Hives

Posted on Fri Feb 5th, 2021 @ 4:45pm by Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Corvus Hannah

1,443 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: 2430-08-29, 20:40

With his mind still preoccupied with Chire's off character reaction Dylan wasn't aware he'd been scratching the hives on his exposed arms till he caught sight of the bloody streaks left in the wake of his own fingernails. He sighed wearily and clasped them behind his back while the turbo car continued to whizz toward sickbay. At least the sneezing had stopped he clung to the positive notion before catching sight of the his blotchy face in the panel.

He cringed at his unsightly appearance, no wonder Chire had stomped off - he looked worse than an greasy teenager in the height of puberty. Worse still these red bumps were itchy too. He bounced upon the balls of his feet resting the urge to restart the satisfying scratching when the car doors finally parted.

As expected at early evening things were quiet in sickbay and the Lieutenant wondered through hoping to find someone to help him.

Because CTEs never seemed to end, Hannah found himself in Medical over his assigned shift end. He wanted to make sure to improve his scores from last year due to the burgeoning of a future path he wanted to take. Of course, had it been the day before or the day after, he'd be in Security, working on his classes to continue his certifications there. Fortunately, for whatever reason, Medical was actually quiet for a bit. Which is why he was such a distraction to hear the doors open and footsteps walking across the room. He laid down his PaDD on the biobed he commandeered for 'study' and padded to the main part of the room.

"Whoa, Lieutenant," Hannah said, catching a glance of Blake. "What happened?"

Blake wanted to smile with relief that he'd come into the care of the Petty Officer instead of the senior Doctor. He'd not actually met Dr Brooks yet but had already imagined he'd pale under her judgemental eye as Porter before her.

"There's a flower in the arboretum," he explained showing him this angry arms. "It's given me some sort of reaction, I couldn't stop sneezing at first then these broke out. They're really itchy too."

"Okay, Lieutenant, have you had allergic reactions to other flora previous to this one?" Hannah asked as he retrieved a tricorder from a rack. While he preferred his diagnostic glove, this seemed rather simple and straightforward case of allergens. If necessary, however, he would get it. "Or any other allergies?" He glanced at the screen that should be loading Blake's medical information.

Dylan pondered thinking back taking a seat on the nearest biobed: "Never from flora," he replied with a slight shake of his head. "Though I have a rather ancient sensitivity to lactose but that should be on file. Makes me puke, loads." Blake winced slightly at the last incident he had months previously. It certainly put a hasty and unpleasant damper the date he was having at the time.

"Well, the more we explore, the more we find things we're allergic to," Hannah said as he glanced over the lieutenant's file. "Have you ever had the replicators programmed to increase the dairy fat? It tends to reduce the lactose in products and greatly reduces the severity of lactose intolerance symptoms. Though, it only works if you order or the order is specifically stated to be for you." The scans were finished and showed that the reaction was typical of a plant allergen. The computer flagged this was the twentieth such reaction among the crew of the ship. Hannah considered the need for a request to remove this particular plant.

Dylan shook his head: "I've never thought about that, thanks I'll have to create some files. Normally I just avoid dairy instead to save the trouble or have pail within sprinting distance," he smirked. "These things aren't going to be a problem?" he asked trying to second guess Hannah's expression as he scanned the sores.

"Problem? Not at all, Lieutenant. I'll give you an anti-histamine shot that should help alleviate the allergen response and then dispense a cream. Twice a day for a few days and it should be gone. I'll suggest you don't have contact with that particular plant again or we'll be seeing you back here." Hannah spoke as he prepared the hypospray with the correct medication and ordered up a tube of cream from the medical replicator. "Bigger problem may be the lactose intolerance. Could prove a problem if you clear the savannah after every meal."

Grimacing slightly the prospect of the unsightly and itchy spots were going to linger unwanted for a couple of days Dylan bit back a weary sigh. All he wanted was an early night, instead he'd gone for a walk with Chire and landed himself here now being interrogated by Hannah. "Like I said I've learned learnt to avoid consuming it," he half struggled. "I don't really think about it too much, its a second nature. I manage small doses, a dash of milk here or there at worse it make my stomach cramp but otherwise I can live with it."

Hannah nodded while the lieutenant talked. After he finished, he pressed the hypospray to Blake's upper arm and injected the medication. Setting down that tool, he picked up the cream. "Apply this twice a day for the next two days. Even if it appears the rash has vanished, make sure to fill the course of treatment. It should help remove them and rid you of the itch." He glanced at the readouts on the monitor over the biobed. As he expected, there wasn't anything troubling there. "Anything else we can help you with, Lieutenant?" he asked, already mentally charting the course of treatment for the affliction.

Taking the pot of cream Dylan unscrewed the lid and give it a quick sniff. Wincing slightly at the fragrance he returned the lid and refocused his attention back to Hannah's question. Immediately his thoughts turned to the soured Chire. No, he reminded himself the medic couldn't help him with that beside, given his current appearance no-one would want to come within spitting distance of him let alone hold a conversation about such delicate matters. "No," he shook his head feeling deflated. "That's all for now, or at least until next time."

Hannah spent enough time as a corpsman to know something else was wrong but, well, what could he do? With the enlisted he had some camaraderie and authority in order to pry but he was speaking with a lieutenant. And, if he were judging body language and vocal tones correctly, it was a sensitive subject. Did he risk getting himself in trouble and pursue this further or did he just let it go and maybe inform one of the senior medical staff? If he did that, though, what did he really have? A lieutenant that seems glum over an allergic rash from a xenoflora? Yeah, he didn't think he had much standing there. He nodded and picked up the PaDD to begin making entries and then...well...yeah, would he let any of his enlisted go away like this? He knew he wouldn't. And if he were going to get courtmartialed over something, wouldn't he rather be in trouble trying to do the right thing by his patients?

Checking the sigh, he put the PaDD back on the tray. "I get the feeling, Lieutenant, that there is something else going on here. I may not be a doctor, but as part of the medical staff, I'm still sworn to patient confidentiality so anything you say to me stays with me...unless it presents a clear danger to yourself or other members of the crew." There it was, thrown out there. He waited...to either be told to shove off or brought up on charges.

Dylan paused having straightened from the bed at Hannah's words. "I know, but it really is nothing. I'm just tired and not thinking straight," he shook his head once more. It was the truth even if Hannah didn't believe him, Chire may have cut rough with him but he was certain they'd be a reasonably explanation that his weary mind could see. Right now he'd settle for a hot shower some of this thick cream and several hours of unbroken sleep.

He tossed the pot of cream lightly in the air before catching it: "Thanks Hannah for caring but I'm good, honest."

Hannah forced himself to smile as he picked up the PaDD with Blake's chart. "Okay, Lieutenant," he said, also forcing a cheerful tone. "That should do you, but come back if you have any further problems."

"I will, thank you."

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