And so begins another day

Posted on Sat Dec 22nd, 2018 @ 11:59am by Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/5
Location: Sickbay

Siobahn knew she was in danger of being late for her shift, something which was totally not like her, but after spending a large part of the night sitting in the mess talking with Andrew, she had found it even more impossible to sleep once she had returned to her quarters, leaving her feeling equal parts sleep deprived and hopped up on caffeine from the slew of strong coffee's she had already consumed.

Slipping quietly into sickbay, she glanced around, suddenly feeling grateful that the panic of yesterday was well and truly over. Things were peaceful and she found herself silently hoping that they would stay that way.

Janice had already come into sickbay and saw one of her staff arrive silently from the corner of her eye. Nursing a hangover from last night, she replicated some coffee and an English muffin, she quietly and stealthy entered a calm sickbay, thankful that the previous day was over.

"Ensign Siobhan, Good morning. I hope you got some sleep from yesterdays crisis.", she said, sipping the hot coffee. " Oh....where are my manners...Would you like some coffee and something to eat?", Janice asked smiling. After last nights drunken stupor, she decided that it was time to change and relearn what she was taught. She had to lead her people and be what, losing control of her emotions for just a second, she was supposed to be, their example of a leader.

"I am waiting for more of our people to arrive before we go over todays schedule", she said. " I have to speak to you on something I have", hesitating for just a split second, "To tell you all. It is not bad or anything....I think I must explain to you about me and what mistakes I made yesterday", she finished. Lowering her proud head "To you especially, please forgive me and my behavior", she said, not wanting to really pick up her head with the tears that had formed. 'This not how an officer acts', said a little voice in her head, Arianna's voice scolded her, and Janice picked her head up and drying her eyes quickly. "Please forgive me for the....break down of my emotions", she said softly.

Siobahn cringed slightly with the way she was addressed, yet again. "I think if I drink any more coffee right now my heart is likely to stop," she said quietly, holding back, almost reservedly. "Lieutenant, I am sorry if you feel that you have had a bad day... but I can assure you that you are most definitely not alone. No one walking into this room has had a good day in the past 24 hours. The difference is that everyone else is stepping up, doing what needs to be done and treating others with respect." She paused momentarily, suddenly aware that the tone of her voice was perhaps unnecessarily harsh.

Taking a deep breath, Siobahn sighed softly. "We are all in the same boat, we are all just trying to do the best that we can do in really rubbish circumstances. We need a leader to be here." She shook her head quickly. "I'm a brand new Ensign, it isn't meant to be up to me to lead the team. That's your job."

Sighing, Janice knew that Siobahn was right and it was time to lead and not folding up the way she did. "Thankyou Ensign Fallon. Your counsel is appreciated and I am going to try to actually be your leader", Janice said, trying to smile.

"Can I ask you something Ensign Fallon....is it possible we can be friends? It is widely known that I don't have many close friends. The only one was like a sister to me and she died during surgery from her injuries. I was that surgeon and everytime I go into surgery the face I see is Arianna's. I don't falter in surgery or doing my job, but when I lose a patient all I can see is Arianna's blank expression", she said looking at Ensign Fallon. "Mayybe I should talk to the counselor and see if I can push the death of Arianna to bed....Oh good lord Ensign Fallon...now I sound like a school kid", she said, trying to smile. "The offer to be friends still stand", she added.

Siobahn managed a small smile. "I never turn away a friendship," she said gently, especially all the way out here. You know, it's normal to grieve over the loss of a friend, but if that grief starts to consume your life, then there are much bigger issues at play, and that's when you need to stop and re-evaluate. But grief, especially in the face of dealing so closely with death ourselves recently, is perfectly normal and to be expected. Honestly, I would be surprised if there was anyone in here yesterday who didn't have some kind of an emotional response after the fact." Siobahn shook her head quickly and laughed. "Gods, now I sound like a counselor!"

"Ensign Fallon, you would make a wonderful counselor!! I believe that you understand me better than most. As for yesterday's crisis, I should not have acted in the manner I should. Where are the calouses that doctors are supposed to have? Where is the wall that helps us to not to get close to our patients? We were taught in med school not to let our selves get emotionally attached to our patients. I did with Arianna, and the memory of that still remains buried in my head. I hope by making friends with someone would be helpful in forgetting the pain and memory of that moment", Janice said. "Can we..would you....oh hell....could we be friends Ensign Fallon ", she said gently.

"As my Granny used to say, one can never have too many friends," Siobahn smiled reassuringly. "You know, that coffee smells rather amazing... I'm sorely tempted to get a mug... but I also have this funny feeling that if I drink any more caffeine right now my heart is likely to explode," she laughed and shook her head. "It's been a long day already."

"Yes it has, it truly has been too long. Are you sure you don't want a cup? I have a stash of genuine coffee from Earth here", she said, pushing a hot steaming cup at her. Janice drained her cup and went back for another one. "Ensign Fallon, do you like good old fashioned, honest to god, cinnamon danish? I made a fresh dozen this morning. Old family recipe from my great gandmother, they are yummie..." she said, bringing the plate of danish with her.

Taking the cup, Siobahn wrapped her hands around it, grateful for the warmth it provided even if she never intended to drink it. "When I was a kid my Granny used to make the most amazing apple and cinnamon danishes," she said softly. "The pastry was so soft and light and flaky and the insides..." she paused, shaking her head slightly. "It was blasphemously heavenly. I've not had any danishes since she died. I just don't think it's possible for anything to taste so amazingly good."

"Well, Ensign Fallon, you don't know my great grandmother but, her Danish are still as good as when she made them, heavenly and shamefully delicious..." Janice said.

"Alright, alright, you twisted my arm," Siobahn replied with a laugh, taking a danish from the plate. Taking her first bite, she nodded approvingly. "Not bad, not bad at all... I could call it a close second," she said with another laugh. "Hey, I have to be loyal to my Granny, otherwise she'll haunt me from beyond the grave!"

Just as she was about to take the last bite of her danish, a shout for help drew both of their attentions. Setting her cup down, Siobahn rushed toward the main medical area, casting an appraising glance over the situation unfolding in front of them.

Two officers in gold tunics were supporting what appeared to be the near lifeless form of a young male patient. The unmarred shoulder of his uniform showed a teal tunic, and not immediately recognising the face, Siobahn assumed he had to be from Science.

She motioned toward the nearest biobed quickly, helping to get him positioned. "What happened?"

One of the security officers shrugged slightly, stepping back. "We just found him, down near the nacelles. There was no signs of any kind of damage anywhere, but we're going to engineering next to get a diagnostic run to see if there was something else. We don't know what caused the injuries."

Siobahn nodded slightly. "Thank you, you can leave," she replied softly, grabbing a medical tricorder and flipping it open. "Bio scans say this is one Lieutenant Carey Lawson, Science officer, USS Wellington," she said quietly. "He's alive, but barely. Plasma burns to two thirds of his torso and severe lacerations, it looks like there is some kind of shrapnel embedded in the wounds..." her voice trailed off as she looked across at Janice, her eyes widening ever so slightly. "Am I the only one with a serious sense of Déjà vu?" She asked hesitantly.

"No you are not Ensign Fallon. It has plagued me for a few days already. We have work to do yet again and hopefully not to many this time...I hope", Janice said finally. Taking her own medical tricorder she went to scan the next victim. 'Dear god.......', Janice thought.



=/\=


Lt. Cmdr Janice Soran MD, DVM
Chief Medical Officer
USS Wellington

Ensign Siobahn Fallon
Medical Officer
USS Wellington