Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you to Fameanon for helping me write this.
Shija had just finished rounds with Strom when a familiar twinge across her abdomen made her wince. Strom did not seem to notice, but she quietly excused herself and retrieved her necessities from her locker.
Once she had freshened up, she returned to her office to complete her reports. She heard a knock at her door and looked up to see Sopek standing before her like a soldier at attention, arms clasped behind his back.
"Good morning, Sopek," she said with a slight smile. "How are you today?"
"I am quite well, thank you. And yourself?"
She smiled wryly, then schooled herself. "Well, I've certainly been better." She blinked, wondering if they were close enough friends for her to even mention her period. "But I'll be better once the analgesic kicks in."
He frowned. "Are you in pain? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing terrible, just..." She looked up at him and sighed. She couldn't have him worrying about her. "Maybe this is too much information, but...um...I'm currently menstruating. Do you know what...?"
His eyes widened and he nodded. "I see. Is the analgesic enough to dull the pain? Shall I fetch you something?"
"I'm fine, Sopek, it's not so bad right now that an analgesic won't take care of it. I'm just a bit tired." She barely suppressed an awkward laugh, though a small snort escaped her nose. As if this day couldn't get any more embarrassing. "So, um...what brings you by? Not that it's not agreeable to see you, it's just you had the look of someone who's on a mission and...I'm rambling." She took a deep breath. "How can I help you?"
He smirked slightly. "I simply came by to invite you and Strom out to lunch."
Shija nodded, "I will let Strom know and meet you in the cafeteria."
Sopek nodded, and turned on his heels to fetch things before they arrived in the cafeteria. He mentally marked off wine from his list, as he understood that wine would not allow her to continue working. He went and replicated a hot water bottle, hot drinking chocolate, and a small box of mixed chocolates. He then paused, suppressing a sudden angst. Stepping over to a communication portal, he calculated what time of day it was on Vulcan. Knowing it to be a similar time, he called V'Las' direct line, which the minister himself picked up.
"Sopek?" V'Las greeted with a slight frown. "You look…emotional. Is my granddaughter well?"
"Forgive the unscheduled intrusion, honored Osu. I am preparing to have lunch with Shija and Strom, and have need of your assistance." Sopek waited for V'Las to nod before continuing. "This morning, when I asked if Shija would eat with me, the conversation turned to a personal matter." He looked side to side, then back at V'Las. "She is experiencing that which females do not speak of."
V'Las' eyes widened and his jaw tightened in understanding. "I see."
"I have gotten her drinking chocolate and chocolate candies. It occurred to me that our people become intoxicated on chocolate. I would look unintelligent and thoughtless to give her such comfort items. It could jeopardize her job as well."
V'Las nodded, smirking slightly. "Wise, my boy. Substitute the drinking chocolate for Cardassian red leaf tea. It is her favorite and calms her cramps. Give her the candy – she can eat that as she is able. Her reaction to chocolate is mild but not unnoticeable. Also, apple hand pies. They contain enough cinnamon to ease her pelvic muscles, but not enough to alter her in any way."
Sopek closed his eyes, committing all V'Las explained to memory. "Thank you, Osu. Any word yet on your son meeting me?"
"If you do not hear from him in the next three days, message me and I will urge him." V'Las raised the ta'al before the screen went blank.
Sopek quickly changed his gifts to reflect the new information and headed to the café.
Shija had just sat down with a bowl of plomeek when a steaming mug of Cardassian red leaf tea, an apple hand pie and a small assortment of chocolates were placed before her. She looked up at Sopek, smiling slightly, and immediately went for the tea.
"Thank you, Sopek!" she said, and noticed Strom was eyeing the hand pie and chocolate with incredulity. "Um...how...these are really lovely. How did you know?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I have a contact who informed me that these foodstuffs might be...beneficial to you."
She nodded, but Strom cleared his throat. "Sopek, both chocolate and cinnamon are intoxicants, how is that beneficial?"
"I am aware," Sopek said, clearing his throat. "However, much like many intoxicants, when taken in what is known as a micro dose, there are many benefits to the chemical compound without the intoxicating factor. In order to become intoxicated on the hand pie, she would have to consume ten. That being said, eating this hand pie will allow for cinnamon to aid in the relaxation of pelvic and back muscles, reduce inflammation, and aid in joint movement. All of which reduces pain. The chocolates are more, but they are in a box for later."
Strom raised an eyebrow. There was something Sopek knew that he was not sharing openly. He had clearly done research on these things, which could be related to his work in paramedicine but was so oddly specific it seemed to be more. Plus, he said he had a contact that stated that those would be beneficial for his nurse. Instead of demanding any more answers, Strom nodded curtly, deciding that he would question Sopek later. He looked to his nurse, who had been tense and somewhat disagreeable, she was now much more relaxed, even with only drinking the tea. Yes, Strom thought, there is more here than meets the eye.
Sopek left and returned to the table with his own food, and a plate for Strom, who had been sitting staring at the apple hand pie for some time now. "Here, Strom, I brought us lunch as well."
"Can I join?" He turned and saw Dr. Cardwell carrying her tray in one hand and her PADDs in the other.
Strom nodded and gestured to the seat beside him. Dr. Cardwell sat down, primly folding a napkin across her lap, and he noted that her tray had very little food on it.
"Doctor...are you certain that is enough calories? By my estimation, a woman of your age and stature should be eating double what is currently on your plate."
She frowned at him, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"It's typically impolite to comment on other people's food, doctor," Shija said bluntly. Hester sighed and shook her head as Strom opened his mouth to apologize.
"I'm not particularly hungry, doctor, I just didn't want to eat alone." He noted her voice carried more emotion than usual.
Shija seemed to be much more agreeable after consuming her tea and hand pie, but Hester seemed tense all throughout lunch and did not speak much.
After lunch, Strom pulled Sopek aside and fixed him with a serious stare. "What is the matter with Shija? And what is this secret knowledge you hold that helped her so?"
Sopek nodded, returning his gaze with a meaningful look. "As a physician you, I am sure, understand human reproductive issues."
Strom nodded. "I understand the mechanics." He paused and then his eyes widened slightly. "That…is what this is?"
"Yes, but I have been taught more than the mechanics of such things, by an honored Osu who lived with a human female through all of her reproductive issues." He grabbed Strom's PADD and began punching in information. "This is handled as is our fever. It is not spoken of openly, but it has many features of the beginnings of a fever. Irrational behavior, irritation, emotional compromised crying, and it also contains physical issues which I have listed here. It is my suspicion that Dr. Cardwell also has such issues now, as it is written that it is likely that females who work in close proximity to each other will have cycles that synchronize."
"Fascinating." Strom pursed his lips as he read over the information. Naturally, he knew the medical side of this phenomena, but the extra information about "folk medicine" concerning the nature of treating it was a complete mystery. "I will send hot tea to Dr. Cardwell, and a hand pie."
Sopek nodded. "It is a logical intervention. Human women also enjoy wine and much deeper richer chocolates. Since chocolate is not an intoxicant you may lead with this first."
"If it will aid in stabilizing her, I see the logic in that." Strom contacted one of the many aids at his disposal and arranged for everything that might be helpful during and after work to Dr. Cardwell. It was only logical, since they would be working together, and he had no wish to see her suffer.
Hester was just finishing up a report when a shadow fell across her desk. Dr. Strom stood there, teacup in hand, and a small bag slung over his shoulder.
"Good afternoon, doctor," she said neutrally. "How may I assist you?"
He raised an eyebrow. "This is for you," he replied, setting down the teacup. She frowned at it, but looked up, ready to thank him when he pulled a bottle of wine out of the bag, followed by a small hand pie and a small box of chocolates.
"It is my understanding that these items will help mitigate any pain you may be feeling."
She coughed to cover a laugh. "I beg your pardon?"
"I know this time is not spoken of openly, but in the spirit of our professional relationship, I am offering you these things to help with your menstrual pain."
She picked up the tea and took an experimental sip. "I...I am uncertain on how to broach the subject, but I suppose forthrightness will do: how did you know?" She stood and tried to look at the back of her slacks. "I haven't bled through anything, have I?"
"No, but others signs presented themselves. May I inquire as to how you are feeling?"
She set the teacup down and offered him a wry smile. "I feel like I'm being stabbed with a hot knife and my lower back is killing me, but other than that, I'm alright." She took another sip of tea. "Thank you very much for giving me these things. That is very considerate of you."
A solution hit Strom like a bolt out of the blue, "Actually," he said, walking around the desk while putting on gloves, "if you will permit me, doctor, I may be able to aid you further. If you give me a moment of trust."
It was Hester's moment to raise an eyebrow. "Ok," she muttered hesitantly. "I don't know where this is going, but I know you are a fine doctor, so…" She took in a deep breath and let it all out at once. "I will choose to trust you and your judgment."
Strom recalled the steps for Vulcan neuropressure; if this worked, he would remember to tell Sopek for future reference. "Point to where the pain is the worst, and where it is now."
Hester showed him, and watched how laser focused he was as she spoke. "Good lord, doctor…the way you listen, actually listen..you would have made a very good OBGYN."
Strom instructed her to lean forward, then carefully pressed in on the proper point near her spine; he pushed into her skin with steady, deep pressure. He could feel the firing of her nerves and the stiffening of her pain knots, even with his gloves on. He carefully manipulated her nerves and muscles, maintaining an even tension before releasing and moving to the next point.
Her breath hitched as he released her. "Are you in further pain?" Strom asked.
"No," she replied in a thin squeaky voice, "The opposite."
He nodded in satisfaction and continued until he felt the complete release of muscles under his skilled fingers. Stepping away from her, he removed the gloves, and looked at her with an expectant gaze. "Did that aide you? Do you feel better?"
She swallowed hard. "Of course. That…is…if we could bottle that…" She hesitated to stand, worried that she might fall over. "May I ask why you wore gloves?"
"It is to keep from intruding on your privacy. A Vulcan can feel emotions through the fingers, and the whole process becomes much more intimate when touching skin on skin." He bowed his head to her and turned to leave. "I must depart, I have a meeting in ten minutes."
Hester's jaw slackened at how casually he could waltz into the room, make her feel like she had just had the best night of her life and then walk out like it was nothing. "Well…very well then," she said to the now-empty room. She sighed, popping a piece of the hand pie in her mouth, like a cigarette after sex.
She sat back down and savored the tea, her thoughts continually drifting back to Dr. Strom and the way his fingers had so expertly manipulated her body. A slight flush reached her cheeks, but she shoved the thought away and focused on her paperwork; she had work to do, and had no time at the moment for daydreams.