[ussbansheec] The Right Thing
- From: Andy Maluhia <CaptainAndy@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ussbansheec@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:11:49 -0500
_The Right Thing
_by Rea Sabine; Aneirin, Aidoaneth, & Erainath S'Ghaladriel; Gabriel
Wagner, and Delphine Matthews
/
/
/ /
/"See, you don't have to think about doing the right thing if you're for
the right thing then you'll do it without thinking."--Maya Angelou /
It had all happened so fast, first they'd been walking, talking, growing
closer, then suddenly they were attacked and Aneirin acted in one smooth
move, saving her life. Sabine stayed back but she didn't run when he
told her to, she was Bajoran, not a mouse. When he was arrested, she
waited carefully, giving her statement, knowing that they would find it
was self-defense. They took her love away and she wished she could kill
the woman again just for seeing him like that.
She turned and watched, frowning, as they took the body away, then she
made her way to where she knew Aneirin's father was staying. He needed
to know what had happened.
Of course their quarters were empty again. Aidoaneth hadn't expected
anything different, not really, but it might have been nice just once.
He found himself not particularly caring much but he also didn't feel
like being alone. He was in a good mood and wanted to share it. If his
sister and her little family were not in then he made up his mind to
find his twin or to go see Byron and Lilin. He hmmphed softly, smiling
to himself as he recalled an offer to 'know all about Bajoran women'.
Good mood in mind, he headed away from the visiting officers area and
toward the general family habitation area.
Sabine hurried away from the scene, her shoulders hunched. She wasn't
paying any attention to where she was going, just that she had to find
Aneirin's father, had to make sure the man knew, then she had to get
back to Aneirin, make sure he wasn't alone.
He saw the girl long before she saw him. Aidoaneth hadn't been simply
joking when he told his patient that he would be pleased if something
more came of Aneirin's interest in their daughter. They were a good
family and the girl herself was intelligent, lovely, and he hoped she
could get him to cease being as moody as the shifting sands on his
mother's homeworld. Now, though, the young woman seemed a bit upset.
He took several long strides in her direction, wondering at the same
time where his son was. Firmly setting his hands on her shoulders, he
looked her in the eye. "Sabine. What troubles you, child? You seem a
bit perturbed."
She almost jumped through the ceiling when he touched her, her hand
lifting as if to strike him but when she met his eyes she sagged. "Dr
tr'Ghaladriel," Sabine whispered. "I'm so sorry, I had to come find
you, it's Aneirin, he's been arrested."
Out of sheer instinct, his hand raised to ward off a blow but he lowered
it back to her shoulder. "He what?!" he snapped, his face first paling
then flushing bright green. "What happened?"
"She attacked us," Sabine said. "She wanted to kill me and he saved me,
killed her. They had to arrest him."
"She? Who is she?" he asked even as he slipped a strong arm around the
girl. If it wasn't to comfort her, it was for himself. "What happened?"
Sabine explained as she took strenght from his hug, her fear finally
easing as it sank in that the crazy woman was dead. "I'm sure it'll be
okay. I told them what happened and I'm sure there are other witnesses."
What followed from his mouth was a torrent of violent obscenities, ones
he'd first heard in the Galae years before when an enarrain lost his
shuttle. "That damned susse-thrai. Fvadt, if she were not already
dead, I'd kill her myself," he spat in Standard, so violently angry that
he was shaking. Ie, it made sense to him but these Federation people
sometimes had no sense of what was right beyond their laws. "Come,
Sabine, show me where he is if you can."
"Of course," she nodded, leading him through the shocked faces that had
all turned to stare at the swearing Romulan, still mistrusted in the
Federation. "He's being held in the station Brig. It's not far."
People made way for the two as they marched quickly to the Brig where a
Security officer stood at the desk. "We're here to see Aneirin
tr'Ghaladriel. This is his father."
The lieutenant almost took a step back. He'd been in the Fleet a good
fifteen years and, in those fifteen years, had only seen Romulans in the
flesh once and that from a distance. Never mind that the man standing
in front of him was wearing Federation style civilian clothing,
everything about him shouted Romulan and pissed off. "Sir, I'm going to
need the knife," he began, gesturing toward the kaleh at Aidoaneth's waist.
"No, you will not," Aidaoneth said coldly, glaring at the man as he
leaned closer. "Use some sense, verrul. What would I do with it in a
Federation brig? I am not about to kill my youngest son and, even if I
were, do you really think I would do so in front of you and this girl?
Pah, let me see him: NOW!"
"Errr..." The lieutenant glanced at Sabine questioningly. "Can
you...ah...vouch for him, Nurse?"
"Yes," she said sternly. "I wouldn't have brought him here if I
couldn't. Let us in."
The man tapped a few controls then nodded them in, even though he knew
he might catch hell over it. Hell, pissed off Bajoran women were pretty
scary things too. He followed them to the only occupied cell. There,
Aneirin paced, not having sat since the lieutenant had put up the force
field. He stopped his mindless walking when he saw the footsteps
approaching. He didn't know whose face he was gladder to see: Sabine's
or his father's. If the situation hadn't've been so severe, he would
have laughed at the look his father gave the man, silently commanding
that the force field be dropped. The second it was, though, Aneirin froze.
"I...don't know what to say. Sabine, I am so very sorry..."
"You saved my life!" she said as she stepped toward him. She sensed his
retisence so she held back as well. "Why be sorry? It was her fault
and if you hadn't killed her, I would."
He wanted desperately to hold her close to him but he was still in his
blood stained clothing. In his mind, he didn't want her stained with
the woman's blood, not in any shape or form. "I didn't want you to see
that," he said softly. He knew his father was standing right there but
his eyes were for Sabine. He held out a hand to her. "It's not
anything beautiful or right. It was ugly and violent."
"The susse-thrai had it coming," Aidoaneth muttered. "No sane person
does what she tried, child."
Sabine took his hand and held it tightly, lifting it to her cheek and
leaning into it. "I'm a nurse, Dr tr'Ghaladriel, I've seen some very
ugly things in my career and this doesn't even come close."
Aidoaneth let out a sigh and stepped closer, a father's keen eye
inspecting his son. Wrong color blood, he told himself automatically.
"Aie, child, I'm sorry you're in here but never have you done me more
proud," he said quietly, touching a hand to his cheek. "You did what
was right even if it may not have been in accordance with the law. You
acted as the proper son of our House, Aneirin. You owe no apology."
"See? No apology for either of us," Sabine said firmly. "It's going to
be alright, Aneirin."
Aneirin bit back the urge to sigh again. "All I want is out of here and
to go home," he admitted, drawing Sabine closer. "I don't know when
that will be..."
Aidoaneth glanced at Sabine. He had no idea how one dealt with such
things in the Federation. Perhaps her uncle could be asked...The father
sighed aloud instead of the son. "Stupid Federation laws..."
"I don't know any lawyers but my cousin Delphine's father is an
Ambassador," Sabine offered. She edged up to Aneirin and put a hand on
his back, rubbing slowly.
Aidoaneth nodded, remembering a conversation he had with the man and
Byron while the others slept. "Where the hell is your mother when
things are important to this family?" he wondered aloud.
"You will not be needing the ambassador's assistance," came a softly
accented voice from behind them. "Guten abend to you all. Allow me to
introduce myself. I am Gabriel Wagner, this station's CO."
Sabine nodded to the man. "Sir. What's going to happen?"
Aidoaneth and Aneirin shared a look that, for a moment, had nothing to
do with the situation. Aneirin knew what his father was thinking: what
the hell sort of a being was this? Gabriel's stride was one of an
athlete, light and purposeful, as he stepped in, imposing himself
between father and son and between man ans woman. He looked Aneirin
straight in the eye and approved silently as the man didn't flinch.
"Doctor, I do not approve of what you did but I understand it. I might
have done the same thing myself if my fiancee were involved," he said
with a shrug. "Nevertheless, my personal feelings have no bearing
here. However, the eyewitness account of the nurse here and a very
reliable independent witness have all the bearing in the world. My
legal people are doing the final paper work but I believe the exact
words the chief amongst them used was 'justifiable homicide'. You are
free to go."
Sabine grinned and threw her arms around Aneirin, completely oblivious
to the blood still soaking into his clothes. "That's wonderful! I told
you it would be okay."
"Thank you," Aneirin whispered as he embraced Sabine. "I'm sorry for
the trouble, Captain. There was no other way.."
"Stop apologizing, boy," Aidoaneth told him. "Unless it is for
disturbing the peace."
"I think that was what he meant, sir," Gabriel said with a barely
controlled smirk. "You can go, Doctor. Please. Though if you have any
trouble because of this, because the family is aboard, please let me know."
"He will be with us," Aidoaneth stated as he put his arm around both
young people. "There will be no problems, Captain."
Sabine felt them ushered out by Aidoaneth and when they were all clear
of the Brig completely, she let out a deep sigh that she'd been holding
in. "I never thought she'd come after us," she said softly.
"Neither did I," Aneirin admitted. "Mental illness is all I can think of."
"You were blindsided, boy," Aidoaneth suggested. "You are a trusting
man, son. You were bitten by it unfortunately."
"Just so long as he keeps trusting the people who deserve it," Sabine
added, peering over at Aidoaneth. "Not all women are crazy and not
everyone with mental illness is homicidal."
"Of course not, Sabine," Aidoaneth said with apologetic nod. "That io
was even crazier than my first wife and that says much. Ask my brother
and sister."
Aneirin cringed just then. "Aunt is going have a fit."
"Why?" Sabine asked, her head tilted. "If she's Romulan like your Dad
then shouldn't she react the same or similar? I've only known a few and
I think those are her own children, Joseph and his sister, on the ship,
but they all seem open-minded."
For the first time since the kaleh had left his hand, Aneirin actually
laughed. "No, it's not that at all. She birthed me you know and she
fusses over me more than my mother ever did." He saw his father trying
not to laugh but it was an effort. "Truly a Rihannsu mother." Then a
thought occurred to him. "I don't think they;re going to return my
kaleh to me..."
Sabine rubbed his back again as she had in the cell. She knew how
special a Romulan's kaleh was to them. "Can you get another? Maybe we
can get one fashioned on Bajor or your family could send one from ch'Rihan."
"A wise woman you have here, Aneirin," Aidoaneth said with an approving
nod. "Any of those can be done, Sabine: they are all good ideas. I may
even know a craftsperson on Bajor."
"You do?" Aneirin asked.
"I know a lot of people, child--just no lawyers," Aidoaneth snorted.
"First home to get cleaned up though," Sabine said, holding up one hand
that was covered in dried blood. "And, in my cousin's words, a bath
cures many ills."
"And clean clothing," Aneirin added even as he kept hold of her hand.
The farther away he was from the brig, the better he was feeling, but he
liked having her close. Logical or not, he was proud of her for
standing her ground.
Aidoaneth smiled as if at a memory. "My parents had a huge bath in our
home. Elements but it was comfortable..."
"Delphine has a good sized one in her quarters here on the station,
maybe I could call her and see if she'd mind us using it?" Sabine offered.
"Go on then," Aidoaneth said with a fond smile though a frown marred his
features, "though if you see Erianath, do not allow him to tear into
anyone if he sees the blood on you both."
"I'm sure he'll be proud of his brother," Sabine said with her own pride
in her voice. She hit her comm-badge and spoke into it, "Nurse Rea to
Delphine Matthews. Sweetie, can I ask the biggest favour?"
Delphine smirked, raising her eyes to Erianath as they lounged in her
quarters. "What's that, little cousin?"
"Can I borrow your bath?"
There was a pause and then Delphine answered with a smirk in her voice,
"For one or two?"
Aneirin hmmphed softly then said, from Sabine's shoulder, "Two and tell
my ira'dianvm that I need to borrow some clothing. What I have on
is...unusable."
Delphine's smirk grew into a small giggle that underlined her words,
"Well then I hope my cousin is quick at stripping you out of them."
Sabine turned bright red and covered her eyes with one hand. "Delphine..."
"Oh darling, just come over and I promise to be good."
"Lead me," Aneirin said simply, the back of his hand brushing Sabine's
cheek where it was warmed. "You are bright enough on your own, Sabine.
No need for this."
Sabine looked up and met his eyes, so honest and tender. "I'm not used
to things being so upfront. I like things to be... quiet."
Aidoaneth waved them away, intending to tell the boy's mother had
happened, assuming she didn't know already. He hid his smile. He
really did like Sabine. She was good for his youngest, made him less
stiff and formal.
"We are as we said once before, the ones who need not shine so brightly
when the others are enough," Aneirin said softly. "It's fine with me.
I like us as we are though Delphine amuses me to no end. She and
Erianath are perfectly matched."
"Just so you know, I'm not nearly as comfortable with the whole topic of
sex as she is," Sabine said, rolling her eyes. "And don't let her
quarters fool you, she's not some exotic princess, she just loves the
show of it."
"No, she's very much down to earth if you ask me. You know she
literally shoved me toward you at the party," Aneirin chuckled. "I
admit to this, too: as open as my father may be, I am less so, to the
point that he feared I would become some sort of a monk."
She grinned and shook her head. "Not a monk, just careful maybe. I
think we've both made mistakes with partners... Now we have to be brave
enough to be happy," she told him with a nod. She lead him into the
habitation area where it was much less crowded.
He looked at her curiously then shook his head. "I have no right to ask
but what mistake have you made?" he asked. "I never saw you with anyone
aboard ship...so, yes, I noticed you even if I was not paying attention."
"Not on the ship," she said with a shrug. "When I first went to Earth
to train to be a nurse, there was a graduate student, I was vulnerable,
he took advantage."
Aneirin muttered something rude in Romulan then offered her an
semi-apologetic shrug. "Then I'm sorry that happened. You are too fine
a woman to be treated badly by anyone though I'm glad my good fortune is
the result. I promise I will treat you as the fine woman you are,
Sabine, but tell me if I don't. I don't have the finesse my father or
brother have."
"Let's just see how things go," she offered, her smile sweet but a
little guarded.
"There is one more thing I ought to apologize for," he realized. "I
know you worked very well together with Dr. McEntire. I would not have
changed what I did but if she hates me for what I did then you can very
well expect fallout." He offered a barely there shrug. "My mother
would say that's illogical but it's also possible."
"Well, it's possible but I'm not worried. I'm moving home so whether I
work with Dr McEntire again isn't really a problem for me." She patted
his arm as she lead him up to a door. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." She
rang the chime and it was quickly answered by Delphine dressed in a long
silk gown, studded with sapphires.
"Cousin!" Delphine gasped. "This isn't your blood?"
Hearing Delphine's explanation, Erianath shot to his feet and bolted to
her side. His earrings glinted from the lighting as he stared at them
both. "What happened?" he demanded.
"Before I even answer," Aneirin said calmly, "I was told to tell you to
mind your temper. One of us a day losing his is enough."
Erianath snorted rudely. "I reserve the option to ignore than," he
stated stubbornly.
"We were attacked," Sabine explained. "And before you ask, no, none of
this is mine. Aneirin killed her but it was self-defence."
Erianath glanced down at his younger brother's waist, noting the absence
of the kaleh even this quiet man carried. "I have no doubt but that
little brother did what ought to have been done," he said soberly. He
touched a hand to Sabine's face. "I'd hate to see this pretty face or
any part of you harmed."
Sabine blushed again and smiled shyly. "I'm perfectly safe with
Aneirin, he did what needed doing."
"Good," Eraianath said simply. He'd get the details from their father,
that was certain. "Now I understand the clothing request, though.
Apologies if they aren't to your style, Aneirin, but they'll fit. We
are close enough in size."
"The bath is through the bedroom," Delphine said, pointing through the
drapes. "I have laid out some robes for you, cousin. Soft and
comfortable." She reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind
Sabine's ear. "Go, be clean and comfortable. My man and I will go out
and eat while you clean up. Is there anything either of you would like?"
Aneirin shook his head. "This enough, Delphine. I don't like feeling
of filth on me, no matter the reason."
"But you did well, little brother," Erianath said as he offered a gentle
squeeze on the shoulder. "Thee are S'Ghaladriel for sure."
"Come, k'diwa, let us eat," Delphine said, holding up her hand.
Sabine tugged Aneiren into the bedroom and sighed, leaning against him.
"I'll go and pour a bath, you relax."
He shook his head. "No, you pour your own first. I think if I just get
out of this mess, I'll be happy," Aneirin said as he sat on the edge,
silently thankful that there was no blood on the back of him. It would
have been a shame to ruin such fine fabrics. "If I relax, I may very
well never get up."
She kissed his cheek then leaned her head against his. "You could... we
could... you know..."
"Hmm?" he asked, lightly brushing her cheek. "We could if you were
comfortable with the notion..."
"I'd be comfortable," she mused, smirking slightly, "so long as we're
both happy and comfortable."
He looked at her, simply gazing at her face, and allowed his fingers to
trace its contours, smiling slightly at the feel of the ridges on her
nose. "You have beautiful skin, Sabine. Soft." Inhaling slightly, he
added," And you smell good."
She sighed, leaning in to kiss him gently on the lips. "I feel all soft
when I'm around you, like I can be me and not worry about being
manipulated. I feel like I can make this choice and it's mine, not
forced on me."
"I would never force you to do anything. On ch'Rihan, the family is
something of nobility I'm told but my father raised me with teh idea
that nobility is earned and not inherited. A gentleman treats a lady as
she wants and not as he wants," he said softly, smiling slowly. "Do you
know that you are the only woman I've ever kissed, Sabine? The first
I've ever wanted to?"
"What about..." She bit her lip, her heart fluttering at the thought he
might be telling the truth, but her mind kept going over all that had
happened today and trusting was so hard. "I thought..." She shrugged
one shoulder and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I've wanted this
for a long time. I've wanted to be with you."
He foiught back a shudder and shook hsi head. "No kiss like that," he
explained, stroking her face still. "and nothing more. Perhaps it was
simply by deliberateness, saving me from a stupid choice, but I
never...no." He shook his head, feeling the tips of his ears tinge with
warmth. "Never."
Sabine brushed the tips of his ears, tickling them. "Cute." She met
his eyes and smiled as the warmth and trust filled her for the first
time. "Good. I've loved you for a long time."
"I'm glad Di'nanov smacked sense into me," Aneirin said, twitching
slightly to escape the tickling. He raised his fingers to her lips.
"You are so very beautiful, Sabine, inside and out. I have never been
in love but I know I could be with you."
"Let's wait and see what happens," she said with a smirk. "First, a
bath. Then some comfortable clothes. After, we can work out other things."
Aneirin kissed her on the temple then, placing strong hands on either
side of her waist, stood up and set her on her feet. "I'm glad I'm not
fond of anything I'm wearing," he snorted as he carefully opened the
closures on his shirt, his face screwing up with disgust as he surveyed
teh blood crusted on his nails and the material. "It's going into the
reclamator. Everything."
"May I also suggest a quick sonic shower to get rid of the worst of it
all before staining the water red?" Sabine offered as she gently helped
him unbutton his shirt, brushing her fingers tentatively over his skin.
He closed his eyes at her touch, the feeling spreading warmth even if
her skin was cooler than his. "Wise idea," he murmured. "Your cousin
is a lovely lady but I wouldn;t want to abuse her hospitality my making
a mess."
"I never realised how warm you'd be," she murmured, her fingers drawing
small shapes over his chest. "I mean, I know your body temperature was
higher than mine, but I never expected..."
"Vulcanoid genes," he hmmphed softly even as he allowed himself to
simply enjoy her touch. Certainly some Vulcan would say he was being
unnecessarily self indulgent but that didn't matter to him. "Your touch
is...please don't stop. I don't think Ican describe it."
"I don't ever want to," she whispered. She brushed her hands up to his
collarbone, sweeping his shirt down his shoulders and arms. "Tell me
something, Aneirin."
"What's that?" he asked, still watching her.
"Will we be together a long time?" She lifted her eyes to meet his and
forced herself to keep the contact.
"I would like us to be," he told her. He kissed her softly then
returned his eyes. "It is the way of my fathet's family to pick well
and just once. I think I've picked well."
"Except your father and uncle. They've both picked twice now," she
reminded with a tease. "And so have you. I'm just hoping the second
time's the charm."
He chuckled softly and shook his head. "You are so very right, Sabine,
and I will do whatever I can to be very charming though it isn't my
strong point." He kissed her again. "A long time, Sabine, a very long
time."
--
"I like to write when I feel spiteful; it's like having a good sneeze"---D.H.
Lawrence
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- » [ussbansheec] The Right Thing - Andy Maluhia
