(David and Alicia)

Posted on Fri Aug 14th, 2026 @ 2:54pm by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Tonelly Quarters
Timeline: Tbd
1466 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Having received the news from her father about the loss of Baeryn, Alicia made her way to see David Tonelly. She hated the losses that the crew had suffered and now they added Baeryn to the lost as well. She paused outside David’s quarters, took a deep breath and pressed the chime.

Inside, David had just finished bathing and changing Samanthanna, and was slowly swaying her in his arms, when the foor chime sounded softly throughout their home. In a voice loud enough for the computer to recognize his commands, but gentle enough so his daughter wasn't startled, he said aloud, "Enter!"

Walking in Alicia smiled warmly as she greeted David and his daughter. “Hello David, and hello to you too little one.” She offered David a gentle, caring gaze. “I’m so sorry for your loss David, I could barely believe it when I got the message from my father. “I came to see what I can do to help you.” She motioned to Samanthanna. “May I hold her?”

David gave Alicia a soft, sad smile. "Thank you. I appreciate the thought." When she asked to hold Samanthanna, his smile warmed a bit more. "Of course." They then carefully transferred the infant from his protective embrace to hers.

He then moved over to the replicator. "Would you like anything?"

Alicia smiled as she gently cradled Samanthanna. “Oh erm…a lemonde would be lovely, thank you.” She looked down at the small infant she was holding. “You are so beautiful, and you have your father’s eyes. He’s going to need your love little one” she looked up at David. “She’s beautiful David. Makes me wish I could have more children, but that’s not something I’ll ever be able to do.”

David picked up the glass of lemonade and the mug of coffee he replicated for himself, and moved back to where Alicia was standing with his daughter. He smiled softly at the sight, then the smile fell as the thought that Baeryn would never hold their baby again. He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't heard what Alicia had just said to him. "I..I'm sorry...What did you say?"

“Don’t worry it’s not important,” Alicia smiled as she moved to take a seat with Samanthanna. “I know this isn’t how you envisioned raising your daughter, but in the long run, she’ll help you in ways you can’t imagine.”

Moving to sit in his chair to Alicia's right, David put her drink down on the small end table between the chair and sofa. "I'm still wrapping my brain around Baeryn..." his breath caught in his throat. "I can't believe that she is gone.." his voice was quiet and full of the pain of new grief.

“I know” Alicia nodded. “This isn’t going to be easy David, but I’ll be right here every step of the way. As will Tate. You also have your beautiful little girl, she’s a piece of Baeryn that you can treasure for the rest of your days.” She offered Samanthanna back to her father, not wanting to deprive David of his baby daughter.

David sat forward and took his baby back from Alicia, cradling her gently as he sat back, smiling softly down into her face.

Samanthanna suddenly let out a huge baby yawn. David cooed softly at her, thrn looked at Alicia. "I should put her down for the night. Excuse me please." He then stood and carried his most cherished treasure to her nursery.

Alicia sat looking around her surroundings. It felt quiet and lonely without Baeryn there, it made her heart ache for Savar with all that was going on.

A few moments later, David re-entered the living area, clearly thinking about painful things. He moved to sit back in his end chair and a few tears started to fall from his eyes. "Baer is never going to see our angel grow up and become a wonderful woman," he said softly.

Alicia looked around seeing a box of tissues she picked it up and placed it next to David. “She’ll be every bit her mother, with her father’s strength and heart.” She smiled as she offered comfort. “I’m sure Baeryn will be watching over both of you.”

David gave Alicia a slight nod of his head. He wasn't feeling like smiling right now. "I just hope I'm parent enough for her. He shook his head slightly, as if knowing what Alicia might say next. "I'm sure you'll tell me that one day I'll find someone new to live my life with. It's not that easy with El Aurians." He took a slightly ragged breath, then continued. "You see, when El Aurians mate, its not just because of an emotional or physical connection. We have found that every El Aurian is born with half a soul. When we find our other half, the connection is instant, as if we have always been with them. When...when our partner dies....we lose that half of our soul. That void can never be filled again, except by those rare few who are lucky enough to find the other half of their souls again in another individual." He shook his head sadly. "I doubt I am that lucky."

Alicia paused before speaking. “Don’t give up on that love David, maybe that half that Baeryn possessed will return to you one day. In the meantime, if you need any help, whether it’s just to talk, or you need parenting hints and tips then please don’t hesitate to come and see us. Even if you just need company, you’re more than welcome to drop into my household. I’ll warn you though, it can get a little hectic at times.”

The offer had an honest grin, though a small one, cross his face. "Thank you, Alicia. I do appreciate the offer. I might take you up on it." He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly.

As his eyes were closed, he said, "We both knew that life in Starfleet had it's dangers. We life and work in space. Death is all around us. But....to die from some alien parasite that we picked up somewhere along the way...could have been as innocuous as a bug bite..." he shook his head in sad disbelief. "Who would have imagined that happening?"

Alicia shook her head. “I think having the medical tech we do, we’ve gotten used to things being easily curable or treatable, it’s times like this that show us we’re wrong."

David was silent for several beats, his eyes clearly looking back on past pains. "I have seen more than my fair share of death in my long life, Alicia." He took a ragged breath and shook his head, his bottom lip trembling slightly. "But to lose someone so young, with such vitality and life in her....The universe truly is cruel."

Alicia nodded. “Of course, I was forgetting you’re an El Aurian. And you’re right... to lose Baeryn at such a young age is cruel.”

David laid his head back against the top of the chair he was sitting him. Suddenly, he felt so very tired.

“You look like you could use some time to rest” Alicia gave him a caring gaze. “I’ll leave you to it, if you need anything please let me know.”

David looked over at Alicia. "I'm sorry, im not very good company right now."

“Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to be a bundle of joy” Alicia added with a caring glance. “Get some rest, when your little one sleeps so do you, it’ll do you good.”

He nodded his thanks, then saw her out, thanking her again for all of her assistance and kind words.

When David was alone in the living room, he stood there, in thr middle of the room. His body was tense and his eyes were closed. His fists suddenly clenched so tightly, his fingernails cut into his palms, which started to drip blood on the carpet. His body was vibrating as he stood there.

Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide and let out a silent scream of agony. He was careful to only let the expression come out as breath only, so as not to wake or scare his infant daughter by his voice of rage and pain.

After he had let everything out, he collapsed to his knees, then crumbled the rest of the way to the floor. He just laid there, tears streaming from his eyes as his heart was finally able to break, feeling the missing half of it fully gone now.

~OFF~