Chapter 16
Needing a refill and wishing to return the used plate, Mike stands up and leaves his cabin, not using the crutch. Even on the short walk to the galley the pain in his leg increases with every step he takes. He grimaces and now limping, he reaches his goal and hands the empty plate over to Bird. She takes the plate from him and sees his painstricken face "Are you alright Sir? You look pale?" Not wanting to lie to his youngest crewmember, but also not wanting to show weakness, Mike replies "I'm alright. I just forgot my crutch and now I'm paying for this negligence. It's nothing to worry about Bird." Holding out his mug to her, he asks "Could you refill this for me, please?" Smiling, Bird grabs the mug from her boss "Of course. Just a moment boss."
"Here you go Sir" Bird holds the travel mug out to him. He takes it and with a thanks he makes his way back to his cabin. His limp is more pronounced now and the moment he reaches his cabin, he is more then grateful as he sinks down on his bunk. Not bothering to take off his boots, he swings his legs up, stretching them. With a deep sigh, he leans back against the wall and closes his eyes, waiting for the pain to pass. Just as he is about to doze off, a knock sounds on his doorframe. In his hurry he forgot to close it behind him. He looks up and sees Buddy, his new Swain standing there.
Buddy takes a look at his captain and says "I'm just here to check on you boss. Seems I just arrived at the right time for this. You look like you're in pain. That leg bothering you Sir?" Not wishing to eloborate further, Mike just nods. Buddy sees this as a sign to come in. He closes the door and uses the deskchair to take a seat in front of his boss. He then opens his medic backpack and pulls out a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff. "Alright boss. Take off your shirt, please." Reluctantly Mike unbuttons his DPNU shirt and takes it off. The grey undershirt directly follows. Satisfied Buddy uses the stethoscope to check Mike's breathing and heartbeat.
Writing down the numbers on a paper tied to a clip-chart, Buddy sets it aside and grabs the blood pressure cuff, putting it around his boss's left upper arm. Again he writes down the numbers on the chart. He then puts the cuff and stethoscope back into the backpack and takes out a syringe as well as four small vials and other items needed to take samples of his boss' blood. Seeing his boss cringing at seeing the items, Buddy says "Sorry boss. This has to be done. We need to make sure that no infection is setting in. And for that we need blood samples. I'll try to be gentle boss." With those words said, he takes a flexible band and ties it tightly around Mike's left upper arm, slowing the blood flow.
Then he takes a pad coated with an iodine solution and cleans the skin area at the crook of his boss' arm. With an apologetic smile, Buddy grabs one of the vials and the needle, connects them and plunges the needle into Mike's arm, drawing blood. As the first vial is filled, he asks Mike to hold the needle in position while he changes the vial. This happens two more times. Then all four vials are filled with Mike's blood. Buddy takes the needle out, cleans the skin again and puts a gauze pad over the injection mark. Mike flexes his arm muscles and winces as he stretches the left one out. Buddy smiles "You shouldn't be doing that boss. The crook of your arm is sensitive for a while yet."
"Thanks for letting me know" Mike says sarcastically, but still with a slight smile adorning his face. Buddy grabs his things and puts the labeled vials into a special container. "I make sure those get to the lab as fast as possible. But I think you are in the clear boss. Just let me know if you need anything." Mike nods and Buddy exits his boss cabin, going to the wardroom. Alone in his cabin, Mike puts his grey shirt back on and pushes it into his pants. Not bothering with his shirt, he just grabs his travel mug and the crutch and makes his way up to the bridge. It's high time that the commanding officer shows himself up there, he thinks.