<USS Avalon> "Treading On Shakey Ground" Cmdr Skyler and Yeoman Amelia Renaldi

  
"Treading On Shaky  Ground"
Cmdr Skyler and Yeoman Amelia  Renaldi   


Skyler sat in her office wondering what to do. She  really didn't want to 
wander around DS9 alone and she didn't want to spend her  entire shoreleave on 
the ship. What the hell, all she can do is say  no.
 
"Yeoman Renaldi, please report to my office. Skyler  out." All she could do 
now is wait and see what would  happen. 

 
Mia smiled as the call came over  her comm. "On my way." She replied as she 
turned on her heel and headed for the Ready  Room. It only took a few moments 
before she was walking into the room. "You  commed."

Dressed in casual clothes Skyler was sitting on her couch. "I did  indeed 
comm you. I was wondering what your plans were for today?" 

"I don't really have any." Mia answered as she walked over and  joined Skyler 
on the couch. "You have something more fun then washing my hair in  mind?"

"That all depends on what you call fun? I really don't want to  stay on board 
and I don't want to wander around the station alone. I was  wondering if you 
would care to join me? Or if you rather stay here that is fine  as well." 

Mia smiled. "I'd enjoy going to the station with you." 

"Good, I was hoping you would say that. Shall we go then? I  really need to 
get off of this ship and relax. Anyplace special you would like  to go?" 

"Surprise me." Mia smiled as she  got to her feet. 

Smiling Skyler looked at Mia and wished that she could be what  Skyler 
wanted, maybe in time. "Shall we go?" 

Mia nodded and then followed the  older woman out of her office. "You know 
while we're on the station you should  pick something up for your sister. Help 
her to feel better." 

As they made their way to the air lock Skyler wanted to grab  Mia's hand and 
the rest of the world be damned. Upon entering the promenade, she  had 
forgotten how big it was. "I think that you should help me pick out  something, 
you 
have much better taste than I do." 

"But she's your sister." Mia  smiled. "You know her better." 

A small frown appeared on Skyler's face and she grew quite. After  a few 
moment's she spoke softly, "I really don't know her that well. She may be  my 
sister but things aren't quite as normal as two sister's would be, if that  
makes 
any sense?" 

"Ok, so maybe something for the baby?" 

"I've already given her everything I had as a child. But enough  of this. 
What would you like to eat? Any where is fine with me as long as it  isn't at 
that troll's Quark." She chuckled at the thought of Quark and his hairy  ears. 

"Pasta," Mia replied as they walked.  "I'd love some really good pasta." 

"If I remember correctly there is a little place around here that  serves 
excellent pasta. It shouldn't be too far ahead." Skyler let her mind  wander as 
they walked. She had so much to say, yet she couldn't say it. She  didn't like 
keeping secrets yet she had to keep this one. 


"You look like you have the world  on your shoulders." Mia said softly as 
they walked. 


After walking a few more minutes  Skyler could smell the garlic in the air. 
Once they reached the small restaurant  and were seated, she finally spoke. "I 
guess I just have a lot on my mind. Some  of it I wish I could share with 
anyone, some of it I am not to sure of. Nothing  for you to worry about." 
Skyler 
ordered a bottle of the best Italian wine.  "Order whatever you like, it's on 
me." 

Mia looked over the menu a moment  before ordering a nice shrimp and pasta 
dish. "Do the recent transfers have  anything to do with it?" 

"Not really. Transfer's are apart of Starfleet. It's just that I  didn't 
expect my life to turn out as it has. Enough about me, I want to know all  
about 
you." 

"There's not much to tell about me." Mia answered. "It doesn't  bug you at 
all that Mister Dareth is leaving?" 

"Yes, it bugs the hell out of me that he is leaving and deserting  his 
family. But as Melanie as told me on more than one occasion I am to stay out  
of her 
personal life and that she feels he is doing what is best for them. Not  that 
I believe it for a minute. Frankly, if I met him in a dark alley some where  
I might be inclined to do something not very nice." 

Mia laughed. "I have no doubt that  you would." 

Taking a sip of her wine Skyler looked at Mia, the twinkle in her  eyes when 
she laughed. "What makes you say that? Am I really that much of an  ogre?" 

"Not an ogre." Mia replied with a smile. "But the overly  protective type." 

"Can I help it if I want to protect those I care  about?" 

Mia shook her head.. "No." 

"So it doesn't bother you that I want to protect you?" Taking a  bite of her 
food Skyler wasn't sure what the answer was going to be and even  less sure if 
she really wanted to hear it. 

"You want to protect me?" 

"Yes, Why wouldn't I?" 

Mia shrugged. "I haven't been able  to tell you what you want to hear." 
 
"That doesn't change the way I  feel about you or the fact that I would want 
to protect you. I know how you feel  about us and I have to accept that. But, 
I will always want to protect you."  Skyler reached out and put her hand on 
Mia's. "No matter what you decide I will  always care about you." 

"Why?" Mia asked, not pulling her hand away. 

"Because I think you are worth it. Because I know how I feel  about you. 
Because you deserve to have someone care about you and want to  protect you." 
Come let's finish dinner and then do some shopping.  There is something I 
want to get." Skyler reached over and kissed Mia's hand.  
"And what would that be?" Mia asked as she  ate. 
"You'll just have to wait and see now won't you," grinned  Skyler as she 
finished off her dinner.  
Mia smiled as she finished off her wine. "I do love  surprises."  
"Well, if you are done then shall we go or do you want to  spend your entire 
shore leave sitting here?"  
Mia got to her feet gracefully and smiled. "Lead the way  Commander dear."  
"Dear is it now?" If only.... Taking Mia's hand they  walked along the 
promenade until they reached a particular shop. "Ah, Commander.  It's a 
pleasure to 
see you again. What can I do for you today?" Skyler looked at  the clerk, 
"Show me the best you have?"  
Mia blinked as she looked around at all the cases fully  of jewelry. "Oh my"  
Skyler smiled as Mia looked around. "See anything you  like?"  
"Skyler." Mia warned.  
"What? You said I should get something for my sister."  
Mia looked at her for a few moments not believing her but  finally nodded. 
"You should."  
"So help me pick something out?"  
"What did you have in mind?" Mia asked as she walked over  to her.  
"I haven't a clue, that's what I brought you along for."  Skyler tried not to 
give too much away.  
Mia looked over the items in a near by case. "She's  English right?" 
"Yeah, I suppose so. She was raised in England."  
"Something simple then." Mia said softly. "But elegant"  
The shopkeeper looked at Skyler, "I think I have just  what you have in mind. 
It's in the back let me go get it." Skyler waited until  the shopkeeper 
returned.  
"They have the tiniest little bracelets. Skyler." Mia  smiled as she pointed 
to the baby jewelry  
"Yes, they do. Why would you want to put jewelry on a  baby?" The shopkeeper 
returned with a package and handed it to Skyler. "I  believe this is what you 
requested." Skyler handed him her credit chip to pay  for the item and turned 
to look at Mia. "Where to next?"  
"You would put jewelry on a baby because it's cute." Mia  clarified. "What's 
in the box?"  
Skyler walked out of the store with Mia following along.  Finding a bench she 
sat down and waited for Mia.  
Walking over Mia sat down next to Skyler and looked down  at the package. 
"Well?"  
Skyler looked at Mia and just handed her the package.  "You tell me?"  
Opening the box carefully Mia smiled at the simple gold  chain. "It's 
lovely."  
"I thought it would suit you. Here let me help you put it  on." Skyler took 
the chain and placed it around Mia's neck.  
"I thought you said this was for Melanie."  
"I said that you said I should pick something out for  Melanie. I never said 
I was going to get her something."  
Mia shook her head. "You shouldn't have done this."  
"Why?"  
"Because you shouldn't have." Mia sighed.  
"I can't give someone I care about a gift?" Skyler tried  to hide her 
disappointment. "Do you want me to take it back?"  
"Skyler this is pushing." Taking off the chain Mia put it  back into it's 
box. "I can't take it."  
"Mia, I am not trying to push anything. I already know  how you feel. I 
simply wanted to get you something. No strings attached. If you  don't want it 
then 
I will just take it back." She stood and held her hand out  for the package.  
Mia handed it to her. "Hold on to it." Was all she said  before getting up 
and heading back towards the ship.  
Skyler stood there looking dumbfounded. What had she done now? "Mia,  wait!" 
Running to catch up to her Skyler reached out to grab her arm. "Don't  walk 
away like that?" 
"Why shouldn't I?" Mia asked as she crossed her  arms. 
 

"What did I  do?" 

"What did you do?" Mia repeated and then sighed. "The necklace.. Skyler, why 
the hell did you  do that?" 
 
"I told you  because I care about you. Is there something wrong with that? It 
doesn't mean  anything, no attachments, no commitments, just a gift from one 
person to  another." Damn, she couldn't do anything right. 

"You don't  just pick up a gift like that for someone you might be friends 
with." Mia  pinched the bridge of her nose. 

"How many  times do I have to explain it to you? I know where you stand on 
"us," and as for  buying the gift I have bought several for Georgia and we are 
just friends. We  are friends aren't we Mia?" 

Mia shook her head. "Georgia  is not merely a friend that isn't the same." 
Then she nodded. "Yes, we're  friends." 

"It may not be  the same to you but you are both good friends. I'm sorry if I 
screwed up. I just  wanted you to feel special. No one ever really made me 
feel special when I was  growing up and I just wanted to make it different for 
you. I will take it back."  Skyler turned back toward the shop to return the 
necklace. 

"I told you to hang on to it." Mia called after her.  

Stopping  momentarily Skyler turned. "Why, you don't want it, I don't need 
it. You won't  let me do anything nice or special for you. I don't understand?" 
Skyler just  shrugged her shoulder's and stood there. 

"Just keep  it." Mia offered again and then turned and continued to walk back 
to the ship.  

"Damnit Mia,  can't we talk about this?" Skyler watched as Mia continued to 
walk back toward  the ship. Way to ruin a perfectly good evening dumb ass. When 
are you ever  going to learn? Skyler wondered if she would ever see Mia  
again.
 
Why had the gift  caused her to react like that? She knew. She knew that it 
was because of all the  little this and thats that everyone else had give her, 
and she didn't want just  another lovely trinket. 

Skyler finally caught up with Mia  and pulled her aside. "Talk to me. 
Please?" 

Mia shook her head.  

"How am I  supposed to know what I did wrong if you won't talk to me? Tell  
me." 

"Either take me home and fuck me, Skyler, or drop it and leave it  alone." 

Skyler just stared at Mia not  believing what she was hearing. "Is that what 
you think I want to do is fuck  you? You think that is all you are good for is 
for someone to fuck? I got news  for you, those are not my intention's then 
or now. Frankly you can go fuck  yourself if you think so little of me or 
yourself." Skyler was the one who  started walking toward the ship trying to 
contain her tears.  

Mia watched her walk away and then turned around  and head for Quarks. 

No, it's not going to end  like this! I don't care what it takes. Skyler 
turned and caught up with Mia.  "Don't go in there, come home with me, just to 
talk. I don't want what started  out as a nice evening to end up like this." 

"All right." Mia agreed. 

"Thank you." The two started  to walk toward the ship and without thinking 
about it Skyler slipped her hand in  Mia's. 

Mia held Skyler's  hand as they walked but said nothing. 
 
Finally reaching  the ship and Skyler's quarter's, Skyler sat down on the 
couch. "Talk to me Mia.  What's going on?" 

"You said you'd drop this, Skyler." Mia huffed. 

"Okay, I'll drop it. Can I  get you something to drink?" I wish I knew what 
in the hell was going  on? 


"Coffee would be nice." Mia smiled tiredly. "Cream and a little  sugar."  

"I think I can handle that."  Walking over to the replicator she made one 
coffee with cream and sugar and made  herself a glass of water. Walking back to 
the couch she handed Mia her coffee  and she sat in the chair with her water. 
"Hope it's not too hot?" 

"it's fine thank you." Mia smiled  and drank her coffee quietly. 

"Is there someplace special you  might want to go to while on shoreleave? I 
know I don't want to spend the entire  time on DS9." For some reason Skyler 
felt awkward and out of  sorts. 

"How far can we go?" Mia asked. 

"Wherever you  want. Just have to requisition a shuttle and we are out of 
here." 

"Are you sure you want to take off  and leave Melanie?" Mia asked. 

Skyler grinned, "With Georgia here  keeping an eye on her every move, I don't 
think I would be missed. Besides if  anything were to happen we could be back 
just 
as fast. She's  not due just yet anyway."

Mia smiled. "Then I'd love to  head off somewhere." (you)

"Good, name the  place and I will get us a shuttle, that is if you want me  
along." 

"Bajor." Mia smiled. 

"Bajor it is. Want to leave first  thing in the morning?" 

Mia nodded and smiled brightly. 

"I will get us a shuttle and we can leave in the  morning. Anything special 
you want to do while we're there?" 
 
"Not sure  yet. I've never been." She answered as she finished her coffee. 
"We'll just have  to see when we get there."

"Sounds like a  plan to me. Need a refill?" 

Mia shook her head. "Any more  and I won't be able to sleep." 

Skyler got up and took the dishes and put them in  the recycler. She looked 
at Mia before speaking, "I'm sure I can find something  for you to wear if you 
want to stay here tonight." 

Mia got to her feet and shook her head. "I think I should go. I'll  meet you 
in the morning." 

"OK, if that's what you want. I will meet you in  the morning." 

"Goodnight Skyler." 

"Good night Mia. See ya in the  morning." Damn I wish she would stay even 
just to sleep but I'm not gonna  push.

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