A Break From Routine

Posted on 11 Apr 2016 @ 3:34am by Lieutenant JG Catherine Cooper & Commander Jayla Kij

1,376 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Timeline: MD6 1500 hours

Jayla rubbed her face as she turned away from the Cadet who laid on the bio bed. She really had no idea what to do. The body didn't even register this virus as an infection, so she had no idea how to fight it. Nobody was producing anti-bodies of any sort, nor were they running fevers. And she HAD to find a way or else a lot of people could die.

She shuddered at that thought. She didn't want to think about losing patients.

As she heard the doors swish open, she turned with a bright smile. No need to worry anyone else, after all.

"Doctor Klij? I'm Lt. Jg. Catherine Cooper from Security for a routine. and I've one question for you. Normal reporting in or Dramatic?" She said with a glance taking in the room it was not the 'bored' feeling she was hoping for but there was a vague tension. Since odds were high no one was going to tell her what that was about, she would just continue to observe and be ready to help. And if people assumed her silliness meant she didn't see things well that was fine.

Jayla grinned. "I've had enough drama for one day," she said with an air of long suffering. "So, given the choice, I'm going to have to go with normal."

"Well that's disappointing in more than one way I had a whole Shakespearean speech planned. Alas Poor Yorik, no dice." She said understandingly, "Well then I'm here to make sure all my bits are working to make the brass hats happy but I can come back another time.". She glanced around a question in her features as she moved loose hair to behind one ear in a habitual gesture.

"No, no, you're fine," said Jayla. "Come right over her," she added, leading her to a bio bed. "Jump right up there and we'll get started."

Deciding against giving an actual leap she went over and sat. Over time she'd noticed people having trouble sleeping. Just a few but enough in Security and others that it was in her mind. Either the stress was getting to people, which was totally logical or something was up. She expected she'd find out soon enough, best to make this quick and get out of the Doctor's hair. "Would it help if I stood on my head because I can totally do that." She was quietly swinging her feet back and forth as she sat on the bed, not entirely aware she did so.

Jayla grinned. "If your intent is to relieve stress, it's working," she said, starting her scans. "I can use a stress reliever now and then. Especially now."

Cat shrugged, "If its something I can punch in the face or toss in the brig I can do that too. Sup Doc?" She gave a grin that was both joking and vaguely supportive, wondering if the CMO would get the ancient reference.

In fact, almost every doctor in Starfleet had heard that at least once, so Jayla was, in fact, familiar with Bugs Bunny. "Be vewy vewy quiet," she said. "I'm hunting wabbits."

Cat laughed. It was 400 years old roughly and not that well known but still managed to be remembered despite it all. Pleased the Doc got the reference, Catherine continued, "Ah you don't want me to be the rabbit then I take off, you try to find me, I drop an anvil on your head its a rough day..." then she continued, "If there's anything you need help with Oh Kisser of Boo Boo's, Keeper of the Band Aids, and Dispenser of the Justice of Medicine, just let me know. Until then you are smarter than I look and I'm sure you'll get it." The words were joking but eyes were reasonably serious and earnest. Even as an image of the CMO in a Cape flittered through Cooper's mind. Remembering something she pulled a small PADD from her pocket with her medical records on it. Including her SAR training, her body's reaction to caffeine (a little woke her up, bit more mellowed her out some, too much makes her want to sleep or just sleep), and so on then handed it to Jayla. She still swung her feet but this time was actively trying not to hit the doc even as she did complex tasks in her head to occupy enough of her mind so she could interact more normally with others. A trick her parents taught her, otherwise she may never shut up.

Jayla grinned again, or perhaps it was the same grin, only brighter. One could never tell with the smiling Doctor. "You're x laugh a minute, aren't you?" she said, taking the proffered PaDD and glancing it over. "Oh, good, you've got medic training! I'll keep that in mind." She finished her scans and looked over the results carefully. "I don't see anything unusual here that would warrant any blood tests," she said. "Any complaints?"

Catherine smiled back, with dueling smiles everyone wins. "I try to keep it to a dull roar, don't want to drive people too nuts but I figure life is serious enough on its own. Needs no help from us." She said getting a feel for the Doc and figure this will work out fine. "And nope, I'm good but things seem to be ramping up to be something so I thought I'd get this off the to do list." Then she realized what she said and laughed, "Wow call me Captain Vague but I've learned to trust my instincts."

"No, I understand," said Jayla. "They do seem to be building. And I'm not closer to finding a solution than I was yesterday this time. Oh, well. You're fit for duty, anyway. If there's nothing else you're free to go."

"That's it? No long, involved testing? Needles the size of my arm? Nothing involving electricity? What kind of mad doctor are you? They're going to revoke your card you know." She said and hopped down from the bed looking a bit serious. "I meant what I said, I'm not completely useless with medico items if you need a warm body...when its not already claimed that is..." She said recalling her primary duties.

"I will probably take you up on that," said Jayla, still grinning from the "mad doctor" comments. "But, so far, none of the medical staff are ill."

"Well awesome for that..." She said meaning it, in medical situations the staff usually had a higher rate of infection because their closeness to the issue. "And you put up with me and didn't blink, if you need a break I'm not hard to find." She grinned. She didn't know the Doc well but it seemed like they lucked out on a CMO and wait a minute..."That Jayla..." She said finally linking the conversation with the Captain previously and the CMO in the tone of one finally making a mental connection. "Well ok then" she thought then at the CMO's look, "Oh nothing just remembering something." She smiled again, gamely trying to keep the CO's secret well secret.

"Does my reputation precede me?" Jayla replied with a grin. "Well, I hope it's all good."

"Totally all good." She smiled broadly.

"Well, that's a relief," said Jayla. "For a moment, I thought there was someone who may have complained about my cheerfulness."

Catherine laughed, it was happy sound that flowed. "Yeah because I'm so serious they totally saw an ally in me..." She joked then shrugged, "I figure life is plenty serious and that as long as due respect is shown, why not?"

"I completely agree!" said Jayla. "Life has enough serious moments. We don't need to add to them."

CJ laughed then looked at the Doctor in mock seriousness, "Are we secretly related?" she asked deadpan.

"There's always the possibility," replied Jayla mock seriously.

Cat grinned, "Epic." Then she glanced around the room, "I should let you get back to work but I'm not hard to find if you ever want to hang sometime."

"Absolutely," said Jayla. "When this lot is all patched up, I'll be in touch."

"Is plan. Laters Bandaid Goddess....Sorry Doctor Bandaid Goddess." And with a wave she was gone.

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