PNCP Colin MacLaren, MD. Bending the Rules TAG WELBY

[Meredith Lahmann]

(( USS Odyssey Sick Bay))

::Dr. Colin MacLaren left his office after having gone through all the reports from the time he’d been on Avalon. Like the others, he was unable to fathom what had suddenly launched them into space in the twinkling of an eye. It defied all he knew of science, yet Avalon was not about science. He recognized that it was a spiritual realm of some kind, and the scientist in him had long admitted that just as Shakespeare had said, “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy…”

Gavin stopped by the bed of an engineer who’d gotten a nasty burn from a reactor mishap while working on the dilithium crystals. The chart indicated he’d gotten quick and competent care, however, Colin wanted to see the man with his own eyes especially since the crewman was a veteran who did not like being off duty much less in the sickbay:

Colin: Now what in the world are ye doing goldbricking in here, Ferguson? Nae a doubt ye’re enjoying the Sickbay replicators. We serve naught but the best.

Ferguson: rolling his eyes; othing is as good as in the lounge where you can get a fine meal, a decent ale and a game of cards.

Colin; giving one of his rare but great smiles:: Isn’t that the truth? Still, we do good work. From what I see here, ye may have lost that arm or your life. 

Ferguson: True that. That head nurse is hard as a Cardassians heart when it comes to getting me a good meal, but she knows her job. She actually stayed with me the first night in here. 

Colin:: arching a brow:: Did she now? Laird, it may be she has a heart under all that bluster? 

::He’d no sooner said the words when Nurse Welby walked up beside him. He’d sensed her this time which was helpful since the woman could walk as silently as a ghost.:

Welby?

Colin: I was just checking on Ferguson here. I want to examine the wound, but it does seem that he’s gotten good care. Well done, Nurse.

Welby:

::Colin checked the readouts from the biobed before removing the Ferguson’s arm from the light cylinder that encased it. The skin was doing well, no sign of infection. The wound had been serious, so he’d been fortunate.::

Colin: We will begin occupational therapy today. He needs to start using those new muscles. They’re looking fine, but he needs to start using them.

Welby:

Colin::winking at Ferguson: Therapy is thirsty work, Nurse Welby. As soon as he’s finished, make sure he gets a Guinness Ale from the lounge, aye? 

Welby:

Colin: Doctor’s orders, Nurse. There are some things that give a man a lift, and Mr. Ferguson deserves one.

Ferguson: grinning:: It takes a Scot or an Irishman to realize that. Thanks Doc.

Colin: Make sure ye earn it, or it will disappear. The exercises are not going to be easy, but ye’re tough enough to do them. If ye dinna, ye’ll not use that hand for much more that scratching your heid.

Ferguson: looking shocked: Not use it for much. I need my hands to do everything.

Colin: patting his shoulder:: And ye will if ye do the exercises. :: looking at Welby:: I’m counting on ye to make sure he does the whole drill before he gets that ale, Nurse.

Welby?

:Colin moved on to the next patient knowing that Welby would keep Ferguson working on his hand. She was a stickler for the rules, so if Ferguson was going to get past one by getting ale, she’d make him earn it. They were both tough as nails, so it would be an interesting war of wills.::

PNCP Colin Ferguson MD

CMO

USS Odyssey