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Crewman John was on his way to sickbay for his checkup with Doctor Phlox. Normally, a crewman wouldn’t need such close monitoring, but John had just had surgery. When he’d enlisted, he was fine, but when Doctor Phlox had scanned him pre-flight for their first time in space together as a crew, he discovered that John’s spleen had a tendency to wander and needed to come out.
Now… having come out and nearly recovered from the surgery, he had only one complaint, well- two. The main one being he still had just the smaller “stitch” in his side when he went to move sometimes. Normally he wouldn’t give this a second thought, but being a Starfleet officer, he needed freedom of movement. As he entered the sickbay, he heard the cacophony of Doctor Phlox’s medicinal creatures. The humble alien needed them for his elixirs and treatments, but the love that he put into caring for them proved that his feelings were true.
Phlox l, of course, was very attentive to his sickbay, so he spotted John almost immediately upon his arrival.
“Ah, Crewman, how may I assist you?” He asked in his typical jovial tone.
“Hi, Doc” John said. “I still feel that “stitch” in my side. It’s really been bothering me. I can’t easily pick things up in the cargo bay.” He told the doctor.
“Well, pick a biobed, and I’ll be right with you. Let me just get my scanner.” Phlox assured.
Hopping up lightly onto a biobed, he felt that familiar stinging in his side. Cringing, he hissed between his teeth. Doctor Phlox was back at his side in a moment, a comforting hand on his shoulder, despite the usual Denobulan wish to remain untouched by unfamiliar people.
“Still feel that adhesion?” Asked Phlox.
“Yeah, Doc, right here.” He pointed to the spot on his torso, between two of his ribs. The doctor moved his other hand there to feel it briefly, released him, and then moved for his scanner.
“All of your other readings are normal, but indeed I do see it here. Unfortunately if it continues being stubborn and won’t clear up on it’s own, with a little of my help, you may require a corrective surgery.”
“Oh no, I don’t want that. I’d really hate to have more downtime.” John said, and nervously stroked the sore spot on his hand.
“Well, I assure you any ‘downtime’ as you humans say would be minimal but absolutely necessary.” Phlox paused tracking his patient’s vision and movements.
“What’s this then?” He asked, gently picking up the afflicted hand and looking at it.
“Yeah, my hand has been sore like that since the procedure. Some of the dermal pads they used on me, maybe?” John supplied.
“Mmm. Perhaps.” Phlox said, not satisfied yet. He prodded the sore flesh just a little and John hissed between his teeth again.
“That’s tender?” Phlox asked him.
“Yes, very.” He answered.
“That shouldn’t be. I’m going to press around some more on your arm, just let it go loose and try to relax.” Phlox narrated. Because of the fact that he was Denobulan, he usually announced when he was going to touch one of his patients. Phlox moved his hand along the crewman’s arm, feeling for swelling and inflammation, unfortunately both of which he found. His hand was swollen, red, and warm to the touch.
“Oh my,” Phlox said, worrying the crew member.
“What is it?” He asked urgently.
“It’s just that this must be very painful. I had no idea that your hand was like this. I wish you had said something.” The doctor told him.
“Really? I’ve actually tried to stay out of here because I’ve had to come so much. I’ve felt like a bit of a whiner so I didn’t want to trouble you more than necessary.” John replied.
“Heavens, no!” Phlox exclaimed. “It doesn’t matter to me if you have to come back three times or thirty-three times. I took an oath, and if you’re still uncomfortable that means there is still work to be done, and that this arm still needs attention.
John was moved, he knew Phlox was a compassionate doctor and cared deeply for his patients, but his bedside manner was to be rivaled by none.
“Oh, well, thank you doc. I don’t know what to say.” He replied.
“Nonsense, don’t say anything- except that you’ll let me treat you, hmm?” He was treated to a friendly, inquisitive look.
“Oh! Yes, of course, please. It would be a huge relief.” He was then treated with another small smile, of the Denobulan variety as Phlox reached for his scanner once more.
“Alright, since both of these seem to be giving you more than a fair bit of trouble, I’d like to give them a good once over with the osmotic eel. It may be just a bit painful, but I think this should finally solve both issues for you.” Phlox have his diagnosis.
“Sure, if that’s what you think I need. That’s what I want you do to.” John told him.
“I just wanted to make sure you were informed of the details. Let me go get my eels and some Dermaline gel, and I’ll be right back with you.” The doctor assured his patient.
“Sure, I’ll be right here.” He sat back and listened to the sounds of the sickbay, of which there were usually many. They tiny chirps and squeaks from the Pyrithian bat, the sounds of the bubbling aquarium and homes for the various leeches and aquatic creatures. It was actually king of soothing if you weren’t nervous about needing a treatment.
Before he knew it, Doctor Phlox was back wearing gloves with a metal tray with two fat, pink leeches on it. Beside that was a tiny pot of Dermaline gel that sparkled when the light hit it.
Phlox closed the privacy curtain around his bio-bed, “If you would be so kind as to disrobe your upper body we can get started.” Phlox asked of him. He was a little nervous, but Phlox was a doctor after all, and he had isolated them to give John just a bit more privacy. Lying down on the bio-bed now that he was ready for the treatment, Phlox approached him with a leech between his gloved fingers, and he began to get a little nervous.
“Uhm…” He said, sounding uncertain.
“Now, it’s alright. It won’t hurt much. It should only sting a little. The Dermaline gel afterwards should feel better.” Phlox assured the uneasy patient.
“If you say so.” He leaned back, and let the doctor at his side that had pained him for so many days.
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Relaxing after his first session with the osmotic eel, he let out a good breath for the first time since Phlox put it on him. The worst part was the removal- the enzymatic ‘tendrils’ of the leech sticking to his skin, and Doctor Phlox coaxing and pulling them off of him as gently as he could.
“Ahh..”
“Yes, the enzymes tend to leave things feeling rather ‘raw’ and painful, but the Dermaline gel should calm things right down.” Phlox told him, and picked up the brush on the tray to start applying the gel. The kindly doctor was right, the gel did feel a lot better than the leech in his side. It had a soothing, cooling feeling as it healed his skin and knit his cells back together- correctly this time, without the painful adhesion. The leech on his hand was still doing its work, Phlox letting it go slightly longer than the one on his side.
Phlox put his brush down. “There now, if you want to rest for a few minutes while that Dermaline gel dries, we’ll let that second one keep working. It will move, going where it senses the damaged tissue, so do not be alarmed. However, call me when it gets to your elbow.” With one last kind pat on the undamaged arm, Phlox left him to his thoughts inside the curtained area, and he closed his eyes.
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Modern medicine was a heck of a thing, John thought to himself as he looked down at his now-healed hand in amazement. Both his hand and his side were now healed and he felt he could even breathe easier now. He could still hear the dull din of sickbay, but he now derived a slight comfort from it. As he pulled his blue undershirt on, and the upper part of his jumpsuit back up, he hear Phlox coming back to look at him one last time.
“Ah, has that dried? Let me see, just one last time.” Phlox politely demanded, and reached for his undershirt. For not liking to be touched, be sure could be awfully familiar sometimes. He supposed it was necessary to his practice.
“Oh yes, that healed up perfectly.” Phlox continued to narrate, the corners of his mouth turning up in that Denobulan way of his.
“So.. I’m okay? I’m good now?” John asked.
“Yes, Crewman, neither of those should be troubling you anymore. However I do recommend that you go back to your quarters to rest and hydrate yourself. The osmotic eel did most of the work, but your body needs to help the process along.
“Of course, that makes perfect sense, Doctor. I’m just glad to be able to take a deep breath.” John thanked the alien physician.
At the risk of not being clear, as he walked out he said,
“Thanks, Phlox.”
“You are more than welcome. Oh, and Crewman?” Phlox called after him.
“Yeah, Doc?” John asked turning back slightly.
“Anything you need, big or small, I’m always here. You’re never a bother.” The kindly doctor assured him.
John was so touched, he couldn’t think of anything to say. So he gave Doctor Phlox a human gesture- a thumbs up, with a tiny tear of gratitude in his eye.