Dealing With the Doctor

Posted on Tue Mar 3rd, 2009 @ 11:46pm by

1,129 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: In The Dark
Location: Science Labs
Timeline: Current

[Science Labs]

Dhindara walked into one of the biologically oriented laboratories and then closed and locked the door behind her, so that it would require the security authorisation of one of the officers in the department to open the door from the outside. She then walked up to the civilian doctor. She stepped to her side and said, "Catherine, may I interrupt for a moment? I need your help."

Catherine went a little rigid as she heard the Master Chief enter. Dr. Halsey rarely disliked people -- by all accounts she was a wonderfully tolerant and even-tempered woman -- but she did not trust this Betazoid. Her way of getting into people's heads irritated her to no end and after Rowena's dinner with her, she liked her even less. Pausing over her work, Catherine turned slowly, her features unreadable. "What is it, Master Chief?" she said curtly.

"It is about Rowena", Dhindara started, "I am trying to get her to open up. To accept that there is fun to be had. Well, and I am trying to get her to open up to you, because you are the one who has earned her affection, not me."

Catherine kept her expression blank, even though she wanted nothing more than to put this young Master Chief in her place. Who was she to come and enlist her help in this? And furthermore, who was she to refer to the Executive Officer of the USS Archimedes, a seasoned and highly decorated line officer, as Rowena? Catherine bristled internally, but worked her to calm her mind -- she'd learned to block out telepathic interference and broadcasts during her residency.

Remaining straight-faced, she said curtly, "I've been with Commander Arkham for ten years now. And she hasn't changed. By all accounts, she's been this way for years. It's who she is. I've accepted it. Why are you so bent on changing it, and who are you to do so anyhow, Master Chief?"

"I am the one who feels her pain", Dhindara replied, "And I don't like feeling someone in pain, unless I have a reason to dislike that person. In fact, I like her, and I don't want her to suffer." She paused briefly, then added. "I know you're interested in her, romantically I mean. I don't intend to come between you, so there is no reason to be defensive with me. I'm not your enemy."

A micro expression of utter distaste crossed Dr. Halsey's features for no more than a second -- she would stay in control if it killed her to do so. She words coming out achingly genteel and curt, as if she was barely unclenching her teeth for even the vowels, she said coldly, "My relationship with or suspected feelings toward Commander Arkham are none of your business. And the fact is, if you're going to continue screwing with her head -- which is exactly what you're doing, Master Chief, you're distracting her on the eve of a very important mission -- then you and I have nothing more to discuss. I never asked for your help."

Dhindara gave the doctor a mental slap in the face, that is a telepathic action that made her feel like she was slapped, without the need of physically lifting a finger. "You have no idea what is going on in her mind", Dhindara replied, "or what I am doing. Don't accuse of something you can't prove." She was angry now, which rarely happened. "If you really are her friend, you should be willing to jump over the shadow of your own pride."

Dr. Halsey barely even flinched -- though it did surprise her a bit that the Master Chief would do such a thing. Especially considering the implications it would have with Commander Arkham, who would undoubtedly hear of the matter when the Doctor left the labs. The Doctor said simply, "I care more deeply about Rowena Arkham than you ever will, and if you ever do something like that again, I'll make sure you pay dearly for it."

"Don't try to intimidate me", Dhindara replied calmly. "It doesn't work. It never does."

Sighing a little, Halsey regained her composure. "The fact is, telepath or no, you can't save everyone from themselves. Pushing the Commander does nothing. It never has. And, unlike your misguided plan, I'm not going to make her change. She has to want it, and right now, she doesn't. I know Rowena Arkham, and the fact is, she's either intrigued by you or playing you for a fool. Either way, she'll spit you out when she's done. You are aware you aren't the first one who has tried this, right?"

"She is intrigued, I am aware of that", Dhindara replied, "but you can't play a telepath for a fool. Not unless the telepath if willing to have that done to them, anyway." Dhindara was no fool. She was easily affected by the strong emotions of those around her, and sometimes that blinded her, but she certainly wasn't a fool. "Look, I'm not trying to make her change. This isn't about her changing. I'm not trying to be a matchmaker either. But I've sensed your displeasure with me, and the fact that I had dinner with her last night. I sensed jealousy, which is a very ugly feeling. And I sense it again."

Catherine smirked. "If you think it's impossible to fool a telepath unwilling to be fooled, you haven't really met Commander Arkham. One thing I will say, and have always said, is that she is incredibly good at her job. She likes what's interesting, never mind if it's real or good -- and when it ceases to keep her amused, she lets it go. She loves mind games and you're always playing, and whether you realize it or not, you're always losing. And really, if you're not trying to change her, and if you're not trying to play matchmaker, what are you doing? If you're just down here to waste my time, I have more enjoyable ways of doing that."

"You may be a beautiful woman, doctor", Dhindara replied, "but inside you're ugly. You should get that examined." She turned and headed out. She was honest, which was good, but Dhindara didn't agree with her at all. She was careful around Rowena, but she wasn't about to be intimidated.

Catherine smirked a little as the young master Chief left. Some nerve she had, attempting to tell the Doctor how to deal with Rowena Arkham -- shaking her head, Catherine sighed a little.

It had happened before, and it would happen again. And yet, sometimes, Cather Halsey felt a pang of what might as well be called regret when the would-be saviors finally got their own.

 

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