Sobering Apologies
Posted on Thu Oct 31st, 2024 @ 7:39pm by Lieutenant Commander Jason Frankley & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami
953 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission: Stars Around the Well
Adrianna was hunched over her desk the next morning, her fingers absentmindedly tracing a stylus over the screen. She tried to focus on the report in front of her, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night before—Jason’s unsteady steps, the scent of alcohol, the feel of his hands gripping her shoulders, the frustration in his voice. The slap.
Her stomach twisted at the memory, and she shook her head, trying to push it all away. She barely heard the door chime, and when she looked up, she felt her heart sink.
Jason stood there, his face weary and shadowed, his gaze steady but holding none of the anger it had last night. He looked different—humbled, almost fragile.
“Adrianna…” His voice was quiet, and he hesitated at the doorway, as if uncertain whether he should come any closer.
She took a breath, steeling herself, and gestured for him to enter. “Come in, Jason.”
He walked in slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor before meeting hers. “I… I’m sorry.” The words were soft, weighed down with regret. “I was out of line, and I had no right… to do what I did last night.”
She folded her arms across her chest, trying to keep her emotions in check. “You were drunk. And angry.”
“That’s no excuse,” he said, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have forced myself on you like that. I let my own frustration cloud my judgment. I let you down, Adrianna, and I’m sorry.”
She studied him, the sincerity in his voice cutting through her guardedness. Part of her wanted to stay angry, to keep a barrier between them, but the raw apology in his expression softened something inside her.
“Jason, I understand why you’re hurt. I never wanted you to feel second place, but… everything with Vance, it’s complicated.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “That doesn’t excuse what you did. But… I accept your apology.”
A faint hint of relief crossed his face, though he didn’t let himself fully relax. “I know it’s complicated, and that’s why I tried to give you space. But seeing you torn over him—it hurt. And I didn’t handle it well. I pushed when I should have listened.”
He took a shaky breath, hands clenching at his sides. “I still love you, Adrianna. That hasn’t changed. But I don’t want to be someone who tries to… to claim you, like you’re a prize I’ve earned. You deserve better than that.”
She felt a knot in her chest loosen, the tension of last night easing away. “Thank you for saying that, Jason.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken emotions settling between them.
“I’m willing to wait,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And if it means just being a friend to you, then… I’ll accept that.”
She nodded, feeling the tension in the air shift into something softer, more forgiving. “I’d like that, Jason. Let’s start there.”
He managed a faint smile, a mixture of hope and resignation in his eyes. “Then that’s where we’ll start.”
As Jason gave her a faint, resigned smile, Adrianna shifted slightly, her expression turning serious.
"Jason," she began carefully, "I need to tell you—I already spoke with Lieutenants Lee and K'Var about what happened last night.”
His face fell, the regret deepening in his eyes. “I understand,” he murmured, swallowing hard, “I deserve that.”
“I needed to address it,” she continued, her tone gentle but firm, “as an officer, I have to take things like this seriously. But,” she added quickly, “I made it clear I’m not pressing charges. Leadership just needed to be aware. You deserve a reprieve.”
Jason nodded, visibly relieved but still humbled, and he met her gaze. “Thank you for not taking it further. I promise: it won’t happen again.”
She offered him a soft nod, a sign of her trust that he’d learn from this. “just know: me telling the lieutenants was not out of spite. It was out of concern for you and your mental well-being. I understand the situation all too well– I caused it. You need to take a little time to get your head into the mindset it was before all of this– to be the man I know you really are. I will stand by you in this, as a friend. If we can get past this, and I am in the right headspace too, then perhaps we can revisit things. I will be honest though– this has knocked me back more than I am willing to admit. You deserve better, and at the least, you deserve me at my best. You do not deserve to wait and nor do you deserve to be strung along– which is what I have done. For that, I am sorry. I did not mean for any of this. I did not mean to hurt you. I most definitely did not mean for you to become the man I saw yesterday.”
Jason was taken back by the apology. He nodded his understanding before replying, “neither of us have come out of this unscathed, Ade. I can see what this is doing to you and it kills me to see you this way. Last night– lapse in judgment, fueled by alcohol, but I would be lying if I told you that I was sorry for what I said.”
Adrianna nodded, “I hope that one day, we can move past this. I do miss you as a friend.”
Jason nodded, “have a good day, Ade.”
“You too, marinaio.”
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