Checkups

Posted on 17 Mar 2014 @ 12:54pm by Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Lieutenant Min Zhao

1,253 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Starfleet Medical - San Francisco
Timeline: MD 25: 0900

ON:

[Starfleet Medical]

Min sat in a waiting room of Starfleet medical for her routine prenatal visit. A slight change in doctors as she'd been moved to the care of one of the Galileo's doctors which meant a new office and new surroundings.

The room itself wasn't all that large but it was pretty obvious to anyone stepping in this was one of the obstetrics offices. The biggest indicator was the predominance of women waiting for appointments, but also that almost every one of them was sporting some form of gestational swelling in their abdomen, what humans nicknamed the baby bump. The federation's core member races were also pretty well represented in the room Min found herself in, with the odd one from some outlying worlds.

Delainey hummed lightly to herself as she reviewed the list of patients on her schedule for this shift. She'd asked specifically to work in obstetrics for part of her vacation, which she knew some people might find strange, considering a vacation was not supposed to involve work, but Carlisle loved to care for expectant mothers because it gave her a sense of hope and joy to be focused on new life, especially at a time when they'd seen so much darkness of late.

For the second time in her vacation, she was pleased to see she would have the opportunity to care for one of her own crew-mates during her pregnancy, a welcome but unexpected pleasure. "Lieutenant Zhao?" she called out into the waiting room, ready to direct her back into an exam area.

Min smiled, that sort of smile one gives another in the waiting room when you know your wait is finally over, and stood up to follow the woman inside the offices. Min let the woman lead her into an examination room, like so many others she'd been in since this whole ordeal started, where she found a seat on the exam table.

"Hello, Lieutenant," Delainey offered with a smile as Zhao got settled on the exam table with relatively little difficulty given she was in her second trimester. "I'm Dr. Delainey Carlisle. I don't believe we've officially met before, but I'm actually a counselor and physician aboard Galileo with you. There's no pressure at all, but if you're comfortable with the idea and with me at the end of our visit, I'd like to serve as your physician for the remainder of your pregnancy. I understand you haven't had a main primary physician?"

"No Ma'am, at least not from the Galileo. Starfleet's Inter-species Obstetrics team has been caring for me at present. Bajoran-Human children are apparently still a rare mix and there are some unique complications given the relatively significant difference between Bajoran and Human gestational periods."

Delainey nodded. "I'll be keeping in close contact with the SIS OBs, certainly, and I've had some experience with Human-Bajoran pregnancies in my career, so I promise you'll be well-cared for. Under the circumstances, the SIS medical team just thought it would be best for you to be under the care of a doctor nearby."

Carlisle maintained eye contact with Zhao as the doctor's fingers flew over the biobed's controls to call up the Ops' deputy's medical records. It was important to Delainey her patients had a sense she valued the relationship she had with them and they not feel as if they represented a long line of problems to be managed to her.

Besides, ever since she'd seen Zhao's name on her patient roster, she'd felt something niggling at the back of her mind in recognition. She was sure they'd never met before, but Carlisle was equally certain she knew of her somehow. "How have you been feeling lately? Any issues I should know about?"

"A bit overwhelmed. Integrating back into fleet life while pregnant has had a few challenges. Been talking with Counselor Miir about that. Back is a bit sore but also not unexpected, so says my sister in law." Min paused. "She's pregnant with her second and our gestation are about the same progression, give or take a few weeks."

As Min spoke, Delainey began to recall a bit more pertaining to Zhao. If she remembered correctly, Min hadn't left Starfleet on the best of terms, but the details escaped her. The counselor in her was curious, but knowing the information wasn't entirely relevant to Min's health, she pressed forward. Mentally, however, she made a note to offer her ear as well. Teth had accepted treatment and was making progress, but she wanted to ensure he had all the support he needed in the meantime.

"I'll scan you in a moment, but all of your symptoms sound pretty standard so far, though I know that's not a lot of comfort to your back," Delainey added with a wry grin. "If you like, I can give you a little something for the pain that won't harm you or the baby."

Taking a last look at Min's records, she turned and reached for her tricorder. "You mentioned feeling overwhelmed and encountering some challenges integrating back into the fleet. I don't want to pry, but perhaps if I knew more about what those challenges were and and how they're affecting you, I could help. Would you tell me a bit more about that?"

Min mentally rolled her eyes but on the outside she smiled sweetly at Carlisle. "Short answer Ma'am. I made some mistakes early on in my career. I left the fleet in the fallout of those choices. Spent a few years wandering as a civilian getting into several misadventures."

Min paused. "Then a year ago I got myself involved with a Bajoran man. Six months ago he, pardon the expression, knocked me up, then ran home to his wife and family, abandoning me in the process. With few real choices, I chose to come back to Starfleet."

"Since then, I did a compressed retread, cramming what felt like four years into only a few months. Was given my old rank back, and a promotion to boot. No idea why considering the restrictions on my conduct both the Admiralty and the Captain placed on me."

Delainey listened to the succinct summary, surmising by her recitation that as much as Carlisle was trying not to pry or appear judgmental, Min had recounted these events several times and perhaps was growing weary of it. Delainey imagined she would feel the same way. "Being lied to must have hurt like hell. Still, it takes a lot of integrity to return to face your mistakes for the sake of a baby you didn't plan for."

Min merely nodded. "That's what I keep telling myself." She smiled. "But I am here now, and I have a career again if I can keep my passions in check." She was about to say, and convince the captain Jared was a steady lover, not like the guy she'd gotten in trouble with the first time, but kept that thought to herself.

Carlisle smiled in return. She wasn't sure if Min was just pretending to be matter of fact about it all or if she was truly dealing with things with healthy humor and candor. Before starting the tricorder scan, she added, "I'm sure Teth can help you with that professionally, but if you ever need a woman to talk to, I'd be happy to lend an ear."

"I'd appreciate it Ma'am."

***

Lt. Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Counselor/Medical Officer
USS Galileo

&&

Lt Min Zhao
Asst Chief of Operations
USS Galileo

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