Shadow and Light

Posted on Sun Nov 9th, 2025 @ 5:02am by Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe

1,293 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Summer’s Quarters

ON:

The room was dark, in space there were no lights to be shining in bedroom windows, but Summer liked to have the blinds down anyway when she slept. In the dark her sleep was anything but peaceful, she wasn’t prone to nightmares but this one seemed to want to play out anyway. Her kidnapping had stirred insecurities she didn’t realise she had. Waking up in a cold sweat Summer sat for a few moments before deciding to get up and splash some water on her face, as well as get herself something to drink.

The chime rang just a few moments later. Ash waited for the go ahead, but bolted in pretty quickly once she had it. "Summer?" she took a breath as she saw her coming out of the bathroom. "Are....you okay?" she asked carefully before shaking her head awkwardly. "I'm...not really good at controlling this Betazoid thing..." she motioned to her own head, apologetic.

“Ohh Ash! Did I…?” Summer paused as she gave Ash an apologetic look. “I’m sorry! I had a nightmare, I didn’t realise I was projecting my emotions.” She motioned for Ash to sit down. “To answer your question I’m fine, now at least. I’m not normally one for bad dreams.”

Ash made a move to take the seat, but her eyes were still on her with concern. "It's not your fault, it's mine, I've never really mastered this. Are you sure you're okay thought? You...didn't seem okay..."

“I…” Summer paused, Ash was a friend she didn’t want to make up some silly lie. “I guess I’m not coping as well as I could be, I mean I wasn’t hurt and I wasnt put in any danger, but I was still a captive. It wasn’t me I was worried about though, it was more my baby. I guess being pregnant changes things more than I thought it did.”

"Of course," Ash shook her head with a worried frown, giving her arm a squeeze. "And would have been understandable even if you weren't. You were abducted. You didn't know what might or might not happen. And it's really brought into focus just how...fragile life on a ship can be."

Summer nodded. “It was just… being there alone, I felt so vulnerable and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. I guess I should get used to feeling that way for now, it’s not like I’m going to be giving birth anytime soon.”

"Or...maybe work out things that can make you feel less vulnerable?" Ash suggested with a light shrug and a concerned frown. She'd never been pregnant, so she didn't know what it felt like...but she'd known vulnerability in her time. "Even if it's just small things...a favourite blanket...a relaxing holonovel...keeping a phaser under your pillow..."

“I love all of those suggestions, though the phaser I keep in my drawer” Summer grinned a wry grin. “To be honest I wish Ty was here, but I know he’s busy. I just wish he’d never left the ship.”

"I bet," Ash's frown deepened at that, and she had her own thoughts about that situation, but kept them to herself. "I'm so sorry, Summer, you're really going through it."

“I guess it must be my time then” Summer grinned. “Hopefully now that I’m back I can get myself settled again and move on, I do have my little one to plan for after all.” She smiled warmly.

"Everything was okay when you reported to medical?" Ash asked quietly with concern, but didn't want her to feel like she was probing into something that was none of her business.

Summer nodded. “My blood pressure was a little elevated, but given the circumstances that’s to be expected. I have to go back and have it checked again in a few days. “I wasn’t harmed besides a slight bump to the head, that and my senses blocked so I couldn’t use them.”

Ash nodded gently, but still watched her with more than just a little concern in her eyes. "You should keep tabs for a couple of days though, in case of...delayed shock, that's what they call it, right?"

Summer nodded in agreement. “Are you sure you’re not meant to be working in medical?” She grinned. “Thank you for your concern Ash, I really do appreciate it. There's times it gets pretty lonely sitting around here.”

"Well, you can come and find me whenever you want," Ash assured quickly, watching with a small, honest smile. "I never have anything interesting going on anyway. We can grab a drink...gossip...or make it up, whatever you prefer."

Summer smiled. “I like the sound of that. It would make a change from sitting around here on my own every evening.”

Ash chuckled softly, knowing that feeling well enough. "Besides, these are your peaceful days before the little one comes, we should make the most of them."

“That’s true!” Summer nodded and smiled. “I still need quite a lot of things so I plan a shopping spree at some point.”

"Well, I know nothing about children, but if you need someone for a second opinion or even just to hold the boxes, just let me know," Ash offered with a grin. Having kids might not be on her own agenda, but it didn't mean she wouldn't take the opportunity to spoil a little one.

“I think I’d like that” Summer smiled and nodded. “Once we make dock at a Starbase I’ll make a list and we can head across.”

Ash chuckled softly at that, nodding with a small smile as she searched the other woman's features. "I...know you've gotta feel pretty alone right now, but you're not. We're all here, Summer. Right here."

Summer nodded. “Thank you Ash, I guess I should learn to open up to more of the crew instead of just hanging out alone between shifts. I’ll have to take my own advice and get out more often.”

"I can help with that," Ash winked, nudging her arm with the back of her hand. "But not until you've had a significant amount of rest. Pilot's orders..."

Summer grinned. “Are you giving me orders?” She nodded. “Yes ma’am. I will put my feet up and I’ll rest, my schedule is quiet this morning anyway.”

"Hm...you should be having a day off, but...well...I know that won't happen," Ash chuckled softly, knowing she probably had a pretty strong work ethic.

“My schedule is far enough behind as it is” Summer grinned. “I will need some time to reorganise it though, time I can take to sit down.”

"Well, if you want someone to chat and distract you while you're doing that in the lounge, I am an excellent choice, even if I do say so myself," Ash chuckled softly as she stood, stretching her back out. "You're sure there's nothing I can do for you?"

“Oh no it’s fine” Summer offered a smile. “Right now I’m thinking about getting back to bed once I’ve had a hot chocolate that is.”

"Sounds like the perfect prescription to me," Ash admitted with a soft laugh, more relaxed at seeing the genuine ease in the other woman now. She moved to the replicator, ordering one for her and setting it carefully down. "Here. I'll come back soon, okay? Just message me if it feels...quiet around here."

Summer nodded. “I will, I promise” she smiled as she picked up her hot chocolate. “Thank you.”

OFF:

Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant jg Summer Wyse
Chief Counsellor

 

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