Never Mix Business With Pleasure

Posted on 14 Jan 2017 @ 6:42pm by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Master Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin
Edited on on 15 Jan 2017 @ 4:57am

3,030 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Endgame
Location: Security
Timeline: MD 11 || 1630 Hours (Backpost)

Once Mila had finished in Administration and turned the shift over to the next group, she headed back to the new quarters that she was still getting settled into. She gave her Capuchin, Chow, his normal treat of yogurt, pistachios and grapes, a couple scritches, and then headed for the shower. When she got out, she brushed out her long brunette hair and changed into a pair of comfortable neutral gray jeans, a pair of black running shoes and a light purple top.

She went to the computer and brought up the message center and left a message for Aidan. "Aidan, I am going out for a bit to see Joey. I will be back soon. I am taking your painting to give to Joey. All my love, Mila." Once it was sent, she gave Chow another scritch, checked to see if his water was still full and headed out with a large wrapped parcel under one arm. Even though she had no idea where she was going, she knew who she wanted to see and stopped at a wall terminal.

"Computer, please locate Lieutenant Joey Corwin," she told it.

"Lieutenant Joey Corwin is in the Chief of Security's office," came the voice of the computer.

---

Down in her current office, Joey sat behind the desk with her head in her hands. She was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to either crawl into bed and pretend she was Rip Van Winkle, or pour herself a drink and down them until she couldn't stand. Of course, she wouldn't do either. There were still things that needed her attention.

With a sigh, she leaned back and began to compile the days reports thus far so they'd be ready to go first thing in the morning. There'd be more to add to it considering there were other shifts to get through, but it didn't hurt to get a head start.

When Mila heard that Joey was still in Security, she debated letting her sestra work in piece instead of going to see her, but she hoped she was just wrapping up after the long day they had just had. Instead of heading directly there, she tapped her combadge. =^=Rasputin to Corwin. Are you being busy?=^=

=^=No busier than usual.=^= Joey replied over the com. Truth be told, she was eager for some kind of distraction, and Mila would provide a good one. =^=I'll see you shortly.=^=

Mila closed the channel and headed up to deck four and went down the corridor to where the Security office was. She nodded to one of the Security personnel and made an inquiry about how the family was doing, knowing that a baby was due soon, then proceeded to the Chief's door and pressed the chime.

"Come in," Joey called as she rose to her feet.

Mila entered the office and immediately saw how tired that Joey looked. She set the wrapped parcel down and gave a smile before she went over to give her a hug. She stepped back and looked up at her. "You are looking like I am feeling, sestra," she said.

After returning the hug, Joey gestured for Mila to sit as she settled down once again. "I'm exhausted, but my day isn't quite finished just yet," she said with a sigh. "All I want is for today to be over. How are you holding up?"

"Is wanting to scream and wipe out half of ship indication of well being?" Mila asked as she settled down in a chair. "Oh, package is for you from Aidan," she said as she reached for the parcel and passed it over to Joey.

"I'm right there with you," the taller woman said with a sigh. "Things have not been easy lately, have they?"

"That is like saying tricobalt is only big firecracker," Mila said before she nodded towards the package. "Is what Aidan said he is having for your request."

Joey looked to the wrapped package and showed a bit of life behind the fatigue. She really wanted to see what it looked like, but didn't want to ruin the neat wrapping, not to mention she trusted Aidan to get it right. "I really can't thank him enough, and as soon as I can, I need to pay him for this. Unless you can do that for me?"

"You know that he is not wanting payment for it," Mila gently chided her.

"I know, but I want to," Joey commented as she rose to her feet and moved to the replicator. Once there she got a cup of coffee for herself, and a cup of Russian Caravan tea with currant jam. With them in hand, she moved back to the desk and sat down again. "Thank you for bringing it to me. I'm not sure what time I'll make it out of here."

"Thank you," she said as she took the tea and added a spoonful of jam and stirred it. "So be telling me about your day, then I will tell you mine."

"I don't even know where to begin," Joey said honestly. "The day started out great, but that's because I woke up next to Harvey."

A dark look crossed Mila's face when she mentioned Harvey, but the Russian brunette kept her silence on that matter. "My day is starting out by having to nag Chief Medical Officer for morning report and wanting to slap her with PADD."

Joey noticed the change on Mila's face, and could only assume it was because of Harvey that that happened. Nothing else about what she said would have caused that. A frown formed on her lips, but for now, she planned to let it slide. "I had my own run in with her after she stormed into my office like she opened it. Sadly, that has quite a bit to do with the craptastic day I've had."

"I hope she is not coming here because she is now knowing about you and Harvey," Mila said, thinking that she had started a firestorm.

"I... wasn't aware she knew. She didn't say anything to let on that she knew," the tall brunette stated, pinching the bridge of her nose in an effort to stave off her headache. "No, she stormed in here because an incident occurred, and one of her personnel was involved. I can't go into any details because it is an active matter, but you'll see that report in the morning." She reached for the PADD and lifted it. "I'm working on it right now."

"I am asking her how things being between her and Harvey since they are no longer together and that he is seeming much happier since he is being with you," Mila said. "I did not mean to spill beans in such way, but news and gossip travel fast on ship. She is saying that she could not care less, but I am being sorry. As for her personnel and an incident, I was not hearing about that."

Joey took a sip of her coffee and set the cup back down. "I haven't really heard any rumors about me and Harvey since we've been together, but then, we've only ever been out once, and that was with you and Aidan. Still, though, we've had moments here and there. Of course, just because I haven't heard them doesn't mean they're not out there," she said, studying the woman across from her. "Was that your way of taking a cheap shot at her?"

"Nyet," Mila said. "She was acting very weird and I was trying to get reason why. She is snapping one moment and acting lifeless next, then saying there is no one here she can talk to." She paused to take a sip of her tea and sighed in appreciation. "At any rate, things are going downhill from there when I am starting to talk about Aidan. She is saying that she did not care about him and that he could go to....but did not finish what she was saying."

"We're all extremely high strung right now, but a lot of us handle it better than others," the Security officer pointed out. "Hell... she was going to say he can go to hell. I wouldn't worry about it. We both know Aidan is a great guy."

"Da, he is," Mila agreed. "My day got worse after that, but I am not burdening you with minor details. I am just being glad that it is over."

"I'm sorry you've had a bad day, and if you want to talk about it, I'm here," she told Mila. "Sometimes, it helps to get it out."

"Bah," Mila grunted. "Does not always help. After I am seeing Kij, I went to give Captain Geisler report and told him what had happened. His was accusing me of starting rumors and I left in very bad mood."

Joey frowned again. "Captain Geisler, huh? I take it you're not going to let him off the hook easily, then? Are you sure he was accusing and not just asking? It's hard to differentiate the two... especially in our current frame of mind."

"No, I am not," Mila said. "His exact words were being 'instead of killing rumors, you're starting them'. He did not apologize and I am not going to be asking him to. He is grown man and it is up to him."

"He's a good man and feeling the stress we're all feeling, only it's worse for him. He knows his entire crew is close to cracking, and there's nothing he can do about," the taller woman pointed out. She leaned back and fought back another frown.

"Is no excuse," Mila said. "I am not deserving accusation such as that when he knows that I have done everything in my power to squash rumors. I am feeling stress of situation, but I am not exploding like tricobalt on people that I am having to work with."

"Are you saying Harvey exploded on you like a tricobalt?" Joey asked, trying to make sense of it all. She just didn't see Harvey doing that. Especially to Mila.

"Nyet, but accusation is just as bad," the Russian Yeoman said.

"Give it time. He'll approach you on the matter I'm sure," the taller brunette stated.

"I am having to see him every day, Joey," Mila responded. "Is not going to be easy. I am thinking about teaching Chow to deliver PADDs for me so I do not have to be seeing him."

"Yes, because we both know he won't try to find me and stand there staring while cupping his chest," Joey said with a laugh.

Despite her anger, Mila couldn't help herself and started laughing. "Is not being my fault that he is pervert," she protested. "I am having to find female monkey for him."

The Security officer grinned. "He's the biggest pervert I've ever met, and that's saying something considering I've met quite a few people over the years. As for finding him a companion, I'm not sure that's going to be easy where we're at currently. I can't imagine there are too many Capuchin monkeys out here in the Gamma Quadrant."

"I am tempted to have him fixed, but I am afraid that it would take away his personality," Mila said. "I once tried to offer him female monkey in holodeck, but he ignored her and was just looking at me as if I was bad person."

"He may do that if you got a female friend for him, or see it as you're trying to replace him. I had that fear when Pequeno came into my life. I thought Rico wouldn't appreciate it, but he adores the little black ball of fur... even when he's fighting with his tail," she said. "They curl up together to sleep even though they have their own beds."

"Is Rico still being sock thief?" Mila asked her, having heard a few stories about the K9 officer. "As for Chow...he is mostly harmless and I would never replace him."

"He's just a pervert," the taller woman said. "As for Rico... he does still steal them, but Harvey has given him a couple. Pequeno has a pair of his uniform pants."

"It is sounding like you are needing one more dog," Mila noted. "One for socks. One for pants and one for shirt. Then when you are wanting him naked, all you are having to do is call for them and he would not be having chance."

Joey couldn't help but blush. "Two dogs are enough." She didn't want to mention that she'd never seen him naked before, and the thought of that actually made her so nervous she shifted a bit in her chair.

Mila blinked when she saw Joey blush and looked at her closer. "You....are blushing, da?" she asked. "Why are you acting like school girl caught in boys room?"

"I haven't been caught in the boys room..." she protested, shifting once again. "And I haven't seen him naked, either. Not that that's a huge deal." She could do with a hole opening up in the floor beneath her one.

The shorter brunette blinked again. "You...are living with him...and not seeing him naked?" she asked in disbelief. "Have you had medical checkup recently?"

"That shouldn't be so hard to believe, and yes, I have. Why?" Joey asked, not seeing why it was a big deal.

"Is good point," Mila admitted. "I was not seeing Aidan naked for some time after we are becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. I cannot help by be nosy at times, but you are sestra so I am being allowed."

"See? It's not that unusual. I love Harvey, and though I promised not to tell him that again, I want him to be happy," she said softly.

Mila thought about telling her what Harvey had said about loving Joey, but she didn't know if he had actually told Joey that or not and didn't want to step in something that could blow up in her face. "He is seeming to be very happy since he has been with you. Except today," she added with a slight sneer.

Joey closed her eyes for a second, then looked back at Mila. She doubted there was anything she could do to fix this. "None of us have slept more than a few hours a day since things got insane only days ago. Not only that, but we've been hit with one thing right after the other. There isn't a single person on this ship that isn't suffering in some way. Even the few civilians we have on board," she pointed out. "Yes, it sucks that people we care about may behave in ways we might not like, but this... all of this... is our reality right now. Snapping on loved ones, consoles exploding in our faces... this is it until all this crap is finally over."

"Da," she agreed and finished her tea. "I am thinking that you should be going off duty and going to see Cap...Harvey," she amended. "He is probably in need of someone that he is not snapping at as much as you are. Besides, you are having something that will be making him smile."

"Maybe," she said softly, looking toward the wrapped item. If he was in a mood, then there likely wasn't much that would change that except sleeping a few days. "I might wait to give this to him. I've got to bring him some bad news, too."

"Nyet," Mila said. "You are not giving him bad news tonight. He is having too much of it already and needs only good news. Bad news may be straw that is breaking cameltoe's back."

Joey blinked, then opened her mouth only to close it again, mimicking that of a fish a few more times. Did that just really happen? She wasn't sure, which was why she chose not to say anything about it once the shock wore off. "I'm going to have to say something to him soon. This isn't a matter I can let go too long."

Mila wondered why Joey was opening and closing her mouth, then mentally shrugged. "Write report. I will be giving it to him in morning. Now take package and go."

"I will as soon as I finish up here. You... you should do the same. Go hunt Aidan down and relax for a while," she told Mila.

"You are having other officers to do this," Mila pointed out. "Turn over to duty officer and go find him. Is nothing so important as being with one you are loving. I am leaving message for Aidan so he is knowing where I am, but is Harvey knowing that you are still working after so many hours on duty?"

"No, but I'm willing to bet he's still working, too. And it's still early. Or late... depending who you ask," Joey said, rubbing her arm. She could definitely use a shower after what happened. "I'll be heading home soon. I promise. Besides... my report can't be handled by anyone else but me since I was the only one present."

"Bah!" Mila said. "Grab PADD and finish in quarters. Is not big deal. I am getting late reports all the time and he is not saying anything about it."

Joey smiled. "Yes, Mom. I'll bring it with me and finish it while I relax. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Mila smirked. "Good girl," she said. "Perhaps we will be able to be having breakfast again, da? I enjoyed the breakfast that we were having last time we were able to eat in morning," she said as she came to her feet and took the cup to the recycler.

"I'm sure something can be worked out," the taller woman stated. "I'll be in touch."

Mila came back around the desk and leaned down to give Joey a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You are knowing where to find me."

After returning the hug and kiss to the cheek, Joey smiled. "I do. I'll talk to you soon."

"Until then," Mila said as she headed out.

 

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