Dark Plans

Posted on Sun Apr 26th, 2015 @ 5:31pm by Lieutenant Commander Ethan Chaparral MD & Lieutenant Dylan Santiago & Ulani

Mission: The New Sydney Fiasco
Location: Ethan and Dylan's cabin
Timeline: After Fear

Ethan paced the bedroom back and forth like a caged tiger. He was off duty, so he was dressed casually, very casually. He was wearing khaki colored board shorts and an unbuttoned teal colored Risan style shirt and was barefoot. He was now fully acclimated to his new arm, though he kept marveling at it whenever he looked in the mirror. He had a question to ask Dylan a question he didn't want anyone else to know about. He waited for his boyfriend to return home, he knew he was having to put in some long hours.

Having just piled through a mountain of paperwork, Dylan had finally escaped from his office and trudged wearily home. All he really wanted was a long hot bath and a massage but knew he'd have to make do with the sonic shower instead. Stepping inside the quarters that he now shared with his fiance, he called out "Ethan! You home?"

Ethan stopped the pacing, he could hear the weariness in Dylan's voice. "Yeah, in here," he called out. "I'll be right there." He walked out of the bedroom into their main living area."Hey babe," he paused, "uh, you look like shit. Are you okay?"

"Busy day." Dylan ran a hand through his dark hair, "And a mound of paperwork like you wouldn't believe." he added, taking Ethan's hand and pulling him close, "And how is my favourite person doing?"

"Better now that you're here," Ethan replied as he found his arms wrapping around his lover. After a brief hug he said,"I wasn't sure what you wanted and I didn't want to bother you at work. What are you in the mood for?"

"Well that depends on if you're on the table or not." Dylan smiled at his lover, marveling at how good he could look consider the brutal ordeal he'd been through.

Ethan laughed,"You have a dirty mind, just one of the reasons I love you. I could probably arrange being on the table, but first we better eat something. What would you like?"

"I'm in the mood for comfort food." Dylan replied with a yawn, "Something stodgy and horribly bad for you." he added as he let Ethan go and headed for the sofa.

"How about some Mac'n Cheese, the real thing, not any replicated stuff, with some bacon and some smoked potatoes?"Ethan asked as he moved towards the kitchen, "and I've got some news to tell you."

"Yes on the food and you're not pregnant are you?" Dylan asked, trying to sound shocked.

"Gods no," he said with a laugh, "Though not for the sake of trying on your part. I've been given a promotion. I am the new CMO and I outrank you now."

"Seriously?" Dylan grinned from ear to ear, "That's fantastic news!" he pulled Ethan into a bear hug, "Congratulations gorgeous." he added as he kissed the side of his cheek.

Ethan's smile matched Dylan's."Thanks,"he replied, "I just hope I can do the job and live up to everyone's expectations."

After about half an hour he came back with a couple of platters for each of them. He put them at their perspective places then went to touch Dylan on the shoulder, this time he was no longer smiling, "We've got to talk," he said simply, "over dinner or after, but I need to confess something to you."

Ignoring his plate, Dylan replied, "Well considering I won't enjoy the food if I'm left here fretting about what you're about to say, how about we talk right now?"

"Sure," Ethan said, setting down his utensils. "This whole thing with Ian was driving me crazy. Close to literally. Sinek and I did a mindmeld together today, to help me get over it. It has helped a lot, but it looked like Sinek wouldn't be able to handle it for a while. He took on all my fear and it was almost too much for him.

So here's the good news, I'm at a place now where we can get set a date for our marriage. Here's the bad news. Before when I talked about getting rid of Ian, it was motivated by fear Now its motivated by something else. As long as he is out there someplace, we'll always be looking over our shoulders. Well I will anyway. And he deserves to pay for what he did. He needs to be stopped before he does it to someone else. I want you to help me find him and kill him."

Without even hesitating, Dylan nodded and said "You'll have it. I want that bastard dead too for what he did to you." The look in Dylan's eyes revealed a deep hatred for what Ian had done to the man he loved and he would do anything to make Ethan feel safe once more.

"I never thought I'd feel that way. I'm a doctor, I'm supposed to heal lives not take them. But this is not the first time something like his has happened to me. When I was fifteen I was kidnapped and Kyle my first boyfriend, the only one I ever loved bsides you, was killed."

Dylan looked up sharply and looked at Ethan. "You never told me that...were you hurt?"

"Not really. I was shot with a disruptor which hurt like hell, but it wasn't serious. But Kyle and I were really close and I thought I'd never get over losing him. But I did. Then I thought I'd never really love someone again. Really love them, but then you came along.

That's why I didn't want you going into Intel, I didn't want to take the chance of losing you too."

"I'm sorry." Dylan replied, the missing pieces of their previous argument all those years ago finally falling into place, "But I can't help who I am...I'd never have been happy doing what I was doing before."

"And I wouldn't want you to. Not now anyway. Back then I was insecure and still blaming myself for what happened. Now I know better. Not that I'm not going to have some sleepless nights if you're away on an assignment . But I know you can take care of yourself. And I love you, I want you to be who you are, who you want to be. You're called to doing what you do Dylan. You shouldn't have to give it up and I'll never ask you to."

"We really are in a much stronger place now aren't we?" Dylan looked at Ethan, "No secrets, and we've grown up. I won't let anything come between us ever again."

They're conversation was suddenly interrupted by someone from the bridge reporting a subspace communication for Doctor Ethan Chaparral.

Ethan glanced over at Dylan with a what could it be now expression. ^=^I'll take it down here,^=^ he said. Then he go up and moved to his computer.

The monitor soon showed the face of Ulani. Her concerned look turned to joy when she saw that Ethan indeed was alive and well. The past four years had been a hellish nightmare for her. She didn't wish to relive it again. She was dressed in black and gray.

"Ethan! You're alive! I'm so thankful to see you alive and well!"

Ethan, not knowing what she had been through smiled. "Yes, I'm doing great. I've got new arm and everything. Dylan and I were just sitting down to dinner. How are you?"

"Much better now that I see you...my lost child." "When your ship disappeared four years ago, I didn't know what to think. It's been four years since I have spoken to anyone aboard the Hera. I hopped aboard an Intel ship and headed for the spot where you had vanished. Their was some space debris in the area, but nothing that appeared to be from the Hera. Nothing that was Federation issue."

A tear rolled down her left cheek. She had more to say, but it had to be done in person. She was doing her best to be brave for her son.

"Where are you headed now?" she asked.

Realization hit Ethan like a runaway shuttlecraft. "Oh my gods, mom!!! I didn't even think of that. We ran into some kind of space/time anomaly, it's only been a few days for us. I don't think we're that far from where we disappeared from. We are on our way to New Sydney. I don't have our exact coordinates though. It should be easy to track us though, its not like we're cloaking ourselves."

"Is Dylan okay?" She asked.

"Yes, we both are thanks for asking. Did you want to talk to him?"

"No, that's okay, Buttercup. Just let him know I'll be wanting to work closely with him from time-to-time in the near future."

Standing behind the console so that Ethan could see him but Ulani could not, Dylan mouthed "Buttercup?"

Ethan's face reddened. "He's right here, I think he heard you mom." Then he looked over at Dylan and in a lower voice said, "yes, buttercup and you breathe a word of this to anyone and you won't get any until we're married."

Ulani grinned, "I guess I've let the cat out of the bag. I'm just glad you're both okay. I'll be seeing you." There was no word as to when, why or how. Just that they would see her. Perhaps at the wedding.

She had to speak with him face-to-face. There was so much to tell him. With the trauma he had in the past four years (to her), it definitely needed to be face-to-face. Before she gave too much away, she had to end the transmission.

She winked as she ended the transmission with, "I love you, Ethan."

"Whatever you say Buttercup." Dylan grinned as the screen went blank, clearly enjoying the moment.

Ethan flashed him a single finger greeting, but he was smiling the whole time."Oh and one more confession. About Sinek. I took his clothes off."

"You what?" Dylan raised an eyebrow, not sure what he thought about that.

"There's nothing to be jealous about, I do like the little pointed elven ears, they are cute. But he's not really my type and I'm not his. After the mindmeld, he was overtaken by fear. He really wasn't used to dealing with something like that. And well, let's just say it was kind of a necessity."

"What he got scared and just had to take his clothes off?" Dylan replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice before pausing, his eyebrows lifting as realisation dawned on him and he added "Oh...he got that scared."

"Yes, that scared," Ethan paused, looking into Dylan's eyes. "you do know I would never, you know cheat on you don't you?"

"After what we've been through, I'd hope not." Dylan replied, "And the same goes for me...whatever my meddling sister might tell you." then he paused as he thought of something Ulani had said and groaned "Damn...I bet my family think I'm missing too don't they?"

"I trust you and I don't care what your sister says. But yeah, I didn't think about that either you better try to reach them, let them know you're okay," he paused the smile returning to his face, "and that we're getting married. Maybe they'll be so relieved that they'll actually accept it."

"Yeah, you met my family right?" Dylan chuckled, figuring that even four years of absence wouldn't make them change their minds.

"Okay," Ethan responded, "maybe you're right, wishful thinking on my part. Still, I can always hope."

"Yeah you keep doing that Buttercup." Dylan grinned at him cheekily.

Ethan gave him a mock scowl, "My mother and I are going to have a long talk the next time I see her." he promised, "and as for you well I have some plans for you after dinner. As long as you don't call me that name again."

"Oh you do huh?" Dylan's eyes darkened, "Does it involve you, me and no clothes?"

"Of course it does. You know, if you're up to it."

"You really need to ask that?" Dylan smiled, "I spent a lot of years trying to get over you and now I have you back I'll never get tired of being with you...I know now that I have to relish every second." he reached out and caressed Ethan's cheek as he added "I almost lost you recently for a second time. Never again."

Ethan took hold of Dylan's other hand, "Never again, " he repeated leaning in and stealing a kiss.


End


Lt. Commander Ethan Chaparral
CMO

Lieutenant Dylan Santiago
Chief of Intelligence