[USS Tempest] Strawberry Scented Bathrooms and Cinnamon Flavoured Tea

Strawberry Scented Bathrooms and Cinnamon Flavoured Tea
 
Cassiel Calhoun, Sergeants FRix, Aleksander Singh, Aisling Reynam and Thomas 
Stirling  
 
Alek drifted down the corridor to his chanting.  Stepping into his bathing 
room, his nose was assaulted by the sweet fragrance of strawberries.  He stared 
around in mild horror at the disarray before him.  A damp towel on the floor, 
Aisling's belongings strewn across everywhere and cold, soapy water still in 
the tub.  There was no time for him to clean it so he disappeared into the 
shared bathroom to clean and ready himself for his prayers.

After his prayers, his mind still fuming about his precious bathing room, Alek 
stomped away from his room and went straight for Aisling's.  He knocked three 
times, as was his fashion, and waited.

Another disturbance.  "Someone else can get it," she murmured against Cassiel's 
chest.  "I'm too comfortable to move."
 
Startled again out of sleep, Cassiel didn't bolt out of bed this time.  No, not 
a dream.  She was still there, still lying next to what he thought of as the 
beast half of that fairy tale.  "Time is it?" he murmured sleepily.  "Maybe the 
doctor thinks you won't give me back."

"I'm not going to."  Prising one of her eyes open, she chuckled softly.  "He 
said you can stay here and if I bat my eye-lashes at Ash sweetly enough, you're 
staying."  The knocking grew a little more insistent and she glared at the 
door.  "Go away," she mumphed, "I'm comfortable."
 
They'd occasionally all huddled together for warmth but not this sort of 
warmth.  No warmth from the inside just raw survival.  He kissed her, eyes 
still closed, grateful for that different kind of warmth.  "Don't bat lashes at 
him.  I might get jealous," Cassiel chuckled, still quite sleepy.

Aisling giggled lightly.  "Don't be.  He's married and I'm spoken for."

Knocking even louder, Alek called out, "Aisling, when you have a moment, would 
you mind coming out here and explaining the state of my bathroom?  Right this 
minute would be good."

"Grozit," she muttered.  "I forgot about that."
 
Cassiel might have drifted back to sleep very happily with Aisling's 
pronouncement but the knocking brought him fully awake.  A bit of the fear and 
panic was evident in his eyes.  "He sounds angry, Aisling."

"He won't hurt you, my love," she assured him as she slipped out of the covers. 
 Making sure Cassiel was snug, she pulled her dressing gown on again and opened 
a crack in the door.  "Good evening," she chimed.

It didn't take a mastermind to see the joyful glow on his diminutive friend's 
face and Alek felt his frown disappear completely.  "So you did cleanse him 
then?"

Aisling blushed and glanced behind her.  "You could say we cleansed each other."
 
To be unclothed in front of Aisling was one thing but the man at the door, the 
one who'd been so kind to him in Sick Bay, was another.  Cassiel sat up, 
looking for the clothing he'd worn so briefly.  It hung on him as though he 
were a scarecrow but dignity was dignity.  He approached the door softly and 
slipped up behind Aisling.  "I'm sorry, Aleksander. That would be my fault," he 
said softly.

Alek glowered at Aisling, suppressing the smile that threatened to burst free 
for a moment.  "I thought you'd lied," he informed her.

"I don't lie," she said simply, leaning back against Cassiel just a little.

"I can see that."  Then the smile came and it was warm and welcoming.  "I'm 
sorry for that and I'm sorry for disturbing you."
 
"She completed your handiwork," Cassiel said with a shy smile, running a hand 
first over his clean shaven weathered skin then through his much shorter and 
neater blond hair.  "She did as she said.  The first running water I've seen in 
five years..."

Shaking his head, Alek offered the man a simple nod.  "Then I'm honoured that 
it was my bathing room that could provide such a service."  He looked Cassiel 
up and down.  "You look more than just cleaner, though.  There's something else 
different about you, my friend."
 
"1201977 is no more.  This is the start of C'ss'l," he said with a tiny hint of 
pride.  He shrugged with a small smile and indicated his hair again.  "It's off 
my face, off my neck, and out of my eyes again.  Almost recognizable as a man 
now."

"You were a man already, you just needed to see it for yourself."  Dark eyes 
drifted down to Aisling as she beamed up at Cassiel in pride and love.  "And 
perhaps have someone else prove it to you."
 
Then Cassiel did smile.  She was giving him that inner warmth.  He held her to 
him, his tiny pillar of strength and comfort.  "The first choice I made," he 
said warmly.  "A fine and good one."

"Without question," Alek agreed, his smile and eyes fondly warm.  "Take care of 
our little Sergeant," he warned.  "She's more than important to us."

Rolling her eyes at Alek, Aisling pulled Cassiel's arms tighter around her.  "I 
can take care of myself."

"Oh, I think I'm more than aware of that.  After eight years, one major war and 
far too many battles to count, I am more than certain on that count," Alek 
chuckled.  His eyes hardened just a little as he looked back up at Cassiel over 
her head though.  "Don't hurt her."
 
"I cause no pain by intent," Cassiel said flatly.  It was a lie.  Bones cracked 
under those hands.  He suppressed a shiver, hearing that death howl again.  "I 
will not hurt my H's'l'ng."

Alek nodded, satisfied.  "Thank you."

My H's'l'ng.  Aisling sighed contentedly, her soft lavender eyes lifting to 
Cassiel's face.  "Yours?"
 
"Mine," he said with a small content smile.  "Calhoun and Reynam, two cities, 
two people."

Reaching up onto her very tip-toes, she kissed him deeply, her arms snaking 
around his neck.  "My C'ss'l."

Stepping away from the door, Alek grinned to himself.  "May I get you both some 
tea?  I have some chai in my cupboard I think."
 
"I don't think I know what that is," Cassiel said simply, his arm still around 
Aisling  "I know better but the lizard doc gave me a list of dos and don'ts as 
long as his tail."

"Earth spices," Aisling explained as she pulled Cassiel back into the bedroom 
for a moment.  "Cinnamon," she told as she kissed him, unbelting her robe with 
a cheeky grin.  "Ginger."  Another kiss and her robe hit the floor.  "Cloves."  
A third kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck, still grinning 
mischievously.  "And pepper."  With that she stepped away primly and gathered 
up her clothes to get dressed.
 
It hurt to do it but Cassiel laughed.  "I think I prefer my spice to be 
Xenexian," he said, guarding unused muscles carefully, eyes watching her with a 
delight he didn't think possible.  He wished he could grab her and take her 
back to the warmth of her bed but he knew he lacked the strength. Instead, he 
made his own borrowed clothing more presentable.  "I will try it though."

When she was dressed, Aisling grinned at him, drawing him into another kiss.  
"It's good, not as sweet as fensel nor as spicy as terenth, but it's nice."  
Taking his hand, she led him back to the main room, which already smelled of 
the Terran spices.
 
Cassiel bit back a sigh.  Mugs of terenth while he sat at Aibell's work table 
studying.  His favorite and she'd sent him off with some.  "I haven't thought 
of terenth in...years.  Can't have any now, not yet, but if this will not be as 
spicy, then I am willing to try," he said, offering Alek a small smile as he 
followed Aisling.

Alek smiled as he readied Aisling's pot and mugs.  "This is the last of the 
store that my mother gave me.  I think one in our quad has developed a taste 
for it," he said significantly as he smiled pointedly at Aisling.

Blushing brightly, she just grinned and hid a little behind Cassiel.  "I can't 
help liking good tea," she said shyly.
 
"Then I'm honored to share it," Cassiel said, raised a pale brow.  He carefully 
reached behind him.  "Find something more substantial to hide behind."

"Maybe I like hiding behind you," she said, giggling as she wrapped her arms 
around his waist.
 
Cassiel smiled slightly.  Tapping one of the cups, he said to Alek, "My sister 
made these.  Her name...there across the tops."

"I've always admired them," Alek said as he poured the tea.  Peering around 
Cassiel, he chuckled.  "You need to come out from behind Cassiel if you want to 
drink."

"I'm comfy," she mumbled as she slid her hands under his shirt.

Alek smirked at her.  "You may be but I doubt Dr Calhoun is."
 
Oh he was quite comfortable, Cassiel thought.  She was making him feel..like 
C'ss'l.  "It's alright but, H's'l'ng, maybe your friend doesn't care to know 
how much I don't mind."  He offered Alek a somewhat wider smile then.  The 
respect in that simple use of title was...kind.  "I don't know that I'm even a 
doctor any more.  I'm not Fleet."

"Why would you stop being a doctor?  They don't take away a man's profession 
just for being a prisoner of war," Alek mused.  As Aisling slipped around her 
new man, he winked at her.  "Better?"

"Mmm," she murmured as she reached up to kiss Cassiel then led him to one of 
the sofas.  "No, would rather be doing something else."

Alek blushed lightly as he set the mugs on the table.  "Really?  What's that?"
 
Natural reaction was to wrap his arms, such as they were, around her.  He 
kissed her lightly, ignoring, for a moment, the fact that his skin was so rough 
and dry against hers.  He kissed her again, reveling in the fact that he could, 
before he realized they weren't alone.  "Sorry, friend," he said to Alek.

"No need to apologise," Alek beamed.  "It's lovely to see."

Aisling blushed brighter, a very cheeky spark in her eyes.  She seriously 
doubted Alek would want to see what was going through her mind.  Snuggling into 
Cassiel, she said, "He is lovely."
 
Beast, he told himself.  Ghost.  He looked at beautiful lavender eyes shining 
up at him.  Don't doubt a smart woman, C'ss'l, Aibell would tell him.  You 
disrespect her and you.  He shook his head.  He'd wandered again.  "You are, my 
H's'l'ng.  I," he said simply, "am just me."

"And just you is who I love, so very much," she whispered.
 
You have the right, he told himself.  You have the right to feel this way.  
"You know my heart even when I don't," he said softly.  "I love you, H's'l'ng." 
 He held her to him, loving the stability of her, the warmth.  "It is a fine 
thing to love someone who sees the best in you."

"Yes, it is.  It's amazing."  The only other person she'd ever loved other than 
family prior to this was her ex-fiancee and he'd been a real ass in the end.
 
"Your friend is blushing, my little one," he said softly, his mouth close to 
her ear. 

"Maybe if we keep it up," she murmured, just loud enough for Alek to hear it 
too, "he'll give in and take Pim to his bed."

His colour rising, Alek mock-glared at Aisling.  "Once we're married."
 
"Don't tease the man, little one. He's been very kind ," Cassiel said softly, 
even as he stroked her hair.  The smile he gave Alek was unapologetic while 
also warm.  "You're a better man than me if you can hold off from such a fine 
woman."

"I have to," Alek explained.  "To me, even kissing Pim is a sin.  But I'm weak, 
I can't give her up.  It's hard to hold off, if I have to wait much longer I 
don't think I'll survive."  He chuckled ruefully.

"See?  That's why I tease."  Her eyes glowed brightly as she stared up at 
Cassiel.  "I don't knock his faith, but if he's going to marry her anyway, why 
wait?"
 
"Couldn't do it," Cassiel said, the warmth of her smile spreading in his chest. 
 "Don't want to, either.  Might be a faithless man but not unfaithful.  Not 
that."

"I trust you," Aisling told him.  Tilting her head to the side, she danced her 
fingers of his cheek.

Alek just leaned back and beamed at the pair of them.  His dark eyes danced as 
he said, "You know, I'm pretty sure anything as gorgeous as you two could never 
be a sin."
 
Sin?  Cassiel bit back the thought he had, that Humans were infinitely weird. 
The man was being much too kind to even think about a vague insult.  He kissed 
the tips of Aisling's fingers.  "Glad to hear that. I'd hate to think that 
anything that makes a man feel this alive might be wrong somewhere."

Alek's beaming grin was brighter than the sun.  "You should go and see Renatus. 
 He'll be happy to see the dramatic change in you, my friend."
 
Cassiel actually laughed again, not caring about those muscles.  "He came 
looking for his lost lamb already but I didn't see him.  I was asleep."

"She tire you out?" Alek teased, laughing lightly.
 
"It's good to be that tired," Cassiel said with a slight chuckle.  He kissed 
her forehead.  "Tired for a reason that feels right."

"I'll have to take your word on that," Alek smirked.  "And I'll let you know 
when I find out myself."
 
Unbidden mischief, long hidden, crept into Cassiel's eyes.  "Imagine, my 
H's'l'ng, if I were back to normal."

"Mmm," she sighed.  "I can't wait."

"Oh dear," Alek groaned.  "Are we going to be kept up all night?"
 
"Marry your woman, friend, and you'll be too tired to worry," Cassiel said with 
a happy smirk.  "Or find a way around the sin that doesn't make it one."

"Marriage is it, I'm afraid," Alek chuckled.  "But I intend marrying her as 
quickly as I can.  Quicker, if I can get away with it."
 
Cassiel looked at them both curiously.  "I want to re up the warrant that I 
had.  Does that mean I can't stay with you, Aisling?"

"I don't know," Aisling said honestly.  "We can ask though.  I need to talk to 
Cammick for sure but I don't know who you'd need to talk to."
 
Cassiel sighed and held her closer, his eyes going far away a moment.  Never 
used to be afraid of anything, he mused.  Said that, didn't you.  But it wasn't 
true.  Alone they could get you easily.  Even the night before, asleep in Sick 
Bay, he wasn't alone.  That weird lizard EMH was there, oddly comforting with 
his hissing speech and swishing tail.  Privacy was one thing but being alone 
was another.  "Don't think I could take being without you," he said eventually.

"I don't want to be without you either," Aisling whispered, curling up in his 
arms.  "But my Company Captain would need to think about the other people in 
the quad, not to mention the other sergeants in the other quad.  We'd be 
setting precident, plus possibly disturbing everyone..."

"You're thinking about it too much," Alek observed.  "Stop worrying so hard.  
For my part, I wouldn't object to having Cassiel live with us.  So that's one 
down and two to go for us."
 
"This assuming the lizard man doesn't get huffy with me," Cassiel said with a 
small smile.  "Whoever programmed him certainly made him life like."

"Renatus said you could stay here as long as you keep going back to see him and 
taking your medication," Aisling said simply.  "He said that medication isn't 
always the best medicine."
 
"That's for damned sure," Cassiel said with a brighter tone, his arm tightening 
around her.  "Nor do I take up much room.  Never did on Brixton either."
 
"Room?  Who's taking up room?" came a cheerful purr of a voice as the main door 
opened.

"FRix!" Aisling chimed, waving at the cat-like sergeant as she wandered in.  
"This is Cassiel.  He's possibly staying with us for a while."

"Mmm," Alek chuckled.  "Let's put it this way: Tom and I are going to be very 
glad that it's you who shares a wall with her rather than either of us."
 
FRix took in the thin, pale furred Humanoid and flicked her whiskers forward in 
a nod.  She snaked her tail forward and held the tip out to him.  "FRix of 
Vensre, friend.  Welcome and not to worry.  We grow up communally on Eeauio."
 
Cassiel took it that the offered tail was something similar to a handshake and 
briefly gripped the tip.  Eeauioan?  Interesting.  "C'ss'l of Calhoun and I 
thank you."  He smiled slightly.  Pretty species, he thought.

"FRix is our mascot," Aisling teased.

"No, little one," Alek corrected, "that would be you.  A mascot who leaves 
bathrooms in messes and cups for me to clean up."

"And how often am I untidy?" Aisling asked a little petulantly.
 
FRix's fur ruffled at the thought of the Humanoids and their love of bathing in 
water.  Her tail looped in amusement, though.  She reached to pat Cassiel with 
one hand, which was oddly Humanoid despite the fur.  "These two with their 
water.  The other one complains about fur.  I purposely shed to annoy him."
 
Cassiel felt the genuine smile coming up again.  To live with others and not 
have it be in fear.  Another fine choice.  "And will the other mind?"

"I doubt it very much," Alek said.  "He's a very reasonable man.  Puts up with 
Pim and she can be taxing at times."

"I like her, she's incredibly sweet."  Curling her legs up under her, Aisling 
snuggled down in Cassiel's arms.

Alek blushed, a cheesy grin on his face.  "She's rash, caustic, rude, 
obnoxious," he listed off her faults in the tones of a man who was so very much 
in love that he adored even those parts of her, "arrogant, fool-hardy and 
utterly wonderful."
 
"Could be my sister on a good day then," Cassiel sniffed in amusement.  "Had to 
be that way to keep me in line."  Normal.  This warmth was normal.  He loved 
her and he loved this just being and being accepted. 

"No," Aisling chuckled, "Ensign Van der Pol is definitely human.  And just as 
smitten with our Aleksander here as he is with her.  They're deeply cute.  But 
the sexual tension," she laughed as she shuddered, "I swear, you could cut it 
with a knife."
 
FRix sneezed, a sign of something sarcastic to come.  "Not a word for marriage 
amongst Eeauioans.  All children are legitimate that way.  No onus on the child 
for the parents' behavior."  She flicked a tail toward Cassiel and Aisling.  
"Good for you."

"Gotta love a man this gorgeous," Aisling beamed.  "Right?"
 
FRix's tailed looped and her whiskers arched forward, a sign of agreement.  Her 
tail reached out to touch Cassiel's head.  He started only slightly, not sure 
of what she was up to but also certain that it couldn't be anything too bad.  
The tail tip brushed the front very lightly.  "Pretty color hair on Humanoid 
males, not too light or dark."

"Hey," Aisling laughed brightly, "tail and paws off.  He's mine."
 
The tail withdrew but not before it tickled the end of Cassiel's nose.  He felt 
the smile come back again, still forgetting how he knew he looked.  This 
was...normal.  It was wonderful.  Thin arms wrapped around Aisling and kissed 
her lightly.  "Definitely hers, my furry friend, but you show fine taste.  This 
is a rarity in my family."

"It's rare enough on Xenex as it is," Aisling mused.  Her fingers played 
lightly with his soft hair as she sighed, love lighting her eyes.
 
FRix's tail stayed looped then she bounced on the balls of her feet to pick up 
one of the mugs Alek had poured.  "If you had a tail, I bet would it would be 
an 'of Ennien' tail.  Curious one, I think, like our mascot."
 
Bustling in, Tom took one look at the scene and shook his head, "Another set of 
lovebirds to clutter up my peaceful little home." He sighed. "Love seems to be 
everywhere on this blessed ship. And who might you be son?"
 
Cassiel froze for a moment.  No panic.  No fear.  Safe here.  Look at the 
uniform, idiot.  Still his arms tightened just a fraction more around Aisling.  
"C'ss'l of Calhoun though most will say Cassiel Calhoun."
 
"Another one! You're not going to be as much trouble as young H's'l'ng here are 
you? She's one of the messiest Marine Sergeants I've ever known." He winked at 
the man. "Is that tea I smell? Hope so, Lord knows I could do with a brew."

"Yes well, you can hear how most humans butcher my name," Aisling huffed, her 
eyes twinkling at the long standing joke between her and Tom.  "It's only after 
they see it spelled.  For some strange reason, they feel the need to pronounce 
the h."


"The only humans who have a propensity for not pronouncing them are East 
Londoners and those who persist in using what us Brits call 'Estuary English'. 
Can I refresh anyones cup?" He grinned.

Alek shook his head as he rose to stretch his back.  "I need to go to Pim.  I 
need to see if she's okay."  With a significant nod toward Tom, Alek drifted 
away.

Rolling her eyes, Aisling chuckled.  "Tom... how would you feel about Cassiel 
moving in?"
 
Scratching the hair on the back of his head, Stirling pulled a thoughtful face. 
"Temporary measure like Ms. Van der Pol, I presume?"

Looking between Cassiel's sweet eyes and Tom's, Aisling shook her head very 
slowly.  "Permanently."
 
"Permanently? Won't he be getting off with the others when we return to DS9?" 
Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise.
 
"I hope not," Cassiel said quietly.  He wasn't sure what to make of the man.  
No idea.  He smiled at Aisling, still shocked at his good fortune.  "I don't 
want to leave.  I want them free but I want to stay here.  Had a warrant once."
 
That intrigued the older marine, "Really, which branch of the Service?"
 
Involuntarily, remembered anger and righteous indignation flared.  He hadn't 
forgotten about M'k'n'zy.  Not at all.  "I was convinced by a fool to 
volunteer.  They made me CMO of Brixton," he hissed.

Frowning a little, Aisling rubbed Cassiel's arm.  "He's a Doctor," she told 
Tom, pride mixed with a little worry in her voice.  "He wants to join the crew."
 
FRix could smell something dangerous brewing in the pretty furred Human.  
Distraction is as good a tool as anything else.  She got up to get more tea and 
purposely brushed her tail over Tom's jacket, covering him with fine white 
hairs.  "It would be nice to have another with pretty fur around," she purred.
 
"Go moult over someone else, you mobile hearthrug." Stirling grinned. "If he 
gets the post of CMO here, Aisling, Captain Craig will expect him to be 
quartered close to Sickbay." Brushing the fur off his fatigues, he returned and 
plonked himself in an empty seat. "And I'm sure Captain Cammick wouldn't allow 
you to bunk up there. Then again you'd just bat those eyes of yours at him and 
he'd roll over so you could tickle his belly!" 
 
Cassiel let out a slow breath.  The anger hadn't subsided but it was beginning 
to mix with fear again.  Irrational spark of jealously again.  He said nothing. 
 FRix's tail lashed.  She wanted to thump the older sergeant with her right 
hand.  Didn't he realize?
 
"Of course that's down to the Captains, isn't it? Until that happens, as long 
as you muck in Mr. Calhoun I see no problem with you bunking with Aisling." He 
smiled at them with kind eyes. "Just remember these quarters are a bit of a 
lash up and those walls aren't as thick as on the rest of the ship!"
 
FRix let out a soft hmmph.  "Aisling's on my side, Thomas, so hush before I 
shed on your dress uniform."

Aisling's eyes were all for Cassiel.  Touching his face, she whispered, "What's 
wrong, my love?"
 
"Until," he said softly, using Tom's words.  He shivered slightly.  "Can't do 
it alone, H's'l'ng."

A spark of anger flashed in Aisling's eyes but she kept her voice soft and 
loving.  "You're not going to.  You're staying here or I'm moving there.  End 
of story."  Then she glared up at Tom, her dangerous eyes telling him that they 
would discuss things later.
 
"No good turning on me ladies! I can see that he needs you, Aisling. It's just 
not me you have to convince. And FRix you go anywhere near my 'Number Ones', 
I'll put you down myself!" He chuckled. "On a different note entirely, have 
either of you seen the Major?"
 
Cassiel did need her.  It was the truth.  He said nothing but he kept his arms 
round her, his lovely little lifeline.  If he hadn't've been so off balance, he 
would have laughed.  FRix got up and sat right next to Stirling , wrapping her 
tail around his leg.  "Not your dress ups, Thomas, so you can't say anything."
 
"What is it that makes you want to constantly try to irritate me, FRix?"
 
"Because it irritates you, Thomas," the Eeauioan purred.  Her tail unwrapped 
itself and looped in amusement.  "Shouldn't have said anything to let me know 
and, no, no Major, not since we lost power."

"I've never seen him except at the first inspection but that was before we left 
the Alpha Quadrant.  Why?" Aisling said in a cold, hard voice.
 
"It's just I've been receiving report requests and such like, but I've not seen 
him either. Scuttlebutt had it that Shields was a very 'hands-on' type of 
commander. And drop the tone Sergeant, I'm on your side!"

"We have the same rank, Sergeant.  You're senior by age and experience, nothing 
more," Aisling informed him coldly.  "This is no place to air this dirty 
laundry, though, Sergeant Stirling.  Perhaps we can discuss it a little later 
in privacy."  Lavender eyes turned to violet ice as she watched him, the rest 
of her face totally impassive in the way only a Xenexian could.
 
Tom shook his head and sighed deeply. "How do you want to approach this 
quarters situation?"

Aisling truly couldn't believe this, the man was insistent.  Are all English 
Humans this stupid? she wondered.  "How do you think I want to approach it?  I 
want him to stay here in my room.  If that's a problem then I move in with 
him."  Shaking her head in disbelief, she asked, "Do you wish me to beg?  
Because I seriously don't see that happening."
 
"The famed Xenexian pride! Do you honestly believe your hardheadness is going 
to help you on this matter. I was offering to assist in any way I can, but it's 
evident that you find that unacceptable." He took a mouthful of tea and closed 
his eyes.

"Pride?" Aisling's hands formed fists in her lap.  "I think we have every right 
to be prideful, don't you, Sergeant?"  Sucking in a breath, she closed her eyes 
and counted to ten.  "I'm sorry, Tom," she whispered.  "Help would be good.  
What do you suggest?"
 
"Well the difficulty is going to be 'The Great Divide', the 'Us and Them' 
bollocks. Although as long as they don't give Cassiel a commission you won't 
run into difficulties Alek will. As I said you won't have trouble with 
Cammick." He drained his cup, "The only hurdle would be the Captain, she's 
apparently a reasonable woman. If you can prove to her satisfaction it is  
necessary for his continued rehabillitation you should be fine. To start with 
I'd get him to talk to one of the counsellors, Dr. Matthews perhaps so you have 
a qualified medical opinion to back you up."
 
Cassiel sniffed slightly in amusement.  Counselors.  Never did have one on 
Xenex.  Things got settled one way or another.  He didn't care if that let him 
stay with her.  "If you think she's hard headed," he said quietly, "let me get 
going."
 
FRix's tail looped again.  "Pretty headed!"

"Mine," Aisling huffed in a whisper that only Cassiel should hear, her cheeks 
reddening with the tiny flare of jealousy that she couldn't explain.  It was 
irrational and deeply embarrassing but she suddenly had the urge to pull FRix's 
tail.  Burying her face against his chest, she sighed.  "This is just not fair. 
 Something so simple shouldn't be this complicated."
 
FRix caught the scent of jealousy and her whiskers twitched.  She arched them 
forward and snaked her tail from Tom's leg toward Aisling.  "Yours, mascot," 
she said perkily.  "Not Eeauioan enough for me.   I just think he's pretty 
furred."
 
Cassiel might have blushed.  The felinoid was teasing.  Being nice.  He 
belonged.
 
"And where would you go? Hardheaded is a good quality for a marine to have 
Cassiel, it's just in this situation it won't be enough to have the outcome you 
both want. Deep down Aisling knows that. Anyway welcome to our quad."
 
"Thank you." I think.  Tense, like a coiled spring again.  Fool to believe it 
would be so easy.  He kissed the top of Aisling's head.

"Deep down Aisling is going to hurt people if they don't let this happen," she 
winked at Tom, her normal cheeriness returning.  "Because deep down, she has no 
intention of letting Cassiel leave unless he wants to."
 
"I don't want to," he said softly.





"If there's nothing wrong with me... maybe there's something wrong with the 
universe!" 
~ Dr Beverly Crusher (ST:TNG, Remember Me)



                
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