The way she stressed Lieutenant sparked him to finally turn around and face her. His face remained calm, but a hint of defiance glinted in his eyes. He liked to think the Captain himself could waltz into sickbay and throw his weight (and rank) around and he would remain just as unbending. Pulling rank on an un-militaristic man like Nikhil was ineffective. Unless it came with threats of being thrown in the brig. "Look, Lieutenant Commander, why don't you wait until someone here draws up a report on the causalities? And here's a thought: if someone isn't showing up for duty, than they're off the work roster."