That's What Friends Are For

Part Two of Bad News

First Lieutenant Lee & Lieutenant Kincaid

Stardate 9908.06

Jen pours herself a fresh cup of cinnamon coffee from the pot, adds cream and sugar, and carries it over to the couch, where she settles down with a good book.

Antonia places the picture down on her bedside table and goes to the bathroom to splash some cool water on her face. She picks up a small towel and wipes her face off. "Computer, locate First Lieutenant Lee."

Computer> "First Lieutenant Lee is in her quarters."

Antonia exits her quarters and makes her way to see her friend. Upon arriving she presses the chime.

Engrossed in her book, Jen hears the chime at her door. A little confused, but getting used to it, she looks up and says, "Enter" as she puts down her PADD and stands up to greet her guest.

Antonia smiles slightly as the door slides open and she steps inside. "I hope that I'm not interrupting anything."

"Of course not!" Excited to see her friend, she walks up and opens

her arms for a hug, "I'm glad you stopped by!"

Antonia returns the hug and begins to sob a little. "I'm glad that you were here. I really needed someone to talk to."

Surprised to hear the sob, Jen holds her friend, gently stroking her hair. She gently leads Tonia over to the couch and sits down with her, never letting her think she's alone. She reaches over and grabs a handful of tissues and hands them to Tonia. "What's wrong, Hon? Liam being a jerk already? The honeymoon is barely over!"

Tonia takes the tissue from her friend and chuckles a bit as she sits down on the sofa. "No, no," she says shaking her head. "This has nothing to do with Liam. Everything with him is going fine." Tonia wipes the few tears from her cheek that have escaped from her eyes. "I received a personal message from my mother today telling me that my father is very ill and they don't expect him to live much longer."

With a gasp, Jen replies, "Oh my goodness ... I'm so sorry. I know you guys haven't gotten along very well in the past. Are you going to go home?"

Tonia sighs heavily, "Right now, I just don't know. She says that he has been sick for a very long time and that is why he wanted me to marry Michael and take over the business of running the vineyards with Michael's help of course."

With a sigh of her own, Jen says, "I understand that to a point ... about you

marrying Michael ... but isn't there someone else that can run it in your family? I mean, I can see you retiring to Earth and running the vineyards then ... I can just see you and Liam tending to the vines." Jen smiles at the thought.

Antonia smiles picturing that thought in her head also. "My mother and father were both only children, so I am the only one left. I mean, my mother could hire someone to help. I just don't think that she wants to do that. I have been questioning a lot of my decision over the last two hours or so, but you know I always come back to the fact that I have made a life as a Starfleet Officer and I have a life here with Liam and the crew of the Federation. I can't just turn my back on that either." Tonia sighs again. "I'm just not sure what to do right now."

Jen picks up her coffee and takes a sip, then looks at it like it has ten heads or something. She looks quickly up to Tonia, "I'm so sorry ... would you like something to drink?" She puts the cup down and stands up, ready for Tonia's drink order and says, "I know. It really puts you in a bind, but there has to be people there helping them ... I can't imagine your mother and father going through all of the harvesting, and making of the wine themselves. Surely there's someone there they can trust to help out?"

"I would love a glass of ice water, please. There are a lot of people that work the vines and help make the wine and such, but it has always been a family business. Family has always handled the business end of things. There are a few people that have been with the family for years and I could talk to mother about one of them helping her to handle off of the business aspects, but I know what she is going to say."

Getting the glass of ice water, she hands it to her friend. "It seems to me like your parents are stubborn people ... they don't take into consideration the fact that you love your life here ... that you are different from them."

Tonia takes the glass of water from Jen. "I know, they are very stubborn people. I guess it's just time that I put my foot down, but that is so hard to do when you father is dying. Tonia sits back on the sofa and closes her eyes. "I just don't know what to do."

Jen settles in on the couch again, and drinks some more of her coffee. She puts a hand on her friend's shoulders and tries to rub away some of the tension. "Maybe a leave of absence? You know, go home ... see your father, and talk to them. In person. Maybe even Liam could go with you, and they could get to meet their son-in-law. Maybe then, some compromises can be made."

Tonia opens her eyes and takes a sip of her water. "That's an idea, but with everything that is going on with the Fed right now I just don't know that it will be possible. I guess my next step is to send a message back to mother and try to explain things to her."

Sighing, Jen replies, "Yeah, I guess so. Have they ever even spoken to Liam? I think this is something the two of you should probably do. Show your parents the united front so to speak. And remind them that there is more than just you in this picture now."

Tonia nods slightly, "They have spoken with Liam once. When we told them of our plans to marry. That didn't go over so well, and I told Liam that I wouldn't put him through that again. If he chooses to be with me when I send the message back then that would be great, but I won't ask him." Tonia takes a long sip of her water. "I'm lucky to have you as a friend. You always help me put things in perspective."

Grinning, she takes Tonia's hand, "That's what friends are for, hon. Things like this need to be spoken aloud, and different views formulated. I'm glad I was here for you."

Tonia leans over and hugs her friend. "I'm glad you were here also, but I guess I better get back to my quarters and send mother a message before she thinks that I'm not going to."

Jen warmly returns the hug, offering the only reassurance she can. "I understand. Good luck with it, and remember ... I'm always here for you."

Tonia smiles as she stands up off the sofa. "Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'll talk to you again soon to let you know how things are after I talk to my mother. Thanks again for everything."

Jen walks her friend to the door, and places her hands on her shoulders from behind, giving a little squeeze. Grinning, she says, "Just remember to breathe, and don't let them make you say anything you'll regret."

Tonia sighs and smiles slightly, "You do know me and my temper well don't you? I'll talk to you later. Bye," she says as she exits her friends quarters and heads back for her own.

Jen smiles and returns to the couch, finishing her coffee and her book.