From: Christine Fontaine <chrys@catlover.com> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 1997 14:47:51 -0400 Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Just Talk
SD 90814.2022
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Ten-Forward Lounge
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MD 14.2031
"Anne says hello," said Derek to Catherine. For once, he wasn't covering
for his boss; Anne had comm-badged him right before the reception to deliver
the one sentence ("Please tell Catherine I said hello and that I'm sorry to
have missed her company"). "And she also wants you to know that she is
sorry to have missed your company," he added. He would be scolded if he
should leave out *anything*.
"Where is she this evening?" asked Catherine, worried about her friend.
"Under the weather..." began Derek, then shrugged. He had learned, over the
past few days, that Catherine and Anne had developed something of a
friendship. Though why anyone could stand Anne... but his was not to
question why. "Actually, I think she's sulking," he amended in a
conspiratorial whisper.
Catherine couldn't help but be concerned for Anne, and her worry was only
exacerbated by Derek's next words.
"I'll see you about it tomorrow... but enough business talk for one
evening." He smiled at her, turning on just enough charm to be attractive
but not enough to be annoying. "How are you enjoying this... reception?"
Reaching up to tuck a phantom curl behind one ear, for all her curls were
tumbling down her back, Catherine attempted a smile. "I'm afraid I'm not
used to this kind of thing," she confessed, her cheeks flushing a pale
shade of pink.
"And you?" she finally added, wishing she were more adept at social
interaction.
"Oh, it's all right, I suppose," said Derek easily. "I mean, good food,
good company... definitely preferable to running emergency drills in the
department." He nearly blushed but harrumphed instead. "I heard that you're
interested in acting? I've always looked up to people who can do that.
Acting, I mean. I can't do it; my cousin says I'm too transparent."
"Yes, I do love acting," Catherine replied softly. "Especially Shakespeare
and musicals."
"Musicals?" Derek prompted.
"Yes." Catherine blushed. "I love both singing and acting, so..."
Derek smiled. It was hard to imagine someone as shy as Doctor Ledoux up on
stage. But if she enjoyed it...
"Anne's told me a lot about you," he said, smiling amicably. "And 'Lisa...
Melissa, I mean. She says you're the best CMO she's ever seen... including
herself!" He chuckled. "She's quite taken by your Sivaoan physician, you
know. She wants to -- how did she put it? -- "fluffify" her." He twinkled
at Catherine, who couldn't help but laugh.
Grinning, the vet said, "I wish her luck. Doctor DawnFire to-Ennien is
unlike any other Sivaoan I've met."
"You've met quite a few?" Derek inquired.
Nodding, Catherine took a sip of her juice. "There were three Sivaoans
serving aboard the REGENT. That was my first assignment." Pausing, she
took another sip of her drink, finishing it. "My only assignment other
than the CHESAPEAKE," she amended.
"I also had the good fortune to meet Admiral StarWind to-Vensre, the former
Commandant of ALB. Actually, she was the first Sivaoan I met, and I was
immediately enchanted with the race." Catherine suddenly stopped, blushing
furiously, wondering why she was finding it so easy to talk to Lieutenant
Fielding.
"I also hear that you're studying for your MD?" Derek prompted.
Another nod. Then, brushing a curl that had tumbled onto her forehead,
Catherine added, "I'm really just a veterinarian..." she trailed off, not
knowing what else to say.
"Would you care for another drink, Doctor?" Derek asked, noting the CMO's
empty glass.
"Yes, thank you. Orange juice please."
"I'll be right back."
Along with the Doctor's beverage, Derek got himself another glass of
lime-cherry from the bar. He then returned to where Catherine was standing.
"Looking at the stars is so much fun," he said conversationally. "I never
had much occasion to see them while in warp, of course. Tours on the USS
WASHINGTON tend to do that. We stayed in orbit around Digitalis Prime for
what seemed like *ages*... must have been over a year. Pity Anne didn't
serve there. It was a scientist's dream come true. She would have fit in
on that ship. They had kids just like her..." he trailed off, blushing a
bit. "Isn't it funny," he asked Catherine, "that some people never seem to
grow up somehow?"
A wistful smile crossed Catherine's lips. "Yes, it is," she said softly.
"There are two kinds of people who never grow up," said Derek thoughtfully.
"One group sees the world as a wonderful place, and accepts it without
question. Wide-eyed and innocent, that kind of thing. Eager to learn.
Happy. Bouncy. 'Lisa is like that. The other group is like Anne. They
just can't cope with the ups and downs of adult life. They need someone to
take charge, even though they act like they can and want to control
everything..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to go off like
that." Derek smiled rather sheepishly. "I'd been thinking a lot about that
recently. People growing up. People *not* growing up. Serving on a new
ship. Was it hard for you to leave the only ship you'd known? Did you have
a good time on the REGENT?" he asked.
"Yes, yes I did," Catherine replied, very softly. "I think leaving was the
hardest thing I've ever had to do." Quickly, Catherine buried her face in
her juice.
At that point, Fielding decided that it would be wise to switch topics.
"I think," said Derek, "that it takes a lot more patience to be a vet than
to be a doctor. If you take care of non-verbal patients, it's much more
time-consuming and iffy than if you're taking care of patients who can tell
you what's wrong." He suddenly smiled. "Maybe you shouldn't tell 'Lisa
you're studying for the boards," he said, his eyes twinkling. "She *loves*
to give flashcard drills. If she finds out you're studying, she might make
up flashcards and insist on quizzing you."
That brough a smile back to Catherine's face. "I'd daresay I could use the
practice," she stated. "I'm hoping to take the boards during our next
shore leave," she confessed. "If we have enough time, I'd like to head
back to Earth..." Earth. England. Where Rich was right at this moment.
It would be so wonderful to see him again.
Derek was about to comment when he heard the First Officer's voice.
"I hope we get another chance to chat, Doctor," Derek said softly, then
turned to include the Commander. "Commander Ledoux, may I introduce
Commander Miris, our new XO."
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Fontaine Masako Goto
LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM LT Derek Fielding, PhD
Chief Medical Officer Chief Science Officer
USS CHESAPEAKE USS CHESAPEAKE
cfontaine@nac.net mgoto@indiana.edu
<< NRPG >>
More to come from Catherine shortly... :)
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