Homesick

Posted on Tue May 16th, 2023 @ 3:58am by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: USS Resolution Bridge

CJ stood at the tactical station doing the Chief's paperwork, he knew he could use Ren's office but that didn't seem right. So he put his down and got to work.

Tony was still sitting in the center chair quietly stewing at yet another hold-up on getting the ship moving. There had been no news yet and this inactivity was really hard on her. She could not keep her mind off of Ren and Sky and if they were even still alive.

"They'll bring them back, we have to believe that," Boucher said.

"Huh?" Tony looked and then smiled wryly. "Am I that transparent?"

"I'm very observant," CJ said "That's why they made me security."

That really made her laugh. "Bunch of snoops. I hate feeling so helpless and just waiting and letting others do all the work."

"They wouldn't let me join the rescue team either."

"That is absurd," Tony said. "You know him well that should have been an asset. And they took Kay who is like a sister to him."

"Thie Chief and Assistant Chief are going, somebody has to mind the store." Boucher laughed.

"True. Usually, the XO would have led. It so sucks that I couldn't. Well at least I am back on duty, that is something."

"I get it,' CJ shrugged. "It can be hard to be objective when it's someone you care about."

"Yes and Sky is one of my best friends. I would not be able to see clearly. And Xavier probably can't do it either. We had to step back. I hope Kay can keep a cool head."

"It may first time holding down the fort," He smiled nervously.

"I have faith in you, CJ. And you know that Ren has as well." She said gently. "And you can always count on me to be there for you."

"When someone went missing back home the three communities that were along the bayou would pitch tents and build bonfires.

They'd feed the search parties but they'd play music and the friends and family of the missing to join them. CJ has a nostalgic smile on his face. "Guess it helped those who couldn't be part of the search feel like they were doing something."

"Yeah sounds like a good idea. I think it is worse having to stay behind and have all the what if's in our minds." She admitted.

“The summer before I left for the Academy my Uncle James went missing during a hunting trip,” CJ said. “Took us almost a week to find him, it was quite the party around Bayou.”

He dropped his gaze thinking of the look in his uncle’s eyes, Jamseson had never been the same since he’d come home from the Cardasion Border Wars. Soran got a look like sometimes...

"You don't have to hide your thoughts from me, CJ. Remember I have worked with trauma victims for years. I know that it won't end the minute we get them back."

“Old Uncle James seemed surprised that we’d been looking for a whole week.” CJ chuckled. “He claimed we just wanted an excuse for a party.”

"A sense of humor is so important. It helps us cope with so much. Maybe we should go and watch a comedy vid."

"I get a little homesick sometimes, things were simpler back home."

"I am afraid my home life was never that simple." She smiled. "Maybe when we stayed with my granddad at the old plantation house outside Savannah, I guess I always felt safe there. But Ren hated it with a passion."

"Can't imagine that he was fine the one time had made it to the bayou," CJ said

"I think it is more that he hates my granddad with a passion. Always has." Tony smiled sadly. She still did not know if the old tyrant was alive or dead.

“That makes more sense, I guess your family visits will get interesting.”

"Yeah. I surely do hope there will be another meeting between those two. I would give anything to see that."

"Ren's a stubborn bastard, but he's also pretty fair." He shrugged

"He has a blind side when it comes to my granddad," Tony admitted. "And granddad enjoys winding him up."

"Your grandfather ought to find himself a safer hobby," CJ laughed. "Like administering suppositories to rabid mugatos."

"My granddad is a tough old marine if he is still alive. We still haven't heard much from Earth."

"My advice is to let them work things out themselves," CJ said.

"Oh, I do. This has been going on for years." Tony smiled.

"Sounds like my brother-in-law and Uncle James," CJ laughed. 'Most of the family just stands back and let's go at."

"yup sounds exactly like it. I guess every family has them." Tony grinned.

"Hunting season just started out there, I wonder what James is up to?" CJ smiled

Tony smiled as well she was grateful for the distraction CJ had brought.

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