STF

Walker's Office - 0930

Posted Nov. 16, 2021, 12:35 p.m. by Commander Brad Walker (Chief Of Staff/Second Officer) (Brandon Irvine)

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Walker’s Office - 0930

Posted by Commander Brad Walker (Chief Of Staff/Second Officer) in Walker’s Office - 0930

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Walker’s Office - 0930
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Alexis already had Kane’s approval for transfer, and Myqian’s tentative approval, as long as Dr. Walker wanted her back as his assistant. So at exactly 0925 Alexis walked in, told the duty nurse where she was going and at precisely 0930 Alexis knocked at Walker’s office door.

Bonner

“Come,” Brad’s voice sounded, and the door slid aside nearly-soundlessly. “Ah, Dr. Bonner, punctual as ever,” he said, seeing her in the doorway, standing from his desk and gesturing to a seat at a small coffee table about half-way into the suite.

“Can I offer you any sort of refreshment?”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Alexis entered the some what familiar office. “Good morning, Dr. Walker. Just ice water, thank you.” Alexis sat in the indicated seat, sitting more stiffly than normal. She respected Dr. Walker a great deal. Out of everyone on the ship, she knew she had probably let him down the most when she left.

Bonner

Brad retrieved two glasses from the replicator and set both on the table, taking a seat of his own across from her.

“So what did you want to speak with me about?”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Alexis didn’t reach for the water, preferring to address that topic immediately. “I have applied for the AMO position. Cmdr Myqian called me to her office and said I had to speak to you. That it was your decision if you would want me to return to the position.”

Bonner

Whatever Brad had thought this meeting would be about, it was clear from his expression that this was not it. He sat back, with a surprised expression on his face, and didn’t speak for a moment, instead taking a hesitant sip from his own glass.

“Well, she’s right about that, at least when it comes to internal applicants,” he eventually said. “Though given the track record of those assigned by Starfleet Medical, I’m much more open to such an applicant right now.”

He paused again, taking another drink, before leaning forward. “I think this is the part where you tell me more about what pulled you away last time, what brought you back to the ship as a researcher, and why you want your old job back,” he said, fixing her with a serious look.

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Alexis didn’t sigh, she knew that would be a question he would ask. She took a moment to order her thoughts, the truth was simplest, but she couldn’t tell him everything. It was restricted, classified, need to know, or whatever ‘they’ called it. “I was asked to work on a medical development research project. I can’t tell you what it was or why I was asked - all I can tell you is I wasn’t given a choice.” That was true, she thought she had a the time, but that was an illusion that Alexis hadn’t been aware of until she’d arrived at her new location. “It was only supposed to last 3 weeks. We were settled here on the new ship, everything was caught up, it was three weeks. That turned into 6 months.” There was a flicker of faltering confidence that usually exuded from Alexis and then it was back.

A grimace. Intelligence-related secrecy was almost antithetical to good medical practice. Very hard to treat operatives who can’t tell you how they came to be injured, or in fact where said injuries occurred.

“When we were finished I requested to be sent back here, but my position had been filled. I still wanted to be here, on Ogawa, so I joined the science department as a researcher. My skills are many and varied and it seemed a good place for me. If I couldn’t be treating patients, I could still be helping them.” It was the most emotionally weighted statement Walker had ever heard from her. She picked up her glass of water and slowly drank from it. Then she set it down and looked at him directly.

“I never wanted to leave the position; for all the things I could have done with my life being a doctor was the only thing I wanted. I know my bedside manor lacks where others may not, but I do care about the patients.” Even if she was social out of touch. “I’m a good doctor. I can help people from this position, patients and staff. Though I know I have a lot to learn there. Being AMO challenged me, not just as a doctor but as a person. It was hard, but I learned a lot and it made me a better doctor.” Alexis sat up a little straighter, resolved to something. “I never would have chosen to leave, and that project is the biggest mistake of my life. I want to return to what I’m good at, and that’s being a doctor. If not as your AMO, then as a junior doctor if you would have me.”

Bonner

“Well that last one is out of the question,” Brad said. “You’re far too skilled for that. Even if I weren’t inclined to take you back as AMO, I’d most certainly find another ‘senior staff’ post to stash you in, even if I had to fight the wild man currently heading the Science department.”

If anything in her life, Alexis had learned patience. Her mind moved and jumped and twisted and leaped and back tracked and crossed the finish line faster than everyone else. Well most everyone else. She had learned patience, to wait, and listen even if she thought she knew what a person was going to say. So when Walker said it was out of the question she was disappointed but stayed quiet and listened. A poker player Alexis was not, and so the comment about Kane caused a myriad of emotions to show across her face, personal and professional.

“You won’t have to do that. I spoke to Lt Kane before I applied. SOP requires approval from the current department head before seeking a transfer.”

He offered Alexis a wry grin. “To be clear, you’ve sold me. I’ll let the XO know I’m signing off on your transfer back to me.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Alexis’ grin would remind Walker of a child who just got the really super elusive and high demand toy for Christmas. It was quite obvious that she was happy and excited by his answer. She stood up offering her hand, “Thank you, Dr. Walker.” She didn’t reiterate that she would do a good job or how much she wanted it. She’d made her case, he’d heard her, and Alexis never saw the point in repeating herself unless the person didn’t understand. She was eager to get back into sickbay but she figured she had at least a day before it was official and she had projects in the lab to reassign, or the ones she had to stay with, to make arrangements for around her new responsibilities. And she also knew Dr Walker had said he would make time this morning to see her, so he was busy. “I won’t keep you longer. I know you’re busy, and I have experiments waiting in the science labs.”

Bonner

Brad rose and shook Alexis’ hand. “Once all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, report back here, we’ll get you settled back in.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff


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