This Can Be Fixed

Chris waited ten minutes after Aalin entered the turbolift before pressing the call button which also scanned his fingerprint. If the request for a turbolift came from one of the command five: captain, first officer, chief medical officer, security chief, or lead engineer, the closest car automatically diverted to their location.

Granting Aalin's plea for time alone was the only comfort he could offer in this moment and that meant ensuring her car wasn't recalled for his convenience.

Once in the ready room, he rearranged her next day's duty assignment, relieving her from the 5:00am slot in the hive, a room filled with of dozens of workstations and their attendants monitoring internal and external sensors both short, medium, and long range, as well as inbound communications. Before sending the message to her and copying Number One and the hive's officer of the deck, Chris hesitated, thinking, Aalin won't thank me for this.

He executed the order.

Then activated an intercom, entering the code for Isak's communicator. Isak answered the page in person, querying, "Bad?" as soon as the doors closed behind him.

"Bad," was the reply.

Isak noted the dimmed overhead lighting before folding his tall frame into one of the armchairs at the far end of the room, settling opposite his longtime friend.

Chris jumped in without preamble, "You were right. My interchanging Anja and Aalin's names during the senior officers' meeting this morning … you were right, I should have paid attention to the lapse rather than brushing it off as a harmless alliteration mistake."

"And it harmed?" Isak asked despite guessing the answer to this question.

"Yes. I upset her; Aalin I mean. And hurt her," Chris replied in a frustrated tone of voice edged with sadness. His head was slightly bowed, an elbow rested on the arm of the chair. The index and forefinger of that hand rubbed the bridge of his nose as if soothing a headache. "Phil didn't understand the significance, but I also reversed their names during his medical update prior to the staff meeting. I didn't notice at the time. Or perhaps more accurately, I labeled the error insignificant, a coincidence because their names sound so much alike. And pushed it out of my mind." He sighed. "Denial can be like a siren's song."

"This is fixable Chris."

The weary man tilted his chin up, leveling his gaze with Isak. "She fled my quarters."

"It is fixable," Isak reaffirmed. "Tell me what happened."

"What happened?" Chris scoffed. "I was a fool, that's what happened. I planned tonight's dinner as a reset between us. No, an underlining, separating my pulling back from her and … where we are now." He muttered to himself, "Wherever that is."

After a pause he continued, "I told Aalin about Talos. The two back-to-back near-death experiences, the shuttle crash and Enterprise's near destruction in the asteroid field … well if I'm honest, frightened me. I didn't want us to pass from this life without her understanding the context of my hesitation about our relationship. Without her knowing my affection for her has never waned but grown. That I desire her. That I want to be her lover … and more. That other reasons hold me back."

"That you love her," Isak filled in the blank space.

"Yes," Chris replied after a slight hesitation.

"Does this mean you now accept your feelings for her are genuine and not a manipulation courtesy of the Talosians?"

"Yes … I think so … most of the time … doubts creep back here and there … ok, too often." Chris then firmly added, "Managing them is a matter of applying discipline and will power."

Isak stroked the stubble on his chin which was approaching the threshold of a patchy beard. During deep space patrols some rules relaxed. "I see … well … bloody hell, if anyone can make that work, it's you." Crossing the room, he issued instructions to the replicator then retrieved two glasses containing a green beverage. After setting one in front of Chris, Isak returned to his own seat.

Chris peered skeptically into his glass. "Really?"

"Really. It's good for you. Wheatgrass, ginger, and other goodies. Matt runs on coffee and donuts. You'd think a medic would know better. Anyway we have a bet going, first one who consumes alcohol, sugar, or caffeine, in other words the loser has to … I'll cut to the chase by saying it will be good, very good for the winner," Isak explained before downing the contents of his glass in one long gulp. Then he prodded in his characteristic unsubtle style, "Go on, you still haven't told me how this name switching clusterfuck came about."

"My intent tonight was reconnection, reminding Aalin of our easy, comfortable rapport. Making up for my clumsy handling of … aborted sex and my subsequent bumbling 'it's not you but me' speech. Making good on my promise for nurturing our friendship and keeping the door open for more. Pampering her a bit. Demonstrating she's a priority …" Chris began.

"That's quite a list for one date, but then you've always been an ambitious guy. And where did the evening go off the rails?"

Chris placed his untouched glass on the coffee table and narrated, "A barely-there kiss, she spoke in the native Qua language …"

Isak shook his head. "Not possible. Their tongue is obscure. And Qua isn't a member of the Federation. To coin a phrase, Aalin knowing their language isn't logical."

"Okay, but rather than argue over a nit …"

"Not a nit Chris, it's important you realize this," Isak countered.

"Anja's fate has been on my mind after you mentioned Qua a couple of days ago…"

"So you're saying this is my fault?" Isak replied with a grin knowing the opposite was true.

"Hardly. No. The names are similar, hearing the local language again conflated past and present … and I screwed up."

"You're right, that's bad." He shrugged at Chris' snort. "If you'd wanted sunshine blown up your arse, you'd have called someone other than me." Isak chuckled. "Or Phil. Or Una." He looked thoughtful. "Louvier's arse-kicking would be delivered in lyrical French and at least sound nice."

"But Chris, this is an easy fix. Anja was a local liaison, not a lover. Tell Aalin about Qua. She'll understand. Do it tonight."

"She asked to be alone."

"Then tomorrow, before the day is over," Isak urged. "Don't let this linger."

"The assignment on Qua is classified," Chris reminded. "I mean, I'll explain the basics to her, but without the mission context."

"That's a mistake," Isak warned. "And the Talos incident is classified as well."

"Not at the same level as Qua. You know that," Chris protested.

"We'll set aside the fact in her job as an interpreter, Aalin is routinely exposed to classified information. And that she is unfailingly discrete. Do you realize she hasn't talked with anyone on board about your relationship? Doesn't confirm. Doesn't deny. Doesn't offer detail one. Though doing so would tamp down rumors."

Chris shook his head. And thought, How did I miss this? More importantly, why wasn't I paying attention?

"Is your reluctance to confide all about Qua truly about revealing controversial Starfleet secrets or concern she will see you differently after learning of some of the choices you've made?"

When Chris spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, and the words were aimed at himself. He stared over Isak's shoulder while saying, "I left both women behind and in danger."

"No. the situations were different. And though you couldn't remove Aalin from Noohra during the cease-fire, your choices during those ten days kept her and those children alive."

"Maybe the Noohra call was right, but my decision on Qua was wrong."

"Yes," Isak quietly agreed because denying it was not comfort to a leader of Chris' caliber but insult.

Neither man spoke for several minutes. Isak broke the silence, observing casually, "Once this is sorted, once you and Aalin are together, have a Betazed wedding."

"Did that once when officiating yours. Not doing it again," was Chris' firm and unyielding response. "And yes, before you tease further, I'm an old-fashioned guy. And I'm comfortable with that aspect of myself. When I marry, I will be clothed." A pause. "And so will the guests." Another pause. "And most especially Aalin. Of that sight I am determinedly and unashamedly possessive."

Isak's smile beamed. "Made you say it."

"Are we teenagers?"

"The point, my friend, is you didn't say bride, you didn't genericize a future girl, you said the name of the woman you love without hesitation. And my other point is you want this, the shared life, the monogamy, the lifetime commitment, the metaphorical white picket fence with someone who is present rather than lightyears away. Have since I met you." Isak's eyes flicked downward, and his brow creased in a frown, one of disappointment and concern. "You know, at times I wonder, if Leland had accepted into his life affection from another, would he have walked a different path? One outside of the grey and murky? A happier one?"

Their former teammate remained exiled since a junior teammate's avoidable, sacrificial death. But breaking contact has been Leland's choice not his brothers in arms.

"If my feelings for Aalin aren't real, if they're a hoax courtesy of the Talosians, and I proceed … that's unfair. She deserves someone who is certain."

Isak shook his head. "I don't think even you believe that excuse anymore. Being stuck in this twilight zone of wanting more than friendship with Aalin yet not crossing that border is unlike you."

"I know her better than you do, I know where she's fragile."

"True, I can't speak to her vulnerabilities. But I can to her strengths. I see a woman who left a comfortable life in order to help refugees living in abject conditions lacking adequate food, shelter, medical attention, or warmth. I see a woman who, without relevant skills we take for granted and with a lot of bravery and common sense, took orphans on a walkabout through a war zone to reach safety. You see her through a different lens, a filter springing from your need to protect. That's not a scold. Of course shield the fragile pieces, but don't smother her. Besides, you and your career will completely overshadow Aalin, that's a big enough challenge to overcome without adding onto it things you can control."

"I won't let that happen, the overshadowing," Chris vowed then said in a soft voice, "Is choosing to protect her so wrong?"

"No. And yes." Isak started to speak then halted searching for better words. "If I've learned one thing from marriage it's you don't work out all your problems, round the bases, cross home, and declare yourself ready for a partner. That moment never comes. You have to sort out the messy together. And yes, the relationship may not work out and that will be painful for you both. But you're not a risk averse guy. Nor a timid one. Nor an indecisive one. So what's holding you back? Why do you keep circling the paddock and never jump the fence?" Isak held up a finger. "Don't mock. I sound like a cowboy because of your influence."

"If I knew the answer to your question, Aalin would be, at this moment, tucked in my bed by my side."

"Then get your ducks in a row Chris, before it's too late."

"You're a literal barnyard of advice."

"Consider its source. You listened when a man broke my heart. You pushed back, hard, when I wanted to walk away from Matt." Isak grinned. "You lassoed me tight that day and refused to budge." He continued in a serious, heartfelt tone, "If there is any merit in my words this night, it's because they reflect the counsel you offered me over the years."

Pike said after a rueful headshake,"I kissed her then called her by another woman's name. She brushed it off, but I know I hurt her. Again. How many times can I bruise Aalin's heart and yet ask her to wait for me?"

Isak rose and placed a hand on Chris' shoulder, resting it there for a moment before leaving.