Happiness and Horrors (Part 1) [Caution: Long Read]

Posted on Sun Aug 3rd, 2025 @ 10:07am by Lieutenant J'airesh Mora-Heath & Master Chief Petty Officer Chuck Finley [Reece]

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: Holosuite 4
Timeline: MD2/0538 hours
2557 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

J'Air had been staying at Chuck's quarters. They had started to alternate between their allocated suites of rooms lately and this week he had managed to get a couple of shifts' leave to coincide with her own rota breaks. It was a special treat as they hadn't been able to align their time off as much as they would have liked, until recently.

The COB rolled over and tugged at the sheet that covered them both, still asleep; the CMO, suddenly denuded by the disappearance of her cover, made a disgruntled protest sound and sat up, now wide awake. Looking around to assess what or who had so rudely woken her, she summed up, mainly from the evidence of the gorgeous form of MCPO Finlay laying beside her with his back to her, wrapped like a cocoon in the covers from his bed, that it was his rolling over that was to blame.

Looking at him, wrapped right around in both halves of the offending sheet, her breath caught at how totally irresistibly hot he was, wrapped and silhouetted in the silky soft-blue material that clung to his perfect musculature. Taking her moment for retribution, J'Air raised herself up and plonked (technical word for ambush) herself on top of the sleeping vision, trapping him inside the roll of material that he'd pulled over himself without realising.

As soon as J'airesh landed on him, Chuck bolted awake, his mind jumbled, as he had been having a nightmare flashback of his time as a P.O.W., during the Dominion War. On pure instinct, he moved, jerking his head forward, connecting with her forehead. As he did that, he forced his arms apart, ripping the sheet as he struggled to get free.

In an instant, the red vision of rage left his eyes, as his brain finally woke up fully. "Oh shit!," he swore, as he quickly reached for the woman he loved. "I am so sorry, sweetheart! Are you okay?! Did i hurt you?!?"

J'Air was taken completely by surprise by Chuck's reaction and as his forehead made contact with hers she reeled from the blow and fell backwards, off the bed, falling to the floor. Luckily for her, Chuck had stood up straight in his efforts to free himself instinctively from the sheet so she fell through the pillows saving her from impact on her way to the floor.

At first, she wasn't aware what had happened but as she heard the sheet rip and then she heard his voice. ~oh shit! I'm so sorry sweetheart~ she knew immediately that what she had done was SO ill-considered and thoughtless, that she tried to sit up to apologise to him but the room spun so she had to give up all attempts to even raise her head again. She could only respond with odd words at this point but even those weren't coming out the way round that she was trying to send them out.

"No, my was thoughtless fault Okay...... I mean, OK sorry - me....." She blinked, realising that she was sounding more like Yoda from the ancient cult films of hundreds of years ago. She tried again one word at a time.
"SORRY........
SO........
I....."

Chuck was by her side in an instant, cradling J'airesh in his arms protectively. "I'm sorry, baby! I've got a bit of a thick skull...looks like it gave you a bit of a whack!" He gently held her face, as he checked her eyes and any possible signs of damage or concussion.

"I'm okay now" she said, rubbing her forehead tentatively. ~apart from a crushing headache and double vision~ she thought but didn't say anything about that.

"I'm so sorry.... that was thoughtless." her head began to clear and she felt Chuck's strong arms around her, stabilising her and stopping the feeling of the room spinning. Gradually, nestled against him and with the symptoms clearing one by one, she just felt so guilty for having woken him with so little thought.

"Are you okay, my love?" she asked him, holding tightly to him, wondering if he might have any after effects of the shock she'd inadvertently given him. "I'm so stupid. I've traumatised you, haven't I?" She squeezed gently against him, trying to tell if he was shaking (or if it was her - or even both of them?).

Now that he was calmer, Chuck kissed J'airesh's lip gently, then leaned his forehead against hers. "It's okay, darlin'. It's just something i have to live with. I have good days and bad days. Of course," he grinned warmly as he looked into her eyes, "since you came into my life, I've had more good days."

J'Air winced internally as his forehead rested against her own already throbbing head but it was so beautiful a gesture that she couldn't let him know. She just bathed in the warmth of his loving care and all pain and concern faded away.

"I'm so glad that I can help in some way, in any way in fact, but that silly little stunt just now was thoughtless of me, even you have to admit that." She put her arms up and curled them around his powerful neck and shoulders and sighed. "I can't believe that you came into my life and wanted to stay!" she told him. "It's just that... YOU are the best and most incredible thing that ever happened to me, Chuck. I love you!" the last three words had softened to almost a whisper but she was already seeking his lips for a passionate kiss before the last of the words had been uttered.

Chuck's lips met hers in a fierce joining that spoke volumes as to the level of their passion for each other. When they finally came up for air, he smiled softly. "How about we get your bruise fixed, before we start devouring each other again?" He gave her a gentle kiss, then slowly slid her off of his lap. He then stood up and moved to where he knew she kept her med kit. After pulling out a hypospray, medicine ampule and the dermal regenerator, he loaded the ampule into the base of the hypo. He carried the items back to the bed, sat down, and held the hypo up, ready to use. "If you'd be so kind as to present that delicious neck of yours, sweetheart?" He said with a flirty wink.

J'Air opened her eyes in mock alarm. "Why Count Dracula, what could you POSSIBLY want me to do that for?" she laughed, still obliging anyway. "I have to say, I'm impressed with how adept you are with that Medkit and the appropriate resolutions for bruises" she said with admiration. "If you wanted a new job, I'd hire you instantly!" she beamed and tipped her head close to his just waiting for an opportunity to snatch a sneaky kiss.

Chuckling softly, Chuck pressed the hypo to J'airesh's slender neck and injected the medication into her blood stream. "You'd be surprised how much you learn in both combat and as a prisoner." There was no negativity in his voice, it was simply facts that he was referring to. He activated the dermal regenerator, and started to slowly pass it back and forth over the swelling on her forehead and nose. "And as for switching to medical, I'm happy where I am. Afterall, my job is to look out for all the enlisted crewmen aboard, be their voice to the Commodore and senior staff."

"I know, you wonderful, sexy man!" J'Air laughed softly, still impressed with his gentle but efficient ministrations. "I wouldn't really offer because I'm totally aware of what you do and how good you are at it..... you're sickeningly good at everything!" she pretended to chide him but she sparkle in her eyes and the admiration and love in her expression told him very clearly that she actually had NO complaint at all,

He grinned broadly as he countered, "Well, not everything, sweetheart. I can't play any musical instrument to save my life, after all." He chuckled as he finished speaking.

"WHAT?" she feigned horror. "Well in that case, I shall have to teach you some!" she sat resolutely and began to list instruments. "What would you like to learn? I can teach you pianoforte, saxophone (alto), drums?" she began to tap out a beat on the side at this suggestion. "Along with piano, automatically comes all keyboard instruments and then there's the violin. It's not a particularly popular one as it's quite hard but I've always wanted to try it so we could learn that one together if you like?"

He couldn't help but grin at her energy. "Oh, don't misunderstand me," he began. "Its a good thing that I am unable to do so. I've tried, a few times. Each attempt had the same result....I made sounds that could be viewed as hazardous weapons." He chuckled softly at his own expense. "I've never been able to read music, or identify various notes by ear. I have been told, by many people, that I am tone deaf, and I should avoid any form of music, out of respect for the art form." He grinned, not upset by this.

"That's cruel to deny you the serenity and sense of achievement of producing your own music!" she was instantly protective of him, rushing to his defence. "I could get you an Andorian Xylophone - you just run a finger over the curves of the beautifully carved instrument - which looks a bit like a carved, smooth, shiny wave-light - and it just responds with beautiful and soothing sounds. You don't need to read music, or stick to pre-written songs, you just enjoy the smoothness and warmth of the sound as your fingers passing over the instrument makes it happen." she reassured him. "I know you'd love it." she added and kissed his cheek, still wrapped around his neck, her body against his as if glued there. Her eyes were alternately devouring him as she gazing adoringly up at him and inviting him with flashes of mischief and challenge.

"Would you like to come to the Holosuite with me? I'll let you choose the adventure we go on.... perhaps something realistic like a rainforest or a waterfall? Or some film or book or an entertainment story? Something delicious that we could embed ourselves into and have some fun?

Chuck smiled warmly as he looked down into J'airesh's beautiful eyes. "If it's that important to you, then i will give it a try. Just don't say I didnt warn you, if all that I can make are Gorn mating sounds." He chuckled softly, then nodded to her question as he continued. "Sure, im not due to be on duty for another forty-eight hours, so, we have plenty of time to enjoy ourselves down in a holosuite." He then thought about it for a few beats, before adding, "i heard about a program that faithfully simulates the rain forest on Janola Three. Supposedly, there are waterfalls that hum a relaxing melody, as the water rushes over the edges."

"J'Air gazed adoringly at the wonderful man whose arms she was so grateful to be in - barely hiding any of the love he inspired in her. "Oh that sounds so beautiful!" she sighed, loving the description of such a soul-warming place. "I wonder if we could go there and still be able to tear ourselves away to come back?" she smiled, thinking silently that it didn't matter where they might go or how fantastic it might be, so long as she was going to be with Chuck, she would be in such delight that he was with her, that she would feel the same if they stayed here.

She did recognise however that before long she wouldn't be able to keep a man with so brilliant a mind from getting bored, even of - or IN - Paradise. They would need to keep finding new ways to make the most of their blissful time together, to keep it fresh and exciting. "I want to go wherever you will feel the most entertained... you know, as well as the joy of being together but also making some memories and ticking off our bucket lists, as it were. I want you to feel as alive with me as I do when I'm around you." she tried to explain. "Personally, I was just thinking how I could stay here and cuddle with you for all the rest of time and never want to leave your arms, but then I couldn't bear to think you were missing out on things that you would also like for us to do together, so I want it all. I want you, I want us to be together and to have fun and make love and do great things to challenge ourselves as well! How high-maintenance am I" she laughed. "I'm all -'I want, I want', aren't I? What a brat!" she said, pretending to frown at herself. "And I already have everything my heart could ever desire.....! What a monster!" her smile didn't fade nor did her chuckling. She was so happy she felt like she would burst any minute. She reached up and kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair, just for the joy and mischief of being so overjoyed.

Chuck continued to smile warmly as he held J'airesh in his arms. Her energetic personality was like a balm for his deep scars, both physical and mental. He didn’t know what he did to deserve the love and affection of this wonderful woman, however, he did know that he would move the heavens themselves, if only to have her smile at him like she did. "I see no monster," he said softly. "I only see the woman I love and want to spend the rest of my days with." He gave her a gentle, yet passionate kiss, then continued to speak. "It doesn't matter where we go, or what we do. I'm happiest by your side, sweetheart."

"I feel the same" J'Air agreed lingering still longer in his glorious arms and against his strong chest, not knowing whether she was more lost in adoration or rising lust (again). In an effort to try to be true to her earlier thoughts and intentions she raised herself reluctantly out of his caresses and (promising her aching loins that she would get back to those very soon!) she stood and gently tugged his fabulous body, ripped coverings and all, up and with one last (she promised) burrow into his arms, whispered that their booking of the holosuite would run out soon.

This was nonsense as they hadn't made a booking but J'Air knew that if they didn't go out now, they wouldn't leave this bedroom for a long time - maybe ever!?! - she laughed with joy and teased him forward by offering a slightly out of reach puckered kiss luring him towards the sonic shower - which they had to have together (OF COURSE!) and then to get dressed. and then undressed and then dressed again, and finally off out towards the holosuites, no time to wait and put in a booking or they mightn't go.

~TBC~