Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Galley/Lounge- A Friendly Evening

Posted by Ensign Chandel (Science) in Galley/Lounge- A Friendly Evening

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Galley/Lounge- A Friendly Evening
Leah felt like she had just worked a double shift. Dragging herself out of Sickbay, she was glad that she had seen all her therapy patients in the morning and kept the evening free. Still four hours of talking one-on-one, and then a busy afternoon in Sickbay left her feeling drained. She chided herself for making such a big deal out of it, given it was actually not that bad of a day. At least it hadn’t been a double shift. She probably would have crashed out in one of the recovery rooms!

Still, she was looking forward to spending time with Chandel, whom she had agreed to meet up with in the Lounge. Convenient because she was starving! It was probably why she was feeling so tired. She also made a mental note to drink some more water and avoid coffee, knowing she would likely end up with insomnia.

Yawning, she stepped into the room, still in her white nursing uniform. She had debated changing, but knew if she went to her quarters, she’d be tempted to sit on the couch or her bed, and she’d likely pass out. She didn’t want to make Chandel hunt her down, so in uniform it was.

The space was moderately busy but not full and she was able to snag a table for the two of them after grabbing a glass of water. She’d wait for her friend before getting dinner. Sipping from her glass, she let her gaze drift out towards the two windows in the room, her mind slipping somewhere else.

~Leah Hart, NP

Within moments, the doors slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing Chandel. She wore an amber-colored tunic and matching pants that caught the light warmly, the fabric moving easily with her steps. At her throat, her new necklace rested plainly but proudly, something she was still getting used to wearing—and quietly pleased to have. For a heartbeat, she paused, letting her eyes adjust, then she spotted Leah. Relief and a small spark of happiness crossed her face, and she lifted a hand in an easy wave before heading toward her.

“Hey, Leah,” she said, her voice bright but gentle as she came to a stop beside her. “You haven’t picked dinner yet?” Chandel glanced briefly toward the replicator, already imagining familiar flavors. “I think I’m in the mood for jambalaya tonight—or whatever the synthesizer decides passes for it.” She gave a soft, almost nostalgic grin, the thought of warm spices and comfort food clearly appealing.

Leah turned her head, momentarily startled by Chandel’s appearance, but she broke into a smaller than usual smile, even though she really was grateful to spend time with her new friend. “I haven’t figured out what I feel like and I wanted to wait for you. I figure I’d see whatever Chef Gorshin was experimenting with today.”

As she spoke, her expression subtly shifted. Chandel’s gaze lingered on Leah’s face a moment longer than politeness required, her natural perceptiveness picking up on the faint signs of fatigue—the tightness around the eyes, the way her posture sagged just a little. Her smile softened, concern edging into her tone.

“Hey…” she said quietly, lowering her voice as if to give Leah space. “Are you alright?”

Ensign Chandel Sci

Leah nodded slowly. “Yeah, just really tired today. Been a busy week and I think it’s catching up with me. I have a couple days off soon, but I’ve been filling in a bit more in Sickbay the last few days. There’s a mild virus going around and it’s taken out some of the Sickbay staff. I love splitting my duties between Sickbay and my therapy practice but it’s been demanding.” Not to mention all the other stuff hovering in the background of her life.

“You probably need to get more rest, take care of yourself so you don’t burn out.” Chandel said frowning a bit with concern.

She rose to her feet and looped her arms around Chandel’s. “Come on, let’s get you some jambalaya.”

~Leah Hart, NP

“Sure.” Chandel said with an answering grin as she let Leah lead her toward the galley counter.

Ensign Chandel Sci