"The Hardest Words To Say"
[Previous post: "Executive Turmoil", written by the our ever watchful Serena Switt]
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Black Hole Lounge
Stardate: 60326.1700
Lea and Susan sat at a table as far away from the Hirogen and Nausicaan as they could. At first the CMO had found them both to be endearing in some way. That perception had changed after what they had said about celebrating. Lea might have over reacted, but Susan had been sure of it. And as a friend it had been her duty to point that out to Lea.
"Don't you think that you went a little hard on them?" The Cns asked. Susan had waited for the air around her friend to cool down. If Susan had pointed the error right from the start it would have only served to further infuriate the CMO. "They were both assigned to the ANUBIS, so they have cause to celebrate. For them the trouble with David means nothing, so you should not be angry at them. You cannot expect the universe to stop moving while we sort out what happened."
Lea glared over the table at her friend, their drinks having been traded in for some basic nourishment. The CMO could not be certain if Susan being right or her having so overly reacted had been what hurt the most. David having disobeyed orders and endangered the lives of their CO and ExO had been bad enough. To have found a possible reason for his actions that could barely be proven had not helped matters. And now here was Lea snapping at every and anyone who said something relating to David. Worse, Lea was snapping at other crewmembers for nothing more than being themselves.
"I know that this is hard on you," Susan said. "It is hard on all of us, but whatever the outcome turns out to be we have to be strong. We cannot allow this to destroy the family that this crew has become," the Cns added with a weak smile.
"Are you bucking for a promotion?" Lea snarled back before grinning.
"Why? Do you think I'll get it?" Susan teased glad to see that they had managed to move off the subject even if only for a few seconds. "I think *Lieutenant* Mei has a nice ring to it, don't you?"
"Next you'll be asking the captain to take over the CMO's spot," Lea said in good humour.
"I would never do that to you," Susan quickly said tapping the back of her friend's hand. "I was thinking more along the lines of Ops officer. The position is officially available since Annie's appointment there was only temporary."
Lea tried to hold her laughter back as she imagined her friend sitting at the front of the bridge. Counselling crew members through their troubles was one thing, Ops officer of the ANUBIS was another. "If you can find a way to land the Ops position from Annie, I'll ask to take the Sec/Tac position."
Susan glanced over her shoulder at the current Sec/Tac officer of the USS ANUBIS. The mental image of the CMO challenging the Nausicaan was beyond description, something that Susan quickly pointed out. "It would be worth it just to see you tell Ensign Rostov that you are taking his position."
"I could take him," Lea chuckled. "All I would need is a half dozen of fully loaded hyposprays and a well timed power failure."
"A power failure? Why would you need a power failure?"
"So that he would not see me come close and to be sure no one else sees me running away for my life," Lea said before standing up. "Guess I should go and say that I am sorry before it is too late. I would not want to have either one of them mad at me if I can help it."
Lea headed for the other table closely followed by her friend. Never having dealt with either a Nausicaan or a Hirogen Starfleet officer before now, Susan could not even guess as to their reaction. How would races who regard warrior codes of honour and conduct respond to an apology? The best the Cns could do was to follow along and offer the CMO as much support as possible. While of course remaining well behind her friend and out of harm's way.
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Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Ensign Lea Summers 2005 post #423
Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
