Apologies

Posted on Tue Jan 9th, 2018 @ 10:23am by

1,101 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Unknown Life, Unknown Dangers
Location: Temp Quarters, USS Avaya
Timeline: Backpost

James: Sorry for the perspective switch at the end guys.

After she left the Commodore's quarters, BJ went back to hers and pinned her rank pips to her collar and put her combadge over her left breast. "Computer, please locate Lieutenant James Bradshaw," she requested as she unconsciously looked towards the hidden pickups in the ceiling even though the computer would have heard her even if she hadn't.

The computer informed her that James was in his temporary quarters on the Avaya. Up to the neck in reports, schematics and diagrams trying coordinate repairs.

I was trying to streamline repairs because no CO liked a command grounded for too long and that's why I planned the damage in a way it would help later rather than sooner. The estimates were good but those were just estimates and I had to help as best I could to cut them down some more.

It was a short trip once she inquired the location of the quarters from the computer. She paused outside of the door and brought her hand up to the panel three times before she actually pressed it and held her breath. If he didn't answer by a mental count of ten, she wondered if she'd try again or come back.

"It's open." I called as I looked at a schematic of a warn nacelle magnified in the area I did the damage. Though the damage was clean the after damage was not and I had to help sway away opinions that there was more damage than actually present. Looking up I saw who it was. "Commander Reign, what brings you to my messy abode?"

BJ entered the quarters and stopped when he asked what brought her there. She looked at the state of the place and the scattered PADDs and schematics. "I, uh, wanted to talk to you, Lieutenant," she said and knew how lame it sounded.

"James, please. I've been around Commanders and Captains all day calling me that. In here it's just James." I smiled mildly surprised to see BJ after what happened. I put the plans down and stood up. "Can I get you anything, drink maybe?"

"No, thank you...James," she said and swallowed. "You can call me BJ if you like. I..." she paused. "I owe you a really big apology and words just aren't enough."

"BJ honestly, as I told the Commodore it was a tough situation, at the end of the day nobody got hurt and its not the first time a phaser had been pointed at me. I'm just glad we got him out of there." I remained standing though I could see what happened really bothered her.

BJ shook her head. "I'm the Chief of Security. It's my job to protect the crew, not aim phasers at them. I didn't do my duty that day and couldn't protect Xavier and then I threatened you when you were doing what I couldn't. That's unforgivable."

"Well, if it makes you feel better I didn't press charges when the Commodore came to see me in Engineering, I'm guessing he didn't since he was there. So it's all good from where I stand." It was a tough situation and she'd no doubt beaten herself up plenty of times over it, no need to jump on that band wagon too.

"He told me and I appreciate it, James," she said. "It still doesn't excuse it. I have a permanent mark on my personnel file and I accept it. What's important is how I can make it up to you."

"Well once I figure that out, I'll let you know unless you have a spare warp nacelle laying around." I joked. "But I'll let you know though, I'm just glad everyone is ok."

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Any plans for R&R?"

"Not really other than spending time with Xavier," BJ said. "Maybe planning a wedding. What about you?"

"A wedding, well congratulations. Decided on location, a date?" I asked. It was always good to hear a wedding going on, the joining of two people in love was such a sweet thing.

"Thank you, but we haven't thought that far ahead yet," she told him. "Would you like to attend when we decide?"

"Absolutely, I'd love to. I smiled at the invitation. "Well you guys have plenty of time, I don't see us going anywhere any time soon or under the Commodore gets orders." Nobody knew which option that would be or when.

"That and getting cleared so we can actually do something," BJ said. "All this waiting around is counterproductive, but with nothing to do, there's nothing we can do."

"Yeah, most of my teams are sitting on hands waiting for parts, approvals or extra help. They are keen but all these hang ups are just costing us time." I replied hating delays and hangups from getting a job done.

"I'd help if I had expertise in that area," she said. "But as it stands, I've only just been reinstated to duty."

"Ohh. Well I'm sure you will enjoy the down time while everything gets sorted. We don't get much of it so enjoy it when it comes." I smiled, glad that things had worked out for her, suspected there was more to it but was not my place to ask. "How is the love struck Doctor?" Wondering how his recovery was fairing.

"He's doing better," BJ said with a smile. "They're having a harder time keeping him out of Medical than they are keeping him on rest."

"I'm sure you will keep the good Doctor in line." James replied with a smile. "I suppose I shouldn't keep you from him, don't want him sneaking out while you are gone." He chuckled to himself at the thought of Xavier ducking out like a frightened mouse escaping while the cat is away.

She laughed. "He wouldn't dare," she said. "Not if he knows what's good for him at any rate."

James smirked. "Well I better not hold you up any longer, he might start getting brave and I need to get this report in to SFE for supplies to repair the ship." James didn't want to be rude but he suspected if repairs didn't go smoothly, it was his hide on the line.

"I'll send you the invite when we make things official for the wedding," BJ said as she turned and headed for the door. "It was good talking to you."

"And you." James replied as he watched her leave. That went better than he expected but good none the less.

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