"Round Two"

[Lexia 0]

Lt. Commander JoNs padded silently down the corridor, clad in Fleet issue workout attire. When she arrived at the quarters that she wanted, she composed herself for a few seconds, and then swept a paw across the indicator panel, alerting the occupant inside.

 

The Trill looked up from her plate at the door. She wiped her mouth with the napkin, pulling it from her lap and sitting it on the table. She stood, still wearing her duty uniform minus the over shirt. She mumbled as she walked to the door and hit the open button. "Yes?"

 

The felinoid offered a wane smile. "Doctor; sorry to disturb you. May I come in? This will take but a moment."

 

Lexia drummed her fingers along the side of the doorframe, loath to let the furball in her quarters. She would much rather had slammed the close button and went back to her table. She eyed the Caitian a moment, then begrugdedly stepped aside.

 

The furball inclined her head in a respectful nod of thanks, and then entered the Trill’s inner sanctum. She wasted no time on getting to the reason for her visit. "I just wanted to apologize to you for my behavior at the staff meeting - I am sorry for hissing at you, and it was not professional."

 

Lexia considered JoNs for a moment, crossing her arms and stepping back to the small table near the replicator. "Let me get this strait. You came all the way down here, interrupted my dinner, and asked to come inside my quarters....to apologize?" Lexia laid one hand on the table and fixed her eyes on the fluffy officer standing in the middle of her quarters.

 

"Would you have preferred a memo Doctor?" One ear quirked back in curiosity.

 

Lexia rolled her eyes. "I will never understand this insatiable need that beings have to apologize." She walked around the table and over to the door. "If there was nothing else, Commander?" the accent on the last word heavy.

 

Kansas didn't budge. "Was that a yes, a no, or a maybe regarding my apology?"

 

Lexia walked out into the middle of the small room looking strait at JoNs. "That was an 'I do not care'. What happened is not going to be reversed by my acceptance or made any worse by my lack of acceptance. Therefore, I really see no need to entertain this discourse simply to make you feel better about your own actions."

 

"I'm sorry Doctor....you're misunderstanding me. Yes, I am apologizing regarding my actions toward you, but I feel no regret; you deserved that hiss. Matter of fact, if we weren’t professionals and women I probably would have up and knocked you on your butt. I just wanted to let you know the hiss wasn't the proper thing to do, and a meeting wasn't the place to do so."

 

Lexia smirked, and then shrugged as she walked back to her dinner. "Then feel no need. For I already knew your actions were unprofessional." She sat back down. "Anything else, ma'am?"

 

JoNs contemplated for a few quick seconds, before moving toward the table where Lexia sat. This little square off would not happen again, oh no no. She gracefully planted both paws on the surface, and faced the medical doctor. "No that is all, regarding the apology. However - if you ever take me on in this manner in public, I will write you up, Lieutenant. Your manners leave much to be desired."

 

Lexia contemplated a few remarks she could make about manners and hissing during a senior staff meeting. In the end, however, she chose against them, feeling she would never get the furball to leave if she started that argument. "Rest assured, Commander," this time she worked very hard and spoke the rank with no accent, "I," -not quite so lucky keeping the accent off that word-"can keep my actions in check in public."

 

Green eyes narrowed as JoNs caught the emphasis on the "I". Oh, this woman was a walking ulcer waiting to happen. With predatory movements, Kansas stepped back from the table. "Excuse me Doctor; have a good evening." She turned, tail swishing, and started for the doorway. "I can let myself out, thank you..."

 

“Good evening, Commander." Lexia watched the kitty leave then turned back to her food. She moved a few noodles with the fork, and took a couple of small bites. She soon found, however, that her appetite had left her. She stood and slid the plate into the replicator. She grabbed the half empty glass of amber liquid and began to move towards the small couch in her quarters. "Computer, recycle."