“Make sure we get her some anti-inflammatories. And you. You ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll break your other leg. I dont care how much time you save sliding down the ladder, if you cant do it right then dont do it. Copy?” and the Petty Officer from the Security Section replied simply “Copy, Doc. Sorry.” to which the CMO said “Better be.” and he stalked off.

He looked at the chronometer on the wall and saw that his shift was ending. But he remembered his meeting with the Chief Engineer. His teeth clenched as he glared at the time, seemingly trying to make it move backwards by sheer will alone. Finally he looked at the Charge Nurse. “Make sure Bl’teer finishes his reports before he leaves. If skips out on his paperwork again, he gets to deal with me. And have Hall look over the appendectomy. He has to sign off. When the Chief Engineer shows up, send her to my office.” “Copy that, Boss.” she replied with a nod and watched him enter the office and the door slide closed. She slowly counted to five with her fingers on one hand and then exhaled. Looking at another nurse, she said “What the hell was that?” and the other nurse giggled. “I know, right? I didnt think I’d ever see that man have a good day.” and the Charge Nurse lightly slapped her shoulder and smiled. “STOP!” she said with mock indignation. She looked at the door. “He works so hard. And he keeps the Brass off our backs. He is a right royal pain in the posterior, but at least he let’s us work. I’ve never had a Chief look at me and say ‘You know what you are doing. So go do it. You come to me if there’s a problem. Otherwise do your job.’ And that, my dear girl, is the best compliment a nurse can get from a CMO.” The smaller nurse followed her gaze and said to the door “He is hard to get along with. But easy to work for.” sand the senior nurse replied “If you know your stuff. If you dont, God help you!” and the other laughed and said “Now thats a fact!” and looked back again to the door. She patted the Charge Nurse on the back and said “Ok, see you tomorrow. Have a good night. Lunch tomorrow?” and the CN smiled and said “Its a date. Let’s do 11.” and the other nodded and departed.

The nurse looked at the closed door and shook her head with a smile. “There is no getting to that man, I swear.” and walked off to her duties.

Kane, CMO