#6 Patients and Friends

Posted on Tue Jun 6th, 2023 @ 12:53pm by Lieutenant JG Sheyla {Meji}

Mission: Wedding Blues And Trouble
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: current

ON:

Doctor Sheyla had been helping the Alpha shift set up Sickbay for the day. Working in conjunction with the nurses and PA's was satisfying, and she got to know them better as she went. Soon enough there was laughter, cutting up, joking, all of that. One of the nurses told the computer to play Redbone; Come and get your love. Sheyla, being a fan of Earth music, found this song to be a favorite. So, here they were, grooving around Sickbay with the low music, continuing to chatter while working. The music was at a reasonable level in case anyone came in, but the staff were definitely enjoying the moment. Not much else to do in Sickbay when there was down time.

Finished with their duties, overall, Sheyla and the others left the music playing lightly for ambience. Like any Starfleet system, if anyone called Sickbay then the music would immediately mute to allow the open channel to have priority. No harm, no foul. As Sheyla got done setting up the last tray and devices at a biobed, making sure they were sterile and seeing to the rows of medication capsules to insure that there were no empty slots, the main entry opened and a woman walked in with a small child in tow. Mother and daughter stopped just inside of Sickbay, looking this way and that, and when the woman's eyes landed on Sheyla she walked over since she was closest to the pair. "Good morning, you two." Her face showed a lighthearted visage, and a slight smile had formed briefly when she looked to the little girl before the eyes came back up to mom. "Is there something we can help you with, Ma'am?"

The mother gave a chuckle. "Ma'am? No need for such formality, Lieutenant. During the last crew rotation for Amandora, my daughter and I came aboard. Neither of us has had our mandatory physical and we just wanted to make sure that was seen to. I'm Heather Swinson and this is my daughter Hayes."

"Hello and greetings to you both. I am Doctor Sheyla, or Lieutenant Sheyla, whichever you are more comfortable with." Sheyla seemed to have a perpetual lighthearted expression, backed by the mirthful sparkle she normally had in her eyes. She was cynical and sarcastic most days, but it was mostly used in a joking manner, not to insult or offend. "If you'll come with me we'll get you set up and run the standard scans and tests on a biobed." Sheyla half turned, extending her arm to show two biobeds fairly close to the three. "Face each other or sit on the same bed, Heather. We can localize scans without mixing up data."

The two guests went to the beds, and after a few quiet words among themselves, got set with mom and daughter facing each other as they sat on the edge of a biobed each. Once they were set and comfortable Sheyla stepped in between the beds and took up a medical tricorder, detaching the feinberger to run it over both of their bodies for deeper, personal scans. Sheyla began with mom. That way she could observe and ask queries as her daughter was seen to.

"So, Sheyla, how long have you been a doctor?" Asked Heather.

"Pretty much all my life," the Andorian responded. "My father was Starfleet marines, and on Andoria, there are frequent mishaps out in the ice caverns and I developed a liking for treating the injured. To see them regain their strength and overcome adversity. Spelunking and free climbing all part of the Andorian medical service." She gave a grin as she continued to read her tricorder, her eyes glancing up occasionally to meet Heather's eyes. "What brings you to the Amandora?"

"I'm a research scientist," said Heather. "I am actually a Doctor, myself, for science disciplines. Chemistry, physics, astrophysics, and quantum physics. Just to name a few disciplines I prefer."

"Quite a list," replied Sheyla. "Your medical file does state that you have an eidetic memory. Must have been quite helpful in attaining a doctorate of science. It took time for me to study chemistry, physiology and biology, but here I am." She stopped scanning mom. "Alright. You are in perfect health except for a bit of added body fat. Too many raktajinos with cream and sugar?"

Heather laughed at the reference to the Klingon coffee, her eyes showing she was right on track with where the Doctor was going. "Guilty. When I dive into research I tend to not eat well, and drink gallons of rak every day. And, yes, with cream and sugar."

Sheyla was still chuckling along with Heather as she turned slightly to face the daughter. "Are you ready, Hayes?"

"Yes," responded Hayes. Her answer was less than savory.

"It won't hurt, which I'm sure you know already," said Sheyla, lifting the feinberger and beginning to scan the girl's body. "So, how old are you?"

"Eight." That was it.

"One word answers, today?" Sheyla gave the girl a wink and smile when she met the Andorian eyes with her own gaze. "Sorry, Hayes, my patients are usually more talkative. I was teasing."

"I know," Hayes replied, her face going from stoic to a more lighthearted visage. "Is it true?"

Sheyla quirked an eyebrow at the query, both her antennae waving around, but bending slightly towards the girl. "Is what true?"

"That Andorians have blue blood?"

Again, Sheyla gave a smile, finishing her scans and putting the devices down while speaking. "It is true. Your blood is iron based, mine is cobalt based. Along with that comes a dual circulatory system to provide extra heat when we are in frigid environments. Helps since we live on a giant iceball." She took up a hypo, setting aside three empty capsules. "I'll need a blood sample from both of you, to put on file in case of medical emergency."

Both mother and daughter held an arm out, with Sheyla being quick to extract a few CC's from each of them. Then, she put in another capsule and used the hypo on herself, drawing out fresh blood and removing the capsule before handing it over to Hayes. "See? Blue as the Earth skies."

"Wow, that's neat. Mom studies stuff like this and I am always sneaking peeks at her research. I want to be a doctor some day, like mommy." Hayes was still turning the capsule this way and that, watching the thick blue Andorian blood move around in the capsule.

Sheyla had taken up her medical PADD, making notations in both their files as she read bits and pieces while seeing to her patients. "Well, it says you have an eidetic memory like your mom. With a memory like that you can be anything you want. But, if you don't like blood and seeing people in pain, then a medical doctor may not be the right choice."

"That stuff doesn't bother me. Not after..." The words trailed off as Hayes glanced over at her mom, then her face went dark and she looked down at the floor. Her body shook a bit as tears squeezed out from under her closed eyelids and rolled down her cheeks.

Heather hopped off her bad and stepped in, immediately wrapping her daughter in an embrace. She kissed the top of her daughter's head, rubbing her back lovingly while holding her head to her chest. "Apologies, Sheyla. It's not you. We recently lost my husband, her father. It has been about six months but some of the emotional wounds are still fresh."

Without asking, and knowing all too well the bonds of family, Sheyla stepped in and hugged them both. A lingering hug, patting their backs to show she empathized with their loss. On Andoria family units were usually four adults. Two male, two female. And, all four look after the children together, despite which couple they belonged to. She was not married, but remembered the loss of one of her 'parents' as if it happened yesterday. After a few moments she stepped back. "You have my sympathies for your loss. It is never easy but, in my opinion, loss is what makes us stronger. More resilient."

Heather gave a nod and a half grin. "We're getting there. It's been slow, but it gets better with time."

Sheyla understood. "Heather, we don't have an assigned Counselor for Amandora, just yet. But, as with all medical officers, I can counsel. If you two ever need someone to talk to, on or off the record, do not hesitate to call me. It would be both an honor and a pleasure to get to know you."

Hayes had recovered from her moment of mourning, not leaning on mom so heavily anymore. She reached out her left hand towards Sheyla, doing the finger wagging to get her to clasp it. Sheyla did and the girl pulled her back in. The two guests gave her another hug, and as they broke apart all three were back to smiles and mirth. "Thank you, Sheyla," said Hayes.

"You're welcome, Hayes." Sheyla said. "You are both cleared for service on Amandora."

Heather smiled. "Thank you, Doctor." She glanced at her daughter, who was still fiddling with the blood capsule. "Would you like to have dinner with us this evening, in the lounge?"

"I would love that," Sheyla responded with a smile. "Thank you. What is a good time?"

"I was thinking around 1800," said Heather.

Sheyla nodded and gave a short giggle. "I'll be there. Until then, you both have a good day."

The two ladies gave their thanks again and departed. Sheyla felt so much better about today as she turned to sterilize all the equipment she had just used.

OFF::