Chapter Text
The sound of the pitter patter of light footsteps approaching brought Chris' attention away from the documents he'd just been reviewing. He looked up from the PADD in his hands just as La'an appeared in the living area, small and pajama clad, clutching a horse stuffie he'd given her weeks ago when she'd accidentally been transformed into a young child. She'd clung to it since, almost as much as she clung to Una (which really was saying something), seeking safety in its soft fur amongst an unrecognizable world around her.
Her eyes darted around the dimmed lights of his quarters with the same attentiveness she had shown when she'd been a Lieutenant and Security Officer of the Enterprise. Some things apparently did not change.
La'an's eyes narrowed as she realized Chris was alone.
"Where's Una?" La'an's breath came out a beat too fast and a little too ragged.
"She's just in the fresher. She'll be out in a minute. What's wrong?"
La'an just shook her head, unwilling to divulge just yet what had awoken her from sleep. They'd put her to bed in Chris' bedroom hours ago, whilst Chris and Una continued to work in his quarters. But Una had mentioned, in the weeks La'an had become a child and come under Una's care, the young girl had yet to sleep the whole night without waking. Nightmares.
"Do you want to sit up here with me whilst we wait for Una?" Chris asked, gently patting the space next to him on the couch where Una had vacated moments earlier.
La'an nodded, and all but ran the last few paces towards him. However, instead of clambering onto the couch as Chris had expected, La'an launched herself into his lap. Instantly, Chris brought his arms around the small girl's frame and hugged her tightly against him
"I've got you." He whispered, gently stroking her back as he felt wetness at the nape of his neck where La'an had burrowed her face. "You're safe now."