Wilted Rose

Posted on Sat Jul 4th, 2026 @ 4:51pm by Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus & Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Endymion Tox

2,079 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: Concurrent to Aftermath And Answers

[Sickbay]


Aaron had been alerted that the teams were returned. He stood in the center of his Sick Bay with his cane in front of him. He leaned on it. As the teams came in he triaged patients off to various members of his staff. As much as he hated it he had orders that he was to examine and treat Amanda. Aaron did not want to be on this ship, but a report of disobeying orders would not go well for what he did want to accomplish. In due course Amanda came into Sick Bay.

Aaron thought it best to keep this as quick and professional as possible. The quicker he got it done the quicker Amanda would either be in stasis while he figured out what was wrong with her, or returned to her quarters. Either way she would not be his problem. "On the bio bed if you please Lieutenant." He pointed to the bed with his cane as he reached for a medical tricorder.

"I'm impressed that you used the word, 'please,'" Amanda replied, as she complied with the request. "Could it be that we are finally obtaining a slight bedside manner?" she wondered aloud and with a bright smile. "We wouldn't want to ruin that cantankerous doctor attitude that you're so fond of demonstrating to the crew, would we?"

Tox, who'd been helping out, came up to the two. "Are you two playing nice?"

Aaron turned to Tox without any expression. "Nurse prepare and administer a hypospray of Corophizine." Then he turned to Amanda having to inform her of her care. "This is a broad spectrum antibiotic to make sure that there are no unknown infections." He scanned her with a med tricorder. "Lieutenant, what precisely happened down there. It seems that you are slightly anemic. Tox, we are going to have to prepare a transfusion of compatible blood."

Amanda smiled warmly at Tox and said, "I'm always nice!" She wondered at the Doctor ignoring Tox's question and his quick work. Something was very off about him today. "A blood transfusion?" she inquired with a pout. "That means I'm going to have to eat healthy for a bit...." She wrinkled her nose and continued, "I guess my well deserved sundae is going to have to wait, huh?"

Tox prepared the hypo and smiled. "You could always have a spinich sundae," he said as he stopped beside her with the hypo. "Ignore doctor grumpy. He loves me. He has trouble admitting it but he loves me."

He looked at Amanda again. "But serously. Are you okay? Can I get you something to make you more comfy?"

"And all this time, I thought he loved me, Tox. Gosh. Should we fight about it?" she asked with a cheerful giggle. "But honestly, he has trouble admitting anything and covers it up with his brash demeanor. Given that he's being almost warm for himself, we might want to consider taking his temperature...." She laughed more amusedly than the giggles. It was a sweet laugh, the kind that would cause most people to smile just upon hearing it.

"But, seriously, Tox, there's no need to fawn over me. I'm alright. My childhood memories of Horton hearing a Who were helpful." Her eyes became radiant as she beamed with joy. "And, because of that, I'm not plant food. So, all's well that ends well."

Her voice became softer and more conspiratorial as she whispered to Tox, "I swear, if it weren't for bad luck, I might not have any luck at all."

Aaron was usually put off by Tox's over the top bedside manner. However, this time he actually welcomed it. It served as a distraction from having to deal with Amanda in any way other than medical. "I will be the judge if you are okay. At the moment, you aren't. You are not dying, but you are partially digested. That said. Along with the blood transfusion, I am administering doses of vitamin B12, and Magnesium. Electrolyte supplements will also be given." As Aaron administered the hypo which contained the vitamin cocktail, he noticed a wound of sorts on Amanda's clavicle. "Hello. What are you?" He looked at the wound intently and smirked. "This is an acid burn. Another day or so down there and you would have been nutrient soup for whatever was eating you. Tox, I need the dermal regenerator, and the dermaline gel. We are going to give a dosage of kelotane as well. Lieutenant I am not going to beat around the bush here. You have a full thickness acid burn on your right clavicle. This appears to be caused by digestive fluids. We are going to begin immediate treatment. That is what the gel and kelotane is for. However, burns like this can and often spread. So, if you notice any marks elsewhere on your body you are going to have to report back immediately."

Tox floated away to get things ready. The dermal regenerator was easy, the gel he had to run to the medical store to get. He came back in moments handing both to the doc. "Correct me if I'm wrong Docey pie but if we want to minimize the hassle on Mandie pie we should do a check. I can calibrate the dermal scanner to do a full scan. If we can get a sample of the digested skin we can hone it to ID areas just starting to be affected. I can tend to that if you wish." He knew the doc didn't like the warm and fuzzy bedside interaction with patients but Tox figured if Aaron was helping him then he could help by minimizing the doc's most annoying duties.

"Mandie pie?" Amanda asked Tox with a short chuckle. "Really?" She shook her head at the nurse. "Well, maybe you could sculpt me a bit? If any of those burns or abrasions are on my behind, I wouldn't mind losing some weight back there." Wait! Did I say that in front of the Doctor?! God help me! Amanda started to blush lightly.

Tox snorted. "Aww you're blushing!"

Amanda's blush ended abruptly as she narrowed her eyes at Tox. "Keep focused, Tox. The Doctor is almost pleasant today and is giving me some TLC."

As the Doc stepped away a bit Tox leaned in his eyes wide, "Do...do you have a crush on him?" His grin was positively naughty.

Stepping back to the bio bed Aaron looked toward Tox. "Thank you Lieutenant the scan is a great idea. I will conduct the scan. You apply the gel please." Aaron had no intention on touching Amanda. At the moment he contained two emotions that were in direct conflict. The first was the urge to comment on Amanda's fat butt along with the laughter at her possibly having a crush on him, and the other was vomit and revulsion for having to even come close to touching even her. His herculean effort to keep that in worked. So, he initiated the scan in search for further digested parts.

Amanda was positively aghast at Tox's question. She put her hand to her chest and her eyes bulged. "God forbid!"

Tox shrugged. "Bet you two would be um... passionate." He grinned as he went back to the medical store to get more gel.

When he floated back he smiled clasping the Doc on the shoulder. "Seriously Mandy Pie. This guy is amazing. Not only is he medically brilliant he's a sweetie and a really good counselor. While you were missing he talked me down from a ledge. If my heart were not committed and slightly confused I'd make a play for Doc myself." He winked at the Doc as he sauntered away to get some gloves for the gel.

Aaron chose to ignore most of what was said as he scanned. However, the point about him being a good counselor was something he asked Tox to do. He inwardly laughed at the thought that Amanda now knew he was better at her job than her. Without looking up from his console Aaron spoke to Tox. "She prefers to be called Thorny."

"Oki doki. Thorny it is. I will not go against the man who gave me my own nickname I'm now part of the crew too!"

"Don't listen to him, Tox. I do not enjoy being called by that vile name. He only picks on me like that because he's showing his love for me," she concluded with her voice rising higher and saccharinely sweet tone. "He just hates that I rebuff his overtures and continue to try and get him to get in touch with his feelings."

She stopped for a moment and her face went pale as she looked at Tox. "Wait! What do you mean HE'S a good counselor?!"

"Yeah I was really in trouble there for a bit but he just talked me through it. Listened to me I honestly felt heard and cared for. I don't think Doc gets enough credit. Who knew! If ever you need a break or if you need to talk I highly recommend him. I honestly feel like my old self again." He grinned as he clasped Aaron Marcus on the shoulder. "Thanks again Doc. I've been sleeping through the night again."

Amanda looked at the Doctor then at Tox like they both had three heads. She then informed Tox, "I think I'm in an alternate reality. Can you do me a favor and verify my phase differential?"

Tox looked at the Doc. "This maybe more serious then we anticipated." He waited for his boss to give an order. He looked at Amanda. "Not to worry, Doc will fix you up and if the counselor needs counseling Doc is the best choice." I'd kiss him if I knew he wouldn't airlock me."

"Unless I'm in a different universe, I do not believe that the Doctor ever wants to be kissed and I don't think he swings the same way as you, Tox," Amanda told Tox, feeling mighty confused by everything.

Aaron finished up administering the medications and thought that now was a good time to comment on all of this. "What is so hard to believe, Thorny? I am in touch with my emotions, all that is there is hatred. I am an equal opportunity discriminator, I hate everyone... Equally."

"Ah!" Amanda exclaimed. "Now that's the Doctor that I know and love! We will have to help you work through that hatred. It isn't good for your health."

"Don't you dare," Tox said. "His anger or passion or whatever you call it make him the sugar cookie he is. Plus I need him as is to help me with my counseling!"

"It is my duty to assist people become healthy and happy. We don't want to change who he is, just help him evolve. And as to counseling, you have me, Tox. We've been meeting for some time." Amanda's voice sounded wounded.

"And I love ya to bits but since he's helping me with a medical thing and it's tied to the counseling thing for this one I think I'll stick with Doc." He looked over at Aaron. "If that's okay with you boss."

"That's fine. You bring the scotch next time." Aaron said as he grabbed his cane and leaned on it. He looked toward Amanda and gave her a wink. "Well Lieutenant looks like you are fit for duty. Just keep an eye on those wounds, and if they begin to seep come see Tox here for a fresh dressing and some meds. Aaaaaaand we're done here." He said in his most official sarcastic voice. The PADD containing the information from Amanda's scans was tossed on the cart and Aaron began to hobble on his cane back to his office.

Tox smiled as the Doc left. He turned to Amanda. "Isn't he wonderful?"

"I think we both have a different idea of what the word 'wonderful,' means." Amanda shook her head again, still wondering if she was in the correct universe. "I think I'm going to go to my office and lie down or bury myself in paperwork."

"Yes, dear counselor. You need rest," Tox concluded.

"And probably a strong drink," Amanda concluded as she got up and started to leave Sickbay.

=====

Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario.

Lieutenant Endymion Tox
Head Nurse (NPC)
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus
Chief Medical Officer
USS Ontario

 

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