Tegan Chronicles STV Style 3:
What's Left of the Flag 20
She was tired of being cramped up in the infirmary. "You've done all you can do doctor, now let me go."
"You can hardly stand." He was tired of her inability to be a halfway decent patient and was certain any other doctor would have lost his or her sanity by now.
She grinned tautly at the challenge as she slid to the edge of the bed letting gravity pull her the rest of the way off it; the motion jarred her collar bone and sent sharp pain through it. She swallowed the pain inhaling its essence even as fire tore through the muscle and flesh in her knee and legs. It crackled like a live wire along the sides of her chest where muscle fibers and bone were still trying to heal. She smiled, her lips and face paler then they had been moments ago.
"Come in." Tegan looked up as the doors to her quarters slid open. "Captain."
"I heard you were discharged."
Tegan nodded. She was dressed in a pair of dark grey sweat pants and heather gray t shirt with the USAF insignia on it.
"I also heard it was against his better judgment."
"I'd shrug but he advised me against it." Tegan offered a non-apologetic grin.
"Why don't you stay in my quarters until you're better?"
"What would people say?" She shook her head already having been given the memo Janeway had sent out announcing their relationship.
"Please?" Kathryn raised a pleading eyebrow.
"I don't need to be coddled." Tegan stood her ground.
"I'm not trying to coddle you. I'm your girlfriend. I want to help you. It's what people do for the people they care about."
"At least you're not playing the captain card."
"It's the next step," she warned. "And I know the captain well enough to know she'll order you back to sickbay."
"I can take care of myself."
"You can barely feed yourself." Kathryn's brow furrowed in thought. "How'd you get from sickbay to here anyway?"
"One step at a time."
"Tegan—"
"Fine." She didn't want to hear her beg or worse yet pull Janeway out of the bag. That was one card she preferred stayed up her sleeve. "But I'm sleeping on the couch."
"Hardly. I will sleep on the couch or the chaise, you need a comfortable place to rest."
"You are the captain, your sleep takes priority."
"We'll argue about it later." She touched her com badge and called for a site to site transport to her quarters.
"Don't say it." Tegan spoke as soon as she settled on the couch.
"What?"
"Whatever it was you were going to say." That you feel sorry for me or worse yet that you are sorry. You are the captain and you can't say those things. "Don't say it."
"Can I get you something to eat?" I don't know why I even bother to ask, I should just replicate something and guilt you into eating it.
"No." Tegan laid her head back and Kathryn watched as a grimace was chased off her face by a small fleeting grin.
"How about some grape juice?"
"I'm not thirsty either." See why I didn't want to stay with you? She left it unsaid. So much was going unsaid. "I ate lunch."
"And you'll eat dinner." It wasn't a question and Kathryn made sure she knew it.
"We'll see."
"Are you trying to make me kick you out like the doctor did?"
Tegan smiled softly at the thought.
"Because it isn't going to work."
"You can't blame me for trying." Tegan cracked her lids and looked at Kathryn who was standing there with her arms folded in front of her. "Would you stop?"
"What?" She grinned crookedly.
"You're staring at me." And I don't like it.
"I couldn't help it." She lifted a brow. "Are you mad at me because I helped them?"
Tegan pressed her lips into a thin line for a minute before speaking. "No you did the right thing."
"That isn't what I asked."
"I'm not mad at you. I'd like to say I'm not mad at Jurroth for what he did, but then I'd be lying."
"I'm—"
"Don't say it." Tegan stopped her again. "Please let me go back to my quarters Kathryn."
"Why won't you let me help you?"
Because I love you and I don't want you to see me like this. "I need some time alone. And I can't impose on you."
"You're not imposing."
"We've had what four dates?" Tegan asked trying to sound like it was no big deal. "Besides, like I already said you need to sleep in your own bed."
Is it too soon to tell you 'I love you'? "Fine, I'll transport you back after dinner."
"You drive a hard bargain."
"Yeah." Kathryn turned away and hoped her voice sounded stronger than she felt at the moment. "Coffee, black hot."
When she sat down on the couch Tegan moved her biomechanical hand to touch her but she was sitting too far away.
Kathryn looked down at the prosthetic. "How'd you talk him into letting you wear it?"
"I promised I'd remove it when I got to my quarters." She grinned slyly before moving her hand again to pull the Velcro on her swath free.
"I don't think you're supposed to do that."
"It's fine." Tegan moved closer to Kathryn ignoring her knee as it protested the movement. "Please don't be upset with me."
Kathryn looked into the swirling green eyes that were so full of emotion. She leaned forward and kissed her lips gently as she slipped her thumb into the reader pulling the biomechanical arm free. She pulled back and grinned as she slipped the swath back in place immobilizing Tegan's right arm once again. "I'm not upset that you want to go back to your quarters. I understand needing some time to yourself to process everything. I hope you know that I'm here if you need me, anytime day or night. However if you want to stay on my good side and the captain's then you'd better follow the doctor's instructions."
"Yes ma'am." Tegan lowered her eyes. Why did I have to fall for the captain?