Great Escape

Posted on Sun Oct 27th, 2019 @ 6:08am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Liam O'Connor

832 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 100 - A Hatred of Atonement
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: 1930 hours

“... discomfort. However now that you’ve given it a chance, your back is healing better than I expected so provided you give me your word that you will return at the first sign of any complications, you can return to your quarters.”

Sitting on the edge of the biobed, Carolyn looked up at Mendez, quite sure she had misheard or somehow slipped into a parallel universe. Quite sure his decision may not coincide with what a certain CMO might want. “Mendez, your dislike of having post op patients is to be commended, thank you,” she replied with a slow smile.

He huffed. “Studies consistently show recovery at home benefits patients.”

“Quite,” she nodded. “I will be good, promise. Scouts honour.”

“You were not a scout.”

“Not even close,” she confirmed, “but the promise stands.”

Before he could speak, Liam O’Connor appeared, “want me to leave this here and come back?”

In his hand was a brown bag and whatever was inside - definitely food - smelled incredible. He ran a hand through his hair, an easy smile on his lips, “you know Kitty. Loves to solve things with food. And I thought you might be hungry.”

Carolyn’s smile widened, “the woman is an angel. We can take it to go. Mendez is letting me out early for good behaviour.”

“Hardly,” Mendez corrected, “but yes, free to go.”

Liam grinned, “my perfect timing continues. Apart from before when you were sleeping. But still. I’ll make sure she gets home and tests Doc.”

“First you can both get out so I can change.”

*********

“Why are we going this way?” Liam whispered. He wasn’t sure why he was whispering but the fact they were heading out in a way that avoided a certain CMOs office made him suspicious. And he was hardly the man’s favourite person.

The look he got in response only confirmed his suspicions and so he just continued to walk beside her, letting her hold on to his arm while his other hand held the bag of food. After leaving Ariana earlier he had planned to just blurt out everything but he had found Carolyn still asleep and he didn’t have the heart to wake her with a possibly unrequited declaration of ... what? He sure liked her. A lot.

Ariana made it sound so easy. Simple. Yet his history with women had made him weary of anything serious. Especially as he seemed to fall the hardest for the crazy ones. Carolyn was different. But at the same time, thinking on it more, the hesitation was back.

She was beyond clever, she was beautiful and yet more importantly she had a good soul as his grandmother used to say. Despite everything- of which he only really knew the rumours and gossip - she didn’t let that make her a bad person. Kept getting back up. He knew what that was like. How hard and exhausting that was.

She deserved better. Which kept him largely quiet on the walk back. It took a while, he wasn’t willing to rush her and he could see she was still in some pain so he kept pace with her, never once showing any hint of impatience.

“You sit and I’ll plate this up,” he said as he led her into her quarters, sitting her at the table and grinning when she stuck out her tongue at him. “Very mature.”

For the next few minutes they are in silence. He cleared his plate and then hers when she gave up almost half way through. “I will tell Kitty you ate every bite,” he assured her.

“Thank you. I think Kitty’s wrath would be scarier than anything these last few days,” Carolyn confessed.

Liam laughed, “true that.”

He stood, clearing up before offering her his hand and pulling her to her feet, “I made a promise to get you home safe and you need to rest.”

He didn’t miss the sudden tension in her shoulders. “Don’t worry, he’s in the brig. But I’ll crash on the couch tonight. Just in case you need a gorgeous Irish barman on call.“

She rolled her eyes, “so modest but thank you.”

Turning she took a step towards her room before turning back, kissing him. His eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard. “That was.... unexpected,” he grinned as he put his hands on her hips as she broke the kiss. “Carolyn-“

“I know. But we can talk tomorrow, okay?” she interrupted as she headed into her room. As the door closed behind her, Liam stared at the couch, debating if the floor may actually be more comfortable. He was still thinking when the door to Carolyn’s room opened and she stood there in a cute pair of pyjamas. He was not ashamed to say he stared. A lot.

“Are you just going to stand there, Romeo? Or you need an invitation?”

He didn’t need asked twice.

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