As the Sickbay Turns

[Kairi 0]

While Midshipman Ron Lunn worked over on the other side of Sickbay, Doctor Mithraia Coeur turned her attention to the officer that had just walked in. She approached the woman , who was a Midshipman like herself and Ron, and gently asked, "Hi .. can I help you with something?" Mia never said 'welcome to sickbay'.. it just seemed an odd thing to say when most people who came into Sickbay weren't always in the best of health. Kairi was a bit nervous when she first stepped into sickbay, but calmed down when she was greeted by Mia.

 

"Uh...hi. I'm Kairi, the new assistant engineer." She noticed Ron in the corner looking busy, or at least attempting to. "I was sent here by Chief Prell to work on an electrical problem."

 

Mia couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, "I.. I see. I am starting to .. to think that Sickbay must have quite a few problems that require two engineers instead of .. one." She glanced over where Ron was and then back to Kairi. "I'm sure ..that... you'd want to converse with your colleague then." She made a motion towards Ron and offered a gentle smile to Kairi.

 

Kairi smiled back. "Yes thank you. There was something else that you can do for me, but it can wait till we've finished repairs."

 

She nodded, "Just .. just let me know when I am .. needed." Mia felt the slightest bit uncomfortable at first, but was unsure why. She just stepped away to try and focus on work, but was sure to keep an eye on the two engineers in the corner.

 

Kairi politely nodded to the doctor then walked over to the corner where Ron was working. She placed her toolbox down and crossed her arms. "Need a hand?"

 

Ron turned a tool and something snapped into place. He didn't look up when he spoke to her. "No Kairi, I have it under control." He tone was short and frank.

 

Kairi frowned a bit and sighed. She then took a seat at the edge of a biobed. "Look, I'm sorry about my cold shoulder act in engineering. I can get really defensive sometimes when it comes to...you know."

 

Ron sighed and turned his head to look at her. "So you're half Vulcan, who cares? That's like... the first interspecies mix ever."

 

Kairi lowered her head. "I....I'm not half Vulcan." She looked away, staring at a panel on the wall to avoid eye contact. "I..I...I'm half Romulan," she finally got out.

 

Ron's expression didn't change. He was shocked at the news he had just recieved, but he didn't show an ounce of it. The shock only lasted a split second and then he spoke, but in a much softer tone this time. "And I'm half-Bajoran. Look Kairi, everyone has their issues with their past. Think I didn't get some wrap in Star Fleet? Why did people's parents and family have to get sent to Bajor and die there defending us from the Cardassians? Why couldn't we defend our own space? Humans see Bajorans as weak, Kairi. So the common view of your people is you're treacherous, at least you're not weak. And this whole crew knows I'm not weak .. and Kairi, they know you're not treacherous."

 

On the other side of Sickbay, Mia tried to focus on her work .. passing time until the upcoming mission with various reports; but she couldn't help but watch the conversation between Kairi and Ron from afar. She felt.. well, she wasn't sure what she felt. Perhaps protective over Ron. Maybe even a twinge of jealousy.. no, it couldn't be. She didn't get jealous. Not her. But in the back of her mind .. she wanted to walk over there and make her presence known. She already felt a bit of an attachment to Ron even though it wasn't her usual behaviour.

 

Despite the pained expression that seemed to be crossing Kairi's face, Ron continued his point. "My parents fought alongside Romulans." He hoped she wouldn't ask where since he kept his parent's Maquis past completely under wraps. "They're not evil, they're not monsters. They care like every one of any other species, people know that."

 

Kairi looked back down at Ron. Tears began to form in her eyes. "I...I'm starting to realise that. It's just all my life I've.....I don't know anymore." She tried to hold everything back. "Maybe it's me. Perhaps I've been too hard on myself to truly see things around me."

 

Ron instinctively reached out and grabbed Kairi's hand. He was always in tune with people's emotions and felt them right along with them. His grandmother had said it was his strong sense of Pagh. "Kairi... there are some things we don't say to other people, and frankly, it's none of their business. I know people will accept you for who you are, and sure some won't. But you tell people when you're good and ready too. If someone asks and you don't want them to know, tell them it's none of their damn business, and if they have a problem send them to me," he smiled.

 

Meanwhile,

 

Mia walked towards a stockroom and started to enter as she noticed Ron and Kairi yet again. There was a sharp inhale of her breath, and she entered the stockroom quickly, stopping past the door and biting her lip. Had she seen what she thought she had seen? Ron hold this girl's hand? No, it couldn't be. This day.. starting out so brightly and feeling so different was starting to leave the same knot in her stomach like every other day she could remember.

 

A tear finally escaped from Kairi's cheek, then she smiled. "Thank you." She then looked over at the open panel. "Are you sure you've got that taken care of?"

 

"Well," Ron thought for a moment and then gave her a big smile. "More hands the lighter the work, right?"

 

Kairi kind of chuckled. "I guess this is the Chief's way of breaking the ice." She then hopped down from the bio bed. "But I think you can manage this on your own." She turned around to look at the rest of sickbay and took in a deep breath. "Besides, there's something else I really need to take care of."

 

"Sure thing," he pointed towards the open panel, "This is a piece of cake, anyway."

 

Within the stockroom, away from any prying eyes, Mia took a few deep breaths and began alphabetizing the hypospray medications. A perfectionist at heart.. and always eager to be consumed by her work .. this was the sort of thing she was known to do. The wait she was enduring for the mission, the mysterious conversation of the two engineers in the main Sickbay.. she just wanted to focus on something consistant: her work. She had always found people in her life to be like the ground shaking beneath her ..threatening to make her lose her balance. She tried to ignore the thought of what was going on outside the stockroom doors.

 

"I'll see you back in Engineering when this is all done," said Kairi as she walked back into the main area of sickbay.

 

Ron nodded and stuck his hands back into the small opening and went about his work. He was happy the air had been cleared between himself and Kairi. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, he couldn't get Mia off his mind. He didn't want to tell her exactly how much he thought about her, that she was on his mind so much it was affecting his work. He couldn't tell her about how he had been thinking about her while working on a replicator in the mess and actually done something that made it replicate everything inside out.

 

Kairi stood in the middle of Sickbay and looked around a minute, but didn't see Mia. Then she spotted the open door to the stockroom, and walked over to it. She poked her head in and saw Mia working on something. "Um...can I bother you with something?" she said nervously.

 

"Hydrothaline, hydroquazine.." she murmured to herself, placing each medication in perfect order. Mia blinked and glanced over to Kairi. "I.. erm .. sure, of course. Nothing is a bother in.. in this place. What ..what can I do for you?"

 

Kairi looked more nervous, then took in a breath. "Well....since I'm new to the ship, I...I kind of need a physical."

 

Mia stood there for a second and tried to get the image she had just seen to leave her head. "Oh, yes .. of course. Go find a biobed.. I will be out in one second... please." Mia's voice was soft, but ever professional.

 

Kairi nodded and then left the stockroom. She looked around and finally picked a biobed and went to it. She was beginning to dread this. Why did she always have to be so nervous? She finally sat down on the bed and awaited the doctor.

 

Mia smoothed her uniform and placed the final hypospray back on the shelf before re-entering the main Sickbay. Her glance immediately fell back towards Ron.. who seemed to be merrily working on the panel. Then she approached Kairi and picked up a scanner and a PADD. Glancing down at her PADD, "From the medical file we received when you arrived.. you had your .. your last physical about a year or so ago?" Mia looked upon the girl sitting on the biobed.. thinking she looked more nervous than SHE normally felt all the time. It was almost a comfort to her; someone else felt the same thing as her at times.

 

Kairi nodded. "Yes. It was at Starfleet Academy." She looked at the PADD Mia was holding, and was nervous about what else could be on there.

 

Mia cound somehow sense the girl's nervousness and thought it best to try and reassure her. "Don't.. don't be nervous about anything, miss.. this is just a standard physical. We all go through it at one time.. or another. I just need you to remove your uniform jacket so I can take a blood sample and do a thorough bioscan." Mia glanced out of the corner of her eye at Ron, then back to Kairi. She wanted to make this quick and painless. Entering a few controls on the biobed to configure it for Kairi she took a breath and then grabbed the tool for the blood sample.

 

Kairi nodded and instinctively pulled her hair back so it wouldn't get in the way of the jacket. As it was pulled back, her pointy ears stood out for everyone in sickbay to see. Kairi then removed her uniform jacket and placed it at the side. From her arms all the way to the back of her neck, goosebumps began rising. Was it cold in here, or was it just her?

 

Mia then approached Kairi with the tool, lifting her arm and pressing it gently to the skin.. releasing a hissing sound as it drew the information it needed. "This is .. pretty painless. I just check over your blood sample and run routine tests. If .. if anything is discovered that is unusual .. I contact you. That rarely happens though."

 

Ron had finished doing the repairs but continued to look busy, hoping whatever Kairi was having done wouldn't take long and he could see Mia again before leaving.

 

Mia looked at the pointed nature of Kairi's ears. She was a bit surprised at first .. but then remembered that it stated on her file that she was only half human.

 

"Just don't be surprised when you look at the results," Kairi said a bit nervously. She was begining to calm down though. Perhaps getting it out in the open is what she really needs.

 

Mia shook her head as she started the bioscan ..which took scans of her entire body, to break it down into data that was easy to sort through. She looked at the results as it loaded into her tricorder. "Honestly.. everything does seem to be in order. You are relatively the same as your last physical... except for a high level of stress." She paused for a moment, "Are you feeling.. okay?"

 

Kairi glanced over at Ron, who was still working diligently in the corner, and then back at Mia. She then smiled. "I'm beginning to. Thank you."

 

Mia blocked out the frown that was ever-so-slightly inching it's way onto her lips. She nodded, "Good.. then. Your scans seem to be fine .. just be sure to check back in if you feel any stress that is overwhelming. I will have .. have your blood sample results in a few days. .. there's a few crew that we are going through. And.. if the stress thing become.. an .. an issue. We have an excellent counseling staff." Mia cleared her throat.. feeling some what like a hypocrite when saying that. She had so many issues of her own .. yet never really talked to anyone herself.

 

Kairi hopped off the biobed, grabbed her jacket and slipped it back on. She then readjusted her hair back over her ears. "Thank you Doctor. It was nice meeting you. Perhaps I'll see you again sometime." She smiled and looked around, "Though hopefully not here."

 

"I can .. I can understand that. Here is your clean bill of health." Mia handed Kairi a PADD. "You are fit for duty." Kairi took the PADD and then headed for the door, but paused and glanced back at Ron. He was still busy so she decided not to bother him. Instead she headed out the door and back to engineering.

 

Mithraia crossed her arms as Kairi left .. watching the doors long after the engineer had exited Sickbay. Mia tried to tell her mind and heart to not run away with it's visions of things going wrong. But the idea of Ron working with her .. it wasn't a feeling she liked much. But at the same time, Mia felt silly to even be thinking these things. Ron owed Mia nothing .. they weren't anything yet. Yet. Not officially. She slowly started approaching Ron again.. as Sickbay become silent except for the sounds of Ron's repairs. She wondered if he could hear the fast beating of her heart in the quiet room.

 

Ron put his tools away and shut his box. Standing up he saw Mia coming over and waited for her with a smile on his face. "I'm all done with repairs. Everything is in perfect working condition."

 

Mia looked at him and nodded, "I am sure that Mona.. I mean, Lieutenant Levy will be ..be glad to hear that. You are indeed talented at what you do.."

 

"So, uh," he searched for something to say. "Everything go good with Kairi? She seems like a pretty good gal, and we kind of got off on the wrong foot but it worked itself out."

 

Taking a deep breath, "Oh.. oh yes. Perfect health. Completely ready for duty. .. she.. she's a friend of yours?" Mia brushed back some of her hair, tucking it back behind her ear. She could hear the twinge of jealousy that had escaped from inside of her and cleverly hidden itself in that question. She wasn't used to this feeling .. jealousy had never been something she really dealt with before.

 

"Mia," Ron smiled and gave her a funny look, "....are you jealous?" His smile grew bigger as he waited anxiously for a reply.

 

"No." she quickly replied, but so quick that it was obvious she was desperately trying to hide the truth, ".. really. I'm not. I was just .. just wondering.. you know.. you work with her .. and all.." she trailed off for a moment and glanced away, ".. held her hand a few times.." Her cheeks flushed and she felt immediately ashamed of how she felt. It was all so new to her .. and she had no idea how to really deal with it all.

 

"Held her hand a few times did I? Seems I recall once, and that was because she was having a bit of an issue..." Ron gazed over at the red-haired doctor, wondering what was going on in that head of hers, "Is there anything you want to tell me Mia? Are you still down with our dinner plans or is something going on all of a sudden?"

 

She looked at him, "I definitely want to have dinner with you again." Mia was firm this time.. unstuttering. She was sure of this. Couldn't he tell that she already had deep feelings for him?

 

"Ok, good, cause I want to have dinner with you too. I should, ah, get back to work. The chief has quite a few things he wants done."

 

Mia nodded and smiled lightly at him, "And I have .. a big mission coming up. Tons to ..prepare for." In a moment's decision, she moved forward and leaned up, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek, and quickly moved back. ".. I'll see you when we get back ..then.. ?"

 

Ron smiled. Mia had never been so forward with him before, and he guessed she may not have been this forward ever before. "I can't wait."

 

The doors of sickbay suddenly slid open, and Kairi had stepped back into sickbay with a purpose. She noticed Mia and Ron together, and was suprised at first, bitting her bottom lip to hide a grin. "Sorry....I forgot my toolkit." Kairi quickly grabbed the kit and moved back to the door, but before she left, she looked back at the couple. This time she couldn't hide the grin and smiled. Then she was out the door, for good this time she hoped.

 

Mia blinked as the voice broke her from the moment. She whirled around and saw Kairi. Her face turned a distinct tomato color as the engineer rapidly grabbed her stuff and left. She glanced back at Ron and laughed a little, ".. I.. well, I'll be getting back to work... now..."

 

Ron grabbed Mia instinctively and held her against his chest as he laughed. "Let's hope that doesn't get too far, you know how gossip can get," he chuckled.

 

She blushed again and nodded, "I know... but .. it doesn't bother me... " Mia let him hold her for a second and she rested against him. Her eyes closed and she realized she meant it. Nothing could really bother her right now.. everything was perfect.