Nothing's Sacred - Part 3

Posted on 29 Apr 2013 @ 11:51am by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Verity Thorne & Lily Blake

1,278 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Lt JG Scarlet Blake's Quarters
Timeline: MD 05 - 21:00

OLD:

Oliver laughed warmly, nodding as he leant to kiss his forehead before standing. "More tea?"

"Good idea," Verity nodded, smiling warmly as he carried the tray over to the kitchen area.

NEW:

"Verity....?" Lily emerged from her bedroom, cosy in her pyjamas and a soft toy dragon under her arm. The young girl was frowning though, rubbing her eyes with a fist.

"Hey, " Verity smiled warmly as he moved over to her. He crouched down, stroking her arm. "Hey sleepy head, it's still night time."

Oliver looked at Lily with surprise, swallowing as he stood still. He hadn't ever been around children. Not without having been one himself.

Verity brushed long, dark hair out of the girl's face tucking it behind her ear. He used the movement as an excuse to put his hand on her forehead, to check her temperature. "You're still not feeling very well, are you angel."

Lily shook her head slowly from side to side, moving to hug Verity tightly. She spotted Oliver over his shoulder, tilting her head with curiosity as she watched him.

Verity followed her gaze, smiling gently as he picked her up. "This is Oliver. He is my friend," he said softly as he carried her to the sofa, sitting down and holding her gently on his lap. "Oliver, this is Lily."

Oliver took a breath, watching Lily before nodding. "Hi," he said, swallowing. "I...we were going to have a cup of tea. Want something to drink?"

Lily nodded with a frown, curling up close to Verity, clearly clingy from not feeling well. "May I have water please?" she asked softly, but politely. "My throat's all scratchy and hot."

"Nice cold water then," Verity agreed, stroking her hair reassuringly with a gentle smile. "Maybe Oliver, you wouldn't mind getting it?"

Oliver smiled weakly as he walked to get her iced water, taking a breath. "You should keep an ice cube in your mouth...numbs it a bit," he said as he got a straw, carrying the cold drink over.

Lily drunk eagerly from it, visibly relaxing as it eased her throat. Looking to Oliver, she watched him for a long moment, biting her lip. She carefully reached into the glass and picked out an icecube, popping into her mouth. She tested it out before the smallest of smiles pulled just at the very corner of her lips from how it helped.

Oliver smiled weakly, going to make the tea. "I used to get sore throats all the time," he suddenly said. "Usually tonsillitis though when I was your age."

"It's mean," Lily frowned as she pointed to her throat, shaking her head, clearly fed up with it.

"I know," Verity soothed, hugging her gently. "Feeling poorly is no fun at all. But it will get better soon, you'll see. And Oliver has shown you how to make your throat feel better."

Lily nodded gently at that, looking at Oliver over Verity's shoulder as she hugged him. "Thank you," she said softly to Oliver.

Oliver smiled weakly as he poured the water into the pot for the tea. "It's okay," he said and looked at her. She looked so tiny. "It'll be better."

"Think you can go back to bed now?" Verity asked softly, stroking her shoulder. "I'll give you some more medicine, to cool you down a bit."

Lily nodded gently, holding onto him tightly so Verity could pick her up and carry her. "Sweet dreams, Oliver," she said softly.

Oliver watched her for a moment before smiling to her. "Keep the dragon close...keep you warm and comfortable."

Verity carried her back to bed. He was gone for a good few minutes before returning, smiling to Oliver as he moved to sit with him. "Thanks for the help."

"I wasn't much help," he poured the tea for them, frowning. "She didn't look very well, poor girl."

"I know, it's horrible when they're poorly," Verity sighed, shaking his head. "She liked you though. She said you looked like a pirate."

Oliver arched an eyebrow, chuckling. "I...am not good with children. Barely remember having been one."

"Trust me, it's a good thing, she likes pirates," Verity smiled softly, watching him with a warm smile. "I think you're better with them than you think."

Oliver smiled, shaking his head as he reached to touch his cheek. "You are very good with her."

Verity smiled gently at that, letting out a soft breath. "I like her. And I miss working with children."

"I can only imagine," he said, shaking his head. "I find children confusing."

"Why?" Verity laughed softly, shaking his head as he watched him. "You were one too once."

"I barely remember that," he said and met his eyes. "And I was always in trouble."

"Who wasn't," Verity chuckled softly, shaking his head as he looked down with a small smile. "They're just people. Just young people who don't understand you either."

Oliver smiled at that before nodding, taking a breath. "At least that is somewhat...reassuring," he said and sipped his tea.

"Why? You don't need to be scared of them you know," Verity teased with a small smile. "You know those horror holonovels with the creepy children in aren't real, right?"

"Really? Because I see kids like that," Oliver laughed warmly, reaching to touch his hand.

Verity laughed warmly, shaking his head. "I promise you, their concerns are mostly around ice cream, sweets, playing and their parents."

He let out a breath, nodding as he watched him. "I'll remember that next time."

Verity searched his eyes for a long moment, watching him as he rested his arms down on his knees. "What was on your mind as a kid?"

"Me?" Oliver chuckled as he sipped his tea, considering the words carefully. He finally sighed. "Getting out of the place."

"I can't blame you," Verity said softly, shaking his head as he smiled weakly. "Maybe that's why you're not comfortable with children, because you spent your childhood trying to escape from being a child."

"Maybe," Oliver said as he let out a breath, meeting his eyes. "There was nothing there for me, Verity. I just wanted to grow up. Get bigger, get stronger and get out."

"I know," Verity said quietly, reaching to squeeze his knee. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry it was so difficult for you. I'm sorry and ashamed that it was people that shared my faith and religion that did it to you."

Oliver watched him for a moment before taking a breath. "I wasn't mistreated," he said quietly. "But I wasn't loved either. And I didn't feel safe."

Verity pulled him close, holding him tightly with a frown. "That's just as unacceptable," he whispered.

He wrapped his arms around him, closing his eyes as he smiled. "Hey, it didn't harm me. I joined the Marines, I made a good career for myself for awhile before enlisting again in Starfleet."

"It made you strong, and independent," Verity said softly, understanding. "But it doesn't make it any less painful."

Oliver kissed his hair, his hand resting on his back. "Well, it's made me appreciate friendship," he whispered quietly.

"Even nosy old preachers like me?" Verity whispered, but with a small smile.

"I appreciate your friendship more than anyone else," Oliver whispered back in a confession, meeting his eyes as he pulled back.

Verity watched him with fond, grateful eyes, shaking his head. "Well it's there to stay, so you don't need to worry about that."

OFF:

Warrant Officer Oliver Sylver
Flight Control
USS Galileo
(PNPC: Lt JG Aria Rice)

PO2 Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo
(PNPC: Lt JG Scarlet Blake)

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