Pediatric Visit

Posted on 23 Mar 2021 @ 12:09am by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Commodore Harvey Geisler & Lieutenant Commander Landon Milo MD

1,393 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Medical
Timeline: Mission Day 2 at 1100

The ship might have been a couple days underway, but another milestone had arisen. The twins were just a couple days away from their first birthday. While this meant they could run, laugh, and share a language that only babies could interpret, it also meant that they were now due for a regular checkup. Both of the twins, thankfully, hadn't had any issues since their troubled birth, but just because nothing was detected in the beginning didn't mean anything wasn't developing.

Harvey and Joey soon arrived at sickbay, each of them carrying one of their children. "Hello," he greeted the receptionist. "The Geislers are here for an appointment with Doctor Milo."

Doctor Milo was delighted to hear the announcement from the receptionist that before even acknowledging them, he sprung to his feet and made his way out to the main area of Sickbay. "Captain, Commander," Landon said with a pleasant chipper tone of voice followed by a sweet smile on his face. His blue eyes illuminated with a cooling soothing expression.

"How are the two of you doing?" asked the Pediatrician. "Parenthood treating you alright, I hope?" he added.

"I'm doing well, thank you," Joey said, offering the doctor a smile, deciding to let Harvey answer those questions for himself. "As for parenthood, it's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I still can't believe we'll be celebrating their first birthday soon." As well as her husband's forty-third, which meant she had to get busy planning.

"It certainly is a challenge," Harvey admitted. There were days he thought his children behaved better than some members of the crew. "Aside from not being able to sleep through the night, I think we're doing pretty well. And yourself, Landon?"

Landon smiled and tinkered around with a medical tricorder for a moment. "The usual more or less," replied Landon. "Doing my best to contribute here and there, but keep myself out of the spotlight. On the plus side I'm regaining more strength and control of my abilities and physical therapy has been beneficial, I can live with a little phantom limp."

"Forty three years," echoed The Assistant Chief Medical Officer. "And a father, Captain, and still a good friend." Landon reflected on his years with Harvey aboard the ship's predecessor for a time and now aboard this Black Hawk. "Where does the time go?"

"I'm not too sure," Harvey replied. "There are days I wish I had a time machine just to go back to the days when all they did was sleep and coo." He then realized how negative that could have sounded, and quickly added, "I don't mean that they're not adorable now. Because they are. Absolutely are. Where they are now is just as adorable from a year ago, just in different ways."

Joey nuzzled Alison's head. "See? I told you they were growing up too fast. I miss those days also," she said. "I do love how much fun they are at this age, too. And their little laughs. They're absolutely contagious."

"Better laughs than a cold," Harvey admitted, a hint of his medical past shining through.

Landon nodded in agreement. "You know you miss this," he said teasingly to Harvey. "Laser scalpels, hyposprays, the thrill of some unknown disease sweeping through a world, reprimanding crew for piss poor dietary choices when they forgo the replicator," added Landon.

The Assistant Chief Medical Officer smiled. "Fatherhood looks good on you though," observed Landon. "I actually had wanted to talk to you both. So, convenient that you were coming by today."

"Oh? What did you want to talk to us about?" Joey asked.

Harvey had said, "Oh?" at the exact same time Joey had. "Is everything okay?" he added once Joey was finished.

"Everything is fine," Landon replied. "Nothing to be worried about. I have just been thinking a lot about my life and where I wanted to be at this point. A failed engagement and relationships haven't been so well" explained Doctor Milo.

He looked at the couple. "When the two of you started a family it was a bit of a wake up call," noted Landon. "I've been thinking about bypassing finding someone and exploring adoption."

Joey wasn't sure what she expected the doctor to talk to them about, but that wasn't it. She didn't know Landon as well as her husband did, but what she did know was that baby fever was a real thing. In fact, she'd considered approaching Harvey about having another child a few times, but the timing never seemed right. "Adoption?" She repeated. It was definitely a huge step.

"Adoption?" Harvey echoed, speaking the word in unison with Joey. "I must say, fatherhood is pretty rewarding. How far in the process have you gotten?"

"I haven't gotten all that far yet, just started looking at different worlds and places with children looking for someone," explained Landon. "I know being a single parent is not necessarily the route most take with adoption, but I wanted to thoroughly discuss the matter with you first, Harv," added Landon to the man he had known for a few years now. "As a friend and as my Captain" he noted.

He looked at Joey. "And I have no spouse or significant other as you both are aware. I essentially would be both paternal and maternal. So, Joey, I could use some motherly insight."

"Of course," Harvey replied to Landon. "What exactly would you like to know? Or, I suppose, how old are you considering starting with in a child? Infant? Toddler? Teenager?"

"I'm still fairly new to this whole mother thing myself, but I'm sure ai can help you out with what I've learned so far," Joey offered, shifting the baby to her other hip.

Landon smiled. "The benefits of adoption," he replied looking at Harvey. "I guess I do get to pick a bit. I was thinking younger would be better, but past the age of crawling. I'm thinking a young child between Six and Thirteen would be great."

"Stay away from teens and preteens," Harvey quickly remarked. "Too much drama, and they tend to be too set in their ways. Unless you're prepared to combat that drama and work hard to get them to warm up to you."

Joey stood off to the side with Alison doing her level best to entertain the little girl while waiting for their checkup to take place. She tickled her side with a free hand, earning a laugh from the baby. It wasn't until that tickling hand moved to Alison's neck that her laughter turned into full in belly laughs. Her Mom laughed with her, then pressed a kiss to her cheek.

In his Dad's arms, Jameson watched the antics between his Mom and sister with a drooly smile. He didn't want to be left out and opted to copy the movements Joey was making to tickle his father's neck. It wasn't as graceful, nor did it feel very pleasant with his fingernails, but he was trying.

"I'll take the advice to heart," Landon said reassuringly. "As for your bunch," he added with a chuckle. "Healthy as can be. Whatever you are doing, keep it up. I'll continue mulling over the idea of parenthood myself, but if either of you have any recommendations for orphanages or anything of the sort, please stop by. I don't really have anyone else to bounce ideas off of."

Harvey nodded as Jameson grabbed his father's ear for a good tug. "Thank you for the clean bill of health. If I hear anything worthy of a recommendation, I'll be sure to let you know. Though I think I heard Ensign Sybil down in Astrometrics was talking about adoption recently. You may want to talk to her."

Joey was grateful for the clean bill of health her children received, and planned to continue to keep them as healthy as possible. "Thank you," she said, patting Alison's back when she settled her head on her Mom's shoulder. "I think it's nearing nap time, but we need to feed them first."

"I will check in with Ensign Sybil," Landon replied. "I'll get back to you both on our next appointment with the kids. Thank you both for your support."

Joey nodded her head and offered Landon a smile. "Good luck," she said just before she and her family left.

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