[USS Tempest] Lady and Doctor Marine
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: usstempest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 14:07:02 EDT
Lady and Doctor Marine
by Lindsey Craig, Nathaniel Lynley, H's'l'ng of Reynam, & C'ss'l of Calhoun
Nat sat staring at his work screen and shaking his head. His opinion of
most Starfleet brass had been fairly low before his own set of troubles and it
had plummeted to nothing with his six week long exile. Then Lindsey had come
along to lift him out of his alcohol fogged stupor, offering him the lifeline
of a job and continuing friendship. He still had a low opinion of most
brass, especially any that caused her trouble. He let out a slow breath as
stood
up. Moving to the small cabinet next to his desk, he found an unopened
bottle of Bushmill's (and that downright amazed him) and took out two glasses.
Carefully carrying all three, he proceeded to her ready room and pressed the
chime.
"Come," Lindsey called, not bothering to look up as she read once again the
report. "More have been reunited," she said as she raised her joyful eyes.
"Hey, Nat, thought you'd quit the drink."
"I did," he said carefully, "but once you've heard the second part of my
news, you may want a drink and one never should allow a friend to drink alone."
"Er... Okay," she waved him to a seat and clasped her hands on her desk.
"Go on then, hit me with it."
He settled the bottle and glasses on the desk then sat himself across from
her. Holding his palms up, he said, "First the good news: Dr. Matthews has
been transferred to more advanced medical care and should be improving quite
soon."
"Keep me posted on his progress," she said simply. "I've okay'd his
transfer off Tempest. Don't know where or even if he's heading, but I'll let
you
know unless you're the one who tells me." She gave him a wink then added,
"And
now for the bad news."
"It was Dr. Calhoun who inked the note on the counselor's behalf," Nat
explained. "And therein lies the bad news. We both know the good doctor is
more
than a bit, ah, sensitive shall we say? A particular admiral pushed a bit
too far and our doctor fairly threw his jacket at the man and quit."
Lindsey blinked only once then eased herself back and steepled her fingers.
"Which admiral?"
"McCoy," Nat replied. "I've verified this whole story with Private Zelany
as he witnessed the entire scene. He says he warned the admiral not to press
forward with certain items yet..." He shrugged bemusedly. "When one is that
old and set in one's ways, I suppose certain things don't sink in."
Sighing softly, Lindsey rubbed her middle finger over her right eyebrow.
"Okay, how do we fix this?"
"I'm not quite sure," Nat admitted. "From what I've heard, Dr. Calhoun, and
not a few of his fellow freed men, have some axes to grind against
Starfleet. Honestly, Lindsey, I think you're the only regular Fleet officer
whose
name he hasn't appended a Xenexian curse to--even if he's been somewhat
civilized about until now."
"Damn," she sighed. "Well, I can have a word with Fleet Admiral Ross, he's
kinda indebted to the guy for getting his son home. Maybe he can pull
strings..."
Nat felt the beginning of his own headache forming in tandem to Lindsey's.
"Do you know, though, that the bloke actually apologized to General Barker
after he threw him out, too? Seems he was just checking up on his injured
Marines."
"Not a mindless animal," Lindsey agreed. "Just damn sensitive. Have you
spoken to him yet? He's supposed to resign t'me too."
"Actually, the conversation was rather brief. He told me he was sorry to
inconvenience you but that he wasn't sorry for what he did otherwise,"Nat told
her then, with a smirk, he added, "Ah, and he also said it was a damned
shamed because he likes you and the ship."
"Which is all sweetness and light but that don't help with the solving of
it," she snorted. Something suddenly occurred to her and she started to
consult her console. "Hmph. Wonder if he realises his fiancee's signed into
the
Marines for another twelve months..."
"I've no idea really. I don't..." He trailed off as something occurred to
him. "Now that came from the president but that was Fleet..."
Lindsey raised her eyes and fixed them on her aide. "You've got something.
C'mon, share."
"Have you noticed that the good doctor's problem with authority extends only
to Starfleet, excluding you, at least?"
She nodded slowly. "He seems okay with the Marines. Shame he's in
Starfleet really."
Nat smiled very slowly, the same smile he used during the war when he was up
to something. "Well, it isn't the service the man objects to, it's the
branch. My own warrant comes from the president, as did the doctor's, but
does
it work similarly with Marines?"
"That I know of," she said with a frown. "Have to admit I'm not so hot on
Marine regs and such. But I assume they work same way ours do. You talkin'
about a transfer?"
"I believe so. I don't see why the warrant wouldn't be transferable if the
man agreed to it and assuming the senior military reps agreed," he mused.
"That would still be General Barker and Admiral Ross, wouldn't it?"
"Sure, up until the Cairngorm gets here," she said with a shrug. "We're
gonna have to put this to the Doc though."
Nat eyed the bottle on the table. "The question being then is do you ask
him up here or do we go down there? In either case, a shot of that would
certainly take the edge off."
"I think go down," she mused. She waved her hand at the bottle and winked
at him. "Go on then, pour out our shots."
"Never drink alone," Nat said as he poured out the shots, "and never drink
in a bad mood."
"Amen to that," she laughed as she took a sip and shuddered. "Don't drink
often. This stuff is smooth though."
"I'll pour you another once we're through with this chore," Nat said, eyes
twinkling as he downed his in one gulp.
"Damn, Nat, take it easy there," she chuckled, finishing hers off and
flowing to her feet. "C'mon on then, if we're gonna do this. Otherwise we'll
just
let it lie and I'll be damned if I lose my CMO because of some Admiral with a
bee up his ass."
Nat snorted in amusement as he stood up. "You're talking to a professional
connoisseur of real alcohol, Lindsey. It's when I can do that to half a
bottle that you ought to worry," he said mildly, knowing that he actually
could
do just that. "And do not get me started about admiralty. We all know how I
feel there."
"I hate t'think what you're gonna say when I ever get promoted," she rolled
her eyes. "Suddenly go from bein' alright to bein' another damn admiral."
"Well now, that'll be a hard one but I suppose if I just remember every
single unkind word you called me during the war then it will be fine," he said
deadpan. He tsked in mock affront. "Such unladylike conduct."
"Me? A lady? Now whoever started that rumour has gotta be hunted down and
shot this instant," she grinned. "Besides, you give as good as you get, Nat."
"Well, yes, quite," he said with a grin, holding an arm out to hold the lift
for her.
Lindsey slipped inside then gave him a wink. "Ever the gentleman. Besides,
it's no fun bein' obnoxious if the person ain't obnoxious back."
"Considering some of the people I've recently met by comm, you will never be
able to be obnoxious in my eyes ever again," he said with a smirk. He
requested the appropriate deck then explained. "Rosemary's father and
godfather
are, shall we say, quite the forceful pair of personalities."
"I've been to the school, Nat, I know," she smirked as she leaned against
the wall of the lift. "Nice place, cute kids but the people are strong and
adamant in their protection of 'em."
"That is a very diplomatic way of putting it. I've not had the chance to
call my family yet, though."
"You gonna do that straight after we see the Doc?" she asked idly.
"I had every intention of doing it straightaway after we spoke to hers but
this came up. Believe me, I can hear the 'I told you so's and the 'it's about
time's coming at me already," he said with a happy smile.
"And you're gonna suck 'em up with that silly smile on your face," she
laughed brightly. "Damn, if I look like that when I talk about John, I want
someone to shoot me."
"You do and you know you do," he said deadpan. The door opened onto the
Marine deck and he held it for her. "I think I'll tell Alfred about that,
too.
He likes you after all."
"Sure, he's a good guy." Lindsey strode out, nodding at Nat in thanks, and
headed straight for the door of the quad. She rang the chime and stepped
back a pace - no point invading the man's privacy, after all.
Aisling glanced up at the door then over to where Cassiel was making them
tea. She climbed creakily to her feet and padded over. "Oh," she said,
"Captain, come in."
Lindsey gave the woman a bright smile and nodded. "Feelin' better,
Sergeant?"
"Much thanks to my physician," she returned the smile.
Bright hazel eyes took in the visitors. Cassiel had as much as said to the
chief, who he still thought sounded very much like Hamish, that he was sorry
for any problems the captain was caused but that he was not sorry for
anything else. At any other time, he might have been apprehensive if the
captain had
come to his home personally but not right then. He was still too wound up.
"Captain. Chief. Have a seat. I was fixing H's'l'ng some tea."
"Carry on," Lindsey said easily. "It was you we really came to see anyway.
May we have a word?"
Aisling glanced at Cassiel as she asked, "Do you need me to leave?"
"No, H's'l'ng," Cassiel said softly, smiling at her. He needed her
strength. "Unless this refers to a patient's medical matter."
"No, it refers to your resignation," Lindsey said. "I don't accept it."
She held up her hand for him to allow her to finish. "Not only don't I accept
it, Nat here's come up with a compromise."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the woman. "I will not apologize
to that old man," he growled.
Pulling a cushion onto her lap, Aisling stared at Cassiel very hard. "You
resigned?" she asked softly, bright lavender eyes turned to stone.
"Did I ask you to apologise?" Lindsey mused, choosing to ignore the little
time bomb in the corner. Hell, she could hear the girl ticking. "Compromise
is we transfer you to the Marines. Means I get t'keep my CMO and you get to
avoid certain Admirals."
Her fingers turned white as she gripped the cushion, not quite hearing what
the Captain had said. In one movement, she threw the pillow at Cassiel as
hard as she could then let out a hiss as the movement tore at painful muscles.
"How could you?"
He only ducked slightly, the pillow glancing off his arm rather than his
head. "The old yn fytyn pushed too far," he explained, holding up his hands
to
ward off any further missiles. "Damned brass monkeys..."
"I don't care," Aisling hissed. "You suck it up, just like the rest of us."
Cradling her arms to her body, she stormed up to him and glared from her
tiny height. "You didn't even tell me."
Nat glanced at Lindsey. There was no way in hell that he was getting in the
middle of this but they couldn't quite leave yet. Of course, he could
sympathize with the man's feelings about the admiralty in general but...
"I was still settling down," Cassiel explained. He wouldn't shy away. Not
from her. "Please, H's'l'ng, you know I have a fuse the length of a grain of
sand."
She grabbed the pillow he'd discarded and threw it at him again, even
harder, pulling an even louder hiss out of her. "That is no excuse, C'ss'l.
None.
All you had to do was explain. Or even mention it in passing. 'Oh by the
way, I quit today so, you know, we won't be seeing each other for another
twelve months until your contract runs out'. Did you even think of that?"
"I didn't know about that part, H's'l'ng," he protested. "I know very
little about your branch except that the ones at the top have better manners
and
control than the Fleet ones do. Sorry, Captain."
"No offence taken, Doc," Lindsey said easily. "I know how obnoxious our
brass can be."
Aisling just shook her head at him. "Learn, then." With that, she slipped
past him and padded into the kitchen to get her painkillers and the tea.
Still watching Aisling in case any further missiles were forthcoming,
Cassiel asked, "What exactly do I have to do?"
"Be a Marine," Lindsey told him. "Means reporting to whoever they get for
the chief position. I believe it's Cammick at the moment. You'll also be
reporting to me and to Captain Harak, since she's chief Marine medic. Other
than that, put your paw mark on the transfer papers and that's it, I think."
Cammick he knew rather well, finding the captain's fraternal interest in
Aisling rather amusing and also very comforting. He'd gotten past him to
visit
her while she recovered. And Harak? Ah, now there was a good medic. He
could respect both of them. Still watching Aisling out of the corner of his
eye, he held out his hand.
"Show me where," he said simply.
"Here, Doctor," Nat replied as he held out the PADD and pointed to the right
spot.
All Aisling did was pour out two cups of tea. She didn't care if it was
selfish of her or rude, but she'd rather not fight with him in front of the
Captain and the Warrant Officer.
"Welcome back," Lindsey said with a smile as she offered him her hand.
"Thank you, Captain," he said as he took the hand. "I'm sorry if it caused
you any headaches."
"Only one and that's the one I get every time we dock somewhere," Lindsey
laughed. "I'll see you for some analgesics later. Y'all have a good evenin'
now," she chimed as she waved and left.
"And you might want to see the quartermaster about the proper uniform," Nat
added as he followed her out.
"Right," Cassiel muttered as the door closed behind them. Gingerly, he
turned to face Aisling and waited. He supposed he deserved it after all."Are
you
still speaking to me?"
"I'm angry," she snapped, "not petty!" She shoved one cup toward him,
glaring openly when a little hot tea went over her hand but she'd be damned if
she'd show how much it had hurt.
He sat next to her but didn't quite touch her. Humility was not his strong
suit but for her, he'd try. "Aisling, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to
say other than that. I am a hot tempered, selfish fool who doesn't deserve
you," he said as he stared down at his hands.
She wanted to snap at him, be scathing and mean, but as she stared at him
she found that she just couldn't. "C'ss'l," she sighed. "Of course you do.
And I do love you, I'm just pissed is all." With a shy shrug, she added,
"And hurting."
"You shouldn't have thrown the pillow so hard," he said mildly, finally
looking up at her. He took both her hands between his, careful of the still
tender wrists. "I didn't tell you because I didn't know how. Didn't want you
mad at me for being so foolish."
"I almost lost you," she whispered. "I can't lose you. I don't think I'd
survive it. This is too perfect."
"They'd've had to throw me out bodily," he grumbled. "I already told that
red headed doctor no when she asked if I wanted to stay and keep an eye on Dr.
Matthews. I didn't want to leave you."
"Then don't ever. When this year is up, if we both want to, we can go back
to Xenex and you can start up a practice," she said with a smile as she
shifted a little closer to him.
"Whatever you want, my H's'l'ng." He fell back against the back of the
sofa, the tension leaving him in one fell swoop. "Such ups and downs are not
good for a man."
"I'm sorry," she whispered as she shuffled away and started to sip her tea.
"My temper is almost as volatile as yours."
"Why are you sorry? It makes you a Xenexian as much as it does me," he said
wryly. "It's a damned wonder any of us is civilized enough for off planet.
Come back here, my H's'l'ng. I need you close."
"Captain Cammick called round today," she told him, cuddling against his
side and trying to change the subject. "He wanted to know when he could have
me
back."
"And what'd you tell him?" he asked even as his arm went around her.
"That he would have to discuss it with my physician as I couldn't possibly
comment," she grinned. "But he brought me chocolates from the station and
told me he was lost without me, which was sweet."
"Bribery is always a good thing," he chuckled. "It's up to you, you know,
H's'l'ng. As soon as you feel up to it, you can be cleared for light duty.
Full will take much longer."
"No," she whispered. "Not yet. Please? Let me stay here a little longer?
I don't want to see the pity on their faces just yet."
"Whatever makes you happy but I don't think anyone pities you, H's'l'ng.
You were quite brave," he told her.
"I was a fool who got captured and had to be saved. I'm a liability," she
told him.
"And next time it will be some one else's turn and you will repay the
effort. Is that not what Marines do?" he asked curiously.
"Most of the time they don't have to," she huffed. "Most of the time the
Marine is trained to either stay alive or die."
"You stayed alive, H's'l'ng. You beat that thing better than any of us did.
Gods but Kadir admires you. You put up with more than many of us men did.
Hell, M'k'n'zy had better kiss your feet for all this...after I beat him
senseless that is," Cassiel told her.
She shook her head as she admitted, "I know what he did to you, C'ss'l. He
told me. Pain is pain whether it leaves a mark on the outside or inside."
"H's'l'ng, look at me," he said firmly as he put his hands on either side of
her face. "That is exactly it. It doesn't matter whether it was a few
days, a few hours or five damned years. Pain is pain and you went through it
just as we did. If you will not begrudge us respect or dignity, how could we
do
that to you?"
"Yours is legitimate," she said with a shy shrug. "My wonderful man, you
went through so much. All I've done is lessen you by being what I am."
"I don't think you realize how close you might have been to losing both
these arms, H's'l'ng. After a certain threshold is passed, there is no
regeneration of nerves. You were very close to that threshold and, unless
this new
technique applies well to our people, you would have been beyond miserable,"
he
said, hating to be so clinical but wanting to be truthful. "The only thing
you've done is show very strong we Xenexians are."
Her face paled to milk as she listened to description and she hugged herself
tightly. "I could have lost them?"
"Yes," he told her. "If reinserting the joints hadn't've worked, that might
have been the next step. I know that because...." He took a deep breath to
steady himself, hearing her joints pop and hearing her screams. "Because I
did it often enough even without scanners and machinery."
She let out a little strangled gasp, curling in on herself. "Gods..." she
whispered as she laid her forehead on her knees.
Cassiel moved over to wrap his still too thin arms around her. "I'm sorry,
H's'l'ng, but I would never lie about such things. Now do you understand,
though? Those men don't pity you and neither do the Marines. You are a
fierce, beautiful warrior," he murmured. "Mine."
She cried gently against his chest, his embrace soothing. "Yours," she
whispered.
"Even all this is normal. To some degree, every single one of us changed,
no longer what we were before that thing got us," he continued as he rocked
her gently. He snorted slightly in amusement. "Hell, even the Klingons are
different. I pity the poor bastard who pisses off Kadir. That man is much too
calm for one of them. You are in good company, H's'l'ng. You are not alone."
"I want my confidence back," she admitted, wrapping her painful arms around
him.
"And you'll get it. How would you advise somebody else to try it?" he
asked, still rubbing she shoulders. "If you were medical personnel, I'd tell
you
to jump right back in."
"That's what you want..." she said sadly. "You think I'm a coward because I
won't."
"Not any more than you think I am for being so skittish." He kissed her
forehead very lightly. "You'll get back to things when you get back to them.
Everyone reacts differently and so the recovery is different. Take your time,
H's'l'ng."
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