<USS Avalon> "An Ice Cold Cup of Friendship"

An Ice Cold Cup of Friendship
Javan Sierra, Elissabeth Marksbury, 
and Bryce Quinn


The relief of tension with the verdict of the trial was obvious to Elissabeth 
everywhere she went. People were smiling and laughing, looking to do all those 
things that somehow felt inappropriate while the Captain was going through his 
ordeal. Stepping past a crowd as she entered the lounge, she was surprised to 
see the amount of people there. She scanned for a table, but there were none to 
be had... until her eyes settled on Sierra sitting alone. 

She turned to leave, but something stopped her. Perhaps it was her ever-seeming 
good mood of late, or even the look on his face, but she decided to put the 
past and anger aside to try and talk to him. Maybe they could start over. It 
was doubtful, but she couldn't be accused of not trying.

Approaching the table, Elissabeth greeted, "Commander." 

He couldn't remember how long he'd been staring out into that desolate abyss of 
stars. The emptiness was soothing; misery loves company. The tiny specks of 
light, no doubt surrounded by multiple planets bearing billions if not 
trillions of people, should have been warming. However, even in that lively 
nuance there was still a murky sensation of complete loneliness. The words had 
caught his mind, but not his gaze. "Commander," he echoed, "is there something 
that I can help you with?" 

"May I join you? If I'm not intruding upon your scrutiny, of course." She 
thought he could've bothered looking at her, but, she reminded herself she was 
going to try and create some sort of rapport here.

Javan turned his head, albeit slowly, and nodded. "I'm afraid I won't be that 
great of company this evening, but you're more than welcome to warm the booth's 
cushion for a while if you so desire." Why was Caine affecting him like this? 
He had worked and been close to numerous women before and never felt this way 
upon their departure.

Well, except for Acacia. Javan internally scolded himself for not thinking of 
her for so long. It was, in essence, disrespecting her memory by moving her out 
of his general thoughts. The images flooded back to him briefly of him holding 
her gasping body which turned into a silent corpse. Then, again, he saw the 
tear-streaked face of the counselor walking away from him, walking out of his 
life. Love, what a joke. He smirked to himself and fought a chuckle

Elissabeth slid into the booth and offered a small smile. "Well, sometimes good 
company can do wonders for you." 

His eyes went back to the stars. 

"What? No caustic comment? No hidden jab? Are you feeling okay?" 

"What part of 'I'm afraid I won't be that great of company this evening' didn't 
you understand?" He said sharply, his head whipping back like the snare of a 
snake towards her. He looked at the table for a minute to take a breath. "I'm 
sorry. I'm just not up for socializing this evening." 

"No, I'm sorry... I'll leave you alone if you wish. I just thought that it 
wouldn't hurt to try talking to you, sir." She couldn't help the feelings of 
compassion that stirred in her being. "But if you would like to talk..." 

"I don't." He said plainly. 

What a waste of time. "Fine, then stay lonely and bitter. You push people away 
worse than I do, you know that?" And with that, she slid out of the seat. 

Every fiber of his being was saying let her go. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he 
felt the need to talk. "Marksbury, don't go." It was all he could muster before 
his tongue became tied and he turned towards the stars again. Why was that his 
safe haven? Of all the things to do and all the places to go on the ship, 
looking out a window was his closest companion. He guessed, in his line of work 
anyway, that the stars were the only unchanging aspect of his life. 

She froze. That was the last thing she'd expected to hear from Javan Sierra. 
Elissabeth wasn't sure she had the patience for this. Then again, if Bryce 
hadn't had patience with her, she'd be the one sitting there staring at the 
stars, no closer to an answer to whatever question she was pondering. Sitting 
back down slowly, she looked across the table. "It's Elissabeth. Or whatever 
form of it you prefer." Her words were quiet, covering the surprise that he'd 
asked her to stay. 

"I want to talk, but it has never been my strong point." 

"Mine either. Something about us security types, I guess. Perhaps we can muddle 
through with a valiant effort." Feeling a bit more at ease, she signaled the 
waiter for her usual tea. 

Javan palmed his glass of cold coffee. "The person who said 'it's better to 
have loved and lost to never have loved at all' never experienced love. At 
least, I don't think." He looked up at her, flashing a momentary small smile 
before looking back out the window. Defense mechanism. 

"I'm not so sure about that." She shrugged, unsure if she should spew forth her 
philosophy or not, but it was something she'd done a lot of thinking about 
lately. "Every person we encounter lends something to our lives, be it good or 
bad. Sometimes when those people move on, it leaves something empty and aching, 
but they've touched you. You've learned something, somewhere." Taking a breath 
and then a sip of tea, Elissabeth looked over her cup at Javan. "Perhaps it's 
cliche, but once that gaping 'I can't live without this person in my life' hole 
goes away, you're actually filled with pleasant memories to carry along." She 
took another drink and smiled, "Listen to me go on." Slightly rolling her eyes, 
she explained, "Just a few weeks ago, I was the one sitting there staring, 
trying to figure it all out." 

Pondering her words, Javan nodded and handed his cup to passing waiter. "Who 
was the lucky man that stole your heart?" He folded his hands delicately on the 
table, very un-Javan-like. Why had he been so standoffish with her in the past? 
He didn't know, but he figured that the fence could be mended. 

This time she completely rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that bull-shit, 
Commander. 'Lucky man'? I'm well aware of what you think of me and most likely 
in your heart of hearts you're thinking, 'What poor guy got roped in by her?'" 
She chuckled slightly, wondering if he'd play into her teasing manner or not. 

"Caught me," he replied simply as he took a sip of the coffee the waiter put in 
front of him. "So, what poor sap got roped in?" 

"Lt. Monroe," she answered, surprising herself. "It hurt like hell when we 
split up, even when I knew it was for the best and not going to work out in the 
long run. It still hurt. More than I imagined it could and ever expected it 
too."

"Yeah, I feel the same. Well, you just got to keep moving forward, I guess. 
Sometimes people just come out of the shadows and surprise you. Your Prince 
Charming or Damsel in Distress could be lurking around the next corner. You 
know what I mean?" He smiled over the steaming cup of brew and he savored the 
aroma. A perfect Terran blend. 

His words sounded strangely suspicious to her, but she tried keeping her eyes 
from narrowing and going on the defensive. What do you know? she wanted to ask, 
but instead found herself saying, "I suppose," while her own gaze drifted to 
the window.

He nodded absently, sipping gingerly at his coffee. His eyes floated around the 
room, smiling faces on nameless, blameless faces. So many people on one ship 
and half of them aren't even aware the others exist. Almost sad if it wasn't 
the way of things. "A lot of people here today. The Captain's verdict seems to 
have spurned morale." 

It was her turn to nod absently, mind turning, thinking back to those 
encounters with the mysterious person aboard, truly wanting to know what Sierra 
knew. His words were cryptic, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he knew 
something. And come to think of it, there was a vague feeling of familiarity 
between Sierra and that visitor in the darkness... surely they couldn't, 
wouldn't, be one in the same. Elissabeth couldn't believe that she hadn't hit 
on that connection until just now. Only it wasn't tangible enough to actually 
voice. 

"Speak of the devil," Javan said as Bryce Quinn walked up to the table, a smile 
on his face; it was a more usual occurrence now. "Mr. Quinn, I'm glad that you 
were able to slither out of your hole for a moment to enjoy the Captain's 
victory like everyone else. However, I am quite amused that you weren't at the 
proceedings. Incompetent counsel, was it?"

Bryce stared the Chief Security Officer in the face, and smirked, "He wanted 
his father to represent him. Given his father's background I am sure that I 
would've done the same. As for slithering out of the hole, I would do so only 
to see the most beautiful woman on the ship." He looked at Lissi, "Hello 
darlin', may I join you two?" 

Javan interrupted, "Oh, please, by all means." 

Speak of the devil? A smile lit her face as Elissabeth moved over to make room 
for Bryce. "I wasn't sure if you'd fight your way through the crowds this 
evening," she said as Bryce placed a sweet kiss on her cheek. Then looking at 
Javan, "I didn't know you two knew each other." 

"Oh, we go way back, the Commander and I. Don't we Mr. Sierra?"

Javan tilted his head, "He was the one that had prosecuted my brother when he 
was arrested for assault on a Starfleet Officer. It turns out - because of new 
evidence - that my brother was innocent all along. However, Mr. Quinn here made 
some brilliant - if I may say so - arguments on behalf of a Lieutenant Wellers 
and my brother ended up getting six months at the New Zealand Penal Colony. 
Fair, isn't it?" 

"I did my job, Javan, you know."

"I didn't realize we were on a first name basis, Mr. Quinn. But, please, since 
you're throwing caution to the wind, why don't you just call me Javan?" His 
words dripped with sarcasm and his eyes showed the irritation burning through 
him. 

"And just when I thought we'd entered into a realm of civility," Elissabeth 
muttered, reaching for Bryce's hand under the table. 

"I apologize, Lissi," Bryce said as he kissed her on the cheek again. It was 
true though. Bryce was a stickler for doing his job and doing it well. He 
didn't just jump into a case and argue the skeptical views of the files; no, he 
brought the facts and brought them hard. And, if it was called for, he used 
manipulation to his advantage. He would question anyone to show him a lawyer 
who didn't. "Peace, Javan?"

Javan smiled, "Peace, I guess." 

Elissabeth looked up and smiled at Bryce. "You just happened to walk into one 
of the few and far between civil conversations between the two of us," she 
explained. "I'm doing my best to tolerate the Commander's arrogance and he's 
doing a fine job of not insulting me. Yet." She shot Javan a teasing glance and 
smirked, almost daring him to retort. 

"And, before that," Javan said winking at her, "we were talking about all the 
pour saps that had the misfortune of being caught up with her romantically."

Bryce ordered a drink and laughed along with their antics. "Very interesting 
topic of conversation for two people that never seemed to get along before. One 
civil conversation between the two of you and you're already discussing and 
analyzing relationships. You two don't waste any time, do you?" 

"Well, we hadn't gotten to the part about all the women that he's chased off, 
so there's a chance it wouldn't have remained civil long. And besides, it 
wasn't our only civil conversation. There was that one about... " She looked at 
Javan, "Um... help me out here. Did we agree once on protocol for something?" 

"I think so, it was one of my many nights without sleep so I think that you 
sort of argued me into submission or something." Javan grinned as he polished 
off the rest of his drink. "No, we get along just fine when things are slow and 
quiet. It's when things start happening that we get on each other's nerves. 
Which, in the security departments, that's the way it should be." 

"And I disagree, of course. We have no cause for interaction when it?s quiet. 
His blatant disrespect of my opinion and his over-whelming arrogance are what 
drives us to argue. I believe I'm one of the few that refuses to let him walk 
all over me and the Commander really doesn't like it when you don't play his 
game by his rules, I've found." The wry grin belied some of the truth and pain 
behind her words, though they were said in jest. 

"And her constant nagging and irresistible urges to speak out when it's not 
needed is a catalyst." 

Bryce looked from one to the other, smiling as he did so, "You guys are 
secretly married, aren't you? How dare you cheat on Javan with me, Lissi, I'm 
offended. You two need to go to counseling or something. I think that we could 
catch Ms. McKinsley before she departs for Earth."

Javan's smiled faded and he returned his gaze to the stars outside the ship. 
They had been so close to getting his mind off her and somehow, even with his 
attempts at avoiding the issue, his mind was ripped back to her. "No, that's 
quite okay Lieutenant, I'm sure that I'll be all right without it." He fought 
it and smiled, "I've already secretly filed for divorce." 

"Hmph, and here all this time I was gaining the satisfaction from cheating." 
Elissabeth looked at Javan with concern, but chose not to say anything in front 
of Bryce. She did want to distract him, however, but was unsure how. It's not 
like they were actually friends or anything. Though, maybe, this was a start. 
"I guess the only thing left to do for settling this is taking time in the 
training room to beat the living daylights out of each other." Giving Bryce a 
mischievous look, she added, "Or take him to Argentina. It has a tendency to 
work wonders on the most stubborn and unfriendly souls."

Bryce laughed, "I'll say." 

"What do you say, Commander? Up for getting drunk in Buenos Aires? We can curse 
the gods of love and settle that divorce in the morning."

"How about another time?" Javan replied, suddenly feeling unsociable. "Why 
don't I take a rain check and I'll let you two enjoy each other's company. I 
have some things that I have to clear up before we leave port. Thank you for 
sitting with me, Elissabeth. And, well, it was nice seeing you too Quinn." He 
nodded to them both, stood up, and walked out of the lounge. 

Blowing out a long, drawn out breath, Elissabeth felt tension building behind 
her eyes. "That didn't end up anything like I'd hoped, but maybe it's a start." 
She leaned her head against Bryce's shoulder, taking comfort from his presence. 
"Of course, I don't know what I was expecting. I just know that look all too 
well." 

"I think he's coping with something. He just seemed sad and the happiness and 
joking was a front," Bryce said, stroking Lissi's hair gently out of her eyes. 
"He'll be okay and then you can start the healing again. Someday you two will 
coexist without arguing and name-calling. Trust me, I know these things." 

"I only call him names behind his back, he still out ranks me," she quipped 
sadly. "No, it's obvious enough with Caine leaving what's bothering him. I 
guess when you've recently had insight into such feelings, one has a tendency 
to rush out and offer that perspective to the world. Not always going to work, 
though. I hate feeling defeated."

"You may have lost the battle, but the war isn't over." 

"Of course you're right. I knew I kept you around for something."

"I thought it was because I was good-looking and professional?" He joked, 
taking a sip of his drink that had finally arrived. "Or are you using me for my 
intellect?" 

"Neither," she said, drinking from the barely warm mug of tea. She raised her 
brows and hid her smile with her cup, "More like because I find myself falling 
hopelessly in love with you, much to the annoyance of my friends and 
co-workers."

"Let them be annoyed, then," Bryce answered as he grabbed her chin and pulled 
her into a kiss. 


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