Rest is for the weak

[Lt. Commander Patrick Davidson]

Patrick had 'rested' like Phoebe had ordered. What he hadn't done was rest for more than a few hours. He was up again and since the pain medication was working wonders he figured he'd check in on the science labs to see how everything was going before returning to his quarters for some actual relaxation.

Walking gingerly so that he wouldn't exert himself too much, Patrick entered the botany labs and looked around. The place was empty save the plant life. He figured all of the other officers were dazed after the party the night before, which was fine by him. He had wanted to drop in on the festivities, but decided against it in the end.

Moving over to a vase filled with vibrant red roses, he took a seat on a stool and leaned in to smell the flowers. He was immediately reminded of Phoebe. Her softness and femininity had healed him faster than any medication ever could. He actually looked forward to their next meeting, but he hoped it wouldn't be due to clumsiness on his part. Injuring himself for the sake of seeing her again wasn't his idea of a good plan. No, he'd have to find some other way to be where she was, even if he had conjure up some other reason to be inside sickbay that didn't require that he receive pain meds.

Patrick looked around the room at the other plants. He might as well get some work down while he was here. Moving to a computer he brought up a few files and began to read through them, though 50% of his attention lingered on Phoebe; imagining her in that hot tub they had talked about, dressed in nothing but a black string bikini.

Tag: Any

[Lt. Cmdr. Alexis McConville]

She wasn't on duty yet, but after sleeping off the events of the evening before, Alexis had awoken with a start. Her dreams had been a bit to vivid even for her. Finding out the time, she blew out a puff of air. She wasn't due to start her shift for a few hours yet, but she also didn't have anything better to do.

'Back to the good ole days, Alexis', she told herself, 'when all you did was work.' She often overworked her shifts. She loved her research and didn't often find reasons not to simply continue...that was until she'd met Nick. Now, he would give her lots of reasons to leave her work behind for a few hours.

Pushing out of bed, she pulled on her uniform. Mid as well check on my babies, she thought with a grin. Alexis always made it a habit to visit with the plants in the botany lab each day. She even spoke to many of them, knowing that research proved that it actually helped in more ways that one.

With a yawn, she made her way to the door of the labs. As the doors opened for her, she took a refreshing breath. You could almost feel the added oxygen in the room from all the plants that had found a home somewhere in this space. This had been the first place she had set up once she had arrived on the Nike. It was her little haven. Her eyes took in the various little lives, freezing on the form of a very real person.

"Patrick," She said recognizing him immediately. "I didn't expect to find you here, especially so early in the morning." Alexis knew he was her assistant, though they hadn't really spoken since the disaster. They had never really be 'friends' on the Carolina, but they had worked together on various assignments. She wondered how he was handling everything now.

"I have a feeling we've lots to discuss in the near future. Things have sure been hectic so far," she added, smiling in his direction, wondering what he thought of her now being the head of the department. Everyone had liked and respected Venal, or at least she assumed they had. What would they think of her trying to fill his shoes? A small pang of sadness at the thought of his loss struck her once again.

Tag Patrick

[Lt. Commander Patrick Davidson]

There were more plant life housed within these walls than he thought. He pulled up more reports, sighed and gazed around the lab. Being Assistant Chief had his perks. He was in charge, but when something went south in a lab as boring as this he wouldn't be the guy everyone would run to to right it. He'd direct his tiny ensigns to their Chief, who, he realized, he hadn't seen since climbing aboard this delightful ship.

Tearing his eyes away from the sunflowers and weeds, he leaned his elbows on the console and sighed exhaustedly. From the way he sat he could feel his back begin to hurt again. He shifted to his right side instead and hoped that would help. Returning to his room for more bedrest was out of the question. If he were left to his own mind he'd probably do something he'd regret--like leave the ship for instance. He was no quitter however. Not even the death of his only real friend could make him stoop so low. He would do his job and he would do it well. Even if that meant he have to watch Lieutenant McConville prance around wearing his badge.

"Patrick," She said recognizing him immediately. "I didn't expect to find you here, especially so early in the morning."

He'd know that voice anywhere, even if it had been almost a days time since he'd heard it. Patrick mentally rolled his eyes before swiveling in his seat and facing the woman. He offered a warm, welcoming smile. Though he didn't like her current position as Chief he had no qualms with her as a person. Alexis had never done anything to offend him. He must remember that.

"Likewise," he said giving her a once over before looking back to her smiling face, which was draped by rivulets of fiery red hair, hair that, in the past, he'd believe to be gorgeous.

"I have a feeling we've lots to discuss in the near future. Things have sure been hectic so far."

"Trust me. I don't need to be reminded." He stood from his chair, wincing as he steadied himself on his feet. He shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to ease the burning pain radiating in his lower back. It helped a bit, but not much.

"How are you liking the Nike so far? Can't say I'm too impressed, but then again my view is biased given the reason why we're here."

Tag: Alexis

[Lt. Cmdr. Alexis McConville]

She noticed the subtle change in his features when he stood. She wondered if perhaps he had been more seriously injured during the destruction of the Carolina than she'd been led to believe. She'd make sure to pull up his duty records just in case there were any medical restrictions.

"How are you liking the Nike so far? Can't say I'm too impressed, but then again my view is biased given the reason why we're here."

"Well, actually it's not too bad. I miss the Carolina..." her voice trailed off for a moment, but she quickly shook off the melancholy she started to feel. "Sometimes I wish Venal were still here..." She shrugged, feeling the weight of all the changes around her.

Alexis couldn't help but watch him. She had sensed for quite some time back on the Carolina that he had wished for the position she held. It was never anything in particular that he had done or said, it was just a feeling. In fact there were times when she wondered why he hadn't had such a position when she had. True, Alexis had worked hard since the moment she'd set foot at the Academy, but from what she could tell of Patrick, so had he.

Running her fingers along the leaves of some of her cherished plants, she turned back to him with a friendly smile. "You have always been an excellent officer. I am pleased that we'll be working together." Alexis truly meant what she said. He had clearly shown his skills on the projects they had worked on on the Carolina. He was great at what he did.

She noticed another slight movement from him, almost as though he was uncomfortable. Tilting her head slightly she asked, "Is everything okay?"

Tag Patrick

[Lt. Commander Patrick Davidson]

Patricked listened to her words. Her feelings were shared. He wished Venal was around as well. Perhaps then he'd have someone to talk on his behalf, show everyone just how capable he was in his field.

Moving at a snail's pace, Patrick slid his cool finger tips along the metallic table tops.


"You have always been an excellent officer. I am pleased that we'll be working together."

He paused. What had brought on this compliment? He wondered. Fleetingly glancing in her direction, he attempted to force himself to thank her and regurgitate her compliment back, but he couldn't. His mood would not allow him to stroke someone else's ego, no matter how much he believed she deserved it.

He continued to pace, stopping only when his back began to ache. It felt like someone was hammering tacks into his skin from behind. The pressure was worse than the pain by far so he tried not to let this small discomfort show on his face. He slipped down, resting his behind on the table top next to a display of marigold.

"Is everything okay?"

She had noticed. Patrick looked at her and nodded. "I'm fine. I...well, it doesn't matter."

In the past he'd always had a difficult time letting his guard down around Alexis, or anyone else for that matter. He'd always gotten the impression that she did not like him, nor did she truly want to. Something, perhaps their thirst for ambition and excellence got in the way of them getting to know each other. Their relationship, if you could call it that, was strained and, if he admitted it, forced.

Yet, any animosity he had felt toward her in the past would have to be forgotten now. They were aboard a new ship and both of them had new promotions to celebrate. He had to work one on one with her now. Though he was still her 'assistant', he had to think about his own future and goals. He wished to be chief one day. If assisting Alexis got him one step closer to that goal than he would do it. And not just half assed either. No, he would give it everything he had.

"Have you had a chance to meet our team yet?" He asked. They were both new to this ship. Taking over where others had left off would be a challenge. Making these people trust them would be his first priority. Only with a loyal team at his side would be feel comfortable doing any work aboard this ship.

Tag: Alexis

[Lt. Cmdr. Alexis McConville]

"I'm fine. I...well, it doesn't matter."

Alexis tried to hide her frown. She shouldn't have expected him to open up to her, even the slightest. Yet, she had hoped for a relationship like she had had with Venal. There might still be hope in the future, but she wasn't going to hold her breath, that was for sure.

"Have you had a chance to meet our team yet?"

"A few," Alexis replied. "We've had a lot of changes. New arrivals, others getting new assignments. I hardly even know whose part of the department now. I did meet a rather interesting Orion ensign. Biological and Cultural studies I believe."

Suddenly, as if realizing something, she tilted her head and looked at him a bit quizzically. "I'm surprised to find you here, actually. In the Botany labs and all. Thought you'd be off checking out the regular biology labs. Not too many people find there way into these," she gestured around her, "labs too often." She tenderly reached up and touched one of her favorites. A plant she'd had far longer than all the rest. An Earth plant - Dicentra Spectabilis. More commonly called a Bleeding Heart. It was especially appropriate during this time. Her fingers touched a little bud, before her hand returned to her side and she looked back over at Patrick.

Tag Patrick

[Lt. Commander Patrick Davidson]

"I hardly even know whose part of the department now. I did meet a rather interesting Orion ensign. Biological and Cultural studies I believe."

"We can set aside some time through the week to meet with everyone and introduce ourselves. I would hate to start a voyage off and not know the people I'm working with, wouldn't you?" He ignored the fact that he barely knew Alexis either. He'd have to set aside time to get to know her too. He hadn't wanted to now, but they were together. Who knew when they'd get another chance to just talk.

"I'm surprised to find you here, actually. In the Botany labs and all. Thought you'd be off checking out the regular biology labs. Not too many people find there way into these labs too often."

"Oh, well," he looked around at all the plants, focusing in on the beautiful ones at her side. "I was doing rounds. Didn't want to get lost when we finally leave." He paused as he looked around. The place looked like a tiny jungle. "There's more plants here than the Carolina," he said pushing away from the table and making his way over to Alexis to look at the cherry pink colored flower. Crossing his arms across his chest he leaned in close to the flower to smell its scent. His eyes closed as he set its fragrance to memory. He was horrible with plant names chosing to call them 'that red flower' or 'the one with the odd leaves." Perhaps that was one of the reasons botany stayed off his radar.

"It's beautiful," he said as he stood back. He cut his eyes at Alexis and smiled, though only just barely. "Your favorite I presume?" He figured if he got her talking about something she loved he could get her to open up. Perhaps then his defenses would fall and he'd share a bit about himself too. It was a small first step, but he had to make an effort sooner or later.

Tag: Alexis

[Lt. Cmdr. Alexis McConville]

Alexis chuckled at his comment about the numerous plants. It was true. There were more here than the Carolina. Larger lab allowed her to expand the collection quite a bit. Some of the new plants had been on the Nike already, some had actually been in her quarters on the Carolina and a few were new specimens that they had acquired since docking at Utopia Planitia.

"Yes, it is one of my favorites. I think I've had a part of this plant in some form since I first found my love of botany as a child. It's been a rather hearty plant and survived much over the years." Like an attack by the Borg she added silently, her smile faltering a bit. She wasn't sure where Patrick had been during the attacks, but he had not been in the lab with her and Venal at the time. Hadn't seen up close and in person her chief sacrifice himself to save them all. It was something she would never forget.

"Today's the big day. Launch is scheduled for 1500 hours. Why don't you organize a meeting of our science staff for 1200 hours in the general biology labs. They're the largest. It would give us the chance to meet everyone like you suggested." After finishing her suggestions, Alexis fiddled around a bit with the tools on the lab counter, listening when he spoke and offering any appropriate comments.

Finally, after a short time, she spoke again, "I've got a few things to see to before we take our places for the launch and before we have that meeting. So, if you'll excuse me. I'll meet up with you before our staff meeting in the labs." Alexis paused, looking him over one more time, "And take care of whatever it is that's got you...uncomfortable." She smiled and then made her way out of the science labs.

Tag Patrick - Then End Alexis if appropriate

[Lt. Commander Patrick Davidson]

"Sounds good to me," he said before going back to his rounds. Their meeting had been short and...well, proper, but they had time to get to know each other and perhaps, after time, learn to trust.

Only time would tell.

End Patrick