Overloaded and Overdosed - Part 2

Posted on Tue Apr 16th, 2019 @ 5:14pm by Commander Hades,MD & Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

3,855 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 97 - Cultural Exchange
Location: Crew Quarters, Carolyn Corrigan & Sickbay
Timeline: MD 08 1900 hours

ON:

Ensign Alicia Martinez rarely found herself in sickbay. While officially assigned to the medical staff, her role was somewhat more mundane. She did not perform life saving operations, comfort bereaved families or even patch up the occasional grazed knee. No. She was a behind the scenes person. A pharmacologist in fact. Aside from being involved in some research and development work or making recommendations to the medical staff on new treatment options, she also had the duty of scrutinising the dispensary records for the entire department.

It was ...

Boring. And for the most part, a thankless task. But it was such a small part of her overall duties that it just something she had to do. And, having someone a little distant from the rest of the department was seen as prudent. So every day, she spent time scrutinising reports which highlighted unusual prescriptions or any instances where the recommended safe dosage had been exceeded for a single patient and comparing physical stock against computer records.

It was also rare for anything to warrant further investigation and thankfully rarer still for there to be no reasonable explanation.

Tonight she was moving through sickbay with a focused, determined look. Reaching the office she chapped once, “Dr Hades? We may have a problem....”

Hades looked up, "Oh." He didn't like it when his nurses said it, or his doctors, but he really didn't like it when the person in charge of dispensing medication said it.

“According to records, a hypospray was dispensed earlier but with a very high dose of a sedative,” she explained, moving into the room and handing over a PADD containing the data. “Computer logs show that Lynn bypassed the safety warning but I can think of no reason why she would think this was even remotely correct. Unless you were planning to knock out a couple of Klingons...”

"Goddamn it! Alright where's Lynn now. Do we know for whom it was dispensed?" He shot to his feet.

“I asked her to meet me here,” Martinez told him, hearing footsteps behind them, “I don’t know for sure if the hypospray left sickbay but there was no corresponding entry in the disposal log. Lynn, please... come in.”

"Alright." She said cheerfully as she walked into the office. She paused at the murderous look in Hades' eyes. He rarely got like that. Either someone was about to loose their head or she was in trouble again.

“I need you to explain this.... and where is that hypospray?” Martinez asked firmly, letting the woman see the report. “Lynn, I need you to talk to me. You bypassed protocols but did you check the doseage?”

She looked at the PADD. "I did nothing wrong. She had a prescription. It was written by Rogers and I filled it. The warning just popped up to tell me its a sedative and I hit okay."

Hades resisted the urge to scream at the women, they would get nowhere if he did. "Whoever this is will have an overdose you dispensed...how much was it over the dose?" He looked at Martinez.

"Five times," Martinez said quietly, grateful she was not the subject of his anger. She tried to sound a little calmer, "so if you didn't notice the warning was about the dose, which we will come back to later, did your patient leave sickbay with that hypo?"

"It wasn't exactly for a patient." She said.

"What do you mean?" Martinez interjected before Hades could. "How could it not be for a patient?"

She took too long answering and Hades chimed in, "Lynn if you don't tell me this instant so help me I'll send you to Rura Penthe myself!"

She jumped, "Ummm It was for doctor Corrigan." She said paling.

Hades was already in motion. "Get me a cardio med kit in case she's already taken it. Martinez get me anti-dose." He tapped his badge hoping she answered. "Hades to Corrigan, respond now!"

As Lynn ran towards the medical kits, Alicia went in the opposite direction, loading up a hypo with prepared doses of tricordrazine. "5 miligrams per dose, more than you will hopefully need but no more than 25miligrams, " the pharmacist warned, almost slapping the hypo into his hand as the only response he got to his calls was silence.

Lynn ran in with the medic bag. Thankfully Hades' brain had kicked in. He hit the panel on his desk and entered a few numbers and within a few seconds he shimmered away whisked away by the site to side transporter. He'd land smack dab outside her quarters.

As he disappeared, Martinez looked over at the nurse who now looked distinctly ill. And rightly so. "Follow me, you don't need to be around right now..."

The second he materialized his used his medical override code and the doors whooshed open.

Inside the quarters were in darkness, the only light coming from the corridor behind him. The light touched on the table where a pile of papers lay scattered along the surface, an empty cup of hot chocolate beside them. Beyond that it was just shadows and silence.

Hades called for lights. He madly looked around the room and found nothing. Spying two doors he figured one was the bathroom and the other was the bedroom. He would try the bedroom first. Hurrying he cursed at the sighed before him.

Carolyn lay sprawled on the floor on the far side of the bed, complexion deathly white as she lay unconscious. A cut on her forehead left a tiny trail of blood from the bedside cabinet which had topped over beside her. Her entire body was shivering, a thin bead of sweat covered her body as it struggled to pull in any air, lips beginning to take on a blueish tint as the hypospray lay on he floor nearby, just beyond her outstretched hand.

Hades swore and knelt down by her. "It's going to be alright." He had his tricorder going as he looked at the hypo Carolyn had administered. He set his own hypo, the tricordrazine to the dose and administered it. Lifting her quickly he set her on the bed and began to treat her forehead. If this was going to work it was going to work in the next minute. If not he'd transport her to sickbay right away.

On the bed, Carolyn's back arched for a brief moment, drawing in fitful lungfuls of air that almost burned. On the tricorder, it began to track a subtle but steady improvement as the tricordrazine began to counter the sedative.

"Please let me help," a familiar voice said behind Hades, sounding shaky and tearful.

"This is not helping," Martinez snapped as she hurried in behind Lynn, taking her by the arm. "Let him work. Lynn -"

"She's responding." He looked over at Lynn. He could yell at her later. He could see the remorse in her eyes but was it enough? "She could have..." He shook his head and he used the dermal regenerator to seal the cut. "I need some warm water with lemon." He called out, "Also a damp cloth and an extra blanket. Martinez and Lynn had their orders. He repeatedly counted to ten to keep himself from blowing his top.

The two women split up, Lynn heading for the replicator, while Martinez went to dig out a blanket hoping the room was laid out just like her own. "Got it," she declared, finding a blanket and handing it over to the Hades.

Lynn appeared, setting the water down at the side of the bed with great care, depositing a damp cloth beside it. She winced a little as she looked at Corrigan. Martinez wasn't sure if it was guilt or the vivid red scars you could see hinted at on the woman's body.

"We'll be right outside if you need anything," Martinez told Hades, tugging on Lynn's arm to pull her out of the room. She pointed at the couch, worried the nurse was about to go into shock or something, "sit."

In the room, Carolyn began to stir as a second dose of tricordrazine flooded through her veins. Some colour beginning to return to her skin and her lips.

Hades studied the readings. She was stabilizing. He covered her with the extra blanket and set the pillows to prop her up. With the damp cloth he wiped her brow. "You'll be okay little one. Just a while longer." He took her hand. "Carolyn focus on my voice. Open those eyes for me."

Her fingers tightened a little around his hand, his voice and the cool water on her skin feeling so vividly real but she frowned, not sure why he would be saying that to her. Ever. She opened her eyes, wincing at the brightness of the lights, turning her head away.

It took her a minute to focus on his face and she stared up at him for a long moment, confused. "You look angry..." she whispered.

He smiled at her, "It's going to be alright. Just take things easy. You overdosed."

"I swear I didn't take -" she began, her words tumbling out sounding panicked but still just a whisper. She began to push the blanket away, trying to sit up.

"Carolyn Corrigan don't you move a muscle." He said in his most serious voice. "You have just had a massive overdose of sedative and your readings aren't normal yet. So you move and I will transport your behind to sickbay and you will be in medical restraints. Now just lay back."

Sighing he picked up the water. He held the back of her neck gently and held the cup to her lips. "Sip slowly."

Not doubting for a second that he would follow through on his threat, Carolyn took a few cautious sips from the glass. The warmth combined with lemon soothing. Reaching up she moved the glass away, “enough...”

"Good. Now lay back. You were given the wrong dose." He took her hand. "Carolyn how long have you been using those?" He had to make sure she wasn't addicted to them. If she was he'd move heaven and earth to help her kick the habit. Briefly the amount of paperwork he had to do came to his mind. He hoped beyond all that she wasn't addicted. "How often do you use them." He had more questions but he wouldn't pepper her.

“A long time,” she murmured vaguely , struggling to keep her eyes open but surprising him by even answering the question. “Only when I can’t sleep or they get too bad-"

"Lynn! For the love of -" Martinez hissed as she grabbed for Lynn's arm, trying to stop her rushing into the room.

Lynn ran in. "Doctor Corrigan I am so sorry! I didn't mean...." Her voice broke up and she burst into tears.

Hades stood up pulled her away. "Martinez stay here. Lynn with me."

"Of Course," Alicia nodded, moving to stand near the bed, watching as Hades led Lynn out of the room. She felt so bad for her. Which she didn't expect. The woman was a great nurse - sure she seemed to know ever shred of gossip in the universe - but she didn't think for a moment she was being malicious.

She noticed Corrigan watching them, looking like she had too many questions to pick just one. "I can give you the details another time," Martinez said quietly. "I'm glad your okay. I'm sorry I didn't realise what had happened sooner though..."

She winced a little at a raised voice just beyond the room. It seemed to annoy Carolyn though, as she moved to get up. "Please don't," Alicia said quickly, "I do not want that wrath directed at me."

Hades took a deep breath. "Am I clear?" He asked

"Yes sir."

"Peachy. Dismissed." He watched her go. After he was sure she was gone he went back in the room. "She will not be making that mistake again." He looked at Carolyn. "How are you feeling?"

"Just grand," she assured him.

"Alright. Now someone needs to stay with you for at least 45 more minutes to an hour. Do you want Martinez to stay or me?"

Martinez cleared her throat, "actually, Dr Hades, if it is alright with you, I should begin the offical report. We will need to recreate the computer logs and I also need to do a full review of any prescriptions Lynn has dispensed in the past few weeks. I also need to review the script Dr Roberts signed off on to see if there was any error or miscommunication on his part."

"Alright." He sighed. "Thank you for your help and quick thinking."

Watching her go, Carolyn closed her eyes. Maybe the world could come and swallow her up now. "This is all my fault..." she breathed.

Hades shook his head. "Not in anyway. Come on let's go sit in the living room and I'll replicate you a cup of tea."

"It might break, it only knows how to replicate hot chocolate," she told him, taking his outstretched hand. As she stood she waivered, unsteady and grateful for the arms which steadied her. "okay... that was not so fun..."

He chuckled, "Yes well it will pass." He helped her walk towards the sofa and gently set her down. He popped back in the room and picked up a blanket which he tucked around her. Hades ordered tea for her and coffee for himself. He placed the cup in her hand and sat in the chair by the sofa. "Okay new rule. You are not allowed to die, almost die, or get sick." He grinned, "Any attempts to do so will make for a very cross CMO."

"You drive a hard bargain," she told him with a rueful smile. There was a moment of silence before she spoke up again, "thank you."

He smiled, "Martinez is the hero she figured it all out. I'm just glad we got here in time." He sighed, "Listen go see Splendora Sage in Mind, Body, and Soul Spa. She's got a tea for sleeping that is one hundred percent guaranteed and you cannot overdose." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. Slowly he looked around noting that her quarters were quite Spartan. Some books, a family photo and on the table something caught his eye. He picked up the paper. "Did you do these?"

Carolyn bit down on her instinctive reaction to take them from him. It was a completely irrational reaction. For one thing, he had just saved her life. "Yeah," she admitted finally, sounding uncomfortable.

"Carolyn these are amazing. You're an artist. Have you thought about displaying these?"

"God no," she said with a firm shake of her head. Her gaze settled on the sketchbooks already stacked up on the shelf. "I think my portfolio of artwork would have some people committing me to an asylum. Thet are strictly for here."

She watched as he picked one up, now wishing the ground really would swallow her up. Where were red alerts when you really needed them... As he flipped through the pages, the sketches conveyed a seemingly random assortment of images in vivid detail. One of Ariana's scan, Ensign Hayman and others far darker. All from memories she could never forget. She watched him take it all in, trying to guage his reaction.

"It isn't falling asleep thats the problem," she said quietly she watched him return the sketchpad to its place. As he began to turn around she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Tomorrow, she vowed to herself, every picture would be destroyed.

He walked back to his seat and sat down. "Alright. Tell me. Why is staying asleep a problem? The images....are somewhat dark why? Tell me your story Carolyn."

She shook her head, staring down at the tea she held in hands. "When I was at school, everyone thought it was the most amazing thing. Imagine, never been able to forget. How easy it must be... and sometimes it was. I didn't have to cram for tests or study something over and over. But it wasn't all amazing. But I figured it out enough to live with it.

But then that mission happened," her voice quiet as she reached up and swept away angry tears, fingertips coming to rest on the edge of one of her scars. "I can't even draw some of the things I saw .... they were my friends. Six of us beamed down, four of us were from the same class at the Academy. Two of us were rescued but Caitlyn just never really got passed it. She took an overdose. Ironic, huh?"

She took a deep breath, seeming to find her strength again. "When I work, it's usually fine. I'm focused on what I'm doing. But when I'm not, they are who i dream about.|

Hades listened intently. "Have you seen anyone about it....have you talked to anyone about what happened on the mission?" He genuinely wanted to help.

“Soooo many people. I actually stopped listening after a while. You maybe hadn’t noticed this, but I’ve been told I have a stubborn streak,” she commented, trying to lighten the mood. “I shouldn’t be doing this. You have enough to deal with and it’s probably okay for me to be alone.”

"I'm here to listen." He grinned, "And my Vulcan stubbornness is legendary." He waved his hand. "What happened on the mission?"

“Our ship was ordered to investigate a reported epidemic on a colony, Starfleet was concerned it was related to an outbreak on a neighbouring world so they decided to send a medical ship in case the suspicion was correct. Teams were assigned to investigate different sections of the colony, do analysis and medical exams - we literally had no idea what were going to find. We had barely materiased when were attacked ... I remember flashes of it, remember realising so many of them were already dead by the time I got the last of my scars.... and the pain... that was something else. I remember asking for someone to stop screaming but it was me.”

Hades could imagine what she was going through. "Go on."

“Not much else to tell,” she lied. “We were taken back to Earth before I even came around. Much physio. Some corrective ops. And lots of everyone walking on eggshells while trying to act like nothing was wrong. And after Caitlyn... it was like everyone was just waiting. And I couldn’t get my head straight. I wasn’t sure who I was, you know? And then I’d feel guilty, or the so angry and a million things in between. I was not the best patient. I was a little self destructive. Okay, sometimes a lot.”

"Doctors are all like that. Stories of doctor's as bad patients are legendary." He said.

Carolyn’s eyes narrowed, “legendary, huh?”

She paused, knowing he was waiting. Deciding how much to actually say. “I believe it doing the rounds anyway given what Jennifer was about to tell Ariana... why are our nurses going a little crazy?”

He sighed, "Well they just are. There is a rumour about you being engaged too." He said.

“I was, to James. Or the dreamy Dr Adams to some our nurses. He came aboard the Pegasus to help during the outbreak and I guess he talked. A lot.” she sighed. “We had the biggest fight before I beamed down for that mission. I was five weeks pregnant at the time and he thought that meant you should just sit at home with your feet up. But I didn’t listen. Now that was truly legendary stubbornness.”

He smiled, "Funny I don't see you as that type." He sighed back to his serious self. "Seriously Carolyn. I know you've been through a lot but remember one thing. The strongest hearts have the most scares."

“Sounds like it would be written on greetings card,” she teased lightly.

"It's true though. I think that maybe you need to speak with counselor Monroe or Rol about this. I also want you off those sedatives. Promise me you'll see Splendora."

“Please don’t make me promise something, I hate breaking promises. How about maybe to the first, no comment on the second and I’ll see if Splendora does anything by way of hot chocolate?”

"I wouldn't be surprised she is quite the chocolate lover." He resisted the urge to rub his nose. He was really frustrated. If he had been just a few minutes later. He tried not to think about it. This had been a trying time for everyone. He also had to think about what he'd do with Lynn. That woman was getting worse and worse.

“Hey, your turn,” Carolyn said as she set down her cup, frowning at him. He seemed to be deep in thought about something.

"Hmmm?" He looked at her, "What's my turn."

"I heard you with Lynn," she prompted, adding with a wry smile, "you don't normally lose your cool Dr Hades."

"She could have killed you." He looked flabbergasted. "Of course I lost my cool."

"But that didn't happen, obviously. I mean, nothing personal, but I don't intend the afterlife to involve sitting around with cups of tea. A beer or a cocktail maybe... And like you said, she wont make the same mistake twice."

"I know she wont but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. She'll have plenty of time to think about it before I let her back in my sickbay." He looked over at Carolyn. "I don't normally loose my cool but I am still feeling the after effects of Pon'farr.”

“If you didn’t have such a messed up assistant she wouldn’t have even had to make the mistake,” Carolyn murmured, resting her head against the pillow, eyes heavy. “Maybe you shouldn’t have rushed back so quickly from leave ... taken a little more time...whoever it is, they better know how lucky they...”

She didn’t finish the sentence, her chiding trailing off half way through.

Hades smiled, "No, I'm the lucky one." He said to a sleeping form. He pulled out a tricorder and made sure the danger had passed. He tucked a blanket around her and then headed back to sickbay. She was right though. He had rushed through Pon'farr.

As he entered sickbay almost everyone seemed to have found some excuse to be there, all eyes on him as he entered. A few of the nurses shared long looks, before someone had the courage to speak up. "Is Doctor Corrigan alright?" one of the younger nurses piped up.

He should have known that the gossip mill had been at work. "She is fine. She will be taking some time off to rest but is fine." He looked around. "Is there some meeting that I was not aware of?"

A chorus of 'no,sir', 'nope' and 'night doctor' filled the air as the area quickly cleared - leaving him alone.

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