Family reunion

Posted on Mon Jun 9th, 2025 @ 5:25pm by Ensign Abigail Gordon
Edited on on Mon Jun 9th, 2025 @ 5:37pm

2,677 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave 1
Location: Hannibal, Missouri
Timeline: During Shore Leave

It was a couple of days or so after the party at Captain Malcom Llwyedd's place, that Abigail was woken up by the door chime of the hotel room she was staying in. She had gotten herself a private room, complete with a bathtub and a good view of the gardens that were near. Abigail rolled over to ignore the chime at her door, she did have a do not disturb sign there, as she wanted to sleep in. Abi hoped that whomeever was ringing her chime, would just go away if she didn't answer. Roling to her other side, Abi closed her eyes once more.Just as she was starting to drift off, the chime rang again.

"Ugh! Who is at my door!" Abigail feeling a bit grumpy. She rose from her bed, grabbed her bathrobe and headed for the door, to see who was there. Opening it, she at first didn't recognize who was there, then her eyes widened waking up suddenly. There standing outside her door were her three brothers. "Wait what, why are you he-" finding herself being swept up in a bear hug from her brother James. He was an engineer and carried into the living room. twirling her around.

"Abi! Good, you're awake!" James crowed happily.

"Put me down!" Abigail growled kicking her feet slightly.

Ian and Artemus followed inside, allowing the door to close, and grinning ear to ear at seeing Abi fuming, and James laughing.

James set Abi down, where she was in the center of all three of her brothers; all were taller than she was. This made her feel like she was at the bottom of a well.

"What are you three doing here? How did you find me?" Abigail noticed the cat that ate the canary grin on Ian's face. "Never mind, I should have known." Abi grumped. Her grumpiness didn't stay too long, seeing her brothers just beaming at her, she had to admit, it was good to see them.

After a few moments of silent fuming, Abigail threw her hands up in the air. "Gah why can't i stay mad at you three for too long!"

Her three brothers just laughed.

James replied. "Because we're your handsome brothers and you just can't resist our cuteness, and our charming brotherly ways."

Ian and Artemus nodded in agreement, both having that knowing smile, which Abi just shook her head then in response to that.

"Yup the only reason why you can get away with things, just your cuteness factor and also because I love you. Even if you can be such pains at times." Abigail reaching over and grabbing a cushion to throw at them. The cushion hit James in the chest, he staggered as if she had given him a mortal wound.

"Good shot sis, you've improved!!" James responded with a laugh.

Abi let out a growl of frustration.

Ian spoke up, "Abi, we've come to pick you up. Mom was worried, as you've not let her know that you're back. None of us knew as of yet. There hadn't been any communications from you;it was as if you had just dropped off the face of the earth so to speak. What happened to you? And why didn't you call when you arrived on Earth?"

"Arggh, I just wanted to have a couple of days to myself, before coming to see everyone. Sometimes a person needs some time alone just to refresh. And I needed it." She drew in a shuddering breath, feeling emotions well up.

Looking into their eyes, and their beloved faces, them showing concern. Abi once again could feel her irritation fade away, she just couldn't stay mad.

"Sorry for being grumpy. Uh you said you were here to get me. Let me go get dressed, then packed and off we go to see Mom and Dad. Besides there is a lot to tell everyone and its better that I do it when we are all together, around the table like we used to do."

Artemus, his hair as dark as Abigail's, spoke up, his voice a rich baritone. With a light Southern accent. "I am quite glad to see you sis. And glad I am able to finally say such, with my being drowned out by these two ruffians." giving a wink towards Abigail,

James protested. "Ruffians? Ruffians?" trying to put a head lock on Artemus. While Ian grabbed the pillow that Abi had chucked at them and began beating upon his two brothers.

Abi just started laughing, as she went to get ready to leave with her brothers. Even though they were older, when those three got together it was as if time was turned back and they were getting into scuffle mostly for fun. It did her heart good to see them.

[Hannibal, Missouri]

It was a short hop to get to their home town. Abi wanted a birdseye view of the town as well as their home and the land she spent time wandering about. Her three brothers were wanting to do such as well. As they flew over the land, Abi looked at her brothers, Artemus had the dark hair, with natural curl. James had lighter brown color with some hints of red in them and Ian, his hair was lighter, almost like that of honey.

When the runabout touched down upon the landing pad,Abigail's eyes widened. Just beyond the safety fence, she could see, her mom and dad as well as some of the neighbors there to greet them.

"What is this? A welcoming committee? " Abigail giving out a laugh.

Once their luggage was taken off the runabout, the runabout lifted up and headed back to its next destination. Abigail and her brothers made their way beyond the saftey fence, they were all swept into a hugs, some pounding upon the backs of her brothers. A cacaphony of voices from the greeters. Abigail was feeling slightly overwhelmed not prepared for this sort of greeting.

They extricated themselves and headed for home. Abgail took sometime to get her stuff put into her room, for the small amount of time she had left for shore leave. Then it was time for dinner. The scent enticed her from her bedroom above, Abigail following her nose. She had dressed for dinner, wearing a sapphire blue summer dress and slip on black shoes. Her hair was loose and flowing.

Once the first part of dinner was eaten, Abigail's father cleared his throat. "Abigail care to give us a catch up of why we didn't have any word as to what happened to you?"

The others at the table were quiet and listening.

Abi drew in a slight breath and held it, before she began her tale. She spoke to them about what happened when she was to report to a ship to do her cadet cruise, and wasn't able to make her connection. She spoke of what happened before she found herself assigned to the USS Firebird.

Her mother gasped, but kept quiet, not wanting to interrupt her daughter's report. Her brother's looked at each other, their minds boggled as to what their sister had already faced.

She even menitoned what happened in the club she had gone to with her friends, Jackson, Gantt and Gia. Georgette gasped out covering her mouth as she listened even more. Abigail was her baby and to have had her go through this, gave her the desire to lock her daughter up into an Ivory tower and keep her safe.

Lionel knowing that look, reached out and held Georgette's hand as Abigail continued on. The final piece of her story was that of being captured along with her friends by the Jem'Hadar which had invaded DS18. And how they worked together to escape the situation. She mentioned how heroic her friends, Gia and Daw were.

Georgette pulled her hand away from her husband and slapped her hand down upon the table. "That is it, Abigail Nikita Gordon, I can't let you go back there and put yourself in danger!"

Georgette rose from the table and walked out of the dining room. Scared, furious about the danger her daughter had faced.

There was a dead silence around the table, those left there looking at each other.

Lionel started to rise from the table, "Honey?"

Abigail held up a hand towrds her father, "I need to talk to her." drawing in a breath, she rose from the table to go look for her mother. Abigail found her mother outside on the porch, sitting upon the stairs which led to the porch. Georgette was gazing up towards the stars.

Silently Abigail sat down next to her mother, and leaned her head upon her mother's shoulder. A few moments of silence was between the two women, both looking towards the heavens above.

Georgette broke the silence. "Why didn't you let me know right away when you reached Earth?" her voice filled with hurt, some anger and confusion.

"I know I should have, I just needed to adjust things in my mind, to let things settle before I made contact. I was going to call you Today to let you know or even say, Surprise I am home!" Abigail slipping an arm around her mother and giving her a hug. "I'm sorry Mama, it won't happen again."

"Just I don't want to lose my baby girl and I don't like havng you out there by yourself." Georgette responded.

"I'm not by myself, Mama. I have friends on the USS Firebird. We watch out for each other. They are amazing!" Abigail feeling warmth as she thought of Gia, and Daw, along with those she had encountered. "Mama, I know that you would like to lock me up in an ivory tower like Rapunzel, but it wouldn't be a good thing. Not for my own progression, and you wouldn't want to keep me from writing my own story? Just like our town's own motto. Write Your Own Story. I have taken it to heart. And besides I am making my own history, stories to tell you and others."

There was the creak of the screen door opening and her father's voice could be heard. "Is it safe to come out. I think we'd all like to see the stars and take in the night?"

Georgette laughed, calling over her shoulder. "Yes it is safe and I won't lock Abigail in an ivory tower. "

"Oh good, we were already making plans on how to rescue her from there." James speaking up.

This caused the rest of the family to laugh as the family filed out of the house and making their way to the various chairs that were outside, to watch the stars come out.

"So little sis, you threw stuff into the Jem'Hadar's eyes? That was gutsy." Ian remarked.

"Yeah that was." James added.

"Nah I was just trying something desperate. The real hero was Daw, my friend from Academy and Gia both of them were the heroes. They kept me safe.

"Daw you say? Was he the fellow who you had a secret crush on when you first joined StarFleet Academy?" Ian spoke up deciding to tease his little sister.

"How do you know about that? Did you dig in my things when I came home for a break, during Academy?" Abigail getting flustered.

"No, but next time you write in your diary don't leave it open to the page you are writing on." Ian giving a crooked smile, then the smile disappeared. And his gaze was serious. "With my profession, its always good to make certain things are secure." Ian referring to himself being in Intelligence. "it also is good for security. Key code it for your dna finger print, and also eye if you wish to keep it encoded and private."

Abigail gave a nod. "Okay, thank you for the tip. "

James decided to ask. "So have you told Daw about the crush you had or have on him?"

Abigail gave out an exasperated sigh. "James, I've not told him, and I didn't feel it proper to bring it up. We have become great friends. And its best to have it that way."

"Well is there another person you have a crush on? Have you been dating anyone?" Artemus piping up.

"Why the third degree?" Abigail protesting.

"We-we just want to look out for you. You know, we love you a lot, and yes, okay we tease you and it may seem like we don't love you-" James commented.

Abigail stopped them right there. "I know you love me and I understand. I don't grill you as to your girlfriends, do I need to do a check up on the woman or women that have captured your interest?" giving an impish grin. " I could you know." winking at her brothers.

"Well you know, just don't. Its private, besides not seeing anyone at the moment." Ian diverting attention from himself. "Artemus is seeing someone right now."

"Oh? Who?" Abigail turning her attention to Artemus.

"Well its Evelyn, she's come back to town and well things might be getting serious" Artemus confessed.

There were some ooohss from his family and Abigail gave out a laugh.

"Congratulations!" Abigail getting up to give Artemus an embrace. "Be certain to let me know when the big day happens and I'll do my best to come to the wedding, If it gets that far?" giving her brother a teasing smile.

"Hey!" Artemus giving out protest, pulling Abigail in close and placing a kiss on the top of her head. He laughed, "Nicely done, baby sister."

James remarked, "Right now, I don't have any prospects, though I am dating off and on.That's my relationship status." giving a laugh.

Lionel came up and softly said. "You know its my turn to talk to Abigail." taking his daughter by the hand and drawing her to one side. "Are you going to be okay? I do feel concern about what you've experienced, however I can see your firm resolve and your resilience. I am proud of you Abigail, you are proving that you are strong, and I see a new layer of confidence in your gaze. Just do your best to be safe, and make certain you keep in touch with your mother. She dearly loves you."

"I know she does, and I know that its been hard for her to have me out there in space. I have been blessed Daddy, I have my friends and the crew is so supportive. I worry about if I am being supportive enough for them." Abgail looking up into her dad's dark brown eyes. "I love you Daddy, and I will keep doing my best."

"Don't worry, you can talk about anything with your family. We're here for you, and don't forget that alright?" Lionel's voice filled with emotion as he pulled his daughter into a heartfelt embrace.

There was a whisper from the steps where Georgette was seated, "Come, the fireflies are coming out to fly"

Abigail and her father moved to where they sat upon the steps with Georgette, Abigail being between them, first one light came on, in the moonless night, then more appeared, the light of the fireflies blinking off and on, as they did their dance.

Abigail was so thrilled that she was able to see the little lights, it was something that she had missed seeing. A magical moment for her. She was glad that her brothers came to fetch her, especially tonight to see the dance of the fireflies, being accompanied by the sound of the Mississippi River, in the background.

A feeling of peace settled upon Abigail, filling her soul with serenity,

While the family watched, Abigail glanced around at her family, the lights of the fireflies reflecting on their faces, their beloved faces. This was a perfect night, A reunion with her family, a memory to keep with her forever.

END

Ensign Abigail Gordon
Nurse
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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