Baby steps

Posted on Tue Dec 8th, 2020 @ 7:37pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD
Edited on on Sat Jan 2nd, 2021 @ 2:49pm

1,061 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD1 - 1200 hours

"... and now we are back where we started," Doctor Mendez announced as he led their guest back into the main sickbay, amazed he still had a voice left as he brought the tour to a conclusion.

By tour, he had expected to be providing a brief glimpse of the highlights - his favourite OR, their impressive Intensive Care Unit with state of the art equipment, the mortuary so that Doctor Phelps could remember what it was like to see actual living people... that kind of thing. But no. It was more like an inspection. Every nook and cranny was checked, commented on or queried.

And the fact they found Doctor Phelps rehearsing for the theatre group's rendition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show? He shuddered at the memory.

"Yes, I have eyes," Doctor William Corrigan commented drily. "I assume you have duties to attend to. I will wait in my daughter's office. Kindly tell her I am waiting."

Before Mendez could actually reply, the man had turned on his heels and made himself comfortable in Doctor Corrigan's office. At least, the surgeon realised with a grin, he wasn't his problem anymore. With a spring in his step he headed into the doctor's lounge, which at first looked empty. Moving further inside he spotted a pair of feet on the floor behind the sofa and in a moment of panic, rushed forward only to come up short.

"Double chocolate cake?" he guessed.

Using a fork to break off another piece, Doctor Corrigan shook her head as she took a bite. "Triple."

"You know, I wasn't going to include the lounge in the tour," Mendez pointed out, folding his arms. "You don't need to hide behind the sofa."

"One, as you have clearly surmised by the fact you've been gone for hours he goes where he wants to go. Two, I was avoiding him until I had enough chocolate to endure whatever it is he came here for. And three, I'm also hiding from Hades as I had to get this from Dr Davis since he's somehow got the replicators to stop giving me chocolate!"

Mendez grinned, "you sound more annoyed about the chocolate."

"I am."

"Well, good luck. I am going to take my punishment now and leave," and with that he was off. "And I want this noted as good behaviour when you and Hades kick my ass out an airlock tomorrow."

Carolyn pulled a face as she took another bite and had to concede she was not going to manage another bite without throwing up. "Guess it is time for you to kind of meet the other grandfather," she said quietly to her swollen belly, "he's just as difficult as the other one. What can I tell you - families kid."

Hauling herself to her feet she took a deep, calming breath as she finished recycling what was left of the cake and headed out. What was a few minutes walk at most took nearly half an hour, by the time she was finished with consults and signing discharge orders. It was great to see more of the crew being signed off and allowed to finish recuperating at home, yet it was a nightmare of paperwork and scheduling.

"How was the tour?" she asked brightly as she walked into her office.

"Interesting," he replied in a tone that said he had seen something that displeased him. "Your medical examiner..."

"Ah," Carolyn said in understanding as she sank into her seat.

"Beyond that, you have quite the facility here," he conceded. "Excellent neonatal and paediatric facilities."

He was being far too... nice. But she would take it. "Thank you. I would love to take the credit but our CMO, Doctor Hades, was the one who pushed for us to have most of the medical facility upgraded."

"Yes, the infamous Doctor Hades. Your grandmother has a twitch when she mentions the name," her father confided. "May I get myself a drink?"

Damn it. "I'll get it," she said, starting to climb to her feet before he waved her down.

"Nonsense, I will not have a pregnant woman serving me tea," he told her firmly.

"I wasn't sure you would be staying long enough for tea," she observed, before throwing in, "in fact, I'm not entirely sure why you are here at all. You made your feelings very clear -"

"Ah," he sighed, coming to sit back down, balancing a cup and saucer on her knee the way her grandfather always did. He seemed to at least have the consideration to seem uncomfortable. "Yes...

I cannot excuse what I said in the heat of the moment. It was unforgivable. And I assure you that your siblings have been most vocal in their defence of you. And your grandmother."

Carolyn's eyes narrowed, "if you want to speak about her, the door is right there."

"No, no," he said quickly, "not at all. This is about us. You and me. I have had time to reflect. To realise how unreasonable and hurtful I was. I had thought you could not push my buttons, as it were, quite like that anymore. But you did. And I reacted badly."

Setting aside his untouched tea he leaned forward. "You are my daughter. No matter what I said that night. And you are carrying my grandchild. This is not a time to be isolated from your family. Please, I am here for just a few days but I wish to use them to try, if I can, to help mend our relationship. I know I have never been much of a hands on father with any of you, but I do want to try."

She studied him for a long time. Torn between wanting to fix it and wanting to throttle him with her bare hands. "Fine. But my day is busy. If you like, you can come and watch the children's recital of A Christmas Carol later and then take me to dinner. It starts at 1600 hours."

He seemed relieved. "Very well, I will be here," he nodded as he stood, looking as if he was going to say more before deciding not to risk it and heading out.

Carolyn stared after him, frowning. "At least he didn't bring the wicked witch with him," she whispered. "Baby steps, right little one? Baby steps."

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