"To Hospital for a Headache"
Previous was "Doing the Right Thing…"
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Susan sat and stared at the bustle around Prav's bed, picking up a few words here and there. The one word she picked up chilled her to the core: "Imperian." It's close conjunction to the word "probe" made her even more chilled. Carefully, she swung her feet over the edge of the biobed and got up slowly. She didn't want to draw attention to the fact that she was getting out of bed, for fear someone would tell her to get back in it. Yet, her eternal curiosity was way too piqued to simply sit still and watch. She moved closer.
Lea was busy tending to Maya and everyone else was watching Prav so the counselor was able to creep up quite close to the action.
"Where's the thing now?" Sabrina demanded of one of the marines.
"The 'thing' sir?"
Sabrina sighed and tried to mentally control her irritation before continuing in a whisper, obviously concerned that whatever had happened would either have an effect on moral or cause widespread panic. Susan didn't know why she bothered. If she knew this crew, everyone would already know the story already… or distorted versions of it.
"The Im-perian." She practically mouthed the word.
The marine, who Susan didn't recognize – not that she recognized many marines - looked puzzled for a second while he figured out what she'd said. Then seemed to light up with the knowledge that he could give his captain the information she required, "Oh! *that* thing!" He leaned in closer and Susan had to listen especially hard to hear him whisper, "It had 1st Lt Pravat by the throat when we came in. We tried all we could to get him to release his grip… but to no avail."
"Hence the bruises on Pravat's neck injuries." Sabrina deduced.
The marine nodded. "Even weapon's fire didn't help. Then suddenly this bottle came whizzing through the air…"
"A bottle?" Sabrina looked stunned. The marine nodded again, "Yes sir. When it broke the water that was in it caused the Imp… I mean the 'thing' to short-circuit."
If she had looked stunned before that was nothing compared to how she looked now, "You mean you drowned it?"
Before Susan could hear the answer, Lea grabbed shoulder and spun her around. "Can I speak to you for a minute?" Her expression looked pained. It was not a nice expression to see on the face of a doctor – or friend – when one was convinced that one was sick. Susan, convinced not to reflect on Lea's expression too long looked back over her shoulder as Lea led her away.
"That marine just said that they drowned a Imperian with a bottle of water…"
Lea also looked back, her expression now both surprised and slightly confused, "Really? Are you sure you heard right?"
Susan blinked and stopped walking, "I… don't know." She was wondering if her head injury could be making her hear things incorrectly. Or worse… hallucinate.
Her friend grabbed her arm again, and led her into the medlab.
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"Listen Lea…" Susan said as soon as the medlab door was shut, "I've been meaning to speak with you." She moved to the opposite side of the room and perched herself on a counter, "I was actually hoping you'd show up. I'm not getting a straight answer out of anyone…"
Lea looked sheepish. Knowing her friend and being a touch concerned given the circumstances, Susan cocked her head, "What?"
"Um…" Lea looked down at her feet, "What have they been telling you… exactly?"
Susan hopped off the counter and started to pace, "That's just it. They have told me… that there's nothing wrong with me. But what I don't get… What I don't get is why you would have brought me over here if there was nothing wrong with me. I mean, you wouldn't do such a thing. It's crazy to even think it. Isn't it?"
The last thing she was expecting when she looked up at her friend, was that the doctor's expression or downward angle of her eyes wouldn't have changed.
"Lea?"
"Hmmm?" She answered in a dreamy voice.
"Lea…" Susan walked slowly over to her friend.
"Lea…" her brow furrowed as she stood face to forhead with the doctor. They stood like that for a good few moments. Lea with her head cast down and eyes staring at her shoes and Susan with her brow furrowed and staring at Lea looking at her shoes. Eventually she said quietly, "There isn't anything wrong with me is there?"
It was as if a floodgate had been opened, "I'm so sorry Susan! I panicked. I had the premonition… and there was the call saying medical emergency… and there was so much blood… and I didn't know what to do. I mean, medically speaking I knew, at least I think I did but Susan you're my friend! My best friend. I was scared and all I thought was that you had to be safe and all I could think of was my big safe sickbay on the ANUBIS that was protected by two ship's worth of weapons and…" She looked up at the counselor's stunned face and her shoulders sagged, "Please don't be angry with me." She said in a little voice, "I thought I was doing the right thing."
Susan shook her head in wonder. She had started out being mad… but now she didn't know what she was feeling. It could have been amusement… or embarrassment… or extremely touched. It was… like that feeling you get when you realize you're at a surprise party that your friends have thrown for you. Susan smiled as she remembered the party she'd thrown for Lea not that long ago and she realized that her feelings were closer to the last one.
"It's not my anger you have to be afraid of Lea… I'm sure there's a penalty for calling in a false emergency"
The doctor looked bashful. Then she realized that Susan was smiling… "Does that mean… you're not angry with me?" she asked hopefully.
The counselor put an arm around her friend and laughed, "How could I be angry? You just sent me to hospital for a headache."
"I know but…" Lea was quite stunned, wondering whether Susan was being sincere… or sarcastic, "aren't you just a little angry that I had you believing you were seriously injured when you weren't?"
Susan contemplated this for a second before stating, "No. Sounds exactly like something my father would do." She turned to her friend and smiled, "Now I have a story about a drowned Imperian to sort out. You interested in investigating?"
----------- 2006 post #060
Stardate: 60341.0920
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Med Lab 1
Stardate: 60341.0930
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counselor
USS ANUBIS
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"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
