Reminders of Friendship
Commander Skyler and
Lieutenant Commander Elissabeth Marksbury
Skyler was sitting in her office going over the latest crew reports when she
noticed that Lissi had been promoted and would now be reporting to her instead
of Cmdr. Sierra. Thinking to herself, she wondered how Sierra would take that,
but frankly she didn't care. She was looking forward to working more closely
with Lissi. Besides it would give her an opportunity to see how she was doing
and keep an eye on her.
She pushed the comm on her desk and called Lissi. "Lt. Cmdr. Marksbury, this is
Cmdr. Skyler. Please report to my office as soon as possible. Thank you. Skyler
out." Now she would see how Lissi was really doing.
The call came just as Elissabeth was leaving her quarters to go back to her
office. She changed direction immediately and found herself standing outside
Skyler's door. She felt a little bit uneasy as it seemed they hadn't parted on
the absolute best of terms last time, but she also knew that her and Skyler's
friendship would take a lot more undoing than that. She rang the chime and
tried to look forward to seeing her friend again.
Hearing the chime, Skyler said, "Enter," still keeping her mind on the PADDs
that had piled up on her desk. She was going to do her best to stay out of
Lissi's mind, but if need be she would do what she felt was best.
Elissabeth walked into the room quietly and stood at attention in front of
Skyler's desk. "Lt. Commander Marksbury, reporting as ordered, sir." Her voice
was soft, though carried the full authority of her new title.
"At ease Lt Cmdr. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Have a seat and tell me
what?s been going on with you of late. We haven't had a chance to talk since
our last encounter. Can I get you something to drink?" Skyler got up and got
herself a Pepsi and waited to see what Lissi wanted.
Smiling, she replied, "I'll just have what you're having... as long as there's
no alcohol in it." Lissi winked at her, recalling what happened before Skyler's
coma. She sat down, gratefully, and relaxed a bit.
Skyler fixed Lissi a Pepsi, sans alcohol, and handed it to her and sat down
next to her. "So, how does it feel to be Chief of Covert Ops and Tactical?
Better yet, how does it feel to have to report to me of all people?" Skyler was
curious to hear what Lissi had to say on that subject. She knew she was unhappy
about reporting to Sierra, so hopefully this would be a good change.
"Speaking frankly, Commander?"
"Please, we have known each other long enough that you can call me Skyler when
we are alone. Yes, speaking frankly."
She took a deep breath and admitted, "It's an incredible relief. I admire
Sierra's professionalism and dedication, but we?re not on the best of terms.
No, Sierra and I just don't see eye to eye and it's like he doesn't even want
to listen, that he already has his mind made up about me and nothing is going
to change it."
"I think you will find things different around here. I expect you to be frank
and honest with me at all times. If you think I am doing something wrong and
you have a better idea, I expect you to let me know. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," she smiled. "How are you doing, Skyler?"
"I am doing fine, Lissi, thanks for asking, and how are you doing these days?"
Skyler wasn't sensing the same sort of tension or confusion that she had the
last time they had talked, yet something was different. "Oh, and one other
thing, and this you must always remember no matter what, and that is that we
will always be friends. We will always be here to help each other, and as far
as I am concerned we are as close to family as two people can get. So get used
to it."
She laughed and reached out to squeeze the older woman's hand for a moment. "I
think I can manage that. It's getting a little easier, being close to people, I
mean. It's not such a conflict and I think I could get used to it." She sat
still for a second before asking, "So, you and Melanie worked everything out?"
Skyler looked at Lissi for a few seconds before answering. "Yes, Melanie and I
have come to an agreement of sorts. We have essentially deceided that there is
nothing we can do about the past, but we can go on from here and learn about
each other and learn to accept each other as sisters. It is still hard for me
to accept that I could possibly have forgotten someone that was supposed to be
so close to me. I can't imagine doing that, but I guess it's the Betazoid in me
that did it, forget the trauma to
avoid the pain or something like that. Anyway, things are better between her
and even with Georgia. I could never really stay mad at Georgia for very long
anyway. So, how is it easier for you to be closer to people now as opposed to
before?"
"I don't know. It just is. You and..." her throat constricted slightly, "James
saw to that, I guess."
"I thought we agreed that you were going to be honest with me? What happened to
Lyryn? I don't sense her anymore. Last I knew you broke up with James, so how
did he help you to be closer to people?"
"Before we broke up," she said softly. "Yeah, Lyryn's gone. I don't really know
what happened. Just gone." She laughed dryly, "I guess she decided this body
and this life wasn't worth fighting over anymore. Can't say I blame her." She
shook her head a little. "No, that's not true. I'm glad of it in some ways. I
miss her in others. My... emotions are bouncing around like crazy, aren't
they?"
"Cmdr, I will not tolerate such talk from you again. You are certainly worth
fighting over and fighting for. True, your emotions are all over the place, but
that will fix itself in time and with talking with someone who cares. I know
that sometimes I may come off as harsh or uncaring but that is not true. I only
want the best for you and if I can help then I will do whatever it takes to
help. You see, I am not like Sierra who may say suck it up and deal with it.
True, we, and the key word is we, have to deal with it since we are now a team.
Therefore, we will work on this together. You and I. Together we will get
through this and you will be a better person for it. Does any of that make any
sense at all or am I just babbling?"
Grinning, Lissi told her, "You're babbling, but it's okay. I understand what
you're saying." Then, completely without warning, she broke into tears, sobs
shaking her entire body as she pressed her hand over her mouth to try and
control it.
Skyler put her arms around Lissi and pulled her close to her. "It's all right,
Lissi. We will get through this together. Just let it all out. I am right here
and I am not going anywhere." Skyler just held her close as she sobbed and held
her tight. She put her head on Skyler's shoulder and held there. Lissi was
hurting and Skyler was going to stay by her side for as long as she was needed.
It took a few minutes for her unexpected tears to subside and for Elissabeth to
compose herself. "Some Lt. Commander," she sniffed. "Breaking down in her
superior's office."
"Nah, it was a friend breaking down in a friend?s room. That's how I see it."
"Thank you, Skyler," Elissabeth looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "I'm such a
mess." Picking up her drink, she took a sip and crinkled her nose. "What in the
world is this?"
Skyler laughed. "You said you would have the same thing I was having, so I gave
you a Diet Pepsi. Whats wrong with that?"
"Just tastes funny, is all. And the fizzy stuff tickles my nose." Lissi sniffed
at the drink and sat it back on the table.
"You'll get used to it. Now for your duties. Frankly, right now I don't have
anything for you. Therefore, I just want you to keep me appraised of your team
and how things are going with them as well as with Tactical. Sound reasonable?
Oh, and check in at least once a day so we can just chit chat. OK?"
"Understood. Think you can keep Anthony and James from ganging up on me and
kicking me off the Bridge halfway through my shift?" Lissi smiled and related
their little scam from earlier.
"Oh, I definetly think I can take care of that without a doubt. When you get a
chance I would like to meet your team, nothing formal just a chance to talk and
see how they are progressing. Anything else I can do? Oh, and remember you are
stuck with me so you might as well consider me family."
"You drilled that point in long ago, Skyler. Long ago." She sighed, "I'd love
for you to meet the teams, but if it's okay with you, I'd like to wait just a
bit. John's memorial service is coming up and I'm trying to give them some
space before everything is 'official' and back to work again. Goodness knows I
need the time to heal physically. There's no way I could begin to keep up with
them."
"That's fine, whenever you are ready. I am not rushing you or pushing you into
anything, Just wanted to let you know. Is there anything I can do to help with
John's services?
"Anthony did. Or at least gave me an idea. Now I just have some thinking to do.
But thanks." She stood and tugged her uniform jacket down. "Is there anything
else?"
"Nope, can't think of anything off hand. You know where I am if you need
anything. Did you want to report back to the Bridge? If so, I will send a
message to Mr. Manson and Mr. Monroe."
"It's okay, Skyler. I was just teasing, sort of. They're doing what they think
is best because they care. And they're probably right. I really should take it
a bit easier. I'm just so anxious to get back out there, to create a semblence
of normal routine again..."
"Be that as it may, you are the senior officer, under Mr. Manson, so you don't
have to take orders from Mr. Monroe. No need to hurry yourself, normalcy will
come before you know it. You go and rest and come see me tomorrow or the next
day and we can talk some more. Deal?"
"Got it. Just let me handle James, though, okay? He didn't do anything to
deserve a reprimand over. Really. I was just... venting. He's supposed to come
talk to me when he gets off shift. We'll work it out, I promise. I'll talk to
you tomorrow."
"I wont reprimand Mr. Monroe and I will let you talk to him. I do expect to see
you tomorrow, then. Lissi, please take care of yourself. I don't like seeing
you in sickbay or all confused."
"I don't like seeing me there either, Commander," she conceded as she left.
Skyler watched as her friend walked out the door. Everything will be okay,
Lissi, I promise.
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