Raise A Glass, Heartily
Posted on Fri Jul 5th, 2024 @ 8:47pm by Lieutenant Michael Amato & Lieutenant Commander Marc Kitchner M.D.
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Mission 4: Through a Glass, Darkly
Location: Starbase 10: The Vega Room
Timeline: M4 MD12 (2268.07.21) 2200
The Midway set in to Starbase 10 five hours ago. Under condition blue most of the crew would be able to enjoy the shore leave facilities especially while the Starbase repair facilities coordinated with the Midway's engineering division. That left Dr. Amato with some spare time. With the gauntlet the ship and crew faced in the parallel universe, there wasn't much time to breathe. Even then Mike's emotions were mixed. Having a defined endpoint to the Defiant's story was a relief, but now what?
The young doctor entered the Vega Room and made his way over to the bar. As he leaned over, the knit material of his black polo shirt brushed against the polished onyx bar. "A sidecar if you would," he said to the Andorian bartender who nodded without saying a word. Mike settled down into the stool and rested the soles of his black cuban heeled Chelsea boots onto the polished bar rail.
*** Several hours passed ***
Danni Switalski had at long last gotten off shift. While most of the injuries were on the mend, there were still dozens of follow ups to get through. An old friend of Swiss's was a part owner in the Vega room and she could always find a free drink or two and snacks. Danni hopped up on the bar tapping one of the bartenders on the back. "Hey is Pixie Smith working tonight?" The bartender turned around almost looking straight down Danni's blouse. He had to swallow the smile forming on his face. "She's in the kitchen, I'll go get her."
A few minutes later, a short pink haired woman came running from behind the bar. "How many times do I have to tell you Swiss, don't flash the goodies at the help, they'll want a raise for having to behave themselves. Get over here girl!!!" Pixie grabbed Swiss around the next and gave her a crushing hug. They spent a few minutes catching up and laughing together. "Hey I know you're off the clock, but the guy with the brown hair, black shirt and pretty eyes down the far end of the bar ...."
"Yeah that's Dr Amato. He's taken, but a good man." Danni said honestly, with a slight sigh in her voice. Pretty much every woman is the sciences area had made a pass at the good doctor.
Pixie shrugged and gave her a cheeky look. "He's been here all afternoon, putting them down slow but steady. The Docs racking up one hell of a tab."
"Causing trouble?" Danni asked beginning to get worried.
"Carl, table 8 is sitting dry." Pixie said to a passing waiter. "No, not at all. Now, that's the thing. A guy with that much in him is usually drowning his sorrows with a vengeance.
It all made sense to Swiss. Her friend didn't want any trouble, and she hated causing people trouble especially when they weren't asking for it. "I'll take care of him. Thanks Pix." Swiss said. "Remember that old routine we ran on Luna?"
"Of course, give me 5 minutes and ... ' Pixie looked over the place. 'the corner table over there." She reached up and pointed towards the far corner.
A few minutes later Danni was sitting at a secluded table with a pitcher of Andorian Ale but in reality was a glorified sapphire blue Shirley Temple and a Side Car that the Doc was drinking. Amato was told the CO from his ship wanted to see him at the corner table.
Mike received the call and was confused. He hadn't noticed Captain Faust step into the lounge. Even Tristan had told him he was tied up with meetings that afternoon. Still, he made his way, rather slowly towards the table. He could hold his own since he was from Jersey, but he still knew not to press his luck. He saw Danni sitting there,
"Nurse Switalski," he commented, "I'm a tad surprised to see you here." He still managed to pronounce the young woman's name. He sat down at the table, his green eyes were clearly swimming and his brown hair was a tad messy. He gave his usual nonchalant smile revealing his dimples which framed his long, slender face.
"Hi Doc." Danni said pushing a glass towards him. "Long day?" She asked pouring herself a drink from the pitcher.
"Not so much day," Mike responded, "Week... Fortnight..." He sighed, "How did you find me? Did Dr. Kitchener send you over?" He was a little paranoid, having gone off ship to drink alone and hopefully piece some things together. His green eyes were a tad bloodshot and was starting to look like a racoon.
Danni threw her drink back hard and fast. "I know the feeling. The past month or so has been interesting hasn't it." She poured another drink. "Dr K, didn't send me. My friend Pixie is part owner in the place. I came in for some nibbles and a change of scenery." She said looking at Mike's eyes. It was obvious there was some pain there. She downed another dink. **hick-up** "Sorry."
Mike nodded and then chuckled.
Just then Carl the waiter came of with an mixed platter of snacks. "Compliments of the kitchen." He said giving Danni a slight wink. "Another sir?"
"Please," Mike responded before giving the man a tip. "I take it they want us to sober up a little," he responded. He stretched his shoulders before leaning back into the booth, "This is better than the bar stool at least..."
"Pixie always insists on feeding me." Danni said picking up a fried cheese ball. "Pixie and Dr K. would get on well together, he'd end up being 400 pounds real quick, I'm sure." She said popping it into her mouth." She downed another drink.
Mike watched her swallow her fourth drink since he sat down, "You may want to go a tad slower," he said, "You don't need to play catch up..."
**hick-up** "I'll be okay, I go on the late shift tomorrow." Danni said smiling softly.
Carl brought over Mike's next drink, and a few more napkins. "Here you go."
When Carl had walked away Danni took Mike's hand. "Before we both get any tighter than we are. Talk to me." She gave his fingers a squeeze. ***hick-up*** "Please."
"Talk to you about what specifically?" Mike asked, cocking a brown eyebrow.
Danni popped a vegetable fritter in her mouth and washed it down with another drink. "Whatever it is that's eating at you? A man typically doesn't go for a day time binge without a reason. You've had a look of a lead weight wrapped around your throat for the past month." She ate another cheese ball. "Tony Jenkins told me about the message from your folks and how you reacted to it. Dr. K, is scared you're headed for a serious breakdown. Please."
The young man sighed, looked down at his drink and then took a sip. He set the glass back down onto the polished onyx table, "It all seems so final now. I have all of my answers and explanations and everything is wrapped up so nicely in a bow... This is what I wanted, closure... But it still doesn't fill the void... Doesn't make me feel any better..." He said.
"What do you mean?" Danni asked. She picked up another fritter and dunked it in a cream sauce on the platter. "Don't ask me what do I mean, what do I mean. There are details you have wanted to know and want 'tied up', that's what I'm talking about." She popped the fritter in her mouth chewing slowly. Danni pushed the platter towards Mike. "When was the last time you ate something?"
"Well, I wanted to know what happened to Joe and how he died and all that," Mike responded with a sigh, "But it hasn't made me feel any better..." He looked down at the platter and then back up at Danni, "I don't know, honestly," he said.
Danni pushed the platter towards Mike again. "As the old saying in our line of work goes ... If you can't remember the last time you did something you're probably overdue ... So tuck in." She said grinning. "The stuff mushrooms and the baby quiche are amazing."
"Lovely," Mike responded before looking down at the tray. He tried to identify what was being served to him. All he really wanted was wings or maybe a cheese steak. Good luck finding that out here.... He settled for a soft pretzel bite, at least it was something worthwhile.
Danni ate another fritter. "And ..... " She said pushing. "You're worried about what to do next with your life. Or you're feeling that you've wasted so much energy the past 5 years of your life and feeling sorry for yourself. Sound about right?" She asked pounding down another drink,
Carl stepped over with another platter. "Pixie sent these over. It's something she's been working on and wants the opinion of the quests. We've been calling it the 'Triple threat'. There is a cheesesteak with peppers and onions, Rubben, and my personal favorite is a Korean teriyaki chicken." He said pointing to several split egg rolls. "There are some sauces to go with that. A spicy mayo, English mustard, and house made Cheez-Wiz.
"Well, thinking it makes it so," Mike remarked as he looked over the platter which was set down right in front of him, "Always amazes me how joints like this can take a classic item and turn them into something tiny and weird." He picked up one of the eggrolls and looked at it. He then glanced over at Danni, "I'm not exactly feeling sorry for myself," he said, "I'm not sure what I'm feeling..."
Danni took one of the Korean rolls dunking into a mayo and taking a healthy bite. "Uhm. That bites back, but not bad." She wiped her mouth. "So you're getting drunk on top of being numb already. That doesn't make much sense, now does it." She finished the last of the roll she'd picked up. Dannie finished the last of the pitcher.
Carl came by a minute later with a pitcher of ice water and another sidecar. He picked up the empty platter.
"I'm more drinking to feel something," Mike responded, "Hey there Carl, I don't suppose you have some oysters back there and can whip up some oysters Rockefeller?" Toby would have no problem doing it if he were around... Mike couldn't cook to save his life and was incredibly spoiled by being with a trained chef.
"I can ask." Carl said.
Another three hours passed and the artificial sunrise came up in the bar. "Come on Doc, let's you an me go see what Tommy has fixed for breakfast." Danni said getting to her feet.
"For somebody who's been pounding Andorian Ale all night you're pretty steady on your feet." Mike said feeling it when he stood up.
As they both wobbled out of the bar and made it back to the ship. "I'll tell you two secrets Doc, but your have to promise to keep them between us." Mike nodded. "I may officially be just a lab rat, but I also have two degrees in psychology. An Pinky and I used to study together back home. My other secret is that wasn't Andorian Ale, but a blue version of the Shirley Temple. A long time ago we stumbled on ... if a guys getting bagged like that, you weren't looking to get drunk. You were looking to talk. An having somebody just as 'ears deep', tends to make it easier." Danni said half pushing him against the bulkhead. "You're a good man Michael Amato, and if you weren't taken ... I'll leave that to your imagination." Danni reached up Mike being a half a head taller, and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Good morning Doctor." She turned an walked away humming to herself.
The doctor stood there mildly dumbfounded. He was surprised at how many people were looking after him. He wasn't sure whether to feel loved, appreciated or smothered. He sort of felt bad for Dani, everyone knew she had a crush on Toby and apparently him as well. Poor girl...
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