Back to Work

Posted on Sun Dec 28th, 2025 @ 9:27pm by Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker & Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD

1,784 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave - Starbase 1
Location: Sickbay | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Current

ON:

Sabastian had been back on ship for a few days. After the last two weeks he was a mess. He hadn't eaten, had barely slept, and he was a mess. Now he had to endure a physical by the good doctor.

Sighing he slipped into his Vulcan half, a feat that had become easier and easier, over the last little while. He straightened his uniform. He'd even taken a shower before this this ending his week long funk. Sabastian reached out and hit the button that opened the sickbay doors. He was greeted by the overly perky nurse. He ignored her like he had with most people. "Please tell the Doctor I'm here to see him for my re-board exam," that was all he said before he walked over to one of the bio beds and sat down staring off into space picturing the face he would never see again.

",,, incompetence! Out! Now!!!" Despite the closed door, Doctor Oscar McDonald's voice was loud and clear and full of fury as it carried across Sickbay. A hushed silence seemed to descend afterwards, nurses and technicians pausing to exchange glances which conveyed apprehension and no small amount of curiosity. It lasted until the door opened and one of the newly assigned medical technicians emerged, his wide eyes wider as everyone seemed to look at him in unison, what little color was left quickly draining from his face before he put his head down and all but ran out the door.

The silence was broken by the Chief Medical Officer himself, voice quieter yet still full of undeniable anger as the door to his office closed over, muffling the words and any response. The nurse who had greeted Walker glanced in his direction, swallowing hard as she summoned all her courage and headed into the lion's den. Everyone had heard what the petty officer had done, and how tragedy had been only narrowly avoided. Nobody wanted to be caught in the crossfire from the fallout but someone had to try.

As she reached the door she could just make out the second voice, softer, calmer, within the office as she pressed the chime. She took a small step backwards as the door slid open, Doctor McDonald towering over her, looking a little more disheveled and irater than usual. "Nurse Williams. Yes?" he demanded, impatient.

"Commander Walker is here, for a physical?" she managed after a moment, gesturing towards the biobed where the XO waited.

McDonald's gaze shifted, taking in the site of the XO, his scowl shifting to a frown. "Begin preliminary scans, I will be out in a moment," he told her, turning his back as the door began to close, "you, sit!"

Relieved to have survived his wrath, Williams smiled as she approached Walker. "He will be right with you, Commander. He has asked me to get you started, if you wouldn't mind lying back so the sensors can take the initial readings?"

She had to call his name a couple of times before he snapped back to the present. "Very well. Whatever makes this end quicker." He lay back down and stared at the lights. He had to blink a few times. "How long is this going to take?"

“As long as it needs to take,” she answered brightly, beginning to make notes. “Any injuries or illness while you were off the ship? Did you travel off of the Starbase?”

He cleared his throat. "Yes. Vulcan for ... for my honeymoon." He tried to change the subject. "Why is the doctor upset now?"

“For once he has good reason, one of the lab techs … he didn’t follow protocols and there was an incident. Good thing we were docked and have some help repairing the damage. Dr O’Connor and a couple of techs were hurt so he’s…. Furious. He will calm down soon. But a honeymoon!? Oh how wonderful!”

"I'll make sure I read the report first. How is Doctor O'Connor doing? Have the techs recovered?"

“The techs had a few bumps and bruises, Chloe took the worst of it, which is perhaps why he is so furious,” Williams confided, the last part barely a whisper in case she put herself in McDonald’s crosshairs. “Needless to say, it is not a mistake that will happen again.”

"I should hope not." He'd be damned if he allowed accidents on his ship. "Please ensure all the records of the accident are on my desk." He paused. "You said that Doctor O'Connor took the worst of the accident. Has she recovered?"

“She will make a full recovery, if she follows my orders to rest,” McDonald answered as he came up behind Williams. “For now let’s focus on you, Commander.”

"I am fine. I was on Vulcan not plague island." He pressed his lips together. "However I realize I have to go through this exams so then I will." He looked at the nurse. "Your nurse has filled me on the happenings. I will review the report. The one responsible has no place on this ship I will ensure they are transferred off before the ship leaves."

“Something we can actually agree on,” McDonald commented as he nodded to Williams, allowing her to leave after taking her notes. “Travel to Vulcan… any medical issues while there or on your return?”

Sabastian clenched his fists. "I...spent time in a Vulcan hospital yes. Almost two weeks with four of those days as a patient."

“Which is not on your file,” McDonald sighed, looking over his shoulder, “naturally…”

Touching the panel beside the bed he activated the privacy screen as he seated himself, perching on the edge of a stool. “Talk. Because clearly you are not fine and as it stands you are not close to being fit for duty.”

"How am I not fit for duty. The Vulcans discharged me and allowed me head back here. They said I was physically fine for duty. As to it not being on my file, it's not yet on my file but the records will arrive here when they release Zai's.." His voice cracked. "When they release." He cleared his throat. "When they release his body."

“My condolences, Commander. I was notified, although not given precise details,” McDonald offered, his words laced with sincerity. He had endured the loss of many close to him, aware of how the physical manifestation of grief paled in comparison to the psychological.

Yet while he could empathize, it could not interfere with his assessment. Opinions of Vulcan medics be damned. He quickly checked, noting no indication of an assessment by their counsellor.

It took several moments before he could speak. "We were walking on Vulcan...An archeological site. Zai noticed one of the columns was...unstable and he pushed several monks out of the way...he took the brunt of the collapse and ... the doctors were not competent to bring him out .... They said that he wouldn't wake up." He paused. "They had to sever the telepathic bond after he ... I spent a few days in hospital." What he didn't say was the monumental breakdown he'd had when Zai passed. The doctor would read about it anyway.

“A brave act with tragic consequences,” McDonald said quietly. How often had he seen such things? How many more times?

“I defer to Vulcan healers when it comes to the bond you shared, but to be blunt, you are showing telltale signs of exhaustion and malnutrition. And as XO of a starship, you know you need to be ready to be the leader the crew needs. Right now… that is not where you are at. Not yet. Which is entirely understandable and normal. Grief is a process.”

"There is no choice doctor. I need to work. Can we not get me on a supplement?"

“Supplements are just that, a supplement to fill a gap. It is not a replacement for food. Nor are sleeping aids replacements for sleep,” McDonald chided. “When did you last have a proper meal?”

"The day of..." He sighed. "The day Zai was injured."

“And had a proper sleep? That wasn’t medically induced, just to be clear.”

"Same." He sighed. "I...tried the medication they gave me on Vulcan but I can't sleep. I have finished all the Engineering reports however. Riveting material."

“So if a grieving crewman came to you, not eating, not sleeping…. Looking worse than I do after drinking the evil in a bottle Baciami brings me… you would be comfortable placing him potentially in command of a starship?” McDonald queried as he scribbled notes, queuing up a follow up assessment with the counselor. “It was somewhat rhetorical. We will do some blood work. If that is all clear I will prescribe supplements and something to help you sleep. Then tomorrow, and the next day, we can reassess.”

He held up a hand to silence any protest, “I will authorize light, administrative duties if you believe the distraction of duty will help, but again, we review daily. And you will have a full psych evaluation before you resume full active duty. We still have a few more days of upgrades and testing so let’s make good use of it.”

"I appreciate that." He sighed. "May I ask a favour doctor?"

“Within reason,” McDonald nodded.

"The Vulcans will be here tomorrow Can...you please bring him home?"

“They are bringing him to the ship? I’m afraid I did not know him well… I assumed he would remain on Vulcan or be taken to his home world,” the physician admitted. “But if he is coming here we can ensure a space is prepared. If there are any particular customs which need be observed, you have my word we will of everything we can to honour them.”

He gave a nod. "Th...thank you doctor. He loved this crew and this ship. It will be a final way for people to say goodbye if they wish."

McDonald nodded as he stood, “very well. I’ll have Nurse Williams administer the supplements and the counselling appointment will come through before end of day - take advantage of the counsellors expertise.”

At that he deactivated the privacy screen, gesturing for Williams to rejoin them and handing off the PaDD. “Regular meals and sleep will be our goal, Commander. Trust me, you don’t want this face staring you down every mealtime but I will do it.”

For the first time in a while Sabastian snorted. "Understood." He stood up. "I am getting better doctor. I did shower this morning so that is progress."

“It is indeed,” McDonald agreed. “A day at a time, Commander. Day at a time.”

Thanks!

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