Chapter 6
Jacob came into a dark room. His vision was still blurry, but he was gradually regaining his senses. A single light was hanging over a wooden table. A steel chair. He tried to move but was unable to. Something was holding him down. Restraints. His vision cleared a little more. He was definitely alone. Must wiggle free. Every time he tried to move, the pain in his leg intensified more.
Footsteps. Military boots on steel decking. Getting louder. The door hissed open—a familiar voice behind him. "So, Lieutenant Commander. We are finally alone…."
He tried to speak. His throat was dry, but he managed to get out an "Admiral?" He asked, bewildered;
"You will speak only when spoken to!" So came the voice as Admiral Richard Skyler's face came into view. His only reaction was to look down at the table and figure out what was happening.
"So, you want to marry my daughter…" the admiral continued; "What makes you think that a worthless invalid like you is worthy of the courtship of Christine?" He asked. Jacobs thought processes didn't even have time to calculate a response before he was slapped across the face with a leather gloved hand.
"ANSWER ME! What makes you worthy of my daughter's hand!?"
"I…I love her to the core of my very soul and would do anything for…" he was cut off,
"What makes you think you would do anything for her? You can't even do anything for yourself!" The Admiral scolded as the chair was reclined and wheeled towards a wash basin. "It's okay, Lieutenant Commander Holtz. Nobody knows you're here. And by the time we're done, nobody's going to know you even existed." The admiral stated matter-of-factly.
Then, the sound of water running. The chair was wheeled back into position. Then he felt his left ear get wet. Loud, slurping noises followed and intensified in his left ear. Then he heard a whimper. Then a whine, he felt something against his hand.
Jacob sprang to and sat up. Ember gave him a quizzed look and cocked her head, and sighed. Jacob took off the wet t-shirt and threw it to the foot of the bed. He reached into the jar of dog treats on the nightstand and rewarded Ember for waking him out of his dream.
Jacob attempted to shake the confusion out of his head. His eyes finally settled on a flashing light coming from his pad. Tapping it, he found it was an indicator that he had a message waiting for him. Considering that he doubted he would return to sleep soon, he started the message.
The image on the screen made him smile. "Hey, Jacob…" A tired but beautiful Christine waved to him. "Call it a hunch, but I thought you could use something nice to wake up to."
"You aren't wrong, love." He smiled at the recording.
"Sorry about the dream," she smirked mischievously, "Oh, don't look so shocked."
He laughs at her. He always went on about how Christine was an open book to him. So maybe it worked both ways.
"This is the first time we have been apart since your surgery." She gave him a sympathetic smile.
"It took some getting used to, and it wasn't exactly how I expected it to be, but I did my best to make it work," He gave the recording a weak smile.
"I miss you too." she sighed, "I know having Ember cuddled up next to you is a far imitation to having me there," Jacob reached over and scratched Ember's ears as she snuggled tighter to his side, "but I did leave the shirt I slept in on the chair by my side of the bed." Christine blushed, "I may not be in it, but I hope you could at least imagine I am there. "
Jacob looked over and, as she promised, laying on the catch-all chair, the shirt she had been wearing before heading off to her late-night shift, "Noted for future reference. Thanks." He yawned.
"I know it won't be easy, but try to get some sleep. If only so you don't look like a walking zombie when Brielle tackles and hugs you awake in a few hours." Christine playfully teased.
"What do you say, girl? Think you can keep me company for a little while longer?" Jacob looked over to the dog, who pawed at him to lie down so she could go back to sleep.
Hearing a clearing throat behind her, Christine awkwardly ended her message, "Listen, I need to get back on the floor. I miss you, and I should be home to have breakfast with you both." She blew the screen a kiss before closing it.
He might not get back to sleep, but he could at least rest knowing he wasn't alone anymore. Jacob laid back in the covers and gently petted Ember next to him. He let his mind wander not to the terrible dream he had but to the blissful future awaiting him.
Stardate 12311.02 - 05:46 hours- Family Quarters
"Anyone up for some breakfast?" Christine asked as she came in the door of the quarters.
"Chrissy!" Brielle ran from the breakfast table to meet her.
Christine scooped her up into a hug. "Oh, I missed you, sunshine." She put Brielle back down and walked with her to the breakfast table. "I see you and Jacob have been busy."
Laid out on the table was a breakfast reminiscent of the breakfasts she and Jacob shared before Brielle entered her life.
"I thought we would keep up the tradition now that you are back on the overnight shift." He presented her with a tall mug of her favorite coffee, soy cream, and cinnamon.
"You remembered," Christine smirked as he gave her a hungry kiss, which she heartily returned.
"Hard to forget." He said against her lips before deepening again.
"Easy tiger, we do have company." Christine smiled as she gently pushed away.
"I suppose I could share you with the little stinker," Jacob stepped away to hold out the chair next to Brielle for Christine.
"We made bacon for you." Brielle handed Christine a small plate, oblivious to the looks the adults were giving each other.
"Thank you to you both. So, Sunshine, what will you do at school today?" Christine slipped her hand under the table to take Jacob's. So it would do for now as they listened to the happy girl tell them about her upcoming ballet class.
07:22 hours- Main Promenade of Starbase 71
Christine slipped her arm around Jacob's waist as he placed his arm around her shoulder as they walked along. They had just dropped off Brielle at daycare so they could have a few moments to themselves before Jacob went to meet with his training group. As much as Christine wished she had more time with him, whatever this group was doing to get Jacob back in shape was working. He was still limping badly when he wasn't wearing his brace and using his cane, but Jacob was moving far better than he should have six weeks out of major surgery. She could almost swear there was more pep in his step.
"Are you still going to make the 10 am meeting?" Jacob asked as he kissed her cheek.
"10 am meeting?" Christine looked at him, confused.
"Josh's hearing is tomorrow. We are meeting with your Auntie and Alder via video link to review the evidence and case." Jacob gently reminded her.
"Yeah, that is no problem." She looked at him and kissed him gently, "Sorry, my mind was drifting."
"You have been up for almost twenty hours, Love," He teased as they stopped at a security door.
"Coffee got me through breakfast, but I don't know how long I'll last." Christine leaned into him.
"You head home and get some sleep while the rest of the family is out." He kissed her forehead, "I'll pick up Breezer from school and take her to dance class. After that, you can meet us for dinner at the Italian place. Then we can see you off for your shift before bed."
"Sounds nice. I don't want to sleep through your meeting." Christine shrugged tiredly.
"If you miss it, you miss it." He laid a hand on her cheek. "The three of us can take care of the details. But, first, you need to take care of yourself."
"But I…"
Jacob stopped her with a kiss, "You have taken care of us for the past two months; take care of yourself for a little while."
Christine reluctantly agreed.
"Go on," He gently nudged her towards their quarters, "I may have left you something in our bedroom." He impishly raises his eyebrows.
"What did you…." Christine made to tickle his ribs.
He avoided her fingers, "Ah, ah… go find out for yourself. I have work to do myself."
"Fine." She leaned over and gave him one last kiss. "Just remember, turn about is fair play."
"I wouldn't think otherwise," with a slight wave, Jacob made his way into the security area.
