Overdue

Posted on 23 Oct 2021 @ 1:26pm by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alexion Wylde & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Edited on on 29 Oct 2021 @ 6:47pm

2,222 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Sickbay
Timeline: MD 06, 1600 hrs

[ON]

PO 3rd Class Vansen gave an almost apologetic smile to the nurse as he walked in, head slightly tucked down, shoulders lowered. He knew he had missed a few check ups, but with everything that had gone on during the last few weeks he wasn't exactly surprised at himself.

Even so, he recognised he would be in some trouble. Because it was...well. Medicals were important for someone like him. But he had his medication and had been taking it, although not as often as he should have. He let out a breath and walked over to Alexion Wylde, looking at the man before he grimaced. "I'm sorry...?" he started, unsure, but there was almost a playfulness with it regardless. Like falling into the old pattern of banters.

Alexion glanced up from the PADD he was holding, but when he saw who it was, he arched an eyebrow and looked back to it casually. "Sorry, am I meant to know who you are?" he replied lightly in return.

Constantine looked at him before the smile widened and he chuckled. "Ha, ha, ha..." he swallowed and looked down. "It was a bit insane, wasn't it all? I...hope you can fit me in now though, Doctor Wylde."

Alexion finally lowered his PADD, watching him with slightly narrowed eyes. He looked him up and down, slowly. "I think it's coming back to me...it's hard to remember your name and face when I haven't seen you for so long..." he said with clear sarcasm.

Constantine raised an eyebrow, the smile fading as he watched him. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had missed me..." he said lightly, holding his eyes. "But that can't be true..."

"Glad you already know that," he tossed the PADD onto the cart, folding his arms as he watched him critically. "So, you know when ship's systems have to have regular checks as part of regulations? I bet you do it..."

"Yeah, I do," Constantine put his arms to the side and shrugged with them, tilting his head to the side. "I also leave the other bits I know won't break to focus on the bigger picture."

"That's because you're an expert," Alexion looked to him, his features holding wry humour on them, even if no smile. "I know you've been absent from my checkups for some time, but I doubt it was long enough for you to study medicine..."

"I mean, it was tempting...but I don't have the brain cells for that sorta work," Constantine said with a quiet chuckle, unable to hold it back as he watched the other man. "But if you can fit me in now I'd be grateful."

Alexion just watched him for a few moments longer, but he was finally content that the message had been driven home. "Up on the bed," he gave the biobed a light slap with the palm of his hand.

Constantine chuckled and got up, nodding as he sat on the biobed, legs swinging for a moment before he made himself stop, watching Alexion for a long moment. "Thanks."

"You won't be thanking me when you see how much I charge for late fees," the doctor replied lightly as he took a tricorder to start a basic scan, but finally, the corner of his lip was pulling in a hint of a smile.

Constantine laughed as he watched him, able to see the smile. "You like it, really...you get to take your sarcastic ways out on me without having to chase me down. I bet you look forward to it...any chance to flex those dry humour muscles..."

"I don't know what you mean," he said wryly, shaking his head with a gruff laugh, glancing up to him. "How have you been feeling recently?" he asked bluntly, and it was clear it wasn't polite small talk.

"A bit tired and achy at the end of...whatever passes as a shift. Not been able to get to sleep properly, but it was expected," Constantine said and met his eyes, smiling at the words. "But no shortness of breath or dizziness."

"It doesn't have to be expected if we can get the balance of your treatment correct," Alexion said firmly, looking to him with the gaze of a father who had had a lot of practice. "You need your sleep, more than most."

"Well, the last stunt the ship did, I was firmly at my station..." Vansen said almost playfully. "Firmly pressed against it with some of those extra Gs. Don't worry, didn't get anything except a few bruises. But it means the treatment's working, right?"

"Yes, on the whole," he said quietly, patting the bed. "Lie back, I want to take a more thorough scan," he snapped the tricorder shut, glancing over him. "It doesn't stop us trying some additional treatments though, for the things that aren't helping."

Vansen eased back, letting out a soft breath as he eased back. "You're not wrong, I just...wish I was normal," he whispered, closing his eyes. "Would make things easier for all of us."

Alexion glanced to him at that, frowning at seeing that his eyes were closed. He brought the arch up around him, shaking his head with a soft sigh. "What is normal?" he said lightly. "I have been doing this long enough to know there is no such thing."

"You seem pretty normal to me," Vansen countered but it was with a chuckle as he lay there, eyes still closed. "Okay, normal physically for a human being. How about that?"

"Average, you want to be average," Alexion replied with a smirk, unable to help it as he shook his head. "No one wants to be average, Constantine, that is a curse you shouldn't even wish on your worst enemy...."

Vansen opened his eyes at that, looking at him before he smiled to him. "I don't have any enemies," he finally said before he chuckled warmly. "But...I get your point. I do. I suppose I want to be...different, not in the way that I am now."

He nodded gently, conceding that he knew full well what he meant and was just making a point in return. "This....is manageable," he said quietly. "Not nice, not pleasant, not easy, but at least it is manageable. Remind yourself of that on the bad days, might help."

"Thank you, Doctor," Vansen gave a nod, clearly processing it properly as he looked at him...believing what he was telling him. "And I get to be on a ship."

"That you do...being useful," Alexion replied with a half smile at that. What other reason was he on a Starfleet ship for himself? But to try and find some place in the universe after his home was destroyed. They weren't that different. "And I will help you manage it, but you have to let me," he added bluntly. "You might want to be 'normal', but staying away out of stubbornness because you wish you were? It won't help. You have to accept it, and work with it...if you work against it, it's going to get worse."

Constantine considered it before he smiled to himself. "I...have days where I accept it and work with it. Then other days...well...I get like this. A bit...down..." he let out a breath of annoyance. "I don't like being negative."

"Try and accept that too," Alexion said quietly as he reached to take a blood sample from him, shaking his head. "I know, easier said than done, that is the human expression, yes?"

"I...think so," Constantine said and smiled weakly, almost ashamed. "I am still behind on the...expressions. My parents didn't use them very often, so they never...set themselves in my mind." He looked at what he was doing, studying it.

"Well, I have only been with Starfleet a few years, so at least you have a head start," he chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "Strange though, to see how easily Laeon is adapting to this culture."

"I..." Vansen smiled before he nodded, considering it. "I think he is better at adapting than I was. I...struggled..." he added as he closed his eyes. "With everything. But I do like Starfleet. I like...the structure, reminds me of growing up."

Alexion watched his face at knowing he couldn't see him doing it. He considered, what it must have been like, for him to go from such a small unit to part of something as big as Starfleet. "You will serve as long as you want to," he assured, shaking his head firmly. "If I have anything to do it with it, anyway."

"Thanks doc..." Vansen grinned and arched his back a little to stretch it out, sighing. "Hey, do you think we will need to go out and do hull repairs? I would love that."

"Well, I don't know, depends how hard you try to break it," Alexion teased him, shaking his head as he ran his blood samples. "There's nothing wrong with seeking relief here and there. So long as we can get you comfortable on a day to day basis."

Vansen met Alexion's eyes before he nodded, sitting up slightly. "Considering...how bad things were on the ship, I know I am lucky with not having any real injuries. Considered how many Gs we pulled, I think...I think the medication helps me a lot more than I give it credit for."

"It's not luck," Alexion moved to sit on the edge of the bed with him, shaking his head. "You look after yourself, same with any other disadvantage you have. Yours just happens to be physical. We keep you up to date with your check ups, you take the right medication, everyday, you make sure you have a healthy lifestyle with the right exercise to help rather than hinder, proper sleep...you do all of that, yes?"

Vansen nodded as he watched him, shifting to hug a leg close as he watched the other man closely, to try and read a reaction in his face like he was told people did. But he gave up with a sigh. "I take the medication. I try to go to the appointments, although we both know I can be lax with it. I...eat well. I exercise, not just the stuff I enjoy, but the muscle building stuff. An hour a day, regardless...I...sleep might not always be there, but that is why I work out in the evening...so it exhausts me. Sleep like a baby then. I...try not to drink too much, I know that can mess with it. But...at times I...just do."

"Because you are a young man with a life," Alexion nodded, shrugging as if that was to be expected. "So, as far as I can tell, you are taking control. That's not luck. That's hard work," he folded his arms with a sigh, shaking his head. "We could think about giving you something to sleep? If we can get you resting for full cycles, it will help your body cope."

He groaned, but it was good natured before he nodded. "Let's...try something. I just don't want to wake up groggy, Doctor Wylde...it makes me feel helpless."

"Agreed, that would be counterproductive," he didn't argue with him, knowing it was an achievement just to get him to agree in principle. "Light and clean, and you only take it when you need it instead of everyday," he logged it in his file before reaching to put the vials together. "We don't want to ruin your love life, do we..."

He laughed warmly, a blush coming to him despite himself. "Been living...like a monk lately..." he admitted after a moment. "I mean, no one can blame anyone for that with everything that has been going on."

"Things changed quickly," Alexion gave a gruff chuckle at that, shaking his head with an arched eyebrow. "On the trip out here, everyone was at it as if the summer sun had started to bloom..."

"Yes...it was the sense of adventure," Vansen said before he sighed and shook his head, slowly. "And then everything happened. Battle...and I think that changes people. Maybe not us enlisted, we were too busy plugging holes and trying not to fall over when the ship shook. But it changes the people in sickbay who saw the wounded, or the bridge crew who knew what was going on."

Alexion watched him with a small, knowing smile at the response, his lips curling at the corner as he watched the man's features closely. "I enlisted too, you know."

"Yes..." Vansen said before he grinned. "But you are an NCO, and not only that, you are a doctor...you are all smart. And kind. You're really kind, Alexion." He shook his head and looked down with a small chuckle. "Don't worry, that will remain our little secret..."

"I wouldn't worry, no one would believe you anyway," Alexion assured, a small, wry smile pulling at his lips as he handed over the pack he'd put together for him. "The way I like it."

[OFF]

--

Dr. Alexion Wylde
Medical
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

PO3 Constantine Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

RSS Feed