"Two Doctors, A Scientist, and a Belated Cup of Tea"

[Lexia 0]

Aidan looked at the Chief Medical Officer, she seemed nice enough and she had to be brought up to date. He'd need her permission to go get more samples so he'd better be nice. "Well, the virus... it carries start and stop sequences plus some restriction enzymes, so it basically switches genes on and off. Re-sequencing seems to be a way to treat it but the problem is that it doesn't get the virus out of the system. I think that's where we have to start."

 

Mona nodded. "Sounds like you all have been very busy while I was out. So have we looked at any way of completely getting it out of the system?"

 

The doors to main sickbay swished open and Lexia rolled in like a storm. She hurled the Padd in her hand across the room and it smashed against a wall.

 

Mona looked up from the console "Excuse me Ms. Tordai is something wrong? Or are you just happy to see me?"

 

Aidan looked up and smiled. "Ah hello Doc, just the person I was longing to see, tea's on the desk over there." He pointed at the desk and the probably cold tea. "I take it the meeting wasn't to your satisfaction."

 

Lexia looked over startled. "Dr. Levy....Your well." She glanced at Driscol then back to Desdemona, "it is good to see you back on your feet."

 

A small smile crept over Mona's face. "Don't lie, you like being in charge. But that is not the issue right now. Driscol was just filling me in on this virus. I understand you were at a meeting?"

 

"If you can call it a meeting," she walked over.

 

Aidan tried not to grin. "Why are you always ignoring me, Doc? After all we have a date right about now if I remember correctly."

 

"A meeting Ensign, a meeting; this is not a date."

 

"Suit yourself." Aidan knew he was going too far but he just couldn't help it. He turned to Levy, "No we haven't found a way to fight the virus, yet, to answer your question."

 

Mona only slightly raised an eyebrow and stared at Driscol and Lexia. "Driscol just asked if I could allow shadow to examine the Soltans. I wanted you take on it Lexia."

 

Lexia picked up the mug and sniffed the still warm beverage inside. "Lady Grey." She sipped the tea. "Can Shadow be affected anyway by the virus?"

 

"As ordered, Doc. And yes, the virus is no danger to Shadow, and he's been training to distinguish different types of tissues. We'll need more samples either way. I'd like to do that myself if I may." He hoped he would be allowed to do so. And he was surprised Dr. Levy hadn't commented on the way Aidan and Tordai interacted. Aidan shook his head and continued, "No, the virus goes for the DNA, Shadow is pure energy, he has no DNA. He agrees with me on that."

 

Lexia looked up at Levy. "I'm not sure...there are variables." She continued to sip the warm tea.

 

Aidan rolled his eyes hoping nobody would catch it.

 

Mona nodded. "Well there are variables with everything. I think it might be wise of us to take another look at the Soltans and take some samples as you say Driscol."

 

Lexia leaned back against the console top. "Oh...and Dr. Levy...." she started.

 

"I don't believe there would be anything wrong with that." Mona looked at Aidan for a moment from the corner of her eye and then back at Lexia.

 

"Thank you, ma'am." Aidan was glad he'd be able to get the samples.

 

Lexia glanced at Driscol then turned her attention back to the Chief. "I just thought you would like to know that a couple of the seniors staffers and I were....well the kitty hissed at me and the Vulcan left the meeting....." She paused, a flame flickering in her mind’s eye about the next bit of news. "We are also now the 'bleeding heart' medical department..." she said sipping her tea.

 

Aidan quickly got very busy with work and retreated to another console feeling that this was none of his business.

 

Mona smiled slightly. "So you are the reason why Day was so upset. Well it wouldn't be the first time I was called a bleeding heart."

 

"They wanted to put the remaining Soltans onboard onto a life pod and shoot them towards the nearest Soltan colony. Well, that or execute them."

 

"And you wanted to keep them for study." Mona replied.

 

At this Aidan perked up. "We'd lose every chance to get more samples and to study them further. I mean, who's to say none of the crew got infected. We know nothing about this virus, not even its incubation time."

 

Lexia flicked her eyes to the scientist, then back to Levy. "Yes, ma'am."

 

Mona nodded. "I agree with you Lexia we need to take a closer look at them. You and Driscol get as many samples as you can. Get Shadow on it as well. I want as much information on them as we can get before I might be forced to send them off the ship."

 

"Aye, ma'am," Lexia sat the tea cup down beside Driscol’s mug. "The idea of setting up a shuttle as a temporary medical bay was discussed."

 

Mona rubbed her forehead. "Fine, but as of right now we need information. Get what you can, but keep quiet about it."

 

Lexia nodded, "Aye."

 

Aidan went back to the two women clearly angry about the decisions made during that meeting. "Aye ma'am." He turned towards Tordai and absent mindedly reached for his mug but grabbed hers.

 

Mona looked at Driscol and Lexia "I am not saying we are going against command. We need information and I don't want the entire ship getting in our way."

 

"Now that would work. I would like to get on the shuttle as well, we both know you think I'm sexy in those biosuits." Aidan said.

 

Lexia nodded at Levy, and then turned to Driscol. "I assure you, ensign, you look no more attractive to me in a biosuit then in your uniform," she said deadpan, rolling her eyes.

 

Aidan shrugged. "If there's no command we can't go against it, can we?" He took a sip of the tea and frowned. "How do you drink that stuff, Doc?"

 

Lexia took the mug from him, whipped the rim with her sleeve and then took a sip. "Like that."

 

Mona began to shuffle through padds. "I am sure Lexia would love to stare at you in a biosuit. But let’s get back to the matter at hand."

 

"I beg to differ, Dr. Levy." Lexia chimed in about the former comment.

 

Chuckling Aidan leaned forward and said with his head close to her ear. "You know you have a thing for me, and you're just upset about it because you are mad at yourself for it.” Then, a bit louder to both women, “Now if you'll excuse me Doctors, I'll go and get these samples."

 

"Why don't you do that, Driscol," Lexia used every bit of self control not to throw the tea in the child's face.

 

Continuing to sort through information Mona briefly looked at the two officers then with a chuckle turned back to her work.

 

Aidan finished his coffee and made to leave sickbay. I'll let you know how things went once I get the samples, we should store them here; I don't even want to think about what will happen if Chief Condacin catches me.

 

"If she has an issue with it she can come to me. And please tell her that Driscol." Mona replied.

 

"Aye ma'am. With that he left. Aidan laughed when he heard the SB doors swoosh close behind him. Then he made his way to the brig.

 

Lexia watched Driscol leave, and then turned to Levy. "What are you chuckling at?”

 

Mona leaned against the nearby console. "The two of you have an interesting relationship to say the least."

 

"There is no relationship there, Doctor." Lexia sat the mug down and turned towards the console, logging in and starting work.