"Buck Up"

[Aaron_Westler 0]

“Buck Up”

 

A log by Ens. Miranda Porter and Lt. Aaron Westler, Ph.D.’s

 

 

Sickbay, 23:55 hours

 

Miranda walked into Sickbay, and noticed Aaron asleep at his desk, PADDs strewn on the floor. She walked over to him and gently shook him awake. “Aaron….Aaron wake up…”

 

Aaron jumped a bit and raised his head. “Huuh? Wha?? Is it time for school already?” He rubbed his eyes, which were red and blotchy.

 

“What are you still doing here, you should get some rest...and no it’s not time for school. Get out of here, go get some sleep, you look like you could use it.”

 

He looked up at the chronometer, then at Miranda. “I thought we said you would relieve me at 0600, not 0000.” “Yeah I know, but when I saw you a while ago you looked like you could use a little bit of rest too. You seemed tired.” She smiled. “You have been working really hard lately...is everything ok?

 

He sat back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. “I wish I could say everything was…” Miranda looked around for a chair, and sat down next to Aaron. “Spill it, I’m all ears.”

 

He opened his eyes. “Oh, no, I don’t want you to worry about me.” She shook her head. “Aaron, you were the first friend I made on this ship and you have always helped me out. It's the least I could do. Anyway I did take a few classes on psychology, maybe if I could diagnose you as crazy, I might get your job.” She winked. “So what’s up?”

 

Aaron smiled a tiny bit. “Well, remember the other morning when I got promoted, and then fainted 45 minutes later? I had just gotten a message from my friends on Earth. They said that my parents had been injured in a fire; our whole family estate had burned to the ground. I don't know why I fainted.... but I was close to my parents...”

 

“Oh my gosh that awful, I am so sorry…” Realizing that he was squinting, he dimmed the lights a bit. “Then yesterday morning came the word that they had...well, had passed away.”

 

Miranda scooted closer to him. “I am so sorry Aaron, this has got to be hard.” She sat watching him with a look of concern.

 

Aaron sighed. “I always told them that they should get a personal transporter computer installed somewhere near the house so people could beam in if what happened ever did happen. But, they were old-timers...they didn't like the idea of someone just beaming into our home or yard. It probably wasn’t even all their fault...a friend told me they were alive when they found them, but they weren't taken to a Starfleet hospital... Just a regular one there in Poland. It's not that I don't trust the people who tried to help them, I became interested in medicine because of them. I'm just torn that I couldn't be there...I know I could have done something....” He could feel tears forming again, and he looked back up at the ceiling.

 

Noticing that he was getting upset, she put her arm around him. “I am sure they did everything they could at the hospital. Any good doctor would, and who's to say that you could have saved them if you were there? You can't beat yourself up for something you can't change.”

 

He sniffled. “Yes, I know I can't... I just, I just....I don’t know.”

 

“You wanted to save them, that’s understandable, but at times not always best. Think about it this way, if they had an injury that they couldn't recover from would you want them living in pain?” She smiled sadly at him.

 

He was now staring at the floor. “No, of course not, I couldn't let that happen.....it just happened so suddenly though...” “We are doctors and we like to think we can cure anything, but when it comes down to it we are still mortal and things happen that we can't change. When did you talk to them last?”

 

“I think it was last week, I haven’t had much time lately to talk with them.” “Did you have a good time with them?”

 

He nodded. “It was a good time. My dad.... he always had a joke to tell. I remember laughing with him for minutes. My mom, heh, she was mom as usual, asking if I needed anything sent, if I was eating right, was I going out with anyone...” He sniffled very loudly, and looked up embarrassed. “Sorry.”

 

“Did you tell her a hot doctor? Just Kidding.”

 

A smile crept out from him. “Yeah I see that smile.” She laughed. “See? You have to remember the good times. When I was young my grandfather got very ill and died, I didn't get to see him for a few months before it happened and it was upsetting. But I always remember him making things out of wood or telling really bad jokes and that’s how I like to remember him, not in a hospital bed. “So buck up, everything happens for a reason. You look like you could use a stiff drink.” A sly smile came to her face.

 

Aaron smiled and chuckled a bit. Miranda got up and went to the replicator, bringing back two glasses. “Let’s toast to their lives, not mourn their passing. What were their names?” Aaron took his glass. “Janus and Sofie.” “Right, then here’s to Janus and Sofie.” They clinked their glasses and took a drink. Aaron took a large gulp, and then felt dizzy. “Uhhh, I guess that went straight down...I haven’t eaten in a while...”

 

“Well then lets get some food, I'm kind of hungry too.” She stood up. “Come on.” Aaron looked up at her. “Where are we going? The mess is going to be deserted....” He stood up too. “What, are you saying you don't want to try my cooking?” He laughed. “Allright.” Miranda grabbed him by the arm and nearly dragged him out of sickbay. They stopped inside the door to the empty mess hall, looking around. “Well,” she said, “Let’s see what we can round up, what are you in the mood for?”

 

Aaron thought for a moment, then steered Miranda to a table, pulling out the chair for her. “I know just the thing. Just a minute.” He crossed to the replicator, and started entering in his personal codes. He came back a few minutes later with two large trays of food. Miranda looked at the trays, her eyes going wide. “You realize I still have to fit in my uniform, right?”

 

He grinned. “This is as close to my mother's cooking as I've ever gotten the replicators to work. Chicken soup, Sauerkraut, Polish sausage, Potato pancakes, and dumplings.” He put some of everything on a plate for her. “Of course, real food always tastes better...” “Yummy, very true. I will have to really cook for you then someday. My parents were sort of oddballs and my mom refused to have replicators, so I learned to cook pretty young.”

 

Aaron looked at her. “So, how do you like it?” “It’s very good, we should do this more often.” “Yeah, we should.” She looked at him. “Are you feeling a little bit better, some food and some company makes everything better, or so my mother says.”

 

He put his fork down. ”Yes actually, it's a big boost to know there are people who care. Andrea looked really worried before she left... I guess I need to tell her too.”

 

“Be careful, she might counselor you more than I did, and she probably won't make you drink anything.” She laughed. He winked. “She probably won’t even suggest dinner, just sitting on a couch, staring at a ceiling.” He scraped the last bits of food off his plate. She grinned. “Let’s hope is a nice couch then to make up for the lack of food.” Both of them got up and started clearing the table. As he was putting away utensils, Miranda noticed a small piece of potato on his chin. She tried to signal him. “Hey.”

 

Aaron looked confused at first, then realized what she was pointing at. She picked up a napkin and took it off, smiling. “I may not be your mom but it still works right.” He blushed a bit. “Yeah…” He stood there thinking a bit.

 

“Well let’s see, the only thing left is some sleep. How does that sound to you?” She looked at him. “I’m feeling fine now. I hear you were the one who found the cure, you deserve a sleep in.” “Yes, I did well.” She made a funny voice. “And now as your doctor, I am prescribing you to get some sleep.”

 

He smiled. “Doctor’s orders?” “Yes doctors orders.” She patted him on the back. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your quarters.”

 

He grinned. “Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?” “Well in this case since I'm the doctor, I can walk you. Anyway I'm a big girl I can get to my quarters without to much trouble.” She grinned. “Fair enough.” He followed her to a turbolift.

 

“And I won’t be tempted into going back to Sickbay.” She looked back at him. “Don’t worry, sleep is actually sounding good right about now.” They walked on in silence to his room. When they got there, he entered his code and turned around. “Miranda....I don't know how to thank you for helping me through this...You've made a bad situation turn good, and I'm glad to have you as a friend.”

 

“Well I'm always here in case you need anything, call me anytime.” She smiled and paused for a second, then gave Aaron a hug. Aaron returned the hug and smiled. They pulled away from each other after a few seconds, and Aaron walked into his room. “Night!” “Nighty night Aaron.”

 

Aaron laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, thinking. He was very glad to friends like Miranda. Only a few hours earlier he was miserable and feeling down. He would get through this. He fell asleep recalling the last talk he had with his parents.