From: Christine Fontaine
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 14:10:08 -0500
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Sickbay: CDR Brennan's Physical
SD 90320.1408
MD 03.1350
Scene: USS CHESAPEAKE: Sickbay: CMO's Office
Lieutenant Commander Catherine Ledoux was, once again, reviewing
medical files in her office. In preparation for Commander
Brennan's physical, for the Executive Officer was due to arrive at
1400, Catherine downloaded his medical file to a PADD. This not
only provided Doctor Ledoux with easy access to the information
but also allowed her to make her own notes during the examination.
Taking in a few deep breaths, Catherine attempted to prepare
herself for her encounter with Commander Brennan. Although the
Commander had been friendly and kind, Catherine always felt
nervous around superior officers; she simply didn't deal well with
authority figures. Not only that, but the French Canadian was
still embarrassed by the fact that the Executive Officer had
discovered her crying in her office. Just thinking about it
caused Catherine's cheeks to flush and she could feel the heat
creeping up her face.
Commander Brennan had been very nice, however, so she shouldn't
have anything to worry about. Still, he *was* the Executive
Officer. Even though Catherine was now a Lieutenant Commander,
when she was in the presence of her superiors, she still felt like
a green Ensign.
After quickly scanning the information on the PADD one last time,
Catherine rose from her seat and headed out in to the main sickbay
area. After all, if she remained seated at her desk she'd
probably end up feeling too embarrassed to ever show her face in
sickbay again. You just weren't supposed to cry in front of your
superior officers.
Sighing, Catherine tried to force those thoughts from her mind.
Briskly walking towards one of the examination rooms, she decided
that she might as well have everything prepared by the time
Commander Brennan arrived. Placing the PADD that she still held
in one hand on the biobed, Catherine walked over to the wall where
a diagnostic cart was nestled in its recess. Unlatching the cart,
Doctor Ledoux wheeled it over to the biobed.
Catherine had just reclaimed the PADD and she was about to place
it on the cart next to the medical tricorder when a voice startled
her. Spooking like a Thoroughbred racehorse at the starting gate,
the vet fumbled with the PADD, almost dropping it.
"Bonjour, Docteur Ledoux. (Hello.)"
It was Commander Brennan, of course.
Trying to regain her composure, Catherine, her cheeks flushed a
pale shade of pink, replied, "bonjour, Commandant Brennan."
Brennan smiled at the doctor, noting that although the CMO looked
better than she had during their previous encounter, she still
appeared to be a bit tired and worn.
"Vous avez eu un bon repos? (Your break was restful?)" the
Commander asked.
Playing nervously with her hair Catherine replied, "oui, merci,
(yes, thank you,)" while studiously examining the floor.
"Et comment allez-vous monsieur? (And how are you doing sir?)"
Catherine asked in turn, endeavouring to be polite while using the
formal 'vous' as opposed to the more familiar 'tu' since she was addressing
a superior officer.
"Bien, bien... ca va, (Good, good... I'm doing well,)" he smiled.
"J'aimerais vous remercier encore... (I'd like to thank you
again...)" Catherine could feel her cheeks growing warmer as she
kept her gaze locked on the floor.
"Et merci d'avoir vous presenter voluntiers pour votre examen,
(And thank you for coming in so readily for your physical,)" she
concluded, still blushing fiercely.
He smiled, perhaps hoping that it would put her at ease. "Il n'y
a rien pour que vous devez me remercier, docteur," he replied,
"Vous ete une personne tres importante pour l'equipage de la
CHESAPEAKE. (There's nothing you need to thank me for, doctor.
You're a very important person for the CHESAPEAKE crew.)"
Catherine smiled shyly, then, still clutching her PADD in one
hand, she turned her sapphire gaze back towards Commander Brennan.
"Sir?" she asked tentatively, "before we begin, could I ask one
question that's not really relevant?"
Curious, Brennan replied, "go ahead Doctor."
"Well, sir." Catherine paused, gathering her courage while she
hooked a loose curl over one ear. "While I was serving aboard the
REGENT." Her voice caught and a brief flash of pain crossed her
face before she continued. "I was studying to complete my
medical degree. As you may know," Catherine's blush deepened, "my
degree is in veterinary medicine. With your permission, and the
permission of Captain Bell, I'd like to continue my studies while
serving aboard the CHESAPEAKE." Catherine waited, twirling one of
her curls around and around and around.
"Ah." He nodded. "I had been curious as to what 'DVM' was. Of
course -- I wish all crew had the ambition to pursue furthering
their education."
"Merci. Thank you, sir." A tiny smile lit up Catherine's face.
Cheeks still flushed, Doctor Ledoux was now ready to begin. "If
you don't mind, sir," she spoke quietly, "I'd like to begin with a
few questions." Taking in a deep breath, Catherine focused her
attention on the PADD she held in her right hand. "Now most of
this information should be in your medical records, sir, but I do
like to have first hand knowledge." The vet tried a little smile.
With her sapphire eyes firmly latched onto her PADD, Doctor Ledoux
began her questioning.
"Any major illnesses?"
"No," he shook his head.
"Any major injuries?"
"Hmm." He looked at his right knee. "You are not be able to see
this, of course, but I fractured my knee cap as a child -- I was
twelve, I believe -- and I needed stitches. I've fully recovered.
I think that's the extent of it."
He paused for a moment. "Actually, that's not true."
She looked up from the PADD. "Yes?"
"I was shot by a phaser several years ago. Left arm, here," he
indicated, pointing to the outside of his upper arm. "You can see
the phaser burns, but that was all."
"Burn marks?" she asked. Burn marks could be very easily
prevented with modern medicine. "You didn't have it treated?"
"There was a... situation. I couldn't come to sickbay
immediately." He simply stopped speaking, and looked at her.
Catherine nodded, content to leave it at that. Although she was fairly sure
that Commander Brennan wouldn't attempt to entertain her with a 'tall tale'
regarding his injury, she was certain that he wouldn't be free to discuss
the incident. As long as the injury was healed, and didn't interfere in any
way with the Commander's health, it was really none of her business.
Now, on to the next question.
"Have you ever had any surgery?"
"No, thank the stars."
"Any enforced stay in a sickbay or hospital?"
"No."
"Anything else I should know about, or anything that's not in your
official medical records?" Catherine's face was rosy pink as she
asked this question. The physical examinations that she had
already performed had given the vet more than she had bargained
for. Even without those experiences to draw upon, Catherine
always felt rather awkward asking this question. If certain
information wasn't present in an individual's medical file, there
was usually a very good reason for its absence.
"I don't believe, so, Doctor."
Catherine took a few final notes on the PADD. "Thank you, Commander.
Now, if you would lie down, facing up, on the biobed, I can begin the
examination."
"Yes, Doctor." He obediently followed her orders.
She smiled as the tall, broad-shoudered man pulled himself up on
the bed and lay down as instructed. She found herself trying not to
laugh as he made his best effort to straighten out his legs, just so,
and lay down his arms on either side, like a model patient. It was
not that he was ungraceful -- it was perhaps the incongruence of the
physically imposing man obeying her orders.
Catherine tucked a curl behind her ear with one hand as she reached
out to the biopanel with the other. "Computer, record physical
examination Patient Brennan, Daniel Justin, this Stardate and time."
She quickly checked his vital signs. "Heart rate, blood pressure,
normal. Computer, record CBC, Chem Seven, and blood gases."
They were silent for a moment as the computer worked. "So," Brennan
said, "have you read anything interesting lately?"
Catherine started. How did he...? "Why do you ask, sir?"
"Oh, no reason, really," he said, casually. "From my experience, what
a person reads, and whether the person actually takes time to read at
all, says a lot about a person." He paused, thinking. "I just reread
'Romeo and Juliet' last night, and I'm thinking about picking up 'Les
Miserables' soon," he smiled at her, "as it seems that I will be
speaking French rather often."
Catherine essayed a tiny smile. It *was* nice to hear French, and to speak
it.
The computer pleeped, and the doctor reached out to read the results.
"All within normal limits. Very good." She reached out for her
tricorder and, detatching the sensor, began to scan for basic systemic
readings.
"You like Shakespeare, Commander?" she asked, her voice still very soft.
"Much. I haven't read everything, although when my parents would
take us children into London to see the Royal Shakespeare Company,
they had us read the play before we saw the performance." He laughed,
then quickly stopped himself, perhaps realizing that she was in the
middle of a physical examination.
"You sound like you enjoyed that, sir."
"Please. You don't have to 'sir' me in private. On most of the
ships I've had the pleasure of serving, the senior officers were on
a first-name basis. Not on the bridge, of course, nor in front of
junior officers or enlisted crew, but... if you're more comfortable
calling me 'Commander,' that's fine, but Daniel is fine as well."
"Bien... Daniel." Her hand that held the sensor shook for a moment, but
regained its steady sweep over his body. Speaking his name with a French
accent seemed to make it easier somehow. Familiarity perhaps, Catherine
thought with a mental shrug.
"But back to Shakespeare. The reading wasn't forced, really -- we
usually went for the Sunday matinees, so Saturday afternoon before
we were to go, the five of us -- my parents, and my brother and
sister -- would read through the play aloud. Since there were only
five of us, we'd take multiple parts. The time we read 'Midsummer
Night's Dream,' my brother and I ended up with most of the mechanicals,
and we had to keep changing our voices, lest we get mixed up about
which part we were supposed to be reading."
She smiled at that. "That sounds wonderful."
He nodded. "It certainly introduced us to the pleasure of reading,
and of Shakespeare, as well. It wasn't until later that I realized
there was much more to Shakespeare than the swordfighting." He turned
his head. "Do you like Shakespeare as well?"
Catherine nodded, smiling, "I love Shakespeare." Blushing, she added, "I've
had roles in several stage productions of various plays. Portia in _The
Merchant of Venice_, Ophelia in _Hamlet_, but my favourite role was that of
Beatrice in _Much Ado About Nothing_. I've played the role of Hero in Much
Ado as well, but Beatrice is definitely a more satisfying role" Catherine's
smile widened at the memories. "Much Ado is definitely my favourite
comedy, while Hamlet would have to be my favourite tragedy." The vet's
blush then deepened, almost as if she were embarrassed to divulge her
experiences on stage.
Brennan was a bit surprised. It was hard to imagine this shy, quiet doctor
on stage, in front of a large crowd. Doctor Ledoux did not appear to be the
type of person who would actively seek out the spotlight. Then again, many
shy people used acting as a way to help overcome that shyness.
"Its funny that you mentioned picking up _Les Miserables_," Catherine said
thoughtfully. "That's always been one of my favourite musicals. The role
of Eponine..." suddenly she trailed off, her eyes misting over. Quickly,
she forced her attention back to the readouts on the medical monitors, but
Brennan had already noticed her lapse.
"Doctor? Catherine?"
"I'm sorry, sir," Catherine softly replied. "Just some old memories..."
She shook her head, as if trying to clear out the cobwebs.
Brennan didn't pursue the matter, but smiled reassuringly at her.
Suddenly, the doctor was brisk and professional once again. "Everything
checks out alright, sir. Daniel," she added, trying the name once again.
It certainly felt better on the tongue when she spoke it with a French
accent. It came out much easier that way.
"That's comforting to know," Brennan smiled as he hopped off the biobed.
"I'll have my departmental status report ready for you sometime later
today," Catherine stated, as she began putting away the medical equipment.
Then, blushing fiercely she added, "I'm afraid I'm a bit behind after my,
um, break yesterday."
"Later today will be fine, Doctor."
"Thank you, sir."
"Alors, a plus tard." (Until later, then.)
"A plus tard."
Respectfully submitted,
Takako Nagumo Chris Fontaine
CDR Daniel J. Brennan LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM
Executive Officer Chief Medical Officer
USS CHESAPEAKE USS CHESAPEAKE
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