Difficult Conversations

Posted on 12 Nov 2013 @ 12:33pm by Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton & Giada Basile M.D., Ph.D.

1,006 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4 - Chief Science Officer's Office
Timeline: MD 08 - 0800 hours

ON:

Nobody would ever describe Giada as nervous, but at the moment she felt a twinge of anxiety. She walked down the hall from Sickbay to Lieutenant Pendleton's office. Giada pulled her hair out of its pony tail and shook her head to let it fall neatly and frame her face. Her boyfriends had always said she looked better with it down, less intimidating, and right now she wanted her chief's permission and help. She had two years of good reviews on the Galileo, but was going to play all her cards for this conversation.

Giada straightened the white lab coat she was wearing and fidgeted with the medical tricorder in her pocket for the last time, then chimed at the door.

Jacob got himself up off his chair and stretched a bit letting his massive muscles get some movement. He popped his neck and said, "Come in".

"Good morning, sir. Thanks for seeing me," Giada said as she came in.

Here yet was another pretty, confident, intelligent woman in his office. Jacob thought the Universe was definitely conspiring against him as far as the "I will never let you have a relationship but here are all these women to torture you" line of conspiracy went. He sighed to himself but presented his usual, warm smile. "Dr. Basile, I presume. Finally nice to meet you." He offered her his massive hand. "How may I assist you?"

Giada shook his hand. "Sir, I'd like to talk with you about my career," she said. She took a seat when offered and crossed her legs. "I'd like to make some changes, but I need your support."

Jacob smiled, "Of course, of course Doctor, but first, would you like something to drink and second, please, please call me Jacob... 'Sir' doesn't suit me, at least, to my mind, as I consider myself a scientist not a space Marine."

Giada laughed. "I heard that about you. Orange juice would be great."

Jacob went to the replicator and ordered her Orange Juice and his usual drink of choice: Orange Creme Soda at thirty four degrees Fahrenheit. He handed Giada her drink then pulled up a chair close to her, took a swig of his cold, fizzy drink and said, "Ok Giada, what seems to be the situation? Tell me what is going on and why this sudden concerns about your career?"

Giada accepted her drink with a smile and took a sip. She felt her body crave the sugar as soon as the drink touched her tongue. There had not been much time for meals in the last few days.

Giada touched Jacob lightly on the arm. "I love what I do, I really do. Microbiology is fascinating, and this department has been great to me," she said. "But, I haven't felt inspired in a long time. When the Venture rescue started, I put down my research hat and picked up my physician's hat to help the medical staff... And I started to remember why I went into medicine. I haven't felt so alive, so at home, since... I don't know when," Giada said, her eyes sparkling with obvious passion.

Jacob's powerful muscles flexed slightly at her touch, he put his massive hand over hers gently and replied, "Ok, so what I am hearing is that since medicine makes you feel so alive and so involved, you are wanting to make a change to the Medical staff? Is that correct?"

Giada nodded and looked relieved. "That's it exactly, I want to practice again, and..." she hesitated. "I think I want to join Starfleet."

Jacob raised his left eyebrow, "I am impressed Giada, very impressed, well, once we finish this incursion with the Borg and get back to a starbase, I am sure that can be arranged. You have my full support and I would be glad to advocate with you to make this happen. I suggest you write a formal letter to the Captain and I will add my own once you do so that she knows of your intentions and that I recommend you. How does that sound?"

Giada beamed at the huge science officer. "Jacob, thank you so much, I don't know what to say. This means so much to me!" she said brightly.

"Anything I can do, I will." Jacob smiled back. He looked at her pretty face, and it was pretty to be sure, and then thoughts of Mor'an crossed his mind. Conflicted feelings ran through him. He was single after all damnit! Yet she filled up his thoughts most the time. It was infuriating sometimes... just infuriating.

Jacob kept up his smile and added, "You are always invited to join me for workouts, training, holodeck simulations.. when they are up again, or if you play a musical instrument, join me in the evenings and we can have a 'jam session' together." He paused and then said, "Also, I want to start a roleplaying group if you'd be interested in that."

Giada slid her hand from underneath Jacob's and picked up her drink to take a sip. "Roleplaying?" she asked with a barely suppressed grin. "You don't look like the type," she teased. "Do you run?"

Jacob smiled, "Of course!" He took another swig of his soda, "Dungeons and Dragons, Traveller the New Era and Gamma World are the three I ran at the Academy. As a player though, I have a character for at least ten different games."

Giada kept from laughing so she didn't embarrass Jacob. "Running, like jogging?" she asked with a smile and gesturing with her arms. "I don't roleplay, but I like to run."

Jacob laughed, "OH... that kinda run.. I don't usually run but I do work out, train in martial arts and that kind of thing."

"Well, why don't you come running with me once things die down a bit," Giada said with a smile. "Thanks again, Jacob."

OFF:

Lieutenant Jacob Pendleton
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Giada Basile, MD, PhD
Molecular Biologist
USS Galileo

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