Humble Offering

Posted on 05 May 2013 @ 2:18pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Sandywyne

1,413 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 05 - 1530 hours

[ON]

It was like a puzzle laid out before him. A standard medical kit was unfolded on the countertop beneath a row of medicine cabinets. The kit was packed to regulation, precisely to regulation, and Andreus Kohl was looking for nooks and crannies where he might fit in extra ration packs and a thermos of tea. When that didn't work, he experimented with removing a few of the less commonly used bandages. He tried slotting the ration packs into those pockets of the trauma kit, but then he began to second guess just how many bandages he removed.

"You know if you really really want you could tuck them into your boots, if you were a girl then you could even pad yourself out with them, I guess you still could," Jessica peered at his chest for a moment, "You wanted to see me? I hear things have gotten, different."

Kohl wrapped both his hands around the thermos and held it down below his waist. He considered the thermos and tried turning it on a few different angles. "No," Kohl said absently, "I don't believe that would be anatomically correct for any Argelian." He shook his head, then, and returned the thermos to the countertop.

Argelian's had females, she was sure they did, unless they grew from trees. Some had to be fat or have large guts or chests, maybe he was just embarrassed? It didn't matter, it was just a joke.

Regarding Jessica straight on, Kohl said, "I've just seen the latest away team rosters, and I need to ask you to remain on duty until 2000 hours. You will be in command of Sickbay while the rest of us are off-ship or sleeping."

"Not that I haven't been, The Medic, on a ship before. I haven't done it for Starfleet, are you sure its a good idea?" She felt she could do it but this was a much bigger operation than she was used to. It wouldn't just be burns, headaches and boo-boos, given how things seemed to be progressing so far.

"I think it's fitting..." Kohl said. With a sideways smile, he nodded twice in an emphatic manner. Kohl shrugged and he added, "Besides, you always have the Emergency Medical Hologram available if you find yourself faced with something you can't manage."

"I'm sure he would be thrilled," She glanced up at the ceiling, he could be right there, watching. Tilting her head slightly towards where his sideways smile had been, "Is this how things are going to be from now on? Or just for this night only?"

"That depends, I suppose," Kohl said cagily. He narrowed his eyes slightly to examine Jessica, as if looking at her through a microscope. "How would you feel if this were to happen more often?"

"I'd be feeling that things are getting pretty desperate," Jessica smirked back, "Are you testing me out, seeing if the place burns down while I'm in charge?"

"No..." Kohl said. He shook his head as he spoke serenely, perhaps critically. "It's not a test."

Matching his tone she pouted, "So, I can't fail, good." Jessica was mostly playing but she couldn't really pick up on the reasoning here. There were away missions and the crew was reduced, but to put her in charge of sickbay, she was barely even an officer. Her rank given because of her supposed medical expertise rather than any command experience, "Is there anyone else on duty?" Did she have minions, if not then it almost made sense... too much sense.

A lopsided smiled moved in on Kohl's face, as he made assumptions about what Jessica was thinking. "This time... no. No one else will be on duty, unless you activate the EMH or hail Crewman Chalan," Kohl said, and then he stared to ratchet up the enthusiasm. "As for next time... well, Doctor Ni Dhuinn has graciously allowed me this honour... Jessica Sandywyne, you are hereby named the Head Nurse for USS Galileo."

"I, Jessica Feldt Sandywyne of house Sandywyne, Lady of Salva Two, Grand-Alchemist and God Emperor of Midas Twenty Two, accept your humble offering, I guess." Jessica regarded him for a second, apparently he thought this was a good idea, "You have my loyalty, and my axe."

"You won't need an axe," Kohl said, delivered in deadpan. Then he tiled his head to the left. "Well... the EMH can get awful lippy sometimes..."

"You're never alone if you have an axe," Jessica replied, "But, well, does the EMH have a name?" Honestly being a head nurse was a little scary, she hadn't signed up for it when she joined the ship. People would be looking to her to be an expert and a nurse wasn't even what she wanted to be really. There was only one other nurse, plus it wasn't like she was a doctor.

"No," Kohl replied immediately, but he was caught off-guard by the question. He folded his arms across his chest and he stared at Jessica as if he were lost. He wasn't entirely sure how their conversation had got where it was. "No, the EMH does not have a name." Then he blinked. "What questions do you have about becoming the Head Nurse?"

"Lots," She folded her own arms, "Will my duty shift change, will my duties mostly be the same as before? What extra things do I have to do, do I get a desk?"

Of course, Kohl's first reaction was to come out with the flippant response. Of course it was. "If I don't get a desk, you don't get a desk," Kohl smirkingly remarked. "But Pola hasn't been precious about her office. Even when I was Head Nurse, she was willing to share her office if I needed peace or privacy for a couple hours."

Kohl pursed his lips as he gave greater consideration to Jessica's other questions. "Your duty shift, your duties, they won't change overmuch from a schedule perspective," Kohl said. "I will facilitate the training and coaching on your new role, but, in brief, you will be expected to provide leadership and supervision to the other nurses. There will be additional administrative duties as well. Really though, with a medical department of this size, the vast majority of your time will still be devoted to patient care."

"That's good, I hate desks anyway," Jessica smiled and flapped her arms, "I guess the training could be fun and I get to boss Bo around even more than before." So nothing had really changed other than she had a tittle now, that was good, nice and easy. What was worrying was that this might actually end up as her career, that was scary. She'd joined Starfleet because she was stranded on Earth, not because she really wanted to. Where did she want to go from being head nurse?

Smiling softly, Kohl asked, "Is there anything else you would want to do with our little Sickbay, given greater authority?"

"It needs brighter colours, a big pot of lollipops and some arm chairs," Raising her eyebrows slightly, "Maybe some soft lounge music? This Starfleet vibe is rather utilitarian."

"A therapeutic environment is certainly important to recovery," Kohl remarked. It was an unexpected place to start, but he nodded at Jessica's suggestion. "Start with a written proposal for Doctor Ni Dhuinn. Be sure to research all of the species and cultures represented aboard Galileo. I'd hate to paint the walls a bright colour that represents death to Andorians or to serve lollipops that are toxic to Trill symbionts."

Pausing for a long moment Jessica tapped her fingertips together, "I, guess not," Her voice laced with deliver ate uncertainty, "You busy the next few days I guess?" Interior decorating on her own would be woefully boring.

Kohl looked away only long enough to fold his medi-kit closed. "I am, in fact, going to be exceedingly busy," Kohl said, all faux-apology. "I have a new Head Nurse to train. I hear she's very demanding."

"I'm sure she can be, but you picked her," Jessica flashed her teeth at him, "Let me know if you want to come and colour in sickbay on the holodeck anyway," Eyeing the medkit, "I'll keep your kingdom safe until you come back."

[OFF]
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Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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