JDL ~ Cmdr Waterhouse & MCPO Caine ~ "All Wet, Yeah You Might Need A Raincoat"

Posted on Sun Mar 1st, 2015 @ 12:06pm by Master Chief Petty Officer Rik Caine & Commander Amelia Waterhouse

2,186 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: A Spot To Kill

Amelia had swung through Rochelle's room after her call for the calvary, and finding everything settled for the moment and Archer on watch, she decided to wander a little to see what she could find out while hopefully most of their hosts were asleep. She certainly wasn't tired, four hours had been enough before the late night disturbance. It hadn't taken long for her to get frustrated, finding everything of interest locked up with a guard posted. Sure, she could have tried sneaking in, but no matter how good she was, there was still a chance she'd get caught. While Rik and Barnes were likely to attempt to breach the same areas later, they would have the advantage of not being specifically known by the Atlanteans and might be able to get Rochelle a level of plausible deniability that Amelia couldn't afford her.

As she pondered what else she might be able to do to be of use beyond being at Rochelle's side, she found a garden with fountains and marble status spread throughout, and decided this was as good a place to think as any. She meandered slowly, wondering if maybe she should have changed out of her green silk bathrobe and the matching nightgown with black lace, or at least put on a pair of shoes, but if she went back, she really couldn't justify staying out any longer and she needed to clear her head to try to figure out what the next move might be.

Rik had beamed down to the planet surface with the young ensign who looked like she was kitted out to breach Fort Knox. He couldn’t help but find the sheer amount of gadgetry and weapons amusing as he himself had very little about his person. A Type I phaser, concealed, his mini-PADD, and a leather pouch, the contents of which remained unknown to all but him as he'd pocketed it almost immediately. Rik had taken the decision he hadn’t needed a bag after all and travelling light would probably serve him well with the chaos that lay ahead. By the time the two had traversed the area, following the map that Cecil had obtained like a pair of treasure seekers, they'd happened upon the building and found their way to the required corridor. Rik had suggested Barnes find her boss, as he didn’t have this issue he'd decided that it made sense for him to locate Amelia, partly because he was missing the red-headed dame and partly to see if there had been any further developments since the encrypted call.

When she had not been in any of the rooms Rik's initial reaction was one of concern. He knew she wouldn’t have strayed far from her friend and CO's side; he couldn’t help but eye the Atlanteans he passed with a detached suspicion. While he knew she could handle herself… he shook off the trail of thought as he rounded the corner and into a garden; the night air itself was still enough and the location under different circumstances could have been a relaxing one. He sighed a little with relief when he spotted the familiar frame and flame red hair. He couldn’t help but smile as he walked up behind her. "Out for a midnight stroll, doll?" he asked with the warming tones of his voice she'd be familiar with.

If she hadn't heard his steps approaching first, caught just enough of a reflection in the cascading water of the fountain she stood in front of to spot the dark hair which none of the Atlanteans had, she might have spun defensively as the first syllable broke through the calm of the garden. Instead she smiled as she took the half moment needed to recognize his voice, turning her head to look over her shoulder with a flip of her hair.

"Clearing my head, after finding all doors closed and realizing I'd likely cause more harm than good trying to force them myself," she returned with a soft sigh.

Rik took a small step closer to the dame and reached out resting a hand on her upper arm and smiling as he squeezed it a little. Closing the space again he was now right next to her. "Good thing you brought in reinforcements to hopefully crack open some of these doors... sounds like the seventh circle of hell down here right now" he stated meeting his ice blue eyes with hers.

"It's not quite that bad, but only just barely so," Amelia allowed, turning to face him, her hand finding his cheek. She leaned in to steal a soft kiss. "Being XO means I'm in the limelight, I miss being in the shadows... the wild one everyone ignored because I made such a show of wanting attention." She laughed awkwardly, and leaned her forehead on his.

Rik sighed softly as her lips connected with his. He'd missed this feeling; her. As he wrapped his arms around and held her while she spoke he kissed her forehead gently. "It's easier to work from the shadows where you know you can do more and remain unnoticed" he said understanding her predicament. "But as much as you're centre stage now doll, you're doing a damn good job from what I can see. We just need to work out how to get out of this mess. I found a lawyer that can help Cecil" he said hoping some good news would help matters.

"You managed to get one of the JAG officers to poke their head out of their department?" Since the show down between Ivanova and Parsons, JAG had been almost unsettlingly isolated and quiet. She was glad to hear that when they were needed, they could be drawn out of the viper's den though. "Cecil will be glad. Poor guy's all but tearing his hair out because he wants to do nothing but help Rochelle, and he feels useless right now."

Nodding slowly Rik pulled her chin upwards and kissed her again before responding. "Yeah, ran into one of the elusive lips as I headed over to the transporter. Youngish dame; purple eyes? Lieutenant something-or-other..." he asked not fully remembering but hoping Amelia would be aware of who he meant. "Anyway, she agreed to help Cecil so hopefully he can keep some of that hair of his and they can work something out. Felt a little useless when he called for advice I must say" Rik said wishing he could do more.

"He seemed satisfied with your help, said something in passing about you pointing him in some directions that may not have occurred to him. He's mostly frustrated because he's not used to their library system, so he can't navigate it like he can the Federation databases." Amelia drew back, catching Rik's hand in hers. A quick glance around found the bench she'd passed earlier, and she gave him a soft tug to get him to follow as she started towards it. "His lack of knowledge about law certainly isn't helping any, so getting someone who knows it he can chat with... I'll have to look her up and establish a link for him. If I set up an encrypted text link on his PADD, he can reach her while working in the library."

Rik smiled, and squeezing her hand a little, followed her to the bench she'd clocked a little further down the path. "Well, glad I could help the bo, he's a good kid; got a sense of humour - I like that. I'm sure with the lawyer on the other end of the line he'll play his part and come good" he said. As they walked Rik sighed again; he knew the feeling of trying to adjust and be of use well enough. He had been on a single crusade for so long, and now found himself confined to the walls of a ship. "I know the feeling; not sure what I'm going to be able to do down here to be of any help... but I'll do what I can" he said turning to her with a smile. He may have been confined to a ship; but it had caused him to find her. 'Worth it' he thought as they neared the bench.

"I need you to do what I can't," she insisted as she stopped at the bench. She sat down, pulling him with her. "They're watching me, but their level of attention seems to trickle off the lower down the totem pole they seem to believe you are." She slid close to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "On some level I realize I should probably just collect the crew and go. She can make her own choice, and I need to worry about the crew first. To quote Ambassador Spock, the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few, or the one... but she's more than just my commanding officer — she's my friend, she's family."

Rik sat down beside her and could see the emotion play over her face as he held her hand tightly, wrapping his free arm around Amelia as she leaned in. He knew there was a chance she was right and sticking around put them all in danger. "Good job I'm way down there then" he said slowly mulling over the words she had spoken and the famous ideology of Ambassador Spock. "You know, Ambassador Spock considered that his personal Kobayashi Maru. Kirk didn't give up on his friend though, didn't believe in that test... sometimes, the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many and Ambassador Spock learned that to be the case where friends and family are concerned". He leaned in and kissed her forehead lightly. "We can save her from this Amelia; just like Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise saved their friend; family member" he added with a reassuring smile. "We've just got to find a way to beat the apparently unbeatable test".

"I just hate comparing it to the Kobayashi Maru, the only way anyone's actually beat it was to cheat," she grumbled. "That's not to say I'm above cheating when it comes to protecting the people who matter, but it sometimes gets so messy."

Rik smiled "if we need to cheat to get out of it... cheat we shall" he commented as he hugged her a little tighter. "Messy; perhaps. But we've both seen worse... I'm sure the crew have as well. Hard and clichéd as it may be, we've just gotta keep the faith" he added softly.

Amelia smiled and made a small noise in the back of her throat. "Thank you," she told him softly, shifting to settle straddled across his lap before stealing another kiss.

Wrapping his arms around her waist as she shifted onto his lap, he let out a low approving noise as he moved his hand up her back, feeling the smooth fabric against his skin until his hand was in her hair, and he guided her in for another kiss. "For you; always" he said breaking his lips away from hers just long enough to get the words out. He'd missed the dame and been worried for her down on the planet dealing with all this; despite knowing she was stronger and more capable than anyone he'd encountered in a long time.

"Let's go somewhere a little more private," she suggested just above a whisper, her hand wrapping around the back of his neck. "You can help me clear my head a bit, then I can get back to Rochelle's side quicker." She kissed him again, biting at his lower lip a bit.

Rik let out a small approving groan as she bit down on his lip. "Been missing... Me that... Much" he managed to say as the embrace became more intense. He returned the favour by biting softly at her lower lip. "Sounds like a plan to me doll... Maybe..." He held his thought as the hand in her hair lightly pulled at it as Rik continued to kiss the redheaded dame "you can fill me in on some mission details after we get some clarity?" He asked when their lips finally parted for air.

"If you think you can keep up, I'll fill you in as you clear my head," she teased, sliding backwards off the bench, drawing him with her to their feet.

Rik grinned as he stood up from the bench and pulled her in for another kiss, biting her lip once again as he held her hands behind her back. Breaking the embrace he moved his lips slowly to the soft nape of the dame's neck and whispered in her ear "you know I can doll, lead on". Pulling back he released her and gave her a small wink and a signature grin as he'd done when they'd first met in his office.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Executive Officer
USS Vindicator, NCC-78213-E

Master Chief Petty Officer Rik Caine
Security Investigator/Chief of the Boat
USS Vindicator, NCC-78213-E

 

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