Echo

Chapter 4: Puncture

Author's Notes: Does anybody actually read this section? Nipples.

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Echo

Imitating McCoy's practice, you reluctantly but forcefully poked the needle into your patient's neck and released the button that would empty the chamber of the electronic syringe and send the antibodies into his system. Predictably when the fluid flooded into his bloodstream he cringed and hissed in pain, shouting, "Ow, fuck you!"

"That should take care of it," you stated calmly as he pressed his palm against the injection site once you removed the needle, opening a trash can with your foot and tossing the used syringe inside of it.

The engineer rubbed the spot angrily and glowered at you as you added, "If you feel any lingering pain, apply ice to your neck. As long as you get plenty of rest and fluids, you'll feel better by tomorrow morning."

He gave you no response indicating that he was grateful for the treatment or sorry for his harsh language, and thus you turned and left him there, crossing the med bay to dispose of your gloves out of his sight. Once you tossed the rubber cloves into the bin, you approached the sink and began to wash your hands, and Karla, one of your new friends, came up next to you.

Her expression was sympathetic as she asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah," you told her honestly, "I won't let one jerk ruin my day."

"Refrain from insulting our patients, nurse," said McCoy as he passed you.

"Yes, sir." You replied dully, suppressing your annoyance.

When he was out of earshot, Karla ticked her tongue and said in a low voice, "I don't know what's gotten into him lately, but Dr. McCoy is being odd. I mean, usually if a patient swears at us, he steps in and berates them for disrespecting one of his staff members, but he just ignored it, and he was right there!"

You shrugged and lied, "Maybe he didn't hear it."

"Maybe," she answered doubtfully, glancing over at him, "Although that guy is notorious for being difficult. Usually the doctor handles problem patients himself, or gives them to nurses who have been around longer. Why on earth he would make a first timer treat him is beyond me."

"Well, we're short staffed today," you said.

Turning back to you, she shook her head, smiling, and replied, "You're too nice for your own good, Jane."

"Speaking of which, don't let me forget I owe you five bucks from yesterday," you said to her, "I could buy you lunch if you want."

"Sure," she stated, "Will you be ready to go in about an hour?"

"Hopefully," you replied, "If not I'll just give you the cash."

She nodded and stepped away from you, probably off to greet another patient as you shut off the valve and dried your hands on a paper towel. During this time, you glanced over at Leonard and sighed. Ever since the false alarm a week ago, he had been treating you differently. Before, he regarded you with cold indifference, but now he was going out of his way to upset and discomfort you.

He called you out in front of other nurses, criticized your work publicly, and when you were in close quarters with him he made snide remarks about your additional employment when he could get away with it. Several times you had needed to leave the med bay and sit in the bathroom for a moment to collect yourself. He was trying to get a rise out of you, you knew, but for what reason he was doing it you couldn't tell.

Back at the headquarters, when you had a problem with one of your colleagues, you would sit down with them and talk it out. Confronting issues head-on was your preferred method of dealing with those situations, and if that didn't work, you stayed away from that person.