A quick trip to the sonic shower and a fresh uniform later, Peter walked into Sickbay to see what the CMO wanted. He knew he’d have to report for his physical, but he’d never been requested to do so before. Apparently the CMO wanted to get things done. 

“Doc? I’m here for you to tell me I’m too old for this job,” He called out to no one in particular. At the sound of a voice an ancient looking bloodhound in the corner near the head nurse’s desk raised its head and regarded Peter thoughtfully for a moment before laying down with a whuff. The CMO’s voice came afterwards from around the corner rich and cloying as aged whiskey. “You and me both, friend.” The man that came around the corner was weathered and wrinkled, but there was a gleam to his eyes and a tilt to his head that gave an air of a young man just below the surface full of spunk and trouble. “Actually, I just want to get this exam out of the way because you’ve got so many god damned scrubs piling in that it’ll take forever if we don’t do this soon. Guaranteed you’ll have a lively ship, but damn the drama that comes with it.” 

Peter laughed at the man and nodded, regarding the door curiously, “Who’s the old man?” He asked, seeing the white in the fur around the dog’s muzzle. “That’s Junior,” the doc said with a toothy grin. “I’m Ben. He’s my excellent judge of character and primary wingman. You passed his check, by the way so good on you. Right this way young man and have a seat on biobed. I already read your file, so we can skip the small talk. Anything hurt, itch, the wrong color, wrong way or wrong size?” 

“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Pete said, giving the dog a wink before turning his attention back to the CMO. “Everything is in order last time I checked.” He said, heading over to the biobed. “I’m obnoxiously healthy for my age.” 

“That’s a good trait to have so long as you’re not obnoxiously foolish to counteract it. From the state of your knees, I’d say you’re not too fooling. Hmph…” Ben checked over the scans for anything outstanding which led to a few more harrumphs and other little noises as he picked up his datapad and tapped out a few things. “Take your vitamins, old man. Other than that, you look like you’ve still got a good grip on your cards, pal. You’ve got my signature on it.” 

Pete grinned, “You just did a lot of grumbling to tell me I’m in good shape,” He replied. 

Ben returned the grin with a lopsided smile of his own. “I have to make it suspenseful or I don’t get an accurate read on your ticker.”

“That’s dirty pool, Doc,” Pete said, shaking a finger at the CMO as he hopped off of the biobed. “So how did you wind up on the Lafayette,” He asked. “Everyone is telling me I’m too old to be a CO, so I figure you’re definitely due for retirement, unless you’ve just really spent a lot of time in the sun,” He teased. 

“Well, yeah,” Ben scratched his head for a moment, sucking in a breath before he continued. “I decided to trade up a little. Less farms, more stars. A little adventure while I can. You know the story…” Junior wandered over to get a bit of petting before picking a new corner to collapse into with a windy sigh. “Same for him.”

“Oh, I know the story,” Pete said, chuckling self-consciously. “Farm, huh? What made you settle down in the first place?” He asked.

“Settle? Me?” The CMO laughed wryly at the comment. “Oh, I never settled for anything. I was brought up in the farming circuit and stayed there from the time I was knee high to a duck until I wised up to the idea that it was getting me nowhere.” 

Pete looked at the man, a little shocked, “I’m… a little lost here. You haven’t been serving in Starfleet until recently? My apologies, I’m still going through all of the personnel files,” He explained. 

“Yeah, I got into the game late. Better late than never I guess.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I do miss authentic tex-mex and a good horse to ride, but everything else is better up here.”

“Well, I agree with that for sure,” Peter replied with a grin. “I’ve only ridden a horse a couple of times, though. I did enjoy it,” He said. “Still… Couldn’t imagine starting my career at this point in my life. You’ve got more spirit than I do, Doc,” He explained. 

Ben harrumphed again. “I like to call it stubbornness, thank you.”

“You know, I’ve found the two are often confused,” Pete joked. “What does your family think?” He asked, remembering his own family’s response and he’d been in the Fleet for decades. He couldn’t imagine living in an agro colony and then deciding the go star side. 

His lips tightened at the question, not because he resented it, he just hadn’t met the right person at the right time in the right place yet. And his parents? They were probably long gone if he ever did track down their names. “I don’t have any. It’s just Junior and I since the stars aren’t aligning right for anything else.” 

That sent a twinge through Peter’s heart. As much as it had been painful for him to be away from his family, he couldn’t imagine not *having* one. He smiled at the man, “It’s always been my opinion that your crew is a family in and of itself, so you went from none to the best one Starfleet has to offer,” He said… hearing exactly how hollow that sounded. 

Ben just nodded and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Well, that’s something, isn’t it? Anyhow, you can skedaddle whenever you feel the need. Stop on by if you want to talk or get the kind of therapy that only four paws and a wet nose can offer.”

Peter smiled at the man, “That sounds like a deal to me doc,” He replied, giving the man a casual salute. “Don’t work too hard, yeah?” He called over his shoulder as he departed.

“I try not to,” he chuckled in response then headed back to his office.