Medicine

Posted on Sat Dec 22nd, 2018 @ 11:04am by Lieutenant Danica Kovitz

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sickbay - ICU
1073 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Estelle brought a tray with coffee and biscuits over into the ICU and placed it on the small table next to the bed. One of the mugs had a prescription printed on the outside which had Danica's name on it, as well as small print saying why coffee was important for medicinal use. The other, Estelle's cup, read 'I only work here because the coffee is amazing'. "Are you feeling better?" Estelle asked the younger woman.

Danica nodded. “Yes, I’m feeling a lot better. It’s amazing how much better a shower can make you feel.” She took her mug off the tray admiring the side of it. “So coffee is your official medical recommendation, huh?”

"Yes. Coffee is good for you in almost every way, and its side-effects are negligible." She picked her own mug off the tray and took a sip. "I gave you some nutrition before the surgery but this food and coffee will kick-start your digestion again. Then, when you're back to full strength, I can do the follow-up. You see, I had to use some auto-sutures to put your tissue back together, and as this is an older wound your body had already begun to heal around that shard you had sticking inside you. In a few days, provided you've rested accordingly, I will finish the procedure."

“Got it,” Danica said, trying to add her milk and sugar quantities as stealthily as possible. “Any chance it’ll look a bit less scary when you’re done? Not that I’m complaining. I’m alive, after all. Just gave me a bit of a startle when I was trying to admire myself in the shower.” Humor felt surprisingly good, despite her cry a few moments ago. She did hope Estelle knew she was kidding though. She didn’t really want a reputation as a narcissist or anything.

"Oh, they'll be gone when I'm done", Estelle said. "There's no reason people need to walk around with scars in the day and age of dermal regeneration. I could have done it now, and built in a zip for later. But this seemed more efficient. If you want photos to show your family, better take them within the next few days."

“I’ll definitely do that,” the younger woman chuckled. She had to stop herself from wolfing down the food. “But if I did, I’d have to edit around my tattoo. Believe it or not, my mom still doesn’t know I have it. She wouldn’t even care, she’d just be pissed I never told her.”

"I didn't even notice", Estelle admitted. "I guess I was focused on your insides rather than your outsides. Can't fault me for that, can you?"

“That’s actually the preference, I believe. By the way,” Danica added. “How am I looking? Any complications I need to know about?”

"Beyond the next few days? No, you won't have to worry about anything long-term", Estelle reassured her. "Just don't twist about or do any heavy lifting until I clear you."

“I’m probably not going to do a lot of that even after you release me,” she said jokingly flexing her arm. “I’m amazed I got out of that so smoothly though. I honestly was not convinced I’d make it out of that pod.”

"You wouldn't have if we hadn't found you when we did", Estelle said. "But that's because of your head injury. It was easy to repair but it would have killed you." She believed in telling her patients the truth, rather than beating around the bush.

“That actually feels a bit more accurate to my experience,” Dani said. It somehow made her feel better to know that. Somehow it validated what happened. If nothing else, it proved Liam right. Her voice broke ever so slightly when she spoke again. “A friend of mine put me in there. Alone. He was uninjured, but instead of getting to safety, he put me in the pod alone. He said the oxygen would last longer that way. He...didn’t make it off the ship.”

She pointed at her chest, at the damaged combadge. “This was his. Mine must have been destroyed when the relay blew. He set it as a transponder. That’s probably how you even found me at all.”

"It's possible, yes", Estelle said. She didn't know the particulars, that was something to ask of the bridge officers. "It is important, though, that you understand that it's not your fault he didn't make it. A lot of factors play into such things."

Dani didn’t know how much she believe that. He’d explicitly given up his own escape for hers. If she hadn't been injured, they both could have escaped. There was room. But saying that out loud wouldn’t help. “Yeah...I know.” She took a swig of coffee again, mostly to change the subject. “I suppose I won’t be slowed to visit the holodeck for the next few days either? It’s been a few months since I’ve been on a ship big enough to have one.”

"You'll have to stay here for a few days", Estelle said. "You do realise your current position is called 'patient' for a reason, yes?"

“Fair point. Sitting still just feels weird right now. And you gave me caffeine,” she said giving a teasing smile.

"Have you read the Lord of the Rings?" Estelle asked.

Danica shook her head. “No, but I’ve watched the old motion pictures. The extended versions.”

Estelle retrieved a paper version of the book from the replicator. Paperbacks were easier to read, even though not as nice to look at, but for this purpose Estelle figured it would work best. "Six books in three volumes", she said as a way of explanation. "I'm sure the films don't do them justice. They never did." Handing it over, she added. "This should allow you to pass the time in a way that's both enjoyable and educational."

Dani took up the first book, admiring it in her hands. “You got it. Doctor’s orders.”

"Excellent. I'll be outside. If you need anything, or just want to talk, let me know", Estelle offered. "Oh, and, no alcohol for now, okay?" She smiled, turning to leave the room with her mug in hand. She wasn't going to leave about a third of her coffee. Coffee was precious. Her precious.