Tegan Chronicles STV Style 3:

What's Left of the Flag 26

When she opened her eyes Tuvok was standing on one side of her and Janeway on the other. They were both staring down at her expectantly. Her head hurt and the lights in sickbay weren't helping one bit. She squinted at Kathryn. "What happened?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. Tuvok and I found you unconscious and washed up on the shore of your little holo-program. You've been playing with fire lately." You were bound to get burned. "What's going on?" Why won't you talk to me?

Tegan shook her head which only made the drunken seahorses in her stomach start swimming in hysterical circles. She must have swallowed them while she was underwater. She took one measured breath and then another vowing she would not vomit on Janeway again. I didn't do this. "It's not what you think."

"You weren't on the holodeck with the safeties turned off?" She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her piercing blue eyes on her.

Her face flushed under the rebuke of her Captain. As Janeway spoke she could find no traces of Kathryn in her expression or her tone. There wasn't an explanation in the entire galaxy that would excuse what she had done. She knew she might as well own up to it, it wasn't like she didn't already know. That wasn't the entire reason, and it wasn't because she didn't want to make her madder, but because she did not want to lie to her on any level. "Yes ma'am, I was."

"You could have killed yourself." Her eyes softened, at the thought, and her shoulders sagged ever so slightly as she dropped her arms to her side.

Tegan adjusted her body and grimaced as her bruised muscles protested, a small grin tried to slither onto her lips leaving Janeway to wonder if she was covering up the pain. Tuvok knew the answer and filed it away for later. He was determined to talk to her in the next 24 hours. Neither one offered any sympathy and not because they didn't care or because she didn't want it, but because she didn't deserve it.

She had hit the reef pretty hard. She was lucky she didn't drown. She almost laughed at the irony and coughed to cover up the dry chuckle.

"What?" Janeway pressed.

In a theatrical voice Tegan answered; "Dr. Drowns on a holodeck."

"I fail to see the humor in that, you're lucky you didn't." Any and all traces of Kathryn vanished again. "As of now I'm suspending your holodeck privileges until further notice." She didn't care if she caught flack from the crew for taking away their Friday night entertainment. She didn't care if Tegan couldn't remain professional and took it out on her and their relationship. Part of her thought she might while the other part knew Tegan was bigger than that. She decided only time would tell. "Why the hell isn't there a counselor aboard Voyager?"

"I'm fine." Tegan said the only thing she could think of. Her normal response to anything related to how she was, physically or mentally. Everything always remained relative when it came to her.

"You are hardly fine." Her hands moved away from her body and her fingers flared. "If we had a ship's counselor it would be mandatory that you see them."

"Guess I hit the jackpot then." Tegan grinned when Kathryn glared at her.

"If you are done Captain I need to check my patient over." The EMH strolled over with his medical tricorder.

Janeway nodded and she and Tuvok walked out together.

"You are extremely lucky." The doctor pointed out needlessly. "You very easily could have drown. What were you thinking turning the safeties off?"

"I am an accomplished surfer." Tegan folded her arms over her.

"Accomplished at what? Wiping out?" He jutted his chin out and grinned. When she didn't answer he continued prattling on. "You were quite banged up when you arrived. I managed to clean up and treat most of your wounds. Lucky for you I didn't have to dig any holo-corral out of your lacerations, but I'm told by Tuvok and Captain Janeway you had quite a few pieces sticking out of you. I also believe you've suffered a mild to moderate concussion."

"My surfboard hit me in the head." She griped.

"Well I do believe you will live." He looked at the tricorder readouts. "Assuming the captain doesn't kill you for being a complete and total idiot."

She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. "You know your bedside manner could really use some work Doctor."

"So I've been told." He rolled his eyes.

"Besides, I don't need a lecture from you. I've already gotten the Janeway lecture which I'm sure isn't finished. I certainly don't need you adding to it."

He scratched his head, which if she had thought about it was kind of funny since force fields and light shouldn't itch. "Maybe I was wrong."

"About?"

"Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought." He shook his tricorder and ran the small probe around her head again. His lips pursed to one side of his face. "No, the readings are the same. But you were unconscious for longer than one would expect considering the blow you sustained."

"I'm fine. I'm just tired of all this crap." She growled deep in her chest actually causing the holoman to step back. "Can I go?"

"Sure, but if you…"

"I went to freaking medical school. I know what to watch for with a concussion." She stood up and as the blanket fell the rest of the way off her body she realized she was still in her black bikini, the rash guard had disappeared when she was transported from the holodeck. "Where the hell are my clothes?"

"I will replicate a new uniform for you." He walked away from her hoping she would be in a better mood when he returned.

She took the fresh uniform from him and made a face. "Thank you."

"Sure, don't mention it." He shifted from one foot to the other.

Tegan raised her eyes. "You aren't going to watch me dress."

"No." He agreed with her. "I want to see you tomorrow at 1000 hours."

"I'll be here. That is during my duty shift."

"No. Concussion protocol, you're off duty for the next 24 hours."