Recovery Time

Posted on Tue Oct 5th, 2021 @ 4:02am by Lieutenant JG Jenna Jade & Ensign Rene Rouen

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Rene's Quarters
Timeline: After Best Part Of Waking Up

Jenna supported Rene as they made their way down the corridor to his quarters. He’d absolutely refused to be pushed in a hover chair and Jenna wasn’t one to push him into doing something like that, “You know, Ah’m supposed to stay with you to keep an eye on ya’.” She reminded him, “Hopefully your roommate won’t mind, Ah mean, Ah’m not goin’ to do anything untoward, of course.”

Rene moved slowly through the ship, resting quite often against a bulkhead as they walked. He was regretting his stubbornness at not using a hover chair from the Sickbay to his quarters. "Don't need to worry about that. I won't be getting a roommate until we reach the Starbase." It dawned on him they would be alone in his quarters alone all night. "I'm fine with no chaperone if you are. You could always just get me into bed and check on me in the morning."

“And if the docs or Cally check in and Ah’m not there or God forbid somethin’ happens to you!” Jenna gave him a sideways glare, “Ain’t happenin’. And it’s not like Ah’ll be sleepin’ with you, Ah’ll be fine on the couch or pullin’ up a piece of floor after Ah grab a pillow and a blanket. Of course, if you’d rather have me ask Minerva to come watch you, Ah’m sure she’d have no problem with it, but you might not get much rest with her attentions.”

Rene made pushing gestures which only intensified the soreness in his chest. "No, no, no. I don't want Minerva’s attentions." He used the bulkhead to straighten himself somewhat to continue their journey. "Only one woman's attention I hope to garner in that respect...and I’m with her right now." He gave emphasis with a grin.

“Then shuddup.” Jenna softened the rebuke with a kiss on the cheek, “Ah think Minerva would be far too interested in tryin’ to get you to exercise more.” Jenna lied outright, “So, do you want me in the same room, or would you be more comfortable with me on the couch in that livin’ room. Ah’d be sure to check in on ya’, of course.”

Rene thought about her question a moment. The last thing he wanted was for Jenna to be uncomfortable. His bed was big enough for both of them, but recommending that would be rather forward of him. "There's another bed in the other sleeping area. So no need for you to be uncomfortable."

“Ah suppose…” Jenna temporized, “Of course, Ah dinners to abandon you for about half an hour or so after Ah get you into bed. Ah need to make a dash to my quarters for some things, then Ah’ve got to make a stop by the security office to ask your boss a couple questions.” She thought about it for a moment, “That second can wait until tomorrow, but Ah’ll still need to take a quick stop at my quarters, essentials.” She explained, “Then we’ll figure out my sleepin’ situation.”

Rene nodded as they made the turn into his corridor. "Third door on the right. Code is 180216." He tried to support more of his own weight as they took the last few steps towards his door. "Thank you for doing this for me by the way. I am sorry to be a bother."

She reached out with a hand and tapped the combo into the console barely within arms reach, then as she got them inside turned to face him, her arms around him, “In case you didn’t know it, Mister, if you hadn’t been in there, Ah’d be dead. You’d be dead too, but Ah do value my own skin fairly well. So watch in’ over you and bein’ your drink-fetcher and everythin’ is the least Ah can do. You’d have claim on my body too, if all were like the Olden times, but they aren’t and anyways.” She made up for the not-mentioned ‘not ready’ with a kiss.

Rene was happy just for the kiss. It had been a long time since a woman had captured his heart so completely in such a short amount of time. He wasn't sure what the future held for either of them. Starfleet didn't always keep couples together on ship assignments. This was his second tour and Jenna was on her Cadet Cruise. He had no doubt she would do well, but there was no guarantee Starfleet would let her stay aboard, even if Captain Skyie requested it. He reached up and brushed an errant lock of her hair as the gentle kiss ended. "Go take care of what you need to. I will be okay for the time being. Aside from missing you every second until you get back."

“You’re just so sweet.” Her nose scrunched up in a pixie-like smile and all she wanted to do was squeeze him tightly, but she couldn’t, it might hurt too much, “Ah won’t be long, and well, is there anywhere to cook in here or are we gonna be stuck with replicator food and a movie?”

Rene settled back into the couch and gestured to the replicator and a PADD on the coffee table. "Latter I'm afraid." He sighed. "We could also just sit and talk for awhile after you get back. Learn more about one another."

“We could do that.” She appraised him, “Are you gonna be able to get into something more comfortable than that? Or are you gonna be waitin’ for me to help you into it?” A slight flush crossed her cheeks as she asked the question.

Rene gestured to his bedroom. "Dresser, second drawer, right side. I can handle getting my pajamas on while you're gone." He took a deep breath. "Probably a good idea if you take your time with your errands, including stopping off to speak with Lieutenant Valleroy too. Not sure you want to walk in to find me in my undergarments."

It was an effort, but Jenna tried a salacious leer on for size, but it ended up looking like a bad science fiction villain, “I dunno, you’re pretty cute with clothes on, might be cute without them, too.”

Rene patted Jenna's backside lightly. "When you're ready, I will be glad to show you how cute I am without clothes, in the mean time, pajamas, your overnight bag and my boss. Now go. Or I might reconsider being here on the couch in all my glory when you get back."

She stretched out and kissed him on the cheek again, "Promises promises." She said softly without meaning it as a challenge to remain clothingless, "Ah'll be back as soon as Ah can be, Ah promise." Then she lingered for a few more seconds before heading back out through the door.

Rene watched her leave. He did actually take a moment to consider being wrapped only in a blanket when she got back. He then started the slow process of getting undressed and into pajamas on the couch. Thankfully he actually accomplished the task of changing before she got back. He was reviewing a list of romantic comedies for them to watch at some point when she reentered her quarters. "Welcome back."

Jenna came back uniformless, aside from the one in her overnight bag, instead wearing a pair of sweatpants that had been turned into shorts and a loose, baggy t-shirt along with honest to god fuzzy slippers that she padded in wearing, "Ah've got some news about tomorrow." She dropped her bag by the door, if and when she needed something from it, it wouldn't be that far away, "You're comin' to work with me for the next couple days. You're just gonna be sittin' there, relaxing for the most part, takin' a couplea notes here and there and otherwise stayin' near me so Ah can keep an eye on you." She smiled brightly, "Doesn't that sound fun?"

"Marvelous." He didn't much care for hanging out in engineering, but there was no one he would much rather spend time with. He passed his PADD to her. "Movie list should we run out of things to talk about. Not that I think we will." He glanced at his bedroom door before turning his gaze back to her. "Doctor did order bedrest, not couch rest. Want to help me into bed?"

"Ah suppose that would work." She tucked the PADD into the small of her back in the band and reached out to him, "Come on then, And Ah'll let you ask the first question about me." Her eyes brightened, "You are right that we've got a lot to learn about each other and Ah can be a bit of a chatterbox at times, so you'll go right to sleep." She gave an impish grin.

Rene took her arms and rose slowly from the couch. It took a minute or two to maneuver to the bedroom and get him tucked in. He took hold of her hand and just looked at her. He looked at her her. It was barely 1100 hours in the morning, but he could just lay there all day just looking at her at not get tired. He wondered what she was thinking as she sat there looking back at him. "What are you thinking about right this second?"

“Ain’t that a loaded question?” Jenna said with an uncomfortable laugh, but she sat down on the bed, kicking off her slippers before changing her mind and laying down next to him, “If Ah say anythin’ other than worryin’ about you, Ah out myself as a pretty bad girlfriend.” She made a face like she’d bitten into a sour lemon, “But Ah’m not totally focused on that, oh sure Ah’m worried, but you’re stable and Ah’m here with you, but the truth is that Ah was on the comm with one of the Petty Officers in Engineerin’ to get an update and lettin’ them know Ah wouldn’t be in today, then asked to talk to the Lieutenant, but she ain’t there. They tried to get a hold of her, but she’s off the grid more than normal.” She shook her head.

“But that just means in the mornin’ Ah’ll have to get more caught up, and really isn’t important right now.” She smiled at him, “Other than that, Ah’ve just figured out that Ah’ve got you held captive right now, officially no less. And…” She trailed off, “Ah’ve got no idea what to do. Ah’m not used to just sittin’ still, so this is gonna be new to me!” She’d improvised there, something she’d abort said in sickbay just not feeling right at this moment. “What about you? What’s goin’ on in your head? Aside from ‘pretty girl, how can Ah maneuver her into my bed?’” She gave an impish smile, “Because Ah’m already here, in your bed.”

Rene laughed a moment and then winced as a pain radiated from his chest to his whole body. "I realize that and the fact I am in too much pain to properly capitalize on our current situation is saddening." He looked up at her with adoration. "Hopefully some night we will find ourselves here again by choice and not by circumstances."

"Ah've got no doubt on that." Jenna said quietly, "You know, all you've gotta do is ask. Ah can't say anythin'll happen except talkin' and sleep, but we can scandalize Minerva just by bein' seen goin' into your quarters together." She smiled brightly, "God, Ah can only imagine the interrogation Ah'm gonna get tomorrow or the day after. She's nosy, a great friend, but Ah think she wants me to get laid sooner rather than later." She laughed.

Rene thought about everything she had just said. He would not deny that he felt a strong desire for her. Part of him thought she felt the same way for him. Feeling something and being ready, truly ready, to act upon those feelings. "Promise me something."

“It depends.” Jenna hedged, promises weren’t things to be broken unless there were no other choice. They we’re more than just words, they were the stuff of honor themselves. It was why she would never promise something she wasn’t willing to back up with everything she had.

Rene took Jenna's hand gently in his as he looked up at her beautiful face. "Promise you won't allow Minerva to convince you to do something your not ready for."

Jenna snorted into a laugh, “Oh that one is an easy promise! Minerva just wants me to get laid, she’d never push me into it. She just loves to tease me about it, after all Ah’ve known her since Ah was what, five, six years old? There was the one guy in high school that took me to the junior prom and got all handsy with me… Minerva got suspended for three days because of that situation because she saw me gettin’ all panicky. Would she pants me in front of everyone? Sure, but she’d never pressure me into sleepin’ with someone.”

Rene gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "One more promise. Never let me pressure you into anything you are not ready for either mon amour."

With that one, Jenna bit her lower lip, but slowly nodded, “Ah think Ah can promise that one safely, Rene, because Ah don’t think you’d ever intentionally try to do it. Ah was called a tease in school and the Academy because Ah wouldn’t put out, but Ah do like a good cuddle and snuggle, which gives some guys the wrong idea. Then when I don’t want to go further and take off the clothes, that’s when they got angry. Of course, Ah didn’t trust them enough at that time to get that far, the losin’ the clothes bit that is.”

Rene yawned. Despite his assurance yesterday to Doctor Hiiragi and the Captain he would be fit for duty in a day or two, he realized that it would probably be about a week before he was fully recovered. "Do me one last favor? Mind staying here until I fall asleep." He yawned a second time. "Probably won't take long at this rate."

Reaching out and gently draping an arm across his midsection, avoiding where the bullet had hit, Jenna sidled up to him and placed her head on his shoulder to use it as a pillow, even though she was on the outside of the blanket, “Ah could use a bit of a nap myself if Ah dare say so myself, besides, Ah’m off today, remember?”

Rene’s eyelids were growing heavier by the second. His voice little more than a tired whisper. "Mmhm. Bright side is you could honestly tell Minerva...that we...slept...together." He drifted off as he finished speaking.

She smiled as his breathing became moderate and regular, "Indeed." She whispered, already coming up with how she could get one over on her friend, this would be fun.