Surprise Meet

Posted on 10 May 2024 @ 9:38am by Lieutenant Jason Rhineholt M.D. & Ensign Samantha (Sam) Emerson

1,164 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M-18 The Past is Future
Location: Deck 5
Timeline: Current

Doctor Rhineholt had just finished his shift in the primary sick bay and decided to have dinner in the main lounge for a change instead of eating in the mess hall, which was usually crowded this time of day.

Arriving at the lounge Jason walked in noticing just how sparse the place was compared to the mess hall. After grabbing his dinner, cutlery, and a beverage Jason looked around for a place to sit; seeing a table for two by a viewport Jason walked over and claimed it for himself. Sitting he started to enjoy his meal.

Ensign Samantha Emerson entered the lounge surprised to see it so slow. Gabbing her dinner and a beverage she stood looking around for a place to sit when she noticed a good looking Lieutenant sitting at a table by himself. Not one for being bashful Samantha walked over hoping to share his table “Excuse me Lieutenant” she said with a smile “Would you mind if I shared your table with you; I hate eating alone.”

Looking up Jason saw a rather attractive blue eyed blonde standing with a smile on her face “Please by all means have a seat” he replied “By the way I’m Lieutenant Jason Rhineholt and you would be?”

After sitting and taking a sip of her beverage “I’m Ensign Samantha Emerson, it’s very nice to meet you Lieutenant Rhineholt” she commented “I see your wearing science teal so I take it you work in the science division then.”

Jason smiled “In a manner of speaking yes and where do you fit in around here” he replied noticing she was wearing science teal as well.

“I’m a Nurse a few shifts a week and when I’m not doing that I also work as medical’s yeoman the rest of the week” she replied as she wiped her mouth with her napkin.

“Impressive Ensign, that must keep you very busy. So how is it I didn’t see you when I dropped by sick bay for my boarding physical” Jason replied wondering why he hadn’t seen her before since he had already addressed his staff.

“Please call me Sam; it’s not so bad once you get used to it” she replied with a grin “And when I’m nursing I’m usually working in the tertiary sick bay and my office is back beside of the morgue.”

“Ok Sam and you can call me Jason. So how long have you been aboard ship.”

“Not that long Jason, I came aboard just before the Phoenix left DS3. I’ve managed to get myself pretty well settled in as well as getting medical’s administrative things reorganized” Sam answered before pausing “The only thing I’m dreading is meeting the new Medical Chief.”

“If you don’t mind my asking why are you dreading that particular meeting” he inquired being quite curious as to her mindset.

Sam let out a sigh “Well since you asked” as she lowered her voice “The last two ships I served on…..well let’s just say the term ‘asshole’ comes to mind. Both the Chiefs were real jerks only concerned about their precious careers and little else.”

Jason grinned “I’ve run into a few of those types myself over the years but I can assure you we’re not all like that” he replied accidentally letting the ‘cat out of the bag’.

Hearing that Sam put down her cutlery and sat back in her chair as Jason realized what he had just said.. Then looking at Sam, she had this irritated look on her face. Jason figured this was going to go one of two ways…..either she would be really mad and only speak to him when on duty or she would see the humor in the situation.

Sitting looking at the Doctor, Sam realized she had been ‘played’……not in a mean or nasty way, but more of a playful sort of way. Nonetheless now it was her turn to watch him squirm a little; he wasn’t getting off that easily.

Jason sat looking at Sam in silence watching her make a variety of faces all the while wondering what was going through her head…..this was becoming more maddening by the second.

Finally Sam figured he had enough as she sat up in her chair with a grin coming across her face “You stated ‘we’re’……you rat!! When exactly were you going to tell me you were the boss instead of letting me go on and on about why I didn’t want to meet the new chief” she stated enjoying the moment of getting even.

A very relieved Jason smiled “My apologies. I should have told you I was the chief from the beginning but I wanted to know why you dreaded the meeting so much” he replied on his own behalf.

“Actually it’s probably good that you didn’t tell me any of this earlier or I might have just stood and left. Now that we’ve had a chance to get to know one another a little I guess the fact that you’re new Chief is tolerable” Sam commented with a smirk.

“So I’m tolerable….gee thanks for the vote of confidence…..I see how it is” he replied still grinning “All kidding aside, I’m a really nice guy once you get to know me and I don’t consider myself an ‘asshole’ as you so eloquently put it.”

“Sorry for being so direct” then she paused for a moment “Now that I’ve managed to plant both feet directly into my mouth I hope we can move past this in the coming days” Sam replied regretting having said anything at all on the subject.

Jason smiled “I can assure you Ensign what’s been discussed here will remain here after we both leave and I do admire your honesty by the way.”

“Thank you Jason, that certainly wasn’t the answer I was expecting to hear. So I guess the jury will find you innocent on all charges” she replied with a big grin. “I should be going. So I guess I’ll see you in sick bay then and thanks for a…..how should I put this…..a very interesting meal” as she stood grabbing her tray and with a smile turned and left.

Jason sat back in his chair watching her leave the lounge thinking “I really like this women’s wittiness and directness; obviously she’s very intelligent and pretty easy on the eyes as well.” Rising from his seat Jason grabbed his tray taking care of it then headed out the door.

Walking back to her quarters, Sam was still grinning thinking about dinner “Jason seems to be a really nice guy….even if he is the new chief.

::OFF::

______________________________________________________________________________

Lieutenant Jason Rhineholt, M.D.
CMO

Ensign Samantha (Sam) Emerson (NPC by Rhineholt)
Nurse/Medical Yeoman

 

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