<USS Eagle> "Something Bugging You?"

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This takes place directly after "Family Time" part two, and before the Eagle sim of 050316

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Lukas and Malachi said their goodbyes to April and the kids and went down tot he shuttle deck.  Starfleet Command was waiting for Lukas to return to Earth.

Terra had heard from April that Lukas and Malachi were leaving the Pathfinder, so she ducked out of SB and headed for the shuttlebay to say goodbye to Mal.  She walked into the shuttlebay, and called to him, "Malachi"

Malachi and Lukas stopped just outside the Eagle's Wing.  Malachi turned to the voice and smiled.  "Hello, Aunt Terra."

She walked up and gave him a huge hug, "Just wanted to say goodbye and wish you smooth sailing young man."

Mal hugged Terra tightly.  The little boy in him still loved the attention from his "aunt."  "I'm glad you came down.  I wanted to get to see you but we have to return to Earth."

Lukas watched the two.  He walked aboard the Wing to stow his gear.

Her smile faded just a tad, but she forced it back onto her face for his benefit. "You better take care of yourself and that crotchety old father of yours.  Call if you need anything.  And make sure you write."

"Crotchedy?" came Lukas's voice as he emerged from inside the Eagle's Wing.

Terra laughed as she hugged Malachi again.  "Just take care of him." she whispered to Mal.  "Youre mom would be upset if anything happened to either one of you."

"I will, Aunt Terra," Malachi replied.  He broke his hug and looked to Lukas.  "May I power up the ship?"

"Yes, son," Lukas told him.  He smiled as he really enjoyed being able to officially call Malachi his son.  "Get clearance from OPS to depart."

She gave his hand a squeeze just before he headed into the ship.  Terra took a step back, but remained watching.

Malachi eagerly slipped inside the captain's yacht from the Eagle. Lukas looked to Terra.  "Thank you for coming to see him off."

She nodded to him.  "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Lukas nodded. He thought he could sense a bit of uneasiness on Terra's part.  "Is there something bothering you, Doctor?"

Terra wasn't sure she could or should answer him, so she took a different tact.  "I'm sorry about the boys."

Lukas raised an eyebrow, showing his surprise at her knowledge of the future twins.  He acknowledged her sincereity with a nod.  "If we can prevent it, there will be nothing to be sorry for, but thank you."

"You really love them, don't you?"  meaning Mal and Luna.

Lukas smiled.  "How can Ah not?  Malachi is becoming a fahne young man.  Extremely smart and thoughtful towards others, and Luna..... well, you just cain't help but love her."

She nodded.  "Well Commodore, you better get moving.  You have an appointment to keep, and you better take care of my nephew, or you will have to answer to me."

"Ah do indeed," Lukas agreed.  "And bear in mahnd, he's not just your nephew, but hes mah son as well."  Lukas smiled and turned to enter the shuttle.  He stopped and looked to Terra.  "Are you certain you and Ah are allrahght?"

"Aye Commodore."  her smile was a bit strained.

"Whah am Ah not convinced, Terra?" Lukas asked.  "What is bugging you?"

Terra chewed her bottom lip without realizing she was doing it.

"What is it, Terra," Lukas pressed  "Ah know that look."

"What look?"  she said as she stopped chewing her lip, and tried to appear innocent.

Malachi had stuck his head out the door of the Wing to tell Lukas they were cleared for take-off.  He noticed the looks on both his father's and aunt's faces.  He slipped back inside without saying a word.

"It's that Ah need to say something look," Lukas told the Pathfinder's CMO.

"I'm fine. Its just.."  she stopped briefly.

"Just what?"

"I'm just still upset, I guess."

"Upset," Lukas asked.  "Upste with me?"

She nodded, not looking at him directly.

"About what?  Ah haven't been here that long.  What could Ah have done?"

"Nothing while you were here, this time." she said quickly.

The puzzled look deepened on Lukas's face.  "Then when, Terra?"

"When we lost the Foxx."

"Lost the Foxx..." Lukas repeated.  He searched his memory to try and find what he might have done back then.  Finally e shook his head.  "What did A do then?"

"It was nothing you did consciously.  I just. ..   I just felt hurt is all, and I am still trying to get over it."

"Felt hurt?" Lukas asked.  Then his face changed with the dawning of what could be bothering her.  "Because Ah had Dr. Hamza check over April?"

"I know it was just a gut reaction, but it still hurt."   She responded truthfully.

"Terra," Lukas said looking her directly in the eyes.  "Ah apologahse for hurting your feelings, but the Talon was set up as an Emergency Medical facility with bah-o-beds and all.  Doesn't it seem a more prudent thing to have your CO rechecked?"

"But I was in charge.  You never even asked me.  It was like you just threw me aside.  I would never have left April if there was anything wrong."

"Ah'm sorry, again," Lukas offered.  "But, Ah did not see you when Ah first saw April, and if you were doing your job as CMO, you were just as concerned about triaging and stabilahzing all the crew injuries."

"like I said, its just me..  I  have to get over it."

"April considers you the fahnest doctor in the Fleet, Terra," Lukas told her.  "Noah has a deep respect for your medical knowledge and ability.  Ah cain hardly argue with those two opinions."

She nodded, "Thank you."  Then she asked.  "Have you heard anything about Noah"

An easy, almost excited smile returned to Lukas's face.  "As a matter of fact, yes.  We ave estalished contact with the Athena.  She is in one peice but stuck some 20,000 lahght years from home."

"Really??"  she was ecstatic as well.  "So, when do we go get them?" she asked.
"Ah have to submit a rescue plan with Starfleet," Lukas tokd her.  "Ah will be doing that when Ah get back to Earth."

"Will you keep me updated, please?"

"Ah will be glad to.  But for now, Ah better get back before they send Fleet Captain Moreland out here after me."

She laughed.  "Just tell them Malachi was driving, and got you lost."

Lukas laughed.  They have his pahloting trahals on fahle.  The kid's good.  They'll never believe that."

Malachi hollered from inside the ship, "I heard that Aunt Terra"

Lukas laughed even more.  Then he looked to Terra.  "Ah do have to get going, but Ah am glad we talked."

"Me too."  She kissed him lightly on the cheek.  "Take care of yourself."

"You do the same," Lukas replied, giving her a quick hug.  Then he boarded the Eagle's Wing for the journey back to his ship.

Terra watched them as they left the bay, and then went back to SB, feeling somewhat better than she had earlier.  It was either the talk she had with Lukas, or else the baby had shifted and took away whatever piece of anatomy s/he had jabbed into Terra's intestine.

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Dr. Terra Ane
Chief Medical Officer
USS Pathfinder

Commodore Lukas Fyrstk
Commanding Officer
USS Eagle

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