Patient Zero (Back Post)

Posted on Wed Jan 31st, 2024 @ 7:08am by Lieutenant Commander Frasier Greene & Lieutenant Roaa

780 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Interlude
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD4 1630

Feeling rather sorry for himself and humiliated at the same moment Doctor Frasier Greene sat in Sickbay as a patient having contracted a bout of flu.

Normally this once ancient illness could be eradiated in a jiffy but this strain was proving difficult for Gocx and frankly with his pounding head Frasier didn't have the heart to research it himself.

It was simply more bearable to make himself comfortable as possible and ride it out - hence the humiliation. A patient in his own sickbay, he could imagine the whisperings below deck and among the senior staff. He groaned at the thought.

Through his fuzzy head Frasier became aware of someone addressing him, someone with a unfamiliar face. Was he hallucinating too?

"Hello, can I help you?" he asked rather ironically.

Quietly, Roaa replied "Sorry to bother you Doctor. I'm Lieutenant Roaa, the new Chief Counselor and I'll be working here as needed. I wanted to report in to you before I go set up my office. Is now a good time?"

"Ah yes," Frasier straightened. "With Lieutenant Campbell choosing to step down into a supporting role we needed someone new to come in."

He paused, nose twitching until suddenly his frame lurched releasing a sneeze into the waiting tissue. "Ugh," Frasier sighed. "I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner, as you can see I've been rather indisposed."

Nodding, Roaa replied "Is there anything I can help with right off Doctor? It seems like you may need a bit of a rest." Not wanting to overstep, Roaa fought the urge to step in and take over, as it was clear Frasier was not in great shape at the moment.

"You would have thought with the advancement in medicine over the millennia we'd conquered every strain of cold and flu that's ever existed and could mutant into? But no," Greene sighed again. "I've become patient zero in my own Sickbay. Quite ironic. I won't be able to live this down for some time," He smirked at the Caitian.

"To be honest, a cup of mint tea and some company would be great, if you don't mind?"

Smiling slightly, Roaa moved to the replicator and ordered the teas. Returning to Greene, he passed him one and taking a sip, said "Can I ask what the day to day is like here? On my previous posting our CMO ran a very tight Sickbay. No idleness was tolerated. If we were done a task, we would be given make work projects to keep busy."

"Thank you," the human accepted the hot tea gratefully and enjoyed the way the menthol aroma eased the pressure upon his sinuses before taking a sip. "I'm not that demanding," he chuckled at Roaa's comment. "To be honest we're still trying to find our own rhythm. The ship is still on her shakedown cruise, though many of the faces came with us from the Triton there's a lot of new faces too. We're ironing out the bugs so to speak - plenty of time to bring everything into line."

Sipping his tea, Roaa replied "Understood Doctor. Is there anything I should know about in terms of patients that are being monitored or physicals that are overdue?"

"From memory both Commanders Lyo and Rush are due physicals since joining the personnel list recently. They've been heavily involved in diverting the comet from the planet hence the delay in housekeeping." Frasier replied after some thought. "I don't recall anything unusual from my initial read over their files. Feel free to go over them yourself and check they'll the only ones left."

Nodding, Roaa replied "I'll work on them after I get settled in my office. I'm assuming I'll have a pile of padds to review once I get started." Pausing, he took another sip of his tea and added with a slight smile. "Perhaps when you are feeling better you can do my physical? I don't want to set a bad example for the crew you know. "

Blowing on his own tea Frasier chuckled lightly, which unfortunately bought on a fierce coughing fit. "Ugh," he breathed once recovered.

He glanced up to Roaa whom looked concerned: "I'm not exactly setting the bar very high at the moment," the CMO sighed wearily releasing he'd spilt some his tea over himself.

Shaking his head, Roaa replied "It's ok Doctor. Try to take it easy and get some rest. I'd offer to take over here while you do, but I need to get settled in my office. Let me know if you need me though?"

"Thanks, I'll be alright," Frasier waved aside the offer. "Get yourself settled in a we're catch up in full later."

 

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