<USS Avalon> Sleeping Doctor Awakes - Cazook/Erridim

Sleeping Doctor Awakes
by
Doctor Alexis Cazook, AMO, /USS Avalon/
Talea Erridim, Chief/Ops, /USS Avalon/
On waking, Talea felt very refreshed, but noticed that Doctor Cazook was asleep in the chair she'd placed beside her bed. With a bit of amusement at the turnaround, she got dressed, then carefully removed the doctor's shoes before making her as comfortable as she could in the bed she'd just vacated. After all, if the doctor was asleep, chances were very good that she needed it.
She then moved to the replicator and ordered, then put on hold, two servings of a fairly typical, if hearty, Regellian breakfast that she knew was also safe for Humans, and waited patiently for the doctor to wake up. It was all she could do to keep from chuckling as the doctor shifted, obviously getting into a more comfortable position. The reversal of roles was rather amusing, she thought. With a sigh, she then stepped over to the computer and reviewed the messages, flushing more than once at the increasing urgency of the worry by both Walker and one of her subordinates. She had not realized the young man cared if she was alive until the first message from him. She didn't view it as having made a conquest. On the contrary, it was a little reassuring that a man she didn't really know well at all cared enough to worry about her, an action that would never have occurred to most of the men in the Clan she'd grown up in.
Alexis woke to find herself in the bed previously occupied by Talea. Once she was fully awake, she looked around and found Talea apparently at work at the computer. Scooting to the edge of the bed, she made a noise to get Talea's attention. "Excuse me, Talea, but aren't you the one who is supposed to be sleeping on this bed and not me? And how long have I been asleep, if I might ask?" She felt slightly embarrassed for falling asleep on the job. She hoped nothing of importance had occurred while she slept. She would have to make sure from now on that she got her proper sleep.
Talea shrugged and said "Computer, release hold on order, please." In response, the replicator chimed and two platters with breakfast foods that were compatible with both Human and Regellian biologies appeared, and the replicator waited for someone to shift those, which Talea did with a deft telekinetic touch. The replicator then produced the drinks, which followed the trays without Talea physically touching them as she responded to the question with, "As for your question, Doctor, I do not know how long you were asleep. All I know is that when I woke, you were asleep, looking uncomfortable and very tired. As I feel much better, I suspected you exhausted yourself shielding me from my dreams in a way I cannot quite understand." She gestured over to the table. "Shall we get something to eat, Alexis?" She resisted the smile that threatened, but turned from the console without ever having done anything on the computer itself, waiting Alexis' answer to the offer of hospitality and her reaction to Talea having used the doctor's first name instead of her occupational title.
"Actually, I am rather hungry. Thank you for making me as comfortable as possible. I am glad to see that you are feeling better." Looking at the food on the platters, Alexis smiled. "I love ham, eggs and hash browns. How did you know?" Picking up the glass of orange juice, she took a small sip which was cool and soothed her parched throat.
Talea shrugged. "I like them myself, although personally, for a sore throat, I choose apple juice rather than orange. I've never quite understood why, but apple juice soothes the throat, while orange juice can make the pain worse." She grinned. "For being dry? My personal choice is a drink that resembles a sports drink in that it restores depleted minerals and hydrates, but does not have all that many calories, unlike most of the type."
Taking a bite of her ham, she smiled over at the doctor. "I would, however, like to thank you for having stayed with me and admit to some puzzlement as to how you managed to keep the nightmares at bay. It seems a rather useful thing to learn, if it is indeed teachable."
"I stayed because I told you long ago that I would do whatever I could to help you. If that means staying by your side while you sleep, then so be it. As for the nightmares, I think it has more to do with the sedative I gave you. It allowed you to go into deep REM sleep without having to worry about dreams or nightmares. I'm sorry that it is nothing teachable. I wish it were."
Talea smiled. "Friendship is a rare thing, yet a good one, especially between doctors and Marines." She chuckled at Alexis' reaction, then reminded her, "I am a Marine, Doctor. I serve as Starfleet, but I was and remain a Marine in my people's defense forces." She shifted slightly, suddenly worried, and unable to lock down why. Her eyes darkened as she muttered, "Something's wrong. I can't tell what, but something is decidedly not right."
Meanwhile, down in Security, Walker was pacing, as reports were beginning to filter in from numerous patrols of small acts of what could only be termed vandalism. What was causing it? And was it sabotage, cleverly disguised as petty acts of vandalism? Worried, he alerted Engineering with, "Sergeant Ranger to Engineering. Suggest you keep a close watch on critical systems. Numerous reports of what appear to be unrelated incidences of petty vandalism have been flooding in of late. I am concerned that it is more than it appears."
Back in Sickbay, Talea was asking, "If I promise to keep taking breaks every thirty minutes for five minutes each time, may I resume work on reducing the briefing Walker and I must do for the Admiral and Captain to a workable size?" She knew that Alexis could well say no, so braced herself to accept either outcome, knowing she had, to some extent, proven herself unworthy of trust due to her actions in the last thirty or so hours. The work needed doing, and she was concerned that Regellians may be the only ones capable of winnowing the information down to a usable summary. So few outsiders truly understood her people that it was troubling.
Looking at Talea, Alexis was hesitant. She knew that the young woman wanted to get the briefing done; she just hoped it wasn't at the expense of her own health. "Well, as long as you promise to take a five minute break every thirty minutes, I will allow you to continue your work. However, keep in mind that I will be checking in on you regularly."
Talea was torn between amusement and feeling offended for a moment. Hadn't she just offered the very thing the doctor had specified? She shrugged mentally, then stated quietly, "As you agree with my stated work schedule, I suppose I do need to get on with it, yes? And allow you to resume your normal duties." She smiled slightly in an attempt to reduce the possible sting of those words. "I am almost as concerned about your health as you are about mine, as it happens. Care to have lunch with me at the proper time?" She tilted her head slightly to the left and grinned slightly.
"Please don't take what I have said as an affront. I meant no disrespect." Standing, Alexis tried to stifle a yawn and stretch her muscles. "Yes, I suppose we should both return to our respective duties, although a day of rest does sound more reasonable. Oh, well." She sighed. "As for lunch, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Why don't you call me when you are ready? I will leave you now to resume your work. Please take care, Talea. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Talea created the timer and showed Alexis what she was doing. "See? This timer fires every thirty-five minutes after the first one, which is thirty minutes, and causes the system to basically go into non-responsive hibernation for five minutes, enforcing the concept that one take a break. Interestingly, this function was built into the system; I just located it a minute or so ago." She looked over at the doctor then. "As for lunch, I'll leave it up to you to decide what we eat, since I chose breakfast." She was amused, and her face showed it.
Alexis had to smile back at Talea. It was actually the first time she could recall the ensign actually showing amusement and not terror. "Well then, I suppose I will show up at the proper time with a meal. You may be surprised at what I bring. I will leave you to your work and see you at lunch time. It was a pleasure sharing breakfast with you, Talea." With that said, Alexis made her way to the door and left Talea behind to continue her work.

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