Two Can Play

Month 16 Day 7

1432 Hours

Drake MacGregor

Drake sat in a borrowed medical office to answer the call from Capt Burke. He'd been sound asleep when he'd been awakened, and had hurriedly put his wrinkled uniform back on, but the brisk walk to the med bay had him wide wake now. He signaled communications that he was ready to receive his call, and the screen immediately formed an image of Jane on the bridge. "Captain—" he began.

"Just a minute," she answered, and the screen changed to the view of her seat behind her desk in her office. In a moment, she appeared on the screen and took her seat. "What in space is going on over there?"

It was such an open-ended question, he couldn't imagine what she was talking about. "Uhh, I've been sending you daily messages about what we're doing in med bay; I assumed Smitty was doing the same for engineering."

She waved that away. "His reports indicate he and MacDowell are working opposing 12-hour shifts."

"That's true," he confirmed, and wondered what else she might want to know.

"So they don't see each other at all, except at shift change?"

"Well, I understand there's about a half-hour or so overlap as they brief each other."

"Right. But they haven't been... dating while they're over there?"

"Can't imagine when they would. You know what Smitty's like during repairs; he's intense. And if he's serious about repairs, Mac is also."

"Well, it doesn't sound like you have any light to shed on this matter."

"Umm, what matter?"

"A message from Smitty came in while I was at lunch. Basically, he asked me to light a fire under Headquarters regarding his marriage request. Said it was imperative he get married as soon as he can. Just how extensive are her injuries? I thought she was being released for light duty last night."

"She was. And she hadn't returned to med bay by the time A shift was over, so she must have tried to work the full 12 hours."

"Has she been disfigured or something? Something a dermal healing session or two can't take care of?"

"Ahh." He'd known he'd have to tell the captain at some point, but he'd hoped it could wait until he could tell her face to face. "It turns out we can't use a healing ray on her, captain. For fear of starting some unintended complications."

"Can't use a healing ray? What's wrong with her?"

He took a deep breath and told her, "She's pregnant."

Jane took a moment to absorb that news. "You told me she wasn't."

"At the time, she wasn't. She's only 5 to 6 weeks along."

Jane gave a slow nod. "Which gives her only 6 weeks before I lose her planet-side. And now, possibly Smitty, too. Has he talked to you about his plans, once he's married?"

"No, he hasn't. We had a... falling out after Mac's injury. And we haven't been seeing much of each other since we got here. I'm working A shift, and he's working noon to midnight."

After a deep sigh, Jane seemed to have settled the problem in her own mind. "Okay. I'll do what I can with Headquarters. Don't let him work his team half to death. He's got others over here he can call on. Abdulla, in particular, has already volunteered. Repeatedly."

"I'll remind him of that," Drake stated. I'm not surprised. Abdulla's happy with her position in communications, but occasionally likes to tackle something more complicated.

"I just hope he's behaving himself while the two of them are over there together. I'll let you go back to bed," she said, reached forward, and the screen went blank.

Drake sighed. So Smitty's come to his senses, apparently. But how does Mac feel about it? Has he actually asked her to marry him, again? Or just assumed it will happen? The girl deserves a choice. Especially if there's any doubt in his mind.

He turned the screen to computer mode, pulled up the form for requesting permission to marry, and filled it out, then sent it to Abdulla to send on to Headquarters, with a copy to Jane. With the copy, he sent a brief note: 'Mac deserves an understanding husband, and I'm willing to fulfill that position for her.'

Stifling a yawn, Drake left the office, saw Bugalu having a word with Beth. He walked over to join them.

"Sorry, Bugalu," Beth was telling the helmsman. "She came in looking exhausted, with a gravy stain on her uniform. Ivy said Mac just about fell asleep trying to eat. So the nurses put her to bed right away. She was asleep before they even started putting the blue glop on her back."

"Well, then I guess I'm just a messenger today," he answered, tapping the plastic-hidden uniform he had brought.

"Beth, if her dirty uniform has a stain, it should be sent to the Fireball immediately for cleaning," Drake stated. "Could you go in and get it for Bugalu to take back?"

"Sure." She rose from her chair and took the package from Bugalu on her way into ICU.

"How's she doing, Doc?" Bugsy asked.

He glanced over the display on the console. "Sleeping deeply. Looks like she's doing fine, just tired." He lowered his voice. "Listen, I just heard that Smitty told Capt Burke that it's imperative they get married as soon as possible. Wants her to try to rush through his request to marry Mac."

The negro seemed nonplussed. "Well, I... guess that would make her happy."

"Will it? Didn't seem to be the way she felt yesterday. And the last time I saw him, he was none too pleased to be 'forced' into marrying, which didn't make any sense, considering how he felt a month or so ago. All I'm saying is, if you think she deserves a choice, you'd better get your request to marry her sent in quickly. Before Headquarters makes up their mind. Not saying you have to, but you did make the offer, and if you still mean it..."

"I thought requesting permission to marry was just a formality."

"Usually, it is. It takes some pretty unusual circumstances for Headquarters to say no."

"Here you go," Beth stated, handing over a hastily bundled uniform in a bulging plastic container.

"Thanks, Beth," Bugsy said. "Thanks for letting me know, Doc. I'll get right on that." He hurried out of med bay, headed for the shuttle bay.

Drake stifled another yawn and headed back for the barracks.