Peculiar

[Ritah Lowen 0]

Peculiar.....there it was again....that word.....unbidden but, for some inexplicable reason, frequently used during the past few hours.

 

Ritah Lowen, MD was ordered to Manticore straight out of the Academy, much to the envy of many of her peers. She knew of the ship's distinguished reputation, most everyone did. But unlike the majority of her classmates, she didn't really care where she was assigned. There were others who would have literally killed for a position on one of the Empire's most prestigious vessels. Ritah was honored and accepted the posting confidently. She had no doubt she would be an impressive asset to the Manticore and was determined to prove her worth.

 

In spite of the rigorous training at the Academy, Ritah wasn't totally prepared for all she'd been exposed to since joining the crew a few months earlier. Even though she was still relatively new, it had been quite awhile since she'd come across a situation she considered.....peculiar. But today....that word....for whatever reason....seemed ominously appropriate.

 

At the moment, Ritah was sequestered in a small preparation unit adjacent to one of the secondary surgical suites. Lieutenant Stefan Reid was with her. The fact they were together was not at all peculiar. Neither was the venue. Stefan frequently made his way to Sickbay where the two inevitably found their way to a secluded spot for a few minutes of privacy.

 

Ritah met the Lieutenant a few days after her arrival. He was quite handsome with stunning green eyes and dark, curly hair. He'd suffered a minor wound on his right forearm during an altercation with a subordinate. He considered it too insignificant to warrant proper medical attention.....until a very significant infection developed. More than one of the female members of the medical staff cast surreptitious glimpses at him as he paraded in, demanding immediate treatment. Ritah was the physician on call and he was her first real patient.

 

What started off as a petty wound had evolved into an angry fissure. A cursory exam showed it should have healed on its own had the patient exercised an ounce of common sense. Ritah promptly chastised him for his negligence with no regard for his rank or status on the ship. Only after she'd spoken did she consider the consequences of questioning the mental acuity of a superior officer. Reid said nothing. He slowly lifted her chin with his left index finger, pulling her closer until she could feel the warmth of his breath against her neck. But there was no anger in his eyes. Instead, he nodded slightly as his lips formed a slight grin. "Have dinner with me," he whispered. "Tonight."

 

Ritah took a small step back and continued cleansing the oozing wound. It wasn't an invitation as much as it was an order. Ordinarily, she would have manufactured an excuse but she was intrigued by this man. Still, her response was in keeping with her mother's training. "I'll check my schedule," she replied coyly, then quickly walked away.

 

She had dinner with him that night, of course. By then, he'd done his homework. He knew about her family, their ranking among the elite and powerful and claimed he knew why she'd been assigned to Manticore. She, on the other hand, was at a disadvantage. Ritah didn't have access to the same data bases. She managed to sneak a peek at Stefan's medical files but learned precious little about him. She did find out he was fiercely loyal to the Admiral, having taken a blood oath to him in the presence of several witnesses. Yet, he was also ambitious and desirous of his own command.

 

Stefan Reid was a complicated man as most were. Establishing a relationship with him was risky. But Ritah enjoyed his company. Apparently, the feeling was mutual. He continued to pursue her and she found herself spending more and more time with him. It was after their eighth evening together she finally allowed him to provide her with more than a good meal.

 

Stefan showed his gratitude in numerous ways. For one thing, he arranged for her to move into larger quarters. They were far from palatial but definitely more spacious than the tiny box she'd been living in since her arrival. More importantly, he took on the role of guardian. Ritah didn't think she needed one....she was quite capable of taking care of herself. He'd just laughed and warned her to put away her naivete. It was a dangerous characteristic, especially on a ship such as Manticore.

 

Ritah accepted Stefan's protection primarily to pacify him. She remained confident in her ability to look out for herself but she knew her limitations. She kept a low profile, preferring to remain close to Sickbay and surrounding areas.

 

More than her safety, Ritah was concerned about a definite change in Stefan's attitude toward her. She had no doubt he was falling in love with her. She liked him but wasn't prepared for the type of commitment he was looking for. She suspected he sensed her reticence and she knew she had to be extremely careful. If she rejected him at this stage of their relationship, he might choose to retaliate. That could complicate her life in ways she didn't care to think about.

 

Besides, she really wanted to continue seeing him. She enjoyed his company and took pleasure in his body as he did in hers. That's why this particular moment seemed so....peculiar. In the seclusion of this small room tucked away in a corner of Sickbay, as she leaned back against him, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and his lips pressed against the soft skin of her neck, she found it peculiar that she was so distracted. She usually relished these clandestine moments of self-indulgence. But not today.......

 

Today her thoughts kept drifting back to McFly and the deep laceration across his chest, a somewhat common gift from the Admiral. It was a painful wound and Mele was less than gentle. The CMO's lack of concern bothered Ritah and that was peculiar. She, herself had displayed the same attitude toward many hapless patients.

 

Then there was the rumor of a new bio-weapon, one designed to deliver a delayed and exceptionally painful death. Medical would supervise limited testing of the insidious new agent and she found it peculiar that she was bothered by that.

 

Ritah reached down and clasped Stefan's hands, slightly loosening his grip on her waist. Pulling away a litle, she slowly turned to face him. As much as she wanted to confide in him, she knew it was far too dangerous. There was no one on this ship she could trust, not even Stefan. For a brief moment, she longed for the quiet of her home, for the safety of her father's library where she could speak freely and listen to the sage advice her parents had to offer.

 

"You need to go," she said softly, resting her hands on his chest. "I have to get back before someone starts looking for me."

 

He offered no argument. He never did. Sickbay was her area of expertise. He always left it to her to determine how long they could secret themselves away for these impromptu rendezvous. "Tonight then," he whispered, releasing her and stepping toward the door.

 

"Yes," she replied seductively. "Definitely tonight."

 

Stefan opened the door and prepared to leave. He abruptly stopped and turned toward her. For a long moment, he simply stood there, staring at her. Then, without warning, he crossed the small room and with the utmost care, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her ever so gently. "Until tonight," he breathed.

 

A moment later, he was gone leaving Ritah staring after him, not quite sure what to think. She slowly raised her fingers to rest on her lips, still puzzled by Stefan's sudden display of tendernes. Stepping out of the cramped room, she made her way back to the main ward, still baffled by Reid's unexpected behavior and her reaction to it. "How....peculiar," she murmured.

 

And there it was again....that word.....unbidden but, for some inexplicable reason, frequently used during the past few hours.

Edited February 16, 2008 by Ritah Lowen