Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Hannah Lori Asimina (Doctor) in After Duty

Posted by Commander Daniel “DaVinci” Colter (Chief Intelligence Officer/ 2nd Officer) in After Duty

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Hannah Lori Asimina (Doctor) in After Duty
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

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Hannah is wearing the same deep green short sleeve shirt that he had seen her in on the star base. Her hair, though looks like she’s been running her hands through it over and over, in frustration. She stares at the screen quiet for a moment, looking slightly haunted. We’re finally back at Starbase 12. I keep expecting to see you every time we come here. I was having lunch with Charles. We grew up on Catawba Colony together. He was a couple years behind me at the academy. I was wandering around looking for you. Hoping I’d see you. I ran into him and so we had lunch. I…Daniel I could have swore I saw you. I looked up and there you were, but then I blinked and you were gone. I looked for hours. She wipes a tear off her face. I miss you so much. I’m starting to have hallucinations of seeing you. I really thought it was you. Obviously, I never found you. It was just a waking nightmare. To see you so close but it’s not real. I love you. You were my one chance, and now you’re gone. Maybe in the next life?

He looked at the letters, not reading, but scanning, seeing the important words. . . miss you so much. . . love you. . . .gone. . . ?

“You didn’t hurt me, Daniel. Never in a million years. It was a horrible, horribly twist of fate. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for.” She has no idea if maybe she’d gone too far. He thought she’d move on. Had he? She had no idea if he had anyone in his life now. And if not, did he even want to be with her again? “There is no one in my life for you to take me away from. Never was.” She takes a deep breath. Asking the question she needs to know the answer. “Is…is there someone who makes you happy? Someone to steal you away from?” She wouldn’t, if he was happy she would leave him be, it would break her heart, but not as much as seeing him unhappy would.
Lt. jg Asimina, Doctor

“I. . .no. . yes. . .there is. . . it’s complicated, Hannah. I have feelings for her, but . . . she isn’t you!! She’s.. . . ”

no There was no one who made him happy? Yes There was someone he was involved with? Oh…there was he cared for her. Hannah had tried to convince herself that she would be happy and not hurt if that was the case. It was better than him being dead. She had hoped he’d found someone else and that was why he hadn’t written to her, at least that meant he was alive. But now she knew it was a horrible misunderstanding. she isn’t you!! She knew that feeling. No one was Daniel, no one came close. He was right, it was complicated. But it didn’t need to be for him. She leaned forward resting one hand over his heart, and with the other she brushed his hair from his temple before resting along his jaw. He’d told her it was soothing to him; he’d called it her healing touch. “It’s okay, Daniel. You don’t owe me anything. I’m glad you’re happy.”

DaVinci stood from the chair and turned away from Hannah, running both hands through his hair. Turning back around, his eyes were rimmed with redness. He stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

Hannah’s hands fell back to her sides. She knew Daniel often stepped away trying to think but he also had a straight line to her door. Her heart hurt, it ached with the possibility that she’d have to watch him walk away, again. But Hannah knew him and even if he did not choose her he wouldn’t just walk out like that. And then, suddenly, she was in his arms. Steel bands wrapped around her, she couldn’t have walked away if she wanted to, and she certainly did not. Her arms reached up to rest around his shoulders, her head tucked under his chin. She’d been fooling herself, she’d pinned for him, and never tried to move on.

“Hannah, I love you. . . .I’ve never stopped loving you, I’ve never stopped thinking about you. The other woman, I know there’s nothing. . . nothing that can be long term, anyway. She could never replace you. No one could. . . .you’re still in my dreams.”

“I’ve always loved you, Daniel. I would have waited forever for you.” She was in his dreams? Well he was in hers. “Maybe we dreamt together.” It was a fanciful notion and so typical of Hannah.

“We have a chance to get back what we both thought was lost, and I want to try. I want your face to be the last thing I see as I fall asleep each night, and the first thing I see when I open my eyes every morning. Holding you, here, like this, in my arms again. . . it’s perfect. . . “

DaVinci placed a gentle hand on her chin and raised it so she was looking up at him. He stared a long time into her eyes, then whispered, ” I finally feel complete again. . .”

Hannah closed her eyes briefly at the feel of his hand and then she opened them staring into his eyes. She remembered. She remembered the first time he’d held her like this. She doesn’t even remember what they were talking about, but she’d taken her implants off. They’d been bothering her, and for some reason he’d turned away from her. She’d gotten mad, ranting at him that she couldn’t read his lips if he wasn’t facing her, she couldn’t understand him. And then he’d turned around and wrapped his arms around her tightly. And then one arm firmly still around her he’d lifted her chin so she could see him…

He could hold back no longer as he lowered his head and touched her lips for the first time in what seemed like forever. . . . .

Colter (CIO)

Time had stretched while he stared at her, and then his lips touched hers and Hannah knew they were both home. He would be the beginning and the end of each of her days. No matter where Star Fleet might send him, she’d always be waiting. They had lost so much time, and Hannah wasn’t going to loose more. His kiss was like coming up for air when you are certain you won’t make it to the surface. Silent tears tracked down her cheeks as the weight and pressure left her chest in a rush. The grief she’d lived with so long suddenly gone to be replaced by unbelievable joy and desire for life. She held onto him tightly returning his kiss.

Lt jg Asimina, Doctor

When DaVinci broke the kiss and opened his eyes, he saw the tears for what they were–the happiness from a love once lost forever and by some strange twist of fate had finally come home. He kissed her tears away before finally resting his forehead against Hannah’s.

“We have 5 years to make up for, Han.” His eyes moved around the room as he became aware of a number of eyes watching them. Standing from the table still holding her hands, he added, “We need to continue this somewhere much more private. . . “

Colter (CIO)

Hannah blinked, having forgotten for the moment where they were. Only caring about being in Daniel’s arms. She followed him as he stood up. She looked around and happened to see Claire across the room grinning at her and fanning her face mouthing the word “Hot!” Hannah absolutely refused to be distracted by those around them and returned her gaze to his, but blushing slightly anyway. “Yeah much more private…” She squeezed his hand and grinned, “You’ve got two good knees now Daniel, why are you still standing there?” She followed him out to where ever he was leading.
Lt. jg Asimina, Doctor

Taking her by the hand, DaVinci made for the lounge’s doors. As they swooshed open, he stopped and addressed the crowd. “I hope you all enjoyed tonight’s performance folks, but for now thee shows over. Please drive home safe, and remember the mind is a terrible thing. . . .”

The doors to his quarters had no sooner closed when DaVinci swept Hannah into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. One hand wrapped into hair as he kissed her her, passionately stoking that embers that had almost grown cold with her absence. The heat passed between them as the environmental controls automatically lowered the rooms temperature

“I’m never going to let you be away from me for that long ever again, ever. . . .,” he whispered.

Colter (CIO)