I Come Bearing Gifts

Posted on Sun Apr 3rd, 2011 @ 9:52pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant JG Nessa Jenarian
Edited on on Sun Apr 3rd, 2011 @ 9:52pm

Mission: Kingdom Come
Location: USS Endeavour - Sickbay
Timeline: MD01

Benjamin walked into the primary sickbay, which looked clean and pristine, in start contrast to how it had looked a week ago when they started their journey back to starbase. The engineering crews had made it a priority after propulsion systems to get back to normal, and the medical staff had needed it, working hard to extract the larvae which had been growing inside of many crewman wounds.

There was one individual whom Benjamin had come to see in the sterile chamber, one who had been ordered to have one of the longest recuperation periods than many of the others, due to the extreme nature of the injuries she had attained. He found her lying on one of the biobeds along the edge of the wall. He smiled as he approached her, remembering when she had first come aboard the ship, as a very inexperienced and timid officer, on her first assignment. She had come a long way in the months since she'd been aboard, and had stepped up well above the bar during the incident with the bugs. "Still having a lazy day, are we?" he joked as he approached.

Nessa had been busy on a PADD and hadn't noticed the captain, ending up with her head jolting up in a bit of a surprise when she heard his voice. She almost scrambled to stand, but a quick glance over to where the EMH was standing, still operational since the bug incident had originally started made her change her mind. "According to Nina, I have to remain here for at least another couple of days, Captain. Otherwise, I'd be up and out of here by now," she answered a little timidly. She took a deep breath, wondering if this was yet another of what the crew considered as jokes. She had a hard time telling when someone was serious or not.

"Anything I can do for you, Sir? I am aware that I still need to file an actual report about our encounter, and I was working on it," the science officer continued, motioning toward the PADD she had set down on the small table next to the bed. "It will be done as soon as possible," she added, frowning a little as she had really little recollection of the data she had managed to gather. It seemed the whole ordeal was a bit fuzzy in her mind whenever she tried to remember it, a situation due to her fever as the EMH had explained.

"I look forward to reading it," Benjamin said, though it was clear that wasn't the reason he had come to sickbay. "I have a little something for you from Starfleet, that I wanted to come down and give to you myself," he said, continuing. From behind his back, where he grasped in each hand a small, black box, he withdrew one and presented it to her. Inside, was a pristine Purple Heart ribbon, awarded to officers and soldiers since Earth's history for being wounded in the course of their duties. "You did exceptionally well with those bugs. I wanted to thank you personally."

Nessa blinked, her eyes going to the small black box. It wasn't something she had expected even though she was quite well aware of the purple heart award. One of her hands reached out, taking the box and opening it almost reverently before speaking, "I just... I did what needed to be done, Sir. No need for thanks, I mean... I'm sure any other member of the crew would have done the same in my place." Her eyes made eye contact with him for a moment as she shifted a little uncomfortably on the biobed. She wasn't really used to being awarded with anything, much less with such a personal touch that made it seem almost like a gift. Her hand gently closed the box before setting it carefully on the table next to her.

"They probably would," Benjamin agreed. "If they were seasoned officers who've seen danger enough times before to have been able to put aside their fear of it," he continued, knowing that Jenarian was anything but a seasoned officer. "What you did shows that you have what it takes to be a true senior officer onboard this ship, and within Starfleet. For that, here's a little something not from Starfleet, but from me." He removed the other hand from behind his back, and offered the second small box to the woman in the biobed. "Actions like that deserve you more authority and respect than a straight-from-the-academy graduating Ensign. Congratulations, Lieutenant."

The newly-promoted lieutenant blushed a deep red at the compliments. Her eyes darted toward the box before she reached out to take it in her hand, popping it open with the same look on her face as a kid unwrapping a Christmas present. The only thing that stopped her from actually giggling was the captain's presence. "I... thank you, Sir. I can only hope that I won't fail the trust you put into me," she said, making eye contact with the man yet again. She had to remember to add the half-pip to her uniform when she got back to active duty. While most people usually went into sickbay wearing theirs, she didn't have that luxury at the moment, what with her abdomen still healing.

"I'm sure you won't," Benjamin replied, patting her on the shoulder. "Get well soon," he finished, before turning and walking towards the doors into the corridor.

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Captain Benjamin J. Byrne
Commanding Officer

&

Lieutenant JG Nessa Jenarian
Chief Science Officer
USS Endeavour

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