DDISCLAIMER: I do not own Star Trek.
NOTE: I changed the title of this story. I apologize if that confuses you, but I wasn't satisfied with the previous one, sooo… Forgive me please.
NOTE 2: Special note for P/T-fan02 only ;). Please check up notes for chapter5, if you still feel surprised by the content of this chapter. Oh, and signed reviews are easier to answer to ;)…
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AFTER THIRTY DAYS - by YANNIK.
Chapter Nine – THE DOC.
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"Ha! This time I didn't…" Doctor prevailed over his programming this time, but then he looked around. "Oh, there are injured… What's the nature of medical emergency?"
"There was a leak in the warp core chamber" Paris started explaining, while circling his tricoder over Sue Nicoletti's leg. "Three people burned. I'm assessing their injuries, and I think you should take care of Crewman White right now. She's in the worst shape. I sedated her already."
"Good job, Lieu… uhm… Ensign."
Doctor turned to his patient, immediately immersed in his job. In a matter of minutes first of the injured were all attended to. Crewman White – though seemingly critical – was soon stabilized, and about-to-be ready to leave for her quarters. Unfortunately new casualties were coming at speedy rate, the leak still not being evened out.
When Ens Wildman and two more crewmen trained to assist the Doctor appeared, working went on much smoother. But still the Doctor was extremely happy that Ens Paris was there to check the first encounter. Of course he'd be called here in situation like this anyway – like Wildman was – but here he was present and acting nano-seconds before Doctor. And the problem was solved nano-seconds earlier. Not that it mattered for average human being. Or other species – Doctor though with disgust, eyeing Lt. Torres who just stormed into the Sickbay and ragged back and forth between her wounded crewmembers. No, she would not pay attention to something that subtle. But Doctor did, and he made a mental note to mention that to the Captain at the next opportunity. Transferring Paris to the Sickbay for alpha shift was one of her best decisions.
"Ens Wildman, please, escort Lt. Torres out of the Sickbay" Doctor ordered.
"I want to know…" Chief Engineer started, but she was not allowed to finish.
"And you will" Doctor stated, and turned form her. "Ens Paris, what's your patients status?"
"White is detoxicated, there is no indication of radiation influence; Nicoletti lost a lot of blood, and she's having some arrhythmia; Jones' fracture is healed, but he complained of pain, so I gave him 20mg ulfiver."
"Very well. We're running short of biobeds, so you may let White go to her quarters. But give her the monitor, and take a look at the reading every fifteen minutes. She must show up here in two hours for evaluation. Nicoletti… 5mg Kalium in hypospray, I'll treat her with regenerator to rebuild her blood in a moment. Jones… may go to his quarters, and come back in three hours, or if there are any more problems. Thank you" Doctor smiled. That was excellent. The Sickbay was still crowded, but they were dealing all right. "Wildman, your patients?"
Doctor ordered medications here and there, healed a few wounds, but none of the crewmembers was badly hurt. Most of them were – as Crewman White – exposed to radiation and – though at the first moment in bad shape, due to the quick and professional reaction of the medical team – they were ready to go to their own beds in matter of minutes.
Half an hour later there were four patients left in the Sickbay, and Doctor allowed the two extra nurses to depart from their posts. The three of them would do just fine. He didn't turn himself off though, instead he seated in his office and decided to check some evaluation files. Few crewmembers needed their yearly evaluation, and he should have taken care of it days ago.
Ear-piercing sound of an alarm startled him almost as if he was a human. But he reacted quicker than Paris and Wildman. He was at Sue Nicoletti's side, reading a tricoder, before the others even turned their heads. She was in full cardiac arrest.
"What'ta…" Paris started, but Doc knew already.
"Kalium overdose! Damn it Paris, how much have you given her?"
"I…"
"Not now! Intubation gear! Plates!"
"Charged!"
"Clear!"
Nicoletti stirred.
"Sodium carbonate, Paris, don't stand like that! Hypospray! Now!"
Sue Nicoletti was stabilized in a few seconds, but Paris stood by her biobed, stunned.
"What were you thinking?"
"I… I gave her as you ordered… Five grams…"
"Five milligrams!"
"Five…"
"Damn it, even if you were unsure, given your training you should know by now, how much Kalium can human system sustain! Where's your head Paris?" When Ensign didn't respond, Doctor got suddenly concerned about him. "Ens Wildman, check the status of other patients, please. Paris – in my office."
Young man followed the hologram.
"Have you been sleeping well, Ensign?" Doctor asked in much calmer manner. "During those past few days I noticed quite often…"
"I'm doing just fine, Doctor."
"Mistake like that…" Doctor suddenly stopped. "Doctor?" he inquired, surprised.
"Doctor" Tom shrugged. "You're Doctor, aren't you?"
"You never call me that. You call me Doc. I'm kind of used to that and rather fond of it. It's almost like… my other name!"
"Sorry. I didn't realize. Doc."
Doctor eyed Paris for a long while. He knew there was no way he could make the younger man open up right now. No it was better to just let him do his job, and return to this conversation in more convenient situation. Hopefully soon.
Unfortunately this opportunity didn't appear today. Paris stayed in the Sickbay well into the beta shift – he wanted to make sure Sue Nicoletti would be fine. But he was avoiding the Doctor as much as it was possible, while working together. The first possibility to talk, was when Tom was leaving, so Doc didn't have a chance to say much.
"Get some sleep, Ensign" he could only let his concern show. Sometimes he did let his friends know he cared.
"I will" Paris answered quietly.
"Computer deactivate EMH" Doc said into the empty Sickbay.
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t.b.c.
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