Breakfast

Posted on Sat 17th Nov, 2012 @ 6:45pm by Colonel Horatio Drake & Commander Paul Graves PsyD

844 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Deck 123: Upper Promenade
Timeline: Day 1: 0800 Hours

ON:

"... and so I asked him simply whether he thought firing a full spread of quantums at a class 2 probe was really necessary!" the two officers laughed at the anecdote Ashton had recollected from his days on the Liberation.

They had met a few minutes previously on one of the upper Promenade decks, mostly to avoid others. Orchids & Jazz was meant to be an amazing place to visit at any time of the day, but with its popularity came crowds and that was something Drake was hoping to avoid for a while.

"And what did he say?" Paul asked as he speared another forkful of waffle. It was liberally coated in butter and pecan maple syrup and tasted delicious.

"He said that, at the time, he thought it was a Borg Scout ship!" Drake burst out laughing... the raucous, gut-busting, energetic laugh that he had been well known for back in the day. How long had it been since he had laughed this month. He loved looking back on fond memories.

"I tell you" He shoved some scrambled eggs in his mouth "whatever he was on, I wanted some!"

Drake had never understood the American ritual of mixing sweet and savoury on the same plate for breakfast. Pancakes with syrup on, complimented sometimes by eggs and other such breakfast items. He, instead, preferred to go completely savoury and had opted for eggs, sausages and bacon.

"A Borg ship?" Paul echoed, incredulous. "Sounds like he needed his eyes examined." He swirled a forkful of scrambled eggs in the small pool of syrup on his plate and ate it. "So did he last more than two months on your ship?"

"I don't know... the Captain ordered him transferred to tactical maintenance and I transferred away shortly afterwards! I wonder what ever happened to him?" He allowed himself a moment to ponder the question.

"Anyway, how are you feeling?" Ashton asked, knowing it wasn't the longest period of time since the Counselor has been discharged from the Infirmary.

Paul chuckled. "I'm feeling a lot better. Talking with Xavier and Brian has helped a lot. And after what Brian went through, I feel like rather a twit for the angst I've been indulging in." He gave Drake a sidelong look. "What about you? Has it been rough?"

No... it hadn't been rough in the slightest. The worst part of the experience for Drake was recovering from the, relatively minor, physical side effects of the ordeal. How could he express to someone that he had absolutely no remorse for firing a phaser at them and trying to kill them? His lack of all emotions couldn't possibly be explained to anyone else... they wouldn't understand... simply because he didn't understand it himself.

"Yea, it's been so, so" He blatantly lied, but did it with a cheery look on his face. "I'm just glad you weren't seriously injured", that wasn't a lie.

"If someone had told me a month ago that I'd be having breakfast with a Counselor... well, I probably would have tried to throw them out of an airlock!" he laughed.

Something was not right with Drake, Paul thought. He was... too jovial, the sort of joviality that one used to hide fear. But why? What could the man be afraid of? What did he want to avoid?

"Well, I don't know what changed your mind about counselors, but I'm glad it did," Paul said. "I wouldn't mind getting to know you outside of my office sometime. Meet me in the lounge some night, and I'd be glad to buy you a round."

"It's a date" Drake almost choked in the last word as it came spilling out of his mouth. Like a blade through his stomach, vivid memories mixed with violent and outrageous nightmares of Patrick came flooding into his mind. He had meant the expression as a joke... it's connotations were, however, anything but.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant... I have to go" He said, pushing himself up from the table. "We'll catch up again, soon."

"I'd enjoy that," Paul said, looking directly at Drake, to convey that he meant the comment as more than a mere pleasantry. But he knew it would not happen soon unless Drake forced himself to. The riot of emotions cascading through the man made it clear that Drake wasn't really ready. "Until then, my office door is always open."

A quick smile from Drake and he was off, faster than a photon torpedo. 'What am I getting myself into?' he asked himself. The answer was not forthcoming, for he did not know it. It was true that Graves was an attractive man... had their shared experiences on the Bretagne created a bond between them? All of a sudden he felt an emotion he hadn't felt in years... guilt. Guilt at even considering to think of another man as he had thought of Patrick. But Patrick was dead... something that he had still not, truly, come to terms with.

OFF

Lieutenant Colonel Ashton Drake
Commanding Officer

and

Lt. Paul Graves
Chief Counselor
SB-Protector

 

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