"Return to the World of the Living"

[Lexia 0]

Her heels clicked on the cool metal as she stepped from the turbolift. It had been some time since she had been on the bridge and she paused to look around a moment. Yawning lightly, far too lightly for anyone to notice, she turned towards the ready room. Her body was still getting used to a normal sleep routine.

 

As she approached, she chimed the door.

 

Harper was going through the supply reports and the first draft of the report from science (interesting reading, if you wanted a lesson in how many ways it was possible to say "we have no idea"), and the door chime was a welcome relief. "Come!" she called, laying aside the padds.

 

The door slide aside with the usual whoosh and she strode into the office. It had been some time since the Trill had laid eyes upon the Colonel. "Ma'am," she said, folding her hands in front of her, "you wanted to see me?"

 

Harper smiled at the doctor. "Welcome back to dayside," she said. "And I mean that in the long-term sense... I'd like to move you back to Alpha shift." Lexia's lips curved into a smile. "Thank you ma'am, it shall be good to be among the living again." Although she would never admit it to a living soul, the night shift had begun to wear on Lexia's nerves. She never really had a taste for people, but the near isolation of night shift had been getting to her.

 

"Not enough action among the vampire crowd?" Harper teased gently. She pulled her share of night shift bridge duties; the quiet was nice for a change, but in the long term... Well, it was probably a good thing the galaxy didn't all run on the same clock.

"It is of no concern ma'am," Lexia shrugged it off. "Interaction with other beings is not a needed part of my job."

 

Harper laughed. "I must have the wrong idea entirely about medicine, then."

 

Lexia blushed, not something easily done to the woman. "What I meant was..." She paused, annoyed at herself for the slip. "Is there anything else Colonel?”

 

Still chuckling slightly, Harper shook her head. "That's all, Ensign. Go get yourself some very strong coffee." Nodding, Lexia strode out of the room. Great Lex...two minutes back on the day shift and you have already made an ass of yourself. The door swooshed shut behind her.