A carrot for your thoughts

Posted on Thu Dec 12th, 2019 @ 10:37am by Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Ensign Olivia (Carter) Voight

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD2 - 02h00
2095 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Some time had gone by since S'hib wondered out of sickbay in just a towel, Ensign Hol finding him raiding the mess hall. In that time he'd somehow managed to ask Naxea on somewhat of a date to the planet, much to his delight. But before he went down to the surface he figured it would be best to have a checkup. "Hello~," S'hib announced after edging into sickbay quietly, hoping the Gorn wasn't on shift at the moment.

Olivia was sitting at the desk in her small office going over a few of the crew medical files to get caught up on things where she could. Hearing someone enter Sickbay, Olivia got up from her desk and headed out into the main area to see who had come in for treatment or a visit. Olivia smiled when she spotted Ensign S'hib had come by and she walked towards him. "Is there something I can help you with Ensign?" Olivia asked.

“Ohh Lieutenant,” S’hib said, a slight surprise to the pitch of his voice as he turned to face her. “I’m actually here for a quick checkup.” He added, placing his hands behind his back, relaxing his posture once he figured the Gorn had to be elsewhere.

Olivia smiled up at Lieutenant S'hib. "Come on over to one of the bio-beds Ensign and I can check you over," Olivia said as she started towards one of the bio-beds.

S'hib nodded silently as he was beckoned over, his hooves gently clicking over the sickbay floor as he approached the biobed. "So how are you settling In?" He asked curiously, flicking his tail high into the air before sitting down, still somehow above her eye level.

Olivia picked up one of the tricorders and stepped over to the bio-bed where S'hib was seated. Before opening it up, Olivia looked up at the Sequus in front of her. "I'm getting there," Olivia replied. "I'm still getting the lay of the land so to speak on where some things are located. How has your day been so far?"

"Pleasant and uneventful," S'hib said firmly, though it was a barefaced lie he still sat up straight, proud of what had transpired in the marine training decks. "You know, I could always show you around at some point, practically know this ship like the back of my hand." He added, sounding somewhat less proud about that achievement.

“You should be proud to know this ship as well as you do,” Olivia replied. “It means that should it ever be needed, you would be able to get to any of us just as quickly through alternate routes and still help protect the crew or rescue them.” Olivia opened the tricorder she had picked up and started to run the scans over Lieutenant S’hib.

"Hmm, I suppose you're right... never really thought about it that way." He said, watching the tricorder moving over his body. "But then again most of the ship is very quiet, sometimes I won't see anyone for hours while I do my patrols..." S'hib added with a slight sigh, torn between the excitement of the Jem'Hadar and the quiet lonely shifts where he doesn't get shot.

Olivia closed up the tricorder once she got the scans she needed and set it aside. She then turned slightly and stepped over to where she had placed a few goodies to have on hand for when S’hib would stop by for visits or a check up. Olivia grabbed a bundle of the carrots and stepped back over to where S’hib was still seated on the biobed. As she stepped back over to S’hib, Olivia scooted a small step still with her foot over closer to the biobed. Stepping up on to the stool, Olivia offered the bundle of carrots to S’hib. “I’m going to run my hands over the back of your head and neck just to make sure no problems have come up since your last visit here to Sickbay,” Olivia said as she carefully placed her hands on the back of S’hib’s head.

"Oh, well I do know Disruptors can cause nerve damage... but I haven't...really..." He replied, slowly drifting into silence as Olivia's fingers trailed into his mane, staring at the bright orange carrots before closing his eyes.

“I wouldn’t be doing a good job if I didn’t check everything that I’m supposed to be checking,” Olivia replied. She lightly ran her hands over the back of S’hib’s head and neck only pressing down slightly in a couple of spots just to be sure there wasn’t a problem since she felt a couple of stiff areas on his neck. Once she had finished checking the back of S’hib’s head and neck, Olivia moved her hands around and lightly scratched up under his chin. “You can enjoy your carrots now.”

"I... Already was." S'hib mumbled, his mind more on her hand than the food. Slowly he started opening his eyes, a small exhale leaving his lips as placed his hands on the biobed, stopping himself from falling forward. "You... haven't been studying my species by any chance, have you?" He joked, blinking and shaking his head out of the slight trance he'd somehow fallen into.

Olivia blushed slightly as she looked at S’hib, removing her hands. “I just started to do a little studying since a few things were mentioned during the conference I had attended before coming onboard,” Olivia replied. “I hope you don’t mind that I was trying to learn a little more. I wanted to study up so that I could better understand how to treat you during your visits here to Sickbay.”

"Not at all... Thank you, that was very considerate of you to do." S'hib replied softly, smiling at her but not making full eye contact. "Sorry, I embarrassed you..." He added, gently reaching toward her hand before taking a carrot.

“It alright,” Olivia softly said. “I’m just surprised that you noticed. Most don’t always notice right away.”

"Most don't tend to read up on my people or my culture, I understand why though... We are quite different, socially..." He replied, gently biting into the orange vegetable. "It's why I tend to cut my own hair..." He replied, looking down at what was left of the carrot in his lap.

“You being different just makes you special,” Olivia replied. “If others are not wanting to learn then it's their fault, not yours.”

S'hib only laughed at this, leaning slightly in her direction. "Still, I have to be considerate to the rest of the crew... there are a lot of things about myself, that I have to leave In my quarters every day when I put on this uniform." He replied, falling quiet once again before placing the rest of the carrot in his mouth.

Olivia reached up and scratched S’hib between his ears. “Still the best way to learn something new is to either do some studying on the subject or learn from the person who knows a lot about the subject of interest,” Olivia replied. Using her free hand, She reached over and grabbed another batch of carrots for the Ensign.

His ears flicked at the touch and his head instantly leaned forward, the feeling was hypnotic, All the weight on his shoulders melting away. It was hard to think of a reply, let alone speak one. “No more, I'm on a diet.” He snorted jokingly, just about managing to wave his hand at the offered food, was he this tired when he walked in he thought, blinking to stay upright.

Olivia scratched S’hib a little more between his ears. “Well you can always take the carrots with you for a snack later on big guy,” Olivia replied. “How is this spot on your hip?,” Olivia asked as she touched the recent wound.

The comment made him smirk, what he would give for taller door frames on the Elysium. “It’s... uhh, the hair is starting to grow back somewhat.” He managed to say, sitting up straight, her hand trailing over his snout as he did so. “Do you need to see?” He asked, his hand already moving up to his uniform collar.

“Only if it is bothering you and I need to check it over,” Olivia replied. “At least I now know to keep carrots on hand for your visits here.”

"Do you keep food on hand for all your patients?" He grinned, leaving his collar be. "Or are you just trying to butter me up, get yourself a get out of brig free card." He added, tilting his head to the side, looking at her through the mane that had fallen down over the side of his face.

“I don’t always have goodies around to satisfy everyone,” Olivia replied as she smiled up at S’hib. “It depends on my mood sometimes as to what I have on hand some days, but I will always have carrots, apples, and peppermint candy on hand just for you should you want them.”

"You know, I've really been trying to find ways to avoid coming in here... I can't keep getting shot just to have an apple." S'hib replied, trying to hide a grin.

“You don’t have to be hurt or sick to come by for a visit and get a snack, big guy,” Olivia replied. “If it helps, you could always schedule your visits when I’m here and I will treat you to more head scratches or neck rubs.”

"Can't I just stay here?" S'hib replied, laughing out of embarrassment, the slightest hint of sincerity in his question. His mind was reeling, his stomach in knots at the prospect of going back to be starved of physical contact... maybe it would have been better if he'd never been reminded of what it felt like to be one of his kind. "Though I guess I should get back to my duties." He added, trying to will his legs to move.

“You can stay as long as you want to, big guy,” Olivia replied with a smile. “I’m not kicking you out. It would be stupid on my part if I even tried to do such a thing.”

"I'm softer than I look..." S'hib shrugged honestly, smiling somewhat at the idea of her literally kicking him out. "Besides, you outrank me... I'd be even more stupid not to do as I'm told." He added, grinning to himself.

“Well your welcome to stay as long as you want to stay,” Olivia replied. “As far as the rest are concerned, you came by to ensure nothing happened to the new medical officer during her first week onboard the ship.”

"As much as I'd enjoy to sit comfortably and get hand fed from you, I think I should get back to my duties...It is late after all." S'hib replied teasingly, sliding off the biobed and standing up, straightening his uniform before tilting his head down towards Olivia. "Thank you for carrots." He smirked.

“Alright, if you must,” Olivia replied. “Just remember your welcome to come by any time to visit or just get a snack, big guy.” Olivia reached up and was able to barely rub the edge of S’hib’s nose. “Your welcome to the carrots any time. Would you like another bundle or a couple of apples to take with you on your rounds.”

"Lieutenant, you're going to make me fat... and late." S'hib smiled, shaking his head slightly. "And anyway, I thought apples were supposed to keep doctors away..." He snorted, walking towards the exit to sickbay.

“Just trying to make sure you had something healthy to eat, big guy,” Olivia replied. “Don’t want you getting weak and passing out on me during your rounds.”

S'hib stopped briefly in the archway, a big grin on his face as he looked back at Olivia. "Try not to get lost Lieutenant..." He hummed, his tongue caught between his lips as he continued on his way, leaving Olivia and her carrots on their own.

Olivia laughed softly as she watched Lieutenant S’hib leave Sickbay. “At least I know who to ask for should I get lost,” Olivia said softly in return. Before walking back to her office, Olivia grabbed a lone carrot to munch on as well as one of the apples.

OFF:

Lieutenant JG S'hib
Security Officer

Lieutenant Olivia (Carter) Voight
Assistant Chief Medical Officer