Disciplinary Hearing ((Finlay/Spader))

[Jennifer Spader 0]

Starfleet Academy; 2381

 

Fin sat in a chair in the room of the Disciplinary Committee of the Starfleet Academy feeling thoroughly uncomfortable. His discomfort had nothing to do with the situation he was facing, it wasn't the first time, after all, and he didn't really care, but rather with the fact that he was bruised all over. The Marine Corps believed in administering only rudimentary medical treatment to those who got into a fight with your team leader during a drill. Fin glanced over at the guy who had gotten him into this mess and was glad to see that he was not only sporting one black eye, like he did, but two, and a swollen nose.

 

"Mr. Finlay," the voice of the chairman of the committee sounded exasperated, "I can't say that it's good to see you here again. I read the report from Sergeant Salt. What do you have to say for yourself?"

 

Fin stood up, just shrugged his shoulders and looked at the old man before standing at attention: "Sir, my teamleader was being an idiot. He was leading us into a trap and I told him so, he wouldn't listen."

 

Cadet Jen Spader, Academy freshman and Discipline's security grunt du jour, cocked her head slightly from where she'd been standing at attention next to the chairman's desk and resisted the urge to grin at the young man's explanation. She knew she was supposed to be on the side of the old guy at her elbow, meting out justice and defense, but she was more interested in protecting against the real killing and destruction -- frankly, she couldn't blame Cadet Finley, even if he was a marine. Joker Douglas *was* an idiot, and that was a hell of a lot better reason than for most of the fights Spader had gotten into back in high school. Of course, she'd also come out of them looking better, most of the time, though Finley was kind of cute, if you looked past the black eye and all. Let's hurry this up, already, she thought dryly, keeping her eyes on the infractioner for lack of anything better to look at and waiting for the chairman to finish chewing over the case.

 

"The assessment of your fellow Cadets' performance is hardly your job, Mr. Finlay. We've been over this before, haven't we? This is my final warning; if I ever see you here again, we will have to assume that you do not have the necessary qualities to be a member of Starfleet. Is that understood?"

 

Fin nodded and dutifully answered: "Yes Sir!"

 

"You are suspended from any and all extracurricular activities for two months; furthermore, you shall be confined to quarters for that time and are only allowed to attend your classes and training programs. The hearing is closed. Cadet Spader, please escort Finlay to his quarters."

 

This was what Fin had expected, and he didn't mind, there was always a way to get out of his quarters, it was just a matter of not getting caught. He saluted and waited for Cadet Spader, whoever that might be, to step forward. His eyes met those of the Cadet standing next to the chairman. She was kind of cute, and she was looking at him. He winked at her with his unbruised eye and smiled.

 

Spader almost grinned but the chairman was looking at her for her response so she snapped a salute and responded crisply, "Yes, sir!" Gesturing the young man out the door ahead of her, she checked the information for his quarters and followed him out into the hallway. "Think I've seen you around before...I take it I don't have to read you your rights or anything," she said wryly when they were out of earshot, falling into a regular guard stance and beginning to direct him down the corridor.

 

Fin walked along the corridor, smiling. Must be his lucky day; well, apart from the disciplinary hearing. "Well, Spader, it depends, what do my rights say about flirting with security escorts?"

 

Spader really did grin now; out of earshot of the old Discip blowhard, she figured she was safe enough in it. Even in her first year of SEC training, she'd run into enough real bad guys to know that the young man was small potatoes in the criminal department; she wasn't worried about him. "Not sure they mention it, actually, Mr. Finley."

 

"Fin," was all he said.

 

"Fin. Earhart building, floor 4, room 25, right, Fin?" Spader asked by way of a response, her off-kilter blue gaze sparking with amusement. "At least you've got a room with a nice view; you'll be seeing a lot of it for a while."

 

Fin stopped dead in his tracks and turned around with a wide grin spread across his face.

 

Spader checked her step at the last moment as her charge turned around, knocking gently into his shoulder. "Aye, come on, what are you doing, Finley? Exit's that way," she said, her tone a little aggravated.

 

"Well Spader, I was just thinking, you know my roommate's in the hospital after an accident during one of his drills, so it's going to be very lonely for me, why don't you just come visit every now and then, since you already know where I live." Fin knew he had her interested in him. He stood in the corridor a bit longer and took a closer look at the young woman. She was tall, not as tall as him, but quite tall for a woman, had nice black hair, too bad she didn't wear it longer, a nice body, well proportioned, and bluegreen eyes. Her eyes, something about them was odd, but it didn't make her less beautiful.

 

Spader's gaze actually flicked down from his for a second as he looked her over; she felt oddly embarrassed. "Well, I've gotta keep an eye on you," she said, a little dryly. "Make sure you don't break house arrest. I'm sure you'll be seeing me..."

 

"Well, if you drop by I won't have a reason to sneak out, will I? Otherwise I'll have to make sure you'll have to come chase me." Fin turned around and started to walk towards his quarters again. He had noticed that Spader had blushed slightly while he had looked at her. She also avoided his eyes, those were all good signs.

 

Spader chuckled. "Don't make my life difficult, Finley...I'm trained to be able to make your black eyes symmetrical."

 

Sighing theatrically Fin turned around, facing her again: "Fin, Spader, it's Fin. And you do realise I'm training to be a Marine, right? The only way you could give me a black eye was if I'd let you, and you'd have to be really nice to me in order for me to do that."

 

Spader laughed as he stopped again. He had nerve, she had to give him that, and she kind of admired that. And he really did have nice eyes. Dammit, with this attitude I'll end up in front of Discip myself. "In two months, maybe we can find out which of us is right. Walk on, Fin, you've got me late to lunch."

 

"Pity, I'd invite you to lunch, but you know, I'm kinda busy staying at my place at the moment. Although, I tend to interpret the confinement as more of a suggestion than an order anyway." Letting her know that he planned to sneak out of his quarters might have seemed like a stupid move to most people, but he planned to find out how much she sticked to the rules. It wasn't like he was a dangerous criminal, and if she wasn't fun then it wouldn't be worth opening the door next time she came to visit.

 

Spader sighed. "What'd I say about making my life difficult?" she asked him wryly. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. And if I catch you outside of your quarters during your house arrest, I track you down and drag you all the way across campus by your shirt collar." She paused, then gave him a pointed look. "Got it?"

 

That was all Fin needed to know. She wasn't going to tell any superiors. He liked a woman who took matters into her own hands. He quickly stood at attention and saluted her. "Understood Cadet Spader, ma'am. I won't let you catch me."

 

Spader rolled her implant-eyes at him, finding herself again trying not to grin. "Of course you won't," she answered, in a tone that suggested mostly disbelief but a little amusement. This man is going to get me into trouble, she thought idly, and grabbing him by the shoulder, she turned him back to face the direction they had been walking. "Come on then, Marine. Forward march."