Just Missed

Posted on Thu Dec 26th, 2019 @ 3:57pm by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris

Mission: 2396 - A Christmas Time
Location: DS9
Timeline: Holiday Season
590 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Richard had arrived on DS9 three days prior, finding out that the Elysium hadn't made it there yet. He sat in Quark's at the dabo table, he was up thirty thousands credits so far, and it would take something special to get him up from that table. Then that something special walked in, Melissa had finally arrived, dressed in a white silk blouse and a red mini-skirt, looking like she had something on her mind. He turned to the dabo girl and tipped her a strip of latinum, "I think I'll call it a night, darling, you've been a delight."

The Dabo girl giggled and blushed, turning to her next player.

"Well, if I was expecting anything else I would've been disappointed." Melissa rolled her eyes and laughed, "That girl's young enough to be your granddaughter. If she's even that old."

"Is that the growl of the green eyed monster, I hear?" Richard teased, "Quark, how's about a coupla drinks for ye besht customah..."

"Best customer...." Quark grumbled, "You've been taking me to the cleaners for three days..."

"Well, if ye dinnae wish tem serve us, I can always go back te the dabo tables, mah friend." Richard shrugged, taking Melissa's hand as if to do just that."

"No, please, I insist, a round on the house for my best customer and his lovely lady." Quark replied, openly leering at Melissa, as he poured them both a glass of his finest Kanar, Anything to keep him off of my tables...

"Quark, ye're the definition of a true gentlemen." Richard said, raising his glass, "Mind yer eyes though, lad."

"Right." Quark nodded, moving his eyes away from the woman's chest, he knew about Richard Norris's reputation in a fight and didn't want to antagonize him. Turning to leave he left the bottle with them, "Compliments of the house."

As Quark left Melissa got to business, "So it seems the Elysium hasn't made it here yet, not sure when it's coming in, but I'm hoping it'll be soon..."

"Melissa, there ishn't much time." Richard protested, "It isnae bad enough I'll miss mah grandson, now I might not make it te see mah granddaughter and great granddaughter."

"Richard, go see Bashir." Melissa said, her voice almost pleading, "He might be able to do something nobody has thought of yet."

He placed a hand on her face, she loved him, had for years, maybe he should've listened to her and did this years ago, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way. He shook his head, "Three different doctors, all said the same thing, it's terminal..."

"And one of those doctors hasn't had a license in a decade." Melissa countered, "Meanwhile Dr. Bashir has a couple decades plus of recorded medical brilliance."

"Now, in Dr. Parker's defense, he did spend half of that decade in prison." Richard said, knowing that it wasn't exactly a great point in his favor, "I just want to be able te see mah family once befar Ah part the landa the living."

"Richard, damn it, go see Bashir!" She ordered, tears in her eyes, "He might be able to help you get to see your grandson, too."

"Alright, love, if it means that much te ye." Richard agreed, "I'll shee him in the morning."

"And what are our plans for the night?" She asked, wiping tears.

"Well, we'll shtart with dinnah, then move on from there." Richard shrugged nonchalantly.

"Charming to the last." Melissa smiled, happy he was at least doing something for himself.

-Off