Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against
Posted by… suppressed (75) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Aasrel kept holding her long after she fell asleep. It crossed his mind briefly that Th’rethiss had never gotten the chance to go over his scans. He didn’t really care though. He rested his head against her and drifted back to sleep himself.

~ Aasrel

Harkins came in, one brow raised. Bethany didn’t wake, which was unusual. Harkins smiled gently at Izei and gave Bethany a hypo to help her sleep. She gave him his next round of medication and then pulled out an extra blanket to cover Bethany with.

Really Harkins shouldn’t leave her there, but Bethany’s body needed as much rest as possible. She checked on them regularly. When she noticed Aasrel awake again she told Th’rethiss.

The doctor came in and scowled at the two of them. Bethany slept on. “I shouldn’t leave her there, but she needs the sleep.” He looked at Izei, “She shouldn’t work, it will accelerate the process, but given her … stubbornness it is better to give her something else to concentrate on.”

Th’rethiss

“Give her desk work,” Aasrel pleaded quietly. “Don’t let her do anything physical. I… I can’t lose her. I don’t want her accelerating the process.” He hugged her close, careful not to wake her. “Please.”

~ Aasrel

“Light duty, no bridge shifts, no trainings, light patrols. The movement is good for her. She can supervise but not participate in training. I am making her come here for her hypo twice a day.”

He pulled up Aasrel’s latest scans and placed them next to the previous. “Good progress here. The swelling is much reduced, your psilosynine levels have quadrupled again. You can see here in the paracortex the increased neural activity. This one shows the areas of damage, they are almost completely healed.”

Th’rethiss

Unlike last time, Aasrel didn’t need help understanding the scans, just a little time to study them. “So when should I see a reduction in symptoms? When do you think my telepathy will come fully back?”

~ Aasrel

Th’rethiss brows went up. “Fully? So you have already started getting some of the sense back then?” He nodded to himself and looked at the scans. “I had not expected anything for at least a week. For full recovery…based on scans… perhaps within the month? Your brain is healing incredibly fast. Probably sooner. We need to keep scanning every day. Possibly two weeks. The complications from the swelling, a week after we are able to replace the bone.”

Th’rethiss

Aasrel nodded. “Empathy, in flashes. Nothing permanent yet.” He rubbed Bethany’s back gently, wanting her to stay asleep. “When do you think we’ll be replacing the bone?” He knew that was another surgery. He wanted Bethany there when he went in and when he came back.

~ Aasrel

The small movement of Izei’s hand was telling. It made him miss his Ch’te, Sh’za, and Zh’yi. “Well I can tell you more after your next scan. Which means after she wakes up, or I can have her moved now.” It was his nostalgia that made him sound perhaps accommodating.

Th’rethiss

“No, don’t move her. She needs the sleep. She never sleeps like this.” Aasrel said. “We’ll do the scan as soon as she wakes. Promise.”

~ Aasrel

Th’rethiss nodded and left the room. Whatever Harkins had given Bethany kept her asleep. She had strange dreams. She slept for long hours before they started to disturb her. She murmured in her sleep, in Standard and Betzed, but it was mostly unintelligible. “Quinyi. (I’m sorry.)” She said over and over and then began to sob in her sleep.

Bethany

Aasrel had fallen asleep again. Her murmuring in her sleep woke him and he hugged her tightly. When she began to cry he shook her gently. “Bethany, wake up. Come on, wake up. It’s me, Bethany. Just me.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany turned closer to him. She pressed her face into his shoulder, her arm tightened over him as her hand bunched in the blanket. “Quinyi, Rel.” It was muffled and slurred. She began to sob, her shoulders shaking. Her heart was pounding and her head hurt slightly. Whatever she had been dreaming about had scared her, but more than that had filled her with grief, guilt, and regret.

Bethany

Aasrel hugged her tightly. “It’s okay. It was just a dream. I’m here.” He said, repeating the words quietly and gently. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

~ Aasrel

This nightmare had been just as bad as the one where Aasrel had died in an attack on the ship. This one had felt just as real. Bethany pressed closer which allowed his arms to tighten further. Eventually the sound of his voice sank in along with his warmth eased the tremors. It took longer for the tears to stop, but they did. She didn’t say anything, just held tightly to him.

Bethany

Aasrel kept whispering, “I’m here, it’s okay,” over and over as he hugged her tightly and rubbed her back. “It’s only a dream.” When she seemed like she’d stopped crying, he looked down at her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

~ Aasrel

Her face rubbed back and forth where she was pressed against his chest. “No.” Bethany had to get herself under control. She was going back on duty, she needed to keep it to herself. She needed focus and calm. He could feel her take long deep breaths, forcing an easy rhythm. “I love you, Rel.”

Bethany

“Okay.” Aasrel said gently. “You can’t keep it in forever, you know. But for now, that’s okay.” He rested his head against her. “I love you, too.”

~ Aasrel

His statement made her smile ruefully. He never wanted to talk about his nightmares, but he wanted her to tell him. The smile quickly slipped away, as the sleep aid over rode the nightmare induced adrenaline. She felt heavy and lethargic. When she lifted her head, it swam and spun thickly. “Somethings wrong…” Bethany sounded scared and alarmed. She was unaware that Harkins had given her something to help her sleep.

Bethany

Aasrel didn’t notice the hypocricy there. He rubbed her back gently. “Harkins gave you a sleep aid. It may not have worn off yet.” He said to her. “Do you want me to call someone just in case it’s not that?”

~ Aasrel

“No.” Bethany didn’t want anyone else to see how upset she was. It was okay with Aasrel, but not anyone else. His hand on her back was soothing and after a few more minutes she fell asleep again.

Bethany woke up a couple of hours later. It took a few moments for everything to slide into place. Sleep aides did that to her. It annoyed her that she slept through Harkins coming in and giving it to her. She must have been more tired than she realized. That was dangerous. She didn’t want to get up. She wanted to stay there with Aasrel and forget for a bit longer.

Bethany

Aasrel was asleep when she woke up. When she started to move around he woke immediately and hugged her tightly. “Bethany. How do you feel?”

~ Aasrel

She smiled slightly. “I’m fine. How long have I been asleep?” It felt like forever, she was hungry and her throat felt dry.

Bethany

“Most of the day,” Aasrel replied. He rested his head against her. “Doctor Th’rethiss will be in soon and when he sees you’re awake he’s going to want to scan my head. I’m sure the nurse can bring you some food, too.”

~ Aasrel

Pushing herself up, Bethany looked at him. “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep here. Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you did I?” She sat up fully, wishing she didn’t have to. “They should have gotten me up to do your tests.” She looked around, “All day?” She was supposed to go back on duty. That meant she missed at least two sessions with Jonan and Aasrel hadn’t gotten up either.

Bethany

“I’m fine. I liked having you here.” Aasrel tugged her, wanting her to stay. “I asked him not to. You needed that sleep.” Then he nodded. “Yeah, nearly all day. I’m glad you got that much rest.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany smiled, a slight color on her cheeks, and let him tug her back down beside him. “Did you order him to leave me alone? I don’t see him putting off your test so you can hold me while I sleep.” She laughed softly and the yawned. “I never sleep this much in one go, unless…” she stopped. Unless she was sick. She didn’t want to think about that anymore. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep at all?”

Bethany

Aasrel shrugged. “Even if I had ordered him I think he’d have used me being off duty and confused to ignore me.” He smiled and hugged her. “Because your body needs it. I’m glad you slept.” When she asked about him, he shrugged. “My head hurts a little. I think I’m doing better. I slept some. Not as much as you.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany moved her head back on his shoulder to look at him. “You sound better. Your conversation seems to be coming easier. How was your walk yesterday? I never asked, I’m sorry.”

“It was… Okay. Nurse Jonan seemed pleased, at least.” Aasrel replied with a shrug. “But they want me to keep trying. Just… You know, carefully.”

She grinned at the hint of frustration, “Now you know how I felt when you told me the same thing. You will be back to normal before you realize it.”

Aasrel sighed and shook his head at her. “Payback, huh?”

Bethany smirked and gave a little shrug.

“If I pretend to be asleep, do you think they will let us stay here for a bit longer?”

Bethany

Aasrel grinned and chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll fool Th’rethiss.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany sighed, “I suppose not. I brought your clothes. Do you want to change?”

Bethany

Aasrel frowned and shifted a little. He did need to change clothes, but… “I don’t know.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany set a hand on his cheek and turned his face to look at her. “Hey… it’s just me. I can leave if you’d rather. Whatever you need, okay.” She kissed him in a very long lingering way.

Bethany

Aasrel kissed her back, melting into her. “Okay, but just you.” He said softly when the kiss ended. “I need help.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany sat up and stood. Her body felt off balance, like her center if gravity was off. Slept too long she guessed. She tried not to be obvious about leaning against the bed as she raised it so he could sit up. Then she walked over to the door controls and shut it while grabbing his clothes off the far counter.

Bethany helped him, mostly to keep his balance if he got dizzy. She couldn’t help teasing and flirting with him just a little. Why couldn’t she have met him before she got sick? Why did she have to be sick at all?

Bethany

Aasrel needed her help mostly to change bottoms. He seemed to enjoy her teasing and flirting as she helped him. Soon he was changed and he looked like he felt better as they settled him back into bed. “Thanks.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany let her eyes slide over him slowly and back to his eyes. “Thank you for the show.” She winked at him with a mischievous grin. When she opened the door, Th’rethiss and Jonan were standing there. Jonan simply grunted and crooked a finger at her and pointed a finger at an empty biobed.

Aasrel flushed slightly and smiled. “Anytime, darling,” he said, in a mock up voice like a 1920’s gentleman.

Bethany tossed him a very private and warm look as she followed Jonan out for her own exam.

Th’rethiss entered and began lowering the bed flat, noting the change in clothes. “Your readings look good. How is the dizziness after changing?” He pulled out the scanners and began to set up for his scans.

Th’rethiss

“I’m pretty dizzy, but I think I’m okay. Bethany helped me change. We were careful.” Aasrel answered. He obediently lay back with the bed and held still while Th’rethiss got ready for the scans.

~ Aasrel

“Any nausea? That should be getting better, and you are regular meals. Jonan said you got much farther than he was expecting yesterday.”

“Some. Not as bad.” Aasrel answered. “If that’s ‘much farther’ he must have been expecting me not to make it out of bed.” He complained.

“We didn’t expect far considering you fell quite hard twice in 12 hours,” Th’rethiss told him.

As soon as the equipment was set up, “Alright, lay still,” and he started the scans.

Th’rethiss

Aasrel lay still and let the scans be taken, reaching for Bethany’s hand before remembering she had been led away for her own exam.

.~ Aasrel

The scans didn’t take long for either of them. Th’rethiss put the equipment away, “I need to review these, and then I will come back with the results.” He raised the bed slightly and then left.

Bethany came back in and grinned. “Well that didn’t take long. I overheard Jonan and Torvik. They are going to let us go walk together if you feel up to it.”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’m up to it!” Really, he just wanted to walk with Bethany, but he was feeling okay. “Th’rethiss is reviewing mine, then he’ll have results.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany nodded, “Same. Jonan took the scans, but said I had to wait for Th’rethiss for the results.” Before she could say anything else, Jonan came in.

“Cmdr Gadi, Torvik is waiting for you. She is going to start your warm up exercises and adjust them some.” He looked at Izei as Bethany reluctantly left. “She will be a few minutes stretching. I thought you might want to use the facilities while you wait.” He set the walker beside the bed. “You did much better with this, and she is not strong enough to support you, not yet.”

Bethany

Aasrel was able to slowly stand and grab the walker. “I know. I don’t want to hurt her again.” He said. He made a slow walk to the bathroom, then emerged a few minutes later and stood by the door.

~ Aasrel

“Well let’s go,” Jonan gestured toward the door to the corridor.

Bethany looked over as the door opened and smiled. She couldn’t have hidden it if she tried. Under normal circumstances that would annoy her, but she was just so glad to see him up and walking.

Aasrel grinned when he saw her smile. He liked seeing her smile so freely.

“Well come on, Doc.” She leaned in and stage whispered, “If we hurry, we can lose them ‘round the bend and escape.” Jonan grunted his amusement and Torvik rolled her eyes. They fell into step behind the two patients.

Bethany

Aasrel chuckled and shook his head. “There’s no hurry in me yet.” He said as they started walking.

~ Aasrel

“Then we’ll have to get creative. Be sneaky.” Her eyes twinkled at him. Normally Bethany took a very circuitous route on her walks, but Jonan and Torvik wanted to stay near sickbay incase Aasrel got tired. Bethany silently agreed. They made her stop frequently to do balance and coordination exercises.

Bethany tried really hard to hide it, and from anyone else it would be easy. Aasrel was a doctor though and knew the small subtle signs of someone who wasn’t well. She was still having trouble with some of the trickier exercises, but she was out of breath for things that shouldn’t be causing exertion. She rubbed at her arms every so often, but didn’t scratch at least. And despite all the sleep she still looked tired.

Bethany

Aasrel could tell, and it worried him. It wasn’t unexpected, though. They hadn’t cured her, just delayed her symptoms for a while. He’d be watching her like a hawk to see when they worsened again.

The stops for her to do exercises were helpful to him. He should turn back, but he was pushing himself to keep going for more time walking with her. During one of their stops for her he suddenly felt very lightheaded and collapsed into the walker.

~ Aasrel

“Aasrel!” Bethany was slightly faster than Jonan and Torvik, but only because she was standing right next to him. She moved too fast, upsetting her balance and stumbled.

Jonan and Torvik were right there though before either of them got hurt. Jonan grabbed Aasrel by the shoulders and held him up until he could get his feet under him. He waited. If they needed a chair, he would call for it, buy he wanted to see if Izei would try to keep going.

Aasrel gripped the walker tightly and took a moment rebalancing himself before nodding to Jonan that he felt okay.

Bethany caught herself, but Torvik had to support Bethany for a moment while she steadied herself. It made Bethany frustrated and angry. Though no one could see it, her eyes burned with tears that she fought back from frustration. How was she supposed to keep her promise to keep him safe when the slightest sudden movement made her look like a toddler learning to walk?

Bethany

“Let’s keep going.” Aasrel insisted, still gripping the walker. The next step made him feel a little dizzy. He paused again. It was then that his empathy flashed, making his head hurt, but also he felt Bethany’s anger and frustration. With him, or herself? With herself seemed more likely, and he didn’t want her to hurt herself trying to help him. He changed his mind. “Let’s go back.”

~ Aasrel

He was looking at her funny, and then changed his mind. She felt ashamed, very obviously at herself. It was his first time out of sickbay in a week, and her inadequacy was sending him back. She didn’t say anything, she just nodded. She didn’t look at anyone either. She wanted to go to her room and cry, but she wasn’t a kid anymore and she couldn’t. She pasted on that perpetual smile, “Sure, whatever you need.”

Bethany

Aasrel picked it up as her frustration turned to shame. He stopped, right there in the middle of the walkway, reached over, and hugged her. “It’s not your fault I’m going back. I’m just fulfilling my promise, remember? If I keep going, I’m going to fall and hurt myself.” He said, the words whispered softly into her ear.

~ Aasrel

She hugged him back, resisting the urge to lean in him. She didn’t want to hurt him. Jonan and Torvik had the politeness to suddenly have something very professional to discuss. It was such a soft, private moment, it made Bethany’s heart ache. The way he held her like she was the one who needed taking care of instead of him. The feel of his warm breath as he whispered in her ear made her feel special, in a good way. “Thank you.” She knew he meant it, but she didn’t believe it. She was hurting him by being around. She was going to die, and he would be decimated. Selfishly, she wouldn’t change having met him. She just hoped it was enough, so he would go home.

Bethany

She did need taking care of more than he did, in his opinion. She was so sick, and he wasn’t gonna let her die. That wasn’t a possibility he let himself think about. He was getting better. He would be fine. He hugged her tightly. “Let’s go back, okay? Then we can both rest.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe some food?” She rubbed her arms briskly. She was cold.

Bethany

Aasrel nodded. “Sure, if you want.” He hugged her for another moment, and then reached for the walker and took hold of it. “I’m ready to go.”

~ Aasrel

“Okay, let’s go.” Bethany was quiet while they walked. They stopped whenever he needed to, but Jonan didn’t make them, not wanting to make Izei stay out any longer.

When they got back Torvik took Bethany back out. One last test as it was, she got to carry the tray with their food. Bethany did it, but she hated how much she had to concentrate. She wondered if that was just her mind psyching herself out.

She set the tray down and curled into the chair by his bed. She didn’t notice, but her breathing was harder than it had been. She just felt so tired, and she was cold.

Bethany

Aasrel looked at her for a long moment, ignoring the food tray. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re shivering a little and breathing hard, and you look really tired.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany shook her head, “I’m just a little cold.”

Th’rethiss walked in about then, having heard Izei’s comment. He opened his tricorder and ran the wand over her. Disappointment and concern flooded him, though his face gave nothing away. “Your fever has returned. Your respiration is labored as well and your heart rate is climbing again.”

As he spoke, Bethany suddenly grabbed Aasrel’s hand in a death-like grip. Fear hit her hard. “Your blood work shows that the psilosynine is starting to build up in your system again. We are going to increase the dosage of your meds.”

Aasrel squeezed her hand back, not that it made much of a difference with how tightly she was holding on. He pulled her closer to him. “It’s going to be okay.”

Bethany went when he pulled her in closer. It was a rare show of vulnerability in front of others. She barely registered his words as her mind swirled.

Questions swirled. How much of an increase? How close to the max level? How much had the levels increased? Would she still return to work? How much time did she have? And many others, but she couldn’t find her voice. She just nodded with a nonchalant lift of her shoulder as if it was expected. Except she was still holding on to Aasrel’s hand like a life line.

Then Th’rethiss looked at Aasrel. “If your scans are good tomorrow, we will replace the bone tomorrow afternoon. The swelling is almost completely gone, though there is still healing to happen where the implant was removed.”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded, though the news meant little to him. He was more worried about Bethany. None of this felt worth it if she wasn’t going to be there. He shoved the thought away. She was going to be there. He’d study all day and night if he had to.

~ Aasrel

Th’rethiss looked at Bethany, “After you eat, I want you to lay down for a bit and rest. You’ll get the new dose in a couple of hours. Going forward, I really want you to lay down for an hour when you take it.” Then he left the room.

Bethany

When he left, Aasrel looked at her. “Are you going to eat?” He asked. He didn’t feel like eating anymore. He was too worried and stressed now. It was all he could think about.

~ Aasrel

She hadn’t felt like eating since he decided to end their walk because of her. Now with Th’rethiss’ updates, she felt even less like eating. He needed to eat though, so she had to as well. She nodded softly and sat up, pulling the small bed table closer. “Of course. I didn’t slave over the replicator to have it go to waste.” She forced a cheeky grin, but she didn’t feel it.

She grabbed her plate, tucked her legs up under her, and set the plate in her lap. She started to eat, but not before she pushed his plate towards him.

Bethany

She wasn’t herself and he could tell. It made Aasrel feel worse. He ate slowly, little bits at a time, trying to make himself so he wouldn’t worry her. When he couldn’t eat anymore he pushed the plate away, then leaned toward her with a sigh. “We’re gonna do something about this. We have to.”

~ Aasrel

“I know.” She knew he would do whatever he had to. Aasrel was a good person and a good doctor. So was Th’rethiss despite his bedside manner. She just wasn’t sure there was time. She finished her bite and set her plate aside. Then she stood up and collected everything and moved the tray to the counter before sitting back in her chair. “What would you like to do now?”

Bethany

“You have to go rest.” Aasrel didn’t want her to go, but it was better for her. He’d study while she was gone. He looked stressed and upset. Almost like he might cry. Of all times he wished his empathy would turn on now but he felt nothing.

~ Aasrel

Bethany shook her head. “I’m okay. I can rest here. I have been for days.” She didn’t want to go, and they couldn’t make her. She promised she wouldn’t leave him alone. Tomorrow she would have to, so she could return to duty. Today she was staying. She retrieved his PaDD from the counter and handed it to him, slid her chair closer, and grabbed the extra blanket. She curled up in the chair and used the edge of the mattress for a pillow. She didn’t know how much time she had, and she wanted to spend it with him.

Bethany

Tomorrow was the one day he really wanted her there. If his scans were good, he’d be going back into surgery. He wanted her there when he woke. He set an arm around her and settled in as close to her as he could. Then he turned the PaDD on with his other hand and started reading over his old notes.

~ Aasrel

Bethany would be there. Jonan would tell her when or Harkins would. She was on light duty so she could stop whatever she was doing to be there when he went in. Her shift would be over before he woke up.

Th’rethiss passed by and scowled. He summoned Jonan over. “Move her. She needs to be laying down.”

Jonan crossed his large arms over his chest. “I will not. Last time I woke her from a dead sleep she almost broke my arm. I don’t care about the injury, but the adrenaline and shock will make her heart rate go up and stay up.”

Th’rethiss scowled. Jonan was right, but he wasn’t happy about it. “I am going to ban her from his room.”

Jonan laughed so hard his body shook, “As if you could stop her.”

Bethany

Aasrel was still reading and trying to understand his own research. He was doing better, but still confused and it was proving difficult. His head was hurting from using the PaDD so long. He just needed a little longer. Jonan’s booming laughter distracted him and made him grin. That Klingon might be his favourite nurse.

~ Aasrel

Jonan winked at Izei and walked away. If he thought he could get away with it, he would just put a second bed in there. Of course after the bone was replaced, Izei would be released the next morning, baring complications.

Bethany slept for awhile, every so often her body would shiver, but she would feel feverish to the touch and she was breathing heavily even in her sleep. If she had been on a biobed it would register the fever and the increased heart rate. Her sleep wasn’t restful either.

Bethany

Aasrel had to put the PaDD down eventually. His eyes were going crosseyed and his head was really hurting. He’d comfort Bethany in her sleep. He could tell she wasn’t feeling well. Eventually he fell asleep himself.

He had a vivid nightmare while he slept. He was up and moving like nothing had ever happened. He didn’t even have his implants in the dream. Aasrel and Bethany were in the ship lounge, celebrating his being healed. But the dream shifted, and suddenly Bethany was lying in a biobed, Aasrel standing over her. Her heart rate was too high. She had a high fever. She wasn’t conscious. Aasrel looked terrified and sad.

Dream-Bethany began to seize, her heart beating wildly, and then.... She was gone. And Aasrel was left crying over her empty bed.

Aasrel was breathing hard in his sleep, his heart rate up. A sure sign of a nightmare. He whimpered and cried in his sleep until at least he woke, sitting up and looking to see if Bethany was still next to him.

~ Aasrel

Bethany wasn’t there. She had woken up, unable to get back to sleep. The familiar physical agitation having returned, she paced his room, but it wasn’t enough. She thought she would walk. Torvik let her, but when she came back, she was made to lay down on a biobed. They gave her the new dosage. Instead of 20 minutes, Th’rethiss had ordered an hour. The dizziness and lightheadedness was gone after 20 minutes, but he wanted her to rest.

When the hour was finally up, she got up to go back to Aasrel’s room. She stopped at the facilities first. So it was a couple of minutes after he woke that Bethany came back in.

She saw him awake and went to sit with him. “I’m sorry. They made me lay down to get my meds. I thought I would be back before you woke up.”

Bethany

When he didn’t see her, Aasrel started to panic. He got up, holding onto the bed, and then reached for the walker. He was headed for the door when she walked in. He instantly relaxed when he saw her and moved back toward the bed, tears still in his eyes. “Bethany! Don’t just disappear on me, okay?”

~ Aasrel

She looked hard at his face. She knew that look, and she could guess what had causes it. She helped him get comfortable and then laid down beside him. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.” She kissed him gently. “At least I’m not contagious and can still do that.” She settled back down beside him.

Bethany

Aasrel hugged her tightly as they kissed. “I’d do it even if you were contagious.” He said, pulling her into him. “Just.... Just don’t go anywhere.” He knew that was unreasonable, but he was still shaken and scared for her.

~ Aasrel

She laughed quietly. “You crazy man. You would lock yourself in quarantine with me. Then we’d really be in trouble.” She sobered though. “I don’t plan on it. I don’t want to go anywhere.” She tried to rest after that, to relax and sleep. She couldn’t despite how tired she was. A chill ran down her spine and she pressed closer. “Aasrel, I’m so cold.” She sounded exhausted. She knew she needed sleep, she had days of reports to catch up on the next day.

Bethany

Aasrel grinned without giving anything away. He’d done that, once. So he could better treat the patients in quarantine. Aasrel pulled her in close to him and felt her forehead. Then pressed the nurse button. When someone arrived, “Her fever is still pretty high.”

~ Aasrel

Harkins walked over and ran a tricorder over her. “Cmdr? Bethany? How are you feeling?” Her temperature was high.

“Cold.” She kind of ached, but she didn’t notice for the cold. Harkins left to get Dr. Elbbirt. Th’rethiss was off shift now. Morina Elbbirt was a caring woman and soft spoken.

She ran a tricorder over Bethany. “Dr. Izei do you think you could handle sitting in a chair for a bit? I don’t want to move her too much, but I could really use the diagnostics the biobed could give us.”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded. Anything for Bethany. He stood, slowly, holding onto the bed and the walker, and motioned for Bethany to hop up.

~ Aasrel

Harkins helped Izei to the chair while Elbbirt got Bethany settled on the bed. Bethany protested weakly. He needed to be in bed, she was fine, just cold. But when Aasrel gave her that look and motioned her onto the bed, she stopped protesting and laid down, taking the blanket with her.

Harkins made a little fuss over him, giving him a blanket and slippers and stuffing pillows around him. And she made sure he was turned so that he could see the display screens.

Aasrel was quite comfortable after Harkins had stuffed the chair full of pillows and given him warm slippers for his feet. He was glad she made sure he could see though he did not like what he was seeing.

Elbbirt calibrated the bed for Bethany. She ran several scans and checked the charts. “Harkins, get me a booster dose of Ibuprofen for the fever and 2mg of Prednisone.” Harkins nodded and hurried off.

Elbbirt spoke to Bethany, but included Izei as well. “Bethany, your body’s immune system as you know is attacking itself. The siphoning Dr. Th’rethiss did gave your body a break. Now that the psilosynine is increasing, your body has gone into overdrive. Rather than attacking slowly, it is seeing this threat again and throwing everything it has at it. I’m giving you Prednisone to go along with your other immuno-therapy. The Ibuprofen will help bring down the fever with the other meds you are taking.”

Bethany just nodded. She wanted Aasrel back. It was hard to pay attention though. She was feverish, cold and shivering, and getting a headache and upset stomach from the fever. Her confusion and dejection was palpable.

Harkins returned with the medicine. “This should make you feel better quickly. You need to drink.” Elbbirt turned to Harkins, “If it doesn’t come down in 20 minutes, we put her in a bath. Nothing like tried and true methods.”

Elbbirt

Aasrel made a face. A bath would be miserable. He held Bethany’s hand with a frown. “What about an immunosuppressant? Wouldn’t that buy her more time?”

~ Aasrel