Fal

Posted on Thu Feb 20th, 2020 @ 3:21am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Commander Hades,MD

2,117 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 104 - A Glimmer of Hope...
Location: Personal Quarters, Dr Corrigan
Timeline: MD1, 1150hrs

{ON:}

They arrived at Carolyn's quarters. He allowed her to lead them in. The trip was short and silent. He knew she was processing. He would give her time.

It was hard to focus on just one question, just one train of thought. Especially with a puppy wriggling around in her arms, wanting freedom to explore. Stopping in the centre of the room, she set her 'gift' down, watching as she set off at warp speed to inspect everything. She was definitely curious.

"I can barely remember to water plants," she said softly as the furball came back, nuzzling against her leg before setting off again. Turning she regarded Fal for a long time, frowning as she tried to settle on a question. "How did you know him?"

The ways of his people, his mother's people, dictated absolute candor but that would not do to his plans. "We were close. I have known him all my life. We were not always together but we talked often."

She considered him, frowning. “You must have been. To know about the colony... but that was half an answer. All your life... did you grow up together?”

"For a while. A long story that we have time for. He talked often of you."

"For a while..." she repeated softly, taking a deep breath. Hearing a playful bark she looked down with a sigh, "this is no place for a puppy. I hope you are as tough as you are fluffy. You are gonna need food. And water. And somewhere to sleep. And everything we do not have."

"I have brought it all. Food can be replicated. For now," he walked over and replicated a bowl of water. He laid it down an the puppy drank from it.

He smiled, "You are as beautiful as Richard said but I could tell that at a distance." He studied her. "So, why don't you show me to the medical bay. Rainbow will be find here." He motioned again with his hand and the dog barked and then settled in. "She's trained so I will teach you her commands." His blue eyes studied her as if they saw through her soul.

"Right... sickbay," she nodded, heading for the door, grateful to focus on something more mundane. Every time he uttered his name, it was painful. She knew, in time, it would be easier but this... it was too raw. Pausing to lock the door so that her new pet couldn't run amok, she led the way towards the turbolift. "Everything will be just as you used to, I'm sure. We brought a sizable compliment of our medical staff from the base. We expect to be busy. I will be running surgical, Doctor Reid will be co-ordinating trauma. Although she will no doubt appreciate your support."

"I come to serve." He said using a phrase that hinted at not only a Romulan Heritage but Vulcan as well.

"You may need to teach as well," Carolyn told him as they entered the lift. "We have some cadets with us, final year so not exactly green. And even some of our doctors have only recently graduated. This will be the first time a lot of them have seen this kind of situation outside of a holodeck training programme."

"I will help." Her shock was still evident. "All will be well. I know you are in shock and pain. I am here to help you as well."

She frowned, trying to resist her natural urge to push people away. Especially complete strangers. And a part of her, a big part, did want to know everything he could tell her about Harris. Tell her the things they never got to know about one another. "If you can help keep Sickbay going, then that's all the help I need right now. And, the puppy. Sickbay and puppy. Thank you."

He gave a nod. "Of course." They entered the turbo lift and he stayed silent knowing that she had a thousand questions but giving her time. It would all come out eventually. "How is the baby doing?" He asked.

"Sickbay," she ordered, the lift beginning the short journey. She didn't know why the question surprised her at all but it did. "The baby is doing just fine."

For at least six months... she added inwardly.

"Adari has briefed me. She thinks you will be able to carry the child to term. That last injection she gave you apparently it had a little extra." His jaw twitched. "A modification that your CMO added to. I have pledged my life to ensuring you and the baby are fine. My gift to Richard."

His mention of Adari was only slightly less shocking as everything that came after. “What do you mean, that he added to? And no! God no. I have enough guilt in my life.”

"There is nothing to feel guilty about. Richard loved you with his whole soul. He gave up on love and then met you. You were his world. As for what I mean. Hades is not what you think him to be. He's a manipulative, disgusting man whose caused the downfall of so many."

“He is my friend,” Carolyn told him, “and the captain of this ship. Please, do not talk about him like that. Not around me.”

"As you wish." Eventually she'd see Hades for what and who he was. "Just remember one thing. Blind loyalty to Hades is why I lost three people that I loved. Do not give him that."

“I know who had had my back, who has saved my life,” she insisted. “I don’t know you.”

"That is true." His blue eyes stared at her. A familiar stare. They walked out of the lift and Fal stopped. His head inclined and he smiled. "This ship has a stowaway." He looked to the right studying a panel. "Shall we go." He motioned her forward.

Carolyn followed his gaze to the panel, seeing nothing unusual. Confused she moved towards Sickbay. “And here we are...”

Fal looked around. "Excellent. I will get familiar with things and help put away supplies if that is alright with you."

“Be my guest,” she said with a smile, “that is Dr Reid over there. I have to check in on the Bridge but I’ll be back soon.”

He gave a nod. Fal headed over to meet Reid.

Carolyn watched him go until she turned and headed back out of Sickbay. "Computer, location on Dr Hades please..."

Bridge

Emerging onto the bridge, Doctor Corrigan paused, her gaze falling on the centre chair. The computer had already told her where to find Hades but it was habit. Taking a deep breath she headed for the ready room, pressing the door chime.

Hades closed down his computer. "Come in."

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see," Carolyn began as she entered the room, the door sliding closed behind her, "but are you alright?"

Hades looked up. There were too many emotions rolling in him. "I don't know." He simply said.

She was silent for a moment. Unsure if he genuinely did not know, or if it was more he didn't know if he wanted to confide in her. She frowned, sounding completely unsure of herself when she said, "do you want to talk about what happened in the transporter room?"

"I...I don't know." It was all that he seemed to know how to say. "He...I don't know." Hades stood and began to pace as he always did when he was nervous. "Richard knew! He knew and said nothing." There was anger there.

"Do you want to be alone?" she asked quietly. She didn't understand the anger in his voice. She didn't understand so much right now, it made her head hurt.

He seemed to deflate. "I don't know." He looked at Carolyn. "Fal...he...be careful around him Carolyn."

“Why? Because he knows about the colony, he knows Adari and seems to think you did something to my last treatment so the baby carries to term?” She challenged. “At least he is speaking to me! You can hardly look at me!”

She sighed, turning on her heels to leave him be, gripping the back of the chair nearest her as a wave of dizziness caught her off guard. She let it pass, taking a deep breath as she straightened and headed for the door.

Hades wanted to go after her but all that Fal had told her so far was right. Hades had insisted on the new serum. If it worked her child would be the key to helping his people. "Fal!" He had no time to deal with him now but he would deal with him before he brought Hades' world down too early.

Stepping outside, she paused to take a breath. She should have left it, gone back to sickbay. Instead she about turned and walked straight back in. “Why does he hate you?” She demanded. “And what did I do? I miss him somuch and it feels like I’ve lost you too.”

Hades sighed. He stood and walked over placing his hands on her shoulders. "You haven't lost me. There is so much...Listen Carolyn Richard meant more to me then you can understand. More then I can tell you now. Fal...Well he lost his family because they swore to protect me. They gave their lives protecting me. Up until he beamed over I thought he was dead and now I find out not only that he's alive but that he and Harris were in contact. It will all sort itself out. The most important thing now is you and he baby."

She sighed, “I guess...”

"Alright." He looked at her. "Have you eaten?"

“I’m still angry about that,” she quipped. “In the briefing? Really? And I ate this morning. Only threw up once since then so already better than yesterday.”

He smiled, "Well since you threw up time for more food. Now hop to it."

"I want to know something first. Actually I want to know a lot of things," she corrected herself, "but the baby... what did he mean about you changing the injection. Were you going to tell me? Was Adari going to tell me?"

He sighed, "Adari didn't know. I looked at her formula and I figured if I changed it slightly it could do the same thing. She... failed to account for something. Her formula would have gotten you to the six month mark. This will get you all the way." He said with conviction.

"Adari, overlook something?" Carolyn said, her expression incredulous. "We are talking about the same person? What did she overlook?"

He sighed. He wasn't ready to tell her yet. "Carolyn. Trust me."

"Like you are trusting me?" she challenged. "I have a right to know. This is my child too, not just his. I am already worried enough about what our combined genetics is going to mean. Don't make this harder. I'd rather know than be kept in the dark. Can you understand that?"

He sighed, Fal being here was already sowing seeds he didn't like. "Alright. After this mess is over, when we are back on the station we'll go over everything. I guarantee that your baby will be fine."

"Can I be completely unprofessional for a second?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow.

She took it as a yes, in the absence of an all out no. Trying not to let her emotions run riot she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Don't be angry with him," she pleaded. "You have no idea how much you meant to him."

He gave into the hug a moment and then turned his back. An emotion popped up on him. Shame. "I know. I let him down Carolyn. Just like I let a lot of people down. I live with that. I will always have to live with that."

"How could you possibly have let him down?" she demanded gently, "if he hadn't taken me there, it would never have happened. He'd still be on the base, moaning at me to eat as much as you do."

He smiled, "Yes. He loved you so much." Hades hadn't planned on that. "Nevertheless what happened is not your fault. You must know that."

She shook her head, because she didn't know that. "I should get back to sickbay," she said suddenly. "You know where I am if you need me."

He let her go. He was angry at himself. He let her go. Now he had to just get through this and get Fal off the ship.


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