Wash away the Worry

Posted on Thu Mar 11th, 2021 @ 9:44pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: The Jungle
Location: Captain's Quarters

The doors parted before him and a most inviting sight drew him in. Home. The bed, the couch and the small kitchenette were all right where they had left them. It was no cabin by the beach but it was theirs and after almost a week in a sweaty jungle environment with little sleep, the shower and the bed were calling his name. But first, her needs needed tending to. For him she came first, always.

He lifted her into his arms, a smile upon his face, and walked her to their bed where he lay her down gently. "What can I get you or do for you? Your wish is my command." He winked to show his playfulness.

She raised an eyebrow at him, wondering how he had the energy for anything other than showering, food and sleeping at the moment.

"Hot shower...I stink, come to think of it you do too" she wrinkled her nose and she feigned smelling him.

He was half in the process of taking off his shirt when he stopped, “What, no comments about the state of my socks eh.” He turned and sniffed his pits, “Meh, I’ve had worse.” He tossed his shirt next to the recycler, vowing to worry about it later. “Here, let me help you into the shower.” He leaned in and prepared to scoop her up in his arms.

She snorted at him “ I dont have the energy to comment about your socks, although I’m sure they’re not on the pleasant side” She retorted as the clothes found their way into the recycler. She peeled hers off, layered with filth, sweat and blood from the jungle and almost held her breath. YEp - it smelt baaaaad.

“Good.” He scoffed. “Because you reek as much as I do.” He helped her pull her pants off, making special care not to touch her wound. Then, holding his breath noticeably, he reached around and unfastened her brazier, reacting mildly as she smacked him on the chest. “Just think, we are about to embark on a 12 hour stint in snoozeville. Imagine the dreams we will be bombarded with.”

“Sleep.. What is that?” She mused idly as he made the shower run with steaming hot water. Her standard supply of body wash was replaced with something a little more floral as she stepped under the rushing water, closing her eyes and letting the torrent rinse the grime from her body. It felt both clarifying and electrifying all at the same time. Cathartic and challenging. There was a bit to deal with mentally from their experience and they would undoubtedly spend many hours working through it together.

He stood by and gave her a 'I don't believe you' face. "Come now, you can't tell me you didn't sleep a wink in that cave? I heard you talking in your sleep. It may have been fever induced paranoia to think of it, but it was a hell of a lot more sleep than Ronson or Sarah got." He dashed a smidgen of guilt trip at the end though he hopes she understood it was all in jest. He took the loofah and scrubbed a layer of filth from her back.

“ You didn’t sleep, not a wink I know of it” She retorted, not accepting his hint to guilt, she turned and nailed him with a mock glare “And you can’t tell me fever induced paranoia like dreams are restful” She poked her tongue out at him in a most uncaptain like manner.

Smiling broadly he dabbed a dollop of soap suds upon her ridged nose. "Really now? Would you care to share these restless dreams with an old counselor I know? Good man, he has an attentive ear and a caring heart."

"The abridged version is that you were an eternal flame and I was drawn to your strength and love" she said simply, bringing both hands to her face and using the dollop of soap to scrub away the grime.

"Really?" He said dubiously. "And the unabridged version?" She was holding back and one could blame her exhausted nature but his counselor instincts were telling him she held something she needed to get off her chest besides a centimeter of sweat.

She turned, water still steaming over her and revealing the pale skin underneath the filth. Slowly it was returning to its natural colour, though a myriad of purple, blue and healing green patches mottling the beige.

"I honestly thought we were gonna die on that rock. I don't know what the hardest part was, knowing it was a form of entertainment or knowing that a fellow Starfleet Captain put us there" she regarded the calming presence of her husband, and rested against his chest, drinking in his strength and calmness. “The dreams were terrible though, although you were the shining light in many of them”

He had learned a long time ago never to discount her dreams as less than what they were. She had had dreams and visions throughout her life come true and therefore they should never be taken lightly. No, this was a moment where comfort and understanding were paramount. He wrapped his arms around her and allowed the water to envelope them both with its warmth. The most he could muster without telling her of his own dreams was "It's over now and we can both rest knowing very few lost their life down there."

“ It’s over” The words were almost cathartic, a cleansing balm for their recent experience. They could only move forward, having already taken steps to avoid such things happening again. A yawn threatened to split her face in half. “What were you saying about sleep?”

“That you clearly need some.” He rolled his brows, stifling a yawn of his own. “And so do I it would seem.” He released her so that they could finish washing and rinsing. They spent a few more minutes doing the dance of the couples shower, where one was always cold and one was always wet, but for some reason both were happy.

They switched the water off, dressed in comfortable soft pajamas before grabbing a bite to eat. Remal was in his element in their small kitchen, and they worked together to whip up two simple omelettes. Sleep was always better on a full stomach.

Food and dishes cleaned up, Remal swept his wife up from her seat and placed her once more upon the bed then reached over and pulled the blanket around her, effectively tucking her in. “Tomorrow, coffee, fresh, before anything else, agreed?” Then he moved to his own side of the bed before plopping down hard. His muscles twitched as they prepped for sleep before his eyes did. “Computer, lights.” He missed that feature.

TBC