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Julie has arrived.
Clara is seated at a desk near an open filing cabinet, a fairsized datareader pulled up with rows of numbers, and a large file folder of documentation half filled out in front of her. She pauses in reading to type at the terminal, then nudge through the cabinet again.
Julie ambles in, pausing to breathe in the smells of medbay before meandering further into the room. Again she pauses, spotting Clara, but after a moment makes her way up to the desk. "Clara?"
"Hmmm?" comes the answer from the doctor with her head bent over a cabinet drawer, flipping through pages. Finally Clara glances up, holding her place with one finger, and manages a somewhat absent smile. "Evening...Julie? Don't tell me Maintenance got a hold of you already?"
Julie blinks, and glances down at herself, and shakes her head. "Er, no. I'm taking a break from decorating my quarters." She pauses and inquires, "Do I need to be worried about Maintenance getting a hold of me?"
Clara chuckles and flips through another few files to finally extract the proper sheet, then makes a notation into her keyboard. "Not really. Not unless you set fire to your cooking area. Getting all settled in, then?"
Julie mhmmms, eyes flicking to the datareader and folder. "Yeah, which sort of brings me to why I came down. Perchance did my orders come in yet, do you know? I apologize... you do look rather busy."
"Your...oh! Your orders, yes. Actually, Riley would have those, actually. I imagine he's still at work, if you wanted to check over there." Clara glances down at the paperwork and rubs at her eyes with her thumb and index finger. "You've arrived at our favorite time of year. Budget proposals and requests."
Julie glances briefly in the direction of Security. "If you're this busy, I'm sure he's busier, and doesn't need to be bothered by the likes of me. Favorite, eh?" She cocks her head before asking, "How long has it been since you took a break?"
Clara pauses to consider that frankly, then answers, "Three hours. I went over to the library and ran into a friend and chatted for a bit." She shrugs and pokes a finger at the datareader to flip to a new page. "Okay, maybe not -favorite-," she admits, grinning broadly.
Julie's mouth quirks slightly, and she turns to take the few steps to the coffeemaker for a cup. "Budget requests not withstanding, aren't you the one who told me she likes her staff to work normal hours?"
Clara smirks vaguely at the paperwork and jots down a few more figures on the form, then folds her arms over it to watch the coffee getting. "I most certainly do. And I'm not physician on duty, thank goodness. Jones is, although he's back in long term care right now. Have you met him and Vryce yet?"
Julie shakes her head, stirring cream and sugar into the cup, and turns to lean back against the wall to take a sip. "Haven't had the chance, I'm afraid. I'm rather looking forward to it. Especially this Vryce fellow." Tilting her head, she calculates aloud, "So Vryce'll relieve Jones while you sleep. /If/ you sleep. Then you've the shift after that?" She shakes her head. "No wonder y'all were in such a hurry to get another doc in here."
Clara waggles a pen at the younger woman, noting affably, "I'll sleep." She glances up at the wall chrono and explains, "I usually go home about the same time Addison does, so probably in a couple hours here. We've been pretty hurt for another doctor, though, yes. The powers that be were convinced we could hold down the fort with just the three of us."
Julie snorts lightly. "I take it the powers that be have never tried to run a medbay with a mere three doctors who can't even take a day off. Or been treated therein."
"Treated, yes," Clara replies, wearily amused as she gestures back towards her office. "However since we do our best to make it a pleasant experience, they figured everything was fine. I would like to send Jones off for a week, though. He and his wife need to scamper off on a honeymoon, still."
Julie nods amiably. "Well, if you and Vryce can stand one more week with no days off after I get on the roster, I've certainly no objection to pulling double shifts. It'll be nice jumping back into work."
"Double shifts? Oh, Julie, I'm not going to ask that of you right away," Clara assures gently. "We'll give you a bit to settle in, and then the three of us together will do seven days of eight hours a day apiece. Besides, I went on vacation...um. Three months ago? Not long at all. As soon as I got back, essentially."
Julie inclines her head after a moment with a doubtful, "If you say so." An eyebrow rises as she takes a drink. "Got back?"
"Mm-hmm," Clara replies, glancing down to add another few numbers to the form. "From Outpost Seven. I'd been transferred there." She grimaces a moment, nose wrinkled. "A null gee research station...Naval run."
Julie blinks, cup pausing in another ascent. "Begging your pardon, that assignment, um, doesn't seem suited to you. Snafu?"
"-Big- snafu," agrees Clara, twirling the pen over the fingers of one hand. "Ordered by...someone. Indeterminate. But no, they most certainly didn't want an Infantry MD. You folks have all sorts of interesting tricks to combat null-gee effects. It'd be nice if they'd teach them to us, too," she adds, chuckling.
Julie pauses to dissect words and tone, looks briefly and faintly surprised, and quirks a small smile at that last. "I'm surprised the Chief hasn't offered to teach you."
Clara blinks several times at that. "Do you know, I don't think either of us even thought about it? I got shipped out just two days after getting the orders...and hopefully it won't happen again. I'll have to bug him to show me the ropes, just in case."
Julie nods her agreement, turning to refresh her cup, and lifts the pot in a 'want some?' gesture. "It would seem a wise precaution. Just in case... someone... decides to be silly again. So you're hoping to be here permanently then?"
Clara nods affably, to both questions, holding out her mug. "I'd love some, if you please, thank you. And yes, I hope so, at least. Can't ever really plan on anything. Military life is never certain, but you know that."
Julie carries the coffeepot a few steps over to fill the taller woman's mug, then returns the pot to the warmer. A faint grimace skips across her expression, partially hidden by her cup as she takes a drink. "True enough, and life is full of surprises. I hear you're quite popular with the locals."
"Me?" This seems to honestly surprise Clara as she reaches for a sip of the freshened cup. "I can't imagine why, really. I don't even know many of the locals."
Julie gestures more-or-less toward the Java Quarter. "I met a couple last night who said you saved their lives. Roland... it was Italian... DeMario, that's it. And a young lady calling herself Aliana? She confided to me that all the food in the mess is poison." Is that a twinkle of amusement in Julie's eyes? Perhaps.
Clara bursts into laughter, shaking her head and eyes closing for a moment. "Oh, good heavens. It's normal mess hall food, is all. Aliana had a reaction to some preservatives in gravy and went into systemic shutdown from anaphylactic shock. So we did what was necessary. She and DeMario are nice people, certainly. Very kind."
Julie nods, definitely amused now, though her bland expression doesn't change. "I did have to wonder what happened when she told me she's allergic to gravy. Are non-staff often treated here then?"
Clara explains with utter seriousness, "I'll treat anyone here who needs help. The Complex isn't exactly a place that many people come without need, so usually it's just staff, delegates, their staffs, and the Bonded...but my doors are open to anyone who needs help."
Julie shakes her head slightly. "Forgive me, I was not criticizing. I was curious."
Clara half grins and stops the pen twirling to add another row of numbers to her form, then carefully turns the page to the next form. "I didn't take it as such. I was just explaining how I work."
Julie nods, making inroads on her coffee. "Glad to hear that policy. I'd hate to be called in to explain why I didn't turn away this person or that."
Clara laughs and shakes her head, still penning in numbers, but well able to chat at the same time. "Not a chance. Quite the opposite. I'd want to know the circumstances if someone were turned away."
Julie nods her approval, her expression becoming slightly more animated. "Good. Sweet Areh, you're refreshing." Speaking of which, she turns for another cup of coffee with plenty of cream and sugar. "Did you know the breakability of Niko and the Chief seems to be legendary?"
Clara can't help but smile up from her work at that. "Me? Thank goodness. I was sure I'd flub my first command in a massive way. Legendary, though?" The grin remains, but turns faintly puzzled. "How so?"
Julie's eyebrows rise a quarter inch. "This is your first command?" She nods, leaning back against the wall again. "One of the first things I was told last night in that heavenly bakery in the Java Quarter was to expect to see a lot of those two in here."
Clara leans back in her chair, dissolving into laughter at that. "Not if either of them can help it, you won't." She attempts to stifle the snickering with a sip of coffee, eyes still dancing. "But yes, this is my first command. I'm only a year older than you are, actually."
Julie's mouth quirks wryly. "I had wondered about that. You look younger by a bit. I'm just surprised they handed this choice an assignment to somebody who'd never commanded before."
Clara shrugs slightly, obviously agreeing. "I was fairly baffled myself. Evidently Honalee...the former Cheif Medic, hunted through records, and needed a xenobiologist who was also a counselor. Not the most common of combinations. Like you...I needed someone good in emergency medicine, but also in pathology."
Julie ahhhhs softly. "That explains that mystery too, then. We've a good spread of specialists here then?"
Clara nods and finally leans forward to snap off the datareader and tug the crystal from it to replace in a boite of perhaps nearly a dozen other similar data storage devices. "Mm-hmm. Vryce is an endocrinologist and an internist, and Jones studied first with Honalee, then with me on thoracic surgery. He's doubled in otolaryngology and pulmonary distress."
Julie nods, her expression faintly approving again. "Sounds like a well-meshed team."
Clara closes her folder after a final notation, explaining with quiet reverence, "Honalee was a brilliant woman. -Is- a brilliant woman. I've worked hard to follow her example. I call her for advice a lot."
Both of Julie's eyebrows rise this time. "I see. So... you wouldn't be too upset if I were to call you if, for example, I've got a Floridan in here complaining about rashes resulting from his own pollen." Her slight grimace indicates this was not a hypothetical Floridan.
Clara blinks owlishly at the question, then half grins at it. "We'd probably want to get Jones in here for that, actually. Kramer, too. But I'd come tag along and provide any help I could. Floridans aren't the easiest to diagnose or treat."
Julie nods slightly. "Especially when you'd never seen one before." A faint blush outlines her freckles. "I just..." She shakes her head. "That's good to know."
Clara logs off the computer terminal, then slides the cabinet shut before turning to face you seriously. "Julie, I've seen your transcripts. You're a brilliant physician. But with the thousands of species in the galaxy, not one of us can know everything. That's why we work in teams, so we can support each other. Never, -never- be afraid to not know something. Just ask. Even Vryce will answer a question, and help until you've got the procedure down pat."
Julie's blush blossoms like a Floridan in spring. "I... will do that. Thank you."
Clara tucks folder, datareader, and boite into the upper desk drawer before locking it, then reclaims her coffee and drains another measure, grinning. "And don't be surprised if we come crying to you for help on something we don't know. Works both ways."
You're trying to make poor Julie qualify for a fire engine lookalike contest, aren't you? The younger doctor takes a drink of her coffee to hide her expression. "I'm honored to assist."
Nah, just mention anything risque, and Clara would beat her hands down in that contest. She finishes the last of her mug and rises, stretching her arms out in front of her. "Ooooh, long day. We're glad to have you here, certainly. I was thinking, would you mind going on the schedule in four days?"
Julie coughs lightly, actually looking rather sheepish. "I was hoping for sooner than that, actually, if those orders come in, but I trust your discretion, of course."
Clara's brows scoot up as she considers this, scooting her chair in and leaning her hands on it. "Would you like to come in tomorrow morning and do a shift with me, just to get into the swing of things?"
Julie nods immediately, her own eyebrows rising fractionally. "Sounds like a plan." She hesitates, then notes, "Begging your pardon, but you look like you could use some sleep. Perhaps a pleasant hour or two with the Chief to wind down beforehand."
Clara glances at her wristcomm, a rather sappily fond look crossing her face for a moment, then tugs at her lab coat. "Sleep would be lovely, yes. Okay, my official shift is from 0600 to 1500. You're welcome to show up anytime during it. Until morning, then?"
Julie nods amiably, turning to refresh her coffee again before stepping toward the door. "I'd best dig my bed out and get some sleep myself then. Night, Clara."
Clara passes her own cup off to an intern with a murmur of thanks, and heads towards the door as well. "If you're headed to the third floor, I am too. I'll walk you up there?" she offers.
Julie pauses, waiting politely for Clara to catch up before continuing on. "Sure." She almost grins.
[Travel spam to 3rd floor snipped]
Clara pauses in the lobby and sketches a lazy salute and grins. "G'night, then. See you in the morning," she offers, then turns to head off down the final hallway.
Julie automatically returns the salute, not at all lazily, and heads briskly for her own corridor. "Looking forward to it."
You unlock the door and go into room Z13.
Riley is snoozing on the couch, and from the look of the fact he's changed clothes and all, he's probably been here a while.
Clara lets herself in quietly, already tugging pins from her hair wearily as she lets it shut behind her. Upon seeing you, her eyes widen in surprise that fades to a fond smile. Wordlessly, she sneaks into the closet to change, then moves to let the bed down and click off the light before kneeling by the couch. "Riley...love, time for bed," she whispers.
Riley blinks several times, grinning at you sleepily as he wakes. "Heya' love," he glances at his watch, blinking. "Dang, I've been out for a while. Which reminds me... Nick and I had a talk."
Clara's brow furrows in the faint light filtering in through the window, obviously surprised. "You left work early?" she asks, obviously not having expected this. "A...talk. Uh, is that unusual? He -is- your assistant..."
"At six, yeah, although I didn't fall asleep till about nine or so. You did say I oughta be knocking off early and all. Nick did too." Riley stretches, climbing to his feet and offering you a hand. "Nick and I are both willing to adhere to this idea of reduced schedules. There's just one condition."
Clara slips her hand into yours and climbs to her feet as well, well astonished. "You took off...at -six-? I...wow. Both of you? I...that's wonderful! What condition? I can compromise, really. What is it?"
"Nick took off at four actually, but he came in earlier too." Riley looks rather deviously amused, "It's a simple condition really, any schedule restrictions you impose on -us-, -you- have to abide by as well."
Clara's delight fades to a nonplussed look of dismay. "Pardon me?" her voice drops slightly. "You want me to leave work after twelve hours? What if I get called in for surgery?"
"What if there's a crisis, or a bomb threat?" Riley counters, "Or even an election?"
Clara ducks her head, pulling away to move to stand before the window, frowning slightly. "This is different, Riley. I'm a doctor. I pulled thirty hour shifts as an intern." She glances back, almost reproachfully. "If this is what you want, why didn't you comm me at six to head out after my own twelve hours?"
Riley looks rather sheepish, shifting to sit back down on the couch. "Because I couldn't find you offhand. And I was beat, thinking beyond what it required to get up the stairs was limited. Love, I don't think it's any different. I've kept insane hours for seven years, you were an intern, if it's wrong for me it's just as wrong for you. And yeah, emergencies happen, I was assuming you wouldn't be holding those against me. But a concerted effort to -try- and keep a normal schedule? I don't think it's fair for you to ask that of me and Nick, who are not exactly un-busy ourselves, if you aren't willing to try too. I mean honestly, if you were one of your own patients, wouldn't you prescribe less stress?"
Clara turns away again to wraps her arms about herself and stare out the window, face all but obscured by her hair. It would seem she is decidedly unthrilled about this development. Good thing no one's thought to see who gives the CMO an annual. After several long moment of silence, she admits oh-so quietly, "Yes. Yes, I would. You're right."
Riley looks perhaps a bit relieved, but still somewhat apprehensive. "See, so we all go in this together. It'll be a lot easier if we're all trying to break bad habits at the same time."
Clara simply nods, still not moving away from the window before she exhales a soft sigh, fingers tightening at her arms. "Yes. Yes, it would be easier," she agrees in a small voice. "I'm glad you got to nap tonight, by the way. You needed it."
Riley looks rather saddened now, tugging his legs up to sit cross legged and attempting to appear as inoffensive as possible. "Nick said he'd go for it too, if we were all having to behave." There's a pause, "I'm behind on sleep, yeah."
Clara drops her eyes from the window to the window seat, then sneaks a quick look back at you before snatching her gaze to the window again. "If you and Niko will do this, I'll do it for you. But...it's late, love. I shouldn't have woken you. I am sorry."
"It's late, but I'd rather spend time with you," Riley's reply is quiet, "We haven't gotten to see so much of each other lately. If...well, if we all start behaving, maybe we can fix that."
Clara leans forward slightly to rest a hand on the window, not really seeing what's beyond. "We see each other at night right before bed," she notes quietly. "I've actually just been grateful for that. I assume that all of this is going to start a few weeks after Niko and Ela get back?"
"Or sooner, although that was the deadline you imposed, on threat of outside interference." Riley replies softly. He unfolds himself from the couch, padding hesitantly to stand behind you. "Love, is it as terrible as all that?" Just been grateful for that, after all, sounds as if perhaps the idea of more time is not exactly desirable.
"Spending more time with you?" Clara responds, amazement filtering through her voice as she peeks over her shoulder and up at you, then leans back slightly, just short of making contact. "I wouldn't really call Conley," she adds, abashed. "I was tired and irritated, and it was the best threat I could think of. I'm sorry for that, too."
"Well that too, but I meant the taking the time off..." Riley starts to reach hesitantly to hug you, but as you move back, he aborts the movement, looking perhaps confused. "I mean...it is a good thing, right?"
Taking in the cancelled movements, Clara's eyes snap forward again in order to hide a measure of dismay, and she refolds her arms about herself as if cold. "I...think so? I haven't taken a lot of time off alone in the last year, Riley. It's just surprising. I was more worried about you and Niko."
Riley tries once again to move towards you, bringing his hands up to your shoulders. "Would you like some time off alone? I can make myself scarce if you'd rather..."
Clara relaxes a measure at the contact, eyes closing as she unfolds one arm to raise to rest her hand on one of yours. "I'd rather you didn't, no. You're more than my companion, Riley. I love you, I want to spend time with you. But I also know that most men need time to themselves...er...that is, don't they?"
Riley shifts in closer as he is not rejected, offering once again that hug. "I do not know about most men, but I do know that when I am with you, it is not like being with other people. It is you being the other half of me. It is comfortable, and comforting. Just being in the same room. Sleeping, eating, reading, talking, any of these things. Just being where you are pleases me."
Clara tilts her head back to rest at your shoulder, eyes closed as she leans back into the warmth of your arms. "Thank you," she murmurs quietly, exhaling a relieved sigh. "The contentment of completion. Of knowing you're close enough. If you two will limit your hours, I will too."
Riley sighs softly with relief, bending down to kiss the top of your head lightly, "Besides," he murmurs, "I worry too. You are the love of my life, having found you, I would be inconsolable if I lost you, especially to something like overwork, something I could prevent."
Clara extends her arm up and back to rest fingertips at your jaw, touch drifting slightly. "You won't lose me, silly. Not from overwork, at least. If shrinks are loony, then surgeons are indestructible. Didn't you know that? I've survived till now, haven't I?"
"I've survive seven years in this place, and you still worry," Riley replies softly, his arms tightening around you. "I worry very much indeed. Losing you once, even knowing it was not forever, was very much like dying."
Clara's hand moves from your jaw to the back of your head, resting in your hair gently as she tilts her head to the side towards your neck. "It was completely empty, is what it was. I don't pretend to understand the connection we share, but I know it's painful being away from you." She's quiet for along moment. "You do know what he'd intended, don't you? If I'd been there more than six months...I'd have had to stay in that environment...permanently."
Riley's arms tighten around you, as if someone were going to come along and try and steal you away again. "I swear...if I -ever- see that man..."
Clara nuzzles gently, fingers tightening over your arm. "Not revenge, Greg. I'm home and recovered. He may not even have known I don't know what to do in that environment. I just don't ever want to leave you again," she adds in a far smaller voice.
"Never," And at that Riley holds you closer still, "Please, never. Without you...well there's no point."
"The Alliance," Clara responds immediately, eyes snapping open to peer up at you solemnly. "We both swore loyalty to that before we even knew the other existed. It's worth living for," she points out firmly, then squrims slightly to attempt to turn and face you.
Riley sighs softly, letting you shift around. "It's late."
Clara blinks at the response, then nods solemnly and starts to pull back, dropping her hands away to move compliantly and pull down the bed. "It's late," she agrees softly.
Riley heads after you to help with the bed, and to snag a penguin. "I think I can get used to the twelve hour thing, it'll be the six days thing that'll be harder."
"Really?" Clara responds, carefully keeping her attention on pulling down the covers. "Why is that? You're really not used to regular days off?"
Riley clambers into the bed, bringing the penguin along. "Well, on a ship, there really aren't days off. Just leave in port. Not a lot of good to have em off onboard, and too few folks on a ship to be able to afford it."
Clara lowers down somewhat gracefully, slipping beneath the blanket to lie on her back, head tilted to watch you curiously. "I never thought of that," she admits thoughtfully. "We always had one day a week off except at Golman. Even at the Academy."
Riley shifts in as close as you'll let him, curling in. "We got leave in port. All our days off, just clumped into one."
Clara is more than willing to be close, turning to face you and tuck her head in at your shoulder. "That's really not good for you, though. That's what we did at Golman. There was a reason people only did a year at a time there. Well, aside from what we were doing."
"It's just what I'm used to," Riley murmurs quietly, curling up with both you and the penguin. "Hence the fact this new state of affairs will take getting used to."
Clara finally takes note of the penguin as she nudges an arm over your waist, voice faintly amused. "We're sharing our bed with flightless waterfowl tonight?" she teases gently, obviously not minding.
"Yeah," Riley says softly, sounding perhaps a bit sheepish. "It was lonely, and wanted to curl up too."
"Aaah," responds Clara quietly, tracing light patterns on your back. "Is the penguin sleepy, then? Why was it lonely?"
"It'd been sitting up there all by itself for a while," Riley murmurs by way of reply, relaxing at the patterns on his back. "Very sleepy penguin."
Clara widens the range of her movements over your back, still light and comforting. "Sounds like the penguin keeper is just as sleepy," she observes, tone deepening in fond adoration, edging just a hint closer almost protectively.
"'Fraid so," Riley murmurs rather softly, his accent rather decidedly thick. "Slept earlier, but tired still. Behind on it I guess."
"Me too," Clara offers gently, half smiling as she all but hides her face in your shirt and flattens her hand at your back. "Must meet the new doctor at six down in Medbay. Early," she explains unnecessarily.
"Time to sleep then," Riley murmurs softly, "Too early to get up. So sleeping's good. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Greg," is the muffled murmur from somewhere at your shoulder, Clara's form relaxing easily against you as if someone had found the extension cord and wondered 'What's -this- to?' before unplugging it.
"Goodnight my a'trezla," Riley murmurs softly, curling up closer to both you and the penguin before shifting into sleep as well.