Old Scars

Posted on Thu Jan 23rd, 2025 @ 11:33am by Lieutenant JG Sol

1,115 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD03 1645

ON:

He knew it would happen, it always did, and this time it was just from waking up and setting two steps out of his quarters. Must have been the sonic shower. Brendan limped into sickbay.

"Doctor?" He grunted as he moved to a bio bed and leaned against it.

Sol turned to look at him, able to identify the discomfort in the man's tone easily enough. He moved over, casting an appraising look over the unfamiliar man, reaching to take his arm and guide him to sit on the biobed. The half-Vulcan dismissed the human habit of asking if something was wrong...there obviously was. He had never understood that particular quirk of human communication. "What happened?" he asked instead, already reaching for a tricorder.

"Well about 20 odd years ago I had an argument with some Jem'Hadar and in said argument with them my knee got shattered. Got to keep the leg, knee cap was replaced, but it has a habit of locking up. I'm Lieutenant Brendan O'Sullivan, it's on my medical record. Along with the dozen treatments, no drugs, I just need help getting it to work again." He grimaced.

Sol's eyebrow arched at the mention of the Jem'Hadar. He had served through the war himself, although as a marine, not a healer. He had become witness to far too many hurts that had been caused at their hands. He tapped the screen close to the bed to bring the man's file up, casting his eye rapidly over it even as his hands urged him to turn so he could stretch and lay his leg out on the bed. "You do realize that virtually all medical procedures will require a medical substance of some description?" he asked, unsure if he was asking not to be given drugs, or letting him know that he hadn't relied upon them in the past.

" I know, but I saw too many of my colleagues after the war getting a dependency or building up a high tolerance for painkillers. I rather not wake up halfway during an operation like Chief Thompson, scared the bejaysus out of the medical staff, funny though, but still." he grimaced as he felt a small tinge. " It's locked up, and I can start beating on it to get it back in place, but that just makes it worse."

"Yes, that would be a likely result of such an action," Sol replied, his tone even despite the slightly sardonic words. He reached for the medical tricorder, starting to scan the knee with the efficiency of someone used to dealing with anything and everything. "We should endeavour to find a less traumatic solution for your knee."

" Yeah, call it old age or just a constant souvenir from the war. Heck, it might even be psychosomatic. Just locks up now and then. It got me from my old job at least, which is a blessing in its own way." He closed his eyes, trying to slow his breathing.

"Your old job?" Sol asked as he glanced to him with an eyebrow arched with curiosity. He wondered if it had also added to the damage of the joint and made a mental note to carry out a deeper full body scan in case there was other trauma waiting to emerge. He moved the probe, his gaze going to the information being fed back that was now scrolling across the main screen of the biobed.

" Not allowed to talk about it, but it was similar to my job during the dominion war which is not classified any more. In said war, me and a team of other lucky idiots were dropped on a planet or station before the boys and girls of Starfleet paid it a visit. And what we did well, I leave that to your active imagination or spy novels. Trust me I've been stabbed, shot, blown up, poisoned and the knee is the only artificial thing in my body. Good at my job, didn't like it much, but if not me then who else. " He smiled.

"I can make reasonable assumptions on what your duties might have been," Sol replied, his tone a shade quieter. Because he had also been good at his job when he'd served as a marine during the war. And he also had no wish to repeat the experience ever again. His features remained still and schooled though, his gaze shifting to take in the scan details. "You have additional trauma to the area since your last scan. I would recommend surgery," the delivery from the half Vulcan was as blunt as ever, but he had never understood the point of sugar coating the truth.

" I assume it isn't a major, invasive surgery and be expected to be out of action for weeks? Hop on the bio bed, remove said damage and be back to work with in a few hours? Had one ACL surgery when I was a teen in the other knee, common injury while playing Football. That took half an hour and was up and about within a day except for the physical therapy. Yet, I'm in my 40s and not 16, so the body heals slower. " He rubbed his knee.

"Hours would be...overly optimistic," Sol replied honestly, tilting his head as he met his eyes, giving him his full attention now he had a better idea of what was going on under the surface. "48 hours is more usual for the surgery and rest period, of course followed by physical therapy, as you have suggested. But I would hypothesize that two days medical leave would be preferable to continuing and then worsening pain and incapacitation?"

"Understood, Doc, Let's get this show on the road. It's been acting up for years." Brendan sighed.

Sol gave a firm nod of approval. It wasn't always guaranteed that an officer would listen to his medical advice, but it was always gratifying when it happened. He motioned for him to follow him to the full surgical bed, offering his arm as support. "I will put you under for the procedure, it will not take long," he assured him.

Sullivan got on the surgical bed as he leaned on Sol. "Yeah, just update the new Chief of Security and XO that I'll be on medical leave for a few days. Seeing that medical records tend to be private, you have my permission to keep them fully informed. "

"Leave it to me," Sol assured swiftly as he urged him onto the bed, moving efficiently to prepare his surroundings, razor sharp focus settling over the doctor. "I have it all in hand..."


OFF:

LtJG Brendan O'Sullivan
Security/Tactical Officer

Lt JG Sol
Medical Officer
(PNPC Rowe)

 

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