Don't Burn the Heart Out

Posted on Mon Feb 23rd, 2026 @ 6:37pm by Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery

1,631 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: XO's Office

ON:

Lt. Commander Jack Slattery sat in his office, his back against the chair, one hand idly tapping a finger on the desk. His eyes flicked over the reports in front of him, but his mind wasn’t really on them. It was on the Lieutenant Junior Grade who would be walking through that door in a few moments.

Ash Rowe. Chief Flight Control Officer.

He had seen her fly, of course. A damned good pilot, moved the ship smooth like butter, it was like watching a symphony...everything moved in perfect harmony. The way she had maneuvered the Wolff...it was instinctual. She was a natural, and he couldn’t argue with that. He respected it. Hell, he hadn’t missed flying as much as he had when he watched her. But also recognised that she was a superior pilot to him.

But she was young for a Chief. Hell, for most officers, it would have been unheard of. A year and a half out of the Academy and she was promoted to Chief Flight Officer, after completing a condensed course. Jack could only imagine the kind of pressure that put on her.

He knew, too, that the things experience taught you...how to read people, how to manage a department, how to deal with the situations that don’t fit neatly into the training manual. Those were things you couldn’t fake. He respected her tenacity, but he also knew she’d need time to settle into a role that demanded more than just skill at the helm. The ship’s flight department wasn’t a cockpit; it was a responsibility, and responsibilities like that didn’t grow on trees.

Jack knew how hard it was, to be young, hungry, and have that kind of pressure. He’d seen it in himself when he started. Hell, he’d felt it when he became a First Officer. Still felt it some days.

He wanted to be supportive, but he also didn’t want to coddle her. His job wasn’t just about teaching; it was about helping her find her footing, giving her the confidence to lead. He could feel a protective streak coming to the surface, one he often kept well hidden, but it was there, instinctual. It was one of the reasons he’d taken this post, really...to have the opportunity to help others rise to the challenge. To have the freedom to do that.

But the truth was, Jack didn’t doubt her abilities. Not even for a second. Still, that didn’t mean the job would be easy for her.

When the chime rang, the doors remained closed until Jack gave the go ahead. Only then did Ash let herself in. She wore her uniform, and her long, blonde hair was in a lazy plait over one shoulder. She moved into the room with her usual energy vibrating around her. "You wanted to see me, Sir?" she asked with an easy smile, not sure why she was here, but not expecting trouble.

"Yes..." he looked at her and smiled, motioning to the seat. "Please, take a seat." He stood and tugged down his uniform jacket as he did so. "Want anything to drink? I was thinking another coffee...not have enough until I could power the ship with my caffeine anxiety." The words were light, in jest, but there was a genuine offer in it.

"Sure, coffee sounds great," she moved to the replicator to get it for them though, so he didn't have to get up. "Let me guess...plain black, as it comes?"

"How did you guess?" he asked, his eyes following her before he sat back. "Is this ship always so busy with things going horribly wrong, or was this just a special circumstance to scare the new XO?"

"Worried you're in a never ending psych test?" Ash teased him with a small smile as she waited for their cups to materialise. She set his down carefully on the table, keeping a hold of her own as she sat across the desk from him.

"Wouldn't put it past Starfleet," he said as he nodded his thanks, watching her. And decided to be honest. "I asked you here because I wanted to meet you properly. And make sure that we don't burn the heart out of you in the position."

Ash blinked with surprise at the bluntness...but she had to admit, it was refreshing. "Burn the heart out of me, Sir?" she asked, wanting to be sure she understood what he meant before putting her foot in her mouth.

"With asking too much, too soon, too harshly," he said as he met her eyes, holding them. "Balancing being the primary helm officer on shift, with a department under you. It's clear this ship is seeing harsher conditions than most Starfleet vessels."

Ash glanced down with a weak smile, wondering if he was trying to say that he didn't think she was up to it...in a polite way. But...her telepathy didn't pick up on any hidden implications behind the words which made her relax a little. "I...know I'm a good pilot. But...I must admit, I hadn't expected to be made a chief this quickly."

He nodded at that, his eyes softening at the words. "It's...not easy. I've been Chief Flight Control...it's not a picnic being the favourite person the Captain has flying the ship and run a department. So. If you need support, or just...someone to talk to about the work...I'm here. And I want to make sure you got what you need to do this without losing your love for flying."

Ash gave a half smile at the words, but she believed the sincerity of them. And it meant a lot, that someone cared about her experience, not just about her flying. "I think I'll always need some way or another to go fast."

"Anything you do on the holodeck, or does that...not hit the same way?" he asked, curious about her experiences. About her.

"It's...not the same," Ash laughed softly, shaking her head because she knew it was a cliche thing to say. "I don't know if it's just because you *know* it's not the same, or if it actually feels different, but either way, it's different. Truth is, nothing's the same as racing. I joined to try and...find that rush again."

Jack nodded with understanding, watching her for a long moment with a hint of warmth. "I think most pilots...I mean pilots who really are into flying...search that high. Whether it is speed or just breaking new records. Or winning a race."

"Then what persuaded you out of the pilot's seat and into the First Officer's chair?" she asked with genuine interest, trying to imagine if anything could tempt her out of it.

"The ship I was on, the Captain preferred the Chief to be behind the desk, not the helm," Jack said and smiled to her. "And I wanted to be on the bridge. And yeah, I also thought I could do better than some of the other First Officers I saw...so..." he gave a small shrug. "Here I am. Trying to do better."

"I...think you have command in you or you don't," Ash shrugged with a soft laugh...because she was pretty sure she was one of the people who didn't have it in her.

"Maybe. Still trying to figure out if I do," Jack said lightly, but there was warmth as he said it. Like most, there were days that were easier than others when it came to it all. "I do still fly. When I can."

"So...I can expect to see you looking over my shoulder then, Sir?" she asked with a teasing smile, because she didn't care even if he did. She wasn't precious about flying.

"No," Jack laughed softly, shaking his head at that. "And I promise you, I won't try and take your seat or pull out some stunt..." he let out a soft breath. "It's mostly shuttles or holodeck. Not the ship...it's not my job."

"I'll know who slipped something in my beer if I'm sick though," Ash chuckled before looking down, clearing her throat as she remembered who she was talking to. "Just...kidding around, Sir."

He chuckled as he watched her, his eyes gentle. "Nonsense...I'd just lock you in your quarters, blame a system diagnostic..." he said lightly, his eyes shining suddenly with humour.

Ash chuckled gently at that, relaxing again as she shook her head lightly. "Sir? Being Chief this early on wasn't in the plan. But...I'm taking it seriously...maybe, despite impressions..."

"I know you're taking it seriously," Jack said and he sat back, the humour fading. Because he could see it mattered to her, for him to know that. "And this isn't about anything except me wanting to make sure that you don't get burned out doing the job. You got support. And as much advice as you want...and if you don't want any, then...I get it."

"I do. Want it, I mean," Ash assured with a half smile, but it had her customary warmth in it. Truth was, she'd always wanted to be more than what she was. This was her chance to try and make it happen.

He nodded with a small smile back to her. "Alright then. Good, makes me feel as if I am useful in my job," he said, half teasing, half joking but a dash of real feeling too. He...wanted to make sure the people here were happy.

OFF:

Lt. Commander Jack Slattery
First Officer
USS Wolff

Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Wolff

 

RSS Feed