Chapter Three: Awkwardness
February 28, 2389
U.S.S. Archer, Medical Examination Room 3, Deck 8 [1041]
Doctor Laura Pembridge was the Chief Medical Officer of the U.S.S. Archer and had been a Physician in Starfleet for more almost twenty years. She had been to the farthest reaches of Federation space as a surgeon, treating a variety of ailments, diseases and viruses. She had even begun her career as a Starfleet doctor as an OBGyN immediately after graduating from Starfleet Medical. But now that she was on the receiving end of a gynaecological examination she felt extremely uncomfortable. She tried to tell herself it was simply because she was a private person but she knew the truth. It was because, with her ankles in stirrups and her legs pried as far apart as they would go, one of Pembridge's own subordinates was currently conducting a physical examination on her and had her head up between her legs. Currently Ensign Alana Stein was scanning her with a tricorder.
Ensign Stein re-emerged from down between Pembridge's legs and began checking the readings she had gotten on her tricorder. Pembridge was two months pregnant and this was her third checkup since she had gotten the news just over a month ago. She felt like she was fast becoming acquainted with Stein in a way she was only acquainted with one other person; her fiancée back on Earth, Kenneth Manning.
"Well Doctor," Stein began, closing the tricorder. "Everything looks fine down there. You can take your legs down from the stirrups now."
Relieved, Pembridge quickly withdrew her legs from the stirrups and laid them flat against the exam bed she was lying on. Stein put the tricorder down on a nearby work surface and moved over to the bed. She pushed the stirrups away to either side and helped the older doctor as she climbed down from the examination bed.
"Because it's going to be a few weeks until you reach Earth and have your next exam I'd like to schedule you for another appointment when we reach the Starbase." Stein said.
"Just got to have one last goodbye, huh?" Pembridge said as her feet hit the ground and she stood herself up. Stein allowed herself a grin and the two women chuckled. Stein stepped aside as Pembridge moved towards the curtained off area of the examination room, where her uniform currently resided. She drew the curtain around her for privacy and wondered, as she had done every time she got dressed after one of her appointments, why she did that. It wasn't as though Ensign Stein hadn't seen it all before. Pembridge shrugged and chalked it down to a simple character quirk.
As she removed the medical gown and hung it up on one of the provided clothes hooks she heard Stein moving things around on the other side of the curtain. "Will you be leaving us as soon as we get to Starbase ninety-one?"
"I'm afraid so." Pembridge responded, slipping her underwear on. "Once the medical supplies are aboard the Archer will be heading straight for Caitia."
"You must be excited." Stein remarked. "Settling down on Earth, getting married and starting a family."
Pembridge thought about this as she pulled on her trousers. She was excited. She had met Kenneth ten years ago while she had been visiting her parents during shore leave. It hadn't taken them long to start a serious relationship. But in all that time Pembridge had been away from him, and Earth, serving aboard various starships. While she had been serving aboard the Formidable during the war with the Borg he had proposed to her via subspace. Even after the ship was destroyed during the Battle of Tellar nearly three years ago she still hadn't managed to get home. She had been due to settle down with him last year and had even accepted a posting at Starfleet Medical, but Captain Pressley had asked her to set up the medical department on the Archer and she had taken another year to do a favour for her old friend. But once they reached Starbase 91 Pembridge was heading back to Earth to begin a new chapter in her life. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't realized the Stein was talking.
"I'm sorry Alana, what?" Pembridge asked, hoping Stein would repeat whatever she had just said, while she pulled the blue turtleneck tunic that she wore under the standard Starfleet jacket.
"I said I can put you in touch with an old classmate of mine from the Academy if you like." Stein repeated. "Lieutenant Munroe, an OBGyN working at Starfleet Medical. He's very good."
"He!?" Pembridge exclaimed and slid the curtain open dramatically. Stein's eyes were wide and she wore an expression of amusement as she looked at her Chief Medical Officer. Pembridge realised that she had opened the curtain before managing to get the tunic over both her arms, leaving her mostly topless and her breasts exposed. Pembridge blushed and spun to face away from Stein, sliding the tunic on and fastening it as quickly as possible.
"Well," Stein began, amused. "Now I've literally seen it all doctor."
"Shut up!" Pembridge shouted in embarrassment. She put her jacket on but didn't bother to fasten it up. She picked up her comm badge and began to fasten it to her jacket as she continued talking. "You want me to have a male OBGyN? I get uncomfortable having you as my OBGyN."
"It's just an option, doctor." Stein replied, holding her hands up in surrender. "You can choose whoever you want."
Pembridge stood in the exam room for a moment in thoughtful silence, before saying quickly; "How good is he?"
"Very good." Stein responded, nodding. "And very professional."
"I'll give him a call." Pembridge said, reluctantly. Stein grinned.
"Already done. You have an appointment the day after your transport gets back to Earth. Oh-eleven-thirty hours." Stein's grin only got wider under Pembridge's glare. The Chief Medical Officer kept up with the glare as she went for the exit to the examination room.
"You know Alana," Pembridge began. "I have a feeling you're going to make a good Chief Medical Officer someday."
Stein beamed with pride as Doctor Pembridge exited. "Thank you doctor!"
U.S.S. Archer, Medical Labs, Deck 8 [1055]
As the door to the medical examination room slid open stopped leaning on the wall Captain Pressley stood up straight, hoping he had gotten the right room this time. A young engineer, who had obviously seen a Physician with something embarrassing, had turned a bright pink and double-timed it at the sight of the ship's Captain standing outside her exam room. The last thing Pressley wanted was to gain a reputation as a stalker of the medical labs. So he was relieved when his friend and Chief Medical Officer appeared from the room. She seemed slightly surprised to see him.
"Alex!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I had a gap in my schedule and thought I'd come down and make sure everything was okay." He replied, returning the smile that formed on Doctor Pembridge's face.
"How sweet." She responded. The silence that followed was quickly broken by the doctor when she noticed that Pressley's smile had turned to a look of concern. "What?"
"Everything is alright, isn't it?" He asked, concerned.
"Yes, yes." She laughed slightly. Pressley looked more than a little relieved. They stood in the corridor for another moment. "So, is that gap in your schedule long enough to accompany me to the lounge for a tea?"
"Absolutely." Pressley responded, smiling. They set off at a leisurely pace towards the nearest turbolift.
"Where's Harvey?" Pembridge asked, referring to the ships Executive Officer; Commander Nasar. "We should ask him to join us."
"I already asked him if he wanted to come down here and meet you out of your exam. But apparently he's busy with paperwork." Pressley explained.
U.S.S. Archer, Commander Nasar's Quarters, Deck 2 [1101]
Commander Harvey Nasar sat the terminal in his quarters and watched, mesmerised, as the Federation logo slowly rotated on his screen. He had been doing this for ten minutes now while he waited for his communication signal to be connected. Nasar found himself wondering whether the Federation would consider a request for the logo to be changed, as he found himself being bored almost to sleep. He snapped back to attention when the logo was replaced with a face. The woman who was now pictured on his terminal was a pretty, petite blonde with dark brown eyes and a pale complexion. It also happened to be the face of Jennifer Pressley, a Lieutenant Commander in Starfleet and Captain Pressley's little sister. She smiled when she saw who was contacting her.
"Harvey!" She almost shouted excitedly.
"Hello Jennifer." Nasar replied. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Tired but fine. We've been working on some pretty groundbreaking stuff here. Though I can't really tell you about it." Jennifer explained. Nasar recalled the details of her latest assignment as a science project leader at the research station Asimov.
"Classified?" He asked.
"No," She started with a cheeky grin spread across her face."I just know you won't understand most of the words I'd use to describe it."
"That was uncalled for." Nasar said in a sarcastic tone. "Look I don't have long. The Archer will be swinging by your sector of space in a week on our way to Caitia. I was going to try and convince Alex to let us make a stopover at Asimov if you're okay with it."
"Of course I'd be okay with it." Jennifer replied cautiously. "But I get the feeling you won't just be dropping by because you miss me."
"I'm going to tell him." Nasar said and then sat back, allowing his words to sink in. Nasar had met Captain Pressley at the Academy during their second year. It was during their fourth and final year that Jennifer had enrolled at the Academy. When Jennifer passed her second-year exams he had taken her out for a drink. That night had ended at around oh-six-hundred with them sleeping together. They had vowed never to tell Jennifer's older brother about the incident. Despite admitting it was a mistake, they kept repeating the encounter whenever their paths crossed.
It was during their time serving together at Starbase 175 that they realised they were actually in love with one another. That was ten years ago and, although they had kept their relationship going, they had also kept it a secret from Alexander Pressley.
"Any particular reason?" Jennifer asked, an eyebrow raised in an inquisitive manner.
"It's been ten years. I'd say it's about time." He answered. He checked the chronometer in the top corner of his monitor display. "I have a meeting with him in a few minutes."
"Well, good luck." Jennifer said, clearly lost for words. Then she added; "I love you."
"I love you too." Nasar replied and then shut down the communication. He let out a relieved sigh glad that, for once, she hadn't been too inquisitive. He picked up the small box that lay on his desk and opened it, admiring once again the Centauran-diamond ring that sat inside. He hadn't been completely dishonest about his reasons for wanting to tell the Captain about his and Jennifer's relationship. It was "about time" for Nasar to come clean. It was also about time that he asked Jennifer the question.
As Nasar stood from his desk he began to psyche himself up for what had the potential to be the most awkward conversation of his life.