Humble Pie

Posted on 16 Jul 2019 @ 1:48am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant JG Naiya Hope Dr

Mission: Mission 1 - In the pale moonlight ...
Location: Charlotte Reynolds' Quarters
1688 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

"Why do I even keep you lot?" Charlotte hissed at the four statues. She threw them in a drawer. Now she was no longer Mrs Reynolds she didn't have to observe all this goddess stuff anymore. "You can go. And you," she sighed, tossing the crystals in that had overheated and caused her injury. Eddie was checking out school, she didn't have a shift until tomorrow, so she was stuck with her own company and a burnt arm. And her ex was apparently already flirting with a bossy red haired trill.

Perhaps it was an inopportune moment but Naiya couldn't have known that. She rang the chime to Charlotte's quarters, holding her med-bag at her side.

"Doctor," Charlotte said curtly. "I hope you haven't come on a house call because I'm the CO's ex wife. I would hate for the ship to be under the impression I get some sort of special treatment as believe me it's not the case."

"No Ma'am." Naiya replied courteously. "I've come because you presented as a patient in need of assistance but left without having received that. It's not in my professional habit to leave people in need without the help they should be offered by Sickbay. I also want to apologise for letting this situation develop when you presented. It was my fault that we miscommunicated and that neither I, nor my staff - for whom I am naturally responsible - failed you when you needed us. I have come to say how sorry I am and also to offer to put that right now, if you'll allow me?" There was no tone, attitude or even sense of resentment in Naiya's apology. It was sincere.

Charlotte stood back from the door and let her enter. "Well I can empathise with the not being responsible for staff. Please," she said walking back to her table and box she was tossing things in.

"Oh but I am responsible for them..... it's my fault if they do it wrong as much as it is if I do it." Naiya explained, parkin her med-kit onto the counter and opening it.

"How did you hurt your arm? If you don't mind me asking?" she said as she ran a medcorder over the burn.

"I was trying to reach a state of zen," Charlotte shrugged. "I forgot how hot the crystals can get. Was attempting meditation with them too close." She lifted one of the crystals out of the box again and showed her.

Naiya took a look and ran the medcorder over the crystals in the box before commenting:

"Ah, well since you clearly know not to have them too close, as you have just said, and you've had a painful reminder today, I won't make any attempt at lecturing you about them.

"What were you really doing with my ex husband in that cubicle," she suddenly asked. "It looked far to cozy for just fixing his face."

"Whatever business the Commander and I are or were involved in is strictly Starfleet business, Mrs Reynolds, and since, as you admit freely, he is your EX husband, with the greatest respect ma'am as a divorced and therefore single, unattached man, you may find you will need to get your possessiveness under control as he's both attractive and now as Commanding Officer, he's gained an aura of power to go with it, which many women find a great draw too.

I'm afraid you could find yourself fighting off half the female crew on this ship if you're going to try to hold an exclusive on him any more." she explained without a tone of lecture, just a matter of fact, Doctors' tone and a friendly smile and pat of the shoulder to help the bitter tasting pill of truth go down.

Charlotte smiled very slowly back at her. "Oh I wasn't holding an exclusive. I divorced him for reasons. I was just going to give you a heads up girl to girl. But never mind, I can see you can take care of yourself." Lorena was going to eat this one up alive, Charlotte chuckled inwardly to herself. Hopefully she would get to see it.

"That was a kind thought and thank you for that." Hope appeared to settle and look more relaxed, at least on the outside. She took up her portable replicator and held it forwards. "May I?" she asked permission to begin treatment of the CO's ex-wife's wound.

"Oh yes please," Charlotte nodded raising her arm to the other woman. She wondered what Eddie would make of her if she pursued Jon. Something she didn't like the idea of even if she was somewhat rid of him and was getting the feeling she might just do that. Far too defensive. One thing she did know, she wasn't worming her way into her son's heart and replacing her.

Naiya worked on the wounded arm in silence. She was also thinking to herself, but not about the CO's son, his mother nor even at this point in time, her own interest in the CO himself. She was thoughtful about what made Charlotte tick and why she was so ... what was the feeling she gave out..... not just hostility but more .... a challenge? no why would she want to challenge a doctor? That couldn't be right? If the ex-wife was going around like a hedgehog with her spines out over the CO and his having been chatting with his new staff.... did that mean she didn't want to be the EX-wife? Did she want him back? Did that mean it wasn't her choice for the marriage to end? Perhaps...... yes, that had to be it. This lady wanted to get back with her ex. ..... Naiya could understand that.... especially with a child involved? Those were life-long ties, offspring..... SOOOOOOOOO! She felt like she'd just figured it all out at last. Yes that was it. Reynolds wasn't as single as he had first appeared. He was off limits. A man whose marriage was holding on to the last threads of not quite over.... these two could reunite at any moment. THANK THE STARS she hadn't got involved and had realised in time. She would avoid him from now on.

Having come to that conclusion Naiya relaxed. Charlotte was just protecting her way back into Jon's life. Hope could understand that. She needed to let Charlotte know she wouldn't step on her to spoil things. She wasn't a marriage wrecker... not even one that was clearly shaky and far from at its best.

"You know, perhaps I was wrong." she commented gently as she repaired the arm and was coming to the end of her ministrations for today. "You'll need to rest that and I'll have to give it a second treatment in about 24hrs...." she diversified off at a tangent into the medical for a moment. "It will take two sessions to heal without scarring." she began to pack her med-kit up.

"Oh, wrong... yes... there's always reason to keep an open mind. We never know what might happen and I like to think we should never give up. You do have a head start on that half the female occupants here. You have history, past love, memories, intimacies and most of all you share a son. You shouldn't give up on him, in my humble opinion. You have a lot of good cards still and if you want it enough, it's probably yours for the taking, so go for it girl." she smiled kindly. She had decided this was the right outcome and was removing any possibility of ever having been in the running so to speak. After all, that had only been such a fleeting moment and for all she knew, Reynolds probably hadn't even noticed her.

Taking her medkit and setting off towards the door, intending to see herself out, Naiya renewed her encouraging smile towards Charlotte.

"I'll get in touch to book you in for tomorrow. Would the afternoon suit?" she asked, oblivious to what reaction her words had stirred up in the other woman.

Charlotte looked at her with disbelief. Processing her words, This doctor was clearly playing games now. Trying to manipulate her into saying this so she felt like she had the green light. "I don't want to get back with my ex," she stated firmly.

"I was just trying to warn you he's a cheating SOB. Save you some heartache. There might be some residual anger there but believe me I don't love him anymore. I just thought he would at least take some time to let us all - Eddie and me, get settled with this new living and co parenting situation before jumping into something with someone else straight away. And the afternoon is fine," she added.

"15:30?" Naiya asked, finishing the conversation about the appointment. "And thank you for thinking to warn me to save me heartache - that was considerate. Luckily for me, I'm not involved with him. It wouldn't be professional for one thing and to be fair, I think the way he seems so close with his XO, there wouldn't be any point even if I were hoping for anything. See you tomorrow." she finished the other thread from her newly formed point of view about the CO. This conversation had made her think again, and again about her feelings and she had taken the warning that Charlotte was offering, whether she had meant to or not. Perhaps not in the exact way Charlotte had intended but in a way that Naiya was convincing herself rapidly had been her own conclusion.

Charlotte smiled and watched the woman leave. Jon's XO. The one who slinked off from the party with the Chief flight officer. The young one who acted like his baby sister. She was 100% sure nothing was going on there but she wasn't going to tell the Doctor.

OFF:

●○ Lieutenant JG Naiya Hope
Chief Medical Officer
USS Andromeda

●●● Commander Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding Officer
USS Andromeda