we choose our own pain, mine helps me remember

Chapter 11

In Rhys's quarter, Rhys woke up and checked the time, mindful of Sienna. he looked at the time and started panicking, until he saw the notification saying to take his time getting to the bridge with dropping Sienna off with Paul and Tilly. he sighed in relief at not being in trouble for being late.

Sienna, Monkey, wake up. time to go see Lt. Stamets and Tilly in engineering." Sienna starts to stir and wake up. "Hey Monkey, time to get dressed." "Ok, Rhys." Sienna got up and asked Rhys to help her with the shower and help get her dressed.

Rhys helped Sienna get the shower ready and left her to be, while he got dressed. When Sienna was done she asked Rhys to help her get ready for the day. Rhys helped Sienna out of the shower, then wrapped her up in a big fluffy towel.

He helped her dry off and choose her clothes. "Ready!" Sienna exclaimed proudly. "Yes you are." Rhys chuckled. "Lets go Monkey." "Ok" Sienna said and grabbed Rhys's hand and started to walk to engineering. "Hi Uncle Paul, hi Aunt Sylvia." Sienna said.

She let go of Rhys's hand and walked over to where Paul and Tilly were standing. "Are you ok here?" Yep, were fine, go to the bridge." Paul said. "Alright, I will pick you up from here for lunch, all right Monkey?"

"Yep, see you then." Sienna replied, happily distracted with something Paul gave her to dismantle and assemble. 'She is exceptionally smart for a seven year old.' Rhys thought to himself.

Rhys left and went to start his shift on the bridge. "Sorry i'm late Admiral Archer, sir." "It's alright son, I understand." Rhys smiled. Soon after he started his shift, Rhys heard Chris come onto the bridge, with Ash in tow. Ash looked over at Rhys and smiled. He smiled back.

"Thanks for looking after Sienna through this time. How was she last night?" "She was fine, had a nightmare, but other than that slept soundly curled up on top of me." Rhys replied. "Come on you two stop flirting and get back to work." Chris said with a laugh, letting them know he was teasing them and wasn't actually mad at them.

At lunch, Chris let both Ash and Rhys go and get Sienna. They went and picked Sienna up from engineering. Then they started on their way to the mess hall, with Sienna holding both their hands, when they came across Annie.

Ash tensed. "Hi Ash, hi Sienna." she said. "I don't believe we have met." Annie said, flirting with Rhys, trying to get him on her side. "Hi Annie." Ash said, which went completely unnoticed. "I'm Gen Rhys, but everyone calls me Rhys, you may call me Lt. Rhys."

Annie sighed silently. 'Why are they all treating me like crap, when i haven't done anything to them' Annie thought to herself. "Ok, well it was nice meeting you Lt. Rhys, nice to see you Ash, Sienna." Feigning politeness. when she was gone, Ash's shoulders lost the tension that had built up over talking to Annie.

"Shall we continue to the mess hall Ash?" Rhys asked softly. "Yeah, let's go." Ash replied. "Can you guys swing me please?" Sienna asked, trying to move the conversation away from Annie. She knew she was lighter than humans were, but she was born on another planet, so she is considered healthy for her age and species.

"Sure, why not?" Rhys replied. They swing Sienna between them, greeting crew members along the way, the whole way to the mess hall. Spock, Sarek, Amanda, Michael, Una and Hugh were in the mess hall, when Sienna, Rhys and Ash walked in.

"Ash, Lt. Rhys, Sienna, come join us." Michael said. "Ok, thanks Michael." Ash Replied. Rhys went and got the food. He got Sienna some fries and a burger with sprite for a drink. He got Ash Sushi, and he got himself some fries, a burger and coke for a drink.

He brought the food over to the table and gave them their food. "Thank you Rhys, love you." "Love you too monkey." "When can I see Jimmy, Uncle Alex and Dominique, papa?" "Soon sweetheart, I promise." At that moment, Leland walked in and asked if he could join them. They replied he was welcome to.

On the bridge, Chris was working on his PADD, when he heard the turbolift doors open. "Hey Chris, can we talk?"Gabe asked quietly. "Of course Gabe, I will be in the ready room in a couple of minutes."

Gabe smiled a very small smile, which Chris knew meant something was wrong. "Commander Saru, you have the bridge while I talk to Captain Lorca-Tyler." "Yes captain, any orders sir?" "Just continue with our present speed and course." "Understood sir."

Chris stood up and walked to his ready room, where Gabe was waiting for him. 'I wonder what is wrong?' He opened the door and the sight that greeted him pulled at his heartstrings. Gabe was distressed and crying huddled up in a corner.

"Gabe, what's the matter buddy?" "Just everything going on, I have to be strong for Ash, but it's hard, when all I want to do is cry with Ash." Gabe paused for a minute to catch his breath after that little confession.

I just need somewhere, someone who doesn't need me to be strong for them." "Oh Gabe, you will never have to be strong around me, ok?" At that Gabe let down all his defenses drop and started to sob.

Chris ran over and brought Gabriel to his chest and let Gabe let it out. He sat for about 15 minutes with Gabe sobbing, then whimpering, then sniffling. "Feel better?" Chris asked after he stopped crying. "Yeah, thanks Chris." "Anytime, I mean it Gabe. If you need someone to talk to, or if you need to cry, ok?"

"Ok, thanks again Chris." "No problem." Chris stood up and felt Gabe grab his wrist in a panic. "Hey, hey, hey Gabe, I am just moving to the couch, ok? Come with me." He said softly and held out his hand. Gabe grabbed it like a lifeline.

The moved to the couch and Gabe starts to talk after Chris prompted and assured him. "I am just so stressed. On one hand, I have a husband and crew on the edge and tense, with Ash near a nervous breakdown, and on the other hand I have an ambassador, who is mentally unstable and abusive."

"Oh, Gabe, I am going to insist that you speak to me for two hours a day until after the investigation is done, then two hours every four days, then slowly space them out till you no longer need them."

"No don't argue with me." Chris said when he saw Gabe open his mouth to talk. "It's either me, Kat, or Hugh." Gabe grimaced at the last two. "Fine." "Attaboy." "Shut up Chrissy." "Not a chance Gabey." Gabe chuckled at the academy nickname Chris gave him.

"Don't I know it." "Do you want to come onto the bridge with me, stay here with me for a bit, or stay here without me." Chris asked. "With you in here." Gabe replied timidly. "Of course Gabe Chris replied softly.