A Return For The Ages

Posted on Tue Nov 25th, 2025 @ 4:33am by Tessa di'Orion & Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Ensign Henry Taylor

Mission: A Princess Of Tial
Location: Medical Bay

Kally had been going through a stack of honey-do items, trying to catch up on some things now that she was back to full health and back in charge. She'd been too distracted lately and had fallen behind in some of her to-do list. Now, she was tackling trying to diagnose why one of the biobeds wasn't recording data correctly, and was sadly going to have to contact Engineering for help.

Tessa flounced into medical in the mono-skirt technical 'uniform' that she'd worn throughout the time she'd been helping in sickbay and learning everything she possible could. The skirt bounced along with her jauntiness and she reminded herself to see someone about getting a set of rooms for herself now that she was back. The tattoos on her left arm went further than before, vanishing up the short sleeve and the leg on the same side now sported their own intricate set of them as well.

As Tessa entered, she started looking around to see who all was there and spotted the Doctor halfway across the room, running some diagnostic on one of the biobeds if she saw it correctly. She started her way over and in as normal voice as possible, finally spoke, "Good morning, My Lady!"

Kally dropped her tricorder, spinning around in shock and staring at Tessa. She took two steps, then let out a cry and rushed Tessa full speed, grabbing her and hugging her tightly.

That drove Tessa back a couple of steps, but she wrapped her own arms around the doctor and squeezed her just as tightly.

"Please forgive me," Kally said, tears flowing. "Tessa, I'm so, so sorry for what I said. I would never have done anything....I was just...I was being stupid." She hugged her as tight as possible.

"No, it's not your fault, My Lady, Kally," She corrected, rubbing the doctor's back, "It's mine for not being in control of myself." She tried to pry the other blonde loose just to get a look at her, finally succeeding and wiping away the other's tears, with her thumbs, "I wanted to apologize to you for striking you, I didn't mean to hurt you, I was just... So angry.."

Kally shook her head. "It was my fault for making you angry. I just wanted....well, it doesn't matter. What are you doing here?" she said, looking Tessa over. "And your tattoos! You were promoted to Third Class?"

"No, My Lady, I mean Kally," Tessa looked frustrated with herself, "I'm really trying, I promise! But no, they skipped Third and escalated me up to Fourth Class!" Her eyes were bright and glittering as she turned her leg to show that the tattoos went around it in a spiral of the ivy, "And it was because of everything you were teaching me. The Order took the book that you sent along with all of the techniques and will be studying it to see how best it can be implemented on the surface, which should save many lives there." The grin was wide, "And before you ask, rather than strip my rank from me... Mother decided to break part of her lands off of Light's End... It's only an island off the coast, but I am the now the Baroness of Heart's Forge."

Kally's jaw dropped so hard it bounced off the deck. "Baroness? Double-congratulations, then! That is absolutely amazing! Does....does Henry know? Does he even know you're here? Actually, how long are you here for?" She was pretty sure they were well under way yesterday, and she couldn't wrap her mind around Tessa being there.

"For as long as the Captain is willing to keep me, and so long as Henry will keep me." Tessa finally gave a blush, "He and I got reacquainted last night. My mother arranged a last minute shuttle to get me aboard and the Captain held the ship here for a couple hours so I could come. I suppose she and I need to have a talk to find out what I can do to help, because now that I've been returned home, I'm not going to be a charity case."

"Well I am always begging Cally for more staff, so you are one hundred percent on my team," Kally said, grinning, squeezing her hands excitedly. "And...reacquainted with Henry hm?" she said with a knowing smile. "If your stay is based on him keeping you, you're here forever."

"Then I'll be here forever!" Tessa stated with a bright smile, "I'm going to have to arrange for my own room to stay in, I don't think that the Captain is going to let me keep the suite of rooms I was in before, especially since I'm here by myself. I'd offer to stay with Henry, but we'd need a bigger room than what he's got if we did that."

"We can get you some basic crew quarters," Kally said. "And...yeah I think moving in with Henry is a bit premature. Besides, let's be honest, you'll be at his place frequently and vice versa anyway." She grinned and winked at her. "I'm so glad you're here," she said. "I'll have to get you on the duty roster. You're ready for routine work, I'd say. And if you'd like to pursue research we can get you some lab time too!"

"I think I need more actual routine work before I try to do anything too new or experimental." Tessa glanced at the nearest biobed, "I'm still learning more of the techniques and surgeries that I don't already know. I do know there is one bit of research that has to happen, whether sooner or later... Genetics. There's something in particular that I need to figure out."

Kally shrugged. "Easy peasy. The computer has plenty of information on the topic. We can set up some study time for you during your shift as well. Given how many species there are in the Federation, there's quite a bit to review."

"Well, very specific genetics." Tessa corrected herself, speaking a bit slower, "You see, I really want to know if um... Henry and I could, well..."

Kally looked at her expectantly, saw her expression and it lit up like a supernova. "You--"

The doors to Sickbay opened and Henry walked in, uniform on and spine straight again. He saw Tessa and grinned, coming over and kissing her sweetly. "Hey," he said, then looked at Kally as he put his arm around Tessa's waist. "Doctor," he said, grinning. "So...the band's back together."

Tessa kissed back, reaching up to cup his cheek as she did so, a smile on her face bright and clearly happy, unlike how she was only a few days before, “The war band, but healing instead, indeed.”

Kally looked at Tessa's expression then at Henry, trying to not spoil anything. She looked between them and nodded. "My office, now," she said, herding them in.

Tessa grabbed Henry’s hand in her own as she got nudged and almost literally pushed towards the office door, dragging him along with them with only the slightest squawk of protest, “What is it, Kally?” She asked in confusion, “Is it about what I was-“

"It's about both of you," Kally said as Henry steered Tessa into the office and onto Kally's loveseat. Kally closed the office door and grabbed her office chair, bringing it around to sit in front of them. "I want us to have a serious talk about moving forward."

Tessa took Henry’s hand in both of hers and planted it on her lap, “Well, of course, you see I do have many plans for us, I’ve gotten it all thought out and-“ She stopped at a hand motion from the doctor.

"I let you two get away with a lot, because at the time I knew it was all you had together. But now? When you two are on the clock, you are professionals. Lunch hour, by all means go sneak off. But in Sickbay? Focus on your duties and make sure your work gets done."

"Pot-kettle," Henry said, raising an eyebrow at her.

Kally gave him a glare. "Whatever," she said. "The point is...there is time after your shift now, so while on shift, I need you two focused here. Fair?"

Henry nodded, understanding her point, Chief Enor's words echoing in his head. "Yes, Doctor," he said.

“I’m always focused when I’m here.” Tessa said simply, “At least I do my best to be, especially when there’s someone here as a patient. I know I’m technically not a doctor by Federation standards, but I know I’d also like to change that.” She looked over at Henry, “That is, if you think it’s a good idea?”

"Angel, I've seen you work. You could easily assist as a doctor," he said, giving her hand a squeeze. "I bet you'll be Kally's right-hand girl in no time, and we'll be working side-by-side." He grinned at her and kissed her hand.

“Then I’ll work hard to become one,” Her eyes brightened at his approval and swore herself to gaining that particular title as quickly as possible, if just to make him proud, squeezing his hand tightly, then turning her attention back to Kally, “I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me with that?” She asked, “Along with the other thing I’d wanted to talk about, with the whole research into g-“

"We'll have plenty of time for research," Kally said. "In an eight-hour shift, you can easily get a couple hours in every day," she said. She looked at the two of them, smiling slightly. She looked at Henry. "How about you start with today's reports, and we'll go through who's due for physicals in a bit," she said.

Henry looked pained to have to get Tessa's hand go, but he nodded to Kally, then leaned over and kissed Tessa.

Tessa leaned into the kiss, deepening it as she could, reaching up with her free hand to hold his head, the biggest difference between the two being that her eyes were open while his were closed.

Kally watched them and waited....waited....waited....finally she cleared her throat. "Inhale, you two," she said, getting a bit emotional and feeling a twinge of embarrassment watching them. As they broke apart she smiled at them both. "Off you go," she said.

Henry smiled at Tessa and kissed her sweetly on the cheek before standing up and leaving the office for his duties. Tessa’s fingers lingered on his as long as they could before falling away as he left.

Once the door closed, Kally sat back. "Let's keep the talk of genetics between us for now," she said to Tessa. "I'll get blood samples and begin tests tomorrow."

“Yes, My Lady.” Tessa reluctantly agreed, “But it’s something that is rather important, even if I’m now only the second after my brother in line to inherit. And it’s something I am going to need to talk with Henry about very soon, I just didn’t think of it last night.”

"Give it a little time," Kally suggested. "You both just went through a tumultuous shift in your relationship. Hell, you've only just started your relationship." She gave the girl a smile. "I've no doubt, he wants a lot of children with you. There's no need to rush, though."

Tessa opened her mouth as if she wanted to make a comment, but the words that Kally had said were still true and yes, there was time, so she closed her mouth and nodded, “All right, I’ll wait… For now.”

"All right, let's get out there and you can help restock some supplies," Kally said, standing up.

Tessa got to her feet as well, “And about my desire to earn the title of doctor? Can you help me with that?”

"I would be honored, Your Grace," Kally said, grinning. "I'll have a study schedule drawn up by tomorrow." As they walked to the door, Kally held her back before the doors opened. "And...suggestion? Close your eyes when he kisses you. Let yourself feel the experience without having to observe it."

“That’s why he does that? It’s not normal from what I saw at home.” Tessa asked, clearly realizing now what it was that was being suggested, “And can I try it now, just to see how it works?”

Kally's eyebrows went up, then realized what Tessa meant. "Wait here," she said, stepping out of her office. She walked over to Henry and tapped his shoulder, folding her arms over her chest. "I am, this one time only, overriding what I previously stated," she said. She smiled softly and nodded to her office. "Ten minutes. Go kiss the girl."

Henry grinned and walked quickly to Kally's office, leaving the doctor shaking her head and chuckling.

Ten minutes to the second later, Tessa came out of the office, dragging a clearly thoroughly kissed Henry out by the hand. She squeezed it gently, then nudged him back over to where he was supposed to be with one last lingering look before heading back over to Kally with a sly smile and kept her voice down, "You're right, that's much better."

Kally grinned and gave her a thumbs up before returning to her work.