Medical Check In - part 1

Posted on Fri Jun 10th, 2022 @ 8:50am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Season 5: Episode 4: Reef
Location: Deck 12 - Primary Sickbay
Timeline: MD01 - 0700
1529 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

=== DECK TWELVE – PRIMARY SICKBAY – 0810 ===


Lieutenant Woolheater had just finished gamma shift. A mostly uneventful night that suddenly started coming alive after 0600. Ship’s personnel were reporting back from shore leave. After Sam checked the messages, he knew why. The Elysium was getting underway today. He had almost forgotten to get his medical clearance done. As soon as his shift was over, he made his way to the turbolift and ended up at deck twelve. He entered sickbay and checked himself into the computer and took a seat waiting for medical staff to see him.

Alicia had started duty slightly later after having had a rough night with N’vea, luckily she hadn’t got anyone to see at 0700. Walking into Sickbay she was surprised to see someone already there waiting to be seen. “Good morning” she smiled warmly. “I’m Alicia Kelea-Salik, Chief Counsellor.”

Seeing her pips, Sam stood up and straightened, "Commander, thank you ma'am and good morning." Sam thought, ~Did she say Counselor?~ "I'm here to see...a doctor. Errr...a nurse? Somebody. I have to check in for medical clearance. 'Cause...there wasn't time to get my medical done until now. Because I just got off shift. Duty shift. Gamma. Gamma duty shift."

It all came out of him in one awkward chunk. Then, the cherry on top, "Ahem! Ma'am." As if he need to signal that he was done speaking. He was tired. And he felt awkward, stupid and worst of all...new.

Alicia smiled warmly. “Relax Lieutenant I don’t bite. I know you were expecting someone to do your physical, but as I’m here we might as well get your psych evaluation out of the way. When that’s done I’ll introduce you to a very friendly nurse who’ll sort out your medical for you.”

"Sounds great. Thank you Commander" he said. Of course he didn't feel it was that great. But, he did his best just 'grin and bear it'. It would be fine. "Is your office here in sickbay?"

“Actually no” Ariana smiled. “It’s on deck 14, which is a dedicated counselling deck. However as it’s early we should be able to use one of the offices here to save moving decks.” She motioned for him to follow as she made for her father’s Office. “We can use my father’s office I don’t think Sthilg will mind.” She motioned to a seat. “Please sit down.”

Woolheater followed quietly. Medical facilities always gave him pause. They were so...sterile. Sure, who didn't like all the neatness but did everything have to smell like hygenic salve? He followed the commander into a large office. Commander Sthilg, from the looks of him a Gorn man, was the Chief Medical Officer. Sam had read that last night as he familiarized himself with the crew. There weren't that many Gorn in Starfleet. This made the CMO something of a rarity. And Commander said he was her father. He mused these things over as he took note of the surroundings. He knew where all the exits were and he mentally tracked the number of paces. It wasn't anything all that special. You just get used to knowing your entry and exit points and one just knows how far one has travelled. Just second nature. He took a seat. Placed his hands in his lap and took a breath in for five, silently, held it for five silently and exhaled also silently as he sat comfortably in the chair. The Commander was the superior officer and Sam waited for her to set the conversation. It was protocol and very proper.

Alicia offered a warm smile, “You can relax Lieutenant, and please call me Alicia. When I conduct sessions I don’t stand on ceremony, it’s nice to have a break from being called by my rank all day long. So, how are you settling in? Any problems or concerns?”

~ How did I end up in a counseling 'session'? ~ he thought to himself. He answered, "Yes ma'am; Thank you...Alicia. I'm relaxed." Of course he wasn't 'relaxed'. She was a superior officer and despite his best effort to avoid seeing a Counselor until he felt better he was put him off center. It wasn't her, or any Counselor for that matter. Just the idea that there was something 'wrong' with him, mentally that is, that he didn't like. He took a breath in and felt the manipulations of his sister, Johanna. He swallowed and said, "No. No problems, Comm...Alicia. Just...new I guess? New to the ship and the detachment here. I'll get up to speed. I haven't pulled graveyard shifts for a while but...its the job you know?"

Alicia nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry if I caught you off guard with this evaluation, there’s really no need to be nervous. It’s just one of the formalities of boarding a starship, making sure you’re settling in okay, and that you don’t have any problems.”

He felt, in his mind's eye, Emily Hope standing nearby. He couldn't see her but he felt her presence none the less. He looked away; he had worked so hard to compartmentalize the grief. Packing it away so that it was tucked deep down where he could, with layer upon layer of emotional shielding contain it and control it. It; the grief. It threatened now, with all of its pent up power to come bounding into the forefront. And Sam did not want to deal with it. He tried this, "Last couple weeks...been rough. Y'know?" he said softly. Only looking at her in glances. "Last mission op...went...poorly. And I didn't complete my mission. To save somebody. A scientist...who didn't deserve...he didn't deserve that. What happened." He was quiet, the briefest memories of the OP coming back to him.

"Anyway...people are dead because I wasn't faster." He realized at that moment that he blamed himself also for Emily's death and for a similar reason. He didn't know she was in danger and couldn't act. He should have known. "Anyway...not my first SNAFU. Then...yeah...lost somebody close to me. And...yeah...just processing through that I guess." He realized he hadn't looked up in a while. He did now and tried to recover, "Doc's at Margrave...Camp Margrave where I did my recerts and got this PCS gave me some holodeck time. Like, a prescription to do it. I just haven't gotten time to do it yet. Those credits don't expire do they?"

Alicia could feel the grief and pain that Samuel was holding onto, she offered a gentle understanding smile. “No, they don’t expire. You can use them whenever you need to, and if you need more time just come and see me. Anytime you need to talk I’ll be available.”

He was really very grateful. Alicia seemed to understand and didn't press him. He nodded, "Thanks for that. Alicia, I know in my head that its better to talk about...it" he said softly. There was a pause as he thought about the pain and how much it hurt. His eyes started to water but he regained his composure.
"I'm not ready to unpack it all. It's all I have left. Of the person that I didn't...didn't even know how much I loved. And..." he fought back a wave of grief. Sighing, "I just need some more time to deal. It won't get in the way of my duties. I appreciate the offer about holodeck time. And thank you for making me feel. A little less 'broken' if that makes any sense?"

Alicia nodded. “It does, and it’s my pleasure. As I said if you need to talk you can come to me, or any member of my department.” She smiled warmly. “Now how’s about I take you to meet that nice nurse I told you about?”

"Yes please. Get that off my plate." He waited and stood to his feet with her as was protocol. Then he said, from the heart, "Thank you."

Alicia smiled warmly. “It’s my pleasure Samuel.”

It did feel like some of the weight had been lifted off of him. The knowledge that he could talk with someone who was outside the immediate marine command structure was also a benefit. It would be easier to talk to "a stranger" than to someone you have to work with all day. Trust must be earned; not given away. And that kind of trust takes time to establish. In time, someone like Renth, or the MXO or the Colonel could be those people. At this point in time, Sam didn't know who to trust. Alicia was the first step.

Feeling a little better, a little lighter, a little more connected helped. Big sister was right. Of course, Sam would never tell her that.

[OFF:]


1st Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 2nd Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=


&

Lt Cmdr Alicia Kelea-Salik
Chief Counsellor
USS Elysium