You, Me, and Moose

Posted on Thu Oct 19th, 2023 @ 2:31pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Henry Washington & Ensign Charlotte (Charlie) Washington

Mission: Character Development
Location: Personal Quarters
1443 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

"Henry!" Charlie swung her legs from the bed in sickbay and embraced her husband in a tight hug. She had always been the more affectionate type and having been separated from him during the mission had created a longing in her heart for the puzzle loving nerd that she had come to love. "I missed you," she said before pulling away. "I assume you've come to escort me back to our quarters? And please tell me that you haven't filled all of the shelves with new puzzles while I've been gone..."

Henry embraced the hug, relishing the weight of her body and the smell of her hair that covered his face. He usually didn't like public displays of affection, but this time he didn't mind at all. There was a moment on the pirate ship when he thought that his wife, his beautiful and intelligent wife, had been killed. In that moment he knew he wouldn't have gone on without her, how could he? So to have her here, wrapped around him, as goofy as ever, made his heart swell. "You know it," he said grinning in the way that she loved. "In fact, I had to throw away some of your collectables, I needed the space."

Charlie gasped and pushed him away. "You did not! I swear Henry, if you touched anything, I will know," she half-jokingly glared. Her OCD tendencies did tend to make it blatantly obvious if anything was ever moved or out of place, but deep down she knew that her husband wouldn't actually get rid of her few prized possessions...right? Just in case, she grabbed his wrist and headed hastily for their quarters.

Henry let himself get pulled along with Charlie and almost tripped over his own feet as they bounded into the turbolift. "I can't tell if you're eager to spend time with me or if you're just worried about your things?" He said, half joking, half not.

"Both," Charlie replied. "I can never be sure what condition my stuff will be in when I leave you alone in our quarters for too long. How have things been anyway? What all happened while I was away?" The turbo lift doors closed and she smiled, pulling Henry in for a kiss before he could even respond.

Henry melted into the kiss, thinking, for what must have been the billionth time in his life, how he had got so lucky with a wife like Charlie. He pulled away and told her about his adventures on the station and the pirate ship as the turbolift carried them to their quarters. "It was a pretty cool ship," he concluded as they strolled down the corridor at a steady pace. She always moaned when he walked too fast for her to keep up. "It's a shame it was destroyed in the battle to save the ship."

"Yea, it sounds pretty neat," Charlie said, somewhat absentmindedly. The truth was that she wanted to listen to every detail, but her mind kept wandering to the fact that she was just so happy to be home with her husband who she had missed so much. "I'm just glad you're ok. When we were captured, you were all I could think about. Well, besides escaping of course," Charlie chuckled as they arrived at their quarters. "Any last words before we walk in and I discover all of my stuff gone?" She teased.

"Yes," Henry said suddenly more serious than he had been before. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the room. Turning to face her, he placed an arm on either side of her hips and looked down into her chocolate-brown eyes. "I haven't acknowledged the fact that you were captured. It's not that I don't care, it's because I care deeply." He knew that she knew this, she knew him better than he often knew himself. She was great at filling in the gaps in their relationship; feeling the words he couldn't say. But today, he had to say it, he had to! "I was scared, I still am. I would be lost without you..." He wanted to carry on but the tribble-sized lump in his throat wouldn't allow him to.

"Aw, Henry," Charlie melted into his arms and then pulled them both into their quarters. "I know you care, and you wouldn't be lost without me. You'd just drown yourself in puzzles and fruit." She brushed his cheek with a soft kiss and chuckled. "The important thing is that it all worked out. I'm here. You're here. We're together."

Henry's eyebrows pulled together in a confused stare. "Me, you... aren't you missing someone?" He asked, enjoying the confused look on his wife's face. He waited a moment longer and then whistled loudly. A ball of fluff came bounding out of the bedroom straight over to them. "Charlie meet our newest family member."

Charlie gasped with excitement and immediately fell to her knees to greet the fluffy creature. The puppy jumped into her arms, smothering her with licks and fur. "Oh my, I've missed having a dog so much!" Charlie exclaimed, clearly enthralled with the surprise. "Where did you find him?"

"Someone on the station was finding homes for their litter and I saw him and couldn't resist," Henry replied. He joined them on the floor and stroked the puppy's back. "I knew... knew... kne... ahchoo!" He sneezed loud enough that the dog turned to face him quizzically. "You'd love him," he finished.

"Why are you sneezing? Did you catch something on your away mission? Also, how did you get approval for this?! Not that I'm complaining," the wide grin on Charlie's face was evidence enough of that. "But the Captain doesn't allow pets. How did you get him to approve?"

Henry started to sweat slightly, lying wasn't something he was truly comfortable with. "Well technically, technically Kane wasn't in command when I adopted him, so I figure it'll be fine."

"Whoa, maybe I should get captured more often. I think I like this rebel Henry," she chuckled and pulled him in for yet another kiss. Just being home was a treat, but to add a puppy made this beyond joyful. "So, what are we going to name him?!"

"I don't think I do," Henry said looking a bit flustered. "I haven't had a proper move...move...mo...ahchoo!" He shook his head and wiped his nose. "Movement, I was trying to say movement," he said grinning sheepishly. "Yes, a name, I think the honour is yours, love."

"Sneezy?" Charlie laughed lightly before furrowing a concern brow. "Seriously though, why are you sneezing so much? Should we go back to sickbay?"

"I think you're right, it's just a cold I must have picked up from the station," he replied, his eyes leaking thick tears. "I didn't want to transport back 'cause I didn't want a record of this fella so no bio-filter action for me. I will go to sickbay in a bit," he quickly added, seeing the way Charlie's jaw set, "but not before he gets a name."

"Hmmm," Charlie looked back at the dog. He was golden and fluffy, likely a golden retriever mix of some sort. His face was filled with unconditional love, a dash of mischief and absolute joy. "Moose. Let's name him Moose."

"Moose?" Henry questioned. "Moose. Moose." He repeated the name several times, letting it sink in. He looked at the dog and somehow Moose felt like a fitting name for this bouncing furball. "Moose. I lo... lo... ahchoo! I love it!" He finally finished.

"I do too! I love it, and him and you!" Charlie hopped up and enveloped him in a bear hug. Moose reared up on his hind legs and joined right in as well. The three made a perfect little trio, at least in Charlie's mind. "Now," she pulled free, "lets get you to sickbay and get that cold taken care of, shall we?"

"No you stay here with Moose, I'll go by myself," he said, jumping to his feet in a flash. "I'll be back before you know it." And before she could argue, Henry made his way out of their quarters and was standing alone in the corridor. He breathed a sigh of relief. Charlie was elated right now, the happiest she had been in ages, there was no way he was going to tell her he was actually allergic to dogs. He would hide this until the day he died. "Ahchoo!" He sneezed again. Which might be soon if you don't hurry up! He thought before making his way to sickbay.