Doctors Aren’t Always the Worst Patients
Posted on 03 Dec 2021 @ 8:57pm by Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair MD, DVM & Lieutenant Lamia ‘Mia’ Kildare
Edited on on 03 Dec 2021 @ 9:11pm
1,858 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
General Sim Postings
Location: Counselor’s Office
[ON]
Jane Sinclair was a busy woman. Sickbay shifts were nonstop as people came in to treat their illnesses and injuries all day and all night, especially the Marines it seemed. But with her duty shift over, and after a couple of necessary reschedulings, Jane was able to make her appointment with Counselor Arderne.
The two women had become fast friends after their first meeting in Sickbay and their joint swimming and hot-tubbing excursion in the holodeck. Jane knew that Lamia was a nice person and a good listener. And she was feeling a bit out of sorts since the senior staff briefing. It would be good to talk to the Counselor.
She chimed the door to the Counselor’s office, lightly bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited.
Lamia smiled as she sensed the familiar presence outside her door. “Come in Jane!”
“How did you know it was me?” Jane asked as she walked into the office.
“How did I know?” Lamia grinned tapping her head. “I’m a Betazoid remember? I’d know your presence anywhere.”
“Right, right.” Jane laughed as she shook her head at the silliness of her question. “Do you have a minute? I know I kept rescheduling our appointment, but I’m hoping we can talk for a few.”
“Sure! Take a seat and make yourself at home” Mia smiled warmly. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you,” Jane replied. She took a spot on the couch and tucked her feet under herself. “I had fun the other day. In the pool with you. It was nice to make a friend so quickly.”
“Indeed it was” Lamia grinned. She seemed to have even more of a glow about her than she’d had before, the ring on her finger glinted in the light of the room as she took her seat ready to talk to Jane.
“What’s going on with you?” Jane asked, grinning ear to ear. She was no telepath but the emotions Lamia was giving off were undeniable. The light shone across her hand and reflected the light just so. “Oh my goodness! Lamia!”
Lamia grinned. She was bubbling with the excitement of her recent engagement. “Chris asked me to marry him!!” She held out her hand for Jane to see the ring. “I’m so excited!! I could run around shouting it at the top of my lungs!”
"Congratulations!" Jane cheered. "My, look at that!" She took Lamia's hand and examined the ring. "That is gorgeous!"
“It certainly is!” Lamia nodded. “He took me out for a romantic evening of dinner, and dancing, it was wonderful. I still can’t believe I’m engaged to be married!”
"Dinner and dancing, eh?" Jane let go of Lamia's hand and got comfortable again on the couch. "Glad to hear that the men of the galaxy haven't forgotten how to be romantic."
Lamia smiled. “Anyway we’re completely off track here, I’m supposed to be conducting your psych evaluation.” She picked up a PADD. “Let’s get down to business shall we?”
“Yes, we probably should,” Jane agreed. “I’m not exactly sure where to begin though.”
“Well how’s about you tell me what made you join Starfleet?” Lamia looked at Jane curiously. “What makes you want to be out in space aboard a starship?”
“I think it came from growing up on one of the colonies,” Jane answered. “We were by no means remote; Vega was the third new system colonized by humans, over two hundred years ago, but anywhere off Earth or one of the other big homeworlds feels like the fringe. And that’s how we like it.” She smiled. She knew people from a lot of colony worlds and she knew that so many defined themselves at least in part as being ‘not from Earth’. “After encounters with Starfleet and nonhumans in my teen years, I decided I wanted to live by helping people like me. Keeping border colonies safe from attack, or from disease, or other threats. It’s one of the reasons I became a vet, too. Those remote colonies depend on their animals as much as their shields or replicators.”
“You’re a vet!” Lamia grinned. “Wow you’re certainly multi skilled. So how are you settling in onboard ship? I know you make friends quickly, which is a good thing.”
“I’m settling in fairly well, actually,” Jane replied. “I’m all unpacked in my ship quarters, and my cabin on the Base. And I’ve met a few new people, in the mess hall and in sickbay. Quite a few among the Marines, which is good since I’m with them on the SAR mission soon.”
Mia nodded. “That’s great, I know how fun a person you are from our friendship.” She smiled warmly. “As a Doctor is there anything that you’re concerned about? Such as anything from your past that bothers you, or anything along those lines?”
"I'm always a bit worried about making the wrong call," Jane admitted. "Every doctor, no matter how confident in their abilities, will be concerned about that. I'm more worried about this SAR mission. We know basically nothing about it. Just that the Captain is in danger and I'm there in the middle of it with the Marines."
Lamia nodded understandingly. “The Marines of this ship are the best, don’t worry you’re in good hands. I just hope the Captain is alright.”
"Me, too," Jane agreed. "I've met a few of the marines so far. They've all seemed very capable and friendly. Perhaps a bit too eager to be injured in the line of duty. Though I've not met Chris yet. Is he like that? Is that something common to all of them?"
“Chris is...well, he has to be less eager to be injured in the line of duty, as you put it, he’s a demolitions expert.” Lamia grinned. “I’m sure you’ll fit in with the unit perfectly.”
“Yeah, I suppose you generally need to be more careful as a demolitions expert,” Jane agreed. “And thank you. Hopefully I’ll be completely unnecessary and everyone will be happy and healthy.”
Mia smiled. “So is there anything you want to ask me? Or anything you feel you need to talk about?”
"Maybe just some questions about life around here," Jane answered. "You've been here a while now. How often are we at Starbase 51 vs out in deep space? What do people do for fun, both on ship and at base?"
“Well...” Lamia paused. “It depends on the length of the mission really and how soon the ship is needed out again. We usually get at least a few days to a week of shoreleave, if not longer. As for fun, there’s obviously more places you can go on Starbase 51 but here aboard ship there’s all the usual entertainment. To be honest I just tend to vegetate away in quarters a lot of the time!”
"Doing what?" Jane asked. "Music? Books? Something on film? Or a fun activity? I'd love a good recommendation." A mental image of something much more fun to do in quarters came to mind, which the doctor mentally chastised herself for thinking in the presence of a strong telepath.
Mia couldn’t help but catch a generalised hint of what the thought was running through Jane’s mind. She grinned as she gave her a knowing look. “Ohh I have my favourite things I like to do. As for anything else I do love books, and music, movies too.” Her smile faded a little. “There are a lot of times I wish I had motherhood keeping me busy.” She offered a melancholy smile.
"Well, like I said when we first met, you have reason to hope for that," Jane offered. "What are you reading these days? I love sitting in with a good book and a hot drink, too, and any recommendation helps."
“I’m currently reading a horror, by Earth author Steven King.” Lamia smiled. “I enjoy his books. I also love the Harry Potter books too, very entertaining.”
“Oh, those were great books,” Jane agreed. “I’ve not read anything by King though. I’ll try one. Last book I read was a mystery by Agatha Christie. The classics of Earth are just that, classics.”
“Indeed they are” Lamia nodded and smiled. “So back to your evaluation, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t pass you. I’ll sign off your evaluation for you.”
“Thank you!” Jane grinned. “Glad to know I’m mentally healthy!”
Lamia grinned. “Don’t be afraid to let your hair down though, it’s good for you!”
"I've never been accused of being uptight," Jane said. "Don't worry about me. I know how to relax. Poolside. Beach holodeck programs. Massage holodeck programs. Books. Music, listening or playing and singing."
“Wow! Now that all sounds like good fun.” Lamia grinned. “It’s good that you enjoy yourself. We medical professionals tend to be the awkward ones a lot of the time.”
"Yes, I've noticed that," Jane said. "Very early in medical school, I saw a lot of people burn out, and I refused to be one of them. So I made a point to indulge my non-medical passions and hobbies, music being chief among them. After a few nights of karaoke and open mic nights, some fellow cadets approached me and I joined their band as a keyboardist and singer. Some of my fellow med students didn't approve, but I did pretty well in exams after a night of music instead of binge-studying."
“To be honest, I’m still facing up to the loss of my daughter.” Lamia shrugged her shoulders. “I think letting my hair down every now and again just might do me good. May I join you sometime?”
"I'd love that!" Jane shifted forward on the couch. "I think Starbase 51 has a decent nightclub. When we next return to base, I'm taking you. Chris can come too I guess, but he'll have to deal with the fact that I'm taking you deep into the dance floor myself." She grinned and stuck her tongue out at the Counselor.
Lamia offered a somewhat reluctant nod. “Nightclubbing? I was kind of thinking of something more...subdued.”
“I can do subdued,” Jane conceded. “Spa night?”
Mia nodded. “Sounds much more relaxed. More me!” She grinned.
“Good! The Starbase floor plan had at least one spa on it,” Jane said. “When we dock again, I’ll make us a reservation.”
“Sounds great!” Mia smiled. “Anyway we were conducting your review, not that I see any problems.”
“Glad to hear it,” Jane said. “Anyway I should get back to sickbay. Do I need to sign anything?”
“Not at all” Lamia smiled warmly. “I’ll sign you off and file the official paperwork.”
“Thanks!” Jane stood, smiled, and turned out the door. “See you later, Lamia.” Suddenly she was out the door, heading back toward Sickbay.
[OFF]
Lieutenant Lamia Arderne
Chief Counsellor
Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
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