Paying a Visit

Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2026 @ 11:05am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 6 - Episode 8- The Price of Home
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After being recovered from the Lonian Prison
1190 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Having received word that the captured crew had been rescued and were in Sickbay receiving medical treatment Gary left the bridge and headed to Sickbay. Entering he made a point to address and interact with as many of the released crew as was possible until he reached one biobed. Naxea...she was lying on the bed, eyes closed but breathing normally. For a moment he just stood there drinking her in, relieved beyond words that she was safe and back aboard the ship. He took a step closer and reached a hand out to gently place over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Hey pretty lady. Boy, am I glad to see you. I have been very worried about you." He said just loud enough so she could hear,

Naxea slowly recognized the voice as Gary's. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her sides were still sore, especially with every breath but nowhere near the pain as before the surgery. "Hey," she said, her mouth feeling dry. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

"Don't want to get rid of you ever. I want to get you out of here and back to our quarters where you can rest and recuperate properly." Gary replied. "Do you want some water? Can you have any water?" he asked not wishing to do anything to complicate Naxea's recovery.

Naxea nodded slightly. "Sure. As for getting out of here, I doubt Sthilg will allow that. I'm probably in here for at least another day," she replied softly. She was certain S'hib was watching Sle'anna. The thought alone hurt her. S'hib hadn't stopped by. The mother in her wanted to see Sle'anna but the Marine in her knew it was best if Sle'anna didn't see her like this.

"Ye of little faith." Gary gently joked with her. "The best medicine for your recovery is for you to be in our quarters with your daughter and LL waiting to help you anyway they can. I of course, will assist them in whatever they cannot get done." He handed her a cup of water, "Sip slowly." He reminded her as he squeezed her hand again in a gesture of sincere affection.

"Well, I wish you luck then." she said, ginning before taking a slow sip of the water. "Sthilg can be stubborn sometimes," she continued after swallowing the refreshing sip of water.

"Luck? I don't need luck. I'll just bombard him with facts." Gary grinned foolishly at her. "I'll tell him of all the TLC you will be getting, how you will be waited on hand and foot. Your every need seen to and then if all else fails..... I'll pray for luck." Gary finished with a soft laugh.

Naxea grunted as she shifted her weight, setting the now empty cup of water down on a nearby tray. "Sounds nice. How is Lia?"

"In theory it sounds great how it actually works is something else entirely." Gary admitted with a grin before growing serious. "She asks about you, how you are doing when you are coming home. You have a little girl who is solidly in your corner and who is anxious to see you. You made quite an impression on her."

Naxea grinned at the news. She liked Lia and was glad she returned the feeling. "I'm glad," she said softly. "I'll try my best not to disappoint her."

Gary chuckled, "Trust me, you won't ever disappoint her. Just continue to be yourself like you have been and all is good. Of course." He added with a smile "Being an adult and telling her time for bed or no she can't have a third cookie or an extra bowl of ice cream. Isn't going to disappoint her rather you'll get 'This is so unfair and then the pouty face.' You have been forewarned,"

Naxea grimaced as she chuckled at the reply and then looked somber. "I'm not sure I should be telling her those things. That's a parent's job...a mother's...and I'm not her mother."

"You are an adult though Naxea and telling a child no to an excess of cookies or ice cream or time to lie down is allowable." Gary countered his voice even,

"If you say so, but it doesn't feel right with me. At least, not yet," Naxea replied.

Gary nodded accepting Naxea's reply. "Fair enough but give yourself time Naxea and it will, You aren't a stranger to her." Gary reminded her.

"Yeah, I know," she replied softly, grinning at Gary. She was getting tired of finding herself in Sickbay, even though she trusted Sthilg and thought of him as a friend. She briefly wondered how much more abuse her body could take. She not only felt emotionally drained but physically as well as she squeezed Gary's hand.

Gary squeezed her hand gently in return. "I think you will feel completely and total relaxed and refreshed once you can leave here and be in our quarters and surrounded by familiar objects and the people who love you."

Naxea let out a small sigh. "Perhaps you're right.". She felt so tired. Whether it was from her recent ordeal or the stress of being in this galaxy, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was both.

"Trust me, you will feel better once you are out of here and now being woken up to see if you were sleeping or to take blood samples." Gary assured her and continued "And of course you get personal nursing services and custom meals. You can't beat that." He finished with a grin.

Naxea nodded lightly as she looked up at him. "You are very persistent, you know that?".

Gary smiled. " You are absolutely right. I am especially about people I care about and I care a great deal about you Naxea."

"Thanks. I care about you, too," she replied with a grin. She grunted as she shifted her position to get more comfortable. She really needed to talk to Sthilg about getting more comfortable beds. Too much longer, she was sure her ass would go numb. She paused at the thought. There was a time when she complained about beds and chairs being too comfortable.

Another smile found its way to Gary's face. "Naxea you don't need to thank me for caring about you. I do it freely and willingly because I want to." He looked at her in silence for a moment maybe two before he replied. "I need to get you out of here and back to our quarters where you can properly recover in an atmosphere and conditions that allow you to recover."

"Like I said. Not my choice," she chuckled, grimacing again.

"I know it isn't Naxea." Gary answered as he saw her grimace again. "Do you need a something for the pain?"

"No. You're the only pain I'm dealing with," she teased, grinning.

Gary was quiet for a moment then replied. "Ah, I see. Only because I care," He answered,

"I'm kidding you, Gary. You're certainly not a pain," she managed to smile. "Is everything ok?"

Gary gave an affirmative nod, then spoke, "Everything is just fine now,"