Candle In the Window

Posted on Mon Sep 5th, 2016 @ 10:55pm by Captain Charybdis MacGregor & Commander Fiona McCray
Edited on on Mon Sep 5th, 2016 @ 10:56pm

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Taking Chances
Location: USS Bonne Chance, Turbolift 1
Timeline: 2265

Sickbay had called around 1200 and requested that Lieutenant McCray be removed and placed under supervision, as she had experienced a reaction to the painkillers that had been... interesting, to say the least. Returning to the bridge from the brig, Lieutenant Charybdis swung through Sickbay on Deck Six just in time to catch the end of a rant from the Chief Engineer, who was apparently unhappy to have her freedoms curtailed in such a manner.

"...ah, fer tha loove o' Christ! All I'm asking for is me PDD and a pair of pants. I'm nae likely to commit too mooch mayhem with those," the words were a growl, "and if I do ye'll just send that bloody tumble weed after me agin...!"

The statuesque scientist stifled a giggle and spoke up gently. "Ah, if I agree to vouch for the Chief's whereabouts and insure that she remains on light duty, would it be acceptable if she were released to my custody?" The head nurse enthusiastically agreed, so Char turned on her friend, stepping into her space and looming over her slightly.

"Lieutenant, you will accompany me to the Bridge. There you will man the Engineering station, so that you will satisfy Sickbay's requirement of light duty while remaining under my supervision and assisting me with the operation of the Bonne Chance until such time as this duty shift ends, after which I will decide your disposition from there. This is a direct order as your acting commander- is this understood?"

Char had never actually tried to pull rank on a peer before, particularly on her friend, so she wasn't positive how this was going to work out. But it seemed to be the ideal solution to the problem; she did want to keep an eye on the engineer, and she was acting commander, so she was within her rights. It was just a question of how mule-headed the Chief planned to be today...

"I'll tell y' mah disposition...cranky an' stir crazy," Fiona sniffed. "I'll behave... unless we're attacked then I'm goin back to me engines." She got up slowly and began moving stiffly toward the exit.

"But first, could we get the Chief her pants, please...?"

"Reet, pants... wouldn't do to go to the bridge like this," Fi said, but she looked like if she didn't get pants she'd go anyway.

"Pants and a duty uniform for the Chief, please..." Charybdis asked, and the Sickbay staff coordinated to make it happen in short order. Every other woman on the ship other than the medical personnel may have worn the miniskirted uniform of the day, but the Chief was a special case, and the Lieutenant wanted her to be comfortable. And also not to have to hear her complain would keep the acting commander from getting a headache, she mused.

As they departed Sickbay, Charybdis deliberately slowed her pace to nearly a crawl so that the smaller woman could keep up, as well as giving her the opportunity to take it steady as she goes. She did not try to help her nor did she offer... she suspected the feisty and independent Scot would not care for that. But she could at least manage a considerably slower pace than her usual speedwalk through the corridors, and she hovered close to the engineer, ready to catch her if needed.

Fiona kept up with her friend only pausing once or twice to steady herself using the wall. Her face was grim and a shade or two whiter than normal but she stubborned things through.

As the turbolift arrived and they boarded, Char took hold of the control handle and called for the Bridge, then abruptly stopped the lift. She released the handle and swept the smaller woman into a swift yet tender hug. "I'm so glad you are okay Fi... you really had me scared there." She released the redhead and held her at arm's length, bending over to put them almost eye to eye.

"You are my friend, and I care about you very much... so don't scare me like that in the future, okay?" It was a moronic thing to say, and almost childlike how she stated it, but the look in her eyes was earnest and quite serious. It was clear that Fiona meant the world to her, and that her injuries had distressed the Vulcan vixen considerably.

The engineer winced slightly at the hug but returned it with a smile. "I'll do me best, lass" she promised quietly. "Good notion, thet intership transporting ye pulled oot there."

"Well, you were... you were very badly hurt, and I wasn't sure I would be able to get you out of there. Honestly, most of the credit goes to Transporter Chief Fingerman... he was the one who realized that the buffer could be used in such a manner to reorient the destination."

That got a small snort of laughter. "Aye, tis a good thing he's got a dab hand at the controls... otherwise we could have ended up scrambled or hal'way in a wall."

"Er... yeah... I hadn't really considered that, now that you mention it... I was, ah, a little focused on the more immediate crisis, I guess." Char smiled sheepishly, "I guess that we are pretty lucky he's rather good at what he does."

"I guess we should get going... but... I'm really glad you're okay, Fiona. Now how about a nice calm shift on the bridge, eh?" She grinned at the Chief, standing up straight and taking hold of the control lever again.

"Aye... I'm ok. " The small woman smiled up at her friend. "Calm shift on tha' bridge? Ye remember what happened the last time I was there?"

The sultry scientist smiled and shrugged seismically, seeming somewhat sheepish.

Fiona paused and put a gentle hand on the Vulcan's arm. "How're you doin? Any word from tha' away team? And have ya had any rest an food? I canna remember, how long has it been since the attack...?"

The well-rounded officer sagged against the back of the turbolift for a moment, the strain of the past twenty-four hours telling on her face. "No... no word at all. I'm trying not to worry... everyone is experienced and they know what they are doing out there, but... well, I can't help it, I worry." She straightened back up again, picked her chin up and smiled. "But yes, I have eaten, taken care of the crew and I did sleep... some. I'm okay, I promise."

"Aye, they're well trained and ya dinna get to be a Captain by being a total loose canon," Fiona shrugged slightly. "I'm sure they're fine. Missions take time, aye? Glad I don't have to force you to take a nap, at least... don't feel quite spry eno and I'm workin' one handed."

"No ma'am... I wouldn't be doing anyone any good to fall apart," Charybdis smiled tight-lipped. "The whole ship is relying on me right now... the away team can take care of themselves, and we're in position to support them if they call for help or run overtime. Til then, follow orders, stand ready, and keep a candle in the window, eh?"

The engineer gave her friend an awkward but reassuring pat. "Aye... tis all ye can do." She paused a moment, then looked the taller woman in the eye. "He's fine, Char. I feel it in me bones."

Grasping the control handle the blue-clad officer started the elevator moving once more. "He'll come back to me, Fi. He will always come back to me."

"Aye," the red-clad officer replied, and the one word was quietly assured.

 

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