Mistakes Were Made

Month 7 Day 16

1535 Hours

Beth Temple

 The words caught Beth’s attention, even through the closed door. “I didn’t realize nurses have an office.” Beth checked the time. Early for Dr Davis.

“Nurses share this station,” Karu explained. “The Head Nurse has an office.”

A 3 foot by 3 foot ‘office’. More like a closet, but it’s mine. Beth opened the door. “Are you looking for me, Dr Davis?”

“Yes,” the physician confirmed and strode forward, stopped as she realized the dimensions of Beth’s ‘office’.

Beth gave her a wry smile. “Most people pull a chair to the doorway.”

“I was hoping to have a private word with you.”

“Karu, go check Monroe’s work,” Beth instructed.

“She was C shift yesterday; what was she doing?” Karu asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t get Oleander’s report.”

“What if I can’t figure out what Monroe was doing?”

“Then you probably aren’t looking.” Karu grimaced, closed her computer file and headed for sick bay’s interior. Beth gave the physician another smile. “Pull up a chair. Want some coffee?”

Davis pulled over the closest chair. “No, I only drink that on duty.” She sat down and glanced around, as if to make sure they were alone.

“Is this about Mac?” Beth asked.

Davis looked startled. “Why ask about Mac?”

“I heard her call you ‘Mags’ last week. She shortens your name if she likes you, and the stranger she can make that nickname, the happier she is. You’re probably stuck with it. Even Bugsy - Bugalu - can’t stop her. Also, she was here this morning. On your orders, I understand.”

“In a way, she’s involved, but I’m here about a nurse.”

Beth canted her head. Has she sat on a complaint for days? “Doctor, you weren’t on duty last night.”

“No, I was on the planet when Mac passed out from severe hypoglycemia. Yukoskians don’t use sugar for fuel, and the cooks didn’t realize we do. The only things Mac ingested were agents the Yukosk use to remove sugar from their system. I called for glucose, and whoever answered - when she finally did - said she couldn’t help because she couldn’t leave sick bay unattended.”

Beth felt her face go white. “Mac could have died.”

“Yes. Luckily, Oleander overheard my call and took over. She even sent extra, which was good, because I was into the 3rd supply jacket before Mac could be sent up.”

Beth’s mind fumed, though she kept a calm appearance. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Dr Davis.”

“Nurse Oleander forgot to send you a shift report?”

“I’m not sure.” She used her computer to send an inquiring signal to the bridge and inserted her earpiece.

“Bridge. Abdulla.”

“Temple. Nurse Oleander, C shift, always sends me a report, but I didn’t get one today. Before I assume negligence, is there any chance it’s lost?” Beth often felt ignorant on things outside her field. Abdulla knew computers; they were an intimate part of communications.

“Hmm... You’re right. That isn’t like her. Give me a couple minutes.”

“Thank you,” was all Beth got out before the connection was broken. She turned to Dr Davis. “Would you mind making that a written complaint? Or report, whichever you think fits.”

Davis gave one quick nod. “I can. I’m not sure a foolish comment is enough to fail probation, but it needs to be addressed.”

Beth felt her face stiffen, made herself relax. That’s why I get this glorious office, so I can clean up the messes the doctors leave. How could Drake forget that Mac and Monroe arrived at the same time? “That nurse passed probation.” By default! “I’ll talk with her, try to straighten her out.” Not likely to help! “Ultimately, this information will land in a file.”

Davis leaned forward, her voice lowered. “If you can’t shape her up, you need enough proof to get rid of her?”

“Something like that,” Beth returned, trying to keep her face non-committal.

The physician stood and returned the chair to its original spot. “You’ll have my memo in the morning. I want to get it composed while the details are fresh. Have a good evening, Nurse Temple.”

Drake emerged from his office. “Davis, you aren’t scheduled to work tonight.”

“No, I had a chat with Beth,” the C shift physician said and kept walking.

Drake looked uncertainly at Beth. If he thinks avoiding me for 2 weeks is going to soften my mood, he’d better think again. She closed her office door and pushed her simmering anger deep inside. Her computer beeped. “Sick bay. Temple.”

“That report wasn’t lost. I found it in your trash bin.”

“I never even saw it.”

“No. At 4 minutes past midnight, somebody deleted that message, then deleted it again. They either forgot or don’t know about the trash bin.”

“Who was it?”

“Unknown. They used your office computer, which doesn’t need a sign-in.”

Blast! “Can you give my computer a sign-in?”

“Easily. But we do maintenance during an off shift, so we don’t interrupt your work.”

“Ask Mac,” Temple decided. “How do I avoid any more ‘accidental’ deletions before that’s done?”

“I can shut down your console when I leave. You’d have to call when you want it turned on in the morning.“

“Sounds good.” Beth told her computer to close all files and sleep. “So, how do I get to my trash bin?”

“I returned that report to your message box.”

“Thanks. Let’s hope it stays there. Okay, you can turn off my computer any time.” Beth’s impression of the computer console quickly went from a sleeping intelligence to a mass of dead metal, plastic and wires. Creepy. What else can I do? She opened the door, walked to the intercom, and punched another connection as Nurse Karu returned. “Did you find anything?”

“I cleaned it up.”

“Send me a report. She needs to do her job.”

Karu sat down at a console. “On its way.”

Beth checked the time. “Make it fast or do it tomorrow. And don’t say anything to anyone. She’s sneaky.”

“Engineering. Smythe.”

“Temple. How do I get a lock on my office door?”

She could almost feel his shock through the open line. “It doesn’t have one?”

“Never has.”

“Idiot designers. We’re at shift change. I’ll pass your request to Wilson, and she’ll send somebody. I’ll program it in the morning.”

“Oh.” Blast. Not what I had in mind. Now what do I do?.

“Or... If you want it tonight, I can send someone right away. But you’d have to stay until it’s programmed.”

Beth smiled. “Thank you! I’ll wait.” She sat down at the spare nurse’s console and signed on, opened the latest medical journal.

“Your office doesn’t lock?”

Temple glanced at Karu. “Do you see a lock?”

Karu gave a hard look at the door. “No. Guess I assumed-“

“I suppose no one thought a head nurse needed a lock. How is your report coming?”

“It’s not a clean copy, but-“ Karu punched a button. “It’s sent.”

Nurse Oleander walked in with greetings, and signed onto the unused console. Karu signed off to walk quickly through the ward rooms, looking for anything out of place. When she returned, she stood at the reception counter uncertainly. Beth glanced at the chronometer; it was past 1600. “Nurse Oleander, who’s scheduled tonight?”

“Monroe. She and Dr Ellis are on the same rotational shift.”

Is Monroe tardy regularly? “Good night, Karu. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Nurse Temple.”

Beth closed the journal and opened a travel magazine from the library. She didn’t turn when she heard Drake ask, “Has Dr Ellis arrived?”

“He’s in the staff office, sir,” Oleander answered.

“Good. Have a quiet shift, Oleander.” Drake left. Beth compared shore and mountain activities.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Temple.” Smythe walked in briskly.

Beth turned with a smile. “I appreciate your speed, Mr Smythe.”

“Can’t believe no lock was installed.” He put down his tool box and popped off a panel next to her office door. “To tell you the truth, I felt the need to do something with my hands. I’ve been reading all day - trying to - and my brain feels like mush.”

Still no sign of Monroe. “I thought you liked reading technical manuals.”

He worked silently for a moment. “I’ve just spent, what, 6 weeks? comparing technologies with S’thyme. Reading is different.”

“Reading or conversing, I’m sure the subject isn’t boring. To you.”

“I was told, ‘If you work at what you love, you won’t be working’.”

Beth smiled. “I’m familiar with the sentiment, if not those exact words.”

“You don’t need to get up, Oleander. I can take care of whatever Mr Smythe needs.”

Temple looked around in time to see Monroe recognize her. “Nice of you to come to work, Monroe.”

 The blonde’s jaw worked for a moment. “I am at work. I mean, I’ve been at work. I didn’t finish one of my chores last night, so I started there, to finish up.”

Someplace outside sick bay? Tell me another. “I see. Log in, then go count how many bandages we have.”

Irritation moved across Monroe’s face as she slowly walked forward. “What kind?”

“All kinds,” Temple responded. “I want 2 lists. Ready to use and Storage.” She closed the magazine, signed off the computer, then headed for Drake’s office.

“I’m almost done,” Smythe said.

Already? Beth nodded and left the door open as she glanced at the sleeping console, straighten the desk and started the cleaning bot. She could hear Monroe talking, her voice low and sultry. And Smythe’s response. “Lieutenant, look elsewhere for nightcaps and... entertainment.” Beth stepped out and locked Drake’s door. Smythe tried to work, but Monroe clung to his shoulder.

The young nurse pouted. “Shore leave is coming, and I’m -”

“Monroe!” Beth snapped. “Why are you still here? If you’ve signed in, start counting in storage. I want it finished tonight!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Monroe groused, and headed for the depths of the sick bay complex.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen anybody be that... brazen!” Temple stated as she walked to the nurse’s station. “And on duty!” Oleander made a face and hunched one shoulder. Something else for me to look into. Should I apologize to Smythe?

“Do me a favor, Temple,” Smythe whispered. “Don’t leave me alone with that woman again.”

Surprised, Beth said, “Oleander was here.”

“My rank isn’t sufficient to dampen Monroe’s, uh... behavior,” the nurse stated.

Smythe grunted. “Nor mine.”

Not good. “Then why would my presence make a difference?”

“I have to hope somebody’s would,” Dr Ellis stated from the staff office doorway. “And you’re her supervisor, with input into whether she passes or fails probation.”

Smitty turned his head toward the doctor. “Probation?”

Even Smitty realizes Mac’s and Monroe’s probations ended at the same time. “Her probation is over,” Temple stated.

Ellis’ face fell. “And she’s still here.” He turned for the office.

“She’s still here because - although I had misgivings about her suitability - I didn’t have enough information from her co-workers!” I would have tried, if I had gotten Drake’s ear before time was up. “Her supervisor? I’m a lieutenant, just like she is, just like you are. But in medicine, a doctor out-ranks a nurse. If you see a nurse being sloppy, lazy, unskilled or unprofessional, let me know! Complaint, report, comment; I don’t care what you call it, as long as I get it! Because once they are off probation, it becomes a lot harder to convince headquarters they aren’t wanted.” The young doctor stared at her as she took a deep breath.

“That’s the way, Temple,” Smythe muttered.

“Oleander, I’ll need the same kind of observances from the nurses,” Beth added.

“One person’s lack of standards means more work for the rest of us.”

“Exactly,” Beth agreed. Ellis returned to the office looking thoughtful.

“How’s this, Beth?” Smythe asked.

She looked at the panel where he’d been working. The area had been unremarkable, and except for the addition, the wall seemed the same; no melting, charring, dips or bubbles. “Wonderful! And under half an hour! How does this one work?”

“Still have to program your thumbprint.” He squatted to put tools away and got out a small box. “We could use your left, if you prefer.” He stood up and held the box next to the thumbpad. “Go ahead.” Temple stepped closer, placed her right index finger on the blank pad. “Um, that’s - “

“Just as good as my right thumb,” she stated flatly.

“As you wish.” He punched a few keys on the box, which glowed a dull orange, and the pad under her finger started flashing green. “There.” She pulled her hand away; the pad went dark. “All done,” he summed up, picked up the tool box and placed the small box in it. “It’s just like any other thumb-locked door.”

“Thank you, Mr Smythe. I feel relieved.”

“Happy to help,” he returned with a smile.

“Oleander, I’m gone,” Temple stated. “Let me know how long Monroe spends on inventory, and if she gets done.”

“I will, Head Nurse.”

Temple walked out, was surprised when Smythe joined her in the corridor. “That’s the first time you’ve asked for something without making it complicated, Head Nurse.”

“Is it?” Beth curled a corner of her mouth. “I’m usually worried about stepping on toes.”

“Then maybe I’m insulted.” He stopped her with a light touch on her arm. “I thought we were friends, Beth. Friends don’t mind an occasional sore toe.”

Beth considered the furrows in his brow, the uncertain pain in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Smy- Smitty. I’m not from a military family. Not even a medical family. We were dirt-poor, and to this day, I have trouble seeing the lines that one must not step over.”

He winced. “That can be hard. I’ve been in the Fleet longer than you, and there’s some lines I still stumble over. Would you like to share supper? I’ve claimed friendship, but I’m ashamed to admit I hardly know anything about you.”

Now? “You usually eat with... I’m not speaking to Drake. Not off-duty, anyway.”

“I’m sure he deserves it. The captain won’t expect me by now. But if you have plans...”

“Not really. Do you need to take your tools back to engineering?”

He shrugged one shoulder as they started walking again. “The box is my personal property. When I retire, I’ll have the finest set of tools in the city.”

What city? Something to talk about.