Heart to Heart

Posted on Sat Sep 26th, 2026 @ 3:11pm by Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker & Lieutenant Delix & Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe

1,797 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Echoes in the Triangle
Location: Science Lab | USS Arcadia

ON:

Sabastian gingerly walked over to the door that held the one person he wanted to see, yet didn't want to see. He sighed and took a fortifying breath before hitting the chime.

"Come in," came the call.

Steeling himself Sabastian walked into the tiny office. "Lieutenant Poe. Do you have a moment?"

Aiden Poe had been reading the new archeological reports from Denebai IV. It was fascinating. He was so excited at the new discoveries and couldn't wait to fill in his Chief on the updates. He had thought that the chief was there when the chime rang but when the familiar voice washed over him his head snapped up. "Commander Walker..."

Sabastian held up a hand to stop Poe from rising out of his seat. "It's alright. You don't have to stand. May I sit? Do you have some time to chat?"

Poe's face flushed red. "Um...sure. Can I get you something to drink?"

Sabastian shook his head. "No, I'm alright."

Poe's gaze shifted to the floor. "Okay."

Sab sighed. "Listen Aiden I wanted to thank you for everything you did to get me back. I appreciate it more then you know. If it wasn't for you I would still be on that Klingon ship."

Poe shrugged. "I did my job."

The silence stretched a little. "Yes but...I also know that it was more then just that."

Poe said nothing. He didn't even look up.

Sab bit his bottom lip focusing on sensing what Poe was feeling. Right now the young Xenexian was full of emotions. Some good some bad. "Look Aiden I know that things...between us have been strained the last few days and I know that you had words with Delix. I just want to start by apologizing for anything that he said that was rude and hurtful. I..."

Poe's head snapped up. "Why should you apologize. You made yourself clear when you said that you felt nothing, not even friendship towards me. You probably feel the same way as that big dummy does."

Sab sighed. He could feel the hurt radiating off Poe.

"I didn't say I felt nothing. I am your friend, or at least I want to be. I just... anything more is not something I can give. Del and I..."

"Are not my concern Commander." Poe's hands clenched into fists. "Your Assistant Chief made it clear I was not welcome in Engineering and..."

"That's a lie. You are welcome. He is reacting this way because..."

"I don't care. Bullies don't have to have a reason for being bullies. As long as it makes sense in their minds and as long as they have people to defend their actions then it's all good. Believe me I have enough experience dealing with bullies."

"I'm not defending..."

"Commander I have a report to get to the new Science Chief. You came by to thank me for my help and you are welcome. If you will excuse me I have to get this done before I can go off shift."

Walker could sense he was going to get nowhere with this. He could also sense the hurt he was causing just by being here, not just to Aiden but himself. The truth was he liked Aiden. It wasn't because he reminded him of Zai it was because there was something that spoke to Sabastian. It called to him and he had a strong urge to protect Aiden.

He wanted to say so much but Aiden wasn't receptive and Del's campaign was not helping. If he couldn't talk to Aiden then he had to handle Del. He would not have him making things difficult for Aiden. Sighing he stood up. "Alright. I'll go."

Sabastian walked over to the door and then stopped. "Aiden...I wish that you and I could be friends."

There was no response and so Sabastian left feeling more tired then he arrived.

He consulted the computer and then headed towards the shuttle bay. Del was there fixing something so he would try and talk to Del.
The trip down was slow but it gave him time to think. When he arrived Del was just leaving a shuttle wiping his hands on a rag. “Gabe!”

Sabastian smiled at the use of his middle name, he preferred it to his given one but few people knew that. “We need to talk about Engineering.”

Del smiled. “Sure thing.” He tossed the rag aside and called to Ensign Toger. “I’m going to take a break. See you in a few minutes.”

Toger waved as he scurried under the shuttle. Del led Sabastian to a small little lounge that was empty. “What’s wrong with the store?”

Sab laughed. “Why do you always call it the store?”

Del shrugged. “Not sure. A professor did it at the Academy and it stuck.”

Sab shook his head smiling. “Nothing. Everyone is a top efficiency, you’ve brought her up to code more then I could and everyone is happy….ish. You could ease up a bit on the kids.”

Del sighed. “Yeah but I needed to get them to that level. The Cappy expects a tight ship.”

“True but they are not just crew. We’re a family. Did you know they all threatened to quit over me?”

“That just proves they’re smart and loyal.”

“Loyal, yes. So ease up. I don’t want you to make anyone feel uncomfortable and drop the Ella thing. White can take care of herself. Ella was just being Ella.”

“Yes well trapping her and Thol in a lift is over the line. We need every system functioning.”

“I’ll give you that but still. Ease up.”

Del was silent and then gave a nod. “Fine. I’ll adapt.”

“Good. Now the hard part.”

Del laughed. “That wasn’t the hard part?”

“We need to talk about Aiden Poe.”

Sab was hit with a wave of resentment and anger radiating off Del.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Yes there is Delix. He helped save me. He was a glue for the Department and you banned him from Engineering. He’s made friends and I will not have that happen.”

Del stood and paced away staring out of the little window into the stars. His mood dark. “He’s a distraction.”

Sabastian sighed and stood walking over to Del and placing his hands on Del’s shoulders. “I’m yours Del. I promised to give us a chance and I will not go back on that. I will not choose him over you.”

“And it hurts you. You’d rather be with him.”

Sabastian sighed. “No. I was just getting to know him and yes, I liked him but it was a few moments. We were jut getting to know one another. You are the one I want to be with.”

Del turned suddenly. “Out of guilt! You feel guilty for choosing Zai and for how you behaved towards me and you think that pity and guilt is a foundation for us?”

Sabastian jolted a bit. Del was not completely wrong, but then he was not completely honest.

“Yes I feel bad how I treated you, that I believed Zai over you. I feel bad that I wound up with him rather then someone that loved me truly. I cared for you a lot Del. I loved you in my own way and honestly maybe that scared me so I unconsciously picked someone who would not love me the way you did and someone I convinced myself I loved. I lost myself in Zai and I don’t want to do that again.

Do I love you? I don’t know. I care for you and I feel the tenderness that is love but we both have to be together, let this thing between us grow and be tested. You have to figure out if you love me too and we have to make our way together. We are friends, lovers, and yes my feelings for you are strong but after Zai I’m afraid to call them love I’m afraid to fully let go.”

Del looked at him and for the first time his eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “But with Poe you can fall, as completely as you did with Zai.”

Sabastian swallowed. “I won’t like. He calls to me in a way that’s…different then you. What we have is raw, powerful, primal. With him…he calls to a deep part of me that I can’t name. But that is done. I want to try with you. I want us to have a shot together not out of pity for you but because you are worth risking my heart for again. I just need time and what’s brewing between us is… new and will be slow. Can you do slow?”

Del sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Well until you know maybe you should go back to your quarters. We both need to think. I’m sure of you but you need to be sure that still views love as a trauma and is just slowly trying to get over that.”

Sabastian paused. “I’m still hurt but I want to try get past it for myself and for you. You are worth it Del.” He walked up and took Del by the shoulders. “You are worth the risk and I should have risked it all on you the first time. I hurt you, I have to live with that. I have to live with the knowledge of rejecting someone who truly loved me and you have to forgive me fully for us to work.” He was quiet a moment. “I also have to forgive myself.”

Del sighed. “Please don’t say couple’s counselling.”

Sab’s lip twitched. “I won’t. I’ll write it on paper and let you read it.”

Del laughed. He leaned in and kissed Sabastian’s lips. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Yes, but you can’t take out your fear and pain on Poe and you have to trust that I will choose you. I promise you I can be his friend and love you. The heart is capable of many things.”

Sabastian felt the trickle of fear in Del. “You have to forgive me and trust me. I know it will take time. On both our parts but we will find a way to one another fully without all the traumas and pains of our pasts. So we go slow,”

He sighed. “And couples counseling.”
“And couples counseling.”

Del gave a nod and rested his forehead against Sabastian’s. “Okay,” he whispered.

“Okay,” Sabastian said.

OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker
First Officer
&
Lieutenant Delix (PNPC)
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer

USS Arcadia

 

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