Double follow up

Posted on Wed Nov 11th, 2020 @ 12:50am by Lieutenant Commander James Trallos MD

Mission: Survival of the fittest
Location: Lounge

James was sitting at a table next to the window. With the Chief active again, he was able to go off duty for a little while. He chose to get his chicken fried chicken and a large beer. To his suprise, the lounge was only half full.

Eating away, he also realized this was the first time he was put of uniform in weeks with a long button up shirt and slacks. While not as casual as most, he was taught in medical school to always dress like you are going to get called in and what would your patient think if when their doctor walked in.

Jane was also enjoying a few moments of free time. With Wulfgar busy down in the restricted sections of engineering she figured she would go and check out the lounge and make sure that there had been enough table placings preped for the book club meeting that was going to be meeting for the first time this Saturday at brunch. Her focus shifted however when she saw the familiar friendly face of the ships doctor. 'he still looks very tired.' she thought to herself. He was eating and she debated on if she should bother him at first. He likely didn't get much time for himself. But she was worried about him. Had not seen him since he had taken care of her broken wrist And her terrible head injury. It had healed beautifully under his care. There wasn't even any real scaring. She couldn't help herself. She decided it would not hurt to at least say hello. She approached his table with a friendly smile. "Well hello there doctor. How are you doing?"

The doctor smiled. "Im good, please, have a seat. Have you ate yet?" He said moving a knife over his meal.

"I could eat. " Jane said happily accepting the invitation. "I have not had a chance to check in with you in a while. Are you getting plenty of rest?" She asked as she took the offered seat. She ordered a classic salad from the server who came over and a cup of mint tea.

The doctor shrugged a little. "Depends on your point of view I guess. I am getting more sleep then normal even if it is broken. Probably need to keep adding more of those things you mentioned in our session." He paused a moment. "Thinking of sessions, how are you feeling after our last one?" He said looking at her wrist.

She caught his look. Gave him a comforting smile. "I dont even feel it anymore. You did an amazing job. I still get the headaches but those are to be expected after everything. You saved my life. I dont even think I ever thanked you for that. I dont even know where to begin." She said softly.

The doctor returned her smile. "You're welcome. Just another day in the office." He said and reached over to look at her hand. He turned it over once and touched around d the joint of her wrist. "Swelling is at a minimum as well. You'll be playing the fiddle in no time. Far as the headaches go, if you have them after tomorrow, come back and see me. I can help with those." He said and released her wrist, satisfied how it was healing.

Jane was grateful for his concern. It was a source of great comfort to her. Its it was so hard to hear that he was still having trouble himself. "Are you waking up due to work or because of the dreams?" She asked him softly not wanting her voice to carry any further then their table.

He shrugged. "A little of both I think. Dreams aren't as intense, but there. Get a few calls in the middle of the night for work, but that has eased up mostly. Its nice to have the Chief back."

"I heard about that. I haven not had the opportunity to get to meet him yet." Jane stated as her mind thought about how best to help improve his plight. "Have you considered the touch therapy or the melatonin?" She asked him.

He nodded taking a drink from his beer. "I think I should probably start running both options. While the aromatherapy has helped, it seems like it just keeps me at whatever baseline relaxed I can achieve. So its progress, but not quite enough."

Jane nodded, "Okay. So if I could see your hand a moment. You don't mind me touching you right? I want to show you something." She offered her hand was already extended to him waiting for him to except her invitation. "It will be brief I promise."

James put his hand out. "Not at all. Touching is pretty much mandatory in my field."

She took his hand carefully into hers and with her other hand she traced a line down his pinky. As she did this she spoke. "There is a pressure point called the spirit gate and it is found right here on your outter wrist beloow the pinky finger. you will know it when you find it its a little hollow. Ah here" She said as her finger found the point and she shifted her hold enough for him to see better. She applied a gentle pressure to it and then made a circular up and down motion. " You can do this during your wind down routine just two or three minutes and it will help." She gave his hand a soft pat and then let him have it back.

The doctor looked at his hand. "Interesting, between the hamate and triquetrum bones. That would not have been my first guess for a relaxation point. Of course I never really took the time to look into pressure or touch points." He said slowly rubbing the area to get the location set in his mind. "I thought about learning acupuncture as well, but that is an entire science and once I started my residency I ran out of time. That and does not crossover well in exobiology."

"Thats understandable. That does tend to be a very chaotic time for those going into your profession. If you have the time now perhaps we could take a study course together on the holodeck. I am sure they have a training guideline on it in the main computer." She suggested. It honestly sounded like good and interesting fun. "whatta think?"

James nodded. "I would like that. I know it is an ancient Earth practice, but it has stood the test of time and those that I have spoke to say it works, so there must be something to it." He smiled to Jane. "And it would be good for me to learn a new hobby. Hard to play music when there is nobody to play with anyway."

"What do you play??" Jane asked excitement more then tingled through her all the way to her toes. "I play an acoustic guitar. I have been looking to start a music club. " She said quickly then noticing she was rambling she blushed. "Sorry doctor i guess I should try and let you respond before I go into all that."

James laughed. "Not at all. Its good to be excited for your hobby. I play the banjo. A few of us in med school played in a bluegrass band. Was a lot of fun. How long have e you been playing?"

"Since I was four. My mother was a musician back on Earth. She sang old ninetieth century music. Tried to refurbish it. She also had a few original works as well. Wulfy plays the Cello... hmmmm who else might we scrape up? OH!" She snaped her gaze back on him. "Have you ever done any acting by any chance?? I am also trying to round up a few brave souls to do a Klingon reading of Hamlet." She asked hopefully.

"Can't say that I have. I would give it a try though, although my Klingon is not that good. That is a good selection for the play though. Is it going to be a straight crossover?" The doctor asked. Doing some theater might be a fun thing to try.

"Well mostly with a few adaptions tossed in. Do you play Poker??" Jane asked then remembering they had anther poker night coming soon. "It's nothing fancy but a few of us crewmen from the lower decks get together on Saturdays evenings and play a few hands. But my really big project is the new Book Club. It's scheduled to meet here for brunch on every other Tuesday. We are reading "Photons be free" By the Doctor Joe, he was the EMH from Voyager." She reilized she was throwing alot at him at once. She had not even gone into the Spelunking or hiking or even the paint ball yet. Or the rock climbing... oh yes she wondered curiously if the doctor Trallos here was afraid of heights at all. So many people on the ship seemed to be even her best friend Wulfgar.

The doctor laughed. "Sounds like you are also now the ships moral officer. We could use it for sure after the attack." He took a drink. "I do play poker yes, and all those options do sound good, I will have to temper then with my availability. It never fails when I get into the middle of something good I get called to sickbay. Sounds like you are bringing the crew together though."

Janes cheeks flushed pink at the praise. "I am just happy I can help is all." And she was. Only if they had any idea that for all the good she was trying to bring them, her presence on the ship would also bring with it a dangerous dark shadow. She looked at the doctor across from her. His kind face and smiling eyes. What if the next time they try to kill her they hurt or killed him? It sounded like an unreasonable thought. But then she had never thought that Wulfgar would get hurt just for being her friend and trying to protect her. What IF next time they struck she was having coffee with her friend here. Or with Dinter at a concert. The thought made her flush redder still only now with guilt. She tried to rescue the smile but she knew he had seen. Thankfully she was saved by the waitress bringing her her usual. Tomatoe soup with two pieces of wheat toast and mint tea. Jane thanked her glad for the distraction.

The doctor caught the little in her eye and smile. It was a similar tell to when a patient was trying to deny something hurt, but a little more subtle. It was when they were being checked out and saying they were fine but secretly wondering if it was something serious. "Are you ok Jane?" Asking after the waitress left.

"Yeah, just.. family problems." Jane said. It was true enough. which was also very sad when Jane thought of it. "We are all stars in our own personal dramas. Ill be okay though." She was touched by his concern. "I will try to get together with you about the acupuncture classes. we can work around your schedule as needed." She returned wanting to focus more on him for now. She didn't think many people took enough time to get to know him. He had so much to give to others and offer as a friend and Jane was glad to get to have even this small opportunity to just enjoy his simply being here and enjoying this moment with her. "So off the record and all I would very much like to know more about you."

He took a couple bites of his meal. "You are welcome to, however I am not an overly interesting man. What would you like to know?"

"hmmm, lets see. Lets start simple. What's your favorite color??" She asks her smile brightening again as the topic shifted.

He thought for a moment. "I always have a hard time with that one. I guess green overall. Reminds me of the trees in the mountains or a green field. You?"

Her face flushed happily. "Thats exactly the same as mine." She said delighted. "Favorite food?" She asked. "Unless you have a question for me first." She had begun to slice her toast and using her fork dip it into her soup before eating it.

James smiled and waved his fork over his plate. "Right here, good ol chicken fried chicken with gravey." He thought for a moment for a question for her. "Favorite vacation?"

"Camping in the woods. You know because of that rush you get when you wake up and step out of your tent and are surrounded by some of natures most beautiful views. It wakes you up on a spiritual level really. How about you?" Jane asked making sure to take mental notes.

"It wasn't much, but in recent memory, the planet we visited, Tabula Risa. Uninhabited, purple ocean water, and a nice tropical feel. Just helped you unwind. Shore leave is about all the vacation I usually take. That or to a conference. " the doctor shrugged.

"I have never been to a tropical region before. We should make a holodeck visit and do that some time!" Jane suggested after finishing a bite of her food. "I take it that you know how to swim then?" She asked.

"Oh yes, swam in the muddiest lakes and rivers you ever seen, but learned well. That does sound good. Are you a good swimmer?" He asked taking another drink. That would be fun he thought. Even a recreation.

"I can tread water. I think..." Jane said. She remembered the lessons that were given to her. But she had lacked the confidence as a child to really give it a good try. Her fathers way to teaching had been a sink or swim approach that had left her for a long time afraid of water. He'd toss her in let her flounder then pull her out let her catch her breath and then do it again until she had managed to keep her head up. It had been terrifying. It was a long time ago though. She felt that shed be safe enough so long as she stayed in the shallows and had a strong swimmer around to keep her out of trouble. "We should invite a few more friends if you want maybe do a Barbecue." she suggested.

"That does sound pretty enjoyable. I would be glad to attend." He said smiling. "Would be fun to have a tropical barbecue. That is a really good idea."

Jane smiled and was about to reply when her beeper went off. She silenced it quickly and looked at the padd shed pulled out with a frown. She looked back to the doctor apology filled her eyes and face. "I will be sure to send you a more formal invitation once i get it all ironed out. Please forgive me but I am going to have to run. It was so nice to get to spend this time with you." She said as she gathered her things to take to the disposal unit.

James nodded with a smile. "Im familiar with on call work. Not a problem. Enjoy the rest of your night. I look forward to a barbecue. " he said as he started to finish up his meal.

"I really hope we can do this again sometime, Your good company." Jane said. And she meant it. Being around the doctor was like a breath of fresh air. Or the feeling you get when you lay by a lake and listen to the soft bubbling of the water rolling over the rocks and sticks and things. It was soothing. It healed the soul even. It was no surprise to her he had grown up to be a doctor. It was just natural for him to heal it seemed. Part of her was more then a little excited that he had agreed to take the acupuncture classes with her. It would be nice to spend more time with her good friend the doctor.

She took her items to the disposal unit and then with a final wave from the door she was gone. Off to tend to the duties of her station.

James thanked her and watched her go. He appreciated her enthusiasm and desire to help people and her efforts to bring joy to the crew. He admired people like that and was sad that there would be some to try and take advantage of that niceness. He just hoped that none would do that on this ship and that events in general won't drowned that spirit. The more he traveled, the fewer of her kind he encountered. He smiled. He was glad she was on this ship, she is needed.

Ensign Jane Doe
Counselor

Lieutenant James Trallos MD
Chief Medical Officer