The Trip Home [Part 4]

Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 5:49pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

2,295 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Timeline: Past

A few hours later and crisis averted, Vance found himself standing outside Adrianna’s quarters, his hand hovering over the panel to chime for entry. The Pendragon was quiet, most of the crew having retired for the night, but sleep was the last thing on his mind. He sighed, running a hand through his hair before finally pressing the button. When there was no response, he frowned and keyed in the override code. The door slid open with a soft hiss, and he stepped inside.

The lights were on, but dim, casting the room in a soft, golden glow. Adrianna was sprawled across the bed, one arm clutching her pillow in lieu of a body, her boots kicked off haphazardly onto the floor. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and for the first time in weeks, she looked completely at peace.

In truth, she was exhausted. Between keeping up appearances around Starfleet officers, having a debrief with her handler, visiting family for a day and then hitching a ride back to Freecloud, she had not stopped and was running on a few hours of broken sleep and coffee. Her body was in desperation mode. Even though she was deep undercover, Adrianna felt more at home on the Pendragon than anywhere else. She felt like she could relax– if she shut her eyes, she would wake in the same place.

Vance leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he watched her. The sight of her there, safe and sound, filled him with a relief so profound it almost hurt. But it also brought with it a flood of unspoken feelings, ones he’d been burying for far too long.

“You’ve no idea what you’ve put me through,” he murmured quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to wake her, “six weeks, Adrianna. Six freaking weeks of not knowing if you were alive and well, alive and in a prison cell or dead, wondering if I made the wrong call leaving you behind.”

He stepped closer, his gaze softening as he took in her face, “you drive me mad, you know that? You always have. Stubborn, reckless, always challenging me... And yet, here I am, chasing after you like some lovesick fool.”

Vance hesitated, his fingers brushing the edge of her blanket, “I was scared, Adrianna. Scared I’d never see you again. Scared I’d lose you for good this time and that terrifies me more than I want to admit.”

She shifted slightly, letting out a soft sigh, and Vance froze, his heart hammering. When she didn’t stir further, he let out a quiet breath of relief.

“I don’t know what this is between us, though I know what I want this to be,” he continued softly, “I also know I can’t lose you– I won’t.”

He lingered a moment longer before gently pulling the blanket over her shoulders from where it had slipped. His hand hesitated near hers, as if he wanted to touch her but didn’t dare. Finally, he stepped back, his expression unreadable as he turned toward the door.

“Sleep well, Dove,” he whispered but as Vance turned toward the door, Adrianna’s voice, soft but clear, broke the silence.

“I love you too, you know, amore mio.”

He froze, his hand hovering near the panel, his breath catching in his chest. Slowly, he turned back, his eyes locking onto hers. She was still lying on the bed, but her eyes were open now, watching him intently.

“How long have you been awake?” he asked, his voice low, the vulnerability still lingering in his tone.

“Long enough to hear all the things you’re too scared to say when I’m conscious,” she replied, a faint smile curving her lips.

Vance exhaled a soft laugh, shaking his head as he stepped closer to the bed, “of course you were awake. You never miss a damn thing.”

Her smile grew a little, but her gaze softened as she sat up stiffly, pulling the blanket to her chest. “I’ve never left you before,” she said gently, “and I hated doing it and have no intention of doing it again. But it was the only way. You know that.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I do. And it was the right call. Because of you, the Pendragon got away safely. Everyone’s fine and not rotting in a cell somewhere. I just–” he hesitated, running a hand through his hair, “I wasn’t ok. Not knowing if you were okay– if you were coming back– it really didn't sit well, Adri.”

Her hand reached out to touch his, her fingers curling lightly over his, “I’ll always come back, Vance. Always.”

He let out a breath, some of the tension easing from his frame as he glanced at her hand on his. “The kids,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter, “are they okay?”

Adrianna nodded, her expression softening even further, “they’re fine. I checked on every single one before I left. They’re scared, but they’re safe. Starfleet will take good care of them. I may not be their biggest fan, but out of all other options– it was the right thing to do.”

“Good,” he murmured, his eyes still on hers, “because that’s all thanks to you. I don't know what I would have done, but it wouldn't have been good. I don't think I have it in me to live as Fagan in my personal story of Oliver. You made the right call, Adrianna. Even if it killed me to let you go.”

She shifted closer, putting his hand on her hip as she curled around him, her other hand coming up to rest lightly against his chest, her head on his shoulder. “You didn’t let me go,” she said softly, “You trusted my judgement and that’s why it worked.”

His gaze held hers, a flicker of something deeper passing between them. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You won’t lose me, amore mio,” she said firmly, leaning closer, “you never will. I hear that wives are very difficult to get rid of– and I am the future Missus Adams, remember?”

Vance reached up, his hand brushing against her cheek. “You’re maddening, you know that?” he murmured, his lips quirking into a faint, amused smile.

“And you love me for it,” she teased, though her voice was warm.

“Yeah,” he said quietly, “I really do.”

Adrianna smiled, leaning up to kiss his cheek, letting her lips linger for a few moments before pulling back slightly. “You should get some rest too, Capitano,” she said, her tone teasing again, “You’ve got a ship to run and plenty of other crew members to keep awake.”

He smirked, his hand dropping reluctantly from her face, “you’re insufferable.”

“Grazzi, and you wouldn’t have me any other way,” she replied with a grin before settling back under the blanket.

Vance lingered for a moment, his gaze lingering on her as she got comfortable. Finally, he sighed and stood, “get some sleep, dove. We’ve got a lot to talk about in the morning.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said softly, her eyes already heavy and closing.

He watched her for a moment longer, the corner of his mouth lifting into a small smile. Then he turned and left, the door sliding shut behind him. For the first time in weeks, his heart felt lighter. However, the door had barely slid shut behind him when it hissed open again. Adrianna sat up in her elbows, blinking in surprise as he stepped back into the room, his expression tense, almost uncertain.

“I know you want to sleep,” he began, his voice low but steady, “and I’m not here to complicate anything. I just–” He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as his gaze flickered to hers, “I don’t want anything else, Adrianna. I just–”

She tilted her head, watching him with quiet curiosity.

“I’m just glad you’re home,” he said, his voice softening, “and after the last six weeks, I– I don’t want to leave you alone tonight. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay. Just to hold you. Nothing more– promise.”

Her expression softened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before it melted into a warm smile. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” she said, her voice teasing but affectionate.

“Believe me, I know,” he replied, his lips quirking into a faint smile, “but I’m serious. I just– I need to know you’re really here. That you’re safe.”

Adrianna scooted over on the single bed, lifting the blanket in silent invitation. “Come on, Capitano, before you overthink this and change your mind– although, if you do, can we go to your room next time as you have a double and this single is barely big enough for me, let alone both of us.”

He didn’t need any more convincing. Kicking off his boots and slipping off his jacket, Vance slipped onto the bed beside her, the tension easing from his frame as she settled against him. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, and for the first time in weeks, the ache in his chest began to fade.

Adrianna rested her head on his chest, her hand lightly brushing against it. “You know,” she murmured, her voice soft, “I missed this too.”

Vance exhaled a quiet breath, his lips brushing against her hair, “I don’t think I realised just how much I needed this until now.”

The silence stretched between them, comfortable yet heavy with unspoken thoughts. Adrianna shifted slightly, her fingers tracing absent patterns against his chest. Finally, she broke the quiet, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want this to end,” she admitted, her words fragile. “But… if you really knew me– everything about me– I don’t think you’d feel the same way about me. There is so much about me that you don't know and I am terrified that when you find everything out that your love will turn to hate.”

Vance’s arm tightened around her instinctively, his hand brushing gently against her shoulder as if to anchor her. “That’s nonsense,” he said firmly, his voice steady but kind, “I know what I need to know about you, Adrianna. I know the woman who risks everything to protect people she’s never even met. The woman who stays behind to make sure others get away safely. The woman who protected her crew, putting her life on the line. I know your heart.”

She gave a small, bitter laugh, her forehead pressing against his chest for a moment. She needed to tell him and she wanted to tell him and now seemed perfect. “That’s the surface, Vance. There’s so much more you don’t know. Things I’ve done... things I’m not proud of. If you saw it all–”

He tilted his head, cutting her off gently. “I’d still love you,” he said without hesitation. “All of it. All of you. The good, the bad, the parts you think are too messy or broken. None of it changes how I feel about you because I fell for your heart and soul, not your past. But– your past is still part of you. If you can get over mine, I can get over yours.”

Adrianna went still against him, her breath catching slightly. She wanted to believe him, but a part of her still doubted.

“Now,” he said softly, pressing his lips briefly to her hair, “stop worrying and go to sleep. We’ve both had a hell of a few weeks, and I think we’ve earned a quiet night.”

She hesitated, her heart racing, but his steady warmth eased some of her fears. “You make it sound so easy,” she murmured, though there was a faint smile in her voice.

“It is,” he said, his tone resolute, “because you're back.”

Vance let out a quiet breath, pulling her closer to him. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering for a moment before he whispered, “I’ve missed you. More than you know, dove.”

Adrianna didn’t reply, but her hand curled slightly against his chest as she let her eyes drift shut. Vance held her close, content to stay like that as long as she needed, his own fears fading as her breathing evened out.

“Amore mio,” she broke the silence again, almost absently as her mind was somewhere between consciousness and a dream state, “why have you started calling me dove?”

He was quiet and looked down to her resting on his chest. At that moment, he was imagining his future with her, falling asleep like this every night and waking up with her next to him. He barely heard her question, but when he finally realised that she had, he smiled. Planting a gentle and loving kiss at the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her hair, grounding himself. He finally responded, “because you give me hope, Adrianna.”

Adrianna shifted slightly, her body melting into his warmth, and though she didn’t reply, the faint smile on her lips spoke volumes. Her smile was not lost on him and holding her close, Vance finally allowed his own eyes to drift shut, and together, they slipped into the first peaceful sleep either of them had known in weeks.

 

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