Jayme was warm and the lights around her dim, but she had that fuzzy feeling of being sedated. As she started stirring a hand rested on her shoulder and she saw it was Kassia's. She lifted her head a bit and was able to focus on the men leaning against the wall... her father and the other form was Colonel Tarik-he'd ditched his combat gear and was in regular uniform. How long have I been out? She thought to herself.
Marcus saw that his daughter was looking around and moved in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She leaned back against the bio bed she looked to Kassia, who said, "I thought your father should know you were here," Kassia replied gently.
Jayme smiled, "Thanks Kassia for calling him." Jayme went to sit up and saw the IV. Her father moved in to help her sit up and balance. She noticed that her right leg was numb and stiff. She pulled back the blanket and saw that her leg was in a brace. Jayme and looked at the Colonel and Kassia. At that moment, Dr. Fletcher moved to stand directly in front of her. "You sure made a mess of your leg this afternoon in the holo deck. Your file showed that this had been a chronic problem since your initial injury on Swarva, even though your records show that it was repaired once. Now it's been repaired by me."
He checked the knee and pulses in various places and asked, "Are you having any pain or difficulty breathing?" He watched her shake her head. Dr. Fletcher then said. "By the way, Kassia asked me to run a toxicology screen. It came back clean."
"Thank you!" Jayme was not happy about the surgery to her knee-she was due to start working up her unit for a new mission. Kassia smiled and rested her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You'll get a chance to rest and recoup properly."
Jayme took the hint when Dr. Fletcher raised the leg gently and positioned it back on the bed. She laid back as Kassia raised the head of the bed. Jayme pouted then said, looking at Dr. Fletcher "yeah, I have ignored it. I've had an assignment off station and duties to perform. Yes, you have done the right thing in repairing it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
She turned her attention back to her company. Her father and Tarik had matching frowns, and Kassia just smiled and shook her head.
Nathan crossed his arms over his chest and watched her and thought about what she'd said. He went to a replicator and programmed it for hot tea, a pain medication patch, and a heavy dose of tranq for her. He handed her the tea, "This is for the dry mouth." Nathan went to apply the patch and she put up a hand and blocked his move.
"I don't think so—not without seeing the label." He showed her and she nodded OK. Without wasting time he loaded the hypospray and administered the whole dose, then showed her the label. He then asked, "are you always this big a pain in the ass?"
Angry she sat up and tried to stand, "Excuse me, but I am not staying here."
Nathan grabbed both her arms as Marcus and Tarik both backed her up against the biobed. Damn she thought to herself as she felt the tranq hit her blood stream. Back on the bed and another warm blanket, was positioned by Kassia. Jayme mumbled, "Sorry, I'm not a good patient."
Dr. Fletcher shook his head. "None of my surgical patients are released in under twenty four hours." He watched as she shook her head and tried to sit up. "Lay down!" Dr. Fletcher ordered. When he knew she was out, he ushered everyone away from her. "She'll sleep tonight. I'll leave orders to continue the antibiotics, the peripheral protein nutrition, and to monitor the swelling in the joint. I'm going to be here and make sure she doesn't wake till at least noon."
Marcus turned arms crossed over his chest, still watching his sleeping daughter. "Doctor if she gives you any trouble tonight I suggest you plan on keeping her forty-eight hours." He indicated everyone in the little group, and said, "because none of us will be able to make her follow instructions once she's out of here."
The next afternoon Jayme was sitting up eating. Her father had called and would be there in a bit. Kassia arrived and saw that Jayme looked much better, and asked, "how are you feeling?"
Jayme shrugged and grumbled, "I'm the one that gets injured and ends up with a doctor— who is 'anal retentive'. What's up with that?"
Kassia looked at her. "I understand you're angry about having had to stay the night. You have a lot to be angry about in general," Kassia replied. "Maybe this can be a time for you to heal... completely," she said. "Would you like me to stay with you when discharged?" Both women watched Marcus enter and walk over. "Or I suppose your father can?" she smiled.
"I like the idea of my father staying over... you have a family to tend. I can always see if Kama or Marki's available if I need other help. And then my physician will be dropping in. But yes, I would like you to come visit and we'll talk... not like I can just run away. And, I should ask the Colonel for desk duty." Jayme finished the tea and settled back into the pillows.
"I know he wants you to rest and heal," Kassia replied. "Believe me, if you feel a need to do something, I'm sure he'll oblige you, but take the next few days to rest. You need it. It will give you a chance to get your strength back from your last assignment... and I will be around to talk with you, you can be sure of that." Kassia grinned.
With a sigh Jayme sat up and looked for the Doc, and found him sitting in the office looking at something on the computer. He looked up and made eye contact with her. He got up and walked around the glass enclosure. "Yes?"
Jayme smiled and said, "I'd like to return to my quarters."
He picked up a tricorder and ran a scan. After re-applying the brace to her leg, he ordered, "This stays on twenty-four/seven until further notice. Tomorrow, after I examine the leg you can do some light walking. The pain patch should cover everything but if not give Sickbay a call. Ice the knee every two hours for twenty minutes for the first 24 hrs. NO WORKING OUT, NO COMBAT SIMS for ten days! See me for any pain, swelling, or stiffness. I'll evaluate it in ten days and see if you can return to light duty then."
"I think you're now in good hands!" Kassia said as she smiled and winked at Dr. Fletcher, and met Jayme's father's eyes. "I'll come by and see you tomorrow."
With a nod they heard the doctor give the order for a site to site transport and Jayme and her father disappeared in the shimmer of light.
After arriving at her quarters that first day mainly slept and followed her fathers instruction and didn't notice the Dr. Fletcher had been by. The next Jayme woke and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt before she limped into the main room of her quarters to find her father reading a PADD. She went to the replicator and said, "Coffee Black-hot."
He got up and gave her a hug and looked at her knee, which she was gingerly barring weight on and asked, "how's the knee?"
The coffee materialized and she picked up the cup, took a sip and shrugged her shoulders, and said, "Stiff and sore." She slowly walked over and took a seat and stuffed a pillow under it so it was elevated.
Her father had a very good poker face. He ordered himself a cup of coffee and ordered an Ice Pack. "Doc was here last night for a few minutes, but called this morning while you were asleep to check on you and wanted to make sure you kept that leg elevated and iced."
Jayme took a few more sips of coffee and placed the ice pack on her knee. "Did he say anything else?"
"Yeah. That he'll be checking in."
"Just great!" She took several breaths and made herself comfortable on the couch, the asked, "I didn't ask you the other night at dinner so I am going to ask now," Jayme set her cup down. "What are you doing hanging out on SB901?"
"I am still a consultant for SFMC, but Command hasn't sent me any official orders for this sector, —but mainly you hadn't been writing and I decided to come see you. I got here and learned from your colonel why you were out of touch. Since we're being honest, it looks like it was the assignment from hell. How much weight did you lose?"
Jayme refused to meet his eyes, and said, "Little over ten kilo's."
She saw him shake his head, and move back to the replicator and ordered, "two slices whole wheat toast, large bowl oatmeal with brown sugar and a glass of ice cold milk."
"Hey," she said starting to get up... "I can order my own breakfast!"
He tilted his head, looked at her hard and ordered, "Sit down!" She sat and he carried the tray to her. "I'm working for your Physician and Counselor, so eat Marine!" While she ate, he told her the story involving her mother and his discussion to leave.
After a few hours of her studying he ordered lunch and escaped when Kassia showed up. Jayme joined Kassia at the small table to eat. After lunch Jayme moved to the couch and elevated her leg and Kassia refreshed the cold pack. Jayme took a deep breath and asked, "don't you have other people to see?"
As Kassia took a seat in a nearby chair, she laughed and said, "No. Not for a few hours." She saw the other woman roll her eyes. She smiled and asked, "How did you like your piloting lessons with Lt. Deveraux?"
"They went okay." Jayme said fidgeting and wanting to try studying but didn't want to be insulting.
For the next two hours Kassia was able to get Jayme to talk about her folks and growing up on Mars. She looked at the time and noted that Marcus wasn't back. Kassia needed to leave. Kassia tapped her combadge and said, [Lt. Kassia to Sgt. Rashan.]
[Sgt. Rashan, here.] The raven haired corpsmen said standing by her bunk in barracks.
[Marki, I need to be elsewhere. Are you able to hang out here?] Kassia noted the look on Jayme's face.
[Certainly.] Jayme sighed with frustration as Kassia laughed. A few minutes later the door opened and Marki entered and Kassia exited.
Jayme stood and looked at Marki, and said, "make yourself comfortable... I am going to take a nap." Several hours later she woke with a start when her door opened. Laying back she ordered, "lights 50 percent." Jayme saw Dr. Fletcher step inside. She buried her head under a pillow. "—-Ugh." Reluctantly she pulled herself upright into a sitting position and let out a surprised yelped as she tried to bend the knee.
"What?" He asked from his position against the wall by the door.
"Nothing." She said resting both feet on the deck.
"You're a bad liar, Captain!" He walked over and moved a chair around and sat in front of her. As he scanned her he asked, "Any more migraines?"
"No." She said, as he unwrapped her leg. He ran his hand over the joint and checked for this and that, and noticed she was biting her lip. Nathan asked, "Any pain?" He reapplied the brace. It was similar to the one she had on after the Swarva incident that she didn't wear.
"No." Then she decided, "-just a little stiff." She replied.
"Stand up." He backed the chair off and watched her stand, and then said, "Feet shoulder's width apart." After she did that he stood and placed his arms out in case she lost her balance or the joint totally gave out. "Do a squat. You don't have to go to 90 degrees, but I want to see that joint bend." He watched and saw her actually make the 90 degrees, but on the way up her weight shifted and the knee gave. He caught her and held her while she sucked in some quick breaths. "You, son of a bitch!" She sat with his help and leaned over and hid her face in her hands rocking slightly.
Dr. Fletcher sat back down and gave her a moment and then checked her right upper chest and confirmed that she had removed the medication patch. "Your right, I am. I figured you had taken the patch off and that you wouldn't be straight with me. I've worked with ship yard workers and Marines before and know the quickest way to cut through the shit—that test is one of many ways." He pulled a hypospray out of a kit and administered a dose of terakine—"that should take affect in a minute."
"Don't give me that look or cop an attitude! You are my patient and I decide what medication you need -not you. I am not going to play that game of letting you choose what you'll take. You're an officer in Marine Corps, a branch of Starfleet. I am a Starfleet Physician, I out rank you Captain, and when I give you and order...you will follow it! I expect you to lead by example!" He re-examined the knee, then said, "I'll see you in the main room when you're ready." He left and while waiting ordered up dinner. He'd just finished setting the table when she limped out. He pulled a 3rd chair up for her to elevate her leg on.
"Thanks." She said sitting down.
"Jayme, I hated hurting you like that but I needed to know if you were lying to me. I hope you won't ever pull a stunt like that in the future."
Jayme toyed with her fork and looked at him, "I learned my lesson." They ate dinner and while he cleaned up as she moved to the couch. He tossed a fresh Ice pack to her, and asked, "Any pain?" He asked moving to sit on the edge of the couch.
"About a four on a ten scale." She said. He moved and picked up some gear he'd left by the door and pulled out a replacement patch and placed it on an area of her back she couldn't reach, "There. Remove that, and there will be hell to pay." Dr. Fletcher and administered another dose of Terakine.
Fletcher wandered the room, looking at her pictures, knickknacks, and then noticed the PADDS on the desk. ...Neuropathology and A&P, and several other medical texts. Nathan turned and looked at her, "I thought you were an advance practitioner? Why are you studying 3rd year med courses?"
"I am, but when I got assigned here the orders included that I would continue my medical studies. I was in the second year of SF medical program when I dropped out and went Marine Corps/LI." She studied him and shrugged, "another eight courses, and 1800 hrs of pulling shifts in sickbay/infirmary/or medivac rescues and I'll have completed year three."
"That's terrific." He exclaimed. He took a seat where he could see her face. Nathan noticed her head was back and she had that half loaded look, but asked her anyway, "You don't think completing your degree is exciting?"
She shook her head, closed her eyes, and said, "No." Nathan stood and moved closer and noticed she was almost asleep he left her alone for a few more minutes then said, "Jayme. Stand up." He took one arm and helped her walk to her bed, in her room, where he covered her with the comforter. "Computer, lights 10 percent"
It was day five, of Jayme's leave. Her father had gone to his quarters to rest. Dr. Fletcher was on duty in sickbay. Finally she had sometime alone. It was 1400 hrs when she changed into her SFMC uniform, which she placed the brace over, and decided to spend the next forty-five minutes pulling an inspection of the infirmary and her platoons barracks. She'd already looked at the last three months' reports. At just before 1500 hrs she walked to the open hatch of the Colonel's office and was waved in. She approached and said, "good afternoon, sir." She was at attention, had good eye contact but with her last assignment had finally lost the salute.
"Captain. I was under the impression that you are on medical leave. Have a seat," he ordered.
Jayme sat and tired to relax. "Sir, I was getting stir crazy being confined and everyone hovering. I just inspected the infirmary and my platoon's barracks and found everything as it should be. Permission to join the weekly staff meeting?" She asked.
"Permission granted, Captain." He nodded and took a good long look at her. "Glad you're back. There is lots going on and I need all hands pitching in. But, while you are under medical leave, I am not going to assign you any duties—except that you follow the orders given by the medical staff, no matter how hard you find that." He watched and noticed the frustration and the acceptance of the order and then eased up and said, "When Doctor Fletcher calls me and tells me personally that you're off restriction, then we'll talk." He smiled and noted she was biting the inside of her cheek and trying hard not to show disappointment. He then asked, "Are you taking any medications?"
"Yes, sir. I would love to join the after briefing festivities. But my keepers will be looking for me by the time I get back to my quarters." Others started arriving, introductions were made and the meeting began. By the time it was done, she discovered that the ache had turned to true pain and was getting pretty bad. She left and walked slowly to her quarters forcing herself not to limp or favor that side. She turned the corner and found Dr. Fletcher leaning against the wall near her quarters waiting.