Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT FIVE - PART SEVEN

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" Grace asked after entering Admiral Springer's office, standing at attention, which caused the raven-haired man to put down the file he had been reading, only to take a moment to look at the young Captain. Her shoulders pulled back, her posture perfect, her eyes looking straight ahead, before he nodded.

"Yes, Kazansky." He allowed with a gesture of his hand. "At ease. And please take a seat."

For once the young Captain did as she was told, the usual moment of hesitation in which Springer believed her to consider disobeying his every order missing. Her demeanour differed from what he had gotten used to over the months she was now already stationed on the Trafalgar.

"I don't plan on keeping you from your shore leave for long. I merely wished to speak about your time on the Trafalgar." The Admiral explained, which had Grace watch him with her arctic blue eyes, taking in ever detail of the expressions passing over his face.

"Is there an issue, Sir?" The younger aviator wanted to know after a short but pregnant pause, which had Jon Henry answer.

"I feel so, yes." Springer noted, which had Grace on the edge of her seat. This wasn't good, even though it wasn't a catastrophic event either. She was sure she could handle Springer just fine. "But I might have created that issue myself, and I would like to resolve it." He then added, which surprised the young Captain, for she did not expect such a statement.

"I have no personal issue with you, Sir." The youngest Kazansky was quick to say, even though her distrust could be described as a personal issue, she had with Springer but wasn't ready to resolve.

"Hm." The older pilot let out, thinking out loud. It was disturbing. "I understand your caution, being on an unfamiliar carrier, serving under an Admiral who has yet to gain your trust. It's smart."

"I might have not been as approachable and welcoming as I should have been towards you. You must excuse, for I was also only cautious too." Jon Henry wanted her to see that he understood that he wasn't so different to her. Grace wasn't sure what to think about it just yet. She just knew that she needed the young Admiral on her side, for he was the one in charge over the east-Asia fleet.

"And now you just came to trust me?" Grace wanted to know, which had Springer watch her in return now, before he gave a small smile. It was unnerving and unnecessary, fruitless even, for Grace didn't trust him no matter what he would be saying now, but she did not trust most of the people she worked with on a personal level. She trusted him professional, for he was a good Admiral and tactician, but there was no need for a personal relationship too.

Well, there actually was. For it was easier to bind someone to oneself if there was a personal level of trust. Maybe she would have to bite the bullet after all.

"You left quiet the impression with the crew. Aviators and other. They are all ready to follow you blindly almost. I have to admit, you are a skilled Captain, Kazansky and in moments in which you could have antagonized me, you did not hesitate to tell me what I needed to hear, and you always offered your help. Even though I don't know if I trust you personally completely just yet, I know that I can trust that you have only the Trafalgar's and the crew's best interest in mind and with that I can work." The Admiral complimented, while explained on what his sudden trust for Grace was placed and she understood his approach, for she would have chosen a similar one.

"Personal trust often grows over time as a byproduct of a good working and trust based professional relationship." The youngest Kazansky allowed, full of underling motives.

"Good." Springer agreed. "Now that we have established that, I wished to ask you if there is an issue, for you seemed tense the last few days. Which is understandable after the storms we had to worry about." Ah there it was. Of course, he wanted to test that established trust right away. He wanted to know how much she trusted him in return and how much her trust was worth. For now, she would have to play along.