"Medicos Who Munch"

Posted on 08 Dec 2012 @ 8:03pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle
Edited on on 08 Dec 2012 @ 8:06pm

1,012 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 04 - 1758 hours

[ON]

Pacing in the passageway outside the mess hall, Kohl was mindful to stay far enough away from the entryway sensors. He didn't want to trigger the door opening every time he fidgeted or changed his posture. He stepped out of the way of Trisant Myrddin, who was headed into the Mess Hall, and then did the same for Jessica Korban.

Folding his arms over his chest, Andreus Kohl moved aside for the oncoming crew members, and he leaned against the bulkhead across from the door. He was early, for once, and he didn't want to make his dinner companion feel late by settling himself down at a table, nor eating half his meal before she arrived.

Moving briskly but not urgently down the corridor, Delainey smiled to passersby who greeted her. Unlike the last time she and her dinner companion spoke, Carlisle was in a much better frame of mind. The Chief Counselor realized as she approached the Mess Hall the nurse's invitation had a lot to do with that. Carlisle was a workaholic, and admittedly, recent events required her to be. That said, Delainey was the sort who, although friendly with just about anyone, couldn't really identify any particularly close friends aboard the Galileo. She supposed being Chief Counselor had a lot to do with her respectful distance from the crew, but she could also acknowledge that could also be a convenient excuse.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," the blonde said, as she approached, observing Kohl's folded arms. Was he irritated with her?

"No, not at all. You're early," Kohl said. He had made himself comfortable against the bulkhead, but now that Delainey had arrived, Kohl stepped towards her and opened his arms wide in a gesture of welcoming. He shrugged and he added, "I was earlier."

Delainey chuckled. "Being prompt is a very good trait for an ACMO. Congratulations."

"Thank you," Kohl said amid a beaming smile. It wasn't something he would admit to, but compliments from members of the senior staff always tasted sweeter. As he moved towards the mess hall, Kohl swept a hand towards the doors and they opened. "After you," he said to Delainey.

Delainey smiled in appreciation of Kohl's gallantry and immediately searched the mess for a suitable place to sit. "Any preference as to where we sit?"

"All I know is I want something warm to eat," Kohl replied, not quite answering Delainey's question. He cast a glance over at the assortment of tables and they all looked the same to him. Moving to the replicator first, Kohl ordered a vegetable peasant stew that had been popular on Argelius II for a few years when he was a child. He ordered it with water and a chunk of cheesy bread. Lifting his tray from out of the replicator, he stepped aside for Delainey.

Delainey briefly considered going healthy like Kohl, but the tempting thought of a bacon cheeseburger was too delicious to overcome. She knew it wasn't healthy to think it, but if her life aboard Galileo was going to be one life-threatening experience after another, she was damn well going to eat what she wanted.

Her mouth watering at the sight of her burger and curly fries, she resisted the urge to order the milkshake and settled for an orange soda. Turning toward Andreus, she considered what Kohl had said earlier. "You're cold? I hope you're not getting sick."

"No, oh no, it's not a physical thing," Kohl replied. He set his tray down on a table in the very middle of the mess hall, not overly close to the viewports or the servery or the doors. As he seated himself on a chair, he explained, "It's sense memory: Warm supper reminds me of home. Might as well end this day right."

Delainey smiled, though it was wan. She didn't have especially warm memories of home, but she could understand comfort food. "I was in the mood for some deliciousness myself. I didn't know what to expect when I came to the ship exactly, but it's been a lot tougher than I thought."

"Yeah, it has been," Kohl said and he joined her in that wan smile. "Hasn't it? According to the duty logs, the ship didn't even get a shakedown cruise, but it got a home invasion. Charming."

Delainey found herself chuckling as she twirled a french fry in her fingers. "It's a comfort to hear your sarcasm. I find myself thinking that way, and then a part of me feels guilty for acting irreverent."

A series of emotions played across the fair features of Kohl's face. At first there appeared nothing but confusion at Delainey's admission, followed by a slow dawning of understanding, as he remembered not everyone thought and felt about things the way he did. Genuine curiosity was the expression to follow, and he verbalized it, by asking, "Why do you think that is? Where does that guilt come from?"

Delainey paused, then smiled at the familiar sense that Kohl seemed to be her own therapist in a way without meaning to be. "I suppose a part of me feels if I find the humor in our circumstances and I share that, people will think I don't take their suffering seriously. As a counselor, I know humor and laughter can be healing, but as a counselor, I also know people need to believe I won't minimize their trauma for my own sanity."

"Yeah..." Kohl said encouragingly. He shook his head as he tried to puzzle it out. "That is certainly a conundrum you have there."

Delainey took a bite of her burger and reached for a fry, letting a comfortable silence fall between them before offering, "But enough about me. How are you doing? Life as an ACMO more exciting?"

Kohl grinned mischieviously, and knowing Kohl as she did, she knew she was about to be regaled with an interesting story or two.

***

Lieutenant JG Andreus Kohl, R.N.
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

and

Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

RSS Feed