The Shoe Is On The Other Foot

"Put. Me. Down."

Pike held back a faint smile. "Hmmm. No."

Tracy huffed loudly. "This … this is … unnecessary … and … it's not dignified!"

"You have a broken ankle. A sprained wrist. A badly bruised hip and lower back. Three likely broken ribs. And a concussion which might be serious. You cannot walk on you own. And should not walk at all."

"I am the CMO, and I am the best judge of my capabilities," Tracy retorted with emphasis. "When did you get a medical degree?" Tracy squirmed in Pike's arms mostly in protest but also to relieve the pain in her hip, pain she was not about acknowledge to the man often the target of her repeated scoldings regarding his disregard for his own safety and his tendency for downplaying his injuries.

"I promise I've passed all the required basic emergency medical courses."

"Unlike astrophysics?" Tracy asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Unlike astrophysics," Pike repeated slowly and evenly with pretend exaggerated patience.

"You inserted that chest tube like a pro, as good as any of my doctors or nurses. Otherwise Rhys wouldn't have made it back to the ship. Where does a Captain learn to do that?" Tracy was still surprised and amazed at this unexpected skill her commanding officer possessed.

"Night school," Pike deflected with a grin. "I took a few backup courses in case this captain thing didn't work out.

"So you're not going to answer the question?"

Pike shook his head. "No."

Tracy harumphed when a passing crewman chuckled. "I could have waited in the transporter room for a medical response team."

"Yes, but they were busy with the other injured. There was no reason for you to stay there while in pain when I can take you to Sickbay myself." Pike grinned again. "If you are uncomfortable in this position, I could throw you over my shoulder."

"I want to thank you for suggesting a way to make this even more humiliating." Tracy rolled her eyes as she adjusted her hands clasped around Pike's neck and settled more comfortably against his chest. Pike shifted his arm supporting her legs easing the pressure on her hip and back.

"Since you are … shall we say … a captive audience, I will take this moment to request that in the future you do not so recklessly leap into danger. I need my CMO and more importantly, I don't want to lose you."

"What? You? Are you kidding me?" Tracy sputtered. "That's like the … the … well as my Granny Jean used to say, that's like the pot calling the kettle black."

Pike flashed his most innocent dimpled smile, "I have no idea what you mean."

"Oh … You. Did. Not. Say. That. No. Does command school require courses teaching how to exasperate your CMO?"

"Yes. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced. It is a required skill for all captaincy candidates. I received an A+ in all three."

"Figures," Tracy muttered to herself. "Damn my ribs hurt like a wicked …"

"Like a xylophone in a Klingon marching band?" Pike finished.

"Yes."

After entering Sickbay, he gingerly laid Discovery's CMO on one of the biobeds and started the scanners. "I'll get you something for the pain."

"Thanks."

Hypospray administered, Pike looked Tracy directly in the eyes. "Thank you. Without your bravery and quick action, we would have lost half of the away team."

"I was following your example sir."

Pike tilted his head and studied Tracy for several seconds. "Someday maybe you will tell me if that was a compliment, or an admonishment wrapped in honeyed words."

"Maybe, someday. If you behave. Which I doubt is possible," she teased back.

He turned to leave and then reversed again facing Tracy. "You know," Pike paused for effect, "This validates what I knew all along … and you protested. A Captain's place is on the away team." He quickly added, "I am needed on the bridge."

"How can you possibly extrapolate that from … that's right, go hide in your big chair rather than stand here and backup that statement like a man … Captains are like children …" Tracy called after her chuckling commander as he left.