Post 255: Silent Aftermath

Stardate: 062607:1700
Scene: Sickbay
Time: Before and After the awards
Author: Cliona McBrayne
Title: Quiet Aftermath

He had realized almost immediately that she was right.

RJ Gilmore had stood up from the biobed determined to prove Cliona wrong but it only took about 5 seconds for him to realize how surgery had depleted his strength. She saw it in his eyes. The look of irritation at her insistence he use a chair turned to mild surprise and then grudging acceptance.

Slowly he lowered himself into the device with a silent air of acceptance.

"It's just going to take time, Captain. You will recover your strength." Her hand hovered just above his shoulder as if it would squeeze it comfortingly but she pulled it back and stuffed it into her pocket. The last thing Gilmore would want was any sign of sympathy.

"And in the meantime you'll enjoy lording your authority over me?"

"I'll try to keep my glee hidden, sir." Her lips twisted into a grin. She was
beginning to enjoy their back and forth since his admission to sickbay. She wondered how their exchanges appeared to others. Despite their verbal sparing she had a deep respect for Gilmore.

The ceremony was short and efficient. Cliona was pleased at its brevity. She disliked the pomp and circumstance and suspected Gilmore did as well. She accepted Zanh's offer to take the Captain to his quarters, where one of her staff waited for him, and promised - or more to the point warned - Gilmore that she would check on him later.

She had some cleaning up to do. Cases to be entered into the database and new procedures to write up. It wasn't feasible for disaster victims to be transported to sickbay unless their wounds warranted using the non-transportable instruments. She would make sure next time that her staff was ready for a monumental transport to a planetary surface where they would erect a temporary work station. Better for the patients and better for the Independence's security.

She had expected growing pains. She hoped that in making changes to do things the way she was comfortable she wouldn't step on toes but she knew to expect some mild disapproval from those who were comfortable with the current set up.

Checking her messages back in sickbay, she noticed a new doctor had joined the staff. She made a note to herself to welcome the woman asap. She would be working with some emotional and mental evaluations of the crew since they were still without a counselor.

Cliona's smile faded as her thoughts once more turned to Tues K'Raye. It would have been such a pleasure to serve with her.

Lost in more memories that were encouraged by the silence of sickbay, Cliona went about a mechanical and automatic report of medical activities.

Cliona McBrayne
CMO
USS Independence