She was tired, but sleep eluded her so Teagan found herself in the lab at four in the morning, causing third shift to be quite thrown off kilter by her sudden appearance. She tried not to act frantic, but after having dinner with the captain two nights in a row and cornering herself into inviting him for dinner on Friday, she felt added pressure to have her lab perfect before his arrival.
She was so determined to see that nothing was left undone, she was caught on the floor when the door slid open and a shiny pair of boots appeared before her. She looked up to find the captain looking curiously down at her.
"Did you fall, Doctor?" he asked her.
With a quick sigh, she shook her head. "No, sir. They replaced the carpet here and I swear I feel a lump under my feet in this area whenever I come in or go out. I was just trying to find it," she said not realizing how foolish this sounded until it was out of her mouth. It only got worse as he kneeled down beside her and felt the spot that she indicated.
"I can detect no...lump...Doctor," the captain assured her.
Now Teagan found herself wishing she had overslept instead of not being able to sleep at all.
"No, sir. I can't find it again either," she agreed. Before the captain rose, he offered his hand to help Teagan to her feet. Certain that every eye in the lab was on them, she reluctantly gave him her hand.
"Should I come back at ten hundred hours, Doctor?" he offered, graciously.
Teagan smoothed out her uniform. Trying to regain her composure, she took a deep breath and shook her head.
"No, captain. My staff and I are ready for your inspection." The captain nodded. Teagan proceeded to introduced him to her staff one at a time, knowing full well that he was aware of each of their names, but this was required by protocol.
To her relief, the inspection proceeded without a hitch and the captain seemed pleased with everything he saw. In her office, Captain Data told Teagan he was glad that she was able to put things in an order she was comfortable with in such a short time. But he had a hunch that if he had came earlier things would not have been as bad as she tried to make them out to be.
"Is that my compliment intended to make me at ease with you, Captain?" she asked, sitting on the edge of her seat behind her desk as he sat in the one before it.
He grinned. "Perhaps, but I suspect it is a fact, Doctor."
She flashed him a pride filled smile. "Maybe you're right, but it really is better today."
"But still not perfect?"
She considered. "Well, if I could find that damn lump under the carpet..." She let her voice trail off and the Captain laughed freely at this. He rose from his chair and she realized that the inspection was truly over and she had passed with flying colours... as far as she could tell. Her people would be very pleased.
"Oh, Doctor. I feel I should reciprocate on your invitation to join you and your other guests for dinner on Friday evening." The captain said, standing by her office door. Teagan opened her mouth to interrupt him, but he held up a commanding hand to stop her. "I would be honored if you would join me in my quarters this evening for dinner. I do not cook, but my food slots work just fine as far as I can tell. I believe I should be free by nineteen hundred hours if that is acceptable."
Teagan tried to make sure her eyes did not get as big as saucers, but she was stunned by his offer. It was one of the reasons she could think of no reasonable excuse not to go.
"Yes, nineteen hundred is just fine, sir. I'll see you then. Thank you, sir." She rose as he left her office, but as soon as her door slid closed again, she collapsed bonelessly back into her chair.
Three nights in a row! What could that mean? Did it mean anything? Whatever it meant, it couldn't be good!
The door chimed and at her call, Teagan's small office was over run by her staff wanting to know the results of the captain's inspection.
Life never stops, even when you're just not prepared to deal with it!
Pacing around her quarters, Teagan wondered if she should change out of her uniform or stay in it. Should she keep her hair up, like she did during duty hours or put it down like she normally did after she left the lab?
Relax or you're going to make a fool of yourself and who know what that would cause the captain to do!
Standing outside the captain's door at exactly nineteen hundred hours Teagan was in uniform, but had let her hair down after realizing that she had done so on the last two nights, so that would not look like she were doing anything to try to impress him. She rang for admittance and hoped that he answered before anyone saw her standing there.
"Come," she heard him call and the door slid open before her.
It took a great effort to calmly walk in, rather than leap in and order the door closed behind her. Once inside though, Teagan found herself taken aback with how comfortable the captain's quarters were.
He was already completely unpacked and everything looked as though he had lived here for years, not days. Colourful paintings accented the walls and tasteful sculptures dotted various pieces of furniture. The room had a definite masculine feel to it, but she found herself completely at ease here. Everything felt warm and inviting.
The owner of this comfortable home was bent over his dining room table, just putting the last pieces of flatware into place. To Teagan's relief, the captain was still in uniform.
Data turned to smile at her. "Welcome, Doctor. I hope you had no trouble finding your way here," he said, unable to think of another conversation starter. He was not totally at ease with entertaining, and entertaining females brought a whole new set of variables to the equation.
No, not equation.
This was not a mathematical puzzle, or any other type of puzzle. It was a purely social situation. One Data had been looking forward to with increasing anticipation as nineteen hundred had drawn closer.
Now Dr. Shayza was here and he must not let his nervousness show. But Data was very nervous and could think of nothing to say to her now that they were truly alone for the first time.
Why did he have to think of that? So, he was alone with her. She was not going to bite him and he was her captain, so she had to behave, but then so did he, not that he would ever do anything unbecoming an office...
Great, now you are babbling in your own head. Say something to her!
"May I offer you a beverage?"
A drink! Everyone else in the universe would say '"a drink"! It does not involve a contraction, so you can say it that way as well, Data thought with self recrimination.
Dr. Shayza took two steps towards him. "Yes, sir. Anything is fine."
Data moved for the replicator. "Wine perhaps?" he asked as she moved another step closer.
"White. Something fruity," she added moving another two steps closer.
Data took note of the cinnamon scent that had appeared in his room as she entered. He ordered two glasses of wine and moved to hand one to her. Fortunately, a toast came to mind and as they clinked their glasses together he said, "To the newly reformed crew of the Repulse, may her new mission be as successful as her prior history."
Teagan smiled at this. "And to her newly promoted captain on his first mission. May he be just as successful."
Data grinned appreciatively and they clinked glasses again before drinking.
"This is synthehol, correct?" she asked after one sip.
Data nodded quickly. "Of course. While neither synthehol nor true alcohol have any effect on my systems, I would not serve the true version without informing you prior to serving."
She smiled at his assurance and took note that he said you and not a generic pronoun. Still she managed to nod.
Indicating his quarters, she told him, "I admire your efficiency, Captain. I don't see a single box and everything looks to be in order. When I first came aboard, it took me two weeks to get completely unpacked." She turned from him and was moving slowly through the room studying what she had not had time to notice before. Data put his glass down on the table and followed behind her.
"I dislike...disorder," he admitted.
She turned to smile. Coming closer to one of the painting that graced the nearest wall, she took note of the signature.
"You painted this!" she exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes," Data acknowledged.
She looked at him in awe for a moment before moving to the next painting. It also showed her captain's signature at the bottom. Touring the room at a faster pace, she verified that all but one had been done by the man following after her. Turning on her heels to face him, her features still reflecting the awe she felt when she spoke.
"You're an artist." Her golden eyes radiated her admiration, but Data did not feel worthy of such praise.
"Not precisely. I have combined the painting styles of..." he proceed to rattle of six different true artist's names.
"Did you paint these?" she asked pointing. He nodded. "Did anyone tell you exactly how or what to paint?" He shook his head. "You must like them, as you hung them, do you ever look at them?" Data nodded slowly.
"Do you think it was vanity to hang my own paintings?" he asked sincerely.
"My god, if I had a creative talent like this, I would!" she exclaimed, eyes still displaying marvel.
Flattered, Data smiled down at her.
"You are talented, sir. If you copied the styles of someone else, you still painted something they did not, since I don't believe Van Gogh ever painted or even saw the Mutaran nebula." She laughed and he did too. Sipping slowly on her wine, she followed him back to the diner table and he pulled out her chair to seat her.
"What are we having, Captain?" she asked as he moved to the replicator.
"Anything you wish. As I told you, I do not cook."
Teagan realized she was allowing the wine get to her as she giggled softly at this. She rose from her seat and came over to the replicator as well, grinning.
"Then may I make a suggestion, Captain?" she asked, still grinning. Seeing that she was allowing the wine to affecting her, he thought she might be more pliable to what he had been meaning to suggest since her arrival.
"You may, only if you agree to call me by my name and not my rank for the remainder of the evening."
Her wistful expression slowly drained from her face and her hands shook slightly. He was relieved that her glass had been left at the table.
"If you wish, sir."
"Data," he corrected, gently.
"Data," she repeated, nodding nervously.
"May I call you Teagan?" Data asked trying to remain composed when he did not feel anything approaching composure. She nodded slowly, her eyes locked with his as though frozen in a tractor beam. Data seriously considered kissing her. She was so close and so beautiful. The scent of her encircled him. But when she blushed and looking down, braking that intense eye contact with him, Data felt his moment had slipped away.
"Computer, two dinners consisting of salmon in bourbon sauce, boiled new potatoes with light butter and garlic, honey glazed baby carrots and two small tossed wild green salads with raspberry vinaigrette."
The computer asked for some further direction on the meal and she quickly filled in the blanks. A moment later two steaming plates of food and two small bowls appeared in the food slot. Teagan handed Data his food, smiling.
Everything smelled and tasted wonderful. If she was this good with a replicator, how would she be in a kitchen? Was she really going to cook Friday night or was that just how she referred to it?
"Do you have a kitchen in your quarters, Teagan?" Data asked between bites.
"How else would I cook?" She met his eyes to study him. A moment later she shook her head, smiling. "You thought I was exaggerating about that?" She was only half asking, but he nodded. "Nope, I was serious. I have a fully equipped kitchen that I use at least once a week and more when I'm not busting my tail getting my area prepared for a certain captain to inspect," she teased.
"This captain would not be anyone I know, would he?" Data teased back. Teagan laughed out loud and almost choked on her last bite of salmon. He rose and got her a second glass of wine. She sipped it slowly, nodding her thanks.
"Ok, you got me with that one," she admitted once she could breathe again. Data grinned, relieved she was unharmed. "So, are you truly going to make an appearance Friday evening or were you just humoring me?" she asked leaning forward to study his face.
"If you truly believe I will not be imposing, then I will come. You are certain that I will not be disturbing the...party?"
She chuckled at this. "It's not really a party, Cap- Data, it's more like a gathering of friends. I invited you and I want you to come. Even if you only stay for a short time... I want you to come."
Was she saying this because of the wine, or did she really mean this? Data wondered. "I will come for a few minutes then," he assured her. Teagan nodded, accepting his word.
After dinner, Teagan felt a little more clear-headed. As they moved to the living room area of his quarters, she declined a third glass of wine in favor of tea. After two sips of tea, she was standing again and wondered over to a shelf on which he had placed some items from his past. The mask he had made years ago, his Sherlock Holmes hat, and the sculpture that Jenna had given him, the storage unit that had once housed his emotion chip and his violin.
"Do you play?" she asked, running a finger over his violin.
Still seated but watching every move she made, Data nodded. "You said you play music with your friend Ashton Uker and three others on Thursdays, what do you play?' he asked.
She turned to face him for a moment to shrug. "My vocal cords mostly." Teagan moved back to look at one of his other paintings again as she continued. "I do most of the singing and play some piano, although Ash sings some as well. He has a wonderfully deep bass, and it sounds good with my soprano, or at least I think so."
Unbeknown to Teagan, as she spoke a small form made it's way from the captain's bedroom into the main room. By the end of Teagan's sentence, the form was directly behind her and only a foot away. Teagan took a step backwards in an effort to turn back toward the couch but stepped on the moving form instead of solid deck. Data made an attempt to catch her as she fell, but was not fast enough. Teagan went down with a thud. A feline screech could also be heard as it shot out of the room again.
"Teagan! Are you alright?" Data asked, kneeling down beside her. Her ankle had been twisted so he felt along the bone. His fingers traced both her fibula and tibia trying to detect a brake. He found none, thankfully.
"I'm not sure. What was that?" She asked watching him feel along her ankle and wincing in pain as he pressed over certain areas.
"Stripes. My cat. There are no broken bones, but it is tender here?" he asked indicating the area where she had stifled a cry of pain. She nodded, biting her lip. Touching the communicator on his chest, Data hailed sickbay. As he effortlessly scooped her up in his arms and moved her gently to the closes couch, he spoke to the CMO.
"There had been an accident in my quarters, Doctor. Please report here at once, bring what you would need for a strained or sprained ankle," Data told the CMO as he brought a coffee table closer to Teagan and lifted her leg up, propping it up on a throw pillow.
"You sprained your ankle, sir?" the CMO, Dr. Sydney Jewel asked through the communicator, sounding hurried, but very confused.
Data gave his amused sniff. "No, Doctor, I will not be your patient. You will better understand when you arrive, Captain out," he ended firmly.
Teagan had been watching him through the waves of pain as he made the call and elevated her foot. He made every effort to cause her as little discomfort as possible. It did not escape her attention that he also had made an effort not to reveal to the doctor that Captain Data had an injured woman alone with him in his quarters. She wondered if he was protecting his privacy or hers?
"Did I hurt your cat?" she asked once he was seated next to her looking helpless.
"I would assume not, as I saw her run back to the bedroom as you fell. She was not favoring any paws as she ran. I am sorry I did not warn you that Stripes was coming up behind you. I tried to catch you as you stepped back, but I was not fast enough." Why was I not fast enough? he wondered. He decided that he would run a self-diagnostic once Dr. Jewel arrived and Teagan was not looking at her captain.
The door chime saved them from further uncomfortably forced conversation.
"Come," Data called and rose to guide the doctor to Teagan's side. With only the briefest look of surprise over seeing Teagan sitting on the new captain's couch, the doctor went to work. Running his medical tricorder over the injury point, Dr. Jewel asked what happened.
"She tripped over my cat," stated the captain.
"I fell over his cat," Teagan said at the same time.
Dr. Jewel looked from one to the other. The chief medical officer of the Repulse was an older human, close to retirement himself. His white mop of hair did not hide his age, nor did his careful movements. But at 81 he was no longer a spring chicken and did nothing to pretend he was. He was a stocky man, who was not even as tall at the captain.
"Were you the only casualty, Teagan?" Dr. Jewel asked Teagan.
"You really should check on Stripes, Captain. I'd feel better if we knew for sure that she was ok." Teagan said, meeting her captain's eyes.
Data nodded. This would also be a good time to run his self-diagnostic, as Stripes had retreated to his bedroom.
The moment they were alone, the CMO, studied his patient's demeanor. "I wasn't aware that you and our new captain knew each other," he commented as he worked to repair the damage Teagan's fall had done to her ankle.
Teagan blushed deeply before replying. "If you mean prior to his taking command of the Repulse, we didn't. We just met." She hoped she could leave it at that.
"How did you come by a private meeting with him in his quarters then?" Jewel lifted a fluffy questioning eyebrow at her.
Grimacing, Teagan answered. "He just asked me to have dinner with him and we were talking. Don't make more out of it than it is, Jewely," she told her friend in a warning tone.
"Scuttlebutt has it that you and he have had dinner together before. If I heard right is was both last night and the first night he was here." Dr. Jewel said gently, closing his medical kit. Teagan groaned with irritation.
"Don't people have anything else to talk about? We just had dinner together, that's all!" she hissed quietly, not wanting the Captain to hear her. "He couldn't find an empty table and I had an extra chair, nothing interesting at all," she told him, praying that was enough to satisfy the older man's curiosity.
"Well, that explains the first night, but not the second or why you're here alone with him." Before she could attack, he held up a calming hand. "Retract your claws, love. Your private life is just that, but don't think for a moment that even though I would never say where you were tonight, that others would have the same discretion."
Teagan sighed heavily at this as he patted her knee, affectionately. Since both of their chosen professions often worked hand in hand and they both had been assigned to the same ship for the last four years, the two had had time to develop a close friendship that resembled a father/daughter relationship.
"Try standing," he directed her, offering his hand to help her to her feet. She rose slowing, but smiled quickly.
"All better," she assured him. "Thanks, Jewely," she said in a remorseful voice. He just grinned.
Dr. Jewel lean in to kiss her on the forehead, saying "Think nothing of it, I'll see myself out. Tell the captain goodnight for me, love," he told her before he was gone.
"I will if he ever comes back out," Teagan promised the air, since she was now alone.
Teagan looked at the closed door that she knew led to the captain's bedroom and shook her head. Not going anywhere near that room, she thought to herself. Not even to tell him the doc's gone. She sat back down on the couch and replaced the pillow - which the captain had placed under her injured foot - to its proper place.
She waited only another moment before she was joined once again by the captain and his troublesome feline. He came out with the beautiful calico in his arms, crossing the room, scanning it for the now gone doctor.
"He healed me and left," she said, answering his unasked question. The captain nodded at this and took a seat next to her on the couch.
"Stripes wishes to apologize for causing you injury," he told her looking at the large ball of fur in his lap.
"Her name is Stripes? But she's a spotted cat?"
"Calico, yes. Her predecessor was called Spot and was a tiger stripe tabby." Teagan laughed at this, which was the whole point.
"I guess you just wanted to see who belonged to the strange voice you heard, huh?" Teagan said, slowing offering her hand for Stripes to sniff. After a moment's hesitation, the feline decided she should thoroughly inspect this new person, so she squirmed out of Data's arms and slowly made her way to Teagan, sniffing. She still managed to convey an air of aloof control. "Confident little beauty, aren't you?" Teagan told the feline female as the puff ball allowed the woman to scratch her behind the ear.
Data gave a silent sigh of relaxation that Stripes, who tended to be very jealous and protective of her territory, was doing no further damage to his guest. He didn't want Teagan to be reluctant to ever visit with him in his quarters again.
Almost as if she had heard his thoughts, Teagan dislodged his cat from her lap and rose to her feet. "I should be going, Captain. Thank you for dinner. I'll see you Friday, correct?"
He quickly came to his feet and followed her to his door. "Yes, I will come for a visit Friday, as promised. I am sorry the evening resulted in your being injured, Teagan," he said, certain this was at least part of why she was leaving so soon.
"It was an accident, sir. I'm fine, Captain," she assured him by ever lifting her foot and swiveling her foot at the ankle to prove her words.
"I thought you agreed to call me by my name for the duration of the evening, Teagan?" he responded. She slowly met his eyes, returning her foot to the deck.
"The evening is over, Captain. Good-night, sir," she told him softly.
"Good night, Doctor," he said, and watched her walk swiftly down the corridor. Data wondered at her abrupt departure, but he wondered even more at his delayed response when she fell. He had run a full self-diagnostic in the privacy of his bedroom, but had detected nothing out of the ordinary...with the exception of a heightened emotional state whenever he was in her presence.
Counselor Tray Braccon walked quickly from his office to the nearby lift. Running a hand through his flaxen hair, he said one word. "Bridge." The lift came to life and rose through the decks until it delivered the thirty-seven year old man to his requested destination.
Braccon walked quickly around the edge of the bridge nodding at the first officer as he passed, and rang for admittance at the door at the end of the ramp. After all, one did not keep one's captain waiting any longer than absolutely necessary if one wanted to keep one's new position for long.
A summons from the captain to report "as soon as convenient" to his ready room could mean a number of things, but Braccon decided to interpret it as "Now!"
He had met, briefly, with the captain two days ago after seeing that his own personal effects had been sent to his new quarters in good order. That meeting had only been a formality, and the captain had treated it as such. The captain greeted Tray, asked if he found his quarters satisfactory and welcomed him aboard. That had pretty much been it. Now would be a different matter.
"Come," a voice called and Braccon entered the ready room of the new captain of the Repulse. "Counselor, thank you for responding so promptly. I had not expected you so soon. Please have a seat," the captain said pleasantly, indicating the empty chair on the other side of his desk.
"Thank you, sir. How may I be of service?" Tray asked, not knowing what else to say.
"I require your...professional advice, Counselor, as I have encountered an emotional dilemma that I feel ill equipped to resolve." The captain looked somewhat unsettled by this admission, and even though this was his area of expertise, that look made Tray very nervous.
"I'll do my best to advise you, Captain," the counselor said, trying to appear relaxed and confident.
"Perhaps the best place to begin would be to ask your opinion on the subject of commanding officers fraternizing with their subordinates."
The counselor sighed and relaxed, that was an easy question. "I see no problem at all with that, Captain. I believe it helps to raise moral and creates a sense of unity when the captain doesn't build a wall between himself and his crew. Of course there are limits to this. One should not behave improperly or allow his friendships with his crewmates to influence his judgment when it comes to promoting his officers-"
"Counselor, I believe I have not properly conveyed my true question. I had a more specific type of fraternization in mind."
To the counselor's surprise, his captain looked embarrassed by this confession. All at once, the true meaning of what the captain was asking hit Braccon.
"Oh, you're referring to...dating, sir?" The captain nodded, meaningfully. The counselor tried to give the captain his most reassuring smile. "It's been done before, sir. There have even been captains who married crewmates or just carried on long...engagements." Tray gave the captain a meaningful quirk of a grin.
Data nodded at this. "I have read of these incidences, but the records did not relay the effect, if any, the relationship had on the rest of the crew. Would a relationship of this nature cause the crew to lose confidence in their captain? Would the person with whom he shared the relationship be negatively affected in any way? What are the consequences if the relationship...fails?"
Ok, so maybe this was not going to be so easy.
"Well, sir. Addressing your questions one at a time. If the relationship is conducted properly, meaning that private behavior is conducted in private, and no favoritism is perceived, I see no problem with a relationship of this kind. As for the significant other, they would most likely be the one to determine what kind of treatment they received. If they're well liked and respected and make an effort to keep that respect, there should be no problem.
"As to ending that relationship, that would be a case of having to cross that bridge when you came to it, Captain. The circumstances that cause the relationship to end would greatly affect all involved. I, of course, would be happy to counsel you or both of you in that instance or any other time you felt it appropriate."
The captain absorbed all of this and nodded. "Thank you, counselor, You have been most helpful," he said focusing on a precise spot on his desk.
"You're welcome, Captain. Was there anything else?" Braccon asked, standing.
"No, you are dismissed," Captain Data said quietly, already deep in thought. The counselor very much doubted the man even heard his, "Aye, sir," as Tray exited the ready room.
Two hours later, Data found himself on deck ten, heading to the biochemistry department. He was still not sure if this was a wise decision, but the thought of allowing the evening to pass without Doctor Teagan Shayza just did not sit well with him. It was bad enough that he would only be able to see her for a moment tomorrow. He damn well was not going to let this evening slip away if he could help it.
Upon entering, he greeted various members of her staff. He spoke cordially with each of them, trying to appear unhurried until Teagan turned up. With a PADD in each of her hands, she rounded a corner so engrossed in what was on the left hand PADD that she almost walked right into him.
"Captain! What...why...what can I do for you, sir?"
The captain could not help but smile at having rattled her so.
"May I speak with you in your office for a moment, Doctor?" he asked pleasantly.
Her expression told him Teagan did not know whether to smile or be concerned.
Once behind the closed doors of her office, Teagan turned to face Data without moving to take her seat or put down the PADDs. "Please, tell me you're not here to inform me that you're beaming someone from my department off the ship," she looked half-serious half-playful. Data just smiled.
"Not at all, Teagan. I came to inquire as to your plans for this evening. You told me of your gathering to play music with your friends, but you did not state whether you would also be dining with them prior to the scheduled activities."
She looked almost stunned. She slowly turned from him, put her PADDs on her desk and went to sit behind it.
Looking up at him, as he was still standing, she finally replied. "Am I correct in my assumption that you are asking me to join you for dinner this evening, Captain?"
"If you do not have any prior commitments," he answered, moving to take the seat in front of her desk.
Even the way he sits down is...attractive, Teagan thought, watching him as her mind raced through possible replies to his query. Four nights in a row, but other than to tend to her when she had fallen, or to help her up from the floor when he came for his inspection, he had not even touched her. She saw no indication that he thought of her as anything other than just a dinner companion, but should she risk saying "no" and losing the opportunity to at least be in the company of a man she found compellingly attractive?
Why did he never give her time to think and sort out what she should do? Better to say yes, and sort this out later when she was alone and could think straight, she decided. Teagan took a deep breath. Realizing that she had waited entirely too long, and was keeping her captain waiting, she nodded.
"Would you like to meet in the lounge at eighteen hundred hours?" she asked.
The captain nodded, grinned and rose to his feet, obviously pleased. He looked about to leave without even saying a word, but stopped before he reached the door.
"Could you possibly manage seventeen hundred hours? It has been my observation thus far that it takes us just under ninety minutes on average to eat in an unhurried fashion."
Oddly,Teagan thought she sensed some nervousness from him, but dismissed the notion at once.
"It will be as you say, Captain," she said, obviously teasing. He displayed his appreciation of the humor, with a quick nod and a grin, turned, and was gone.
"He is going to drive me crazy," she found herself saying to the now empty chair. With a groan, she threw her hands up in the air, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling. "Maybe he has already succeeded in driving me crazy, as I am sitting here talking to a chair!"
Walking down the corridors on his way back to the bridge, Captain Data found himself almost skipping with happy relief. He had been certain for a moment that she was going to turn him down, but was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. That was something that did not happen often, but neither was any part of his dealings with her, a norm for him.
Teagan found it harder to recapture her train of thought after the captain's unexpected arrival and quick departure. She told herself that she could not allow him to do this to her and if her intuition proved right about him, this would not be his last unexpected appearance in her department during her shift hours.
"What did the captain want, Doc?" Apple asked her as soon as Teagan had come out of her office.
"Oh, nothing important. He just had a minor question he wanted to ask," she answered, hoping that Lauralee would drop it, but doubting she would.
"And he had to come all the way down here to ask it in person, Doc?" Lauralee asked raising an eyebrow at her friend.
"Command prerogative, I guess," Teagan told her with a dismissive wave of her hand. She turned away, staring intensely at the PADDs that she had retrieved from her desk, and walked slowly away from Apple.
Teagan retreated back to her office to complete her study of the latest progress reports and begin her work on her personnel reviews. The new first officer had requested an updated review list from all department heads yesterday. She had four more days to finish them and she hoped that it was enough time.
The Repulse was three days away from the destination of the first mission since her refit and with her reformed crew. The mission was to arbitrate a civil dispute on a planet that was a long time Federation member. The disturbance between two different factions had escalated to the point that one side had poisoned the main water supply of the other side, killing over ten thousand people before the source was discovered. The other side had retaliated with biological weapons that targeted one's digestive system, causing the natural stomach acids to break down and become ineffective. The resulting deaths on both sides had terrorized enough of the civilian population that a revolt had taken place and it was quickly decided that war was not the answer.
The two sides still could not come to terms on their original grievances, so they had called for arbitration of the dispute and for medical assistance in cleaning up the mess that the poisons and biological weapons had caused. This meant the Captain was going to be very busy in helping with the arbitration, and Teagan's whole department would be swamped with the clean up work.
Feeling sure that while she would be very busy, the captain also would be so busy, he would not have the opportunity to sneak up on her or ask her to dinner. It would give Teagan a chance to get her head clear, she hoped. Being attracted to one's captain was not a smart move, she kept telling herself. He did not seem particularly attracted to her. He seemed only interested in forming a friendship, so walking around with goo-goo eyes for him was definitely out!