OOC: This takes place after the children's Christmas party. = Mess Hall Mercedes bent down to pick up a paper cup from the floor of the mess hall. The crew's usual hang out was almost unrecognisable, camoflaged by all the decorations, and after the children's party, a lot of paper cutlery. "Did you enjoy the party?" she asked Tessa Browne who had offered to help clean up. "Or was it a little boring?" Tessa sighed. "A little," she confessed. "But it was good to see the littles ones enjoying themselves." Steve peered out from beneath a table. "It's under here as well!" he said, his tone one of disbelief. "How can they get it 'under' the table?" he reached up and scooped an amount of pink frosting from under the table top.Lucy grinned at him and offered a cloth."They had a good time anyway." she said as he disappeared and began cleaning the sticky mess away. Mercedes watched Tessa when she glanced over as Steve spoke. She'd noticed her sometimes getting a little flustered when Steve was closeby. Mercedes smiled to herself, recalling some of her own teenage crushes, although to her they really were more embarassing than anything else. "Why don't you go help Steve?" she suggested. "I'm sure he could use some help. I can handle things here." "Oh... I..." Tessa hesitated, clearly wanting to go, but not sure if she should. "Go on, he doesn't bite," Mercedes urged with a grin. "All right," Tessa smiled, heading over to Steve. "It's NOT funny!" Scott said through gritted teeth. Lucy caught Rangis eye and burst out laughing. "Dont make fun of him Lucy...I'm sure he wanted a partner for the winter ball!" she said smiling widely. Scott gave Rangi a look of appeal."Cant you do something?" "Like what?" Lucy asked. Scott turned to her. "I dont know...anything..every time I look around she's there." He glanced over his shoulder to where Gina stood supposedly sweeping the floor but actually keeping a close eye on the AMO. "Gina, would you do me a favour and get the carpet cleaner from the storage cupboard over there," Mercedes asked the blond girl, nearly making her jump. "Can't the cleaning crew do it?" she replied, giving Mercedes a not-so-nice look. "We are the cleaning crew," the doctor replied with an icy smile that fit in perfectly with the decorations. Gina just sighed and moved off, clearly unimpressed. "Dont look now...but she's coming!" Lucy said in a sing-song voice and giving Rangi a meaningful glance said: "Help me with these icicles would you?...they need resecuring." Rangi shrugged helplessly to Scott who,now looking like a hunted animal, visibly swallowed and moistoned his dry lips. "You're being so unkind" Rangi told Lucy as they moved away, leaving the amo to his fate "...its not like you not to help him out....that girl is hounding him...no other word for it" "Oh he deserves it" Lucy replied looking up at the decoration come adrift from the wall. "How so?" Rangi asked. " Well..." Lucy glanced at Scott "...he had a chance to get his own partner...and he wouldnt." Rangi looked at Scott too and saw him slowly turn to face Gina."What do you mean?" she asked. "Scott...I need to get a cleaner from the cupboard...and its SO heavy for me...could you help me?" Scott met Ginas eye and a long pause followed. "Steves right there" he said quickly "He'll be more than pleased to get it for you...excuse me!...Mercedes?" Seeing his salvation, Scott left the astonished girl and stepped hurredly towards Dr Carpenter. "Scott... Hi," Mercedes smiled at him. They hadn't talked all that much since the promotions, having had to help take care of the children and do follow-ups on the pollen victims. Suddenly she found herself without something to say. "Congratulations on your promotion again." "So he really wants to ask her out?" Rangi said. Lucy nodded."I'm sure of it...but he wouldnt...so there you go..he's got Gina instead!" Lucy reached up to the ornament and Rangi glanced back at the man in question. "I wouldnt be so sure of that.." she said slowly and Lucy looked round at the tone of Rangis voice. "Thankyou" Scott smiled at Mercedes " I...er....." He took a deep breath and looked around at the chaos that had once been the messhall. " It all went well didnt it" he said. Mercedes followed his gaze. "Well, no one choked or broke a limb, or got sick from too much candy... yet," she smiled. "Lets hope it stays that way!" he replied returning her smile.Glancing to his right he saw Steve handing Gina the cleaner she wanted.Scotts eye travelled further to where Rangi and Lucy were watching him with undisguised interest.He frowned at the nurse, turned his back on them and said to Mercedes. " This place will look great for the ball...the counselor really put some thought into all the decoration. Are you looking forward to it?" "I am," she replied. "I have the perfect dress too." Mercedes almost started explaining in detail about the dress she was going to wear, but then realised the effect would probably be lost on Scott. "The snowflakes are a nice touch, don't you think?" "Yes they are." he replied looking up at them." Gina was approaching, towing the cleaner behind her.Scott stiffened slightly at the sight. "So..." he said turning to Mercedes and smiling again "..the perfect dress?...I'm sure you'll look...lovely." As he spoke the words he realized he meant it and looked at the pretty face in front of him. Mercedes felt herself blush slightly. "Thank you, Scott." She glanced at Gina, who was wearing a distinctly sour look on her face. For a moment, Mercedes felt like she'd come between a lioness and her prey. Grabbing Scott by the arm, she pulled in the direction of the Christmas tree, away from Gina. Taken by surprise, Scott stumbled after Mercedes wondering at the sudden movement. Gina gave a loud sigh of annoyance, her expression Lucy and Rangi exchanged a calculating look. "Is this tree going to stay here?" Mercedes asked Scott in a feeble attempt to hide the fact that she was getting annoyed with Gina. She wished she had more patience, but the 17-year-old was working on her nerves. " Err...yes..no...I er.." he shrugged and smiled at her " I have no idea!" he said frankly, blessing the tree and its sparkling ornaments that now hid Gina and the other interested audience from view."Mercedes?" His smile died a little." I....would you...I wondered if...can you pass me that bauble?..it needs ...fixing." he finished lamely. Mercedes turned towards the tree and looked at a big, shiny gold bauble. She could see her own face and Scott's reflected on it, despite the small crack that had somehow blemished its surface. "Sure," she replied, taking the bauble off the tree and handing it to him. "Well, it doesn't seem like there's much cleaning up to do here, so I'd better get back to helping Gina." "She can manage on her own." The words were out before Scott could think about them."Mercedes?...dont mind me asking...but...." he stopped. "Yes, Scott?" she asked, looking at him, wondering what was on his mind and if it was the same that was on hers. Scott shifted uneasily from foot to foot. " Dont mind me asking...but ...who's taking you to the ball tonight?" {I said it!} he thought and Lucys pleased face sprang into his mind. "I... Well, actually I don't have a date," she admitted. "Who are you going with?" "You dont?..that's great!.."Scotts face lit up with pleasure but then, realizing she might take it wrongly he hurried on;" I mean..its not great..for you I mean..its great that you havent been asked by anyone yet ...I mean..its great no one wants to go with you..its..ah Hell Mercedes...will go with me?...please?...if you want to..that is?" "Yes... of course... Yes, I'll go with you," Mercedes smiled, feeling a bit flustered and also relieved at the same time. Scott beamed at her letting go a long breath and nodded. "Thats great...really!" "Excuse ME!!" Gina stood next to the tree. "Are you going to help me or am I the ONLY one working in here!" she demanded. Mercedes nearly fell into the Christmas tree at the sound of Gina's voice. "Um... yes, I'm coming Gina. I'll be right there." Gina scowled horribly at Mercedes. Feeling suddenly as though a weight had been lifted from him, Scott put his arm around the girls shoulders and gently turned her away. "Why dont you make a start over there?" he asked giving her a push in Steves direction." Mercedes and I are just discussing something.... privately." Trying not to grin too widely at the way Scott handled Gina, Mercedes turned back to the tree and pretended to arrange the decorations. "She's taken quite a fancy to you, don't you think?" Scott watched Gina drag the cleaner away, smacking it into a table leg as she went.He looked across the room and saw Lucys questioning face. Turning back to Mercedes he smiled to her." A childish infatuation...thats all" Lucy turned to Rangi."Thats all ok then" she said with a satisfied smile. = LtJG Mercedes Carpenter AMO USS Chimera & LtJG Scott Fisher AMO USS Chimera (NPC by Rangi) With appearances by: Steve, Lucy, Rangi and Gina (NPCs by Rangi and Mercedes) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.825 / Virus Database: 563 - Release Date: 2004/12/30