Slow beginnings

Posted on Fri Sep 12, 2014 @ 8:22pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & The Doctor & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Lieutenant Nicole Anderson

1,862 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: All this has happened before...
Location: U.S.S. Victory; Sickbay
Timeline: 63281.914 {Mon, 02 Sep 2385 09:44:51 }

With a shake of his head, the Doctor turned back to where the Captain was seated on a biobed, her right leg propped up on the bed with her boot and sock off to reveal the ankle swollen and a healthy shade of blue/purple coming up through the skin. "And just how did you manage to sprain your ankle this badly again?" the Doctor asked.

Leaning back on the biobed, the Captain answered after a moment in a morose voice. "I tripped."

"That much I could tell on my own," the EMH retorted in his slightly Scottish-accented voice. "Just...how did you trip? What did you trip on?"

Pursing her lips, she finally said "Wet floor in the mess deck."

"Ah," was the Doctor's smug response. "I see."

Even though he was a holographic program, he was self-aware and recognized the scowl in the Captain's eyes - and wisely decided to forego further comments.

Thankfully. Since she was fairly certain the moment the XO learned the Captain had been assisted to sickbay as she'd been unable to walk on her own he was going to show up...and there'd be plenty of comments.

Since returning to SB 960 with the Rearu contingent prisoner, the Victory had been undergoing repairs. Again.

They'd also seen some crew transfers, some of their own choice, and a few removed for not meeting expectations.

Moments later Alec was indeed entering Sickbay. Word had reached him of both Rhea's injury and the fact she had been unable to walk on her own. He walked to the biobed where the EMH was attending to the Captain. "Well Doc, is she going to live?" he inquired as he turned to look at the Captain, "How did this happen? Please indulge me. I'm all ears." He spoke informally to her.

Giving him the same look she'd fired at the EMH moments before, the Captain replied, "I tripped."

He gave her a frank, disbelieving stare. "You tripped? That's it? No further explanation? Just, 'I tripped'?"

She met his gaze. "Yep. I tripped."

Yarin walked into Sickbay Captain, Commander. he nodded in acknowledgment He turned to the EMH Doctor I need a moment of your time to help alleviate my mandibular problem.

Nicole walked in a moment later, sighing. "Providence-forbid I get any sleep," she groused, then stopped, seeing Yarin and the EMH staring at each other.

"Doctor Anderson," the EMH said, nodding. "Why...is he staring at me?"

"Probably because he needs your help and is trying to communicate telepathically with a hologram," Nicole said, shaking her head at Yarin.

Still preparing to treat the torn ligaments in the Captain's ankle, the EMH gave a nod. "Patience, Mr. Yarin. I am still tending the Captain's injury at this time."

"Go lie down on the next bed, Yarin, I'll be right there," Nicole said, then turned to observe the Captain as he walked away.

Alec gazed down at Rhea, "Some how, I think it was more than that." When he heard the EMH's words about torn ligaments, he jumped on it. "Torn ligaments? And you're going to lie there and stick to the story of having just tripped? Come on Rhe.... Captain what really happened?"

Before the Captain could answer, the EMH helpfully supplied "Apparently the deck was wet in the mess hall..."

A smirk appeared on Alec's face. "Oh, so that's it. Slipped in the mess hall. My question is, why wouldn't you just say that? You're allowed to go to the mess hall. You are the Captain, you can go anywhere you want."

Irked, the Captain pointed at him accusingly. "That..that right there..that's why..."

He took a step back, surprised at both her tone and pointing of a finger. "That's why what?" He asked in confusion.

She didn't reply, irked by the smirk still on his face, irked by the injury and irked by the fact that someone had spilled soup broth on the deck and not cleaned it up.

Then suddenly the light clicked on inside Alex's head, helped a great deal by Rhea's glare directed at him. His smirk vanished instantly as well as in teasing tone. Replaced by one of concern and caring. "I'm sorry Rhea. I didn't mean to be insensitive. Please tell me what happened, I'd like to know."

The Captain was not in the mood to be forgiving. "The floor was wet. I tripped." she answered curtly while the EMH tended her injured ankle, now using a re-generator to repair the torn ligament creating a warm, tingling sensation in the injured limb.

Alec nodded slowly. He knew that tone of voice. Rhea was pissed, with him, with the wet floor, with being in Sickbay. "I am sorry for both you being hurt and being an insensitive lout." He replied quietly.

The EMH spoke up then, "The torn ligament has been knitted. However, you will need to exercise caution for at least two weeks to prevent a re-occurrence of the injury. I will give you a mild anti-inflammatory with a mild pain reliever. Do try to avoid strenuous activity for the next three days and rest the ankle as much as possible. For the moment, I need you to remain still while I finish tending the injury. You have a small hairline fracture as well which needs to be knitted.."

Alec remained silent as the EMH finished his work repairing Rhea's injury as well as giving her instructions on how take care of her ankle. He decided this was the best course of action. He didn't want to further inflame her by saying something that might be taken wrong.

"Bridge to Captain Kennit."

The voice from the OOD, Chief Petty Officer Grayson interrupted the somewhat...tense mood in Sickbay. Responding, the Captain said "Kennit here. What is it?"

"You wished to be informed when new personnel came aboard. Lieutenant Penelope Naroot has reported aboard, her orders state she has been assigned as our new Chief Navigation Officer. Also, Lieutenant Cassandra Sanders reported aboard at the same time, she's been assigned as our new Chief Counselor."

Nicole's ears pricked up and she immediately began looking around as if they were going to appear out of thin air. She wasn't sure if she was feeling angry, joyous or just plain dread.

"Thank you Chief," the Captain answered. "What's the status on the repair schedule for today? They should be getting close to completion."

"Yes Ma'am," Grayson answered. "The repair crews are on schedule and we do expect the last repairs to be completed within the next 48 hours. We should be able to depart the station on schedule."

"That's a bit of good news at least," the Captain replied. "Keep me posted Chief.. Kennit out."

She still hadn't spoken to Alec again.

Alec listened in silence as Rhea spoke to Grayson about crew transfers as well as the state of repairs. It was obvious (at least to him) that Rhea was giving him the cold shoulder. Not that he could blame her but he had already apologized twice.

Nicole cleared her throat. "Commander, Captain, if you two would care to continue this discussion elsewhere, I would like to free up the bed." She nodded permission to the EMH and opened her tricorder, scanning the Captain's ankle. "Excellent work, Doctor," she said, nodding to him, then turned to the Captain. "Favor it for a day or so, while the muscles get back in shape and you'll be good as new. In the mean time, try to have some consideration for your crew when it comes to your temper. I don't appreciate people one-upping my thunder." She gave the Captain a rare, small smile and patted her hand.

The Captain merely arched one slender eyebrow, finding the statement amusing considering the minor detail that the good Doctor had never been present when she really displayed a moment of temper, as the XO could (unfortunately) testify.

"That's true," Cassandra said, having just walked into Sickbay. Her violet eyes immediately met Nicole's blue ones and she steeled herself for a reaction, but Nicole just dropped her gaze and turned away. Cass was surprised, but she put it aside until later, preferring more pressing matters. "Captain, Commander," she said, stepping forward, a blonde teenager stepping up beside her and nodding to them both. "Lieutenants Cassandra Sanders and Penelope Naroot, reporting in," Cass said, gesturing to herself and her companion respectively.

Faced with new crew while sitting with one foot still bootless on a bio bed wasn't exactly Kennit's idea of the correct way to make the right impression. "Welcome aboard." the Captain answered. "I hope your journey out here was less eventful than my morning."

Penny waved and then looked the Captain over curiously. She reached for the waist of her uniform, pulling out a small, cylindrical, silver object and waving it over the Captain like a wand before looking at it critically. "Bad ankle," she said, a distinct "tsk tsk" in her voice. "Should be more careful, given--"

"Beep, beep, Penny," Cassandra and Nicole both suddenly said from opposite sides of the room.

For her part, the Captain was simply gazing at the Lieutenant curiously.

Cassandra turned back to the Captain and gave an apologetic smile. "She sometimes forgets she isn't a nurse anymore," she said by way of an explanation. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but once you are able, we both need to speak with you privately about a personal matter."

"Come see me this afternoon at 1400 in my ready room." Kennit answered. "We can sit down and speak then.."

Alec sighed silently as she stood there. Rhea still hadn't spoken to him. This had all the earmarks of a very, very, very long morning.

Having been dismissed by the Doctor, the Captain pulled her boot back on over the injured foot and then rose from the bio bed. "If that's it, then I will see the two of you this afternoon." she said to the two new officers. Then, looking at Alec she added "The Commander and I have some details to go over with the repair crews so that we can ensure that the ship is clear to depart on schedule."

"Thank you Captain," Cassandra said. She looked over at the XO. "And Commander, when you're finished perhaps you'll visit my office? I have a few crew files we should discuss."

Alec met Rhea's look. "Of course Captain. I'll be glad to discuss the repair crews with you." Then turning his head he spoke to Sanders, "I will be glad to Counselor." Though inwardly he was trying to decide who's files she could possibly want to discuss. Well, he would find out when he got there.

"Thank you, Commander, I'll see you at your convenience," she said, nodding to them both, glancing at Penny, who'd gone over to check on the CMO, and leaving Sickbay.

As the discussion at the moment was complete, the Captain took advantage of the Doctor's distraction to make good her escape from sickbay while she was able.

Alec saw Rhea get up and leave Sickbay, he instantly moved to follow her out and away from the others.

 

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