"The Return"
(Previous Post: Serena's 'Executive Return')
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Stardate: Infinity
Setting: USS STONE MOUNTAIN, Bridge
David blinked and opened his eyes and looked around. His eyes narrowed as to his location. He stood from the COs chair and waled the circumfrence of the bridge and stopped at the COs ready room and read the placard.
"Captain David Dawson... Commanding Officer USS STONE MOUNTAIN?" he said and looked around. Sitting in the COs chair was his father. His mother and brother was standing by his side.
"Pops?" David said, "Mom... how..."
"Hello son" Captain Dawson said.
"But..." and David realized where he was, "Pop... am I dead?"
His mother smiled and approached her son, "No Davie... you're not dead. You're" and she smiled, "let's just say you're visiting."
"But Mom... I..." and David's memory drifted back. "The airlock... and I remember..." and he saw him standing in the dark corner.
"Richard" David hissed and started toward his brother as Jordan cut him off.
"David... let him go."
"HE'S THE REASON I'M HERE!" David bellowed trying to push past his kid brother, "he's the reason for all of this. My life is over can't you see?!"
"Are you sure?" Captain Dawson said waving his arm behind him and David saw Lea standing over his body working frantiically.
"How..." David said as he looked back and forth between the ANUBIS' Sickbay and his parents.
"David... we owe you an apology" Patricia Dawson said, "it was never our intention to let you carry this heavy burden. Richard..."
"I don't want to hear it Mom!" David snapped and his memory raced over the past few weeks, "Sarah told me that you were close to removing Richard... but you *didn't!*"
She turned away from him, "There was so much I wanted to tell you... so much I wanted to do... but your father..."
"Save it!" David hissed, "I lost my parents... my brother... hell... even killed one... and now..." he turned and looked back to Sickbay, "guess the Dawson name has to die sometime." he said folding his arms across his chest.
"But it doesn't have to be that way son" Captain Dawson said looking into his son's eyes. David smirked because it felt as if he was looking into a mirror. Was this a trick? For the past month every time he looked into a mirror he saw Richard. SO was this another one of his dead brother's tricks?
"*Look* at me!" Captain Dawson said sternly, "take a good look at me David. I can see you have your doubts but I am your father. This is *no* trick and Richard will *never* bother you again."
"How can you be certain?!" David argued, "for years he's been there! Plotting. Planning. Thinking of ways he could destroy my life. *My* life Pop...not yours. The pain *I've* had to endure because of him. My friends don't trust me. My captain *hates* me. Why?" and David wheeled on his mother, "because *you* didn't do what it took to save me! You healed from Richard's attack and carried on like he never existed! But he did Mom... he lived on and destroyed *everything* I've worked for!"
"So you blame Mom for what she did?" Jordan asked, "what about me? *What* about your promise to Mom? That you'd take care of me?"
David opened his mouth but closed it. "How could I? You decided on your own path..."
"Just as you decided on yours son" Patricia said, "I am the captain of my ship..."
David nodded, finally realizing what has transpired over the course of his life, "and the master of my destiny." he said completing his mother's sentence.
"There is still time son" Captain Dawson said nodding over his shoulder and he smiled at his son, "there is still much for you to do David. That's why you are not dead."
David shook his head. "All the pain I caused. All the damage I've done. People have been hurt because of me. People have died because of me..."
"It happens. *Life* happens son. You aren't the savior, but think how everyone will be effected *if* you actually died." he said taking his seat and he smiled once again, "what about your promise to Enaii?"
David's eyes widened, "How do you know..."
"That was a charge *you* accepted son. Enaii died in the line of duty because the MERCURYs crew needed to get off the planet... and get home to their loved ones..."
"But what about Sabrina?! And Talia for that matter." David snapped and pointing at his brother, "if it weren't for *him* Enaii would still be alive..."
"Astute argument" Jordan said, "and if you would have kept your word to Mom *I'd* still be alive. But things happen for a reason David. Why? We don't know exactly but you have a second chance. A second chance to do things right. *Without* influence" Jordan said glancing at Richard.
"How can I?" David asked, "when no one trusts me?"
"No one ever said it would be easy son. But just as you won them over when you first joined the crew you can do it again" his mother said.
"It'll take time... which you have plenty of" Captain Dawson said, "the Dawson name isn't ready for obivlion yet. There is still much work for you to do David. Places to see. Lives to saves... and protect. And you're greatest challenge is *yet* to happen."
"My greatest challenge?" David said.
"Love" Patricia said, "true love is waiting for you David."
"Come son" Captain Dawson said, "its time..."
"Wait..." David said.
"Know that we love you and will *always* be there for you"
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 60327.1730
"Body temp is rising... his breathing has increased 32%" the EMH said to the CMO as she pressed a hypo to David neck. A grumble silenced the entire deck as Lea glanced down at the CEO.
"David? David... can you hear me?"
David's eyes opened slightly. He tried to talk but his throat was raw and raspy.
"Blink if you can hear me David" Lea said turning the CEOs head in the direction of her eyes. David's eyes slowly closed and re-opened.
The CNS standing by the foot of the biobed exhaled. It looked as if David was going to pull through. David tried to lift his head, but Lea stopped him.
"Easy... you've been through a lot." the CMO said as the EMH swept the CEOs body with a tricorder.
"Heart rate is steady. Body temp is 81 degrees and rising."
"How is his temp rising so fast?" Susan asked.
"Its the nanites" the EMH said, "his heart his been mass producing red blood cells and T-cells that were needed to sustain a normal body temperature. And since Doctor Summers saw her... ghost..." and the CMO glared at the hologram.
"Computer, *deactivate* EMH" Lea growled and picked up from where she left off, "whatever it was or whoever it was did something. I guess we'll never know but right now the concern is David and getting him back to normal."
Susan approached the right side of the massive engineer. David glanced in her direction and she stepped back.
"What?" Lea said.
"His eyes... I don't think Richard is completely out of him" the Counselor said as Lea opened David's eyelids. His right eye bore the red ring around the iris and the squiggly capilaries.
"Well... that can easily be fixed" she said reaching for her optical regenerator as David grabbed her hand.
"N... n..." the CEO tried to say.
"Shhhhhh" Lea said, "this won't hurt a bit."
"N... no..." David said, "pl... please..." he strained.
"OK... OK David" Lea replied, "just lie back and relax" she said giving the CEO some tri-ox. His eyelids fluttered and closed.
Susan looked at her friend. "How are you holding up?"
"I tell you" Lea said with a sigh, "sometimes I wish I would have chosen to be a xenobiologist" she replied shaking her head, "but this job *does* have its rewards." she said casting a glance to the CEOs sleeping form.
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Cheif Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #468
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
