Settling Back In

Posted on Sat Jul 22nd, 2023 @ 10:01am by Staff Sergeant Liam "Swede" Reece [Reece] & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Skylah McBride [Lalor]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: USS Elysium, Temporary McBride-Reece Family Quarters
Timeline: MD 1 / 1256 hours
1050 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

As the Elysium's surviving compliment began the slow process of returning to the ship via the shuttles, the small McBride-Reece Clan had been on the second eave of Shuttles to return to the stars. Unfortunately, as their quarters had both been destroyed, and was down the list for ship repairs, they were given a temporary cabin assignment a few decks lower and more core-ward than their old cabin. They were told that their new cabin would only be temporary, until repairs were completed in the section of their old cabin.

As they entered, they saw that, while it still had two separate bedrooms, as it was one of the cadet dorm cabins, their communial space was much smaller, and they had no kitchen.

"At least it's not cold, like the tents were," Liam offered after a few beats of silence. "Go ahead and pick which of the two rooms you want, sweetheart," he said softly to his adopted daughter, Skylah. He then gave her right cheek a tender kiss and lowered her back to the deck.

Skylah nodded and wandered into a room. "This one" she said.

Samaire meanwhile put down the cat carrier and let their pet out. "It will be fine. We have been in smaller before." She said briskly as she calmly moved towards the other bedroom. "And, it's going to be the way of things."

"For now," Liam said softly, as he picked up Seraph, who had started to rub her body along his shins. "And you, young lady. No scratching any of this furniture." He gave her a gentle ear rub, then put her back down.

Moving over to Skylah, he knelt down in front of her. "Do you want some help unpacking your bag, honey?"

She shook her head "No thank you " she said softly and dragged her bag towards the bed.

Samaire frowned and considered things. She signaled to Liam and when he got closer she said softly, "I think I will take her to see Doctor Sthilg soon."

Standing next to his wife as they both looked towards the open door to Skylah's room, he nodded in agreement. "Good idea. Also, to keep as much continuity going for her, we should talk to Leilani and George about she and Hendor continuing to spend time together. She at least talks to him freely. More so lately, it feels, than to us." A sad look filled his features as he spoke quietly.

Samaire nodded. "It happens Love. I think it's all building with her." She knew her niece was not sleeping well, then again, really who was.

He turned his gaze over to Samaire, and there was genuine heartache there behind his eyes. "I just want her to be safe and happy, my love." He reached out for Samaire and gently pulled her into his arms. "It breaks my heart to see her like that," he admitted.

"I know there is a counselor that focuses on children on board but I am not sure she would be the best idea for Skylah. There are somethings she cannot speak about unless there is clearance."

Liam looked quizzically at his wife. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know really. It's to do with our past and I am in the same boat. I just know that the counselors on Elysium have not been cleared to it."

Liam was quiet for a moment, then he responded. "As they would be bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, we could choose one that we like the best and read them in with only what they need to know." He paused a beat, then asked, "That would work, wouldn't it?"

"Maybe." Samaire shrugged. "I'll look into it a bit. But for now, we get her back into a routine."

Nodding in agreement, Liam replied. "Definitely. In fact, as I said earlier, once everyone is settled, we should talk to George and Leilani about setting up time for Sky and Hendor to hang out and play. While I would like to see her play with more children, for now, she seems to feel safest with him."

Samaire nodded. "I will contact them tomorrow to organise a play date."

Liam smiled at Samaire. "Great!" He then inhaled slightly and let it out through his nose. "Then, for now, we should unpack." He then paused, his eyes turning a bit sadder. "I'd also like to go spend some time with Kyle. I know he is heartbroken right now over Vanessa."

"We should go help him and the kids settle in." Samaire had been in full agreement with Kyle's adoption of the two children. She felt that it would be good for him and Vanessa. But now without Vanessa he would need support from them all.

Liam nodded in agreement. "It would do Sky some good too. She seems to really like her Uncle Kyle a lot. I know he was smitten with her. This way too, she can start to get to know her new cousins."

Nodding, Samaire smiled. "Finish unpacking. Then we will go and see if we can get them to go get food in the mess with us."

Liam grinned. "That sounds like a great idea!" He leaned in and gave Samaire a tender kiss on her right cheek, then paused to whisper in her ear, "Then later, I have a promise to uphold, now that we have a locking door again."

"Hmm interesting idea there." She laughed softly and moved to unpack.

Liam helped, and together, they had everything sorted within twenty minutes. They then helped Skylah finish with her new temporary room. Afterwards, they all changed into fresh clothes and left their assigned cabin as a family. Their destination...the cabin assigned to Kyle and his children.

Samaire was not sure how much help they would be for Kyle but she would make sure those children were looked after.

Skylah meanwhile clung to her Aunt's pants as they walked down the halls. She was not about to move far from their sides.

Liam walked close to the two people who fully owned his heart. He took strength from Samaire's love and steadfastness from Skylah's innocence. He knew, without question, that he would do anything for the both of them. They were more than his family. They were his everything.

~End~