Just a small boo-boo

Posted on Mon Jan 8th, 2018 @ 5:53am by

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: medbay
Timeline: MD-12?
2466 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Braden walked into medical with his hand in a field dressing. He noticed a shapely blonde in the back of the room and spoke "excuse me, I need some antiseptic and a dressing." He continued speaking as he was a bit nervous, he had not been in here since Davies left and her departure still bothered him. He was not normally so quick to form a bond and it had been very natural somehow. He was over it for the most part, but somethings made him think of her. Like walking into the medbay. "I was working on some old metal objects and bumped my arm on a shelf as i turned you see? The object sliced into my hand pretty deep." He saw the hazel eyes as the Doc approached and he tilted his head as he looked into her eyes "you have lovely eyes.." Braden smiled absently "I imagine you hear that a lot? Ahh, anyway I just need this cleaned up and a better bandage." His own dressing was all but soaked through with blood, it was quite a gash once she could see it.

Cate had been sitting at the desk, her fingers typing furiously on the slim keyboard. She was documenting the very last patient to be seen and then she’d be done for the night. Pulling a blonde lock of hair behind her ear, she closed her eyes and nodded to the ceiling. As Braden entered the medbay, she jumped from the surprise “Woah! Oh, yes hello...” she smiled as she stood, straightening out her navy blue v-neck dress. “Hi there...” she smiled, regaining her composure. Walking over to him, she saw right away that his hand needed attention. His compliment made her blush “Aw, thank you. And not as much as you think.” She winked sweetly. Gently taking his hand into hers, she examined the damage “Oh good god, you’re gonna need more than just a bandage. This is very deep. You’ll need stitches...” she shook her head “Come sit.” She continued, her voice bubbly but soothing. He was a looker himself...but she had to be professional. “I’m Dr. O’Mally. I’ve been here a while, but I’m always seeing new faces. I’ve seen you around a bit. Chief of Sciences, right?@ she asked sweetly.

She looked even prettier with a little color in her cheeks. Braden walked with her following her directions. "Yes, that is me, but more like Chief gardener then chief of Science though?" He laughed at his own humor softly and shook his head. "Do whatever you need Doc, I figure I can trust you. No worries about me, I have had worse." He closed his eyes and let his mind drift to a happy place where he and his late brother had gone swimming in a dessert oasis in some barren and isolated place their parents had taken them when they were young. Too young to know it was odd or to care about it.

Cate laughed “Ha! Yes, that sounds about right.” She giggled, shaking her head. Washing her hands quickly before slipped her fingers into a pair of latex gloves, she grabbed a bottle of alcohol, tweezers, gauze and some ointment. “I can only imagine what you’ve seen. I’ve seen a fair share myself. When I was little, I was playing football with one of my brothers. He towered over me, the kid was so huge. Well, he ran up against me and knocked his head right into my nose. Blood eeeeeeverywhere!” She exclaimed softly as she took his hand into hers to behind whipping the blood away. Unwrapping the already soaked gauze, she tossed it into the hazard bin. “Well, it took a bit to heal. Picture day was the next day. Not kidding. My face was so swollen that I looked like an alien.” She chuckled “He still feels bad about it.” She shook her head with a smile. She knew talking to take away from the pain. Good bedside manner made all the difference. It was something many professionals lacked, unfortunately. Looking up, she saw his eyes. They twinkled...

She was a talker, and he opened his eyes to listen. It hurt, and more then once he winced at the pain but he kept a solid mask most of the time. Her story was sweet, and he felt sorry for her lost vanity during the picture taking. "Siblings can be like that but they do mean us ill." Braden laughed softly once more "even when they tell tales they should not they normally mean us well." Braden recalled a time long ago when he had entered a tomb even though he was told not to. It had death traps and he knew his parents had told him the truth but he was feeling adventurous and had the invincibility of a ten year old boy. His brother had gone to get their parents and his dad had saved his life as he hung over a deep pit trap. He had been spanked and had been furious at his brother. Then his brother had fallen and broke a leg making him feel horrible he had been so mean. He had carried his brother home on his back apologizing every step for being so cruel. "Siblings, you gotta love'em."

“True.” She smiled as she began stitching him up. They have a habit of surprising you.” Pulling the stitches together, she looked to him. “I’ve seen you in here before.” She spoke softly as she finished his hand “Sorry that I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself then. We’ve had a lot of staffing changes, so I’m just trying to keep up...” she sighed as she rolled her chair away to remove her gloves. “Well, MacCloud is it? It was lovely meet you properly this time.” She winked, flashing her pearly whites “I’m off shift, so you best stay out of harm’s way.” She chuckled sweetly.

"I am equally at fault, then not many aboard here wish to know me. I saw you as well but figured you had your reasons for not wishing to meet." Braden was all to aware of the staffing changes. In fact if Rueben had not help save his life he would have been one of the staff changes. "You know since you are off duty and the bar is open? I could buy you dinner and a drink. My way of saying thanks and making amends for not saying hello sooner. Would you want to change or should we just go as we are?" He smiled brightly watching her eyes for the truth. He would beg off if she looked upset about the invitation.

“I can’t imagine why people wouldn’t want to speak to you. I knew you had a thing going on with Bets, but thats all I knew. Sorry that she’s left us.” She replied as her tone became soft. Taking off her lab jacket to hang at her desk, she looked up and smiled “Dinner and drinks sounds like a decent trade off for fixing your hand.” She laughed as Her tiger played with a strand of hair “I’m okay in this. It’s not like it’s a super fancy area anyway.” She winked playfully. “And you look great just the way you are.” She states contently “And no apologies needed. We’re on the same team. Let’s get to know each other, shall we?”

"A drink, dinner, and ahh? Say do you like to dance?" Braden was suddenly a bit more shy, he was still not used to being so social. It was not noticeable as long as he had something to focus on. Without a clear path, he withdrew inside more. He had come here to see to his injured hand, a clear goal. Now this was purely social and he had no clear path. As they walked Braden asked "in order to get to know each other what is it you enjoy doing? When not bandaging clumsy Science Chiefs."

Cate laughed “Hmm..well, when I’m not bandaging up clumsy chiefs, I like to read. I love dancing! I also used to ice skate on earth. Snowboarding. Hmm, I love trivia. I used to camp a lot with my family. We were pretty outdoorsy people.” She grinned happily as they approached the bar. “Menu, please?” She asked the tender sweetly as she put her wallet down “what about you?” She asked as she turned to him.

"We camped a lot when I was young as well." Braden laughed "my parents pretty much lived in places long lost to present civilizations. My mother though felt I needed some social skills and since dancing increases mobility for my martial arts training.. I was taught to dance. I found I actually enjoy dancing as long as I have the right partner." He did not look at the menu but just waved it off. "Once the lady orders I would want the pork chops and fixings. A glass of white wine would be nice with the meal, water till then." Braden leaned into the bar his back to it as he watched Catelyn "so I am Braden, I am not liked well enough to have any nicknames a friend would wish to use. What would you have me call you though?”

Cate tilted her head “What did your parents do for a living?” She asked sweetly as she ordered a water with lemon “I’ll have the blackened shrimp with red beans and rice.” She grinned happily “The last place we lived was in Louisiana before I left for college. Soul food..” She chuckled as she sipped her water “Well, you should show me your moves..”She winked playfully “I’m Catelyn, but you can call me Cate. It’s a pleasure, Braden.” She smirked as she held out her hand “Squeeze in a dance before they finish the food?” She asked flirtatiously.

Braden made a bow with a flourish of his arm before reaching for her hand. "So tell me Cate, fast or slow, do you have a preference?" Feel free to select the music is you wish."

“I’m partial to salsa.” She cooed sweetly as she walked out into the dance floor “Fast and fun. Unless you feel that you can’t keep up wih me?” She asked with a playful smirk “C’mon, show me whatcha got, Chief...”giving him a wink.

Braden laughed and it felt good to enjoy something for a while. He kept her hand as he followed her out to the center of the room "computer. Dance music Cuero Na Ma, Jose Mangual jr.." He made an apologetic gesture "I am not very current of which I am aware, if you prefer some other music feel free to change it." His feet began moving as the music started. "I do believe I can keep up though." His attitude was confident, bordering almost on arrogant but without feeling pushy. He went back and forth between self assured and shy without any real obvious trigger?

Cate continued to dance with the man, smiling the entire time. Her laughs were infectious and could be heard through the halls. It was nice to take her mind off her work for once. She had been so focused on organizing the medbay and getting the charts into the system. It had been chaotic for the longest time...

“Thanks for this, Braden. It’s been a nice distraction.” She smiled warmly “I believe my drink is on the bar...” she chuckled as she twirled over to it to sip.

Braden watched her moving then followed her over. "I believe it is I who should thank you. It is pleasant to see and hear laughter here for a change." He tilted his head with a goofy smile "so did I keep up well enough?" He raised an eyebrow "good enough for another go on the dance floor after we eat perhaps?" Braden saw their food being brought out from the kitchen. "We better take the drinks to a table, looks like the food is ready."

“Sounds like a plan to me.” She smirked as she turned around and grabbed a chair. Feeling the fabric underneath her bottom, she smoothed it out as she sat. As the food came, she smelled the aroma as it hit her nose. Closing her eyes, she chuckled “Smells almost as good as home.” She smiled sweetly “Thanks for getting me out, Braden. This is fun!”

Braden nodded as he took a first bite. After he swallowed "well there is not much else to do here then this. I have a space in the food pantry I reserved for my own supplies. I have a few bottles of wine in there as well, one of which is here with our meal. I keep enough for a couple meals a week for a month. We are seldom more then a month from any port so it is a treat I provide for myself. I do believe if you wish I could add more to the list I purchase and we could do this often. Dinner and dancing?" He was growing a bit more hesitant as he spoke as he thought about what he was saying. His shyness was asserting itself near the end and he quickly filled his mouth with food to avoid being noticed.

“Oh my gosh, that’s amazing!” She exclaimed excitedly. “Well then..” she giggled “If you’re offering, I’ll take a bottle of white moscato.” She winked playfully “Dinner and dancing, hey, I’m always game for that. It’s a good distraction and it helps the endorphins. Happiness makes a better doctor.” She smiled as she swirled her wine before taking another sip.”It is getting late though...” she replied softly as she finished up her food “It’s been lovely...thank you, Braden.”

"My pleasure. I will call on you again since you seem agreeable." Braden nodded his head "still feel free to call on me anytime. I eat dinner about every night after all." He shy smile returned and he looked down at his food. Since she was leaving he stood, "Have a pleasant evening."

“Seem agreeable, ha...you sound like a lawyer.” She teased as she stood “It was.” She smiled as she walked around the table to gently hug the man “Thank you for the break. Try to stay away from as sharp objects.” She winked before backing away “Goodnight, Braden..” she smiled warmly before disappearing down the hallway.

OFF:

Catelyn O’Mally
Doctor
SS Mary Rose

Braden MacCloud
Science Chief
SS Mary Rose