Unworthy - Kirsten Beyer [53]
“That sounds good,” Conlon said.
B’Elanna quickly retrieved their beverages and set both of them down on the low table in their seating area. She didn’t understand why Conlon remained standing almost at attention since she’d walked in.
“You can sit down, if you like,” B’Elanna offered. “I don’t bite.”
“Of course. Thank you, ma’am.”
“And seriously, when you say ma’am, I look behind me for the captain. It’s ‘B’Elanna.’”
“Okay, B’Elanna,” Conlon said with a hint of a smile. “You can call me Nancy.”
“Great, Nancy.” B’Elanna smiled. “What can I do for you?”
“Last night Harry, I mean, Lieutenant Kim, showed me the benamite recrystallization matrix you designed. Our supply is already showing signs of microfractures and I was wondering if you thought the system you developed could be adapted to a larger scale.”
B’Elanna smiled inwardly at the slip between “Harry” and “Lieutenant Kim.” It simultaneously piqued her interest and filled her with a mischievous desire she hadn’t felt in years.
“I’m sure it could,” she replied. “I can show you the specs, if you like.”
“Oh … okay, thank you.” Conlon nodded.
“Or I could come down to engineering and take a look at your new drive and make sure there won’t be any compatibility issues. Then I could probably take a stab at the designs myself. I mean, if that’s what you want,” she added hastily.
“Only if that’s what you want,” Conlon said defensively.
“Nancy?”
“Yes?”
“I think we need to get something straight.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m a guest on this ship. And I consider myself lucky to be that. I haven’t been regular Starfleet for years. Actually, I was never ‘regular,’ even when I was Voyager’s chief engineer. You probably know as much about engineering as I do, and you certainly know more about this ship now than I do. I’m happy to pitch in under your direction. Feel free to ask anytime. But I’m not interested in getting in your way or stepping on your toes. I know how hard your job is. And the last thing you should be doing right now is second-guessing yourself, or worrying that I’m interested in taking something that’s not mine. I’ve had a crazy couple of years. I need some time to readjust to something resembling normal life. And I have a daughter who needs me and will always come first.”
Conlon sighed in visible relief. “How is Miral?” she asked.
“She’s getting better, thanks for asking.”
“People around me have been singing your praises for weeks,” Conlon confessed. “You’re a legend in that engine room.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” B’Elanna assured her.
“I don’t think so,” Conlon said. “It took you two minutes to make me feel better.”
“I have my moments.” B’Elanna smiled, embarrassed.
Tom interrupted them, entering with a sleepy Miral clutched tightly to his neck.
“I think you’re going to need a hydrospanner to remove her,” he began, but as soon as he saw Conlon his face fell to a more neutral arrangement. “Good morning, Lieutenant.”
Conlon immediately rose from her seat and replied, “Commander.”
“Everything okay?” he asked dubiously.
“We were just having a little chat,” B’Elanna said as she rose and went to work disentangling Miral from her father’s arms. After giving him a quick kiss she said, “Now get out of here.”
“What happened to don’t move ?” he teased under his breath.
“Times change,” she shot back. “Go.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” he said, scooting out the door.
“I should really go, too,” Conlon said. “Thanks for the raktajino .”
“Anytime,” B’Elanna said. “And I’ll try to stop by later today to take a look at those microfractures.”
Conlon nodded appreciatively but before she reached the door, B’Elanna called after her.
“Just out of curiosity, what were you doing with Harry last night?”
“I just ran into him in the mess.”
“Oh, okay,” B’Elanna replied, dying to know if that had been an accident, or intention on Nancy’s part. “You know, he’s a great guy,” she added, worrying she might be laying it on a little thick. Those worries faded when she saw a distinct light come to Nancy’s eye.