Half the Battle

Posted on 03/23/2020 @ 6:30pm by

Mission: S1E2: The Plomeek Soup Conundrum
Location: Sickbay, Deck 7
Timeline: Day 5 at 1225

"Now, you know that's not true," Leonie said. Her words were punctuated by a sigh that was immediately heard even at the vast distance currently separating herself from her Mother; the older woman's shoulders stiffened slightly as she tucked her chin in. Leonie sighed again, more audibly this time, because this was an old bone. At least that's what her grandfather had called it -- an old bone, the one that the dog went back to when there was nothing else available. And for her mother, this was hers.

"Isn't it," Brielle D'Anvers asked as she smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle out of the pristine tablecloth. "There was your cousin's wedding last year and your father's award before that ..." She fixed her daughter with a stern expression, the one that had brought many an unruly teenager to silence, as she shook her head. "I'm sure that Starfleet would let you off for something as important as your sister's wedding. Everyone is going to be here," she added. “Even that lovely boy … Kevin Delon? You remember him? He’s a doctor now too … helps run the clinic here in town.”

Leonie kept the smile on her face through long practice. She knew Kevin alright; her mother’s number one draft choice for a husband. Thin to the point of emaciation, Kevin was a decent man who wasn’t attracted to her any more than she was to him. Then too, there was Key. Leonie had fallen in love with someone in Starfleet and if that wasn’t bad enough, Key was an alien. Two facts which, when put together, meant that Leonie would not be staying in Boothbay Harbor and Brielle D’Anvers firmly believed that there was no better place to live in the entire Federation.

“Well say hello for me,” Leonie said. “Him and his partner, Michael, wasn’t it?”

There was a pause; the kind of quiet where both sides acknowledge that a fair point was made though it didn't last long.

"You're not even Starfleet," Brielle said and Leonie envisioned a cat pouncing on an obvious mouse. "You could have joined him later … on that … horse."

"Depends on how you look at it," Leonie said. "Even without the rank, I serve. The health and well-being of this crew is my responsibility, pure and simple. And you know that where Key goes, I go.” She left out the part about how there were other doctors and counselors who shared the responsibility. Better not to muddy the waters when the conversation was about her not coming home.

“And one week would have made so much of a difference,” Brielle asked with an audible sniff. “Your sister will be very disappointed. We were all looking forward to spending time with you.”

"I'm sure she'll will understand," Leonie said. "I know I did." No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she was already regretting them. Not that it wasn't true; more, in how her mother would react. "Look, Mom, I gotta go. I'm seeing patients all afternoon. Give everyone my love."

Brielle nodded, the stiffness dissipating as another, stronger emotion took its place. "Stay safe," she said quietly. "You know I worry."

"I will," Leonie said.

“And … think about it. We really do miss you, Leonie.”

“Me too, Mom. Bye.”

She disconnected and sat for a long moment staring at the screen. "Well," she said to her empty office, "that's half the battle."

A Post By:

Leonie D'Anvers, M.D.
Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse