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Lorna had been humming to herself for the past half hour, it wasn't any particular tune, she was just humming. It was so busy! It was the night shift yes but there'd been an breakout of an unknown pathogen. (Nothing too serious, just made people sleepy and sozzled.) All the beds were taken up and each one assigned a Nurse to prevent any… shenanigans. There was no rhyme or reason as to who was affected (as far as she could tell, McCoy was currently trying to work that little chestnut out in the research lab).
She preferred it quiet.
The effects wore off after several hours and everybody was at different points of recovery. Some were sleeping it off, others were still arguing, a select number of gems had got to the oh so pleasant 'I love you, you're my best friend, why don't you love me?' stage.
That was Lorna's favourite.
Kostas had offered to sedate everybody, the Doctor really did like sedating people but Lorna just shook her head in despair.
She'd made a little tent on her desk out of two PADDs propped up against one another, you know, for the little people she'd made out of gauze and the sticks they used for stirring things. Pulling their tiny blanket over them she whispered goodnight before pushing her chair back. Grabbing two coffees and a Red Velvet Cupcake (for her, not for McCoy let's make that clear right now! He knows what he did!) she made her way over to the research lab. Using her elbow to press the access pad the door opened as Lorna poured the two cups of coffee down her Doctor's coat, dropped the cupcake and swore at the top of her voice. McCoy, for his part, simply turned and took in the sight before him. Opening his mouth to speak he stopped when Lorna held up a solitary, cautionary forefinger. Then she opened her mouth to speak but there was really nothing to say so she just left and McCoy carried on with his work.
Pulling off her coffee stained coat she grabbed a cloth and got on her hands and knees, clearing away the spilt coffee and cupcake. She should have known better than to try and do something nice, it never worked out! She should have stayed where she was, humming.
"It's the hard-knock life for us, It's the hard-knock life for us." How did icing get up the wall? "Steada treated, we get tricked, steada kisses, we get kicked." Lorna pulled herself up and made sure the floor wasn't wet. "It's the hard-knock life!" Expertly deploying her best jazz hands didn't stop her from skidding on a lump of cake she'd failed to notice, Lorna's legs flew out from under her and she landed with a thump on her backside. Her screech was overshadowed by the ramblings of Ensign Ruiz who had been very loudly reciting Asimov's rules of robotics, or was it laws of robots? Whatever it was she'd been at it for hours!
"First Law!" the woman shouted from her bed. "A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm." Lorna was still on the floor, trying to ignore the pain radiating from her back. "Second Law, A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law." Slowly sitting up Lorna looked around, nobody had even noticed which was both a blessing (because why did anybody need to see that?) and a disappointment (because she wanted sympathy; it really hurt!). "Third Law! A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws." Hobbling back to her desk she gingerly sat down and stared out onto the sick bay.
"Here," jumping in surprise she saw that McCoy was stood next to her, a coffee and Red Velvet Cupcake in his hand. When he put them down in front of her and gave her that smile that he only gave to her she gulped. Oh no! She was going to cry. Not trusting herself to speak she stared at the cupcake. "Lorna?" McCoy said concerned and that was that, she couldn't hold it together. Her eyes prickled with tears and she did that weird inhale/hiccup thing when she tried to tell him she was okay.
It was just so nice, it was just such a nice thing to do!
McCoy racked his brain trying to work out what was happening?
"Thank you Leonard," she said when she thought she could speak without bawling.
"You sure? You don't look too happy about it." He asked, smirking.
"It's so lovely, you're so lovely." She told him, eating the cake whilst sniffling. She didn't even bother making sure her sponge to cream cheese ratio was correct, she just shoved in one side of the thing and hoped for the best.
"Everything alright?" Lorna nodded ardently. "You need anything else?" he asked and Lorna shook her head equally enthusiastically. "Can I go back to work?" again Lorna gave him a silent nod. When he bent over and gave her a kiss on the top of her head she nearly burst out crying again.
"I fell over," she whispered through tears, cake and sniffles.
"You hurt anything?" he asked, again trying not to laugh.
"My bum," she confessed.
"Want me to kiss it better?" Lorna side eyed McCoy before he gave her a wink and walked back into the research lab. Taking a sip of her coffee Kostas came into view looking decidedly horrified.
"The Captain is naked again." Spitting her coffee back into its cup Lorna stared at Kostas. "You think I'm dealing with that?" they said.
"Yes?" Lorna replied and when Kostas just laughed at her heartedly she felt like crying again.
McCoy walked out of the research lab hours later, the bay was now dark and the remaining patients were all sleeping. Making his way over to Lorna's desk his eyebrow arched in confusion and concern when he saw that she was wearing a full on Hazmat suit. The thing was her head was on her desk and as he tilted his head he could see that she was asleep through the clear, face window thing. Shaking her shoulder McCoy called out her name until she woke up, groggily sitting up and giving him a smile.
"Care to explain?" he asked.
"Explain what?" she asked and McCoy couldn't even comprehend how anybody could think it was anything other than the fact that she was wearing a full protective suit.
"The suit?" he persevered.
"Oh this," Lorna said surprised. "I had to put Kirk back in bed." She explained.
Leonard McCoy was a rational man and he loved his Wife dearly but there were times…
Lorna picked up on his discomfort and expanded on her answer.
"He was naked… and exuberant… and who knows where he's been!" McCoy chose to accept the reason being given without further questioning. "You've seen his medical file Leonard, do you think I was going to touch that?"
"Why haven't you taken it off?"
"It's warm," Lorna answered smiling contently. McCoy was already acquainted with the fact that Lorna could complain she was cold on a hot summer's day so he already knew that anything, anybody or anywhere that kept her warm was her Achilles heel.
"And you fell asleep?" he continued.
"Yes," she answered.
"Because you were warm?" he deduced.
"You know me so well!" Lorna smiled and tried to give him a hug.
"You're out of your goddamn mind if you think I'm hugging you in that thing!" he exclaimed, pushing her away.
"What? This doesn't do it for you?" Giving him a rather 'not suitable for work' dance Lorna sneezed and not being able to cover her nose sprayed snot all of the clear face window thing. "Well that's disgusting," she commented before seeing the look of horror on McCoy's face. "Please don't divorce me."
McCoy had been in their quarters for over an hour by the time he heard the door swoosh open. Getting up from the bed where he'd been reading he walked into the living room.
"You said you'd be right behind me…?" he started. "Why are you still wearing the suit?" he asked Lorna as she stood in the middle of the room, her arms hanging dejectedly by her sides.
"I couldn't reach the zip and nobody was there to help me," she told him. Walking over Lorna let herself fall into him, the plastic over the head covering crackling against McCoy's chest. McCoy put his arms around her and gave her a hug.
"You want me to help?" he asked and laughed when the plastic moved up and down. "Come on," taking her gloved hand he guided the way, as he always did.
McCoy had been in a foul mood all day, he'd had to listen to that Vulcan and the Kid argue the merits of First Contact and the perhaps not so great idea of the Captain flirting with one of the Daughters of the Grand Chief for over two hours on the Bridge before it had all got too much for him and he had stormed off.
"Goddamn irresponsible… Playing games with life!" he mumbled as he launched himself into his quarters and stormed around like a bear with a sore paw. "I'm done, they're going to be the death of me and everybody else! Who do they think they are, damned lunatics." Pouring himself a drink he continued his mutterings as he shirked off trousers and left them where they fell. "I'm a nervous wreck… If I'm not careful I'll end up talking to myself."
Lorna, who had been in the bathroom when he'd come in heard the commotion outside and finished up quickly. Peering round the door she just caught sight of him wrestling his uniform off and over his head, getting stuck for split second and letting off a series of expletives.
"How was your day?" she asked. The look he gave her when he finally got out of his fabric prison was enough for her to wince. "That good huh?"
"I'm going to bed," he told her.
"Can I get you anything?" Lorna asked as she pulled on her boots and watched as McCoy fell onto the bed face first and groaned into his pillow.
"MfGHybmffff?" came the mumbled response.
"Love you," she shouted as she left but instead of heading towards the med bay, Doctor Lorna Heiland-McCoy headed in the direction of the Bridge.
Lorna walked with purpose towards Kirk, who was lounging in the Captain's chair.
"Captain," she said pointedly. Kirk looked up, slightly surprised at seeing Lorna stood beside him.
"Doctor Heiland?" Standing he took in her stern looking features. "Is everything alright?" he asked, completely thrown by the icy stare he was on the receiving end of.
"A word in private," it wasn't a request. Lorna strode towards the conference room adjacent to the Bridge with a very befuddled Kirk following after. Once inside Kirk didn't dare speak and Lorna wasn't interested in anything he had to say. "Captain, good leadership and support can have a significant positive impact on a crews mental wellbeing. If a Captain establishes good relationships with the people around them, then they will be able to talk openly when there is a problem." Kirk opened his mouth to speak but Lorna made it perfectly clear with everything about the way she was looking at him, standing and the tone of her voice that he was not, to utter, a single word. "Leaders can support positive expectations of what the Officer can achieve. This gives the Officer control in a supportive environment." Lorna took a breath, "You have a duty of care Captain, it is your responsibility to protect people from workplace health risks, all processes and control measures related to maintaining a healthy workplace are under your obligation. If I feel like this obligation isn't being met Captain I'll be forced to report the matter to Starfleet, understood?" It wasn't a question.
"I'm sorry Lorna," he started.
"If Doctor McCoy, or anybody else for that matter ever comes back from the Bridge, or anywhere else for that matter, in that state again you will be!" she answered menacingly. Kirk had no idea she had it in her! He would have been impressed if weren't for the fact that he was genuinely frightened of the woman standing in front of him.
"It won't happen again," Kirk promised.
"Woe betide if it does!" Turning on her heel she left quickly, when she was safely in the turbolift and the door had closed behind her Lorna took a deep breath and then rolled her eyes at herself. "You will be?!" she repeated her earlier threat to Kirk. "Who says that? 'You will be!' Ugh!" Well, it was done now.
She needed to work on her fighting talk… 'Woe betide!' Seriously?!
His face was kinda funny though…
Lorna felt kind of good, like her adrenaline was going and she was proud of herself. He deserved it, making people angry and stressed, there was no need for it! Walking down the corridor she walked with a little added bounce into the med bay.
"Evening Doc," Vallo greeted her.
"I'm kicking names and taking arse Vallo!" Lorna announced as she stopped in the middle of the bay and took the stance of a Superhero, hands on hips and looking out into the distance.
"Don't you mean…" Vallo started.
"And a very good evening to you too Nurse Vallo," Lorna continued. "You need anything? You okay? If you need anything you know where I am!" Lorna gave the Nurse a cracking smile and a thumbs up, she neglected to see the look of bewilderment on Vallo's face. "Vallo!" she shouted out a moment later as she turned back around as if she'd left the oven on at home.
"Yeah?" Vallo answered hesitantly.
"Let's set up a session for all the Senior Officers, health and wellbeing in the workplace." She was doing that weird thing with her hands as if she was Cowboy and she had two pistols in her hands.
"Okay?" She still didn't know what was going on.
"Great, I'm getting hummus, you want some?" Lorna pointed at her, doing that weird thing with her hands she did when she was excited.
"I'm good, thanks?" Still had no clue.
"You sure? It's pretty good hummus, have you tried it before? You know what, don't answer that! I'll get you some, you want pitta with it? You know what, don't answer that! I'll get you some." Giving Vallo a wink she sauntered off in pursuit of the transcendent almighty chickpea. "You won't regret it my friend!"
A few days later McCoy was having a drink with Kirk when the poor young lad went quiet.
"Everything alright Jim?" McCoy asked, sipping his Bourbon and enjoying a quiet moment. Kirk hesitated.
"Your Wife told me off," he mumbled.
"Pardon?" McCoy thought he heard what he said, he just needed to be sure.
"Lorna came and shouted at me…"
"Shouted?" McCoy interrupted.
"Well, not shouted, but she threatened me Bones!" McCoy had to swallow the laugh brewing in his belly. He thought his friend had been acting differently over the past few days, he hadn't been able to put his finger on it until now.
"Good," he finally responded. Oh but he wished he'd been a fly on the wall. Kirk realised he wasn't going to get any sympathy from his friend, so changed the subject.
When McCoy saw Lorna later that evening he listened attentively as she told him all about her lunchtime foray into the world of mime, apparently it was quite difficult to genuinely look like you're stuck in a box.
"You're amazing," he told her out of nowhere. He really did think she was, he really did love her too. How could he not and the fact she'd stuck up for him? Gone to the Captain and given him what for? Too cute.
"Obviously," Lorna answered without missing a beat and then a moment later asked why.
"You just are," he said, getting up from the dining table and pulling her into an embrace. Lorna let out a satisfied sigh and smiled into McCoy's chest.
"Okay," she agreed.
McCoy was very… Well, let's just say he was very grateful, very grateful indeed that evening.
Lorna lay on the floor behind her desk, an empty sick bay meant Lorna Heiland was messing. She'd already healed her eye herself having managed to fling a huge dollop of shampoo in it before coming to work. Now she was stretching out her limbs, she considered it Yoga but not having ever done Yoga she actually didn't know whether or not it was? She could take a nap? No, she wasn't tired. McCoy had made her eat dinner before her shift as well so she wasn't hungry. Standing up she looked around the bay, clicking her fingers to get her brain working she wondered how she could fill her time. Narrowing her eyes, an idea came to mind and she grinned in self-regard and glee.
"Computer, rotate lighting, alter colour spectrum every ten seconds and intersperse with flashes every five seconds." Standing Lorna smiled. "Computer, play Out of Space by The Prodigy, Loud. Very loud." And that's how Lorna came to find herself having her very own, private rave for twenty minutes (until she got a stitch and had to sit down). She was very please with herself though, she used two tricorders, one in each hand as glow sticks!
Now she was hungry.
Cupcake or Hummus? Or Pie! Savoury pie, not sweet pie! She wasn't a monster!
"Oh Pie?!" Now there was an idea. "No, not pie." She admonished herself. "Don't be ridiculous!" Shaking her head at herself she carried on with her duties, taking inventory, making sure the crew physicals were all planned in. She'd put her earbuds in at some point but had toned it down somewhat and was currently listening to some classical music which was very calming and nice. She flittered around, puffing up pillows and restocking shelves.
At around the halfway mark of her shift she got an interesting case of an allergic reaction from one of the Botanists, that kept her quite busy…
After that a quick plasma burn, knock to the head and a charming case of gastroenteritis took her almost to the end of her shift. Almost.
"Oh come on!" Lorna exclaimed, letting her head loll back in exasperation. A loud clanging sound caught her attention and Lorna found herself staring at the wall. Scrunching her face up in confusion Lorna sat quietly and still, there it was again! Slowly getting to her feet she tip toed towards the wall and ever so gently put her ear to the panel.
There was definitely something in there.
"We meet again," she whispered which meant nothing to anybody and didn't even make sense but sounded ominous and cool to Lorna.
Tapping her comm badge she opened a channel to Engineering where she was abruptly told that it was probably nothing and that they were busy and that they would get there after they'd finished up doing every other job.
"Well there's no need for that!" Lorna muttered to herself as she stood back up and looked around her, wondering what to do next. Grabbing the toolkit that sat in one of the maintenance drawers Lorna set about removing the panel in question. Heaving the thing off she set it to one side and looked inside, letting out a low whistle she took in the array or wires, duotronic relays and little blinking lights.
There was the sound again!
And it was definitely louder. Tentatively reaching out towards the panel with her hand Lorna stopped abruptly and looked at the tools beside her. She had no idea what she was doing but when had that ever stopped her before?. Running over to her desk she grabbed a PADD and jogged back over to the panel again, tapping away she brought up a schematic of the panel she was looking at.
"How do I take the front bit off?" she asked aloud. The diagram was about as useful as a set of IKEA furniture assembly instructions so she tossed the PADD to one side and decided to give it a good ol' college try. Picking up what looked to be a sonic screwdriver (sorry wrong fandom) Lorna went for it.
"I can do this, can't be that hard right?!" The subsequent jolt shot her clear across the floor, leaving her splayed out, down for the count and sizzling. A few minutes later she came to; "Ow?" Turning onto her side Lorna took a moment to ascertain her injuries but was interrupted by Kostas walking through the main door.
She knew it, she was never going to live this one down.
"Oh hey!" she tried to act casual as she wafted away the smoke that was still billowing around her. "Funny story… " she started but the look on Kostas' face told her to quit while she was ahead. "I think something's in there?" she continued.
"Something? Could you be more specific?" Kostas asked to which Lorna looked at them wide-eyed.
"I'm a Doctor not an Engineer!"
"I see," Kostas pulled her up off the floor and led her towards one of the beds.
"I feel like my fingers are full of energy," Lorna said absentmindedly as she held her hands up in front of her face. Kostas just placed them back in her lap and waved a tricorder in front of her.
"You know you're going to get in trouble for this don't you…?" Kostas started but the pair of Doctors were both side-tracked by the sound of knocking coming from the panel.
"I told you!" Lorna exclaimed. Kostas looked from the panel to Lorna and then back again.
"You have got to be kidding me," the Doctor exclaimed, shaking their head and already knowing what was coming next.
"You have to help me," Lorna was already jumping off the bed.
"Not a chance in hell Heiland."
"Come on, there might be something seriously wrong…"
"Exactly," Kostas interrupted.
"There's no time to lose," Lorna whispered to herself as she started fiddling with the panel again, this time being very careful not to prod what she prodded before. "As the crack team tried to penetrate the force field little did they know that evil forces were quickly catching up to them."
Kostas rolled their eyes.
"Heiland, get away from that panel!" Kostas shouted.
"But?"
"No 'But?', AWAY!" Lorna downed tools dolefully.
"Fine," she said sulking. "At least comm engineering and let them know there's a genuine problem." She asked.
"Oh there's a problem alright, you've finally lost your last marble. Now get back over here so I can find out whether or not you've done any lasting damage."
"There won't be any lasting damage," Lorna laughed.
"Ha! Famous last words."
To be continued.