Stardate: 70121:2132
Title: When Things Get Tough
Author: Tammin Doyle
Time: Current
Scene: USS Horizon, Tammin's Quarters


Tammin Doyle sat in her quarters, curled up in her chair. The PADD containing her transfer request, and Doctor Matthews' signature, was in her hand. Doyle had been pondering her thoughts, trying to imagine what Starfleet would assign her next. She was relieved that Ted had signed the request, and not made this situation any more difficult then it needed to be. It would be sad... she had become so familiar with the people she worked with. Departing now seemed like a waste, but it was required, needed even; if Ted and Tammin were to have a friendship, then they certainly could not work together daily... Tammin couldn't pretend the feelings she felt didn't exist.

Setting the PADD down, Tammin decided to call it an early night. Tomorrow, she had a shift at 0700 hours and after that she needed to make a time to speak with Captain Deadilus and ask him to organise her transfer. 


=/\= 0600 Hours - The Following Morning =/\=

"Tammin, always a pleasure to see you," Troy Baker greeted.

"And to you," she replied, approaching the counter.

Troy finished polishing some glasses, whilst Tammin took a seat. It was her usual routine to call into the Gateway before her shift started. It had become custom, and the two would often chat about various things, Mr. Baker always eager to share some gossip he had overheard. The two chatted about minor things. Troy complained how slow things had been and how he felt that his presence aboard the Horizon was not appreciated. Tammin commented on how busy Sickbay had been with the Ferengi incident.

"Can I get that coffee to go?" Tammin asked.

"Sure. Just the one, was it?" Troy replied.

"Make it two. I will get one for Doctor Matthews as well. You always make a better coffee than the replicators," she replied with a smile.

"You know, getting the boss a coffee, and sucking up, never hurts," Troy announced.

"This is definitely not 'sucking up'!" Tammin responded.

Troy smiled his sarcastic smile. "Of course not... and I don't run the best establishment in this sector of space." 

Tammin smirked, and collected the two beverages, before making her way towards the turbolift. 

"Have a nice day, Troy." 

She wanted to make the most of what time she had left aboard the Horizon, and was going to make sure that she had made amends with Ted prior to departing. She didn't want her friends blaming the CMO for her departure, and her intention was to make things settled, and relaxed between herself and Doctor Matthews. 


=/\= USS Horizon Sickbay - CMO's Office =/\=

"Coffee, Doctor?" Tammin queried, entering the CMO's office and setting the mug down.

Ted look up a little surprised. 

"Thank you, Tammin."

Tammin Doyle was quite embarrassed by what had happened, but didn't want there to be a strain on her relationship with the CMO. 

"If we had a bit more time, I'd replicate some biscuits," Tammin smiled. "Like our first encounter together," she continued, taking a seat.

As she sat, she watched Ted, looking into his brown eyes; he began speaking. In her short time serving under him - she had learnt quite a lot; more than she had realised. She knew Ted was the sort of person that voiced what he was thinking and feeling, usually with much ease. 

"I wanted to stop by and thank you for signing my transfer request... I am going to speak with the Captain after my shift today."

Ted began to speak, explaining that he didn't want Tammin to leave the Horizon, and he apologised that he could not return her feelings. Tammin nodded understandingly, although she really was quite disappointed.

"I should get to work," Tammin stated, standing to leave. She approached the door, stopped and looked back at Ted. She flashed him a smile before stepping out into the main infirmary.

The three Ferengi were still present although scans had indicated improvement. As she went about her duties, Doctor Matthews also stepped out and began doing what he did best... work. Tammin had been assigned to one of the more stable Ferengi for her shift, and her main role was to keep a general watch and make sure that vitals were fine.

Lt. Commander L'Cir was also in Sickbay keeping an eye on Vaebn. He had been there for quite some time and Tammin admired his loyalty to those that worked alongside him. She tapped her combadge and asked Troy to bring a tray of Coffee around - she couldn't give the tired, weary and drained officers replicated coffee. Captain Deadilus entered a short while later to check on the status of the Ferengi and the injured member of his own Crew.

~

As the Commanding Officer departed, Troy Baker arrived.

"You requested coffee?" 

Tammin nodded, and gestured with her hand for Troy to set the tray down. 

"Thank you, Troy. I would have come and got it but, as you can see, we're a little busy down here," she smiled.

Troy didn't smile. His usual quirky persona was gone. "Could I speak to you? In private."

Tammin looked around Sickbay. "Of course."

Ted walked past with a medical tricorder in hand. 

"Mind if I borrow your office for a moment, sir?" 

The CMO glanced at Tammin, then at Troy and back to Tammin.

"Certainly." 

Troy entered first. He was flustered; his hands were waving around and he couldn't stand still. Tammin entered, her arms folded. She wasn't really sure what to expect. Her and Troy had always spoken on a casual basis, and she was unsure what could be so important that he needed to speak to her 'now' and in 'private'. She stood in front of the door and waited for Troy to explain.

"I heard a rumor today... I was serving breakfast and I heard..." he kept cutting himself short. "Are you leaving the Horizon?"

Tammin was surprised. She wasn't aware it was public knowledge... yet. "I am putting in a transfer request today. I haven't spoken to the Captain yet - I was waiting to see if final approval had gone through before I announced it," she explained.

Troy was upset by this news. He and Tammin had grown a friendship over the past couple of months. "Are you unhappy here?"

Tammin shook her head. "I have other reasons."

"The Doctor?" Troy asked, already fully aware of the reasons.

Tammin let out a little laugh. "Doctor Matthews; don't be silly."

Troy shook his head. "I have seen what you are like around him... I have been around long enough to know when there is an affair occurring."

Tammin quickly cut in. "There is no affair, Troy. It's... complicated."

"But you have feelings for him?" Troy continued.

Tammin protested. "I don't think I need to explain this..."

The Bartender cut her short.

"It is no reason to leave the Horizon. It's nothing personal against you. It just isn't meant to happen, Tammin. Ask around this ship; Doctor Matthews is the type of man that has a series of relationships with women, but they rarely last. He can't commit to another person. And, to make things more complicated, you are in his department - it would be unethical for a relationship to occur between the two of you, and Ted is not that kind of person."

Tammin was uncomfortable being told all this information from Troy, although she knew it was true. She began to feel guilty for putting Doctor Matthews in a position like she did. She asked Troy to take a seat, but he refused and walked out without another word spoken. As much as Tammin had wanted to go after the Bartender, she didn't have time. She was needed in Sickbay - she would talk to him later.

She stepped back out into Sickbay. Doctor Matthews looked at her, and she knew he was asking if 'everything was alright'. She nodded, and picked up the tray that Troy had dropped off.

"Have this, it will do you good."

Lt. Commander L'Cir took the coffee. "Thank you, Ensign."

She glanced at his colleague on the bed. "It's not nice, is it.. the waiting I mean," she mentioned.

Dathan shook his head. "No, but times like this make you appreciate what you've got. You can't just continue on like nothing ever happened and, when things get difficult, you can't just walk away or turn your back."

Tammin nodded. The words spoken by the Chief of Security had hit her. 

"If you will excuse me."

She moved back towards the Ferengi that she was taking care of. As she did, an alarm began going off. Tammin quickly began scanning with a medical tricorder. As she wiped a tear from her eye, she called Doctor Matthews.

"We're losing him, Doctor!"


=================
Ensign Tammin Doyle
Medical Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================