Thick and Thin
Posted on April 20th, 2016 by Kathryn Harper and Alexis Wright

by Alexis Wright and Kathryn Harper

Having been fully cleared for duty by Dr. Endilev based on her rapid progress following her psychedelic therapy, Kathryn Harper found her life returning toward some semblance of normality. At least, it had been, until Admiral Blackthorne had left her in command of the Atlantis while he and Captain T’Kirr were away. While things had been fairly routine in the days since the resolution of the crisis on Herschel Station, command of the ship was certainly still a source of stress that she looked forward to handing back to the Admiral. Overall, though, her life had greatly improved compared to the lonely, miserable nights spent in alcoholic stupor.

Throughout the entirety of her descent into self-destructive anguish over the loss of her pilots and the subsequent therapeutic healing process, Lexy had been there for her, despite Kate’s initial efforts to push her away. During her recovery, Kate had striven to repair whatever damage she had caused to their relationship and had met with encouraging success, but guilt still lingered within her for how she had treated her lover. As a result, she now found herself actually nervous as if for a first date, pacing her quarters while she waited for Lexy to arrive for this long-overdue date night.

Every few moments, Kate anxiously smoothed and adjusted her strapless sleek black dress, but the door chime mercifully interrupted the twenty-third trip into to the bedroom mirror to check her hair. “Come in!” she answered excitedly.

The door opened to reveal a shyly smiling Lexy, delicious in a plum chiffon A-line halter top dress that fell to her knees and tied at the waist, her toes peeking out of her sandals and her chestnut hair falling in loose waves over her exposed shoulders. In her hands, she held a smallish package wrapped with precision in festive paper and ribbons. Her smile broadened when she saw Kate’s lithe, athletic figure sheathed in black. Stepping inside to allow the door to close behind her, she set the gift on a convenient table. “How do you always manage to look so gorgeous?” she inquired in mock frustration complete with hands on hips.

“On Risa, we are trained in looking gorgeous from a very early age,” Kate quipped as her eyes feasted upon Lexy’s lovely form, “but you, having had no such training, manage it so effortlessly!”

“This old thing? Oh, go on, you flatterer.” Lexy waved her hand dismissively, deciding with some quiet embarrassment not to mention the four hours of holodeck time and several dozen dresses it had taken to settle on this one. Instead, she crossed the room to look up at Kate with shining eyes. “Besides, this isn’t about me, Miss Birthday Girl in Command.” Rising up on her toes, she planted a quick, warm kiss on her lover’s lips.

“Mmmm,” Kate purred from the kiss, her nervousness starting to subside. “You know, I likely would not have even remembered my birthday if my parents had not called earlier today. Being in command is overrated.”

“And how are your lovely parents?” Lexy asked as they sat down to dinner. They passed the delectable meal in light but pleasant conversation about that and the events of the past few days. In a moment of companionable silence following dessert, Lexy retrieved her carefully wrapped package and presented it to Kate. “I’m… not sure if you’ll like this, but… Happy Birthday.” She sat down next to Kate, chewing anxiously at her lower lip as she waited for the gift to be opened.

With a smile, Kate accepted the gift and found Lexy’s eyes with her own. “Thank you. You did not have to go to the trouble. I do not even remember the last time I received a birthday gift.” It was certainly an oddity in a post-scarcity society; when anyone can replicate almost anything they want, gifts became less common but more personal.

Lexy shrugged self-consciously. “I love you, Kate,” she said in a soft voice, “and I know life has been tough lately. So I wanted to do something special for you.”

“Alright,” Kate nodded as she opened the package to reveal a meticulously detailed model of the Boudica, her fighter that was lost in the final battle of the Tzenkethi war. With a wistful smile at the little Mustang, Kate quietly said, “Thank you, Lexy. This means a lot.”

“Did I get it right? I looked at all the pictures I could find to paint all the details perfectly,” Lexy asked carefully, her eyes hopeful. “Did you look in the cockpit?”

Turning it over in her hands, Kate admired the hand-painted details. “Yes, it is perfect. It must have taken you hours!” She opened the fighter’s canopy and could not help giggling when she found a tiny version of herself at the controls. “It is me!”

Lexy giggled as well. “Of course! The Boudica just wasn’t complete without you.” She gave Kate a dazzling smile to stall as she mentally discarded all of the ridiculously sappy things her brain wanted to say before finally arriving at a rather lame, “I’m just really glad you like it.”

“She was a good ship and gave me everything she had to give.” Her eyes moistened a bit as she continued, “The Boudica saved my life and more. Having a memento of her is only right. Thank you so much, Lexy, I love it.” Kate placed the model on the table and pulled Lexy into a tight hug, overcome with memories of the fighter and everything linked to it, and also with gratitude for such a thoughtful gift.

Returning Kate’s sudden embrace, Lexy worried about the emotional shift her gift had created. “Are… are you okay? Was this too soon?”

“No, not at all,” Kate pulled back, offering a reassuring smile as she wiped at her eyes. “I am — well, I will be OK. Even Doctor Endilev thinks so. I just need a little time to sort myself out, but I will be alright.” With a gesture toward the model, she added, “Right now, looking at the Boudica makes me a little melancholy, but overall, I am touched at how thoughtful of a gift this is… especially after how I have treated you lately.”

That’s what love is, Lexy thought to herself, but simply smiled at Kate, not wanting to press the issue. “When I said that you have me now, I meant it, darling. On Earth, there’s an old expression – to be there through thick and thin. Are you familiar with that one?”

“No, but I think I get it,” Kate answered quietly as her melancholia was washed away by a wave of warm affection. “Thank you.”

Lexy bubbled with laughter. “Are you sure you want to thank me? It means you’re stuck with me!” She flung her arms around Kate and hugged her close. “I mean it, though,” she continued once the giggles had subsided, “You have me through thick and thin, and that’s a promise.” She punctuated her words with a kiss to the tip of Kate’s freckled nose.

“Lucky me! And what a wonderful birthday this is!” Kate pulled back and caught Lexy’s eyes as she flashed a mischievous grin. “But, maybe I have one more present to unwrap, yes?”

“Now that you mention it, I’ve always wanted to get a taste of command…” Lexy replied with feigned innocence and a coy smile, saucily beckoning the birthday girl toward the bedroom.

“Happy Birthday indeed!” Yes, Kate thought, things were definitely improving.