Past Aquaintances [Gavin/Thelos/Leela]

[Mess Hall]

Leela had been aboard the Phoenix for two days and to that point she hadn't seen anything but her quarters and main engineering. This ship was a lot smaller then the Enterprise. She decided it was time to be social and try to meet someone new. So she headed to the mess hall, naturally, given the lack of night life aboard the Phoenix. No bars, clubs, not even a game of checkers to be found.

Leela approached the mess hall doors and they slid open. As she entered the mess hall she took a moment to look around. She was eager to see if there was someone she could strike up a conversation with. She decided the first course of action should be to grab a cup of tea. She made her way to the replicator. "Vulcan tea blend number 23A; Hot." Her beverage materialized nada she picked it up. As she turned around to face the tables she caught a familiar glance in her peripheral vision. A tall lanky man sat in the corner table with an Andorian. It took her a moment to place the memory, after all sometimes she thinks people look familiar and realize its a 300 year old memory. Gavin? She thought. What the hell...

[Mess Hall]

"And so Terise barely lost out in the final rounds of the Carrington voting," Gavin said, pouring a bit more apple juice from the little carafe that sat in the middle of their table. Thelos was in the seat next to him, the couple having found a bit of free time in the day...something which sometimes was as rare as a down pillow made from the Great Bird. "I guess better luck next year. Though...I mean, if she'd won, then there'd be no question as to who the favorite child was. Me screwing up my gig as a medical officer, and my sister winning the Carrington?" He reached over, his fingertips brushing the top of Thelos' hand. "So...how was your day?"

Gavin tipped back the glass of juice, taking a sip and glancing around the room. There was the usual mix of off-duty officers, and those just getting ready to go on. He saw Davis from Engineering, laughing it up with Sheeran from Flight...the Abolses, T'Mir sitting off by herself, his ex-girlfriend from Freshman year at the Academy, and...

Wait. What!

His eyes immediately shot back to confirm what his brain was telling him, a small spray of apple juice spritzing out involuntarily as he saw that, yes, indeed, it was Leela Kaz. Unfortunately, a fair amount of juice went down his throat, sending him into a fit of coughing.

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

[Mess Hall]

"And so Terise barely lost out in the final rounds of the Carrington voting," Gavin said, pouring a bit more apple juice from the little carafe that sat in the middle of their table.  Thelos was in the seat next to him, the couple having found a bit of free time in the day...something which sometimes was as rare as a down pillow made from the Great Bird.  "I guess better luck next year.  Though...I mean, if she'd won, then there'd be no question as to who the favorite child was.  Me screwing up my gig as a medical officer, and my sister winning the Carrington?"  He reached over, his fingertips brushing the top of Thelos' hand.  "So...how was your day?"

Gavin tipped back the glass of juice, taking a sip and glancing around the room.  There was the usual mix of off-duty officers, and those just getting ready to go on.  He saw Davis from Engineering, laughing it up with Sheeran from Flight...the Abolses, T'Mir sitting off by herself, his ex-girlfriend from Freshman year at the Academy, and...

Wait.  What!

His eyes immediately shot back to confirm what his brain was telling him, a small spray of apple juice spritzing out involuntarily as he saw that, yes, indeed, it was Leela Kaz.  Unfortunately, a fair amount of juice went down his throat, sending him into a fit of coughing.

[Mess Hall]

They made eye contact from across the room. I knew I should of looked at that crew roster. Leela smiled in his direction and waved. She hadn't seen Gavin since the end of freshman year. She made her way to the table in the corner. Truth be told Leela was immediately relieved; a familiar face in a sea of unfamiliarity.

As she approached the table she noticed Gavin coughing. "Gav? Are you okay?" She laughed and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Leela continued to laugh knowing full and well that he was probably just as surprised as she was at this chance encounter. Millions of miles away from they met. She just handled the surprise better.

Leela Kaz wrote:

They made eye contact from across the room. I knew I should of looked at that crew roster. Leela smiled in his direction and waved. She hadn't seen Gavin since the end of freshman year. She made her way to the table in the corner. Truth be told Leela was immediately relieved; a familiar face in a sea of unfamiliarity.

As she approached the table she noticed Gavin coughing. "Gav? Are you okay?" She laughed and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Leela continued to laugh knowing full and well that he was probably just as surprised as she was at this chance encounter. Millions of miles away from they met. She just handled the surprise better.

"I...think...I...have," Gavin replied, struggling between coughs and wheezes. Apple juice certainly did burn going down the wrong way. He flinched at the feeling of Leela's hand on his shoulder, his cheeks coloring a blush of pink. Amazing, he thought. Leela freakin' Kaz! Of all the starships in all the quadrants...

Gavin finally got ahold of himself after a few more hacks and coughs. "Um...wow. I'm sorry, Lee, I just...wow. I didn't expect to see you," he said, by way of the understatement of the century. "I heard you'd been assigned to the Big E herself!" Not that I'd been keeping up, or anything, he thought, but it was too late to backtrack.

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

"I...think...I...have," Gavin replied, struggling between coughs and wheezes.  Apple juice certainly did burn going down the wrong way.  He flinched at the feeling of Leela's hand on his shoulder, his cheeks coloring a blush of pink.  Amazing, he thought.  Leela freakin' Kaz!  Of all the starships in all the quadrants...

Gavin finally got ahold of himself after a few more hacks and coughs.  "Um...wow.  I'm sorry, Lee, I just...wow.  I didn't expect to see you," he said, by way of the understatement of the century.  "I heard you'd been assigned to the Big E herself!"  Not that I'd been keeping up, or anything, he thought, but it was too late to backtrack.

Leela laughed as she searched for words... "The Big E... I don't think I've ever heard it called that." Leela then realized her hand was still on his shoulder and she could feel Gavin squirming so she removed her hand without a word. "Yeah, Captain Picard needed a power distribution specialist and who better then someone who designed starships in a past life." Leela paused. "Captain Picard spoke with me via subspace a month before graduation because he had an intense need in Engineering. He spoke with the director of the academy and told her; 'What is Kaz going to learning the next month that she hasn't learned in the last 200 years.' I was on the Enterprise the following week."

Leela was so happy to see Gavin it had been too long and Gavin always made her smile. He was so awkward and child-like but so strong and intelligent and it was all wrapped in to a tall, lanky, quirky package. "So how about you Gav? What are you up to these days?"

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela laughed as she searched for words... "The Big E... I don't think I've ever heard it called that." Leela then realized her hand was still on his shoulder and she could feel Gavin squirming so she removed her hand without a word. "Yeah, Captain Picard needed a power distribution specialist and who better then someone who designed starships in a past life." Leela paused. "Captain Picard spoke with me via subspace a month before graduation because he had an intense need in Engineering. He spoke with the director of the academy and told her; 'What is Kaz going to learning the next month that she hasn't learned in the last 200 years.' I was on the Enterprise the following week."

Leela was so happy to see Gavin it had been too long and Gavin always made her smile. He was so awkward and child-like but so strong and intelligent and it was all wrapped in to a tall, lanky, quirky package. "So how about you Gav? What are you up to these days?"

Thelos had been quietly enjoying Gavin's rambling side of the conversation. While he could just as easily be just as verbal, sometimes he just liked to be silent, sip his juice and laugh along. It made him happy, either way, being with Gavin. He was so wrapped up in listening that he totally missed his boyfriend's brief glance in another direction.

The situation quickly lost its humor and peace when Gavin started coughing and choking. Before Thelos could even react, however, a woman he didn't know- and wasn't even in a medical uniform- had rushed over. He was about to say something, but Gavin appeared to not only be alright but seemed to know this Trill.

For the sake of politeness, he didn't interrupt their little re-acquainting session. Old friends, maybe? The Andorian internally shrugged. It certainly seemed that way. After a little bit, however, he spoke up. "I, er... appear to be the odd one out, here. You are?" he queried, politely.

Thelos th'Zhela wrote:

Thelos had been quietly enjoying Gavin's rambling side of the conversation. While he could just as easily be just as verbal, sometimes he just liked to be silent, sip his juice and laugh along. It made him happy, either way, being with Gavin. He was so wrapped up in listening that he totally missed his boyfriend's brief glance in another direction.

The situation quickly lost its humor and peace when Gavin started coughing and choking. Before Thelos could even react, however, a woman he didn't know- and wasn't even in a medical uniform- had rushed over. He was about to say something, but Gavin appeared to not only be alright but seemed to know this Trill.

For the sake of politeness, he didn't interrupt their little re-acquainting session. Old friends, maybe? The Andorian internally shrugged. It certainly seemed that way. After a little bit, however, he spoke up. "I, er... appear to be the odd one out, here. You are?" he queried, politely.

At this point Leela was still oblivious to the fact that they were in a relationship. She had noticed Gavin acting awkward but she was accustomed to that. He always seemed a little odd. Truthfully, Leela had always found it endearing. "Oh my apologies. I was so excited to see Gav. Ensign Leela Kaz, I'm new aboard. I work in engineering. I was just transferred over from the Enterprise." Leela extended her hand for a handshake. A tradition that she had become accustomed to over the decades.

Leela Kaz wrote:

At this point Leela was still oblivious to the fact that they were in a relationship. She had noticed Gavin acting awkward but she was accustomed to that. He always seemed a little odd. Truthfully, Leela had always found it endearing. "Oh my apologies. I was so excited to see Gav. Ensign Leela Kaz, I'm new aboard. I work in engineering. I was just transferred over from the Enterprise." Leela extended her hand for a handshake. A tradition that she had become accustomed to over the decades.    

Thelos's bemused expression didn't leave his face, but at least he didn't feel completely lost. Obviously they were friends, or something. The Andorian smiled brightly to mask his still-lingering confusion, before standing up and taking the offered hand.

"Ah, well... it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kaz. I'm Doctor th'Zhela, but you and everyone else can call me Thelos." He was trying very hard not to feel like a third wheel and finding himself actually succeeding for once.

Leela Kaz wrote:

At this point Leela was still oblivious to the fact that they were in a relationship. She had noticed Gavin acting awkward but she was accustomed to that. He always seemed a little odd. Truthfully, Leela had always found it endearing. "Oh my apologies. I was so excited to see Gav. Ensign Leela Kaz, I'm new aboard. I work in engineering. I was just transferred over from the Enterprise." Leela extended her hand for a handshake. A tradition that she had become accustomed to over the decades.    

Gavin's eyebrows shot up as he turned to Thelos.  His mind had blanked out a little bit on him with the shock of seeing Leela again after so many years.  Quickly, he reached over, taking up the Andorian's blue hand in his own.  "Sorry, love," he whispered, winking.

Turning back to Leela, Gavin smiled, somewhat nervously.  "Where're my manners, huh?  Leela Kaz, this is my boyfriend, Doctor Thelos th'Zhela.  Thelos, Leela. Leela, Thelos.  She's an old friend from the Academy.  A close friend.  We dated."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Gavin's eyebrows shot up as he turned to Thelos.  His mind had blanked out a little bit on him with the shock of seeing Leela again after so many years.  Quickly, he reached over, taking up the Andorian's blue hand in his own.  "Sorry, love," he whispered, winking.

Turning back to Leela, Gavin smiled, somewhat nervously.  "Where're my manners, huh?  Leela Kaz, this is my boyfriend, Doctor Thelos th'Zhela.  Thelos, Leela.  Leela, Thelos.  She's an old friend from the Academy.  A close friend.  We dated."

She grabbed Gavin's shoulders. "Oh my gosh! Gavin! Congratulations that is awesome." Leela's faced beamed with a smile that seemed to stretch form spots to spots. She was so excited to know that Gavin had found someone. He deserves it. She thought. Leela turned back to Thelos. "Oh the stories I could tell you. We dated freshman year at the academy. You should of seen him back then..."

Leela Kaz wrote:

She grabbed Gavin's shoulders. "Oh my gosh! Gavin! Congratulations that is awesome." Leela's faced beamed with a smile that seemed to stretch form spots to spots. She was so excited to know that Gavin had found someone. He deserves it. She thought. Leela turned back to Thelos. "Oh the stories I could tell you. We dated freshman year at the academy. You should of seen him back then..."

Gavin laughed as Leela grabbed at him, letting out a little oomph. He'd forgotten just how irrepressible the Trill girl was. It was something that he missed. "Yes, back then," Gavin grinned, pushing the hair out of his eyes. "All of a handful of years ago, hmm? Careful, Lee. Some of those stories might still be protected by statues of limitations..."

As the shock of seeing the Trill began to wear off, a plethora of memories flooded back into Gavin's head. Although he was an underclassmen when they'd met, Gavin had been assigned to Leela as her biology tutor. That had quickly blossomed into a friendship, and even quicker into a relationship...a quick and fast-burning thing. Fortunately, they'd been able to remain friends, but graduation and life had separated them.

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Gavin laughed as Leela grabbed at him, letting out a little oomph.  He'd forgotten just how irrepressible the Trill girl was.  It was something that he missed.  "Yes, back then," Gavin grinned, pushing the hair out of his eyes.  "All of a handful of years ago, hmm?  Careful, Lee.  Some of those stories might still be protected by statues of limitations..."

As the shock of seeing the Trill began to wear off, a plethora of memories flooded back into Gavin's head.  Although he was an underclassmen when they'd met, Gavin had been assigned to Leela as her biology tutor.  That had quickly blossomed into a friendship, and even quicker into a relationship...a quick and fast-burning thing.  Fortunately, they'd been able to remain friends, but graduation and life had separated them.

"Oh honey. There is no statute of limitations on embarrassing stories." Leela laughed and sat in the empty seat next to Gavin. "I hope you guys don't mind if I join in." Leela turned her attention to Thelos and leaned in. "Let me tell you about this guy... He planned this amazing night for our first date. Drinks at an amazing club. Long walks. Stargazing. He went all out. Then the poor guy spent an entire night stumbling over his own words. It was cute. Did he ever tell you about his first piloting lesson..."

Leela Kaz wrote:

"Oh honey. There is no statute of limitations on embarrassing stories." Leela laughed and sat in the empty seat next to Gavin. "I hope you guys don't mind if I join in." Leela turned her attention to Thelos and leaned in. "Let me tell you about this guy... He planned this amazing night for our first date. Drinks at an amazing club. Long walks. Stargazing. He went all out. Then the poor guy spent an entire night stumbling over his own words. It was cute. Did he ever tell you about his first piloting lesson..."

Thelos was a bit at a loss for words, and he was a bit clammed up- which tended to happen when he got a bit overwhelmed. Gavin's hand in his reassured him a little, and he was able to open himself up enough to talk again.

"I... well, no, I don't believe he did." the Doctor even managed a mischievous grin directed at Gavin. He wasn't all that uncomfortable with the fact that he was at a table with one of Gavin's ex-relationships- in fact, it was more just hilarious to hear that Gavin was just as adorable with his displays of affection before as he was now.

"I wish I had stories of my own to add." Well, he had some, but Thelos wasn't the best storyteller, at least if it didn't come from a book.

Thelos th'Zhela wrote:

Thelos was a bit at a loss for words, and he was a bit clammed up- which tended to happen when he got a bit overwhelmed. Gavin's hand in his reassured him a little, and he was able to open himself up enough to talk again.

"I... well, no, I don't believe he did." the Doctor even managed a mischievous grin directed at Gavin. He wasn't all that uncomfortable with the fact that he was at a table with one of Gavin's ex-relationships- in fact, it was more just hilarious to hear that Gavin was just as adorable with his displays of affection before as he was now.

"I wish I had stories of my own to add." Well, he had some, but Thelos wasn't the best storyteller, at least if it didn't come from a book.

"Freshman year we took our first piloting class together. Me, Gav, and an instructor in a small type 2 shuttle. Gavin here gets nervous and hits the power control for the port nacel and causes the shuttle to spin." Leela took a pause to laugh and take a sip of her tea. As she sits the cup back down she continues. "He caused the shuttle to spin and I was thrown to the floor." She patted Gavin on the shoulder. "As a result I had a pretty nice gash on my head... Luckily Gavin knew how to use a dermal regenerator and we were set."

Leela Kaz wrote:

"Freshman year we took our first piloting class together. Me, Gav, and an instructor in a small type 2 shuttle. Gavin here gets nervous and hits the power control for the port nacel and causes the shuttle to spin." Leela took a pause to laugh and take a sip of her tea. As she sits the cup back down she continues. "He caused the shuttle to spin and I was thrown to the floor." She patted Gavin on the shoulder. "As a result I had a pretty nice gash on my head... Luckily Gavin knew how to use a dermal regenerator and we were set."

"Oh, God," Gavin laughed, rolling his eyes and taking a sip of juice. She had to bring up the shuttlecraft incident, didn't she? "What can I say? I was a doctor, not a pilot. 'Sides," he smirked, "I learned enough to make basic qualifications..."

He remembered back to that day, thinking about what had happened after he'd patched her all up, and she'd smiled at him and called him her hero, and...

Well. It wasn't exactly the kind of thought to be having, especially right with Thelos sitting beside him. Thel was Andorian, not Aenar, and thus couldn't read his thoughts, but...still. "Don't make me tell about the time you overfed Doctor Markwood's weeper plant." He turned to Thelos, grinning playfully. "She calls me up to the botany lab, and is wondering how to get carnivorous plant vomit out of her cadet uniform!"

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

"Oh, God," Gavin laughed, rolling his eyes and taking a sip of juice.  She had to bring up the shuttlecraft incident, didn't she?  "What can I say?  I was a doctor, not a pilot.  'Sides," he smirked, "I learned enough to make basic qualifications..."

He remembered back to that day, thinking about what had happened after he'd patched her all up, and she'd smiled at him and called him her hero, and...

Well.  It wasn't exactly the kind of thought to be having, especially right with Thelos sitting beside him.  Thel was Andorian, not Aenar, and thus couldn't read his thoughts, but...still.  "Don't make me tell about the time you overfed Doctor Markwood's weeper plant."  He turned to Thelos, grinning playfully.  "She calls me up to the botany lab, and is wondering how to get carnivorous plant vomit out of her cadet uniform!"

Leela laughed as she relived these moments with Gavin. She had almost forgotten all of the trouble they got into together. Between Leela going through a Trill imposed identity crisis and Gavin trying to sort out his place awkward place in the universe they made quite the comical pair in their academy days. "Yeah this guy came to my rescue that night. We were quite the pair back then. You'll be happy to know, Gav, I sorted out those pronoun issues. I can now speak without sounding like a patient suffering from multiple personality disorder."

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela laughed as she relived these moments with Gavin. She had almost forgotten all of the trouble they got into together. Between Leela going through a Trill imposed identity crisis and Gavin trying to sort out his place awkward place in the universe they made quite the comical pair in their academy days. "Yeah this guy came to my rescue that night. We were quite the pair back then. You'll be happy to know, Gav, I sorted out those pronoun issues. I can now speak without sounding like a patient suffering from multiple personality disorder."

The Andorian was a little bit more comfortable now, and was happily laughing along at the stories that were being tossed back and forth. It brought a number of ridiculous mental images to go along with them all- the thought a trill covered in plant vomit was very funny- if not a little gross.

He did think for a few seconds about how he hadn't had quite the same time with Gavin himself. Maybe it was because they weren't academy cadets, or because Thelos was older and a little mellowed in comparison. The briefest flicker of doubt fluttered through the Andorian's chest, but... he found he could push it away with a smile on his face.

"You two got into so much trouble, didn't you?" he teased playfully. "A minor miracle that you've both done so well."

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela laughed as she relived these moments with Gavin. She had almost forgotten all of the trouble they got into together. Between Leela going through a Trill imposed identity crisis and Gavin trying to sort out his place awkward place in the universe they made quite the comical pair in their academy days. "Yeah this guy came to my rescue that night. We were quite the pair back then. You'll be happy to know, Gav, I sorted out those pronoun issues. I can now speak without sounding like a patient suffering from multiple personality disorder."

"That's good!" Gavin smiled, remembering back to the younger girl who sometimes still spoke as if she was someone recently gone...or even long in the past. Gav couldn't imagine having all those distinct, strong personalities crowded in your head. He'd learned enough during his education, and from Leela herself, that only the best of the best were chosen for the symbiont bonding. That pretty much guaranteed that a candidate wasn't a meek face in the crowd...for better or for ill.

Was it all really that long ago? Chronologically, no...but in just about every other aspect? He was happy to see that Leela was doing so well, though it served to punctuate just how much he was spinning his own wheels. Not that it was his fault, but still...it'd likely be a cold day in hell before Starfleet approved any promotions for him.

Thelos th'Zhela wrote:

"You two got into so much trouble, didn't you?" he teased playfully. "A minor miracle that you've both done so well."

Gavin snorted a quick laugh, his glance at Leela a conspiratorial one. "Uh. Yeah. I suppose you could say that." He poked his tongue and took up the Andorian's hand, giving it a quick kiss on the backs of Thelos' fingers. "Are you saying I'm a bad influence, Thel?"

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

"That's good!" Gavin smiled, remembering back to the younger girl who sometimes still spoke as if she was someone recently gone...or even long in the past.  Gav couldn't imagine having all those distinct, strong personalities crowded in your head.  He'd learned enough during his education, and from Leela herself, that only the best of the best were chosen for the symbiont bonding.  That pretty much guaranteed that a candidate wasn't a meek face in the crowd...for better or for ill.

Was it all really that long ago?  Chronologically, no...but in just about every other aspect?  He was happy to see that Leela was doing so well, though it served to punctuate just how much he was spinning his own wheels.  Not that it was his fault, but still...it'd likely be a cold day in hell before Starfleet approved any promotions for him.



Gavin snorted a quick laugh, his glance at Leela a conspiratorial one.  "Uh.  Yeah.  I suppose you could say that."  He poked his tongue and took up the Andorian's hand, giving it a quick kiss on the backs of Thelos' fingers.  "Are you saying I'm a bad influence, Thel?"

Leela was always happy to poke fun at a situation or make something more awkward then necessary. "You know what Gav? I think he did just call you a bad influence..." She took a moment to pause and laugh. "Gav. Are we bad influences? I think that was aimed at both of us?"

As she laughed a thought quickly popped into her head. "You mentioned something about the Science Department... I thought you were a Doctor?"

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela was always happy to poke fun at a situation or make something more awkward then necessary. "You know what Gav? I think he did just call you a bad influence..." She took a moment to pause and laugh. "Gav. Are we bad influences? I think that was aimed at both of us?"

As she laughed a thought quickly popped into her head. "You mentioned something about the Science Department... I thought you were a Doctor?"

Shaking his head, Gavin laughed and finished off his apple juice. "Yeah, we're just a pair of bad seeds. After all," he said, his eyes going wide with mock innocence, "you're the one that introduced me to Vulcan brandy..."

The mention of his aborted medical career took his good mood down a few notches, but Gavin covered it with a small laugh. At least, he hoped he had. "It's...it's a long story," he sighed, plinking the side of his glass with a fingernail. "Let's just say that...certain elements of Starfleet Medical and I didn't get along. And so I switched billets. Hey," he shrugged, "I guess that second Xenobiology degree needed to be good for something, right?"

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Shaking his head, Gavin laughed and finished off his apple juice.  "Yeah, we're just a pair of bad seeds.  After all," he said, his eyes going wide with mock innocence, "you're the one that introduced me to Vulcan brandy..."

The mention of his aborted medical career took his good mood down a few notches, but Gavin covered it with a small laugh.  At least, he hoped he had.  "It's...it's a long story," he sighed, plinking the side of his glass with a fingernail.  "Let's just say that...certain elements of Starfleet Medical and I didn't get along.  And so I switched billets.  Hey," he shrugged, "I guess that second Xenobiology degree needed to be good for something, right?"

Leela laughed at the memory of Gavin, drunk, staring at the stars." If I recall correctly; I tried to talk you out of it." She turned to Thelos. "He got so drunk... and I'm sure I don't have to tell you what Gav is like drunk."

She noticed Gavin's hesitation when she mentioned his medical career. Leela decided to skip over that and save that conversation for another day. "Not Xenobiology... Let's not talk about it. The nightmares will begin again." She looked to Thelos. "I would of failed Xenonbiology miserably if it hadn't been for Gav." She took a moment to re-focus her thoughts. She had strayed off topic. "Well I'm glad your getting use out of that degree."

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela laughed at the memory of Gavin, drunk, staring at the stars." If I recall correctly; I tried to talk you out of it." She turned to Thelos. "He got so drunk... and I'm sure I don't have to tell you what Gav is like drunk."

She noticed Gavin's hesitation when she mentioned his medical career. Leela decided to skip over that and save that conversation for another day. "Not Xenobiology... Let's not talk about it. The nightmares will begin again." She looked to Thelos. "I would of failed Xenonbiology miserably if it hadn't been for Gav." She took a moment to re-focus her thoughts. She had strayed off topic. "Well I'm glad your getting use out of that degree."

Smirking, Gavin winked at Thelos. Yes, they'd had quite a few fun adventures together with the aid of Andorian ale. It reminded him of their Thanksgiving dinner, especially. That had been...magical.

"Alright, then," Gavin said, "no xenobio. But...I suppose I'm getting use out of it." He wondered how much he should go into the whole medical-to-science thing...but, honestly, it didn't seem like the best light lunch conversation. It was more of someting that needed to be discussed over a lot of liquor.

Instead, he decided to change the subject a little. "It's been great catching up with you, Lee. Imagine it...of all the ships in the quadrant, here we are posted to the same one."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Smirking, Gavin winked at Thelos.  Yes, they'd had quite a few fun adventures together with the aid of Andorian ale.  It reminded him of their Thanksgiving dinner, especially.  That had been...magical.

"Alright, then," Gavin said, "no xenobio.  But...I suppose I'm getting use out of it."  He wondered how much he should go into the whole medical-to-science thing...but, honestly, it didn't seem like the best light lunch conversation.  It was more of someting that needed to be discussed over a lot of liquor.  

Instead, he decided to change the subject a little.  "It's been great catching up with you, Lee.  Imagine it...of all the ships in the quadrant, here we are posted to the same one."

Leela touched Gavin's arm and chuckled at the mention of Hadrian Ale. "Gav. You and that Ale. I could never forget. 'Lee, are your quarters moving at warp?' A raucous laughter came from Leela. She was reminded of the trip they took to Atlantic City. She reviewed the memory fondly. A part of her longed for those times. Somewhat saddened that their lives had taken different paths. On the other hand, though, Leela had always been relieved. In those days, Leela wasn't certain enough of herself to be a truly genuine partner for him. Nonetheless Leela found herself thrilled that Gavin had found his love among the stars.

"Yes Gav, it is truly inconceivable. I still can't believe its you Gav. After all this time." Leela removed her hand and took the last drink of her tea.