Workup

Posted on Thu Jan 9th, 2020 @ 3:27am by Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Sherwin Porter
Edited on on Sat Feb 15th, 2020 @ 6:53pm

848 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Genesis
Location: Sickbay - Exam Room 2
Timeline: 2430-01-06, 08:58

Sherwin sat in the exam room and checked the chronometer. "Good," he murmured to himself, "right on time."

The CMO had just finished examining one crewmember and was looking forward to this next one. His next appointment was Commander Nathan Hawkins. The two of them had worked together in the past, but since Sherwin's recent appointment back on the Enterprise, they'd only had one interaction, and it didn't really go so well. Of course, Porter wasn't in a wonderful state of mind when he came on board, but he was doing better now.

Though Hawkins had been aboard Starefleet One for some time the sheer size and magnitude of the ships sickbay still surprised him. They were in basic terms a flying hospital; better equipped than the small vessels in the Federation ship and perhaps even some of the Starbase's. Therefore it took a few moments of searching to locate Doctor Porter for his routine medical, he hoped Sherwin was in a better mood since the last time they had some extended interaction.

"Morning Doctor," Nathan greeting stepping into the examination room.

Sherwin smiled as Nathan came in. "Hello," he replied, motioning him into the room. "I know it's been a long time..." he started to say but corrected himself, "...well aside from when I just came aboard, that we've seen each other. Wasn't it on DS 5?"

Hawkins' brow crinkled as he attempted to recall the previous occasion they'd crossed paths. "DS 5," he repeated with a nod of recollection. "Yes, you were the head surgeon looking after Counsellor Blair after his injury." The Commander smiled with a slightly shake of his head; "You have a very good memory, that was quite some time go."

"Yes, it was," Sherwin admitted. "A lot has happened since then," he noted as he motioned for Nathan to have a seat in the medchair. As the Commander sat down, he pressed the control panel to run the standard physical diagnostic. "So how have you been?"

Glancing at the chair briefly as it stated scanning Nathan resisted the urge to snort at the question. He'd been handed some pretty duff cards in the recent few months, his career had been left in near tatters and now to add insult Carla Green had departed leaving Nathan broken heartened and gloomy.

"Physically I can't complain," he responded. "Unless you count these grey bits." Nathan chuckled brushing his hair which had begun to show a sparkle of greying hair.

"You and me both," Sherwin pointed at his own slightly graying mane. "That's what this service will do to you..." he trailed off, lost in thought about his family for a moment.

"It certainly tests you in unexpected ways," Nathan felt himself sigh as Porter turned quite.

Sherwin began to run the tests, then sat down next to him, aware of the fact Hawkins knew that Porter had been a Counselor for much of his life. "This is going to take a few minutes. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Again the Commander sighed. "I feel like I owe you an apology," he began. "Back on New Vulcan, I wasn't exactly nice to you. You were only doing your bit, and, well I was jerk to you." Nathan shrugged. "Maybe if I hadn't been so damn stubborn that day may have panned out differently."

Sherwin stepped back and looked at him. "Are you kidding? That's long forgotten. I mean, I appreciate the apology, but it's certainly not needed. There's been so much that's happened in my life since then that has been life-upending."

Hawkins blinked at Porter's reaction feeling a lost momentarily. Had dwelling in self pity caused him to become blinkered? He'd hoped those dark days had passed, clearly he was starting to slip back into familiar paths. Maybe it was time to shelve the already wounded pride and open up to Rigby or even Porter. It was certainly overdue.

The Commander cleared his throat and back pedaled: "I'm sorry I hadn't realized you've had it tough," he apologized again. "Things have been a like a whirlwind."

Sherwin briefly glanced up at the monitor to check the readings. The Commander's blood pressure was elevating slightly. "Care to elaborate?"

"I..." Nathan hesitated unsure of himself suddenly as Porter turned his probing eye upon him. "I'm not sure I'm ready to yet," he said lowly feeling some what ashamed at his display of weakness.

"And of course you don't have to," Porter replied. "No one ever said life was easy, right?" The computer beeped and he touched the control panel. "You're vitals are fine, Commander," he noted.

Relived Porter didn't press the matter Nathan forced a smirk at his comment: "Where would the fun be if it was straight forward?" he remarked.

Sherwin chuckled, "that's a good point," he admitted as he looked over a few more of the readings. "You're in tip-top shape. Unless there's anything else, you're free to go."

"Thank you Doctor," Hawkins rose . "I won't take any more of your time."

“Til we meet again,” Sherwin smiled as the Commander left the room.

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