=/\= Chimera Corridor =/\= Athena's nap in the corridor had been brief but gave her some energy but her meeting with Shane had almost zapped that supply. As much as she might like to get a little more rest her own thoughts seemed to be preventing her from doing so. She continued walking through the corridors, climbing through a Jefferies tube when necessary picking up bits of debris and disposing of them and handing an odd tool to some engineer or technician. Rangi dressed in a new uniform curtesy of the replicator. She had woken feeling refreshed and with a resolve to seek out Athena, for, having told Shane she would talk to the counselor, she meant to do so as soon as possible. Once outside the guest room, she walked back in the direction of her own quarters where she found no sign of the engineer and tapping in her access code, was pleased and surprised when the door to her room opened. Athena observed the progress that was being made on the ship. In some cases it seemed amazingly quick and in others painstakingly slow. She stood at the end of one corridor and was letting an engineer 'spill his guts'. Athena knew that some of the things the engineer was complaining about would never be mentioned under normal circumstances and that the young man was just working out or through some of his frustrations at some of the limitations because of where they were in space. {What a mess} Rangi stood in the entrance to her quarters and looked around the room. Things lay scattered and broken everywhere. She moved to the doorway of her bedroom and looking inside, saw the same. "Oh well.." she murmured to herself "...could be worse..." Returning to the main room and picking up a small silver ornament from the floor, she said; Computer?" half expecting a non response. But a familiar 'bleep' told her things were better than she had thought. "Computer...locate Lt. Wellington." [Lt. Athena Wellington is on Deck 3 Section 3 ] came the reply. Athena was still listening to the engineer with a pasted on smile when she noticed someone moving toward them. Her slight change in body language alerted the engineer that someone else was approaching and he excused himself. She gave the engineer a genuine smile and said, "Keep up the good work." "Athena?...please can you spare me a moment?" Rangi stood a little way off, looking neat and tidy in her fresh uniform despite completing another crawl through a Jefferies tube. She met Athena's gaze steadily and recognized as she did so, that her feeling of animosity was virtually gone. Athena nodded and headed toward Rangi. Upon meeting the other woman, she asked, "Is there something I can help you with?" Rangi replied, "Not help exactly..I just wanted to talk to you..if you've time." Athena made a gesture of opening her arms wide and said, "All the time in the universe at the moment." "It won't take that much," Rangi said and smiled. She stepped nearer and her expression grew serious. "When Shane asked us both to stay behind after the briefing...he meant well...but I think he went about it the wrong way. I've spoken to him about it..well not in depth exactly" she added hastily .".but..well..I wasn't prepared to discuss what I thought was a private matter between Shane and me when you were there." Athena nodded and replied, "I understand, but I could also sense everyone's discomfort as well." She took a deep breath and continued, "Plus I told you I would try to keep a personal distance and I didn't want to break that trust even though you really didn't believe me when I said it." Athena gave a small smirk at the look of objection that started to spread across the CMO's face. Athena held out her hand to stop any argument and went on, "You might have logically believed me, but deep down you didn't trust me to keep it." She gave Rangi a smile and said, "I figured Shane was better equipped at the moment to handle the situation, but maybe I was wrong and you and I had already mentioned how it isn't an easy spot for me to be in." Rangi sighed. "Yes, we had. Athena...I don't want to kill the friendship we had..or have?" She added, "I think I understand why I was distrustful of you..I have an answer. and...it all just seemed to come to the surface and swamp everything else. Shane said that he hoped you and I would still be friends...and I hope for that too...but I can understand if you're a bit wary now." "I think I see chocolate sundaes in our future," she replied and gave Rangi a smile. Rangi laughed. "Do you," she asked through a smile, then looked down for a moment. " I hope you're right," she said and remet Athena's clear eyes. "Yes, I do; it may just take a little bit longer. I bet you have charts or patients that you need to check on and I don't want to keep you." Athena gave Rangi a warm friendly smile before she started moving further down the corridor. Rangi's smile was small and she watched the counselor walk away with the natural graceful movements that she had. "Athena" Rangi waited for the tall figure to turn and face her. "I am sorry," she said. Athena turned around and met Rangi's gaze and replied, "I never blamed you." Rangi didn't reply and after a moment Athena turned away and moved off along the corridor. =/\= End Log =/\= LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera & Lt. Athena Wellington Counselor USS Chimera