Resolution of a Sort ((Pilot/Kent/Riley))

[Samantha_Kent 0]

Malik sat on Sam's couch generally talking to her about the previous missions, sipping some tea with lemon and honey in it.

 

Sam sat on the couch in her quarters, perched in the corner against the arm and drinking tea, as they talked about the recent missions. She couldn't restrain a certain amount of tension despite the relaxed nature of the conversation; she wondered if he had heard about her most recent conversation with Brian. And if he hadn't...she wondered how in hell she was going to bring it up.

 

Malik sipped his tea some more. "So, how are things with you?" He looked at her and smiled, while sipping his tea.

 

"Well enough..." Sam said casually, looking back at him and shifting slightly in her seat to face him. "We've got some astrophysical phenomena we've been dealing with since we left Nevuluz. Keeping us pretty busy."

 

"That's excellent. Sounds quite interesting." Malik looked at her and he could see an uneasiness with her. "Something wrong, Sam?"

 

Sam swallowed an overlarge gulp of tea hastily to cover slight surprise. Mal was more perceptive than she had given him credit for. "Umm..." The urge to evade the question was strong but she knew she would regret it later if she did. "I...I need to talk to you about something, Mal." She paused, trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject then finally decided on the direct. "I asked Brian Riley out."

 

It came out slightly too fast, almost all as one word, but it came out. Mal would at least know what was going on...whether he would hate her for it; well, that was up to him.

 

Pilot choked slightly. "....W-wait...come again?" Pilot looked at her, sitting his cup of tea down.

 

Sam gulped as he fixed her with his eyes. "I asked Brian out," she said a little more slowly, fighting the urge to look away from him down at her cup, at the wall, anywhere else but at him.

 

Malik looked at her, there wasn't hate in his eyes or his facial expression. He was more ticked at himself. "O-oh...thats, uh, wonderful Sam." Malik said in a low disappointed voice. He looked down at his coffee mug filled with tea.

 

Sam swallowed. The disappointment in his voice was easily apparent and it made her feel terrible but she couldn't take her words or actions back now. And she couldn't restrain a small feeling of relief that he did not seem angry.

 

Brian stood in front of Samantha's quarters, staring at the door. It should be easier than this, he thought. This is what he wanted wasn't it? With a deep breath to steel his nerve he touched the door chime.

 

Malik looked up at the door chime. "Maybe I should leave...." he said in a low monotone voice.

 

Sam jumped as the door chime rang, then stood up, placing her tea carefully on the table and turning to face the door. "Come in," she said, grateful for the slight distraction.

 

Brian stepped into the room as the door opened and upon seeing Samantha and Malik standing, stopped short just inside the door. He opened his mouth as if to speak but at the moment couldn't find any words.

 

The door slid open before Sam could respond to Malik's monotone comment and she turned to greet whoever was visiting and found herself looking at Brian. Oh god...poor timing... "Oh..." she said startled. "Um. Hello."

 

 

Malik looked up at Brian then to Samantha. "Sam, all I want to say to you is....I just waited too long to express my feelings towards you, I didn't realize you were on the search for a significant other. I can only blame myself. I wish you and Mr...I mean Brian the best." Malik stood up and sat his tea down. "I will leave you two."

 

Sam looked between the two of them and felt vaguely as if the floor was trying its best to drop out from under her. Malik was talking this both better and worse than she had hoped; she almost wanted him to be angry...to shout at her, to react violently. But this saddened acceptance hurt. She gulped again and glanced uncomfortably at Brian before muttering softly..."Mal, I'm sorry..."

 

Malik sensed uncertainty in Sam, "Are you okay, you seem to be uncertain about something? It is okay again. I can only blame myself. I didn't want to come off too strong." Malik looked at her.

 

Brian recovered a bit from the inital shock and made sure his mouth was closed like the door behind him. "Malik, I don't know what to say." He glanced at Samantha and then looked back at Malik, "This may not even work out. I'm not very easy to deal with." Almost immediately, he internally kicked himself for giving voice to his doubts.

 

"Brian, I am not going to even doubt the relationship." Malik looked at them both.

 

Sam looked between the two of them with an unhappy expression. She had been afraid this might happen if this situation arose...both of them were trying to pull back from her. And while Malik's passive response hurt, it was Brian's abrupt doubt that really stung. He refused to believe her capable of the loyalty that was what had caused this whole fiasco in the first place. "That's...beside the point," she muttered at him; further discussion on that could wait until somewhere more private. She then looked at Malik, who was clearly attempting to be noble about this.

 

"Mal..." she said carefully, trying not to put her foot in her mouth any further than she already had, "don't blame yourself. I've...I've handled this poorly too. And I'm sorry."

 

"No it is more my fault than it is yours. I should have told you earlier." Malik looked at Samantha. He moved towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay...really...we are all still friends." Malik looked deep into her eyes since that was the last time he would be able to.

 

Sam let out a slow breath, refusing to shrink from his touch as he gently grabbed her shoulder. "That's good to hear..." she said softly, looking back at him as he stared at her.

 

Brian watched them both, finally focusing on Malik. "I'm glad you are taking this well."

 

"I've been trying out that Vulcan thing where you hold back emotion." Malik looked at Brian. "Before I am lover, I am a Starfleet Officer." Malik places his hand on Brian's shoulder.

 

"Duty first." Brian smirked and thought of his younger cousin, Matt. "You are right though, we are going to have to work together no matter what."

 

Sam felt herself relax just slightly as the two men spoke. There was no doubt this was awkward, but it was also not going down as awkwardly as it could have, and she felt a wave of gratitude towards Malik for his calmness. As he turned to face Brian, she stepped back just slightly in Brian's direction to allow Mal's hand to gently drift from her shoulder, and waited.

 

Malik grip got tighter on Brian's shoulder, suddenly. "However, if you EVER hurt her, I will put my foot so far up your ass you will be throwing up Starfleet boots for weeks." Malik nodded firmly at him. "Understand?"

 

Brian quickly tempered his anger, recognizing the emotion behind the threat and understanding Malik's concern. Instead of making a pointless argument he simply nodded his understanding.

 

Malik's grip loosened up, "I am glad we see eye to eye." Malik looked at them both. "So, what now?"

 

Well, so much for relaxation. It vaguely occurred to Sam to be flattered at Malik's defensiveness on her behalf but for a moment she was absolutely terrified that Brian would react harshly. But he didn't; he said nothing, merely nodded and Sam let out half a breath slowly as Malik's fingers loosened. "I...I don't know," she said cautiously, looking between the two of them as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. She hadn't believed that this scene, which she had been dreading now for weeks, could possibly be about to end without bloodshed (either metaphorically or literally), but it seemed like she might have gotten lucky after all.

 

"Darn good question. A drink maybe?" Brain shrugged slightly, partially to try to release some tension. He looked at Samantha and felt a pang of guilt at his early doubts, but he couldn't shake his own pessimism.

 

"Sounds good to me...mess hall we go?" Malik queried to Brian & Samantha.

 

Sam nodded silently, feeling thrown a little off-balance by this, and looked between the two of them again, still feeling vaguely as if it couldn't be this easy but more relieved and grateful that it was. She knew Malik could sense thoughts and feelings, even if he did not always use it, and she hoped that he could tell how relieved she was, as if that would somehow make up for how she had handled this craziness.

 

Brian gestured toward the door, "Mess hall it is then."