STF

Three Isn't A Crowd If You Don't Want It To Be

Posted Dec. 6, 2022, 11:55 a.m. by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be
Posted by… suppressed (29) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Sharah lifted the glass and drank. She felt a bit light headed. She watched Yavia disappear down the stairs. “I don’t think anything phases her.” She moved over to where she had set the bonsai down and set her hands against the soil, and inspecting each of the branches and buds. “We should plant a paw-paw tree for her.”

Sharah

Charles looked at Sharah and said “We? Like… you and I? Are we at the planning future endeavors together aspect already?” with smile. His enthusiasm, effecting, and comfort with the entire situation was genuine, even if he had some confusion about it; but he was excited by the prospects that the near future held for the three of them… all emotions that welled up and off him without any hint of him trying to hide it.

Tenkiller

Sharah smiled as his emotions hit her. Not just surface ones, but deeper stronger ones. He wasn’t attempting to hide them, he knew she would feel them, and that was a gift. She picked fallen leaves out of the pot, crumbled them and then worked them back into the soil. She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. “I suppose we are in some ways. It is part of your culture, and I,” she touched the flowers on the tree gently, “have a talent for growing things. If not together, then perhaps you and Yavia will let me give it to you as a gift, a thank you.”

Sharah

Charles smiled and stepped up to her, standing behind her. He put his hands on her waist and set his chin gently on her shoulder. “No thanks is needed. We… all three of us… are in this together. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us. We are a… what… I have no idea what to call us. A team? A cooperative? A… throuple?” and he laughed softly and let her go, careful not to intrude on her space for too long.

Tenkiller

His closeness was strangely welcoming and very needed, and all the more precious for his care and caution for her. “Throuple?” There was confused amusement in her voice. “I don’t know. I feel very confused and weirdly comfortable. Ask Yavia. Deltans have more words for love and relationships than the Inuit of Earth have for snow. Throuple has a nice sound to it, though. Doesn’t it?” Finally satisfied with whatever she was doing with Hooe she turned leaning back against the counter. “But thanks are needed, in words and actions and in thoughts and feelings. It is a way to show those that are precious that their efforts are seen, and that they matter. Too often it is over looked and people feel taken for granted. Thanks is not given out of obligation, but out of care for those that care for us.”

“Well, you don’t have the lion’s share of confusion in this. Humans don’t typically have relationships like this… not a lot, anyway. Its not taboo or frowned upon anymore, but was back in the day.” and he smiled and laughed. “Its is weirdly comfortable, ain’t it? Thats a great way of framing it.” He looked at her for a long moment, something akin to affection in his eyes. “You have a great mind, you know that? And I do mean all of it. You are an amazing person, Sharah… and I’m really glad you are here.”

Sharah shook her head with a slight grin. “Betazoids don’t either, typically. People assume a lot because our wedding traditions include nudity. But the truth is we may love many people in our lives, but we devote all of ourselves to one person. The ultimate gift is to find your Imzadi and spend your life with them. We have the capacity to continue to love someone even after the relationship is over. That is not unique to Betazoids though. Love is unique and only the people involved should have a say on how that looks and whether they accept it.” She stared at him a long moment before she ducked her head, his words having a noticeably profound effect on her. Betazoids were notoriously honest though, even if Sharah was used to keeping her privacy from most of world. “I am glad to be here…I think, but it scares me.”

She turned back to the pot, “She needs sunlight.” Which should be easy to get in a house with so many windows.

Sharah

“How about over by the living room window?” Charles suggested. “She’ll get enough sun, but nothing too direct.”

Tenkiller

Sharah picked up the pot. The care with which she carried it was reminiscent of how one might carry a pet or small child. She set it down carefully and turned it slightly, so the sun would hit the branches. Hope felt quite happy, to Sharah, in her pot, unphased by all the jostling. Then she moved across the room and resumed her earlier seat on the couch. “She likes being planet aside again with real sunlight.”

Sharah

Charles followed her into the living room and took a seat near her, careful to give her her space. “It’s okay to be scared, you know. I am. V probably will be… or not. Who knows?” and he laughed. “But I think… hell, I know… that this’ll be good for all of us. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I do know that I am more excited about it than I have been in a really long time.” He reached out and set his hand on hers gently. “And you are under no obligation to anyone for anything, ok? Neither is V or me. We are here because we want to be here. We want to be with one another. And that is all that matters.” and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Tenkiller

Sharah nodded looking as confused and perplexed as he felt. For her it happened out of nowhere. Had they planned this before she had run into them at tge park? Or had it happened as suddenly for them? The questions crossed her mind, but she wasn’t overly concerned about obtaining the answer. Sharah didn’t feel like she knew much of anything. That feeling of being on crumbling ground persisted. “Right now I am content that you know it.” She squeezed his hand back, and let out a shaky breath. “My shrink is going to have a field day with this.”

“Oh I bet!” Charles said with a laugh. “I’m pretty sure my boss is gonna have me set up for an evaluation once this gets out, too.”

The mention of Yavia brought the woman and her thoughts into focus. For no apparent reason a laugh bubbled out of Sharah along with a blush. She glanced at him, “Sorry.” Sometimes the things she heard and felt were strong enough or clear enough to distract her or cause a reaction. Yavia was being rather free with her thoughts and the ideas coming to her mind. Some Sharah would rather not be privy to. “You may have a really hard time ever getting Yavia out of here. She has discovered the bathtub in her room and is rather enjoying it.”

Sharah

Charles cocked his head to the side slightly and peered intently at her. “You are blushing, so I can only imagine.” he slid closer to her, putting himself right next to her, but not holding her and restricting her. “Listen… you need never feel embarrassed about picking things up from me. I won’t speak for V, but what I feel for her… and you… is nothing I am ashamed of. My only concern is that it makes you uncomfortable. Which I hope it doesn’t, because we are all together now. No secrets, okay?”

Sharah had to smile. He was so genuine and sincere, and, “You are incredibly intuitive for ‘not being an empath.’” She was teasing him about his earlier comment, but more it was a compliment and an acknowledgement of what he saw about her. “It is not uncomfortable…it’s hard to explain. It is uncomfortable but not because of you,” she smiled hesitantly at him and found his hand, “or Yavia,” and she looked toward the stairs. “More because it is unfamiliar.” She shook her head she wasn’tbeing very clear, “No secrets, but maybe a discussion for later when I can put my thoughts in order.”

And a thought occurred to him. “Hang on a sec. Don’t… don’t move.” and he stood up quickly and moved past the fireplace and through the den to the ‘off-limits’ room. A few seconds later, he said “Sharah, c’mere.”

She watched him leave but stayed where she was until he called her. She got up, hesitating a moment, he had said it was off limits and she didn’t want him to feel pressured to have ‘no secrets.’

The den past the fireplace was dark and had a feel of comfort and quiet. There was thick carpet that seemed to invite bare feet and a large couch and two overstuffed reclining chairs in front of a large combination vid-holo screen. Past that was a door, now standing open.

Natural light poured in from the open doorway, filled the framed space with a golden hue. Inside wasn’t an office… it was a studio.

Sharah paused in the doorway and looked around, taking in the details and the space.

Against the far wall of a window was a long table the width of the large room with dozens of thin, wide drawers. The top was covered with stains of color in every hue and tone, and on top were glass jars with a myriad of paint brushes in all sizes and shapes. Canvases stood stacked against each other on the wall, sometimes six or seven deep. On the non-window walls were paintings… the same kind of paintings that Sharah had seen in the gallery showing; along with landscapes and other kinds. A single easel stood in the center of the room on a large, white canvas tarp covered in pain splatter. On it was a blank canvas. Tenkiller stood next to it and looked at Sharah. He took a steadying breath, it was clear he was nervous and yet excited about showing her the place. “So you know how you kept saying my knowledge of art, or lack thereof anyway, was suspect? Well… now ya know why. You can tell V, too. I said no secrets, so… no secrets.”

Tenkiller

Sharah looked over at him, her eyes dancing a bit and the grew quiet, then nodded as if something made sense. “The painting from the Gala.” The one depicting Chaos Theory, that had made her feel so…right…like she belonged. She had but it away after…well after Markus left. It had felt like a cruel joke. Now she was glad she hadn’t had the chance to contact the museum. “It was you that sent it.” She had wondered since she hadn’t spoken to anyone but him and Eela at the event. She walked towards him as she looked at each painting as she passed it. “The paintings in the bedrooms, you did those too.” She stopped beside him, placed a hand on his arm, and stretched up and placed a kiss on his cheek. “They are wonderous, and your skill and talent magnificent. Thank you for showing me.” She shook her head, “I won’t tell her. I know, no secrets, but I think you should tell her. I think she would like to hear it from you.”

Sharah

He looked at her for a moment and then leaned in and kissed her, very softly, his lips brushing hers. He stood back up straight and looked at the room. “I did do those, yeah. I tried to get a certain feeling for each room.” He suddenly grinned and looked at her. “You should tell her that you found this room open and I’m outside. See if she stays in the bathtub or comes streaking through the house.” and he giggled conspiratorially.

Tenkiller

She couldn’t stop the ache or the fear her own reaction to his kiss caused. It was quite wonderful, and she wished he hadn’t so stopped so briefly. That confused her more than anything else had that day.

Her head tipped sideways, curious what made him grin like that, and taking in the change it brought over him. Then she laughed. “Okay. Hang on.” Her gaze turned a little far away.

Yavia…That room…you know the one he said we can’t go in…it’s open.

He is probably in there doing something, leave him to his privacy.

He’s outside.

Well just the close the door and leave it alone.‘ Yavia grinned. As tempted as she was she wouldn’t go look, besides this bath was the most sensuous thing she’d experienced in awhile and she wasn’t leaving till she was prune.

I can’t. I have to go in to grab the door to shut it.

Sharah were you snooping???‘ Sharah wasn’t the type but she was going to tease her anyway. She could feel her curiosity though.

I wasn’t! I was just exploring and found it that way.

Yavia sighed heavily making waves in the tub. ‘Well leave it alone and tell him you found it open, and didn’t know what to do.

What if he thinks I was snooping like you did and gets mad at me.

Yavia sighed and stood from the tub, reaching for a towel. She gazed at the water sadly. “Later.”

Okay okay I’m coming. But really if you just tell him you found it that way he won’t get mad. Relax. It’s okay sweetheart. I’ll take care of it.‘ She hated that whatever had happened had left Sharah’s confidence in such tatters. Four arms, two heads, one heart to hold her together. She would explain it to TK, she had no doubt it would be okay. She slipped a robe on and moved toward the stairs.

Sharah’s black gaze returned to him. “She’s coming.”

Sharah

Charles grinned at her and whispered “Okay… lets have some fun. You go over there.” and he pointed to a stack of blank canvases to the right of the door. “I’ll go over there. When she gets fully inside, jump out and yell ‘Surprise!’” and he grinned and went to his hiding spot.

Soft foot falls turned muffled as she stepped into the den. “Sharah?” Yavia didn’t see her anywhere but saw the door on the far side of the room standing open. She looked around. “Sharah did you go snooping anyway?” She didn’t run off over this did she? They could hear coming toward the door as she muttered quietly to herself. “Door then go find her.”

Yavia appeared in the doorway and she was stunning. Her skin glistened slightly as it was still damp, and she had on a robe if you could call it that..it was sheer except for the cuffs and hem trimmed in satin, all in a pale ivory. She wore a rueful little smile as she made quite the effort to stare at the floor while reaching for the door k ob to close the door.

Yavia

Charles held up fingers so Sharah could see. Three… then two… then one and he stepped out from behind a hung drape and said loudly “Who are you and how did you get in here?” and he grinned at V.

Tenkiller

Yavia jumped and let out a loud expletive, and the door banged against the wall as her hand jerked. She put a hand over her heart, breathing heavily, “Sharah got…” she paused, took in his grin, saw Sharah step out from around a stack of canvases…canvases?…with a matching grin. “Apparently I am the butt of the joke, and I got in here because I was lurred by a very devious woman.” She looked at Sharah with a ‘I will get you back’ look. Her gaze spanned the room and she slowly walked in and spun in place. “Oh…I am SO buying that painting now.”

Yavia

Tenkiller laughed and leaned against the wall. “Well, maybe the artist would give you a deal on it.” and he smiled at her. He looked form one woman to another and then said to both “So other than Turner at the Gallery, y’all are the only other people that know I do this. But like I said to Sharah a bit ago… I don’t want there to be any secrets in this house. We are all together because we care for one another, right? And if I care about the two of ya, well… then I want ya both to know the whole of me, not just bits and pieces. So…” and he took a deep breath, “… here we are.”

Tenkiller

“Well, that is certainly something. But,” Yavia winked at Sharah, “I can’t possible take a discount. We can not allow an artist this talented to starve.” She slipped an arm around his waist and hugged him, “Don’t worry, we won’t tell,” and then kissed him for quite awhile. Until Sharah just rolled her eyes with a grin.

“I didn’t know you went to the Gala Yavia.”

“I didn’t, I got a private showing.” Then she laughed and turned to him, “Do we always get private showings?”

Yavia

Tenkiller looked at her confused for a moment and then said “It depends. Are we still talking about the art? Or…” and he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her and winked at Sharah, and then laughed.

“Oh see I’m greedy. You give me a choice like that and I have to say both.” Yavia practically purred.

He explained. “I try to stay off the artist radar because its a distraction. And if I gotta deal with people in an official capacity,, it makes it easier if they don’t see me as the artist first, CCDA second.” He looked around and said “I sell my works through Turner. He’s a good friend. Recognized my ‘gift’ or whatever when I was a couple years outta the Academy. He helped me set up the ‘anonymous artist’ thing. Most of the sales goes back home. To my tribe and my family. But even then, there’s left over, so…” and he gestured broadly at the house and yard, “… it went inta this place.”

Tenkiller

Sharah nodded. “That makes perfect sense. We won’t tell.” She glanced at Yavia, “Butvthe four gods help us if anyone goes snooping. Yavia will take a baseball bat to them.” She chuckled.

“I feel safer already.” Charles said with a grin at Sharah.

Yavia mimicked swinging a bat. “Without a doubt. But now you have to let me pay for it.” She held up a hand to stop any protest. She reached for his hand and squeezed. “The money goes to family. What is important to you is important to us.”

Yavia

Tenkiller shook his head at her. “An’ thats why I can’t let ya pay for it. Because we are together, and that means whats mine is all of ours. But, I tell ya what… how about you take it as a gift and then you can donate what ya was gonna pay for it to charity? Sound good?” He put an arm around her waist and moved with her to stand by Sharah and he put his other arm around her waist. “Now… how’s about we all go and put on or take off whatever makes us feel the most comfortable, I’ll get us some snacks and such, and we can all collapse and just watch a vid? It’s been a helluva a day for all of us, and I want y’alls first night to be as pleasant and happy as I can make it.”

Tenkiller

“Semantics. It’s all the same. But yes it sounds good.” Yavia liked the way his arm fit around her waist, the way they moved together. They way he kept the three of them close. “Pleasant? More pleasant than that tub? Such promises.” She shared a look with Sharah but she didn’t grin back at Yavia that time.

Something was bothering Sharah and Yavia could tell. She felt conflicted, but Yavia couldn’t tell what was causing the feeling. Sharah appreciated the wave of concern, but at the same time it didn’t help much. No secrets…all parts of themselves. If she was going to stay, she would have to say something because she felt it was a secret. To her it was a horrible one. She could put it off just a little while, couldn’t she?

She watched her leave. “Hell of a day indeed.” She laid a hand on his chest and let her fingers trail away as she headed back down the stairs.

She slipped away from his arm and snagged her bag by the front door, she hurried down the stairs and into the room. Shutting the door, she leaned back against it and slid to the floor. The PaDD in her bag was beeping. She pulled it out. An alarm to remind her of her homework for Korczak. Several times a day, to remind herself that she had people who cared a out her, that she deserved those connections, she wasn’t a monster, and it was okay to be sad and scared and even happy.

Sharah

Tenkiller waited a moment and then went to the door of Sharah’s bedroom. He knocked softly and said “Hey… we’re here if you need us.” and he walked to his room and changed into shorts and a faded gray t-shirt with an interlocked, crimson ‘OU’ on the front.

“Sharah took a long shaky breath and spoke through the door. “I’m okay.” At least she was trying to be. The room was warm and welcoming, and the short moments of solitude were both helpful and edgy. She really wasn’t okay. She wouldn’t be here if she was…or.. where she was emotionally. She took her time. She considered climbing into the bed and staying there, but in the end she left the room and returned up stairs.

Yavia reappeared not too long after in satin pajamas. The pants were loose and flowed, cuffed with a sheer material. The top had a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps. They were aquamarine with all kinds of fancy dressed llamas on them with the words ‘pa-llama party’ across the front.

Yavia

The den had been transformed into a vid-viewing paradise. The couch had been changed into a bed with lots of pillows, and large enough to hold the three of them. A tray sat on one of the end tables with all kinds of snacks. A pitcher of water and a pitcher of juice and three glasses was on the other. Tenkiller looked as V came in and whistled. “Um… wow. You… uh… thats a look and a half. I don’t think I’ve seen llamas look so… uh… yeah.” and he grinned.

Tenkiller

Yavia walked into the den and just smiled. This was fun and looked inviting. She grabbed something off the snack tray and munched while pouring a glass of water. She chuckled at his reaction. She turned in a circle, hands out in a ‘what?’ type gesture. “I told you I brought my party pjs.” She gave him a long once over, affection and appreciation. “You relaxed is a good look.” She drank a good portion of the water and then slid onto the bed on one side. “It’s been a day for you too. You still comfortable?”

Yavia

Sharah padded on silent bare feet back to the den. She was wearing soft cotton yoga pants that sat at the curve of her hips and a light weight, long sleeve shirt with a deep V neck that left a peek of her stomach. She was caring a warm but thin lap blanket. Her eyes scanned the room and the transformation. She wandered over to the tray of drinks and poured juice. She preferred water, but she recognized that her earlier lightheadedness was because she hadn’t eaten enough since…when? She had only nibbled at the food at the park. So she opted for juice first, then water. She settled into a corner and wrapped the blanket around herself. She flushed a little. “I get cold easily.”

Sharah

Charles smiled at her and said “Well, we have blankets and pillows and arms to help with that. Just let us know what you need, and you got it… okay, hun?” and he patted her leg and settled in between the two women. “So what are we in the mood for? Action? Drama? Historical re-enactment?” and he looked from one woman to the other. “Romantic comedy?” and he laughed.

Tenkiller

Sharah nodded a little. She drank the juice and settled in a little more. She didn’t know what she needed, but she was weirdly comfortable. Yavia glanced at Sharah and then met his gaze and shook her head no to anything romantic. “What about just a comedy, but I do love historical pieces. What do you think Sharah.”

“I really don’t have a preference for genre. I like most anything.” If it was something either had seen before their thoughts would give it away. It was why Sharah loved books. People didn’t read them with her. She did like movies too though. “Something I don’t have to think about too much?”

Sharah

“I have just the thing.” Charles said and tapped some commands. A very old movie began playing. “This is from the early 21st century on Earth. Its called ‘Mama Mia’.”

Tenkiller

Yavia propped up a handful of pillows, grabbed the snack tray and set it down on the bed in front of her. She didn’t bother to ask Sharah what she wanted, she just put several things on a plate. Long years of working in the medical field, Yavia was familiar with depression. She also knew how it disrupted normal rhythms like apatite. She also knew sometimes all they needed was someone to take charge and remind them. Yavia also knew Sharah had not been eating much. Working so close together day after day, Yavia and a few of the other staff had noticed.

She handed the plate to TK to pass over. “Sharah, eat.”

Charles handed her the plate and patted her arm gently. “I’d do what V says.” and then he stage whispered “She scares me.” and he grinned before looking at V and winking.

Sharah looked at the plate and sighed a little, and picked up a pretzel. She glanced at Yavia around him and then leaned in matching his stage whispering, “You’re a smart man. She scares everyone.” Then with an affectionate and humorous look at Yavia she said quite seriously, “That’s why I put her in charge of Harris and Holloway.” She ate the pretzel and then discovered the chocolate.

Yavia chuckled. “I don’t know what you two are talking about. My patients love me. I am sweet and cuddly.”

Charles looked at Sharah and said “And apparently delusional.” and he looked at V and grinned. “You forget, I have seen you at work.” and he laughed and looked back at Sharah. “I would have thought you had a better screening process for the staff there, Doctor.” and he winked.

“You can not blame that on me. She was here before I ever arrived,” a genuine laugh escaped her. “Besides I have nothing to do with civilian hires.” An overwhelming wave of affection rolled off Sharah, “I wouldn’t trade her for all the nurses in Star Fleet.”

Then she rested a light hand on TK’s arm with a rather suggestive look, “And what do you want?”

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled broadly and said “Oh, I’m open to suggestions.” and he chuckled. “But for now, I’ll stick with the pretzels and chocolate.”

Tenkiller

Her gaze dropped to his mouth and then back to his eyes and she gave a elegant little shrug of suggestion. Then she piled pretzels and chocolate on plate and handed it to him.

“Soft baked pretzels. They are to die for.” Sharah knew that was not the suggestion either was talking about but the look on Yavia’s face was worth the random comment.

Yavia chose popcorn with far too much butter that required one to have a napkin. “There is a place near Sacred Heart that sells them. I’ll take you tomorrow.”

It took about 20 minutes before she finally uncurled from her tight spot in the corner and stretched out. She munched from the plate absently. As long as there was something on it. The movie was funny and light, it was good for distracting her mood.

Sharah

Every so often Yavia would hand TK something to drop onto Sharah’s plate. If it was there she ate it, if it wasn’t she didn’t bother to go after more.

Yavia moved the tray back to the side table and stretched out comfortable, leaned back against too many pillows. She loved it.

Yavia

They watched the movie in silence. Tenkiller would hold V’s hand, and every so often set a gentle hand on Sharah’s leg, more for reassurance than anything else.

Tenkiller

Sharah didn’t know what to do with those occasional touches. They didn’t make her uncomfortable, but she wasn’t relaxed about them either. Then when he would move his hand away, she wished he wouldn’t. Her feelings confused her. Finally food stopped appearing on her plate and she moved it to the side table beside her. She slid down against the pillows and under the blanket she had brought. She was more tired than normal and that meant she felt colder than normal.

Sharah

Yavia twinned her fingers with his. She liked the feel of his larger hand against hers. She wasn’t shy though and was soon curled up against his side watching the movie, laughing softly every so often, her foot bouncing with the musical numbers. Every so often she would cast caring glances at Sharah.

Yavia


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