Getting Hitched

Posted on Wed Jan 10th, 2024 @ 10:11am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Captain Samuel Woolheater & Crewman Adelaide Kirkby

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: DECK 32 - MARINE COUNTRY - MXO's OFFICE
Timeline: MD04: - Early
2367 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON: Events depicted occur on Mission Day Four]

Sam walked by Adelaide's desk, she wasn't in yet. It was still early and Sam was coming off shift. He looked over and saw that the MXO, Captain David Tonelly was in his office. He approached and, as usual, the door was wide open. He rapped on the door frame and greeted his superior officer, "Captain Tonnely? Sorry to bother you sir. Could I get a minute?"

David was finishing up a few guard rotation schedules, that had to get the Colonel's signature later that morning. Looking up, he flashed Woolheater a polite grin. "Come on in, Sam! What's up?" He indicated one of the empty chairs in front of his desk as he spoke.

"Thanks," he said as he stepped into the office and taking a chair, "Ah, I see you're working up the rotation schedule for the next couple of weeks?" Sam observed that PaDD's on the desk and recognized the scheduling program on the display. Sitting back in the chair, in a realxed and comfortable way, he said, "I think we're going to be even thinner on the nightwatch. Earlier this morning I had two more 'sick outs'. They say the transport inhibitor injections are making them ill. And I feel like we need to know how much and how many people are negatively impacted so I approved their release to sickbay. We kind of were warned that not everybody was going to be one-hundred percent with this...stuff."

David nodded as he glanced back down at the computer screen in his desk. "Yeah, saw their names on the sick call list, so am modifying the watch roster to make it work." He then looked back up at his young friend and grinned, giving him a bit of side eye. "However, that's not why you stopped by, Sam. Ask the question you're here to ask."

Adelaide arrived just after Sam entered David's office. She didn't see Sam and as she flipped on the lights to the rest of the office she prepped for the day's work. She set her mug of coffee down and logged in to her computer. Instantly, the reports that David would need to approve were downloaded to a waiting PaDD. She retrieved the device and walked over to the MXO's office. She heard David talking to Sam.

The thing about David Tonelly was that one could get just so damn used to being relaxed and easy around him. He just knew how to balance when to be formal and prim. And when to let your hair down and just be. That made him easy to talk to, but also genuine and authentic. He wasn't just an 'administrator' that took on the sometimes unpleasant jobs that had to be done to keep things moving here. He also cared about each Marine. Really cared about them. Trust was earned; not given away. And Captain Tonelly had earned the trust of the detachment and every Marine in it.

So, when Adele walked into the open door office and saw Sam sitting with his booted feet crossed and relaxed chair posture, it was not a surprise. She knew that with David, if he wanted a private conversation then he'd close the door. Open door meant 'come on in'. Sam was speaking when she walked in.

"Does that ever get old with you?" Sam said as he sat relaxed in the chair across from David's desk. "Reading people...or...listeneing to their body language? Whatever you call it? How many times do I walk through that door and you already know why I'm here or what I'm gonna say?" Sam said with mock irritation.

Adele approached and hearing that last part added, "Tell me about it. Just try to plan a surprise party for him. Whavi must be some kind of angel" she smiled as she stood next to the desk. "Good morning Captain sirs" she said as she handed a single PaDD to David. "Excuse the interruption; these need your approval please."

David grinned, first at Sam, then at Adelle. "Thank you, Crewman," he said as he took the PADD, reading it quickly, then signing off on it before handing it back. "Please send the ones that require the Colonel's signature to her personal PADD now." He then looked back at Sam. "And never. Course, as it comes as naturally as breathing, it's difficult to get tired about. And, as far as my mate goes, Baeryn is far more than I deserve." His face lit up with love at the mention of his best friend, life partner and mother of his child.

"Now..." he repeated. "Spill. That's an order, Captain." David smirked jokingly at Woolheater as he finished speaking.

That caught Adele's interest as she took the signed PaDD back and sent the remaining approvals on to the Colonel for her final approval. Nothing terribly interesting. Even way out here in Circinus the clerical work of the Marines still had to get done. As she typed she also got in on the tease, "Oooo...deep dark Marine secrets so early in the morning! Do tell Captain...do tell" she said as she finished typing and the reports went off to the Colonel.

Sam sat forward a bit. He had the cheesiest, dumbest looking grin on his face. But inside he was delighted. "Well...I...." and then he didn't know how to say it. He looked at the floor and then at David and then at Adele. And then he felt self-concious. Adelaide beamed at him a comforting smile and said, "Yeess?"

He looked back at David. Just a knowing look on his face. That same look he got when he already knew what you were going to say. "Uhh. Well...I've been seeing Andy. Counsul Andrinn Orin ever since the Commodore and Richardson got hitched. And,, we got close over the weeks and then the whole filament thing. Well, we been seeing each other. And, hell I was surprised myself too. That anybody could hang in that long with a guy like me... and I...we...we..we; I asked him if he wanted to...y'know" Sam swallowed. Cleared his throat, "Ahem! Little while ago. Week ago I guess..." and continued. All the while there was in his eyes and his voice and his body this joy. "I asked him if he could...w-would...if he'd...consider..." Sam said. Adelaide cast a knowing look over at Captain Tonelly, her excitement palpable. She was just waiting for Sam to say it. His right foot was fidgeting as he bounced his knee. "I asked Consul Orin...if...he'd like to get married. To me." He finally put it all together, "I asked Consul Orin to marry me." Sam had the happiest, dumbest grin on his face. And he was red faced and happy.

David smiled a happy smile for his young friend. "And I'm guessing that he said yes? Either that, or he will have to be eliminated?"

He responded with a nod and a turn. He cocked his head to the left and squared his shoulders in a single move. "Yeah, he said yes. He said yes!" He felt his face flush and get 'hot' and his heart skip a beat. He grinned ear to ear so much that his his teeth were visible and the sides of his mouth wrinkled with happy joy.

Adelaide let out a squeal of happiness and laughter and said, "Ooooo!! I'm so happy for you and Andrinn! Oh-my-god-SAM!" And she went over to give him a little hug. "Just look at how red and flushed you are! I think its adorable" she said as she stepped back.

David stood up and moved around to the front of his desk extending his right hand to Woolheater. "Congratulations, Sam!" He smiled brightly as he spoke, clearly happy for his young friend. "So someone is finally making an honest man out of you, huh?" He chuckled softly as he finished speaking.

He got to his feet, "Thank you sir. Yeah, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea. He's part Trill and El Aurian too. So...yeah...I guess we're a mixed marriage? Oh, we're keeping it on the down low. Due to the mission and all that. We thought we would next go to the Commodore and see if - with everything else going on - she could do the ceremony. Whatever that will be? With your approval, my next stop will be the Colonel?"

Smiling happily, David nodded. "You certainly have my okay to proceed, not that you really needed it. You are a senior officer afterall. And as far as the Commodore goes, I'm sure she would be more than happy to officiate your wedding." He leaned in and asked in a quieter tone, "So the real question is...stag party?"

Adelaide inserted, "I know a lot of crew that would love a party and let off some steam. I'm sure that as soon as we transit this slaver space, we'll have plenty to party about."

Sam answered them both, "She's right. Everybody is busy with other things. I know the detachment wouldn't mind but; maybe we should wait for a better time? Something that everybody can attend if they want?" he said.

Adele asked, "Do you guys have a date in mind?"

Sam answered, "Not yet. We're just notifying our superiors first."

She nodded, "Are you taking his name or is he taking yours? Or do you guys do that?" she asked him clearly happy for both Andrinn and Sam.

His eyebrows went up , "Huh, I guess, well, niether? We'll just keep our names the way they are I think? Mine is long enough as it is and all my shit is already tagged. Andy is already so well known because of the Orin symbiant. So, I think a lot of his fame...I mean...his reputation is in the Orin name. He'll probably not want to drop that."

"What's not to like about 'Woolheater'. You could do a compound name or hyphenated? What's 'Woolheater' anyway? Where's that come from? You're Human from Pacifica right?"

Sam nodded, "My parents were second gen colonists. I grew up on Pacifica and we went to Earth every year to see the family. Way back, my ancestors were from the old nation state of Germany. 'Wollheizer' was my family name. But, there was a time when they didn't want that...baggage. They emigrated from the 'old country', Europe, to the United States. There, they Anglicized the name. To fit in better. In the new country. My great, great, great, great grandparents did that before the first world war."

Adele nodded, "Huh. Interesting. Well, Whatever you call yourselves; I'll always know you as the pain in my neck!" She smiled, gave him another little hug and went for the door, "Well then, I'll get you on the Colonel's radar. Stop by and see me after you're done here?"

"Tonelly? I want to ask you a question, sir, as an El Aurian?" Sam said as he sat back down in his chair, "You and Andrinn are both long-life people. And...I'm not. I had the talk with Andy about this. But I'm not sure he...understands where I'm coming from. I'm Human and under normal circumstances maybe I'll get 120 to 130 years. But, with this job and especially these days where we are, that might be a hell of a lot shorter. My deployment could change, he could get called to mediate some dispute and I can't transfer. And, being a Marine spouse has its own set of challenges. In whatever time we have together, short or long, what's your advice on how to be present for him? How do I make the most of the time we have?"

David pursed his lips slightly as he considered Sam's question. It was the same issue that he and Baeryn were living with. Barring any major catastrophe, he would out live her by centuries. It hurt his heart just thinking about it.

Finally. Looking at the younger Marine, he replied. "All you can do is enjoy every day with him as much as possible. If that means doing things only with each other, or growing your family to include children, do whatever you have to to make each moment special."

Sam thought about what David was saing. Make the most of everyday you have. Because tomorrow isn't promised. "You know...I had someone close to me. Back before I started my tour here onboard Elysium. We were close. She died and - yeah - it hurt so much. I didn't think I'd find that kind of love again. I can't imagine how it is for you; for Andrinn. Most of the people you meet and those that you fall in love with - yeah. Well. Thanks Cap."

David's grin faltered slightly when he heard Sam's words. His thoughts went to Bearyn and Samanthanna. He knew that there was a chance that he would outlive them both. "Speaking for myself...it can be very painful. It all depends on how close I allow myself to get to someone. As for Andrinn, with all the lives his symbiote has lived," he shrugged. "I don’t know. You will have to have that discussion with him. In fact, I strongly suggest that you do, before the wedding. It is a very important subject that you both need to talk about."

The two warriors continued to talk about life and family for the next hour. Then, after thanking David for his time and words , Sam left the MXO's office, heading out to his next destination. David watched as he left. That was when he realized that something had felt off. He had noticed that the energy flowing around Sam wasn't as bright as it usually was. But then, he realized that, with everything that was going on, the same old be said for just about everyone else. So, he kept it to himself. Though he made a mental note to check in on the young supper in a few days, to see how he was doing.

~OFF~