"Getting To Know The Newbie"
[Previous post: "A problem shared is a problem halved", written by the free spelling Tallulah Habib]
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Sickbay
Lea, Susan and Liz were discussing the fact that they would be rooming
together, again. That discussion had been on the minds of the three
women since well before the party. Before then they never really had the
time to truly talk about it. During the party had been an even less
opportune time for such a discussion. So now that they were on the HATHOR
and on their way, there had been no better time.
Lea said breaking a stare between her and Susan, "It isn't actually
really fair is it? I mean, most crew members only have one room mate! We
all have two!"
"Yeah and why did WE get chosen to room together, I mean not that I got
any problems with it or anything, but they had to choose us to room
together." Susan commented on what Lea had just complained about. Liz
staring at the ground did not know what to say.
"What do you think Liz?" Lea asked, trying to bring the aCMO into the
conversation.
"Well, I guess they put us all together because well, were all women
for a fact, and we had to get to know each other?" Liz replied not so
sure about the accuracy of her second reason.
"I think you might by right about the first part, but the second does
not make a lot of sense!" Susan responded. Lea on her end angrily folded
her arms and wished that there had been a window for her to look out of.
Lea could have used the sight of moving stars as a way for her to
relax. Those specks of lights had always been a source of comfort for the
CMO. The problem though was that by design Sickbays were set in the
center of the ships. So there had been no windows, not even on a ship as
small as the HATHOR.
"Okay guys, I think we complained enough about this situation." Lea
said quietly.
"Let's discuss our shifts." Susan agreed and spoke a bit more focused
on the subject.
"I volunteer to go first." The CMO said before Liz could say anything.
"After all this is *my* sickbay, if you can call this closet a
sickbay.'
"I'll take the second shift," Liz said next not wanting to be inactive
for too long.
"That leaves me the last option." Susan said laughing. On a ship as small as the HATHOR there had not been too much to do. So not actually being on duty in Sickbay meant that the Cns needed to find something else to do.
"Well this is my shift and there is no room for any patient. So if you
two don't mind," Lea said pushing the two Ensigns out of Sickbay.
Liz and Susan stared at each other for a moment while standing in the
narrow corridor. "Well you were quick at that second attempt on getting
a shift, weren't you?" The Cns asked laughing. Susan knew that this
was a good time to try and get to know Liz a little better. The three of
them had spoken during the party, but nothing had really been said.
"Yeah, Lea was quick at first but I came in second!" Liz said making a
joke about it.
Susan laughed. "I'm gonna get something to drink, care to join me?"
"Yeah, can I have Herbal Tea? It's good for my health." The aCMO
replied. Susan stared at the other woman with the look as if asking if there
was something wrong with Liz. Ens. Halliwell noticed this and quickly
added, "I studied different diets as a doctor, and which things are
healthy and unhealthy for the humanoid body." Liz explained.
"Oh, okay." Susan said starting to understand a little more about the new aCMO. Once inside the quarters they would be sharing, the Cns headed for the food dispenser. "One hot mint chocolate and one herbal tea please."
The two beverages appeared in and Susan brought them over to Liz who
had taken a spot on the corner of the lower bed. The quarters were
small, so room for socializing had been minimal to say the least.
Susan sat in the only chair present in the room and sipped a bit of her
drink. The moment the hot liquid touched her lips the Cns put the cup
down on the small circular table. At least if she had been drinking
she would have had an excuse for being silent. As a Cns Susan knew how
to 'break the ice' but for some reason she had found it difficult to do
with Elizabeth. Maybe it had been the thought of once again sharing
quarters with an unknown woman that had been bothering Susan.
"Tell me about your family," Liz asked breaking the silence and taking
Susan off guard.
"My family? Well my dad is a Starfleet admiral," Susan replied but
stopped as her thoughts went onto her mother. She had no idea where her
mother was or even if she had still been alive.
"What about you?" Susan asked, turning the table on the aCMO. "Tell me
about your family?"
"Well, My dad's name is Hendry and he works with Shields and Deflector
Adaptations, he's 45, my mothers name is Jane and she's 40 and works as
a Biological Engineer. I also have a brother, his name is Jack and
he's 24 and his work is Self-Defence and Martial Arts. I learned a lot
from him." Elizabeth described.
"Your family sounds nice." Susan commented.
"Yeah, I miss them, do you miss your family?" Liz asked making Susan
feel like she had been the own being on the receiving end of a
counselling session.
"Well yes, of course I do, but not that I am homesick, I enjoy working
in Starfleet." Susan quickly explained trying to find a way to change
the focus of their discussion.
"Well, I feel the same, though Starfleet and all is all new to me, I
worked in a hospital in Washington DC, but I was searching for a
challenge, something crazy that would change my life forever and so Starfleet
was my choice." Liz said laughing. "I could have asked to be a Cns since
I love asking questions, but I thought medicine was more my thing," the
aCMO explained making Susan a little nervous. Maybe being roommate with
Lindsey Donavan had not been such a bad thing after all.
"Well, I'm ready for *ANY* question," Susan said with the look on her
face that said 'bring it on'. The best way to make it through this was
for Susan to plough through it.
"Well, what is your favourite place on EARTH?"
"Hudson Valley, because it was my home, but I love tons of other places
too!" the Cns replied with a smile.
"My favourite place is on the couch with my parents and brother
watching a family movie." Liz said grinning. Obviously the memory of that
particular activity meant a lot to Halliwell. "You know that other new guy
Carft Kea, he's really humoristic." The aCMO continued, changing the
subject without any prior warning. "I bumped into him and he started a
whole big story about taking precaution because, he might have been
holding a cup and spilled it over himself!" Liz said laughing.
"I am not sure if the term *humoristic* is what I would have used to
described him," Susan smiled thinking of her friend in Sickbay. Being
alone in a small room had started to sound more and more appealing.
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Assistant Chief Medical Officer
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Lt. J.G. Lea Summers
And
Chief Medical Officer 2005 post #543
Stardate: 60331.0810
Ensign Elizabeth Halliwell
USS HATHOR
Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
