Terry Sauter sat at her personal comm terminal in her quarters, staring at the screen. “Computer, erase message,” she ordered as a tear started to run down her cheek. She wiped it away and headed for the replicator. “Earth whisky, real.”

“I am sorry but that item is not available from this terminal,” said the computer.

“Damn! I forgot I didn’t program in any real stuff,” said Terry to herself. “I’m supposed to meet Twylla in 30 minutes, but I can be early,” said Terry. “I’ll just get a head start on her.” She started for the door, then stopped and looked down at her uniform. She had just returned from duty and had yet to change.

“But not in this,” she said, still talking to herself. She went to her closet and pulled out the red outfit she had worn on the last Christmas party with HIM. It was a red body suit with sequined vest and short skirt. Ankle boots would compliment the outfit. “Yes, this is perfect! Except for one thing. I don’t think I’ll wear the body suit. I feel like being wicked tonight!”

Terry quickly changed into the red vest and skirt, which showed off much of her body—more than she had ever shown in public. She brushed out her hair which she had let grow to below her shoulders, puffing it up and letting it flow freely—looking kind of wild, which was the idea.

Terry took one more look in the mirror, spinning around. “Yes. This is the look I want tonight!” She quickly left her apartment, heading for Jake’s Place.

Dr. David Fergerson sat cross-legged on one of the biobeds in Medbay, going over some notes on a padd. His boots lay beside the bed and his uniform top was spread out beside him. He wore the sleeveless shirt and the loose fitting pants style of the uniform.

Lt. Kate MacLaughlin glanced at Dr. Fergerson as she inventoried tricorders. She didn’t know how to take this new CMO. Dr. Mira Mongtomery, the previous CMO had been more than her superior officer—she had been Kate’s friend. When Mira found out she was pregnant, she decided to transfer to Starbase 114 where her husband was already stationed. The transfer had been a quick and unexpected one. As Mira took over his former position as CMO of Starbase 114, Fergerson had taken over her duties here, on the Alliance.

Kate decided to ask the doctor if anything was wrong with his office. She had noticed that he rarely worked at his desk. Mira never sat on the biobeds! She walked over to where he was sitting. “Dr. Fergerson, is anything wrong with your office?”

“Hmmm?” Dave looked up from his padd. “No, why? And please call me Dave, Kate. Casual is so much more pleasant.”

“Well, I thought since you weren’t working in your office that…”

Dave glanced towards his office. “Oh. I don’t care much for offices. I get claustrophobic in them. At the starbase I usually wondered around a lot. Didn’t spend much time in my office. In fact, I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly where it is,” he said with a smile.

“You know you can have engineering make modifications for you.”

“Yes. Perhaps I will in time. Just haven’t had the time yet. Anyway, this is quite comfortable.”

“Of course, doctor,” said Kate, turning back to her duties. I just can’t call him Dave! She said to herself. Not yet at least. Maybe in time she would get to know him better and even like him. Not that she didn’t like him now exactly, but getting used to a new CO takes time. Put your mind back on the work, Kate! She chided herself. Still, she couldn’t resist giving the doctor one more glance, only to find him hard at work, studying whatever it was he was studying. Kate shook her head and pulled another tricorder from the supply shelf.
 

"I'll have a glass of whiskey, non synthehol," ordered Terry Sauter as she plopped herself down on a barstool at Jake's Place. The place was halfway full and was starting to get crowded as more crewmembers came in off their just ending shift.

Jake smiled. He knew what everyone’s drink preference was, and Terry always drank synthehol. "A GLASS of whiskey?"

"Yes, please." Terry looked around the room, seeing if there was anyone interesting here yet. She had big plans for tonight! She was going to make some memories for herself and hopefully feel wanted in the process. She didn’t notice anyone she wanted to approach just yet, but it was early.

"Okay, Coming right up,” said Jake, smiling as he quickly moved to fill her order. He soon placed a shot glass in front of Terry and poured it full.

"Is this all?" she asked, staring at the tiny glass.

"Whiskey is served in these kinds of glasses, Ter. They're called 'shot' glasses.

"They're awfully small. I want a lot of whiskey tonight."

"Believe me, this will do you just fine. You're not expected on duty anytime soon, are you?"

"Nope. Just got off." Terry took the shot glass, and started to sip at the whiskey.

Jake started laughing.

"What?"

"You’re supposed to drink in down in one gulp, not sip it."

"Really?

Jake nodded.

"Okay. If you say so." Terry downed the whiskey in one gulp and immediately began to cough and turn red. "Ah … that was … give me another one," she managed to squeak out between coughs.

"You want a chaser with that?"

"A what?"

"Something to help it go down easier. Most prefer beer."

"Sounds good to me."

"Here ya go. Happy drinking," said Jake as he sat a mug of beer and another shot glass of whiskey in front of her. She is really gonna be sick, he thought.

"Terry, you don't need to drink the beer all in one swallow," said Jake, smiling.

"Oh sure, I knew that.” Terry was beginning to feel quite warm as the first shot of whiskey hit her stomach and started to spread it's warmth throughout her blood stream. "This stuff is good! Don’t know why I haven't tried it before now."

"You will later," mumbled Jake.

"What did you say?”

"Nothing. But if I were you, I wouldn't have any more. You're not used to the real stuff and it packs quite a wallop."

"I think I can handle it," said Terry, gulping down the next shot of whiskey. "Hey! It wasn't so bad this time!"

"Ah huh."

As she started to sip on the beer, she started to feel a little bit dizzy. "Ah, now it's taking effect. This is good," she said.

"Now Terry. Tell me what's got you so upset tonight."

"What makes you think I'm upset about anything?"

"Bartender's intuition. My guess is that it's a man."

"What?! Nope. You're wrong there, Jake. It's no man. In fact I HAVE no man. So how can I have man trouble if I don't have a man?"

"That's the problem, right?"

"Well. No. Actually," Terry took a large swallow of her beer, "actually, I found out today that a guy I used to be involved with got married last month." ( 'he 'guy' was Peter Masian, a former boyfriend of Terry's who after dating her for six months decided they were getting too close and so decided to call it off, only to try again after a year or so. It didn't work out. He later  transferred to a starbase. )

"Ah. Peter Masian."

"How did you know THAT?!"

"I'm the bartender. I know EVERYTHING that goes on in this ship," said Jake, giving Terry a sly grin. “Besides, it’s been around the rumor mill for awhile. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it before now.”

"Yeah, well, I don’t exactly keep up with what good ‘ole Pete does. I can’t believe he went and got himself married to a medical technician. I guess he didn't like engineers after all. There must be something terribly wrong with me."

Resting his elbows on the bar, Jake leaned close to Terry. "Terry. There is NOTHING wrong with you. You are a very beautiful and talented woman. Any man would be lucky to be with you." He kissed her on the top of her head.

"You're sweet for saying that Jake, but why didn't Peter want me?"

"Because there is someone out there who is better suited for you is all. Whenever the Universe closes one door another, better one opens up.”

"You think so?"

"Absolutely."

"Great! Can I have another whiskey please?"

"Okay. One more, but that's your limit tonight."

"kay."

After downing her third glass of whiskey and full mug of beer, Terry wasn't feeling too good. "Jake. I think I am not feeling s'good. I think I'm gonna be sick!"

"I was afraid of that. Can you make it down to medbay with help?"

"I don't know. How far away is that?"

Just then Ensign Twylla Pelle entered the lounge and came to sit beside her friend. “Terry, what are you so dressed up for? I thought we were just gonna have a drink and something to eat,” said Twylla, eyeing Terry’s brief outfit.

Terry turned a bleary eye to her friend. “I have plans, s’all,” she winked.

“What kind of plans as if I couldn’t figure it out.”

“I’m gonna get back at Peter Masian!” said Terry triumphantly, starting to stand up, and slipping off the barstool.

Twylla caught her friend’s arm. “Damn! I wanted to tell you about that myself when I thought you could handle it better. I was worried about how you would react.”

“You KNEW?!”

“Well…”

"Twylla, would you mind escorting Ensign Sauter to Medbay? It appears she is not feeling too well just now." He could see Terry was getting a bit too pale and wobbly.

“Ooo, I am feelin’ kinda … not too well,” said Terry as the full effect of the drinks she had consumed hit her when she stood.

“Come on, Ter. You’ll feel better when I get you to Medbay,” said Twylla, grabbing Terry’s arm and practically pulling her out of Jake’s Place.

Terry waived at Jake from the doorway. "Bye Jake! Thanks for the 'skey!"

Jake waved back and smiled. Maybe this would convince her that the real stuff is just a little too much for her to handle and she would never try it again. But then again, people rarely did what was good for them, did they?

“What’s the problem Ensign?”

"My friend got some bad news tonight and she, ah, kinda, wanted to drown her sorrows, doctor."

“Ah, I see. Let me,” he said as he scooped Terry up in his deceptively strong arms, carrying her to a biobed and gently laying her down.  Twylla couldn’t help but notice the slender doctor had well-developed arm muscles. More like a security guard’s than a doctor’s.

“Partying?” he asked, indicating her dress, and watching the biobed’s readings.

Twylla responded rather shyly, embarrassed for her friend. “Ah … no, doctor. Not really. She doesn’t usually dress like that. I mean she…_

“It’s okay Ensign. I think I understand," he said grinning warmly.

Twylla nodded as she took Terry’s hand on the opposite side of the bed from the doctor.

Kate approached them. “Doctor?”

Dave pushed Terry’s hair from her face and got his first good look at her. His eyes went big and the blood drained from his face.

Twylla grabbed his arm. “Doctor, what is it! Is she going to die?” She imagined all sorts of terrible diseases Terry might have which would elicit such a response from the doctor.

Dr. Dave shook his head as if to clear his thoughts then responded as he looked up at the display panel above the bed. “No. I mean, she’ll be fine. Just a little too much alcohol it looks like. Kate, 10 mgs of lyterinyx please.”

Kat noticed the doctor’s strange reaction upon seeing Terry’s face. Wonder what’s up with that? She asked herself, as she grabbed a hypo and filled it with the appropriate medicine. “Doctor,” she said, handing the hypo to Dave.

Dave injected Terry in her upper arm. "That should handle the alcohol withdrawal symptoms. She'll be fine, but I'm afraid she'll have a bit of a headache once she fully awakens, but we can handle that too.  I think it best she stays here for the next 24 hours just to make sure. I take it she’s not used to drinking real alcohol?"

"No, doctor,” said Pelle.  “I've never known Terry to drink anything stronger than synthehol."

"I see. You can go now. She'll probably sleep for the next few hours.  When she wakes up, I'll give her something for her headache. She'll be able to go back to work in 24 hours or so.  I'll notify her CO.”

"Thank you, Dr. Fergerson. Will it be all right if I check in on her later?”

"Sure,” said Dave as he patted Twylla on her shoulder.

Ensign Pelle left and Dr. Fergerson went over to where Terry was now sleeping. He gently touched her hair and stroked her cheek. "Sleep tight,” he whispered.

Although Dr. Fergerson was officially off duty, he stayed in Medbay all night, checking on her frequently. This did not go unnoticed by the medical staff, especially Kate.  And so began the rumors.