Double Trouble

Posted on Wed Oct 12th, 2022 @ 9:32pm by Colonel Matt Lane (Brennan) & 1st Lieutenant Dr Vanessa Gallo MD (Brennan) & Petty Officer First Class Hannah Matsson (Hayes)
Edited on on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 1:24am

Mission: Jumping Right In
Location: McMurdo Station, Mess Hall
Timeline: Subsequent to "Running in Idle"
2051 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

After saving the life of the Jaffa boy Lu'car, Gallo and Matsson took a minute to leave the young man in the care of a medical observational team. Gallo thought it was best for her and the Corpsman she had been working with to get something to eat, since they'd been working with Lu'car for hours. But Gallo had also heard something that troubled her, something that as an officer, as a woman and as a human being, she couldn't leave unaddressed with her colleague.

The MD grabbed a medical tray and passed it to Hannah, then grabbed one for herself as they joined the mess line. They stood behind a group of Marines who were complaining about having to eat pizza squares again. Vanessa gave a troubled look as they shuffled through the line, "We haven't had pizza for a week, things must be starting to feel routine to the Leathernecks."

Hannah grinned. “That’ll probably be us in a few weeks! Sick to death of eating the same thing all the time!”

"No such thing as bad pizza, compagno," Vanessa laughed, grabbing herself a few slices of pizzas after the Marines had taken their seats. "Pineapple? Yes or no?"

“No, thank you” Hannah shook her head. “I hate pineapple!” She picked up a few choice items including a single person serving of trifle for dessert. She also chose herself a cola. “Can I get you any dessert or a can of drink?”

“Just a cola thanks,” Vanessa replied as she looked for somewhere to sit in the buzzing mess hall. “I tell ya though, I’m missing coke, y’know, the real stuff. Can you believe in a place like this we’re on the receiving end of budget cuts? Amazing what you miss once it’s gone.”

“Tell me about it!” Hannah nodded in agreement. “I’m a total caffeine addict, but I don’t drink coffee so Coke has to suffice.”

“I’ve found us a seat. Nice and quiet spot,” Vanessa mentioned quietly to Hannah. They proceeded to deftly wind their way through the tables and chairs, dodging military and civilian folk of all stripes before getting an empty table and staking a claim by putting down their tray of lunch. “When I was here yesterday this place was half as busy. Those transports must finally be coming in to fill out our billets. I mean, that’s just more work for us, I can’t wait to get back to processing the physicals.”

Hannah nodded as she took her seat. “It’s crazy just how much this place is filling up, have you noticed there’s a whole lot more men than there is women though? Guess that makes us lucky to be here.”

“Depends on how you see it,” Vanessa replied, looking across to see a Marine corporal munging into his pizza like a Neanderthal. She turned her attention back to Hannah. “It’s like this everywhere. Total animal house. At least we have our own latrines. I’ve had my fair share of assignments with shared facilities, the only thing that made it bearable was the fact we were fighting for our lives and had better things to worry about.”

Hannah nodded. “To be honest I’d feel uncomfortable in those circumstances. Admittedly I accepted this assignment without reservation.”

“It’s a great opportunity,” Vanessa replied. “What drew you in?”

“To be honest it was too good an assignment to pass up. It’s a step up from my previous assignment, hell it’s a once in a lifetime assignment!” She smiled as she opened her can. “I’d have been crazy to pass it up! Besides I’ve missed out on too much already both in the past and more recently, I’m not missing out on anything else.”

“Very true,” Vanessa smiled. “Just how does a Corpsman get recruited into the Stargate program?”

“I was chosen after the invasion, I spent the entire time helping with the wounded until I was caught in an explosion. I was badly burnt, I’ve had several skin grafts since then, and I had to take recovery time. I’ve still got a lot of scarring to be dealt with. When I was back on my feet I was offered this assignment and I took it.” She paused to eat some of her pizza.

"So what you said to Lu'car was true?" Vanessa asked.

Hannah nodded. “As much as I wasn’t.” She paused to sip her drink before continuing. “When I was younger I had an abusive boyfriend, my foster brother was very protective of me so he did what he could to protect me. After I was...” She didn’t say the words, “I was institutionalised for a while, if it hadn’t been for Lucas always being there for me I’d have never come out of the catatonic state I was in.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here, Hannah,” Vanessa smiled. “How are you doing now?”

“Now?” Hannah paused. “I’ve worked long and hard to overcome a distrust of men, I feel more comfortable around them than I used to. As for the scarring from my burns there’s a still a lot to be done in that respect. Speaking of which, when there’s time I’d appreciate you taking a look at my back. It gets inflamed from time to time which makes it itchy and sore, since I can’t get to treat my own back...” she let the sentence finish itself.

“Sure, happy to have a look,” Vanessa replied, eating her pizza. “You we’re great with Lu’car back there, by the way.”

“Thanks” Hannah smiled warmly. “I treat all my patients how I would want to be treated. Plus I feel sorry for Lu’car he’s been through so much, he’s more or less a walking incubator for the Goa’uld symbiont he’s carries. I just want to make him feel at ease.”

“Fortunately he’s surrounded by people who care,” Vanessa replied. “That kid could’ve very easily ended up a specimen for dissection. Who knows, a young Jaffa who has seen the kinder side of humanity might well be the bridge between our people. I could be thinking wishfully, too.”

“Anything is possible” Hannah smiled warmly. “Do we know anything about his symbiont? It’s age? There’s going to come a point where it’ll need a host, if we don’t find a way to save him it’ll kill Lu’car. His body is dependant on that larval Goa’uld.”

“He may be stuck with it for now,” Vanessa said. “I’m unsure what our options are, but Brennan seems to think we’ll try to return the kid to his family, if we can find them.”

“That’s a nice idea, he deserves to go home.” Hannah smiled as she pushed her plate aside and picked up her drink. “So tell me more about you. I know next to nothing about you.”

“Not much to tell really; I grew up in Queens, did my medical degree at Cornell. Then with a stack of debt I went into the Army and got my commission. After that I got sent to a number of bases, did a tour in Afghanistan, then did a couple of years at the Washington Navy Yard. Then a friend of mine from the sandbox recommended me for a position here, I had some experience with ‘otherworldly’ matters.”

Hannah nodded. “Well for what it’s worth I’m glad to have a friend. It’s nice to have someone to talk to. I miss not having Lucas around to share my day with.”

"Down here, connection is just about the most important thing you can have," Vanessa smiled. "It's not like we can pop into town and have something to eat at a diner. We've only got each other. Glad to call you a friend too."

Hannah smiled warmly, “We’re going to make one hell of a team!”

Vanessa smiled. "We will indeed. Oop, red alert, here we go, mamma bird is here," Vanessa said, seeing Colonel Lane walking into the mess. He slapped the backs and shoot hands with a few of the enlisted jarheads in line and at their tables before spotting Gallo sitting in the corner. "Just act natural."

"Doctor Gallo, Petty Officer Matsson, good to see you both! Mind if I have a seat?" Colonel Lane said, putting on a veneer of cheer layered on too thick by half.

Hannah looked at Vanessa then at Lane. “Of course Sir, please join us.”

"Thanks, Corpsman!" Matt said gleefully, sitting down with the two women. He reached over and took a piece of pineapple from the top of Vanessa's pizza and ate it. "So, I've been having a thrilling conversation with that psychologist of ours. What was his name, Major... uh... Major Thompkins? Anything you guys wanna tell me?"

"No," Vanessa shook her head as she took a bite of her pizza, "No, not really."

“Absolutely Nothing Sir” Hannah shook her head, she wasn’t going to contradict her new friend.

"See, that's not the information I've been provided with," The Colonel winced. He pulled out his phone and began to read the allegations that Thompkins had made. He tried his best to keep a straight face as he read out what Thompkins had sent him, "Dear Colonel Lane- strong start if ever I heard one- I write to you to advise you of improper conduct levelled at myself during my psychiatric inpatient services today. While treating a young patient, I was accosted by First Lieutenant Gallo and told to 'take a hike' under the auspices of her providing medical treatment to the patient. Not wanting to make a scene of this for our patient, as a professional of both psychiatry and the military, I allowed her to carry out her alleged ministrations. She then insulted me in harsh Italian tongue as I left the ward. I submit this to you as an ongoing example of her continued professional misconduct-- yadda, yadda, yadda. Should I wheel out the security footage, or...?"

"Oh, fine. But you know what happened after I hope?" Vanessa said.

"Yes, I did read your treatment notes. Well done to both of you." Lane nodded.

Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you Sir. Lu’car has been through enough already, I just want to see him get the care and treatment he deserves.”

Lane nodded, "We all do, Corpsman, as long as he doesn't pose a threat."

Hannah nodded. “Understood Sir, as a Jaffa he does carry a symbiont.” She shook her head. “How could they do that to young people? Its...horrific.”

"I hear that," Lane nodded in agreement. "You think about your kids being put through that. I've got a son and daughter, about the same age as the kid in that ward, the thought of allowing that to happen to your nearest and dearest beggars belief."

"Maybe that kid's parents didn't 'allow' it to happen, Colonel," Vanessa suggested. "Maybe they had no choice at all."

"I'd hope not," Matt replied. "So, how is the kid doing now? I only had an opportunity to review the notes you forwarded me. What seems to be the situation?"

Hannah shook her head, “We have no clue what’s causing his sudden blackouts, we did manage to stabilise him this time though thanks to Vanessa’s quick thinking.”

"If only she'd show the same deft ability while negotiating Major Thompkins. Don't think you've heard the end of that, either," Lane reminded Gallo.

Gallo rolled her eyes, "Here we go."

"No, dead serious, you two, I don't want another run-in with that guy. You've both got important jobs to do. I've got the monkey off your back for now, but I don't want to hear about it again. Clear?"

"Got it--"

"Clear?"

"Oookay!" Gallo exclaimed.

"Good. Very good. Next time I talk to you, I want an update on the kid's condition. Let's keep that good news flowing." Lane said, getting up and leaving the two medical officers. "Stay out of trouble, ladies."

Hannah nodded. “We always do Sir!” She smiled at Vanessa.

"Always," Vanessa grinned.