Full Circle is the sequel to Seeing Clearly. It follows Hector on his journey and Sue on hers.
All
characters belong to Paxson/Pebblehut, Hasbro/SonyWonder/DD and
CoblentzInc. Those references you recognize belong to
Lucasfilm.
Dinner and a Movie--Chapter One
I'Lee Springer was out the door when a voice called to her.
"Hey, I'Lee, wait up…"
The small statured nurse stopped and turned as a man came running up. "What's up, Psyche?" She started walking again and he fell in step with her.
"Are you busy Friday night?"
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"Remember I said I'd owe you a dinner?" The brown-headed man looked in earnest at her.
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to take you out. What do you like? Italian, Chinese, American, Mexican…" Lt. Ken Rich trailed off when he realized she was staring at him.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Hello? Rules?"
He shook his head. "You are a co-worker and a valued colleague. You helped me, so I'm paying you back with dinner. And you're great company. It's not like we're going to do the horizontal tango. It's just dinner."
The strawberry blonde covered her mouth and her shoulders shook with laughter. "Horizontal tango?"
"You know…" He made finger quotes. "Fraternize."
"Oh, I know what you meant. It's just…horizontal tango?" She busted out laughing and bent over. "Who says that?"
The psychiatrist stood patiently while the nurse recovered. "Well?"
"Mmmm… Yeah. Chinese is good. No MSG, though."
"What time do you get off shift?"
"17:30."
"So, how does 1900 sound? Meet me at the common room?"
She grinned. "Sure. Dress up or casual?"
"Um, dress casual?"
I'Lee nodded and watched as he ran backwards yelling, "All right! See you Friday."
moviemovie
Friday rolled around and was fairly quiet. Two greenshirts came in from PT a bit dehydrated and I'Lee had a nice long talk with Beach about the importance of water. The Ranger grumbled for a moment before promising to include more water breaks in the sessions. While the two were checking on the new guys, Psyche-Out came running in with his gear. Brinn was at the nursing station.
"Brinn, give this to I'Lee for me. I've got to go." He handed her a note and left with the doors banging behind him.
"Sure. No problem. I'll be personal secretary to little Ms. Thang." The brown-headed nurse frowned and read the message.
I'Lee
Sorry I had to cancel. Duty calls. Block is fixing Chinese for you to take home. Later.
Ken
"Whatever." Brinn crumpled the note and threw it away.
moviemovie
1900 arrived and I'Lee walked into the common room. It was a good-sized space. Pool tables and foosball were in the center with vending machines and microwaves along the back wall. There was a t.v. on the left surrounded by beat up recliners and chairs. The t.v. on the right had four couches in various states guarding it and a movie was about to start.
She looked around and saw no one in the room. "Psyche?"
"Called to patrol this afternoon." A voice came from one of the couches.
"Oh." She turned and looked down the hall to see Block approaching.
"Ah, Miss I Lee, the woman I wanted to see. I believe these are for thee." The big man handed her a container.
"Wait, Block, I don't understand. What is this?" She lifted the box.
"Psyche asked for me to please make you some Chinese. I don't mind, for a lady so fine." He bowed and indicated her attire, which was a simple black dress with heels.
The nurse blushed prettily as the poetical man bid her good night. She stepped back into the common room to see what movie was playing. The familiar sounds of John Williams' Star Wars theme filled the room and she moved closer.
"Is this a private viewing or can anyone join?"
"Dunno," came the voice. "Are you wearing a brass bikini?"
"No, but I am better dressed than you are."
"How do you know I'm dressed?" The voice teased.
She rolled her eyes. Some of the guys were just…she shook her head and took a few steps closer.
"I have food."
"I have beer."
"It's Chinese."
A chuckle arose from one of the couches. "No, it's not."
"What?"
"The beer isn't Chinese."
"No! The food. Block made it."
"Block? Or would that be Brock?" More chuckling.
She was starting to get annoyed. "Look, can I watch or not?"
"Dunno. You gonna watch in Chinese?"
Growling, she put the box on the foosball table and stormed over to give the voice on the couch a piece of her mind and possibly her fist. Expecting to see Ace, Trip or even Bill, the last person she expected was Wreck.
Pointing at him and shaking a finger, she was about to tear into him but stopped. Narrowing her green eyes, she said, "You low-down, stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder…"
Playing along, he sat up. "Who's scruffy looking?"
"You, mister. Giving me the run around like that."
He patted a space on the couch. "Sit. I'll get the food." He stood up and she noticed he was wearing black jeans with a white tee and black long sleeved overshirt.
"Okay, not so scruffy looking," she muttered under her breath. Louder she said, "Did I miss the memo for Star Wars night?"
"Nah, most of the guys were called out today. Since I don't have a t.v. in my quarters, I figured I'd watch it here."
"Well, you're looking rather Han Solo-ish. All you need is the red stripe."
Without missing a beat, "It's on my other pants."
I'Lee blushed and pretended to be very interested in taking off her shoes as he sat back down, placing the container of food between them. An item on the end table caught her eye. "Is that a lightsaber or…" She trailed off at the look he gave her.
Hector picked up the object and thumbed a switch. Flicking his wrist, the saber telescoped out to about three feet. "Althea's boy, Jessie, gave it to me for my birthday. So I could play with him."
"Matches your eyes." She grimaced and hoped he hadn't heard.
"That's what Ace said." He helped himself to the kung-po chicken. "You should see SE with his mock up. Makes Darth Maul look like a wuss."
"SE makes most people look that way."
The sailor nodded. "But you should see him and Kam duel. Almost like watching the first movie…Number four… The Phantom one."
"I'll take your word for it." The strawberry blonde went for the broccoli beef and the two ate in silence for a while.
moviemovie
The palace scene came up and the comments started flying again.
"You sure you don't have a brass bikini? Not that you don't look great now…"
I'Lee poked him in the leg hard.
"Ow, woman! What is it with the poking?"
"Keep your mind out of the gutter."
"Where would you like me to focus it?" He leveled his ocean blues at her.
She clenched her eyes shut and pointed at the screen.
He just grinned.
At the barge scene.
"Think you could choke that big slug dressed like that?"
"I could choke you right now dressed like this."
"Wanna try?"
A pillow hit him in the face.
At the Sarlacc scene.
Hector took a swig of beer and belched. I'Lee took a bigger swig and ended up spitting it out.
"You sure this beer isn't Chinese?"
The sailor was in mid-swallow and did a spit take to rival Bugs Bunny.
At the important people meeting in the white room scene.
"Wish I could become general that easily."
"Oh, Lord, save us from General Delgado… Hey, barnacle boy, don't poke my leg…"
In the shuttle scene.
"Fly casual. That is a great line."
"I need a wookie."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Doesn't everyone need a wookie? Tall. Protective. Blue-eyed. Owes you his life… Never mind."
Ewok village scene.
"Who else could possibly be his sister?"
"Dunno. You sure you don't have a brass bikini? Ow! Watch those fingernails, woman!"
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"What?"
"Woman."
"Because you are not a girl… You're a woman… Wait, what was the question?"
She rolled her eyes. "Never mind."
"Yes, your Highnessness."
Another pillow.
At the Bunker scene where Leia gets shot.
"Are you all right over there, your Worshipfulness?" He leaned over to peer at her arm. "Looks like they missed."
I'Lee drew in a breath at that. "They got you." She whispered.
He raised his eyes to her face. "It's okay, I'Lee. SE blew up the Death Star and we got away." Turning a bit, he rolled onto his back and plunked his head down into her lap.
"Comfy, are we?"
"I dunno. Are we?" He asked.
She scrunched into the couch a bit to keep her shoulders warm. Hector noticed and sat up. He removed his over shirt and handed it to her. "Here, your Highness."
It was large on her but she made the most of it by pulling her legs up under her and tucking the ends around her feet. When she was settled, she patted her lap and he lay back down.
"Comfy?"
"Yes, your Worship."
"Scruffy."
He reached for the remote to turn of the t.v. Once it was off, the room went dark.
"You aren't afraid of the dark, are you, Princess?"
"No, but I'm not sure about you."
"Seriously?"
"No."
"Darn."
"Why darn?"
"I need someone to be afraid, very afraid." He made spooky noises in the dark.
I'Lee laughed. "You are so strange."
"You have no idea."
"Well, I must if I'm still here."
"Why are you still here?"
"You're good company."
"I thought it was because I was good looking. Ow! I now have a hole in my leg, woman!"
"Stop calling me that!" She whacked him hard on the chest.
He went very still. So did she.
After a moment he sat up, his back to her. "I'm sorry. I thought…it was part of our comfort zone. You poke me, I complain."
"Hector," came her whisper. Reaching out to touch his back she hesitated as she weighed her decision and laid a small hand near his shoulder. She could feel the scar tissue through the shirt material as he tensed up. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Please. Don't go."
"You…want me to stay?" The question came across broken.
Her answer was to slide her hand forward and gently pull him back until his head was in her lap. "I won't let you run from me." She left her hand resting on his chest knowing her touch literally took his breath away. "Breathe, sailor."
He inhaled and tried to speak. "I'Lee—"
She silenced him with a finger to the lips and began to play with his hair. "Relax. We're not going anywhere."
He took a deeper breath this time and exhaled slowly. His entire being had been screaming flight but a still small hand was holding him captive. "I could get used to this," he whispered with a smile in his words. He placed his hand over hers and began to play with her fingers. After a moment, he raised her palm and gently kissed the center before closing her fingers to lock it in.
She lost her own breath for a moment before recovering enough to kiss him on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, sailor boy."
"Only about you," he murmured as he faded out.
I'Lee went to sleep with a smile on her lips.
moviemovie
1st Sgt Conrad Hauser wasn't sure what to make of the picture before him. On the couch was one of the nurses from the med ward wearing a shirt that obviously wasn't hers, bare legs peeking out almost too far. Her shoes were scattered on the floor.
On the floor was his naval operative sprawled out with a few empty bottles on one side and a food container on the other.
The sergeant crouched next to the sleeping sailor. "Wreck?"
He was instantly awake. "Yeah, Top?"
"Care to explain?"
Hector pushed himself up off the floor, squinting at his boss. "I…fell asleep."
"Um-hm. Try again."
The sailor scratched his head. "I forgot to pick up my mess before I fell asleep?"
"Nope. Last one."
As he stood there, rubbing his bare arms, he realized his overshirt was missing and it clicked in his head what Sgt. Hauser was asking.
"Nothing happened, Top. Honest."
The raised eyebrow aimed at him didn't buy it.
"I swear. I had one beer, we ate some food and watched a movie and talked. Check the bottles."
The sergeant did so as the figure on the couch stirred. When she began to stretch, both of the men did a swift turn away.
"Ms. Springer, if you would be so kind as to adjust your clothing…"
If she wasn't fully awake before, I'Lee was now. She stood, removed Hector's shirt and hastily pulled her dress back to level. "Sorry about that. My dress got twisted while I was sleeping."
"Your dress?" His voice carried a note of disbelief.
The nurse snorted. "You sound like you don't believe me, Top."
Hauser turned and peeked to see her standing there totally dressed sans shoes. In her hand was a black button down. The look on her face however told another story. The soldier looked over at Wreck who was trying to whistle while not making eye contact. He glanced back at the nurse who stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot.
"My apologies, I'Lee. You," he pointed to Hector, "Get this mess cleaned up and report to Beach at 0900. Doc has cleared you for active duty."
"Aye, aye, Top."
The sergeant took his leave of the pair and the two worked quickly to set the room to rights.
"Congratulations. I know you've been anxious to get back to work." Her voice was small.
He grunted. "The work part I can do without, but yeah, I am looking forward to being back in the field." Hector cocked his head to the side and grinned. "You gonna miss me?"
The strawberry blonde looked up from playing with the buttons on his shirt. She held it out to him. "Yeah, like I miss having a root canal or…" Her voice faded as he took the shirt and walked around behind her. He draped the material over her shoulders and spoke low in her ear.
"Keep it. It looks good on you." Her breath caught as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on her hair. "And besides, the look you gave Top was priceless."
I'Lee moved to elbow him in the gut but he caught her hand. Pressing another kiss to her palm, he put that hand over her heart saying "Hold that for me…" as he pulled her tight once more.
"You better not be playing games with me, sailor," came a husky whisper.
"Never, your Highness." He kissed the top of her head. "I may be a rogue and a scoundrel but I play for keeps." He turned her to face him and tapped her nose gently. "Gotta go." He winked and grinned before taking his leave. "Beach is gonna make me pay…" came his voice from down the hall.
I'Lee smiled to herself as she gathered her shoes. What had she gotten herself into…
