I came as fast as I could… and still almost too late.”

York

Molly rejoiced in the comfort of his embrace. The way Ryan wrapped his arms around her shoulders, mindful of her injuries, made her feel even more thankful for him. For a second, she buried her face in his chest and peacefully listened to his heartbeat. “I am so sorry…” She said after a long pause. “But for as long as we are both Intelligence officers… you know we could never be together…” Molly’s brown eyes looked deeply into Ryan’s blue ones. “I just hope you find someone that makes you happy. And someone that can see the man I see when I look at you… someone that deserves the amazing man that you are.”

York continued his soft, deep breaths. He struggled mightily with the battle that raged inside his heart… inside his mind. Deep within, in a place he had refused to even acknowledge until this moment, Ryan knew… really from the moment he had last walked away from Molly that she would never again be his. He would never again hold the redhead as /his/ girl, never feel the sweetness of a love filled kiss, never enrapture himself in passion-fueled nights. Molly Wright… his Molly… was now someone else’s and he knew it was for the best.

Finally, Molly sighed, Ryan’s words seemingly introducing the subject she felt they needed to talk about. “I can’t thank you enough for coming…” She smiled. “For looking out for me still…” She smiled. “I just don’t understand it… how exactly did you find me? Why would you receive anything from Beta Prime?”

Ryan buried his nose in the top of Molly’s hair and inhaled slowly. “Molly… I… I might have had your credentials flagged in our ship’s system. Just in case you needed me… ya know?” Wright could feel the top of her head becoming slightly damp from the man’s tears. “I couldn’t stand the thought of not doing everything in my power, if I was where I could, to help you if you really needed it. We just happened to be a fifteen minute hop from a neighboring solar system.” With a slight squeeze, Ryan finally asked. “Just what the hell were y’all doing down there anyway Molly?!”

Molly froze in place as his words found her ears, and then she squeezed him tightly. How could she had missed it? Wright could not believe that her former training partner had gone to lengths to make sure that no matter what, he would come to her in her time of need. That alone spoke volumes about the kind of person Ryan was, and Molly was tremendously grateful. Even if she never felt like she deserved it.

Slowly, she answered Ryan’s question.

“The mission was diplomatic… first contact… the Regians just developed warp power…” Molly shook her head and then looked back at Ryan. “You know what we know about Beta Prime so… I joined the party. We were attacked by a Romulan ship and crashed.” She sighed as she relived the moments in her mind. “They were no Romulans, Ryan… they were Jem’Hadar… there was a whole Intelligence base on the planet… controlled by the Jem’Hadar… and who’s commanding them? Tomas. Remember him? Birgitte’s partner…” Molly’s tone grew somber. Too somber, even for Ryan. “He went rogue…” She said, as she fumbled with the bottom of her Starfleet issue undershirt and lifted it up in the front, making visible the extensive burnt marks left by Tomas’s torture. “He wanted the Dresden’s codes so he could steal it.” She paused. “I almost didn’t get Calvin out alive.” Molly sat down on the living room couch.

Molly

The fire in Ryan’s eyes was beyond terrifying, as his gaze crossed the wounds and the traitor’s name played over and over in his head. “That son of a bitch!” Growled York as Molly sat down. “I ought to… I have ta…” His face was red with rage and Molly could hear the large Marine’s knuckles crack as his powerful fists clinched tightly by his side as he began to pace. Ryan was visibly trembling as he walked, like a caged animal ready to tear apart the next person he saw.

One year. One year was all Molly and Ryan had been together, but during that time she had gotten to know him better than she had gotten to know many other people. She knew the knuckle crack, the clenched fists, the pacing… she knew what was going on in his mind.

Molly watched him in silence, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop him, as long as he needed time to process everything she had said and showed him.

After a few moments, Ryan’s now stone cold eyes turned to Molly’s. “Is the bastard still alive?” And then he added the code phrase for a… dispatched… agent. “Or did you show him the door?”

York, Fleet Intel

“Door.” Molly said matter of factly. “Shut and locked. He’s no longer a problem. The base, on the other hand…” Wright stared seriously into York’s eyes, from her seat on the couch. “It’s still there… still full of Jem’Hadar, and we still have two members of our away team down there…” Molly paused. “God…” Wright rubbed her eyes as the words she had just spoken sunk within her. Looking back to Ryan with a concerned look, she continued. “The Captain’s down… we have people in the middle of a planet filled with Jem’Hadar… and the only able-bodied person to take charge is a frackin’ greenhorn for an XO…”

Ryan smirked slightly at the thought of the young lady he had met when they came aboard. Young… yes… but York got a good vibe from her… like she was someone that, even when she didn’t know exactly what the hell she was doing, she’d still do her damnedest to do the right thing. Green… yeah… but they were in good hands.

Springing to her feet, Molly flinched as her injuries once more made her aware that they needed to be dealt with. She brushed them away. After all, she had dealt with similar things in the past. As she looked at her bloodied and torn up clothes, Molly instructed out loud. “Computer, replicate one uniform. Parameters on file three six alpha.”

The Marine sighed. He had a bad feeling that it would come to this and had prayed she was in sickbay by the time he got over so he wouldn’t have to do something he’d regret. Alas, that was not going to be the case. “Molly…” He sighed exasperated. “… you’re hurt. You need to go to Sickbay.”

She moved as fast as she could. Her broken ribs making her lose her breath a few times, but never for long enough to detain her. Grabbing the freshly replicated clothes, Molly turned to Ryan. “We need to go. I won’t risk my crew at the inexperienced hands of our Exec. I’m sorry I brought you into this…” York would have known that Molly had had a previous command of her own. And it was clear at this point that the old job was taking over at the risk of Molly ignoring her own chain of command. It was also clear that Molly didn’t care.

Molly

Not that Ryan minded the brief show, but he knew if he didn’t take drastic measures, one of the only women he ever truly loved would mindlessly throw herself unnecessarily into harm’s way and… well… damn it… he couldn’t have that. Just as Molly, her back to him, pulled her tunic over her head… Ryan silently stepped behind her. The moment Molly’s head cleared the hole for her head and her arms had slipped into the sleeves, she heard York’s soft voice “I’m sorry Red.” and her world went black as Ryan hit Molly in the nape of her neck with a covert intel model taser. With a tap of his commbadge, York asked softly… Molly unconscious in his arms.

=A= York to Transporter Room… two to beam directly to Sickbay. =A=

A moment later, the Chief Intel Officer’s quarters faded away and were replaced by the lights of the Dresden’s main Medical bay.

York

(Fifteen minutes later)

For the second time that day, Molly regained consciousness to the feeling of hands touching her. This time, they were not trying to wake her up, but rather they seemed to be propping her somewhere. Her back touched a soft surface. Much softer than the hard deck of the Transporter Room where she had awaken the first time. Wright stirred in her semi-conscious state as she tried to brush away the hands supporting her.

“Captain Wright, you need to be still.” Came a voice she didn’t know. “You’re going to be alright.” Came another. Where was she? Her thoughts raced in her mind as she tried to remember her last whereabouts. The Jem’Hadar base, the shuttle, the Transporter Room… things became a little fuzzier after that… her quarters… she was putting on a clean uniform and heading to the Bridge… I’m sorry Red the words played in her mind over and over as if they had some sort of significance… Ryan… and suddenly everything clicked into place.

“Ryan!” The word escaped Molly’s lips as her eyes snapped open. Around her, a team of medical officers was moving her to a biobed. Oh no, he hadn’t! With an arm, Wright moved away one of the nurses, as she searched for her old partner. Sitting up, she spotted York standing a few feet away from the biobed, allowing the medical team to work.

“I cannot believe you dragged me here! I need to be on the Bridge, Ryan! We have no time!” As she spoke, Molly tried to break loose of the medical officers around her, only causing the crowd of nurses to tighten. She could hear her name being uttered a few times, trying to get her to back down. Molly didn’t care. She needed to be on the Bridge. Not in Sickbay.

Almost instantaneously, one of the senior doctors appeared by her side. A nurse spoke to him in a hurried tone. “Ms. Wright, you need to lay down. I cannot let you go back to duty in your current condition.”

“Doctor, you don’t understand–“ Molly’s words were urgent. She had no time to explain the situation and its pressing nature. She was fine. She would be fine. She could even come back after everything had been dealt with. The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry Ma’am, but you leave us no choice.”

The last thing Molly felt was the momentary cold of a hypospray on her neck, before darkness engulfed her.

(Three hours later)

The insistent beeping was starting to hurt her head. Beep… beep… beep… it pierced through the silence like a knife, and it never stopped.

Molly growled softly as her body regained consciousness. She felt sore, and she wondered for how long she had been out. As she tried to turn in the bed, she noticed that her ribs didn’t hurt, nor did her body in general.

Light flooded her eyes the moment she tried to open them, causing her to grimace while she got used to her surroundings. She was still in Sickbay, only this time, there was no one around and everything seemed much quieter.

But the peacefulness didn’t last long, as once again, her thoughts came racing into her mind. Where were they? How was the Dresden? What had happened while she had been out? And how long had she been out?

Looking around, she spotted Ryan, sitting in a chair beside her, this time much closer than he had been before. Molly guessed he had been waiting for her to wake up. Well, she was awake, she had been seen by a doctor, and she was fine. She needed to get back to the Bridge.

Sitting by the biobed opposite the one she was laying in, Molly spotted Jersey. The young Marine was looking at her former partner intently, presumably, Wright wondered, still making sure the two of them kept their hands to themselves. Why was she there, though? Was Cal on that biobed? Molly couldn’t tell. But why else would Brianna be sitting by its side?

Sitting up, Wright was preparing to stand when the air surrounding her turned blue. There was a forcefield around her bed. She sighed. Laying back down and turning to Ryan, Molly spoke in a defeated tone “York… was this really necessary?”

Molly

York smiled softly but looked Molly dead in the eyes. “Yes, damnit, you stubborn jackass… it was. Not that…” He sighed softly as he turned to face her, hands intertwined and elbows on knees, he looked up at Molly. “… not that I wanted to. But I had to make sure you didn’t make things any worse.” He frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Molly…” His voice was strained. “… this thing has gotten very complicated very quickly. Just over two hours ago, FCIS took the investigation from me and are…” Molly could hear Ryan’s knuckles crack as his fists clinched tightly. “… and are considering bringing you both up for Court Martial proceedings. This whole thing has turned into a big goddamn mess and it looks like… depending on where the investigation leads… its going to fall squarely on Harris’ head and they’re gonna try’n lock you up for good measure.”

Molly fell silent as Ryan’s words made their way to her ears and her brain processed what was happening. Instinctively she reexamined every piece of information she had known about Beta Prime before their journey down to the surface. Had she missed something? Cal had been intelligence a long time ago, but she on the other hand… she knew that something was off, but she hadn’t really known what. Had she really done every thing in her power to find out as much as she could about the place? Doubt started infiltrating her mind. She looked at Cal’s biobed. And now… her screw up could get him locked up for the rest of his life. She couldn’t let it.

Ryan got up and opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted by a tear-streaked face Jersey. “Are you frackin’ kidding me!?!” The young woman roared as she grabbed York by the uniform with both hands, pulling him to her eye-level. “You bastards swing in here like superheros and save the day… just to lock up the closest thing I have left to a father?! You worthless son of a bitch!”

“Jersey!” Once again, Molly’s instincts kicked in and she tried to get up. Once again, the sudden wave of blue reminded her of the forcefield that surrounded her. She could do nothing but watch.

It happened so fast, no one… probably not even Jersey… saw it coming. A half second later, Jersey right hooked York… sending the Marine tumbling to the floor. She was nearly on top of him when a voice everyone but York would recognize immediately boomed in the suddenly chaotic Sickbay. “Alright goddamnit! Standdown… all of you!” Harris, still looking worse for wear, rose quickly from the biobed… just fast enough to snatch the phaser from the hand of Agent Newton… which was already leveled on Jersey. Both Newton and Manning had walked into Sickbay just as the punch was thrown and the FCIS agent had quickly… but not quickly enough… responded in kind.

“Jersey! No!” Molly watched in horror as Brianna’s fist connected with her former partner’s face. Once again she struggled against the forcefield, trying her hardest to move between the two Marines. And then, she jumped as Cal’s voice suddenly filled the place, triggering the forcefield once again. Wright’s eyes followed his actions.

The towering former pilot glared down at Manning and Newton, his teeth clinching as he ripped the phaser from Newton’s grip. “Young lady…” The Marine snapped, the phaser already spun in his hand and leveled on her chest. “…I don’t know just who the hell you think you are. But if I find you pointing this civilian piece of crap at another member of MY crew… I’ll stuff it up your ass!” Newton looked as though she might kill Harris until the Marine leaned forward, thumb-rolled the phaser to max with expert precision and drove the tip into the bottom of her chin. “Try it Sweetie…” He growled as the color left the normally composed Agent. “… after the day I had, I could blow your head off… plead temporary insanity and spend the rest of my life on house arrest, in my own damn house, visiting a counselor three times a week.” Newton physically trembled as Harris powered the unit down to stun and handed it to Manning. “She tries a single move against anyone in this room Amelia, I want you to stun her ass and throw her in an escape pod. Understood?”

Amelia’s eyes reflected the fear in her body. Not fear for her safety, but rather, fear for what Harris might inflict on Newton.

“Yes, Sir.” Manning said steadily as she took the phaser from Harris’s hand. She didn’t point it back at Newton, but she didn’t holster it either.

Lt. Cmdr. Manning, XO

“I…” Harris smiled probably the coldest smile Newton had ever seen. “… am still the Captain of this ship until I’m removed by competent authority and…” The Marine thumped the badge on Newton’s belt. “… that badge doesn’t give you squat until I hear from someone WAY over your head. Now…” Turning on his heel, Harris walked to the replicator, punched in an order and seconds later pulled on a fresh Marine Green Tunic. Running his fingers through his hair, Harris walked over to Ryan and offered a hand. “My apologizes from Jersey. I’ll speak with her later.” As the other man rose from the floor and Harris caught the Lt. Colonel oak leaf, he smiled. “So, Colonel, how can I and my command staff be of assistance to Fleet Intelligence?” York sighed and smiled back slightly… still working his jaw from the punch. Jersey then stepped beside him. “You know this jerk and that bimbo over there…” She pointed at the FCIS agent. “… want to lock you & Captain Wright up, right Pops?” Harris nodded slightly, patting Brianna on the shoulder. “I’m well aware of standard policies that come in situations like this Bri…” He sounded surprisingly fatherly. “… but this gentleman and that bimbo…” Harris made a point of the young woman’s choice of phrase. “… are here to do a job and as I have nothing to hide and did nothing wrong, I intend to help them do it. Got it Jersey?” The younger Marine grumbled softly. “Yes sir.”

“Now…” Harris personally deactivated Molly’s force field and helped her up. “… how about the three of us go have a little chat? Your bimbo can tag along if she likes.” With a pause, Cal added. “Ms. Manning, you have the Bridge.”

Harris/York/Jersey/Newton

As soon as the forcefield was down, Wright climbed off the biobed. It was as if her worst nightmare had come to life – Cal and Ryan in the same room… wonderful. Even though Cal had been the one deactivating the forcefield, her eyes never met his. Nor Ryan’s for that matter. Instead, they glared at Jersey with an intensity the young Marine had never seen before. And if Brianna Reyes really liked her post that much, Wright hoped she would keep her mouth shut.

Molly didn’t know where Cal wanted them to go, but the two men in the room were, or had been at some point, her lover. Of one thing she was sure: they would follow her. Without a word, Wright walked toward the Sickbay’s doors and left.

Capt. Wright, CIO

The walk was a short one, down the corridor to the lift, then up to the Bridge. Stepping off, Cal walked straight into his office and as the door closed behind the three remaining in his party, Harris turned first to Molly. “Alright… you start cause I trust you more than these bastards and I want to know just what the hell is going…” Harris’ eyes snapped to Newton. “Listen here Princess…” He glared. “I didn’t tell you you could sit…” His tone then boomed. “… SO GET YOUR HARVARD ASS OFF MY CHAIR!” Newton quickly snapped back to her feet as Harris slammed his .45 down on his desk and sat… motioning for Molly, and Molly only… to do the same. Ryan flinched slightly at the sound but otherwise didn’t move. “Now go.” He said as his eyes settled on Molly.

Molly didn’t flinch. She figured that by now she was used to Cal’s outbursts and knew him well enough to know when he was about to have another one. However, she didn’t sit. If Ryan was standing, so would she. Wright loved Cal deeply, but she also loved Ryan, and there was no way she was going to let him be humiliated by Harris. Molly didn’t really care about Newton.

Disregarding Harris’s orders, there was a clear rebel attitude in her stance and in the way she looked back at Cal, but whether or not he had caught it, Molly couldn’t tell. She opened her mouth to speak, even though she was not sure what she was going to say.

Carefully, York raised his hand slightly. “Actually Colonel…” Ryan spoke politely as Harris’ smoldering gaze fell to him. “… Captain Wright and I haven’t really gone over much as I was waiting for you to wake up.” Harris sighed and pursed his lips. “Fine … you start.” The Marine CO snapped. Without missing a beat, Ryan began. “Colonel…” His voice strained slightly. “… as I was mentioning to Captain Wright as you were coming to, a little over two hours ago, FCIS took this investigation from me and are considering bringing you both up for Court Martial proceedings. This whole mess has Paris damn near up in arms and they are calling for blood. Unfortunately, it looks like… depending on where the investigation leads… its going to fall squarely on your head Colonel. There’s a very good chance they’re going to try & lock Captain Wright as well.” York looked frustrated and nervous at even sharing the words. “They believe you went in purposely looking for a fight, ya know, cause you’re a Marine and all.”

Molly didn’t care if she ended up in prison, but she cared deeply about what the outcome of the whole mess would bring for Cal. If taking the blame would make him walk free, then she was prepared to do it. Ryan’s last sentence angered Wright more than she had expected, but she knew that York was simple repeating the information he knew. Judging someone’s actions just because they were a Marine, was not part of Ryan’s usual behaviour, and Molly imagined it would also frustrate him, since he was part of the Marine Corps himself.

“You son of a bitch…” Harris growled. “… we barely even make it back because of some crap intel on our mission then you & Co-Ed Barbie over there show up threatening to end my career. Tell me something, Colonel…” Harris rose quickly and leveled the pistol at Ryan’s chest. “… if my career is over anyway, why would it even matter if I shot you two and fired your bullet riddled bodies out a torpedo tube at your own damn ship!?”

Harris, CO

“Calvin, no!”

Almost instantly, Molly covered the ground between her and Ryan and placed herself between the two men. With her back to York, she looked directly at Cal, and in her eyes he would be able to see a defiant look that he had never seen before. It would be clear to Harris that Molly had placed herself in the path of his bullets, not to prevent him from shooting, but rather to protect York.

And then she heard the faint but distinct sound of a phaser charging. Turning to Newton, who had been disarmed before, she saw the woman holding a small phaser – one that she had clearly been carrying hidden – and aim it at Cal. As the Intelligence Officer under investigation, Molly had been stripped of any weapons she carried, but she couldn’t let Newton hit her mark. Without any other option, Wright jumped in front of the phaser.

Capt. Wright, CIO

Just as Molly passed between Cal & Newton, the phaser fired… striking Molly in the right side of her chest and sending her spinning to the Deck. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” Came the nearly in-sync bark from the two Marines at the now ashen-faced FCIS Agent. “Yo… you… you were going to shoot us!” Newton squeaked in bit more panicked tone than she would have like to have let slip through.

Harris rolled his eyes as he holstered his sidearm. “For the love of God woman… I wasn’t gonna shoot’em! I’d have never got the blood out of that rug and your dumbass isn’t worth the half credit for a new bullet. York..” Harris said as he went to check on Molly. “… I suggest you reign in FBI Barbie over there before she get’s somebody hurt.”

York tired to stifle the smirk as he motioned for the phaser from Newton. “Give it here Ash…” Newton started to put it back on her hip. “… understand something, you he will shoot.” York added, prompting Newton to surrender her phaser. As York went to help Molly, Newton said flatly. “Listen Captain, we’re not here to accuse anyone. We’re here to do a job same as you and to do that, I have to rule out any wrong doing on your part or Ms. Wright’s. Although…” She pursed her lips and then continued. “… judging by your reaction, I would say it does make you look… suspect… of behaviors the Federation might frown upon.”

Harris paused and looked at York, who was taking surprisingly gentle care of Molly, before he stood and calmly walked to the now completely disarmed FCIS Agent. “Listen… Agent…” Harris emphasized the civilian title. “… you might work for the Fleet but you ain’t Commissioned and you clearly forget this is a military vessel… MY military vessel. Do I get pissed when people like you poke your nose around and suggest I don’t know how to do my damn job… you bet c’er ass I do. But I can assure you, I’ll help you do your investigation and you’ll find we are guilty of nothing but being caught flat-footed and surprised. Hardly a court-martial level offense. That said…” The Marine’s voice tightened. “… you point another phaser at me or anyone in my crew, I will stuff it so far up your ass you could fire it out your nose! Do I make myself clear, Agent Newton?” This time, the Agent looked defiant but on the same page as Harris. “Crystal.” Newton said flatly.

Harris/York/Newton

It took a little while for Molly’s senses to come back to her body. After all, it hadn’t been a very powerful phaser blast, but it had been quite a dive to the floor. She could feel someone near her and she could hear Cal’s voice in the distance. Opening her eyes, Wright smiled when her eyes recognized the face hovering over hers.

“Ryan?” Molly whispered softly. Her left hand moved to rub the right side of her chest and then up to tug at her cheek. “God that hurt.” She moved her jaw carefully, as she tried to ascertain if her teeth were all intact and in place.

Holding on to one of York’s hands, Molly finally stood up. When she felt stable enough to walk, she moved towards Newton and glared at her, but for the first time in a long time, she seemed to be at a loss for words. Wright blamed a possible concussion.

Turning to Harris, Newton stated quite matter-of-factly. “Well, it seems that Miss Wright is awake. Can we move on with the interviews now?”

Capt. Wright, CIO/Newton