"A Big Surprise in a Small Box"
[Previous post: "Free Flight", written by Brian Matthews]
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C2, Level 4, Holodeck 11
The last couple of hours had been better than any dream Lea might have
had. Well maybe not better than *all* of her dreams, but this holodeck
program had come in a very close second. The fresh mountain air, the azure blue sky, the aroma of wild flowers in the air had just been perfect. Even David's selection of food had been perfect. If it had at all been possible the CMO would have wanted to spend the rest of her life like this.
"Are there any more of those strawberries?" Lea asked. Her lips had
gained a healthy red tint thanks to the delectable fruits supplied by the
CEO. The redness of the CMO's lips had been proportionate to her
enjoyment of the delicacy.
"Sorry M'Lady," David grinned. "You had the last three dozen all to
yourself."
"I did?" Lea asked sheepishly. She remembered having had a few, but
not three dozen. As Lea recalled each and every delicious fruit to have
crossed her lips the CMO realized something. There had been a lot more
of them than she had initially accounted for. Even if David had
exaggerated his count, Lea knew that she had enjoyed far more than what
should have been her share. "I am so sorry, I just got carried by the moment."
David interrupted the CMO's apology as he gently placed a single finger
over her lips. Given the size of the CEO's hands, that one finger had
been enough to silence Lea without trouble. Than again Doctor Summers
could not hold a candle to the abilities of their CSciO, Lt. Cmdr. Maya.
"No need to apologise," David grinned softly as he looked down at Lea.
"I was feeding them to you. If I had wanted more, I could have easily
taken them for myself."
Lea felt her heart melt inside of her chest. David had been so
thoughtful, so caring, so loving, it had all been more than Lea could have
ever hoped for. The CMO smiled up at the CEO unable to think of anything
more to say. Since words had been impossible Lea relied on actions to
show her gratitude and snuggled a little closer to the large man. The
two of them had already been as close as two bodies could be, but Lea
managed to squeeze whatever air had been between them out.
Minutes passed in blissful silence as Lea wonder if this day could be
made to be any better. All of the problems of their previous mission
had vanished into nothingness. Even the condition of their ILO had for
the time being been pushed out of the CMO's thoughts. It had not been
overly professional of Lea but it had been a necessity for the ANUBIS'
CMO. To care too much for a patient, to allow too much of a personal
link to be forge could lead Lea to a world of endless pain.
Given the choice between pain and pleasure, Lea had instinctively
selected the latter. David had unintentionally made that decision a lot
easier than the CMO could have ever hoped it to be.
"Now that all the food is gone," David said as he reached into the
picnic basket. "There was something else that I had wanted to show you."
Lea immediately disliked whatever that 'something else' because it had
made David move away from her. The CMO could not have been more
comfortable with her head against the CEO's chest. The sound of his
breathing and of heart beating had been the perfect symphony for the setting.
The CMO's apprehension turned into curiosity as she watched David fetch
a small scare box from the basket. There had been a mission and one
possibilities for what could have been inside. Talia would have likely
thought that there had been some unique toy contained therein. Maya
would have jumped at the conclusion that the small box contained some
fascinating scientific object. Something that would fuel her conversation
for the next several decades. Sabrina might have suspected that the
box contained a new pip for a promotion that she had not heard anything
about. Enaii, Lea chuckled, would have likely thought that a small yet
powerful explosive device had been concealed therein.
Every one would have based their expectations of 'whatever else' had
been on their own personality. Their mood at that moment dictating their
final expectations. For Lea there had been but a single possibility,
one that had made her heart stop in mid-beat.
::No! It can't be! Can it?:: Lea thought forgetting about how much
she had hated David moving away only a few seconds ago. ::The holodeck
program, the picnic, the flowers, him being so sweet and caring. It
can't be what I think it is.::
Lea had rolled onto her knees, her eyes glued to the small box now in
David's hands. The CEO cradled it as if it had been a precious gem,
which had done nothing to erase the CMO's expectations.
"What is it?" Lea asked in an innocent voice. There had been so many
possibilities, yet only one had become entrenched in the CMO's thoughts.
Lea could already see its shape in her mind which made her heart beat
increasingly faster as the box was brought closer.
"I don't know if this is really the right time," David said. Lea saw
the hesitation as a tease, a way for David to play with her feelings.
Beneath all of the caring and thoughtfulness that David had displayed so
far, he had still been but a man.
"David! Don't play games with me," Lea said as her smile grew to fill
her face. "You took it out of the basket, now just show it to me."
The CEO smiled back. Maybe this had been the right time after all.
"Here," he said as he presented the small box to Lea and opened it to
reveal its content.
Lea's heart skipped a beat which seemed to last forever. Her eyes scrutinized with unmatched intensity the small item contained within the box.
"What is it?" The CMO asked slowly, each word coming out as if it had
been a full sentence on its own.
"A little something that I have been working on," David replied. "A
project that I had started a while back and that I have been able to
complete. Well at least the prototype. I wanted to see if I could
incorporate the technology of the bio-gel packs to the isoleniar chips. Now
that the prototype is complete, I wanted to show it to show and ask for
your help. I can confirm that the circuitry is working, but I need
your medical expertise to confirm the bio-gel effectiveness. There is
just so much gel that can be included in something this small."
Lea remained speechless and motionless for several seconds. The CMO
could not believe her eyes. A bio-isoleniar chip? David had wanted her
to look at a *bio-isoleniar chip*!
"Computer, exit!" Lea ordered as she sprung to her feet and rushed
through the opening doors as she tried to keep her tears in. At least
until she would reach a less public area like her quarters on the ANUBIS.
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Lt. J.G. Lea Summers 2006 post #151
Stardate: 60344.1000
Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
