So this will be only a few chapters long, so I guess it's sort of a oneshot. A sort of pointless one, might I add. A while I don't really support Chakotay x Seven, I figured I might as well write one oneshot where they're a couple. I'm more of a Doc x Seven fan.
So, uh, read away! :)
. . .
The Doctor lets out a sigh of frustration as he drags a disgruntled Lewis Zimmerman into the restaurant. It wasn't too fancy, but it was a little fancy. White tablecloths, elegant candles, etc.
"The change of scenery will do you some good," the Doctor says. "Now let's go."
"Why did I agree to this?" Zimmerman asks himself aloud. "Who are we meeting again? Some chick with her Starfleet boyfriend, right?"
"Seven of Nine and Commander Chakotay," the Doctor corrects. "And they're married."
"I thought he was a Captain now." Zimmerman looks around the restaurant and continues, "I guess this place isn't too bad..."
"Okay, Captain Chakotay," the Doctor says in annoyance. A waitress approaches the two with some menus in her hands. A puzzled expression is on her face.
"Can I help you?" she asks.
"Uh, yes, we're here to meet some friends of ours," the Doctor replies. "Seven of Nine and Chakotay are their names."
"You mean Annika Hansen and Chakotay?" the woman says.
"Yes." The Doctor still feels rather annoyed at the moment.
"Right this way," she says. The Doctor and Zimmerman follow the waitress to the table that Seven of Nine and Chakotay are sitting at. Seven sees the Doctor and smiles.
"Doctor," Seven says. "It is good to see you."
Chakotay looks up at the Doctor and Zimmerman as well. "I see you managed to get the old man out of the lab."
The Doctor nods and shoves Zimmerman into a chair.
"Hey!" Zimmerman squirms in his seat, annoyed. "I didn't program you to shove people around!"
The Doctor ignores Zimmerman and sits down. The waitress sets their menus on the table. "I'll be back in a minute to check up on you."
Zimmerman lets out a huff and opens his menu, ignoring Seven and Chakotay. There is an awkward pause, which the Doctor breaks after a moment.
"So... nothing like a friendly reunion!" he says, smiling. It's a fake smile, clearly. He was attempting to relieve the tension a little.
"Indeed," is all Seven says. Chakotay has a little more to say.
"It has been awhile," he says, tapping his finger on the table. "How have you been?"
"Good," the Doctor replies. "I'm working on a new holonovel."
Chakotay frowns at that. "Please tell me it has nothing to do with-"
"Don't worry, it has nothing to with that embarrassment." The Doctor chuckles lightly. "This holonovel won't be so-"
Zimmerman lets out a growl of annoyance and interrupts. "Be quiet! I'm trying to decide what to order."
"You're being rude to my friends," the Doctor points out, getting annoyed. "Please show a little more... tactfulness."
"And you're distracting me from the menu."
"Maybe I should order for you!" The Doctor snatches the menu from Zimmerman's hands. "Hmm... what do we have here? Ah, here we are. Salads." The Doctor purposefully emphasised that last part.
"Give me that! I didn't program you to steal people's menus!" Zimmerman attempts in vain to snatch the menu from the Doctor's hands.
"Not until you apologise to Seven and Chakotay for your behaviour," the Doctor replies, laughing. Zimmerman let's out a huff.
"Fine," he says. He turns to Seven and Chakotay and continues, "I apologise for my 'inconsiderate' behaviour."
"Apology accepted," Chakotay says, trying not to laugh. Seven simply nods and goes back to skimming her menu.
"Can I have my menu back now?" Zimmerman asks, looking annoyed. He was not happy.
"Yes," the Doctor says, handing the menu back to the disgruntled scientist. "A word of advice. When in doubt, try to be nice."
"I didn't program you to make nursery rhymes," Zimmerman muttered under his breath.
"Are you giving him social lessons now, Doctor?" Seven asks in an attempt to make a joke, closing her menu. She figured out what she wanted to eat.
Before the Doctor could reply, Zimmerman asks, "Why are there no steaks?"
The Doctor gives Zimmerman a glare. "Weren't you paying attention this morning? This is a seafood restaurant!"
"You have got to be kidding me." Zimmerman puts a hand to his face. "I don't suppose the lobster could be grilled..."
"Of course not!" The Doctor looks even more annoyed. "Don't be absurd! Grilling lobster is basically ruining the dish. It has to be boiled in a pot or something similar. That way it doesn't dry-"
"Shut up, Doctor," Zimmerman says. "I'll look over the menu again. Maybe I missed something."
"Well, I highly doubt you'll find a pot roast in there," the Doctor muttered.
The waitress came back. "Drinks?"
"Not for me, thank you," the Doctor says.
"I'll have a whiskey," Zimmerman tells her. The Doctor gives him a look.
"What?" Zimmerman asks. "I'll go easy on it this time."
"Like the time you kissed Admiral Janeway during my latest lecture?" The Doctor grimaced as he said this.
Zimmerman let out a growl of frustration. "Get me the whiskey," he told the waitress.
Chakotay and Seven then ordered their drinks. After the waitress left, Chakotay turned to the Doctor incredulously. "Lewis Zimmerman kissed Janeway?"
"Yes, I did," Zimmerman replies. "What's so interesting about that? Men kiss women all the time nowadays. Especially when they're drunk."
"I just think it's funny," Chakotay tells him. "How exactly did that happen?"
"Do you really want to know?" The Doctor asks, embarrassed.
"A story to pass the time would be adequate," Seven says. "And this may be an... interesting topic."
The Doctor sighs, and looks at Zimmerman, who says, "Don't look at me. You started it. Might as well finish it."
The Doctor lets out a huff. "Alright. I suppose I'll humour you all. It all started about a month ago, when I was invited to do a lecture..."
. . .
The Doctor sat in his medical office, holding a data pad and mulling over the message it held. He let out a sigh as he read over the message one more time.
Emergency Medical Hologram,
We would like you to give a lecture of your choice tommorow at 8:30 p.m. sharp at the Museum of Historical Advancements. You may bring a fellow colleague or a friend of your choice to the lecture. Only one person, mind you. We still need room for the other guests.
Sincerely,
Admiral Paris
P. S. Obviously make the lecture medical related. I don't want to hear you babble on and on about Shakespeare or Edgar Allan Poe or any of that. Not like in your last lecture. And don't go on and on about the little details. This lecture shouldn't take all night.
The Doctor growled slightly in annoyance at that last part. He set down the pad and thought. And thought. And thought. There were many topics related to medicine. Life of a cell, bioplasmic surgery, etc. Suddenly Dr. Zimmerman came in, staring at a data pad he was holding.
"Doctor," Zimmerman began as he approached the Doctor's desk, "what do you think of this?"
The Doctor set down the data pad that had the invitation, and took the pad Zimmerman was holding. He looked at it a moment and replied, "This looks like it has something to do with Borg nanoprobes... wait. These are schematics for a holodeck, I think." He looked up at Zimmerman. "Just what on Earth are you planning?"
"Simple, really," Zimmerman said, holding his hands behind his back. "You know how nanoprobes can repair damaged organs?"
"Obviously," the Doctor replied. "I'm a Doctor, not a first grader. Get to the point."
"I'm thinking about modifying this technology," Zimmerman spoke, smiling pleasantly, "and installing it into holodecks to create self-sustaining holodecks. No need for maintenance officers. The holodecks would be able to maintain themselves."
The Doctor stared at Zimmerman incredulously. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Zimmerman replied with an annoyed expression. "I didn't program you to criticise."
"Well, now I am criticising!"
. . .
"Wait, so what does Zimmerman's idea have to do with the lecture?" Chakotay asks in puzzlement.
"I'm getting to that!" The Doctor exclaims in annoyance. The waitress interrupted, coming with their drinks. "Iced tea for you two," she said, setting down two cups in front of Seven and Chakotay. Then she set down a glass in front of Zimmerman. "And one whiskey."
She glanced at the Doctor and asks, "Are you sure you don't want anything?"
"I'm sure," the Doctor replies. "Thank you."
The others ordered their food, and when the waitress left, Seven of Nine looked at the Doctor and says, "Continue the narrative, Doctor."
The Doctor nods and says, "Alright. Anyway, when Dr. Zimmerman presented his idea to me..."
. . .
I'll add more chapters soon, don't worry. If anyone has any advice or ideas, please mention them! :) Live long and prosper!
