Doctor Update

Posted on Thu Dec 5th, 2024 @ 3:10am by Lieutenant JG Willow Wales (Kosugi) & Lieutenant Lydia Whitlock M.D.

Mission: Just Another Day on Gladiator
Location: Messhall
1240 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Willow was going over files at her console, catching up on several patients histories so far. She leaned back and rubbed her eyes feeling the need to have a break. Standing up she stretched a little bit and walked away from her screen. Her eyes fell upon Lydia, she'd not truly spoken with her ever since the whole Trinity mission.

"Doctor Whitlock, are you free to have a lunch break?" Willow asked.

Lydia turned away from her own notes and turned toward Willow, rubbing her growling stomach that she hadn't noticed until the mention of the word lunch. "Yes, please. My stomach could use the sustenance and my mind could use the change of scenery. Thanks for offering."

"You are welcome." Willow giving a warm smile.She waited until Lydia neared her and set off to the Canteen, as what the place was called where eveyone on the ship was invited to go. "Have you been to the Canteen yet to eat? Its not a bad place, most times it is called Marine country but all of us can go there just to drop the rank and title. Those are left at the door."

Lydia smiled as they walked. "I like the sound of that. To be honest, I usually just eat lunch at my desk, so I haven't tried the Cantina yet, but I'm glad to be with you. Even replicated food tastes better with company."

"I will happily agree with that." Willow giving a chuckle.

They arrived at the Canteen, and were able to find a table. Willow had a little bit of a smile when she noticed that they were being given the once over by some of the men that were there. "What will you be eating?" Wilow asked, what she had in mind was a sandwich.

Lydia considered the question for a moment. Normally, she would opt for a simple sandwich if she was eating at her desk, but now in the presence of others, she was suddenly really hungry and in the mood for something decadent. "I'm thinking a bacon cheeseburger with curly fries and a strawberry milkshake. How about you?"

"That actually sounds wonderful I'll have the same, but with regular fries. I like dipping my fries into my shake." Willow's smile spreading into a full grin. "Have you ever tried doing that?" then placed the orders for both herself and Lydia.

"I'll have to give it a try," Lydia offered. "I'm not usually one to mix salty with sweet, but it isn't very often that I eat like this, and I'm feeling adventurous," she added with a chuckle.

"Well now, lets be wild and have fries with a shake" Willow giving a laugh. "What do you think about where we are at? Have you been deailng with people who are suffering from being in the nebula?"

Lydia grew thoughtful. "I've seen a variety of concerns, some nebula related and some not. The comfort of medicine and even counseling is that, no matter what strange or traumatic things we face, there's always a few people with common colds or people who just want to complain about their partner's nagging," she added with a chuckle. "How about you? What have you noticed?"

"Once in awhile I hear like maybe echoes of voices of those who had been here before. Those that were lost, but the echoes that I hear are not of sad noises but happy ones. As if from happier times" Willow giving a smile. "To be quite honest I would rather hear that instead of cries of sorrow."

"I agree," Lydia replied, making her way to the replicator to order her lunch. "Sometimes it's easy to forget the others that came before us. How does it feel to hear those echoes? Is it unnerving as an experience?"

"No it isn't unnerving." Willow responded. "Now if it were screams, or cries of pain, that will be unnerving as I would have to see about expelling those sad sounds. The happy sounds are not bad at all. And it is good to hear those. Once in awhile. Howver I think that at times the veil between the spiritual world as well as the physical world can go a bit thin. And also memories can be triggered as well."

It was a thoughtful response and Lydia took a moment to consider it. "I suppose I've never thought of a spiritual veil, but I do believe in a strong connection between mind and body. I've seen so many people struggle with a physical illness they should recover from, but mentally, they just give up, and I've seen so many people I didn't expect to survive do so out of sheer will. Perhaps that follows people in the afterlife."

"Perhaps it does indeed, that is what my family believes in." Willow stated, "And always good to keep good spirits and try to keep the negative out."

Lydia nodded. "It's a balancing act for sure. Sometimes discussing the painful things is the road to healing in some cases too. I've certainly seen that in my work. What about you? Any surprises since starting here?"

"Well, I met someone and wound up marrying him. He is the Chief of Security, Josey Wales." Willow just beaming. "It was a pleasant surprise meeting him, while on shore leave and we just clicked." a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Wow!" Lydia exclaimed. "It sounds like it was a whirlwind romance." Even though they were just talking casually, Lydias caretaker heart and her counselor instincts couldn't help but leave her feeling apprehensive for Willow. She had no reason to doubt the relationship or the marriage, of course, but Lydia was protective of her crew's well-being."

"Speaking of a whirlwind romance, or romance in general. Have you had a romantic partner in your life? A significant other? I think you are something of a mystery" Willow having ain impish gleam in her eyes.

Lydia chuckled. “That’s a very polite way to put that, thank you. You could’ve just accused me of being a spinster,“ she added teasingly. She paused, then offered “there have been a couple of serious romances in my younger years, but as I’m sure you’re aware it can be difficult to maintain a relationship in Starfleet, particularly if both parties are not on the same ship or base. It’s also really easy to get caught up in one‘s career, especially if it’s medicine or counseling when we really don’t have much off time.“

"I know you were teasing but, I wouldn't call you a spinster, remember the lifespan of humans has gone up to a little bit over a hundred years old." Willow reaching out and giving Lydia's hand a squeeze, "So never too late and also, what sort of person do you find attractive?" pulling her hand back.

Lydia's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Are you trying to set me up?"

"I'm not a matchmaker person, I was just wondering." Willow giving a nonchalant shrug. "Anyway, I'm finished with my lunch, and should get back to work." gathering up the rest of what was left, which wasn't much at all. "See you back at work?"

Lydia nodded, a glance at her chronometer telling her it was much later than she thought. "Thank you for the company and the chat. We should do it again sometime." She smiled, and then added, "Don't ever stop wondering."