Five Seconds of Awkwardness

[Erich Jaenke 0]

Five Seconds of Awkwardness

Joint Recap Log of Tess, Drae, and Erich

 

The Chief held up his index finger to Lt. Shelton and pressed his comm badge. “Jaenke to Abbingdon.” He waited for the computer to route his call, giving his assistant the ‘just wait’ look.

 

Doctor Abbingdon heard the Chief's call over the sickbay’s comm, breaking her out of the coffee and soft chair relaxation. She sat up and tapped her own comm badge. “This is Dr. Abbingdon.”

 

“Are you drinking coffee again Doctor?”

 

She sat back in her chair and opened her eyes wide. “Actually yes. Yes, I am,” she said, brows shooting to her hairline....

 

“I already knew, just wanted the confirmation. Thank you doctor.”

 

Intrigued, Dr. Abbingdon pressed on. “Do you mind if I ask how you knew?”

 

“My Betazoid mind powers.. I can smell it.”

 

“Oh. Hmm,” she thought and unmuted the audio. “Would you like a cup?”

 

Now that was too good to pass up. Drae poured on the beta waves: Yeah, and one for DM.

 

“I like a cup each time you have one...” In main engineering the Chief looked to his assistant. He felt his desire for a cup as well.

 

“I can bring one to you, then,” she added to the open comm.

 

Getting to Drae’s want. “Make that two.”

 

She checked the cupboard for cups. “Two it is. I'll be right down.” The comm channel closed.

 

Back in main engineering, Shelton blinked thinkin' the chief had a pretty good order system.

 

The Chief spoke first, “For you Shelton, or do you not drink coffee?”

 

The young assistant's grin broadened. “Oh.. I drink coffee," like it was a given. Yeah, the chief had it made.

 

It wasn’t long before Dr. Abbingdon stepped into main engineering carrying three cups of steaming coffee. “Hello, Erich,” she said, setting the tray down on the least cluttered table. “And you must be Drae?”

 

“Yes, ma'am. Ltjg Drae Shelton, assistant engineer," he said, pulling himself to his full six-foot-one.

 

“Good to meet you, Drae.” Tess handed him a cup. “I'm Dr. Abbingdon.”

 

Oh yeah, we got it made. “Great coffee, ma'am." Paying more attention to her than the mug, he caught the spill just in time.

 

“Glad you enjoy it.”

 

“Dark roast,” the Chief asked.

 

“Exactly! However did you know?”

 

“There are several things I know,” he answered plainly, before realizing how Chief Creepy that sounded.

 

“To be sure,” she answered hesitantly, quickly adding, “Why don't we sit down for a bit?”

 

Sure. Drae kicked back, cup in hand, his eyes and mind more on the good doc... her hair, the way she tossed her head, her smile, the... fit... of her uniform...

 

"Ow!" A swat from Erich’s hand came out of the blue. Direct hit, back of the head. Gibbs had nothin' on him.

 

“Sorry, ” the force to the back of his assistant’s head surprised even himself. He felt the confusion in the doctor’s mind

"No problem, Boss." Damn, that guy packed a punch. Whoever said he was laid back sure missed the target.

 

Tess tried to ignore the exchange, but it's always harder to not do something than to do it. "So, how have things been down here?” she ventured, purposely changing the subject.

 

Their simultaneous, "Fine," was surprising. They exchanged glances. Drae cleared his throat and began to study his coffee. Erich preferred to down his with a vengeance.

 

“Oh. Well. That's good,” Tess pressed on, somewhat awkwardly.

 

“How's sickbay?” asked Erich after several minutes.

 

“Quiet. It's been fairly quiet since we got back to Sector One.”

 

Drae watched Erich. Erich watched Drae. Tess tried not to, but found herself watching both.