Thirteen kids and a dog

[Nicolas Lepage 0]

By Doctor DJ McKinny and Doctor Nicolas Lepage

 

 

It had been a long day and Nick was glad to be finally out of sickbay. As soon as the doors of his quarters closed behind him he took off his jacket and tunic, kicked his boots off and walked into his bedroom. He would have time for a long shower before DJ was due to come by for dinner. They'd have to settle for a replicated meal since supplies of fresh food were short.

 

Twenty minutes later Nick stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off. Not for the first time did he wish he had a bathtub. On the other hand, he thought, he wouldn't have much time to use it anyway. Just then the chime rang. He quickly grabbed a t-shirt and sweat pants and pulled them on before opening the door.

 

Many years ago, during an extended leave on Delos IV, DJ and her husband, Jack, became acquainted with one of the local cartoon characters that regularly appeared on the evening vid.. DJ couldn't remember the hapless little man's name, but wherever he went, a dark cloud followed. He was the epitome of doom and gloom, a fact he reinforced during encounters with both friends and strangers.

 

In spite of herself, DJ was beginning to feel a lot like that long forgotten cartoon character. What started out as a nagging question several weeks earlier, had slowly but surely developed into a major concern. She likened it to a relatively minor illness that was ignored until it became life threatening.

 

DJ couldn't shake the suspicion something awful was about to happen, namely a transfer.....a transfer that could easily impair the still fragile relationship she had dared to cultivate with Nick Lepage. As far as she was concerned, that might very well be life threatening. She'd finally mustered up the courage to talk to Nick about it. She'd half hoped he would reassure her only to find out he was giving it some thought as well. Their brief chat left her feeling less confident than ever about her status on Aegis.

 

He'd asked her to dinner to discuss the situation. She was in such a crummy mood, she almost declined. Then, determined not to behave like that Delosian cartoon character, she'd gratefully accepted his offer. Now, standing outside his quarters, she pasted a smile on her face and counseled herself to think positively. Even if there were no reassurances tonight, the least she could do was enjoy Nick's company and see to it her own attitude wouldn't make him wish he'd never invited her in the first place.

 

Just as he'd expected there was DJ standing in front of him, smiling. However, he thought she looked tired. When she stepped in he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. "It's good to see you, DJ," he whispered into her ear as he held her for a moment.

 

"The feeling is mutual," she murmured as she slipped her arms around him. And it was true. It had been weeks since they'd had any private time together. She hadn't realized until now just how much she'd missed that. Pulling back a bit, she smiled gamely. "Thanks for the invitation. It's been a while since I had dinner with anyone other than Gilbert."

 

"Ah, I'll have to talk to him if he keeps you from having dinner with me," Nick replied jokingly, knowing full well Gilbert was DJ's dog. He let her go reluctantly only to find he wished he hadn't. Her smile looked forced and he knew DJ well enough to know she was not exactly in a good mood. He wished he could just tell her that he'd take care of everything. Unfortunately, he couldn't. There was nothing he could do.

 

A couple of years ago, when DJ had left Aegis for the first time, Nick had been heartbroken but it had been different. He had kept telling himself that he and DJ would never have been able to be together anyway. Now things were different. It had taken them long enough to admit their feelings for eachother and even then both of them had been reluctant, afraid to commit to a relationship at that point in their lives. But they had taken the plunge and found that it had been worth the risk. At least Nick thought so.

 

However, ever since it had been announced that Aegis would move, Nick had been worried that a medical facility for the diplomats and their staff would soon become superfluous. Apparently, DJ had thought so, too. "You look like you could do with some cheering up," he said as he walked to the replicator. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

 

Oh how she wished for something really stiff to drink! But DJ quickly decided it was best not to travel down that particular road, especially while she was in such a lousy mood. Instead she shrugged slightly and told him she'd settle for a glass of water, cold with lots of ice. She watched Nick cross the room to fill her order and then moved toward the couch. Collecting a few of the padds scattered on the sofa, she stacked them on the coffee table as she sat down.

 

By then, Nick had returned with her water. She grinned at him as she accepted the glass and then leaned back into the soft cushions of the well used couch. "So, what do you think?" she asked nonchalantly. "And don't you dare ask me about what? You know exactly what I'm talking about."

 

Nick sat down next to DJ and contemplated his own glass of water for a few moments before answering the question. "I think that it sucks...big time. But after all we both knew one of us might get transferred eventually. And, well, it's not like it has happened yet, right?" He shot her a glance, not sure what else to say. "The questions is, now that we both think it might happen soon, what do we do about it?"

 

Turning around to face DJ, Nick shrugged and took a deep breath. "You know me well enough to know I can't just say 'Well that's it. It was fun while it lasted, now let's move on.' I'm in for the long haul no matter how difficult it'll be. I'm tempted to say let's just wait and see what happens and enjoy the time we can spend together. How's that sound?"

 

"Logical," muttered DJ after taking another sip from her glass. "Practical and pragmatic....that's how it sounds." She leaned forward and set down on the coffee table. She patted Nick's leg, stood up and paced across the room. "I never doubted you were in this for the long haul," she said quietly, turning around to face him, her hands clasped behind her back. "But the constant risk of transfers tends to concern me. It's difficult to make plans when you never know where you'll be from one month to the next."

 

She'd known that long before she allowed herself to fall in love with Nick Lepage. She'd even agonized over the decision to move forward with their relationship just because of the uncertainty of their long term assignments. But there was no going now. The proverbial cat was out of the bag.

 

"I haven't heard anything about a transfer, she continued. "I'm assuming you haven't either. But you must admit the odds are pretty good someone at headquarters will figure out your department is now over staffed. It's just a matter of time......and this certainly complicates our situation."

 

"DJ, they want capable officers out here. You are more than that. You've proven time and again that you can handle the job out here. I've been asked to review my staff's performances and to send those packing who are not up to the job. Many names have crossed my mind but never yours. And that's not because I'm not objective in your case."

 

As DJ walked past him, Nick reached for her hand and she stopped. He looked up into her eyes and smiled. "Here's the not so very logical and pragmatic version of what I think. I love you and I don't want you to go. If it happens we'll have to see what we want to do. I could resign my commission, stay at home, take care of the kids and make sure dinner's ready when you get home in the evening. I've thought of several options but nothing has happened yet."

 

"I love you too, but resign your commission?" DJ wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "After all the effort you put into getting to where you are today? I don't think so."She looked down at him and grinned. "But I wouldn't mind you having dinner ready when I got home. I firmly believe you're a much better cook than I am."

 

She plopped down on the sofa beside him and shrugged. "You're right about one thing though. Nothing has happened yet. I suppose the best thing to do is proceed as normally as possible and hope for the best." Squeezing his hand, she offered him a genuine smile. "They say ninety percent of what you worry about never happens anyway. I just hate the uncertainty."

 

DJ leaned against Nick's shoulder, random thoughts tumbling around in her head. She knew there might be away to avoid a transfer off the station but she wasn't sure either of them were prepared to take the necessary steps. She wasn't sure he was even aware of it much less giving it consideration. For a moment, she debated about whether or not to mention this particular option to Nick but decided it was best not to....at least for now. Instead, she allowed herself to relax a bit and focus on the present. "Speaking of cooking," she whispered. "What's for dinner?

 

Nick turned a little, put his arms around DJ and kissed her. When they broke apart he leaned his forehead against hers and smiled mischievously. "Let's just try and forget about this transfer business tonight. It's been a while since we've had some time for us. Dinner will be whatever we can get the replicator to make us, unfortunately. Ever since the shops on the midway closed it's impossible to get anything for a decent meal."

 

He kissed her lightly on her cheek again before getting up and contemplating his own attire. "I guess I should change, though. I'll only be a minute." With that Nick turned and walked into his bedroom. He pulled a pair of black slacks and a dark red shirt out of his wardrobe and got dressed. A couple of minutes later he walked back into the living room. DJ was still sitting on the sofa, studying some drawings he had hung on his walls. He smiled as he watched her. "Those are from Jacques, Sébastien, Francoise and Guy...my youngest brothers and sisters. Well, there's Benoît but he wasn't born when I left."

 

"I try to keep in touch but you know how it is. Messages take ages to get back to Earth and we manage to talk about once every other month over subspace. Though I'm not sure that's still possible out here. I briefly talked to my mom before the station moved and she wasn't exactly thrilled as you can imagine. But I think they are also proud of what I achieved. What about your family? I know Robbie's in Starfleet, too. So I guess it was ok for your parents when you said that's what you wanted to do." Nick turned a little to look at DJ. He smiled as she looked back at him. This was the first time they had actually taken the time to talk about their families.

 

"You would think so, wouldn't you," laughed DJ. "But, suffice to say, they were less than thrilled." She turned slightly so she was facing Nick. "I was eleven or twelve when Robby came home and announced he'd enlisted in Starfleet." She shook her head and smiled wryly as the memories of that fateful day rushed forward. "It took a month to peel my parents off the ceiling."

 

DJ leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes. "After a while, the ice melted and Robby was finally welcomed back into the fold. When he came home on leave, he'd talk about his experiences in Starfleet. Mom and Dad disapproved....ordered him to keep those things to himself. That's probably why Robby never stayed for more than two or three days at a time." She shrugged again. "They didn't have much to worry about. The fact is, my brothers and sister weren't all that interested." She glanced at Nick and grinned mischievously. "But I was thoroughly hooked!"

 

"Robby and I would sit on the front steps and I'd hang on his every word. I knew early on I wanted to leave Huntsville. Joining Starfleet seemed like the perfect way to do it and I'd get to see the universe to boot." DJ looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "So what did I do after high school? I went to college, enrolled in medical school. After graduating, I did my internship and residency....and then enlisted in Starfleet." She glanced at Nick with a guilty smile. "I told my parents via the comm a week after classes began at the Academy. They thought I was in San Francisco for a job interview."

 

Nick chuckled as he listened to DJ. "Wow, I think my dad would have disinherited me if I had pulled a stunt like that. So you joined to get away from home and see a bit of the universe? Well, you definitely got around and I bet you had your share of "adventure"...maybe even more than you'd ever wished for. Do you ever wish you had never joined at all?"

 

"Yeah," whispered DJ, nodding slightly. "But I've had more than one opportunity to leave and opted to stay." She glanced at Nick and then stared at the artwork hanging on the far wall. "After the Cairo and Jack's death, I was sorely tempted to give it up....go practice somewhere safe....safe and boring. Then I found myself struggling with that idea. As secure as it seemed, deep down, I didn't want to give up Starfleet." She looked over at Nick sitting beside her and grinned impishly. "It may sound trite, but I guess it's in my blood."

 

Nick turned a little, pulled DJ closer and held her in his arms. He could only guess how painful the memory of the destruction of the Cairo must be for her. "That's one way to put it. Maybe we're just crazy, you, I and everyone else on this station."

 

"Crazy is a requirement for this job," she chuckled, snuggling a bit closer to Nick. She met his gaze and smiled warmly. "And being crazy about someone else on the station doesn't hurt any either."

 

"You're right, I think I'm already getting used to it." Nick smiled mischievously. Just then his stomach started growling. "You know DJ, I'd love to stay like this all night but I'm really kinda hungry." With that he leaned over her to kiss her before getting up to get their dinner from the replicator.

 

She brushed her lips against his and returned his mischievous grin. "So am I. My tummy just isn't quite as vocal as yours." DJ pulled away and the two got up off the couch. They walked hand in hand to the replicator and Nick activated the extensive dinner menu. "But while we're eating," continued DJ, "I insist on hearing what you put poor David and Jean-Pierre up to when you decided to drive your parents or teacher crazy."

 

Nick scoffed. "Trust me, those two didn't need me for inspiration," he said before turning his undivided attention to the menu.