After the Hardship of the Day - Part 2

Posted on 25 Apr 2012 @ 5:25am by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D.

4,371 words; about a 22 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Holodeck 1
Timeline: MD04 0200hours

[ON]

"Holo----holodeck? Why in blazes are we going there?"

"I guess I can tell you now. I have a programme I use when I'm upset or down and it always manages to lift me."

As they reached the end of the corridor, Pola kept a hold of John's hand so as he wouldn't have a chance to try and run. Reaching the holodeck doors, the young Doctor keyed in a sequence and waited for the beep and the sound of the doors opening before turning back to look John in the eye. "It's an old fashion town barn dance. Lots of fun, dancing, food and, given the hour, non alcoholic punch."

"Barn...dance? Isn't one an antiquated storage facility and the other....really not my style?"

One of the major advantages of the XO's quarters on a Nova class, that being that they were located on Deck 2 only a short distance from the holodecks, had suddenly become a little bit of a disadvantage as he no longer had the neccessary time to prepare his escape route.

Following the Doctor inside, John was a little overwhelmed, in fact, he was more than a little out of his comfort zone. His knowledge of 20th century Earth was, put bluntly, limited, and being exposed to the culture in this way was enough to throw him slightly. Looking around, with the archaic music playing in the background, and the size of the building, he was sure that these events would have been impressive for the natives of the time frame.

Still holding John's hand, Pola felt him tense. Looking up into his face she softened her smile,"John..I know I may seem a little crazy but trust me. Me and you are the only ones here, if you do something wrong who's going to care? I certainly won't. Just enjoy it. I love this programme because of the unity i brings. Look around you, friends, family, neighbours, young and old all gathered to just have a good time. Enjoy it and loose yourself for a few hours, try something new, you've earned it."

"Computer freeze program"

John called out, watching as the various holograms froze in place around them, the music coming to a sudden pause mid verse and nothing more than the background humming of the hologrid was still there to accompany their conversation. Looking around John saw the collection of holograms, programmed to be family units, to care about each other, to look as if they were having a good time no matter what happened. This wasn't real, in fact, it wasn't even close to real, it was a simulation of something that never happened based on a situation from several hundred years ago.

"This....sounds like something in an official capacity....worried I might be suffering from post traumatic stress or something Doctor? Trust me, I've seen far worse than someone crack their skull open....is this for me, or is this for you?"

The Commander had no intention of sounding rude or unfeeling, but he really was still a little confused as to what exactly he was doing here. It had taken him some time to adapt to the situation around him, but to be able to freeze that program and discuss without the hubbub around them helped.

"I'm not the CMO Sir so if you check your handbook you'll find I have no authority to give you or offer you professional advise." Pola felt her confidence slip as John used his authority for the first time tonight. "You've been through a lot, that's fine. I've been through a lot before, I've had people die while I try save them, I've had people die because I've had to make the choice to save others. So yes I've experienced worse then what you saw today, also."

Dropping John's hand, Pola went to stand in the middle of the simulation before turning back around, her normal lopsided grin on her face,"This is about remembering that every once in awhile it's ok to be someone your job doesn't demand. Just as your job demands 24/7 so does mine. This is about remembering its ok to laugh and smile and enjoy yourself. Even if it involves you making a fool of yourself, it reminds me that I'm human" Stepping back closer to John, the young Doctor stopping inches from him. "I coerced you into coming this far, the door is there if you want to go back to your quarters and to your memories."

John wasn't entirely convinced by either option given to him, in fact, the whole situation made him feel no better than a first year cadet, but there was very little he could do to avoid it developing. It was true that he would have preferred to retreat back to his quarters to sit until he was able to sleep, but every time he did, the memories of what had happened would come to the forefront of his mind.

"Very well Doctor....I'll give you the benefit of the doubt....but not a word of this to anyone understood...I don't want the junior staff knowing the XO was out partying at 0200 hours....and that is an order Doctor" He remarked with a light grin on his face.

Pola leaned up and kissed John, whispering softly, "Thank you." Quickly spinning around, Pola slipped back into her facade that everyone saw, laughing as she called out to the computer, "Computer restart programme and start with a timber savage reel." Turning back to John, the young Dictor grinned, motioning for him to join in as she joined the line of partners, waiting for John to join her. Putting on an American twang, she called out, "All ready for a little do si do?"

"I never did get on with the 20th century....at least I can just delete the characters in the worst case...." He muttered to himself as he headed over to the group and took his place amongst them. He had read about this kind of event when he had studied early Earth culture at the Academy, but generally it had made him lethargic and bored, longing to get back onto the phaser range, right now, he was wishing he'd paid more attention.

"What do I do? You're going to have to instruct me here Doc!"

Laughing, Pola grabbed both of John's hands before letting go and moving to stand opposite him. "When the music starts grab your neighbours hands as I just did yours, you're going to spin her in time to the music before letting her go and then grabbing me, once you've spun me,well move up the line as the top couple dance down the center of us and it all starts again." Before John had a chance to reply, the music started and Pola was grabbed by a man and swung around, laughing as she watched John doing pretty well at following the direction.

To John, this whole event seemed to be not unlike a military exercise, and for now that was how he viewed it, as it gave him the uncanny ability to focus on something that he usually would have run a light-year from. It was all about keeping rhythm, anticipating your opponent's moves, and moving to intercept them, something that he found was surprisingly interesting, and also, was giving him a pretty good workout. If anything, this would at least help him tire his mind out sufficiently to get some rest.

"So...you come here often Doctor?" John called out over the ruckus around him.

As John grabbed her hands to swing her, Pola tried to catch her breath to answer, "Not often enough that I know all the dances well. It's very much a learn each time I come type thing." Laughing as they became the couple at the top and John lead her down the centre, the Doctor beamed up at him, "You're not doing so bad you know. You sure you haven't done this before?"

"Trust me Lieutenant, if I had, then I wouldn't be watching everyone quite as closely as I am now....I guess its the upside of a military style training....I want to watch, anticipate, counter, I just never thought it could be applied to dance"

Panting through the effort of moving at such speed, John intercepted the next holographic woman that passed towards him, and quickly passed onto yet another holographic male, he was impressed that the computer was able to keep tabs of so many projections at once, but like all Starfleet technology, it was designed to be the best.

"How...how does this dance usually end....do we just keep going til everyone falls down or...is there some kind of pattern"?

Pola laughed again, surprising herself. I'd been a long time since she had enjoyed herself so much or laughing so genuinely. "Right about..." as John grabbed her again to start a swing the music came to an end."...Now." Tugging John to the side, the Doctor placed her back against the wall, sliding to sit on the ground, trying her hardest to catch a breath. Feeling flushed in her cheeks from the dance, she tried to control her breathing.

"Even after all the practice, I still find it so difficult to keep the pace. You can grab a holographic character and join in the next if you like."

The Commander was more than a little grateful that the music had come to an end, in fact, he was exceptionally pleased. Physical exertion was not something that he had originally planned on happening this early in the morning, but it was certainly having the desired effect, he could feel the stress of the day slowly melting away, like water vapour caught in the a thermal updraft.

"I think....I think I'll sit the next one out....probably best if I sit down before I fall down Doc..."

Patting the ground beside her, Pola bent her knees and wrapped her arms around them. "Ever done people watching John? Even though these are holographic people, they are still so real." Pola smiled as a young girl ran by screaming by a boy the same age running after her. She wondered what was going through the minds of the children. Was he threatening to put a bug down her dress, was he looking for a kiss as he knew she would think it was icky. Smiling, Pola placed her head on her arms and tilted her head to the side.


"People watching? Almost constantly...never know who is going to become a threat further down the line....its my job to always be looking out for a phaser, a disruptor, a knife, whatever else you can think of....all part of the training...Lieutenant Orexil would be much the same I imagine....its second nature to us...why do you ask?"

"Lieutenant Orexil? Hum...I don't think I've met her yet, why would she be much the same as you?" Pola kept her head on her hands, not because she was tired but just because she found it to be a comfortable position, despite the pressure on her back. As much as she loved to dance, she liked to be able to just sit sometimes, she figured it came from being on her feet all day.

John had forgotten what a new addition to the crew that the young Doctor had been, so he was not surprised that she had not had the time to get to know all of the faces and names aboard the ship before they had left the starbase.

"Ahh of course, you wouldn't have met yet, Lieutenant Orexil is my Tactical officer and head of security, a good woman from what I've seen of her so far, very dedicated. I shall have to introduce you to the senior staff at some point, its good to put names to faces"

Pola found it was on the tip of her tongue to tease John that he might have a crush on this officer as he'd pinpointed her specifically but she felt that this might make him angry and she was enjoying herself, once she managed to get him to somewhat relax, John was actually good company.
"You have to have a chat to me about that tomorrow, given its work related..let's go back to people watching..do you always look for the dangers? What do you see when you look around you here? Imagine for a second they are actual people."

"Ok doc, if you want a tactical appraisal of the situation....let me take a look around"

Moving his glance from one side of the room to the other, John started weighing up the issues that surrounded him. If this had been a genuine situation, then he wouldn't have exactly been happy with the security, but at least on the holodeck, it was all a bit of fun.

"OK....the main doors....they're too exposed, nothing to help close them up in case of an emergency...same for that smaller side door over there"

The building was a typical barn of its era, a large open space with wooden walls and rather limited security, they weren't really built to act as protective structures, but in a combat situation, it was the most important thing to take advantage of your surroundings.

"And the clothing the people are wearing...there's plenty of places to smuggle a phaser, or in this era a knife or a firearm....no checking coming into the building, no security monitoring the situation...anything could happen...my aim is keep myself with an escape route within easy reach in case something kicks off...you see?"

Pola looked around and tried to see things the way that John was describing but she couldn't manage it. "When you look beyond that do you not see the rest. Look..." Pola pointed at a couple where the man had his arms around the woman's waist, cradling her abdomen as her hands rested over his. "Young couple expecting their first child. Even though she doesn't have a bump yet, see the slight stroking movement if his thumb? Or...." Looking around again, the Doctor smiled as she spotted an adolescent boy and girl seeking out a rear door. "See the boy and girl, I'd say 14 or 15...trying to get away from their parents no doubt to grab a kiss and...well I'm sure you remember what you got up to at that age."


"I guess we're both the products of our training doc....you look for the biological, and I look for the technological....those people you've pointed out, to me wouldn't warrant a threat, not yet anyway, but to you, they'd be the focus of your attention right?"

John was rather enjoying the almost philosophical debate with his colleague, it was turning into a rather pleasant early morning jaunt. He had never concerned himself with looking at people in that way, instead always trying to make sure that security came first, people came second, although he could see that the view you took depended entirely on the situation you came from.

"I guess you Starfleet doctors just have an eye for that sort of thing"

"I think you need to have polar opposites in starfleet, it enables a situation to be looked at from all angles and all perspectives, it ensures everything is weighed up before a decision is made. My job is to fix people and help people, to avoid death where possible. My oath as a Doctor even states I cannot intentionally kill a person who is my enemy if they are under my care as a Doctor." Looking back over the crowd of people, Pola just shrugged her shoulders before turning back to John with a grin on her face."This is getting too serious...tell me about the first girl you lead out back for that elusive first kiss."


"Sorry Doc....just not gonna happen" John smirked as he began to pick himself up from his chair, surveying the group of people around him as the program continued to run of its own accord. The music, the food, the atmosphere all seemed to mingle into one general sense of wellbeing, holographic or not.

John wasn't yet at ease with his latest colleague to start professing his history, but he had to admit, it was an interesting turn of events that had brought him here, and overall, it had been a much better experience than staying cooped up in his quarters until his next duty shift.

"I think all that dancing and jumping about has about tuckered me out for the night....rain check on my confession on the female pursuits of my youth?"

Laughing, Pola held out a hand so as John could help her to her feet from her seat on the floor."The very fact your withholding it means it must be good. Aslong as you realise I fully intend on holding you to that rain check." As John pulled her to her feet, the Doctor grinned and tugged his hand to try get him back to the dance floor. "So you don't have it in you for one more dance?"

"Is that an order doctor?" John joked as he accepted her request to head back to the dancefloor. He was certain that he could probably manage one more jig, but after that he would probably be in need of a site-to-site transport back to his bed, even the short distance along the Galileo's corridors already seemed like a marathon.

"Nothing too hectic though...unless you brought a hypospray and a stimulant with you anyway...I'm beat!"

Laughing Pola pulled John to the dance floor as a slow dance started."Hum...I can get the computer to skip back to a jig, or we can test your waltzing skills." In all honesty, Pola wasn't too sure about this, but she'd give it a try if John was willing.
"Looking on the brightside, it won't require much exertion."

"Waltz huh? That's one of the few dances I actually know....my mother insisted that I have a, and I quote here, rudimentary understanding of the more civilised aspects of Earth culture "

John had always thought fondly of his mother, no matter what might have happened between him and his father, she had always been there to keep the two of them separated when necessary, or bring them back together when the situation required it, she had been his rock, and he had doted on her as any son would.

"Computer....switch program to Holliday 9"

He called out, as the barn dance program dissolved into nothingness and was replaced by a simple ballroom, a silver tiled floor, a small orchestra pit with appropriately attired and equipped musicians, but no walls, simply blackness beyond, as if the building itself had been removed leaving only the floor, and the performers.

"Its a pretty basic program...but it avoids confusion...." He noted to his companion, who much like the XO, now appeared hopelessly badly dressed for the situation, but for only a single dance, it wasn't exactly vital, and there were nothing but holograms to comment, who instead appeared obliviious to their presence, and began to play a simple waltz.

"Shall we?"

For the first time tonight, Pola found herself speechless. Looking around her she had to admit she hadn't expected this. Looking up at John, the Doctor felt a blush warm her cheeks. Feeling slightly out of place she tried to compensate. Pulling the plaits out of her hair, she allowed her hair to fall loose before taking off her boots leaving herself bare foot. she knew there wasn't a chance she could manage the intricate steps while in the boots. As the waltz started, she held her hand out to John, allowing him to take the lead. Finding her voice, Pola simply whispered, "You're full of surprises John."

"Noooo I'm just always prepared for any eventuality Doctor"

John replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he took the hand offered to him, dragging the young doctor into the standard hold for a waltz, before pushing off on one foot to begin the sequence of steps that so often would cause trouble for the young or uninitiated. John himself had struggled for days at a time with the complexities of the waltz, with each culture and species having developed its own version of the same dance. He had to admit, his partner was so far, keeping pace with him, even if she had appeared to shrink an inch or so without the aid of her boots.

"So...a dancing doctor...I'm sure I've heard something along those lines before"

Concentrating on counting the steps Pola suddenly realised she was in danger of trying to lead. Allowing herself to relax, she instead concentrated on the button of John's shirt. This was bringing back memories of her Grandmother. Even though they hadn't gotten along when she was younger, it was her Grandmother who had ignited a love of dance in Pola. Waltzing had been the first dance her Grandmother helped her learn, it was the one ground on which they got along.

Swallowing past a lump in her throat, Pola slightly tilted her head, as John spoke with her. Instintively she tightened her hand in his as she laughed gently. Her voice contained her English lilt as she started to speak, the memories had both upset and comforted her. Also being in such a relaxed environment pulled the Doctor back from her usual hyper self.

"Well they say that every Doctor has a certain tweak. When I was on the civilian ship, part of my role was paedatrics. Another Doctor could play the harmonic and between us we managed to keep the kids cheery." Looking up at John, Pola smiled softly.

"Impressive! The hidden talents within Sickbay must be interesting!"

He remarked as the waltz headed towards its final movement, so far, Pola was yet to make a mistake as far as John could tell, there was nothing that he could falt in her technique, and her ability to stay in time with the music was rather impressive. John had't had to dance like this for many years, in fact, since he graduated at the Academy, so he was feeling more than a little rusty, bringing to the surface a feeling of great elation and thanks that he had such a forgiving dance partner.

"I think this constitutes the promise of one last dance, wouldn't you agree Lieutenant?"

Pola nodded her head gently, not really wanting the moment to end. The world felt like their oyster in here cocooned in the dimmed light. All she was aware of was the feeling of floating. Once she had relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy this, she had realised that John was better at this then he may have wanted people to realise. His hand at her waist and the one in her hand barely had to apply pressure and she knew the direction he was turning her in. She wasn't certain of the words to say as the music came to an end, instead just allowing John to finish out the dance.


As the music brought itself to a natural halt, John turned to look at the holographic orchestra. They may have only been intended to give some ambience to the setting, but the Commander had always appreciated the live sound of a musical instrument. With the dance over, John allowed his hold on the Doctor to naturally collapse, as he took a step backwards now there was no longer a need to be joined at the hip.

"Computer....end program" He called out after a moment's delay, watching as the blackness of the program outside the tiled floor gave way to the hologrid's yellow striping, and the band disappeared back into nothingness as had so many holograms before them. It took a moment for his eyes to adapt back to the standard lighting level of the holodeck without the projection and its "mood lighting" in place, listening as the music was replaced by the soft hum of the holoemitters.

"Do I measure up on the dancefloor then?"

Taking a step back and a moment to compose herself, Pola raised her hand in order to comb her hair back out of her eyes. Smiling up at John, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear."It seems that Doctor aren't the only people with hidden talents, it seems our XO has them as well. If ever you need a dancing partner all you need to do is give me a shout. You're extremely light on your feet Commander."

"A side effect of years of Starfleet combat training....dancing is just a form of combat at the end of the day....helps to not stay in one place too long! Doctor...would you care for an escort towards the turbolift? It's just before my quarters and I'd be a terrible dance partner if I didn't at least offer?"

Heading towards the holodeck doors, John turned back to face his colleague, who tonight had shown she was much more than just a doctor! A counsellor, a physician, a dancer and an expert on ancient Earth culture all rolled together.

Pola laughed, nodding her head, "An escort sounds good. I might get lost otherwise, this is such a large ship." Picking up her boots in one hand, she used her other hand to push back her hair again, slowly coming to realise that there was a very good reason she never wore it down, especially when it came to dancing. Moving into a jog, she managed to reach John's side in the corridor."Anyone would think you were in a rush to get rid of me John." Matching his pace, Pola allowed her body to relax again.

"No Doctor....I just think I'm ready to get some sleep..." John replied wearily as they headed back towards the 24th Century.....

[OFF]


Lt Cdr Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Pola N Dhuinn (Pnpc McCarthy)
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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