1:46 A.M
The smell of a fresh pot of coffee wafed through the air. A woman sits alone at her desk, back hunched and eyes squinting at the mountain of paperwork in front of her. She brings her hands to her temples, attempting to rub away the headache before it could become a full blown migraine. Unfortunately, the placebo affect this might have would not take place on as skilled of a medical practicioner as she.
"It is my belief that one of the most concerning matters in the medical field today is the lack of focus on that which most humans crave yet fear: immortality. While it is apparent that everything on Earth must and will die, we as a race have put forth next to no effort in furthering our knowledge of why we die."
The womans blue eyes narrowed further. No effort? She scoffed and nearly shut the book right then and there. Modern doctors were so damn cocky. The entire point of medicine was to prevent death and illness. How foolish can this man be? She had ought to write her own book at this point. "Why Doctors Act So Pretentious: A dissertation by Angela Ziegler".
However, before she could put any real thought into the idea, a knock rang out through the room. Sighing, she stood and made her way to the door, drawing her robe tighter around her waist. She glanced at the clock, frowned at the hour, and swung the door open.
There stood a woman, tall in stature with broad shoulders and olive skin. Her black hair hung in a loose braid over her shoulder. Angela took a step back, any irritation at being bothered replaced with curiosity.
"Hello Fareeha. What brings you here at this hour?" Angela asked, stepping back and gesturing her arm to allow the other woman into her room.
Fareeha took the invitation immediately with a nod of thanks, and sat herself at the doctors workbench.
"Nothing too exciting, I believe I am just having a bout of insomnia. I have been unable to sleep for the past 75 hours, although my body desperately wants it."
"Why have you not seen me sooner?" Angela asked, moving across the room to a medicine cabinet. As her hands searched for the bottle, her mind thought of how formal Fareeha spoke and wondered if she would prefer to be spoken to in the same manner or if it was just a personal preference to maintain her militant attitude.
"I assumed it would go away on it's own. I believed that I could work myself to sleep so to speak, though now it seems that it is only hurting me. My muscles cannot relax or heal without sleep, and it is effecting my training. Due to our upcoming shipment, I realized without extensive knowledge on this subject and in need of quick results it was probably best to leave it in the hands of a professional."
The doctor nodded, and hummed in acknowledgement. Walking towards the other woman, she handed Fareeha two small red capsules.
"You are correct," she said. "Insomnia is a tricky thing to cure; that is, everyone will experience it at least a few times in their life and no one will ever be completely free of it. These pills should help. How long ago was your last meal?"
Fareeha took them graciously in her hand and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
"About 5 hours ago, just a small snack before bed. Why do you ask?"
"Those pills are rather...potent. It is best to take them with food or on a full stomach so as to lessen the possible side effects. I assure you, they will cause you no harm but you might feel a little strange to say the least. Take one for now, and save the other. If after 25-30 minutes of taking it you still feel nothing, take the other. But make sure you are good and ready to fall asleep before doing so."
The Egyptian woman stood, towering over the blonde doctor before her. She bowed her head in thanks, and strode to the door.
"You know, Angela. It is quite late, and you have just as much to do tomorrow in preparation as I. Would it not be best for you to sleep as well? Perhaps these pills could be of use to the both of us."
"Thank you for your concern. I believe I am tired enough to collapse right here and now though...that medicine would most likely keep me asleep for a decade." Dr. Ziegler laughed, walking back to her desk.
The door opened and Fareeha stepped through, only to turn around and say, "Perhaps that would be best. Maybe then the team could learn to take care of themselves rather than depending so heavily on you." Her voice was lighthearted and more playful than Angela had heard before, and her cheeks warmed slightly at the compliment whether it was intended or not.
The doctor chuckled, and said "Strong words for someone receiving treatment from me herself."
Fareeha laughed, her shoulders arching forward into the sound. "Excellent point, Ziegler. However I am under no assumption that I would be alive without you. I ask that you know how much I appreciate your work. Have a good night, Doctor. Get some rest."
With that, she closed the door, leaving the blonde woman to stare mouth slightly agape. While the two had known each other for only a short time, they had yet to have an interaction so informal. She supposed it shouldn't come as such a shock to have her comrades speak to her as a human and not just as their Medic. Still...there was something about the break in Feerah's usual mannerisms that left Angela wishing to hear more.
She felt her mouth stretch into a grin,and sat back at her desk. She did deserve sleep, she thought. She glanced at the clock once more, then at the coffee pot, and finally back to the book still lying open.
"Scheiß drauf" she thought to herself, and made her way to the bunk in the far corner of the room after shutting off the lights.
The next morning she couldn't remember falling asleep but the laughter of her Egyptian comrade still rang crystal clear in her ears.