Sunday Snippet: Morning Sickness

Weird weather week with sun followed by a huge middle finger FU from Mother Nature with snow and rain. At least I got a lot of stuff done around the house and had time to get a good bit of writing in also.

Decent week for television. I caught another episode of Picard and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved getting some additional background on Chris. I'm honestly not completely sure how I feel about the Romulans but I love the intrigue of everything that's going on.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and also loved getting more background about Rhodes. I'm a fan of the actor and I'm a total sucker for characters who have dad issues.

Since it snowed this week, I watched a Passionflix holiday Quickie. A Holiday Lift ended up being pretty fun. I love the whole stuck in an elevator trope.

Ended up watching a complete episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I love stumbling across actors who got their start on this show. A favorite from City Homicide guest starred in one of the episodes.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it went in a direction I didn't expect. I love it when shows do that.

Caught another episode of No Offence. Again, the show went in a direction I completely didn't expect it to go in. Excellent stuff!

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. I ended up getting annoyed with Four again. Sometimes he's just a bit too full of himself.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on possible earth landings and linked several ancient cultures to the mythology. Very fun episode.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm almost finished with the first season and really enjoyed Ethel Merman's stint as a guest star.

Last, but not least, I watched another episode of Peak Practice. I'm not quite finished with it yet but it's going to have a sad ending so I'm putting it off. LOL

That's it for life and television updates this week. Tonight's post is from Morning Sickness, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dava Whales has all the classic signs of pregnancy, except she can't possibly be with child—she's a solider in the middle of a war and religiously takes her mandatory birth control shots. When Warren Carter suggests Dava get checked out, the pricklier than usual officer goes ballistic—especially since Warren is the other half of the parental equation.

And a sneaky peek…

Dava's fingers gripped and released the side of the gurney. "What the hell is taking so long?" Koffman had drawn blood over an hour ago.

At least she'd made it past the queasy stage, which meant she'd be fine the rest of the day. If everything played out the way it had the past few days. She'd throw up in the morning, get something to eat then spend the rest of the day like normal.

With one exception. "I never used to have the urge to bone Warren all the time." Occasionally, yes. That's how friends with benefits works. Or is supposed to.

"Whales, do you ever do anything the normal way?" Dr. Koffman ducked into the alcove brandishing her chart.

Dava's stomach dropped. "Um, is that rhetorical? Depends on the day, I guess." How could she be joking when her entire life depended on what Koffman told her?

He flipped through several pages. "Today's not your day." He snapped the pen off the top holder and withdrew a sheet of paper.

Her mouth went dry. "Does that mean—" She broke off, unable to actually voice the question.

Koffman's gaze flashed to hers. "What? Oh, no. You're not pregnant." He scribbled several things and checked a bunch of boxes.

Dava almost fell over with relief. "Then what the hell is wrong with me?" If she didn't have a kid on the way, why did she have so many symptoms?

Abe sent her a raised-eyebrow look. "Apart from the usual?" He crossed his arms over his chest, tucking the chart under his shoulder. "You, Dava, are one of the three percent of the entire population that has a very specific reaction to the updated birth control shots." His mouth twisted in a wry smirk. "Your body thinks it's pregnant and is exhibiting all the symptoms for that reason."

Dava gripped the gurney again. "For how long? I mean, this isn't gonna be a permanent thing, is it?" She couldn't imagine heaving her guts up every single day.

Koffman tilted his head back and forth. "Well, I'm not sure how long it'll take but we'll start you on the previous version as soon as we can get some sent out." He flipped to another page in the chart. "In about three months." He grimaced.

Dava jumped off the cot. "Three months? I'll be throwing up every day for three months?" She didn't miss the irony of the time span, which equaled a trimester.

Didn't mean she liked the situation one bit.

Dr. Koffman waved a hand. "No, we'll give you something for the nausea. Should stop any mad dashes to the head." He handed her a bottle of tablets. "Everything else though? Mood swings, sensitivity, whatever else you've been experiencing, you'll have to tough those out." He grasped her shoulder. "I'd do more if I could, but I don't have a lot of information to share with you. I'll consult with some colleagues and see if I can narrow the window on how long to expect your hormones to balance out."

Dava exhaled slowly. "Appreciate it." She shook the container of pills. "And thanks for this. I didn't know what I was going to do when I started first watch rotation next week." She started to head out of the alcove. "Am I clear for duty?"

Koffman gave a nod. "Yeah." He handed her a half sheet of paper. "Take this to the CAG and I'll file my copy with the commanding officer."

Dava lifted her chin and left the curtained-off space. "At least I've got an excuse to see Warren." Not that she needed one, but the clearance would give her something to break the ice with while she tried to filter through the words to tell him he wouldn't be a dad anytime soon.

That's a good thing, right?

Right.

So why did a ripple of disappointment roll through her?

I gotta say, this story is so much fun to write. Dava and Warren are in the clear as far as being parents, but they're definitely not out of the woods where their feelings are concerned. So much fun!

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Missing You

Not a bad week overall. I had time to get some solid organizing completed and I'm happy to make progress on that project. Also got in a good bit of writing, which always makes me happy.

Pretty good week for television viewing. I caught another episode of Picard and, wow, I didn't see one of the deaths coming. Nice to catch up with old friends.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. It's good to fill in some blanks from previous seasons of the other Chicago shows.

Got another episode of No Offence viewed and, seriously, thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv, Dinah, and Joy are terrific characters.

Started another two-part Silent Witness. This ended being an interesting episode. I'm looking forward to watching the second part.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. I gotta be honest, this season Four is kind of annoying me. He's not quite as fun as the previous seasons.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on past and present possible visitations. Interesting stuff.

Got two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'd completely forgotten they let one of the old guys backstage for a while. He's not nearly as fun when he's not with his partner.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice and it had a lot going on but ended up being really good. I'm thinking there will be a sad good-bye in the near future.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm hoping to get a little more about Rose. I'm still trying to make a connection with that character.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Missing You, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Clara Small, the best undercover operative in military intelligence, tends to burn bridges instead of building them. But when she destroys the one she needs the most, she has to find a way to make amends, which won't be easy because Wes Elliot rarely gives second chances.

And a sneaky peek…

Her choices lately, left a lot to be desired. And the fact Wes called her on them didn't help. He'd been particularly brutal this time around … not that she didn't warrant the treatment.

Heaving a sigh, she closed her eyes, going back two days in her head. Wes found out about her plan to get the intel they needed the same day word got out about who she picked for her pre-op sex romp.

Gaynor Bartleby, Vice Regent.

God, it gave Wes all the more reason to think less of her. No one liked Gaynor. He hadn't been elected to his post. Instead, he slid in as an appointee when the former VR stepped down for health reasons. The guy considered arrogance an art form and used a brush liberally whenever possible.

But Clara could give a hang about asshole behavior. Especially when half the unit got pulled out for a mission. Throw in waaaayyy too much alcohol and Clara stumbled into bed with Gaynor.

Warm body to scratch an itch. Too bad Bartleby hadn't been the body she wanted.

Which led her to Wes.

What the hell? How he figured out she slept with Bartleby, she’d never know. Didn't matter how … his reaction to it did.

He’d been so pissed and judgmental. "Gaynor Bartleby? Geez, Clara. He's low … even for you."

Clara flinched and hoped it stayed internal. Bartleby did scrape the bottom of the barrel, vice regent or not. Not at all the type she normally hooked up with. Wes pegged that one right.

She wouldn't admit it, though. "Hey, you told me to strike your name from the list." She smirked. "And you know how I am before an op. Had to take what I could find."

She realized her mistake as soon as the words left her lips. She'd given Wes the opening he wanted.

Rocking back on his heels, he fired off his first volley. "Speaking of said op." He took aim with both barrels. "You take your lame ass, stupid plan to the XO? A guy, and I quote, 'who sucks up oxygen he doesn't deserve'. Someone you, and I quote again, 'despise with the heat of a thousand suns' and get him to give the okay?" Warmed up, he bluntly asked. "What the hell, Clara?" He turned away. "Do you have any respect for the chain of command?" Angling his head back, he shot one more barb. "Or is it just me you find unworthy?"

Well, shit. She hadn't meant for her bold move to be insulting, but it would come across that way. And Wes had a point. She had a reason for going over his head … because she'd known Wes would say no. They'd lost too many souls recently and her plan had risk written all over it. She did deep cover missions, not down and dirty in and outs. But regardless of what Wes thought, Clara had the right skill set to pull off her plan.

And he knew it. Deep down where he didn't like to own things. She'd been lucky. Only had to deal with Wes two or three times in the year since he'd taken over as the unit commander. A year and two months since the night they'd spent together.

He snorted. "No response? Guess that answers that, then." He started toward the door.

Shit. Stupid lapses down memory lane.

Clara couldn't let him leave. "I'm sorry." She didn't want to head out for a dangerous op with him thinking the absolute worst of her.

Okay, he already thought the worst, but she did respect him. He should know it.

Wes paused and turned slowly, his face working hard to stay neutral. Clara appreciated the effort.

I'm pretty pleased with how this story is coming along. It's at about the halfway mark and I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of the year.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Midsummer Mayhem (a Capital City Seasons novella)

A lovely week with warmer temperatures and some rain. Excited to see some spring weather rolling in. It's supposed to be in the high fifties and sixties this week and I'm totally down with that, even if it gets chilly at night.

Not a bad week for writing either. I played catch-up on a few more manuscripts and fleshed out some plot bunnies. The sages are on a roll right now and I'm not sure what prompted their creativity. I won't complain though.

Good week of television also. I watched a couple of movies starting with Enola Holmes, which I ended up really enjoying. Glad to hear there will be another one at some point. I also watched a total favorite of mine, Grease 2. This is one of those cases where I loved the sequel more than the original. Seriously.

I restarted my watch of Picard, picking up with episode six. Wow, a lot to unpack in that episode. I'm excited to see what happens next.

I finally started Chicago Med. I've been waiting to see the first season and ended up getting access. Enjoyed the first episode.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice. I ended the second season and started the third. Both were good episodes.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I like the overarching storyline for the new season and the wrap-up of the previous season's fallout. I'll be honest and admit I'm not keen on the new supervisor but I'll reserve judgment for now.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it was as twisty as I thought it would be. Enjoyed the two-parter.

Started season fifteen of Classic Who. Pretty decent opening arc the lighthouse setting. Interestingly, it ties into one of those unsolved mysteries of the unexplained and I love it when the show does that kind of thing.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on Area 52 and what might or might not be going on there.

Two more episodes of The Muppet Show are complete. I'd forgotten about Harry the mad bomber. He made an appearance and blew some stuff up.

That's about it for television and this week's wrap-up. Tonight's post is from Midsummer Mayhem, a Capital City Seasons novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Chris Renfer, alpha team leader for the Strategic Tactical Unit, falls for Melanie Pramble at first sight, but she's new to the city wants to get her bearings. But when Renfer's team is stuck in a bad situation, Melanie is the go-to person for negotiation and Chris can only hope their beginning doesn't end before it makes headway.

And a sneaky peek…

Melanie Pramble sat across from Ben Murphy. "Have to admit, I was surprised by the job offer." He'd reached out to thank her and let her know he'd worked things out with his significant other and they'd stayed in touch.

Not awkward until now.

Ben's lips curved. "You mean after an aborted hookup attempt and a subsequent reunion with Jess?" He shook his head. "You've been invaluable as a freelance consultant. Why wouldn't I bring you on board in a permanent role?" He leaned back, leaving the question open.

Melanie raised a brow. "Aside from the potential uncomfortable fallout? It'll mean a big move for me." She didn't call Capital City home, instead residing in the southern hemisphere in New Boniface, named after the man who discovered and founded the planet.

Ben rolled a shoulder. "Your body language shows nervousness and maybe some trepidation." He leaned forward. "Jess isn't going to be an issue. You'll like her and she'll love you. The trepidation comes from not liking change?" His voice made it a query.

Melanie chuckled. "You did pay attention during my presentation. Very good." She crossed her legs at the ankles. "And you're right. I am wary of meeting Jess, but that's on the lower end of the scale. I rarely do well with change because I like order and structure. A move will mean chaos and settling in a new location." But … she needed something different to mix things up a little.

Ben laughed. "You're a mass of contradictions. You travel all the time. And the last time we spoke you mentioned getting restless easily. So … are you sure this doesn't come down to Jess?"

A valid question, but not easy to answer. "You're right about me being restless. But I've always called New Boniface home. That's really the sticking point. The weird thing with Jess is bigger in my head than it will be once I actually meet her." She paused. "I'm really not sure if I want to make a permanent move to Capital City." Although, the job did appeal to her.

Murph gave a nod. "I get it. When I avoided coming back to Capital City, it was like a part of me had disappeared. Obviously, accommodating your wanderlust with travel won't be an issue since I'm sticking close to home for the most part. That being said, I'm not opposed to starting on a trial basis? You can decide what to do with your place in New Boniface after you make a final decision. Would that work?" He pulled out a file and slid it her way. "Here's the package I have in mind for you."

Melanie opened the folder and her eyes widened. "This is more than generous." Hell, she'd probably be able to keep her house in New Boniface and afford something nice in Capital City.

She probably wouldn't have to bring in a renter either.

Murph shrugged. "I'm building for the future and top-notch employees deserve to be well compensated." He pushed away from the desk and stood. "Will you consider the offer?"

She'd been stupid not to. "Absolutely." She got up also. "Give me a week or so to get back to you?"

Murph agreed. "Sounds great. Why don't I give you a bit of a tour? We can see some of the city and I can introduce you to Jess. Get that out of the way so you can make an informed choice."

Melanie tucked the folder under her arm. "I'd like that. My transport doesn't leave for another two hours." She followed him out of the office, excited about the possibilities but dreading the upheaval they'd cause.

Ben leaned down when they reached the elevator. "Don't overthink this. Change is hard, but it's also stimulating. I never thought I'd be able to build a team of great negotiators and transition into a behind the scenes role but I love it." He pressed the button and the doors slid open.

Melanie did a quick gut check. She'd take his advice and soak up the atmosphere and leave the thinking for her transport flight back to New Boniface.

Melanie is tougher to write for than I thought she would be. She's a little withdrawn but the sages haven't told me why yet. I'll look forward to figuring that out while I write more for her.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Mia's Choice

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We're having a low-key day without a lot of fanfare. That's exactly the way I like to celebrate holidays and my middle kiddo had his gallbladder removed earlier this week so being kind of quiet is a good thing.

Had a decent week of television viewing. My work schedule is still sporadic and I've been able to catch up on a few more writing projects. I'm also taking some time to organize my works in progress and then I hope to plan out a tentative schedule to finish up the ones that are close to being done.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's pretty good. I'm a little confused about the new character being in uniform but hopefully that will resolve itself by the end of the episode.

Watched the first episode of No Offence's second season. Really nice setup for the overarching storyline. I really love Viv and Dinah's dynamic. This show is so excellent.

Caught the opening episodes of the tenth season of Silent Witness. Really liked the first two-parter. I've started the third episode and I think it's going to be a twisty one.

Watched the final arc of Doctor Who's fourteenth season. Pretty solid storyline and I'm starting to like the dynamic between Four and Leela. I like her.

I ended up with a free six-month trial of Discovery+ so I started a show called UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I love diving into theories of visitors from outer space.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Both were very funny. I've discovered I really enjoy the ballroom dance segments. Considering I'm not a huge comedy fan, this is high praise.

And that's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Mia's Choice, a novella that is pretty much complete. At least the first draft is. Edits are next and I'm eyeing a release sometime this summer.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mia Sinclair finally got her doctorate and embarks on a work trade assignment to a new space station. But when she runs smack into Hal Manning, and her past, she has to face her demons, which isn't easy because she promised she'd never be under any man's control again.

And a sneaky peek…

"Doctor Sinclair." Stepping back, he indicated she should enter. "Thank you for coming."

Mia gave a terse nod. "I assume this is about my report."

She entered his quarters and glanced around. He had a large space, broken into sections. A desk, littered with paperwork, sat in one corner, a lamp shone brightly over a stack of files.

A sleeping area, tucked into another corner had a partition separating it from the living space. And as the captain, he had a small bath area with a toilet and sink. Very efficient, even if tiny.

Moving further into the room, Mia glanced at the desk with comfortable looking chairs facing opposite. She hoped Hal would go in that direction.

He didn't.

Instead, he chose to sit on the somewhat rugged couch, covered in brown leather, and left room for her. She opted to sit in the chair positioned at its arm so she'd be close, but not too close. She crossed her legs at the ankles and smoothed down the front of her lab coat. His gaze settled on her and nervous tension kicked in her veins. She ruthlessly tamped it down. No more cowering under a male gaze.

"You have concerns about the water?" Of course he did. He wouldn't be the leader of the crew if he didn't. Stupid question.

But it served to break the ice and draw his attention away from her.

"Yes. You need to find out how it happened."

Mia bristled, but showed no outward sign of it. "What do you mean?" What difference did it make how the contamination occurred? And why did she have to figure it out?

Hal turned to face her. "I mean, I want you to run some tests to see how and when our supply became tainted. You can do that, right?"

His sarcastic tone irritated her. "Um … I suppose." She had zero time to add anything to her workload right now.

Hal quirked an eyebrow, probably because she didn't sound certain.

Mia shook her head then nodded. "Of course, but why?" Again, he had her at a loss.

Hal considered her a moment, probably unused to having his orders questioned. "Why? Because I need to know if this was a general fuck up before the water was loaded onto the ship or if it happened right here." His voice had risen and he made a controlled effort to bring it under control. "If it happened here, was it a mistake, or are we looking at sabotage?"

Mia snorted at the thought. "You can't be serious?" She couldn't believe Hal or the paranoid track his mind latched onto.

Hal didn't blink. "I'm very serious."

Mia shook her head. "It figures the military would jump to the conclusion that someone would taint the water supply on purpose. Let me guess … you think it's one of the civilians on board."

Hal took offense at her words. "I don't think anything yet. I know my crew, but you can bet your ass I'll be looking at them just as hard as I look at everyone else." He leaned forward. "And by the way … what the hell is your problem? This isn't a small, trifling issue. Why are you so damned obstinate and stubborn when asked to do something?"

"Because I don't respond well to orders and you don't ask. For too long, I had choices made for me. What school I'd attend, who I'd marry, how long I'd have to put my profession on hold—" She bit her tongue to keep from saying more than she wanted.

Hal quirked an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

Dragging in a deep breath, she finished. "I didn't even choose to be on your ship. And I'm done. Done having no say in my life. If you can't deal with that … too bad. I have a will of my own and it's about damn time I use it. You want something. You can make a request."

Ugh, she sounded stupid. Of course he wouldn't make a request. The man held rank in the military. He issued orders. Sinking down, Mia put her head in her hands and blew out a calming breath.

I'm so excited this story is finished!! Hal and Mia are dear to my heart and have a couple of bonus sexy shorts they'll feature in. Looking forward to polishing this one up and getting it out there.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye