Posted March 10, 2023, 11:24 p.m. by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in Long Term Correspondence
Daniel was gone and had been for awhile. Cpt Knight was looking for a new first officer. Hannah had no delusions of what that meant. She had packed up his things and hers and been moved back into JO quarters. That was fine, the XO quarters weren’t for her and it was too sad to be in them anyway. She had no idea if Daniel had been able to free Jepson. She hoped that if Jepson did make it out, that he would find a way to tell her what happened to Daniel, but she didn’t even know if Jepson knew about her.
The offer arrived and Hannah was surprised. Finding Daniel again she had no plans to do or go anywhere else. But she was a good fit for the position. The idea of five more empty years was crushing. Hannah couldn’t stay and be stagnant this time. Daniel was the love of her life. She wouldn’t move on from him. She couldn’t, but she had her career she could focus on until…if he came back. So she accepted the position. The first thing she did was leave a letter, telling Daniel where she had gone, where to find her. The second was to send a letter to Alexis.
She was playing with the dog tags that were hanging around her neck again. They were a heavy weight. She signed quietly into the recording. =/\= Hey Nugget. How are things? You figure out everything? You get married? Did your mom go over board? Did your dad cry? I wish I could have been there..” Hannah paused and lifted the chain. “Look what I got back. I don’t know what to tell you, Alexis. It’s one of those things your dad always says only your heart can understand. Right now mine doesn’t. Only that I am grateful I found him, and angry that he was taken away again.” Hannah sat back and her hands started and stopped a few times. “I wish we had gotten married. I wish we had broached the subject at least. I am lonely in a way I can’t explain to you. We were so content to just be together, it all passed us by. I’m glad that hasn’t happened to you. Don’t waste time over thinking your life with Solomon, just do it.“
“I took a new position, but I think I may go home for a visit first. I’ll contact you when I get settled. =/\=
Asimina
Her PaDD was lit up like a strobe light. A priority message…Hannah scowled at it until she saw it was from Alexis. Alexis had tagged her message. Hannah had been avoiding talking to Alexis and really anyone else. She smiled and opened it.
HANNAH LORI ASIMINA ANSWER YOUR COMMS!!!! Alexis was worried. It was all over her face as she signed in the most agitated way possible. That was something. Alexis never got worked up…well not before she met Kane anyway. The sound of Alexis slamming her hands on the desk and rattling the screen so it went fuzzy, made Hannah feel bad. Alexis was really worried. Hannah, really. You aren’t like me, so don’t tell me you got lost in your work. I saw when I had to actually look you up that you are the AMO for Oed V now. You will do great, I know. But ANSWER YOUR COMMS. Alexis huffed. A note that you are alive and okay will suffice. Twelve hours. If you don’t, I swear I will leave my Honeymoon and travel to Oed to find you.
That had been sent yesterday early. There was another from an hour ago with Alexis’ travel itinerary to get to Oed. Hannah sent a very quick note. Alexis, calm down. I’m alive and on Oed. I am not okay but I am. I have my first shift at the hospital in an hour. I will call today or tomorrow morning. Promise.
Hannah sat on the bed in the room Jason had given her. She was comfortable there but also didn’t feel quite right. She had promised Alexis she would call and she needed to. Alexis would do something crazy like really leave her honeymoon. She hadn’t met Solomon Kane yet and she really didn’t want the first time to be because Alexis overreacted because she had worried her. The Star Fleet symbol rotated around and around and then the screen flashed to Alexis sitting at a work. A deeper irritated voice shouted. “Damnit it’s our Honeymoon!”
“It’s Hannah.”
“Oh, well that’s different. Tell her I said to stop avoiding you. It makes you cranky.” And then masculine laughter.
Hannah! Are you okay? I mean it! You can’t send me a message like that and not answer for almost a month!
Hannah sighed and nodded. You’re right, Alexis. I am sorry. I just…I can’t even blame it on the work. I… It was one thing to tell Jason, and how easy that was.
You what? What is it? Alexis waved her hand at the screen to get Hannah’s attention. Hannah turned to look back at her. I think I’m crazy Alexis. I…well I met this guy like two days ago…and he left me this letter… Hannah pulled it out of her pocket and waved it to show. He…signed it ‘love’. I mean what?
Alexis sat back and gave Hannah the most neutral and typical ‘Alexis is thinking’ look ever. Wait, two days and you…spent the night with him? Hannah, that’s not like you. Hannah shrugged and made a motion to get Alexis talking. Well lots of cultures sign off letters with such statements. Maybe he did it out of habit?
No I don’t think so, listen, and Hannah read the letter to Alexis. What do you think?
*I don’t know; I have never gotten a love letter.”
Hannah looked at her like she was lying, Never? Kane has never written you a letter or a note or anything? Come on Alexis, help me.
Alexis tapped her finger against her knee, Well…yeah once on the back of a picture. He draws me pictures, he doesn’t write letters. Alexis shrugged, Come on Hannah. Why are you freaking out over this? You are always the one telling me that time doesn’t matter, circumstances don’t matter. That if it’s right it is. Then Alexis started to laugh, OMG Hannah. You are OVERTHINKING this aren’t you?!
Hannah glared at her best friend. Oh Alexis was enjoying this too much. Well I have to, Alexis. It’s not simple anymore.
Why not?
Hannah looked down and Alexis could see the sign; it was so big before Hannah looked at her again. He used to be with SFI and…well I just don’t know if I should trust him. I feel like I can but what if it’s just because I’m scared, and even if I can trust him, that’s not fair to him. He seems like a really nice guy. And this is such a messed up situation. I can’t just fall in love with him. There is so much to consider…
“Hannah!” Hannah stopped and looked at her at the noise. Hannah, what are you talking about? What situation?
Alexis…I’m pregnant. Alexis’ mouth dropped open and then snapped shut. It’s…Daniel’s.
Okay well, that is a tough situation. Alexis was so out of her depth. What was she supposed to say to Hannah. Give her statistics about how single parents do just fine on their own? Alexis had no idea. That wasn’t the issue though. Umm…have you told this…?
Jason…Jason Reilly. Yeah he knows. He said he had never thought about kids or a long term relationship, EVER. But then he told me had been in love once….SONUVA- IT WAS ME! HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ME! What the hell am I doing?!
Alexis was still for a long minute. How did one run a background check? Because if this guy was screwing with Hannah she wanted to know and she’d do something worse to him than they did to Soulis. Hannah…you don’t act like this, so I am going to take a guess and I might be wrong, but I think you have already fallen in love with him or you wouldn’t be over thinking this at all and you wouldn’t be staying overnight in his house talking about being in love. So no, I have no idea what you are doing because even I know where you should be and what you should be doing Hannah. Of course that was assuming this guy was who he said he was. Look Hannah, all you can do is try, and if it doesn’t work then no regrets right? And take care of yourself, both of you okay?
Hannah sighed, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to hear but she wasn’t sure that made her feel better. Though Alexis turning the table on her was funny. Yeah you’re right. I…I have to get to work. Bye Nugget. I’ll call soon.
The comms closed and Alexis stared at the screen. “Solomon! How do I do that crazy background check that will tell me everything? I know you can do that. Show me how.”
Hannah and Alexis
It was several hours later, a couple tung for subspace travel of comm signals, that Hannah recieved a recorded letter from Alexis. She didn’t have the chance to read it right away. It was later, after they returned after her doctor’s appointment. Hannah sat on the couch and quietly watched.
Hannah, I am really not the best person to ask, but you did ask, so… Alexis paused a moment, You are trying to apply quantitative data analysis to a qualitative study. They don’t operate under the same rules or criteria. Only you can interpret the data. You have to decide what criteria you are examining and then decide how the data does or does not meet that criteria. I won’t even touch on your lack of hypotheses.
Alexis tapped her fingers together. Okay, I am going to tell you to do something Solomon always tells me to do because he is right. The next time you are with Jason, I want you to ask yourself ‘how you feel’. Right then in that moment. Not what you think, or why you feel the way you do, or if you should or not. Not the why’s or how’s, just how you feel. If any of that is doubt then you need space and time. Not fear (unless you are afraid of him) or apprehension, they aren’t the same as doubt. If you feel happy, safe, loved (even if you aren’t ready to admit it) then don’t let your head convince your heart it’s wrong. I love you, Hannah. We’ll talk in a few days.
Hannah almost laughed. The message was so Alexis, and so not at the same time. Kane was good for her. That was the only thing Hannah could contribute to the…well it wasn’t change…confidence. Alexis was more confident. Hopefully she would get to meet him one day. Alexis’ advice was good, and it meant a lot that Alexis tried so hard for her.
Hannah
© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service
Version 1.15.11
RSS Feed