I just used the word "pensive" to describe the feeling of a system administrator's state of mind while waiting for a long-running task to complete successfully, but I don't think that's the right word. I am trying to describe the feeling of waiting for the results of a task; a feeling of anxious anticipation, hoping things will work out for the best but planning one's next move in case things don't turn out as one had planned. Is there a better word than "pensive"?
EDIT: I am questioning my word choice because Merriam Webster defines pensive as:
suggestive of sad thoughtfulness
and sadness isn't part of the emotion I'm trying to convey.