Post 262: The Band Played On

Stardate:70628.1230
Title: The Band Played On
Author: February Grace
Scene: Arboretum/Seven Forward
Time: Following "As Blue As...Part Three"
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Seeing Captain Gilmore appear at the medals ceremony had been a shock to February's system. Unexpected, and unsettling. Though she was overjoyed to see that he was feeling well enough to be out of Sickbay, she still felt like she'd been sucker punched by the shock of the surprise. Even now she still felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

RJ looked so much better than the last time she'd seen him, which was comforting to say the least. He almost looked as well as he had the first time she had ever laid eyes on him.

That was nearly four years ago now, back on the Worthington. He was quite the figure of a man then- tall, rugged, handsome. Like the sailors of days gone by. Days that Grace remembered, if not its youthful host.

The wear of that assignment on Gilmore, the pain of his enduring leg injury and the weight of his memories had left him tired and changed since she'd first met him.

She had hoped that eventually, she'd be of some help to him in remembering who he'd been before he'd lost his way, and to a greater degree himself. After they'd last spoken, however, it seemed as if that wish was not to be.

She milled around in the arboretum until most everyone had gone. She stood at the back, watching the people file out, with her eyes fixed upon one person. Just as she was about to give up and leave, she observed the sight she'd been waiting for.

Vedek Jariel discovered the statue she'd placed here. The look on his face was all the confirmation she needed that she had done the right thing. She made her way out with the last of the people, as he looked around him, trying to figure out where the angel had come from.

[Zanh to Grace,]

"Yes, Sir?" February answered the hail as she entered the lift.

[I need you to take third shift for Science on the bridge tonight. Lt. Samson and the rest of the away team members are getting some extra time off.]

"Understood. I'll be there. Grace out." *Good,* February thought. *More work, less time to think.*

She kept moving toward the Seven Forward section of the ship; she had a promise to keep. Lily T'Ana had bolted from the arboretum as soon as the ceremony had ended to help Trick London greet people as they arrived for the reception. February had promised she would stop by and see how everything had turned out. She was so ill at ease in large groups of people, she didn't plan to stay.

By the time she reached Seven, the luncheon was in full swing. But there was still a feeling to the room that things were a bit off, somehow. Even though people were eating with gusto because most of them had been living on rations for the better part of a week, this wasn't really a party.

It was more of a chance for people to gather with their families and thank the away team members for their heroic actions. The atmosphere was subdued. To February, it felt more like a wake than anything else.

At some point, Trick had turned on soft, ambient music to help mask the fact that most of the conversations taking place were short-lived and muted.

February looked around for Lily, but she was nowhere to be seen. She was about to turn to go, with ideas of explaining to her friend later that she'd tried to find her without success, when she heard something that stopped her cold.

The piped-in music had stopped suddenly. Someone took a seat at the piano, and began to play.

February recognized the song instantly. She'd been replicating sheet music the other night, as she sat in the bar late after closing tinkering with a guitar. The song she heard now was one of the musical selections she'd chosen, but forgotten to take back to quarters with her when she was finished.

She looked up at the band alcove and saw Simon Biggs sitting at the keys of the small, upright piano. He was absorbed in what he was doing- so much so that he didn't see her at first when she came up to the stage. She nodded to him as she picked up a twelve-string acoustic.

He had played through the first verse of the song already and looked at her as if to ask if he should begin again.

"From the top, Simon," she whispered, unaware that people were gathering around, peeking into the bar area from the dining room.

"Got a package full of wishes, a time machine, a magic wand, a globe made out of gold." Simon started to sing the words as he played.

*Who knew Simon had a voice like this?* February thought.

"No instructions or commandments; laws of gravity, or indecisions to uphold," he continued.

February began to accompany him, strumming along, tapping her foot gently to keep time. When they reached the chorus, she heard the sound of a bass guitar joining the other instruments. She looked up and saw Lily T'Ana smiling at her. Lily had come up behind them and was reading the music over Simon's shoulder.

"Printed on the box I see, "Acme's 'build a world to be"; take a chance, grab a piece, help me to believe it. . ." Simon's voice wavered a little, and February moved to sit on the piano bench beside him. He stopped singing as the emotions of the past several days caught up to him, and she took over.

"What kind of world do you want? Think anything. Let's start at the start, build a masterpiece," February sang softly, "Be careful what you wish for- history starts now."

The trio continued playing, giving the song an acoustic treatment that was sweet, thoughtful, and moving to those who had come around to listen.

As the song wound down, instead of applauding the spectators stood there in silence. The words of the song swirling in their minds, as they wondered what the future would hold for them and for those who had suffered so greatly on Bajor.

The last note sounded and rang through the air as if sustained forever. Simon's foot finally released the pedal, and February set her guitar down. His hands rested on the keyboard in silence. He continued staring down at the keys, and February threw her arms around his shoulders and gave him a hug.

"It's okay, Simon." she whispered. He only managed two words in reply.

"Thanks, Bru."

Lily realized that everyone was still staring at them, and began to wonder what to do next. As she hoisted the bass guitar, strap and all back over her shoulders, she also realized that Sunshine the dog was sitting at her feet, tail swishing happily over the deck. He looked up at her and barked once, sharply.

"I think he wants an encore." The scientist declared with a nod, as people went back to their food and conversations. She watched February ruffle Biggs' hair affectionately, before she stood back up and returned her guitar to its stand.

"Can't. Extra duty shift. Got to go." She patted Biggs on the back. "See you later, Simon. We should do this again sometime."

"Time! Lily exclaimed, checking her chronometer. "Look at the time. I've got a shift soon too. I'll see you later then." Lily nodded to her two friends, observing that the Trill had dropped so much weight by this point that she looked like a wisp of air as she walked past. "But for heaven's sake, Bru. Before you go, eat something!"

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Lt. February Grace
Helm/Flight Controller
USS Independence NCC-90791

NRPG: Lyrics from "World" by Five For Fighting, from the album Two Lights.