[snip]

Ade, the Ship’s Dentist entered the bar, just a little after Layanna. He had just lost a pile of credits on a spread bet and wasn’t in the best of moods. He did a quick scan to see if Doctor Cross was around. She wasn’t, so he continued on in. He wasn’t in the mood for her arguments, moralising and her mind games today. Doctor Hunter was there, surrounded by some women as usual. he attracted them like flies! He came here to get away from Sickbay, and he saw enough of them during the day to not to spend his leisure time with the same medical staff too. There was a new intake of crew here that Ade had never seen before. He’d not even seen their teeth yet. The lounge was busy, so he just stood at the bar. Joe seemed able to cope with the extra business, so Ade didn’t mind waiting a little to be served. When Joe eventually had time to get to him, he simply said, “the usual please!”

Joe greeted Ade with a smile on his face. ” Hello there doctor! Are you sure you want the usual? Don’t want to change it up a bit?” he asked. ” With that long

“Okay then,” Ade replied, “but no fancy cocktails, just something on the rocks!”

She watched the interactions of the crew, but her gaze always fell on Hunter. It was as though they were magnets and no matter how far apart they became the universe always pulled them back together. She had missed him a lot over the years of their separation, but she was Glad to have him back in her life.

“You know what Vodka sounds great. Next one is on me alright? And my name is Marshall Ryder, I’ll swing by tomorrow how about that.” He smiled at the Doctor, letting himself relax a bit finally.

‘’Sounds good to me ‘’ the doctor replied ‘’One vodka for our new recruit and another shot of whiskey for me please ‘’ he told Joe.

Joe upon hearing the order for Vodka brought forth a large shot neat almost immediately. He looked around and saw that D’Nesh seemed to have disappeared. Joe shook his head. He mentally reminded himself about the question that he meant to ask the CMO about D’Nesh .

Max noticed everything going on but wanted to keep to himself for the time being. He knew he needed to get to his quarters to go to bed but it was getting more busy. This was really the signal for him to head out for the evening. He got up from the table he was sitting at and headed toward the door. He then made his way to his quarters to try and get some shut eye.

Hunter called out to Layanna ‘’L…em Cmdr come over here for a moment, its a good opportunity to get to know some of the crew ‘’ he gazed at the dentist ‘’Some you don’t get to see very often’’ . He thought it was a pity Lt Mullins had left when he did.

Layanna looked over as Hunter called out to her and couldn’t help but grin. She gathered her drink and made her way over to the bar. She sat her glass next to his and her hand grazed his. She looked over at him and whispered “its okay to call me Layanna if weren’t not on duty:”

‘’No I cannot’’ Hunter simply whispered back hoping she knew what he meant.

Unfortunately for Ade his wish did not materialized not only had he lost his credits but Cross had just walked in and sat down on one of the stools ‘’Hi Joe you sure seem to be busy ,a glass of orange juice when you have time I’m in no hurry ‘’.

‘’I thought you where on duty Cross ,how come you’re here ?’’ Hunter asked .The female doctor rolled her eyes ‘’My shift has finished and there is doctor Kim now ,oh and by the way thanks for leaving all those Padds on my desk ‘’ she replied in a sarcastic manner .

It seemed like Ade couldn’t escape their verbal sparring.

Joe came back with Cross ‘s orange juice and set it in front of her. He looked around and then asked Cross. ” So how are you doing Miri? You doing alright? ” He leaned on the bar and pointed in Hunter’s direction saying,” Don’t be letting him shirk his duties and put too much work on you.” He then did nothing but make-work to give him a reason to be here with Miri a few more moments.” So, Miri we haven’t even had the opportunity to see one another for nearly a week now. ” He then nodded in the direction of her stomach and asked with concern in his voice. ” Everything doing alright and all?”

Cross glanced at Hunter ‘’ He doesn’t even known yet ,to be honest he seems to be somehow different though I cannot quite put my finger on it at least not yet ‘’ she took a sip of her orange juice ‘’I know I miss you’‘.

‘’Yes every thing is fine ‘’ Cross omitted to say that she had been having some slight cramps so as not to worry Joe unnecessary ‘’ I plan to have an early night , you know get a good night’s sleep , maybe we’ll catch up tomorrow as I’m off duty ? ‘’.

Joe barely lifted his head upward from where he looked down under the bar pretending to look for something he knew wasn’t there. There was the slightest look of humor tugging at the corner of his lips. He knew that the odds against her getting enough free time for even the smallest visit were astronomical. There were new people aboard, Hunter being Hunter and of course the new mission. A fool’s errand to his mind but then he had no say so and was glad to have that sort of freedom. As he looked at Cross now the smile broke across his face, but a look of sadness remained in his eyes. ” How do you feel about the name Aidan if it’s a boy?” he asked as he stood. His hand snuck across the bar to give hers a quick squeeze. ” It was an idea of my brothers. I described you to him and it took him five minutes before he stopped laughing. The name means fiery little one. “

Cross smiled ‘’Aidan ? Love it!’’ she exclaimed ‘’Especially its meaning but what if its a girl ? ‘’. She did pick up the sadness in his eyes ‘’Joe you’re hiding behind that smile, tell me what’s bothering you ?’‘.

Joe chuckled and said,” I’m sad because I know that I won’t be seeing you. That and the fact that you’re such a poor liar. ” Joe cocked his head, smiled and looked at Cross saying,” Miri, you and I need to come to an agreement. You either tell me the truth about things or I get to laugh at you without getting into trouble every time you tell a fib!” But before Cross could answer Joe blurted out a girl’s name , ” For a girl I was thinking perhaps Arianne?”.

’’ That and the fact that you’re such a poor liar. “

‘’Why are you calling me a liar ..how dare you ‘’ Cross raised her voice and those nearby might have heard her ,Hunter was one of them he turned his head looking at the duo .

‘’Ade want to bet that those two won’t last I say 3 more months together ?’’ he told the dentist knowing his passion on betting .

“No, the odds aren’t good,” Ade replied, “Joe seems to be able to tolerate anything from our Doc. I don’t have that much patience!”

’’ And no’’ the female doctor went on ‘’ If its a girl I’ll get to choose ‘’ .

The male doctor’s ears pricked up, it was at this moment that he realized she was expecting .

Layanna looked over to Doctor Cross then back to Hunter. She looked back to Doctor Cross and excused her self from Hunter and made her way to where Cross was seated. “Doctor are you okay?”

‘’Eh? ‘’ Cross turned her head and saw it was Layanna ,giving her a curt nod the CMO replied ‘’Yes everything’s fine ,glad to finally meet you face to face .There wasn’t much room in the briefing room , we were packed like sardines! ‘’ the female doctor managed a giggle as she remembered how everyone could hardly move .

‘’This is Joe the barman and a counsellor ,he had been the previous Cmdr ‘’ she then went on to introduce the others ‘’Our new member a science officer Marshall Ryder , the tall guy is doctor Hunter and this is Ade the ship’s dentist ,unfortunately Max has just left ‘’.

“I never realized you’d been the previous Commander, Joe.” McDuff said in earnest. “It must have been before I joined the crew?” He wondered.

“I think you’ll find he also once held your job as Chief of Security too,” Ade chuckled to himself, “About the only job he hasn’t had here yet is the dentist!

• Ade, Ship’s Dentist