Chapter 12

Paperwork was a yeoman's bread and butter. Most ships avoided it as though the paper itself carried the bubonic plague. But Traeger, thrived on it. Especially since doing paperwork gave her the perfect excuse to occupy the office with Carter. The submarine was in her customary spot in the back corner, currently awake although she had been resting earlier. Traeger insisted she rest as much as possible and kept her fluid intake high with regular runs to the scuttlebutt (drinking fountain) to fill up her hydration tool which held 3 liters. The prescription seemed to be working as Carter's fever was beginning to wane. Her side was still very tender however and she could not put weight on it for long. Which was a problem because there was a downside to that high water intake.

"Traeger?" Sure enough, just 2 hours after the last time. Traeger sighed and put her pen down. She'd been filling out hard cards. The division had just completed their first class in damage control and she was catching up making the notations in each ships' hard card. "Again?" She asked, facing the submarine. Carter grimaced. "Yeah, 'fraid so." She replied. Traeger sighed again. She did that a lot apparently. "I'll signal Ford." Since leaving the office every single time Carter did would appear suspicious, she and Ford devised a clever way to help Carter get around without being obvious about it. Every 15 minutes, the carrier would glance at the office and if Traeger gave her the all clear she would go about her business. "Can you hold for a few minutes?" Traeger asked and Carter nodded. The sub didn't like it but she tolerated it for the sake of secrecy. Who knew how much longer that would last though? The division had some smart ships and it was becoming something of a challenge for Traeger and Ford to keep them in the dark. Not that it bothered the two. They loved a challenge.

Sure enough, at 45 minutes past the hour, Ford glanced Traeger's way and the destroyer shook her head vigorously. Ford dipped her prow and still pretending to clean her bunk, ever so subtly moved her bulk towards the bathroom. Traeger opened the door and propped it open, giving a nod to the watchstander who was Zumwalt. Then she turned to Carter. The submarine used her fins to drag herself along the wall where she paused just behind the door in Zumwalt's blind spot. She took a moment to gather herself then pushed off hard with her stern planes in a powerful kick that propelled her across the hall and over to Ford. The carrier's massive bulk acted as a screen. She was still 'cleaning' her bunk but her wires were literally carrying Carter into the head. Her side acted as a screen for this. Ford was so long it was no difficulty to hide what she was doing right up to the head entrance where she let go of Carter. The submarine would have to make her own way from there. Leaning slightly against the wall, Carter sent Ford a grateful glance and went in to do her business. Ford returned to her work for real this time but she had turned around and was now facing the head, watching for Carter to reemerge. When she did, she'd be ready to collect the submarine once more for the hand off to Traeger.

Traeger was still inside the office when she heard a loud yelp followed almost immediately by Ford shouting her name. Knowing something must've happened she dropped her pen and raced to join the carrier. Ford was just inside the head and she was supporting but mostly holding Carter upright. Several others curiously approached the pair and Traeger had to force her way through. "Left rear gave out on me and I took a roll into the sink there." Carter said before Traeger could ask. The destroyer could see there was a spot of blood on that sink. She spotted the source on the top of Carter's head, just above her right eye. She reached to touch it but Carter shrank back. Traeger grabbed her anyways, not caring who was looking and inspected the injury. "Ford back off a bit, I need the light." She said and Ford did so. Traeger shined her searchlight at Carter's eyes and the sub winced. "Please turn that off." She begged. Remembering that submarines did not light bright lights shined at them she did so, satisfied at how Carter's eyes dilated. "Well you don't seem to have a concussion." She said. She moved alongside to help the submarine back to the office but Carter stopped her. "I think the fish has jumped the boat." She said and Traeger looked to see the entire division staring at them and they weren't even trying to hide it. Ford looked torn between breaking down in giggles or scurrying away to hide. After all if anyone was going to get beat over this... "Ford?" Carter turned her gaze on her. "Yes senior chief." Ford swallowed down her laughter. "Division towline 2 minutes!" Carter sighed as she limped alongside Traeger, not at all pleased although even she knew it was only a matter of time before this got out.

Instead of disappearing back into the office, Traeger helped Carter to the fishbowl, an area just outside the office. It was a perfect place for her to watch what was going on. Ford had them all assembled and Traeger helped Carter lie down. The sub was having trouble moving her stern planes which concerned Traeger greatly but she sensed that was a conversation for later. She took her position beside Ford and once the carrier gave her a nod, she began her explanation. "Two days ago, I escorted senior chief to medical. She got 5 days SIQ with the rest of her time here LLD. I've been, assisting her in her efforts to remain here." "So that's why you're always in the office. I thought I heard something this morning." New York said. Traeger nodded. Others weren't as accepting. "You've been taking care of our RDC yourself?" Zumwalt asked. Ford was quick to jump to the yeoman's defense. "Traeger is a certified EMT and a qualified corpsman in her home country of Kuwait." A few looked impressed, even Zumwalt did. "Why did you choose to be a BM then?" Orlando asked, curious. Traeger sighed. "After Desert Storm, I needed a change." She replied and everyone winced in sympathy. No more questions were asked about Traeger's competency.

Instead their attentions turned to Carter much to the sub's displeasure but with a supporting look from Traeger she took the questions in her stride. Meanwhile Ford ordered New York downstairs to grab an extra set of linen and was surprised to find the cruiser had already grabbed a set and was actively making a spare bed with Orlando near the corner that was also conveniently located next to Traeger's own rack. The destroyer noticed too and shook her head with a smile. How lucky she was to have division mates like this. "How much longer are you SIQ for?" Orlando asked as she finished. "Another 3 days." Carter replied. "I'm a free sub Monday." Orlando nodded and offered her RDC the first friendly smile Carter had ever seen from her. "So you should climb into bed. A real bed, not the office." "No workin' if you're SIQ." New York added. Carter looked at her division and grumbled, propping herself up with her front fins. "Fine." She caved. "But this is mutiny, you know that right?" The grins from the entire squad showed how much they gave a shit about that. Grumbling some more, Carter allowed Traeger to help her to her new bed. She could barely move on her own right now which concerned the destroyer lately. "Later, when you're on watch for chow." She whispered and Traeger nodded.

A few hours later and Ford had taken the division downstairs for dinner, promising to bring Carter a hot plate as was customary for SIQs. Traeger was once again on watch and had eaten early. She was also rover again which allowed her to wonder and part of her job now was to look after the SIQs. Carter needed to make another trip to the head which gave Traeger the perfect opportunity to get the answers she needed. Once the sub had done her business she helped her into the shower section at the back of the head. There they could talk freely without fear of interruption. Carter readied herself. She was sitting up albeit leaning against Traeger. Her stern planes were still unable to support her weight but she could begin to move then again without much trouble. "What I'm about to tell you, I won't ask to keep secret. You are under no obligation to and I'll understand if you want to tell someone more, qualified." Carter began but she was surprised when Traeger cut her off and shocked when she heard what the destroyer said. "You have MS." "How-" The sub was reeling. "How did you..." "I had my suspicions when you 'fell' in the head earlier. And then the issue with your stern planes. You're getting feeling back in them now so I know is probably a course of relapsing remitting." "You're correct. I've had it since I was a pup. Connecticut usually gives me injections that help stave off attacks but fever and stress are two things that can set it off." She rasped. "I see." There was no judgement in Traeger's eyes, only compassion and Carter realized how lucky she was to have her as a yeoman. She helped Carter upright. "Who else knows?" She asked. "Besides Connecticut and yourself, no one. I never, disclosed it." She sighed. "That's why you said I didn't have to keep it secret." Traeger murmured. "And I meant it." Traeger knew that if she deliberately withheld this information and if it somehow got out that she did so, she could face jail time. However if she told medical, Carter would be sent out of the navy on the spot. Her sister too. She knew the 'right' thing to do. But was the 'right' thing really the right thing? It was a tough call. To avoid putting too much stress on Carter's stern planes she scruffed the submarine who let out a rather undignified squawk as she was lifted clear of the water and carried dangling from Traeger's jaws. Orlando was security watch and she watched, very amused as the pair emerged from the head. Carter glared at her. "Oi, watch eyes forward!" She snapped. "Aye aye senior chief!" Orlando giggled and did return her gaze to the door. But she was still laughing. Traeger set her down and brushed her muzzle down her left flank, feeling Carter shudder as she touched her tender patch. "You're still a little warm. Keep drinking and I'll check on you again in an hour okay?" She said. Carter nodded, tucking her front fins into her belly. Traeger started to leave but she came back and brushed her muzzle against the top of her head. "I won't breathe a word to anyone." She whispered. Carter's tense muscles relax and she gave the destroyer a look of such gratefulness it brought tears to Traeger's eyes. "Thank you, Traeger." She sighed. Traeger smiled. "You're very welcome, Carter."