Three's Company

Posted on Sat Jul 16th, 2022 @ 5:12pm by Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII & Ensign George Paxton & NVeid tr'Rehu

Mission: Character Development
Location: Finn's Quarters
Timeline: In between Missions, after 'Just Keep Swimming'
1470 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

NVeid followed George to the chief engineer's quarters, all the while wondering if this was a good idea. "I still think she won't let either of us in...."

"Can I ask you a question?" George raised a brow in curiosity. "What worked for you? You said you had friends that helped you through your struggles and from what I've gathered you like sharing information about as much as Finn does."

"I don't know what worked for me." It was the honest answer. "Being wanted and needed probably helped. I'm not eager to share no...but not unwilling. It just isn't something I prefer as it drags up things I'd rather not remember."

"I think that's how Finn feels when she's in engineering. Needed. Yet even some of that has been taken from her," George mused. "Maybe you should be telling her to work more instead of less." He didn't wait for a response but instead rang the chime on Finn's door.

George stepped in first as the door opened. "Hey Finn, we were just swimming on the holodeck and thought of you. We figured we'd stop by and say hi," he said with a smile.

It was almost hard to be mad at George, he was the kindest man most people had ever met. Yet, Finn was slightly annoyed that they'd interrupted her doing some extra work from her quarters. When she saw the black and gold uniform at the door she had hoped it was a call for engineering, not a social visit.

"Nice of you to drop by then," Finn said with a rehearsed smile. "Have a seat. Can I get you guys something to drink?" She asked, knowing that turning them away would've only made things look suspicious or made them question how well she was doing.

"There is no need to hide what you were doing," NVeid said gently, "we are not here to check on you in that way. Nor is it our job to do so. Your quarters are your domain, what you do here is private and none of our concern. If you have some, I would prefer tea."

"I'll take a coke, please. You know I don't think I've ever sat in here before," George nodded as he looked around her quarters. They were relatively sparse with just a few photos lining the walls. "Is that your parents?" He motioned to a photo of three people, one of which he recognized as Finn.

"They are. My mom, Kacey, and my dad, Colonel Finnley Quinn Keating VI," she replied as the drinks appeared on the replicator surface. Finn looked at them for a moment as she figured out the best way to transport them since she still wasn't entirely confident in her abilities in her right hand yet. Too prideful to ask for help, she grabbed all three between her two hands and although it was a struggle, successfully planted them on the coffee table.

"I would suggest using a tray next time," NVeid suggested kindly as he reached to touch her hand, giving her an understanding nod. "Or walking twice." He picked up his tea and held the mug between both hands. "How are you really doing Finn?"

"If I don't practice, I'll never get better at it," she responded to the tray comment. "As far as how I'm really doing, I'd be better if I could just go back to the way things were."

"They will, eventually. And practice also needs time, trust me, of all people, I know better than anyone. My voice...my sight... I was robbed of both, I was without voice for half my life Finn... Learning to speak again took time. Learning to see as I do now, took time. Some things cannot be rushed."

"I'm sorry, I had no idea," she said wondering what had happened to the poor man. "I still don't think that bringing drinks over at once is rushing anything though."

"It is...you need to retrain your muscles. Muscle memory as it was, no longer exists." He cast her a pleading look. "There's a reason we tell you to do things a certain way...if you won't trust anyone...trust me. Because I have been there." Dark eyes filled with emotion were focused on her, his expression pleading.

"You keep telling me to trust you, but you won't trust me. It's clear that you don't think I know what I can handle. Trust us a two-way street NVeid," she replied.

"I don't know what you can handle. No one does because you don't let anyone in," the Romulan retorted, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Neither do you, so I guess we're in good company," Finn shot back. "You keep saying you've been there like you know what I'm going through. How many people have you told your story?" She asked.

Meanwhile, George squirmed in his seat. The conversation was slowly becoming more heated and he wasn't sure exactly how to intervene. He cared for them both but had no idea what it was really like to have gone through what either of them had.

"A few..." NVeid glanced sideways at George, then back at Finn. "I don't like talking about it... It's been years now." But still as fresh in his memory as if it'd been yesterday. "I know what you've been through. I know how you feel," he implored her. "Going back to work too fast is not a good idea."

"You don't know me at all," Finn glared back. How dare he presume to know how she felt and how could he be so sure her story was the same as his? "Work is the only thing I look forward to every day. Is that how you felt? When you went through whatever experience you had?" She challenged. Work kept her mind off of Silnan, off the constant guilt she felt every waking hour of the day over his death. The death she caused.

NVeid winced as her anger struck him like a brick wall, then flinched as guilt followed. Guilt... He sighed softly and shook his head. "The first time, it was sheer power of will that kept me going, to prove those that hurt me wrong. The last time.." A clear indication it had happened a few times. "The last time I wasn't as strong." Setting the mug down, he reached for her hand, squeezing tightly as he shared his memories. A clear violation of boundaries but he couldn't handle talking about it again in such short notice. He closed his eyes, tears falling freely as he sat in silence.

Everything flooded in a wave of painful memories. She saw his torture, how he lost his voice. All of the losses he had experienced. No, she didn't just see them, she felt them. After it was done, she sat there for a moment, stunned. Finn wasn't sure what to do. Surely, what he had gone through had been worse than her own experiences, yet it was still different. He had tortured people when he worked for the tal shiar, but he was doing his job. Finn's job had been to protect Silnan, but she had allowed him to be tortured. She didn't just allow it, she told their interrogator that she didn't care if he killed him.

George watched wide-eyed as NVeid grabbed Keating. He knew how much she hated to be touched, but he had no idea what was going on until it was too late. "Maybe we should leave," he said as their hands broke apart.

"No," NVeid said hoarsely as he released her hand, opening his eyes to watch her. He waited for her to speak, to do something. Anything. While he had shown here, he had made very sure he'd not see any of her memories. That had to be her choice, and hers alone, when she was ready. "Now you know," he told her, finally looking away, down at his trembling hand.

"You can go, George," Finn whispered. "We'll be ok," she reassured him as the engineer hesitated to leave his friend. George looked for confirmation from NVeid before moving.

NVeid nodded slowly, not sure what to expect now. What he had done was a serious offense, he had touched her without permission and had shared his memories without warning. He'd bear the consequences, but he did feel fear. Silently, he waited for her next words.

George got up from his chair. "If either of you needs anything, I'm just a com call away," he said mostly looking at NVeid before he exited. He had shared a lot earlier that day, it had to be emotionally draining. Let alone what had just happened between him and Finn. George was concerned for his friend but hoped he could handle his own.