Stopping by

Posted on Thu Dec 12th, 2019 @ 5:25am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

1,627 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 101 - Peace During War
Location: Ariana’s quarters
Timeline: MD4, 0935 hours

Ariana hadn't long finished feeding a now sleeping Stacie, when the door chime had rang. She smiled as she got up, walked to the door and opened it. "Hey Carolyn, come on in!"

“I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced but I wanted to see how my favourite patient was doing,” Doctor Corrigan offered by way of apology as she peered into the impossibly small basket where Stacie slept soundly. Carolyn glanced over at Ariana, “I had hoped they’d keep her in just a little longer so I could sneak some cuddles before she came home. How are you both?”

"Stacie is fine, me I'm..." Ariana paused. "Anything but, but that is a long story that'll take forever to explain!" She shook her head. "Needless to say it doesn't have anything to do with Stacie!"

Carolyn turned to face her, frowning. “Anything but? Andy related or something else?”

"Kind of both!" Ariana sighed. "One is Section 31 related but Hades is helping me with that. The other is you!" She looked at Carolyn curiously. "Something isn't right with you is it?"

“Me?” Carolyn repeated, looking for a mirror. “What did I do? I mean I was out last night but I didn’t think it was that obvious...”

"You haven't done anything!" Ariana was quick to reassure her friend. "The last few days or so I've been sensing things from you, I think when I shielded you from Andy it left a residual connection. I keep feeling emotions from you even when I'm not near you." She offered a smile. "So no hiding from me from now on."

Carolyn frowned, processing that. “Oh,” was all she said at first before recalling waking up this moment. Her cheeks flushed a little with a distinct hint of embarrassment as she added, “okay... sorry? I was really really drunk last night so whatever you might have felt-“

"Oh..Oh! No! Not anything like that." Ariana was quick to reassure Carolyn. "I just...feel when you're distressed or in pain, the more powerful emotions. I'm not...entirely myself of late so it might be to do with that, I don't know."

"Glad that didn't get awkward," Carolyn murmured with a grin as she returned to admiring the perfect little form asleep in her basket. "I guess I was a little. Liam. But it is in the past now so all done. You feeling weirded out from the incredibly stressful delivery, the joys of motherhood or the Section 31 thing? Or the wedding planning? Of he who I wont name cos you get this look that I probably get too. Anyway, I'd say you have good reason to not be entirely yourself."

"Carolyn...something is happening to me, I don't understand it and I'm not sure I want to." Ariana sighed. "Andy is in a vegetative state now because of me! I don't even remember doing it, or how I did it." She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure it out!"

Leaving Stacie to sleep, Carolyn crossed over and sat down beside Ariana. "I hadn't heard about anything happening to him. I'm not sad about it but I know you are a good person. Inside and out. Whatever happened, you would have been doing to protect yourself. And he is … he's dangerous. To everyone. What would he have done, could have done, if you weren't able to block him out after he took Freya?"

She hesitated, swallowing down her own customary dislike for such things, as she took Ariana's hand. "Whatever you need. I'm here. Anytime. Do you want me to sit with Stacie until Cameron comes home so you can sleep?"

“No, it’s okay just your company is great. How are things going for you anyway?” Ariana studied her friend.

"The away mission was … wow," Carolyn grinned. "Amazing. And what I needed. And then my kind of boyfriend found out he was a dad and I didn't just send him away, I even organised the transport for them to go. Then I got really really drunk because that always works out well. And - this does not leave this room, okay? But then I spent the night with Dr Harris. Of all the people, Doctor Harris!"

Ariana looked at Carolyn in surprise. “Harris? Seriously!?” She couldn’t help but grin. “I never imagined him being your type.” She smiled. “Liam came to see me about things, I told him to talk to you. Did the two of you actually talk about things before he went?”

"Over subspace. A few times," she said with a shrug. "I wasn't going to let him stay here, when we were just whatever it was we were. Being a dad, you could see it written all over his face. He was in love, as he should be. And he can't be a dad way out here. Being a dad is what he wants. I can't promise him that will ever happen. It was the right thing to do.

As for Harris... we were both a little drunk. I cannot remember much after finding him in a bar drowning his sorrows, I was just gonna take him home. But in a way he probably is my type, he decided to resign. He told me on the away mission. So zero commitment. Thing is, he kissed me and I keep thinking about him. He infuriates me all the time but he's a damn good kisser."

Ariana grinned. “So what happens now? Harris is leaving, Braxton is leaving, it’s all change where the medical department is concerned. Even Freya has been reassigned as Counsellor for the Marines only. But at least we have a new Counsellor’s Aide, Olivia O’Riley.”

"Help will be good," Carolyn pointed out, unable to keep a hint of sadness out of her voice as she thought of Hades. "And we'll get other doctors. It's what we are used to doing. Only when you get a more senior position are you given any real assurance of staying in one place."

"How is Hades?" Ariana looked at Carolyn. "I wish he wasn't so secretive but as his friend I understand his reasons.

“He is stressed and stubborn,” Carolyn sighed. “Complicated is still his favourite word and he spends more time worrying about other people than himself. I worry about him. So much.”

"You and me both!" Ariana grinned. "I'll keep a discreet eye on him, as much as I'm allowed to anyway."

“Good luck with that,” Carolyn grinned. “At least Kalani is back. She’s a match for him.”

Ariana grinned. "Indeed she is! You know how much these talks of ours cheer me up? I'm lucky to have you as a friend Carolyn."

"Ha! Motherhood is clearly scrambling your brains. Wait until she is old enough for you to go to all those baby and toddler classes. My sister swears she lost more brain cells in those classes than when we used to get really drunk doing a pub crawl in Dublin," Carolyn confided with a grin. "And I'm glad to have you as a friend too. I'll fight off psycho guys with you any day. Though maybe we could just stick to some lunches and prosecco?"

"Agreed!!" Ariana laughed. "I can fight anything as long as I have you there to help me. That includes going insane due to parenthood." She giggled.

"I'll do the baby art classes and music classes, but I am not watching crazy cartoons," Carolyn grinned.

Ariana laughed, it felt good to laugh after all the stresses of late. "Cartoons are mine! You don't know what you're missing they're great!!"

"I'd rather take the paints and the glue and the glitter. Oh there will be so much glitter, your quarters will be a-maz-ing. And it goes everywhere," Carolyn laughed. "I can just see it now."

“Yeah...me pulling my hair out at the mess!!” Ariana laughed. “It’s going to be a lot of crazy fun!”

“And just wait until she discovers boys. I of course will be the cool one who’ll give her the best advice,” Carolyn declared. “And teach her how to throw a punch too.”

Ariana grinned. "I can see you being a brilliant god mother to Stacie! I did already ask you didn't I?"

“You did. I still think you are a little crazy but I’d be honoured,” Carolyn assured her.

"No, I'm honoured to be your friend!" Ariana grinned. "You cheer me up no end, I've been a bit up and down of late with everything that's gone on. I didn't want it to be postnatal depression, I know how hard that is."

“If it gets worse, promise you will tell me? Or Rol? Or anyone?” Carolyn said seriously. “We are all here for you. And I hear you are planning a wedding so maybe catch the bouquet and have Cameron whisk you away?”

Ariana grinned. "Yep, I'm planning my dad's wedding with some help from Vox. As for Cameron, we've only just got engaged he won't want to rush straight into a wedding as much as its a nice thought."

"I should let you get back to planning. And resting. I should have said the last part first, but you know what I mean. I am going to chill out in a very dark room to recover before I cover a night shift," Carolyn groaned as she climbed to her feet. "Remember, just shout if you need anything."

"I will, I promise!" Ariana smiled warmly. "The same goes for you okay?"

With a wave Carolyn disappeared out of the door, determined to grab some sleep before she went on duty or - worse - her grandmother realised she was back.

[OFF]

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