Perspective Divergence

Posted on 20 Jan 2014 @ 10:55pm by Lieutenant Olsam Mott & Lieutenant Teth Miir

871 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Starfleet Medical, San Francisco
Timeline: MD 13, 0800

Olsam found Teth sleeping, as he should have been. Even in the 24th-century, recovery from surgery was difficult. He crossed the room on silent feet and resumed his seat next to the recovery bed, sparing a glance at the monitor before turning back to his friend.

The Bolian inhaled as if he were about to jump off a cliff and reached out to take his sleeping friend's hand in his own. The gesture earlier in their friendship hadn't seemed to offend him, so Olsam had assumed it may have been as common on Cait as it was on Bolarus; displays of affection for his people weren't limited to the opposite sex. He knew in a few moments Teth would either wake up and claw his eyes out or cautiously wait to see what the Bolian had to say. Olsam was hoping for the latter; he figured both of them were probably hurt by the earlier exchange.

Teth jerked awake with the sensation of an insect crawling up his arm. Instead it was Olsam sitting next to him. He flattened his ears slightly, irritated to be awake and to be in the same room with the other man.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Teth said, hoping to hurry Olsam out of the room faster. At that particular moment, he wanted nothing more than to sleep. He certainly did not have the patience or energy to go another round with the good doctor.

Olsam took another deep breath.

"Teth, many doctors think they are infallible. I'm sure you've seen this. Even as a patient lay dying at their feet, they will find someone other than themselves to blame. Thankfully, I'm not so full of myself so I can admit when I'm wrong. I misspoke earlier - in words, not in sentiment - and I'm sorry."

He raised his free hand to plead for more time to make his case.

"I didn't meant to make light of your suffering or difficulties adjusting to the technology in your body. If anything, you can consider it a cultural misunderstanding. Bolians are not deep thinkers, and I think I may even be on the shallow end of my own species. It's difficult for me to conceive of spending so many years dwelling on the implications of your situation. I was hasty and misguided in dismissing it. Not everyone is Bolian, nor is there always value in 'moving on' quickly from a traumatic event."

The Caitian smirked. He was in fact aware of this tendency in Bolians, though he never quite understood it. It was quite alien from his own nature. It's been said that Caitians have excellent memories, almost to a fault.

"You know, I thought I was past all of it as well. I was in treatment for three years following that attack. And while I have always loathed having Borg technology embedded inside of me, I had gotten to a point where I just really didn't think about it anymore. I tucked it all away in a nice little box in the back of my mind and moved on. But something has changed. Something triggered something in my mind and now it's all I can think about. I've not felt this way in years. That's why I went to you for help to begin with."

"I'm sorry there wasn't more we could do. Dr. Choka and I had a...difference of opinion...in the surgical suite on the best way forward. I ended the surgery short of it's intended goal in the hopes of saving your life," Olsam said, finally releasing Teth's hand. "I don't have a good frame of reference for helping patients fixated on a problem. Short of sedation, that is. I apologize for my earlier criticism; again, it was unprofessional and probably quite unhelpful. I imagine you've received similar criticism from less friendly sources before."

"I suppose we're just coming from very different perspectives." Teth said with a slight shrug as he cracked the knuckles in the hand Olsam had been holding.

"Would you like to consider alternative therapies together? Or, given the circumstances, I can make recommendations for another physician to take your case."

After a moment of thought, Teth decided he would like to keep the doctor as a friend. He was in no position to judge someone for having a lapse in tact.

"Continuing together would be fine, Olsam."

The Bolian nodded and seemed to regain some of his ebullience. "Very good, then. I'll consult with some colleagues and see what we can come up with for treatment options. For now though, I think your body is likely quite exhausted, so get plenty of rest. I'll return tomorrow, and we can speak more then."

"Hopefully I can get out of here by then. But I look forward to it none the less."

Olsam paused in the doorway. "I forgot to tell you, I flagged your file with 'special dietary needs' so you can order whatever you like as opposed to that awful stuff they replicate for everyone else." He winked. "Sometimes it pays to have a doctor friend."

OFF:



Lt. JG Olsam Mott M.D.
Assistant Chief of Medicine
USS Galileo

&

Lt. JG Teth Miir
Counselor
USS Galileo

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