Somebody's Got to Do It

Posted on Fri Jul 8th, 2016 @ 9:48pm by Lieutenant Ryan Rose

Mission: Zero Week
Location: Sickbay - USS Hammersley

'Life is ever changing' words that Captain Merith of the USS Pandora had taught her about a year plus ago when Janet was just a Lieutenant holding her post as Chief Tactical Officer and Security Chief aboard Merith's Luna class starship in the defunct 47th Task Force. The old Ba'ku woman was right...life was ever changing and Janet had been witnessing a lot of changes in her life over the short period of just a few years. Getting pregnant while aboard the USS Pandora, having to step down as Department Head only to end up getting reassigned to Captain Emily Wolf of the USS Challenger as an Interim First Officer until Starfleet found her a suitable posting aboard the USS Adelaide as Security Chief, but once her baby bump started to really show and she got into the whole morning sickness battle, Janet was forced to take a Leave of Absence for the next couple months until he gave birth.

Now, she was single mother to a newborn and Starfleet had assigned her to the USS Hammersley with the 38th Task Force. The Damn Delta Quadrant was all she could think of during her long trip from the Adelaide in the Beta Quadrant. What the hell were they thinking sending a single mother out to the Delta Quadrant? She honestly had no idea. It was about one of the most asinine orders she had ever received. Were she not a mother, Janet would have gladly taken the assignment and ran happily with it. But now she had more than just herself to think about. She had a child to worry about. "How the hell am I supposed to raise a child out here? The Borg...the Kazon, The Horogen, The Vaaudwaur, and Vidians!" she shouted slamming her fist into a bulkhead repeatedly as she walked down the corridor.

By the fourth time her fist had made contact with the unyielding object, she let out a loud yell in response to the pain. SON OF TARG! she thought as she let off some steam. She was pissed at Starfleet for sending her out into the Delta Quadrant and disappointed in herself for letting it all get to her. She was doing good with her anger management and temper control practices that Merith had taught her. Now her knuckles were going to be swollen like a jumja on a stick. "Computer, interior map. Approximate quickest route to Sickbay from my present location and display" she ordered. The computer complied. Whether it knew better than to toy with her today or not, she was happy if was complying.

Several minutes later she was walking into Sickbay which she had expected to be desolate if not entirely empty. Not all the crew were aboard yet and she was not yet made aware of Doctor Rose's arrival. There were no patients on any of the beds and the room was rather dimly lit at the time she came in. She went immediately over to a medical locker and started rummaging for equipment, anything that would help her with her busted hand. Cold day on Vulcan that I activate the Emergency Medical Hologram she thought to herself.

Ryan had been lightly dozing on the couch in his office when he heard noises in the main bay. He went to investigate and found Lieutenant Commander Glyndar rummaging. He approached, cleared his throat, and smiled. "Why don't you let me handle that, osteo regenerators are a bear to handle one handed."

Janet quickly spun around after a small gasp. Oh you are getting sloppy she thought as she instinctively reached towards her hip. No phaser. No dagger. No weapons at all. Though his words and uniform quickly caused her to relax and looks mildly embarrassed by her reaction. Surely he had seen her go for a phantom phaser. "Old habits" she said with a sigh. "Career security officer" she explained simply as she held out her injured hand.

"And a constant Sickbay patient if my history follows me here" she added with a small smile, her vibrant purple irises showing as she swiped her long dark hair aside, out from her eyes. "I was not expecting to find a Doctor on duty at this hour. At least not until we were fully or at least mostly crewed" she said making conversation.

Ryan had immediately taken a half step back, giving the woman plenty of room. His hands out of his lab coat pockets and visible, he had dealt with the type before, and knew how to make himself non threatening. "Understandable." Ryan gave her a small smile. He took a look at her hand, and grabbed the supplies he'd need. "I did notice your file was rather extensive." He offered. "I arrived a bit early and decided to get a few modifications taken care of. I'm a bit picky about my surgical suite."

Scoffing, Janet nodded. "Well it comes with the job" she said. "Security comes with its scars, Doctor. Have a long gander at my file and enjoy it. You also will take note that I recently gave birth."

"I did take note of that. I hope you'll bring them in. I haven't had a chance to pull on my pediatric hat in quite some time."

She nodded. "I will bring him in of course. Newborns are fussy...especially one with Xenexian and Orion heritage. I can only live in fear of his rough toddler years and then there's the teenage years" she said shaking her head. "Green skin and purple eyes. He's going to be a looker I think."

Ryan just smiled. "Well, it should never be boring."

"So, how's my hand? Will it be back to normal by morning?" she asked. "Not that I make a habit of going around punching people or things, but I do need my hands for other things" she added.

Ryan finished up. "It should be fine. Just let me know if there's still pain in the morning."

"Pain I can live with" she replied.

"I'm sure you can, but it's an indication that the minor bruising around the bone hasn't healed, I'm sure you don't want to risk further damage." Ryan replied.

Janet scoffed. "Not today at least. I will see you again soon, Doctor" she added as she proceed towards the exit.