Chapter 15 – Picking up the Pieces
"Excuse me?" Zia tapped the front desk. "I was wondering which room Patty and Giana Abbott are staying in."
The man at the desk checked his records and his eyes narrowed. "What's your business?"
She blinked at him. "I'm their daughter." He stared in disbelief. "I'm adopted."
"Ah. Room 14. Keep going down the left hall and turn left at the very end." Even as she walked away he was still confused. She followed his directions, turned left at the appropriate corridor, and quickly found the correct door. Knock, knock.
"Come in," Giana called. Zia opened the door and slipped inside.
"Hello baby girl." Patty kissed both her cheeks. "What's this you're wearing?"
"It's my work uniform. I've got three hours tonight."
Giana checked the clock. "Have you finished class already?"
"Yeah. I just wanted to see you before I went to work. How was your day in San Francisco?"
"Oh, it was amazing! Patty took me to the planetarium and it was absolutely beautiful." Giana frowned and reached for Zia's collar. "What's that?" Zia closed her eyes and allowed her mother to pull the collar down a notch. "Patty! She's got bruises!"
"Honey, I thought it wasn't that bad," her father said seriously.
"It's not. I can't feel it anymore. You've got nothing to worry about."
Giana tenderly touched her daughter's face. "It's our job to worry. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some Vulcan Hunters to scream at."
Zia was horrified. "No, please don't!"
"You're our daughter and these monsters did unspeakable things to you without a single thought on how it might AFFECT ANYONE ELSE!" Giana roared. "THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU! WHAT GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO DO THAT TO YOU?"
Zia shrank back, but her mother smiled and pulled her into a hug.
"We love you honey," Patty said softly. "That's what we're trying to say."
"I love you," she whispered, and melted into her parents' arms. Pure love and affection entered her mind. "Spock loves you too, although he'd never admit it out loud."
"Well we're entrusting him with our only daughter. What do you think that says about him?"
'They love you too.'
Giana rubbed her hand against Zia's back briefly and let go. "It's time for you to go to work and time for us to wreak havoc."
o.O.o
"I don't get how you can handle the whole work load at the Academy," Jamie mused as she and Zia polished glasses.
"Put it this way," Zia picked up a new glass, "Academy cadets don't get a lot of sleep."
Jamie waved a glass carelessly and declared, "And thou shalt sleep for thy lover decrees it!"
Zia blinked. "What?"
"It's classical English. It means you must sleep because I, your friend, declare it."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense."
They both looked up as a well-muscled and completely drunk human male strolled up, deliberately ignoring the Closed sign, and leant against the bar. His eyes were, predictably, fixated on Jamie, or more precisely her ample breasts. Zia rolled her eyes. Again?
"Excuse me," he purred, "are you doing anything later?"
The Orion politely shook her head. "I'm sorry, but the bar's closed."
"I don't want a drink." His eyes blazed hungrily, vibrant against the fog of liquor. "I want you."
Zia picked up the sign and pushed it in front of him. "This bar is closed. There are others you can go to."
He glared at her. "Shut up you pointy-eared turd."
Zia leant in close, her eyes boring into his. "Say that again, I dare you, because then I can sue you for harassment, and so can my friend here. Or we can get you thrown from the restaurant. Either way I'd be happy." The man blinked against the alcohol-induced haze, turned, and walked away. Zia and Jamie exchanged glances and smiled. "Hey," Zia said, "how're things with Kirk?"
"He's actually pretty cool," Jamie nodded. "We made out a little, but that's it. I've taken a leaf out of your book and decided that any relationship I have, I want it to be pure like yours and Spock's."
"Oh, our relationship isn't pure anymore," Zia grinned. "It's still emotional, but definitely not pure."
Jamie gaped. "You guys…?"
"Yeah."
By this point, Jamie's eyes almost popped from her head. "Was he your first?"
Zia blushed. "Yeah… And guess what else? Tara and Blair went on their first date!"
"How did it go?"
"He kissed her, but apparently he's not a good kisser."
"That doesn't matter, just as long as he understands her." Jamie laughed. "I'm so happy for you guys! All of you!"
"Think of it this way, none of it would have been possible without you." Zia hugged her friend, careful to not drop the glass. Jamie hugged her back and Zia enjoyed the feeling of friendship it instilled. For her whole life she'd been bereft of friends, someone to share secrets and gossip with, and now she had five: Tara, Blair, Jamie, Yeto and Uhura. And Spock, well, Spock was something special. He wasn't just a best friend, he was her whole world now. She didn't know what she would do without him.
Jamie pulled back. "You've still got an hour left. Let's get this done and you can go see Spocky-wocky."
"Don't be so immature." Zia rolled her eyes.
"I can't help it," Jamie giggled. "When you talk about him you make him seem like your world."
"That's because he is." Zia pretended to swoon.
"Oh my god just stop." Jamie picked up another glass and Zia opted to continue working before someone heard them.
o.O.o
Tara sat at her desk and tackled a complicated math equation. The door opened she glanced up from her work and smiled at Zia.
"How was work?"
"Good. How was study?"
"Gross."
Zia closed the curtains and stripped off her work garments, exposing the painful reminder of what she'd gone through. Tara ducked into the bathroom to grab ointment, came back out and rubbed it gently onto the bruises. Zia had tried doing it by herself, but she couldn't reach all the spots on her back. It was easier if Tara did it.
She'd never liked being exposed, as her body was paler than the moon, and putting it next to Tara's chocolate skin just made her laugh. Her roommate finished with the ointment and screwed the lid back on the jar.
"Thank you," Zia said quietly.
"No problem. Just let me know if you need anything else and I'll help."
She shook her head. "There's nothing for now. Just study and sleep." Zia pulled on her pyjames, turned on her PADD and searched for the General Physics homework she'd neglected. She had had barely any time for homework in the last few days, but tonight she would work hard and get it all done, because why not.
Okay, she was researching the application of string theory in the formation of black holes.
String Theory
In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. In string theory, the different types of observed elementary particles arise from the different quantum states of these strings. In addition to the types of particles postulated by the standard model of particle physics, string theory naturally incorporates gravity, and is therefore a candidate for a theory of everything, a self-contained mathematical model that describes all fundamental forces and forms of matter. Aside from this hypothesized role in particle physics, string theory is now widely used as a theoretical tool in physics, and it has shed light on many aspects of quantum field theory and quantum gravity.
As she already knew everything there was to know about black holes, it was a simple matter to apply the logic of string theory into the facts of black holes and formulate a hypothesis, therefore setting the stance for her entire essay.
It was very tedious work and after that essay she had eleven others from various subjects. Ugh. But she had to get this done.
Hours later, Zia still worked through the pile of essays while Tara snored.
'Good morning, Zia.'
She jumped, 'Is it morning?'
'Yes. Did you complete much of your homework?"
'I got nine out of twelve done.'
'Perhaps you should wake your roommate and eat a refreshing and beneficial breakfast.'
'That's a good idea.'
'I would also like to request that you come to my apartment after classes for your telepathy lessons and to complete any homework I can assist you with.'
'Thank you!' She smiled and transmitted her feelings of love and thankfulness. In turn he gave her his care and affection.
'It would be wise to allow you to focus on your studies today.'
'Yes, it would be wise.'
'Are you teasing me?'
'Maybe I am. Ugh, sorry, I'm just tired and hating the workload right now.'
'I shall leave you to consume your breakfast. I will see you later.'
'Of that I am sure.'
She blew him a mental kiss and her heart leapt as he blew one back.