Second Impressions

Posted on Thu Aug 29th, 2019 @ 4:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

1,254 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 99 - Exordium / Epilogue
Location: Promenade
Timeline: MD2 1645 hrs

Andy was sitting doing his favourite pastime, watching women go by on the promenade. He liked to choose the women who interested him, he normally went for women with dark hair and dark eyes but there was one who took his fancy that he’d met before and almost succeeded in enticing. He watched as Carolyn passed by before getting up and following her. “Hey Doc! Wait up!!” He smiled as he caught her up. “Remember me?”

Lost in her own thoughts, Carolyn had only one destination in mind as she walked through the promenade. Chocolate. Lots of it. Now that she had enough to last a week - well, a day maybe - she was just wandering by the stores, passing the time before heading towards the turbolift. It had already been an insanely long day.

Hearing someone call out, she hadn't been entirely sure they were talking to her but years of being a doctor meant she had hesitated, turning towards the sound. Sure enough, someone was moving through the crowd towards her.

Unusually for her, it took a second to place him. "You were at the club the last night," she realised. "You helped rescue the drinks and you were a pretty good dancer. I'm sorry, I don't remember your name. I don't actually even remember asking for it..."

“Andrew Ignatious, friends call me Andy!” He smiled as he politely offered his hand for her to shake. “I didn’t get much chance to really get to know you last night.”

"Carolyn," she told him as she shook the outstretched hand. "And sorry about that, I definately drank way too much. Please say I didn't throw up on you or anything ..."

“Not at all” Andy shook and slowly released her hand. “I was going to see you home but your male friend didn’t seem too kind on the idea at the time!” He shrugged his shoulders.

"Male friend...oh... Liam," she said slowly, nodding. "Yeah, he had my shoes. I have no idea why. Anyway, how about a drink or some food? A little thank you for you watching out for me."

“May I offer you something back at my Quarters?” He smiled. “I was just on my way back there for that very reason.”

"I have to get these back home, but walk with me?" she suggested, gesturing to the box of chocolates tucked under her arm. "Where on the station do you work? You obvioulsy know I am a doctor, so only fair."

"I'm an engineer" Andy smiled. "One of the many here on this station! and yes I would love to walk you home." He grinned a sly grin but didn't let her see it. He chose his victims carefully but he never made his main move when his victims could identify him. The main event would wait, for now he could have some fun.

"Really?" she asked, sounding happy at the thought. "My brother is an engineer. Well, he thinks he is. He was always breaking things so it was more something he had to learn before my father murdered him. Have you been on board long?"

"Not very long actually. Looked up my old friend Freya Simmons, sorry! Ross." He grinned. "She wasn't married last time I saw her."

"You know Freya?" Carolyn asked as they approached the turbolift and she pressed the button to call it.

"She's an old flame!" He smiled. "I dated her the same time as Kaden dated Ariana Monroe."

"That must make things ... interesting," she mused as the doors to the turbolift opened. Stepping aside to let those inside exit, she followed Andy inside. Given what she knew of Freya's situation, that may be understatement of the century. "Guess it isn't such a big galaxy after all," she observed.

"Strange how fate tends to bring people together" he smiled as he coolly eyed Carolyn as they stepped inside the turbolift.

"Fate is overrated," Carolyn said as she ordered the turbolift to her deck, letting him do the same. As she caught her box of chocolates before it could fall she looked up at him, grinning, "chocolate on the other hand..."

"Oh I know! Women and chocolate!" He grinned. "As for fate..." He took a step towards her to see how it would be tolerated. "Perhaps we were meant to meet? I never did get to walk you home but I am now."

As he took a step, closing the gap between them, Carolyn took a deep breath to resist the urge to take a counterstep. Holding her ground, her bright blue eyes studying him. "I think I know the way," she assured him. "But thanks for the offer."

"Are you telling me..." He took another step closer his fingers playing with her hair. "That you wouldn't like some company?" He smiled as he gently stroked her cheek. "You seemed quite keen yesterday."

For a second she frowned, worried as she tried to remember what exactly she had done last night. Shaking that off, she pushed his hand away. "This isn't then," she reminded him, the box falling to the floor but she made no move to pick it up, one hand still on his forearm. Inwardly she cursed why this was the one time on this station the turbolift didn't seem to stop at every level.

He smiled at her reaction, she was a woman who'd put up a fight he liked that in a woman. "So you're saying you wouldn't like my....attention?" He grinned a sly grin.

There was something in that smile that chilled her. Before she could say or do anything, her comm badge came to life. Cadet Winter's voice filling the air as she called for her to come to Sickbay. Promising to be right there, Carolyn tried to sound as calm as possible as she ordered the lift to take her to medical.

"If I gave you the wrong impression last night then I'm sorry," she said, feeling the lift slow and change course. Focusing on trying to unconcerned, while being acutely aware that he seemed to be towering over her right now, she put a confidence in her voice she definitely did not feel. "But you need to back off."

Andy grinned a sly grin before raising his hands and taking a step back. "Fair enough Doc, but the offer still stands. Maybe I'll see you again another night."

As he stepped back she visibly relaxed, “thank you.” As the turbo lift began to slow as it neared her new destination she knelt down, picking up the box which had survived the fall unscathed. Tucking her hair back behind her ear she stood, waiting for the doors to open.

"I'll look forward to that then" Andy whispered in her ear as he moved behind and leant forward to whisper it in her ear.

She shivered, uncomfortable with him so close. She glared at the doors, wishing she could will them to open but she didn't say a word. Having a feeling it would only encourage him. Not that he really needed it.

Stepping back Andy simply observed her, he had plenty of time for fun and there were plenty of women aboard he'd observed.

As the doors began to open she hurried out, having to utter an apology to Ensign Trayek who was about to step inside, the Bolian Operations officer shaking his head as he took her place in the lift. He nodded to the only other occupant before the doors closed.

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