Go the F to Sleep, My Dear Doctor

Posted on Sunday, 11 April 2021 - 9:31pm by Emerick & Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD

Mission: Operation: Peace or P'Jem
Location: USS Standing Bear

Emerick had been monitoring the Chief Medical Officer for the past several days. He was not pleased with the results of his observations, and his theories and speculation were essentially confirmed. Emerick had arranged for the computer to automatically activate his program at a designated time.

In Ryan's office, Emerick suddenly activated. "Aha!" shouted Emerick catching Ryan sitting at his desk well after hours. His shift ended long ago, and it was well past midnight. "I suspected that I would find you here."

Ryan looked up with a confused expression. "Yes, where else would I be?" Ryan asked. Emerick would know to find him here, especially so late. "Is something wrong?" Ryan moved his chair back, as if to stand up.

"Yes," replied Emerick firmly. "Mood changes, paranoia, delusional state, hallucinations, fatigue, headaches," added the EMH. "The common symptoms of sleep deprivation. Ryan, you have not had a proper night's rest in several days. It's bewildering that you haven't gone entirely psychotic at this point."

Ryan couldn't help but let out a brief chuckle. "Well I've had lots of practice at not sleeping." Ryan sighed, and moved over to the couch, so that his desk wasn't between him and Emerick. He flopped onto the cushions. "I'm having a spell of insomnia. The timing is good at least, with T'Lanna bringing half the ship's crew to their knees." Ryan ran a hand over his face. "I have tried, but the couple of times I've hit R.E.M I wake from a night terror." He was honest with his friend and fellow doctor.

"Well, I can safely say that I don't think we have any other crew complaining about lack of sleep. So, chances are the lot of you aren't being abducted by subspace aliens again," quipped Emerick. "Have you tried cooking up a sleep aide concoction yet? Load up a hypo and have a bit of medical intervention."

"I prefer not to, if I'm needed, I don't want to wake groggy. Do you think it's that bad? Have I missed something on a patient?" Ryan asked. He'd put himself off duty if he had to, but he didn't think he was that far gone, yet.

Emerick crossed his arms. "Though your surgical prowess is remarkable, you are a far cry from godly," commented the hologram. "Doctor Alexander is more than capable of dealing with general medical needs, and I have been programmed with some of the Federation's best physicians knowledge. I can hold my own while you rest should anyone need to go under the laser scalpel."

Ryan looked repentant. "Of course. I didn't mean to insinuate that either of you weren't perfectly capable."

"I know, I didn't...I just wanted to make a point," noted Emerick. "You need to sleep as much as my program can't run continuously, your brain and body cannot."

Ryan knew his friend was right, he wasn't even attempting to argue with the man about it. "I'll try again." He wearily pulled off his boots, then laid himself across the couch, his socked feet hanging off the edge. He checked his lab coat pocket, which he had haphazardly wrapped around himself as a make shift blanket, making sure he had a hypo there. "Know any good stories?" He asked.

Emerick smirks. "Actually, I think I do know one that would be very fitting for your insomnia. It is from Earth's 21st century."

"mmmmmm" Ryan made a little humming 'go ahead' sound and closed his eyes.

Emerick cleared his throat a retrieved a PaDD. He sat near Ryan and began: "The cats nestle close to their kittens. The lambs laid down with the ship. You're cozy and warm in bed, my dear. Please, go the fuck to sleep."

The side of Ryan's mouth lifted in a tiny smile before his breathing slipped into a slower gear as the voice of the EMH washed over him.

 

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