Bedside Manners

Posted on 17 Mar 2019 @ 8:42pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde
Edited on on 27 Apr 2019 @ 1:49pm

3,550 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 03, Sickbay
Timeline: MD -58, 0700 hours

[ON]

LTJG Matthew Plumeri was wearing the remnants of a Paressis Squares uniform. The jersey was torn and bloodied, his blood, from a nose bleed. He wore the jersey from the Jupiter moon of Titan, the Titan "Protectors".

He was sweaty, he walked with a limp and his ribs were sore. But he was happy. He finally bested the holographic Mars team. The famed Mons Olympus "Gods & Monsters" Paressis Squares champions. This was the price he figured. He hobbled into sickbay and walked in looking for....anyone?

"Hello? Lil' help? Please?" he called.

Alexion stopped on his journey across the room, looking to the bedraggled visitor. "Hm..." he made a noise of consideration as he looked him slowly up and down, taking him in with a critically arched eyebrow. "Has the ship started an illegal fighting ring?"

Matt answered, "Doesn't 'illegal' just mean its something good?" He saw the doctor and changed his tone, “I…uh…well no. Holographic safeties were on. I guess I just got my ass kicked. But, we won, only took me a month to figure out a strategy too.” He winced as he took too deep a breath, “Ach!” Matt took a few more steps into sickbay and generally aimed for the nearest biobed. “It was a little rough; but I knew we could win this time. I was thinking…hoping…maybe you’d have some sorta…something to kinda patch me up?” he asked almost apologetically. As he stood there a fresh drizzle of blood seeped from his nose and onto the jersey.

"Hmm...." Alexion repeated the sound he managed to make equal parts cynical and appraising. He finally moved over to him though, taking his time in finding a hypospray from the cart next to the bed. "You know, this is the part where I'm expected to act as if you are my son and lecture you on reckless behaviour..."

Matthew leaned against the biobed, it felt so good not to move. He wiped the nosebleed away and started to cross his arms when his ribs reminded him they hurt, "Ach!" he said and winced. Looking at the form of the doctor he said, "Yeah, well. I never was one for living up to someone else's expectations anyway. And lucky for us there aren't people on the other side of some multi-dimensional keyboard putting words in our mouths and telling us how to act."

"In that case, I won't bother," he said lightly, looking over the man, seeing how he held himself. He sighed slightly, reaching for a hypo to give him some pain relief before he did anything else. "I'll just stand here looking self righteous instead..."

"So...let me ask you something Doctor Wylde. There it was, the holographic replay of the Parresis Squares champion team from Mars, 'Mons Olympus Gods & Monsters' playing the Titan 'Protectors'. Everybody has seen how the Mars team plays and doesn't everybody like the underdog to win? In this case the 'Protectors'? History may show that Mars won that game. But...I wanted to see what happened if Titan won. What would you have done ay?" Matthew shrugged his shoulders as if it was blatantly obvious that Titan should have won the game.

Alexion arched an eyebrow with near confusion as he rested one hand on his hip, the other hand balancing a regenerator with well practiced ease as he adjusted the settings on it. "I wouldn't care about playing games in the first place," he replied honestly and bluntly. To him, there was little difference between 'sports' and children's games. "Unless there was a chance to bet money on it."

The blood from his nose had dried now and so the nosebleed stopped. He felt like his right eye was starting to swell up - must have been when he lost his helmet and had to deliver an 'edu-ma-cation' to that vile, beast, the one from Qu'o'nos, Durk. To which Matthew had adopted the term 'Dork' when referring to the 1.9 meter tall Klingon. "The Ferengi always run a betting pool. On every game. On every planet. The Orions, the Nausicans, the Gerd, the Bosan...you don't get out much do you doctor?" he asked the question and tried not to sound too...irascible.

"I usually bet on the things I'm playing myself," Alexion said lightly as he leant in close to him, holding his chin in one hand as he set to work healing the damage to his face, barely a few inches between their noses. "At least I have some control of the outcome then. I know how much to bet when I'm in control of my own cards and stones."

That got his attention, "Oh? You play cards? What...games of chance...do you play? OW!" he winced as the dermal regenerator started working on the cut below his eye. It stung! Matt held still despite the pain but man-o-man it stung him.

The slightest of smiles pulled at Alexion's lips at the reaction. He was tempted to tease but decided he'd already done enough with not showing his sport respect. "Pretty much any that I can make money on," he admitted with a half shrug, his own gaze intent on his now deswelling eye. "Although, I did more before I became a doctor. This profession takes far too much time out of the day."

Matthew couldn't see the smile on the doctor's face. But this was the second time that the guy had mentioned making money at a sport. He asked him, slightly irritated, "Why do you think you can't make money in a real sport?" His voice betrayed his intent to hide his irritation when the word "real" was emphasized. "Football, Hoverball, Parresis Squares, Hombus, Hockey, Basketball...maybe you just suck at knowing how to pick a good team?" He quickly added, "I could help you in that area...you know? I mean, for a cut of the action."

"Judging by your condition, I would say that maybe you need a little help in playing the game yourself?" Alexion replied, but there was a light lilt to his voice, that showed the often acerbic doctor was jesting. He carefully tilted the man's head so he could work on his nose.

He got a closer look at Dr. Wylde's eyes now. Matt was proud of how he played 'the squares'. He was also fiercely competitive over his performance. He did after all lead the Academy Parresis Squares team into a championship. Not all by himself of course. He was proud of that and he didn't mind at all getting 'roughed up'. What he was searching for in those calm eyes and lightly lilting voice of the doctor's was any suspicion that Matthew was perhaps playing too roughly. "Yeah...I got my ass kicked but good this time. It doesn't bother me though. I mean, I didn't seek out to get hit." That part was true - he didn't seek it out. He just put himself in the direct path of a three-hundred pound Bolian defensive end. But Matt felt something. The endless days and endless travel in space were wearing on him. All he did was work, eat, workout and sleep. At least in the holodeck he could play and feel something. Bleeding reminded him he was alive. But, this kind of behavior he didn't want to advertise.

"I guess...I got a little carried away. You know? At the time, when my blood was up - it doesn't hurt. Not really. I just kind of...not pay attention to it. I can feel the adrenaline just coursing through and I can focus and...." He stopped talking. "I guess I got carried away."

Alexion was silent for a long moment, barely even nodding. He finally lowered the regenerator, but made no move to pull back, just watching him with an unwavering gaze. "If you say so..." he finally replied, quietly, watching for a reaction.

He said nothing but averted his eyes. He felt that if he let him look in them he'd see that Matthew was desperately lonely. He changed the subject, "Yup. Feels good. I do say so. You...you should come out and play sometime? I'll give you an easy spot. Like goalie. Or something. If you don't like that then maybe play some cards." He added with bravado, unabashed and cocky, "Prolly kick your ass at cards too."

Alexion made a sound that was a cross between a grunt and a touch of laughter, taking a hold of a tricorder to start scanning for what other damage the man had managed to do to himself. "It is almost adorable that you think so."

His nose and nasal bridge felt a heck of a lot better now. He felt something 'pop' back into place too. His eye was no longer swollen and he was happy to no longer have the coppery/metallicky, sticky taste of his own blood in his mouth. He also felt the brewing headache now dissipating. Despite all this, Matthew gave him a slow look. It sounded like he'd just been challenged? "Name the game then; I don't have any money though. Could play for drinks though." He kind of shrugged. It was true, Matt didn't have any currency. Most 'fleeters' didn't need any.

"Then maybe you can't afford me," there was an undeniable teasing edge to the usually gruff doctor that time, the Vaeron scrolling over the scan results. Ribs. He had managed to get himself pretty broken for playing a game. "Besides, I would feel almost bad taking advantage of a near beginner...."

"Beginner...?" Matthew searched the enigmatic face of the doctor. Wylde's voice sounded like he was just playing - teasing in a friendly way to try and get a rise out of him. Teasing him as friends do. But his face was all business and since he was looking at the tricorder he could see the eyes. Even so, it made Matthew laugh. He laughed once and then winced, "HA! Oh shhhhhhiiiiifffff" he started with a swear and tried not too. Matt didn't remember banging into anything. Oh wait...now he did. The Klingon safety, 'Dork' tackled him. Matt said after a moment, "Stones? You mean gems right? Precious gems?"

Alexion shook his head, pressing his hand on the man's shoulder to indicate he should lie down. "Where I'm from, we gamble with games that use cards, and some games use stones instead," he glanced to him with a half smile as he reached for another regenerator. "And I've been doing it far longer than you, so that makes you a beginner," he added matter of factly. "You've been playing what....maybe 10 standard years?"

"I've been playing the Squares since I was 8!" he said with obvious surprise and he further added. "I started with Tiramisu and then hoverball; I was just a kid then. Not the desert - the game with the hoops." Matt slowly, gingerly laid down on the biobed. That was difficult and he couldn't take a deep breath. He was finally in the reclining position and it felt good to relax just a bit. The pain was now constant and it was dull, mostly, on an inhalation it was sharp. Like a knife being stuck into his ribcage. He was sure that he couldn't even lift his left arm and so he didn't even try. "Oh? Where are you from?" He was just about to ask for a pain killer too.

He didn't need to. Seeing the man's obvious pain, Alexion topped his pain relief up, to make him more comfortable as he took a more thorough scan. "Vaeron," the doctor finally replied, shaking his head lightly. " And it would be unfair to take money from a relative child," he added, but there was a definite gleam of humour in his eyes at the words, as he leant in to move his hands carefully over his side and chest, wanting to get a feel for himself.

The hypo of extra pain meds was simply glorious. It was instant relief. "Thank you." Matthew considered the name of the planet, "Vaeron? Vaeron...I know about Vaeron" Matt said plesantly. The pain medication was working marvelously and it didn't even hurt when Doctor Wylde felt the wound through the jersey and the undergarments. Matthew grew more relaxed. Nothing hurt anymore. The world was a very nice warm fuzz. He grew even more relaxed and his right arm slide off his stomach and onto the biobed. His brain caught up to what Wylde had said and Matthew answered, "Who's a child? C'mon man...why are you talkin' smack man?" Matthew suddenly felt hot all over. Really hot and he started perspiring, "Hey...it's really hot in here. I don't feel so good." He said and he felt like he was burning up.

Matt was confused because he was reacting so...strangely. Was it a concussion he wondered? His face wrinkled as he tried to look at the situation objectively. But his arms felt like lead weights. And OMG it was so hot! He could feel himself sweating profusely. He then realized that there was a loud ringing in his ears and he couldn't hear anything else but the ring. The overhead lights seemed so bright and he closed his eyes, everything was getting fuzzy and the last thing he remembered was wishing he could take off these hot clothes. And then, everything seemed to go brown.

Any wryness or subtle humour in the doctor faded at the sudden and dramatic change in him. The damage picked up in the scan didn't warrant this sudden drop in blood pressure and the fluctuation in his readouts. A deep frown weighed heavy on Wylde's features as he moved quickly to start a new scan, seeing as the only thing that had changed before the sudden onset was the second painkiller he had given him. Nothing had flagged in the man's record when he'd started treatment though...still everything was pointing towards a severe reaction to the second drug.

Alexion remained outwardly calm as he moved quickly around the bed, letting the warning sound from the computer drift away as he decided the man's condition was declining too rapidly to second guess himself. He loaded the hypo, the decision made to treat him for an allergic reaction. He pressed it to the man's neck, holding Matthew's wrist to feel his pulse for himself as he waited to see if it stabilised him, murmuring under his breath in his own language.

Immediately, the stabilizing effects of the allergy drug took hold. Matthew's pulse grew stronger. His breathing was shallow and the healthy color had drained from his face. Thanks to Alexion's ministrations the worst was over. From Matthew's point of view, he was unaware that he had 'browned out'. The ringing in his ears was gone now. He felt heavy. His play clothes were soaked wet and he felt weak. He was unaware of his reaction and said, "Ohhh....woooow. Maybe 'Dork' hit me too hard huh? I guess....I should look at the....holodeck safeties and make sure...." He stopped talking as he felt really nauseous. Really sick to his stomach. "Oh no. Dammit." He opened his eyes and could focus again. "Oh shit. I think I'm gonna puke." He raised himself on one elbow and looked for...something. He could feel the bile rising in him and he started to drool. He was so embarrassed. The only thing he could reach in time was a half-empty tissue box. Grabbing it, feeling horrible, he puked up into the box. Not much to evacuate from his stomach. Mostly water and the remnants of a protein shake an hour ago. But he felt a heck of a lot better. Even so, he was so embarrassed and was horrified, "I'm sorry, sorry...sorry...sorry! I'm so stupid! Sorry...sorry...sorry" he said. Matthew looked for a place to throw away the now full box before it started leaking. He was turning beet red in embarrassment.

Alexion moved quickly to get rid of it for him, shaking his head firmly to dismiss his apologies as he got him a glass of water. "I've been a doctor for decades, it really doesn't bother me anymore," he assured him as he pressed the glass into his hand with a wry smile. "Have you ever had any allergic reactions before?"

Matt gulped the water, a few swallows to clear his mouth. Wiping his mouth on a sleeve he said, "Thanks. Allergic? No, I don't think so. Maybe just to bullshit but...yeah...nothing else?" He was feeling better and oh thank god it was getting cooler.

"Well...you just had one," Alexion shook his head with a weak smile, glancing to his readouts...which were looking a lot more healthy. "It was the metorapan I gave you. I'll note it on your file to make sure it doesn't happen again. Aren't you just a lucky man today..."

Setting the glass of water down, Matthew laid back on the biobed. He was tired as he recovered from the reaction, "Huh....never had that one before." He shook his head in disbelief, "Man, am I getting old!" He felt his side, it was starting to hurt again, "Thanks for fixing me up Doctor Wylde."

"I'm not finished yet, that rib still needs healing," Alexion moved up closer to the bed, taking hold of the regenerator, adjusting the settings even as he glanced up at the man. "You did a lot of damage to yourself," he said lightly and quietly. "I would suggest you...think about why you were in such a reckless mood."

Matt didn't look up at him but shrugged, "The squares is a rough kinda sport." He kept his eyes averted and only at the last second glanced to Doctor Wylde. "Besides, I kinda like to feel...something...now and again. Even if it is a contact sport like the squares." The regenerator felt good, "So when can you show me this badass Vaeron card game of yours?"

"When you're ready to lose money," Alexion chuckled, shaking his head at the deflection attempt. "You know, if you're in such a vacuum that you'd rather feel pain than numb, you should probably try and fix that," he added bluntly, never one for dancing around a subject. "Otherwise, I know of a Romulan counsellor that might well get involved."

Matt made no attempt to hide the roll of his eyes. "Yeah. Look, man, I just...got a little...engaged with the game. That's all. I just was playing and I just wanted to win. I been working on this particular program for weeks and I think I finally got it figured out. In order to make it as...exciting as possible I lowered the holodeck safeties a bit. They were still within tolerances so...I was having a good time and I didn't know how hard I was playing until I got knocked on my ass by the Klingon safety. There's nothing more to it then that. I didn't even want to come here but...I can't patch things up on myself like you medical folks can." He watched Wylde for a response.

"Listen, you're a grown man. I already have a son to worry about," Alexion shrugged, his lips pursed as he straightened up from him, tapping the regenerator against his hand. "I'm not convinced by your good attempt to downplay it, but it's your life, its up to you. I'm just saying that you might want to take a look at it yourself, because if the counsellor gets involved, he might not be dissuaded from making a bigger deal out of it."

After a moment's thought he said, "Yeah. OK. I'll look into it." He sat up straighter now that the repair had been done to his side. It no longer hurt and it wasn't even sore. "Thanks for patching me up. Give me a few days to read up on Vaeron card games? I'm sure I'll get the gist of it pretty quick." He swung his legs off the biobed and took it slow. He was still a little bit lightheaded from the allergic reaction but he put on a good show. "I think...I'll just take a shower and skip the gym tonight."

"Probably a good idea," Alexion tilted his head with something like a wink as he started to tidy up. "You've given me enough to clean up for one day..." he said lightly, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

Matt turned a lighter shade of red with embarrassment. He was hoping that the whole 'ordeal' would soon be forgotten, "Yeah, about that, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I guess I just got more beat up than I knew? Anyway, sorry about the mess." He walked towards the doors to leave, "It could have been worse and come out the other end. Always got to look on the bright side Doctor." The doors parted and Matt stepped out into the corridor. A little slower; feeling much better though.

[OFF]

--

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer - Astrometrics/Historian
USS Galileo-A

CWO3 Alexion Wylde
Doctor
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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