Friendship is a wonderful thing

Posted on Mon Dec 2nd, 2024 @ 10:23am by Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant Magnus Volsung

1,199 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Arboretum

[ON]

There were times that Summer simply enjoyed getting away from it all, right now she was doing just that in the Arboretum. The downside of being aboard a ship was lack of time in green spaces, so the arboretum gave a chance to enjoy some time doing just that. Now she was twelve weeks pregnant her slim figure she was starting show the signs of a small bump, she could only hope Tyrus would return to the ship sometime soon.

"Hello Summer," Magnus smiled as he saw her, having also taken the opportunity to get some nature. He was sitting down, a knife in his hand and a piece of wood. The wood already showed signs of being carved, a rather crude shape taking form. "Getting some fresh air?"

“Magnus?” Summer gave her friend a surprised smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.” Getting up she moved closer and took a seat on the grass. “Yeah I was just taking some time to get away from it all. I come here pretty often.” She motioned to the wood. “What are you carving?”

"This will eventually be a dolphin," he said and showed it to her, a small smile coming to him. "How are you doing?"

“I’m doing just fine, thank you.” Summer smiled warmly. “Just taking some time out to relax and enjoy the arboretum. I like coming here.”

"Me too," he said as he nodded, meeting her eyes. She did look good. Relaxed. "A place to connect to nature, even out here so far away from...life."

“You’ll have to teach me how to do that one day” Summer smiled as she motioned to the wood Magnus was working on.

"Depends if you value your fingers," he said playfully and lowered the knife. He held his hand out and turned it, showing the scar down the thumb. It had clearly not been healed by Federation technology, rather the much more primitive way of stitching wound edges together for it to heal. "Happened when I was ten. I got cocky and took my eyes off it."

“Ouch!” Summer pursed her lips and gave a little whistle. “That must have been painful especially for a ten year old.”

"It was," he said before he looked thoughtful. "But I remember being more upset I bled on my trousers than the pain."

Summer grinned. “I can imagine, did you get a new pair of trousers out of it?”

"No," he laughed and shook his head, meeting her eyes. "But my mother knew how to get blood out of clothes. She was always...very good at things like that. And she would make this...cheese...that was very nice. Nutty."

Summer was enjoying listening to Magnus’ memories of his mother. “She sounds like a wonderful mother, we learn a lot from our parents and we don’t really stop to think about it. My mum is a Counsellor hence why I became one. I’m just hoping I can be as good a mother.”

He met her eyes at the words before he smiled. "You have a kind heart, Summer. And you will be a good mother."

Summer smiled warmly. “Thank you Magnus, that means a lot. I’ll certainly endeavour to my best.”

Magnus chuckled at the way she put it, nodding as he held her eyes. "You know I mean it. Right now though...are you enjoying this mission?" he raised an eyebrow, almost playfully.

“Escort duty, it’s bette than nothing!” Summer grinned. “Plus the Marathon is a unique ship, it needs to be protected. To be honest I half expected us to run into trouble by now, it always seems to happen.”

"It does," he agreed and he looked down, thinking. "I am surprised myself. I prepared for the worst. So far, it seems...relaxing. I did send some people over though, to help...just in case."

Summer nodded. “I would have offered to go over to help in medical, but given the situation and my own condition I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.” She paused to hold onto a nearby tree as she came over a little lightheaded. “I think I need to get something to eat.”

He got up, watching her for a moment before he moved to her side. "Sit down, I'll get you something. And some water," he said, his voice gentle.

Summer nodded. “I guess it is better to sit down rather than fall down” she offered a smile.

"Exactly..." he made her sit down, going to find her something. He returned with water, as well as a flapjack. Sugar and oats, it would certainly ground her. "Here..."

“Thank you Magnus” Summer smiled as she politely tucked into the flapjack to start. “It’s my own fault I should have eaten more when I had the chance. Lesson learned.”

"Need to keep your blood sugar steady," Magnus said with a small smile, sitting with her. "You getting regular check ups?"

“Uh-huh” Summer nodded as she finished off eating the flapjack. “I’ll mention this to Hope when I see her next, but from now on I’ll make sure I have enough to eat.”

"Please do," Magnus said as he met her eyes, his own warm. Not judging, but the gentle concern of a friend who cared about her wellbeing, yet wasn't going to lecture.

“Thank you, for not lecturing me” Summer smiled. “I appreciate your friendship Magnus, it’s nice to have someone onboard I can talk to.”

"I'm your friend...and I don't believe in lecturing," he said with a laugh, his brown eyes warm with it. "All it does it build resentment. And you're an adult."

Summer nodded. “That I am, one that's going to have the responsibility of raising a child, it’s going to be a huge learning curve.”

"Yes..." he said with a small smile, nodding. He had no experience in it, so could not offer her anything in ways of advice. "But you know your heart."

Summer nodded. “I do, and right now I’m more confused than anything else. Ty will be coming to visit, but not to stay permanently. I know long distance relationships can work, but I want to have him here with me. I guess that must sound selfish.”

"No...not selfish," he said as he considered it. "It may be when the child is born, you two need to have a conversation about what is best for them. It may be a posting together on another ship or base would...give you two the chance to raise the child together."

Summer nodded. “I hadn’t given that a thought, it’s just all so complicated right now. I’ll speak to Ty when he eventually gets here.”

"No rush, there is never any point in drying the fish before you have caught it," Magnus said as he chuckled, shaking his head. "I just wanted to...well. Reassure you that you are not alone in this."

“Thank you my friend” Summer smiled warmly. “I do appreciate all of your help.”

[OFF]

Lieutenant Magnus Volsung
Assistant Chief Security
[pnpc Slattery]

&

Lieutenant Summer Wyse
Chief Counsellor

 

RSS Feed