Waiting Game

Posted on Mon Jan 11th, 2021 @ 2:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Liam O'Connor

519 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: Promenade
Timeline: MD2 0515 hrs

Approaching the far corner of the promenade, the smell of coffee permeated the air with the rich scent promising to chase away any early morning cobwebs. Doctor Corrigan stood at the counter, watching as the barista worked through the long list she had provided when she felt someone come up beside her. She didn't need to glance up to know who it was, the smell of his aftershave hadn't changed at all since he had last been on the station.

"A lot of coffee for a pregnant lady," Liam O'Connor observed, "are you planning to stay awake until the baby is born?"

Carolyn half turned to face him, "I think that is happening with or without coffee but no, these are for the graveyard shift."

The shift which had been making endless preparations ahead of the fleet's return, expecting a fair share of casualties given no medical ship had accompanied the fleet. Coming here had stopped her from losing her patience with simply... waiting. Besides, if it gave her staff a little boost to deal with whatever was about to arrive then it was worth the trip.

"Ah. Well, in the interests of ensuring the coffee survives the trip," Liam began, "how about I help carry these back."

She almost said no. Yet it was that or make two trips. At least. "Alright, you can help."

His smile lit up his whole face.

"Don't look so happy at this time of the morning, it's illegal," Carolyn countered.

He duly tried to reign it in, not quite succeeding.

"Aren't you meant to be looking after a baby?" she pointed out.

"Kitty," he said with a shrug.

"Kitty," she repeated, needing no more of an explanation. As she paid for the coffees she slid the first three trays towards him as she stacked her own. "Ready?"

He gave a nod and backed up with his load of coffees, keeping a careful watch in case she needed help. "This cannot be good for you," he commented.

She fixed him with a look but said nothing as they walked towards the turbolift. As it carried them towards medical the silence made him shift uncomfortably. "Look I know this is weird and a lot," he gestured towards her swollen belly, "has happened. For both of us. And I don't expect us to have what we had. But I would like to try and be friends," he added 'at least' in his head.

She said nothing but finally gave a little nod, "maybe. I can't promise anything -"

"Of course not," he agreed quickly, unable to hide his smile. "So, what's new with you?"

The way he said it made her laugh and almost drop the coffee. Yet it was a bitter laugh, hinting that tears were not far behind. Taking a deep breath she reigned it in. "Oh, this and that," she said, aiming for nonchalance.

"Same," he agreed with a warm smile. "We could talk about it, over a coffee?"

She glanced down at the trays they carried, frowning as she admitted, "I don't think there is enough coffee in the galaxy..."

OFF.

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