Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters, only my OC - Kaitlyn Donovan.
This story is the sequel to All's Fair in Love and War.
Query: What sacrifices must be endured by those that secure our freedom?
Thank you to Just a Crazy-Man, bina W, and IrishBug74, LoyaulteMeLie, Lupinesence, jeangreyten, and Belen09 for the reviews, and to everyone that is following this story and adding it to their favorites!
Chapter 9 - Just when you think everything is fine. . .
The Price of Freedom
Chapter 9 - Just when you think everything is fine. . .
Kaitlyn Donovan walked up the path to the home of Admiral Stevens. She smoothed out her light blue sheath dress as she rang the doorbell and waited under the stoop as it started to drizzle.
The door opened quickly and she was greeted with squeals and hugs as she was pulled inside by young Susan and Coulter Stevens.
"Oh my goodness - both of you have grown at least half a foot since I saw you last. Has it really been that long?" she questioned as they tried to squeeze the life out of her.
"It has been six months, Captain." Coulter pointed out as he stepped back.
Kaitlyn sighed softly as she tousled his short blonde hair. "You are right. I'm sorry it's been so long. Forgive me?" she asked him.
Coulter grinned brightly, "Of course, Captain."
She touched his cheek, "I've told you, you don't have to call me by my rank, Coulter." she reminded him.
The ten year old shrugged, "I'm going into Starfleet when I grow up - I might as well get use to it."
Kaitlyn acquiesced and turned to Susan, "How have you been, Susan?" she questioned as she wrapped an arm gently around the girl's shoulder while they walked down the hall.
"Very busy, but good." the young girl admitted. "I'm in all advanced classes this year and I've got lots of papers and projects to do. In fact, I'm writing a paper on the Memorial Dedication tomorrow - Dad's letting me come with him." she smiled brightly.
Kaitlyn nodded, "It will be a very nice Dedication. I know I've been busy, but you can always comm me if you need help with any of those projects or papers. If I don't know the answers, or can't immediately help you, chances are I know someone that can."
"Okay - thanks, Kaitlyn." Susan nodded as they reached the living room.
Kaitlyn looked around the room slowly. She would never tire of visiting this room. There were mementos and artifacts and photos from the Admiral and his family's travels over his time in Starfleet. There was always so many things to look at - and each item had their own story.
Angela Stevens was an avid historian and she loved to tell the story of any of the items asked about. Some of the items had more of a historical value, some were more personal - but all of them came with a moral and a valuable lesson to be learned. Even though Kaitlyn was thirty-one, she loved to hear Angela's stories. Her own mother had told her stories each night before she went to bed.
She found herself missing her mother most of all after she heard Angela's stories. And she'd recently started missing her father more when both Admirals Forrest and Stevens were in the same room. Admiral Forrest was always inquiring about her well-being, and Admiral Stevens always encouraged her to stretch herself in her work and not settle for routine. She missed her parents.
Coulter patted Kaitlyn's arm, "Dad and Admiral Forrest are in the study - I'll tell them you're here." He quickly raced down the hall.
Kaitlyn and Susan sat down on one of the couches. "So, have any of the boys caught your attention?" Kaitlyn inquired.
Susan rolled her eyes, "They are all so immature." she scoffed.
Kaitlyn chuckled softly, "Well, most of them grow out of it when they're in high school and start to think about their future."
Susan sighed, "I can't wait until next year - I'll finally start taking classes that I really want to focus on."
"Have you already decided?" Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow.
"History. I want to study Vulcan artifacts when I go to college. Do you think the Vulcans would let a Human study artifacts on their planet?" Susan questioned.
"I'm not sure, but I can ask Ambassador Soval when I see him next time. I'm going to Vulcan in a few weeks - I could take some pictures for you, maybe even pick up some information for you." Kaitlyn offered.
Susan's mouth dropped open, "You're going to Vulcan! Oh my gosh!"
Admiral Stevens stepped into the room and smiled at his daughter, "What's got you so excited?"
Susan ran over to her father, "Did you know that Kaitlyn's going to Vulcan?"
Jack Stevens touched his daughter's cheek at her enthusiasm. "Yes, it was just decided yesterday." He indicated for Kaitlyn to sit back down, since she'd stood up out of habit when he and Maxwell Forrest had entered the room.
A few minutes later, they were all called into the dining room.
They passed around the food and Kaitlyn smiled slightly as Coulter started to pout, which looked a bit silly on the boy.
"Dad, it's not fair. Susan gets to go with you to the Dedication because she's writing a paper. I'd like to go to study the security measures put in place - you know I want to go into Security. When is something this big going to happen again?" Coulter questioned logically.
Jack Stevens glanced at his wife.
Angela shrugged - she'd already heard her son's argument, and he did have a valid point.
The Admiral looked at Kaitlyn, "How does this Dedication rate on the scale of Security precautions?"
"Well, Admiral - I must say this is the biggest public event, other than the welcoming back of the Enterprise, that I've had Site responsibility for. It is a collaboration of the President's Security, Starfleet Security, and the MACOs. It's pretty high on the scale." she admitted as she gave Coulter a slight wink.
Jack Stevens thought carefully for a few moments, then looked squarely at his son. "If you come, then you have to take detailed notes on all of the security precautions you see in place."
Coulter beamed, "Woohoo!"
Kaitlyn smiled, "Coulter, if you'd like, I'll take a look at what you've written and we can compare notes afterwards - especially if you note anything that we've overlooked."
"Awesome - thanks, Captain!" Coulter grinned. "Wait till the guys at school hear about this." He looked at Kaitlyn a bit shyly, "Captain, do you think you could come speak to my class one day? Some of them don't believe that there's a female MACO officer in charge of ground units." he said hesitantly.
Jack Stevens shook his head, "Coulter, Kaitlyn is very busy and can't just pop into your school."
Kaitlyn looked at Coulter as he frowned slightly, "Actually, I might be able to come by and speak to your class. I'll have to get permission from your Principal and from General Casey, but I may be able to come by before I leave for Vulcan. I certainly don't want people to think that I don't exist." she gave Coulter a small smile.
Admiral Stevens smiled, "Thank you for the offer, Kaitlyn - but only if your schedule permits."
Kaitlyn nodded.
"If only those kids knew everything you did." Maxwell Forrest patted her hand.
"Well, Admiral - we don't want to frighten them." Kaitlyn shrugged. There were some things about her job that probably would scare children that young.
After dinner the Admirals and Kaitlyn went into the Study while the kids helped their mother with the dishes.
They sat at the small table in the room and were silent for a few moments.
"Everything is secure for tomorrow?" Maxwell Forrest inquired.
Kaitlyn nodded, "As secure as it can be. I double checked all of the safe guards we have in place. We've added a few counter measures, should we need them."
"Such as?" Stevens questioned.
Kaitlyn gave him a small smile, "Unfortunately, Admiral - it's best if I don't speak about them. Just know that we've taken a few extra precautions." she reassured him.
Jack Stevens smiled, "You sure you don't want to move over to Starfleet?"
She didn't answer - he already knew how she felt. The MACOs offered her much more opportunities than Starfleet could at the moment - especially when she could keep doing her job and help out when Starfleet needed. She liked working for both organizations, and this was the only way to that. She glanced back at the closed door and wondered if she could speak freely.
"This room is secure." Jack Stevens answered her unspoken thought.
"I've been reading up on the members of the Vulcan High Command - the information is pretty thin. Ambassador Soval did send me a dossier on them, but it is not that detailed." she pointed out.
Stevens nodded, "When you go to Vulcan, we'd like for you to gather as much information as you can." He poured each of them coffees and handed them out. "The Vulcans have not been very forthcoming with information on their current political policies. We've heard rumors that they may be preparing for a tousle with the Andorians again."
Kaitlyn's brows furrowed, "I thought things were better - has something changed that I'm not aware of?" she asked. She kept herself apprised of current topics, because when things went south, the MACOs usually got involved in some way - even if it just meant tightening security at some locations.
"We're not sure." Admiral Forrest shrugged. "Both sides are not being cooperative to our inquiries - which leads us to believe there is a problem."
"I'll keep my ears open." Kaitlyn frowned at the thought, but it had to be brought up. "Have you asked Harris if they've got any intel?"
Jack Stevens took a deep breath, "I'd rather not open that can of worms. If I ask, Harris will no doubt want to bring you back on with him to gather information on Vulcan. Your job is not to go there and be a spy, your job is to secure the Earth Embassy on Vulcan and bring back any information you happen to learn. Big difference in the two."
Kaitlyn nodded. She understood the Admirals' hesitation - it's the whole reason why she never asked Harris for intel for the MACOs. He was like a spider - once you asked for anything, you were caught in his web. She'd often thought that the only reason she'd been allowed to leave the Section was because she couldn't remember everything from that mission and Harris deemed her as damaged. But, now that she remembered everything up to that last meeting on that mission - maybe Harris viewed her as a threat and wanted to keep her as far away as possible.
Stevens pulled out his PADD and the others quickly got theirs out and they started to go over the little bit of information they did have on the members of the Vulcan High Command.
An hour later Kaitlyn was getting ready to head home.
"Do you really have to leave?" Coulter questioned as he held onto her arm.
Kaitlyn nodded as she patted his shoulder, "Yes, but I will see you tomorrow. I expect for you to be very observant tomorrow and take good notes."
Coulter smiled brightly, "Yes, Ma'am."
Angela walked with Kaitlyn down the drive to wait for the taxi they called to pick her up. "You look a bit tired, Kaitlyn. But, I noticed you have a bit of gleam in your eye - are you seeing anyone?" she asked softly and smiled at the younger woman.
Kaitlyn smiled slowly, then frowned. She touched Angela's arm gently.
Angela raised an eyebrow. Kaitlyn rarely touched anyone, and if she did - there was a purpose behind the gesture. "What is it?"
"Angela, you know my career is very important to me. I can't let my personal life cloud people's judgment of me. If I were seeing anyone - if it was found out, people would start to look at me differently." Kaitlyn stated.
"You're really concerned that the Admirals and MACOs would look at you differently? Why?" Angela questioned. She wondered if this was the reason Kaitlyn hadn't been seriously dating anyone since she'd known her.
Kaitlyn shrugged, "I'm the only female officer in charge of a ground unit - it would change how they see me."
Angela shook her head. "It shouldn't matter. You have the right to be happy, Kaitlyn."
Kaitlyn smiled, "I am happy, Angela, and I'd like to stay that way." She looked back as the cab pulled up to the curb.
Angela gave her a hug, "You need to visit us more often, Kaitlyn. Come back soon."
Kaitlyn nodded, "I will. Thank you for dinner - it was wonderful, as always." She waved as she got in the cab.
XXXXX
Dedication Ceremony, next morning.
Kaitlyn walked through the crowds as the Earth President finished his speech and started to walk along the rope lines and shake hands with the small crowd that had been vetted through the President's own Secret Service. Kaitlyn glanced up at the stage and saw Admirals Forrest, Stevens, and Black, along with Ambassador Soval and Captain Archer, Commander Tucker, Lieutenant Reed and Doctor Phlox. She glanced at the crowd and saw Angela with Coulter and Susan as they stood near the rope line to shake the President's hand.
Kaitlyn turned quickly as she heard the whirl of a transporter and saw a man materialize twenty feet behind her. She immediately took note that he was clenching his right fist tightly. She activated the comm device on her vest as she slowly weaved through the crowds to the man in order to reach him without him seeing her. "Imminent Threat - Evacuate the President."
XXXXX
TBC.
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