<USS Avalon> "Calling in a Favour"

Calling in a Favour
Lieutenant Commander Elissabeth Marksbury
and Junior Lieutenant Elijah Dareth


The tender touch washed away all other feelings as it trailed its way up her 
back and over her arm. It had been too long since he?d held her this way. James 
moved closer behind her, his hand now sliding over her stomach, sending the 
little tendrils of electricity over her body as he buried his face into her 
neck, placing feathery light kisses along and underneath her ear.

Elissabeth sighed with pleasure and whispered, "I?ve missed you. So much." She 
turned to him and settled into his embrace, leaning in to place a gentle kiss 
on his lips.

His hand moved up to her face, smoothing her hair back out of her eyes and 
holding her gaze once their kiss was broken. "I love you, Liss, and I?m always 
going to take care of you." He kissed her again, deepening it passionately and 
she felt herself melting, giving in and becoming one with him again.

"I love you, too." 

Then James? face changed, replaced with Sierra?s.

Lissi sat up, gasping from the shock of the dream, feeling tears stinging her 
eyes. "Dammit," she muttered and looked over at the chronometer. Thirty minutes 
before she was supposed to wake up. Taking a deep breath, she threw back the 
cover and sat on the edge of the bed. "Even screws with my dreams," she said, 
wiping the sleep from her eyes.

Moving as quietly as possible, Elissabeth showered and dressed for the day, 
careful not to wake Sussanna still asleep on the sofa. The dream was still on 
her mind as she sat in her office, trying to focus on the day at hand. It had 
seemed so real and so... perfect. Well, except the part about Sierra. That was 
enough to wake anyone up in a hurry.

She remembered her promise to Mac and Sussanna the night before and asked Lt. 
Dareth to report to her office first thing. He wasn?t in as early as usual, but 
figured it had something to do with recently getting out of that quarantine. 
She hadn?t checked on him as much as she probably should?ve.

"You rang?" Elijah?s blue eyes sparkled as he stuck his head in the door, 
making her smile involuntarily.

"Come in, Elijah. About time you came in to work."

"Bah, not everyone starts their day two hours before they?re scheduled to be 
there, you know."

"I know. What can I say? I have nothing better to do."

He laughed and made himself comfortable in a chair as she moved to the 
replicator. "Coffee?" she asked, "Or does Melanie have you drinking tea now?"

"Coffee?s good. Cream and sugar. So, is this really a social call?"

"Mmm, about half and half, actually. I wanted to check in and see how you were 
doing after the quarantine bit and promotion to my old job. And I heard you did 
a really good job dealing with that whole situation. Figured you?d appreciate 
hearing it from someone, considering I doubt Sierra was knocking down your door 
to commend you for it."

Elijah smirked and accepted the coffee as Elissabeth settled back into her desk 
chair. "I?m doing just fine," he grinned, thinking of Melanie and the time 
they?d recently spent together.

Marksbury appraised him with interest. "I?d say you?re doing more than fine by 
the look on your face. Gonna tell me or is it too personal?"

"Ah, I?ve just been spending about every moment with Melanie since I got out of 
that forcefield. It?s just put me in a good mood, that?s all."

"Mm-hmm," she smiled crookedly and tried not to chuckle at his obvious feelings 
for the pretty brunette. "I think it?s wonderful."

"Good, because I?ve tried really hard not to be all dopey-eyed, but it?s not 
working," he confessed and laughed at himself. "Just never met anyone like her."

Elissabeth tried to be truly happy and not the least bit jealous for the 
couple?s happiness, but it wasn?t working. The best she could do was not to 
show it.

Suddenly sobering, Elijah spoke, "I?m really sorry about Forester. I didn?t 
really know him, but know some people who did."

"Thank you. He was a good kid. Had a lot of potential."

"You?re okay?"

She just nodded in response. "Been having a hard time catching up in Security?"

"No, not really. Ensign Cruz stepped up and has really kept me organised. She?s 
been a real help. We?ve worked late together a few nights and I think 
everything is pretty much in its place. Reports filed and all that. Is that why 
you called me here?"

"No, no, I was just inquiring." She paused. "I have a small favour to ask."

"Sure."

"Ah, always so quick to please. We should have more people like you around."

Elijah beamed with her teasing. "Well, it?s the least I can do."

"Why?s that?"

He paused, thinking he may have dug himself into a bit of a hole with that one. 
"Um... it?s just... No offense or anything, but you just look really damn 
tired."

"And here I thought I was making a recovery," she said dryly.

"I?m sure you are," Elijah interjected quickly.

"Don?t worry, Eli, no offense taken. I appreciate the honesty of someone saying 
it. I?m aware of my situation and..." She waved her hand to dismiss the 
subject. "Anyway, what I needed you to do was run a cross check of the logged 
engineering hours to the use of security clearances and make sure they match."

"Huh?" Elijah asked, sitting up in his chair. "That?s an odd request."

"I know and if I could explain further, I would. I just want to know if a 
clearance has been used for official business while a person was off duty."

"Is this a problem that I need to know about? A security risk to the ship?"

"No, not at all, but it has the illusion of one, and that?s all I need. There?s 
no harm in it, is there?"

"Well, no... I?m just confused."

"Look at it this way, if there is any sort of problem, an in-depth check would 
alert you to it, right?"

"Are you hinting to me that there is a problem?"

"Lt, do I ever hint at things?"

"No," he sighed.

"It?s just a personal favour to me as I?m doing a favour for someone else."

"I trust you. I?ll have Steph have something for you by lunchtime."

"Thank you," she smiled. "I appreciate the questions, though. It?s good to know 
that you?re paying attention. And if you need anything, just ask, okay?"

"You got it," he smiled as he placed his cup back in the replicator slot and 
exited.

Two hours later, as promised, she received the report across her desk. Indeed, 
Lt. Garrity had been logging perfect shift hours, but his authorisations were 
given at all hours of the day for the last four. That?s all she needed. 

Tapping her badge, she said, ""Marksbury to Garrity..."

 

 

 


                
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