[snip]

’’ 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.

Cross nodded ‘’Yes before you joined the Merrimack ‘’ she replied back.

“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!

If looks could kill Ade would be dead on the floor by now .

Hunter put his elbow on the bar resting his head with his hand, the doctor was still digesting what he had just found out while sill listening on the ongoing conversations .

He wanted to shout ....Yeah that’s when he first left the love of his life and then the second time ,so when shall he does it for the third time....but he kept quiet dead quiet, just in case all hell broke loose .

Seeing Hunter looking the way he did he walked over to him as asked him. ” Doctor, you look as though you’ve just lost your best friend! I have an ice-cold fruit and vodka smoothy guaranteed to make you feel like the world is your oyster .Ad if you like I can have D’Nesh serve it to you so that you don’t have to look at me. She’s still a bit skittish when it comes to you , but she needs to get over it.

The doctor looked at him with half closed eyes ‘’That’s very kind of you Joe but I’ll skip the smoothy and stick with the whiskey ‘’ the last thing he wanted was a darn hangover come tomorrow.

Layanna could feel the tension from Hunter without even having to turn around. She looked over at Cross and asked “is he going to be okay?” She knew better the to go back over to Hunter cause there would no denying there was the possibility of something between them.

‘’Who? Hunter ? ‘’ Cross asked ‘’ Don’t worry about him he’s fine, though if he takes more whiskey he’ll need to be escorted to his quarters ‘’ the female doctor replied in a humorous tone hoping the Cmdr had been reassured.

She looked over at Hunter and smiled “if it comes to that I’ll make sure he gets to his quarters safely” it was hard keeping her secret of knowing Hunter, but she had to for now.

‘’Its hard to imagine you helping a big guy like Hunter ,he’ll probably would need a least two security guards ‘’ Cross replied ‘’But don’t worry as far as I know the doctor knows when he’s had enough , I’m sure the last thing he wants is to wake up with a hang over especially if he’s on the morning shift ‘’.

How ironic that must have sounded to the Cmdr, since she knew Hunter as a cadet .

Cross could not help but notice that Layanna was quite a beautiful woman and her eyes darted to Joe to see if he was looking her way.

Laying looked over at Cross, and wondered if she was issuing a challenge. “Watch” she said to Cross as the doctor looked and Joe.

Layanna moved back down the bar to where Hunter sat and whispered something to him. Once she knew Hunter was the only one who could see she gave him a quick wink, and a smile that was sure to drive him more than a little crazy!

Hunter lowered his head as Layanna whispered in his ear whatever she said he gave a slight nod,the doctor saw her wink and smile but his face stayed neutral,for he was hell bound that no one would came to know their past.

Ade didn’t know if he could take more of this - swooning, secretive looks, attention seeking, mixed messages, darting eyes, racing hearts - it was like an episode of ‘Love Planet’.

“Joe, give me another large Vodka,” Ade asked.

‘’Its on me Ade,its the least I can do , that there is no hard feelings on my part as to what happened in sickbay it really was a chain of events that drove everyone crazy and you perhaps unknowingly made it more so ‘’ it was Hunter’s way of making amends and preserving the peace .

“Why, thank you,” Ade told Hunter. Has Hunter died and been replaced by an alien doppelganger? he wondered.

Joe came back with another shot of vodka and saw his quizzical eyes as he stood by Hunter. There was never any telling. He thought . ” Here you go Doctor Ade ! Enjoy yourself !

“Thanks!” Ade replied. “Say Joe, this new assistant, where did she come from? What’s the story?”

• Ade, Ship’s Dentist