"A Single, Quiet Moment"

[Peyton Summers 0]

"A Single, Quiet Moment"

Joint Log by Ensign Peyton Summers & Lieutenant Trichon Light

 

 

Peyton's head felt dizzy, the complete change from the heavy gravity to this more normal atmosphere shocked her a bit. She was knelt on the ground, struggling to get back to her feet.

 

Trichon ran one more scan using the modified tricorder and realized that everyone was aboard and they could get moving.

 

"Blasted .." she muttered, readjusting to the ability to move more freely again. She managed to get to her feet, though still wobbly.

 

Trichon got to his feet and looked around the cabin of the transport. Trichon breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Peyton in the crowd. She found a wall to lean on, letting herself rest against it. The transport was crowded, but not horribly. It was better than that control room. Trichon walked up beside Peyton, "Thank God, your okay."

 

She heard his voice and turned to look at him,"..practically.." Releasing herself from the wall, but still wobbly, she stumbled into him accidentally. Trichon grabbed her and helped her back to her feet.

 

"Your safe now, though."

 

Blinking she looked at him, "Oh, I know .. so, where have you been and why weren't you around sooner?" She smiled at him slightly, her eyes drifting from looking into his, to his lips, back again and again..

 

He hung his head, "I was ordered to stay with this transport. And basically moping around."

 

Her expression got softer, and she glanced down, "Are you holding up okay..? .. considering what happened to Hans?" Peyton's voice wavered at the end, unwilling to even think about what had happened herself.

 

His eyes went blank for a moment and his expression melted for a moment. "I'd be lying if I said yes."

 

"You don't have to lie to me, Trichon.. remember, I see right through you half the time.." she smirked just slightly, attempting to joke at her usual demeanor around him. She brushed back a lock of his hair off his forehead absently.

 

"I couldn't do anything," he could feel his eyes start to sting as the tears welled up inside him, "He was my friend and I couldn't do a thing to save him."

 

"There was nothing anyone could do.. he saved us, Trichon. He did a very .. very brave thing." Her voice got even softer; showing a side of her hardly ever seen. She placed her hand on his cheek, letting her finger gently stroke the skin ".. I hope you don't feel guilty about what happened.. because you don't need to."

 

He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain, "I cant help but feel guilty. I always had his back, and the one time he truly needed me

I wasn't there."

 

Peyton frowned, "Sometimes things just happen. We can't understand them.. we just have to deal with them."

 

"I know that but it doesn't make anything easier,"

 

Peyton could see the tear slide down his check even with his eyes shut. She let her hand catch his tear, and then she kissed the trail it had left on his cheek, then kissed his other cheek. For the moment, she didn't care who saw them or what they thought of it .. she suddenly realized she cared more for him than she had let herself admit. ".. I'm here, okay..?"

 

He nodded slowly, "I know. I'll be okay its just going to take a while."

 

She smiled slightly, "You know, Trichon.. you don't seem so bad right now. I .. I might even leave your shuttle alone."

 

Peyton leaned closer to look him in the eyes, hoping to lighten things a little. His trademark grin spread across his face for a moment. He just wanted to kiss her right now. Peyton was there for him when he really needed someone.

 

"I can't promise that I won't still kick your butt in a holodeck.. but I will leave your precious shuttle alone. I swear. Really." She noted the grin for the moment and offered back one of her own.

 

He looked her in the eye for a moment, "Thank you."

 

"For what?" she whispered, the look he gave her feeling intense.

 

"For being here. Being around when I need someone."

 

Her cheeks flushed slightly, ".. where else would I be?"

 

"Well I hadn't seen the good doctor around in a while."

 

"The good doctor .. wait, you mean Aaron? What does he have to do with anything?" She blinked at him, sometimes this matters of the heart thing could be so confusing.

 

"Besides .. I mean, it could easily be Merri or something here with you.." She bit her lip, glancing to the side for a moment.

 

Trichon embraced her for a moment. "I wouldn't worry about it too much."

 

She let herself just relax into the embrace. It had been so crazy, and she really only wanted to get lost in this single, quiet moment and not ever leave. At least not yet.

Edited August 27, 2004 by Peyton Summers