Fletcher sat on one of the stone benches next to one of the fountains in the arboritum. A young woman was walking by with an infant in her arms, carrying a diaper bag. He looked back down to his PADD and listened to the children in the area and he looked back up when the young woman grunted, yelled, and was plopped on her ass in the grass as several young men raced off. He stood and moved to help her up.
"Thank you," Tara replied with her soft British lilt, as she took the hand offered her. She got up, holding tightly to her infant daughter. "Sometimes the children here get a bit wild. I know they're just playing, but still... At least Zoe's all right," she replied, smiling as she looked down into her daughter's face to make sure she was okay. Her daughter just looked at her with her dark eyes. Tara then gazed at the man and held out her other hand. "Tara Carmichael," she said.
"Dr. Fletcher--surgeon." he lead her over to the bench he'd been sitting on. "I'm new to the station and this is my first time here."
"I'm Head of Security," she replied. "I'm originally not from this dimension or this time even." She laughed softly, "But things change."
He smiled and as he looked over and into the eyes of the infant girl. He was satisified that she was unharmed and looked back to Tara. "Head of Security. I'm impressed. You must have had some experience else where--or you wouldn't be 'Head of Security'."
"Oh, I was with the Athens Police Department, on Earth. One of the youngest Commanders. Then when the Taelons, an alien race that doesn't exist here apparently, arrived on my Earth, I joined and became Head of Secuity for the Companion to the Mediterreanean." She grew quiet a moment as she thought of Ta'al. But she pulled out of her memories and smiled again. "But I have learned quite a bit here as well."
"Pretty area Athens." He sat back and watched the kids splash around in one of the shallow pools. "What are some of the other areas of the station that I should visit." he asked.
She smiled. "I like HoloPursuits," she replied, her green eyes sparkling. "And the Promenade it good. If you keep abreast of what's going on you can even find stage productions. My... my significant other and I went to see Twelfth Night not too long ago."
"I'll keep that in mind. My shifts are so irregular and some of those things aren't any fun if you go alone."
Tara was quiet for a moment. She sensed that he was a nice guy and smiled. "Contact me sometime... I'll go with you," she replied. "Everyone should have a friend."
"That sounds great." He smiled and then asked, "would you two ladies like to accomany me and show me a good place to order cheese cake?"
"Mmmmm," Tara replied, her green eyes sparkling. "Now there's a treat I haven't had for awhile! And I think I do know a place that might have it!"
"Lead the way. Do you like coffee with your cheese cake?" he asked picking up her tote and his PADD.
"Absolutely!" she laughed. "The stronger the better."
"How do you feel about chocolate?" As they stepped onto the lift, "Promenade deck."
She arched her eyebrow with a devlish look. "I love chocolate," she replied. "I take it, you do as well?"
"If I had to choose one thing in the universe to eat...chocolate would be it." He smiled as they stepped out onto the promenade deck.
She laughed. "Oh yes," Tara replied. "Especially Belgian Chocolate... That was the best. Ron bought it for me when-" Suddenly she grew very quiet and looked away until she regained her full composure. "As I was saying, Belgian Chocolate is the best!"
"Yum." He said, noticing that she'd momentarily, pulled back. Then they entered Harry's and he steered them to a table. "Is this okay?"
"Perfect!" she replied. "Harry's seems to have everything from Earth I can think of and I am pretty sure they have Cheese cake. If nothing else, I also know they have coffee and real cherry colas. I love those things!"
"Cherry cola??" he shuttered a little and then smiled. "What else is going on around the station, that a new comer should know or avoid?"
"Hmmmm... Well, I haven't found anything to truly be wary of and you don't look like the type that would go into the rough bars," she giggled. "Just the station is a busy place. Anything can happen... One of the best shops is Kassia's Kave of Curiosities and Mystery. One of my personal favorites... Of course, Kassia is a personal friend," she said just as before a waitress came to take their order.
"Curiosities and Mystery... Sounds like a novelty shop. What's wrong with the 'bars'?"
Tara laughed. "Try to keep to the better ones, like Soma, The Easy Inn, The Gun Slinger..."
"You wouldn't be trying to warn me off because of marines on leave; would you?" He laughed, then added, "My last several assignments have been on marine bases or ship yards."
"Really? Then you're use to all of this in some respect," she replied.
"Yes." Their cheese cake and coffee's arrived and after a bite, he added, "This is my first assignment were there was a marine infirmary. Normally they all get routed to StarFleet medical where my collegies and I treat them.
"Well, I suppose it must take some pressure off of you," Tara replied, relishing her first bite. Zoe suddenly gurgled and Tara gazed at her daughter. "You're too young," she smiled, bending over to kiss her cheek.
"Well this is the largest base I've served on, and has the greatest mix of ...you know what I mean. Main infirmary here treats 150 people a day. So Yeah, that helps when they can deal with the day to day stuff."
"Well, I bring Zoe in for a check again in another month, I believe to make sure she's thriving," Tara smiled with a contented smile. "She was a long time in getting here, but well worth the wait..."
"She's beautiful and appears happy and heathy. But those well child checks are important, and the ones for mom are just as important."
His comm badge chirped, <Lt. Commander Fletcher you are needed immediatly in sickbay, sir.>
<Received.>
"I suppose a doctor's work is never done," she smirked.
"No. Makes making friends and forming relationships difficult." He stood and signalled the help and paid for the meal. "I hope to see you again, soon. Call me if you ever need help." he smiled and headed out of the dinner.