Data Log Entry: # 21830830
0830 hours
Damn my right shoulder has been bothering me. I must have hit it a little harder than I first imagined back at that warehouse. I really need to see Dr. Chakwas about it. I will do that right after our staff meeting at 0900 hours this morning in the conference room.
1135 hours
Wow my fn arm is killing me and siting still in the staff meeting only made it worse and of course someone asked me something after the staff meeting and I completely forgot to go see the doc. Next thing you know I'm down in the engine room for the rest of the morning. It's really hard to pull myself away when Tali gets on one of her techno talks especially when she has a great idea. It kills me to not to see how animated she explains things, like everyone around her is an idiot for not figuring it out sooner. All I have to say, is thank God, I'm not a snipe. (Engine room personnel)
1300 hours
Finally finished lunch after having to sign off on Joker's PMS (Pre Maintenance Systems) checks just as I was sitting down to eat. Who likes a warm meal anyway? Shortly after that, Presley wanted me to go over some star charts with him. I didn't realize how every minute of my day is jammed pack. I couldn't even eat a meal without at least 5 crew members interrupting. Too bad none of them were Dr. Chakwas, who apparently ate in the med lab today. I am heading over there now.
Special Note: I was informed by the requisition officer, yes during my lunch, that around 1,000 credits worth of poker chips went missing from last night. I can only imagine who took them. Although I can immediately think of a least of handful of culprits. I'm going to have to start poking around for them.
1700 hours
Shocking! I never made it to medical after lunch. Just a few steps from her door and Garrus came running up to tell me there was an emergency in the cargo bay. The fire suppressant tanks were shifting during flight and were getting too close to the mako. One more good turn and – how did he put it? "Commander, things would go BOOM!" It took all afternoon and one large working party to get those tanks secured again. I just got back to my cabin a few minutes ago. I am heading over the medical now.
1710 hours Medical Bay – Went a little something like this.
As I strolled into the med bay rubbing my sore shoulder I announced, "Hey Doctor Chakwas. You got a minute?" She politely smiled and put away her data pad. "Sure Commander. How can I help you?"
Observing the look of exhaustion on my face she peered out the windows of the med lab and dismissed her medical staff for the evening. She casually walked over to her desk and pulled out a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy and two glasses. She clinked the glasses together in one hand and asked if I was interested in a drink.
Looking behind me to ensure the coast was clear, I propped my feet up on the spare table and said, "Why the hell not. I've had a heck of a week." Setting the glasses up she began to pour and I thought, 'The shoulder could wait a little longer. Besides this ice brandy of hers can melt away a months worth of extra duty away like it was butter.'
The good doctor started, "I know what you mean Commander. Life of a Chief Medical Officer on board an Alliance Military vessel isn't all peaches and cream."
I took my first sip watching her take a swift gulp of hers. My eyes stung and my throat burned. It took all I had not to start choking at the potency of the liquid. The good doctor clearly had a stronger tolerance for the brandy than I did, but boy did it go down smooth. I started feeling its soothing effects after my second sip.
Amused by my sheer will power not to gag on the brandy the doctor continued, "It's amazing how all of these tough Alliance soldiers suddenly revert to being a little kid as soon as they step in here. I originally joined the Alliance to help these brave soldiers, capable of battling anything you throw at them."
Taking another hardy gulp from her glass before she placed it back on the desk, "But it's more like whiny cry babies as soon as they walk, stumble or crawl through those doors. It's enough to make a grown woman, well…"
She held up her glass again as we both took a significant swig. "Well drink!" The larger swallow was more than I could handle and I began to cough a little. Dr. Chakwas beamed, "There you go Commander. That's how you do it!" She quickly refilled my smooth burning liquid drink.
Half way through that glass, my skin was becoming warmer despite the fact that the temperature in the room had not changed. I lifted my glass again and touched it against my normally fair skinned cheek. My face felt like it was on fire. I had to have been flush from the brandy. I took in a deep breath and I could already feel my entire body relaxing the pain in my shoulder a distant memory. I felt my body sway just a little too easy in the chair as I slumped down further into it while my feet on the desk acted as my only sense of balance.
The doctor lightly slammed her drink down on the desk and vibrantly asked, "Commander! Do you know what it's like to have to baby sit full grown adults when they aren't acting like adults?"
Laughing as I almost spun out of the chair, I mimicked her gesture and slammed my own glass down spilling a little of it as we both laughed heartily. I looked her dead in the eye and said, "Well Doctor Elizabeth Chakwas, I certainly do!" Gesturing to the rest of the vessel, "I have a whole damn ship of them!" We both laughed loudly filling the entire room with cheer.
Refilling my curvaceous brandy glass for the third time, I tried staring at it. The curves of it with the cool blue substance inside reminded me of something but I couldn't quit put my finger on it.
Making a professional guess, Dr. Chakwas blurted out, "Looks a little like an asari doesn't it?"
Stunned by the comment I quickly let go of the glass if I my hand was improperly touching a particular prothean professor. I looked up at the doctor with my jaw hanging open and absolutely nothing came out.
The smiling doctor divulged, "You know this brandy comes from Serrice?" I nervously shook my head trying not to look at the asari looking glass. "It's a prominent city on Thessia."
Not getting her meaning I was still focused on how much the brandy glass with the blue chilled liquid did look like an asari.
Her voice rose an octave, "It's a city on Thessia! Homeland of the asari?!" Taking a pleasurable swig from her glass, she continued more relaxed, "That's why it looks so damn much like them. It comes from the asari home planet." Staring at the brandy glass filled with the cool sapphire liquid, she gently swirled it in a sophisticated manner, "It makes sense really, don't you think?"
I could feel my head bobbing up and down before I actually thought to answer. "Yes ma'am! It certainly does."
She chuckled, "Actually pretty sexy if you ask me. Don't you agree commander?" Surprised to hear the word sexy leave the good doctor's lips and a quick flash of her little black cocktail dress from poker night I was barely uttered, "Uh…"
Continuing to study her exquisitely shaped glass Dr. Chakwas chimed, "I know that if I weren't surrounded by jar heads and naval personnel all the time, a woman of my stature might find herself wandering over to the blue team for a few brief visits."
If my face wasn't red before it certainly was now as she laughed even harder when she looked back at me. Realizing that I couldn't tell if she was being serious, she laughed so hard, she nearly fell out of her chair.
It took a few minutes for the message to travel to my tipsy brain to comprehend it didn't matter. We were hiding out in the medical bay onboard the Normandy, getting sloshed on the doctor's secret non-standard medical antidote. The two of us were laughing and snorting like two drunken sailors at any bar.
It wasn't until I noticed that the expensive one hundred and fifty credit bottle of ice brandy was almost gone that I announced, "Perhaps we should stop now before I am back in here in the morning with a killer hang over. Or do you have something in a bottle for that too?"
The doctor gave an amused look which made me wonder. I held up my hand as I staggered to my feet. "No, don't answer that! I don't wanna know."
She teased, "Oh Commander you're not going soft on me are you?"
Without warning, the eloquent doctor stood and gently sat on one of the medical beds across the room. Taking her time, she slowly unzipped one of her long military boots.
Disappointed I growled, "Hey no fair! I have to walk…"
She interrupted, "You mean stumble." Trying to point my body in the correct direction I slurred, "Yeah walk, stumble, hell I might even have to crawl half way there." Trying to get sympathy, I lazily pointing my hand towards my cabin. "There! Waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy over there!"
The doctor had already climbed on top of the cushioned bed and kicked off her boots. She motioned to one of the other beds. "You can always sleep in here. There is more than one medical bed you know. I don't bite - very hard." She laughed at her own joke.
"Besides, I can always bandage it up in the morning."
I buried my face in my palm. I couldn't believe I was seeing this side of the distinguished Doctor Chakwas.
"Well I'd better get going. Thanks for sharing your "stash" with me doc."
Smiling warmly she returned, "Anytime commander."
As I turned to leave the doctor called out, "Oh commander, what did you come in here for anyway?"
My hand instantly went to my sore shoulder. Remembering her displeasure with whiny Alliance soldiers, I quickly dropped my hand back to my side and quipped, "Oh nothing really. Just wanted to… um…. Say hi. Yeah say hi!"
Without another thought she said "Oh well hello, and goodbye now." Her head sunk further on to the pillow as she closed her eyes.
I quickly glanced at Liara's door, then back to the brandy glass remembering how shocked I was at the thought of touching her. I stared at her door a moment, debating on whether to see if she had been in there this entire time. Taking a ragged step forward, I suddenly felt my head swoosh from the alcohol. Not risky another step,
I thought the better of it.
Perhaps I will speak with her tomorrow instead, I muttered as I completed a very intoxicated about-face almost loosing my balance as I gripped onto the doctor's desk. I could of sworn I heard Dr. Chakwas chuckle, but when I looked back over there, her eyes were closed shut.
I told my self, Just like hell week in boot camp. When exhaustion was beyond measure, all you needed was one step at a time. One foot in front of the other. Come on Shepard! You can do this! Looking at my ultimate goal being my cabin, I said, "I can do this."
I can neither confirm or deny any of these events actually occurred on board the Normandy – Shepard Out