"They've all gone. I lost Rose... and then there was Martha. She left me. And Donna... I kind of lost her, too. And then I wound up with Elizabeth I, which was what reminded me of you, Kathy -."
What time is it now? wondered Janeway, and her hand went to her comm badge. "Commander, is there a crisis on the bridge, by any chance?"
"Everything's calm here, Captain."
"Well, I'm not, so invent one. I'll stand you dinner for a month if you do."
The Doctor had become aware he had lost her full attention, and resurfaced from his epic misery. "I'm sorry, what was that? Did you say there was a crisis?"
Janeway swallowed, and considered. It might be worth making a sacrifice to get through this. "Actually... it's my replicator. You wouldn't mind taking a look at it, would you? I've been thinking about switching from coffee to tea - and it doesn't seem to be able to get used to the idea." She glanced at the ceiling, adding in an undertone: "Can't imagine why."
The Doctor brightened instantly, and produced his sonic screwdriver. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll just adjust this, and if I take a look in here and twist that a bit..."
What have I done? she wondered, and returned to the comm badge. "Commander, belay my last order. Stand by - I've created a crisis myself. You have my apologies for whatever is about to happen next."
"Captain?"
"I'm feeling sleep-deprived, caffeine-deprived, and reckless," she returned. "Now, I think we're about to be drowned in tea at the very least, so prepare yourself for the worst, Commander. I'm just hoping he'll give me an excuse to throw him off the ship before he starts calling me Aunt Kathy."
"Is he likely to?"
"I don't know, but he's already said I remind him of Elizabeth the First, so I'm not willing to take the chance."
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"They've all gone. I lost Rose... and then there was Martha. She left me. And Donna... I kind of lost her, too. And then I wound up with Elizabeth I, which was what reminded me of you, Kathy -."
What time is it now? wondered Janeway, and her hand went to her comm badge. "Commander, is there a crisis on the bridge, by any chance?"
"Everything's calm here, Captain."
"Well, I'm not, so invent one. I'll stand you dinner for a month if you do."
The Doctor had become aware he had lost her full attention, and resurfaced from his epic misery. "I'm sorry, what was that? Did you say there was a crisis?"
Janeway swallowed, and considered. It might be worth making a sacrifice to get through this. "Actually... it's my replicator. You wouldn't mind taking a look at it, would you? I've been thinking about switching from coffee to tea - and it doesn't seem to be able to get used to the idea." She glanced at the ceiling, adding in an undertone: "Can't imagine why."
The Doctor brightened instantly, and produced his sonic screwdriver. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll just adjust this, and if I take a look in here and twist that a bit..."
What have I done? she wondered, and returned to the comm badge. "Commander, belay my last order. Stand by - I've created a crisis myself. You have my apologies for whatever is about to happen next."
"Captain?"
"I'm feeling sleep-deprived, caffeine-deprived, and reckless," she returned. "Now, I think we're about to be drowned in tea at the very least, so prepare yourself for the worst, Commander. I'm just hoping he'll give me an excuse to throw him off the ship before he starts calling me Aunt Kathy."
"Is he likely to?"
"I don't know, but he's already said I remind him of Elizabeth the First, so I'm not willing to take the chance."
There was a too-obvious silence at the other end.
"Is there something funny about that?"
"Of course not, Captain."