Joint Log | Patrick & Kassi Harper | "The End of Old Times, and the Beginning of New Times."

Posted on 241412.12 @ 10:11pm by Colonel Patrick Harper & Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper

Mission: Non-Plot Log

How she'd managed to sneak out of bed without waking Patrick for a change was a surprise to her. Though between being up late the night before, and the restlessness of her sleep... she'd finally given up. She'd left the Padd that Malone had given her near her husband when she'd gotten up, having no doubt that he'd find it. Wrapped in the big white fluffy robe, she stood on the balcony and gazed out a bit lost in her thoughts as she watched the sunrise, lifting her mug of hot chocolate up at times for a drink. They would be leaving today and she had to wonder if she was actually ready to get back into the swing of things.

Patrick woke up about thirty or so minutes after Kassi did, and when he rolled over and found the bed empty, he sat up. Pulling on a t-shirt and a pair of casual pants, he shuffled off to the bathroom. On his return, he noticed the PADD that had been carefully left on his dresser. He quickly noted that it was an intelligence report, and wondered if Kassi had meant to leave it here. After all, she was cleared to see things he wasn't. But upon further inspection, he could see why she'd left it there for him. It was about her - and her capture.

He read the PADD carefully, and then read it again to be sure of what he was seeing. This information was likely to not settle well with his wife, and that was why he was seeing it. She needed him to know what she was going through. The fact that this report was labelled classified level 10 clearance, suggested that she'd had to seek out Malone's approval to let him see this. He moved to the balcony, and found his wife. He moved behind her, and put his arms around her waist and kissed her ear. "Good Morning wife." He purred.

Arms around her brought the safety and comfort she'd found she had missed and craved. Leaning back into the warmth of him, she smiled and gave a tilt and slight turn of her head to peek at him. "Morning my husband." Kassi said, realizing she really enjoyed just how much she liked saying that, confirming that it wasn't all just a dream.

Turning back to look at the scenery again, keeping that flicker of worry from him. She murmured softly. "It's the day we head back... into the swing of everything."

"We knew it was coming." Patrick replied. "But I'm sure we'll find time to rest and relax, after all, we're stationed on a colony. What's the worst that could happen?"

Setting the mug down, she turned within his arms and leaned up against him more. "With Starfleet... who knows." She half whispered as she peeked up to him. "Hopefully nothing as it was before now."

"So, I assume then that you're ready to talk about Korma?" Patrick asked, as he nodded his head towards the discarded PADD.

"I figured you had a right to know, your the biggest reason I just didn't say forget it all and leave Starfleet all together. I don't really know what to say or think about it anymore." Kassi said softly as she gazed at him.

"Admiral Malone must've had a reason to share this with you." Patrick said, looking into her eyes. "He could've withheld it from you, after all, he had no command reason to tell you classified material above your clearance level."

"I know, and yet... I didn't ask him why he shared it to me." She said with a slight frown. "Then again, when him and I talked it really wasn't the best time to discuss it all." She pondered that a moment with a slight furrow of brows.

"Maybe he wanted you to know that it wasn't your fault that the battle was lost - that you'd been betrayed by someone in Starfleet, and that nothing you did would've prevented it." Patrick explained. "That's how I see it."

She nodded slowly. "And I can see that, doesn't make things instantly easier for me. But perhaps that's why he allowed me to show it to Andrus... and then to you... with a little bit of muttering."

"Problem is, it might explain why the fleet was ambushed, but not why you were selected to be captured and abused. So I guess for you, that'll always be an issue." Patrick sighed.

"Only thing I can think of is they thought they might be able to get a little bit more information that they might have been able to use." She shrugged a little. "I suppose one will never know for sure and yes, it will be an issue for me. But I'm getting better and dealing with things..." Kassi kissed him softly as she held his gaze. "And I have you now to help keep me safe... and sane."

"I doubt I could do that. You've always been a screw-ball." Patrick teased, to ease his own feelings about her capture. He was angry that someone had betrayed her, and even angrier at the Cardassians. There had been no sense to her continual abuse and subsequent rape. No sense at all - it made him so angry.

She'd felt the slight bit of tenseness within him, though hadn't said anything. It was the look in his eyes as he tried to tease her that had her lifting a hand lovingly to cup his cheek as she gazed into his eyes. "I am angry too, but there isn't anything either one of us can do now, except accept what happened and move on. I don't want you to live with the anger that I do."

"I think I have a right to be angry at the treatment you received. If it wasn't for Richard deciding to put friendship ahead of obedience, you and I would not be having this conversation." Patrick sighed. "It saddens me that it comes down to one stubborn old marine defying all of Starfleet to rescue one of their own."

"I'm not saying you don't, just asking that you don't let it consume you like it has me for so long." She kissed him softly. "Your right, we have Richard... and a few other Marines, to be thankful for... You can thank them again later." She kissed him again, the more she did it... the easier it was becoming.

"I didn't show you that to make you angry, but so you would know and understand some of my quirks. That, and I told you I would try and open up more to you." The last part said with a shyness to her eyes.

"I appreciate that you're trying." Patrick smiled. "Now, shall we enjoy our last day before we have to leave?"

"Yes... after all we have lots of packing to do and last minute shopping... and.... things like that." She teased him shyly, after all... some things still just didn't come easily yet.

Patrick sighed, wondering if he'd have to order another packing crate. Last time Kassi said she'd be doing a little bit of shopping, she'd filled two crates just with clothes. Whatever place they got together on Xonnel, would need a wardrobe annex just for her clothing...

= End Log =