Joint Personal Log - Com Levine, Capt Ivanova & LtCmdr Waterhouse - "A Cupful Of Tea Helps The Medicine Go Down"

Posted on Sat Nov 15th, 2014 @ 4:47am by Commander Amelia Waterhouse & Commodore Andrea Levine PhD & Admiral Rochelle Ivanova

2,779 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: All Hallows’

Tea.

Amelia had insisted that tea was the perfect way to officially welcome Andrea back to the world of the living and she'd insisted that tea be hosted in the palatial comfort of the command suite. Andrea, she argued, was a Commodore after all. Rochelle didn't think to argue, Andrea was more than a Commodore, she was family and family would always be welcomed in her home regardless of where home was.

While tea stocks were running low, it seemed that Dani had been kind enough to smuggle some of the better stuff away with her. How and why she'd had the thought to do so still boggled the young Captain's mind, but she'd never dare look the gift horse in the mouth. Now, with the table set complete with signature cupcakes, their reunion 'party' could begin and it would only be a short matter of time before the two other women arrived. Rochelle ran her palms along the thighs of her jeans, anxious and nearly bubbling over as she waited.

On the other side of the door, Andrea Levine, no longer an active Commodore, but still very much an Officer in every respect, gave Amelia an uncertain sidelong look. She hated this. Hated the idea of lying to Rochelle, of hiding the truth from her, and this... what they were about to do. Hated it completely.

And yet, there was no other way. There was no better way, at least. No way to get this done without breaking Rochelle's heart, and mind, completely — and Andrea was not going to risk that, not even a little.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she finally muttered at Amelia and took a breath, taking a moment to compose herself, to rid her eyes from the uncertainty, from the sense that she was about to betray her friend. Her family. She hoped Rochelle will understand, at the end, and forgive them all.

Amelia sighed softly. She understood why the smaller blond — her mentor, her hero — was uncomfortable with what they were about to do. Amelia hadn't been particularly keen on the idea either, but failing to come up with another option, it still left the job to get done. This was for family. Rochelle had been through so much, and she was strong... but eventually they were going to find the straw to break her back if they weren't careful. You do whatever you have to for family, even when they might not understand if they catch you.

"This is what I do, this is what I'd still be doing if Rochelle hadn't plucked me out of Intel's sadistic embrace to be her XO," Amelia returned. She made sure to sound confident. There was no need to worry Andrea if she didn't have to, but if Rochelle caught her in the act it wouldn't be pretty. Not that she had to tell her co-conspirator that, Andrea knew Rochelle better than Amelia did. The willowy red-head reached up to press the chime.

"Enter!" Rochelle called and approached the door to greet the two other women. Her neck still pulled if she moved it too fast and her muscles still ached in mild protest. Medicine had come a long way, but the minor stuff was often given a pat on the back and told to figure itself out.

To Andrea's internal surprise, there was not an ounce of fakeness about the smile that spread on her face. She expected to have to force herself, arguing internally against two moral voices crying their side in her mind. When Rochelle opened the door, however, the two voices silenced.

"Rochelle," she grinned, and walked in, opening her arms for a careful hug. "Good to see you're out of sickbay, I know how much you love that place," she chuckled, surprising herself with the ease in her voice.

The little redhead wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her warmly, banishing the protests of bruised muscles. They could wait, she was stealing time to enjoy the company of others. "Yeah... Well... Rotek's a good doctor, makes things a bit more bearable when you don't have a choice in staying or going." Peeking up over Andrea's shoulder, she spied Amelia. "I made cupcakes. The ones you like."

"The lemon, or the Earl Grey?" Amelia asked with a wide grin. Either was delicious, but her gold pressed latinum was on the lemon ones because she thought she remembered Andrea was not a fan of frosting... and the earl grey cupcakes lost just a little something without the full serving of lavender frosting.

"Lemon ones with the drizzle." Rochelle grinned, releasing Andrea to usher the women further inside. Baking was one of those things Rochelle had a talent for. It was tactical in nature, precise measurements, accurate decorating. Some could have said it replaced her inability to draw or paint, but she could easily sculpt marzipan and delicate little gum paste flower, if she felt so inclined, with the same deadly accuracy that she'd fire upon the Romulans or Jem'Hadar. The little lemon cupcakes sat delicately on their tray, some graced with tiny little blossoms and lemon icing lacing and lattice work. It had helped to ease her tattered nerves and lead to that familiar feeling of security that baked goods often lent to those in need. Tea was another one of those feel goods an coupled together? Perfection. "Zett sent across some of the nicest tea. I figured we'd exploit her generosity." She explained, motioning for her friends to find a seat in her sitting room.

"Ooh," Andrea smiled and walked around to take a seat on the sofa, placing herself in the farther corner and leaving room for Rochelle to sit with her back to the bedroom. "Cupcakes. I haven't had cupcakes in..." she reached to pick one, "I don't think I remember when I last had a cupcake. Oh!" she chuckled, "Anne and Schlompi's cupcakes. Do you remember? Our quarters were completely covered in flour." She licked a bit of the frosting and chuckled, motioning for Rochelle to join.

"Those were amazing cupcakes," Amelia returned, letting her eyes wander over the Captain's suite. She'd spent enough time in here she could probably find her way around in the dark, but poking through things to pick up a blood soaked leather bracelet and a PADD had not been something she'd planned for... so she hadn't exactly scoped it out thoroughly. She had time though, Andrea had her back, and Rochelle didn't know there was an ulterior motive for the tea party today. Her eyes slid over the contents of the bookshelves, noting with interest some of the same books her parents had in their collection. She noted a cabinet above the replicator, and a small safe tucked away in such a manner to avoid drawing attention to it on the shelves.

"I remember them." Rochelle chuckled and took the seat Andrea gestured to, her legs folding beneath her. "Brightest colored icing I've ever seen in my life." She grinned and reached to pick up one of her hand spun treats, slowly peeling away the paper baking petal that held such precious cargo in its protective custody. She could never have known that she'd set herself up to be robbed of much of the same.

"I hope that Anne's gotten a bit better at baking without a mess, or do I need to give her and Schlompi lessons?" She'd ferreted away the badly beaten and blood stiffened leather band she's fastened around Landon's wrist before they took their fated plunge and placed it with the very last thing the man had ever given her; his final words. She couldn't have known that just a few decks away science and hope sat waiting for the success of the reluctant thieves that shared tea and cupcakes with her.

"Mm," Andrea nodded with her mouth full, swallowed, and licked her lips, "Now that we're on your ship, I might have to send her to you for some crash courses," she chuckled. Schlompi seems to enjoy the mess almost as much as Anne did, but the two were inseparable. Andrea glanced at Amelia quickly, but returned her gaze to Rochelle, finally peeling the paper around her cupcake. "I might join her. These are delicious."

"I'd volunteer to join these classes too, but if the other amazing baker I know couldn't teach me over multiple summers running..." Amelia shook her head as she felt something soft brush against her ankle. A glance downward caught the traces of a blue streak, and a corner of her mouth quirked upwards as she half turned to watch the furry terrorist head towards the couch Andrea and Rochelle sat on. Knowing the little fox-thing would provide distraction, if past actions were any indication, Amelia quietly popped open the door of the cabinet above the replicator.

The first thing Amelia's eye fell on was the shiny hardware that was a testament of the whole reason Mikkal had been aboard to attack Rochelle in the first place. She quickly tore her eyes away from the tiara, and looked at what else was in there. A bottle of Saurian brandy — hardly touched, some really nice bourbon — unopened, a PADD, and the bracelet. Another glance over her shoulder to make sure Helsa was providing the expected distraction, and the bracelet slid into Amelia's pocket.

A noise that sounded like the trilling of a bird preceded Helsa as she snuck along the back of the couches and darted under the coffee table. Her bright blue coloring did nothing to offer camouflage, but it didn't stop her from attempting to be stealthy. If one had bothered to look, they'd have noticed the fluffy blue canid had locked her focus on the cupcake, or at least what was left of it, in Andrea's hand.

"I'm happy to teach. It's a pity you don't like actual frosting, Andrea." Rochelle grinned, licking a bit of lemon drizzle from a finger in girlish delight. "I have so many recipes it's absolutely wi—" The entire process of getting up to pour tea was crashed and sent to Hell when Helsa took the opportunity presented by the Captain getting up. A rolling barking snort of a growl announced her intentions as she leaped from the floor beneath the table to Andrea's lap, snatched the tasty lemon treat, and dashed away leaving nothing but crumbs and a wasted confection petal in her wake. "HELSA!" Rochelle scolded the little thief as its tail disappeared around the corner and down the hall into her bedroom.

"I usually dislike frosting," the older woman smirked and licked her lips, "I have to say you're starting to convert me, oh!" Andrea exclaimed, startled, staring at the blue furry figure in her lap. For the briefest moment the woman blinked, and then her face scrunched and her eyebrow furrowed in an expression that was a mix between curiosity and amusement. Her head tilted and searched for the little blue devil that stole her treat. "Well well, we have an intruder in the room. Were you looking for a play mate, or was Anne successful in converting people to the cult of Schlompi?" She smirked, waiting to see if the blue creature decides to grace her with a repeat appearance - this time, perhaps less growly.

When Helsa delivered distraction as expected, Amelia scooped up the PADD from the cabinet, and shut the door just as Rochelle called out the name of the the creature, letting the call cover the soft thump. A giggle escaped Amelia as the PADD slid inside of the cargo pocket just above the knee of her capris. She strolled over and settled in a chair, reaching for a cupcake as one foot wrapped in ribbon and cradled by a cork soled platform bounced in amusement.

"She still hasn't figured out the difference between people food and Helsa food, has she?" she observed, plucking the flower off the top of her cupcake and setting it on her tongue to melt. It was almost too pretty to eat, but the sweet temptation couldn't be ignored.

A heavy sigh and the shake of a head seemed the appropriate response. Chasing the little beast wasn't going to benefit anyone, especially Rochelle. Rotek had said it would take about a week for her to be back at tip top shape, it had only been a couple days and the masquerade loomed on the horizon. "She found me, getting a pet wasn't exactly on my high list of priorities." She sighed and dropped herself back on the couch. "I've been doing what I can to try and convince her that what she's given is perfectly alright, but she's more of a scavenger. She likes stealing food." Rochelle shrugged gently and leaned over to pour tea for her guests and herself. "I will admit it's kind of nice to have something to come home to at the end of the day."

"Ha, I bet it is" Andrea huffed, giving the blue animal a bemused look, and turned to look for another cupcake, careful, this time, to hold it up and high; too high for the little blue devil to snatch. She gave Amelia a quick glance and poked her tongue to lick off a bit of the frosting.

"You just wait until it starts peeing in your service shoes," she muttered, licking her lips, her gaze returning towards Rochelle; her expression was that of dismay, but her eyes shone with amusement. While Schlompi may have been an unexpected addition to the family, she couldn't help admitting to herself that she did grow to like the little furry fella. Love him, even. Still; the pretended dislike and dismay were almost part of the game, now.

"Lucky for her, I keep them locked up." Rochelle chuckled, setting the teapot back down. The facade had long since been seen through, the gig up when it came to the giant, fluffy Andorian rat that had taken up residence in the Levine-Grant household. "I've also learned to lock doors when I take a bath." Her eyes shot towards Andrea with a knowing look, one that bore into the cupcake wielding Commodore's very soul. That memory would not be one the Captain soon forgot, the cold fear and shock at having a camera clad rat suddenly appear in her bathroom as she perched on the edge of her tub, testing the waters. Schlompi, and Anne, had been lucky that little act had proven useful in locating the kidnapped crew of the Griffin.

Andrea's palm rushed to her mouth as she tried to swallow a chuckle, unsuccessfully. "I heard about that. I'd tell you not to worry, but that pair can sneak into anywhere," she shook her head with a smile. "I'm telling you, I have a little Doctor in my hands," she glanced at Amelia with a wink. The fact the woman sat so casually was a hint that whatever it is she was doing was over, and Andrea was glad for that. At least it was over. That part, anyways.

"Has she tried to borrow Logan's sonic yet?" Amelia asked with a smirk, leaning forward in the chair as she asked. "Or does she even know Doctor Who? I have access to the family collection of all of the show, and the comics and the radio plays..." Amelia paused, realizing she was gushing, and sat back in the chair, filling her mouth with cupcake.

Andrea's lips curled up in amusement, her eyebrows raising. She should have known better than to poke Amelia with that subject. Then again, she did know; she just shouldn't have been surprised. "She watched it, and she plays around with the screwdriver," Andrea almost said "thingie" but caught herself. "Right now she's more into holonovels, though, and the Doctors there are not really... doctors." She shook her head and took another bite off her cupcake.

"Don't tell me she's old enough already to have interest in playing doctor," Amelia quipped with a head shake.

The conversation continued over tea for a time, letting the three women catch up in comfort and privacy. The borrowed items sitting in Amelia's pocket, waiting for the chance for the commodore to test the DNA sample in the blood that stained the bracelet, and for the PADD to be passed to Landon to let him know what the other him had said to the woman he loved.

=/\= End Log =/\=

Commodore Andrea Levine-Grant
Former Professor of Physics
Starfleet Academy

Captain Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

Lt Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Executive Officer
USS VINDICATOR, NCC 78213-E

 

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