"I Do, Take This PIP as Mine to Love and Cherish Until Death do us Apart"
[Previous post: "Executive Duties", written by extremely generous Serenna Switt]
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Black Hole Lounge
To say that Lea was stunned would have been the understatement of the
century, and it showed. Had she not been in a public place Lea might
have removed her shirt to make sure the pip was there. The CMO had felt
it be snapped into place but Lea still could not believe that this had
really happened.
"Congratulations," Susan said bouncing out of her chair to hug her
friend. "I am so happy for you."
"Don't say that," Lea quickly said pushing her friend away. "At least
not that way."
"Say what? That I am happy for you?"
"Yes," the CMO answered glancing at David who was sitting on the other
side of the table.
"Why?"
"Because it makes it sound like I am getting married."
"I will admit that Serenna had me, and pretty much everyone else going
for a moment," Susan grinned.
"I know!" Lea mumbled through clenched teeth as she glared at the
hybrid.
"Never suspected that she had such a sharp sense of humour," Susan said
while glancing at Serenna.
"I liked it better when she didn't," Lea said. "At least I knew where
she was coming from before. Now I keep imagining her stepping onto the
bridge with a big red round nose on her face."
"Gee, relax will you. You were promoted, you would think that you
would be happy," the Cns said pushing her friend's shoulder.
Elizabeth Halliwel, the new aCMO, stepped up to her boss and extended a
congratulatory hand. "Congratulations *Lieutenant*, I guess it will
make things easier in Sickbay."
"I doubt that any promotion will make things easier where the HATHOR's
Sickbay is concerned. The room is going to be even smaller now that I
have an extra pip on my collar," Lea joked.
As Lea and Susan returned to their seat, David smiled across the table.
Seeing the beaming grin of the large Engineer, Susan nudged her friend
wither elbow. "Be careful, he looks like he might just proposed to
you."
Lea turned squared in her chair and smacked her friend on the shoulder.
"That's not even funny!"
"What is?" David asked, not having heard what Susan had said about the
upcoming marriage proposal.
"Nothing," Lea quickly replied before reaching for the glass of water
in front of her and hiding behind it as she drank.
"Speaking as you friend, and not as the counsellor, you really need to
relax," Susan whispered to her friend. "Serenna was only kidding, but
if you keep acting like this people are going to think that maybe she
wasn't. They might believe that she was hinting to something and right
now the battle is between you and Maya."
"Maya?" Lea asked before understanding what her friend had meant. The
only other relationship taking place amongst the crew involved the
CSciO and MCO. "Now that would be something to see," the CMO whispered
with a smile.
"Moving on to another subject," Susan said while looking at Ens. Carft,
"what do you think of our new Ops officer?"
"Medically, professional or personally?" Lea asked while looking at her
friend with puzzlement.
"All three of course, you actually spent some time with him during your
medical examination. I am just curious about what he is like. There
is just so much you can get from reading a psychological file," Susan
pointed out, her eyes locked on the ensign.
"Medically speaking he is in perfect health. Professionally speaking,
he is a respectful officer who seems ready to do what is needed.
Personally, I can't say much and suspect that you know more about him that I
do. He was not overly talkative during the examination," Lea said,
glancing at the HATHOR's Ops officer.
"According to his psychological file, he had a close encounter with the
Borg during his last assignment. It may be a good idea for me to make
some time and speak to him," the Cns said with a sigh. Dealing with
the crew on this matter was part of her duties, but it still was
something she found difficult.
"I saw no physical scaring normally associated with assimilation. Of
course that doesn't mean there is nothing for you to do," Lea whispered.
"Thank you *Lieutenant* Summers," Susan teased. "Now that I have your
support, I will get to work right away."
Lea knew that her friend had been joking, but having been referred to
as *Lieutenant* had hit Lea hard. She had not been dreaming and the
promotion had been real. Now all that remained was for her to see what
else this mission would have in store for her.
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Lt. J.G. Lea Summers
And
Chief Medical Officer 2005 post #520
Stardate: 60329.1245
Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
