Alternative Ending
"Lieutenant Porter? Bridgette?" His hand was on my shoulder, shaking me gently. I pried my eyes open to find his face was close to mine making sure he had my attention. "I suspect you have a concussion, I'm going to give you a sedative, when you wake up you're going to feel a hell of a lot better." He didn't smile to reassure me as I thought he might, the last thing I remember were his stern eyes staring down at me.
"Good evening Bridgette." I had smiled when I heard his voice, I'd stopped and turned to see him leisurely walk towards me.
"Evening Leonard." We set back off walking together, it was our first walk since I had been discharged from the med bay.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you left." I looked at him reassuringly.
"Don't apologise Leonard, you're a busy man." He gave me a look that denoted he still wasn't happy that he hadn't been there when I had left but appreciated the fact that I didn't make him feel guilty for it.
"That kid could sniff out trouble in a damned monastery, why anybody would ever want to be out here is beyond me!" I laughed at his exclamation, he turned and looked at me, his eyebrow arched inquisitively. "What's so damned funny?" He asked with a glint in his eye, I think he already knew the answer.
"I'm not buying the act Leonard, not for one second." I answered, feeling brave I gave him a wink.
"I'm nothing more than a simple country Doctor Bridgette." He continued feigning innocence.
"And I'm sure one day you'll retire and set up your own practice in virtual isolation, with no more patients than a small town of farmers would afford but right now, I think you wouldn't want to be anywhere else." I let my hand stroke down his upper arm, an encouraging action that I'd seen my Mother utilise on numerous occasions with my Father.
"And what about you?" He was looking at my hand resting on his forearm as he spoke. I knew what he was asking, which was more than what my career aspirations were.
"The quiet life has its charm and appeal." My answer seemed to please him because the look he gave me made me feel safe and secure and content.
"You seem to think you know me very well." He commented after a while, I knew I hadn't insulted him so I wasn't worried that he had taken my musings the wrong way and I did know enough of him to know that he would have told me straight away if I had.
"I think I have a pretty decent grasp Leonard, although I'm sure there's much more to you than what I've gleamed since we started walking together." He stopped suddenly and I had to take a step back to stand in front of him.
"Which leads nicely to my next question?" He grinned. I looked at him expectantly, for the first time I felt a flirtation between us.
"Which is?" My voice was scarcely louder than a whisper.
"We never did get that drink did we?" I couldn't help the smile spread across my face, I didn't feel it necessary to hide it either.
"No we didn't." I beamed.
"Bridgette?" He leant towards me conspiratorially.
"Yes Leonard." I held his gaze, not being able to look away even if I wanted to.
"Would you like to have a drink with me?" He asked, laying on the charm.
"I would love to." I answered.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow." I repeated, we were at the point where we went our separate ways, I thought back to the first time we had had this conversation and how I had desperately wanted to kiss him, or he kiss me. I had placed myself on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. My heart was pounding out of my chest. He surprised me though this time, my eyes widened slightly as he leant towards me and slowly placed the most delicate of kisses on my cheek.
"Good night Bridgette." His voice was low and his breathing heavy, I found it even harder to pull myself away from him this time. "And make sure you say your prayers tonight." He threw over his shoulder as I watched him walk away. I creased my brow in confusion and shouted back.
"What am I praying for?" I asked bemused.
"No Klingons!" I laughed out loud and watched him until he was out of my line of sight.
"Good night Leonard." I don't remember walking back to my quarters.
The End
So? Happy ending or life of sorrow? Please review & thanks for reading! XOXO LLAP ;-)
