Icicles Chapter 3
disclaimer: Do not own Star Trek
Marla lay in bed. She opted to not go to group. Andrew sat on the edge of the bed, holding Napoleon, staring at his sister's back.
"Are you going to tell me what happened after I left?" Andrew spoke quietly.
"No." Marla responded hollowly.
"Did John hurt you?"
"No."
"What did he say then?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Marla, you didn't come to group, but you can talk to me, I'm your brother."
"Okay, fine. I'm just upset over what happened with Lee. Harrison managed to figure it out from whatever you've said in the past about it."
"I thought you said everything went fine while you were over there?" Andrew put Napoleon down on the floor where he scooted under the nightstand by the vent.
"It did. It was after you left he came back across the hall. I guess he really is just as nasty as everyone says."
"I told you to not go over there while he's like that." Andrew said sternly. "I told you he could get nasty when he's pissed off, but no."
"Shut up, Drew. You were right and I was wrong, okay? Just like I was wrong about Lee and Kayla." She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow
"Marls…" Andrew sighed. He put his hand on her back.
"Just go to the bar Andrew. The others are waiting for you." Marla turned her head to look at him.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Drew got up, kissed her on the cheek and walked out of the bedroom. Marla heard a knock on the front door.
"Drew, can you get that?"
Marla listened as he opened the door.
"Oh, hey Fred. What brings you by?"
"Just wanted to see how she was. She didn't come to group so I didn't get a chance to see how the rest of the day went..."
"Pretty bad." She heard Drew lower his voice. "Harrison got in one of his moods and got at her."
"Did he hurt her?" Fred sounded alarmed.
"Not that I know of or at least that she'll tell me. I didn't see any bruises or anything, but I think he got in her head and poked around." Drew whispered. "I'm going to the bar, I'll see you either at work or over there."
Drew left and shut the door behind him.
"Marla?"
"I'm in the bedroom, Fred."
Fred kicked off his shoes and walked in. Marla glanced up at him before lifting the edge of the sheets on the other side of the bed.
Fred dropped his pants and removed his shirt, standing in his boxers and undershirt before crawling in next to her. She scooted over and gave in to a cuddle with the burly man.
"Rough day?"
"Yeah." She nuzzled in his chest hair, enjoying the feeling of Fred's muscular arms around her.
"Are you alright? You didn't come to group."
"I'm fine, Fred."
"Funny way of showing it."
Marla didn't respond.
Fred ran his hand through her hair and down her side. She responded by digging her nails slightly into his side, earning a groan and the feeling of him becoming aroused. He breathed heavily against her forehead and started stroking her cheek.
"Marla, what are we?" He finally voiced.
"Cuddle and Fuck buddies."
"I guess that's one way of putting it." Fred snorted.
"I suppose. Why, do you want to be more?"
"Not really. I don't really want a girlfriend right now. "
"Fine by me. We're friends who sleep with each other. That's what we are."
"Alright."
Fred tilted her chin up and kissed her gently. Marla deepened the kiss, knotting her fingers in his hair and immediately felt him become completely aroused.
Marla rolled over and opened the nightstand drawer. One of the things the hospital had provided was a box of condoms and was she ever grateful for that. She pulled one out and tossed it to him as she removed her bra from under her beater and kicked her shorts and underwear off. She crawled back over and snuggled in close again as he finished putting it on, free of his clothes.
She kissed him once more, running her hand across his chest, feeling the gunshot scar that took his life. Fred's hand traveled to the hem of her shirt and up it, massaging her breast. She felt his erection against her thighs. Fred's mouth traveled down her jaw to her neck, stubble scraping against her skin while her hand massaged his inner thigh, earning a groan and curses against her skin. He rolled her on her back and returned the favor with his other hand, running it between her thighs, lightly over her clit. He could feel she was wet already. Fred continued as he explored her body with his mouth. She moaned and wrapped her legs up around his hips. Fred entered her with ease and began rolling his hips into hers.
They both were tangled in each other, moans and cries of pleasure filled the bedroom before Fred grunted at his release.
Marla stood in the shower ten minutes later, ashamed. She decided this was the last time Fred Kraft would be in her bed. It was at least an hour of them cuddling in a blanket on the couch while the sheets were in the wash before Marla kicked him out which he supposed was an improvement from the last time.
She walked him down to the lobby and outside, keys in hand.
"I'll see you at work then." Fred leaned down for another kiss, but was denied by Marla turning her head.
"Fred, we can't do this anymore."
"What? But that, upstairs…"
"Fred. We Can't Do This Anymore." She repeated, emphasizing each word. "It's not fair to either of us."
"Marla, you're not using me if that's what you're thinking. If you're using me, then I'm using you!"
"What the hell Fred? That doesn't even make sense."
"Look, I feel bad because I have taken advantage of you in emotional stress and when we were drunk. We shouldn't have slept together when we were both in that state the first time. There. I said it."
"So then you agree, we cannot keep doing this." Marla crossed her arms over the grey hoodie.
"Okay, fine. We can't keep doing this." Fred sighed and turned. "One last time?"
"Go to hell." Marla snapped.
"Alright, just checking." Fred threw his hands up. "I'm sorry, Marla." He quickly kissed her cheek before she could protest.
"I'm sorry too. I'll see you at work."
Fred slinked off around the corner. Marla sighed and looked up at the sky. It was for the best.
Khan was in his lab the next morning. Even though Marcus said he'd call, he would rather be doing something at the lab than sitting around at the apartment doing nothing. He glanced at the plans on the wall. He had sneaked in the small ships in the loading bay in the plans. He gave a self-satisfied smirk.
He had stopped by the office earlier. He glanced over at Marla's office to see the door closed, the lock replaced, shade down and light on.
Khan got back to work on attempting to work out by himself how exactly the giant ship could be flown by one. Sure, he had mentioned it in the designs and was going to let engineering figure it out, but he would rather try and do it himself.
The phasers Marcus wanted were titanic in size. Surely enough to knock a Klingon warbird right out of the sky like a gnat and a taser.
He shut his files and left the lab, headed back to his office to maybe do some sorting and cleaning.
He opened the door to the hall to see Marla locking her office, a paper bag in hand, presumably carrying her lunch. She didn't look at him as she edged by him and left without a word. No greeting, no acknowledgement other than turning sideways to get by him in the doorway. Khan watched her go down the hall and turn to the break room.
He decided to leave the door open as he began gathering things and piling them so he could dust. Cleanliness was next to godliness. The janitors were not permitted in his office, so it was up to him to clean it himself. He gathered the trash bags and moved to put them outside the door when Marla came back in. Once again, she ignored him completely.
It was for the best, he reminded himself.
Khan didn't see her again until Monday afternoon. Admiral Marcus had thrown a stack of plans of Klingon warbirds at him and told him to go through them and find their weaknesses. He also informed him that he would be able to go see his crew the next day.
Marla looked exhausted as he watched her unlock the office door through the window in the door, folders of lecture plans and notes in her arms.
He debated. He was bored looking through all the Klingon ship designs. He would much rather have a hands-on look over them. Besides, he couldn't focus with the thought of being able to be briefly reunited with his crew. On the other hand, if he went over there, there was a very high chance of being kicked out immediately and back to where he was in a mess of boredom. She couldn't ignore him forever. He as in need of a little distraction. He smirked and got up.
He could hear classical music from the other side of the door as he knocked.
"It's open."
He pushed the door open and leaned against the doorframe.
"Arcangelo Corelli. Really? How quaint." He raised an eyebrow at her. "La Folia, I believe?"
"Get out." She glared at him.
Khan ignored her and shut the door behind him before striding over and settling in a chair in front of the desk. He looked around the room and saw that she had moved in a good amount of history books on a shelf by the desk, a few maps of Pre-Federation Earth, current maps, a map of Vulcan before it's demise…He noted various portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte, Leif Erickson, Alexander the Great, and Genghis Khan scattered around. Conquerors. He also noted Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc, Boudica, and Queen Zenobia staring down at him from the wall.
"Like what you've done with the place."
"I have no desire to speak with you."
"And yet here we are."
She ignored him.
"Back to the silence are we?"
Nothing.
Amanda had gotten after him pretty viciously that weekend. He figured Marla had told her exactly what he had done.
He did not like being ignored though.
"May I enquire how your first day of teaching went?"
"Fine." She snapped.
"Really? Doesn't seem like it."
"Are you sure it's not because you're in the room ignoring my requests for you to leave?" She responded sweetly.
"I considered it." He rose and walked around to her side of the desk. She immediately rolled the chair back up. He sat on the edge of her desk and reached into his jacket pocket. She watched him carefully as he produced a red apple and held it out.
Marla watched him closely, not entirely sure what he was doing. He smirked, took it in both his hands and promptly ripped it in half.
She looked up from the apple to him, her eyes betraying a sense of amazement. He extended half of the apple to her, juice dripping from his fingers.
"Forgive my crassness the other day. I'm terribly afraid I was not in a pleasant mood and you happened to get caught in my foul temper."
Marla stared at him in disbelief. What the hell was this guy's problem?
"Do you really think you can speak to me the way you did, come in here and ask for forgiveness and have everything be good and dandy just like that? Get out." She breathed.
"I did not think that. I am merely offering an apology." Khan bit into the apple half in his hand and placed the other on the desk next to him. "I do not expect it to be accepted in any way or form. What I said to you was unacceptable."
Marla could smell the apple on the desk. Its sweet smell tempted her.
"Are you sure you do not want your half? I promise it's not poisoned. Quite delicious if I say so myself." Khan offered it to her once more. She hesitantly reached out and took it. He watched as she took a bite. Marla cursed internally. Damn, it was as good as it looked and smelled.
Khan produced a small pocket knife and carved out the core of his half, tossing it in the trash before licking the knife and putting it away.
"Now, tell me, Miss McGivers, how did that first day of teaching really go?" He leaned in and took another bite.
She glared at him.
They both jumped as someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." Marla called as she continued to glare at the man invading her space. He looked back with amusement.
The door swung open to reveal an intern.
"Oh, am I interrupting? I'm so sorry." He apologized. "This is Marlena McGivers' office?"
"Yes, it is and no, you are not interrupting anything. Commander Harrison was just about to leave." Marla rose from the chair and walked around to him. She looked at the eighteen-year old in front of her in confusion. He held a small bouquet of flowers in a small glass vase which he held out. He shook slightly and looked worried at the mention of Commander Harrison's name. Clearly he had heard about the Lakewood fiasco. Marla wondered if he might drop the vase.
"These…are for me?" She asked slowly.
"Yes. There's a little card with it." The intern fumbled around in his pocket. "Ah, here we are." He held out a tiny envelope. Marla took it and opened it.
"To my most darling sister, Hope you had a good first day of teaching. Been called off planet to the space station, Enterprise in need of repairs still. Will give you all the details upon returning home. Packing now, will talk to you soon. -Drew."
"Thank you." She took the flowers from the intern. "Anything else?"
"No, ma'am."
"Thank you." She smiled and nodded at him. The intern left and shut the door behind him. Marla glanced down for a better look at the flowers. A simple garden mix. She smiled.
"Got an admirer, McGivers?" Her pleasant mood quickly left as she remembered Commander Harrison lounging on her desk.
"My brother." She snapped. She turned and motioned him to get off the desk so she could put the vase down.
"Ah, and here I thought Lakewood might have sent those. Far too simple a gesture though for that idiot to think of."
Marla snorted.
"No, Drew was called off planet."
"I see. Space station?"
"Yes."
"He'll be fine. Most likely repairing a ship."
"Yes, he said the Enterprise." Marla suddenly remembered she was supposed to be furious with the man next to her. "What does it matter to you, Harrison?" Her voice went colder than ice.
"Just curiosity." Khan replied delicately.
"Can you please leave? I've asked you several times now." Marla sighed.
"Since you asked so nicely, I will." Khan hesitated before leaning in on her chair and locating her ear. "Please do consider my apology though. Whoever he was, he was an inferior idiot." He murmured before standing back up and walking out, gently closing the door behind him.
Marla sat, stunned. She finished her apple half and absently licked her fingers of the sticky juice running down them. She decided she was still definitely pissed at the man, now for new reasons. For daring to invade her space like that, for ignoring her requests to leave and most of all acting as if he knew her and her past.
She quickly shuffled her papers into the folder labeled 'Tuesday' and grabbed her bag and helmet. She shut off the music and shut up the room. She pulled her coat on in the hallway and put the helmet under her arm as she headed out.
She was so grateful to not run into anyone she knew on the way out the bike. She secured her belongings as tight as possible before undoing her hair and putting the helmet on.
She allowed herself to speed. Lately, she had been doing a fairly good job at obeying the speed limits in the city. She grinned until she heard the whooping noise of the cop behind her.
James Tiberius Kirk scowled at the state of his ship. It had been two months and repairs still weren't finished from the encounter with the Narada. He was beginning to get irritated. He wanted to get going. Go do something. He hated the feeling of being grounded. Now they were discussing towing the Enterprise back to the ship building yard to work on it there.
"Captain, I do believe staring at the ship will not make repairs go any faster." Commander Spock approached him and handed him an apple.
"Shut up, Spock." Kirk scowled as he took and bit into the apple. "I'm waiting for that guy to come and see what's taking so long. Pike sent him up as a favor."
"Commander McGivers will not make things go any faster either. She will be repaired when she is repaired. Until then, we must remain patient."
Jim grunted. He had absolutely no patience whatsoever.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Captain Kirk?"
Kirk and Spock turned around to see the tall redheaded man in front of them.
"That'd be me." Kirk nodded. "This is my First Officer, Commander Spock." Andrew nodded in acknowledgement at the Vulcan in front of him.
"Commander McGivers at your service. I understand you logged a complaint about the repairs being done on the Enterprise. What seems to be the issue?"
"I don't know! I was told repairs would be done by now and now they're saying they want to tow her to Earth to the shipyard to do repairs there. I just want to know what's going on with my ship, Commander."
"Alright, calm down a notch." Andrew motioned with his hand. "I'll go see what's going on. They're not going to tow her back to the Yard because right now the yard is full attempting to build a fleet back up from scratch."
"Good luck, no one is telling me anything!" Kirk snorted.
"I assure you, I will get to the bottom of it and get it resolved as quickly as possible." With that, Andrew walked away from the fuming Captain in front of him.
Three hours, a tour of the damages, four supervisors, five crew leaders and a foreman later, Andrew could easily see why Kirk was pissed. None of them seemed to be communicating. Drew groaned. This could easily be fixed. The ship could easily be repaired in a month tops. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone to call Pike.
"Admiral Pike? It's McGivers. Give me a call back when you get this message. It's about the Enterprise. I am requesting permission to reassign people on the reparations, there seems to be no communication between anyone here. We need a team who's going to be willing to talk to each other to figure out what needs to be done exactly on this ship." He hung up and sighed. Now to go break the news to the anxious Captain.
Andrew groaned as he collapsed face first on the bed. He hated the idea of being up on the space station a month. Perhaps he could just supervise until he was certain everything was under control and request to go home. Kirk had looked about ready to kill something when he gave him the report.
He picked up the phone and dialed Marla.
"Hello?"
"Marla…" He whined.
"Hi Drew." She sighed. "Thanks for the flowers."
"I don't want to be here a month. And you're welcome."
"A month?"
"Yeah. Nothing is getting done up here. A few captains are more than a little pissed. Mainly Kirk. The Enterprise was the biggest complaint and is the biggest issue right now. No one is communicating up here Marls. It's insane! The ship should have been done and out in the field by now. Now I have to reassign everyone."
"That's rough."
"How was your day? How went teaching?"
"It was fine. Exhausting, but fine."
"What else happened? I can tell something else happened."
"I got pulled over for speeding." Marla grumbled.
"MARLA!"
"Shut up, I got off with a warning. Also Harrison decided to show his face today in my office."
"How did that go?"
"He gave me an apple and apologized."
"He gave you an apple…"
"Actually, he ripped it in half and gave half to me while ignoring me telling him to get out."
Andrew was silence as he made a very confused face at the ceiling.
"I'm confused too."
"So let me get this straight. He emotionally rips you apart the first day of work, then comes out of nowhere and gives you a fucking apple."
"I might have told Amanda what happened."
"So you snitched about his behavior to Amanda and she reamed him out and so he decides to apologize is what it sounds like."
"Probably." Marla made the same expression at the ceiling as her brother.
"So what do you make of it?"
"Dunno. Pretty good apple though."
"Huh."
"Still pretty pissed though."
"Yeah."
Khan waited impatiently at the location Marcus had told him to go to the next afternoon. He heard footsteps approaching and looked up.
"Commander Harrison, is it?"
"Yes." He eyed the man with suspicion.
"I've been told to come collect you." The man walked up and held out his hand.
Khan slowly took it to shake before the man flipped his arm over quick as lightning and shoved a needle in it. Khan snarled and ripped it out and wrapped his hand around the man's throat. Almost instantly, he felt woozy. His hand dropped and he staggered.
"Elephant tranquilizer. Small dose of course, but you'll be fine. Can't have you knowing where we're going, now can we?"
That was the last thing Khan heard before his world went black.
Khan reawakened on a concrete floor. His body was sore and slightly numb.
"Ah, there we are. Get up." Admiral Marcus stood over him.
Khan shakily got to his knees. He looked out at the seventy two peacefully silent cryotubes.
He stood and instantly, there were at least five phasers pointed at his head.
"Don't try anything. I hit this thing right here and this entire place goes up." Marcus shook a detonator in his hand. "All of us are going down."
Khan eyed the device, shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths before laying hands on Joaquin's cryotube. Oh Joaquin. His dearest and oldest friend. He almost gave the ghost of a grin, best friends since he could remember.
He reluctantly pulled away and began checking everything on all the tubes.
"Everything is in working order, we check them twice daily." One of the guards grunted.
"I wouldn't trust you to know which way to turn a screw, let alone how to maintain these." Khan snarled.
Marcus shared a sidelong glance with the other guards. He nodded towards one. Khan stood at the last one. He was satisfied everything was in working order. He hoped soon he would be able to wake them up, talk with them, be able to enjoy their presence once more.
"You know what, take the day off tomorrow, Singh."
He sighed before he felt the needle from the tranquilizer gun hit his neck and once again, his world went dark.
Marla walked across the dark parking lot. She couldn't believe she had fallen asleep at her desk. The janitor of all people had woken her up. She growled and hurried to her bike.
She heard a commotion on the other side of the lot while securing everything and looked up, a group of men stood over a crumpled body, kicking at whomever it was on the ground.
"HEY!" She got on the bike and turned it on, ignoring the helmet on her lap. The men looked up at the engine revving and fled as she charged. They got into a van and took off before she reached them. She whipped the bike to the side and hovered, making sure they left the lot. She heard the bloodied mess behind her groan. She shut off the bike and ran over.
"HEY! Hey! Are you alright?" She flipped the man over. "Oh shit. HARRISON. HEY!" Marla shook the commander. She wondered who the hell he managed to piss off to land himself in this state.
Khan groggily opened his eyes. He remembered vaguely a group of men standing around while he was drugged, saying they wanted to see exactly how well the Augment's body stood up to things while he was in the state he was in. They must have used a much higher dose of tranquilizer than before. He groaned. He realized he was in pain. Serious pain. He could hear someone yelling at him, felt someone shaking him…the voice sounded familiar. McGivers? What the hell?
"HARRISON! Shit…" Marla stood back up and did a quick walk around, trying to figure out what to do. Should she call an ambulance or wait for him to come around before trying to get him on the bike and take him to the hospital.
A part of her considered leaving him there. She reprimanded herself for thinking that. It was tempting though.
Khan was now conscious and was aware of the auburn haired women muttering to herself.
"Marla?" He managed.
"Hey." She squatted down next to the man who was now kneeling over. "What the fuck did you do to piss someone off, Harrison? You're a mess. I'm calling an ambulance." She reached into her pocket for a phone to dial before his hand caught her wrist.
"No. No ambulance." He grunted. If he was discovered to be an Augment, it was over. They were all dead. What the hell did they do to him? Beat him with a nail covered sledgehammer?
"You need to go to the hospital."
"No, I'm fine."
"Yeah and I'm the tooth fairy." She snorted.
"I'll be fine." His hair was in his face and he pointlessly attempted to shove it back before it fell in his eyes again.
"Alright, you want me to drive you home to bleed internally on your couch then?"
"That would be lovely." Khan was starting to feel stronger by the minute, but still, he needed to get home and check and see what damage had been done exactly. "That is a very large motorcycle."
"I don't know if you're going to be able to hold on and ride. Will you at least let me check for a concussion?" Marla asked.
"Fine."
"Look at me." Marla dug a light out of her bag to check his pupils. "Alright. You feeling nauseous?"
"No."
"Like you're going to pass back out on me?"
"No."
"Headache, ringing in your ears?"
"No."
"Everything looks fine. God, your face is a mess. Come on, let's get you on the bike."
They got him to his feet and on the bike.
"You're wearing it, don't argue." Marla handed him the helmet. Khan remained silent. "Where do you live?"
Khan muttered the address.
"Alright, hold on."
"To what?"
"Either me or the back of the bike, your choice." She started the bike and turned to look at him. Khan stared at her, hands still on his thighs. She sighed impatiently and reached around and grabbed his hands and wrapped them around her waist. Khan inhaled sharply and let out a whine at the pain that accompanied the movement. "Move up or down and I'll pitch you on the curb." She muttered.
"Understood." He grumbled, face red and grateful for the helmet and bloody face.
"Alright, hang on." She tore off across the parking lot. Khan swore and tightened his grip on her, letting loose another small whine.
Marla couldn't help but smile at the sensation of the wind in her face. Marla felt the electric thrill and for a moment she forgot it was there was a mangled mess of a man holding on for dear life and sped up. She wanted the wind to rip the bun out of her hair. She wanted to be the firebird again, racing through the night without a care.
Khan's heart nearly beat out of his chest. He now understood why Amanda refused to ride with Marla. It was no wonder she was killed on the damn thing before.
"McGivers! Slow down before you get us both killed!" He snarled. He knew he his body wasn't strong enough yet to take a hit like a car crash without some sizable damage being done.
Marla reluctantly gave in and decreased her speed before taking the turn. Khan only knew one thing at this point. Augment or not, Marla's driving scared the living shit out of him. He was grateful the second he saw the apartment building in view.
He was shaking as he dismounted the bike.
"Come on, let's get you up to your place."
"I do not need assistance!" Khan snapped as he staggered sideways. He doubled over in pain.
"I think you do. Come on, let go get you cleaned up." She opened the seat to the bike and removed a bottle of antiseptic and wad of gauze from the first aid kit and walked behind him as he entered the building, prepared to catch him if he went down.
Marla cringed the second they hit the light. It was much worse looking in clear light. Khan fumbled for the key and pushed open the door and flipped on the light.
"Sit. I'll go get some ice. Holy hell, Harrison, your face is a mess and a half."
Khan ignored her and made his way to bathroom. He leaned on the sink edge and looked up. She was right. He could see the cuts already starting to heal, slowed by whatever they drugged him with.
He stripped off his shirt, cringing at the dried blood stuck to the fabric on his back.
"You alright?" He could hear water running from his kitchen.
"Yes." He examined himself in the mirror. Whatever they did, his ribs were black and blue, cuts and abrasions on his stomach, he knew there were cuts on his back. They managed to leave his legs alone from what he could feel. Khan gently tested his ribs to make sure none were broken. He washed his face as carefully as he could to clear the blood.
He winced as he dried his face. He was not used to the sensation of pain. He hated it. It was despicable. He threw the towel in the shower and walked back out to the living room.
"Oh my god…" Marla nearly dropped the makeshift icepack.
"It's not as bad as it looks." He grunted.
"Shut the hell up and sit down." She handed him the ice pack which he pressed to his swollen face, feeling the pleasant cooling sensation.
Marla returned with a bowl of water, the bottle of antiseptic, some gauze and a cloth.
"You're about to hate me for a minute or so." She sighed. "Give me your back."
"It's fine."
"No, you have some fairly decent cuts that need to be cleaned out. Give me your back, Harrison."
Khan glared at her before sitting on the floor and leaning over the coffee table. Marla settled herself behind him. She couldn't help but notice his physique underneath the black and blue masses. She cursed at herself and shook herself mentally. She soaked the cloth in the lukewarm water beside her and began cleaning the blood away.
Khan hissed occasionally. He closed his eyes at the feeling of the warm water on his back, lulling him into a sense of relaxation. He exhaled and Marla could feel him relax under her hands. Khan could sit like this forever. He was slightly disappointed when he felt her dry his back off.
"Alright, this is going to sting." Marla warned.
Khan hissed at the sensation of the antiseptic hitting the cuts.
"Yeah, I know." Marla worked quickly. "Alright, I'm finished."
Khan exhaled.
"Who the hell did you piss off?" She repeated herself.
"I know exactly who did this, do not concern yourself with it." He grunted.
"Well, you ought to press assault charges then." Marla got up and went to wash the bloody cloth out in the sink.
"No."
"Harrison, whoever did this beat you to a bloody pulp. You need to go to the police and report this!"
Khan stood and approached her.
"Do not mention this to anyone." He grabbed her face in his hands. "Do you understand?"
Marla looked up at him, taken aback.
"Yes."
"Good. Now go, I can take care of the rest. Don't give me that look, now go, please."
"Since you asked so nicely, I will." She sneered as she turned and walked out, closing the door hard behind her.
"You know, he could have at least said thanks." She grumbled to herself as she mounted her bike and turned around to head home.
Khan stripped off his pants and went to go lay down on the bed. He could feel the cuts on his back beginning to heal much faster. He gingerly laid down on his back. He knew he couldn't say anything to Admiral Marcus. Besides, logically, they were probably testing to see exactly what they were dealing with. Marcus probably ordered them to do it himself.
He had absolutely no idea why McGivers had helped him instead of leaving him on the ground. He would have gotten home eventually. It was rather honorable of her to do that, after how he had treated her on her first day.
He hoped mostly everything would be healed over by morning. He drifted off to sleep thinking about it.
Marla woke up to Napoleon purring on her chest. She wondered how the hell the tribble managed to get up on the bed as she rolled over and cuddled it.
"I would love to sit here and cuddle you all day Napoleon, but I've got work." Marla buried her face in the tribble's fur. "Which means you get the ferret cage." She sighed. Drew had found an old ferret cage at a thrift shop and cleaned it up for her so Napoleon wouldn't eat everything.
She hated putting Napoleon in there, but after the tribble found its way into the pantry, it was for the best and her wallet.
Marla got in the shower/tub combo and considered the day ahead. She considered maybe stopping by Harrison's and seeing how he was doing. She scrunched her nose. She'd rather not. She did need her antiseptic back though. Then again, he'd probably bring it with him to work if he came in that day.
She considered having a bath that night after group. Oh, it had been years since she last had a good proper bath. Ooh and some wine. And a book. Yes, it would be a good old fashioned night in. She was getting excited for it.
She got out of the shower, got dressed and did her hair before wandering to the kitchen to find food for breakfast and lunch.
"Ah, ah. Not for you." Marla noticed the tribble inching towards her plate. She picked Napoleon up and put him in the ferret cage, earning indignant squeaks. She slid the second slice of toast in the cage and returned to packing her lunch.
Khan awoke to a pounding on the door. He groggily glanced at the clock which read noon. He groaned and stretched, feeling various joints crack. He put on some pants and went to answer the door.
He looked down at Amanda, standing in front of him.
"Ms. Sayes?"
"You weren't on the train this morning, so I figured you weren't feeling well. I brought some food over." Amanda grunted as she pushed by him and shuffled to the kitchen. Khan glanced in the window at his face. The cuts had healed over. He checked his ribcage. It was still yellow and green. Better than it was.
"John, what did you do your side?" Amanda shuffled towards him.
"Slipped and fell."
"Hmm…Be more careful next time." She gave him a knowing look. "Come eat. You look like you just woke up." She went into his kitchen and he heard the fridge door open and close.
Khan gave in and went to see what exactly Amanda Sayes had cooked. She pulled out several containers from her bag.
"I got a baked chicken and rice casserole, some roasted green beans, and I have some slices of ham I just put in your fridge for sandwiches."
"Thank you, Amanda." Khan bent over and gave the old woman a kiss on the cheek. His stomach gave a terrific growl when the smell hit his nose.
"Here, come eat, it's still hot." Amanda patted his on the arm. "I already ate and I have a bottle of tea right here with me, so I'm fine."
Amanda surveyed him as he ate.
"Johnny, you don't cook much, do you?"
"Upon occasion."
"Hmmm…I see Marla was here." She held up a long brownish red strand of hair and raised an eyebrow suggestively.
"She drove me home last night. Didn't have train fare."
"On the bike?"
"Unfortunately."
"I worry about her on that thing." Amanda shook her head.
"She obviously did not learn the first time around. I say let nature take its course."
"You can be cruel, John." Amanda sighed. "I'm hoping it is just because she's still testing the limits of this time and she will calm down soon."
"Perhaps."
Khan leaned back in the chair, full. He couldn't remember the last time he had a home cooked meal by someone else.
"Alright, I need to get to the hospital. You feel better Johnny. Be nicer, keep an open mind and remember, it's alright to ask for help when you need it. It doesn't make you weak or whatever. It shows you're intelligent enough to realize you're overwhelmed." Amanda gave him a one armed hug before shuffling out the door.
"So how have we all been feeling today? Marla, it is good to see you tonight." Dr. Burton beamed around at the group.
Marla glanced at Andrea. Andrea currently had a tribble nestled in her cleavage. She was smiling for once, which Marla found to be a vast improvement from the darkened expression the girl had had the previous weeks.
"Girl, get that thing out of your shirt." Scarlett scolded. "Indecent."
Andrea went red and began digging for the tribble who squeaked in protest of being removed. She placed the black fuzz ball on her lap and the tribble promptly began climbing up her low cut top once again and snuggled right back in between her breasts. Andrea shrugged.
"Bean likes it there. I guess he's cold. It's the first time he's done it, usually he's on my vent."
Mario laughed as Scarlett scowled.
"It's alright, Andrea, Napoleon likes the vent too."
"Sterilized tribbles generally do not like the cold I've noticed." Samuel nodded. "Or rather, they'll tolerate it, but prefer to be warm."
"Refocus, please? How does every conversation end up on tribbles lately?" Dr. Burton sighed and adjusted her glasses. "Marla, you started your new job since you were last here according to your brother. How is that going?"
"Well. I like teaching. My co-workers aren't exactly the most ideal, but generally, I enjoy it."
"Where is Andrew tonight?" Tyrone stretched and cracked his back.
"Off planet. Ship repairs."
"When you say your co-workers aren't ideal, what is your ideal of a co-worker? What makes your co-workers not ideal?" Dr. Burton leaned forward.
"For starters, I would greatly appreciate co-workers who don't behave atrociously, invade your personal space, offer fruit as apologies, and generally act like an arrogant bastards!" Marla seethed.
"Oh, John's not that bad." Amanda sighed. "Rough around the edges, but he's got a good heart, I keep telling you this."
"He is too!"
"Amanda, you know this co-worker?" Dr. Burton asked.
"Yes and Marla, obviously he's not that bad if you gave him a ride home last night when he forgot his train fare."
Marla laughed.
"Is that what he told you then?"
"Yes, why?"
"Nothing, nothing." Marla shook her head and held her hand up.
"Marla, if you are uncomfortable with this co-worker, perhaps you should request an office change?"
"And give him the satisfaction of running me off, HELL NO. I'm here and he's going to have to deal with it."
"You're getting awfully defensive." Samuel chuckled. "I think you secretly like him."
"No, he really is a complete nightmare. Chucked one of our coworkers down the hall the other day." Fred quickly interjected.
"Sounds like someone's a bit jealous." Tom muttered under his breath. Fred went a ruddy red.
"So, José, how has it been going for you?" Marie loudly interrupted and changed the subject.
"Qué?"
"How have you been feeling?"
"Oh, good. Better. Got a job at a bank."
"That's good." Rodger nodded with his arms crossed before clearing his throat of phlegm. The group nodded in assent.
"Yeah, security. It's good. Got moved in to the apartment across the street here."
Dr. Burton looked around. She didn't even have to say anything as the group gave words of encouragement as José sheepishly smiled. Yes, this is what she loved most about Wednesday nights.
Khan didn't know why the hell he was going to the bar on a Wednesday. All he knew is that he just needed to forget that Marcus's men had made him bleed, much to his rage.
It appeared the support group had made it there early. He nodded at Amanda Sayes and pulled his grey coat around him to keep from knocking people's drinks over as he made his way to the bar through a throng of people surrounding a pool table.
His lip curled as he spotted the female McGivers at the bar alone, chin on her hand, staring into her beer.
"Evening."
"Fuck off." Marla growled.
"The lady's drinks are on me tonight." Khan informed the bartender as he sat on the stool beside her.
"The lady's drinks are on her." She snapped, without looking at him. "What do you want?"
"Such a foul mood." He tutted. "And here, I was attempting to show gratitude for your actions last night."
"Oh."
"So why did you help me last night?"
"Common Decency." Marla grunted as she took a swig of beer.
"Come for a walk with me."
"What?" Marla set the bottle down.
"Just do it, McGivers. Trust me."
"Why?"
"I'm bored and need some company. You're obviously bored. Let's go take a walk."
Marla turned to look at him, confusion clouding her face.
"Your face… it was covered in cuts last night…"
"I'm a fast healer."
"That doesn't make sense though."
"I told you, it was not nearly as bad at it looked."
"But-"
"Are you walking with me, or no?"
"You're not going to leave me alone until I say yes, are you?"
"No, it is entirely up to you."
"Fine." Marla pulled her coat on and stood. "Lead the way, Commander."
As they left, Marla could feel Fred's eyes on her. She refused to look at him.
The pair strolled in silence down the street before turning onto a residential block of Victorians.
Marla's eyes roamed over the ornate buildings, the colors muted in the dark. Very small patches of grass lay out front of each one. Marla paused to examine a flowering shrub.
"Fan of gardenias, are we?" Khan broke the silence.
"We used to have gardenia plants around the side of our house growing up." Marla's fingers trailed over the large, waxy blossom. She leaned in and inhaled the sweet fragrance. "My mother was so mad…my younger brother accidentally fell on one and tore half of it up." She smiled at the memory. "He bought her a new one the next weekend to apologize."
"A younger brother?"
"Yes. Andrew is the oldest, then me, then my brother David, and the youngest was Scott."
"Did you live in the city?"
"No. Just outside of it. We had a farm house. I doubt its still there though." Marla sighed as she straightened.
"One way to find out."
Marla quickly turned to look at him.
"What?"
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Oh come on McGivers, you can't be that slow." Khan drew closer. "Let's go find out if your house is still there."
"It's been almost two hundred and fifty years, Harrison. It can't possibly still be there. I mean, I was supposed to get the house in the will, which most likely changed after I died, but still. It's not there."
"Never know until we go look."
"Why would you want to go with me?" Marla questioned.
"As I said before, I'm bored and am in need of a distraction."
Marla narrowed her brown eyes and looked up into his bright blue ones, attempting to find a motive.
"You really don't like or trust me, do you, McGivers?" Khan was amused with the woman in front of him.
"You haven't given me a reason to do either, Commander."
"John."
"What?"
"Call me John in private. Commander is so formal. Using my surname sounds spiteful."
"Why do you care?"
"Because we are sharing a small space. We should at least be able to tolerate each other, if not get along. We are both going to be here for a time. Yes?"
"I suppose."
"Good. Then, shall we go find this house of yours, Marla? Unless you are still angry with me?"
Marla looked at the man in front of her in his grey coat, fingerless gloves and scarf.
"No, I suppose karma got you last night. How do you propose we get there, John?" The name sounded foreign and odd in her mouth when addressing him.
"Your bike."
"You trust me to drive?"
Khan raised an eyebrow at her.
"Alright, let's go." Marla turned and began walking away.
Khan held on tightly as they left the city. Thankfully, she wasn't speeding too terribly like the previous night.
Marla's mind was working double time. First, trying to figure out if the roads had changed and second attempting to figure out why Harrison, no, John, was being so…nice.
To Marla's surprise the exit was still there. The small town had definitely grown over the years. There were more shops along the main street. She was also pleasantly surprised to see they had kept the old storefronts and cobblestone road of the main street over the hundreds of years. The street was lit with street lamps, fashioned to look as if they were the old lamp lighter street lights. As she turned down a few streets, she was very shocked that the neighborhood hadn't changed too much. She followed the road out to the outskirts of town to the old road. She slowed down in surprise of the sight.
An iron fence surrounded the old house, a lamp out front with an iron plaque. She stopped in front and shut off the bike before removing her helmet and dismounting. Khan waited for her to read the sign.
McGivers House, childhood home of United States President Scott McGivers.
"Wow. Oh my god." She covered her mouth in shock. She continued to read. The sign told of her brother's life. She got to the bottom of the sign.
The two oaks trees were planted in 2030 in memory of President McGivers' beloved siblings Marlena and Andrew, who both lost their lives in auto accidents. Museum hours 9 to 8.
Khan got off the bike and walked over.
"So this is it?" His eyes roved over the metal sign.
"Yes."
"Well?"
"Well what?" Marla turned.
"Are we going in?"
"You want to break into a museum?" Marla whispered loudly in disbelief.
"Technically, it was your house before it was a museum."
"We could get into so much trouble for this." Marla hissed while giggling.
"Oh well." Khan reached over and yanked on the padlock to the gate. "It's open." He whispered back and grinned.
They quickly and quietly approached the house. Marla examined the door. The smell of gardenias filled the air.
"The locks are still original." She stated in disbelief.
"They often are on historical places."
Marla hesitated. She didn't have the key. She wondered…
She counted the bricks along the front door. If she remembered right…She tugged on the fifth brick up. It moved. She squatted, shocked once again as it came out and she felt the cold house key still in the slot in the brick. She removed it and kicked the brick back in. She held the key up in the light and laughed in disbelief, glancing at John.
Marla's hand shook as she slid the key in the lock. There was always a trick to the door. She jiggled the key until she felt it all click before turning it and pushed. The door swung open. She walked slowly inside.
The lights came on automatically. Marla swore loudly.
"Shit! Now the neighbors know something's up."
"Well, then we'd better hurry?"
Marla looked around the kitchen. Everything was exactly as she remembered it. Did Scott really go to lengths to preserve the house? Or the family even? How many great nephews and nieces did she have living? The living room was roped off. She moved the rope and went in, running her fingers along the lid of the upright piano. The family photos still hung on the wall. There were wedding pictures of David and Scott and their kids and wives and grandchildren. Marla ran her hand over their faces, she wondered what they had been like. She noticed another sign, explaining the room.
Marla left the room and walked to the stairs. She began climbing, the wood creaking under her feet. Khan followed.
The doors were all removed from the hinges, the rooms roped off again. This time, it had signs saying which of Scott's children slept in each room. Her room had been occupied by Scott's daughter Ava.
"Ava…" She let the name of her niece roll off her tongue as she leaned in the doorframe.
"HEY!" She jumped, startled. Khan quickly moved in front of her as they saw the cop at the head of the stairs, phaser in hand and pointed at them. "This is private property. You are breaking and entering."
"Actually, it's her house." Khan replied smoothly.
"What? HANDS UP. Give me some ID, NOW." He snarled.
Marla's hands shook as she pulled out her license and slid it over on the floor, hands in the air.
"Marlena McGivers, the dead sister. Huh, nice one. Pity, it's not the first one we've seen." The cop sneered.
"You idiot. Haven't you seen the pictures downstairs?" Khan rolled his eyes. Imbecile.
The cop hesitated.
"Move it! Down the stairs, the both of you. We're going to figure this out now."
The pair sat on the couch while the cop was on the phone with someone. He kept glancing at the family portraits and back to her.
"I knew this was a bad idea. You're a bad influence, John." She sighed. He snorted. She was tempted to kick him off the couch, lay down with the old afghan they had draped on the back of the couch and fall asleep like she used to as a teenager. She had had her own apartment at age twenty three, but they always did have Sunday dinner back at the house. Actually, that was her afghan now that she thought about it.
"The McGivers family is on their way over." The cop sneered. "We're going to get this figured out once and for all, sister."
Marla rolled her eyes.
"Look, this is a misunderstanding. I was just having a look around the old house. We'll leave and I'll make a donation to the upkeep."
"Uh, no. Sorry, but rules are rules. Besides, don't you want to meet your long lost family? I mean if you are who you say you are, deady."
"I was in cryostasis give me a break!" Marla groaned. "So was Andrew."
"Andrew, the other dead brother?" The cop started laughing. "Hold on, hold on." He grabbed his radio and walked out into the hallway. "Hey boys, we got a four one five in progress at the McGivers house and you're gonna want to get a load of this."
"10-4."
"Well, we've got a lady here claiming to be President McGivers' dead sister and now she's saying the other brother is alive too."
Marla could hear the laughter on the scanner and she buried her face in her hands in embarrassment.
"Why did I let you talk me into doing this?"
"You were obviously curious."
"You're trying to get me fired or arrested, aren't you?"
"Not my intentions at all."
Marla shivered and pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and curled up. Still smelled like home.
"HEY! THAT IS AN ANTIQUE!"
"HEY! My grandma made this and gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday." She sneered and pulled it tighter around her.
The cop fumed while looking at her.
Marla heard a car pull in. The cop turned to look out the window, phaser still pointed at the pair on the couch.
"Mrs. Williams." The cop smiled at the red-headed woman that walked in the door. Marla stood and allowed the afghan to fall back on the couch.
"Is this her then?" The middle aged woman stomped into the room. "How dare you break into my family's home and then have the audacity to clai-" Her words fell silent as she looked at Marla.
"Um…Hi." Marla awkwardly gave a small wave.
"How?" The woman looked stunned.
"Cryostasis." Marla shrugged. She looked at the woman in front of her. In her opinion, she looked like Marla's aunt. "We just wanted to look. Sorry about the commotion-"
"Prove it."
"Sorry?"
"Prove that you're her." The woman growled. Marla noticed the woman was well dressed for this time at night.
"I'm not sure how-"
"Show me the scars."
"Oh." Marla glanced at Khan. "Could we possibly go in the kitchen?"
"No. Right here."
"John, leave the room."
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Because I'm about to get undressed and I'd rather not do it in front of a co-worker."
"Co-worker?"
"Long story. Harrison, OUT. Please."
Khan scowled and got up and walked out to the hallway.
"Ahem. I need to be in the room for security purposes." The cop cleared his throat.
Both women glared at him in disgust.
"Turn your back." Marla spat.
As soon as he turned around Marla slid off her jacket, removed her shirt and dropped her pants.
"Anything else, Doubting Thomas?" Marla snapped as she shivered in the cold house. Her face was red as the woman in front of her circled her, eyeing the scars up her side from where Andrew said she slid. She felt the woman lift her messy bun up to inspect the scar on the nape of her neck.
"Just your address and number so we can get everything sorted out, Aunt Marlena." The woman said quietly. "Actually, here, this is my business card. Call me." Marla looked down at what she produced.
Tabitha McGivers-Williams.
"Alright then." She quickly pulled her clothes back on.
"I'm not pressing charges. Please leave."
"I'm taking this with me." Marla held up the afghan.
"Of course."
"John, we're leaving." Marla nearly ran out of the house, Khan on her heels. She stuffed the blanket in one of the side trunks of the bike and jumped on.
The ride home was silent as Marla sped through the night.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into that." She groaned as they pulled up outside the building. "Never again am I letting you come up with a plan."
Khan smirked.
"I'll see you at work."
Marla collapsed face first on the bed after opening the ferret cage to let Napoleon out without turning on the lights. The afghan lay on the empty side of the bed.
The tribble climbed the sheets and curled up next to her face.
"It's been a long night, Napoleon." She sighed. "Goodnight." She kicked her pants off and crawled under the blankets, pulled the afghan over and fell asleep.
Khan walked into his apartment and took his coat off, removing the small plant he had hidden inside. He had gone and dug up a tiny gardenia plant when Marla was inside.
He supposed it would do as a sufficient apology for nearly getting them arrested and also as a replacement act of gratitude since McGivers rejected his offer of paying for her drinks. He pulled the dead potted plant out of the kitchen windowsill and pulled it up, breaking the soil off the roots back into the pot before unceremoniously repotting the small gardenia. Amanda had given him some type of spider plant he never bothered to water and he supposed the soil was still good.
He didn't even know why he was doing this in the first place. He washed his hands, put some water in the pot and made his way to bed.