"Promises To Keep"
By: Ensign Shirik Lektar, Operations
Crewman Sorg Jurell, Security

Location: Lektar's quarters
Stardate: 57908.29, 16h30

***

Shirik was seated on the sofa in the living area of her quarters, waiting. She'd invited Sorg to stop by after shift so they could have a talk. She'd promised Caly, after all, and she always kept her promises. She wore the flowing casual wear from her homeworld that she'd taken to wearing off duty when in her room. It was loose and comfortable, and reminded her of home.

Her hair was unbraided, tied in a simple tail down her back, and her hands were folded in her lap to stop them from fidgeting. She was a bit nervous, but wasn't exactly sure why. She had a weird feeling about Sorg, since he started seeing Caly. She felt like there was a tension between them, and she didn't like it one bit, she wanted to try to get rid of it. But she remembered the fight at breakfast the day before, and couldn't help feeling a bit of dread. Fighting was the last thing she wanted to do with Sorg Jurell.

The lights were dimmed, enough to take the usual glare off them for her eyes, but not so low that it could be misconstrued as some attempt to make a romantic atmosphere in the room. She had several PADDs on the table before her, as always, and she absently picked one up to fidget with as her thoughts wandered. As she did, her gaze was drawn by the sparkle to the bracelet on her wrist. It was a constant reminder to her that she had at least one very loyal friend all the time. Why was it so hard to talk to him, then? Why could she tell Caly anything, but couldn't find any words for Jurell? That was something that had nagged at her for a while, and she still didn't have an answer.

The chime of her door rang out clearly. It was almost startling in its intensity as she had been in silent contemplation for a while.

At her summons, the door opened to reveal a back-lit Sorg Jurell. He was wearing a black one-piece uniform that was so matte black that it picked up no ambient light at all. His feet were encased in soft boots that had a molded gap between the large toe and the rest, but it was a part of the uniform, as was the folded back hood that hung against the back of his neck. As he stepped into the room his musculature was clearly seen, like ripples moving across black water. His blonde hair was ruffled, attesting to the fact that he'd pulled the hood over his head to dress, and his lightness of skin and pale azure eyes seemed almost startling against the blackness of his body.

In four long strides he was standing before her, with a slight smile on his lips. "I don't have very long," he said. "TAC training starts at 1700hrs. You wanted to see me?"

Shirik's nervousness melted away as he mentioned their short time, but only to be replaced by disappointment, which she strove not to show. "Oh...well... Have a seat?"

Jurell nodded and smiled, as he found the chair and seated himself. He turned it so that the back was toward Shirik so that his arms lay across its back folded. "What's up?" he asked gently. "I have some time after I get off the exercise tonight. I can always come back," he smiled warmly, trying to put her at ease. She looked positively flighty.

She smiled at that, relieved. "I'd like that, if you can," she said. She couldn't help getting a good look at him in his black uniform, liking how it hugged his form. "Is that what they call SOBs, or is that something else?" she asked about it.

He grinned self-consciously. "It's a combat environment suit for covert insertion missions." He sat up straighter and lifted his arms out straight so she could see the protective filaments and hard shell inserts that followed his muscle structure. "Added energy weapon protection, and suppressed infrared when it's fully enclosed and activated. We're doing covert hostage recovery drills." He grinned wolfishly. "Fun stuff."

She leaned closer to reach out and touch the material. "Wow," she said, impressed. "Do you like it? I mean, did you want to be on the team? It sounds...dangerous." But exciting, she had to admit.

"Definitely!" He almost growled the response. She could see by the look in his eyes that he enjoyed it. "It is dangerous," he affirmed, leaning back to the chair top and grinning widely. "In a couple of months from now, I'll be back to being my old self." His azure eyes held a hint of danger.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Your old self?" she asked. This was a new side of him she hadn't seen before. "What would that be?"

He laughed it off and shook his head. "Nothing. What was it you wanted to talk to me about? Caly?" he asked directly, his eyes holding hers, searchingly. It was best to get it out in the open.

She blinked at the question, and frowned slightly in puzzlement. "Caly? No...why would I want to talk about Caly?" She frowned a bit more. "I wanted to talk about you, I guess...and I wanted to ask you...for your help."

He stared at her for a long second. Digesting her puzzled expression and her request. "I thought...I thought that you weren't happy with me seeing her." His voice was unsure, his blue eyes still searching hers for a clue as to what she really felt. "I thought that maybe you were...." He swallowed around the lump in his throat and said, "Jealous."

She blinked again. "Unhappy? But... Jurell, I'm the one who introduced you! Why would I be unhappy about it?" She looked at him for a long moment, and looked inside herself. She couldn't lie to him. She wouldn't. "I...I am, a little..." she admitted. "But I'm definitely not unhappy that you are seeing Caly. Hell, the both of you look so happy... And you're both my dear friends. How could I be unhappy if you're happy?"

He nodded. "You are a little though." He settled on that point. "Why? How do you feel about me, Shirik. I've always felt as if you treated me like a fixture, just the guy who would step into a phaser shot for you and take it because he loved you and that was okay with you because I was supposed to do that. We never really got to know each other did we? I wish we had, Shirik. I wish you'd talked to me more as a person and not the crewman who just stood where you told me to." He smiled wanly. "That's all...now I've met Calyca.... It seemed like you wanted me back because I'm your property...and someone else took an interest. That's how I feel."

She just stared at him soundlessly for a long moment. Her mouth even fell open a bit. "I never thought of you that way..." she said quietly, shocked at what he'd told her. "I considered you my friend... I wouldn't have taken your bracelet otherwise." She thought back to what he'd told her the other day, during their fight. At the time it hadn't registered, but now she remembered he'd said that they weren't equal in her eyes, that she thought she was great. She shook her head slowly as it all started to sink in. "No...we never did..." Her voice was subdued. Her gaze found his. "That's not how it is at all, Jurell... If that's how I made you feel, then I'm truly sorry...but...as Caly will tell you, I'm not an easy person to get close to, or through to. I just... I don't show who I am, inside, most of the time."

He could see it in her eyes. There was no evasion there. She was saying what she felt and he was relieved and yet a little saddened. Maybe there had been a chance between them at some point, but both of them had missed it. He nodded. Reaching out a hand he touched her shoulder, his blue eyes showing concern and his lips a small smile. "Okay, let's just say that from now on we'll be friends," he said gently. "I know there's a vast difference between us. That is a void that I don't think either of us would have been able to cross even in the best of circumstances. I'm a simple man, Shiri, I love simple things...and you are far from simple."

"I thought....we already were friends," she said.

"I want you to promise me something - for me." He held her eyes and moved his hand to cup her chin. For some reason she no longer intimidated him. He felt more sure about himself.

She fell silent, her thoughts awhirl, and just looked at him rather helplessly as his hand held her chin. "What...?" she asked quietly.

"Promise me you won't do what Caly thinks you'll do...lock yourself away and hide. I don't want to have to come looking for you. Just remember, I'm in security. I can do that." He smiled and brushed her cheek with his thumb. "You can't hide from either of us. We won't let you."

She felt her defenses weaken at his gentle touch and soft words. Her eyes turned just a bit sad. "I can't make any promises," she said quietly. Their time was almost up, she knew, and there was more she wanted to tell him, ask him. "Come back later, after training. Please?"

He dropped his hand, but he still held her eyes. His smile was gentle and he nodded. "Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can. But think about it. I want that promise from you." He reached out for her wrist and lifted it, showing her the bracelet he'd given her. "This means that you are my friend, Shiri. It means that you won't ignore me, or hide from me, or in six months time, leave me because you felt something for a man you could never have." He tapped the metal links in the chain. "This says you and I are bonded as friends for life. I expect you to keep that promise." His voice was firm and his gaze was almost piercing in its Azure intensity.

Her gaze went to the bracelet, the silver and gold links reflecting the room's light. "I always keep a promise once I make it," she said. "That's why I'm very careful about which ones I make." She gave him a small smile. "I promise that I'll think about it."

"I told you once before, those bracelets are also called Promise Bracelets...so, Shiri - you already made it." He smiled and stood fluidly from the chair, stepping around it to be face to face with her. The black uniform made no sound as he moved. "I'll come back." And he bent and kissed her brow.

She closed her eyes as his lips met her forehead and she smiled a small smile. "I'll be here," she said softly.

"I know you will," he whispered close to her and his hand strayed to her soft white hair, stroking it away from her face before he stood back up and walked away. Her door slid aside as he approached it and he was gone.

Shirik just watched him go, and when the doors slid shut, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She sank back onto the sofa and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. "Computer, reduce lighting to 30% of normal," she murmured. The computer complied, leaving the room in a semi-darkness more suitable to her eyes. She stayed there, waiting and thinking.

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