Post 411: What Has To Be, Part One

Stardate:70825.0200
Title: What Has To Be; Part One
Author: Commander Dabin Reece
Scene: Various
Time: Immediately following "What Might Have Been"
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"You're right, February. It would be so easy."
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Dabin Reece let the doors to February's quarters slide shut, and ran. He wasn't surprised that old feelings between Tuli and Deveral were still there, what did surprise him was that the feelings he had right now were about Dabin and February, not just Reece and Grace. The more time they had spent together, the more he had grown closer to her then he had expected to, or intended to.

The truth was things between Dabin and Jaine Hood had not been right in a long time, and this vacation was to be a final Hail Mary pass to try and save things. Dabin had felt for a while that perhaps she just wasn't the type that really wanted to be in a relationship; with him, or anyone. Perhaps she just didn't want to hurt his feelings, and deep down he knew she felt the same way. They had argued the night before, and Dabin hadn't seen her since.

As Dabin had played guitar with February in her quarters, he kept thinking how right it felt to be with her, and how alike they were. Dabin and February were both quiet and reserved people but with deep passion that smolders below the surface. Each was at times overwhelmed by the extroverted nature of their symbionts, but there was no doubt in Dabin's mind at all that his feelings were his alone, and not a creation of Tuli's love for Deveral.

He had wanted so much to kiss her after their song had ended, but there were so many other factors in play. He hadn't wanted to take advantage of February's currently vulnerable state. He hadn't wanted to betray Jaine despite the fact that they were long since over, and he certainly didn't even want to think about the penalties that went along with Reassociation that Trill society would place on Grace and Reece if Dabin and February went ahead and acted on their desires.

Dabin returned to his assigned guest quarters... still no sign of Jaine. He flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling in the dark. He noticed he had a message waiting for him. It was from Jaine, text only.

[Dabin, I have departed the Independence to seek out new opportunities to help people. I think we both want this and know it's for the best. Vedek Jariel gave me the names of a few charitable organizations that need help, so I'll be looking into those. Take care Dabin, you deserve all the happiness in the world.]

"Jaine, why couldn't you have told me that before I said goodbye to February?" he said to the ceiling. As he laid there, staring at the ceiling, regretting not kissing February like he wanted to, sleep slowly enveloped him.

*Don't ever let me go, Dabin.*

The sight and voice of February Grace filled Dabin's dreams. He tossed and turned, but her voice was still there, calling for him to not leave her, over and over again. Dabin tried to silence her voice by reminding himself of the penalty for Reassociation, and how vulnerable February was after her zhian'tara. He tossed and turned as the sound of her voice became louder in his head, eventually drowning out his own. At last he woke up, sitting straight up in the bed. He looked around the room, expecting to see her there, but it was still empty...

"Just a dream Dabin, that's all it is." He said to himself again.

But then, from Reece, came her voice crystal clear once again.

*Don't ever let me go.*

It WAS her, she WAS calling him... he knew it had to be. Dabin leapt to his feet and ran from his quarters. Rigin was in guest quarters on the same deck. Dabin rang the chime... once, then twice, then banged on the door.

"RIGIN WAKE UP!!!"

Still no answer.

"Computer override lock on these doors, authorization Reece 81807."

Rigin was sound asleep with what looked like earplugs in, which would explain why he hadn't heard Dabin pounding on the door. Dabin stepped to the replicator.

"Water, 1 degree centigrade."

The computer chirped and a glass appeared. Dabin picked it up, dipped his fingers in it, and flung a few drops in Rigin's face. Rigin whimpered, and began snoring again.

"I don't have time for this."

Dabin threw the whole glass in Rigin's face, and he awoke with a scream, wiping the water out of his eyes.

"Who's there? I'll call security!"

"Its me, Dabin. I need to ask you something."

"Now?"

"Yes, now. Listen carefully. Is it possible for a telepathic link to remain between two joined Trills after the zhian'tara?"

"Well yes, it is extremely rare however, and only the result of a deep-seated attraction that already exists between the two hosts... Wait."

"Thanks, that is all I wanted to know."

"Dabin you can't-"

Rigin tried to protest what Dabin was suggesting, but it was too late, he was already gone.

*Don't ever let me go Dabin.*

Dabin ran through the corridors of the Independence, his heart racing and his feet pounding against the deck.

*I hear you, I'm coming February, hear me.*

He pushed his way past several confused crew members, before finally arriving at her quarters. He rang the chime, and called her name.

She released the lock and the doors opened. Dabin stumbled, sweating and short of breath into her quarters. She was sitting on the edge of her bed.

"I can't stop seeing... everywhere I look I see... I swear, I heard you calling me, I felt..." Dabin stammered, wondering if he sounded insane.

He sat down beside her. He could tell by the weary look in her eyes that she had barely gotten any sleep, either.

"Did you mean what you said before?" she whispered, "That it would be easy for you too, to want me? To fall in love with me?"

"February," he whispered, touching her face, "I've already fallen in love with you."

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Dabin Reece
Science Officer
USS Independence

NRPG: OMG! What can I say, Dabin was supposed to be just a guest poster, but he couldn't help falling in love with Bru during all the events surrounding her zhian'tara. Now he wants to stay here with her.... now he has to ask Zanh Liis if she'll let him stay *gulp* ~D.R.