"Come in."
"You wanted to see me, Cap'n?" Trip quickly formulated his story about the night before, in case that was what Archer wanted to speak to him about. Damn, shoulda done this earlier. It's just so hard to concentrate when Jennifer's around…
"Have a seat, Trip." Captain Archer looked at his friend, worried when he saw the same preoccupied look on his face that was slowly becoming the only look he ever had the past few days. Wondering if he had made the right decision in deciding to use his chief engineer in this mission, he took a sip of his coffee and started talking to Trip. "Did you get some sleep last night?"
Depends on your definition of sleep… "Some."
"You've seemed preoccupied lately. I know I asked if things were ok yesterday and you didn't want to talk about it, but I'm worried about you, so I'm asking again. I hope you're more open to talking now that you've gotten some sleep." Talking to his best friend sometimes required more diplomacy than dealing with new aliens.
Maybe if I give him something he'll leave me alone. "Actually, I've been thinking about our visit to Andoria." Not completely a lie… "I know I was all for it at first, but now I'm wonderin' if it's safe for a bunch of science officers to go down by themselves. Especially the lower ranking ones. What if somethin' happens to them?" What if somethin' happened to Jennifer? I'd kill the blue son of a…
"I'm glad you asked. I was going to ask if you'd be willing to accompany one down to the surface. At T'Pol's suggestion, I've decided to send a few at a time, each paired with a higher ranking officer for protection. I think it'd also help the crew become better acquainted." Jon couldn't help but notice his friend's eyes light up at this. He hoped some socializing with other members of the crew that weren't on his engineering staff might bring him back to reality.
"Who'd you have in mind for me to watch?" There's probably a snowball's chance in hell I'd be lucky enough to get her, but a man can always hope!
"T'Pol's suggested you work with Lieutenant Jennifer Watson. It seems she has a problem with authority figures. Normally a person like that wouldn't be considered for a mission like this, but it seems the lieutenant is the best zoologist on board."
Damn, there is a god! "So I get the troublemaker. And a smart one at that. How smart are we talking about?"
"Finished school in a fourth of the time normal people take. She started teaching at the university after that, until she showed interest in Starfleet. As far as her attitude, T'Pol thinks that working with the second-highest Starfleet officer on board might tame her a bit."
I'd rather see more of her wild side… "Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me then. I'd better get some extra sleep tonight and read a little more about this lieutenant, so, if ya don't mind, I think I'll be missin' dinner again t'night." That was too easy!
"Ok. Glad your mind's been put to ease about this mission."
I better get back ta work now." AfterI find Jennifer and give her the good news!
"Good idea. I'll see you at tomorrow's briefing."
Had Archer not looked to the rest of the crew pairings for the misison, he would've noticed the spring in his chief engineer's step that had been missing for quite some time.