"Not when I'm needed elsewhere"
 by Ensign T'Kang
 Chief Engineer - USS Intrepid


** Sickbay, USS Intrepid **

Desmond looked at the readings.  "My, my, my.  T'Kang you 
are to stay in sickbay for three days.  We need to run some 
more tests and make sure that you are fit for duty," Desmond 
said, "I'll be checking on you in about an hour or so.  Until 
then, I'll administer this hypo that will hopefully flush out 
some of the radiation.  I couldn't give this to Cadan because 
I'm not familiar with Trill physiology."

T'Kang felt the cold tip of the hypospray press against his 
neck as the Doctor activated it.  It let out a brief hiss that 
sent a trickle of cold shooting through the Klingon's pores.   
T'Kang just stared at the patterns of the sickbay ceiling.  If 
the Doctor thought a Klingon warrior was going to lay around 
sickbay while the Intrepid went into battle, he had a major 
thing to learn about Klingons.

Watching the Doctor with a cunning eye, T'Kang listened as 
he expressed his incompetence over Trill anatomy to 
Lieutenant' Cadan.  In Klingon culture, only the seriously 
injured and dying ever get admitted to the chief surgeon on 
board a warship.  Preventive medicine to a Klingon was 
simply not allowing your opponent to stab you in the first 
place.

Finally, Doctor Desmond left sickbay to confer with 
Lieutenant Commander Davis.  Seizing the opportunity, 
T'Kang immediately sat up from his bio bed and prepared to 
leave.

"What are you doing T'Kang?" Camelia called out from her 
bed,  "You heard what the Doctor said.  You are supposed to 
stay here for at least three days."

T'Kang stopped and looked at the frail Trill science officer as 
she laid on the bed.  The Doctor had placed a stasis field 
around her to restrict her movements.  Supposedly to force 
her into conserving her strength, though T'Kang suspected 
the Doctor had darker, hidden, subconscious motives for 
keeping the lovely scientist helpless under his control.   
Lieutenant Cadan did appear to be weakened from the 
radiation exposure on Frainar III.  Much more so than T'Kang 
who received the exact same exposure.  No doubt a 
testament to redundant Klingon physiology.  "I can not stay 
here.  I am needed elsewhere on the ship."  T'Kang stated 
coldly in his usual charming tone.

"But, you are sick T'Kang.  You should stay here until you 
are well." Camelia reasoned.

T'Kang was not certain if she was wanting him to stay 
because he was suffering from radiation poisoning, or if she 
simply didn't want to be left alone with Doctor Desmond.  
The Klingon could fully understand the second sentiment.  
Though he was not willing to remain just to keep Cadan from 
dying of boredom in the Doctor's company.   Not when a 
battle awaits the Intrepid.

"I will be fine.  There is no cause to be concerned 
Lieutenant.  Klingon's are made of tougher stuff than 
Humans and Trill."  T'Kang stated evenly.   He honestly 
hadn't meant it as anything more than a statement of facts.  
He never stopped to consider that Camelia might take 
offense at the statement, but she did.

"Oh, and I suppose I'm just chopped liver over here T'Kang.  
Thank you very much!" Camelia fumed.

"I didn't mean that you..." T'Kang replied with his mouth 
agape.  He then paused and in a softer tone continued, 
"Lieutenant, I am now the Chief Engineer on this vessel as 
we prepare to go into battle.  My skills and expertise are 
needed if we are to be victorious and live to fight another 
day.  You and the Doctor are correct, I have been exposed 
to radiation, but I am capable of handling the discomfort 
levels and continuing to perform my duties aboard this 
vessel.  I must be allowed to do so if we are to survive 
through the night.  It is who I am Lieutenant.  A Klingon 
Warrior's place is not in sickbay.  Not while he breathes."

Lieutenant  Cadan scrunched her face slightly at T'Kang's 
explanation.  He truly was a barbarian when it came to 
understanding the subtleties of females and reading 
between the lines.  He was the Chief Engineer of a Starship 
for crying out loud, it was obvious he wasn't stupid.  So why 
couldn't he pick up on the fact that she didn't want him to 
go?  Did she need to paint a sign and hang it from her 
forehead or something.  Hello?  I want you to stay here with 
me you oaf!  Camelia just shook her head in disgust, "Doctor 
Desmond is going to be upset when he finds out you have 
left without his approval." She said looking away from 
T'Kang.  She didn't want the Klingon to read the emotion on 
her face.   Not that he would be able to, the fool.

T'Kang smiled weakly at the thought.  "Good.  I will consider 
that a bonus Lieutenant.   Now if you will excuse me, I have 
work to attend to in Engineering."

Lieutenant  Cadan could hear the burly Klingon march out of 
sickbay.  His footsteps thundering with each step as they 
grew more and more distant.   Trying to turn her neck, 
Camelia could barely get her eyes pointed towards the door 
thanks to the Doctor's confinement field he'd placed around 
her.   With a deep breath, Camelia sighed.