I'm fine.

Posted on 12 Oct 2026 @ 10:05pm by Lieutenant JG Faith Benson & Lieutenant Commander Remington Dodd & 1st Lieutenant Gavin Ross Dr. & 1st Lieutenant S'earr & 2nd Lieutenant Elora Rykov

4,641 words; about a 23 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Current

[ON:]

Faith glanced up at the ceiling of Sickbay once she woke up after collapsing earlier. Her stomach grumbled, she had to pee and she looked like shit. "Can I at least have a new tunic or at least a wife-beater." Leaning up, she was sore, all of that climbing she'd not been use to again, pulling her tattered tunic off and her bra. Tossing both on the deck, not even bothering to cover herself up.

Gavin glanced over as Faith entered, sitting on the nearest biobed.

"You are back..." Ross opened up his tricorder as he entered the main sick bay area. There was Lt. Benson...

"Scans show climbing strain but nothing critical. How are you feeling...?"

He watched her ask for a new tunic, then remove the damaged clothing and undergarment without covering... Examining Faith closer.

"A clean tunic is on the way... Use this gown for now." Ross had turned to his medical cart at the near wall and initiated a privacy shield screen around the bed. She was nearly naked, having walked into sickbay herself...

"Stay put while I scan. Facilities and food after. Any other issues..."

Elora appeared at the entrance to Sickbay not long after, still looking like she had come straight from the aftermath of the recovery operation. There was dirt on her uniform, exhaustion beneath her eyes, and a stiffness to the way she moved that suggested her own body had begun reminding her exactly what she had put it through. She paused when she spotted Faith behind the privacy screen and released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Well, there you are," Elora said, stepping closer before giving Gavin a respectful nod. "Doctor." Her attention immediately returned to Faith. "I figured I should come make sure the woman we went through all that trouble to drag home hadn't managed to die of stubbornness five minutes after we got her back."

The teasing was light, but it couldn't quite hide the emotion underneath it. Elora folded her arms loosely and studied Faith for a moment, visibly reassuring herself that she really was there, awake and complaining. "You scared the hell out of us, Benson." Her voice softened. "How are you really? And don't give me the official report. Ross can give me that." A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I want the Faith Benson version."

Her eyes briefly dropped toward the discarded remains of Faith's uniform before immediately finding somewhere considerably safer to look. "Also, apparently I arrived during the very informal portion of your medical evaluation." Elora cleared her throat and glanced toward Gavin.

Ross kept his expression neutral as Faith stripped… tunic and bra hitting the deck. Privacy screen up a second later.

Ross ran the tricorder in a steady pass.

Shoulders, forearms, lower back… mild dehydration… elevated cortisol. Nothing structural.

“Climbing strain… nothing critical.” Gav closed it with a quiet click. “You’re sore, depleted, and look like you lst a fight with a rock face.”

Ross set the gown on the edge of the biobed...

“Tunic’s coming. Use that. Facilities after I’m done… food too. Stay put.”

Elora stepped in.

Dirt on the uniform. Careful posture. Stiffness in the shoulders. Slight hitch in her gat. Same planet. Same recovery. Her body was collecting the bill.

Ross gave a short nod. “Commander.”

He already had a second tricorder open. Low scan from a distance. Residual microtrauma… elevated fatigue… mild inflammation in the right knee and lower back. Not critical. Not nothing...

Ross waited until she finished speaking.

“You’re next…” Gav winked.

Light gesture to the empty biobed.

“Compensating on the right. Back and knee are reminding you what you put them through. Sit... Quick pass while we wait on Benson’s tunic...” He gestured and then placed down the privacy shield since Rykov just entered it anyway.

Elora smiled at Ross, He looked tired. He noticed she was still favoring that ankle and knee from the situation in regard to the four members from alpha team who had worked her over not to long ago. She was fond of Ross and hoped she was not getting in the way.

"If you say so." Faith gave a motion when Ross pulled the privacy blind across to keep others from seeing her half nude. "You know it doesn't bother me. I'm over 400 years old. Many a person has seen more than this. I just wanted those things off."

Giving a look to Elora as she came through the blinds "You're the one that was leading the team." Faith rest her head back for a split second. "Thank you. -- You should see to that ankle. Or come here and I can fix it. It's not completely put back into the socket."

Elora glanced at Ross and then unbothered by Faith's nudity she moved closer to the bio bed and into the curtained off area. "Your filthy." Elora stated as she stepped inside the curtain. "I didn't bring my dolly, but for my reports I need you to tell me where the bad men hurt you." She had heard Cassandra use that line once and hoped it would help put Faith at ease.

"I've been in the wild for nearly a day, of course I am." Faith then just giggled, which also got both them them a good view of how much her breasts bounced when she did. Taking a moment to compose herself, "Sorry, Someone said that same thing to me once. You're prettier than you sounded."

Elroa giggled too she couldn't help but notice just how youthful Benson still looked for being four hundred years old. "Thanks. I guess. If this is a bad time I can catch you up later if you rather." She offered.

Faith shrugged a little bit, "Any time is good as the present. You're gonna have to get up here though so I can set that knee and ankle."

"Alright, We'll let do that then." Elora hobbled over to the bio bed and hopped up next to Faith her hand accidently brushed against her chest ever so gently as they shuffled around.

"Sorry, Lietuenant, sometimes you just have to manually do stuff, not rely on computers." Faith was still acting like there was nothing wrong with her being disrobed, and dismissing Ross' want to get her at least in a hospital gown.

Shifting a little bit to accomdate the weight and space. There was a bit to her bottom lip when Elora brushed her chest and almost wanted her to do it again. "Okay, so this is going to hurt." Once they were acclimated enough. "Three..." she didn't wait for two or one. Running her fingers along Elora's thigh to her knees. Feeling the joint out of place and then twisted the leg under the knee. Popping it back in the rest of the way. Just as quickly, moving her hand down the calf to do the same to the ankle joint.

“First off…” Ross stopped in his tracks, coming back from the other end of the sickbay. “I am the Doctor. You are both, patients. Please do not place your hands on the other patient. That is my job, Lieutenant Benson. But Thank you, your being a blast as usual…”

Ross inspected. Shaking his head. “I needed to add a neural enhancement first to check for microfractures, you could be possibly further stressing Rykov’s ankle joints.” Ross, stopped.

And swallowed. Holding his hands out a bit cautionary. “I understand you want to help each other, that’s super awesome! Just… Can we wait a second, here.”

Ross turned to Ensign Favaro. “Favaro!! Hun. Please can you come in here with the micro-fluidic inducer…”

“Of course! I was…” She then placed down her PADD.

“Jesus… Patients are here, and they are helping themselves. A minute after they had arrived. MD… Doctor… Doccctttooorrrrr…” Ross wasn’t happy.

Faith waited Elora's reaction. Both of those spots should fixed now, regardless of Ross' objections. She did have a point. "Relying on computers doesn't always give results, Doctor. I respect your job, and what you do. Honestly, I do." Motions, "She's fine though." Tilting her head a moment as Ross moved away. Her attention going back to Elora. 'Hi."

Ross stopped cold… the moment he saw Benson’s hands on Rykov’s leg.

“Lieutenant Benson… 2 nd Lieutenant Rykov.”

His voice was flat… and cold.

“Starfleet Medical Protocol 12.4… subsection C… no patient initiates or completes any manipulative or realignment procedure on another patient without the attending physician’s express authorization… Subsection D classifies it as unauthorized practice of medicine.”

He stepped into the privacy field… eyes hard.

“You are both patients… Not medical staff… One minute after you walked in… and you’re already resetting joints without imaging or clearance… That stops now.”

He pointed at the gown.

“Benson… put that on."

"Rykov… do not put weight on that ankle until I finish the scan you just compromised.”

Over his shoulder… still curt:

“Favaro… Micro-fluidic inducer and neural enhancer… Now.”

He looked between them.

“Intent is noted… You both know Federation Medic stipulations. This will be logged. The violation is not… Am I clear?”

Elora looked to doctor Ross and gave an apologetic smile. Her words however where for Faith. "He's just too cute when he's being authoritive." She noted. Then with a deep sigh. "All teasing aside doctor I am sorry. Its just no one makes it hurt as good as Faith does. It's nothing personal. But we can talk it out over poker and whiskey later if you like." She offered.

Ross let his chest de-stress. He closed his eyes.

"Alright." Gav understood now. There was something a bit more at play here. He was fine with that. At least they were both cute as hell to watch...

Favaro rolled over the equipment Ross had requested, along with various sensory and diagnostic items. "I'm glad that both of you had showed up to Sickbay... I've been chasing you down for..." He looked at his chunky silver wristwatch... "For over three hours since you had come back from your harrowing away mission. I offer my apologies..."

Elora shrugged, "No need to apologize Gavin.. I mean Doctor. Shit happens." Elora had been locked in her office trying to do a debriefing of the team and trying to fill out reports. She had completed the first task. But the second one could not be done without talking to Benson. So, she had come to the only logical place to find her.

"And I'm over 400 years old, or have you forgotten? Your weren't born yet, neither was the Federation or Starfleet. Would you like me to explain to you what my people have had to endore. We had far more advanced technology than you have now. It was stripped away. I'm sorry Doctor if I hurt your feelings, and knew what I was doing." Faith all but snorted. "Apology accepted."

Elora glanced between Faith and Gavin before raising both hands.

“Okay, before the woman with four centuries of experience and the man with the medical degree start comparing credentials, this one is on me,” she said. “Faith offered to help, and I agreed even after Gavin told me to wait. She knew what she was doing, but he is still the attending physician, and we are still in his Sickbay.”

She looked toward Faith, a faint grin softening her expression. “And I don’t think you hurt his feelings. I think we frightened ten years off his life which is impressive, considering you just survived everything that damned planet could throw at you.”

Elora turned back to Gavin and obediently extended her injured leg. “Go ahead, Doctor. I promise not to let any more ancient aliens practice medicine on me until you’ve finished.”

"Tensometer..." Ross simply held out his hand at Favaro. The female Nurse handed gently while Ross's hand clasped the device in an instant, precise, pointed.

"Favaro help Benson..." Ross pointed to the garment.

Favaro then gently had begun to try and place the garment on Benson, only to find that Benson didn't really want to place it on at the moment... She simply sat the garment on top of Benson's lady area... Which then was shifted off again, as Benson slid to be closer to Rykov on the same bio bed, which their lilithy figures both accepted.

Ross's eyes were about to roll onto the floor.

"Computer. Initiate Post Mission Parameters, Ross 1101. Indicators set to MAX. Allow for residual post-alignment." Ross then begun to feel at Rykov's prior twisted, out of alignment joint of her ankle. He felt horrible for not being able to attend both of the Officers sooner. Part because they were notoriously hard to pin down post mission.

Elora's mind was on Taren at the moment. About how lovely his tanned skin would look in contrast to Bensons creamy complexion. His hands, those oh so skillful hands moving over that tight body of Bensons... She waited to feel jealous at the idea and found she actually was more than a little excited by it. She took a deep breath. Missions always did this to her. Maybe it was the adrenaline? Or the idea she might have died... who knew, She just knew she wanted to finish up here so she could get home and have Taren spank the naughty thoughts outta her mind.

No, she really didn't get to much out of Favaro trying to get the gown on her...yet again. Where as Faith had already stated that it didn't but her without it. However, it dawned on her that it was for the dignity and courtesy for anyone else there in Sickbay.

"Let me know where it hurts... And none of this, it's pain, its pleasure..." He winked, chuckling.

"So you want me to lie then eh Doctor?" Elora asked her tone was more than suggestive. "I just need this done and then I am headed home where I can indulge in whatever pleasure I want thank you."

"If I'm not mistaken, you're already lying down on me, Lieutenant." Faith tilted her head a little bit. Pulling the gown around the both of them. That still left Elora against her bare chest.

Elora glanced down at their position beneath the shared gown before looking back at Faith, one eyebrow slowly rising.

“That is an aggressively accurate description of our current arrangement,” she admitted.

Rather than immediately pulling away, Elora adjusted the gown so it remained wrapped securely around them both. “Behave, or at least make a convincing attempt until Ross finishes his scans. He is already one unauthorized joint adjustment away from sedating both of us.”

Her voice dropped into a playful murmur meant primarily for Faith.

“Besides, I’m trying very hard to be good until I get home.”

"Scan complete. Patient Elora Rykov. Report - Sub-fracture, Ligmental Degenerative Level, Mild. Faceted ganglion... Left facceted, L-3 Chest Abraision, Minor."

"Annnnndddd... Patient Faith Benson, Report." Ross dramatically rolled his hands for the computer to report in time...

"Patient. Faith Benson. Dermal abrasions, upper quad, left disassociated, annotated typographic non alignment. Lower Abdominal Abrasions... Yarlasic Fractured, Pressurized Fracture , Chest... Secondary Knee Pressurized, Facceted Fracture..."

"Okay. Ladies. My wonderful Ladies... We will be in Sickbay for a few more hours... Is there anything you need. Favaro will get it for you."

Ross then took his serries of Mark IV Hyposprays, and then each gave Rykov and then Faith a neck depression of the drugs. I've given you a slight pain sedative. You should feel it work within a few seconds, this will help with the micro fractures that both of you had endured planetside..." Gavin then placed a ligamental receptor agonist, with peptide alignment DNA molecules... On to Faith's knees. The devices a small cylindrical dots, and then expertly placed, and plotted on to Rykov's ankle fracture..." Ross shook his head. "What were you doing down there... Jesus ladies..."

"Just walking.... mostly. Benson got it worse. I was already favoring the ankle before I deployed." Elora said. "I just exasperated it when I encountered some hostiles is all." The idea of being in sick bay a few more hours made her body clench. She wanted to go home to Taren. Needed to go home to him. She liked the pain. despite the Doctors words she actually did find it stimulating in ways that others might not. She was however grateful when the drugs began to work. She felt her body calming down. She could think a little clearer.

"I landed a damn experimental drop pod and then had to listen to some asshole trying to fake he was yall and make my own survival kit is what I was doing. Geez." Faith shook her head. "Climbing through brush, up a mountain, finding shelter. You want to know how my body feels? Like shit, gentlemen. I'm sorry I kicked into let's fix Elora's leg mode but damn. At least it was something I could do now." She turned her head away and closed her eyes for a moment.

The teasing vanished from Elora’s face.

“Hey,” she said gently. “You did exactly what you had to do. That experimental pod could have killed you. The false transmission could have led you straight into a trap, and then the planet did everything it could to finish the job. You adapted, made what you needed, found shelter, and stayed alive long enough for us to find you.”

Elora resisted the impulse to touch Faith, remembering Gavin’s earlier warning. Instead, she remained beside her, close enough that Faith would know she wasn’t alone.

“You don’t have to fix anyone else right now. Let Ross take care of you.” Her voice softened further. “That isn’t an order. It’s a request from the officer who came down there to bring you home.”

She offered Faith a small, reassuring smile. “The debriefing can wait. You’re safe, Benson. Let yourself believe that for a few minutes.”

"I will give you a few moments. I have a second myself while the sick bay mains calculate and analyze joint faccets, as to my next steps..."

"FAVARO.... AGAIN. GET OFF YOUR PADD.... Patients... Patients my Love... Over here..."

"Yes Doctor... On my way with their requested Goodies..."

"I need Goodies myself. And that drink will be later Rykov, and Benson is welcome herself too." Ross then left to the back Morgue where his Blue Pack of Players Lights were waiting...

"Be right back my Ladies..." He winked and swifted off.

"If you're going to smoke you should at least be a gentleman and offer to share!" Elora called after him. "I hope he doesn't take too long in there; I need to get laid." Elora complained. Sulking back into her place on the bio bed. She wondered if she could get Taren to use the paddle or better yet the belt on her later. The idea made her smile. She was so glad he was on the Tomcat with her. It would make these post mission issues so much easier to deal with. "So, Benson don't let me forget I am supposed to debrief you at some point."

There was an eyebrow raised, "Damn right I want a drink, a real one." Opening her eyes again, "And since there is no one else here at the moment, Lieutenant I'm still half naked, you're still on top of me, we both could get laid right now. Or.." Faith paused a moment, "Did I read you wrong."

Elora held Faith’s gaze. Surprise briefly crossed her features before giving way to a slow, unmistakably intrigued smile.

“No,” she answered honestly. “You didn’t read me wrong.”

She allowed that admission to settle between them before continuing.

“But I’m engaged, Faith. Attraction isn’t the same thing as permission, and I’m not making a decision that could involve Taren without including him.” Elora glanced pointedly at the biobed, the shared gown, and the medical equipment surrounding them. “We’re also injured, medicated, and trapped beneath a hospital gown while our doctor sneaks off to smoke in the morgue. That is a spectacularly poor foundation for good judgment.”

Her eyes returned to Faith’s, the flirtation still very much present.

“Ask me again when we’re sober, discharged, and Taren can be part of the conversation.” Her smile deepened. “Better yet, ask both of us.”

Faith gave a glance to them around her and Elora a moment. Resting her head back and closing her violet eyes for a moment before opening them again. "I'll think about it. Though I don't seem to be particularly 'intoxicated' that I can tell."

[Tag: Open]

Gavin had paused. He then reached in to his white lab coat and then thought a moment. "Favaro..."

The nurse turned from Rykov and Benson. "Yes Doctor."

"Here... Give these sticks to both Benson and Rykov. Place environmental controls to full. Lock the main doorway, unless... Yadda yadda emergency, got it. And keep your mouth SHUT this time. Jesus Girl. If I hear one more word regarding Ensign McRae and her off duty clothing, your going to be written. It is Written!!"

Elora accepted the offered cigarette long enough to inspect it before holding it back out to Favaro.

“Tempting, but not for me. I’m pregnant, remember?” She nodded toward the pack in Gavin’s possession. “You can tell Doctor Ross that even his highly questionable prescriptions don’t outrank Taren or our baby.”

She settled back against the biobed and glanced toward the locked Sickbay entrance.

“I’ll take something cold to drink instead. Preferably something that doesn’t taste medicinal.” Her eyes narrowed playfully in the direction Gavin had disappeared. “And if that locked door keeps my fiancé out, environmental controls are going to be the least of the good doctor’s concerns.”

Ross called out as he stepped back into the main bay...
“Computer... unlock sickbay doors... maintain privacy fields at full strength...”

He chuckled softly at Elora and Faith... both of them solid friends as well as patients...

A moment later he returned with a chilled electrolyte solution for Rykov and a small tray of medical peripherals balanced in his other hand. The cigarette break had been postponed... medical always took precedence.

“Alright... I’ve reviewed the latest biobed telemetry and tricorder scans...” Ross said... setting the drink within easy reach of Elora... “Both of you are showing residual microfractures along the right clavicle and scapular region... the osteogenic stimulators I applied earlier have done most of the heavy lifting but we’re going to finish the job properly...”

He moved with practiced efficiency... first to Faith then to Elora... deactivating and removing the temporary fracture stabilizers with a soft click...

“I can call Taren in if you’d like the company...” he offered... glancing between them... “Having a spouse present is perfectly warranted... same goes for you Faith... just say the word...”
Ross then rolled a secondary equipment cart closer and selected a pair of compact devices from the tray...

“These are the Gatheron WG-Flex 04 cellular attenuators...” he explained... placing one carefully against the right shoulder of each woman... “They’ll lock onto the remaining microfracture lattice and accelerate ossification while damping any residual neural feedback... just rest and relax...”

He watched the status lights shift from amber to steady green then lifted his medical tricorder for a final sweep...

“Clean readings... bone density returning to baseline... microfractures fully faceted over...” Ross gave a small satisfied nod... “Quite a nice piece of work if I do say so myself... Thank you Doctor for healing us...” he quipped under his breath with a dry smile...

Faith waited for the doctor to finish, "I didn't know you were pregnant. Perhaps that teasing idea is not such a good one then in that case. She looked to Ross, "I've no spouse or fiancé, nor anyone else at this point in that particular capacity."

Taren had managed to finally make his way to Sickbay having heard about his Imzadi's return to the ship, he was worried when he discovered she was in Sickbay and it was hard not to fear. Assaulted by the wild and ranging emotions of those within he had to focus more than he used to to block them out.

That's when he saw her, injured, but alive. He could feel the pounding in his chest, his skin tingled and slowly it came to ease. "Imazdi." Taren spoke as he drew closer, worry subsiding to warmth and hope.

Sensing the mental pain of Taren, Dodd made his way to sickbay. Arriving, he felt all of the emotional strain in the young crewmember.

"Taren, I feel we need to let the medical staff have the space to work. Come over here with me, we can sit in the doctor's office and await word of what comes of the situation." Dodd stated to Taren. Dodd knew what it was like to have one's Imzadi in a serious situation as he lost his Imzadi and has not really recovered from it.

Faith gave a stretch and made sure she covered up, requesting something other than a gown.

Ross thanked the Commander for seeing to helping Taren and then turned back to the two patients.

"Faith. Here is a hoodie and sweatpants... As well for you, Elora." Nurse Favaro then showed up with a bunch of snacks, sandwiches, drinks, cookies, pudding cups...

"For right now, we have some specialties for both of you ladies." Ross looked at the food. "Eat, drink, and relax. I will have your finalized blood work, and your amino acid boosters will be finished synthesizing in the lab..." Ross had informed both Faith and Elora.

Nurse Favaro then helped set up the food trays she had replicated for both Benson and Rykov. "It won't be much longer now. Once you have got changed, I can have Dodd and Taren back over... The Doctor has finished with you both for now."

Dodd had sensed things were improving. "Taren, I am certain that very soon you will be permitted to go back and see your Imzadi. The medical staff greatly appreciate your stepping out so they could address the proper care for her. I also thank you for coming down to a calmer status. Also, no matter what happens with anything, if you need to ever just talk or vent, know you can come to me regardless of the situation. I am always willing to help a member of the Tomcat family."

They'd already seen all that she had to offer at this point, now that it was setting in, it wasn't embarrassment that bugged her, it was the behavior. All of her emotions throwing down at once, the exhilaration of the mission, the chemical reactions in her body, her mind. Doesn't help that Elora was very attractive, and was on top of her.

Now that's calmed down, Faith stood up off of the bio-bed so she could get into the cloths that she was given. Pulling the hood up over her head after she got back on the bio-bed. Scooting so she could accommodate the food tray. "I'm so hungry."



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