"No!"
"Oh, come on, Doc," Lorne pleaded. "I can't go looking like this," he argued, plucking at the scrubs top he was wearing.
"You're not going anywhere anyway, so it's a moot point," Carson stated folding his arms across his chest.
"Carson, I've got a date," Lorne said in desperation.
"Evan, lad, I know," Carson said gently, unfolding his arms and reaching out to squeeze Lorne's shoulders. "Kass is one of my best nurses, she's well aware of your injury. She'll no be expecting you to do the Fandango."
Lorne's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I should cancel," he said quietly. "Wait until I'm healed."
"That's a low opinion you have of young Kass," Carson said, his voice tinged with disapproval.
Lorne frowned up at Carson. "A low opinion? Why would rescheduling our date mean I have a low opinion of her?" He asked.
"To think that she would only go out with you whole and hearty," Carson replied. "Or perhaps it's you, that has such a low opinion of themselves," Carson added sagely.
"It's nothing to do with that, Doc," Lorne said with a sigh. "I just ... I just want to make a good impression, that's all. I want her to like me," Lorne rolled his eyes in disbelief as the words left his mouth. "Now I sound like a girl!" He said with a huff of a chuckle.
Carson turned and pulled up a chair, sitting down so that he was now eye-level to Lorne. "Evan, Kass already likes you," he said with a smile. "Look, it's been a tough week for you," Carson said. "You nearly lost two members of your team. You spent over a day and half wandering around in the pitch black in near-freezing water, attacked by some mysterious beastie and spent six hours in surgery. You're exhausted, lad. You don't have the strength to use crutches right now and the risk of infection is still too great." Carson shook his head. "Kass understands all this, better than you do. It might not be what you imagined to be your ideal first date, but just relax and enjoy it. Take every opportunity to find happiness, Evan, they are rarer than you think." Carson stood up, and with a friendly pat to Lorne's shoulder turned and walked away, leaving Lorne to his thoughts.
*********
"That was great," Lorne said as he swallowed the last of his meal.
"Mac and cheese seemed the safest choice," Kass said, "the mystery meat stew looked awful," she chuckled.
"Usually wise to avoid anything that starts with "mystery meat"", Lorne smiled, air quoting the last two words.
"How about some desert?" Kass asked, pulling out two snicker bars from under the napkin on her tray.
"Snickers!" Lorne exclaimed, successfully grabbing one from Kass. "Where did you get these from?" Lorne asked as he gazed down at the candy bar in awe.
"Well, I could tell you," Kass replied with a smile, "but then …"
"You'd have to kill me," Lorne laughed as he finished the sentence.
"So, what movie did you manage to get hold off," Kass asked, as she started to unwrap the snickers bar.
"Oh, I didn't know what kind of movie you might like," Lorne said in a rush, his cheeks coloring," so I went with one my favorites, The Princess Bride," he finished with a grimace.
"The Princess Bride!" Kass nearly squealed. "You have it? You have the Princess Bride? Oh my God, this is perfect," she said in glee.
Lorne smiled broadly as he moved the laptop from the cabinet to the table over the bed. "I nearly went with Mad Max," he confessed.
"Budge up then," Kass said, as she joined Lorne on the bed, her head leaning against his shoulder. "I can see the laptop better from here," she explained, as she laid her hand against Lorne's chest.
Lorne moved his arm, bringing it behind Kass' head and laying his hand on her shoulder, moving her closer "What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked.
Kass gave a delighted smile.
And that as they say, is that! LOL
Thank you to all those who stuck with it, in spite of the long delays and many thanks to all the beautiful reviews.
This is my last story under the guise of Barcardicider, but do not fear, I will return!
