Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Counselor) in Anything To Keep Busy

Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in Anything To Keep Busy

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Counselor) in Anything To Keep Busy
Posted by… suppressed (25) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Hannah had finished her meeting with Gauth and McBride. She knew from experience, the best thing to do was to get to work, stay busy. It filled the empty hours until she found her rhythm again. Fayth had offered to do her medical check, but Hannah wanted to see how the department worked and meet some of the other officers instead. She made her way down to the main floor and across to the nee medical suite. She entered and looked around, taking it all in as she waited.

Asimina, AMO

It took a few minutes for someone to notice her. A fleet medical officer stopped and looked at her. “Can I help you?” He asked. By the pips on his uniform, he was an Ensign. He looked maybe thirty, Betazoid, about 5‘5. He offered Hannah a friendly smile.

~ NE Doctor

Hannah smiled and hoped her queasy stomachs didn’t show too much. “Hi. I’m Lt Asimina. I just arrived and need my physical.” Hannah was bubbly and pretty. She didn’t know if people knew she was arriving yet. She hoped her position didn’t make things awkward.

Asimina AMO

The doctor smiled again, “Ah, I think I remember Doctor Fayth mentioning a Lieutenant Asimina,” he commented, beckoning her towards a room. “Have a seat on the biobed, it’ll only take a minute. I’m Doctor Samon Tai.”

~ NE Doctor

Hannah slipped up onto the biobed. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr Tai. How long have you been here? I heard the colony used to be under a biodome.”

“About… three years?” He said, thinking back. “There was a biodome. I think it’s much better without it. The colony is huge, there’s something here for everyone. Does take a little getting used to though.”

“I like to get out, anywhere I should start?” Hannah knew she probably wouldn’t have rime right away, but she would eventually.

“Hmm… Maybe the central square? It’s right outside the main hospital. Good place to start.”

“Oh, you should pick up antinausea meds in my system. I have never gotten space sick, I’m sure it’s nothing, but it is unusual for me.”

Asimina, AMO

Tai nodded. “Thanks for letting me know.” Then he started the scan, being very thorough about it. “No other unusual symptoms…? No recent illnesses? How about injuries?”

~ NE Tai

Hannah shook her head. “No, other than that everything has been fine. I haven’t even had issues with my implants.” Which a glance at her medical record would show a history of minor complications with the implants over the years. Hannah had been sleeping a lot, but she was grieving so that was expected, and she couldn’t talk about it, so no need to mention it.

Hannah

He nodded. The medical fine started there had been numerous issues with the implants in the past. He looked at the scan results again, and then at Hannah. “Can you lean back a moment, Lieutenant?” He asked, and then once she had, he scanned her lower abdomen again.

Hannah laid back, and as he scanned her abdomen figured he was being thorough about the nausea. Maybe she had picked up a virus or something. She kept her hands to her side and just breathed - unconcerned.

He looked over the results and then, unsure whether it was good or bad news, put on a solid poker face to deliver the news. “Lieutenant, you’re pregnant. About twelve weeks. Looks healthy, so far. I’m going to have to write you a referral to the hospital’s maternity ward, alright?”

~ NE Tai

Hannah blinked once. The announcement not sinking in right away. Then he would feel shock, disbelief, panic, grief, and denial. She sat up quickly, and her stomach made her regret it, “What? Maternity? No. No Dr Tai, I am meticulous about my contraceptives.” All the while leaning around to see his tricorder to see for herself.

Not good news then, no. Not at all. That was exactly why he did these announcements as neutrally as possible. He held a hand out for her to grab if that would comfort her. Then he turned the tricorder so she could see. “Sometimes even a little slip up causes contraceptives to fail.” Judging by the grief, intense grief, he felt from her he had an idea why it was not happy news. He wasn’t going to jump to conclusions though. Not his place.

Then as the results on the tricorder blinked at her she went numb. Her hands started moving, slowly, Tai could deduce she was using some sort of sign language. After a moment she nodded. “Yes…a referral…can, can I still get cleared for duty or do I need to go there first?” No…no…this could not be happening. Daniel was gone. She could not be pregnant.

Asimina, AMO

Tai recognized the use of sign language but the signs meant nothing to him. He sighed and shook his head, feeling sorry for her. “I’m sorry, Lieutenant Asimina… I can’t clear you. I’m not a maternity doctor. Everything looks good to me, but an obstetrician might see something I don’t. And with duty and pregnancies we have to be sure.” The next topic he approached cautiously and hesitantly. “If… you need any, you know… counseling services, that is available too.”

~ NE Tai

Hannah took his offered hand, the gesture welcome, but then let go. “Can maternity see me today? Any time? Is that here or the hospital. I just got here, I don’t know where it is.” She had to work. Fayth and McBride requested her because they needed her to start working. She had today to get it worked out. She took a breath. It was fine. It was. Other than nausea, oh gods it was morning sickness, she felt fine. She just had to get cleared. “Counseling? Yes I am supposed to go there next. I will do that after you make the other appointment”

Asimina, AMO

Tai made a face. “Um.... It’s at the hospital, and they’re pretty busy. I can see if they’ll fit you in,” The doctor replied uncertainly. “The counselor is new here, but I hear she’s been doing a good job. Can’t quite remember her name though… Something starting with M… Or maybe T. Let me check on that appointment.”

~ NE Tai

Hannah nodded, “Anyone is fine. I am sure she has a whole staff. If you point me in the direction I will go see who is available in counseling. I will watch my schedule for the appointment with…maternity.” How did this happen? Why? This was a bad dream, it has to be.

When he finally released her, Hannah moved down the corridor and to another floor. She entered the small lobby, gave her name and sat down to wait for a counselor.

Asimina, AMO

It was busy that day. There were a couple different counselors in rotation, though, so it was moving fairly quickly as people were called back. Finally, it was Hannah’s turn. “Hannah… Asimina?” said the receptionist, looking around the room. Upon spotting her, the receptionist waved Hannah back and to an office on the left hand side of the hall. “Right here.” The name on the door? Lieutenant Tandra Mika.

Hannah lifted her hand and stood. “Thank you.” And she moved over to the door. She paused at the name. Was it really Mika? Tandra Mika. A familiar face in all this craziness? Her hand shook slightly as she reached to press the chime. This was a dream, it had to be.

The office was in better shape than it had been last week. Mika finally had some proper cushy chairs, for starters. On the other hand, the walls were still barren save for Mika’s photographs. Her desk was devoid of anything that wasn’t work related. She had tried to put a few things up around the office, make it look homier, but it was all rather eclectic, things she’d found or gotten after arriving here. Mika herself stood near the desk, finishing notes for the previous patient. Setting the PaDD down, she turned to face her next patient. “I’m sorry, it’s been-” she cut herself off with a look of pure astonishment. “Hannah?!”

~ Lt Mika, CNS

Hannah blinked, her hands moving in surprise and half finished thoughts. “M…Mika? It really is you! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.” She stepped all the way in so the door closed. She smiled at the pictures. “You have a few more! How are you? Can I sit down?”

Asimina

Mika smiled and gestured to the chairs. “I do.” Once Hannah picked a chair, Mika sat in the other one. “I’ve been okay. How about you?” She smiled, “I’m glad Sharah managed to get you transferred here. I bet you’ll like it.”

~ Mika

Hannah didn’t know how to answer that question about how she was doing. “Oh? You…you know Dr Fayth?” She glanced at the pictures, “Oh....she was one of your cadets.” Wow she hadn’t realized Fayth was that young in her career. Hannah had really....waisted her years. “I…I think I will. It’s a great post. If I can get cleared for duty…” Hannah was distracted and far away.

Asimina

Mika smiled and nodded. “She was.” She sighed softly, but then snapped herself out of it. She was on the job. She couldn’t bring her personal feelings into her practice. She looked at Hannah questioningly. “If you can get cleared for duty? Did something happen?” It had been less than a year since she’d last seen Hannah. But then again, as Mika’s life certainly proved, a lot could change in a year.

~ Mika, CNS

Hannah rubbed her palms over her thighs. “I just came from my medical check. They wouldn’t clear me because they…they said I needed…Oh gods Mika....I’m pregnant!” Hannah began to cry.

Asimina

Mika just stood up, went over to her, and hugged her. It wasn’t something she’d normally do, but Hannah was her friend. She didn’t know about Commander Colter. It had happened months after Mika’s transfer. But judging by the tears, this was not a happy pregnancy. “I’m sorry, Hannah… What about Commander Colter? Are you and he…?”

~ Mika, CNS

Hannah leaned heavily into Mika. She had to stop crying. She needed to get through these checks so she could start work. “He…I don’t know…and…and what I do know I can’t talk about.” Mika had been on the Saracen, so she knew that Daniel had been the CIO. She knew what type of work he did. “He’s gone, he’s not coming back.” How was she supposed to be okay with that now?

Hannah

Mika nodded. Hannah couldn’t say, not even to Mika, with patient confidentiality, the kinds of things Colter was up to. Mika’s clearance wasn’t high enough. “I understand. I’m sorry for your loss.” She kept hugging Hannah tightly, letting her cry. “It’s a major thing. You loved him. You need to let yourself grieve. Trying to hold it in so you can work, will only make it worse.” It was a common issue within Starfleet. Officers liked to try and hide things to pass check ins, to be allowed to work, anything like that. The thing about that was, it was usually those behaviours that ended up causing them to fail check ins.

~ Mika, CNS

Hannah nodded and started signing and then stopped, remembering Mika didn’t understand. “I…I know I have to grieve. But now Dr Tai said he can’t clear me for duty because I’m pregnant. I didn’t know when I took the position, and I thought pregnant women could serve? I’ve never turned an officer down for that. That was never an issue even in medical school. I finally was offered this great position, I really want it. I came to Oed to try and move on, do something with my career. I put it on hold for 8 years for Daniel and now I have nothing.”

Hannah

“Go to the Maternity department. It’s a formality, Hannah. It’ll be fine. I promise. There’s nothing against pregnant women serving, but since we do have a full hospital, sometimes they give referrals here, instead of a handful of doctors trying to do everything.” Mika had learned some sign language, for Hannah, but she was nowhere near fluent. Maybe she’d have to pick it back up. It had been a while, though. Mika felt like her career had stagnated, too, though for different reasons. “They will let you serve unless you aren’t healthy.” Mika knew what she would do in Hannah’s situation but that was NOT an option she was going to bring up.

~ Mika, CNS

Hannah nodded, “I’m waiting for them to get me an appointment.” She blew out a breath. “I still need this check in though. Are you okay doing it or would you rather someone else do it, since we’re friends?”

Asimina

Mika sat back in her chair. “They will get back to you. I’m sure of it.” Then she looked at Hannah. “That depends on what you are comfortable with. I am used to doing appointments for friends, it’s unavoidable on starships.”

~ Mika

Hannah nodded. It was the same with medical too. “I would prefer you, honestly. It’s nice that there is someone familiar. And not....” Hannah sighed. “You’re my friend and I know won’t go behind my back.” That had been SO awkward. “The CNS on Saracen made a really blatant pass at Daniel. It was so awkward to have to go to her for evals after that.”

Hannah

“I would never.” Mika replied, horrified. “Never, ever, ever! That’s awful.” Then she shook her head and smiled. “I am happy to do it for you.” Switching back into professional mode, she leaned back in her chair. “So, how are you doing with everything? And I mean everything.” The loss of Commander Colter, the pregnancy, the transfer, all of it.

~ Mika, CNS

“I’m sad, but I’m not. It sounds awful, even to me, but when he left it was like waking up again. He was gone for so long. Him being gone is normal, I had already grieved for him. He had been gone so long that I had thought he was dead. The last two years were the exception instead of the rule. When I realized he wasn’t coming back I cried for days. And then I woke up and realized I could finally move on with my life. Instead of holding in limbo for him. Then the offer for Oed came and I took it. I just couldn’t, Mika, I couldn’t just sit and wait another 5 years or more with no answer. I want to live my life.” Hannah sighed, “Am I being awful to him?”

Asimina