Apology

Posted on Sat Oct 15th, 2022 @ 12:45pm by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: sickbay
Timeline: the day after Nick's meltdown

"Ma'am." A nurse approached Sky. "Lt Stoffels has asked to see you." She said. "I understand if you would not want to but there would be a security guard in the room with you."

Sky was a little surprised by the request but she nodded nonetheless. “That’s fine, I’ll talk to him.” Heading to Nick’s room she paused by the door for a moment, then stepped inside. “You asked to speak to me?”

"Ma'am." Nick said not able to look her in the eye. "I am sorry for what I did to you yesterday. I was not thinking and I did not mean to hurt you."

Sky offered a relieved smile seeing Nick up and talking compared to the state he was in. “You don’t need to apologise, I understand. Desperation makes people do strange things.”

"I still want to die though. But I will not try to hurt anyone anymore."

Sky nodded. “It’s good that you don’t want to hurt anyone, can you tell me why you want to die?”

"Because I am a coward and a failure." The young man said simply.

“What? You most certainly are not!” Sky offered a reassuring smile. “You maybe a marine Nick, but you’re not infallible. I know your grandfather has high expectations, but he wouldn’t want you to kill yourself.”

"He would. You don't know my grandfather. Death before dishonor that is what he drilled into me. That is how my uncle Gilbert died." The tears started to come again.

“Hey..” Sky instinctively reached out a gentle hand. Pausing for a moment before offering it for Nick to hold. “You have dishonoured no one Nick, you’ve been forced into a career that doesn’t suit you. It’s time for you to stop living your life for someone else, it’s your life to live not your grandfathers!”

"You don't know my family. They all think that way. Career is everything. Please don't try to change my mind." He covered his ears while tears fell from his eyes.

Sky withdrew her hand and backed away, she didn’t want to upset Nick again. “Okay Nick.” She sighed feeling somewhat helpless, she wasn’t sure how to help Nick.

"Just allow me to die, please."

Sky opened her mouth to speak but said nothing. What could she say? Right now her plan was to speak to Nick’s grandfather. She needed to speak to Tony first.

{OFF}