Hi, Megan. Do you remember the summer before I went into the Academy? I
took that physical training course, fashioned after a 20th century boot
camp. Well I never told you where I went the week before I entered the
Academy. But.... since we're talking about the men that we have influenced
or been influenced by I thought I should tell you about the missing week.
He was 6'2", 185 pounds of Starfleet Ranger. Not an ounce of fat on his
body except for the high cal rations he might have had for lunch.
Shoulders broad enough that I could not wrap my arms around them, and a
musculature that a sculpture would die to copy. Blond buzz cut and eyes as
blue as the sky on a June day.
We were at odds from day one. I wasn't some teenager looking for the
easy points for the Academy entrance exam. I had already been accepted and
was wanting to be physically ready for my first year. At 22, I had my
degree and had been living on my own for a few years.
When I got off the transport I had one small bag and my purse. Ok, I'll
admit that the linen suit and the four inch heels were a bit much, but...
that man looked me up and down shook his head and said that in all his
years in Starfleet he had never had royalty in one of his courses. I asked
him what he was implying and with an arched eyebrow and a smirk he said,
"Well you must be royalty, no regular trainee ever showed up looking ready
for a weekend on Risa."
He circled me to take in the view. He reminded me of one of daddy's
setters circling in on a lure. Then he stared to get verbal with me.
"I hope that you don't expect room service, maid service and valet
parking because it isn't going to happen. You carry your own bags, clean
your own quarters and eat in the mess with everyone else." I think he was
trying to make me cry. You know as well as I do that I don't cry unless
I'm mad as hell or hurt. It was all I could do not to laugh. He stopped
right in front of me and finished his tirade. I looked up at him and in my
coolest southern tones said " Thank you for the information, but as you can see, I'm carrying my
own bag. As for the room service and maid service I guess I'll just have
to make do until I can find someone suitable to fill those positions. Would
you care to apply for either position?"
Honestly, I thought that man would have a stroke! His face got red and
his jaw dropped open. He just stood there for a few, then with a precise
about face he marched off. It was one of the sweetest comebacks I'd ever
done and I couldn't help but giggle as he turned around. I figured that I
wouldn't see him again. Boy was I wrong.
The next morning at 0430 we were up and moving. They divided us up into
squads and sent us to our new companies. My heart started to pound, as I'm
standing there and that man sauntered out of the quarters and ended up in
front of my squad. He was our Tactical Officer. It took all my control
not to grin as he read my name and assigned me as a squad leader. He
hadn't looked at me until he had made the assignment. He walked up to me
handed me my temporary rank and said in a low voice, "I read your file and know that this could have been a vacation for you.
As my squad leader you will be responible for those under you. I guess
that makes you room service and maid service. Oh, and I see that you have
your shuttle license. I guess that makes you in charge of valet parking
too."
Thank heavens for mama's training! I managed to neither blush or snap
back a smart retort. Infact all I said was. "Thank you for the
opportunity, Sir." (Ok, I drawled it.... but it was still the correct
response.) Well... I had read about eyes that could shoot right through
you like lightening but had never seen it until then. His eyes went from
sky blue to cobalt in a heartbeat. I though I was going to be thrown out
of the course, then he just smiled and told me that it was his pleasure and
stepping back he dismissed us.
The people on either side of me had heard the whole thing, plus seen what
had happened the night before. They both seemed to think that I was in
trouble. That was a man with spirit, looks and wit. I knew that one of us
was in trouble and I suspected that it might be me.
For the six weeks I was there, we challanged each other. Never as man and
woman but as one intelligent person to another. He about busted my butt
with the physical training and I saved a trainee's life. We worked to keep
our squad together and motivated, then he pulled me of the line during one
of the exercises to see if they would funcion without a squad leader. They
did great, I was so proud!
He almost breeched protocol one day. We were in the field and on break.
All we had to eat were those nasty feeze dried rations. I had kept a pack
of strawberries and was eating them as we stood around talking. Those berries and a few
other things were and are the only thing I can stomach out of those
rations. The group got quiet and I felt someone take a bite out of my
strawberries! I whirled around and there he was big as life eating my
berries! He just smiled and reminded me that I shouldn't have them. Then
he walked off.
Needless to say, I passed the course and figured that I would never see
him again. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from him and shuttle
tickets. We spent the week before I went to the Academy in a small resort
in New England.
My shuttle had been delayed with mechanical problems. In fact they
cancelled the flight once. We finally got airborne and one of the flight
crew came back and asked if I was Ms. Delaney. I told her I was and she
just smiled and welcomed me aboard.
When we landed almost six hours late, he was there and looked as though
he hadn't slept in days. Later I found out that he had been told that the
flight had, had mechanical problems and had gone down. I guess he went
over the counter after the clerk and made the poor man verify it. When he
learned that the shuttle was ok but running late he made the clerk radio
the shuttle and make sure I was on it and safe.
Those were six of the best days that I have ever had. We talked, played
and learned each other. The last night we made love until the early hours
of the morning. By that time we had learned each others bodies and minds.
I haven't felt that needed and cared for in a long time.
We kept in touch and saw each other on and off during my first two years
at the Academy. We were getting close enough to each other, that there
might have been something in the future for us, when he was killed during a
confrontation with the Cardassians. His roommate sent me a disk with his
last message to me. His last words were, "Jenny, you can cry for me just
this once. I have never done anything until now that could make you angry
or hurt enough to cry. Gods, I'm sorry that I found a way."
He is the man that I use as a standard for who I want in a relationship
with. That's why I dated so many and never kept one. I have yet to find
someone that even comes close. I think Commander Chakotay could fit the
pattern but unless he gives up on the Captain or she lets him go, I'm
destined to travel home alone.
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