The Cage Is Opened

Posted on Sun Oct 29th, 2023 @ 11:47pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor & Chief Warrant Officer Carol Dolton

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Brig
Timeline: Present
1193 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

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Carol Dolton looked at the woman in the cell, Lia Taylor lay on the bunk softly crying. Her career, her life and her marriage appeared to be over. Slowly Dolton raised her hand and knocked on the surround of the cell entrance, "Prisoner Taylor, please stand." Her voice was loud and direct, Lia Taylor looked over and stood up her eye's red but wiped dry. The force field suddenly went quiet and Carol stepped forward, "Commander Taylor, I CWO Dolton hereby inform you that your fourteen days of confinement is now at an end. You are free to return to your duties."

Lia didn't move, Dolton moved closer to Taylor. "Commander, you can leave. Your husband is in your quarters waiting, why are you not in a hurry to go?" Still not moving, Carol now took Lia's hand. "Lia, you can leave. Come on girl, engage that brain and butt of yours and get the hell out of here." The moment Dolton touched her hand, Taylor's brain seemed to kick in and she turned to face Dolton. "Did you say I can go Carol?" Lia looked at the door of the cell, "You said I can go, didn't you?" Carol was somewhat confused, ever since Taylor had returned from her visit to Commander S'hib she had slowly closed down to things around her.

"Yes, you can leave right now. What the hell is up with you?" Lia Taylor took a small step forward and put her hand out, feeling no forcefield she walked out of the cell. "Thank you Chief, guess the events of the past few days has caught up with me." Dolton joined Lia outside of the cell, "Look, I don't know what happened. But you need to see a shrink, you just aren't yourself." Lia turned and looked at Dolton, "I don't have a communicator, can you call my husband for me?" Carol smiled, "Sure, just go sit over there will you." Pointing to a small stool, she pushed Taylor gently in that direction. =/\="Dolton to Captain Taylor, can you please report to the Brig and collect your wife."=/\=


The reply was instant. "I'm on my way Chief." Gary's voice came through the combadge.

Dolton now walked over to Taylor, "Lia, Gary's on his way ok. Just sit there until he comes for you." Carol thought it better to use Christian names as Lia seemed out of it, but why she was this way Carol couldn't work out.

Gary arrived mere moments later. "I'm here Chief, where's Lia. I'm ready to take her home."

Dolton turned to face the Captain, "She's acting strange sir, almost as if she's on something. But I know she's not, so I'm at a loss as to why?"

Gary nodded. "I understand Chief. It's okay." He answered as he turned and found Lia sitting on the bench. Moving to her he spoke softly. "Lia? Lia sweetie. I'm here. Let's go home."

Hearing Gary's voice, Lia turned to face him. "I can go home now, no more hours to wait for." She stood up and looked at Carol, "Please visit Carol, I'd like you to meet little Lia." She held her hand out to Gary, "Lets go home please."

Gary held his hand out to Lia. He wanted to take her home to the Tea House where she could relax and unwind. "Come on sweetheart. Home is waiting for you." As he led her from the brig. "Please stop by Carol. We would like you to see the Tea House and meet little Lia."

Dolton nodded, "Sure I will Captain, but lets allow things to settle first. I think Lia might need help, ever since that meeting with S'hib and Commander Reece she's been acting out of sorts."

"Of course, Chief er Carol. I don't want to throw Lia right back into everything. I want her to get settled and then we can go and get Little Lia and bring her home."

Listening to both Carol and Gary, Lia thought about how things had changed for her, "I guess I may have to rethink my career, not sure how things will work out in the future."

Carol glanced at Gary, "See what I mean sir, she seems not to care any more. And I know that's not her, I've watched her before all the crap hit the fan. I maybe out of line here, but I think you and her need to get things out in the open, Don't get me wrong, there's a lot going on right now. But I get the impression you're both holding back, she doesn't want to hurt you and you're the same with her. By the same token, not being upfront about things will drive you apart. I've not known you very long sir, personally I mean. We've spoken even less, openly without rank. But I'm damned if I will sit back and watch the pair of you walk away from this relationship, that has so much going for it." Dolton looked at Lia, "She loves you more than you know sir, she'd give it all up for you if you asked." Carol turned back to face Gary, "As a friend sir, please help her and stay together. I don't have any other friends in this ruddy universe, I'd like to keep the two I have."

Gary listened as Carol voiced her opinion. "I have no intention of walking away from Lia and our marriage Carol. I know how much Lia loves me and I know how much I love Lia. We will speak and we will be open and upfront. I just don't want to throw a lot at her right now. I don't want Lia to give up her career. I want her to come back stronger than ever. I think what you are witnessing is Lia going through a self-assessment of her career. Rest assured Carol, you aren't going to lose either of us as friends and we definitely want you to remain ours. I like your cut Carol Dolton Your honest and loyal to your friends. I'm glad Lia has a friend like you."

Dolton now turned to leave, "I'm not sure how all this crap is going to pan out, Commander Reece hasn't spoken to me yet and Lia seemed concerned about that. I have duties to get on with, I'll leave you and Lia to go home sir." With that Carol left the pair alone, her duty as a warden now over she thought about how her working relationship with both Captain and Lieutenant Commander Taylor would work out.

Gary watched Carol leave the brig, he then turned to Lia the woman he loved with every fibre of his being. "Lia darling, let's go home. We have to go and get Little Lia's room set up."

Looking at her husband, Lia nodded. "That could prove an interesting exercise, we could end up with a smaller bedroom and no kitchen. Still think we've done the right thing?" She hugged Gary's arm and walked out of the Brig, just what would happen from now on rested in her own hands not Reece or Lalor.

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