Captain Michele Winters - Subdued Emotions

[can...@gmail.com]

((Gator Deck, Training Range, Deck 12, USS Octavia E. Butler))

 

As Michele listened to the Lieutenant’s ideas the whoosh of the range doors behind them caught her attention and she turned sideways to see who was entering the range considering the outside indicators were on letting anyone know the range was in use. To her surprise it was not a Marine entering the room but rather Lieutenant Commander Sherlock.

 

Michele’s teeth grit together as she imagined Sherlock was probably here to throw her off the ship for her earlier actions in the XO’s office.

 

Winters: (turning back to Xaivis) Have a proposal on my desk at 08:00 tomorrow morning. I like these a lot Lieutenant. Great work securing them.

 

Michele turned and walked over to meet Sherlock who had halted her approach as Michele gave her junior officer directions.

 

Winters: Commander, welcome to the Gator Deck.

 

Sherlock: Thank you, Captain. We need...

 

Winters: (holding up both hands and speaking with remorse) About earlier. I was out of line and I want you to know that was not directed at you.

 

Sherlock: Um...well...I thank you? For recognizing what happened?

Winters: It was a mistake to let myself go in there so heated.

A quick and slight shake of Anie’s head gave Michele the impression she’d just mentally stalled the Lieutenant Commander’s thoughts. But Michele knew she’d been in the wrong and had let her emotions get the better of her.

Sherlock: I'm glad that you recognize your mistake. And you have to know there's going to be some form of punishment.

Winters: (In an irritated tone) Punishment? Seriously?

Sherlock: I'll cut to the chase oORip off the band-aid?Oo, you're going to be assigned to Engineering. They could use a good medic down, they have a series of injuries. So don't just patch them up, please teach them to quit hurting themselves.

Winters: Engineering? You want a Marine down in Engineering?

 

Sherlock: Yes.

Before Michele could say anything else, Aine's held up her hands and stop her in her tracks. Seemed only appropriate since Michele had just done the same thing to Anie.

Sherlock: I want you to know that I heard every word you said. Every concern. Every fear. And I also want you to know that I will be watching closely and if anything seems out of place with him, he will be pulled off the line immediately.

Michele held her comment back. Placing her hands on her hips she pursed her lips together blocking any of the irritation that wanted to come pouring out at Anie. This was not Sherlock’s fault, it was Michele’s. She’d brought this on herself, and she knew it. Trying to find the right words Michele bit at her inside lip.

Winters: Fine. I won’t make a scene about this but I am not an Engineer.

 

Sherlock: Oh I don't expect you to become one. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Just, get them in line.

 

Michele grinned the smallest of grins at Anie. The woman seemed to know Michele better than she had thought.

 

Winters: Well, if they keep injuring themselves, then removing a limb or two might make them think about their actions.

 

Michele was trying to keep her mind of the dilemma she’d put herself in and trying to show Anie she could move forward. Even if she really did not like the direction this was going.

 

Sherlock: I ::beat:: unofficially ::beat:: do not disagree with you.

 

Winters: As long as you and I are on the same page about this then I’ll back you on this. I still do not trust him, something is off.

 

Sherlock: I really do hope you're wrong. No offense. But like I said, if anything is off, I won't hesitate. I promise you that.

 

Michele did not like what had verbally come out of her mouth but the statement was true to her. Something was off about Jack and she feared that whatever he’d been through in that prison was going to affect the ship and or crew in a negative way.

 

Sherlock: Michele, I know I said this was, engineering thing, was punishment. But I want you to look at it differently.

Engineering sounded like a punishment. Michele had no Engineering background, no desire to crawl around Jefferies tubes and no idea how a self-sealing stem bolt worked. Yes, it sounded like punishment one way or another.

Winters: If not punishment then what?

Sherlock: A second chance. ::she held her hand up again, just in case Michele was ready to react:: When you were my Number One, you did amazing. We were in a shit situation, and I couldn't have done it without you. I believe in you. And I trust you. And I want to see you up there again. So, when you're down there, in engineering hell, don't be afraid to lead.

 

Michele eyed Anie for a moment. She was thankful Anie had been the one to come down to give her the news rather than Promontory. She knew this conversation would have gone an entirely different direction and most likely not a good one for Michele. Looking down to the deck, almost as if in defeat, Michele knew this was where she needed to give in, not fight any further and to take this for what it was.

 

Winters: OK. Keep the engineers from toasting themselves any further. I’ll do that.

 

Sherlock: response

 

She knew the advice was sound and yes she would need to correct her mistake with the XO but that was going to be for another time. Doing so right now, while she was still fuming over the distrust was not going to help anyone.

 

Winters: (shaking her head in agreement) I will. I promise.

 

Sherlock: response

 

Winters: I appreciate the position you are in Anie. (beat) I’ll try not to put you in the same position again.

 

Sherlock: response

 

Winters: (grinning) I’m stubborn, I can’t say, won’t. I’ll just try not to.

 

Michele smiled a little more trying to take the punishment of the situation out of the air and let Sherlock know that she held her in higher regards than she had shown during the previous meeting.

 

Sherlock: response

 

Winters: (nodding towards the doors) How about we go some phaser rifles and come back in and take out some stress?

 

Sherlock: response

 

Michele’s smile broadened as the Commander seemed to understand and agree to the idea. As the two left the range Michele thought about Tactical position and not being back on the bridge for the next mission. The knowledge stung a bit but knowing that she had backup with Anie in watching Jack put her mind a little more at ease.

 

[End of Scene for Michele Winters]

 

Captain Michele Winters

Acting Chief Tactical Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

T239901JK1