Moment of Quiet

Posted on Mon May 4th, 2026 @ 3:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Oscar McDonald MD & Lieutenant Chloe O'Connor MD

1,007 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Forgotten Wounds
Location: Sickbay

This was the eye of the storm. The calm quiet which had settled merely a precursor to the potential danger looming on the horizon like the darkest of clouds.

Triage of the rescued passengers and crew was completed, the intensive preparation paying dividends when the shuttles full of men, women and children began returning to the Arcadia. Every member of his team had executed their duties with faultless professionalism, ensuring those in greatest need were given priority while even the most minor injuries were tended to quickly. Ensign Millar had even put on an impromptu magic show and was currently a fan favourite amongst the younger passengers.

Yet even in the organised chaos of the medical efforts, word had reached them. First of the loss of Commander Walker's shuttle and, of course, the Commander himself. MacDonald had disagreed with the man many a time in their limited interactions, but he wished the man no ill and it was indeed a heavy loss for the crew. By the time any of the medical staff had time to really begin to digest the news there was further word, rumours the Klingons had - for some reason - managed to beam Walker aboard before the shuttle exploded.

A brief conversation with the Bridge had confirmed the ship was making a detour with the full intention of recovering their missing officer. Of course it was not lost on MacDonald that while the Klingons had previously been 'assisting' them on a mission of mercy, to them that mission was over. All bets would be off the table.

And all he could do was think of the many civilians who may have just traded one fate for another.

With his thoughts preoccupied he moved into the store room beside his office, having noticed Biobed 2 running low in supplies. He could ask a nurse or technician to do the somewhat menial task, but he was perfectly capable and in that particular moment did not have any more pressing matters to tend to.

Moving quickly he gathered what he needed before pausing a moment, listening for a moment.

"Was the latest magic show so bad that you are hiding?" he queried, placing all of his supplies within a small tray before setting it down on the nearby shelf and rounding the stack.

"No. I mean... He is no Houdini, but the kids love him," Chloe O'Connor answered with a small, tired smile. Perched on the edge of an empty crate, leaning back against the wall, she shifted along, making just enough room for him. "Sorry. I just needed five minutes of quiet."

Studying her for a moment, McDonald sat down, letting silence fall. Beyond the closed doors they could hear the muted familiar sounds of Sickbay, as the staff's attentions now turned to recovery and restoring some sense of normality. But here it sounded as if were a million miles away. Which, he knew, was why this was a favoured spot of many on the medical staff when they needed 'quiet'.

He understood that need.

Few outside of their profession did. Yes, Captains and the like made life or death decisions - sending people into perilous situations where death was at least a possibility if not guaranteed - yet it was at a distance. It did not compare, although he knew a few would disagree.

Today they had been fortunate. Two individuals were still requiring intensive care, yet the prognosis was good after surgery and the others had escaped with few significant injuries. Despite all else, they had been lucky. He could take a moment to appreciate that. To be grateful. Another day, another group of medical staff or a different rescue plan... perhaps it would have been different.

"Klingons," Chloe said quietly beside him, breaking the silence as she looked up at him.

He met her gaze, much unsaid before he nodded. "Yes. But if Walker is alive -"

"I know," she interjected, nodding. She lifted her hand and he saw the shaking, heard it in her voice as she confided, "hasn't stopped since I heard... so stupid..."

He didn't answer, not at first. The Klingon War had left scars on so many, himself included. He himself had no wish to go toe to toe with the Klingon's, but he suspected if anyone could pull this off, it would be Abernathy.

Instead of answering offering comfort as he took hold of her hand, gripping it tightly as he held her to him. Her entire life had revolved around Klingon's in one way or another. All the way back to the day she was born. But like many doctors, she too had found herself on field surgical units dealing with traumatic injuries as battles were fought up close and personal. It was the kind of experience which would never leave any of them, especially the faces of those they could not save. And there had been far far too many of those.

"I'll ensure we have so much security we will be tripping over them," he promised her, "just in case the Klingon's get any ideas. And if they get through all that, we'll have Millar distract them by pulling a rabbit out of a hat."

He felt her relaxing a bit, and she sat back, taking some deep breaths and composing herself. "That... may actually work," she conceded with a small smile. "Although where is he going to get a rabbit?"

"That I do not know," he informed her as he stood, seemingly engrossed in this new plan. Where was Baciami when he needed her? "But while I sort that problem, you go take a nap in hat little hideout in Store Room B the other doctors think I don't know about, I'll send someone to get you in a couple of hours."

Without waiting for a response he set off, collecting his tray on the way and stepping back out into the bay, bellowing, "Havers! What are you finding so hard about getting a crayon out of that boys nose?"

OFF

 

RSS Feed