The return of the Grouch

Posted on Sun Jul 20th, 2025 @ 9:22pm by Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD

1,212 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Starbase 6

Once, many many years ago, Oscar McDonald had stood in this very spot. Stared out at these same stars, with drink in hand, contemplating the future…

35 years earlier

Complete with live music, exotic food and some of the finest drink in the quadrant, tonight marked one of the most extravagant celebrations on the starbase calendar. Hosted by the station commander himself, the evening was to mark the various promotions and special commendations earned by the crew.

Attendance was not optional for those special few being promoted or recognised, which meant that tonight he was forced to endure his idea of torture. Forced small talk, attention and dress uniforms which ranked below actual torture devices in terms of comfort.

His intention was to spend as little time as possible here and then go drown his sorrows in his quarters. His now very empty, very quiet quarters.

Just a week before, he had returned to the starbase to find the quarters he had shared with his wife and son eerily quiet. A quick search confirmed their belongings were gone, almost as if they had never been there at all. In their place?

A note left on his pillow. A damn note!

He was not a complete idiot. The proverbial writing had been on the wall. His long hours and often long absences were difficult to reconcile with raising a young family. Add to that, Vivian was a doctor in her own right. Her own medical career had been put on hold for her maternity leave and she made little effort to hide her resentment that as a civilian, she had few opportunities here and the chances of a physician with his skills being assigned to Earth..?

And she had asked him, outright, to resign. To leave when his five years was done. Walk away and practice medicine on Earth.

He had hesitated a few minutes too long. Biting down on his instinctive response of ‘hell no’. He had already seen and done so much, made a difference in ways she just couldn’t understand…

Of course he understood her point of view. Matthew had - in all honesty - been an unexpected surprise. Throwing them together and making an otherwise incompatible couple try to make a life together. To provide a stable and loving family.

Too young and naive to appreciate it would be doomed to failure. Especially when they wanted such different things.

And especially considering she was a complete -

As he drained his glass of whisky and made his way towards the exit, a strong arm clamped down on his shoulder. He turned, coming face to face with his CMO.

“Oscar! Here you are! Not leaving are you? Oh that will not do! Here, there is someone you should meet, she heard what you did for the Admiral…”

Even now he could remember rolling his eyes, squaring his shoulders and wondering why he hadn’t tried to escape sooner. He could have been half way through a single malt…

And that was when he first set eyes on her. Beautiful, with an air of confidence and intelligence in those hazel eyes. She stepped forward, offering her hand, “indeed I did. Remarkable calm under pressure, Doctor. I wanted to introduce myself, I’m Lieutenant Rhoda Morrelli…”


Present day

“You have some glitter in your hair!”

Nursing a now empty glass, Doctor McDonald arched an eyebrow as his friend and former student ran her fingers through his hair, clearly unsure if she could trust her own eyes. Sure enough, her fingertips came away covered in pink and purple glitter. He could see her relief - for she had been studying him intently trying to place what seemed off - and then the burning curiosity following in hot pursuit. He raised a hand, deciding to come clean.

“There was a tea party. I was guest of honor and Queen Eliza of the Seven Isles is very particular,” he told her, running his own hands through his hair to shake off any remaining evidence of his misadventures. “I could hardly say no and cause a diplomatic incident.”

“Of course not,” Chloe concurred, clearly amused. “I’m not familiar with Queen Eliza or the Seven Isles… is that a tattoo?”

Catching a glimpse of something on his arm she rolled up his sleeve, eyes widening in surprise. “It’s a -“

“As I said. Tea party.”

“My lips are sealed,” she vowed as she sipped from her own glass. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Worried?”

“I don’t think anyone would blame you for going back into retirement,” she pointed out. “After everything.”

“Speaking of,” he interjected. “Thank you. For getting me to Earth and to Rose and the kids so quickly. Hearing they were okay was one thing… being able to see it with my own eyes…”

He fell silent, looking away. Taking a few moments to compose himself as he watched the work going on around the Arcadia’s hull.

As soon as he learned his daughter and grandsons were safe, he had been willing the Arcadia to make better speed. To get him close to Earth. Yet it had been slow going. Until Chloe had appeared in his office, a bag packed for him and all but dragging him to the transporter room.

They had all the medical help they could wish for, she had told him. For now he had only one place he needed to be. And that was with his family.

“Unlike some people I make friends, even with my exes,” she replied, making no sign of seeing his discomfort. “Glad to help. And I’m glad she and the boys are okay. They are okay, right?”

“Barely a scratch. But they are without a dad. And without Rho,” he shook his head. The communique from Earth after the Enterprise had pulled off a miracle rescue had been bittersweet.

And yet if his ex wife had ever had a choice, he knew she would have put the safety of their daughter and grandchildren ahead of her own. Just as he would.

“They are settled for now, taking a day at a time. I think being in the house she grew up in is helping. Sicily is pretty beautiful this time of year. Matthew is there with his wife and kids. For as long as she needs. She is strong, like her mother.”

Squaring his shoulders he glanced at her, “I hear Kerrigan officially has command?”

“You heard correctly,” she nodded.

“I’ll stop by, speak to him.”

“And to tell him you are staying?” Chloe asked hopefully.

“Retirement is tempting,” he admitted, “but I made a promise to Rho. I intend to keep it.”

“Pleased to hear it,” Chloe smiled. “I am kind of starting to like being aboard a ship.”

“Then I suggest we get back to it,” McDonald declared, ushering her towards the door.

“So this Queen,” Chloe asked as they walked, ”she likes tea parties?”

“And dressing as a ballerina, surrounded by unicorns and covering her guests in glitter,” McDonald added. “Then again she is five.”

“I’d tell people about this,” Chloe grinned as they walked, “but nobody would believe me.”

“No,” McDonald agreed, smiling ruefully , “they will not.”

OFF

 

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