<USS Avalon> "Connections - Part 4 - End and Beginning"

Connections - Part 4
End and Beginning
By Commander Skyler and Senior Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury

 

Skyler was still in sickbay, still hiding inside her mind, alone, surrounded by 
darkness. She had promised Lyryn that she wouldn't leave, but it was getting 
harder and harder to do. Lyryn had promised to come back with answers, but 
either she hadn't come or Skyler hadn't been able to contact her. She didn't 
know which was worse, the darkness or waiting. If only something would happen 
to get her out of the abyss she felt like she was in. If only...

Elissabeth had watched James walk out the door yet again. He hadn't even 
touched her, hadn't said another word - just left.  She knew she should've 
yielded to his care.  She was past exhaustion, having trained 18 hour days for 
the last three and spending half of her few hours off sitting with Skyler each 
night just waiting for something. She knew how time held no meaning for Skyler, 
but she wished the woman would contact her. Lissi didn't know how to reach out 
for Skyler to make that connection. 

Heaviness filled her heart as she rested her head against Skyler's hand. Tears 
were finally starting to fall. She'd had too much to hold them back any longer. 

Skyler was still in her abyss when she suddenly felt something both mentally 
and......possibly physically, but how? Someone was nearby...

Lyryn...is that you? Are you okay? You are crying......why? Because of me.....?

Lissi's head jerked up suddenly. Skyler... I've been waiting for you. She used 
her free hand to wipe away the tears. 

Don't cry because of me......I can't stand hurting you. If this is too hard 
then it's not worth it. Lyryn...........I stayed here just like I promised 
you.....but I couldn't feel you....don't know why ....but I stayed 
anyway......missed you. Why are you crying?

She smiled. I missed you too, Skyler. I've been here. Everyday. I just didn't 
know... how to reach you. I'm not crying because of you, my friend. I have your 
answers. Lissi could ?feel? Skyler?s relief at the announcement.

You've been here......answers....you found.....them? Been trying to 
remember.....couldn't...not without .....you. Tell me what's wrong.....Please I 
can't stand to see you crying....we are friends...right? Talk to me.... 

Skyler was just glad that Lyryn had come back, but now she was worried about 
her and how much she was hurting her. 

It's not a physical pain, Skyler, don't worry. I'm okay. Just... tired. I have 
your answers. When I tell you, will you come back? Out of hiding and back to 
the living? So many people miss you...

Skyler was still worried about her friend. But she desperately needed answers. 
If you stay with me I will not run.....I will try and come back......even if it 
hurts....just tired of hurting.............and hurting others. 

I'm right here, Skyler. I'm not leaving. Lissi materialised next to Skyler's 
mental form once again, but found that she didn't have the energy to sustain 
that deep of a connection. Giving her a quick hug, she reminded, I'll be right 
here... I found out that Melanie is Sunni. That they thought Sunni was dead, 
but she was found and adopted by very nice people. Melanie solved the puzzle 
and came to find her big sister. 

Skyler wrapped her arms around Lyryn to help her. It was the least she could 
do. Melanie is Sunni?.....Sunni is dead.....that Georgia person said she was 
with her Henry.....didn't she?.... 

She did... it's what Georgia was told, that Celeste and Sunni were dead. But 
Sunni didn't die. She's alive, Skyler, and she misses you. If you come back to 
us, you'll get to know her. She's such a sweet girl. 

Why?....How could momma die and not sissy?....Don't understand....it's so 
confusing.... Skyler had reverted back to her childlike self in an attempt to 
understand what Lyryn was telling her. Why lie?.....Why hide the answers?..... 

Don't think they were lying to you on purpose, Skyler. Georgia thought she was 
dead, thought they both were. But Sunni is alive! If you wake up, Skyler, 
you'll see. This is hard to talk... 

What is hard?......Hard for you to talk about....or me to hear?.... Skyler 
reached out and held onto Lyryn tighter, she needed her to stay and Lyryn 
needed Skyler. She wasn't going to loose her now, not when she was so close. 

Skyler... I'm not a telepath... and this wears on me... it would be so much 
easier if you would wake up.

If I wake up will you be there? Or will this just all be a dream? I don't want 
to hurt you anymore, you are my friend. Skyler's heartrate started to increase 
as did her respiration. A few tears started to fall down her face. 

Dr. Cazook came running in to see what was going on and when she saw Lt. 
Marksbury with Skyler, she quietly slipped out of the room. The Lt. was doing 
more for the Cmdr then any medicine could. 

I'll be right here. Feel? I'm squeezing your hand. Lissi held on tightly to 
Skyler's hand and prayed that she'd wake up. 

Skyler could feel someone squeezing her hand. Maybe, just maybe it was time to 
come out of the darkness. Skyler's heartrate increased and then leveled out as 
did her breathing. Her eyelids started to flicker and then open, but shut right 
away due to the bright lights. 

"Computer, decrease lights to ten percent," Lissi said quietly, having been 
staring at Skyler's face for any sign of awakening. "Skyler?" she asked full of 
hope. 

Skyler squeezed Lyryn's hand to let her know she was there. She then attempted 
to open her eyes again, this time the lights weren't so bright. She turned her 
head to look at Lyryn. "Lyryn.....you are here. You came. Thank you." 

Tears fell down her face as she smiled at her friend. "I've been waiting." 
Leaning over to kiss her cheek, she whispered, "Everyone calls me Lissi now." 

Tears fell down Skyler's face as well. "Lissi then, I am still scared but I 
trust you. If you stay by my side I will face the answers you have found." 

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay all night if you want, and answer any 
question I can. But... when you're up to it, if you talk to Georgia and 
Melanie, I'm sure it'll make more sense." Lissi used the edge of her shirt 
sleeve to wipe away the blood that had trickled from her nose. It wasn't nearly 
as bad as the last times. 

Skyler looked at her friend and the blood coming from her nose. "I am so sorry. 
I never meant to hurt you. You look exhausted, tell me what is bothering you. 
Please?" 

Lissi smiled at her genuinely. "It's nothing I can't handle. Don't worry about 
me, really. This," she said, gesturing to her nose, "it's just a small side 
effect. I'm better now that you're awake. It's much easier to talk like this." 
She reached for the cup of water at the side of the bed and helped Skyler take 
a sip since her voice had been scratchy. 

Skyler was grateful for the drink. She still held onto Lyryn's hand tightly, 
afraid to let go. After taking a sip of the water she laid her head back down. 
"So tell me what you know or what I should remember." 

"You... don't remember anything but me?" 

"I remember bits and pieces. Something about Celeste being my mother and 
Georgia taking care of me. The bits about someone named Melanie are still a 
little fuzzy. You said Sunni was Melanie, but Sunni is dead. So how can this 
Melanie be Sunni?" It was confusing but Skyler needed to know more. Much more. 

"From what I understand," Lissi was so tired, but she was trying to be as 
patient as possible, "Sunni got sick and was taken somewhere for treatment. It 
was time for you to go to school and Georgia took you back to Earth. When Sunni 
was better, Celeste, your mother, was bringing her home. They stopped on an 
outpost and it was attacked. Georgia was told that Sunni and Celeste were 
killed, but somehow Sunni survived. She was adopted and her new parents named 
her Melanie. And now she works on the Avalon." 

Skyler could tell that Lyryn was getting frustrated with her. She felt bad 
about that. She hated using her friend in this manner. She looked at Lyryn with 
wide eyes. "She works on Avalon? Where?" 

Brushing the hair back off Skyler's face, she answered, "She's a lieutenant 
over in Forensics. Would you like to talk to her? I mean, just the two of you? 
I don't want to overwhelm you and I'll stay and answer as many questions as I 
can, but I just thought... maybe she could help you more now." 

Skyler didn't say anything for awhile. She closed her eyes as in deep thought. 
After a few minutes she opened them and looked at Lyryn. "I will talk to this 
Melanie on one condition. I want you to be here when I do. I know and trust you 
and we have been through a great deal together and I don't think I could go any 
further if you aren't a part of it. Can you do that?" 

"Of course. I'm going to call the doctor now, okay? She'll want to know... and 
I... well, I need some pain medication." 

"Okay, you need to take care of yourself and don't work yourself to death." 

Dr. Cazook came into the room with a surprised look when she saw that the Cmdr 
was awake and her vitals were stable. She took one look at Lt. Marksbury and 
immediately gave her something for the pain. "Lt., I don't know what you did, 
but I am forever in your debt." 

"No you're not," she said stubbornly. "Neither is Skyler. I only did what she 
would've, and has done, for me in another way." She felt better as the 
medication wound its way through her system. 

Skyler looked at Dr. Cazook and smiled. "She is right and I thank you for your 
help." Cazook took one last look at the vitals of both women and then satisfied 
that they were okay, she left the room. 

"Lyryn, I will be fine for now. You go and get some rest, you look terrible. 
Not that I look any better I am sure. When you have time we can arrange the 
meeting with Melanie?" 

Smiling tiredly, she held onto Skyler's hand once again. "I'd be lying if I 
said I wasn't tired... But I can be back in just a few hours. You sure that you 
feel... comfortable? I can stay here with you." 

"I don't know if I will ever be comfortable until I know the truth. However, 
you need your rest. I am not going to go anywhere. Besides you would probably 
track me down with one of your covert forces." Skyler just gave her a sly 
smile. 

Lissi beamed her a brilliant smile, though she didn't really feel like it. 
"Now, that's more like it," she told her. "I'll be back first thing in the 
morning. And I'll bring Melanie, okay?"

Skyler looked at Lissi and grinned. "You go take care of yourself and I will be 
fine. I promise - and I haven't lied to you yet." Skyler closed her eyes as 
Lissi nodded walked out. 




                
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