The heart of a doctor.

Posted on Wed Feb 16th, 2022 @ 5:13am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Commander Sthilg

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: Sthilg's hut
1404 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Even with a wind blowing outside and snow falling on the ground the interior of the Gorn's holodeck home from home was nice and warm. Even still the gorn placed another log on the fire before stirring the soup and flipping the bread he had cooking above it.

With a sigh, the old lizard leaned back in his chair as he leaned over to check on the two small children fast asleep in the crib. " Sleep well little ones." he said calmly as he tucked them in as he heard a sound at the door. Stepping up he walked over and opened it up.

Standing outside the door Alicia’s mother smiled warmly. “Hello Sthilg, I hope you don’t mind me dropping into your holodeck home? This is lovely by the way”

" Off courssse come in." The gorn gave the doctor a warm smile as he beckoned her in. " Welcome to my home away from home. " He said warmly. In the short time, he'd know the trill doctor he'd come to know her as a true friend. " Can I get you something to eat?" he inquired.

Deanna nodded. “That would be lovely, thank you” She smiled warmly. “You’ve done so much for Alicia since she came here. There was a time I thought I was going to lose her for good, now she has you for her father and Savar for her husband, I’ve never seen her happier!”

" I can't take credit for all the work. Her husband hasss done more than thisss lizard ever will." The gorn said calmly as he ladled out a bowl of soup.

Deanna smiled. “Of course, I wasn’t forgetting about Savar. He’s a wonderful man. Actually I... was thinking of perhaps remaining aboard for a little while, I have nothing to be rushing off for and everything to be here for.” She smiled warmly.

" I'm ssure thessse two will enjoy having their grandmother around." the lizard said as he glanced at the two babies in the crib.

Deanna smiled proudly. “I’m very much enjoying being here with them, but not just my adorable grandchildren.” She gently placed her hand on Sthilg’s larger hand. “I am very much enjoying being here with you too.”

Sthilg looked down at the hand on his and froze. He remembered Alicia saying her mother may ask him out on a date. Spluttering with all the skills of a first-year cadet the lizard managed to stutter out. " I....I... I enjoy your company asss well."

Deanna gave a surprised look. “Ohh I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to...” She moved her hand worried she’d offended him, or at the worst scared Sthilg away.

" No no no no...." Sthilg stuttered out. If he was mammal he'd have been blushing like a supernova. " I'm sorry it'sss jussst...." he said fumbling for his figures as he tried to think what would be acceptable to say. "I've not been with anyone sssince ssshe died." He managed to stumble out.

Deanna nodded. “Of course, how stupid of me! I completely understand” she smiled. “To be honest I never thought I’d find someone else I liked that much. If my presence here makes you uncomfortable I can go?”

" No no no." The gorn said feeling more flustered. " Your company is greatly appreciated and you are a wonderful woman. " He replied calmly.

Deanna couldn’t help but blush. “Thank you Sthilg. I don’t want to rush you into anything so how’s about we take things at your pace.”

" Thank you." The gorn replied quietly, but warmly. " I'm sssory if I'm acting like an old fool, but........." He began as he looked into the fire. " I ssstill love her even to thisss day. Every day I ssse her when I clossse my eyes. Do you ssstill feel the way about your husband?" He asked better to get it out in the open.

Deanna nodded. “Every hour of every single day.” She took a seat on the soft rug on the floor by the fire. “He always told me if anything ever happened to him, to move on with my life. I haven’t felt able to do that until now.”

Sthilg sat down beside Deanna being careful with his massive bulk. " I never had that conversssation. I alwaysss believed Ssshassssssou would outlive me. " He replied honestly.

“It’s obvious that you love her with every fibre of your being” Deanna smiled. “I couldn’t... wouldn’t try to replace her, but I don’t think she would want you to spend your life without ever loving again.”

The gorn said nothing as he thought it through before after a long time he placed his hand down on the rug. " We can try at the very least." He said warmly.

Deanna smiled warmly. “I’d like that, but only if you’re truly sure.”

" I'm sssure. " the gorn said softly as he reached out his hand.

Deanna reaches out her hand taking hold of Sthilg’s large hand. “I guess this will be a learning curve for both of us.”

" It will." The old gorn said with a smile on his face. " If I sssa or do sssomething wrong pleassse let me know. I've never dated a trill woman before."

Deanna grinned. “I’ve never dated a Gorn before so I guess that makes two of us! You do know that I’m a joined Trill don’t you? Alicia is something of a scientific curiosity on Trill, because as a young child she showed that she had absorbed some of the traits and memories from my symbionts. That and the fact that she was only Trill hybrid in existence, though N’Vea now changes that.”

The gorn nodded. " Off courssse, Alicia told me. How many hossstsss have there been before may I asssk?" he inquired a look of curiosity on his face.

“Three previously” Deanna smiled. “Two male and one female. It takes a lot of getting used to, but I’m grateful for the wisdom and experience it’s brought me.”

" You'll have to tell me about them." the old lizard replied. " Would you like me to book a holodeck so we can have a proper date? Do you have any places you'd like to go?"

Deanna smiled. “I’ve no specific preferences, I’d love to see your homeworld as you remember it, if that’s not too painful a memory for you?”

" Not at all. I can work sssome magic on the holo deck to recreate it asss bessst I can." The old gorn said with a smile.

Deanna smiled. “That’s wonderful. I have to wonder what Alicia will think of us being in a relationship.” She looked towards the door of the cottage. “You may as well come in little one, I know you’re there.”

The door opened and a very sheepish looking Alicia popped her head around the door. “I’m sorry! I didn’t realise you would both be here, I didn’t want to... I mean I...” She paused. “If I heard what I think I was hearing, then I’m happy for both of you.”

" You did little one." The gorn said as he offered her a hug. " I hope you understand I'm not trying to replace your biological father," he said wanting to get it off his chest.

Alicia nodded. “I know that father, to be honest I think dad would have liked you.” She looked towards her mother who nodded in response. “I won’t hang around I just came to see if you were okay with Connor and N’Vea, I can take them home if you want?”

" That would be....." Sthilg began before his combadge started bleeping. " Doctor we have a code red."

" On my way." Sthilg said looking at the pair of them. " Sssorry duty callsss. I'll look into getting a date arranged my dear." he said to Deanna with a smile on his scaly face.

“I’ll look forward to it Sthilg” Deanna smiled before stepping up and kissing the Gorn on his cheek.

“See you later father” Alicia smiled warmly before looking towards her mother. “Let’s take Connor and N’Vea home.”

" Sssee you later. " The gorn yelled back as he headed for the holodeck entrance. Despite his job, he felt happy. Happier than he'd felt in a long long time.

{OFF}