Shakedown #133"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58203.02 0800

=USS Zion - sickbay=

For the first time in what seemed to Silvio to be a lifetime he had managed to get a good night sleep. He felt much better and was even able to sit up. After the doctor left he slept uninterrupted and he felt much better this morning.

Silvio looked around sickbay all was quiet. Silvio ran his fingers over the stubble on his head. Remembering his bald caregiver from the night before he looked around for her, but she was not there. Settling back down on the bio bed. After a couple of hours Silvio realized he had a really big problem. He was bored! He decided that he was never going to come back here again.

Silvio had just started going through the components to a standard warp core one at a time when he noticed a delightful looking woman ether sickbay. She spoke briefly with a nurse who then pointed in his direction. Forgetting about the warp core Silvio decided that his day was about to get more interesting.

Silvio watched as she talked to the nurse. She wore only one pip on her uniform so that meant she was an ensign. He watched her as she walked over towards his biobed. Silvio tried to come up with a good line to give her but for the first time in his life he could not think of anything.

Zoei smiled inwardly as she approached Silvio's biobed. She had heard the stories that preceded him. From the look on his face, she was sure pick up lines were not coming today, at least not in the beginning. Somehow she would have to let him know this was out of bounds, but it could wait until necessary. Today was just a day to check in on Bird, see if his broken body was doing better and when he would be ready for his evaluation.

Zoei paused next to Silvio. "Hello, Lieutenant, how are you doing now that you have rejoined the land of the living?"

"Things are going much better now that you are here." He said smiling. "I am a little bored counselor. At least when I was in a coma I was dreaming about angels."

Zoei arched her eyebrow, surprised at the comment about angels. It sounded remarkably like Favor's comments about Bird. She wondered if Favor was the angel. "Boredom is a sure sign of recovery, Lieutenant. I am Ensign Zoei, the ship's counselor."

"Hello counselor, I wondered when you would be stopping by." Silvio sighed, "I suppose you think that I am going to be a basket case? Silvio paused to run his hand over the stubble on his head. "This shaved head thing itches."

"I wouldn't presume to think such a thing about you, Lieutenant," Zoei replied. This young lieutenant appeared to have a healthy does of self esteem. It should help his recovery, as long as someone didn't bash him upside the head for his brazen manner. Zoei brought herself up short at the thought. Along with presumptions on whether someone was a basket case or not, she usually showed better restraint in her thoughts on people she has just met. She had a feeling Silvio could be a handful to deal with. "Ensign Favor may be able to help you with your itchy situation. I know she has a little experience with shaved heads. The reason I stopped by was to see how you were doing and to let you know we will need to schedule an evaluation before you can return to active duty. There is no rush regarding the scheduling, but I wanted you to have that thought in the back of your mind before you pushed to return to your Engineering department."

"So that is her name? Favor huh? I have been calling her angel." Silvio smiled. While I was in that coma I had dreams about her, only she was an angel with a broken wing." Silvio smirked at the counselor and added , "Can you interpret that dream counselor?"

"Lieutenant, unfortunately for you, chance meetings in Sick Bay do not lead to dream interpretation sessions," Zoei smiled. "I would suggest Ensign Favor may be better able to discuss your dream with you." It was challenging to get an accurate reading of the lieutenant. His attitude toward her seemed to be an attempt at playfulness, but it was hard to say, so soon after he had awakened.

Silvio chuckled, this one is going to be a tough nut to crack he thought. All business. Truth be told he liked that. "I am quite puzzled by the broken wing. It means something, I just cannot figure it out." Realizing that he was thinking out loud he looked at the counselor and added, "So Counselor, how about when I am out of here we get together for dinner?"

Zoei looked at him, a little shocked. He didn't waste any time. "Miranda's would be an excellent choice for your dinner, Lieutenant. If you go early in the evening, you may be able to find Lieutenant Charles Atwood. He is currently working in Intel, but was formerly involved in engineering. He would be an excellent conversational partner for you. It is time for me to get back to my office. Please contact me when you are ready for your appointment."

Zoei turned, and without a backward glance, walked out of Sick Bay.

Silvio watched her closely as she left. It really wasn't that bad of a rejection. His heart was not in it anyway. Perhaps his encounter with the Cardassians had left some marks after all. All he could think about during his time with them was how alone he had felt. Sure he had shared the company of many beautiful women however, as his cardassian captors tore out his fingernails he distinctly remembered thinking that none of those women would care one bit after he was gone and some of them might even celebrate. He had never been so close to death before and it scared him to think he was all alone.