Cousin Charlie (Part 8)
Chekov was still fuming when he left the captain and Spock. He couldn't believe that the captain would question him about his personal business. It had nothing to do with his ability to perform his duties!
He couldn't figure out why the captain was so concerned about him and Hailey. He then wondered if it was Spock who was behind all this. Was he concerned because of the rocky relationship he was having with his cousin? Was this another way to get under Charlie's skin? Chekov wasn't too sure. Then again, Spock being the epitome of logic probably wouldn't do anything without a good reason.
His mind immediately returned to the captain. Perhaps there was more going on here than he could see. If the captain thought Hailey was underage, then he could understand why he would be concerned, however he should not have jumped to the conclusion that he had slept with her.
Chekov thought about the many women he had witness the captain seduce and concluded that the man didn't know how to have a relationship with a woman that wasn't sexual. Perhaps if the captain had been in his shoes, he would have expected sex from Hailey if she had agreed to return to his quarters. Whatever was going on, Chekov decided that he would stop all questions of legality and ask Hailey to provide some identification. Maybe then the captain would back off.
He returned to his quarters and sent Hailey a message asking to see her. She immediately responded and asked him to come to her quarters. He quickly showered and changed.
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Charlie enjoyed his time with Nyota. He had questioned her about Janice and Nyota was pleasantly surprised that he was interested in her. He told her that he had asked Janice to attend the concert.
"Janice is a nice person, Charlie. So don't you go breaking my friend's heart" Nyota teased.
"I wouldn't think about doing such a thing" Charlie replied laughing. "Besides she looks like a woman who can handle herself. How do you know that I wouldn't end up with my heart broken?"
"Yeah, right" Nyota said laughing. She sat down on the stool and picked up the lute and began playing. Charlie leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes enjoying the music she was creating.
He listened to her run her fingers across the strings of the lute for a few moments before opening his eyes. He found her watching him curiously.
"I'd love to accompany you on my guitar" he said. "We could do a duet of sorts...you know, just for fun."
"What about Spock?" she asked hesitantly. "I thought you were going to ask him to accompany you."
"Oh, I'm going to ask him to join us alright" Charlie said laughing. "Do you think he'll do it?"
Nyota stood up and sat the lute on the nearby table. "I don't know. When are you going to ask him? I don't think he's on duty during the time of the concert. This might just be the thing you two need to really bond."
Charlie chuckled. "Spock and I bonding is something that I'll believe when I see it. Though I must admit that he did make an effort of sorts when he visited me. He reminded me that we are family"
Nyota put the lute down. "Family is very important. He knows that. I think you and Spock have more in common that you both realize. You two just need to spend some time together. Perhaps you can do that when we have our shore leave."
Charlie stood and stretched. "I tell you what. I'll send him a message right now and see what he says. I should go now. We have to practice before the concert and I need to check on Hailey."
"Of course" Nyota said nodding. "Let me know if you want to go over our duet before the concert and I am sure that Spock and I will try to get with you."
"Oh, so it's 'You and Spock' is it?" Charlie teased. "Are you two an item?"
"I wish. We are friends...and things are moving slowly towards more, I think."
she replied. "You know Spock. Everything is done logically."
"Of course." Charlie snickered. "I gather, however, that he's not moving fast enough for you, right? Perhaps our little concert will help him realize that he should move a little faster. He might not like all the added attention it may bring to you."
"You're not thinking of trying to make him jealous are you, Charlie?" she said smiling.
"Nyota Uhura" Charlie said in mock indignation "Vulcan's do not get jealous. You ought to know that!"
He walked towards the door grinning. "See you later"
She smiled as the doors closed. She decided that Charlie wasn't such a bad guy after all.
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Hailey was somewhat surprised to receive a message from Pavel. She didn't expect to hear from him until the time of the concert. She hoped that Spock's visit didn't have anything to do with the urgency she detected in the message.
She had showered and changed and she knew that Charlie would want to practice before the time of the concert so she hoped that whatever was going on, that it wasn't that serious.
She heard her door chime and knew that it was either Pavel or perhaps Charlie. She was happy to see that it was Chekov and ushered him in.
"I hope everything is alright Pavel" she said eying him. "I hope Mr. Spock didn't cause any trouble. I was a little worried when I got your message."
Chekov sat down on the sofa and she sat next to him. He took her hand. "My problem is not with Spock, but with the captain. He seems to be concerned about your age and has advised me to give you some space."
Hailey was surprised. "What? Why on earth would he do that? What did Spock tell him." She knew that Spock was somehow behind it. She was going to talk to Charlie about his cousin!
"I guess Spock told him that it looked like you spent the night. They weren't too happy about it. I told them that it was all perfectly innocent-"
"It's none of their damn business!" Hailey snapped jumping up. "What's their problem? Have they ever done anything like this before? Have they ever questioned you about such things in the past?"
"No" Chekov confessed. "That's why I don't understand what's going on."
"Have you ever been involved with someone and the captain knew about it?" she pressed.
"Yes-"
"Was there any problems then?" she snapped.
"No, Hailey. But the captain knew her age because she was a crew member." Chekov said defensively.
Hailey began to pace back and forth. She was clearly upset and angry. She turned to Chekov. "I bet I really know why he's pushing this issue concerning me! I bet they're worried that with my past that perhaps I'll corrupt you somehow!" She stopped pacing and stared at him, her face red with anger.
Pavel jumped up. "Hailey that's ridiculous! I think they are just concerned about your age. Your past has nothing to do with it."
She walked over to her bag and turned it upside down spilling the contents. She rummaged through the pile of items, searching for something. She quickly found what she was looking for and handed him a green computer chip. "Here's my ID. You can check it out with Starfleet! I am twenty three years old! I can't help how young I look!" She folded her arms across her chest and turned away from him.
Chekov came and took her in his arms. "Don't get upset. The captain can't order my personal life. I'll take it to Spock and then I hope that all this will be over." He held her tightly until he felt her relax in his arms.
Just then the door chimed and Charlie walked in. He quickly surveyed the two of them hugging. He was glad that Hailey had found someone she could be comfortable with.
"There you are' he said smiling. His face then fell when he saw that Hailey was upset and wondered what was going on.
"Hailey, what's wrong?" he said walking over to her.
He turned to Chekov. "What's going on here?"
Hailey turned to him putting her arm around his waist. "It's not Pavel's fault, Charlie. It seems the captain and Spock feel that he shouldn't see me anymore...that he should give me some space."
Charlie looked at Chekov and then back to Hailey who was wiping her eyes.
"Sir, they are concerned about her age. She looks so young, that's all" Chekov replied defensively. "I am sure that it is nothing personal."
Charlie studied him a moment. "Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Yes sir" Chekov replied with as much confidence as he could muster. He wasn't sure what was really going on, but he wanted to give the captain the benefit of the doubt.
Charlie was quiet a moment as if in thought. Then he broke out in his trademark smile. "Alright then. I'll leave it at that for now." He turned to Hailey. "We need to go over a few numbers. I'm inviting some of the crew to join in our concert so I want to get our numbers out of the way."
"Alright Charlie" She turned to Chekov. "You want to come?"
"Can I" he eagerly answered. He'd love to hear how the band sounded before the concert.
"Sure, why not?" Charlie said. "Let's go"
They left Hailey's quarters and headed to the large Officers Hall where they were going to perform. It was normally used for meetings with the crew and could hold about two hundred people.
"We'll be doing two concerts. One at 1900 hours and one at 2100 hours. Each will be about an hour. That way most of the crew will be able to come." Charlie replied.
Luke and Rory were already there warming up and Chekov sat in a chair in the back of the hall watching them.
Charlie began playing the sax and Luke was on the guitar. Sometimes the two of them would switch up. Hailey was on the drums and tambourine and Rory was on the keyboard. They began playing jazz music and Chekov found himself moving to the beat. He leaned back and closed his eyes. They were really very good and he was sure that the crew and the captain would be pleased.
He was surprised when Hailey stood up and began to dance back and forth and then she began to sing. Her voice surprised him as her singing voice sounded somewhat different from her speaking voice. Her voice sounded much more mature when she sang.
Click to viewPavel was surprised and pleased with what he was hearing. He stood up and leaned against the wall listening to her. She looked at him and smiled, continuing to sing. He thought that she was very talented.
He watched as she and Rory began to dialog back and forth while Charlie continued to play. The song then ended and Chekov broke out in applause.
"That was very good, Hailey. You have a marvelous voice!" he gushed excitedly. "I know the crew is going to love it!"
"Thanks, Pavel" she said blushing.
"Let's take a break" Charlie replied.
Charlie watched the two of them walk off together and hoped that the concern that the captain and Spock was showing towards Hailey was only concern about her age and nothing else.