The Last Damn Run

Posted on Thu Feb 7th, 2019 @ 12:15am by Commodore Jane Saulitis

Mission: Run Afoul
Location: Patrick's Quarters
Timeline: MD 12 11:00 Hours
1003 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Jane asked the computer where Patrick was and made straight for his quarters. This was way out of a Captain's duties but she wanted her chief engineer back, happy and not worrying about what Patrick was doing while he was on duty. She stopped outside the door, pressed the chime and waited to be allowed entrance.

One arm comfortably resting in the sling he still used, the other filled with tidbits of this and that, Patrick turned towards the door, frowning. He wasn't expecting anyone, and he was sure there wasn't anywhere he needed to be. "Come in," he called, moving towards the table to drop the items on his arm.

"Hi Patrick, I hope I'm not disturbing you." Jane poked her head into the room, letting her body slide in after her but just barely so the doors would close. "I was hoping I might be able to talk to you about a certain chief engineer I have in my brig."

There was no surprise on the chef's face at this news. "I know he's down there," he answered calmly, "I spoke with him a few hours ago. Can I get you anything? I have fresh coffee..."

"No thank you." Jane sat down, hoping that was all right. "Murphy is afraid that you'll get hurt again. He lost his husband, you probably knew that. He doesn't want to lose you the same way so he's pushing you away. That and he apparently can't handle someone being worried about him during a crisis. Although I will admit that bringing him eggs was probably not the best thing to do while he was investigating a bombing but I have a proposition for you. Go talk to him again, tell him you will stay out of engineering. And I will try to make sure he gets breaks, except during a crisis. We're going to slowly work on letting others handle things."

It was a fair compromise so Patrick nodded. Except... "I didn't exactly bring him eggs," he countered, "and I certainly wouldn't have been so...blatant about it. I would've covertly had it brought in." Patrick sighed softly. "I know he's afraid I'll get hurt, but he's got to trust me that I am careful. He's not the only one who has lost. I lost my husband in an explosion, how do you think being caught in one myself made me feel?"

"Not great I imagine," Jane nodded. "I can't believe he hit someone. I don't care if my officers drink, but I expect them to be in control of their own bodies and their minds." It was a bit off topic but she was so frustrated with him. And then he'd wanted to play games with her in the brig.

"And to think he was doing better with the drinking," Patrick sighed, "and he assured me he's never been drunk while on duty. He cares about his job captain, perhaps a little too much. But I can understand not wanting to sit idle. More than anything else, I can understand because having nothing to do drives me crazy too. Especially in a crisis, I need to keep busy." He looked up. "Staying busy is probaby his coping mechanism, because then he doesn't have to think about what happened. But he needs to understand that I'll not be shoved aside just like that, as if it all meant nothing because I know it all means something. He needs to understand, that I'm not giving up simply because we hit a bump in the road. That's not how it works."

Patrick sighed a second time. "I got so frustrated though, that I told him to go find a place to sleep elsewhere but I didn't mean any of it. I was so angry at being pushed away, at being ignored." The emotions he was feeling were plain to hear in his voice.

"I know how stubborn he is, almost as stubborn as I am. Maybe if you tried talking to him again, you two could work things out?" Jane suggested. "I told him I'd release him in an hour. I could do so and then you'd have a quiet place not to be disturbed."

"No, the brig is the perfect place to talk, he'll be required to listen." Patrick smiled sadly. "At least he'll have to hear me out without the chance of walkling away. I'll go see him shortly, if permitted of course..." He offered a semi shrug. "After all we're all confined to quarters, right?"

"Permission granted, I'll walk you there myself but will remain outside," Jane stood up and waited for Patrick.

Patrick stood as well, readjusting the sling as he straightened. "Much appreciated though I doubt anything will happen now. why would they strike at the same place twice?" he considered taking something to eat and drink with him, then reconsidered. "Wouldn't they have struck again, if it was about making casualties?"

"I'd rather not discuss the investigation," Jane said honestly. "But it was not meant for you. Still, I have to go to let him out anyway, I let Wexler go for the afternoon."

"I don't need to know about the investigation. All I care about is people being safe now. If there's anything I can do to help just let me know?" He stepped into the Hall, waiting for the captain to come out too. "I hope Murph will see me... He's tried to push me away, tried to hurt my feelings..." He frowned. "He said he's toxic.."

"He'll see you, he's got no choice at the moment. I'm temped to leave him in the brig until he works things out with you though I did say I'd release him in less than an hour." Jane sighed and followed Murph down the corridor. By the time they reached the brig, she smiled. "Good luck!"

"Thank you..." Patrick stepped inside, feeling his heart race in his throat.


Patrick O'Malley
Chef
USS Majestic
pnpc Lhaes

Commander Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer
USS Majestic