Checking on the Doctor

Posted on Sunday 31 July 2016 @ 14:29 by Commander Caroline Miller & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD7
1152 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

After Apollo finished talking to his new XO he decided to go check in on the medical staff. He had a suspicion that with the drill for biohazard response the medical team, especially his CMO, wouldn't be happy and he didn't want to send anyone else into the line of fire. He just hoped the Doctor understood why they had needed to run the exercise. John paused for a second, taking a breath outside sickbay [I'm just assuming, we can change the location if it's somewhere else] then walked in and headed towards the quarantine area. He stopped next to the partition and tapped his comm badge, "Doctor Miller."

"Captain," Caroline's voice came over the comm. "I am just finishing up the decontamination cycle. If you wouldn't mind passing a robe through the hatch to the chamber once the green light comes on outside that would be very helpful. You disengage the force field, pop it in the area and then click the other button to reseal the force field and open it my end. Otherwise you are going to have to talk to me in my undergarments."

Barstow chuckled and followed the instructions, turning off the force field, stepping through and turning it back on. He grabbed the robe and passed it through, "I suppose you figured out that we were testing emergency response and internal sensors?" Apollo asked, knowing the Medical Officer was always on top of her game, "don't kill me when you come out," he added with a grin, only half joking.

She decided she wasn't going to be embarrassed. She ate the right things, exercised and had worked hard on her body. Plus this was just following procedure. And she had to step right in front of the man to retrieve the robe. "I can promise you I won't be able to kill you yet as I can't get out for several more hours." She pulled the robe round her and secured it. "It might have been a drill sir, but I do not skimp on following procedure in my sickbay. And the process has started. I can't overight it now."

John nodded with a smile, not able to help but look as she pulled the robe on, "Good, I have time to make sure weapons are locked up," he replied with a wink, "and I know, it's good to have be part of the drill, that's why I contacted Medical Command about you, check the front pocket of that robe," he said, having slipped a small oak box into it, and smiled as he leaned with his shoulder on the partition.

Caroline looked confused for a moment before pulling out the small box. A smile grew on her face. "Well that's one way to ensure you don't get hurt sir," she quipped.

Barstow laughed, "that was the plan," he replied with a wink, "you've been on top of everything, even with having one of the most busy medical facilities I've seen on a ship, so, a promotion is very well deserved here. Congratulations, full Lieutenant Miller."

"Thank you sir," Caroline nodded. "And for the unique presentation."

"You're welcome, and I like to surprise people, ask Cale and Melody about theirs," Barstow said with a chuckle, "well, Doctor, since your going to be there for a minute, do you have an initial idea about your staffs performance with the biohazard and how they worked with security?" he asked and looked through the transparent aluminum window.

"Well I know Tera followed everything by the book as she was with me, but as for the rest I had to come straight in here. Your the first person I have spoken too since that red light went off. Did they do okay or do I have to shake sticks at them all?" she asked interested in the CO's take on her staff.

"So far so good to me," Apollo replied, "from what I've seen they are performing above standards, which is impressive to say the least," he said with a smile.

"Good to know," Caroline said happily. "So did you just drill us or was there more at play?"

Barstow smiled, "honestly, I was trying to stress test everyone," he admitted and let out a breath, "call it left overs from my combat days, but, my philosophy is if I stress everyone before the real stress comes then no one will be caught off guard. Its the same theory behind Marine boot, they tear us apart until we think we can't take anymore then when we get built back up and hit combat we have clearer heads under fire."

"I see," Caroline stated. She hoped he wouldn't be stressing them too often or else there would be a rise in stress related illness. "How are you sleeping now Captain?"

Apollo paused for a moment and glanced at the deck before looking back to the Doctor, "a bit better after the meds, my ghosts are finally able to get a little sleep too," he replied and gave her a smile, "no more bringing you out in your robe and night cloths, promise," he said, blushing a little bit.

"Its okay," Caroline said with a grin. "I'm working on making you a dream catcher. Native Americans on Earth say that it stops bad dreams sir."

Barstow smiled, "thank you, I appreciate that," he replied, glad that she had been assigned on board, "I'm glad to have you here, Doctor," he added, still smiling.

"Thank you Captain," Caroline replied. "You have a good crew. We are starting to all pull together now. Just ease off on the drills where I end up in here ehh," she gave him a soft smile to let him know he was off the hook and all was forgiven.

John chuckled, "deal. This should be the last one, we're headed for deep space after this so I wanted to make sure everyone and everything was squared away before we were to far from help," he explained, "and to make sure the senior officers could get used to how each other does things, and that didn't take any of you long," he added proudly, "is there anything I can get for you while you're in here?"

Caroline was thankful for his kind offer. "A good book and some chocolate would be divine. Thank you. It will certainly make the time pass faster."

"Consider it done...Lieutenant," he replied with a smile, using her rank in a congratulatory way and patted his palm on the bulkhead lightly twice, "I need to get back to the Bridge, but, it'll be here in five minutes or less or its free," he added with a wink, already typing a message on the screen a fixed to the bulkhead to Burg telling him to bring the items down for Miller.

OFF:


Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer

&

Dr Caroline Miller
Chief Medical Officer