06:00 – Holosuite-
"You are Jacob's 09:00 piano student," Christine said out of breath as she cooled down from her jog. She had switched out of her duty uniform earlier and was now in workout clothing
"He tell you?" Eeli glared at Christine.
"Lucky guess," Christine slowed down to a walk and smiled.
"I don't believe you." Eeli slowed to a walk with her.
"You are trying to relearn how to connect your brain with your new hand, and how to coordinate your hands together." Christine shrugged, "Piano lessons would be a good way for you to realign those neuropathways. And Jacob is a wonderful teacher."
"Makes me feel like an uncoordinated child," Eeli commented and picked up a water bottle.
"He makes it look so easy." Christine chuckled and got her own water. "Are you still practicing?"
"I do my daily practices, but it would be nice to have my teacher back."
"Can't argue with that." Christine sighed.
"You are not what I expected Lieutenant Skyler." Eeli considered Christine.
"What did you expect?"
"Daughter of two Star Fleet officers. In the top ten percent of her medical class but chose to return to Star base 71 knowing you would be facing predigest against you. You must fight twice as hard to get any respect given your mother's shadow." Christine inclined her head for Eeli to go on. "Yet you have fought to be your own person and made a path for yourself."
"Very good, but you still haven't told me what you really thought of me." Christine eyed her over her water bottle.
"Everyone expects to see a princess, and you are…."
Christine raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"But you are no damsel in distress." Eeli smirked. "It is not easy to land a punch on Victor, and you landed a solid one."
"Thank you, but I haven't gotten must experience outside of surprise attacks. I tend to be more brains than brawn." Christine shrugged and continued to sip her water.
"Jacob brags about how good a doctor you are, and how much you would love to break Haas's nose."
Christine pinked at her statement. "It has never gotten that far, but there are days when it has crossed my mind."
"Want to learn how?"
"Ruin my career and land in the brig by striking a superior officer, yeah not happening."
"This isn't all about violence, you know." Ellie grinned, "Sometimes, a person just needs a good round of smash therapy, and this offers a positive, not-always-violent outlet to take out those built-up aggressions in a controlled environment."
"Smash therapy huh?" Christine smirked.
"Want to start now?" Eeli returned the smirk.
"I've got another hour before I am off duty with Cerberus, think we have time?"
"We do if we start now."
07:04 hours- Personal quarters
Hot and sweaty, Christine jogged to her quarter's door and entered.
"Chrissy!" The kids cheered from the breakfast table.
"Hey, stay put and finish your breakfast." Julie Tresken said from the kitchen.
"Thank you for staying with them while I was gone. I met my new training team this morning." Christine walked over to the table and poured herself an orange juice.
"Eww, you stink!" Brielle held her nose.
"I've been at the gym training. You tend to work up a sweat, Sunshine." Christine made a face at Brielle.
"You are welcome." Julie sat a box of cereal down in front of the kids. "Christine, shower and eat breakfast before taking these kids to school. Then you must head to sick bay."
"That was the plan, but I don't report to sickbay until 11." Christine kissed the top of each of the kids' heads before heading toward the bedroom.
"Your new nanny is meeting you at the school to pick up the kids before their afternoon classes." Julie put a small pitcher of milk on the table for the kids. "You must leave at 15:00 to meet up with her, hence going in early."
"Then I should get a move on." With a wave, Christine hurried into the bedroom.
Josh looked up at Julie, "Aunt Julie, is Christine giving us up to this nanny?"
"Far from it, sweetheart," Julie reassured them, "The nanny is going to babysit you while Christine and Jacob are on duty, help take care of the flat, and help you with your homework."
"Will they be nice?" Brielle asked, worried.
"I was Chrissy's nanny when she was growing up. Do you think we would pick just anyone to look after the two of you?" Julie teased.
A few moments later, a refreshed Christine hurried back into the kitchen. "Ok, I got them."
"Coffee is waiting for you in the replicator. Kid's clothes are laid out on their beds. Ember has been fed and is going to class with Josh today." Brielle started to protest but was quickly silenced, "Per our schedule, it is Josh's turn to have her today. She will stay with Brielle tomorrow. And I have got to run, or I will be late to the office. I may be the boss, but that doesn't mean I can break the rules." Julie quickly gave the kids goodbye kisses, and kissed Christine's cheek as she rushed out the door.
Christine fetched her coffee from the replicator and sat at the table with the kids.
"Aunt Julie said you were making new friends this morning."
"I was. And I like them." Christine smiled at them.
"Good." Brielle smiled with milk on her lip, causing Christine to chuckle.
"So, Josher, what are you doing in school today?" Christine poured a bowl of cereal for herself.
"Mr. Pan Sunghyon is starting a unit on ancient Korea. He is theming all our lessons on it." Josh happily answered her. Christine could only smile at the love of her family.
12403.03 - 15:37 hours- SB71- Station School
"Lt. Skyler, the family services office assigned this nanny to your family, but you still have the right to request a different one; if you do not, click, as they say with them."
"I'm sure they will be fine," Christine reassured the counselor, "I have great confidence in Commander Tresken's Office."
"Yes, very well. I'll fetch the children, shall I?"
Christine kept her professional smile despite the counselor getting on her nerves, "Please. The three of us should meet them together."
With a nod, the counselor left the small reception area and went to fetch the children.
Christine began to pace the room. She looked at the room's pictures, certificates, and other knickknacks. Christine was understandably nervous. This would be the person who would look after the kids when she couldn't be there. Handing them over to another person you had never met was nerve-wracking, especially when she decided without Jacob. She had gotten the nanny cleared with Sava to make sure all the legal aspects were in place. Sava approved the nanny selection and appreciated that Christine made a reasonable effort in Josh's care.
Christine's thoughts were broken when the door opened to admit the counselor with the kids. "Munchkins!" Christine gave them big hugs as a tail-wagging Ember followed them in.
"I'll send the nanny right in." The counselor closed the door behind them.
"How was your day?" Christine sat on the couch with a kid on each side and Ember at her feet.
"We had fish sticks for lunch!" Josh said cheerily.
"Tucker got in trouble for throwing a book," Brielle said, annoyed. "He didn't want to listen to the story, so he threw the book."
"That wasn't a good choice, was it?" But Christine admonished them, "In the future…."
Christine was interrupted as the door opened with the counselor and a culturally dressed woman. "Lt. Skyler, I want you to meet Petty Officer Third Class Bennu Tokhi."
Christine barely managed to rein in her surprise. "Nice to meet you, Petty Officer."
"And you too." Bennu turned her attention to Brielle and Josh, hiding shyly, petting Ember. "And these must be the cherubs I am to look after."
Christine chuckled, "Imps is more like it, but yes, these two are Lt. Commander Holtz and I's children. I am caring for Josh while his father is deployed."
"You must be the loyal Ember," Bennu offered her hand to the dog. Ember sniffed it, licked it, and let Bennu pet her. With that introduction completed, Bennu turned her attention to the kids.
"Nice to meet you two," Bennu got down on her knees, so she was at eye level with the kids. "You can call me Bennu. I would love to hear about what you like to do."
"Brielle let's show Bennu where your ballet class is. That way, when she picks you up tomorrow, she can take you to your class."
"Ok," Brielle offered her hand to Bennu.
"Josh, if you don't mind, we will drop off Brielle first, and then Bennu, Ember, and I will take you to your martial arts class." Josh nodded but held tightly to Ember.
"Then we better hurry so we aren't late." Christine led the way out the door.
"I'm sorry about Josh. His mother used to drop him off with random friends when she didn't want him around. He will need to get to know you before he relaxes around you." Christine sat at the table outside the window of Brielle's ballet class. Ember took up a guard position next to her.
"It's alright. I understand. I need to get to know them, too," Bennu took the seat across from Christine, setting two cups of tea down on the table.
Christine picked one up and sipped from it, "So Bennu, are you going to tell me what you are doing here?"
Bennu laughed musically, "They want me to work for the Family Services department as a protection officer."
"And you were assigned to my family as your first assignment." Christine nodded as she took another sip of her tea.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were my assignment until I was handed your file." Bennu laid a hand on Christine's arm.
"Do you not want the job?" Christine asked.
"I love the kids, and given they are the grandchildren of an Admiral and a Captain, having extra security around when you aren't there isn't a bad idea," Bennu commented.
"Do the others know?" Christine reached out with her other hand and petted Ember's head.
"No, things will have to shift, to say the least." Bennu shrugged.
They sipped their tea in thought and watched Brielle through the window.
"I could get the kids ready for school, then you and I could meet to train," Christine suggested. "After school, you take care of the kids until I get home, and we have dinner. But, of course, provided they don't have a problem with shifting you and I's training times."
"We could make it work," Bennu smirked, "I don't think my commander would have a problem with it."
"No, I don't think he would." Christine sat her tea down but continued to stroke Ember. "I'm worried about him."
"I'm surprised he hasn't returned yet," Bennu commented.
"So, I'm not acting like an over-worried girlfriend." Christine scratched Ember's ears.
"Not in the least." Bennu agreed, "I can put a few feelers out."
"Come back home with us after dinner. I'll show you what information I have."
Bennu chuckled, "Jacob was right to have someone keep an eye on you."
"I knew it!"
"Not to protect you," Bennu laid a hand over Christine's, "But to keep you from coming after him." Christine rolled her eyes. "He knows his angel of music." Christine blushed.
"But after this morning, I think it should be walloping angel." Bennu teased.
"I can usually get off one good strike before they realize I'm not a," In a pouty, cutie voice, "poor helpless princess."
Bennu roared with laughter. "Gods have mercy on them if they underestimate you."
"I just wish I could do more, though." Christine swirled her tea.
"Hey, instead of working with me, why don't you work with Ellie," Bennu suggested.
"I'm not sure she likes me very much."
"You impressed her." But, Bennu offered, "She thinks you have the spirit but lack the training."
"She is not wrong." Christine sighed.
"Then I'll set it up." Bennu patted her hand. "And it looks like Brielle's class is over."
"Appears so," Christine quickly finished her tea and picked up Ember's leash. "Oh, and Bennu?"
"Yes," She smiled sweetly at Christine.
"Your Freudian slip is showing." Christine walked past her to meet Brielle.
"You needed someone to talk to you." Bennu shrugged.
"And I got someone with a degree in listening." Christine turned back in time to catch a happy Brielle. "Grab your gear, kiddo; Josh should finish up in about 15 minutes. We need to go pick him up. We could take Bennu for Italian tonight, what do you think? "
"Come on, Bennu. You are going to love it!" Brielle grabbed Bennu's hand and began dragging her out the door.
