The Confrontation

[Cmdr Ridire 0]

By: Dr Matthews, Lt Cmdr Schawnsee and Cmdr Ridire

 

When the shuttle lands on the Reaent and security makes sure everyone is present and accounted for, Aidan finally turns his attention to Kat and Deb who he had asked to wait. Privately he wonders what Kat’s reaction is going to be which is also why he had one of the security teams standby.

 

Deb knew what was coming. She'd been expecting it ever since Aidan gave her that "look" shortly before the shuttle landed. He was beyond furious with Kat Schawnsee and Deb couldn't blame him. She only hoped he would realize Kat wasn't in her right mind and behave accordingly. In the meantime, she managed to unbuckle her restraint and clumsily get out of her seat. Will had taken his leave but Deb was confident Kat wouldn't be going anywhere as long as the security team was waiting nearby.

 

Kat remained sitting in her seat as she was ordered to do so. With Doctor Matthews on one side and Will on the other until being the last to leave other than the Doctor, herself and the Commander and the Security guard that had boarded the ship after the last person left. She wasn't very happy about this idea as she sat there with her arms crossed and a look of disgust on her face.

 

He steps over to them and stops a few feet short. "Ms. Schawnsee, as the Doctor has already said she wants you to report to Sickbay to be checked out. Considering everything that has been going on I think that’s a very good idea." Aidan pauses slightly and sighs to himself. "I am sorry to do this but as of this minute I am relieving you of your duties and commending you to the care of Dr. Matthews and Dr. Curtis. When you are not in Sickbay you will be restricted to your quarters or to the civilian areas of the ship. I am also assigning Security to post two guards with you at all times. It is my belief that you, as you are now and as you demonstrated on the planet, are a danger to yourself and to this crew. Security will have orders to see to it that you do not endanger anyone including yourself by any means necessary. And they will also conduct an inspection of your quarters to make sure there are no weapons or other dangerous objects there. I am also informing the transporters and the shuttle bays that under no circumstances are you to be allowed to leave this ship. Even if the Captain wishes to pursue the changeling, if indeed it is planet side, you will not be on any further missions. When and if the medical personnel onboard this ship deem that you are fit to duty then you will be restored to it. But not before then."

 

Deb breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Aidan's discourse wasn't as bad as it could have been. The CMO had considered it quite possible that he would ship Kat back to Fleet Medical, something Deb was almost desperate to prevent. She still didn't know what therapies her long time friend had gone through while under the care of the so called experts but one thing was certain. Whatever they'd done, it didn't work. She glanced at Kat's defiant demeanor and felt her relief disappear. Schawnsee was livid and there was no way to stop her from spouting off.

 

Kat uncrosses her arms and moved to stand but saw the guard reach for his weapon and sat back in her chair. "Two guards? I Know what I saw. I’m not Crazy. I have done nothing wrong I do not deserve to be restricted to my quarters. I was following my orders. Taking me off of Away missions is not fair either. I'm going to give my report to the Captain and we will SEE WHO goes back to get the changeling."

 

He pauses for a second then gestures to a young lieutenant waiting nearby. "Lieutenant Yamato here will be in charge of your security detail until Mr. Shamor has recovered. Also one last thing...you are hereby ordered to turn over your medical file that you brought with you from Earth to Doctor Matthews with no further delay. I trust you have understood what I have told you, yes?"

 

"I KNOW Mr Yamato. I helped train him. And as far as my medical records I do not have them. I was told they were being sent! I have a Transfer padd is all I have. I know what it looks like so I did not look at the contents. IF There's something else on there then *I* Wasn't told about it. I was NOT Told to give it to any one but to keep it in *MY* Records. I didn't bring anything else with me. I have no problem with going with Deb to be checked out but the rest of it I DO and I do NOT Understand why I am being singled out for obeying orders and locating the Changeling which WE LEFT on the planet. I saw it. It WAS the bird. It stared right at me. It wasn't a real bird. ONE Feather from it would prove my point."

 

Deb felt miserable. She was wet to the bone, fitly dirty and her leg ached something awful. Kat's little tirade only made things worse. She closed her eyes but quickly reopened them in order to keep her balance. She could tell from the look on her friend's face, there was more to come. As badly as Deb wanted to bolt from the shuttle, she refused to leave Aidan alone with Kat....and vice versa. So she leaned against one of the seats across the aisle from Kat and hung around for the encore.

 

Kat forces herself back into the chair she’s been sitting in and holds out her hands to Cmdr Ridire. "FINE I’m not being believed, just put the restraints on me and lets get this over with. We will let the Captain decide IF and WHEN I go back to that planet and CATCH The Changeling I KNOW I saw."

"Oh god," whispered Deb, dropping her head into her hand. Kat's rant was tantamount to waving a red flag in front of an angry bull. One glance at Aidan told her he was straining to maintain his composure, something Deb would have to thank him for once this ordeal was over.

 

Aidan narrows his eyes and shakes his head. "This isn’t about whether the Changeling was there or not. This is about your judgement. Kat, you thought it would be a bloody good idea to open the hatch of the shuttle in order to somehow reach out and catch that bird while the shuttle was 20,000 feet in the air and heading for space at no small amount of speed. Does that sound like a normal idea? Does that sound like good judgement? I have no doubt that if you had been given the opportunity you would have tried crawling outside onto the shuttle to catch this bird of yours. You also thought it would be a good idea to run around that area of the planet looking for the Changeling while a rather large carnivore was running around and also while Shamor lay dying. I have no doubt that if you had been given the opportunity you would have bolted away while we were exiting the cave and run off after that Changeling despite my direct orders to you that the mission to find the Changeling was over. And then we would have had to spend time and possibly waste lives finding and retrieving you. Hell, ten feet from the shuttle with that creature right behind us you thought it would be a better idea to stop and find the Changeling rather then get Shamor and the rest of us into the shuttle to get out of there."

 

Kat draws her hands back to her lap, she thought to herself. He was right about one thing, if she had the chance she would have been looking for that bird. She saw it and she wasn't about to let it get away again. As far as being that far in the air she was not on a window seat so she didn't know.

 

"Look when I saw that bird as we were getting on the shuttle, our eyes locked. Almost like it had me in a trance of some sort. I hadn't realized I had stopped until you pushed me into the shuttle. I'm not sure what that thing is but it wasn't a true bird." Kat hesitated to take a breath and he started again before she could,

 

"You were willing to risk your team’s lives after one of them suffered serious life threatening injuries, another one of them could have a serious concussion and the medical Doctor on the team was barely able to walk. If we had done what you wanted, Kat, Shamor for sure would be dead right now. And probably at least some more of us, if not all of us, would be dead as well including myself since it was basically up to me, T’Kar and Murray alone to drive off that creature. You think my wife and my family would have thought catching that Changeling would have been worth my death? You think Shamor’s family, if he has one, would have considered the Changeling more important then Shamor? Or Will’s family? Or Anna’s? Or Deb’s family? Or any of the others? How many of us were you willing to risk for one Changeling, Kat? How many of our lives would have been an "acceptable loss" to find one Changeling?"

"NO Loss is acceptable. I was not aware how badly Jon was injured until we carried him out of the cave and was told then." Kat grumbled back to Aidan.

Deb wrinkled her nose. "But you saw the bird as we were entering the shuttle", she thought to herself. "By then, you knew only too well how badly hurt Jon was." The longer Kat talked, the more certain Deb was that the woman was totally irrational. She had fixated on her "mission" with complete disregard for anything or anyone else. She couldn't help wondering exactly what happened to Kat at Fleet Medical.

 

"There are times where it is necessary to risk your personnel’s lives..but this was not one of them. Your first and only concern should have been getting your people back to the ship. And when I arrived planet side and found your group, Kat, I was within my rights as senior officer present to override the Captain’s orders regarding that Changeling. In fact the Captain had ordered me to retrieve the missing people...his orders to me did not include continuing to look for that Changeling. He was very clear about not taking risks like that."

 

Aidan sighs, "As for your medical records your doctor from Earth says you have them. On the chance that he is telling the truth, which may be the case though I doubt it, and the fact that I don’t trust your judgement right now we’re going to search through your things to see if they are present. As for the Captain, I doubt he’s going to disagree with me. You can talk to him if you want, Kat, but if he somehow allows you down there again I swear to God I am going to do the one thing I never thought I would do in my life...openly and very publicly yell at a superior officer. If the Captain wishes to send down another team to find that Changeling that is his purview but you will be remaining onboard this ship.

 

"You can search my things I’m telling you I DO NOT HAVE IT!!. What do I have to do to prove it to you." Kat says yelling once more.

 

"As for restraints I hope those won’t be necessary. You’re not under arrest though if you try something foolish I will have no problem with throwing you in the brig."

 

"Fine, do what you think you need to."

 

Deb pulled herself to a standing position. Now, she was even more alarmed. Granted, Kat's behavior was irrational, no doubt about that. But more was going on than met the eye. Deb had always thought it odd that Kat would withhold her medical records. They cleared her for duty....there was nothing to hide. The really strange thing was the fact the records were allegedly forwarded to Reaent via the patient. They should have sent directly to the ship from Fleet Medical. Kat should never had access to them. Once again, she claimed she didn't. Where was the truth in all this mess?

 

Aidan sighs and shakes his head. "Kat, you knew Shamor was in a critical condition once we got to the shuttle and you still wanted to spend time trying to catch this bird of yours. You knew he was at least seriously injured and Will and Deb were injured as well when I decided that getting back to the ship was the first priority and that the mission to find that Changeling was over with...and you still thought only of finding that Changeling. In fact you openly objected to my decision and continued to think that the only thing important was that Changeling. You are acting like the Captain’s orders to you earlier apply no matter the circumstances and that my orders, as senior officer on the ground, somehow didn’t apply to you. You have been acting like you’re somehow outside the chain of command on this ship. You have been insubordinate to the nth degree, we have had to sedate you at least once, we’ve had to tell you we would do so again, and you have been entirely way too emotional since you got back on ship. You just yelled at me and I am not the first person you have yelled at since you got back from Earth."

 

"You have been focused on that Changeling to the point of obsession. To the point that it took me telling you that I would shoot you to get you to relent in your pursuit of it. And Changelings, Kat, can not put you into trances. This bird of yours did not put you into a trance..your own mind did that one. You forgot completely about Shamor, me and the others, and most especially that rather large creature that was behind us and if we hadn’t pushed you into the shuttle you’d still be standing there or running around that area looking for this bird or far more likely you would be in that dinosaur thing’s stomach."

 

"WE LOCKED EYES!!! I know WHAT Im talking about I know THAT was the Changeling. I dont't care if you believe me or not I know what I saw." Kat once again folds her arms across her chest but this time she clams up and just stares off as if looking at something in the distance.

 

It didn’t take long for Aidan to realize that this was going round and round in circles with Kat but it took him a little bit longer then it should have to rein in his annoyance and anger at what was going on. He decides to save his anger for the thrice cursed doctor from Earth instead of wasting it on Kat any further.

Forcing himself to calm down, Aidan sighs and glances at Deb. "I presume you wish to accompany her to Sickbay, yes?"

 

Deb had been lost in own thoughts. It took her a moment to realize Aidan had directed his question to her. Then it took another moment for her figure out what he'd said. She looked from Aidan to Kat and then back to Aidan. "If you will, have the Lieutenant and his team escort her to Sickbay. I'll meet her there in a few minutes." She took a hesitant step toward him and lowered her voice. "I need to talk to you, privately before I go to Sickbay."

He nods slightly in reply to Deb then turns his attention to Lt. Yamato who had been meekly trying to stay unnoticed near the shuttle’s hatch. "Lieutenant, escort Ms. Schawnsee to Sickbay, please. Dr. Curtis will be waiting for you there. And...my apologies for the trouble and what I’ve asked you to do."

Aidan switches his attention back to Kat. "I will inform the Captain that you wish to talk to him."

 

As Yamato stepped closer to Kat she turned her head to look at him. "Yamato, don’t even think about grabbing me. I'll move on my own!" Kat stood up and turned towards the Cmdr. "Yes I DO Want to talk to the captain as soon a possible." She then turned to Deb. "I'LL Meet you in Sickbay and then you can tell him that I AM NOT Crazy!" Kat snaps a half hearted salute to them both and steps in front of Lt Yamato and proceeds out of the shuttle towards sickbay.

He waits for Lieutenant Yamato to escort Kat out of the shuttle before Aidan sinks into one of the chairs and sighs to himself. He mutters a particular curse in Irish about crackpot doctors.

 

The CMO again leaned against a chair. She sorely wanted to sit down but getting up again took too much effort. "I appreciate you ordering Kat to Sickbay," she began slowly. "I was afraid you might send her back to Fleet Medical." She tightened her grip on the chair back as she continued. "It's obvious she isn't well much less fit for duty." Deb paused and studied Aidan’s's face. She wasn't looking at him as her husband. At the moment, he was the XO and her commanding officer. "Can you find out from the Captain exactly who determined Kat was an expert on changeling....and why. Something mighty peculiar is going on here. I'd like to know how far up the chain it goes before I start rattling cages."

 

"I wouldn’t send her back to those vultures if my life depended on it. And I agree something peculiar is going on...starting with her little Doctor from Earth that I hope to have a chat with very soon...preferably up front and personal. So yes, I will have a talk with the Captain about what you just mentioned...along with a great many other things regarding this situation." He stands before adding "And I intend to make a request that our next...mission involve the ship returning to Earth so we can properly investigate what has been going. On that front there is a file that is under my name that is on the computer which I’ll show you once we get back to our quarters. I had a talk with her Doctor on Earth before the rescue mission and not only did he manage to remind me of my general dislike of Doctors, present company excluded of course, he made me bloody suspicious. So I had the computer start digging into said Doctor’s background." Aidan narrows his eyes and half growls "I do not like it when someone messes with my family."

 

Adrenaline was a wonderful hormone. The human body produced it on a regular basis but during times of extreme danger, the small glands sitting just above the kidneys went to warp 9. It was this magical hormone that offered many species, including humans, the opportunity to escape danger. However, when the crisis had passed, the adrenal glands returned to "normal" status. Deb had been running on adrenaline for so long, her poor glands were probably worn out. Or, they simply realized she was no longer at risk. One way or the other, her body was quickly exhibiting the symptoms of adrenaline withdrawal. Her legs were suddenly weak and she felt like she could sleep for a month.

 

"I need to go,"she said in a loud whisper. Once again, she pushed herself away from the chair she'd been leaning on and took a tentative step toward the hatch then paused before trying to take another.

 

He looks her over and sighs. "Deb, you going to be able to make it to Sickbay or should I get you some help? Though I can carry you there I suppose..."

She didn't dare look directly at him. "No," she answered quickly."I'm fine. I can make it on my own." It was a few more paces before she reached the hatch. She turned toward Aidan as she was about to step out to remind him to stop by Sickbay for his mandatory check up. The next thing she knew, she was tumbling out the hatch having misgauged the placement of the small gangway. She landed in an ungraceful heap at the foot a half dozen security officers and flight techs.

Aidan is a hair too slow, due to his own somewhat battered and exhausted state, to keep Deb from tumbling. Ignoring the others he descends the small gangway and kneels down next to Deb. He asks, "You okay?" as he quickly checks her for any injures, paying particular attention to her legs to see if she broke one or both of them.

 

Deb looked into her husband's eyes, his concern for her clearly visible. His exhaustion was also quite noticeable. "I'm okay", she sighed struggling to get to her feet. It was then she realized she may have spoken too soon. The pain in the ankle on her good leg let her know it didn't appreciate being twisted in such a convoluted manner. It was already swelling, obviously sprained. She sighed again, this time more deeply and looked up as Aidan offered her a hand. "Tell me something," she grumbled. "Is there any way this could get any worse?"

 

He sighs, "I’d just as soon not find out. Come on, I’ll get you to Sickbay even if I do have to carry you. Then while you’re being tended to I’ll go have that talk with the Captain. Then we’ll go back to our..." He catches himself as he remembers the others standing nearby. He privately decides it would probably not be a good idea to say he’d like to spend a week in bed to his wife while there were others within mere feet of them. Even if all he wanted to do right now was sleep for that week.

 

He helps her up, letting her lean against him so he’s bearing most of her weight. "Let me know if you’re not going to be able to hobble to Sickbay and we’ll see to the other idea."

 

　

Try as she might, Deb couldn't pull it off. "I can't do it," she snorted dejectedly She looked up at him and sighed. "Somebody will have to carry me or call for a gurney."

 

He smiles faintly and picks her up, gently cradling her in his arms. He starts walking over to the doors leading out of shuttlebay 1. He smiles faintly "Fortunately for me, you’re pretty petite. Besides, I don’t think I like the idea of anyone but me carrying you. I think that’s my exclusive right." His voice takes on a teasing tone as he says the last.

 

It was down right humiliating to have to be carried to Sickbay. At least it was Aidan doing the carrying. In spite of it all, Deb found the entire scenario a bit amusing. She circled her arms around her husband's neck and grinned at him mischievously while lightly patting his shoulder. "Hey, Commander," she whispered. "Did you know you're....all wet."

 

He smiles and murmurs, "Well I was out in a rain storm saving my silly little and priceless wife and some others. I’m thinking of, once things settle down and my wife is back in our quarters, of confining her there for a few days or at least keeping her safe within my arms for a few days. If she agrees to the idea, of course." He smiles mischievously "Or perhaps I won’t give her much of a choice, I’m not sure yet."

 

At about that moment, Kat is escorted into Sickbay and ushered into the isolation room just for safe measure. Mr Yamato tells her to have a seat until the doctors can have a look at her and then stands guard at the door, not giving her the chance to escape.

 

"Fine! I'll prove to you all that I wasn't seeing things when the Captain gets me back to the planet. I'll show you that Changeling." Kat says while sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs back and forth waiting for Deb and the Captain to come in.