Hope meet’s Jessica

Posted on Sat Oct 21st, 2023 @ 6:30pm by Civilian Jessica Haugen

1,170 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Ships lounge - Deck 3

“Deck two” Hope said as she entered the turbo lift. Quickly after the lift started moving Hope changed her mind “lounge.” The turbo lift paused for a moment and changed direction and just a few moments later she was walking into the lounge.

“Doctor” a young man said as she walked by him headed to the other end of the bar, Hope just smiled. The ships Chief Medical Officer waited her turn to order a drink at the bar.

The first hour after shift change was always busy but luckily it was starting to wind down a bit and the stream of crew, enlisted or otherwise had slowed to a trickle and Jessica had a little more time for gossip than she usually would. She'd just finished fixing a drink for one ofbthe latest crop of fresh faced ensigns that had come onboard at starbase 54 when she saw Hope join the queue. She offered the woman a smile before serving the next in line.

Hope hadn’t met the woman serving drinks but returned the smile and waited for her turn.

After a couple of minutes Jessica had worked through the rest of the queue and was ready to serve Hope. "Well hello Lieutenant Ross. Nice of you to finally grace my lounge." She said with another smile and jovial tone.

“I agree” Hope returned the smile “how are you?”

"Glad that the tide of customers has slowed to a mere drizzle, just before and just after shift change are always busy times." Jessica replied.

"I feel you" she smiled "at times it seems like things in sickbay will never slow down and then you have times I only see my staff for the entire day."

Jessica took a sip of some water she had just behind the counter. "It's almost never truly quiet in here apart from when we're closed, there's usually always someone in here, even if they're just staring out of the window." She put the glass back down and inhaled deeply. "What can I get you?"

Hope smiled and thought about what she might enjoy “white wine would be fabulous” the smile still on her face. She hadn’t taken much time to get to know people on the Wolf but wasn’t one to just sit in her quarters.

"Coming up," jessica replied turning to her bottle rack. "Has to be synth though unless the big boss says so."

“Oh that’s fine with me” Hope smiled “I just enjoy the taste.”

"Too bad I can't give you real stuff," Jessica said as she pulled a bottle off the rack. "Got a good selection, even a pre occupation bajoran springwine. That took some tracking down and a lot of latinum let me tell you."

“Perhaps one day” Hope smiled. She had never really been much of a drinker but would probably enjoy a nice glass of wine. “How long have you been aboard?” Ross asked waiting and making conversation.

"hhmmmm." Jessica thought for a moment. "Nearly two years now I think. I ran a bar on Starbase 54 and the lounge on the USS Almathia before coming here."

That was much longer than Hope. “People are kind here” the Lieutenant said her southern accent shining.

"Most of them are." Jessica remarked as she began to pour the synth-wine into a glass. "We have an interesting mix of characters here. Some fresh faces, some experienced long termers, a few loudmouths, some quiet get on with their workers. you see a bit of everything when you tend a bar."

“I waitressed when I was a teen” Hope shrugged “but I always wanted to be a doctor” the MD smiled.

"It's an interesting life." Jessica said handing the glass to Hope. "You certainly see most interesting things when you tend a bar. People tell you things they wouldn't tell a counselor, you see romances bloom and blow apart, aliens you may never have had the chance to meet if you'd stayed on your home planet."

“One of the many reasons I love doing what I do” the doctor admitted taking the glass and giving a good old southern “thank you” before taking a sip of her beverage. “Of course saving lives is a great feeling” she knew she wouldn’t have near the opportunity she had been given if she chose to stay on Earth in private practice.

"When I left earth I didn't really have any transferrable skills bar the ability to talk someone's ear off, so waitressing was pretty much the best thing I could find." Jessica chuckled. "Turns out I was pretty good at it."

“Well” Hope smiled and took a sip from her glass “I’m certainly enjoying the conversation, sickbay gets lonely at times” she admitted with another drink going in.

"A lonely sickbay is a good thing though right?" Jessica asked. "Means everyone is healthy and no one is about to wear the wooden coat."

“Well yes,” Hope admitted and a smile cracked her face. “Good point… unlike a busy lounge I guess.”

Jessica nodded slighlty. "We get our quiet points every so often just like everywhere, it's always interesting when that red alert siren goes off and everyone dashes off even if they're mid meal. Most have the respect to ensure they're cutlery remains on the table and not scattered around in their hurry to get to their stations."

Hope let out a chuckle “I have to admit I’ve been called away mid meal and left my plate.”

"I just hope we never have to hot Mess, making a tonne of filling but quick to eat food to get them all fed within like an hour. Not fun, no time to enjoy the meal or even sit down. Just get in cram some pasta or suchlike down your throat and get back to your station." Jessica added, she'd read up on what to do and it was much easier since replicators had been invented but she hoped to never have to put the theory into practice.

“Sometimes that’s all you have time for” Hope admitted “I’ve skipped plenty of meals during my career to do what is needed of me for duty.”

"Just don't make a habit of it." Jessica said in a slightly stern tone. "You're the chief medical officer, it's your job to make sure people aren't skipping meals."

“Yes ma’am” Hope replied with a smile. She knew Jessica was right and didn’t make a habit out of missing meals or sleep but it did happen.

"All this talk of food is making me hungry now, gonna have to take a break of my own soon I reckon." Jessica chuckled.

“Well it was a pleasure to meet you” she smiled and raised her drink.

"Likewise Hope, I hope you'll come here as often as you can." Jessica gave Hope a large smiled before heading off into the back area of the lounge.

OFF:


Jessica Haugen
Lounge manager

Hope Ross, MD
Chief Medical Officer

 

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