Hayley stepped out of her office and into the main Sickbay. As she glanced around the room she took note of her surroundings, trying to get a sense of how the staff were handling the reality of their situation. At first glance all appeared to be running as usual. The team, both commissioned medical staff and civilian support staff, were all in place, working at their assigned tasks, and keeping everything running smoothly. On closer observation however, one could see the signs of strain. Over at biobed one, Nurse Kelly was treating a teen girl for a minor complaint. The Nurse nearly snapped at the young girl before visibly taking a deep breath and speaking kindly instead of abruptly. One of the civilian staff sitting at a console was repeatedly rubbing at his forehead as if trying to massage away a headache and a young student helper, who while trying to restock a cupboard, dropped a pouch of hyposprays, (no damage incurred) proceeded to turn bright red and curse himself, the cupboard, and the scattered pouch of hyposprays loudly and rather eloquently as he bent to pick them up.

Hayley stepped over and smiled wryly at the young helper. As she started to collect a few of the hyposprays she grinned fully at the young man and, hoping to defuse the mood a little, asked him in a loud and obvious stage whisper. “Think you could teach me to curse like that? I’d love to see the look on my brother’s face. According to him there’s not an original curse in my vocabulary!”

Jr. Lt. Marshall CMO