<USS Avalon> "When In Doubt, Wait and See"
- From: cmdrskyler@xxxxxxxxxxx
- To: Avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:32:10 +0000
((Part 3 of Renewing Old Friendships))
"When In Doubt, Wait and See"
Skyler, Moreya and Tavi
2006:09.12
"Hello, Tavi," the woman in the chair said. "I would get up to say
hello, but this way we can look at each other at eye level. I don't
know about you, but I always get just a little bit nervous when I have
to look up at someone I'm just meeting for the first time." She
smiled, and Tavi could see that she had no hair at all! Well, maybe
eyelashes, but that was it. "My name is Moreya, and I'm very pleased
to make your acquaintance. I *am* sorry if we've woken you up."
Unthinkingly, Tavi took a lock of her own dark hair, almost shoulder length now
though still raggedly uneven, and twisted it around her finger. "You didn't
wake me up," she said quietly. "I wake up a lot anyway." She had learned to
be a light sleeper; it kept her safe. "You're a Deltan, aren 't you?" Were
Deltans telepaths? She couldn't remember.
Sitting down in her chair, Skyler scooted over to make room for Tavi, if she
wanted to sit with her. "That's right Tavi. Moreya is Deltan and she is the
best friend I have ever had. I hope that the two of you will become friends as
well. I expect that you will be seeing a lot of Moreya. Since you are up, would
you like me to get you something to drink? Maybe some milk or juice?"
Looking at the young girl, Skyler realized that she was going to need a haircut
soon. If nothing else to even it out. She didn't want to do anything that was
going to cause any discomfort for Tavi. She was going to take things as slow or
as fast as Tavi wanted.
Moreya smiled. "It's true, I am a Deltan. A long way from home, at the
moment! But having good friends makes things easier. If there's ever anything
I can do for you, any questions I can answer, I'd be happy to. One of my
favorite things is making new friends."
Hmm... Tavi took the invitation and sat. It had been a long time since she'd
sat so close with someone, and then it was just the other kids in the gang.
Longer ago, there were faint memories of being cuddled by her mother when she
was very small. But Mama was really just one of the big kids in the gang, and
she'd vanished from Tavi's life when Tavi was only about three. Skyler was a
real grownup. And cared about her.
Moreya... now, that was another story. Tavi certainly wasn't jealous of
Skyler's relationship with the Deltan woman, but she wondered why Moreya was so
eager to be her friend. It occurred to her that perhaps Moreya was a
counselor, like the social worker the nurses on the station had sent to talk to
her. She hadn't talked to the social worker, and the comparison made Tavi a
little suspicious of Moreya. She looked up at Skyler, almost willing her to
read her mind and reassure her.
Seeing the confusion on Tavi's face, Skyler put her arm around her and held her
close. "I like holding you Tavi. I haven't had anyone to hold in a very long
time. I hope you don't mind me holding you? Moreya is the Avalon's new Science
officer. I have known her for....it seems like forever. She is a good person
and I would trust her with my life. I don't do that with many people. If I
didn't trust her as much as I do, I don't think I would've let the two of you
meet. Moreya would never do anything to hurt anyone. Not even a Klingon Targ."
~~Oh Tavi, how do I convince you that you are safe and that I am not going to
let anyone hurt you? I am not going to let anyone hurt you or take you away
from me, unless you want to go away.~~
Pulling the little girl closer, Skyler hugged her and kissed the top of her
unruly head. "I think you need a hair cut little miss."
Tavi had always hacked off her own hair, at least since she'd left the gang.
She knew it was uneven, but short hair was harder for a pursuer to grab. She'd
thought, though, that she would let it grow -- as an expression of trust. "Is
it too long?" Tavi asked, letting herself lean against Skyler. Maybe it was.
Maybe she should have all her hair taken off and look like a Deltan. No, she
wouldn't like that. She liked her hair, thick and glossy no matter how short
she cut it. She didn't think she would look good as a Deltan.
Skyler chuckled a little. "No it is not too long. I just meant we could even it
out a little. So it's not so choppy that's all. You can wear it long or short.
What ever you want is fine with me." How did this little girl get under my skin
so fast wondered Skyler.
Moreya simply leaned back a bit in her chair, stretching her legs out,
and quietly watched the interaction between the child and the woman.
She could clearly perceive the girl's nervousness -- and under the
circumstances, she could hardly blame her. With a mental shrug, she
remembered something her mother had often said: "When in doubt, wait
and see."
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