CAPTAIN'S LOG – ANDREA THOREAU
JARVIK STATION

TO SAY I'M APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THIS MEETING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. DREW AND I GO BACK TO THE ACADEMY FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP. I CONSIDERED HIM A VERY CLOSE, PERSONAL FRIEND BUT THINGS HAPPENED AND THE FRIENDSHIP ENDED – BITTERLY.

I KNEW IF HE KNEW THAT I WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICER, HE WOULD HAVE SAID NO WITHOUT HESITATION. HENCE, THE SUBTERFUGE TO GET HIM HERE. I HAVE HOPES THAT, IF I CAN GET HIM TO LISTEN, HE'LL ACCEPT WHAT I'M OFFERING. NEXT TO HANDRADDY, HE'S ABSOLUTELY THE BEST QUALIFIED FOR THIS OPENING.

AN ACADEMY GRADUATE - DOCTOR ON TWO STARSHIP TOURS OF DUTY – A PUBLISHED AUTHOR AND RESEARCHER – ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR CHIEF OF STAFF.

LET THE FIREWORKS BEGIN.

Andy was seated behind her new desk. The new desk chair, keeping with the theme, was an old style, high back leather wing chair on a swivel. She had turned it completely away from the door, wanting to insure that Drew was completely ensconced in the office before she revealed herself. Her desk com announced his presence. She knew he wouldn't wait long for an acknowledgment – his nerves would get the better of him and he'd have to speak.

Andy heard the doors open and close and the footfalls as he neared the desk. Finally, "Captain, I'm Doctor Andrew Davies. It's a pleasure…"

He stopped mid sentence as Andy slowly turned the chair to meet his glance. Drew's blonde hair had grayed slightly at the temples but it was almost unnoticeable. He was still as athletically built as ever, his almost six foot frame slender rather than bulky. His hazel eyes sparkled, first, with excitement and then, just as quickly, intense rage. Andy braced herself for the onslaught.

"Bloody hell, Andy! Don't tell me...Of course; don't tell me because you knew I wouldn't dare come." Drew blustered as he leaned across the desk, waiving his hand at her in disgust, "You're the commanding officer."

"Hello to you, too, Andrew. It is nice to see you again after so long." Andy responded inanely, acting as if his tirade had never occurred, "Why, yes, I have been named Captain of Jarvik Station, thank you."

"Forget it," Drew said simply and turned for the door, "It won't work and I won't do it."

Andy stood quickly from the chair, "Drew!" she called but he continued walking, "Wait, Drew, please?" He was almost at the door when Andy, in her best captain's voice, "As you were, Mr. Davies. I have not dismissed you."

He froze just a step away from the door sensors that would have allowed his escape. His Starfleet training, he realized, was too deeply imbedded to allow him to disregard what he knew to be a command from a superior officer. He squared his shoulders and turned back to face the Captain. He took a few steps closer before responding, "I've been out of Starfleet for four years, Andrea. I don't need your permission to leave."

If he'd meant that, he'd have kept going, Andy knew it instantly. This was her opening. Drew wasn't going to allow much but he was giving her a shot. "Look, Drew, the transport doesn't leave until 8 in the morning. You've got to stay the night. At least sit down and hear what I have to say. You're a lot of things, but unreasonable was never one of them."

Drew flinched at the veiled insult. He walked to the desk and sat down in one of the chairs. Andy took her seat again behind the desk. "Very well then, Captain, by all means, let's hear what you have to say." In that biting British tone, his words dripped with sarcasm.

Andy sat back in her chair and drew a deep breath. She began explaining what she saw as the command structure for Jarvik Station: the three branches of the medical installation, the Starfleet leadership that would be required and how Dr. Davies would fit into that scenario. He asked questions about each wing, getting a feel for Andy's school of thought. He could see, as she spoke, how much time and effort she had spent. Drew could also tell she was passionate and excited about the potential of Jarvik. As he listened, he looked more closely at his one time Academy compadre. It had been almost ten years since their Academy graduation. Andy had always worn her red hair short, tapered at the neck with bangs that would cover her emerald eyes. She was 5 foot, seven and firmly built. She wasn't what you would consider modelesque but she was far from unattractive. Andy's coloring along with her temper had gotten her the nickname "Irish" in the Academy. She didn't back down from a fight, especially if she thought she was right or if she were totally drunk off her ass.

"I know there's a lot of water under the bridge for us, Drew, but I also know that you're the man I want as my First Officer."

"First Officer? I thought it was just Chief of Staff?"

"It's that, too. Your position is second in command, Drew. Commander's rank immediately conferred."

"Andy, there's no way in hell I'm going to be your 'yes' man."

"I don't expect you to be. I want you because you won't be a 'yes' man. You're going to question and argue and analyze every decision I make. And, believe it or not, I want you to. But, when the time comes, and the decision is made, I expect you to follow orders and support my choices. I know you'll do that, too."

Drew listened as Andy continued, "There's only one other person in this entire universe that I would trust with this position more than you, Drew, and he's got his own command."

Drew knew instantly she referred to Will Riker, her long time friend and mentor.

"I need the one other person I can trust with my life; to have my back; to know when to question me and when not to; the one other person who could run this installation as well or better than me. That's you."

Andrea stood from her chair and walked around to lean on the desk. Drew stood as she came round, knowing she was ending their time of discussion. "As I said, the transport leaves at 8 in the morning. I'll understand if you're on it." She reached out her hand and Drew took it in a familiar handshake. Andy went on, "Whatever the outcome, believe it or not, it was wonderful to see you again after all this time."

Drew shook her hand and replied, "You're right, it was nice to see you again, too. Really."

Andy stood, "You're dismissed, Doctor Davies."

Drew nodded his acceptance and left the Ready Room. It was going to be a long night.