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[He goes behind his desk, pulls two glasses and a bottle from his bottom drawer, puts it all on the table and sits on the couch before pouring two drinks.]

When do they expect to figure it out? And what were the choices for what they can do with you?

Give me back a ship, find a different position... they're looking to find a way of keeping her commission, a lie of how she isn't dead.

( part of her feels guilty for being torn about this, strange when starfleet has always been her dream. that hasn't changed but these are circumstances she never could have expected )

They want me out there, keeping how I'm really here a secret.

[He knows that isn't what she wanted, but Pike figured it was the easiest explanation and the one command was going to take.]

Do you want to be out there?

It feels strange to say that I don't know but this situation isn't my normal one.

( in her normal situation she wanted nothing more than to be in starfleet, to be out there. but she'd been thrown into circumstances she only partially knew and she at least needed some time )

I could do it, it wouldn't be difficult but... it's not really my life. Which isn't really anything, I could figure out everything I needed, I could do the job... but there are things I'd miss.

( she herself hadn't yet said goodbye to him, hadn't gotten ready to move on as a captain. she could do it but she wasn't there yet to leave him )

Fair enough.

[Then he pours two drinks and leans back on the sofa.]

You'd be good at the job, and if you're anything like her you should have had your own command years ago, even if I would've missed you.

[It's actually nice to be able to say things like that out loud now.]

It doesn't need to be a ship-board posting. I needed a break after Talos. It would stand to reason that you would too, after being left wherever they decide to say you were left for two years.

( she smiles at the compliment even if she doesn't comment on it. starfleet had been trying to give her her own command for years, had tried promoting her multiple times but she'd turned them down each time. he wasn't the reason, no matter how she felt about him he'd never been the reason that she'd hung on. not in how feelings might be interpreted, anyway.

but he was right. she didn't have to go back out there to do something, there were many things she could do, right? )

You're right. After 'being dead' for two years, after whatever story they come up with... having a break would probably be sensible. Medical would feel better about it. ( she did not look forward to the therapist they were going to send her to ) Something planet based might work better.

At least for a while. Besides, all the current ships have commanders.

[He'd like to say she's welcome to stay again, but after letting her know he wasn't throwing her out it might seem like a bit much.]

It doesn't have to be forever, just for right now.

Well right now I like that option. As well as getting over 'being dead' it'll give me time to catch up on a history I'm supposed to know.

( especially anything she could dig up that he didn't know. being planet based would also be more helpful to her in trying to find a way back to her own universe )

I'm back with them tomorrow, it'll probably come up.

I can help, if I can. You might also want to talk to Commander Noonien-Singh and Admiral Cornwell. Did you know them?

[At this point he doesn't know who she'd know back home. Spock didn't know her here so other relationships might be different too.]

Are they going to give you a real break tomorrow?

Maybe I'll get them to order food in this time.

( which showed her faith in a small conversation but nothing about this was a small conversation. but really, the quicker the bulk of it was done the better especially if she wasn't frustrated going forward )

When was La'an promoted?

( good for her. though did they meet in the same way here or had la'an been afforded a better life? )

About the same time she was--you were, give or take a month or two.

[He needed to get used to treating them like the same person, instead of two different women.]

Thought about having her teach the cadets about security, but they might all quit after lesson seven.

I'd have counted on at least half dropping out before then.

( as tough as la'an's lessons were ghey did prepare you well whether security was the end goal or not )

I'll check in with them... though Kat might take me a minute.

( her turn to be on the bearer of bad news side )

Probably more than that. Most of them value their free periods.

[But he's very much amused.]

What happened to Kat?

( if the pause she has at the question doesn't tell him that it wasn't good her expression will )

It's better you don't know, Chris.

( too much happened to kat and none of it was the good she deserved )

If I do take an Earth-based position ( not at all changing the subject ) it can't be at the Academy. I don't teach.

( not obviously. she's a more subtle guiding hand )

[He could fill in what happened, it seemed like the same kind of dancing around it he did when they first met each other in the hospital.]

I'm sorry.

[He leans back on the sofa, drink still in hand thinking.]

The Academy wouldn't be good. Though you might be a fun guest lecturer. There are some open Captain level positions at command, and there're always the shipyards. Maybe you can help with the computer systems. Everything's getting enhanced with better voice control.

[Wouldn't that be something, every ship would sound like Una.]

A guest lecture on jumping departments?

( always the joke but at least she's making it this time. but una does have a lot she can talk about whether it's engineering, helm, or just general space experiences. and those would definitely be the more interesting lectures )

I can't say I've ever thought about it before, being on a ship was the only thing before. But I'll definitely look into each of them. ( and no doubt they'd all try to win her over to them ) I won't be jumping quickly.

Most of the cadets don't think they can, whatever they pick in the academy is going to be what they're stuck with forever.

[Which is far from the truth, but cadets get their minds set on the way things work and just stick with it.]

Being on a planet isn't all bad, and I'd never thought I'd say this but it's nice to be in one place for a little while. It actually makes me feel like I have a life outside of Starfleet sometimes.

Words I never thought either of us would say.

( and that's definitely the scary part. their lives are so different to what una knows but somehow, and it's absolutely because he's here, she's not that frightened by it. if he's with her she figures she can adjust and make something new )

Do you miss the stars, being out there?

I do. But I needed the stability for a while. The academy position's temporary for a few years, then rumor has it, I should have a ship waiting for me.

[What ship that is, he has no idea but that's what's supposed to happen.]

They wanted to make me an Admiral after Talos, I told them no. I'm not ready to be stuck on a planet permanently.

It seems like they're not ready to lose either of us yet.

( which was good, certainly on chris's side, he was too good of an officer and a captain to lose. and she was glad that he hadn't taken that promotion )

What's the estimate of when the ship will be ready?

Two to three years. That's when the other captains are either going to be ready to retire or the new Flagship's done.

[Honestly, he's glad they're not ready to let either of them go. He couldn't imagine what Una would do without being in space.]

Working on the flagship could also be an idea, in its construction somewhere.

( he had mentioned enhancing computer systems earlier, they'd want the flagship to be its best and it was something for her to think about. whether or not she held something unique from her own universe it'd be good to get stuck in )

I think by tomorrow it might be wise to have an idea rather than leave it down to just their decisions.

That's a good idea. You could put all that engineering know-how to good use.

[And honestly, he'd feel better about using the ship if Una was involved somehow.]

Though you're right. If we have a plan you'd be less likely to get three years of space garbage duty.

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