Red Rock Candy Mountain (NVC-Hank)

[john_grimm]

John heaved himself up the cliff face, sliding wrapped fingers into shallow handholds, boosting himself up with only the strength of his toes. He ascended, body pressed warm upon warm against the red rock. At one point he was left without space for his feet and hung, dangling, from a ledge, suspended by his shaking digits

Comments

[lt_hank]

"I didn't want to disturb you sir," Hank responded. And he'd been observing Mr. Grimm curiously. He wondered what had made this man the one that Captain Kirk tapped to be their next security chief. Oh, he didn't doubt Captain Kirk, just was curious, especially after he'd heard what Kirk had had to put up with from ill-managed security officers.

[john_grimm]

John cocked his head, an eyebrow raised.

"First off, drop the sir. It's John to my friends and Reaper to my coworkers. Secondly..." John looked the man up and down, noticing the close cropped hair, the calculating eyes, the wary stance.

Soldier.

Got it in one, Johnny boy.

"Secondly, soldier, I'd like your name, your rank, and your intentions."

[lt_hank]

"Lt. Henry Pierce, most folks call me Hank, and I wanted to see what my new commanding officer was like," Hank responded honestly. "Captain Kirk said I was to talk to you." Hank stood at attention, watching John carefully.

[john_grimm]

John nodded. "And you should. A team, let alone an entire fucking department, won't work unless we can trust each other. And I'd say introductions are a good step in that direction." Smiling crookedly John approached Hank, holding out a hand for a shake.

"Sergeant John Grimm. Newly appointed head of security. If you've got my back, I've got yours."

[lt_hank]

Hank shook his hand firmly, noting the hands were definitely not that of someone who was expecting someone else to do the work. "Never a question. I don't fuck around when there's folks depending on us."

[john_grimm]

John's eye narrowed and he parted his lips to reveal a particularly toothy grin. "You'd better not. But remember: You're not alone in this. I am, first and foremost, responsible for the safety and security of every person on this ship, including but not limited to you. Don't you dare shit around on the job, but keep in mind that the world's weight is not yours to bear."

[lt_hank]

"Yes sir," Hank nodded, putting that to memory. He'd ignore that order if necesary, but he'd remember it. So when he pulled punishment duty he'd remember why he was pulling it. Good commanders weren't a dime a dozen after all.

[john_grimm]

John's eye went sad.

"What'd I say about sir, Lieutenant?" Frowning, he snorted. "Lieutenant. Huh. Gotta come up with a better name than that. A fighting name."

[lt_hank]

"Yes Reaper?" Hank hazarded. Hank wasn't entirely sure what Mr. Grimm meant by a fighting name.

[john_grimm]

John nodded. "You got it, Lieutenant. You'll get your name later. You gotta earn it first."

He winced. That made military service sound like boy scouts.

Nothing to do about it now. Backtracking would only make him sound unsure and uncertain.

[lt_hank]

"Sounds like the rodeo," Hank muttered. Not that he was really surprised. Most organizations he'd found were like that.

[john_grimm]

John nodded solemnly. "'Cept we don't have horses," He paused. "Do we?" he added, wistfully.

[lt_hank]

"Unfortunately not," Hank said wistfully. "No cattle either. Mostly we have a lot of guns. And scientists who go back for 'one more reading' and medics who go back to treat one more patient and command officers who think they know what they're doing..." He recalled every single horror story the teachers had told him.

[john_grimm]

John quirked a grin. "Wouldn't be home without all that, yeah?"

[lt_hank]

"Well, Starfleet," Hank responded. "Home is a little town in Texas with smelly horses, smellier cattle, and a helluva lot of family."

[john_grimm]

John's smile faded and he shrugged. "Good for you, man. And don't you lose that place. Home is more valuable than anything in this world."