“This is dumb.”

“You’ve said that.”

“I feel useless.”

“You’ve said that too.”

“This isn’t some elaborate ruse to get you to carry me through the ship.”

“I didn’t say that,” Adelinde Gantzmann responded from the seat next to the biobed, looking up from a padd in hand with a slight smirk.

“You were thinking it,” Tikva accused. “And don’t give me any of that empath bullshit and I couldn’t really know. You were thinking something along those lines.” She kept the glare for only a second before it melted into a smile and a wink. “Wish I had thought of it, though.”

“Not very professional of you,” Lin replied.

“Look at us,” Tikva shot back. “Dressed as Amazons ready to fight the Cretan Bull.” She withered under the disbelieving look for a moment. “Okay, fine, one Amazon, one sexy knife fighter.”

“I’ll allow it. Being true and all,” Lin said.

“We weren’t the height of professionalism before you had to carry me through the ship. If I’m going to be known for being carried by you, I’d like at least one time to be my idea.”

“Just ask any time, love,” Lin said as her eyes drifted back to the padd. “Terax is taking his time with the diagnostic.”

“Probably consulting with Gérard.” Tivka stared daggers at her left leg, unnaturally still beside her restless right. “These things are supposed to be nearly foolproof and I’ve had it taken out from under me three times in the last two years alone.”

“All circumstances far outside the design spec, I would wager. This is your first real malfunction, yes?”

“Yes,” Tikva answered with an exasperated tone.

“Then you’re just going to have to deal with it,” Lin continued. “They want to understand why your leg just stopped working so they can fix it properly.”

“Stop being reasonable,” Tikva shot back.

“I can leave.” Lin’s look was enough to drive that point home.

“Fine, fine,” Tikva threw her hands up in surrender. “Yes, I’m being unreasonable. I could walk just fine an hour ago and now I can’t because some stupid thing in my leg has stopped working and what?” She stopped as Lin set the padd down, stood up, and turned to face her. “What?” she repeated.

“Shut up,” Lin whispered as she leaned over Tikva for a quick kiss. It was a fleetingly quick eternity, broken with both women smiling at each other. “Got a message,” she said, a nod with her head indicating her padd, “that the Argonaut just dropped off the new guy. Want me to go get you a uniform, or happy to meet him like this?”

Tikva sighed as she flopped hard into the bed in defeat. “Seriously? Now?” She watched Lin nod in confirmation. “Uniform please.”

The conjunction of a long shuttle ride, Lin’s long stride and a call to Atlantis’ very own infernal imp bought more than enough time for Tikva to feel presentable in her own private sickbay room before an actual knock at the door.

“Fleet Captain, I have Commander Kennedy for you,” Stirling announced after entering, stepping aside with perfect timing to let the new arrival enter on his heels. “Commander Nathan Kennedy, Fleet Captain Tikva Theodoras. And Lieutenant Commander Gantzmann,” Stirling added with a wave of his hand.

“You’ll excuse me if I don’t get up,” Tikva said wryly. “Perils of prosthetics and all.” A wave of a hand over her left leg to answer the forthcoming question ahead of time. “Wasn’t expecting you for another day, Commander. Someone out there pushing their engines to the limit, I see.”

“Captains Houston and Spencer, ma’am,” Kennedy answered. “I think Spencer was just happy to be in space, while Houston wanted me off his ship as quick as possible.”

She blinked a few times at that appraisal of one of the squadron’s captains. “Little fast on what you think of Captain Houston.”

“Always found directness and honesty to be more efficient.”

She made him wait a moment, sensing no worry or concern radiating from him. Calm, if anything. Maybe mixed with a wry amusement. Then she cracked her own smile. “I’m glad I’m not the only one having some issues with Captain Houston.”

“I remind you, Captain, his record does speak for itself,” Lin said from beside Tikva, once more adopting her on-duty persona of utter professionalism.

Kennedy snorted. “I read that record. Sure, he’s a good captain at guarding the border, but out here, exploring the unknown? Then again, the Breen are immediate neighbours, so maybe he’s not…this is a trap.” His tone, the acknowledgement of walking right into it, was pitch perfect.

“It’s an impromptu assessment,” Tikva said. “You pass.”

“Oh?”

“You’ve done your reading. Or at least enough of it to fake it, which means you know how to prioritise what bits to read. Only so much a personnel jacket can tell me.”

“I see,” Kennedy responded, waited a moment, then smiled. “So all the tidbits from your record aren’t going to be quizzed, then?” Kennedy asked. “Or the Commander’s?”

“No,” Tikva said. “But Stirling’s perhaps.” She watched as an eyebrow on Kennedy’s face rose. “I’m joking, I’m joking.”

“Mostly,” Lin interjected.

“I’ll keep that in mind then,” Kennedy said.

“How about Commander Kennedy, I let you get settled in before properly grilling you?” As he nodded, she turned to face Stirling. “Stirling, make arrangements for dinner in the captain’s mess tonight. Invite as much of the circus as possible, casual wear.”

“Of course, ma’am. Should I see if the Romulans would still be present and invite them along as well?”

“They’re scheduled to depart in an hour,” Lin supplied. “Once Sub-Commander Kendris has finished her business aboard ship.”

“Oh, right,” Tikva said. “Well, extend an invitation anyway. Maybe we can entice them to stay. In the meantime, Nathan, welcome aboard Atlantis.”

“Glad to be here,” he answered, departing shortly after with Stirling.

“I like him,” Lin said after the door closed behind them. “To the point, not too serious.”

“You liked him when we were going over service records,” Tikva teased.

“No, his service record just helped convince me,” Lin answered. “I liked his beard.”

No! Say it isn’t so!

What?

She has to be teasing!

She’s teasing.

Teasing.

“Stop teasing,” Tikva half-growled as she reached out to grab Lin’s hand, pulling it close.

“Getting better at telling when I am.”

“Because you’ve been doing it a lot lately.”

“Because it’s funny.”

Seconds of silence passed before Lin broke it. “Still though, I like him.”

“So do I,” Tikva said. “Think he’ll be a good fit around here.”

“You’re still pissed Mac got promoted.”

“Damn straight!”