Rivals or Friends?

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 3:41am by Lieutenant Kalin Brennan-Griffin PhD & Lieutenant Katniss Wakefield
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 6:44am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Science Office
Timeline: before Sail Away

The Science labs were beautiful, and Shae Brennan had decided that this was her favourite ship to be stationed on, of all time! Unfortunately, being the Chief of the Science department meant more work than play with her new toys than she would like, but it had to get done, and the hours were counting down until they left spacedock, which meant there wasn't an abundance of time in which all the final checks had to be done. Another part of being a department head that Shae was not overly fond of, meeting her staff; Shae had not been overly social for the past 16 years, so her ability to spontaneously strike up conversation to get to know her team better was more than a little lacking, and she had ended up with her paw in her mouth more than a few times actually, and she had no way to predict when she was fast approaching one of these train wrecks of a conversation, one potentially being her meeting with Katniss Wakefield.

The Captain had made her position abundantly clear to Shae: Katniss was technically a researcher in charge of her own department meant to coordinate with both Science and Medical when studying new life forms from the Inconnu Expanse, but ultimately she was still a Scientist and as such fell under Shae's authority on the chain of command, but she was otherwise free to conduct her research as she saw fit. Shae didn't have a problem with this, but she did want to schedule a meeting with Katniss to make sure they were on the same page. And so, Shae sent a message to Katniss to report to her office at the start of Alpha shift so they could get to know each other better. Only, she had no way of knowing that Katniss had already avoided meeting Shae on the Rec Deck because at the time Shae had been holding Aoife, just as she was doing now; Aoife's nurse was not scheduled to arrive until the next day, and work needed to get done in the meantime, so since Aoife was capable of sitting quietly in Shae's lap to let her work, Shae had no problem bringing her to work while they were still in spacedock.

Katniss was chuntering under her breath as she made her way to meet with Lieutenant Brennan, she had been summoned, but at least it would give them the opportunity to meet, after all, they would be working together closely. It didn't take Katniss long to find the office she was looking for, she gently pressed the door chime and tried her best at a smile.

"Enter," Shae called out the chime. She was sitting at her desk doing some work on her computer with Aoife sitting quietly in her lap. The office was spartan, Shae hadn't made any attempts to customize or personalize the space just yet, but it was still a nice office. Shae looked up as Katniss entered, peering at the woman through a set of thin rimmed glasses perched daintily on her face. "You must be Lieutenant Wakefield," Shae said softly, offering warm smile as she removed her glasses. "Thank you for meeting with me. I know you must be very busy getting your Research lab set up, but I wanted to get to know my staff before disembarking. I've been told you are running your own department in conjunction with Science and Medical, but that you are also still technically a part of my staff," she continued pleasantly enough, but truth be told, she was nervous about meeting new people and she wasn't used to being 'the boss' just yet.

The smile disappeared from Katniss's face as she noticed the child sat in Shae's lap. She gritted her teeth and winced as though someone had thrust a dagger into her heart. "I'll be blunt Sir, I won't be reporting my findings to you unless we are working together on something specific together, otherwise my research goes directly to Starfleet Science, which brings up my lab, it's off limits unless invited," Katniss said in a forceful tone, she had always been one to be direct and she would never beat around the bush, she said it as it was. "Other than that, yes technically I'll be seen as part of your staff."

Shae didn't know where this attitude was coming from, but she has a sneaking suspicion that there was a story behind it given the way Katniss looked at Aoife. "Lieutenant, at what point did I make any mention of wanting anything to do with your research for Starfleet Science?" Shae countered in a more serious tone. "You are a Science Officer under my care and it my job to be certain that you and the lab and any other Officers you chose to work in the lab with you as assistants are all being utilized properly, as well as making sure there is an open line of communication between departments when collaboration is necessary. I understand the job of a Research Scientist, I did my time as a Research assistant at the Daystrom Institute, and as such I understand that you have work you will be completing that requires the utmost discretion, and no doubt your own independent work as well. It is not my place to nose around in your research, of which I have absolutely no intentions of doing; all I expect are regular performance reviews and feedback, none of which requires any details of your research. I had also hoped to extend the courtesy of my assistance should you ever have need of it, but if you don't want the help, that is your business." Shae was stern, but not in any way unkind, and if Katniss was going to insist on this level of formality at their every interaction, then this working relationship was going to be exhausting. "As for the lab being off limits, you will have your autonomy, but if I have need to come check on you, then I will do so. I will never come to check your research, unless it is something we are collaborating on at which point I will ask for a report rather that snooping, but I am well within my rights to check on the well being and performance of the Officers under me, but have absolutely no intentions of telling you how to run your lab. Is that understood?"

Katniss's gaze fell firmly on the blue eyes of the child sat in Shae's lap, she wasn't paying attention to Lieutenant's dressing down. Again Katniss was thrust back to her own miscarriage, clutching her stomach with blood pouring from her, laid on the cold hard concrete floor after the attack. The pain showed in her eyes as they began to fill with tears. She shook her head as Shae's final words hit her "Is that understood?"

Katniss looked at Shae, then the child. She wanted to say 'Sorry Sir, I...could you repeat that' but instead she blurted out "how old is the child?"

Shae's gaze softened at Katniss' words; It was clear to her now that Katniss was hurting and Aoife's presence wasn't helping. "It's complicated," Shae replied in her gentler tone, issuing a small sigh as she looked down at her daughter. "Aoife has spent a great deal of time in stasis, so her development is considerably stunted. I must apologise for having her here today, I know it's not proper to bring a child onto a duty shift, but her nurse caretaker has not arrived yet, and we're still in spacedock and I was just doing paperwork... But I can see that having her here is causing you some distress, I can call someone to watch her while we talk," she offered.

Katniss managed a smile for the child "No, it's fine. Just a painful memory." she said as she finally took a seat opposite Shae. "I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean to come across as rude, I know my position was thrust upon the Captain and that you are the CSO. To be honest I don't want you thinking I'm here to step on your toes or undermine you. I'm not. My research is independent, but I will be working closely with you and your staff as well as medical, after all I am fully trained medical doctor as well, I'll be seeing what effects the expanse has on the crew as well." she took a deep breath as she smiled again at the child. "The Admiral has given me some new experimental equipment as well, I haven't had time to look over exactly what it is yet, I'm still waiting for it to arrive, but he has also given me the authority to requestion anything I need, so if your short on anything. Let me know, I'll add it to my list with a couple of personal things I'm tagging on."

"You can drop the 'sir', I don't need things to be nearly so formal, but if you insist out of politeness, you may call me ma'am, or Shae, as that is my name," Shae said with a warm smile. "And I can understand how painful memories can affect one's mood; in fact, I am quite familiar with such memories and moods myself, so you don't have to explain yourself any further. I will say that if you need someone to talk to, I know our Counselor from our previous assignment on the Tornado and she is a wonderful Counselor, and a wonderful friend. I'd advise you to go speak with her if you are having a hard time coping, and I can make myself available as well if that would make you more comfortable," she offered in a gentle, sympathetic tone, her eyes betraying that she knew pain all too well. "Now, about the job, I'm not here to interfere with your process, your work is your own, though I am here to help if you need it; my purpose as your superior is simply to make sure that you have what you need, whether it's resources or personnel, and that everyone is working together smoothly when we collaborate. I don't need to know about your private research, but if you feel the need to tell me anything, know I will handle it with the utmost discretion."

"I'm sorry If I seemed abrupt Lieutenant, my apologies. Let's start again." she said with a smile "I will, of course, help your department as needed and I will somehow find the time to help you where ever I can and if you need a deputy again it would be a pleasure, we are going to be working closely after all. I'm putting my requisition order in later, so if you need me to order anything for you, just let me know. "

"Actually, I think the Science deck is pretty well stocked!" Shae said with a pleased smile, leaning back in her chair. "The refit team did a great job making sure we were good to go, I honestly can't think of a single thing we need! So, have you been to the lab that is to be yours? I've had the refit crew update the Security measures on the doors and any jefferies access points in case you start working on something that needs extra protection, and then I had them increase the number quarantine protocols on the room in case we find something dangerous in the Expanse, so there's stronger forcefields and more protection on the environmental system. Basically, I've updated the protection around the lab, so inside it's still just a basic, non-specific lab space waiting to be customized by you, but it's a good space, and I hope it works out well for you."

"Thank you, I haven't checked out the lab yet, but it's on my list. I've requestioned a couple of personal things, I like to do my own cooking so somehow such equipment has appeared on my list." she said with a smile, again looking at the child "Anyway, Lieutenant, I really have taken enough of your time. I am sure you have a thousand things to do, Once I'm settled in, I'd like to cook a proper meal, I know our recreation deck looks good, but I'll be giving it a wide birth, I much prefer quietness and my own company, so I'd like to cook for you and some of the staff." she said slowly getting to her feet "And with that I really should pay the Doctor a visit as well, let him know there is another Doctor on board if he needs my help."

"Of course, go settle in," Shea replied, also standing. "You now know where my office is in case you need me, and if I'm not here I'm usually in Astrometrics as that is my field of study." It hadn't escaped Shae's notice that Katniss kept looking at Aoife, and after her earlier outburst, Shae wondered what was haunting Katniss. With her words of loss, had Katniss lost a child? "Katniss," Shae then said, hoping Katniss didn't mind the informality given what she was about to do, "I see that you keep looking at Aoife; do you want to hold her?" she asked, then without waiting for a response, placed the little fox-child in Katniss' arms. Aside from the fact that Aoife was unusually quiet for a child of her age, at first glance she looked like a happy, healthy child, but looks could be deceiving and now Katniss could feel how thin and frail Aoife was; Aoife was just a wisp of a child, she was so thin and bony, there was barely any substance to her! But she was also bright and intelligent, and as Aoife looked up at the strange woman now holding her, Katniss could see an inquisitive nature in Aoife's brilliantly blue eyes.

Before realising what was happening Katniss's piercing green eyes met the brilliantly blue eyes of the child now in her arms. For a moment Katniss's heart seemed to stop, she felt the tears forming in her eyes, the frail child cradled into her, how she longed all these years that she could have held her own child. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, that part of her life had been locked away and for good reason, it made her weak. It had taken her several years to get over the loss of her child and it had nearly destroyed her, the only way she had learnt to cope was to lock it away from the world, never to bring it up. "Hello, there little one" she whispered softly, then her defences started to kick in, like shields being raised at red alert her tears stopped, she shook her hand and quickly handed the child back to Shae in a hasty manner. "You are very lucky." she said before quickly turning and heading for the exit. "I shall catch up to you later." and with that, Katniss was already out of the door.

Shae made no attempt to stop Katniss as she made her quick escape. "Well that was something..." Shae said to Aoife as she sat back down with Aoife again in her lap. Everyone dealt with grief in their own way, but Shae could see clearly now that whatever Katniss was so distraught about, she wasn't dealing with it, she was pushing it down and running away from it. Choosing for the moment not to contact Laurel about this issue, she instead decided to let Katniss calm down and settle into a routine before forcing her into counselling. "Let's wait and see if she talks to someone on her own; if she doesn't then you and I are going to hold an intervention. How does that sound?" she asked her daughter. Aoife made a chirping sound in agreement, having no real idea what she was agreeing to, only knowing that her mother seemed to know what she was talking about. "Yes, I thought it was a very good idea as well," Shae said in continuance of the mock conversation, then returned her attention to her work.