Actions Speak Louder

[Kairi 0]

Kairi had quickly and quietly excused herself from her seat at Engineering II, making for the turbolift. She gave one last glance at Prell, before looking away as the doors began to close.

 

Prell saw Kairi leaving, sighed, and got up, sticking his arm into the doors, so as not to have them close. He got in, and stood on the other side of the lift from Kairi. She was startled at first as the doors openned once more. But the feeling quickly changed to nervousness when she realized it was Prell. Scooting towards the opposite wall, she began staring at the panels.

 

Prell allowed the lift to drop a few decks, then spoke up. "Compuer, halt lift."

 

Kairi flinched as the lift slowed down, eventually stopping. She bit her bottom lip, knowing what was probably coming next.

 

He looked at her. "We need to talk, Kairi."

 

She avoided eye contact, still focusing on the lift panels. "I...I know..."

 

He looked at her. "You feel embarassed aorund me now?"

 

"No...I mean, I'm not sure." She sighed. "I don't know how I feel."

 

He looked at her, then down at his feet. "If you can believe it, I've been through what you're feeling. My 2nd host, Jyana, had a, well, interesting night."

 

"That doesn't make me feel better."

 

He sighed, "Kairi, we both know it wasn't really our faults...that we didnt mean, or want it to happen, right?"

 

She looked further away, as she spoke softly. "I'm not so sure anymore."

 

Prell froze, and looked up at her. So this was what all the avoiding was about. Damn, he should've seen it earlier...."You're...not sure..."

 

She quietly nodded in response.

 

He ran a hand through his hair...."Well..." He sighed.

 

Kairi finally, for the first time since she entered the lift, looked away from the wall and up to Prell. A single tear fell down her cheek.

 

Prell looked at her, then moved toward her a bit, a bit hesistantly. She too, felt herself being drawn towards him.

 

He finally walked up to her, and gave her a hug, letting her head fall onto his shoulder. His hug was very warm and inviting. His shoulder very supportive. She quietly returned the hug as she felt a couple more tears fall.

 

Prell exhaled. Now that it had been shown to him, he realized he had felt the way Kairi had for quite some time now. But what to do?....

 

Kairi also found herself in a confusing position. She wasn't sure she had ever really been in this kind of situation before.

 

He looked down at her face. "Well, the cats out of the bag now, isnt it."

 

She nodded in reply, "I suppose so..."

 

He wiped some tears off her cheek. "You feel better now that it's out of your system?"

 

"I do," she said as she finally pulled away from him. "I hated giving you the cold shoulder, but it seemed like the only thing I could do at the time."

 

He nodded. "I understand." He looked at the panel. "People are going to start wondering where we are...." he smiled. "Umm, would you like to come by my quarters, um, for dinner later? We can talk then..."

 

"Sure, I'd like that. It'd help to get things into the open," she smiled. "Mona is going to be happy," Kairi said quietly to herself. "Computer resume lift."

 

He nodded. "It will." He looked at her as the doors swooshed open on her deck. "I'll see you later..."

 

She stepped out of the lift, turning to look at him once more. "Ok. You better get back to the bridge before people notice you are missing."

 

He smiled. "I'm a department chief, I can have whatever excuse I want..." He winked.

 

Kairi smiled at him as the lift doors closed and she turned to walk towards the cargo bay. It did feel good to finally get things off of her chest, but in the process, was she just making things more confusing?