Star Date 12305.21 – Star Base 71- Zed Omega Sector
"Christine… Hey Christine, Star Base to Skyler…"
Shaking herself, Christine looked over to her fellow students. "Sorry, I was into this case study and didn't hear you." She closed the pad. "What were you saying?"
"We were going to the Canteen for dinner. Did you want to join us?"
Christine yawned, "Nah, I'm returning to my quarters and studying. I'll get a sandwich there." She stood up, gathered her things, then headed away from her friends. "Thanks for the offer, though.
Christine made her way to her quarters and entered with a swipe. She dropped her things on her couch and headed to the replicator for food. "Computer, one of mom's roast chicken sandwiches." In a moment, the food appeared. It wasn't identical to her mom's cooking, but it was close enough to satisfy her craving for food from home. She also grabbed a glass of chocolate milk to wash it down. Then, she returned to the couch.
Work had been keeping her busy. She was working five days on and two days off. When she wasn't on duty, she studied her case files and caught up on her backlog of readings for class. Christine was doing her best not to become overwhelmed. Christine had always been focused on her schoolwork, but nothing like she had been since she arrived at SB 71. When she was introduced to the station's commander, he commented on how she had the last name of a past commander. Following that, her classmates were constantly looking at her oddly. Christine suspected they had put two and two together who her parents were. It was only a matter of time before they questioned her credentials.
After she nearly passed out during rounds, she made herself eat and sleep. The station's social worker and counselor had studied under Captain Lynn Skyler, Christine's mother. They threatened to contact Lynn if Christine didn't start taking care of herself. Seeing her mother's disappointment was something Christine dreaded. She then put a new schedule in place for herself. Before Christine could study, food and drink had to be consumed. Christine knew she wouldn't ever eat if she didn't do that. Christine also ruled that she had to get at least 6 hours of sleep every night. It didn't always happen, but she tried.
Christine returned to her couch to eat her sandwich. She planned to return to studying for tomorrow's rounds when she was done. She was halfway through her sandwich when her communication alert went off on her pad. "Incoming call from Lieutenant Junior Grade Grace Ryerson."
"Ah, crap..." Christine untangled herself from her food and schoolwork and hit the answer button on her pad. "Ensign Christine Skyler, how can I help you? "
"You can help me by calling your best friend occasionally." Grace teased from the other side of the screen.
"Hey, Gracie." Christine made herself comfortable back on the couch. "What do I owe this call?"
"I'm just checking in on my best friend. The first time out on your own can be overwhelming."
"I'm doing alright." Christine put on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"No, you aren't. You can't hide from me. I know my best friend." Grace playfully glared at her friend.
"Gracie? I am doing just fine. I am handling this change just fine."
Gracie crossed her arms, "Prove it."
"Fine. I eat three meals a day."
"How many of them are eaten alone?"
"I eat while I'm studying. What's wrong with that?"
"You haven't hung out with any residents or ensigns?"
"I see them all day in the clinic, and I don't need to see them in my very limited personal time as well."
"If not your fellow residents, have you made any new friends?"
"No... Why? I need to study, and I don't have time to go out and meet people."
"Let me guess, you do rounds, do your clinic time, and then come home every day you work. When you are not working, you study at your quarter's desk."
"Maybe..."
"Chrissy, I love you. You are my younger sister, and you are the godmother to Christopher. You are heading for a hard crash. You have got to pull your head out, or you are going to crash and burn."
"Gracie, I am doing fine. You can't understand what I am going through!"
"Oh, I can't, huh?" Gracie's eyes flared, "tell me if this sounds familiar. You pour yourself into your work to prove to those around you that you earned the right to be there. You will accept nothing but perfection from yourself. To keep yourself from getting hurt by people's comments, you hide in your quarters so they can't hurt you. You cry yourself to sleep at night because you miss the simple things from back home. You want your mom's hug or a dumb joke from your dad, but they are not there in the dark. You are alone and scared of where to go from there."
By the time Gracie was finished with her outpouring, Chrissy was bawling. "Yes... I'm sorry. I miss my mom and Dad. Heck, I would even take the smart-ass Sam. I'm missing them."
"Oh, Chrissy...It's alright. It has happened to all of us."
"You didn't seem to have this problem when you shipped out." Chrissy wiped her eyes.
"The first few weeks here, Jack had to make me go home from work. He locked up my work as soon as I got home. I was working myself to exhaustion. "
"Grace Kelly Scott!" Chrissy squawked. "You were pregnant. You could have hurt yourself and Christopher."
"I know. Hence why Jack did it." Grace glared at Chrissy, "You don't have someone to do that for you. Chrissy, you have always pushed yourself hard, but your family was there to make you take a break. We are not there to stop you anymore. You know better than this."
"What am I supposed to do?" Chrissy asked tearfully.
"Find someone to talk with. Have an outlet to relieve stress. Take care of yourself." Grace gave her a caring smile. "I wish I could give you a hug."
"I miss you, Gracie." She tried to smile at her, but it was tearful.
"I miss you too." Gracie returned her smile. "Chrissy, you need to meet new people. You have been sheltered by your family. We let you hide in your schoolwork or the barn with Drags. You are on your own now and need people you can count on. Yes, I have Jack, but I also have friends in my office and around the station. Heck, Chrissy, go out on a date!"
"No dates!"
Grace held her hands up, "Then how about just getting to know people? You don't have to date someone but must make friends. Start just getting to know people. I dare you to eat a meal with another person." Gracie playfully challenged her friend."
"I hate you sometimes." Chrissy playfully glared at her. "You know I can't stand it when someone tells me, 'You can't."
"I know. That is why I did it." Gracie smirked.
"I'll do it, on one condition."
"Which is?"
"I want to see Christopher if he is awake."
"You drive a hard bargain. Christopher, Aunt Kissy wants to say hi..."
Star Date 12305.21 – Star Base 71- Zed Omega Sector-Sick Bay 07:00 hours
"Residents, K7-514 boosters are being given to all the school children today. This booster includes the recent children of refugees. Unfortunately, a couple of their parents tested positive for the disease, and we want to nip this in the bud before it causes a problem." The chief of residents held up a hypo-spray. "We will also be doing basic wellness checks on the children to ensure nothing is brewing out there."
"Finally, some fieldwork," Christine commented as she went to pick up her vaccination kit.
"Be careful what you wish for," One of her fellow residents commented. Christine just rolled her eyes and joined the group heading for the school.
11:30 hours – Star Base 71- Zed Omega Sector- Base School
Christine carefully reviewed the staff eating area. The school principal had the doctors take their noon meal with the staff. Christine assumed she would sit with the other residents, but there weren't enough seats. Seeing an empty seat at a nearby table, Christine inquired about it. "Do you mind if I sit here? There isn't another seat."
"Oh, sorry." The poorly shaven, raggedy young man sitting there quickly gathered his stacks of pads into his bag.
"It's ok." Christine smiled and sat down. "What were you working on before I interrupted."
"Just trying to keep up with my lesson plans," he shifted in his chair to smile at her. "I'm Jacob, by the way." He offered his hand to her. She took his offered hand.
"I'm Christine." She gestured to where he had placed his bag. "What do you teach?"
"Music." He sat back in his chair, "specifically classical European."
"Sounds interesting," Christine smiled as she ate.
"It can be." Jacob began picking at his food. "What brings you here? It can't be the mashed potatoes."
"I'm one of the doctors running the health screenings for the students. So, we want to ensure they are okay before the new school year begins.
He looked at her with pursed lips, "That is part of the reason, but there is more to it." Christine glared back at him. "But…" he leaned back in his chair, "whatever you are looking for, you have it under control, for now."
"You are not just a music teacher," Christine stated firmly.
"No, I am not, but what are you doing about it?" He smirked.
"Answer me this: will you harm the children or cause the station harm?"
"No, honestly, just as you are here for the kids, so am I." He responded seriously.
"That I can agree with," Christine sat back in her chair.
"How long have you been on the station?" Jacob asked, going back to his meal.
"I spent the first few years of my life here." Christine smiled as she returned to her food, "We moved back to Earth when I was little for my mom's job. A few people who remember me back then are still assigned to the station."
"That makes you second Gen Star Fleet?" Jacob asked, calculating in his head.
"Third, actually," Christine swallowed a bite of her salad, "My grandmother was also Star Fleet."
"Lots to live up to," Jacob tipped his glass to her.
"Yes and no," Christine tipped her head back and forth. "My family has their paths, and I have mine. My studies are like my mother's, but I prefer general pediatric medicine while she specializes in mental and physical development.
Jacob started to say something but was interrupted by the end of the lunch bell.
"I think I better head back to my station." Christine stood with her tray, "Thank you for the chat, Jacob."
"If you are ever back here during lunch, you can always use my 'extra' seat." He smiled up at her.
"I appreciate the offer," Christine said as she heard her commanding officer clear their throat.
As she turned away, she missed the small wave Jacob gave her.
StarDate 12305.28 – Star Base 71- Zed Omega Sector- Sick Bay 15:00
"Christine…" One of the senior residents called her over.
"Yes, sir."
"You are just heading off shift, correct?"
"I just filed my last chart for the clinic. I'm on call later tonight. Is there something I can do for you?"
"You know the K7-514 boosters that all personnel should have?"
"I helped vaccinate the children at the school. The injection stings, but it will prevent an outbreak at the station. Why?"
"We have one teacher who says," the doctor checked the pad, "If you want me in the sickbay, you will need to drag me in kicking and screaming."
"Sounds lovely," Christine commented as she rolled her eyes.
"Since he won't come to sickbay, sickbay must go to him." The doctor sighed. "I need you to track them down, give them the booster, and observe them for 30 minutes if they react. Sit on them if necessary, but ensure they get the shot."
Christine was annoyed at the situation, but it was one of the things that came with being a junior medical officer. "Aye, sir. Where will I find them?"
"The computer shows that they are still in their office," The doctor handed Christine a pad. "Good luck."
"Thanks..." Christine took the pad and sighed. Then, turning away, she didn't notice the doctor, and a few nurses smirk.
Double-checking the pad, Christine stepped into the base's school music room. The datapad said that Lieutenant Commander Holtz was currently in the room. "Commander Holtz?" She called from the front of the room.
"Be out in a moment." A somewhat familiar voice called from the office.
While waiting for them, Christine wandered around the room, stopping at the piano. She gently ran her fingers over the keys before absent-mindedly playing a song. As she did so, she began to sing softly.
Think of me, think of me fondly,
When we've said goodbye
Remember me, once in a while
Please promise me you'll try
When you find that once again, you long
To take your heart back and be free
If you ever find a moment
Spare a thought for me
We never said our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the sea
But if you can still remember
Stop and think of me
Think of all the things
We've shared and seen
Don't think about the way
Things might have been
Think of me, think of me waking
Silent and resigned
Imagine me trying too hard
To put you from my mind
Recall those days
Look back on all those times
Think of the things we'll never do
There will never be a day
When I won't think of you
Unnoticed by Christine, the Lieutenant Commander had finished and was leaning on the door frame to his office, watching her. At the proper spot, he called out,
"Can it be... can it be Christine...Bravo!"
The man's voice startled Christine, causing her to shriek and slam the piano lid to hide the evidence she had been touching it. "Oh, um, I... I was waiting to speak with you. " Christine tried to regain her composure, but her cheeks grew pink from embarrassment at getting caught singing. She turned and found the man she had lunch with the previous week, giving her a knowing smile.
"Waiting for your Angel of Music?" He teased, causing her to blush deeper.
Christine swallowed and let her professional smile slip into place, "No, actually, I was waiting for the phantom of sickbay. It seems that you, commander, have not reported to get your K7-514 booster. I was sent to rectify that."
Jacob reached over to take something inside the doorway and slowly limped towards her on a cane. "Are you now?"
When Christine didn't react with a quip back, he became uncomfortable at her gaze. "Never seen a man with a cane and a limp?"
"Actually, I was wondering why you are using parts of an auxiliary interference dampener as part of a cane." Christine shrugged nonplus.
Jacob's eyebrows went up, "You know what this is?"
"I should." Christine rolled her eyes, "Auxiliary interference dampeners are used to lessen the impact of stress on pilots in highspeed terrestrial shuttles. I had not thought to use one as part of the support structure for personal mobility aids." Christine noticed the confusion on the commander's face. "My father was part of the development team that worked on those shuttles. He is a bit of a gearhead for shuttles. You could say I have heard him talk about them once or twice." Christine smirked. "Quit trying to distract me, commander; why haven't you come to sickbay for your booster shot?"
Jacob cocked his head to the side, impressed at how she had seen through his lame attempt to distract her from her mission. "You are full of surprises today." Jacob limped stiffly over to where she stood, "As to why I haven't gone to sickbay for the booster, it is simple: I loathe going to sickbays. Too many sick people there."
"Uh-huh..." Christine gave him the 'I know what you are doing' look. "Regardless, sickbay has tracked you down and brought your booster." She indicated the hypospray she pulled from her pouch.
"As you can see, I can't run far." He tipped his head so she could easily administer the hypospray. Christine just smirked at his self-deprecating joke and applied the booster.
He hissed slightly as the injection entered his system but didn't react otherwise. "I did mean what I said, not just the line. You are outstanding."
Christine blushed, "You should hear my sister. She is the talented one in the family." Christine carefully returned her hypospray to her pouch and pulled her tricorder.
"Doesn't mean you can't be as well," Jacob commented with a smile.
Christine rolled her eyes as she did a basic scan on Jacob to ensure he wasn't reacting to the injection. He wasn't reacting, but that didn't mean it couldn't still happen.
"I was curious about something, Ensign. Now that you have tracked down your rogue patient. When do you have to return to sickbay?"
"I will report back in a few hours to take the overnight trauma shift." Christine sighed and crossed her arms, "As my attending likes to assign projects he doesn't want to do to the junior residents, I was sent to give you your booster and make sure you didn't react to it even though I am technically off the clock."
Jacob got a mischievous look, "So, your orders state you are to keep an eye on me for the next 30 minutes?"
"At a minimum," Christine glared back at him. He had seen a similar look on Sam's face when he was about to do something stupid. "Why do you ask?"
"I was going to propose you join me at the canteen for a meal before heading back to the evil land of Sickbay. That way, you can observe me and get a good meal." Christine started to protest, but Jacob held up a hand to stop her, " And don't deny that you don't need food. I know how long those shifts can be, and I bet you didn't have a chance to yourself the whole time you were on clinic duty."
Christine was about to argue, but she heard Gracie's nagging voice in her ear. At least this way, she could kill two birds with one stone. She could appease Grace by having a meal with someone and fulfill her duty to keep an eye on Jacob. "Alright, fine. Just no Klingon; after some of the things I've seen today, it wouldn't go over well."
"Deal," Jacob started walking out of the room with her, "Do I want to know what happened in the clinic to turn you off, Klingon?"
"If you have to ask, you don't want to know." Christine teased as she followed along with Jacob.
"Fair point." Jacob continued along with Christine.
The seating area of the Canteen- 16:43
" I kid you not. Little Tera turned to her mom before the disciplinary board and said, 'But mom, that is not what you shouted at Daddy last night."
Christine nearly choked on her water. "She didn't."
Jacob laughed, "If her mom could have melted into the deck, she would have." Jacob swirled the juice in his glass, "At least we discovered where she learned the term from so we could help her use it more appropriately. It is wonderful that she is a bright and clever child, but there are some terms that kids at that age don't need to know."
"Mom said never be surprised by what a child says or does." Christine took a bite of her side dish.
"Your mom sounds like a wise woman." Jacob leaned back and observed Christine.
"She is, and many people underestimate her," Christine replied after swallowing.
"You miss her and your dad," Jacob commented.
"Is it that obvious?" Christine hid her face.
"It's your first posting away from home. I'd be surprised if you weren't missing them. Especially if you are as close as you seem to be."
"My parents have always been more protective of me than my siblings."
"Oh?" Jacob asked, curious.
Christine considered what she was about to say, "When I was born, they weren't sure if my mom or I would survive the night." Jacob cringed at her statement, "Since then, my parents have kept a closer eye on me than my siblings."
Jacob got an odd look, "I can understand that. However, I hope that protectiveness didn't get in the way of your career."
"Not really," Christine thought as she swirled the gravy on her plate, "My mum and I are both doctors, but she has ensured that her affluence and influence don't affect me. It has made it more challenging in some ways."
That got an eyebrow raised from Jacob. "Why do I feel there is more to you than people might think?" Jacob eyed her.
"As you don't go near sickbay, you wouldn't have noticed that the infant nursery is named after my mother, 'Captain Lynn Skyler.'"
"No, I wouldn't have." Jacob looked at her, intrigued.
"My mother is a well-known pediatric and child development doctor who made great headways in the care and protection of the families of Star Fleet personnel, and it all started on SB71." Christine sighed, "It is sometimes difficult to shine when you have such a bright star for a mother."
"I must say, you are shining quite well for yourself, Ensign," Jacob tipped his glass to her.
Christine blushed and rolled her eyes. "We shall see, commander."
The two of them continued to eat before Jacob put his utensils down and then put his chin in his hand. "Alright, you can ask."
"What?" Christine looked at him, confused.
"I can see the wheels turning in your head." Jacob gave her a wry smile, "The scientist in you is ready to burst with questions about what happened to me." He patted his leg.
"Possibly," Christine conceded but smiled, "but I know better than to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. It's none of my business."
"Then you are better than most." Jacob smiled at her a little sadly. "Permission given. Ask away, doctor. What does the doctor want to know?" He gently teased.
"When did the injury occur?" Then, Christine made her first move.
Jacob considered, "Roughly two years ago."
"How?"
"Rogue mortar went off, and I caught the blast."
"Where?" Christine playfully pressed her move for information.
"With Tactical group 747DZ." Jacob grinned and deflected her question.
Christine tried a slightly different move, "Extent of the injury."
"Shattered left tibia, fibula. Femur broken in three places, and extensive damage to the lower leg and knee." Jacob said with a straight face.
"You have lost stabilization and muscle mass in that leg and not from atrophy." Christine's eyes narrowed.
"You are good," Jacob said, impressed. "They had difficulty extracting me following my injury. Sepsis had started, and I picked up a nasty bacterium from the planet's soil. So when the docs got to me, they had to remove extensive amounts of necrotic tissue to save my life."
"Did you have regenerative tissue and nerve therapy?" Christine asked in a professional tone.
"Nerve therapy went well, as I have full sensation in my leg, but regenerative therapy for the leg muscles was only partially effective. And before you ask, I have done physical therapy, but we had limited results."
Christine pursed her lips, thinking, "Deep vein and daily regenerative muscle scans to encourage rebuilding the muscle tissue."
"Had them, and they were effective, but I stopped them a couple of weeks before I met you." Jacob's demeanor became relatively firm. "Why bother doing painful treatments if the outcome will be the same." Jacob sighed and looked into her eyes, "In a couple of months, the docs will either take my leg or kick me out of Star Fleet. For now, I'm a reserve officer on medical watch, who was assigned to the school to be extra security due to the refugees coming through and to keep me from going nuts as I await my fate."
Christine was taken aback by the venom that entered Jacob's voice at the end. "Sorry, I asked."
Jacob wiped his face, embarrassed. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't take it out on you. I was the one who let you ask." He sighed, "But it's true; they have tried all they can to get me back to at least active-duty status without taking my leg. The regeneration scans can't fix something that is not there anymore. They have exhausted what treatments they can do for me. So soon, amputation will be the only option if I want to stay in Star Fleet."
"Then you will simply find new options." Christine gave him a determined look. "If you give up on trying to move forward, you have lost what makes you fight for a better world."
Jacob's mouth twitched with a smile. This girl had a spirit that intrigued him.
Letting the subject drop, Christine changed the topic to something more pleasant, "How did someone from," Christine switched to a posh accent, "Tactical group 747DZ?" She returned to her normal voice, "Become the music teacher for young children on Star Base 71?"
Jacob accepted Christine's offer of a distraction, "I was brought here after I was injured. As soon as I could leave the sick bay," He cleared his throat, not wanting to go into that story, "I spent my days sitting in my quarters alone with my nightmares or trying the latest physical therapy treatment on the holodeck." Jacob looked down and fingered the head of his cane. "My shrink saw I was heading for a not-good place. And required that I get out of my quarters and be social." He looked back up to Christine and gave her a weak smile.
"Sounds like what my family has been telling me," She reached over and squeezed his hand. "So what happened?"
"I went to the officers' lounge on deck 14, sat at the bar, and ordered a Bismark. "
"You went from wallowing in your quarters to trying to self-medicate with 48% alcohol beer?" Christine glared at him, "Good choice in beer, but bad idea Commander."
Jacob looked chagrined, "Well, if you are trying to sink your sorrows, a Bismark would do it." Jacob started to bring his water glass to his lips but stopped halfway, "Wait, how do you know what a Bismark is?"
It was Christine's turn to look chagrined, "Organic Biochemistry class?" She said unconvincingly. Jacob raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, fine; I went to a conference in Munich, and our German host may have dared other classmates and me to a game of 'Sink the Bismark.'"
Jacob face palmed, trying to stifle his laughter, "How far did you get?"
"Four ounces before I fell off my bar stool." Christine turned pink. Jacob quit hiding his laughter. "Hey! At least I knew to stop there, couple of my friends couldn't find their arses with both hands when they finished the 8 oz bottle!"
"And the next day?" Jacob tried to regain his composure.
"I made it to the 8 A.M. presentation, but it took a quadruple espresso and a pile of plain toast. My friends barely made it to the 10 A.M. session, but I think they slept through most of it. And we were talking about you, not me."
"Fine fine.." Jacob flashed her a cheeky smile, then continued his story. "I sat there for a while slowy drinking my beer while some idiot played a piano in the corner, badly."
Christine cringed at the thought.
"He was chasing away customors. I got sick of listening to the mess, and told him to stop. Then he challenged me to do better."
"Please tell me you didn't." Christine shook her head.
"So, I hobbled my broken self over the piano bench, sat my beer on the top, took a seat and began to play." Jacob looked away from Christine, not wanting to make eye contact.
"And?"
Still not meeting her eyes, "I hadn't played in years, but I mostly managed to remember Claire de Lune."
"How long were you there?" Christine smirked.
"Drinking or playing?"
"Both"
"Played whatever was tossed at me for the four hours." He shrugged, "Never touched my beer after that." He looked back at Christine with a sad smile. "Word got around that I could play, and I started playing there three nights a week. The next thing I know, my occupational therapist has me in their office reviewing my professional records." He laughed, "Underneath all my military awards and assignments, they notice I have an advanced diploma in music performance piano."
"Oh really?" Christien said, impressed. "Any good?"
"I once was, but my heart wasn't in performing. Don't get me wrong, there is something about getting lost in a piece of music, but I prefer to do it because I want to, not because someone makes me." Jacob did a 'what can you do' shrug, "They assign me to the school, as a reserve security officer, and to teach lower form music courses. Honestly, it isn't a bad job working with the kids."
"Do you want to make teaching permanent?"
Jacob jerked slightly, "No. Music is what I do to relax." He looked into Christine's eyes again, "Kind like someone else I know does."
Christine rolled her eyes, "My sister has that passion for performing. She is currently on tour during her school break." Christine looked back into his eyes.
"I wasn't kidding earlier. You are good." Jacob said frankly.
"Oh, I know," Christine sighed, "Dad says that Katie and I split my mother down the middle. I got her science brain and a little of her musical talent. Katie got the musical talent with a flair for botany. And we both got our dad's stubbornness." Christine chuckled.
"That isn't a bad thing." Jacob smiled back at her and looked at the clock, "I'm afraid you, the fair Christine, are being called back into the depths of sickbay, where I care not to go, but I could meet you for breakfast when you get off shift?" He turned on his charms.
"Yeah, none of that." Christine stood and slipped her uniform jacket back on. "My speciality is pediatrics. I work with experts in the use of cute charms."
"Ah, come on, you have to eat, and it beats eating alone. Besides what harm could poor, weak, helpless cripple me do," He layed the charms on thicker, knowing she could see right through it.
"You might be limping, but you are far from helpless." She picked up her dirty tray. "Hopeless pain in the arse, but not helpless."
"Then give his hopeless pain in the arse, a chance to have coffee with you. At least I won't stink of antiseptic, grease, or vomit like your patients will."
"Fine," Christine said exasperated, "You might have to apply a lot of coffee to me to be much of a conversationalist. I'm on call in trauma tonight. You never know what will come through that door." Christine put her tray in the recycler, and crossed her arms glaring at him.
"What time is your shift scheduled to end?" He adjusted his cane so he could stand carefully.
"0700, but if I catch a hot case at the last minute, it could be much later." Christine warned him,
Jacob made to pick up his tray, but Christine got it for him. He rolled his eyes, knowing she did it just to anoy him. "0700 I will meet you at the café across from sickbay's main entrance. I assume to take your coffee black?" He teased her.
"That isn't coffee. That is black tar." She sighed in frustration at his antics, "One sugar, splash of soy cream, and add some cinnamon if you want to get on my good side." Christine handed Jacob his tray. "Stay out of trouble while I am gone. I don't need you on my parient list tonight." Christine headed off towards sickbay.
"Wouldn't dream of doing anything to be in your evil clutches Doctor." He quipped back with a smile.