Station Post #2 Reluctant

Posted on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 3:40pm by Captain Jamie O'Connell & Lieutenant Commander Angel Devroe & Captain Shauna Callaghan

Mission: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 2024
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

::ON::

{USS Peel}

< Captain's Quarters >

The next morning Jamie woke, showered, and dressed for the day. Grabbing a cup of hot coffee he went and sat at his terminal as he decided to contact Shauna. Suddenly Jamie felt like a young schoolboy once again but wanted to at least begin to lay the groundwork for, what he hoping would be, a dinner together to get to know one another on a more personnel level.

Tapping in the electronic address to her quarters, Jamie waited for a response. Moments later a very pretty face appeared on the screen "Captain Callaghan, Jamie O'Connell here; do you have a moment to talk" he inquired with a smile.

Shauna was sitting enjoy a quiet moment in her quarters before her shift started. She smiled as she greeted Jamie. “Good morning Captain O’Connell, I most certainly do. I was just about to have breakfast if you’d like to join me?”

Jamie was quite surprised at the invitation, but since the Peel was docked at the Base, he decided to accept "Ah....yes that would be nice; I'll be there shortly" he replied with a smile. Getting up from his desk Jamie tapped his comm "Commander Devroe, this is O'Connell. Just to let you know I'm leaving the Ship shortly for breakfast on the Base. I won't be gone too long."

"Good for you Captain and enjoy your meal; please take your time I plan on staying abroad all day anyway" Angel replied happy too see Jamie getting away for some relaxation.

{M-69}

< Captain Callaghan's Quarters >

Arriving at his destination Jamie palmed the door chime and waited for a response while straitening his uniform; he didn't want to look like a slob or anything trying not to let his nerves show.

“Come on in!” Shauna’s voice could be heard from inside where she was busy organising breakfast for two.

O'Connell entered seeing Shauna getting breakfast together. With a smile "Good morning Captain, thank you for the breakfast invitation; it was very kind of you" he commented surprised to even be there.

“My pleasure” Shauna smiled. “Please make yourself at home, and call me Shauna, saves the titles. I was about to get breakfast anyway so I figured it’d be nice to have company.”

"All right Shauna and please call me Jamie" he replied as he sat "Yes eating alone all the time gets...how should I put it....boring after awhile" now feeling a bit more relaxed around her.

Shauna smiled as she brought a tray of hot breakfast items across to the table. “Here we go, it’s all freshly cooked, eat up while it’s still hot. She stepped away to collect some toast, and bring condiments to the table before she took a seat. “I don’t usually bother with hot food that much of a morning, but you coming for breakfast gave me the excuse I needed for it.”

Jamie smiled as he looked over the tray "Well you certainly didn't skimp on the variety and it smells wonderful" he replied as he helped himself to some pancakes and bacon along with syrup. Taking a mouthful of food "This tastes delicious; you're a great cook" then continued enjoying his meal.

“I’m glad you like it” Shauna couldn’t help but blush. On duty she rarely showed any signs of being bashful, but in private was another matter. She put herself some hash browns, sausage, bacon and toast it was a breakfast mix she quite enjoyed.

Jamie noticed Shauna blushing but decided to refrain from making any comments; the last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable so he decided to change the subject "You know for the life of me I still haven't been able to figure out where exactly Ardoo transported us to."

“Me either” Shauna gave a puzzled look. “I still want to know why the woman they chose as Queen was Trill. She told me she was a peacekeeper, a negotiator of sorts, but apart from that I know very little.”

"Perhaps that's for the best. We really have little information on the Assul history and maybe there's a good reason for that" Jamie explained "It's my belief that there are things in the galaxy, be it past or present, we should not pry into."

Shauna nodded. “I couldn’t agree more, what’s past is past and it should remain that way.”

After a few moments of awkward silence Jamie decided to go for broke. With a smile "What I wanted to talk to you about is more of a....mmm.....personal nature. After you have had time to process what has happened on the Base, both professional and personal, these past few days I was wondering if you would allow me the pleasure of your company one night for dinner" then he paused "I would very much like to get to know better on a personal level if you'd be so inclined."

Shauna gave Jamie a surprised look, with everything that had happened lately, especially with Deke’s loss, she hadn’t given getting to know anyone on a personal level any thought. “That’s very kind of you, and I...” She paused. “would like that, but it may take me a little time, especially after what happened to Deke.”

"Yes, I heard and you have my heartfelt condolences" Jamie replied with sincerity "I'm in no hurry; you take all the time you need and when you're ready let me know" then he paused moment "Of course I may be away on a mission but I am only a communication away."

Shauna offered a smile. “I don’t mind having dinner whilst your ship is still here, your company is refreshing after everything that’s happened lately.”

Jamie was pleasantly surprised at Shauna's statement as he smiled "That would be nice and I'm sure a distraction wouldn't hurt you proceeding with your life here on the Station" he replied "I know a nice little Pub here that serves great bar food with a nice atmosphere" then Jamie thought a moment "Would tomorrow evening, say eighteen hundred, be convenient for you; I'll swing by here then we go together if you'd like."

Shauna smiled and nodded. “That sounds good to me, I’ll endeavour to be off duty on time, and be ready to go.”

"If for some reason you need more time then let me know and we can always make it a little later" Jame replied "I should probably be going; I'm sure your on duty soon and I have a pile of never ending reports to go through" as he stood "Thank you for a delicious breakfast and some nice conversation."

“It was my pleasure, and thank you for being so understanding.” Shauna smiled. “I’ll see you later.”

"Yes and I look forward to it Shauna" Jamie replied with a smile then tapping his Comm "Transporter Room, this is Captain O'Connell....one to come home" and moments later the Captain disappeared in a stream of white light.

::OFF::