<USS Avalon> "Mixed Signals"

Mixed Signals
Commander Skyler and 
Lieutenant First Class Elijah Dareth
 
 
Skyler had been thinking about all that had happened on the planet and her 
conversation with Melanie. She had made a promise to their father that she 
would do what she had to do, even if that meant upsetting Melanie. Melanie had 
told her not to interfere, but she had finally agreed as long as no boundaries 
were crossed. That remained to be seen. She was not going to let anyone hurt 
her sister. Not now...not ever...
 
It was now or never. "Lt. Dareth, this is Cmdr Skyler please report to my 
office at once."
 
"On my way," came the automatic response, before Elijah even quite realized who 
it was that just called him.  He closed his computer console and stood 
straightening his uniform.  Moving quickly to the XO's office, he rang the 
chime and wondered if this was really business.
 
Sitting at her desk, going over Lt. Dareth's profile, Skyler hadn't expected 
him to arrive quite so soon. She let him stew a little before issuing the 
command to enter. What harm is there in making him sweat a little. 
 
Call you in and make you wait.  Eli leaned against the wall, waiting patiently, 
thinking about Melanie and what he could do to show her how excited he was 
about their baby.  He knew she'd been feeling a little distanced from him 
because of his initial reaction, but he thought it would've gotten better with 
the proposal.  There was still some distance there.  And he wanted to eliminate 
it as quickly as possible.  
 
Finally she decided he was nervous enough.  "Enter."
 
Elijah walked in and snapped to attention as protocol demanded.  "Lt. Dareth 
reporting as ordered, sir."
 
"At ease, Lt. Have a seat. I just thought it would be nice to get to know the 
man who has apparently made my sister quite happy. Why don't you tell me a 
little about yourself? I already know you work in security and from what I hear 
you are doing an excellent job. You appear to be moving up the ranks rather 
nicely."
 
You may think you're here just for me to get to know you but I have other 
things in mind.
 
Skyler looked at Lt. Dareth thinking he was nervous as could be. "Can I get you 
anything to drink, water, coffee, tea?"
 
Elijah relaxed, not really sure what to expect from this woman.  He knew from 
Melanie that she tended to over-step her bounds, but she was his fiance's 
sister, so he'd humor her.  Mostly.
 
Sitting down, he smiled, "No thank you, sir."  Looking at his chronometer, he 
let her know up front, "I have an appointment with a new crew member in ten 
minutes...  Maybe we could do this at dinner tonight instead.  With Melanie?"  
 
Looking at Lt. Dareth, Skyler got the distinct feeling he didn't want to be 
here, which she really couldn't blame him for, however he wasn't getting out of 
this meeting. "I am afraid that you will need to reschedule your appointment 
with your new crew member. You may use my comm unit if need be. I will wait 
until you have changed the time. I need to speak with you now and I believe I 
out rank you in this matter."
 
She knew he would tell Melanie and that she would get highly pissed at her, but 
if he answered her questions appropriately then there was nothing to worry 
about. She had already promised not to over step her bounds and she would keep 
that promise as best she could. However, as the oldest member of their family 
she was going to do what their father would have done. Nothing more. Nothing 
less.
 
"I beg your pardon, sir?" he asked with brows raised.  "You want me to cancel 
my work so that we can talk and you can get to know me?  That seems highly 
inappropriate."
 
"Lt. I am not telling you to cancel your duties, simply asking you to postpone 
or change them around a little. We can talk now or we can talk in front of Mel 
which I don't think you really want to do. I can think of several things that 
are considered highly inappropriate." She let those words hang in the air 
wondering if he would figure it out.
 
Elijah sighed, knowing that it was easier to just go along than to argue.  "I 
assume that you're referring to the fact that my fiance, who happens to be your 
sister, is pregnant with my child?  Even so, I don't have an issue with talking 
in front of Melanie.  We don't keep secrets from each other.  Most likely I'm 
thinking that you don't want to do this is front of her because you know she'd 
throw a fit."  He smiled.  "So talk."
 
Such arrogance. Where does he get off being so arrogant! "Mr. Dareth, I suggest 
you put that tone back where you got it from. Melanie is fully aware of the 
fact that I intended to have a talk with you so you can just toss that little 
thought out of your head. I am not here to argue or to fight with you. I simply 
want to know what kind of man you are and how you intend to take care of my 
sister. So far you have not impressed me with your attitude. I know how much 
she loves you. She thinks the world of you and I will be damned if I am going 
to allow anyone to hurt her. Even you. I am simply keeping a promise to our 
father, who if he was still alive would be the one you would be talking to, and 
I sincerely doubt that you would have such an attitude with him."
 
"I'm sorry, sir, I'm not trying to be rude or have attitude, but I also don't 
think it's very professional of you to interrupt my work day for a tete a tete 
when we could easily do this after duty hours.  I love Melanie and wouldn't do 
anything to hurt her, but I also love my job and I'm not going to compromise 
that just because you choose to wield your power in that way.  If that means I 
have 'attitude' then so be it."  He stood.  "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have 
work to attend to.  I would love to have dinner with you sometime and I would 
be more than willing to tell you anything about me you wish to know."
 
Now he has really gone and done it. Interrupt his work for a tete a tete, my 
ass. Wield my power, he hasn't seen anything yet.
 
"Lt. I suggest you sit down before I sit you down. There are a few things you 
need to get straight in your head right now. As your commanding officer you 
will follow orders, like them or not, how I choose to wield my power, as you 
have called it, is entirely up to me, and you have not seen me wield my power 
yet. If it weren't for the fact that you are the father of my sister's child I 
would have you in the brig so fast your eyes would spin, simply for speaking to 
an officer of higher rank in the manner in which you have used with me, and for 
your blatant disregard for the chain of command. I am quite sure you think that 
you are doing right by Melanie and assuming I am over stepping my bounds, but 
you can be assured I have yet to cross any bounds. You will be in this office 
as soon as you shift is over and not a minute later. Have I made my self clear 
Lt.?"
 
Could you send any more mixed signals!? Damn, woman.  Elijah considered himself 
to have incredible patience, but this was insane.  He told her that he would 
happily see her when he wasn't working.  Duty hours were for duty and 
professionalism.  Fine.  He respected that.  But she crossed that line by 
trying to make this personal. And now I'm not the professional? he thought, 
truly annoyed.  For Melanie, for Melanie...  "Absolutely, Commander," he smiled 
as genuinely as he could muster.  "As I said, I would love to come talk to you 
when I'm not on duty.  I'll be here in four hours."


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