Caught With Your Pants Down

Posted on Friday 21 May 2021 @ 11:43 by Lieutenant Nir’anyar & Commander Caroline Miller & Major David Scarlet

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: Sickbay
1446 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Scarlet limped and gritted his teeth as he made his way to the medical bay. He couldn't tell what was wrong with his right leg, but the darned thing wasn't responding like it should.

The door slid open and he walked inside, his leg dragging slightly. He looked around and grunted before making his way toward the CMO.

Doctor Kyhl and Anya had been working in tandem to clear the back log of injured from the recent attack and the two of them had been supporting Commander Godding and agreed that perhaps the best option would be to send her to a Medical Facility for her life changing operation. It was soothing to finally have sickbay back to a normal state. She had heard the doors behind her but had paid it no heed until she heard his voice and immediately her hackles went up.

"Got a problem Doc." Scarlet said firmly. He tapped his leg and sighed. "I'm limping."

"Is that your professional medical opinion?" she chided rather indignantly as she looked him up and down.

"Considering I'm the one using the damn leg, yes." He growled back. "I need someone to figure out why though. You have anyone qualified in this chop shop of yours?"

"Let me just get the witch doctor for you... I'm sure she has a few leeches that are hungry!"
She pointed at the nearest biobed, saying nothing more as she snatched up a tricorder and pulled the scanner wand from its holster. "So tell me what happened and if it helps you can use smaller words so as not to confuse yourself!"

Scarlet hobbled over to the biobed and sat down. He glared at Anya as she spoke. "Leeches? Save them for your lunch." He adjusted himself on the bed before he continued. "No idea. Noticed the limp an hour ago. I had a competent doctor once who told me to keep an eye on things like that."

"Obviously not competent enough if they told you to walk to sickbay when we can transport you to save putting pressure on an unknown wound!"
She shot back, choosing to ignore the retort over the leeches. This man truly was vile and repugnant to her but in truth she couldn't figure out why.

She pointed the wand scanner at his leg and started to move around him, in silence, taking a full batch of readings. Thankfully for him it was a simple muscular strain, nothing to severe but if not taken care of could lead to a muscular tear.
"Well you will be glad to know its as simple as a muscle strain. Some mild pain killers, occasional ice pack when it aches and some physio therapy and you will be right as rain... Unfortunately for me, I am the physio specialist on the ship so I will have to grit my teeth and put up with you company several more times... It would have been far better if you had sustained a mortal wound during the Captains rescue!"

Scarlet put his hand to his chest in feigned shock. "Hypocratic oath Doctor." He put his hand back down to the bed and pushed off of it to stand before her. He focused his weight mostly on his good leg. "Schedule the physio. I'll be there with a smile."

Contorting his face into an out of character large grin before returning it to it's normal sour demeanour. "Can't guarantee I'll still be smiling after laying eyes on you, but I'll give it a try."

"I have sworn the hypocratic oath and it says nothing about my own feelings towards someone so long as I treat them... I will treat you but I don't have to like you!"
Accessing the nearest console she called up her schedule and started to examine it to find a free slot. She would need to grit her teeth but at the same time he had been instrumental in the rescue of the Captain and although she wouldn't have admitted it to him she had learned a few things about combat situations that probably saved her life... In some way she felt she owed him, she just didn't need to make it easy on him. "How does tomorrow at fourteen hundred hours sound to you?"

"I'll be there." Scarlet said crisply as he limped away from the biobed. Until then, he'd gwt one of the medics to administer what was needed to keep him going.

A console just over from them both indicated an incoming transmission and it looked to be marked as priority one. She moved over, leaving Lieutenant Scarlet on the biobed for a moment and started to read the message. The message itself was titled 'For Safekeeping' which in and of itself struck her as odd, she continued reading.
"Lieutenant... Would you mind having a look at this for me?" she hated to ask but he was the only other person in sickbay.

Scarlet made a slight grunting sound in agreement and worked the console to open the message.

File after file started opening up in front of them. Floxaid. Logs. As one of them pressed one to play, Carolines voice could be heard.

"Stardate 12 45 2397 .. Continuing on looking at the reaction of the new drug Extron451 we tried provided by Starfleet medical from the Apollo mission to Ketrol V, it worked briefly. We thought we had it. That this one had the potential of blocking the virus from getting to the neuropath but in reality it just slowed it down. The data did look promising. It really slowed it down. It took it two weeks to before the same reaction on the Betaziod strain. I am disappointed. I'm wondering if I can do any kind of retrofitting the drug DNA to speed it up. Maybe if it had the opposite effect it wouldn't have time .... but we have been here before ....

Anya knowing Caroline a lot better could hear a tiredness and frustration in her voice.

"I spoke to Kem and he said the other drug he had been asked to look at was also showing potential. He's going to send me all his files to review and I'll try aid him until Starfleet medical provide me with something new to try. Or authorise me experimenting to alter the Extron451. Miller out."

"What in the seven hells... Does this make any sense to you Lieutenant?" Anya asked absently forgetting that the man stood besides her was someone she disliked but something in Carolines recorded voice told her this could be something more, something larger than at first glance it appeared.

"Not a bit." Scarlet said through gritted teeth. "But I don't like the sounds of it." He glanced at the Doctor. "You should take this to the Captain."

"Stating the obvious seems to be your forte Lieutenant!"
She ushered him back to the biobed for one final examination, this time by hand so she knew what and where the issue was before administering a painkiller and anti inflammatory. "This should keep you on your feet but please keep it limited or it could cause more damage... Before you go as well... Could I just express my thanks and gratitude. If not for you I could have been injured, or worse while rescuing the Captain... I may not like you but I do occasionally consider respecting you!"

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "You're running a bit hot and cold Doc. First you regret I wasn't shot and then you thank me for saving your life. Maybe you should book yourself in for a councilor appointment."

"Just accept the thanks with grace if you would Lieutenant and don't worry that level of sentimentality will not be expressed again I can assure you!"
She grabbed up the hypospray with the painkiller, determined to have one last win against him, even if she didn't get the last word. "Now if you will turn around and drop your pants for me I can ease the pain for you!"

"Doctor ..." Roger Bumble walked into the direction of the CMO .... "Oh .... my" he turned to leave before sneaking one more look muttering "Oh my indeed ..... I will catch up with you later maam .... Lieutenant always a pleasure."

"I'd rather limp." Scarlet said angrily. He stood up and glared at the Doctor. "Not happening."

OFF:

● Ensign Roger Bumble
Counselor
USS Merlin


| 1st Lieutenant David Scarlet
Marine Company Commander
USS Merlin


●● Lieutenant Nir’anyar
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin