[USS Juno] Daddy daycare

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 2:46am by Captain Harrold Anderson

1,458 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1E2: Encounter in the Abyss
Location: T'San's Quarters
Timeline: MD+4, 1900 Hours

Dan opened up a closet in his little kitchen. He looked trough the bottles of wine he had. He finally pulled one out and placed on the kitchen table. He tapped the comchannel on. "Captain Anderson, this is chef Dan. Could you come over to my quarters for a moment?" "He went to open up the bottle.

Harry was walking around the ship, he just send his away team to the surface, to investigate the attack on new bajor. He left Avril in charge of the bridge, so he could go on a little walkabout. It was going to be a late night. He wanted to clear his head. "On my way," said Harry as tapped the combadge to acknowledge the signal.

"Alright," said Dan. He put the open bottle on the table.

Harry walked over to the quarters of Dan and T'San. He stood outside their door and tapped on the intercom. He was not sure who was going to answer the door.

T'Meela opened the door. "Hello, captain, can I help you, or you in need of a babysitter for Kerja again? Trust me, captain, she is 14, I am sure she knows how to make a snack and put on a little entertainment. "

Dan's head peaked around the corner. "T'Meela, leave the captain alone. He is having enough problems of his own, he doesn't need you to add to them."

T'Meela moved aside. "Father, is it ok if I went to the holodeck?" She looked at the captain and gave a flirteous smile as she winked her eyes teasing.

Harry gulped a little and thought to himself, one she was a cute little thing. And that Dan and T'San were going to have their hands full with her. She wreaks of trouble. He was happy that Kerja, did not act like her. Harry decided to let the comment go and focus his attention on Dan.

Dan came out of the kitchen with some snacks and put them on the table in the livingroom next to the open bottle of wine. "Have you done your homework? Oh stupid question. Go ahead!" He then turned to the captain. "Captain, can I interest you in a glass of wine? It's one of the best bottles I have."

After T'Meela left the two men. Harry smiled and said, "Sure." In response to the glass of wine.

"Good," Dan poured them each a glass.

Harry took a small sip, thinking of the encounter he just had with T'Meela. "I can see, I am not the only one that has my hands full." Suggested Harry, he was not sure how much information T'San had shared with him, about his fears of raising Kerja.

Dan put the glass down. "Yes, T'Meela, she is going some kind of phase. My parents and my parents in law couldn't really get trough to her. I am not sure how much luck T'San is having, I am just blaming it on the human genes. This is just some kind of puberty I think. I went trough the same thing when I was about her age. My parents think she is not like me at that age. And I can't remember my sons being like that growing up." He looked to the bottle in thoughts for a moment.

Dan looked back to Harry. "Captain, I didn't invite you here to talk about my daughter." He tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, she is not the type of girl that jumps a guy at first sight, she has a bit of vulcan control." He offered him snack. "No captain, my wife has been insisting on talking to you about the blessing that is father hood. Now I understand it's a bit different for you since you never held the bundle of small joy in your arms. On a positive note, or not, it depends on how you look at it, is you never had to change her diapers. But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed doing that, cause when you become a parent for the first time, it changes you. And I can tell, that even though you haven't been around when she were born, I saw the same change in your eyes." He got up and went to the kitchen to get another plate of food. "So, my advice for you be patient. Cause you will need, and a lot of it. She may not be anything like my T'Meela, but she is half human. Also..." He put the plate on the table. "Respect her situation, she is just as shocked as you about all of this. Before she met you, all she knew was her mother. Now all of a sudden she has a father. I can only imagine how that is for her." He put some toast with tuna salad in his mouth. "Well, any questions so far?"

"To many to start with," said Harry. The idea of being a father was a bit overwhelming. He thought he would have time to grow into the role. "I am trying to be patient, but she's self sufficient. Like she does not need me. I wonder if she would be happier living in one the enlisted female quad. Not sure if she is happy living with me. She hid in her room all night."

Dan smiled. "Look, captain, she may be selfsufficient, but she still needs you. Right now her mother is not around, she still needs a parent to turn to if needed. She still needs you to protect her. You may not need to hold her hand or change her diaper, but she wants you to say, 'hey kiddo, how was school', she may say she hates it when you do that, but she still needs you to do that. And trust me, she will never say this to you or any other adult. But one day she will thank you for being there for her."

"I just wish she would say that.... And Dan, please call me Harry. Your a civilian and not required to follow Starfleet protocol, plus it would be nice, if someone called me by my name and not my title. Especially a friend." Suggested Harry. He needed a friend, being captain was a lonely role, and being a father was a new role, one he could use help with. Harry was not afraid to ask for help.

"Alright, Harry, I am not going to pretend I have all the insight on teenage girls. I barely undrstand my own daughter and she is more Vulcan then I am. And teenage girls are so much different then teenage boys. Anyways If you want her to say something in that sense, I think you should be there for her, just be there for her. Give her what she needs. That's impotant, what she needs, not what she wants, remember that."

"What does a fourteen year old girl need?" Asked Harry. He had no idea. He knew she was probably a little depressed. He knew she went through a horrible ordeal. But he had no idea what she needed. "I appreciate your willingness to listen. And I am nervous about making things worse for her. But you have given me some suggestions, and I will try them out." Said Harry, as he took a sip of wine.

Dan also took a sip of wine. "Well, most importantly is stability. I maybe a cook, but I see everything. But I don't need to tell you what to change, that is something you need to figure out for yourself. And second, why not start off with a bit of alone time with her. Dinner at your quarters would be great. You could get to know each other. Find out what she likes. But don't push it. And set boundraries and rules. She won't thank you for that right now, but if you don't she will walk right over you. Teenage girls can be brutal. And the rest is all up to her I am afraid. You can't force things I guess. More toast?" He pushed the plate to him.

"Thank you," said Harry as he took a piece of toast and started to eat it. Then he looked back at Dan. "I know I can not force things with her, but I like your idea of setting boundaries and trying to open up to her." Said Harry, feeling a little more confident, on what he had to do next.

"Good, buddy, now this is all you need to know about parent a teenage girl. Now let's enjoy the last the food and wine, or were you going back to duty?" Dan had a sly grin on his face as he took another sip from his wine.

 

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