Cat out of the Bag

Posted on Thu Dec 12th, 2019 @ 12:26am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Commander Hades,MD

1,081 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 101 - Peace During War
Location: Sickbay, CMO's office SB400
Timeline: MD 04 0900 Hours

ON:

"Doctor Corrigan is a good doctor.... That is false. You are a skilled surgeon, an excellent doctor, someone who has a rare brilliance.”

As greetings went, it was unusual but as Doctor Corrigan entered the office of the station’s Chief Medical Officer, quoting his own words at him was one way to guarantee she had his attention. Her blue eyes didn’t miss how his colour was ever so slightly off, something she would normally attribute to tiredness. Or stress. He undoubtedly suffered from both.

As she seated herself she heard Harris come in behind her. “I am perhaps all those things but clearly not good enough. You are sick.”

She wasn’t Scooby Gang, she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind in front of him. And she had enough random bits of information to justify a reasonable hunch - albeit a fake one - without divulging that Harris had broken several regulations. So instead she let the statement hang in the air to see if he would be honest with her or not.

Hades, who'd been reading a report, looked up frustrated. "What on Earth are you going on about. Tired yes. Sick...of the repair crews yes." He looked up as Harris came in and sat down. He sighed. "Alright. What's going on?"

Carolyn sighed, clearly leaning towards shouting which had been her original plan. “So you are absolutely fit and healthy?” She challenged. “Because you signed yourself off surgical duties.”

He waved his hand, "Oh that. Well others needed more time and I have other matters that I have to tend to."

"Yes I believe that. You did this to give others time in the OR," Harris started. "You didn't do this cause you weren't feeling well enough to do surgery."

Hades gave a nod. "Precisely. It's about others having time and with the repairs I am needed here and there is a medicine shortage."

"Right," Harris said. "And Carolyn and I spent an intense and passionate night together."

Carolyn shot Harris a look, wishing he was close enough to kick. What was he thinking?!

The silence stretched and then something happened that Carolyn and Harris, in all their time of knowing Hades, had never seen. Hades threw his head back and howled in laughter. This went on for quite some time. He stopped briefly pointed from one to the other, swiped the tears that were running down his cheeks and then howled in laugher again doubling over.

Harris eyed Carolyn as if he'd just seen the eight wonder of the world.

“You broke him,” Carolyn declared, glaring at Harris. “And you can fix it. I told you! Do.Not.Tell.Hades!”

Hades laughed harder. It seemed that the stresses of the day drained through his laughed. He swiped at his eyes. "Oh man. I'll be back." He got up still laughing and holding his sides and headed into the bathroom.

Harris shot out of his chair and quickly took Hades' His hands flew over the consol. He hoped Carolyn could deduce that he was looking for Proof of Hades' cover up. He motioned to the stack of PADDs on the shelf to Carolyn's right. "Empty one quick!"

“This is a bad idea,” she warned as she lifted one of the PADDs and tossed it to him, “its already blank.”

After another minute he stood up stuck the PADD down his shirt and retook his seat just as Hades entered. He was smiling now. "You two are insane but thank you. I did need to laugh. Everyone knows if you two were locked in a room over night we'd have to start and investigation to see who strangled who. I appreciate the attempt to get my stress down." He sat back down not aware that Harris had been at his computer.

"Not a problem. Carolyn he's get to work. We made him laugh all is good." He all but pulled her out of the room.

Carolyn glanced back at Hades as Harris pulled her towards the door. “All is good?!” She hissed under her breath.

As they entered the hall outside the office he pulled her to just around the corner and let her go. He grabbed for the PADD. "I have a plan."

“This better be spectacular,” she warned.

He sighed. "I noticed he was working on crew physicals and sending notices for those that are due. I simply inserted his name. He'll resist. Your job," he said handing her a PADD. "When it appears on the PADD is to make him do it. He'll fight and then you have amo to order him. I've also downloaded the coordinates and frequency of this Vulcan doctor he talked about. Call him. Tell him I'm coming via shuttle to take him here. In the mean time in the recording you remember Hades said he's been subbing for the Benjasidrine by mixing Lectrazine and Vasokin?"

“Yes...” she confirmed, not oblivious to the fact that he was managing to avoid the worst parts of his plan.

"See how much damage he's done with your scans. He won't pass the physical."

“So he goes from you thinking he’ll kill you,” she mused, “to making him want to kill me? Fine. Done, done and one failed physical coming up... After I go home and throw up.”

He smiled, "Yeah there is that too." He gently touched her arm. "Carolyn."

“What?” She asked absently.

He lowered his lips to hers and gently coaxed her into a kiss just long enough to leave her dazed but not long enough for her to kill him. "We'll have to try last night again..without the alcohol. You're worth time and effort. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He turned and walked away unaware that Mendez had rounded the corner just in time to witness the kiss.

“Did not see that coming,” Mendez smirked as he came closer. “You know, if you wanted -“

“Finish that sentence and I will kill you with me bare hands,” Carolyn hissed, turning away from Harris’ retreating back, “and breathe a word to anyone about this and I will kill you, resuscitate you and then kill you again. Understood?”

He grinned, raising his hands up in a Boy Scout salute, “yes ma’am. Of course, someone covering my night on call tonight would definitely help...”

“Fine,” she sighed, moving past him and heading for the exit. Her mind on Hades, Vulcan doctors and a lot of Harris.

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