Returning Bad News

Part 1

By Yuki Wildstar

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February 3^rd, 2212

Nova and Derek settled back into their lives. With the return of their son they both managed to stay busy at their jobs. Wildstar worked hard in his office preparing for his trip to the states. “Corporal Warren, do you have those files on the Avatar?” he said into his intercom.

“I believe that Commander Forrester has it, she was looking over the budgeting on it. Would you like for me to get it?”

“Yes please.” He replied and continued working. Within seconds he heard a tap on the door. “Wow that was quick. Enter.” He called out and was shock to see a young woman walking through the door.

“Hello Derek, how have you been?”

“Fiona, what are you doing here?” he asked nervously.

“I was in town with the Ambassador and I figured I’d stop by and say hello. He is meeting with the Council about some funding. So how have you been?” She said as she walked around his desk and sat down on it.

“We’re doing great. How long are you in town for?” he asked wishing she leave soon.

“We’re here for a week. I was wondering if you would like to have dinner for old time’s sake.”

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, Fi. My wife and I just finished working things out and I’m not going to mess it up. But thanks anyway. I really should be getting back to work. So if you don’t mind.” He stood up and pointed to the door.

Feeling disappointed she stood up and place her hand on his face. Since she left for the States she couldn’t keep her mind off of him. Every man she dated couldn’t measure up to him. They seem all immature, even if they were his age. “I guess I shouldn’t have thought that we could have dinner together. But it was a try.” She smiled as she continued to rub her hand on his face.

“Don’t do that Fi, I’m a married man and love Nova with all my heart. What happened between us was a huge mistake. Please go I have to get to work.” He said nervously trying to get her to leave. He took hold of her hand and began to push her away when the door to his office flew open.

“Derek, I’m so sorry about the file. I was looking at the . . . .” Nova said as she walked into his office and then looked up. She stopped dead in her tracks and was shock to see her and him standing so close as Derek held her hands. “Am I interrupting something?” she asked with slit eyes.

“No Nov, she was just going,” Derek said quickly.

“I’m sorry have we met before?” Nova asked as she stared at the woman before her. Something about her made Nova uneasy.

“No ma’am we haven’t. My name is Fiona Hernandez, Derek and I worked together back when he was on the docks.”

Feeling her heart drop to the floor to what she said it didn’t take her long to put two and two together. She looked from Derek to Fiona and back again. Finally she began to step back and make her way out the door. “Um, I, ah, here is the file captain. I, I, I should go. It was um, it was, I’ll talk with you later, Derek.” and ran out the door.

“NOVA WAIT!” he called out to her as she made her way back to her office. Quickly he turned and looked at Fiona with hatred, “Go Fiona, and please don’t come back here again,” then ran to her office. He gently knocked on her door and peek in. “Nov, can I come in?”

“Go away Derek. Now is not the time to air our private lives. Anyway I have to go pickup Alex from day care.”

Closing the door behind him he walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Nova we have to talk about this, I need to explain what happened!”

“Don’t touch me. Not now. I have to go!” She said pushing him away and then grabbing her things to leave.

“Nova please, she just stopped by to say hello. I told her to go away,” He tried to say quickly.

“I have to go.” She said through gritted teeth. “Now move out of my way.” Slowly he stepped to the side to let her go. It’s best to just wait until we are home. Here just wouldn’t be the place to talk about I,. He thought to himself as he watched her walked to the elevators.

She stood there and waited until the elevator came still fuming as to what she witness. Pushing the button again she prayed that it would come before he chased her down or she started to cry. Ready to turn to the stairwell the doors finally opened. Looking up she couldn’t believe she was standing inside with someone whose face went pale as she saw Nova standing there. ‘Damn’ Nova said under her breath and then steppedinto the elevator. Pushing the down button she stood to the side and stared at Fiona up and down, sizing her out. “So you’re the one.” Nova finally said.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I said, You’re the one!” Nova snapped.

“Mrs. Wildstar, I should explain.”

“Explain what!? How you tried to take Derek away? How the two of you sneaked around behind my back? How you almost destroyed my marriage? So go ahead ….explain, because this is something I would like to hear!” She spat with a vile look on her face.

“Nova, we never meant to hurt you. Derek made it clear that he loved you. I just assume that he . . .”

“Stop right there.” Nova snapped as she put her hand up. “I could care less what you assumed. Stay away from him and my son!”

“I just wanted to tell you how lucky you are to have such a sweet loving man. Nov,”

“Don’t call me that! Only he calls me that. It’s Mrs. Wildstar,try to remember that! As for being lucky that still is up in the air. You know I’ve met a lot of little floozies in my time. You’re no different than they are. Always wishing that they could have what others have. You see a young man that has it all, a career, fame, power and sometimes a little money. But let me tell you. He didn’t get there alone. But the only thing you’re good for is using what he built to your advantage. Yeah, you’re no different than they are! So take a word of advice, find yourself someone else. Because one day you may go after a man whose wife is not so subdued!” Fiona stood there trapped in this moving box dying to get out. She prayed that it would finally get to the bottom floor so she could run out. Nova continued to stare at her with slit eyes itching to slap her hard across the face. Finally on cue the doors finally opened and Nova said her final words. “Leave him alone and don’t think that you will weasel your way back into his life. Because I will make sure that you regret every moment of your life.” Fiona ran out of the elevator tears streaming down her face, pushing people out of her way. Nova watched her race out, then step out and stood to a quiet part of the hall and try to regain her composure. She wiped the tears from her face and made her way to her car.

Still angry, she picked up her son and drove around trying to clear her head. “Mommy where are we going?” he asked.

“Oh just looking at the beautiful flowers. I’d figure you and I take a little road trip. How does that sound?”

“Can daddy come?”

“Not this time. It’s just some me and you time.” She said then pointed out the window of her car. “Look over there Alex, a fighter jet.”

“Nova, are you home?” Derek called out into the house. He hoped to come home and talk with her. At least to tell her that she not need worry about Fiona. He hoped that he would never see her again after all he put Nova through. Now there she was in his office and on top of it all Nova finally met the woman that he was seeing. Why does this keep happening? “Nova, where are you?” he called again. He looked around the house and outside coming to the conclusion that she wasn’t home at all. “She must have gone to the store with Alex.” He said out loud then went to change out of his uniform.

“Nova! What are you doing here?” Michael Spada asked shocked to see her standing there with her son.

“Was in the neighborhood and figured I stop by. Can we come in?”

“Sure, hello Alex. My you’re growing up so fast. Look at you, I think you grew a whole foot since I saw you last. Let me see if I have something for you to play with. As you can see I don’t get to many visits from kids. But I think I just might have something that you can play with in my medical bag.” He said as he pulled out his stethoscope. “Think you can use this?”

“Wow it’s a sthethoscope like yours, mommy!” He raised it up to show his mother.

“Maybe someday you will be a doctor,” He said laughing at him.

“I don’t think so Uncle Michael, I’m going to be a pilot like my dad.” He grinned.

Laughing at his answered he ruffled his hair and said. “How about I put on some boob tube for you? Maybe we can find you something with kid things on it.” He said as he changed the channel looking for something for him to watch. “There you go. Now your mom and I are going to have a talk. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes sir.” He said as Michael ruffled his hair once more.

“Now mom, what’s going on?”

“Nothing I was just in the neighborhood, that’s all.” She tried to say with a straight face. Michael gazed at her longer and realized she was beginning to cry. Quickly he took her by the hand and led her out onto his porch. “What’s wrong, Nova?”

“Michael I think he is seeing her again.” She blurted out and began to cry. All that she held in finally came out in full force. Michael took her into his arms and caressed her back. Trying to console her all he could do was whisper in her ear. “Everything will be alright.” Finally she began to tell him what happen. Sitting down he listened to her tell what happen at the office.

“What are you going to do Nova? I now it was hard getting back to where you both are now, but if he is seeing her again do you think that you can work things out again?”

“I don’t know. I have to give myself some distance to clear my head. I still haven’t figured out what I’m going to do tonight. Going home will only make things worse. I know myself enough to just nail him with something. How can he do this to me again? After what we’ve been through! I finally came to the conclusion of taking him back that I will have to live with it. But to go through it again, I just don’t know.”

“I’m hungry mom.” Alex announced as he ran into his mother’s arms.

“Hey kiddo how about I make you something. Mommy looks a little tired and she needs’ to relax for a few. You think you can help me make something?”

“Sure Uncle Michael. But mom, shouldn’t we call dad?”

“I’ll do that while you help Uncle Michael okay.”

Michael kept him distracted while Nova sat outside thinking. She kept playing the scene in her mind over and over again. What did he think she was back for? Tea! Damn you Derek! For hours she tried to stay focus on her son and try to make their visit cheerful. Michael kept Alex laughing so not to as bug Nova to go home. He could tell in her face that it was killing her to make a decision to go back. Night finally fell and Alex started to get restless. He fussed about going home. She tried to tell him a story about one of their missions and watched as he finally fell asleep on the couch next to her. Placing a blanket over him, Michael put his finger over his mouth and motion Nova to come into the kitchen.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure. I still can’t get the image of him and her together out of my head. I know I can’t go home now. I’m not ready to see him. Not yet.”

“Look Alex’s is asleep and it’s pretty late. Why don’t you and he stay here tonight? You look really tired.” He said feeling worried about her.

“Thank you Michael, I really don’t think I could drive anywhere right now.”

“I’ll get you something to wear and some blankets for the spare room. Do you want to leave Alex here or I can put him in the room with you?”

“Thank you Michael. I guess we can put him in the room now. And Michael thanks for being there.” She tried to give him a smile.

---

Derek sat outside looking at a picture of her and Alex as the sun went down and wonder where she was at. Day light finally went down and he began to get frantic for why she wasn’t home. Going into the house he picked up the phone and began to call everyone. With each call he got the same answer, no one seen her all day. Where would he begin to search he thought. The hotels, she would stay at a hotel. He started with the hotels they stayed at and then opened the phone book. He began to dial the numbers starting with the A’s.

“Thank you, if she does check in can you tell her to call her husband.” He said to the last hotel. “Where could she be?” he looked up at the clock and saw it was 1:30 in the morning. It took him hours to go through all the hotels. Once again he tried her cell and left yet another message. He stopped counting after 30 to how many he’s left. Making his way back to their room he peeked into Alex room and sighed. He tossed and turned all night waking up every hour to see if she was home. The morning sun hit his face and felt like he’s been in battle for days. “Coffee, I need coffee.” He said trying to get up.

Nova stayed up most of the night. She watched her son sleep quietly next to her and smiled each time he moved. She walked out onto the porch with a blanket wrapped around her taking in the cold night air. How will she face Derek when she got home? Could he be telling her the truth about her? Was he trying to get rid of her? Or was he rekindling something when she walked in on them? Whatever it was she had to face it with him eventually.

“Nova, what are you doing up?” She heard Michael say.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to wake you I just can’t sleep.”

“It’s freezing out here.” He said then wrapped his arms and blanket around her. “Why don’t we go inside? It’s just too cold out here.” Rubbing her shoulders he guided her back inside. “Coffee or hot chocolate? It’s artificial but it’s pretty good.”

“Chocolate is good. Coffee will keep me up, not like I can sleep anyway.” She tried to make light of the situation. “I just don’t know what I’m going to say to him, Michael.”

“Have you called him?”

“No and Alex doesn’t need to know. I don’t want him upset. Before he was so small and he was too young to remember anything. I, I, I just don’t know . . .” she tried to say and began to cry again. Taking her in his arms he sat her down in the living room. “I’m sorry I just can’t seem to stop . . .” she tried to speak again bringing on another wave of tears. They sat in the living room as she cried herself to sleep. Michael picked her up and brought her back to the spare room and placed her on the bed. He looked over at her son and smiled that he was sleeping so soundly. Sitting next to her he watched her as she finally slept. Gently he lean down and kissed her lips. How he wanted to be in her life. He thought, Damn you Derek, why do you continue to hurt her? Oh Nova if I was him I would never hurt you. I love you so much. Closing his eyes and he finally fell asleep also.

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February 4^th 2212

Morning . . . .

Alex woke them both up as he jumped on the bed. “Mommy I want to go home.” He said loudly.

“Good morning Alex. I hope you had a good time here last night. Would you like to eat something? We can give mommy a few more minutes to get together.”

“Can I have pancakes?” he asked.

“I think I can whip some up….Come on let’s go make some together.”

---

“Thank you so much Michael.”

“Are you going to be alright? Do you want me to go with you?”

“No I have to deal with this myself. I don’t know how I can repay you for letting me stay here. Alex say goodbye to Uncle Michael.”

“Goodbye Uncle Michael.” Her son said as he gave him a big grin.

“Did you have a good time?” he asked Alex.

“Yesh, can I come visit again?”

“You sure can. Thank you for coming.”

She gave him a kiss and hug and thanked him again before making her way down to the car.

11:35 A.M.

Wildstar Residence

He heard her car pulling up and he jumped to his feet. He stood in the middle of their living room as he waited for her to walk through the door. His heart pounded so loud he thought it would jump out of his chest. He wasn’t sure what she would do which kept his mind racing as what to say. He thought his heart would stop when he saw her walk through the door with their son.

“Daddy!” Alex screamed when they walked through the house. Running into his father’s arms Derek took hold of his son and squeezed him tight.

“I missed you so much Alex. Did you have fun with mommy?” he asked trying to see where they stayed last night.

“We sure did, first me and mommy went on a road trip and then we stay over Uncle Michael ‘s house. He cooked for mommy and me and then he made pancakes. They were really good. Not burnt like yours.”

He tried to laugh but just looked at his wife who now sat on the couch. “Well I’m just glad you two are home. Why don’t you go play and then I’ll come and play with you later.” With lightning speed he ran into his room to play with his toys. “So that’s where you were all night!” He said feeling his temper rise. “I was worried sick for you and Alex. I call everyone and every hotel on Great Island. I thought something happened to you two. I even caledl the hospital. Why didn’t you answer your cell? How could you do this to me and with Alex! Then to find out you were with him! Are you that mad at me that you decided to shack up with someone else?”

“Are you done?” she asked him then got up and went out to the porch and down the beach. Derek follow suit quickly.

“Well don’t you think we need to talk? He snatched her by the arm not wanting to let her off so easily. After all she was at another man’s house.

“Don’t touch me. And don’t lecture me about not coming home. May I need remind you what I witnessed yesterday in your office? I can’t believe you would be with her again. You promise me that it was over. And like a fool I believed you and I took you back and now she’s here. Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Don’t you know that eventually it would come out? So don’t you lecture me, just be grateful that I came back.”

“Am I supposed to be happy that you spent the night with another man?”

“Nothing happened Derek. So get your mind out of the gutter. I needed to get away and think. I knew you would be looking all over town for me so I went somewhere you wouldn’t think of.”

“I can’t believe you do this. You took my son and to his house out of all people. You know how I feel about him. You did it to spite me.”

“SPITE YOU! You are kidding, right? This is not about me this is about you and that tramp.”

“Nothing HAPPENED! Like I try to tell you, I told her to leave and not to come back!”

“Well it looked a lot like something else.”

“I was pushing her away from me. She was touching my face and I pushed her away. Nova I would never do that to you again!”

Running out of the house Alex ran into his father’s arms. “Dad let’s go play.”

“Sure Alex, why don’t we go down to the beach line and look for some shells. We can pretend that they’re space bombs. Then we can throw them back into the ocean,” He smiled at his only son. “Mom and I can talk later. So did you sleep alright? I know you can’t sleep without your space ship.”

“Awe dad, I’m a big boy. Anyway Uncle Michael slept with us.” He grinned.

Derek snapped his head in Nova direction, “Alex can you give me and mom a few more minutes. I promise I’ll come get you and we will play. Go on, go inside.” They watched as he ran back into the house and then he turned to face her. “You slept with him!”

“Derek you can’t be serious. How can I sleep with him while Alex is there? I’m not that stupid. I would never expose our child to something like that.”

“Then why would he say something like that?”

“I was crying and fell asleep he brought me into the SPARE room and he fell asleep with us. Nothing else happened.”

“So were you even going to tell me if Alex didn’t mention it?”

“Eventually, it wasn’t like something happened. It’s not important and how did this all become about me? Don’t try to turn the tables now. This started a long time ago.” She snapped back.

He stood quiet feeling drained and frustrated. He wanted so much to get in his car and beat him down. While his common sense told him not to. Nova would never forgive him. “So what now?” he said in a low tune.

“I don’t know Derek. I keep asking myself can I trust you anymore? I don’t think I can go down this road again. I love you so much and it hurts to even think that she was here trying to get back into your life.”

“She was never in my life. I learnt that the hard way. Nova I love you, I always have and always will. Please, just hear me out. She came into my office unannounced. I told her to leave, that I love you and no one else. When you walked in I was pushing her out the door. Yes she asked me to dinner, but I told her no. Nothing can ever come between us. Nova, I love you. You’re my world. Please Nov I don’t want to move out again. It almost killed me before!” He said as tears rolled down his face.

Stepping closer to him she gently wiped the tears from his face. “I love you too Derek. And no, you don’t have to move out. I don’t think it will be healthy for Alex anyway.” Asking in a low voice he could barely hear her. “Is she truly out of our lives, Derek?”

Without hesitation he said, “Yes Nova. I’ve told her never to come back. I love you and Alex. You both are my life.” He smiled.

Looking deep into his eyes she smiled back at him. “She better be, because next time it’s over. Got it Papi?” she said imitating her friend’s accent.

“Yo entendo.” He replied back to her as she laughed. “Come on Alex is probably getting into something. By the way do I always burn the pancakes?”

Laughing louder she said. “YES!”

February 6^th 2212

2 days later . . .

“Hello Michael.” He poked his head into the door.

“Captain Wildstar, come in what can I do for you?”

“Can we talk?”

Placing his papers down, he motioned to him to sit. “Sure, I’m free. I don’t have a patient for another hour.”

“I don’t want to take up your time I just need to get this off my chest.” Looking at him weariy he nodded. “Michael I know that Nova and Alex stayed at your house the other night. I appreciate how you have been a complete gentleman with my wife. It’s good to know that she has a good friend.”

“I just want to see her happy, Derek.”

“Seems like we both want the same thing. We both want her to be happy AND we both love her. Don’t deny it Michael. I knew since the beginning that you have always loved her. But just keep in mind that Nova and I are married. She loves me and our son is what binds us more.”

“Derek I know she loves you. I see it in her eyes and face. And I don’t want to be the one that comes between you two. But…”

“Michael you will never come between us. Remember that you will only be a rebound man. Our marriage has had its ups and downs and we always manage to work them out. I would appreciate it if you please continue to JUST be a friend. I would hate for you to get hurt.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I just don’t want you to think that Nova can ever love you like we love each other.”

“Derek I honestly do appreciate your concern about my feelings getting hurt. But let’s put everything on the table. I know she loves you and Alex is her life. But I hate the fact that you hurt her, not once but twice with the same woman. So forgive me if your threats are nothing more than a threat. Yes I love her. She is a wonderful woman and to see her hurting because of you drives me nuts. I have already told myself that I can never have her. She loves you whether you have been faithful or not. But let me tell you and then this conversation is over. If you hurt her again I will step in and take my chances of getting hurt.” He said leaning forward facing Derek in the eye.

“I don’t take to kindly to threats, Michael.”

“It’s not a threat Captain. It’s a solemn promise. I don’t want to see her hurt again. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to finish my work here.”

Staring back at him Derek stood up and said. “Stay out of our lives, Michael.”

“I will…but Nova has to be the one to tell me that. Not you.” He also stood up and stared back at him. Derek started to leave when Michael finally said. “Captain Wildstar, Nova will not know about this meeting. We don’t need to hurt her anymore then she has been.” Derek nodded over his shoulder and left.

“Derek, what are you doing here?” Nova said as he walked past the nurses’ station.

“I was just hoping to take you to lunch. How about it, are you free?” He said.

“Lunch, Derek its past 2 o’clock. I think it’s a little late for lunch.” She smiled as she brushed his hair to the side.

“I know but I haven’t eaten all day and I was in the area so I figure I’d stop by and ask my beautiful wife to grab something to eat.” He said as he watched Spada come out of his office. “So can you come?”

Nova glanced at him and felt something wrong. “Is everything alright, Derek?”

Taking hold of her waist he brought her closer to him. “What makes you think something is wrong?”

“Because one, you’re here in the afternoon and two you’re here in uniform and you’re holding me in your arms.”

“What.. I can’t show my wife how much I love her?”

She looked into his eyes and knew something was wrong, “Give me a minute. We can have something in the cafeteria.”

“Okay.”

Taking the elevator down, she kept staring at him. Derek looked down as he held her hand. They began to walk towards the cafeteria then he pulled her towards the entrance. Confused at his action she said. “Derek, the cafeteria is this way.”

“I know but I want to take you to that restaurant up the block. Come on it won’t take too long.”

“Okay Captain Wildstar, what gives? What happened today that you needed to bring me out of work?” she asked as he helped her with her chair.

Quickly they placed their orders and he began to tell her about his and Michael’s meeting. “Nova, please say something?” he pleaded with a low tone.

“Derek what were you thinking?” she looked at him with anger.

“I don’t know. I just wanted him to know that I love you. Nova I know he is in love with you. And I feel that he is always waiting in the wings to get into your life. And it just irks the crap out of me that he is the one you run to when things go wrong between us. I know by telling you that you will be angry, but I rather you be mad at me now then to find out through him that we talked. Nova I’m not going to apologize for what I did.”

“Oh Derek.” She said disappointed. “How many times have I told you that it’s you that I love and no one else? I know that he has feelings for me, but he already knows his boundaries with me. I need not remind you that he is the one that has convinced me time and time again to work things out with you. He is the one that listen without judgment. He never once told me to leave you. I love you, you big lug.” She said then reached over the table and stroked his face.

“I just don’t want to lose you, baby. Especially now with what I have to tell you.”

Her heart began to beat faster at what he would tell her. “What Derek?”

“I got orders this morning baby. I have to leave for the States sooner than I thought. I should be back in a few days.” Nova began to laugh at what he said. “What’s so funny? Here we are just getting our lives back in order and now this. You know I hate leaving you and Alex especially after a fight.”

“It’s not that. I thought you were going to tell me that you were having another affair.” She laughed louder. “You going away is nothing. I can do that standing on my head.”

Amazed at her reaction Derek began to laugh with her. “I guess I look like a complete fool to you and Michael.”

Reaching over again to touch his face she smiled, “But you’re my fool and I love you so much. Now if that is all Captain Wildstar, I have to finish up at the hospital and then pick up Alex from day care. Then when I get home I expect for you to make this all up to me.”

“Am I being punished Mrs. Wildstar?”

“You betcha.”

To be continued . . . .