Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Promises and Connections

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Promises and Connections

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Promises and Connections
Posted by… suppressed (42) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Aasrel sighed softly and contentedly as she massaged the muscles. As she worked her way along the arm the fingers twitched lightly. She could feel the muscles start relaxing, and then, wanting to be or not, he was asleep.

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany grinned. It was while he was sleeping that Bethany was informed that the ship was finally cleared and her name had been pulled for the short straw to take the first watch. Bethany took Aasrel’s PaDD and left him a note of where she’d gone and she also told the nurse who seemed all too happy to have the security chief out of the way. Bethany also let Dr Martin know where she would be and to call her if anything happened. She knew, at least, that he would.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel woke while she was gone. He looked for her, saw the note, and then reached out for her telepathically. Bethany? Watch duty?

~ Izei, CMO

At the time, Bethany was on the bridge, sitting in the center chair. It was all rather boring. They were simply sitting docked at the space station. Repair crews were continuing and all she had to do was wait. The COS’ mouth twitched almost in a smile. Yes, it’s boring, but someone has to do it. I didn’t want to leave, but orders are orders. How do you feel? She couldn’t quite reach as far as he could. Maybe with time, but she knew at least he was listening.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

I’m okay. Still sore, but okay. Aasrel had to tease her a little. The nurse is more than happy to help me while you are away, he said. They want me to eat and then I have to do PT.

~ Izei, CMO

He could feel her bristling. She didn’t like the thought of that at all. That feeling was locked down quickly along with the self-doubt he never got a glimpse of. Well, a bet is a bet. Tell me what they feed you, and what you want instead. I’ll be sure to sneak it in to you when I get off duty. Her attention was diverted as one of her junior officers reported an issue at the airlock. Nothing major, just a poor civilian that took a wrong turn. I wish I could be there for your PT, but I don’t think my shift will be over by the time they get there. I’m sorry.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

There was amusement from him, Don’t worry, Bethany, she’s nice, but I could only ever be with you. He said to her. He named a particularly unhealthy but delicious Betazoid desert for her to sneak in to him. The Sickbay was serving mashed potatoes and chicken. Don’t worry, we can’t neglect duty. I’ll be fine without you… Just this once. His playfulness was clear to her. It was a good sign he could be so playful.

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany hated he knew how she felt. It was petty of her. She knew that. She’d never been jealous in her life. She’s very nice and I’m sure you both have a lot in common, work wise. She wasn’t a fan of mashed potatoes. She didn’t like the texture, but it wasn’t a horrible meal. I’ll sneak it in with my own dinner. I mean, I have to eat too. There was a flash of irritation over something going on around her. You’d be fine no matter what. Work hard and you’ll be out of sickbay sooner. I have to go deal with stupid people now.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

It was a natural emotion, like any other. What mattered was how one acted on it. Okay, I’ll stop distracting you, then. He said to her. His PT was tiring. It was still very basic pushing, pulling, those kinds of things, but it was going to take time. “When can I start getting up?” He asked the physical therapist.

~ Izei, CMO

I like you distracting me, there was shy laughter and then her thoughts focused totally on what she was doing.

“Well, let’s start with sitting up on the edge of the bed and do some reflex exercises. Be prepared that your balance will seem off until your body gets used to feeling the prosthetic. Then we can try standing. It’s tiring, but you are syncing up much faster than most people.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Sitting up was easy, but his reflexes in the prosthetic were about what was expected, not very good yet. Syncing up quickly should have been a good thing, but it made Aasrel feel… bad. Reminded him of the implants, as if having had them made it easier in some way. He didn’t like it.

~ Izei, CMO

About half way through his PT session, Bethany was suddenly gone. Well she was there, but her feelings and thoughts were tightly hidden and locked away. It was noticeable. It wasn’t a gradual or instinctual thing. It was sudden and absolute. But right before it happened there was a flash of anxiety, paranoia, fear, and then absolute resolve.

Bethany? Are you okay? Aasrel reached out for her, seeking her out. Did something happen?

There was no response. Her shields were surprisingly strong and well made, nothing got out. She heard him, recognized him, and he could feel that, but her concentration on what she was doing was absolute.

The PT smiled, “We can thank Chief Tyrsk for that. He’s a wiz at matching up bio and prosthetic rhythms. All the patients he works with sync up like that. Well as long as they are putting in the work.” The reflexes were still a bit slow, but his balance was good. “What do you say to me getting you in the chair over here, and then you doing some bicycle pedals with your legs and arms? It will get those gross motor muscles working.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel nodded to the PT. “Let’s do it.” That was even more tiring than anything else he’d done, and with his body still recovering from the surgery itself, it made him sore and painful. But he was determined to return to duty.

~ Izei, CMO

The PT put straps over his feet so that if the right leg faltered, the left could continue and help guide the right leg. The idea was the same for the hands. There was a strap for the hands as well if Aasrel needed it. “I’m going to keep it to a very low speed. The idea is to build coordination. We’ll work on endurance and strength later. I’ll leave this in here and you can use it as often as you feel up for. Moving to the chair is a good idea if you want. Just make sure you have someone to help - just in case. And like we practiced.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel nodded. “I’ll be careful.” He could stand, he was balanced enough, but it made his hip hurt and he didn’t have good enough control of the leg to walk without support. When he was finished with the cycling, he was tired and sore and just wanted back to bed.

~ Izei, CMO

The PT helped him and gave him a heat back for his hip. “I’ll be back in the morning and we’ll do more. Let the nurse know if you need something for the discomfort.” Aasrel didn’t have to wait long, the nurse seemed to magically switch places with the PT. “Lt Izei, how are you feeling? Comfortable? What can I do for you?” Her voice practically purred.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“I’m fine, thank you.” He just wanted Bethany. Whatever she was doing, she wasn’t responding. He wanted to try and sleep until she could come back.

~ Izei, CMO

“Are you sure?” She asked and smiled sweetly. “It’s what I’m here for - to take care of you. It’s no problem. Water or a snack? I saw how hard you’re working. You’ll be up in no time and out of here.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel smiled politely. “I am. I just want to sleep, I’m very tired.” He said to her. He rubbed his right shoulder with his left hand.

~ Izei, CMO

“I imagine.” She didn’t think he got much sleep with a security guard watching his every move. “Well you should be able to sleep better. I’ll be just outside, but at least you won’t have a jailer tonight. She saw him rubbing his shoulder. “Here, let me. I’m sure it’s sore.” She set her hands on his shoulder and went to adjusting the pillows. “If it’s cramping I could put some heat rub on it.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

He shrugged, “They don’t bother me.” In her eagerness to help, she was too quick and not gentle enough. “Ouch, ouch, careful. I’m okay, okay?”

~ Izei, CMO

The nurse at least looked contrite. “Oh, sorry.” She backed up a step. “I’ll be by later to check your vitals. I’ll try not to disturb you.” She left in a hurry - embarrassed.

It was right about then the wall around Bethany went down. Her emotions were turbulent, total chaos and none of them were positive.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel reached out as soon as he felt the mental wall drop. Bethany? Are you okay? What happened? He asked. Where are you?

~ Izei, CMO

Aasrel… There was a sharp stab of fear For him. No… I’m … I’m not. I can’t tell you. She felt torn, chaotic, scared and resigned. I’m still on the Asimov.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Please, Bethany, tell me, anything you can. Come back to my Sickbay room. She could feel his worry. She was scaring him. What’s wrong?

~ Izei, CMO

What could she tell him? Nothing. If he knew, it would be exponentially more dangerous for him. I had an encrypted call from Intel. That was safe. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for her to get and recieve such calls. He would have expected it eventually. My shift doesn’t end for three more hours. I’ll … I’ll see you then. I’ll bring your desert. She felt broken. There was a growing darkness in her that she couldn’t stop.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel wished she would tell him more. He knew there were things she really couldn’t say, but he wasn’t sure this was that. She was scared for him, and for some reason that was preventing her from telling him. Whatever it is, I want to help. He said. I’ll be here when you come, okay? Of course he would, but… He just wanted her right now. She was really worrying him.

~ Izei, CMO

He couldn’t help. No one could. Bethany was going to have to deal with this alone. Eventually she was going to break some promises, and it was breaking her soul into pieces. I know you do. Try to sleep. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

Three and a half hours later, Bethany came in. She looked…normal. Her hair was done, she was wearing denim jeans, a flattering but comfortable blouse and her signature black leather jacket. She was carrying a food container from one of the establishments on the promenade. She flashed him a sassy grin. “Most of the nurses just took their dinner break, only two are here. Perfect time to have your desert,” Her voice was quiet and conspiratorial. That ever present grin that she always had was back. She hadn’t worn it around him in a long while. She opened the container and sat down. “How was PT?” she asked as she handed him a fork.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“Hard.” He took the fork and the container. He peeked in it and grinned. Then he took a big bite of it. “Delicious.” He said. In the meantime, he was listening carefully to her thoughts - he always did, but he was worried.

“Good, I’m glad you like it.” Her thoughts were carefully controlled. Forced. Examining and focusing on her meal. The look, flavors, texture, scent. In between she was reciting computer code. But her emotions were bleak. Despite the smile on her face and her easy going demeanor Bethant was emotionally lost and desperate.

There was a stab of pain in his leg, an intense one that Bethany could feel telepathically and had him wincing. He tried to shield it from her, he didn’t want her to worry when she already seemed off, but either way it would be obvious to her.

~ Izei, CMO

She set her fork down and got up and walked around to his lef. “Muscle spasm?” She saw the discarded heating pad. “Heat or would you like me to rub it? That seemed to help earlier.” She felt almost desperate to do anything she could for him.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

The nurse earlier had irritated him, and because of it, Bethany’s over eagerness to help him was a little irritating, too. He didn’t show it, he hid it from her. “Ghost pain, I think. It’s in the lower leg.” Bethany was off, and she was hiding things from him, and he didn’t like it. Where was his Bethany? “You promised.”

~ Izei, CMO

Telepathically he hid it, but she was very good a reading people. She didn’t know why he was irritated, but she backed off and left him alone. She sat back down. He wasn’t an invalid and he didn’t need her. The realization made her ache. The look in his eyes when he said she promised, shattered her. “I know, but I can’t. I’m sorry. You don’t know how much.” Maybe she should go. She had told him once there was no happy ending for her. He’d almost made her forget. But now she was hurting him. She’d give her own life if she could prevent it.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

His irritation faded and he shook his head. “Please, don’t go.” He winced again, the pain was still bad. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but you’re all out of sorts and it’s worrying me.” Aasrel looked up at her pleadingly. “Is there anything I can know?”

~ Izei, CMO

“I won’t.” Not until she had no other choice. She thought maybe he should call Martin, but she had a feeling she had overstepped. She stayed quiet about it. “I’m sorry.” The music of his emotions was painful in its worry and sorrow. She really was sorry. So many regrets were stretching out before her. Her voice was so quiet it barely moved the air. “No.” She shook her head. There was only one person she felt secure enough with to share. He was laying on a biobed next to her. And he was the last person she could ever tell. In ignorance was safety.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

It would go away, there was nothing Martin could do but give him pain medicine. He wouldn’t call the doctor unless Bethany asked him to. He reached out for her. “Come here, then. I’d go to you, but walking didn’t go that well for me.”

~ Izei, CMO

“It will. It’s not even 24 hours yet.” She took his hand and let him pull her down next to him. The moment she was beside him she began to sob. Not physically. She looked calm, serene, and peaceful curled beside him. Inside was a torrent that was never ending. She would go crazy with the guilt and grief. Was this how he felt when he left her grandmother and their children? Did it drive him insane? Did it rip away the only chance at redemption he had?

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“I know,” he said softly. Aasrel hugged her and held her quietly. “I wish you’d tell me. I wish you’d let me help.” He looked down at her, his worry and concern and deep affection clear to her. Not just affection, love. “What would you say if it were me?”

~ Izei, CMO

She wished she could tell him. Every fiber of her being wished she could. “I don’t know.” She didn’t. Not right now, she was too distraught. His safety was more important than her. She loved him.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel hugged her as tight as he could, resting his head against her. “I’m here when you’re ready then.” He said softly. His leg still hurt, but it seemed like it was starting to subside on its own. He hoped so. “Is there any thing I can do to help?”

~ Izei, CMO

The thought slipped unbidden through her mind. Get him out of me. Undo what he’s done.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

The thought was easily picked up by Aasrel. “Is this about your donor?”

~ Izei, CMO

It was, but not in the way Aasrel was thinking. “It’s a part of it.” Her voice sounded so incredibly cheerful and relaxed compared to the reality of her mental state.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“I… I know you don’t like it, but I’m still glad that man saved your life.” Aasrel shook his head against her. “I couldn’t imagine having gone through this without you.”

~ Izei, CMO

“I look in the mirror and I hate what I see. I’m not me anymore.” Not that she was sure who she was anymore.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel smiled sadly. “You sound like me.” He said. “You’re still you. By now, none of his blood remains in your system. Your body is always making new blood.” There was another spike of pain in his leg and he clenched his fists into her shirt. “Just like you always tell me, regardless I’ll still love you.”

~ Izei, CMO

She couldn’t live like this. Bethany wanted to beg him to take it back, make her like she was. She thought he would understand.

The last pain was bad. Call Dr. Martin, please?

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“I wish I could change you back. Make you better.” There was a surprising amount of darkness in him, and sympathy for her. Sorrow. “But I can’t. Like I can never have my body back.” He looked at her, “I’m sorry.”

Bethany felt despondent. She thought Martin would make everything better. Not cost Aasrel even more. She never should have called, made the request. She’d made everything worse for him. She’d given him hope only to have it dashed. That was cruel. She hadn’t meant to be cruel, but she had been anyway. Was that how it started for him?

He gave her a look, then sighed softly with a smile and pressed the call button. He couldn’t say no to her. Not when she asked him like that, with all that worry for him.

~ Izei, CMO

He did it for her because of how she fwlt about him. Was she manipulating him? Was she preying on his affection to force him to do what she wanted? The idea was so horrid it made her physically ill. She got up and dashed from the room. Barely making it to the refresher in time. She was extremely, dangerously hysterical.

Martin walked in, but not in enough time to have seen Bethany’s hasty exit. “Hello Aasrel. How are you doing?”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS