...At the Sight of their own Blood - Part Eight

Posted on Thu Mar 19th, 2020 @ 10:17am by Commander Ennis Cullen & Commander Hsirr Duval & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard / USS Heart of the Tiger
Timeline: 0945Hrs - July 22nd, 2393

Cullen watched Lieutenant LaSteel depart his office when suddenly, the com system beeped at him. "Bridge to Sickbay. Doctor Cullen, someone on Starbase Vanguard would like a word with you."

Cullen nodded his head in resignation. "Yeah, go ahead and route the call down here, also make it as private and secure. I would like to not be bothered while I am talking to my wife, she and I have much to discuss."

"How did you know it was your wife?" came the response from the Caitian female on the bridge.

"I'm telepathic like that," Cullen answered in a rather dry tone of voice as he tapped the display. "Thanks, Hsirr." and his wife's face appeared a moment later. Cullen took in the visage of his wife's face a moment, her blue eyes were stormy and she looked downright angry, she was trying to control herself as Cullen smiled. "Hey lass, we must talk."

"Yes Ennis, we must. Why didn't you call me first?" Yamaguchi-Cullen inquired of him.

"I assumed something bad had happened and I was wanting to protect you from what happened," Cullen responded. "But you're right, I should have called first."

"Ennis, I didn't tell you about Paul and what happened that night because from my perspective, it was a very long time ago and I had moved on," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained quietly. "He was nothing less than a perfect gentleman with me at all times. My siblings can back that statement up, mom loved having him around as he often spent more time helping her around the house than with me, at times. Mom would even joke about it from time to time." Yamaguchi-Cullen paused a moment. "He was seeing her more then he was seeing me and you know better then most, what my mom is like."

"Aye lass, I do." Cullen sighed.

"Mom knew he and I were having sex, she trusted me to make my own choices but she cautioned me against rushing in," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained. "She wanted me and Paul to take our time and develop our relationship. What she or I didn't expect was for me to become pregnant with Saki, especially at the same time mom became pregnant with Paul and Tressa. All of this was after she had come to terms with Diamond." she sighed as she was referring to her youngest two siblings who were now closing in on five years of age thanks to the same temporal anomaly that had ensnared Rachael and her party.

Cullen sighed. "I never asked where Saki came from..."

"There was nothing to discuss as Paul and I had our relationship and when we were separated due to time and distance, I learned to live with the fact that I was a teenaged mom. Then I got ensnared in that anomaly where I knew that unless we were rescued. I'd never see him again and by the time we were rescued, Saki was eight and I was twenty-three. I had long since moved on from Paul." she sighed softly. "I never expected to see him ever again, until this morning. Turns out he's assigned on the Starbase. Also, Gyce is back on the base too."

"Your reunion with both was ruined then," Cullen answered. "Ach, I'm sorry lass." as he shook his head.

Yamaguchi-Cullen knew she would gain nothing by flogging her husband repeatedly as she had already made her point. "Don't worry about it... Hows Saki doing?"

"She's at home. I hope she's asleep but knowing her, she's working on something... She is more like you then you know." Cullen answered with a smile. "She gave the JAG officer assigned here a good raking over the coals for something the Lieutenant said. Saki beat me to it."

"What?" Yamaguchi-Cullen inquired, an amused smile on her face. "What happened?"

"Lieutenant LaSteel said something she really shouldnt'a done and Saki spanked her for it, you would have been proud of her, she's maturing very well and she's becoming more responsible over time. But... I am concerned that she's not able to be a child... She doesn't like having fun as she'd rather be working... on something, hell anything that suits her interests." Cullen explained. "Sarah helps and so does Daniel, both are able to help her relax and blow off steam."

"I understand." Yamaguchi-Cullen paused. "I was like that, at her age. How's everyone else.?"

"Sarah is doing very well, she is keeping a close eye on Saki but that's nothing new. The twins are being demanding but that too, is nothing new either," he added. "Olivia is fighting off a cold and she's here in sickbay, being watched by a nurse while Anthony is at home, being looked after by Saki. Daniel is learning math quicker then Sarah did at his age, almost faster then I can teach him. All in all, everyone is good and the cats are getting really big now. I think Saki connects with them better than anyone else as they both like her more than anyone else. She has taken over their feeding and grooming full time and I think Sarah feels left out."

"I can't say I really blame her. For feeling left out, I mean." Yamaguchi-Cullen responded quietly. "I had best get back to work, my squadron commander needs to be briefed and I have paperwork to finish." she paused. "But Ennis, next time something stupid happens with my name on it, call me first okay?"

"Aye lass, I'll do that." Cullen nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then I'll say no more on the subject and consider the issues resolved and dealt with..." Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled. "I love you Ennis and I miss you."

"Aye. I miss yee as well, I know the kids do too. I'll give them your love. They send theirs." Cullen smiled as he regarded his wife.

Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled warmly at him. "Till next time, Yamaguchi-Cullen out." and with that, the screen went black as Cullen smiled, before he turned and went back to his work, knowing that he had dodged a major bullet. It had been a rather expensive lesson for him in how to deal with women, especially his wife but he knew Rachael did not hold grudges which were good for them both.