Dr. Captain - Part II

Posted on Tue Aug 4th, 2026 @ 12:25pm by Lieutenant Endymion Tox & Commander Grace Vetur
Edited on on Tue Aug 4th, 2026 @ 12:25pm

1,863 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: USS Ontario | Xavier's Quarters
Timeline: Post Away Mission

"Well, now is the time to find out." She took a few steps before adding. "And just because you're joined, it doesn't mean you lose who you were, or the day you were born. Can't you have both a birthday and a joining day?"

"On Trill, no. We celebrate the joining day or we're supposed to. I'm still hoping Doc Marcus could find a way to disconnect me from the parasite. I prefer to mourn the day that I was joined and the creature seems to feel it." He shrugged. "It's the only day that it's mind is quiet and I can truly be me, so I guess that's a gift of sorts."

Grace doubted the bonding could be severed after so long, but she wasn't going to say as much to Tox. She'd let the doctor tell him what was and wasn't possible. Instead, she nodded.

She paused when they got to Xavier's door. "Now to see if the access code is still what you think it is."

Tox sighed. He was nervous and didn't know why. If it didn't work the Captain always had the ultimate code to get in but...he wanted to be important enough to Xavier for him to use the code. Of course, Xavier could have lied in his letters but Tox didn't think so. He took a breath and held it as he entered the numbers. There was a pause and then a hiss as the door opened. He turned to the Captain and grinned. "It worked!" He stepped inside slowly and toed off his shoes, remembering that Xavier liked the whole shoes off thing and then froze as two sets of eyes studied him from a perch in the corner of the room. He stepped back bumping into a wall. "B...beasts."

The two birds eyed him. As the Captain came into view Phobos let out a caw and moved forward to greet the Captain.

"Just remember that animals--and avian--can tell when you're afraid. They think you're going to hurt them," she said calmly. "And remember these two are domesticated."

She squatted down to greet Phobos. "Hi there. I've brought a new friend. He's going to help me feed you."

Phobos tilted his head as if listening. He bowed his body down as if saying yes. Eyes turning to Tox he studied the man.

From the corner another bird flew right at Tox, making him drop to the ground. Phobos moved so quick it seemed like he teleported flying into the other bird and knocking him down. He screeched a high-pitched noise that made Tox yelp and the other bird flew towards a perch set high on the wall.

Phobos turned to the Captain, bowing low and then flying up to her shoulder, rubbing his head on her cheek.

Tox let out a shaky breath. "Did that bird just save me from another bird?"

"Yes. He understands that you're nervous. They both are very intelligent and just want to make friends with you."

Grace rubbed her finger gently against Phobos' head. "Thank you. That was noble of you."

She looked at Tox. "Now that you know these birds don't want to hurt you, come over here so Phobos can say hello. We'll take it slowly, okay?"

Tox shuddered. "That one," He said pointing to Phobos, "Okay. The other one is a murderer...or at least a menace."

Phobos stayed still watching Tox approach.

Tox stopped a little away from the Captain. "Hello Bird." He backed up. "There. I said hello. Can we feed them now and get it over with? Knowing Pluto he has a schedule." Tox sighed. "I wish we could ask the birds for it."

Phobos tilted his head and then flew off Grace's shoulder to a shelf. He picked at something and a paper fluttered to the floor. Tox raised an eyebrow as he inched his way over watching Phobos, who senses his nervousness, back up. Tox picked up the paper. "Son of a Klingon!" He held out the paper. "Feeding schedule...that bird is creepy."

"No. He's smart." She smiled at Phobos. "Thank you."

Then Grace turned back to Tox. "What does the paper say?"

Tox read it over. "He has food saved in the replicator. They get two portions for dinner, one for lunch, and one for breakfast...damn. He treats his birds better then himself." He sighed. "I'll replicate and you can fill their bowls. I'm the only one who knows medicine if they bite, so....I'm chickening out."

"They're domesticated. And some animals can sense when you're nervous. So just relax. After a few days, you'll get used to them," Grace assured Tox as she checked the room to see if she needed to clean up after the birds.

They took care of the birds who were happily eating and Tox wandered around. Contrary to what one might think the quarters were cozy. Tox could see the appeal. His eyes gravitated to the door he'd been wanting a peak behind. "Ohhhh, Cappppy...." He hopped over and grabbed her hand. "Come on we're doing something naughty!"

She almost made a joke out of that, but she could tell he was eager to see where Xavier slept. "Just a look. If you look and don't touch, it won't be considered naughty. If you jump on the bed, though..."

He snorted. "I knew there was a wild streak in there." They made their way to the door which opened on approach and as they walked in Tox froze. "I knew it!" Inside was a large queen bed. A four poster canopy one with ravens and bats. It was wow... "Red silk sheets and black drapes. I knew he was a vamp....." His eye widened again. He looked around to see a desk, shelves of books he walked over to and snorted. "Romance novels." He looked down at desk and gasped. "Cappy look! It's the crew."

Xavier had done charcoal drawings of the crew. "He never said he could draw." He handed her a drawing of herself on the bridge smiling with the XO. Tox picked up one of Doctor Marcus. "He got the design on the cane right, too."

"These are lovely," Grace said, looking them over. "The detail is incredible. Even the condescending look in Dr. Marcus' eyes." She smiled at Tox. "I think the doctor would like this, don't you? And so would Percy."

He smiled. "Yeah. Although if we commented, Xavier would know we snooped." He laughed. "Did you notice though...there are no photos in his quarters." He sighed. "I remember when we were writing to one another, the one thing that struck me was how lonely he was. I mean he was what 17 when he arrived on Earth. His family was even more messed up then mine and he's had kind people but I don't think anyone has seen the real Xavier."

"I think the real Xavier only comes out in letters," Grace replied softly. "And only to people he trusts."

Tox sighed. "Captain, can I ask you a question? Can you give me an honest opinion as someone who has loved before?"

"You can ask me anything and I'll give you what answer I can." She wasn't sure she should tell him she didn't think she'd ever really been in love. She thought she had a time or two, but it had never been real.

"Am I being hard on Xavier? He knew who I was and didn't say anything right away and then that ... charlatan pretended to be Pluto and I dismissed him like yesterday's junk and now I can't stop being mad at him but I don't know what for. I know I'm in the wrong, but I just...should I forgive him?"

Grace paused for a moment. "Think of it this way... He knew how you felt about Pluto, right? But he may have been afraid you wouldn't feel the same about him as Xavier. They're both the same person, but Xavier is a bit more extreme. He's a bit goth and he has ravens. You call him a goth vampire. So, it makes sense that he was nervous about revealing who he really is." She waved a hand around the room. "How you'd react to this."

"Think about it," she continued. "How did you feel about Xavier when you first met him, before you knew he was Pluto?"

Tox snorted. "He annoyed the hell out of me. But to his credit it wasn't so much his personality as it was that I was struck by how...beautiful he was. I was instantly pulled to him and I tried to pick at the most annoying things to make him seem repulsive to me. I felt like I was cheating on Pluto to even look at someone else and...well the whole Vampire Goth thing is not a bad thing." He sighed. "I...to be honest I'm more scared that I'm not good enough for him." Why did he find it easier to talk to Marcus and the Captain then the counselor?

"Maybe he thought you'd prefer Pluto?" Grace asked. Then she paused to let that sink in. "You need to forgive him and let it go. He's a private person who was afraid of opening his heart and being rejected. If you want this to work out, you have to let go of your resentment and let him know how you feel. You two make a wonderful couple. You just need to let go of your fears and resentments and be together."

He sighed. "Yeah. I'll try." He sighed. "I guess we should head out." He looked around. "This place is kind of cool."

Grace put a hand on his arm. "That's all I ask. All anyone can ask. Just remember than neither of you are alone."

She spent a few moments saying goodbye to the ravens, then turned to Tox. "Okay. Let's go."

Tox, still weary of the Ravens, just called out his goodbye earning a squawk from Phobos in return. He stepped outside making a decision that Marcus would not like. He was going to break quarantine. He needed to be next to Xavier. He didn't say anything now but he was going right back to sickbay and he was going to find a way for Xavier to wake up.

He turned to the Captain. "Thanks for coming with me. This was...eye opening. Helped me make a decision."

"I'm glad. And I'll be happy to keep coming with you until Xavier is well enough to do it himself." Grace only hoped it was the right decision. Both Tox and Xavier deserved love and to be loved. Perhaps it was the captain's lot to ensure her crew could thrive.

"Captain. May I break protocol and give you a hug?"

She laughed and opened her arms for the hug. "Absolutely."

Tox smiled and hugged her. When he pulled back he smiled. "Thank you. I'm going to get back to sickbay and Xavier."

"Good luck," Grace said, smiling back. "To both of you."


A post by


Commander Grace Vetur
Commander
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Endymion Tox
Head Nurse (PNPC)
USS Ontario

 

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