Under the Knife

Posted on Tue Jun 22nd, 2021 @ 2:27am by Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Lieutenant Chester "Duo" Maxwell

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: Deck 2, Lt. Maxwell's Quarters and Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: Current

Deck 2, Lt. Maxwell's Quarters

"The time is 0800 hours." came the Computer's disembodied voice. Then came the chimes. "The time is 0800 hours." it repeated.

"Computer, cancel alarm." Croaked Duo. His hip didn't hurt. His head didn't hurt. His mouth was dry though. He rolled out of bed and walked into his living area and replicated a tall glass of cold water. He drank it in one gulp. Setting the glass back in the replicator, he surveyed the living area. It looked like a pack of cadets used his quarters for a rager the night before.

Duo walked over to the table and set it upright. He looked down at the bottle of kanar that had fallen off. It was empty.

"Humph, a 2327. You may have been one of the only ones left in the Universe, you know that? But I suppose it's for the best." He walked over and placed it on a shelf. A keepsake and a reminder.

"You have an appointment in Sickbay with Dr. Wilson at 0900 hours." the Computer reminded him.

"Thank you Computer. Please cancel any further reminders." He said. The Computer beeped in acknowledgement.

He had time for a quick sonic shower, so he went and hopped in.

After his shower, he walked over to his closet."

"Do you wear a uniform to surgery?" He asked himself. He opened his closet and there were only uniforms inside. "Well, I guess that answers my question." He gave a sigh and got dressed. He didn't eat anything and left his quarters.

Deck 4, Sickbay

Duo walked into Sickbay. Nurse Shevchenko was standing there to greet him.

With a half smile she greeted him, "What's wrong Lieutenant, transporter not working?"

Her presence surprised Duo. "I can't use the transporter everywhere I go, it would set a bad example for the junior officers. Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought you were on Gamma Shift?"

"I am, but I asked Dr. Wilson if I could assist. I need the experience. And besides, I'm the one who found your little 'boo-boo.' It's only right I'm here when it gets fixed. Now follow me, you need to get changed."

She began to walk into Sickbay and he followed. She led him to a door in the corner of Sickbay.

"Step inside and change into the gown." He complied. He had only just met her, but he had already learned to just do what she said.

"When you are changed, have a seat on the surgical table. Dr. Wilson will be out soon."

Meanwhile Sarah was reading Lt Maxwell's medical records thoroughly, trying to get an understanding as to where he was at as a whole person, not just a hip injury. Many of those that fought in the war - herself included - had lasting psychological impacts that required ongoing attention to avoid the descent into mental illness. The fact the night duty nurse had administered the alcohol reversal agent triggered a warning flag in Sarah's mind. Still - the priority was to get him pain free and mobile again, perhaps while he was recovering she could schedule a sneaky counsellor's visit.

Satisfied she was across the details of the upcoming surgery she quickly changed into her scrubs and went out to chat with her patient.

" Lt Maxwell - I see you have some interesting formations on your hip that we need to address this morning" She said pleasantly as she entered the surgical bay.

"Yes, Ma'am. The sooner the better. I've had pain from my wound ever since it happened, but never this bad."

"Your scans show some nasty spurs that are impinging on the nerves and ligaments which would be causing the discomfort. I take it that it was never properly treated at the time it occured?" She enquired without judgement.

"That's correct. I was on an assignment for Starfleet Security on Cardassia during the war. I got hit and was able to drag myself into the rubble. All I had was a basic Cardassian medkit at my disposal with a dermal re-generator and their version of an osteogenic stimulator. I couldn't risk going to a field hospital, they would have found me out in no time." The thought of being a prisoner of the Cardassians made Duo sick to his stomach.

" I understand" Sarah nodded sagely, making a mental note to check for any other injuries that may not have been treated or healed properly whilst she was 'in' there. "Now you have a choice - we can put you out for this procedure, or you can remain awake but we would need to administer a paralytic agent to make sure you don't move. Either way you won't feel any pain and it won't affect any recovery periods" She explained.

Duo mulled it over a few seconds in his head before he answered. "Go ahead and put me out."

" Most people go for that option" Sarah smiled "There's something disconcerting about being awake but not being able to move" She nodded towards Nurse Shevchenko to prepare the anesthetic. " Alright Mr Maxwell, we'll see you in about an hour I think, relax, we'll fix that hip and get you back on your feet again in no time. Now, if you could kindly lie down we'll get started" Sarah quipped in good nature.

Duo did as he was instructed. Nurse Shevchenko prepared the hypo and handed it to Dr. Wilson. Duo looked up into the ceiling of Sickbay and took a deep breath. Nurses and doctors didn't make him nervous like some people, but there was a base uneasiness about being put under. There was always that little doubt niggling in the back of your mind.

The hypo was applied and Sarah waited a few moments until the wall monitor showed that Maxwell was indeed out.

"Laser scalpel" She requested, the device promptly pressed into her hand by the nurse. Together they healed, fused, removed, repaired and regenerated for the next half an hour, ensuring that Maxwell would be left with a hip that was as good as it was before his injury.

"Right let's see if there's anything else we need to deal with whilst we're here" Sarah quipped, picking up the medical scanner again and running a detailed scan. "Did he mention that anything else was worrying him?"

"No, not that he mentioned to me. But, hearing what he's been through, it wouldn't surprise me."

Sarah took her time with the scan, finding nothing major that needed immediate attention. She motioned for a pair of orderlies to transfer Maxwell to one of the regular biobeds until Sarah woke him up with a hypospray. She stood for a moment, wondering if she should let him rest before dialing in a lower dose of the reversal agent, one that would let him rouse when he was ready.

Valentyna followed the orderlies and Maxwell over the one of the regular biobeds. She adjusted the beds controls and began monitoring his vitals. "Poor guy. He must be exhausted. He couldn't have had more than three hours of sleep tops."

"Sometimes the physicality is only the tip of the iceberg" Sarah said quietly. "A lot of us went through the war and saw horrible things, did horrible things. The stuff you bury in the back of your mind and it comes up and bites you occasionally" She looked at the vitals, happy that he was sleeping peacefully.

"Computer, dim lights to 25%" She ordered, before turning back to the nurse " Continue to monitor him for the next hour or so, let me know when he wakes up"

"Of course, Doctor." There were no other patients in Sickbay at the time, so Valentyna moved a stool and sat it up next to Duo's bed.

Just over an hour had passed when Duo began to stir on the biobed. He cracked his eyes open and could see Valentyna sitting next to his bed, the lights dimmed low. "Is it Gamma shift already?" he asked.

She smiled lightly. "Not quite. It's only been about an hour since you came out of surgery."

He opened his eyes a little more and breathed deeply. "How did it go?"

"Fine. You'll be just fine. I need to go tell the Doctor that you are awake." She got off her stool and started to walk away. As she turned, she could feel him grab her wrist, soft yet firmly. She turned back to him.

"I'm still human...right?" he asked.

"Lieutenant?" (The anesthesia shouldn't have been that strong) she thought to herself.

Duo let out a little chuckle. "The last time a Federation Doc did surgery on me, I woke up with a big scaly neck and a spoon implanted in my skull."

Valentyna pulled her hand away from his, not angrily and rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother! Sit tight Lieutenant."

She walked off to get the doctor.

Sarah looked up from writing the surgical report to find Shevchenko in her doorway.

" He's awake?" She offered, putting the padd down and turning her attention to the young nurse.

Valentyna nodded. "Awake and feeling well enough to razz the staff, and by staff I mean me. His vitals are stable."

"Well that's a good start" Sarah smiled and rose from behind her desk, following the nurse out into the ward over to their patient.

"Mr Maxwell, how are you feeling?" She asked kindly as she drew the medical tricorder from her pocket and began scanning.

"I feel good. Great actually. Can I return to duty soon?

"Soon as in tomorrow, sure. Until then you're on bed rest and light rehab to make sure everything is working the way it's supposed to" Sarah advised carefully, knowing that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

Duo sighed. "Well, it will have to do I suppose. Besides, I could think of worse ways of spending my time, than being tended to by Nurse Shevchenko." He said, cutting his eyes over the the nurse, who was standing behind the Doctor.

Valentyna caught his gaze and rolled her eyes again.

"How about I leave you two to sort it out. Just remember his rehab exercises" Sarah retorted with a wry smile. Nodding she headed back to her office.