Office of Dr. Alisha Mercotti

At long last, Vinaara Ja found her way to the offices of a Dr. Alisha Mercotti. This same Dr. Mercotti would be interviewing her as a potential employee of the Red Dawn Medical Center. VJ was happy to notice that her anxiety had finally faded. She wasn't an anxious creature when push came to shove, but she never suffered anticipation well.  

As she stepped into the office, she noted how cozy the space looked. It actually looked livable, which was a vast improvement to some of the other places in which she worked. The Togrutan smiled and cleared her throat before introducing herself, "Ah, hello, Dr. Mercotti. I'm Vinaara Ja here for the interview..."

Vinaara Ja smiled and shook her head before taking a seat in one of the proffered chairs, "Ah, thank you but the caf would only make me jittery. As to your inquiry, I'm originally from Shili," she tried not wince as she spoke, "but I haven't lived there for a long time." To her relief, she managed to keep her voice steady and cordial. Renewing her smile, she continued, "I've been interested in medicine since leaving my planet; and, since I'm the diligent sort, I taught myself most of the skills I know. What I didn't teach myself, I learned from other doctors at various clinics where I freelanced and certified myself as a medical practitioner; but most of my practical experience comes from working as a medic aboard a ship known as the Starweird, where I've been employed for the past several years..."

Her voice faded there. She didn't know what else to say, so she figured that she'd let this Dr. Mercotti probe as she liked.

Ali had just left the security center in the lower levels of the RDMC, stopping only to check on a few of her patients and chatting with them a few moments before finally making her way to her office. As she neared the door, she felt a presence she hadn't felt in a year, though it was somewhat brighter than before. Coming to a halt in the middle of the hallway, she stared at the closed door. It couldn't be, could it? What was he doing here? What did he want? Did he think he could just waltz back into her life after leaving without so much as an explanation? Of all the....

Closing her eyes, she took a few calming breaths centering herself, her short flare of anger subsiding for the time being. She would listen to what he had to say. She owed herself that much, to get some kind of closure on the situation. Opening her eyes again, she took the last few steps to the door then entered the room when it swished open. There he was leaning against her desk looking freshly showered and dressed. She couldn't decide whether to hug him or punch him, or both, so instead her hazel eyes quickly swept over him from head to toe as she took in his appearance. He looked a bit more muscled than when she had last seen him but still just as handsome as ever. Dammit why did he have to look so good? It would've helped if he looked more like a scruffy nerf herder than a model that had just stepped out of the pages of some holomag.

Pursing her lips slightly, she met his gaze. In her mind she had worked out, months ago, what she would say to him if she ever saw him again, but all of that went flying out the window the moment she entered the office and laid eyes on him. The only word she could muster at the moment came out in a soft low tone. "Ares...."

Ali could see the pain and torment in his eyes when he spoke her name. Upon hearing his voice, a voice she hadn't heard in a year, she felt her defenses begin to crumble. He had closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before opening them again and pushing himself away from the desk. Standing a few feet away from her, he began speaking softly. When he glanced back at her, she could see the sadness etched on his handsome face. She had to fight the urge to close the distance between them when he sighed and continued on with his explanation. She stood silently listening to him speak of a curse on his family and how he was supposedly going to die because of the curse. Had he always known this or did he find this out when they were on Umgul? Was this the thing that had made him distance himself from her after their return? No, there had to be more to it than this family curse, she thought to herself as she listened to his voice.

When he finished speaking he shook his head almost as if he, himself, didn't believe what he'd just told her. Ali had a feeling that he did believe at least some of it though. She remained quiet for a moment or two, studying him and contemplating what he'd just told her. She had learned over the years to not doubt anyones feelings and intuitions about certain things and she didn't doubt Ares' now. If he even partially believed in his family's curse then there was most likely some kind of proof to back it up. She'd never known him to lie to her so she knew he'd never make something that serious up. The thing that hurt her the most, possibly even more than his year long absence, was that he hadn't opened up and shared his fears and suspicions with her. Now he was standing in front of her telling her some of them and leaving himself open to her ridicule or acceptance.

She took a deep breath and let it out as she glanced out the window then looked back to him. All of the anger she'd felt before suddenly vanished as her hazel eyes met his blue ones. Her voice held the same soft tone as before when she spoke. "Did you think I wouldn't believe you or stand by you, Ares? Did you think that you had to face this all alone?"

She inquired, shrugging out of the white lab coat that she wore and taking her time smoothing it over the back of her chair. Taking a step toward him, she folded her arms across her chest as she tilted her head to the side a little her eyes searching his. "I learned long ago to take things like, visions, prophecies, and yes even apparent curses seriously....even if they don't come to fruition. I'm a big girl, I could've handled it if you had just told me what was going on. We could've figured out how to deal with it together."

She paused a moment, trying in vain to stamp down her emotions, as she glanced away from him while she gathered her thoughts. Looking back to him she sighed softly. "I just don't know where I stand with you anymore, Ares, and it upsets me because I still love you, dammit!"

The words tumbled out before she could stop herself. Clenching her jaw at the realization of what she'd said, she abruptly turned away and walked to the window resting a hand on the cool thick glass as she stared out at the city not really seeing anything in particular.

"I still love you...."

She repeated the words in a low hoarse tone, knowing at that moment they were probably the most truthful thing she'd ever uttered in her life. She was still in love with him even after he'd vanished for a year without so much as a goodbye - and now he was back and it left her wondering if he still felt the same way she did....

All of her resolve and resistance was forgotten the second he slid an arm around her waist, and with his other hand covered hers that was braced against the window. His confession that he indeed still loved her, and was still in love with her, as he turned her around to face him caused her look up and see the raw emotion in his eyes when their gazes met. When he placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her, all rhyme and reason fled her mind as she let her hands glide up his chest to his shoulders then to finally come to rest gently on the sides of his neck. Returning the kiss with a fervor equal to his own, she momentarily lost herself in the landslide of emotions until somewhere in the back of her mind it clicked that they were still in her office where anyone could happen upon them at any time. Reluctantly breaking off the kiss, she rested her head against his chest speaking a little breathlessly. "Ares....chéri....wait....we shouldn't...."

She made the mistake of looking up into his eyes again seeing his love, and need, for her and feeling the same for him. Realizing that this was not the time for conversation, not until they sated their need for each other after being apart for so long, she shook her head slightly while giving in to the moment. "Ah, the hell with it...." She muttered with a wave of her hand toward the door, which could be heard locking with a soft click, as their lips met again.

She laughed softly when he picked her up and turned toward the desk. With a sweep of his hand everything went flying to the floor as he laid her down on the smooth surface, but at that point she didn't care where the contents of the desk went as long as it wasn't on the desk anymore and impeding their progress. All she cared about right now, was this man. This man that made her feel more cherished, alive, and loved than anyone had ever made her feel before. Soon enough clothing was tossed aside thrown to the floor to join the scattered items from the desk.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later on they lay in each others arms on the couch relishing the close contact. Idly, Ali softly traced random patterns on Ares' chest with a forefinger while she listened to the strong steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. Sighing inwardly with love and contentment, she knew that eventually they would have to return to the previous conversation but for now she was quite comfortable just being close to him. Closing her eyes, her finger still tracing his chest, she stretched a leg over his and reveled in the moment.

When he spoke her name her eyes opened as she stopped the tracing movement of her finger and raised up a little on the elbow of her other arm to look him in the eyes with a lazy smile. What he said next caused her pause momentarily. She wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly at first. Raising herself up, so that she was looking down at him, her eyebrows shot up in shock and surprise when she saw the serious look on his face and then knew that she had actually heard him just ask her to marry him.

"Ares....I...."

She was temporarily left speechless by the question as her mind raced with questions of her own. Was she in love with him? Yes. Did she ever want to get married? Yes. Did she ever really expect him to propose? No. She wanted to ask him if he was sure but the look on his face, all the love and emotion there, told her that he was. Leaning back, she pushed her hair behind her ear, her eyes sparkling with everything she felt.

"Yes."

She murmured softly before suddenly sprawling her body over his, her hands on either side of his face as she kissed him lovingly. "Yes, Ares Solaris, I'll marry you! Now! Today! Tomorrow! Whenever we get around to it!"

She couldn't contain herself, she was laughing and crying at the same time while raining kisses over his face and lips. Growing more serious again, she rose up a little so she could see his eyes. "I'll. Marry. You." Her voice was soft as she enunciated every word, conveying everything she felt right at that moment. Smiling, she kissed him more lingeringly this time while her fingers toyed with the hair at his temples.

She smiled against his lips before he pulled back declaring that she'd made him the happiest man. He kissed her forehead with affection then rolled them both over on the couch so that he was above her. After their lips met once more, she watched with a smile as he got up and started gathering up their clothes that were strewn about the room. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she reached over and plucked her undergarments from a nearby chair and wiggled into them while he was still collecting the rest of their clothing.

He had pulled on his boxers and pants then came back over to hand her the rest of her clothes. She had quickly pulled the scrub shirt over her head when he sat down beside her. Reaching into the pocket of his pants, he pulled out a beautiful ring while looking at her lovingly and speaking softly, telling her that he was going to ask her when they had returned from Umgul or even a few weeks after, but had never gotten to it until now. She'd smiled in understanding, knowing that he'd had a lot on his mind after that trip and didn't hold it against him for not asking then. In truth, she probably wouldn't have been ready if he had asked then.

Now, even though she had already said to his proposal, she was still a little nervous with the excitement of it all when he slid the delicate band, inlaid with several gemstones, on her left ring finger. It fit perfectly, much to her delight. She quietly pondered on how he knew her ring size, but quickly pushed that thought to the back of her mind when he asked her about how much trouble did she think he was in with her mother. Ali was silent for a moment, inwardly trying to not laugh aloud at the somewhat apprehensive look on his face. She wasn't sure why he seemed a little scared of Jena, but it rather amused her that he was. Sure Jena could be strong willed and opinionated at times, but that was just who she was.

Standing up, Ali pulled on the pair of scrub pants he'd handed her then moved to stand between his knees. Gently cupping his face between her hands, she gave him a quick kiss then looked into his eyes. "Jena is harmless, chéri. The most she'll do is give you her opinion, and maybe give us a lecture....but ultimately she just wants to see us happy. Don't worry so much." She smiled reassuringly as she ran her fingers through his hair, her hands coming to rest at the nape of his neck.

Ares still looked a little nervous, leaving Ali to wonder what was going on inside that head of his, but she didn't press the issue. He had come back to her and was confiding in her for the first time in a very long time. She wasn't about to stop him if he wanted to talk and get everything out in the open. She smiled when he said that Jena would give him a lecture instead of her and he could live with that.

He had stood up and put his shirt on then informed her that Ryan and Crystal had been trying to reach him during the past year, also. So he hadn't contacted them either, or hadn't gone to see them, as Ali had mistakenly assumed. Apparently when he decided to disappear he did it right and disappeared from everyone and everything. Now it was her turn to look a bit apprehensive as he rested his forehead against hers while wrapping his arms around her. While they stood there holding on to one another, her mind wandered a bit. After he had left, she never thought about contacting Ryan and Crystal because she had thought he'd went back to Umgul. As the days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, then a year, she had thought he had left the planet when he'd disappeared since she hadn't been able to feel the connection they had once shared. He had left Honoghr hadn't he? Or had he blocked their connection not wanting her to feel what he was going through? That had to be it because she could feel the connection again, and had felt it just moments before walking into her office and seeing him there.

She was brought out of her reverie when he asked if it would be okay if he left for a little while to go to Umgul. They pulled back from each other at the same time while he looked down at her with a conflicted gaze. She instinctively knew by the look in his eyes, and before he even said anything, that he wanted to explain to his family, in person, his disappearance. She didn't want him to leave, not when he'd just barely returned, but she also knew that this was something that he needed to do. When he went on to say that if she wanted to go with him then she could, she gave him soft smile as she rested her hands on his chest with her eyes meeting his.

"I would be happy to go to Umgul with you, chéri. I can't let you face the music alone. I didn't think about it then because I was too busy feeling sorry for myself, but I should've contacted Ryan and Crystal when this first happened. Maybe we could've all gotten to the bottom of this, together."

She trailed the fingers of one hand gently over his cheek, all of the emotion she'd kept hidden over the last year showing in her eyes. Going up on tip toes, she gave him a long lingering kiss before pulling away to rest her head against his chest with a small groaning chuckle as she sensed Jena's nearing presence outside the office door. "I swear that woman has the worst timing...."

Jena had finished her patient rounds, dropped by the cafeteria for a bite to eat and was now walking down the hallway, past Alisha's office, to her own office. She slowed her pace a bit when she sensed another familiar aura, along with Ali's, nearby. It was then that Ali's office door opened and there stood Ares Solaris in the doorway. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she stopped about two feet from the entrance and looked Ares over momentarily as he spoke, and bowed respectfully, in greeting. There were many things she could say to him, wanted to say to him, for leaving Ali like he did but she refrained. This was not the time, nor the place, for confrontation with him. Besides, she didn't sense any anger or sadness from Ali over Ares' reappearance, so for her daughters sake she could hold her tongue until a more appropriate time.

Returning his bow, she straightened and met his gaze. "Ares....it's good to see you again. It's been a while. You look well." She mentally noted that his physical appearance had changed somewhat. He was a little more muscular, his aura a little brighter, and perhaps a little more confident. Though she wasn't quite sure about the latter, she could very well be reading his body language incorrectly but time would tell about that later.

Looking past him for a moment, she briefly met Ali's gaze with an affectionate smile before noticing the cleared desk and the items scattered on the floor. Folding her arms across her chest, she arched an eyebrow at both of them as she tilted her head slightly. "Spring cleaning, or did you just not like those particular items? Should I come back later when you two are done rearranging the furniture and office supplies?"

It was perfectly clear by their rumpled hair and clothing what had been going on, and Jena couldn't resist the urge to mess with them just a little bit. Especially when she could see the telltale blush rising in Ali's face.